First published 2009
Four prominent 1960s radicals die from sniper fire at long distance. The FBI swiftly identifies Marine veteran Carl Hitchcock as the killer. Hitchcock earned ninety-three confirmed kills in Vietnam, making him America's deadliest marksman from that war. Under intense pressure from investigators led by Special Agent Nick Memphis, Hitchcock takes his own life. The case appears airtight. Every piece of evidence points to Hitchcock, from ballistics reports to his presence at the crime scenes. But Nick Memphis suspects the investigation wrapped up too neatly. He brings the case files to his friend Bob Lee Swagger, a retired Marine sniper with unmatched expertise. Swagger spots inconsistencies that others missed. The evidence reveals a complex frame job orchestrated by elite special operations professionals. As Swagger digs deeper into advanced sniper technology and tactics, Memphis faces political pressure to abandon the investigation. The real conspirators realize Swagger poses a threat. They mobilize to eliminate him, but they underestimate their target. The hunters become the hunted as Swagger turns his deadly skills against them.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, conspiracy, frame-up
Setting: Vietnam
Period: 1960s
418 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster
Content warnings: violence