In The Eighth Sister Charles Jenkins was sent into Russia to discover who was betraying the seven sisters, women working clandestinely for the CIA. He barely made it out with his life and was accused of treason for his actions. Tried and acquitted, he worked quietly to restore his life and enjoy his family. Now in The Last Agent CIA agent Matt Lemore has approached him to return to Russia. He refuses at first, but when Lemore informs him that they believe that Paulina Ponomayova, the woman who saved his life and aided his escape, is alive and a prisoner in Lefortovo Prison he feels an obligation to listen. Paulina was willing to sacrifice herself for him and he believed that she had died. If there is a chance to rescue her he can not turn it down.

Entering Russia presents the first problem. He is still wanted by the FSB and his entrance must be undetected. On his first mission he was hunted by Victor Federov. When Federov failed to capture him he was forced to retire in disgrace. He spent his time hunting down the person who betrayed Jenkins’ mission and retrieved the millions that he had been paid for the information. While Jenkins does not trust Federov, he knows that he can find him and enlist his help if he can empty Federov’s accounts and hold his money hostage. He also knows that once he presents himself at the bank in Moscow the FSB will be aware of his presence so his timing at the bank is crucial.

From the moment he steps out of the bank it is a shell game. With Lemore’s support Jenkins arranged look-alikes and identical vehicles to confuse his pursuers. His rescue of Paulina from Lefortovo leaves you breathless as identical vehicle after vehicle appear on the FSB’s camera system, driving in different directions. They are relentlessly chased by Efimov, a one-time acquaintance of Putin, who knows that failure is not an option if he values his position.

Robert Dugoni’s writing has a cinematic quality. You can feel the cold as Jenkins and Paulina are chased across a frozen expanse and the tension as Efimov draws ever closer. This is a story that I can highly recommend to any fan of action or thriller novels. I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer Publishers for allowing my review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. They just keep getting better. One of the few espionage/spy series that really entertain. Sets it up for the next book but is not a cliffhanger. Occasionally a little draggy but keeps one reading.

As a reader addicted to Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series I was overjoyed to find a new series and protagonist created by the author. It appears that I missed the first book in this one that features a retired and bitter American spy named Charles Jenkins, who after years of dedicated service was betrayed by the country he so willingly served and charged with treason by the CIA. Cleared of the charges, he has been living a quiet life in the country with his wife and child. Now he has been approached by the very government organization that stabbed him in the back. This time his special talents and connections are required in a dangerous and dramatic rescue attempt.

This assignment is a personal one since it involves returning to Russia to rescue a female double agent who Jenkins believes was killed aiding him in his previous escape from Russia when their undercover operation went horribly wrong.

Dugoni is a real master at packing loads of suspense and thrills into his novels as well as creating a cast of commanding and powerful supporting characters. Die-hard fans of spy thrillers will find themselves completely caught up in this finely crafted narrative that boasts a plot packed with more twists than a bag of pretzels.

Don’t start reading late in the day unless you want to sacrifice and chance you had of getting to bed early.

3.5 STARS - Robert Dugoni is one of my go-to authors. I love his Tracy Crosswhite series, his coming-of-age story The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell and even though spies and espionage aren't usually my cuppa tea, I really enjoyed reading The Eighth Sister last year. It was the impressive first installment of the Charles Jenkins series that had non-stop, edge-of-your-seat action and a 'more seasoned' protagonist readers could root for.

The Last Agent picks up shortly after the first book ends and continues the story of spies and espionage with a strong Russian focus. But the story started off very s-l-o-w-l-y and it wasn't until the 40% mark when the plot gained traction for me and the action ratchets up big time. At that point, readers are given exhilarating, almost 007-esque action scenes that, while technically plausible, require readers to stretch and possibly suspend disbelief. If there's an action-packed escape, you can be sure Jenkins will go for it in the last half of the book. Buckle up, readers!

