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The Gun Man Jackson Swagger
Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Hunter, “a true master at the pinnacle of his craft” (Jack Carr), returns with a classic Western—gunfights, horses, saloons, and looming above, the ominous presence of the railroad—about a Civil War veteran investigating the dark reality of a prosperous ranch.
In the frying pan of a drought-scorched 1890s Southwest, an old man shows up at the region’s only prosperous spread, the Callahan ranch, seeking work. Jack is flinty, shrewd, tough, and a natural with a gun. As an incentive to be taken on at his age, he shows the foreman an uncanny skill with one of Mr. Winchester’s latest models. He knows a sharpshooter would be valuable to Colonel Callahan and head gun man Tom Voth.
But he has his own mission. Aware that a young cowboy on the ranch has died mysteriously, Jack begins to investigate. He soon realizes that the death and the source of the Callahan wealth are dangerously entwined and that many of the dark forces of the American West are at play on the ranch. Soon enough, it’s the season of the six-gun and its fastest shootist.
In the frying pan of a drought-scorched 1890s Southwest, an old man shows up at the region’s only prosperous spread, the Callahan ranch, seeking work. Jack is flinty, shrewd, tough, and a natural with a gun. As an incentive to be taken on at his age, he shows the foreman an uncanny skill with one of Mr. Winchester’s latest models. He knows a sharpshooter would be valuable to Colonel Callahan and head gun man Tom Voth.
But he has his own mission. Aware that a young cowboy on the ranch has died mysteriously, Jack begins to investigate. He soon realizes that the death and the source of the Callahan wealth are dangerously entwined and that many of the dark forces of the American West are at play on the ranch. Soon enough, it’s the season of the six-gun and its fastest shootist.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published October 14, 2025
155 people are currently reading
3800 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Hunter
110 books1,964 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Stephen Hunter is the author of fourteen novels, and a chief film critic at The Washington Post, where he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
Stephen Hunter is the author of fourteen novels, and a chief film critic at The Washington Post, where he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 2, 2025
A Swagger Western
A review of the Simon & Schuster audiobook (October 14, 2025) narrated by Evan Sibley and released simultaneously with the Atria/Emily Bestler Books hardcover/eBook.
We are in a safe zone here with this throwback to the era of the Later American Old West of the 19th century. This avoids the pitfalls of author Hunter's tendency to parody present day political figures and the aging of his regular main series character Bob Lee Swagger. The latter was reduced to beating off the villains using pieces of his wheelchair in the recent Targeted (Bob Lee Swagger #12 - 2022) which I reviewed as The Cringe is Back.
The Gun Man finds grizzled American Civil War veteran Jackson "Call me Jack" Swagger auditioning for a job at the Crazy R Ranch nearby to Railhead #4 in the ongoing build of a transcontinental railroad from the American east to the west. Jack's sharpshooting skills quickly earn him a job safeguarding wagon shipments. The mystery of why he would seek out this employment is kept hidden until the final chapters of the book.
Texas Ranger Jim Hawkins. Image sourced from History Net: The Guns that Won the West.
Along the way there are gunfights aplenty with author Hunter displaying his regular firearms fetishizing and action scene writing skills throughout. There was a rather odd subplot with a refugee from the Paris Commune (1871) seeking to start an American Communist uprising by enlisting some downtrodden students and workers. The purpose of this being a way to introduce a Maxim gun for use in the final showdown.
I think this is the 20th outing in the extended fictional Swagger family saga which began with Point of Impact (Bob "The Nailer" Lee Swagger #1 - 1993) and has reached back a dozen or so generations to even include British Army officer & gunsmith Major Patrick Ferguson (1744-1780) as a fictional historical ancestor.
I took advantage of a recent road trip to listen to the audiobook edition of this book. Narrator Evan Sibley was excellent in all voices, adopting somewhat of a raspy Sam Elliott voice for the lead character.
Trivia and Links
Full Disclosure: Stephen Hunter is the author of a line which I frequently co-opt for use in book reviews, although he used it first in a movie review of Mel Gibson's We Were Soldiers (2002) based on the book We Were Soldiers Once... and Young: Ia Drang - The Battle that Changed the War in Vietnam (1991) by Harold G. Moore.
A review of the Simon & Schuster audiobook (October 14, 2025) narrated by Evan Sibley and released simultaneously with the Atria/Emily Bestler Books hardcover/eBook.
"Gunfighter" is a word of recent coinage. A survey of Western newspapers in the late 1800s shows that a man notorious for his skill with handguns and his willingness to use them was called, variously, a "shootist," a "man-killer," an "assassin," or a "gun man."
- Adapted from The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout. - used as the epigraph for "The Gun Man Jackson Swagger."
We are in a safe zone here with this throwback to the era of the Later American Old West of the 19th century. This avoids the pitfalls of author Hunter's tendency to parody present day political figures and the aging of his regular main series character Bob Lee Swagger. The latter was reduced to beating off the villains using pieces of his wheelchair in the recent Targeted (Bob Lee Swagger #12 - 2022) which I reviewed as The Cringe is Back.
The Gun Man finds grizzled American Civil War veteran Jackson "Call me Jack" Swagger auditioning for a job at the Crazy R Ranch nearby to Railhead #4 in the ongoing build of a transcontinental railroad from the American east to the west. Jack's sharpshooting skills quickly earn him a job safeguarding wagon shipments. The mystery of why he would seek out this employment is kept hidden until the final chapters of the book.
Texas Ranger Jim Hawkins. Image sourced from History Net: The Guns that Won the West.
Along the way there are gunfights aplenty with author Hunter displaying his regular firearms fetishizing and action scene writing skills throughout. There was a rather odd subplot with a refugee from the Paris Commune (1871) seeking to start an American Communist uprising by enlisting some downtrodden students and workers. The purpose of this being a way to introduce a Maxim gun for use in the final showdown.
I think this is the 20th outing in the extended fictional Swagger family saga which began with Point of Impact (Bob "The Nailer" Lee Swagger #1 - 1993) and has reached back a dozen or so generations to even include British Army officer & gunsmith Major Patrick Ferguson (1744-1780) as a fictional historical ancestor.
