I don't consider myself the type of audience member Hitchcock called "the Plausibles," but plausibility bothered me a lot on several points. EMP in reality is not as destructive as described. An astronaut, a trained scientist, investing her life goals in the quest for the Holy Grail seems hollow. Grant Thornton is the name of a prominent global accounting firm, which was not named for an individual but the merger of Alexander Grant & Co and the Thornton firm. So using it as a character name is annoying, since the name is so familiar in other contexts. The book is plot-driven, characters shallow, but perhaps no more than other sci-fi pulp fiction. Just something unexceptional. Since I expected something more thoughtful, perhaps I was wrong to select a book from this genre.

Furthermore, investing interest and attention in a "bad actor" has to be done with some introspection. The main character can be an anti-hero, but we must have some reason to engage.

I’ve been an avid fan of Catherine Coulter’s FBI series and when a "Brit in the FBI" series started I became a fan of that also. I’ve read every book in the series and have loved them all. Thanks to NetGalley, I had an opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I enjoyed the banter between Mike and Nick even during a crisis! Even more they have great respect for each other. It was nice to have a reappearance by Grant and Kitsune.

While the plot is certainly "out there", it made for an exciting read. It uses advanced technological concepts which are a bit above my head but in reading about an EMP it seemed believable and the thought of its repercussions are mind boggling. As usual the book is very fast paced – the action starts immediately and continues throughout the book. Pulse pounding is an accurate description!
Overall, if you’ve been reading the series, then this book will not disappoint.

This is the newest installment in a long series by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison. An it did not disappoint! The series is about various FBI, CIA and other special agents working together on international cases. In this story, a disgruntled astronaut that has struck out on her own has been planning for a long time to cause a nuclear event that will put the world back in the dark ages as far as communications and modern conveniences are concerned and become the leader of the world. Time is of the essence for them to find her and halt her next move.

There is plenty of action and suspense in this story and a host of fun characters who manage to solve these crimes and enjoy each other in the process. I received a free Kindle version of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of making this review. Thoroughly enjoyed it -- highely recommmend!

These characters are so much fun to follow. The technology is not always my cup of tea, but I always enjoy the read. I liked this one better than the last.

Not my cup of tea. Only read about 50 pages and found it to be too unbelievable ..........The writing was good but the story was not something I wanted to continue to read.

I really liked this book. The story was intriguing. The characters were well developed. I was on the edge of my seat because it was scary and engrossing.. I give it 4.5 stars and I recommend it.

From the beginning, this storyline pulls you in & grabs your attention. The fate of the world rests on Nicholas Drummond & Michaela Caine’s shoulders. The idea of an EMP is both plausible & terrifying. The idea that two special agents need to figure it out & stop it is scary! The plot moves quickly but is easy to follow. With scenes taking place on both land & sea at basically the same time, the writers manage to mesh them together perfectly. There was a lot of violent battles between the opposing factions which make perfect sense in this type of story & the scenes are perfectly synchronized. The characters are well developed & lifelike. In every story, it seems like more of Nicholas & Michaela’s personality come forward. Their relationship seems to grow before the readers eyes. This was another fascinating story from a team of terrific writers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own, in exchange for the chance to read this book.

I have been a fan of this series, and am a huge fan of Catherine Coulter in general. I felt like this particular book was a bit more out there in terms of things that were happening. While, sure, we can use a far fetched plot, which might not actually be that far fetched. However, the timeline and means necessary to get where they needed to be, I felt like we may as well have thrown in time travel.

I like the writing style, the fact that it's not boring, and that I do want to keep reading, but again, for me, this particular novel was a bit "come on, already".

Do I recommend this series? Absolutely. I might take a break from it, though. Just so my frustration with the fantastic adventures settles down.

More of a 3.5.

Brit in the FBI series has been a fun, thrilling reading experience with slightly out there plots but quite enjoyable with some suspension of disbelief. This book is no different and I can wholeheartedly say that I had a lot of fun, much better actually than the previous installment The Sixth Day .

