scott_a_miller's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent story, if only a tiny bit impossible to believe. Sometimes ones like this are the most fun though.
Dewey gets better with each book and assuming he’s going back to work for Uncle Sam things could get even more interesting. Iran was a perfect foe. Can’t wait to see who’s next, someone new or an old bad guy still on the board.
Dewey gets better with each book and assuming he’s going back to work for Uncle Sam things could get even more interesting. Iran was a perfect foe. Can’t wait to see who’s next, someone new or an old bad guy still on the board.
ncrabb's review against another edition
3.0
I suspect current events have overtaken some of the material in this book, but it’s a decent read just the same.
The Iranians have developed a nuclear weapon, and the country’s leaders plan to detonate it in Tel Aviv. In this book, Kohl Meir is the great-grandson of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. He’s in charge of the country’s elite military group, and he is in New York hoping to enlist the help of his friend, Dewey Andreas. (He saved Andreas’s life once.) Iranian operatives kidnap him in Brooklyn and take him to the most evil of Iran’s prisons where they plan to execute him.
But that’s before Dewey gets involved. This is a hair-raising suspense-filled book that places Dewey in a seemingly impossible position: How does he get into Iran? And more specifically, how does he get inside that prison to free his friend?
You can read this without reading the first two books in the series, but it may not be a bad idea to start with them if you like these kinds of books.
The Iranians have developed a nuclear weapon, and the country’s leaders plan to detonate it in Tel Aviv. In this book, Kohl Meir is the great-grandson of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. He’s in charge of the country’s elite military group, and he is in New York hoping to enlist the help of his friend, Dewey Andreas. (He saved Andreas’s life once.) Iranian operatives kidnap him in Brooklyn and take him to the most evil of Iran’s prisons where they plan to execute him.
But that’s before Dewey gets involved. This is a hair-raising suspense-filled book that places Dewey in a seemingly impossible position: How does he get into Iran? And more specifically, how does he get inside that prison to free his friend?
You can read this without reading the first two books in the series, but it may not be a bad idea to start with them if you like these kinds of books.
tanyarobinson's review against another edition
3.0
I accidentally read some of these Dewey Andreas books out of order, and I liked the later one much better than #3. I had forgotten feeling that #2 was gratuitously violent, but The Last Refuge reminded me of that. I do believe that terrorists have to be dealt with differently than your average American citizen, but Dewey et al seem to think they have carte blanche to brutally kill anyone on the way to stopping the bad guys, in this case Iranians with a nuclear bomb. That bothered me. But...I'll probably keep going with the series since I did really enjoy #6.
Note: this was a bad choice for an audiobook because of language!
Note: this was a bad choice for an audiobook because of language!
stricker's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
davidr's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fun, fast-paced political/adventure thriller that kept me at the "edge of my seat" through the entire book. I just couldn't put the book down, and read it in a day. The Iranians have kidnapped Israeli Kohl Meir, the grandson of Golda Meir. In addition, they are about to unleash a nuclear bomb on Israel. So Dewey Andreas, an American former SEAL and Delta, works to save the life of his friend, who had once saved his life. He concocts a crazy plan to save his friend and to steal the bomb, even while admitting that planning is not his strong suit.
I received an advance copy through Goodreads. Ben Coes should find a better proof-reader. There are minor typos throughout, and on page 288 there is a major typo where Marwan's name is switched with Qassou's. But these typos do little to detract from this great book.
I received an advance copy through Goodreads. Ben Coes should find a better proof-reader. There are minor typos throughout, and on page 288 there is a major typo where Marwan's name is switched with Qassou's. But these typos do little to detract from this great book.
dollycas's review against another edition
4.0
Kohl Meir has come to New York to recruit Dewey Andreas to help him complete a very secret mission. Meir had been tipped off that Iran had finally succeeded in building their first nuclear weapon, one they were planning to use to attack Israel. His source has seen the bomb.
Before they can meet Meir is kidnapped off the streets of Brooklyn by the Iranian Secret Service. They transport him back to Iran where he is imprisoned and tortured and now must stand trial. The trial is just for show. When found guilty he will be sentenced to death by firing squad.
Dewey Andreas, a former Army Ranger and Delta, owes his life to Meir and his team of Israeli commandos. He is honor bound to save the man that saved his life. Even if the prison where he is being held is a fortress that makes a rescue virtually impossible. He is also on a quest to get rid of the nuclear threat posed by Iran. With a little help from his friends he sets off on his most dangerous mission yet.
Dollycas's Thoughts
I must first say this is my first Ben Coes novel and while part of a series it reads satisfactorily as a stand alone, but there are several references to events in previous books.
This book is quite the tale of covert operations and the author has taken a little creative liberty is some protocol issues and definitely shows his feelings about the people of Iran. Formerly a campaign manager for Mitt Romney back in 2002, I find the plot timely and its release a bit politically generated as Mitt Romney wants to wage war against Iran as soon as he is elected, which I pray never happens.