I took advantage of a recent road trip to listen to the audiobook edition of this book. Narrator Evan Sibley was excellent in all voices, adopting somewhat of a raspy Sam Elliott voice for the lead character.
Trivia and Links
Full Disclosure: Stephen Hunter is the author of a line which I frequently co-opt for use in book reviews, although he used it first in a movie review of Mel Gibson's We Were Soldiers (2002) based on the book We Were Soldiers Once... and Young: Ia Drang - The Battle that Changed the War in Vietnam (1991) by Harold G. Moore.
"You don't really watch the film, you survive it."
November 9, 2025
I have since I found this author many years ago been an avid Swagger afficionado. The Gun Man Jackson Swagger by Stephen Hunter is sadly in my opinion not the best Swagger story. I do however love this book since it's a Swagger story and not only that but it's a western and I do love westerns. What I lack most is gun details and more details when it comes to shooting. I am also a little peeved about the ending. I was looking forward to many new books about this previously unknown Swagger but Why not go back further in time and tell more about this great character. I simply can't get enough Swagger. I believe the people demands more as well. On the other hand we have to be thankful for every book from this author since he is getting closer to the century in life. If you like me love to read a good western or you follow the Swagger saga or just want a good story to read, why not try this one. I will recommend it to all that stand still long enough to listen to me.
September 1, 2025
The Gun Man Jackson Swagger is the 5th generation Swagger that Stephen Hunter has written.
"It is the 1890s in a dry and dusty Southwest. An old man shows up at the Callahan Ranch looking for work. Jack is tough and a natural with the gun. He is hired but has his own reasons for being at the ranch. A young cowboy died under unusual circumstances and the wealth of the ranch has a questionable source. Soon it may come down to who's the quickest shot."
Hunter has written a great story in the style of an old-school western. And there's a Swagger who is a natural with revolvers and rifles. Swagger - who knows that the darkness and greed in some men will make them do terrible things - unless he stops it. Longtime readers show know that nothing gets by a Swagger. Hunter makes you feel the heat and the dust. I can see Swagger up on the horse.
There's a surprising twist and an ending you may not expect.
Great fast-paced story from Hunter.
"It is the 1890s in a dry and dusty Southwest. An old man shows up at the Callahan Ranch looking for work. Jack is tough and a natural with the gun. He is hired but has his own reasons for being at the ranch. A young cowboy died under unusual circumstances and the wealth of the ranch has a questionable source. Soon it may come down to who's the quickest shot."
Hunter has written a great story in the style of an old-school western. And there's a Swagger who is a natural with revolvers and rifles. Swagger - who knows that the darkness and greed in some men will make them do terrible things - unless he stops it. Longtime readers show know that nothing gets by a Swagger. Hunter makes you feel the heat and the dust. I can see Swagger up on the horse.
There's a surprising twist and an ending you may not expect.
Great fast-paced story from Hunter.
July 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
TBH, I skimmed most of this. It wasn’t anything special, and I enjoyed it, but it just didn’t quite give me the feels I was hoping for with a western book.
TBH, I skimmed most of this. It wasn’t anything special, and I enjoyed it, but it just didn’t quite give me the feels I was hoping for with a western book.
June 12, 2025
Review: This was a great read if you suspend your disbelief. Offhand shots with a black powder rifle at 100 plus yards and mesmerizing (magical) agility with a pistol were minor and sets the stage for the mythos to come.
The accuracy and/or repeatability with the 1892 black powder rifle begs more discernment. Hitting a small target with precision at 100 yds. is pushing a tall tale. The load that has black powder running a 10mm sized bullet at 180 grains would be around 660 FPS. That is slower than a slug at a salt lick. This cartridge is maxxing out at less than 25 yds. with stopping power in poor relation to muzzle energy. Black powder rifle at those ranges is not impossible, but not likely in the situations created. Not going into Munden territory as he was one in 4 billion. Pulling at gun a 9 G's is surreal.
The story line is predictable yet the characters are well built and drive the novel. You always are hoping to see retribution served with determination as our anti-hero rides the desert.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
4.7/5
The accuracy and/or repeatability with the 1892 black powder rifle begs more discernment. Hitting a small target with precision at 100 yds. is pushing a tall tale. The load that has black powder running a 10mm sized bullet at 180 grains would be around 660 FPS. That is slower than a slug at a salt lick. This cartridge is maxxing out at less than 25 yds. with stopping power in poor relation to muzzle energy. Black powder rifle at those ranges is not impossible, but not likely in the situations created. Not going into Munden territory as he was one in 4 billion. Pulling at gun a 9 G's is surreal.
The story line is predictable yet the characters are well built and drive the novel. You always are hoping to see retribution served with determination as our anti-hero rides the desert.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
4.7/5
December 5, 2025
Tracking it down to the source, he placed his front sight against the spot, came up a bit, fired, threw the lever, the fired again. Hit? Maybe. Tell by the blood later.
July 30, 2025
The Gun Man Jackson Swagger is like a song that starts slow and works to a crescendo. For me this is the tale of two halves of the novel. The back half was much more engaging and rich with action. I was teetering on a 3 to 4 star review but the last few chapters cinched up a 5 star review for me. As a fan of Western stories, this is one of the better ones I have read in the last year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, LLC for the opportunity to review this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, LLC for the opportunity to review this novel.
October 7, 2025
Let me tell you what we’re not gonna do: underestimate an old man with a rifle and a grudge. Stephen Hunter basically walked into the saloon of modern publishing, slapped this dusty little Western on the bar, and said, “Give me a bottle of vengeance, neat.” And then The Gun Man Jackson Swagger kicked the door off its hinges and shot every expectation in the kneecap.
Jackson Swagger, yes, that Swagger, shows up at the Callahan ranch with all the charm of a vulture and the bone-deep certainty that something rotten is going on. The man's old, quiet, and lethal, which in literary terms is a combo that means you're either the villain or the guy who's about to casually dismantle every villain with math and bullets. In this case, Jackson is vengeance wearing a cowboy hat and possibly arthritis. He wants a job on the ranch. What he gets is a conspiracy marinated in capitalism, murder, and that very specific Western flavor of corruption where men smile at you while sharpening the knife they’re gonna stab you with.
