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daniellearider's review against another edition
4.0
A solid 4.5 stars for me. One thing that I really enjoyed about this (aside from the quick pace and fantastic characters) was that it wasn't gruesome, there wasn't a ton of bad language, and there was no sex. Now, I enjoy plenty of books with all of that--but it is sometimes refreshing to see an author spin a tale like this without relying on it. And, now I can let my kid read this (because, weirdly, he is obsessed with spies and Russia).
abibliofob's review against another edition
4.0
I have read The Last Agent, the second book about Charles Jenkins by Robert Dugoni. I must thank #ThomasAndMercer and #Netgalley for providing me with this excellent espionage thriller. I was sceptical when I found out what the story was all about but Dugoni did deliver a great book and I could hardly put it down. Although I found the ending and the hint at what the next one will all be about somewhat repetitive. We will see what the future will hold for our agent. I find the author so good that I will see if I can find time to try some of his other work. I actually found that his David Sloane books are getting translated to swedish, maybe I will try one of those.
alycille's review against another edition
4.0
I can’t believe Charles went back to Russia!
This book was constantly moving but I think I actually enjoyed the first book a little more.
This book was constantly moving but I think I actually enjoyed the first book a little more.
samhend101's review against another edition
4.0
I am such a fan of Dugoni, have yet to read a book of his I didn't find entertaining. This one was just as suspenseful and the epilogue both had closure and a tease for books to come.
Definitely continuing with this series!
Definitely continuing with this series!
achoward's review against another edition
4.0
The Last Agent reunites us with Charles Jenkins, acquitted of espionage in the previous book The Eighth Sister, who has put the events of that book behind him and rebuilt his life. Or so he thinks.
A CIA agent shows up on his doorstep - again. After being rebuffed at Jenkins' house, the agent corrals him at the local diner and tells him the agency needs him once more. For real, this time. They believe that Paulina Ponomayova, who saved Jenkins' life in The Eighth Sister by giving her own, is not actually dead, but is being held in one of the toughest prisons in Russia. They're not sure she's there, or what information she may have given up on the other Sisters. They are sure that they want Jenkins to return to Russia, free her from the prison, and get her out of the country.
I wondered at this point just how long the author was going to push a 6' 5", 65 year old black man into a country where a) he sticks out like a 6' 5", 65 year old black man would in a rather overwhelmingly white country, and b) he's already been there, is known to the FSB (the KGB's successor), and has previously created havoc there.
Jenkins isn't sure he wants to go, is definitely sure his wife and kids won't want him to go, but does feel that he owes Paulina to help her if he can. Of course he signs on, and once again, he's off to Mother Russia.
Viktor Federov is back (and on a side note, I would love to have a couple of books about THAT guy), retired now from the FSB thanks to his inability to catch Jenkins in The Eighth Sister. Jenkins blackmails him into assisting, first with figuring out a way to get Paulina out of the prison, and then getting all of them away safely.
I won't spoil any of that except to say that the bank scene was quite funny, and one of the nonverbal discussions with Paulina is rather ingenious, relying on knowledge of where the cameras are and where the guards will be.
The chase that ensues - three targets instead of one - is now lead by a prototypical old KGB-style chief, who constantly silences his underlings, ignores the supposed lead investigator's advice, but tells him failure will be on his head. When that investigator suddenly "retires" to take care of his father, it's all out pursuit, by land, water, and even by air into another country's airspace.
It's a fun book, and better than The Eighth Sister, although readers will still have to up their suspension of disbelief game.
A solid four stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the reading copy.
A CIA agent shows up on his doorstep - again. After being rebuffed at Jenkins' house, the agent corrals him at the local diner and tells him the agency needs him once more. For real, this time. They believe that Paulina Ponomayova, who saved Jenkins' life in The Eighth Sister by giving her own, is not actually dead, but is being held in one of the toughest prisons in Russia. They're not sure she's there, or what information she may have given up on the other Sisters. They are sure that they want Jenkins to return to Russia, free her from the prison, and get her out of the country.
I wondered at this point just how long the author was going to push a 6' 5", 65 year old black man into a country where a) he sticks out like a 6' 5", 65 year old black man would in a rather overwhelmingly white country, and b) he's already been there, is known to the FSB (the KGB's successor), and has previously created havoc there.
Jenkins isn't sure he wants to go, is definitely sure his wife and kids won't want him to go, but does feel that he owes Paulina to help her if he can. Of course he signs on, and once again, he's off to Mother Russia.
Viktor Federov is back (and on a side note, I would love to have a couple of books about THAT guy), retired now from the FSB thanks to his inability to catch Jenkins in The Eighth Sister. Jenkins blackmails him into assisting, first with figuring out a way to get Paulina out of the prison, and then getting all of them away safely.
