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A crazed sniper. A loved one wounded, in danger of death. The unforgiving Fake News media. And a hidden villain more loathsome than any that Natalie McMasters has encountered before.
Nattie’s in the crosshairs as a series of seemingly random shootings terrorizes the city. She must fight to keep her polyamorous family from disintegrating, her emotions from running wild and her personal integrity uncompromised. This would be a formidable task for anyone, much less a twentysomething college student who just wants to graduate and get on with her life. Nattie must rely on old friends and new, but how can she even, when friends can become enemies in the blink of an eye? As Nattie nears an emotional meltdown, society collapses along with her, as the sniper’s depredations take their toll on the city.
Sniper! is a twisted, sexy, absolutely gripping descent into darkness jam packed with nail-biting suspense. Don’t miss it!
Nattie’s in the crosshairs as a series of seemingly random shootings terrorizes the city. She must fight to keep her polyamorous family from disintegrating, her emotions from running wild and her personal integrity uncompromised. This would be a formidable task for anyone, much less a twentysomething college student who just wants to graduate and get on with her life. Nattie must rely on old friends and new, but how can she even, when friends can become enemies in the blink of an eye? As Nattie nears an emotional meltdown, society collapses along with her, as the sniper’s depredations take their toll on the city.
Sniper! is a twisted, sexy, absolutely gripping descent into darkness jam packed with nail-biting suspense. Don’t miss it!
- GenresSuspense
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2020
16 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Thomas A. Burns Jr.
22 books107 followersAs a kid, Tom started reading mysteries with the Hardy Boys, Ken Holt and Rick Brant, and graduated to the classic stories by authors such as A. Conan Doyle, John Dickson Carr, Erle Stanley Gardner and Rex Stout to name a few. Tom has written fiction as a hobby all of his life, starting in marble-backed copybooks in grade school. He built a career as a writer, doing technical writing, science writing and editing for nearly thirty years in industry and government. Now that he's truly on his own as a freelance science writer and editor, he's excited to publish his own mystery series as well. Follow Tom on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/3MDetectiveA..., on Twitter @3Mdetective or email him at tom@3mdetectiveagency.com to get all the news about Nattie and 3M, as well as Tom's other writing projects.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 22, 2020
After previously enjoying the first book in the series, Stripper!, I was looking forward to reading this instalment. This book would also work as a standalone, so don’t feel like you have to have read the others to get into this one.
The action is fairy fast paced, and we are thrown into it from the start. That doesn’t mean that the author scrimps on the character development and inter-relationships. The trouple of Nattie, Lupe and Danny is sensitively written and feels very natural and normal.
The story itself is engaging and gripped me - I found this easy to read and I liked it just as much as (maybe even more than) I liked Stripper!
Recommended!
The action is fairy fast paced, and we are thrown into it from the start. That doesn’t mean that the author scrimps on the character development and inter-relationships. The trouple of Nattie, Lupe and Danny is sensitively written and feels very natural and normal.
The story itself is engaging and gripped me - I found this easy to read and I liked it just as much as (maybe even more than) I liked Stripper!
Recommended!
December 29, 2020
A few quibbles:
The book is labeled a mystery but it’s not. On the first page, main character Natalie tells us she’s a private detective trainee, yet she’s never in training, is never on a case, and never seeks to track down the story’s elusive sniper.
The overwhelming number of exclamation points and undecipherable slang initialisms (WOAT, GSW, STFU, ESE, FPP, AF, LEOs, etc.) throughout the text were annoying, to say the least.
Even though this is the fifth book in the author’s series featuring Natalie, it would have been nice for those unfamiliar, or even familiar, with the previous books to be reminded of her backstory. That’s because when the first violent act in the book occurs, Natalie freaks out, runs into a spider web, and is left “uncontrollably shaking.” Yet we’re told on page one that she has a propensity for violence, is adept with a variety of guns, and has killed five people herself. Huh?
