THE GUNMAN JACKSON SWAGGER - Stephen Hunter

 It is 1897 and the railroad company is trying hard to connect a rail line from the east coast to the west coast. Things are tough all over - there's been severe drought and ranches are closing up as herds are dying off. Anyone looking for a job is also struggling to find a ranch that is still hiring on. But there is one - the Callahan Ranch in the American Southwest is thriving. In addition to the usual ranch hands, Callahan also has a number of gunmen on payroll.

One day an older gentleman rides in looking for work. Jackson "Jack" Swagger is calm and confident and more skilled with a gun than any of the other men currently working for the ranch. Jack spent time in the war, though doesn't speak too much of it, but his demeanor, skills, and background are appealing to Colonel Callahan, an ex-military man himself, and Jack is hired on. It doesn't take long for Jack to prove himself the most skilled and most trusted man in the outfit when, on a run into Mexico, he leads the Callahan men out of an ambush.

Jack isn't at Callahan's just because he needed work, though. He's on a mission. He's looking into a possible connection between the death of a young cowboy on the ranch, Callahan's wealth, and the many, many trips the rancher's men make into Mexico.

I came to this book because it's a western - a genre I've found I quite enjoy - and a western by someone who isn't one of the 'big name' western authors. And I came to this book not being familiar with the author, Stephen Hunter.

In preparing to write this review (and just about any of my reviews) I did a little bit of research to check out author Stephen Hunter's pedigree and to see whether or not this was part of a series. So imagine my surprise to learn that Hunter is the author of some 90 distinct titles - though this may be his first western. This does explain, though, why I found the writing to be crisp, direct, exciting and very approachable.  As to whether or not this was part of a series, well ... there lies an interesting concept. It appears that Hunter has written two different series in the Swagger family line: the Earl Swagger series and the Bob Lee Swagger series. I believe that Jackson would be an ancestor of Earl and Bob Lee.

Of course Stephen Hunter isn't the first author to write books following a family line. Western giant, Louis L'Amour did it quite famously with his Sackett family stories.

I really enjoyed this book. I was sucked in quite early with Jackson's confidence and swagger (pun intended). We're given everything we need to know (and like) our protagonist, and to understand that he's probably unbeatable by any legitimate means.

The story develops nicely and the reader, through Jackson, makes discoveries about Callahan's ranch and the men there at a nice pace - not so quick that we can't keep up, but not so slow that we get bored going from point to point.

This is a really nice blend of character-driven story, and plot-driven. I was tempted to write that Jackson carries this book, and it's true that his swagger (how can I NOT keep using that word/name?!) is addicting, but Jackson needed THIS story to shine.

I enjoyed this enough that not only am I hoping there will be more books in this series, but I'm interested in reading the Earl and Bob Lee Swagger books now, too.

Looking for a good book? The Gunman Jackson Swagger by Stephen Hunter is a classic western with gunfights, bandits, and a 'white hat' hero. Fans of the genre should give it a read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

4-1/2 stars 

* * * * * *

The Gunman Jackson Swagger

author: Stephen Hunter

publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

ISBN: 9781668030394

hardcover, 304 pages