Action or romance?

This was pretty well written. But, if I heard "Oh Bud." From another female character to the "hero" one more time I was going to lose my cookies. Sheesh. But, the action although predictable was good and fast. lose the angst and romance and stick to the action. The book should have been about half as long still, I'd give it three and a half on the action and characters. Although, I really did didn't feel much attachment to any of them. ( )

Barely worthwhile. ( )

This was even better than [b:Point of Impact|127712|Point of Impact|Stephen Hunter|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171941562s/127712.jpg|3870]. Gritty and good. ( )

Lamar Pye, his mentally retarded cousin, Odell, and a thrid man escape from McAlester State Penn, a maximum security prison. Pye had just murdered another prisoner who tried to rape him in the prision showers. Now, with nothing to lose, the men go on a killing and robbery spree in Oklahoma and North Texas.

They stop at a ranch to see if they can find weapons. The ranch is owned by WWII vet Bill Stepford who lives there with his wife, Mary.

State police Sgt. Bud Pewtie and his young partner, Ted Pepper, happen to stop at a restaurant where the waitress asks them to check in on Stepford. He comes to that restaurant for breakfast every day and didn't show up. Since he's an older man, she is worried that something may have happened.

Not suspecting that they are approaching cold blooded killers, the troopers are ambushed. Pepper is killed and Pewtie wounded.

Stephen Hunter gives an excellent, well plotted story of the escape, the horrors inflicted by the fugitives and the relentless pursuit.

All of the major characters have flaws. Pewtie is a self-centered egotist who is having an affair with his partner's wife. His lieutenant is an alcoholic and Lemar Pye is so evil that the memory of his deeds will remain in the reader's mind for a long time.

An enjoyable reading experience. ( )

This was one of the worst books I have ever read! ( )