This series is another one which always makes it a point to use some advance technological concepts as plot points and in this book, we get a nuclear EMP that has been secretly deployed on a satellite and sent to space. While the whole of a nuclear bomb being secretly sent to space without anyone’s knowledge seems preposterous, an EMP is a very believable and plausible idea and it’s repercussions are devastating. I loved how the author duo was able to make me believe in the antagonist’s capability to go to such great lengths to destroy the world and still feel that she’s doing it for the betterment of the world. There are also some very very far fetched ideas like aliens and the Holy Grail, which were completely unrealistic but I still enjoyed reading about them as part of this story. The book is very fast paced – taking place in just about four days – so the story is always moving from one country to another (which is what I completely eat up in my adventure novels). The action also starts quite early on and never stops, with some breathtaking sequences on helicopters, in the middle of a typhoon, landslides etc and I was thrilled to bits.

I definitely enjoyed the characters more in this book. Mike and Nick’s banter is very hilarious and enjoyable and I think I have finally come to love them. Mike is such an adrenaline junkie that not even the end of the world can scare her and I admire her skills. The best part is that while Nick is the go-to hacker of the team, Mike is the one everyone relies on when the situation calls for some hand to hand combat skills. Even during the crisis time towards the end, their banter never ceases and I was particularly thrilled by how the ending played out. It was also great to see Grant and Kitsune again but I wish they could have been a longer part of the story.

Overall, if you have read the other books in the series, then you will definitely love this one. If you don’t mind reading a slightly unrealistic but very thrilling globe-trotting action novel, then you should give this book a try. The end of the world might be on the horizon, but you’ll still be smiling most of the way.

FBI Agents Michaela “Mike” Caine and Nicholas Drummond were out of action and enjoying a bit of recuperative time in sunny Italy when their old friend Grant drops out of sight while on a protective mission for his employer Blue Mountain. To further complicate the situation, the guy he was supposed to be protecting, billionaire Jean-Pierre Broussard, founder, and owner of the satellite launching superpower Galactus, and his huge yacht “Griffon” have also disappeared. A friend in jeopardy and a mystery to solve set Mike and Nick off like matches in a California forest. Faster than you can say Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, they are there, and lending their expertise to Blue Mountain in the hunt for Grant, the billionaire, and the yacht. It quickly becomes apparent that boat is not afloat and there is a massive typhoon bearing down on the search area, making rescue efforts even more frantic than they otherwise would be. Daring and desperate lifesaving efforts bear fruit with Grant, Broussard and the remaining crew of the “Griffon” snatched from certain death and a watery grave. Afterward, what comes to light is that the sinking was an inside job engineered by the brilliant, murderous, and entirely insane, CEO of Galactus, Nevaeh Patel. Following that revelation FBI resources discover that a signature indicative of plutonium was present at the last launch of a Galactus satellite, and what could that mean but a thermonuclear weapon in orbit. Patel is missing, a fabulous treasure stolen from the yacht, and no one can locate the bomb in the sky. Can Mike and Nick pull enough rabbits out of their FBI bag of tricks to find Patel and her psycho bodyguard Kiera? Can Mike kick enough ass to save the planet from a bomb generated EMP? Well, now you know where to find the answers, don’t you?

Ms. Coulter and Ellison have put together a novel that has more toys in it than a Lego factory. The result is a joyous and informative romp around the world with much daring-do thrown in for good measure. I recommend this story for those times when you need a break from the serious side of life.

No, you do not have to read the other five novels in the series, “Brit in the FBI” to revel in “The Last Second.”

Simon and Schuster, helped along by book loving friends at NetGalley, are responsible for making this eGalley available for my review.

I have to say well done, I love to read Catherine Coulter FBI and the Brit series, they are very good books to read, and we can't leave J.T. Ellison out , she is also a writer with the Brits story line,.

Another great story from Catherine Coulter! This read kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages until the very end. I only wish this thrill ride had lasted longer.

Mix two great authors, sprinkle some realistic characters and throw in the scare of an EMP! You have the makings of an enjoyable read. I enjoy reading both authors so was excited to see them writing together and more so when I got a chance to read it through NetGalley. One of the scariest things for me is the threat of an Electric Magnetic Pulse. So this was a bit of a horror story for me.

I've read two of this "Brit in the FBI" series and absolutely loved them both, so when I got the chance to wade into this one as an advance review copy, I was ecstatic. And guess what? The story is a bit more "out there" than the others, but it's yet another 5-star winner in my book.

The very likable characters, in particular special agents Nicholas Drummond and his sweetie, Michaela "Mike" Caine, are back. The two are staying with friends and other regular characters Grant and Kitsune Thornton, while Mike nurses a nearly healed broken ankle that happened during a previous adventure. Mike and Nicholas head the FBI Covert Eyes Team, while Grant runs a private security company that's been hired to protect Jean-Pierre Broussard, the founder of Galactus Industries.

In the prologue, readers learn that astronaut Dr. Nevaeh Patel was drummed out of the space program after a near-death experience during a spacewalking event, after which she claimed to have heard extraterrestrial voices called the Numen. No one believed her and most think she's gone bonkers - and thus unfit for another outer space mission. Insisting she's not crazy, Nevaeh quits the program, later hooking up with Broussard. He wants someone to take over that company while he searches the seas for the "Holy Grail" - a rock believed to have healing powers.

But Nevaeh has much more on her mind than running a company that puts small satellites in space at an affordable cost. Those voices never stopped calling, you see, and they're getting louder by the day - urging her to undertake a project that will disrupt the entire world and give them, and Nevaeh, total control. Once Mike and Nicholas learn what's going on, they have other ideas - but can they find a way to stop what she's about to make happen, even if it's at the last second?

A good bit of the almost nonstop action takes place at sea, with scenes reminiscent (to me, at least) of Clive Cussler's NUMA Files books. As the two intersecting plots on land and water begin to seriously converge, all the characters get involved in ultra-dangerous situations that call for super-human feats, and the ending is worthy of an Ian Fleming 007 novel. My verdict? Thank goodness for one of the most boring Super Bowl games ever (and I haven't missed a single one since the 1967 inaugural game) that allowed me to finish the final third of the book nonstop. And speaking of thanks, I'll send some to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it.

What a rush this book was! Kept me guessing all the way to the last page! No fair peeking! Don’t spoil the surprise ending. Kept me guessing about many things. Read it, you won’t be sorry if you like this type of book.

The Last Second was a quick read. Sci-Fi blends, deep sea treasure hunts, space technology, electromagnetic pulses, and near-nuclear war blend here, sometimes plausibly, sometimes not. This is not an exceptional book in terms of character development; however, suspense, tension, and danger are omnipresent. The characters are near-superhuman. Nicely, though, the women are as tough as the men.

Twisty and sizzling, Coulter once again delivers her trademark surprises and unexpected characters in one of her best reads yet.

I know this book is fiction, but even fiction should be somewhat believable. This story is about trying to save the world before an EMP goes off and starts World War III. The main characters are Special Forces and seem to be super human. The story only spans about 4 days, What these characters experience in four days would put the best, most fit human in the hospital. But they carry on like nothing has happened. Sorry, but I just couldn't swallow that pill. If you overlook that, that story is enjoyable. In the past Catherine Coulter's writing has been clean. But I almost put this book aside when a couple of the main characters turned out to be lesbians. This characteristic is present but downplayed. It really didn't add that much to the story and could have been left out. It's just another example of how far our world has fallen that an author thinks they have to add that to their novels to make them sell. I'm somewhat disappointed in Catherine Coulter.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I love all of Catherine’s books been hooked on Sherlock and Savich since “The Maze” I highly recommend this book it is action pack and has an interesting plot from space to earth.
Nicholas and Mike save the world and are almost as interesting as Savich and Sherlock.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.