*4.5 stars rounded up. I've enjoyed spy novels since I was a teenager and gobbled down all the James Bond books. This second novel in Dugoni's Charles Jenkins series is one of the best in the genre. When Charles Jenkins learns that his friend and fellow CIA operative, Paulina Ponomayova, is still alive and being held in the Russian prison, Lubyanka, he knows he owes her his life and must return the favor.

Once the FSB learns Jenkins is back in Russia, the chess game begins, with Jenkins and agent Adam Efimov matching wits. No matter what Jenkins does, Efimov is only a few steps behind. All this makes for some spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat reading, perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon.

I actually received an arc of this thriller three years back but let it slip through the cracks of my reading list. Now I'm playing catch up and can't wait to read book #3 in this series: The Silent Sisters. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Many, many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this.

This was such a treat. This man can write a thriller. I will be reading more of his work and I highly recommend this work..

If you like Daniel Silva - or other similar authors - you will enjoy this book. Highly recommend for any espionage thriller fan. You will lose whatever day that you start reading this, you will become glued to the book.

THE LAST AGENT (Charles Jenkins Book #2) by Robert Dugoni is the second book in this action-packed, edge-of-your-seat trilogy featuring a retired CIA agent. I feel these books are best read in order.

In the first book Charles Jenkins survived an operation gone wrong in Russia only to return to be tried for treason. After being exonerated, he learns that the woman who helped him escape Russia and gave her life for his, may be alive and being tortured in the notorious Lefortovo Prison.

To find out if Paulina Ponomayova is still alive and imprisoned, Charles must return to Russia and once again deal with former FSB officer, Viktor Fedorov. From the moment the Russian government finds out Charles is back in Russia, they assign an assassin to take care of the problem. The chase is on to find Paulina and get her out of Russia all while not knowing who they can really trust.

This book moves at the speed of light from one twist to another. The author’s writing makes you feel as though you are right there in the middle of the action with all the main characters. Charles is a fully fleshed, idealistic protagonist and that makes Efimov a perfect foil. An intriguing plot, twist and turns that do not stop and a surprise revelation make this a wonderful spy espionage read.

I am looking forward to the next book and to finding out more about the Seven Sisters. This is a trilogy that will keep you turning the pages.

Absolutely brilliant thriller with a fabulous plot which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to other fans of this genre!!

In this latest story, Charles leaves for Russia once again to find and rescue Paulina who risked her life for him. It is a fast paced espionage escape story and is even better than the first.

THE LAST AGENT

The Last Agent is the second in the Charles Jenkins series. An ex CIA agent, Jenkins once again leaves his comfortable family life in Oregon and is pulled back into undercover work. He returns to Russia in an attempt to help imprisoned Soviet agent Paulina Ponomayova who saved his life on a former mission.

Teaming up with his former adversary Fedorov, together they attempt to release Ponomayova from Lefortovo Prison through a daring escape. Efimov “The Brick” is Putin’s enforcer from their back in their youth, and has other plans in mind for Jenkins. An exciting and fast paced adventure through a Moscow blizzard intensifies the thrills of the chase. By the time the story was over, I felt as tired and cold and wet and beat up as I’m sure every character in the book did.

Jenkins is a real likable guy, and there’s a nice comfortable interaction between him and Fedorov. This is a super enjoyable and fun series and I look forward to the next one, The Silent Sisters.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Robert Dugani, and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Charles Jenkins definitely owes nothing to the federal government, as they betrayed him and tried him for treason. His spy days are over, but when Charles is informed that Paulina Ponomayova, the agent who sacrificed her life for him might still be alive, will the former agent take one last trip into Russia?

The Last Agent is a fast paced spy novel that begs to become a blockbuster movie. Charles Jenkins is a well developed character, a man with a good moral compass, a strong will, and an excellent survivor instinct. Though the plot is leading in places and the story a bit predictable, the stellar pacing and strong action sequences propel this novel forward at a blistering pace. I would definitely recommend reading the novels in series, as the nuances of the character might be lost. I look forward to reading more about Charles Jenkins in the future and encourage others to do the same.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Last Agent by NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer. The decision to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

The Last Agent

by Robert Dugoni

Oddly, I have watched many more spy movies than I have read spy books. Robert Dugoni’s The Last Agent is a great pathway for me into the world of spy novels. It is part of a series in that Charles Jenkins is the main character in the series that bears his name. Although the characters are important to the story, appreciating the book is not predicated on having read others in the series. This book is a fine example of a story that is so engaging, so complex, that the plot stands on its own merits.

Charlie Jenkins is a retired spy, forced out by his own organization. He tries to enjoy rural life with his much younger wife and two young children. When opportunity knocks at his door, however, Charlie answers with minimal hesitation. This assignment is especially appealing because it gives him the chance to help Paulina who sacrificed herself so that he could return to his family. An extremely strong double agent mentally, she is questioned relentlessly with physical and psychological torture by Russians who want to know the identity of certain assets.

Charlie is supposed to engineer her escape from an impenetrable prison and see her to the U.S. and freedom. She is in an extremely compromised physical condition and is heavily guarded. Getting her out would take a lot of skill and planning along with a dose of good luck. The Russians want her information badly and have the advantage of Putin’s extensive “Big Brother” network of cameras. Fortunately, Charlie has support from his handlers with assets all over Europe and a huge bank account that gives him leverage with a former Russian agent.

There are so many intricate steps in achieving the various goals along the way. Not everything goes smoothly so a lot of improvisation is required. Hideous weather both hinders and helps. Disguises and unusual means of transportation are called into play. I guarantee this book is a page turner that will keep you reading way past “lights out.”

