Member Review
Review by
Galena P, Reviewer
Title: The Gun Man Jackson Swagger
Author: Stephen Hunter
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Publication Date: October 14, 2025
Pages: 304
Format read: ARC eBook
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and quirky takes are entirely my own—because no one else can read between the spines quite like I do. Big thanks to Simon & Schuster for the ARC—and for fueling my TBR problem.
⏩ Read if you love:
classic westerns. Hunter's writing transports you to the old west much like the writing of L'Amour, Grey, and McMurtry.
characters out to avenge the death of others. The quest for vengeance in this novel define Jack's motivations while simmering just beneath the surface.
descriptive, mood setting, plot driving writing. Hunter's prose at once elicits a time and place for escape while also moving the story from scene to scene. No overwritten, flowery prose. Whether describing the arid landscape, the gun man's (of which there are several) measured movements, or the quick dialogue the writing puts you directly in the story. I wish I could share some examples, but because it's an ARC copy, I am explicitly prohibited from quoting.
a cast of characters firmly grounded in the west. Scruffy, rugged, greenhorns and gunmen alike all swagger off the page and into your mind. Even those who only grace a few pages make an indelible mark (especially the group near the very end!).
clear, dramatic action scenes. Fight sequences and scenes are some of the hardest things to write. I love when authors can write a fight scene so clearly, it's like the movie sequence of the fight is crystal clear in my mind.
an unexpected (for the time period) villain. Hunter doesn't have one man but a whole system, targeted from more than one angle as the villain.
❌ Skip if you hate:
westerns. Really. If you do not like classic westerns, skip this one.
murder/death. It's a western. Murder and death are everywhere.
abuse of women. While not explicit, there is reference to women being subjugated by men for their pleasure and profit.
🏅 Best Character Award Goes To:
Jackson Swagger - from his slow ride onto the ranch to his final acts of vengeance Jack plays the old, out-of-the-game cowboy well. You know and feel there's more to him than that and Hunter slowly repaints his image with each trek Jack takes.
🎭 Scene-Stealer Moment:
The moment on (or off??) the cliff. I can't say more without giving much away, but at that moment in the book it's a literal cliffhanger of a moment. My heart and breath stopped. Hunter knows how to build to and execute a strong cliffhanger.
🎯 Final Take:
Sit on your patio, kick your feet up, and listen to old spaghetti western music while reading this novel to transport yourself to a hotter, harder time in history.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 – Solid Plotline - Instant classic.
📚 Shelf-Worthy - I will likely purchase the book for my bookshelf and re-read.
Author: Stephen Hunter
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Publication Date: October 14, 2025
Pages: 304
Format read: ARC eBook
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and quirky takes are entirely my own—because no one else can read between the spines quite like I do. Big thanks to Simon & Schuster for the ARC—and for fueling my TBR problem.
⏩ Read if you love:
classic westerns. Hunter's writing transports you to the old west much like the writing of L'Amour, Grey, and McMurtry.
characters out to avenge the death of others. The quest for vengeance in this novel define Jack's motivations while simmering just beneath the surface.
descriptive, mood setting, plot driving writing. Hunter's prose at once elicits a time and place for escape while also moving the story from scene to scene. No overwritten, flowery prose. Whether describing the arid landscape, the gun man's (of which there are several) measured movements, or the quick dialogue the writing puts you directly in the story. I wish I could share some examples, but because it's an ARC copy, I am explicitly prohibited from quoting.
a cast of characters firmly grounded in the west. Scruffy, rugged, greenhorns and gunmen alike all swagger off the page and into your mind. Even those who only grace a few pages make an indelible mark (especially the group near the very end!).
clear, dramatic action scenes. Fight sequences and scenes are some of the hardest things to write. I love when authors can write a fight scene so clearly, it's like the movie sequence of the fight is crystal clear in my mind.
an unexpected (for the time period) villain. Hunter doesn't have one man but a whole system, targeted from more than one angle as the villain.
❌ Skip if you hate:
westerns. Really. If you do not like classic westerns, skip this one.
murder/death. It's a western. Murder and death are everywhere.
abuse of women. While not explicit, there is reference to women being subjugated by men for their pleasure and profit.
🏅 Best Character Award Goes To:
Jackson Swagger - from his slow ride onto the ranch to his final acts of vengeance Jack plays the old, out-of-the-game cowboy well. You know and feel there's more to him than that and Hunter slowly repaints his image with each trek Jack takes.
🎭 Scene-Stealer Moment:
The moment on (or off??) the cliff. I can't say more without giving much away, but at that moment in the book it's a literal cliffhanger of a moment. My heart and breath stopped. Hunter knows how to build to and execute a strong cliffhanger.
🎯 Final Take:
Sit on your patio, kick your feet up, and listen to old spaghetti western music while reading this novel to transport yourself to a hotter, harder time in history.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 – Solid Plotline - Instant classic.
📚 Shelf-Worthy - I will likely purchase the book for my bookshelf and re-read.
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