Natalie, it soon becomes clear, suffers from severe PTSD, spending most of her time raging at her family, her friends, authority figures, basically everyone. I sympathized with her, but it was hard to like her. And I dearly wanted to. Her one redeeming quality and the one lifeline she absolutely clings to is her family, which is the heart and soul and strength of this book, but unfortunately her home life is what ignites most of her tirades. Aargh! Making matters worse, when she does seek salvation from an odd menagerie of therapists, they’re either worthless or harmful. Except Ye-Ye. Now that dude I’d like to see again in future Natalie adventures.
Natalie’s unending, same-old, same-old torment, however, eventually became tedious. Where is this book going? What’s the plot? And what’s a bloody sniper doing in this story? Every once in a while, the title character makes a gruesome appearance and then disappears for several chapters. Who cares? The book’s about Natalie and her family and her demons. In the end, the sniper situation is resolved, but it felt like, whatever. As if it was tacked on to take our minds off Natalie’s plight for a few moments.
Strengths, and they are big ones:
The author’s writing is compelling; the pace snaps like a Tai-Chi kick; the characters are numerous, varied, well-developed, and unique (except…do all the men have to have a mustache?); and the twist at the end was, for me at least, like a sniper’s bullet: I never saw it coming.
The book is labeled a mystery but it’s not. On the first page, main character Natalie tells us she’s a private detective trainee, yet she’s never in training, is never on a case, and never seeks to track down the story’s elusive sniper.
The overwhelming number of exclamation points and undecipherable slang initialisms (WOAT, GSW, STFU, ESE, FPP, AF, LEOs, etc.) throughout the text were annoying, to say the least.
Even though this is the fifth book in the author’s series featuring Natalie, it would have been nice for those unfamiliar, or even familiar, with the previous books to be reminded of her backstory. That’s because when the first violent act in the book occurs, Natalie freaks out, runs into a spider web, and is left “uncontrollably shaking.” Yet we’re told on page one that she has a propensity for violence, is adept with a variety of guns, and has killed five people herself. Huh?
Natalie, it soon becomes clear, suffers from severe PTSD, spending most of her time raging at her family, her friends, authority figures, basically everyone. I sympathized with her, but it was hard to like her. And I dearly wanted to. Her one redeeming quality and the one lifeline she absolutely clings to is her family, which is the heart and soul and strength of this book, but unfortunately her home life is what ignites most of her tirades. Aargh! Making matters worse, when she does seek salvation from an odd menagerie of therapists, they’re either worthless or harmful. Except Ye-Ye. Now that dude I’d like to see again in future Natalie adventures.
Natalie’s unending, same-old, same-old torment, however, eventually became tedious. Where is this book going? What’s the plot? And what’s a bloody sniper doing in this story? Every once in a while, the title character makes a gruesome appearance and then disappears for several chapters. Who cares? The book’s about Natalie and her family and her demons. In the end, the sniper situation is resolved, but it felt like, whatever. As if it was tacked on to take our minds off Natalie’s plight for a few moments.
Strengths, and they are big ones:
The author’s writing is compelling; the pace snaps like a Tai-Chi kick; the characters are numerous, varied, well-developed, and unique (except…do all the men have to have a mustache?); and the twist at the end was, for me at least, like a sniper’s bullet: I never saw it coming.
November 28, 2023
Thomas A. Burns https://www.3mdetectiveagency.com/ is the author of nearly a dozen novels. Sniper! was published in 2020 and is the fifth book in his Natalie McMasters Mysteries series. It is the 69th book I completed reading in 2023.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature situations, I categorize this novel as R.
The primary character is 21-year-old Natalie McMasters. As a gun advocate and a former victim of violence, she makes an interesting character. She is currently a Private Detective trainee and a law student. She is on campus with her friend and counselor, Dr. Rebecca Feiner. They are part of a crowd watching the opening of a gun control rally when shots are fired. Among those hit is Rebecca.
McMasters is driven to find the person behind the shooting.
I spent 5 hours reading this 240-page mystery. I should have declared a Rule-of-50 and moved on. For me, too much time was spent on personal feelings and drama concerning her husband and ‘wife’. I would have preferred seeing more time spent solving the mystery. I also found the repeated use of abbreviations by McMasters annoying. For example, why say fam for family, conva for conversation, or pols for politicians. While this novel is part of a series, it reads well enough stand-alone. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3.3 (rounded to 3) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature situations, I categorize this novel as R.
