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Mike Cramer #2
The Long Shot
The plan is so complex, the target so well protected that the three snipers have to rehearse the killing in the seclusion of the Arizona desert.
Cole Howard of the FBI knows he has only days to prevent the audacious assassination. But he doesn't know who the target is. Or where the crack marksmen will strike.
Former SAS sergeant Mike Cramer is also on the trail, infiltrating the Irish community in New York as he tracks down Mary Hennessy, the ruthless killer who tore his life apart.
Unless Cramer and Howard agree to co-operate, the world will witness the most spectacular terrorist coup of all time . . .
Cole Howard of the FBI knows he has only days to prevent the audacious assassination. But he doesn't know who the target is. Or where the crack marksmen will strike.
Former SAS sergeant Mike Cramer is also on the trail, infiltrating the Irish community in New York as he tracks down Mary Hennessy, the ruthless killer who tore his life apart.
Unless Cramer and Howard agree to co-operate, the world will witness the most spectacular terrorist coup of all time . . .
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
101 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Leather
245 books1,528 followersStephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 25, 2023
Found while waiting for my wife at the dentist. Continued reading at home pausing my Conn Iggulden in progress.
Not an Author I had come across before although I see he is rather prolific. The story is a cracker and over 500 pages romped by. Carlos the Jackal and the IRA out to assassinate the British PM and US President at a baseball game using three snipers.
Well developed story and characters. Particularly Mike Cramer. Ex SAS now overweight and with a penchant to emptying Famous Grouse whisky bottles.
Lots of action. Unusually made me scour Amazon to pick up another couple of the Authors works.
Not an Author I had come across before although I see he is rather prolific. The story is a cracker and over 500 pages romped by. Carlos the Jackal and the IRA out to assassinate the British PM and US President at a baseball game using three snipers.
Well developed story and characters. Particularly Mike Cramer. Ex SAS now overweight and with a penchant to emptying Famous Grouse whisky bottles.
Lots of action. Unusually made me scour Amazon to pick up another couple of the Authors works.
June 14, 2019
3 Stars
The Long Shot is the second book in the Mike Cramer Series by Stephen Leather. This is another thriller, with mystery, FBI, espionage, action, suspense, violence, snipers, murder, terrorists, hidden agendas, intrigue, revenge, and twists. This follows the recipe of a classic thriller, but it was a little predictable, and got ‘bogged down’ in places.
Thank you, Mr. Leather!
The Long Shot is the second book in the Mike Cramer Series by Stephen Leather. This is another thriller, with mystery, FBI, espionage, action, suspense, violence, snipers, murder, terrorists, hidden agendas, intrigue, revenge, and twists. This follows the recipe of a classic thriller, but it was a little predictable, and got ‘bogged down’ in places.
Thank you, Mr. Leather!
September 23, 2019
One of Leather's early books, written in the 90's. And maybe a tad outdated, but perfect for it's day and time. A classic assassination novel. 3 snipers, the IRA, and Carlos the Jackal. The deeper I got into the story, the better it got. Plenty of detail and the plot kept me going on. Told from several different characters point of views. This helped to keep the reader involved into the action. Loved the exciting ending (aren't they all?). Story starts off in Arizona was finishes up in the DC area. looking forward to more Stephen Leather books, one of my favorite authors.
January 27, 2018
Classic Leather
Suspense, action, intrigue, revenge. All the ingredients you need for a classic thriller!! Great sequel, can't wait to read the next installment.
Suspense, action, intrigue, revenge. All the ingredients you need for a classic thriller!! Great sequel, can't wait to read the next installment.
April 9, 2022
I was engaged by the terrorist president prime minister assassination plot. And the characters were interesting with Cramer and the terrorists. I do feel for all the buildup the last part was a little rushed. I found Joker to be a particularly interesting character.
June 24, 2017
One of Stephen Leather's early books. Enjoyed it ! Action, tight plots, believable characters and twists.
Another hit for me!
Another hit for me!
January 26, 2014
This review is based on the Isis Audio version read by Martin Reed.
I came over to the Cramer series after having finished the Spider Shepherd series and although I appreciated the single-story that this follows, the compliments end there.
Firstly, I have to say that this book was probably worsened by the narrator who, despite an ok - if not a bit Mr Men - narration, is terrible with American accents and makes all characters under 30 seem like they're wetting their pants. And the husky voice of Cramer didn't seem suitable for the 'main' character. It was frustrating to say the least, especially because the book last a long-winded 18 hours.
As for the 'book' itself, I saw this as more a Cole Howard book instead of focussing on Mike Cramer. Cramer is an unlikeable alcoholic and in places unbelievable like in his heroic act in the last part. The story was commendable but not gripping, and at times I couldn't wait to finish it. I think I missed a step as I couldn't understand if Carlos was shooting from an office or from the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn, but I couldn't really have cared less.
