Time to Kill: A Sniper Novel

The political upheaval in Egypt after the fall of the Mubarak regime provides the backdrop for Coughlin and Davis’s serviceable sixth novel featuring Gunnery Sgt. Kyle Swanson (after 2012’s Running the Maze). Kyle, the Marine Corps’ top sniper, works for Task Force Trident, a super-secret agency that answers only to the U.S. president. After investigating a shooting death near Washington, D.C., Kyle follows the evidence to Egypt, where an Iranian spy, Col. Yahya Naqdi, is intent on fomenting discontent among the populace that he hopes will lead to an Iranian takeover of the government and the Suez Canal. The pairing of Kyle with MI6 agent Tianha Bialy, an expert on the Arab world, adds some personal tension. An attack on the resort area of Sharm el-Sheikh raises the suspense. Series fans will enjoy the combat scenes, but those looking for a more original military-action story should search elsewhere. Agent: Jim Hornfischer, Hornfischer Literary Management. (May)