The Master Sniper

Unlike many of the other reviewers who appear to have read a Bob Lee Swagger novel before this one, this is my first Stephen Hunter novel. I have a few of the Bob Lee Swagger novels on my reading list, but I prefer to read an author's debut novel before anything else they write, and The Master Sniper is Hunter's debut novel, published in 1980. As such, I don't have the complication of expectations for this story as compared to a Bob Lee Swagger story.I thought the main plot of this story was excellent. It's near the end of WWII and the Germans have developed the first infrared weapon targeting system. The story's protagonist, Captain Jim Leets, is assigned to: 1) find and understand the technology, 2) find the German Lt. Colonel Repp who is the master sniper and who will be using this new technology, and 3) identify and save the person(s) the master sniper is planning on killing with this new technology. The premise is quite believable, more than enough to keep me engaged in the story.I also enjoyed the diversity of characters. The author did an excellent job of balancing the positive and negative in each character, thus making each one come off as authentically human. I thought the character, Shmuel, was excellently presented.The romance subplot involving Susan seemed distracting to the story. I usually enjoy the romance subplot, but this one didn't resonate with me. Maybe because the situation was a bit too WWII cliché... married woman, husband halfway around the world, seeks companionship with local military guy, feels guilty... but doesn't. I really wasn't interested in the outcome of the romance, which is why I say it distracted from the story rather than enhancing it. A quarter of the way into the story, I found myself wishing Susan would get killed by a German V2 rocket or transferred back to the States so that Captain Leets could find a better girlfriend who wasn't such a downer.The whole tennis-thing with Roger seemed oddly included, but it did accomplish a little character profiling... although I didn't think it added that much to the ending. Roger was a minor character throughout the story who ended up playing a major role in the climax. I guess Roger's "larger role in the ending" could have been predicted--based on the number of words given to him--but it didn't feel right to me. Oh well, no big deal.It was a good story, not great but good.

I first read this book in the early 80's strictly by chance. I picked it off the paperback shelf at a bookstore because I liked the title. I enjoyed the book and it stuck in the back of my mind. Recently I recalled the story but I didn't remember the title or the author. I have pretty good Google-fu and soon found what I was looking for. Bought it for my kindle and enjoyed it even more than the first time. Then I found out about Bob the Nailer and have read several of those tales. I liked the WW2 weapon technologies Hunter wrote about in Master Sniper and it opened the door to further my interest in WW2 history. Great read and I highly recommend.

A very good action book, especially if you like WWII stories & snipers!The story starts a little slow, flipping back and worth between the German sniper Repp and the American officer Leets and his British counterpart Outhwaithe, but kicks into high gear and never lets up a few chapters in.This novel was Stephen Hunter's 1st book, written in 1980. For a 1st novel, its excellent.The story / plot of this book is amazing,once you find out what Repp's mission is, it will blow you away, this book should have been a movie long, long ago.The Germans have a new weapon "Vampir (Vampire)", a highly sophisticated nightvision apparatus that attaches to a rifle, allowing the shooter to work at night and "Vampir" shoots a special 100 % lead round that makes very little sound when fired. Their is only one "Vampir" and the Germans have got their best man for the job, a German named Repp "der Meisterschutze (The Master Sniper)" as fellow Germans and the Jews know him. Germany is losing the war and its almost over, but Repp has one more mission to complete, a mission that could change the world.An American officer named Leets has a hunch that something big is about to happen, he just doesnt know what or who it is, yet!Good action, great characters and great storytelling from Stephen Hunter!"Dirty White Boys" by Stephen Hunter was entertaining, I think "The Master Sniper" was a little better. Can't wait to read "Point of Impact" next!

Of all Stephen Hunter books, I could not even finish this one. Terrible. Read about a third and was still wondering when we were going to get to the plot, person, story whatever. I am just glad I had read every other book S. Hunter wrote and couldn't put them down because had I read this one first I would never have read another of his works.

I have read all of Stephen Hunter's books, good and bad. This one is the worst of all of them. I am glad I read it decades after he wrote it or I would never have read any of his others. In this book he tries to be too "literary" with formal phrasing, cute names, stereotypical characters (I think Susan should have been named Muffy or Bunny). I would rate this as one of the two worst books I have ever read (right up there with Neal Stephenson...hmmm, similar name, you don't think it's the same guy do you?). Skip this book and read Mr Hunter's other writings. A couple were bad (not as bad as this book), most were very, very good. I am glad Mr Hunter got his act together and changed writing styles.

This is a story set during World War II and is about a German sniper, a secret sniper rifle, a last after war mission for the sniper and three allies that try to stop him. This is not nearly as good as the authors Bob Lee Swagger books. I found it interesting but not a book that I felt I had to stay up late reading.

I'm a huge Stephen Hunter fan; I discovered him through the Bob Lee Swagger books. When I ordered this one I didn't realize it was one of his earlier books (1980) but was not disappointed. The writing is good, economical but has a few twists that are telegraphed pretty early that you wouldn't see in his later productions. Very good book, enjoyed it immensely sitting by the pool.

No phone memory for pictures but multiple pages are different sizes. Writing is cut off on pages, margins are all different. Excess glue also all over bottom and top of the spine.

very good

Love these books

great read..

Good read