dburley37's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This is another great action thriller from Ben Coes. This book is an easy and enjoyable read.
jdorminey's review
5.0
The writing in this series continues to get stronger as it progresses. The action is non-stop and the character development is excellent.
tanyarobinson's review
3.0
This definitely wasn't my favorite Dewey Andreas book. I never like the storylines where agents or soldiers go rogue, because I have complicated feelings about killing America's enemies, and somehow having things be state-sponsored feels less wrong. I also don't like the angry "I-have-nothing-left-to-live-for-but-revenge" Dewey. He was even more profane than usual. If I hadn't loved #6, which I accidentally read out of order, so much, I'd probably quit on the series. Oh, and remind me that these are bad choices for audiobooks!
bookbliss925's review
5.0
I started reading the Dewey Andreas series after I came across a review by one of my favorites, Vince Flynn. I figured if Vince liked Ben Coes' writing, then I would too.
This installment does not disappoint. Dewey finds himself being hunted as he himself hunts. The action is non stop and I didn't want to stop reading.
This installment does not disappoint. Dewey finds himself being hunted as he himself hunts. The action is non stop and I didn't want to stop reading.
booksmy's review against another edition
4.0
A good story but a ripoff of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp. Also lots of typos in the hardcover version. For $25.99 you would think there would be some proofreading...
spdaly's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
Coes entertains everyone with one of his best books to date. Dewey Andreas is back for another instalment of thrills and excitement, all while remaining covert and travelling under the radar. When Dewey learns of a Chinese mole within Mossad, he outs the man, and the Chinese receive a kick in the teeth, espionage-style. Upon learning of Dewey's antics, China delivers their own version of the fatwa, calling for the death of Dewey Andreas at any cost. When disaster strikes Dewey's personal life as the Chinese try to avenge their pride, Dewey ups the ante and will not let up until he's delivered the ultimate payback on those responsible. As the book's title suggests, the rest of the story becomes the see-saw battle between Dewey and China's clandestine service, with nuanced political undertones regarding the financial policy of the United States. With a little help from the Agency and MI6, Dewey vows to stop at nothing as he dodges numerous attempts on his life in order to delivery the ultimate act of retributiopn. With fast-paced chapters that will not let up, Coes pulls the writer in and will not let them go until the epilogue's close.
Fans of the series will love this book. It redefines the thriller and espionage genre without touching on the over-used Taliban and Al-Qaeda themes. The ever-evolving cat and mouse game turns the plot into something that will keep the reader up late into the night, as they try to discover what each side has up their sleeves. Wonderfully written with real-life dialogue and settings, Coes uses his abilities and pushes them to the limit, doing so as successfully as any writer of the genre I have had the pleasure of reading.
Kudos, Mr. Coes for this wonderful novel. I cannot rave enough about this book, this series, and this author.
Fans of the series will love this book. It redefines the thriller and espionage genre without touching on the over-used Taliban and Al-Qaeda themes. The ever-evolving cat and mouse game turns the plot into something that will keep the reader up late into the night, as they try to discover what each side has up their sleeves. Wonderfully written with real-life dialogue and settings, Coes uses his abilities and pushes them to the limit, doing so as successfully as any writer of the genre I have had the pleasure of reading.
Kudos, Mr. Coes for this wonderful novel. I cannot rave enough about this book, this series, and this author.
brettt's review
2.0
Dewey Andreas, does his job without asking many questions about what he's doing. And 2013's Eye for an Eye, a personal tragedy has given him even less of a reason to do so than before. He's out for revenge, and the government agencies that he's worked with in the past can either use his desire and help him or they can get the heck out of the way.
Dewey pretty much saved the country in his initial outing, Power Down, and then saved the world in both of his subsequent adventures -- once from a nuclear war between India and Pakistan and once involving Iran and Israel. But here his motives are strictly personal, which only makes him deadlier than usual.
Coes' most obvious antecedent for his hero is the late Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, was also often The Only Man for the Job as well as The Only One Willing to Do What It Takes to Get the Job Done. But Coes does not have Flynn's style or skill, and he relies more heavily on clichéd storylines like the hero's loved ones threatened or the grim avenger protagonist. He's also less cautious about some of his real-world research; he threw a slew of errors of fact into Coup d'Etat and gave Dewey the ability to travel at superhuman speeds.
Power Down was an inventive story with a not-so-run-of-the-mill credible threat to the United States into which Dewey was dragged by the logic of the narrative. Coes returns to that pattern with Eye, but with a padded storyline, villains and motives out of the Espionage Thriller 101 textbook. He's certainly better than average in the genre and his writing style continues to improve as well as maintain its strengths -- detailed action scenes that grip hard and don't let up. But he also has plenty of room for the improvement that Power Down suggested readers could expect.
Original available here.
Dewey pretty much saved the country in his initial outing, Power Down, and then saved the world in both of his subsequent adventures -- once from a nuclear war between India and Pakistan and once involving Iran and Israel. But here his motives are strictly personal, which only makes him deadlier than usual.
Coes' most obvious antecedent for his hero is the late Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, was also often The Only Man for the Job as well as The Only One Willing to Do What It Takes to Get the Job Done. But Coes does not have Flynn's style or skill, and he relies more heavily on clichéd storylines like the hero's loved ones threatened or the grim avenger protagonist. He's also less cautious about some of his real-world research; he threw a slew of errors of fact into Coup d'Etat and gave Dewey the ability to travel at superhuman speeds.
Power Down was an inventive story with a not-so-run-of-the-mill credible threat to the United States into which Dewey was dragged by the logic of the narrative. Coes returns to that pattern with Eye, but with a padded storyline, villains and motives out of the Espionage Thriller 101 textbook. He's certainly better than average in the genre and his writing style continues to improve as well as maintain its strengths -- detailed action scenes that grip hard and don't let up. But he also has plenty of room for the improvement that Power Down suggested readers could expect.
Original available here.
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