There is an interesting cast of secondary characters - some we've met before, some with baggage and a nefarious baddie with a giant axe to grind which keeps things interesting. There are a lot of Russian characters to keep track of (I found it a bit daunting at first) and Dugoni uses a lot of Russian text throughout, but its inclusion is handled without slowing things down, yet enabling readers to understand what was said.

This was a good addition to the new series. Jenkins is a likable main character who is part family man, part international spy and along with the Seven Sisters project, I'm eager to see where Dugoni will take future story lines.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Thomas and Mercer for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

This is a direct sequel to Dugoni's excellent first spy novel, The Eighth Sister and somehow it's even better. The stakes are higher. The suspense is heavier. The twists are twistier. It's Mission: Impossible with a team of one.

Ex-CIA agent Charles Jenkins is home from his previous, disastrous trip to Russia, recovering physically and emotionally from the ordeal, enjoying life with his loving wife and two children. Why would he even consider taking on another assignment from the agency that abandoned him and put him on trial for espionage? Why would he ultimately insist on taking the assignment? Such are the questions of loyalty and honor that drive him to discover the truth about the woman who helped him escape Russia the first time. At least this time, he's going into the situation with eyes wide open and an apparently trustworthy ally. But all the odds are stacked against him, too.

How is a known spy, who is physically unable to disappear into the dominantly white population of Russia, supposed to infiltrate the country, get information about a prized prisoner at their most secure military and political prison that the CIA can't even obtain, possibly help that prisoner to escape an inescapable facility, and get out of the country alive? Why he turns to his previous adversary in Russian intelligence, ex-spy Viktor Federov. Along the way in and out, Charles also relies on old and new allies and friends and his top-notch spy craft. This is a non-stop thrill ride. Hold on.

I have read most of Robert Dugoni's books including the Tracy Crosswhite series and the first one of this series, The Eighth Sister. Mr. Dugoni's books are great espionage escapism.. There is just enough intrigue that keeps me interested and turning the pages. As a side, it was a bit ironic reading about the extreme cold temperatures in Russia when we were experiencing 112+ degree weather in Northern California.

This story picks up where The Eighth Sister leaves off. So I would suggest reading these in order. Charles Jenkins, a former spy betrayed by his country, risks his life to save the Russian counter spy Paulina, who he thought was dead. Paulina risked her life to save Charles.

For those who enjoy page turning sky books this series is very good.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for honest feedback.

I have read The Last Agent, the second book about Charles Jenkins by Robert Dugoni. I must thank #ThomasAndMercer and #Netgalley for providing me with this excellent espionage thriller. I was sceptical when I found out what the story was all about but Dugoni did deliver a great book and I could hardly put it down. Although I found the ending and the hint at what the next one will all be about somewhat repetitive. We will see what the future will hold for our agent. I find the author so good that I will see if I can find time to try some of his other work. I actually found that his David Sloane books are getting translated to swedish, maybe I will try one of those.

Charles Jenkins narrowly escaped from Russia with his life, thanks in large part to a Russian agent who assisted him. He has vowed an end to the spy game that he has been involved with... until he learns that the agent who helped him is in desperate need of his help now.

This is the second book in this series featuring a man who was a side character in an earlier series by this author. I liked that character a lot in the previous series and was excited to learn that he was getting his own series. I looked forward to reading this book, and was not disappointed.

While I have never been to any of the locations in which this book is set, they were described well enough that I had no trouble visualizing them. The characters were what one would expect in this type of novel, and I really liked the main characters strong sense of family.

I enjoyed the twists and turns the story took as it progressed, and had a very hard time putting the book down. If there is another book to this series, I will most certainly read it.

You know how I know this was a really good book?
I want to read the first book in the series even though I know everything that had happened!

This book is second in the series about Charles Jenkins , a CIA officer. In this book he returns to Russia to save the life of someone that had saved his.
And during that rescue so many great things are depicted, so much actions, excellent pace and 'clear' characters. When I say clear I mean that each character has got enough time in the book and a great backstory and it felt like I was watching an excellent spy movie that just must end right.