Now, this isn’t just Old Man Yells at Corrupt Rancher. This is Old Man Strategically Shoots Through Capitalist Greed While Dealing With the Ghosts of Dead Cowboys and the Railroad Barons Who Might Actually Be the Devil. Because that’s what the Callahan ranch is sitting on: murder, money, and a suspicious amount of logistical convenience. Jackson’s investigation unfolds like a poker game where someone’s always hiding an extra ace, and that ace is probably a body.
Hunter has absolutely zero chill when it comes to describing firearms, and I respect that. Like, there are paragraphs where I felt like I was being flirted with by a lever-action rifle. You want historical authenticity? You got it. You want dramatic tension? Welcome to the saloon shootout where everyone has a secret, and only one guy has an exit strategy that doesn’t end in a pine box. You want quiet commentary on greed, violence, and the way America paves its railroads over the bones of poor men? Yup. That’s in here too, tucked between the sharp-tongued dialogue and the body count.
Jackson himself is a walking contradiction: a man past his prime who still manages to be two steps ahead and three shots faster than everyone else. He doesn’t just outdraw his enemies, he out-thinks them, which makes it even more satisfying when the final act drops and suddenly the quiet grandpa cowboy turns into the embodiment of “say when.”
Now, is the book perfect? Nah. The pacing in the first half is a little like riding a horse with a limp. It gets you there, but you might wish for a little more giddy-up. Also, if you’re not into detailed descriptions of ammunition types and ballistics physics that could probably pass a college exam, you might find yourself glazing over. (No shame. I, too, have mentally whispered “gun gun pew pew” and skipped ahead to the drama.)
BUT. Once it hits its stride, it gallops. That back half? That’s where the blood boils, the plot twists crack like a whip, and the mystery rolls out like a dusty red carpet for the reckoning you knew was coming but still hit like a sucker punch. Jackson Swagger doesn’t just solve the crime. He burns down the system that made it possible and then rides off into the heat haze like the haunted, hollow legend he is.
Four stars. Because while it didn’t reinvent the genre, it handed it a cigar, poured it a whiskey, and told it to shut up and watch the master work
Big thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to live out my morally-gray-cowboy revenge fantasies from the safety of a well-air-conditioned room. Y’all really said “here’s a loaded rifle and some intergenerational trauma, enjoy,” and I did. I very much did.
Jackson Swagger, yes, that Swagger, shows up at the Callahan ranch with all the charm of a vulture and the bone-deep certainty that something rotten is going on. The man's old, quiet, and lethal, which in literary terms is a combo that means you're either the villain or the guy who's about to casually dismantle every villain with math and bullets. In this case, Jackson is vengeance wearing a cowboy hat and possibly arthritis. He wants a job on the ranch. What he gets is a conspiracy marinated in capitalism, murder, and that very specific Western flavor of corruption where men smile at you while sharpening the knife they’re gonna stab you with.
Now, this isn’t just Old Man Yells at Corrupt Rancher. This is Old Man Strategically Shoots Through Capitalist Greed While Dealing With the Ghosts of Dead Cowboys and the Railroad Barons Who Might Actually Be the Devil. Because that’s what the Callahan ranch is sitting on: murder, money, and a suspicious amount of logistical convenience. Jackson’s investigation unfolds like a poker game where someone’s always hiding an extra ace, and that ace is probably a body.
Hunter has absolutely zero chill when it comes to describing firearms, and I respect that. Like, there are paragraphs where I felt like I was being flirted with by a lever-action rifle. You want historical authenticity? You got it. You want dramatic tension? Welcome to the saloon shootout where everyone has a secret, and only one guy has an exit strategy that doesn’t end in a pine box. You want quiet commentary on greed, violence, and the way America paves its railroads over the bones of poor men? Yup. That’s in here too, tucked between the sharp-tongued dialogue and the body count.
Jackson himself is a walking contradiction: a man past his prime who still manages to be two steps ahead and three shots faster than everyone else. He doesn’t just outdraw his enemies, he out-thinks them, which makes it even more satisfying when the final act drops and suddenly the quiet grandpa cowboy turns into the embodiment of “say when.”
Now, is the book perfect? Nah. The pacing in the first half is a little like riding a horse with a limp. It gets you there, but you might wish for a little more giddy-up. Also, if you’re not into detailed descriptions of ammunition types and ballistics physics that could probably pass a college exam, you might find yourself glazing over. (No shame. I, too, have mentally whispered “gun gun pew pew” and skipped ahead to the drama.)
BUT. Once it hits its stride, it gallops. That back half? That’s where the blood boils, the plot twists crack like a whip, and the mystery rolls out like a dusty red carpet for the reckoning you knew was coming but still hit like a sucker punch. Jackson Swagger doesn’t just solve the crime. He burns down the system that made it possible and then rides off into the heat haze like the haunted, hollow legend he is.
Four stars. Because while it didn’t reinvent the genre, it handed it a cigar, poured it a whiskey, and told it to shut up and watch the master work
Big thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to live out my morally-gray-cowboy revenge fantasies from the safety of a well-air-conditioned room. Y’all really said “here’s a loaded rifle and some intergenerational trauma, enjoy,” and I did. I very much did.
November 17, 2025
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5
It is 1897 and the railroad company is trying hard to connect a rail line from the east coast to the west coast. Things are tough all over - there's been severe drought and ranches are closing up as herds are dying off. Anyone looking for a job is also struggling to find a ranch that is still hiring on. But there is one - the Callahan Ranch in the American Southwest is thriving. In addition to the usual ranch hands, Callahan also has a number of gunmen on payroll.
One day an older gentleman rides in looking for work. Jackson "Jack" Swagger is calm and confident and more skilled with a gun than any of the other men currently working for the ranch. Jack spent time in the war, though doesn't speak too much of it, but his demeanor, skills, and background are appealing to Colonel Callahan, an ex-military man himself, and Jack is hired on. It doesn't take long for Jack to prove himself the most skilled and most trusted man in the outfit when, on a run into Mexico, he leads the Callahan men out of an ambush.
Jack isn't at Callahan's just because he needed work, though. He's on a mission. He's looking into a possible connection between the death of a young cowboy on the ranch, Callahan's wealth, and the many, many trips the rancher's men make into Mexico.
I came to this book because it's a western - a genre I've found I quite enjoy - and a western by someone who isn't one of the 'big name' western authors. And I came to this book not being familiar with the author, Stephen Hunter.
In preparing to write this review (and just about any of my reviews) I did a little bit of research to check out author Stephen Hunter's pedigree and to see whether or not this was part of a series. So imagine my surprise to learn that Hunter is the author of some 90 distinct titles - though this may be his first western. This does explain, though, why I found the writing to be crisp, direct, exciting and very approachable. As to whether or not this was part of a series, well ... there lies an interesting concept. It appears that Hunter has written two different series in the Swagger family line: the Earl Swagger series and the Bob Lee Swagger series. I believe that Jackson would be an ancestor of Earl and Bob Lee.
Of course Stephen Hunter isn't the first author to write books following a family line. Western giant, Louis L'Amour did it quite famously with his Sackett family stories.
I really enjoyed this book. I was sucked in quite early with Jackson's confidence and swagger (pun intended). We're given everything we need to know (and like) our protagonist, and to understand that he's probably unbeatable by any legitimate means.
The story develops nicely and the reader, through Jackson, makes discoveries about Callahan's ranch and the men there at a nice pace - not so quick that we can't keep up, but not so slow that we get bored going from point to point.
This is a really nice blend of character-driven story, and plot-driven. I was tempted to write that Jackson carries this book, and it's true that his swagger (how can I NOT keep using that word/name?!) is addicting, but Jackson needed THIS story to shine.
I enjoyed this enough that not only am I hoping there will be more books in this series, but I'm interested in reading the Earl and Bob Lee Swagger books now, too.
Looking for a good book? The Gunman Jackson Swagger by Stephen Hunter is a classic western with gunfights, bandits, and a 'white hat' hero. Fans of the genre should give it a read.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
It is 1897 and the railroad company is trying hard to connect a rail line from the east coast to the west coast. Things are tough all over - there's been severe drought and ranches are closing up as herds are dying off. Anyone looking for a job is also struggling to find a ranch that is still hiring on. But there is one - the Callahan Ranch in the American Southwest is thriving. In addition to the usual ranch hands, Callahan also has a number of gunmen on payroll.
One day an older gentleman rides in looking for work. Jackson "Jack" Swagger is calm and confident and more skilled with a gun than any of the other men currently working for the ranch. Jack spent time in the war, though doesn't speak too much of it, but his demeanor, skills, and background are appealing to Colonel Callahan, an ex-military man himself, and Jack is hired on. It doesn't take long for Jack to prove himself the most skilled and most trusted man in the outfit when, on a run into Mexico, he leads the Callahan men out of an ambush.
Jack isn't at Callahan's just because he needed work, though. He's on a mission. He's looking into a possible connection between the death of a young cowboy on the ranch, Callahan's wealth, and the many, many trips the rancher's men make into Mexico.
I came to this book because it's a western - a genre I've found I quite enjoy - and a western by someone who isn't one of the 'big name' western authors. And I came to this book not being familiar with the author, Stephen Hunter.
In preparing to write this review (and just about any of my reviews) I did a little bit of research to check out author Stephen Hunter's pedigree and to see whether or not this was part of a series. So imagine my surprise to learn that Hunter is the author of some 90 distinct titles - though this may be his first western. This does explain, though, why I found the writing to be crisp, direct, exciting and very approachable. As to whether or not this was part of a series, well ... there lies an interesting concept. It appears that Hunter has written two different series in the Swagger family line: the Earl Swagger series and the Bob Lee Swagger series. I believe that Jackson would be an ancestor of Earl and Bob Lee.
Of course Stephen Hunter isn't the first author to write books following a family line. Western giant, Louis L'Amour did it quite famously with his Sackett family stories.
I really enjoyed this book. I was sucked in quite early with Jackson's confidence and swagger (pun intended). We're given everything we need to know (and like) our protagonist, and to understand that he's probably unbeatable by any legitimate means.
The story develops nicely and the reader, through Jackson, makes discoveries about Callahan's ranch and the men there at a nice pace - not so quick that we can't keep up, but not so slow that we get bored going from point to point.
This is a really nice blend of character-driven story, and plot-driven. I was tempted to write that Jackson carries this book, and it's true that his swagger (how can I NOT keep using that word/name?!) is addicting, but Jackson needed THIS story to shine.
I enjoyed this enough that not only am I hoping there will be more books in this series, but I'm interested in reading the Earl and Bob Lee Swagger books now, too.
Looking for a good book? The Gunman Jackson Swagger by Stephen Hunter is a classic western with gunfights, bandits, and a 'white hat' hero. Fans of the genre should give it a read.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2025
If you're a Swagger fanatic, you're obviously going to love this. If you're just looking for an interesting read, then that's my basis for this review.
If you approach this as a superhero book, then that'll help. If you like your heroes to have weaknesses, then move along. Jackson, the protagonist in this one, is inhuman. Super with guns. Amazing with a sword. Able to be shot and fall off cliffs. Can be shot in the arm and still fully function.
At the same time, our hero is facing despicable enemies, yet treats them as though they deserve a noble death. You kidnap young women and turn them into whores? I guess you deserve a fair fight with swords. You rape and pillage (including beating a preacher to a pulp and then raping his wife in front of him)? Sure. Let's have an ol' fashioned gunfight in the street. You murder people, including someone near and dear to our hero? You, too, get a fair fight. I prefer my vengeance to be less honorable. You rape and pillage and murder? I'm killing you first chance I get in any way readily available. This book reminds me of the really old Batman TV show, where the villain tells Batman his entire plan and then uses an overly complicated method to kill Batman, giving him plenty of time to escape, while also now knowing how to foil the villainous plot. In other words - bullshit writing to drag out the story.
The plot? You pretty much know who did what pretty quickly, but to stretch the story out, Swagger rides all over the place cleverly interviewing people to get "evidence." Dude. You know who the bad guys are. There aren't any alternatives. Just kill 'em all and move on. This whole book could have been written in about a dozen pages.
Other pointless aspects:
- Protagonist comments how he hates long speeches, yet the author then subjects us to a 5-8 page speech (not that I read it - I scanned that whole section very quickly). More speeches to come later in the book.
- One storyline is about revolutionaries. But it is written so circuitously (and includes long speeches and lots of preaching) that I never did quite get the point. Which kinda mirrors the complaint for this whole book - just write plainly. This ain't great literature. Stop pretending.
- Four or five side characters are Ivy-league types. Still don't know why they were there. Color?
- Someone calls a magazine a clip and is lectured about it. Really? There are maybe three or four guns that even use magazines in the book, but the pedantic, condescending gun expert from Reddit and NextDoor just happens to be a character in this Western? I get it. Hunter's target audience includes pretty much just gun nuts and followers of toxic masculinity, but come on. Just write a straight-forward western without pandering to that niche completely.
- Why include the rape scene? We already knew that guy was a villain. Trying to lure the incels into the fanbase? Gratuitous violence against women. No thanks.
So in conclusion, it isn't the guns or the hero worship that's the problem here. This is just a poorly written book.
If you approach this as a superhero book, then that'll help. If you like your heroes to have weaknesses, then move along. Jackson, the protagonist in this one, is inhuman. Super with guns. Amazing with a sword. Able to be shot and fall off cliffs. Can be shot in the arm and still fully function.
At the same time, our hero is facing despicable enemies, yet treats them as though they deserve a noble death. You kidnap young women and turn them into whores? I guess you deserve a fair fight with swords. You rape and pillage (including beating a preacher to a pulp and then raping his wife in front of him)? Sure. Let's have an ol' fashioned gunfight in the street. You murder people, including someone near and dear to our hero? You, too, get a fair fight. I prefer my vengeance to be less honorable. You rape and pillage and murder? I'm killing you first chance I get in any way readily available. This book reminds me of the really old Batman TV show, where the villain tells Batman his entire plan and then uses an overly complicated method to kill Batman, giving him plenty of time to escape, while also now knowing how to foil the villainous plot. In other words - bullshit writing to drag out the story.
The plot? You pretty much know who did what pretty quickly, but to stretch the story out, Swagger rides all over the place cleverly interviewing people to get "evidence." Dude. You know who the bad guys are. There aren't any alternatives. Just kill 'em all and move on. This whole book could have been written in about a dozen pages.
Other pointless aspects:
- Protagonist comments how he hates long speeches, yet the author then subjects us to a 5-8 page speech (not that I read it - I scanned that whole section very quickly). More speeches to come later in the book.
- One storyline is about revolutionaries. But it is written so circuitously (and includes long speeches and lots of preaching) that I never did quite get the point. Which kinda mirrors the complaint for this whole book - just write plainly. This ain't great literature. Stop pretending.
- Four or five side characters are Ivy-league types. Still don't know why they were there. Color?
- Someone calls a magazine a clip and is lectured about it. Really? There are maybe three or four guns that even use magazines in the book, but the pedantic, condescending gun expert from Reddit and NextDoor just happens to be a character in this Western? I get it. Hunter's target audience includes pretty much just gun nuts and followers of toxic masculinity, but come on. Just write a straight-forward western without pandering to that niche completely.
- Why include the rape scene? We already knew that guy was a villain. Trying to lure the incels into the fanbase? Gratuitous violence against women. No thanks.
So in conclusion, it isn't the guns or the hero worship that's the problem here. This is just a poorly written book.
October 12, 2025
Nothing, and no one, will stop him
In the Arizona territory in the year 1897 times are tough....the railroad company is working hard on connecting their tracks all the way to San Francisco, but there is a severe drought that has herds dying, ranches collapsing, and men unable to find a paying job. The one ranch in the area that is staying afloat is the Callahan ranch, which in addition to its regular ranching concerns fields a group of highly skilled gun men whose duities include everything from riding along with shipments to make sure that they get to their desired location rather than be attacked and seized by some of the many desperate men along the route to working as "persuaders" for the railroads when workers act up. When a man named Jack, older than most of those who come looking for work, arrives at the ranch he isn't taken seriously at first. Turns out he has formidable gun skills, drawing fast and shooting with enviable accuracy. There is always work for a man like that, although some of those in the existing group aren't happy about his arrival. There are two things that Colonel Callahan and his lead gunman Tom Voth. don't yet know about Jack; first, he has a hidden motive for being there, and second, he is a man of solid principles. Both are going to cause problems for the Callahan ranch and those who profit from its endeavors, and its a rare person who goes up against Jackson Swagger and lives to tell the tale.
Those familiar with author Stephen Hunter's books know the Swagger name well, a clan that has a genetic gift for amazing gun skills. This latest novel is a bit of an origin story for Bob Lee, Earl, and the rest of the line. Jackson fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, and in the years afterwards did many things of which he's none too proud. He developed a reputation for being one of the best gunmen there was, but faded into anonymity rather than cash in on his reputation. It takes Callahan and Voth time to figure out just who it is they've brought into their employ, which given that their activities aren't entirely on the up and up is going to prove to be a mistake. Big mistake. Huge. They already ran into a problem a bit ago, when an idealistic young man died while working for them (which is the matter that Jackson is looking into, it turns out). This is less a thriller and more a true western, with hard drinking men, tawdry saloons and frequent gun fights, with outlaws and Native Americans hovering on the periphery. A gripping read sure to delight both fans of the Swagger series and those who enjoy Larry McMurtry, Louis L'Amour and Elmore Leonard (can be read as a standalone, so don't despair), a solid 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for allowing me access to this intriguing prequel to a favorite seies in exchange for my honest review.