I won't spoil any of that except to say that the bank scene was quite funny, and one of the nonverbal discussions with Paulina is rather ingenious, relying on knowledge of where the cameras are and where the guards will be.
The chase that ensues - three targets instead of one - is now lead by a prototypical old KGB-style chief, who constantly silences his underlings, ignores the supposed lead investigator's advice, but tells him failure will be on his head. When that investigator suddenly "retires" to take care of his father, it's all out pursuit, by land, water, and even by air into another country's airspace.
It's a fun book, and better than The Eighth Sister, although readers will still have to up their suspension of disbelief game.
A solid four stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the reading copy.
shelfreflectionofficial's review against another edition
5.0
You guys. I am just never going to Russia. After reading this and book 1 back to back, I’m even dreaming in Russian espionage. And escaping Russia is just the worst.
Jenkins is back in Russia trying to figure out if Paulina, who saved him in Book 1, is being tortured in a Russian prison and may try to bust her out. A Mission Impossible scenario.
Unlike the first one, this one does not include any courtroom drama, it’s straight up 100% action suspense. Dugoni pits Jenkins against a very formidable opponent. It worked well here and helps maintain the suspense. There are plenty of times Jenkins has outwitted Efimov but he’s never that far behind. You really don’t know what’s going to happen next.
You can tell there was a lot of thought and creativity and research put into this series to create fun and exciting yet still realistic situations and characters. It didn’t feel like a run of the mill espionage thriller, but was something new and exciting for me.
And hold on to your britches, folks, I think we’re going back to Russia in book 3!
**Received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
See more of my reviews at www.shelfreflection.com!
Jenkins is back in Russia trying to figure out if Paulina, who saved him in Book 1, is being tortured in a Russian prison and may try to bust her out. A Mission Impossible scenario.
Unlike the first one, this one does not include any courtroom drama, it’s straight up 100% action suspense. Dugoni pits Jenkins against a very formidable opponent. It worked well here and helps maintain the suspense. There are plenty of times Jenkins has outwitted Efimov but he’s never that far behind. You really don’t know what’s going to happen next.
You can tell there was a lot of thought and creativity and research put into this series to create fun and exciting yet still realistic situations and characters. It didn’t feel like a run of the mill espionage thriller, but was something new and exciting for me.
And hold on to your britches, folks, I think we’re going back to Russia in book 3!
**Received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
See more of my reviews at www.shelfreflection.com!
jen_baroness_mom's review against another edition
5.0
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni is a fantastic tale of strength, obsession, dedication, and trust. I love this series. Charlie is such a fabulous character.
Charlie is asked to determine if Paulina Ponomayova is in the infamous Russian prison, Lefortovo, in Moscow. He agrees since he thought that Paulina gave up her life so he could return home. However, Charlie has decided that if Paulina is alive, he isn't leaving without her. So, he sets up a plan that should work if all things go as planned. However, many things could go wrong.
We see characters from the first book again and a few new ones too. The settings are so brilliantly described that it comes alive in my mind.
Robert Dugoni's books take a bit to leave my brain. I know that I have another book to read, but I need time to let the characters and the story get out of my mind. Every part of the book is resonating in my mind over and over. Honestly, I feel like I was on that wild ride with Charlie. One of the things I was trying to figure out after reading The Eighth Sister was how the author would pull off another book in this series. Yet, The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni is fabulous, and my rating is five stars.
I highly recommend this to all spy and espionage thriller readers out there. It is amazing!
Will Charlie save Paulina and get them both to America safely?
Charlie is asked to determine if Paulina Ponomayova is in the infamous Russian prison, Lefortovo, in Moscow. He agrees since he thought that Paulina gave up her life so he could return home. However, Charlie has decided that if Paulina is alive, he isn't leaving without her. So, he sets up a plan that should work if all things go as planned. However, many things could go wrong.
We see characters from the first book again and a few new ones too. The settings are so brilliantly described that it comes alive in my mind.
Things that I liked:
- Getting to know more about Viktor Federov
- Seeing the inside of Federov's apartment
- Paulina is still as tough as ever.
- Alekseyov has a conscience.
- Efimov has a great backstory that explains his attitude.
- Rod Studebaker is fabulous. I love his philosophy on life and his attitude. Flying with him would be so fun unless you get motion sickness.
- Charlie's realization of how he feels at the end of the story
Five Stars
Robert Dugoni's books take a bit to leave my brain. I know that I have another book to read, but I need time to let the characters and the story get out of my mind. Every part of the book is resonating in my mind over and over. Honestly, I feel like I was on that wild ride with Charlie. One of the things I was trying to figure out after reading The Eighth Sister was how the author would pull off another book in this series. Yet, The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni is fabulous, and my rating is five stars.
I highly recommend this to all spy and espionage thriller readers out there. It is amazing!
First Book in the Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
stricker's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75