All the characters, the good and bad ones form a fantastic story that gets you intrigued, and you gasp, feel shock. and root for Charles all the way. They are developed in details and are crafted in such a way to bring the reader a very exciting story that keeps you on your toes.

The story itself is very believable and I honestly could see all of these things happening. and in the acknowledgments the author wrote how he went to the source of espionage craft and all things from the book can indeed happen.

It was very interesting to see that the author wrote different genres before and this series is a kind of a debut for the spy world and it was even a bigger surprise how this book is just good.

The narrative dazzles you with quick chapters, easy to follow tension and a whole lot of details. That's what's so great about this book - there are a lot of details but they are extremely well put together and they just make the story great. The author found a great balance when it comes to detail count and it made the story so compelling.

You can't tell who is going to betray Charles, if anyone :D, or is he going to survive, or anything else. I've had my many doubts throughout the book and the results were so simple - that is such the beauty of this story : you think about everything and the story is quite simple.

I will definitely read all the books from the series and I read somewhere that this book is going to be a TV series? Yeah!

This is a terrific follow up to The Eighth Sister!

Ex-CIA agent Charles Jenkins is back at his farm, recovering from his trip to Russia the previous year for the CIA (I do recommend reading The Eighth Sister to get to know the characters and the background). That Charlie managed to escape with his life was thanks to Paulina Ponomayova, a CIA agent who acted as decoy for the Russian intelligence (FSB) agent relentlessly hunting him down and was believed to have died doing so. Now Charlie has been told that Paulina didn't die and is now being held and tortured in Moscow's ex-KGB prison, Lefortovo. Paulina knows the names of the four remaining seven sisters, women agents deep undercover in Russia and the FSB are determined to get them out of her. Despite the extreme unlikelihood and inherent danger of being able to help a prisoner escape from such a high security prison, the CIA want Charlie to go back to Russia and do just that.

This was definitely a high tension and gripping read, as Charlie attempts to stay one step ahead of Efimov, the ruthless FSB agent hunting him down. Both Charlie and Efimov are masters of espionage deploying all their intelligence, experience and skills to predict what the other will be doing. While Charlie is not without local assistance, with some great characters helping to organise multiple escape routes and diversions, Efimov uses all the facilities of surveillance available in modern Russia. At times the suspense became too much and I had to remember to stop holding my breath. Highly recommended for fans of spy thrillers!

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Dugoni, and. Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Showcasing his abilities outside of police procedurals, Robert Dugoni returns to add another layer to one of his wonderful standalone novels. Thrilling readers throughout this piece of espionage, Dugoni shows that he can craft sensational characters and keep the plot moving along, even behind enemy lines. After his gruelling experience in Russia, Charles Jenkins has no interest in returning. His family is priority #1 and, with a new baby, he does not want to risk upsetting his wife. So, when a CIA operative approaches him, Jenkins is not interested in the message. The Agency is still wondering about their Seven Sisters project, more specifically the Russian CIA operative who helped Jenkins while he was there. Paulina Ponomayova sacrificed her safety to ensure that Jenkins made it out and, if she is still alive, the Agency wants to know about it. Jenkins gives this some thought, wondering if he might be able to extract Paulina and save her as she did for him. A long chat with his wife leads them to understand the need for one final sacrifice. As Jenkins is placed in the region, he will have to make his way on Russian soil and work his magic. Keen to show off his skills, Jenkins boldly enters the country and drops numerous breadcrumbs regarding his presence, which raises many red flags with the FSB, Russia’s Security Agency. As Jenkins seeks to lure them to what he is doing, he touches base with Viktor Federov, the FSB agent whose failure to apprehend Jenkins the first time left him in major trouble. While Federov is leery at first, he soon realises that Jenkins is seeking to redeem them both for troubles their respective countries placed at their feet. They devise a plan to locate Paulina and try to get her out of the country as quickly as possible. After making contact and playing a little sleight of hand, the mission to leave the country begins. This is surely more difficult, as the FSB are everywhere and Jenkins has made himself persona non grata already, particularly to Adam Efimov, who is tasked with locating Jenkins and bringing him in. As Jenkins, Federov, and Ponomavova try to flee Moscow, it will be a fight to the end to get to safety. With the Russian winter upon them, any misstep could cost them their lives in the cold, even before Efimov puts bullet lodges into their skulls. A chilling spy thriller that I had not expected from Robert Dugoni. This is one novel sure to receive much attention for the foreseeable future. Recommended to those who enjoy Dugoni’s work, as well as the reader who finds modern espionage to their liking.