In the Arizona territory in the year 1897 times are tough....the railroad company is working hard on connecting their tracks all the way to San Francisco, but there is a severe drought that has herds dying, ranches collapsing, and men unable to find a paying job. The one ranch in the area that is staying afloat is the Callahan ranch, which in addition to its regular ranching concerns fields a group of highly skilled gun men whose duities include everything from riding along with shipments to make sure that they get to their desired location rather than be attacked and seized by some of the many desperate men along the route to working as "persuaders" for the railroads when workers act up. When a man named Jack, older than most of those who come looking for work, arrives at the ranch he isn't taken seriously at first. Turns out he has formidable gun skills, drawing fast and shooting with enviable accuracy. There is always work for a man like that, although some of those in the existing group aren't happy about his arrival. There are two things that Colonel Callahan and his lead gunman Tom Voth. don't yet know about Jack; first, he has a hidden motive for being there, and second, he is a man of solid principles. Both are going to cause problems for the Callahan ranch and those who profit from its endeavors, and its a rare person who goes up against Jackson Swagger and lives to tell the tale.
Those familiar with author Stephen Hunter's books know the Swagger name well, a clan that has a genetic gift for amazing gun skills. This latest novel is a bit of an origin story for Bob Lee, Earl, and the rest of the line. Jackson fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, and in the years afterwards did many things of which he's none too proud. He developed a reputation for being one of the best gunmen there was, but faded into anonymity rather than cash in on his reputation. It takes Callahan and Voth time to figure out just who it is they've brought into their employ, which given that their activities aren't entirely on the up and up is going to prove to be a mistake. Big mistake. Huge. They already ran into a problem a bit ago, when an idealistic young man died while working for them (which is the matter that Jackson is looking into, it turns out). This is less a thriller and more a true western, with hard drinking men, tawdry saloons and frequent gun fights, with outlaws and Native Americans hovering on the periphery. A gripping read sure to delight both fans of the Swagger series and those who enjoy Larry McMurtry, Louis L'Amour and Elmore Leonard (can be read as a standalone, so don't despair), a solid 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for allowing me access to this intriguing prequel to a favorite seies in exchange for my honest review.
October 28, 2025
We meet yet another generation of Swagger gun guy, Jackson, a former Confederate cavalry soldier. It's Arizona in the 1890s, after he's spent years drifting around the West, doing we're not quite sure what. Like all Swaggers, he's modest, plain spoken, confident—and wicked good with guns. All guns.
He's looking for work, poor enough he says he's had to pawn his guns. Using borrowed ones, he puts on a convincing shooting demonstration and a wealthy ranch owner hires him onto a gun team escorting wagon trains through the badlands.
The ranch supports construction of the Union Pacific railroad branch heading toward Los Angeles.
The wagon trains are harassed by men who don't quite fit the usual bandit profiles. Swagger is detailed to determine what's going on. He recons not only the badlands but also the lawless town where rail workers party on payday.
Is there labor trouble brewing? Unions? Is it something more revolutionary? Swagger sniffs around. Meanwhile the ranch owner, who doesn't quite trust him yet, has him followed.
There's corruption everywhere. One can only imagine how someone with the Swagger gene will react.
It's a fine outing into the lawless Old West, yet another venue where a Swagger can show off what he's got, like later generations will in Vietnam, at Iwo Jima, and on the hunt for John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson,
How could some Swagger along the way not have been a cowboy?
Hunter, of course, gets into the guns of the era, from variants of the Colt .45 to the newfangled Maxim gun designed to mow enemies down—and change warfare forever.
He's looking for work, poor enough he says he's had to pawn his guns. Using borrowed ones, he puts on a convincing shooting demonstration and a wealthy ranch owner hires him onto a gun team escorting wagon trains through the badlands.
The ranch supports construction of the Union Pacific railroad branch heading toward Los Angeles.
The wagon trains are harassed by men who don't quite fit the usual bandit profiles. Swagger is detailed to determine what's going on. He recons not only the badlands but also the lawless town where rail workers party on payday.
Is there labor trouble brewing? Unions? Is it something more revolutionary? Swagger sniffs around. Meanwhile the ranch owner, who doesn't quite trust him yet, has him followed.
There's corruption everywhere. One can only imagine how someone with the Swagger gene will react.
It's a fine outing into the lawless Old West, yet another venue where a Swagger can show off what he's got, like later generations will in Vietnam, at Iwo Jima, and on the hunt for John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson,
How could some Swagger along the way not have been a cowboy?
Hunter, of course, gets into the guns of the era, from variants of the Colt .45 to the newfangled Maxim gun designed to mow enemies down—and change warfare forever.
October 15, 2025
Stephen Hunter’s The Gun Man: Jackson Swagger throws every ounce of classic Western energy onto the page with dusty trails, gunfights, horses, saloons, and a hierarchy of power built on money and control. I couldn’t help but picture Sam Elliott stepping into the boots of Jackson Swagger, his quiet authority filling every scene. The sun beats down on a land still haunted by war, where tension lingers like smoke after a shot. There are plenty of men eager to prove themselves with a gun, but Jack Swagger doesn’t need to boast; his steadiness and precision say it all. He’s the kind of man who’s seen too much, yet still lives by a code that feels carved in stone.
What makes this story stand out isn’t just the action, though the gunfights will absolutely satisfy, but the authenticity in every detail from the sound of spurs to the smell of gun oil and grit. Hunter’s knowledge and history of weaponry is stellar, giving the story an expert realism that never feels forced. I also loved how true events from the time period are woven seamlessly into the story, grounding the fiction in believable history. The pacing builds to an ending that leaves you breathless, not for the shock or spectacle, but for the weight of legacy it leaves behind. This isn’t just a Western about bullets and bravado; it’s about the cost of survival, the measure of a man, and the quiet understanding that sometimes the truest battles are the ones that never make a sound.
What makes this story stand out isn’t just the action, though the gunfights will absolutely satisfy, but the authenticity in every detail from the sound of spurs to the smell of gun oil and grit. Hunter’s knowledge and history of weaponry is stellar, giving the story an expert realism that never feels forced. I also loved how true events from the time period are woven seamlessly into the story, grounding the fiction in believable history. The pacing builds to an ending that leaves you breathless, not for the shock or spectacle, but for the weight of legacy it leaves behind. This isn’t just a Western about bullets and bravado; it’s about the cost of survival, the measure of a man, and the quiet understanding that sometimes the truest battles are the ones that never make a sound.
December 22, 2025
Here is my chance to research the feelings I had reading this book. I have the means resting on my shelves. Will I? Nope. I prefer to keep a few illusions. This year, I have lost so many, albeit some half-held.
To my memory, this did not feel like other Stephen Hunter books. The writing seemed sketchier and more like what I remember of Zane Grey or Louis L'Amour. That is a great compliment if true; writing a Western that sounds like the masters.
Perhaps I was primed for that by the wonderful list. Fourteen names form a mythology of Western cinema, although three are the same name. Fitting, since Mr. Hunter's Pulitzer Prize was for his film criticism.
No doubt some will carp about the expertise Jack shows with his weapons. His shots are beyond anything I could deliver...but, as Mr. Hunter points out, there are these videos on YouTube.
There are a few speeches made in the course of this novel, more than many will like. I have to ask, is Mr. Hunter trying t tell us something? Ans. He is a writer; of course he is.
Next up will be a book where a Jack Swagger was sorely needed. Maybe one with a special gene for the written legal word; maybe one with an honest lawman's heart. We have seen some honest lawmen in the Swagger universe. We need some now.
Recommended
To my memory, this did not feel like other Stephen Hunter books. The writing seemed sketchier and more like what I remember of Zane Grey or Louis L'Amour. That is a great compliment if true; writing a Western that sounds like the masters.
Perhaps I was primed for that by the wonderful list. Fourteen names form a mythology of Western cinema, although three are the same name. Fitting, since Mr. Hunter's Pulitzer Prize was for his film criticism.
No doubt some will carp about the expertise Jack shows with his weapons. His shots are beyond anything I could deliver...but, as Mr. Hunter points out, there are these videos on YouTube.
There are a few speeches made in the course of this novel, more than many will like. I have to ask, is Mr. Hunter trying t tell us something? Ans. He is a writer; of course he is.
Next up will be a book where a Jack Swagger was sorely needed. Maybe one with a special gene for the written legal word; maybe one with an honest lawman's heart. We have seen some honest lawmen in the Swagger universe. We need some now.
Recommended
December 19, 2025
entertaining, easy read
The Gun Man is an entertaining, easy read that moves quickly and never feels bogged down. Stephen Hunter introduces Jackson Swaggar with a quiet confidence—he’s capable, principled, and tough in a very grounded, old-school way. There’s no excess filler here; the story stays focused and keeps pulling you forward.
The plot is straightforward but effective, with enough tension and moral stakes to keep things interesting. Hunter’s writing is crisp and efficient, and his attention to detail—especially when it comes to firearms and small-town dynamics—adds realism without slowing the pace.
This isn’t an overly complex thriller, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s the kind of book you pick up expecting solid entertainment and end up finishing faster than you planned. If you enjoy character-driven action stories with a strong sense of justice and momentum, this one delivers.
Overall, a fun, fast read and a strong introduction to the Jackson Swaggar character.
The Gun Man is an entertaining, easy read that moves quickly and never feels bogged down. Stephen Hunter introduces Jackson Swaggar with a quiet confidence—he’s capable, principled, and tough in a very grounded, old-school way. There’s no excess filler here; the story stays focused and keeps pulling you forward.
The plot is straightforward but effective, with enough tension and moral stakes to keep things interesting. Hunter’s writing is crisp and efficient, and his attention to detail—especially when it comes to firearms and small-town dynamics—adds realism without slowing the pace.
This isn’t an overly complex thriller, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s the kind of book you pick up expecting solid entertainment and end up finishing faster than you planned. If you enjoy character-driven action stories with a strong sense of justice and momentum, this one delivers.
Overall, a fun, fast read and a strong introduction to the Jackson Swaggar character.
October 17, 2025
Y’all, this book is hotter than a branding iron in July 🔥 and twice as deadly. Stephen Hunter saddles up a Western packed with grit, gunfights, and secrets thicker than desert dust.
Jack Swagger—old, sharp-eyed, and haunted—shows up at the Callahan ranch looking for work but ends up uncovering rot beneath all that ranch wealth. When a cowboy’s mysterious death turns the air tense as a cocked Colt, things get real wild, real fast. 💥🐎
Hunter’s writing crackles—you can smell the whiskey, taste the dust, and feel the tension before every trigger pull. Classic Western grit meets noir swagger, and it’s a hell of a ride. 🤠⚡️
Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this review copy via #NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review. #TheGunManJacksonSwagger
Jack Swagger—old, sharp-eyed, and haunted—shows up at the Callahan ranch looking for work but ends up uncovering rot beneath all that ranch wealth. When a cowboy’s mysterious death turns the air tense as a cocked Colt, things get real wild, real fast. 💥🐎
Hunter’s writing crackles—you can smell the whiskey, taste the dust, and feel the tension before every trigger pull. Classic Western grit meets noir swagger, and it’s a hell of a ride. 🤠⚡️
Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this review copy via #NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review. #TheGunManJacksonSwagger
November 25, 2025
"It was like something from a Greek myth."
This line captures this wonderful book, which I would rate as my best read in 2025.
When one sees "western", one thinks of clean straightforward writing like that of the Johnstones. This book is prose at its finest. The main character, at first wrapped in a cloak of mystery which is slowly taken off to reveal his true character, is wonderful and a true hero in the western tradition - sort of. The plot is way beyond the normal western (by which I do not want to denigrate the genre). This book is historical fiction, mystery and thriller wrapped in the finest of writing.
I recommend this to lovers of literature and lovers of western. Rarely do the two mix so well.
This line captures this wonderful book, which I would rate as my best read in 2025.
When one sees "western", one thinks of clean straightforward writing like that of the Johnstones. This book is prose at its finest. The main character, at first wrapped in a cloak of mystery which is slowly taken off to reveal his true character, is wonderful and a true hero in the western tradition - sort of. The plot is way beyond the normal western (by which I do not want to denigrate the genre). This book is historical fiction, mystery and thriller wrapped in the finest of writing.