I know that this is an old one, but it really wasn't my cup of tea. I think I'll be giving the other Cramer reads a long berth.
I came over to the Cramer series after having finished the Spider Shepherd series and although I appreciated the single-story that this follows, the compliments end there.
Firstly, I have to say that this book was probably worsened by the narrator who, despite an ok - if not a bit Mr Men - narration, is terrible with American accents and makes all characters under 30 seem like they're wetting their pants. And the husky voice of Cramer didn't seem suitable for the 'main' character. It was frustrating to say the least, especially because the book last a long-winded 18 hours.
As for the 'book' itself, I saw this as more a Cole Howard book instead of focussing on Mike Cramer. Cramer is an unlikeable alcoholic and in places unbelievable like in his heroic act in the last part. The story was commendable but not gripping, and at times I couldn't wait to finish it. I think I missed a step as I couldn't understand if Carlos was shooting from an office or from the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn, but I couldn't really have cared less.
I know that this is an old one, but it really wasn't my cup of tea. I think I'll be giving the other Cramer reads a long berth.
October 28, 2025
yet another Stephen Leather novel taking you to the edge, brilliantly set up, IRA, Middle East Terrorist, Disenfranchised Special Services, all with a desire for revenge, money or simply desire to show the power they hold over Western Authority. Mike Cramer is wound up and set loose like a clockwork mouse, unfortunately after release he finds out he was the cheese in the trap. Carlos the Jackal is trying to find a new and safe home for him and his family. Mary Hennessy is out for simple revenge. A plan is put in place, with a pay off. Can they get to the pay off? As ever Stephen Leather delivers the thrills and drama. Great writing, well worth the read.
March 16, 2020
Since the virus scare is keeping us all at home for a few weeks, months or years, I ripped through the second in Leather's Mike Cramer series. Set mainly in the US, there were some howlers, but overall this was his usual intricate plotting, with some hanging elements at the end.
I've got a couple other books in progress, so I'll be finishing the before taking on another of his.
I've got a couple other books in progress, so I'll be finishing the before taking on another of his.
July 16, 2020
4.5 stars
This was a slow burner and was written very differently to the first book in the series. For a start the main character, Mike Cramer featured throughout.
The story was told from several perspectives, the criminals, anti-terrorists and FBI and built to an explosive conclusion. I was totally engrossed.
This was a slow burner and was written very differently to the first book in the series. For a start the main character, Mike Cramer featured throughout.
The story was told from several perspectives, the criminals, anti-terrorists and FBI and built to an explosive conclusion. I was totally engrossed.
December 28, 2018
Awesome read
An excellent read full of the usual Stephen Leather twists and turns. Featuring an unlikely hero and a demise for one of the bad guys.
An excellent read full of the usual Stephen Leather twists and turns. Featuring an unlikely hero and a demise for one of the bad guys.
January 18, 2023
Интересен свят рисува, макар че леко започва да се повтаря
December 21, 2023
Стандартен деветдесетарски екшън с бая клишенца :) И стандартен като 2000-те превод :)
December 27, 2024
Excellent story of an IRA plot against the British Prime minister on a US visit, with two sub-plots
July 30, 2025
I thought that this was a very good read. Decent pace, engaging and intriguing story. I thought it had aged reasonably well.
not-interested
August 25, 2014Quote from author:
""One thing I have never been able to understand is why an organisation like the National Black Police Association is allowed to exist. It is by its very nature racist - hoping to promote the interests of a group solely on the basis of the colour of its members. A police officer can lose his job if he is found to be a member of the British National Party, which in the past excluded non-whites. But the NPBA, which is solely for non-white police officers, is allowed to operate with impunity. Hardly seems fair, does it?""
Source.
"Stephen Leather, who churns outs [sic] ebook and paperback thrillers, boasted at last month's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival: 'As soon as my book is out I'm on Facebook and Twitter several times a day talking about it. I'll go on to several forums, the well-known forums, and post there under my name and under various other names and various other characters. You build up this whole network of characters who talk about your books and sometimes have conversations with yourself.'
Leather was not ashamed. He crowed like a prize cock and expected his fellow crime writers to applaud his cunning.
Jeremy Duns, a British thriller writer who exposes plagiarists in his spare time, found that Leather was nastier than that. When he wanted to fake an identity, Leather picked on Steve Roach, a minor writer who had made disobliging remarks about one of his books. Leather created Twitter ""sockpuppet"" accounts in the names of @Writerroach and @TheSteveRoach. Roach described on an Amazon forum how one account had '16,000 followers all reading ""my"" tweets about how much ""I"" loved SL's books'. He was nervous. He told Duns in a taped conversation that Leather was 'very powerful' and not a man to be crossed. Roach emailed Leather and begged to be left alone. Pleased that his cyber bullying campaign had worked, Leather graciously gave Roach control of the @Writerroach account he had created, to Roach's 'great relief'."
