Saying I'm a fan of Stephen Hunter's writing is a gross understatement.

On nine different occasions, his stories have cost me more than a few hours sleep. For me, losing sleep and knowing beats going to bed wondering what's going to happen next in one of his series of stories about the Swagger family.

When offered an advance copy of the tenth book in the Bob Lee Swagger family saga, I jumped on it with the same restraint my dogs show when offered treats.

Like them, my response was Pavlovian. I knew I was in for a treat.

The story begins as Bob Lee Swagger finally sells the Swagger family farm in Arkansas. When developers begin tearing down the old homestead, they find a steel case filled with 1934 memorabilia belonging to Charles Swagger, Bob's grandfather. Swagger's father Earl refused to ever talk about Charles, so the discovery kicks off Bob Swagger's curiosity and he sets out to find out what happened to his grandfather and learn why his father never spoke of him.

As Swagger investigates, he discovers others want to know about other secrets Charles Swagger apparently left behind.

At that point, I knew I was about to lose more sleep because of Stephen Hunter.

And "G-Man" managed to exceed my inflated expectations.

The story's terrific, but the tenth book of the Swagger series answered questions I've had through nine earlier novels that told most of the Swagger family story.

Honestly, that tying up of loose ends concerned me to the point I had one question I really wanted to ask Hunter in a scheduled telephone interview. When we spoke, I quickly moved through the "usual" questions asked of a Pulitzer Prize winning former film critic for The Washington Post.

For me, only one question that needed an answer:

"Is G-Man the end of the Swagger series?"

Hunter's answer was direct, but not very satisfying.

"I don't know," he said, "I'm exhausted from G-Man. I have some ideas, but none so much that I passionately want to write them."

And Hunter's motivation for writing G-Man wasn't tying up loose ends of the Swagger family story.

It was, he writes in his acknowledgements, "ire" at film director Michael Mann's "movie desecration of 1934 in his idiotic version of Bryan Burrough's majestic "Public Enemies".

Did I mention he was a movie critic?

Some, apparently including Michael Mann, believe the big story of 1934 -a year where criminal personalities like John Dillinger, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, Pretty Boy Floyd died - was the matchup between the FBI's Melvin Purvis and John Dillinger.

Not Hunter.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2334603.jpg> Lester M. Gillis, a/k/a George "Baby Face" Nelson was a real terror in 1934 (above). How Hunter uses Nelson, and his Colt Monitor (below) to create another chapter in the Swagger family saga, is a tribute to Hunter's considerable skill as a storyteller. http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2334605.jpeg>

To make the point, he turns Dillinger and Purvis into cameo players in his fictional retelling of what he believes was the "real" story of 1934- FBI agent Sam Cowley's pursuit of Nelson.

Agent Sam Cowley's priority to nab Nelson and the realization that the FBI's agents weren't up to the task of shooting it out with experienced gunmen led him to recruit local lawmen who were known gunfighters.

That allowed Hunter to introduce Charles Swagger into the story.

From there, Hunter again melds historical facts and fictional characters into a spellbinding read that, once again, left me wondering where another night went.

Hunter's "G-Man" answered questions about a family of characters - on both sides of the law - who have become permanent residents on my bookshelves and my memory.

But my unanswered question, "Is 'G-Man' it for the Swaggers?" remains.

It's a question only Stephen Hunter can answer. In the meantime, we should all treat "G-Man" as what it is -another great read from a great writer.

There is one bit of good news for all Hunter fans: "G-Man" started hitting bookstores across the country yesterday.

—Jim Shepherd

Editor's Note: Hunter will be making a series of promotional appearances over the next few weeks. Here's the schedule should you want to meet him (and lobby for #11 in the Swagger series)

New York City
Wednesday, May 17, 6:30 p.m.
Mysterious Bookshop

Houston
Wednesday, May 24, 6:30 p.m.
Murder by the Book

Los Angeles
Thursday, May 25, 7:00 p.m.
Vroman's Bookstore

Seattle
Saturday, May 27, 12:00 p.m. 
Seattle Mystery Bookshop

Washington, DC
Saturday, June 3, 6:00 p.m.
Politics & Prose

Phoenix
Thursday, June 8, 7:00 p.m.
Poisoned Pen