I recommend this to lovers of literature and lovers of western. Rarely do the two mix so well.
December 7, 2025
Actual Rating: 3.75 stars
Yeah, The Gun Man Jackson Swagger is a solid western. I don't like westerns as films but as novels I find them much more palatable. This is a fun one.
As a story it can be a little predictable and the dialogue has that corny twang to it at times but I can't hate that. I had a good time with the story. It's creative enough, I definitely wanted to keep reading.
Hunter's prose were refreshing and offered a lot of readibility that I fear this book would absolutely lack if the author couldn't keep your attention and make you wonder how the dots connect. There were a few passages I found to be great, the best being Jack finding his avenue into the Frechman's army training ground.
Overall, not a bad read at all but I'm not sure when I'll come back to it.
Yeah, The Gun Man Jackson Swagger is a solid western. I don't like westerns as films but as novels I find them much more palatable. This is a fun one.
As a story it can be a little predictable and the dialogue has that corny twang to it at times but I can't hate that. I had a good time with the story. It's creative enough, I definitely wanted to keep reading.
Hunter's prose were refreshing and offered a lot of readibility that I fear this book would absolutely lack if the author couldn't keep your attention and make you wonder how the dots connect. There were a few passages I found to be great, the best being Jack finding his avenue into the Frechman's army training ground.
Overall, not a bad read at all but I'm not sure when I'll come back to it.
October 24, 2025
Thanks to netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I found it to be a slower burn compared to other Swagger family books by Hunter but also contained some twists and turns along the way. Not being a firearms expert, the highly technical pieces that were included went over my head but for those who enjoy that aspect this story has a lot to offer here.
Set in the 1890s, it was a fresh look at a bygone era with events occurring consistent with time period and nice break from modern day thrillers.
For fans of Hunter and the Swagger stories, you’ll most likely find this book enjoyable
Overall I enjoyed this book. I found it to be a slower burn compared to other Swagger family books by Hunter but also contained some twists and turns along the way. Not being a firearms expert, the highly technical pieces that were included went over my head but for those who enjoy that aspect this story has a lot to offer here.
Set in the 1890s, it was a fresh look at a bygone era with events occurring consistent with time period and nice break from modern day thrillers.
For fans of Hunter and the Swagger stories, you’ll most likely find this book enjoyable
June 24, 2025
Putting a Swagger in a western is a sure fire recipe for success. In this story we meet yet another ancestor of today’s Swaggersi in Jack/Jackson who is fighting for the side of good the best way he knows how — with his guns. He infiltrates a group of bad guys, gains their trust, then his plan gets put into action. There’s lists of gun and ammunition description and plenty of observations on the state of society, but more importantly, there’s lots of action.I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
October 24, 2025
What a great book! Nothing surpasses a compelling western narrative. This novel explores the ancestry of Bob Lee Swagger, delving into the story of his great-grandfather. I must refrain from divulging too much, as it would spoil the engaging plot. The storytelling is so captivating that you will find yourself immersed in the narrative, losing track of time. If you are interested in initiating this series, I recommend commencing with this installment, as it serves as the foundational origin story. I highly recommend reading it, as its excellence speaks for itself.
December 19, 2025
I was a big fan of Hunter going back to his first Bob Lee Swagger novels, but the quality of the stories began to ebb after #3. I ended up reading some of the Earl Swagger books and found them to be pretty good. I also liked Dirty White boys, but overall I moved on and stopped following both series. I came across TGMJS in the new books section and checked GR. The story hooked me initially but by mid-way, it began to lose me. Hard-core fans apparently love it based on the average review, but I almost gave it 2 stars, settling for 3 for old times sake.
November 21, 2025
I read it and enjoyed it. I did find jack an acquired taste. The description of the RR building for the southern pacific disturbingly realistic for treatment of the prostitutes,the adulterated spirts, the corruption and the basic inhumanity exhibited. I was pleased by the house cleaning he did, he was very thorough, sadly the butler/assit of chandler's role was a disappointment but he got his too . A western epic could end this way and often does.
October 17, 2025
Hunter has extended the Swagger universe by creating a classic western featuring a Swagger relative. If you are a fan of Hunter, you know you are going to get well researched, historically accurate information with your action and suspense. I love learning new things when I read his books. However, it does cause this story to drag some. But I still enjoyed the journey and loved the conclusion.
October 27, 2025
This was an ARC book. I don't want to give anything away. Instead I'll say that the main character Jack is full of surprises, and had a way of doing things I can totally respect. As I read the book, Jack's voice kept resonating with me as either John Wayne's or Sam Elliot's, and it just fit. I hope everyone else enjoys this book as much as I have.
November 2, 2025
I won this advanced readers copy on the Goodreads giveaways. At first I had convinced myself I wouldn't like the book because I don't read westerns. At the beginning of the book I still wasn't fully sold. But, a little before half way I couldn't put it down!! Would love to see it turned into a movie!
December 16, 2025
First book I've read by this author. Found it on the 'New' shelf at the library. I have been enjoying the Western genre recently. Read to page 192 until doing housework deemed more enjoyable than finishing this book. Not much action and very wordy at times which really didn't add to the story line. Disappointed I held out as long as I did waiting for excitement to happen.
June 15, 2025
The Gun Man Jackson Swagger by Stephen Hunter is a cross between James Bond and Gregory Peck's The Gunslinger only dirtier and grittier. Unfortunately, the last 1/4 feels rushed and the dialogue gets a little stilted. All-in-all 3.75 Stars. (If I could give it that score)
October 8, 2025
3.5 rounded to 4. Thank you so much to Goodreads and Atria Books for an ARC of this book. I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. I am a fan of westerns and this definitely fit the bill. I would pick up more books by this author.
October 18, 2025
good book
I really liked the book. The background and the day to day living from back then came to life. I didn’t much care for the back East college elitism bs. It reminded me of some ofHunters earlier CIA work….which I didn’t like either. But all in all…a good yarn.
I really liked the book. The background and the day to day living from back then came to life. I didn’t much care for the back East college elitism bs. It reminded me of some ofHunters earlier CIA work….which I didn’t like either. But all in all…a good yarn.
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