Source.
""One thing I have never been able to understand is why an organisation like the National Black Police Association is allowed to exist. It is by its very nature racist - hoping to promote the interests of a group solely on the basis of the colour of its members. A police officer can lose his job if he is found to be a member of the British National Party, which in the past excluded non-whites. But the NPBA, which is solely for non-white police officers, is allowed to operate with impunity. Hardly seems fair, does it?""
Source.
"Stephen Leather, who churns outs [sic] ebook and paperback thrillers, boasted at last month's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival: 'As soon as my book is out I'm on Facebook and Twitter several times a day talking about it. I'll go on to several forums, the well-known forums, and post there under my name and under various other names and various other characters. You build up this whole network of characters who talk about your books and sometimes have conversations with yourself.'
Leather was not ashamed. He crowed like a prize cock and expected his fellow crime writers to applaud his cunning.
Jeremy Duns, a British thriller writer who exposes plagiarists in his spare time, found that Leather was nastier than that. When he wanted to fake an identity, Leather picked on Steve Roach, a minor writer who had made disobliging remarks about one of his books. Leather created Twitter ""sockpuppet"" accounts in the names of @Writerroach and @TheSteveRoach. Roach described on an Amazon forum how one account had '16,000 followers all reading ""my"" tweets about how much ""I"" loved SL's books'. He was nervous. He told Duns in a taped conversation that Leather was 'very powerful' and not a man to be crossed. Roach emailed Leather and begged to be left alone. Pleased that his cyber bullying campaign had worked, Leather graciously gave Roach control of the @Writerroach account he had created, to Roach's 'great relief'."
Source.
October 5, 2015
May be my subjective comprehension about the book sound not so agreeable to the discretion of most reviewers, but I found it exceedingly entertaining in terms of plot, thrill, especially the boozer-cum former SAS agent Mike Cramer’s desperadoism, and FBI agent Cole Howard’s presence of mind in delicate situations which rather demand pro-analysis, strenuous research and coordinated approach with teammates, and of course risking life in unbelievable stunt involving aerial shootout against the team of sniper-cum terrorists.
Perhaps fewest of the books I’ve re-read thrice so far to the unquenchable thirst of mine. Best treat for thrill-lovers!
Perhaps fewest of the books I’ve re-read thrice so far to the unquenchable thirst of mine. Best treat for thrill-lovers!
May 6, 2020
De korte inhoud vertelt waarover het boek gaat. Een aanslag op de president van Amerika. Een thema dat reeds veel gebruikt is in filmen en boeken.
Een toeval dat de wereld binnen de FBI fel verandert. Zo als altijd gaat ook deze aanslag ook mislukken.
Spannend vanaf het begin.
Een woordje over de kaft: Niet dadelijk de mooiste. Past min of meer bij het verhaal. Drie personen die rond een tafel zitten en naar een scherm zitten te kijken. Vermoedelijk naar de beelden van de videofilm.
Besluit: Goed.
Een toeval dat de wereld binnen de FBI fel verandert. Zo als altijd gaat ook deze aanslag ook mislukken.
Spannend vanaf het begin.
Een woordje over de kaft: Niet dadelijk de mooiste. Past min of meer bij het verhaal. Drie personen die rond een tafel zitten en naar een scherm zitten te kijken. Vermoedelijk naar de beelden van de videofilm.
Besluit: Goed.
May 28, 2012
The FBI has found out that an assassination plot is in the works
and the IRA is responsible. They assign agent Cole Howard to the case
and he knows that he only has days to discover who is to be
assassinated. This is an earlierook by Steve Leather from around
1994 but it's a good story if a bit long 596 pages.
and the IRA is responsible. They assign agent Cole Howard to the case
and he knows that he only has days to discover who is to be
assassinated. This is an earlierook by Steve Leather from around
1994 but it's a good story if a bit long 596 pages.
June 19, 2015
A pretty good read and an entertaining story, but I found it simply too long. There is quite a bit of the prose that could be cut out to make the story flow more and keep it's fast pace. This was one of Stephen Leather's first books I guess and he was still getting used to writing action thrillers.
July 4, 2009
Not as engrossing as his other books.
Read
September 1, 2012Love Spider so much. Started with number 3 then had to find first 2 and get the lot. Broke my heart over Major Gannon tho. Spider is totally addictive and so is Richard Yokeley
May 5, 2016
Good book, believable characters, not too over the top with the deeds of agents, except perhaps overcoming an assassin while suspended at tiptoes, after torture.
January 19, 2012
A real page turner, had me wanting more.
Read
March 5, 2013add me pleaze I've read this story but i did not comlete it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews