The Last Second by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison is the 6th book in the "Brit in the FBI " thriller series. This is a non-stop action thriller that is engaging from the first page. Dr. Neveah Patel is an astronaut that has left NASA and is working for a French company, Galactus that launches satellites into space. The familiar characters , Michaela, Nicholas, Grant and Kitsune are back working to stop Dr. PArel .
A fun read!
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchnaage for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster for this ARC in return for an honest review. The book mixes elements of a high-tech thriller, science fiction, and a legendary artifact fantasy. I thought the scientific/technological aspects of the story very well explained by the authors, which made it quite easy to follow. As a non-stop action thriller, the plot moved quickly but left little time to build up a feeling of suspense and tension on my part.

I had never read any of the previous books in this series, but we get some of the backgrounds, professional assignments and relationships of the main characters. I didn’t feel much connection with the characters which will probably improve when I read some of the preceding books. Less emphasis was placed on their personality than on their existence merely as action figures (in my mind). It was confusing that some characters were referred to by their first names and then later by their last names only, sometimes on the same page.

We meet a crazy scientist/former astronaut, Nevaeh, who has the power to destroy civilization as we know it. She controls an orbiting nuclear device containing an EMP which has the potential to wipe out all electrical transmissions and also destroy the space station and wrack destruction on areas in the weapon’s path. If this is not a sufficient threat, if the blast heads eastward towards Russia and China WW3 could ensue. She believes that while she was on a spacewalk she was saved by alien creatures. As a result of the discussion of her encounter she was grounded as an astronaut and now works at the private space station owned by Jean- Pierre Broussard, where she has completed her diabolical scheme. Her motivation is her conviction that the space aliens are demanding that she must silence the earth and outer space so she can join with them and rule a changed and peaceful world.

Recurring characters in this series are FBI Special Agents, Nicholas Drummond and Michaela(Mike) Caine who work for Covert Operations Branch. Their friend, Grant Thornton, works at a private security company. They encounter sea disasters, helicopter crashes, mudslides, and severe battle wounds during the course of the story. I found it implausible that our dauntless heroes showed superhuman ability to sustain severe injuries and still keep on going in this breathtaking adventure.

Grant is to provide security for Jean-Pierre Broussard, a billionaire who runs Galactus Industries with the goal of providing cheaper space travel. His main passion is searching for ancient treasures. His goal is recovering for the legendary ‘Holy Grail’. This artifact is in the form of a black rock, and one of its attributes is conveying immortality to a worthy person. It was lost centuries ago when a ship carrying it sank. Once the ‘Holy Grail’ is recovered, Nevaeh plans to steal it because she thinks the alien creatures are immortal and she aims to have eternal life alongside them.

Trying to stop the detonation of the orbiting device, Nicholas, Mike, Jean-Pierre, the CIA, agents from various countries all converge on Nevaeh’s secret control post hidden in Sri Lanka. The clock is ticking down while Nicholas and Mike rush to stop the impending doomsday scenario. The action is fierce and non-stop, and I think that many readers and fans of this series will be thrilled by this book.

This is the 6th book in the series A Brit in the FBI. Another fabulous story that had me captivated from the first page to the last. To say I am a big fan of these Authors, separately or together, is an understatement. With the threat of an EMP set to explode in a couple of days, Agents Drummond and Caine must track down and disable this bomb before a serious explosion in space kills many people and starts World War III. You also have a wealthy businessman searching for the Holy Grail. So much action going on and I wondered if Dr. Neveah Patel was off her rocker. An excellent next book in this series. Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the Authors for allowing me to read and review this book.