I have been a fan of Robert Dugoni’s work for a while, which usually focuses on legal or police matters. However, this novel has all the elements of a new genre for the author, something he seems to have mastered as well. The attention to detail is evident throughout and the reader is sure to feel as though they are right there, with the ever-developing plot. Charles Jenkins takes centre stage again, though he is slightly more reticent to toss himself into the middle of a dangerous situation. Burnt by his own government, Jenkins wants nothing to do with helping the Agency, but as soon as Paulina Ponomayova‘s name comes up, he knows that he must help. The reader can see some of the emotional connections Jenkins has made in this second novel, though he remains highly work-focussed for much of the book. There is some character development, surely, but the intricate details of his plan hatching steal much of the limelight in this piece. Jenkins does a formidable job, even when faced with adversity, keeping the story moving throughout. A handful of great secondary characters help depict the clash, particularly within Russia. Dugoni’s detail when forming these characters works so well and the reality of the situation becomes apparent throughout, which serves to permit the reader to feel a part of the action. One cannot read this book and not feel that Adam Efimov played a key antagonist role, depicting both the traditional Russian and one whose new connections with the current regime have helped him climb the proverbial ladder. The story began strong and kept getting better. I cannot say enough about Dugoni’s ability to cobble together something so air-tight and yet not forget to inject some needed humour throughout. A modern Cold War thriller for sure, which had the elements of reality sewn into its plot. Using great dialogue and multiple languages kept the reader feeling as though they were standing beside the characters and living each moment. True, I must rely on Dugoni to have used proper lingo and phraseology, but I will leave linguistic nitpicking to others, as I surely felt this added a wonderful flavour to the overall piece. While I do love the Tracy Crosswhite series, this was a wonderful break and shows me that Robert Dugoni’s versatility is surely something to earn him an even larger fan base. Plus, the cliffhanger ending leaves things open for a trilogy, should everyone want to play along.

Kudos, Mr. Dugoni, for another wonderful book. You never cease to impress and I cannot wait to see what else you have up your sleeve.

I loved The Eighth Sister(to be honest Ive loved all the Dugoni books Ive read)and so was really looking forward to this follow up and it didnt disappoint.

Charles Jenkins is called back to Russia as all is not as it seems when he left it the last time. He goes back on a potential rescue mission and meets an old foe who may or may not turn into a friend.

Spies, government secrets, double agents, false identities, intelligence, counter intelligence!! Like The Eighth Sister, despite being set in present day it has a real Cold War feel to it.

Dugoni as always is a great story teller. Despite there being plenty of Russian characters with unfamiliar names, it was easy to keep track of all the characters, a sign that they are very well written .

The story is a mixture of thriller, spy novel and road movie. Its beautifully plotted and told. About half way through the tension rises to near unbearable levels and remains so for the rest of the story. It really was exhilarating.

This works as a stand alone but does reference the first book a lot and I would advise reading that first to get the full enjoyment of the book, as much for the characters as they story.

