Title: Pale Horse Coming
Author: Stephen Hunter
First published October 9, 2001
Paperback
ISBN: 9780099436843 (ISBN10: 0099436841)
Rating: 4.26
Overview
In the year 1962, Earl Swagger, a former Marine and a tough-as-nails private detective, receives a call from an old friend, Sam Vincent. Sam’s daughter has been kidnapped, and he needs Earl’s help to rescue her.
The only lead is a small town in Louisiana called Bunker City, where Sam believes his daughter is being held captive. But Bunker City is not like any other town.
It’s a town that’s ruled by a corrupt sheriff and his army of cronies. A town where the law doesn’t exist, and justice is served with a bullet.
Earl knows that the odds are against him, but he’s never been one to back down from a fight. With his trusty Colt .45 by his side, Earl sets out to Bunker City, ready to unleash his own brand of justice.
Pale Horse Coming is a high-octane, action-packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
Editoral Review
Stephen Hunter is a highly acclaimed author, known for his pulse-pounding thrillers and masterful command of suspenseful storytelling. In his 2001 novel, Pale Horse Coming, Hunter delivers a gripping tale of revenge, racial tension, and redemption set in the heart of Jim Crow-era Mississippi.
The plot follows the journey of a man named Arden Halliday, a former prison guard who finds himself embroiled in a dangerous and complicated situation when he is hired to execute a convicted criminal. Things go awry when Halliday discovers evidence of the man’s innocence, leading him down a path of self-discovery, political corruption, and bloody revenge.
The characters in the novel are well-crafted and realistic, each with their own unique motivations, fears, and desires. Halliday is a flawed protagonist who struggles with his conscience and his own dark past, while the supporting cast of prisoners, lawmen, and local politicians add depth and complexity to the story.
Hunter’s writing style is engaging and evocative, drawing readers in with rich description, visceral action, and memorable dialogue. The themes of race, justice, and power are handled with nuance and sensitivity, highlighting the complex and often troubling nature of race relations in the South during this era.
While Pale Horse Coming is undeniably gripping and well-crafted, it does have a few limitations. Some readers may take issue with the depictions of violence and racial tension, which can be quite graphic at times.
Additionally, the pacing of the novel can be uneven, with long stretches of exposition and introspection punctuated by sudden bursts of action and violence. Despite these flaws, Pale Horse Coming is a powerful and compelling novel that will leave readers on edge until the very end.
Hunter’s talents as a storyteller are on full display here, and his ability to weave together complex plots, vivid characters, and evocative settings is truly impressive. For fans of Hunter’s other works, as well as those interested in crime thrillers and stories of redemption, Pale Horse Coming is a must-read.
It offers a window into a turbulent and complex era of American history, while also providing a thrilling and thought-provoking narrative. Overall, this novel deserves high praise and would be well-received by a wide audience.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