With those issues aside the book is a thrilling page turner with many twists and turns. There are several characters to keep track of at first but soon the story starts to flow. Dewey is quite a hero and you really to want him to succeed in his mission. The fast pace does keep you on the edge of your seat. I was surprised on how quickly I read this book.
Fans of Brad Thor or Vince Flynn, two of my husband's favorites, will love this book. I may go back and read the first two as I wait for the next installment.
Before they can meet Meir is kidnapped off the streets of Brooklyn by the Iranian Secret Service. They transport him back to Iran where he is imprisoned and tortured and now must stand trial. The trial is just for show. When found guilty he will be sentenced to death by firing squad.
Dewey Andreas, a former Army Ranger and Delta, owes his life to Meir and his team of Israeli commandos. He is honor bound to save the man that saved his life. Even if the prison where he is being held is a fortress that makes a rescue virtually impossible. He is also on a quest to get rid of the nuclear threat posed by Iran. With a little help from his friends he sets off on his most dangerous mission yet.
Dollycas's Thoughts
I must first say this is my first Ben Coes novel and while part of a series it reads satisfactorily as a stand alone, but there are several references to events in previous books.
This book is quite the tale of covert operations and the author has taken a little creative liberty is some protocol issues and definitely shows his feelings about the people of Iran. Formerly a campaign manager for Mitt Romney back in 2002, I find the plot timely and its release a bit politically generated as Mitt Romney wants to wage war against Iran as soon as he is elected, which I pray never happens.
With those issues aside the book is a thrilling page turner with many twists and turns. There are several characters to keep track of at first but soon the story starts to flow. Dewey is quite a hero and you really to want him to succeed in his mission. The fast pace does keep you on the edge of your seat. I was surprised on how quickly I read this book.
Fans of Brad Thor or Vince Flynn, two of my husband's favorites, will love this book. I may go back and read the first two as I wait for the next installment.
anjanavasan's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book so fast! Like fast even for me and everyone who knows me would tell you that I read insanely fast. It was that good. I haven't read thrillers in a long time but when I was offered a review copy of this book, some quick googling was all it took for me to give it a shot because Ben Coes' books seem to have raving reviews everywhere..and they were right.
The Last Refuge is the third book in the Dewey Andreas Series. I haven't read the first two so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to catch up to the series at first. I have a rule about trying to not read/review books belonging to a series that I haven't read previous books of but I read somewhere that these books can be read as a standalone as well..and honestly, once I started reading it, I had no trouble catching up.
I was glued from freaking page one. I don't think I've read any thrillers (at least not anytime recent) that pits a country against another.
The story starts with the US President, Rob Allaire having a laid back evening after hunting with John Schmidt who is his Communication Director, Tim Lindsay who's the U.S. Secretary of State and Hector Calibrisi who's the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (or to put it cooler, the CIA) and they're are all essential characters to the plot in one way or another. They spend the evening discussing a proposal for Allaire to sit down and have a (friendly) talk with the President of Iran, a country known for it's terrorism. However, call it bad luck or something else, that evening ends in a disaster when the President has a stroke that makes him brain dead and things only get worse from there when Kohl Meir is captured by the Iranians and taken back to Iran where he's held hostage.
That's when the story actually begins.
Ben Coes' writing is simple, straight forward and I loved it! I think it's what made it so incredibly easy for me to understand what was going on and get into the plot. Coes is probably the only author I know who manages to write movie worthy action scenes that literally paints the image for me.
The Last Refuge is thrilling, action-packed and totally made of awesome. Jason Bourne fans will eat this up, just for the fast pace of the book. I'll definitely be buying the first two novels of this series!
The Last Refuge is the third book in the Dewey Andreas Series. I haven't read the first two so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to catch up to the series at first. I have a rule about trying to not read/review books belonging to a series that I haven't read previous books of but I read somewhere that these books can be read as a standalone as well..and honestly, once I started reading it, I had no trouble catching up.
I was glued from freaking page one. I don't think I've read any thrillers (at least not anytime recent) that pits a country against another.
The story starts with the US President, Rob Allaire having a laid back evening after hunting with John Schmidt who is his Communication Director, Tim Lindsay who's the U.S. Secretary of State and Hector Calibrisi who's the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (or to put it cooler, the CIA) and they're are all essential characters to the plot in one way or another. They spend the evening discussing a proposal for Allaire to sit down and have a (friendly) talk with the President of Iran, a country known for it's terrorism. However, call it bad luck or something else, that evening ends in a disaster when the President has a stroke that makes him brain dead and things only get worse from there when Kohl Meir is captured by the Iranians and taken back to Iran where he's held hostage.
That's when the story actually begins.
Ben Coes' writing is simple, straight forward and I loved it! I think it's what made it so incredibly easy for me to understand what was going on and get into the plot. Coes is probably the only author I know who manages to write movie worthy action scenes that literally paints the image for me.
The Last Refuge is thrilling, action-packed and totally made of awesome. Jason Bourne fans will eat this up, just for the fast pace of the book. I'll definitely be buying the first two novels of this series!
howjessicareads's review against another edition
3.0
Dewey Andreas, agent extraordinaire, is still recuperating from his near-death experience three months earlier. He was saved from almost certain destruction by a team of a Israeli commandoes led by Kohl Meir, great-grandson of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. He's enjoying a vacation with his girlfriend Jessica (who happens to be the National Security Advisor) and contemplating a new job in private security.
But then Kohl Meir is kidnapped by the Iranians, and as Andreas hunts down Meir's kidnappers he discovers that the Iranians also have a nuclear bomb, which no one else knew about except for Meir. Time is running out: Andreas needs to rescue Meir from the most secure prison in Iran, and simultaneously stop the Iranians from launching a nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv.
The new U.S. president refuses to be involved though - he's trying for a rapprochement with the Iranians. So Andreas is on his own, on a quest to save Kohl Meir (and the world) from destruction.
The Last Refuge is well-written and fast-paced, but had a few too many gory torture/death scenes for a wussy like me. I was keeping a kill count, but I lost track after 19 when there was a scene where a bunch of people died at once. But if you like violent, suspenseful books (a la Tom Clancy or Alex Berenson) you'll love this! I'd give it 3.5 if I could.
But then Kohl Meir is kidnapped by the Iranians, and as Andreas hunts down Meir's kidnappers he discovers that the Iranians also have a nuclear bomb, which no one else knew about except for Meir. Time is running out: Andreas needs to rescue Meir from the most secure prison in Iran, and simultaneously stop the Iranians from launching a nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv.
The new U.S. president refuses to be involved though - he's trying for a rapprochement with the Iranians. So Andreas is on his own, on a quest to save Kohl Meir (and the world) from destruction.
The Last Refuge is well-written and fast-paced, but had a few too many gory torture/death scenes for a wussy like me. I was keeping a kill count, but I lost track after 19 when there was a scene where a bunch of people died at once. But if you like violent, suspenseful books (a la Tom Clancy or Alex Berenson) you'll love this! I'd give it 3.5 if I could.
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent Coes novel. The author is a master with words: detailed description, plot lines that twist into directions one can never predict, and even development of characters throughout the series and well as within the book. This third book in the series picks up where the previous ended, using a plot line developed in the second and makes it one of the central tenets of this, the most explosive (no pun) book yet. Dealing with Iran and its nuclear ambitions, Coes sets the scene for a plausible story and the race to keep Iran from destroying its enemies. With an excellent sub-plot (I will not ruin it), Coes tells two stories at once, keeping them separate and yet tied their loose ends together where it benefits the overall story line.
While the story is full of violence and strong language, it is, actually, a seemingly realistic approach to how things would happen. Not that I am familiar with the world of covert operatives or CIA mission, but it seems possible, if not probable that the actions taken mirror what does happen in the real 'dark side of the moon' world. Coes has the expertise, so why not use it to his advantage? He is also quite in touch with which topics push a story along and how to mix them together for the best final product. I have yet to find a book that is sub-par or filled with fluff to reach a set page number. He moves through numerous topics in his books (oil rig destruction, political coups, and nuclear weapon usage) that are prevalent in today's society and could be key grounds for terrorist plots. The man, like Joel C. Rosenberg, could be an oracle, in a fiction writer's clothing.
I can strongly see the Vince Flynn and Brad Thor influence, but I see Coes able to stand out from them. He individualises his work and yet fans of the former two would surely love to devour this series.
Kudos Mr. Coes. Splendid work! You have found your niche... keep going with it.
While the story is full of violence and strong language, it is, actually, a seemingly realistic approach to how things would happen. Not that I am familiar with the world of covert operatives or CIA mission, but it seems possible, if not probable that the actions taken mirror what does happen in the real 'dark side of the moon' world. Coes has the expertise, so why not use it to his advantage? He is also quite in touch with which topics push a story along and how to mix them together for the best final product. I have yet to find a book that is sub-par or filled with fluff to reach a set page number. He moves through numerous topics in his books (oil rig destruction, political coups, and nuclear weapon usage) that are prevalent in today's society and could be key grounds for terrorist plots. The man, like Joel C. Rosenberg, could be an oracle, in a fiction writer's clothing.
I can strongly see the Vince Flynn and Brad Thor influence, but I see Coes able to stand out from them. He individualises his work and yet fans of the former two would surely love to devour this series.
Kudos Mr. Coes. Splendid work! You have found your niche... keep going with it.
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