Both books are a great read. Dugoni knocks it out of the park again. His consistency in storytelling in different genres is to be hugely admired.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Thomas And Mercer and Robert Dugoni for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am usually not a fan of spy thrillers, but I had really enjoyed The Eighth Sister. So, I was thrilled that Dugoni had written a second book in the series.
Charles Jenkins is at home recovering. He’s been found not guilty of espionage but needless to say, he’s still holding a grudge against the CIA. But when an agent comes calling, asking for help to extract Paulina Ponomayova, the Russian who saved Jenkins in the first book, he agrees. The job seems hopeless - Paulina is in the Lefortovo prison.
This story goes a mile a minute. The reader hardly has a chance to catch their breath from one suspenseful scene to the next. Efimov is the perfect villain, his whole career riding on catching Jenkins and Ponomayova, because who wants to be the one to tell Vladimir you’ve failed?
The book is filled with other fabulous characters, several larger than life, with a variety of different motivations.
In the author’s note, Dugoni details the conversations he had with his experts, always wondering if a solution “ was beyond the realm of fiction.” Some may stretch, but they all read as plausible. I’ve read that the first book has been picked up for a possible tv series. We can only hope they move forward with both books.
This does not work as a standalone. You need to have read The Eighth Sister for the complete back story. I’m glad that the ending seems to leave open the possibility for a third book.
My thanks to netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

Chalk up another winner in this series - after reading the first, "The Eighth Sister," I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next one. And it certainly didn't disappoint. I'm not a very "excitable" reader, really - and I'm always pretty sure an author won't put his or her series star six feet under. But the closer I got to the end of former spy Charles Jenkins' adventures getting into and out of Russia, the tighter I held my Kindle and the closer to falling off the edge of my seat.

Charlie, now married with two children - the daughter named after Paulina Ponomayova, an agent who sacrificed her life to save his in the previous book - isn't exactly happy with his former life. His own country betrayed him and even put him on trial for treason, so he owes nothing. But then, an agent from the CIA's Clandestine Services pays Charlie a visit - telling him that a woman believed to be Paulina is alive - but probably not well - in one of Moscow's nastiest prisons.

After the way he's been treated, Charlie has no confidence that the agent bringing the news is telling the truth; he could be setting Charlie up for a fall that could be permanent. There's also no proof that the imprisoned woman is Paulina, although clues strongly suggest that is the case. In any event, the agent plays to Charlie's indebtedness to Paulina as he tries to convince him to return to Russia, determine whether or not the woman is his old friend and, if she is, get her out of the prison, out of Russia and safe in the United States.

It's quite a tall order, and even Charlie isn't sure he's up to the task. His wife Alex isn't thrilled with the thought of such a dangerous mission, but she acknowledges that her husband is with her only because of Paulina's efforts. So off he goes, and the nonstop adventure begins - starting with a surreptitious and almost disastrous venture to Russian soil. First up is identifying the woman; for help with that, he must find a former Russian officer who once was Charlie's nemesis.

It is here that I must stop; otherwise, I'd give away too much. Suffice it to say Charlie's adventure only gets more fast-paced and frightening as the chapters zip along to an exciting end - one that leaves the door open for the next adventure. I'm more than ready - and until then, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this one.

Book Review: The Last Agent (Charles Jenkins #2)
by Robert Dugoni
(Published by Thomas & Mercer, October 22, 2020)

4.25 Stars.

In Book 1, "The Eighth Sister", Author Robert Dugoni creates a spy, - a departure from the Tracy Crosswhite detective thriller eight-book series, and other genres in his considerable body of work - to the delight and enthusiasm of his readers!

That high-speed chase across Russia, the Thunderball escape, the unmasking of a deep state mole, and the scurrilous counter-accusations and legal issues that exacerbate the perils of modern day intelligence gathering, of a spy who defies all odds.

In Book 2, "The Last Agent", Charles Jenkins embarks on the ultimate Mission Impossible, the most devious display of ingenuity as he attempts to infiltrate the impregnable citadel of Russian /Soviet repression, - the Lefortovo prison - that dungeon of horrors dating back to 1881.

We get a closer look at the profile of the protagonist - his moral compass, his humanity, and his limitations - a 64-year old Vietnam vet and retired CIA spy, 6-5 African American, husband and father of two.

Jenkins is, for all intents and purposes, a senior citizen, plunged into a mission that would stretch the limits of a younger operative at his prime; known to and hunted by Russian intelligence and faced with facial recognition and other counter-intelligence technologies; and, not in the least, shouldered with the utter peril of a tall black undercover agent sticking out like a sore thumb in the milieu of the white palm of the Tsars.

We've seen this rodeo before!

The sequel isn't quite a repeat of the Russia infiltration /escape adventure of Book 1, at least in motive and methodology, for in creativity and imagination, the author does excel.

But even for one of my favorite writers, a second dip into the well of an arguably identical plot will inevitably invoke the law of diminishing returns.

Nevertheless, whatever could be next for Charles Jenkins, is certainly anticipated with high expectations.

Not quite as thrilling and as compelling as Book 1, but still a great read.

Review based on an ARC from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley.

Buckle up for another wild ride as Charles Jenkins, former CIA agent, agrees to go back to Russia and rescue the American asset Paulina Ponomayova from an infamous prison. Paulina has been interrogated without mercy as the Russians try to find out the names of the remaining four women who have spied for the CIA for years. The mission has less than a 1% chance of succeeding, but Charles cannot leave Paulina behind especially since she risked her life to help him escape Russia the first time.

Mr. Dugoni weaves a suspenseful tale of a precision mission that relies on the barest of chances that events will happen as the CIA has planned. With obstacle after obstacle is thrown into their escape plan and dogged by a determined and obsessed Russian interrogator, Charles and Paulina adjust plans and race against time to get out of Russia. This is the second book about Charles Jenkin and it can be read as a stand-alone, but I think reading the first book will increase your enjoyment of this book.

The Last Agent is a sequel to The Eighth Sister. I read (and enjoyed!) The Eighth Sister, but wouldn't have had a  problem following the story line if I hadn't read it. The Last Agent certainly puts Robert Dugoni at the head of the class for edge of your seat moments. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an early copy to review.

The Last Agent follows the events of the first book. Betrayed by his country and tried for treason, Jenkins survived an undercover Russian operation gone wrong. Exonerated, bitter, but safe, he is through with duplicitous spy games, until he learns of a woman isolated in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo Prison.
If its Paulina Ponomayova, the agent who sacrificed her life to save his, Jenkins can’t leave her behind. But there’s no guarantee it’s her. Or proof Paulina is still alive. To find out, he must return to Russia and blackmail Viktor Federov, a former Russian officer who once pursued Jenkins across three continents, into helping him infiltrate Lefortovo.
Every step of the way—from Moscow to Scandinavia to the open ocean—they’re hunted by a brutal Russian agent on a killer quest of his own. Out of loyalty to Paulina—dead or alive—Jenkins is putting everyone’s life on the line for a new mission that could be his last.
A 60 something, retired, family man, Charles Jenkins is unlike your usual spy-thriller protagonist but what he lacks in age, he more than makes up in experience and skill. He managed the unthinkable once and is determined to do it again, if only on a wing and a prayer. This is where Dugoni’s masterful writing comes into play. The mission being high-stakes, he quickly builds momentum with plenty of twists to keep you engaged.

This book is a lot better than the previous one, with a good pace and entertainment all the way. The characters are very good, but unfortunately, there are quite a few factual and logical errors.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC. I really liked it and am sad that it's the last Charles Jenkins book. It's jam-packed with action and the characters are great. Make sure you read The Eighth Sister before you read this one. I'm usually not picky about reading books in order, but this time it's a must. I will check out Robert Dugoni's other books because he's such a good writer.