The primary character is 21-year-old Natalie McMasters. As a gun advocate and a former victim of violence, she makes an interesting character. She is currently a Private Detective trainee and a law student. She is on campus with her friend and counselor, Dr. Rebecca Feiner. They are part of a crowd watching the opening of a gun control rally when shots are fired. Among those hit is Rebecca.
McMasters is driven to find the person behind the shooting.
I spent 5 hours reading this 240-page mystery. I should have declared a Rule-of-50 and moved on. For me, too much time was spent on personal feelings and drama concerning her husband and ‘wife’. I would have preferred seeing more time spent solving the mystery. I also found the repeated use of abbreviations by McMasters annoying. For example, why say fam for family, conva for conversation, or pols for politicians. While this novel is part of a series, it reads well enough stand-alone. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 3.3 (rounded to 3) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
December 6, 2020
This is the second Natalie McMaster’s book I’ve read by Thomas A Burns. Both were the same. No, no, wait...I mean each was as good a read and as exciting as the other, not a replica of one another. Natalie McMasters is a Private Detective and a pre-law student. She’s an “in your face” kind of person and lives in what some might call an unusual living arrangement.
I like all of Burns characters. They each have his or her own place and are created to fit in a very difficult puzzle. This book deals a lot with people and their views on gun control as well as your normal crappy political games. Around all of it winds Burns story involving Natalie and her family.
This is a sort of gripping book with 2 plots. It makes you want to solve one while constantly wondering what is happening in the other. Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a story that switches from one POV to another. It’s very clear just full of tension and suspense.
I must say there is one thing that began to make me yell at Natalie. Rather as if you’re sitting on the couch yelling at a football game on tv. I got tired of Natalie’s constant striking back at everyone. Sometimes in person; sometimes in her mind. It’s just that the subject seemed to go on and on. Sort of an “They started it” theme.
However, let me say something about all of this. An author who writes well enough to evoke enough emotion to get you yelling at the pages (or e-book) has a way with words, doesn’t he?
Waiting for the next Natalie McMasters book.
I like all of Burns characters. They each have his or her own place and are created to fit in a very difficult puzzle. This book deals a lot with people and their views on gun control as well as your normal crappy political games. Around all of it winds Burns story involving Natalie and her family.
This is a sort of gripping book with 2 plots. It makes you want to solve one while constantly wondering what is happening in the other. Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a story that switches from one POV to another. It’s very clear just full of tension and suspense.
I must say there is one thing that began to make me yell at Natalie. Rather as if you’re sitting on the couch yelling at a football game on tv. I got tired of Natalie’s constant striking back at everyone. Sometimes in person; sometimes in her mind. It’s just that the subject seemed to go on and on. Sort of an “They started it” theme.
However, let me say something about all of this. An author who writes well enough to evoke enough emotion to get you yelling at the pages (or e-book) has a way with words, doesn’t he?
Waiting for the next Natalie McMasters book.
April 28, 2021
This fifth book in A Natalie McMasters Mystery series by Thomas A Burns, Jr was a tale of gripping suspense as the reader never knew what was waiting for Natalie, the main character, and sometimes PI as the story unfolded. Along with her husband, Danny and her wife Lupe the trio attempted to survive unscathed from both the sniper and the riotous crowd. The issue of the 2nd Amendment and gun control was front and center in this story with Natalie and Danny representing one side of the issue, while Lupe and others represented the other, with many innocents being caught in the middle. I didn't feel the action was quite as intense as the last book primarily due to the killing being done from a long distance rather than up close and personal. The author also attempted to show the struggles and problems our returning veterans deal with upon their return to civilian status, and he showed that no one was exempt from its effect, whether male or female. Of course, Mr. Burns hinted at the end that there could or rather I say SHOULD be a book six in the series. This is a voluntary review of this book.
November 19, 2020
“You are not who you think you are.” Few of the characters in Thomas Burns’s latest, Sniper, are who we think they are. True, Natalie McMasters is back, along with her wife, Lupe, and her husband, Danny, but most of the characters have hidden agendas.