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thriller (Spy)

Notes: #2 in The Charles Jenkins Series, but I read it as a standalone with no problems understanding or enjoying it.

Publication: September 22, 2020—Thomas & Mercer

Memorable Lines:

His anger spiked; he couldn’t believe the agency that had allowed him to be tried for espionage now had the audacity to seek his help.

You Americans are too impatient. It is your consumerism. You want everything now. This minute. You must learn Russian patience. We must take the first step before we take the second.”

Viktor Federov knew well that Big Brother had returned to Russia, though the method of spying—once Russians reporting on fellow Russians—now employed computer technology cameras, and cell phones.

Robert Dugoni's novels are so full of intrigue. The stories are so real and I fall into his novels every time. "The Last Agent" is a novel that will keep you wanting more!

Like all Robert Dugoni's books, this thriller sets a fast pace. The protagonist is a staunch American patriot who has served his country well, even when the country turned its back on him. After leaving the spy game, his conscience calls him back to try to save the life of a Russian agent who may have sacrificed her own life to save his. The question is--will he succeed?

Robert Dugoni trapped me in another multi-book character story! First it was Tracy Crosswhite and now it's Charles Jenkins. I absolutely loved The Eighth Sister and thought that it was a stand alone book, but I should have known better. In "The Last Agent" Charles Jenkins returns to the country that wants him dead. This second book had a little bit of a slower start than the first, but once it becomes an intense game of cat and mouse, you want to know how all of this ends. Dugoni has a great way of keeping you on edge at the end of every chapter and every book. Looking forward to reading "The Silent Sisters."

I like the second installment in the 60ish Rambo Charles Jenkins series quite better than the first novel - mostly because is practically all action/spy thriller, while the first novel is a legal thriller for a big part of the plot. Action is much more fun! And while all the Russian scenario is seriously a fantasyland plot, to be read for the entertainment purposes and not to be taken as a factual work (because, seriously, the Russians must be much more effective in their own land), the plot moves swiftly and the pace is very catchy. The family and friendship values, which are typical for Dugoni works, are nicely presented here, too. And kudos for the sharp elderly guys, whom no one should underestimate!
I have enjoyed this read and I think it could do for a noce Hollywood blockbuster.

I initially discovered Robert Dugoni via an Amazon daily deal and got hooked. The Last Agent is a thriller that never disappoints, a real page turner. This is the second installment of the series involving former CIA Agent, Charles Jenkins, who we first meet in The Eighth Sister. To really appreciate The Last Agent, I recommend reading The Eighth Sister first to gain insight into the motivation of the characters. If you’ve never read a book by Robert Dugoni, you are truly missing some great reads.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book free in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not usually a spy book type of person. But Robert Dugoni did it again! His books pull me in and actually makes me interested. This is a great follow up to The Eighth Sister! It could also be read as a standalone. Very thrilling!

Great, fast-paced second book in the Charles Jenkins series. A former CIA spy pulled back into action to save another, from Washington State to Moscow, Russia. Much like the first in the series The Eighth Sister, Jenkins is reluctantly tasked with off-the-books dangerous missions that rely on his connections and savvy to complete and to survive. Highly recommend for those who enjoy spy novels.
***I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

This action-packed, spy thriller is the second book in the Charles Jenkins series and is every bit as good as the first book in the series, The Eighth Sister. I could not put this book down. The action just kept building from chapter to chapter and I read the whole book in a little over a day. Highly recommended as is Robert Dugoni's Tracy Crosswhite series.

The Last Agent
by Robert Dugoni

4 Stars

Dugoni is a popular and prolific author, this being his second in the series of Charles Jenkins adventures.

The book in engaging from the first page, as former spy Charles Jenkins races through Russia trying to rescue a former agent who saved his life.

The Last Agent is a solid read that will have the reader turning pages to discover what occurs next in this race of survival.


This title has been reviewed by www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

This title was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

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I came by this author by accident and fell in love with the Tracy Crosswhite series so seeing this being offered, I couldn’t resist. The book did not disappoint at all. The characters are relatable, and the whole book is just well written, you must read it, especially if you like action packed books. Thank you to netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

They need to make a movie series starring Denzel Washington. I can see him as Charles Jenkins. With counterintelligence skills and determination, he is better than James Bond and Jason Bourne. After he was betrayed by the US government, Jenkins knew he wanted to live his life with his family, away from the grid. However, after being pulled into the spy game with the name Paulina Ponomayova, he knows he can't leave Paulina behind in Russian hands after she saved his life. She is being held by Russian authorities and tortured because of what she knows of the The Eighth Sister. Not much is known by American intelligence, if she is alive and what condition is she in and what has she given up.

The mission is clear and the deliverance is turn paging thrilling. Jenkins must make contact, brilliant and who he makes contact with becomes a chess game and who can you trust. In James Bourne style, Jenkins must stay one move ahead of the Russian authorities and bring out where Paulina is being held. He is switch and bait master. Jenkins has a cool demeanor and is always testing the waters of all players. With both character development and plot driven, you are there to the very end. Totally enjoyed this one!

A special thank you to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

The second installment in the Charles Jenkins saga was just as good as the first! Full of adventure and danger, Charles Jenkins is at it again. It was great to see many characters pop in from the first book as well as meeting plenty of new ones. A total page turner! I hope this turns into another great Robert Dugoni series. I wish I didn't have to wait to get more Charles Jenkins!