A relentless pace propels the reader on a trajectory of violence, terror, and betrayal. A sniper shoots up a gun buyback event at Natalie’s college campus and sends her on a path which could lead to physical and emotional destruction. Her friend and psychotherapist is shot before her eyes. Others are killed without any seeming pattern. The body count rises in a series of random attacks. Natalie turns to the wrong people for support, a move which leads her to a series of television interviews, each more damning that the previous one. Natalie takes on a self-imposed challenge to stop the sniper before she is next.
Tight plotting, strong, well-developed characters, and a pace which rarely subsides make this a read impossible to put down.
A relentless pace propels the reader on a trajectory of violence, terror, and betrayal. A sniper shoots up a gun buyback event at Natalie’s college campus and sends her on a path which could lead to physical and emotional destruction. Her friend and psychotherapist is shot before her eyes. Others are killed without any seeming pattern. The body count rises in a series of random attacks. Natalie turns to the wrong people for support, a move which leads her to a series of television interviews, each more damning that the previous one. Natalie takes on a self-imposed challenge to stop the sniper before she is next.
Tight plotting, strong, well-developed characters, and a pace which rarely subsides make this a read impossible to put down.
March 1, 2021
So what’s a law-abiding, gun-loving throuple supposed to do with a crazy sniper on the loose and hypocritical liberals threatening to take away their guns and their sons?
Go full Batman, that’s what.
This is a 2020 novel. The coronavirus is conspicuously absent, but the rest is all there. Black Lives Matter protests, civil insurrection, attempts by liberals to endanger the populace through gun control.
Natalie McMasters has already been through a lot. Her backstory has a higher body count than an 80s grindhouse film. In this book, she is countering her well earned paranoid by exercising her right under the second amendment to its fullest extent.
When that law looks likely to change, she’s not too pleased. But even less pleased is a sniper who, through an extraordinarily circuitous logic trail, exercises their rights under the first amendment well past its extent.
Content warning: this book contains lurid depictions of rape.
Go full Batman, that’s what.
This is a 2020 novel. The coronavirus is conspicuously absent, but the rest is all there. Black Lives Matter protests, civil insurrection, attempts by liberals to endanger the populace through gun control.
Natalie McMasters has already been through a lot. Her backstory has a higher body count than an 80s grindhouse film. In this book, she is countering her well earned paranoid by exercising her right under the second amendment to its fullest extent.
When that law looks likely to change, she’s not too pleased. But even less pleased is a sniper who, through an extraordinarily circuitous logic trail, exercises their rights under the first amendment well past its extent.
Content warning: this book contains lurid depictions of rape.
Read
December 21, 2020Thomas Burns recently sent me a copy of this book to read and review. This is the fifth book in the Natalie McMasters series but the first book I have read in this series. I enjoyed the book. The main character, Nattie is bright, engaging and building a family and life. She along with her wife Lupe and their partner Danny have built a loving home and they are raising Lupe's son together. Life is challenging and dangerous and this book shows how Nattie deals with the danger around her. I found the book was hard to put down. We live in a time when gun ownership is hotly debated and this is a strong part of the action in this book. This story is about life, love and the challenge of being considered different in today's society. Well written and enjoyable. I will be going back to see how Nattie's story begins.
November 12, 2020
I was totally confused by this book. About halfway through some of it started making sense and While I did not correctly guess the sniper identity, I did guess the mastermind behind it.
Part of my confusion was the insertion of words that made no sense in their usage as well as inconsistent use of shortened word forms.
The story itself was well presented and the arguments for and against gun control are brought forth along with the power of opinionated news reporting. Had I not been spending an inordinate amount of time trying to understand some of the things I was reading, I would gladly have given this book a higher rating.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Part of my confusion was the insertion of words that made no sense in their usage as well as inconsistent use of shortened word forms.
The story itself was well presented and the arguments for and against gun control are brought forth along with the power of opinionated news reporting. Had I not been spending an inordinate amount of time trying to understand some of the things I was reading, I would gladly have given this book a higher rating.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 26, 2020
With yet another line up of disparate characters, a plot in tune with reality, and a narrative delivered with absolute skill, Sniper without any doubt is the best so far in this series. The author touches on various issues, each one of current concern, while weaving a story to keep one guessing until the very end, but moreover leaving the reader stunned and gasping for breath. An excellent read, a superb addition to the popular Natalie McMasters series, and a series I for one, sincerely recommend.
December 16, 2020
Thomas A. Burns, Jr. writes a thriller that packs a punch. Natalie and her family are unique and fun to read about. It's great getting to revisit them in each installment.
I think Burns does a great job of weaving in real world issues with his writing, it definitely makes the story itself seem more real.
We are given characters who we both root for and root against. The characterization of both groups bring their own important aspect to the story.
Dive into another wonderful Natalie McMasters Mystery, you won't regret it.
I think Burns does a great job of weaving in real world issues with his writing, it definitely makes the story itself seem more real.
We are given characters who we both root for and root against. The characterization of both groups bring their own important aspect to the story.
Dive into another wonderful Natalie McMasters Mystery, you won't regret it.
December 18, 2020
This was a very enjoyable read for what I needed. I was in a mood for something mysterious and twisted, and got exactly that.
The intricate twists and turns together with Burns's amazing mind and ability to strategize keeps the reader guessing as the story slowly unravels and the motives become clear.
I liked this book on so many levels and I do recommend it.
The intricate twists and turns together with Burns's amazing mind and ability to strategize keeps the reader guessing as the story slowly unravels and the motives become clear.
I liked this book on so many levels and I do recommend it.
December 6, 2020
This is action packed and edge of seat thriller that is a must read. The characters will keep you drawn to them for their mystery and strength. New enemies will draw in our heroine and chase until the end
. #BRVL Rates this book at 5 Stars 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
. #BRVL Rates this book at 5 Stars 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
October 17, 2020
Sniper! is the fifth offering in the Natalie McMasters Mysteries.
November 24, 2020
Sniper a Natalie McMasters Mystery by Thomas A Burns
0 STars I don't know why I even finished it ! Two lesbians and one man living together as a fam.
0 STars I don't know why I even finished it ! Two lesbians and one man living together as a fam.
June 24, 2021
A most excellent read from start to finish.Would recommend this book and author to anyone who likes mystery novels.First class.
November 18, 2020
Gun legislation and the Second Amendment are hot button topics no matter which way you lean, and it is front and center in the latest Natalie McMasters thriller. SNIPER! is the fifth novel in the colorful life of McMasters and family. Although every effort is made to explain what has happened so far, this is a series you really need to read in order to appreciate all that has gone before.
Thomas A. Burns, Jr. has written another page turner. It seems there is never a good place to put the book aside to pick it up later. SNIPER! is an emotionally charged adrenaline rush right up to the last page. Natalie finds herself embroiled in the gun issue while she and Lupe are at odds once again. Danny, the third member of the throuple, tries to be the sensible one. There is a new character introduced that I didn't see coming. Ye-ye teaches Tai Chi Chuan and may be the one person who will help Natalie live with her inner demons.
When reviewing a nail-biter, it is difficult, but necessary, to not give too much away. You can surely glean from the title, there is going to be a sniper. The where, when and why are the reasons for reading the book.
Like its predecessors, SNIPER! may not be a book for everyone. The series explores relationships in the 21st century and uses texting abbreviations popular today. I will confess that I have had to google some of them to get beyond merely the gist of various passages. Looking them up means I've learned something new, and when I learn something new it is a good day indeed.
Thomas A. Burns, Jr. has written another page turner. It seems there is never a good place to put the book aside to pick it up later. SNIPER! is an emotionally charged adrenaline rush right up to the last page. Natalie finds herself embroiled in the gun issue while she and Lupe are at odds once again. Danny, the third member of the throuple, tries to be the sensible one. There is a new character introduced that I didn't see coming. Ye-ye teaches Tai Chi Chuan and may be the one person who will help Natalie live with her inner demons.
When reviewing a nail-biter, it is difficult, but necessary, to not give too much away. You can surely glean from the title, there is going to be a sniper. The where, when and why are the reasons for reading the book.
Like its predecessors, SNIPER! may not be a book for everyone. The series explores relationships in the 21st century and uses texting abbreviations popular today. I will confess that I have had to google some of them to get beyond merely the gist of various passages. Looking them up means I've learned something new, and when I learn something new it is a good day indeed.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews