Going in, I was nervous that The Last Agent would require background knowledge from the prior book in the series, but Dugoni did a great job of quickly getting the reader up to speed without heavy-handed exposition. You quickly understand who and what is important to Jenkins, and what means he's willing to use to achieve his end goals. Dugoni's action and espionage scenes feel real; he raises the tension masterfully, leaving the reader expecting his protagonists to be killed or captured at any juncture. The characters are well written, each with their own motivations and ambitions that set them on their own paths, rather than just advancing the narrative. I'm going to have to go back and read the first book, to better understand the characters, but also because I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

The Last Agent is second book in Charles Jenkins series. Although I did not read the first book before reading this book, the story flow did not seem disrupted. Its a spy story, a good one. Keeps us guessing and thrilling till the last like the other works of Robert Dugoni. Overall novel is like an action packed movie, like a Bond movie!! Definitely gonna read the first book in this series.
Thank you NetGalley, Robert Dugoni and Thomas & Mercer for reader’s copy of this book. The review is not influenced and is purely my own opinion.

Great book, but I probably should have read the first one first. Great book with a great storyline. Looking forward to more form this author.

This is book two in the Charles Jenkins series and its back to Moscow!

More espionage, blackmail, and scary Russian agents.

Charles Jenkins is back and on a new mission. I read The Eighth Sister (book one in the series) and couldn't wait to see what his next move would be. This could be a stand-alone as it does give background information in the first few chapters, but I would recommend reading the first book (its good).

When Charles learns that things may not have been as they seemed when he left Russia, he decides to go back to Russia to try to save someone close to his heart. But is she even alive? He knows he must find out.

Tension builds as each chapter flies by and there were moments I wanted to close my eyes! Panicked at what was about to happen. It reads like a fast paced, action-packed movie.


The suspense was anxiety filled and had me holding my breath and saying, "oh no, oh no, oh no...." Those moments when the chase is on and you feel like you are in on it.

What a great spy story! Kept me guessing and rooting for the good guys! There is also a pilot character, Studebaker who was "hulla" crazy and added humor. And wow, what an ending!

Recommend to fans of spy thrillers, international shell games and characters you'll be completely invested in.

Thanks so much to NG/ Thomas and Mercer for an advanced review copy. OUT October 2020, but the first book in the series in available now.

I’ll start by saying that I have not read the first book in this series, but I have read other books by this author. Overall, this was a good suspense book. It was slightly predictable and lacked that “wow” factor for me that I usually have with his other books, but otherwise, very enjoyable read.

I've definitely enjoyed other Robert Dugoni books more than "The Last Agent". It's a largely okay spy novel that isn't overall original and can verge on being rather predictable.

I have read all of this authors previous books. This is another example of his command of suspenseful writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the unpredictability of this book. Russia, to me, is a scary country. After reading this book it is still scary but enticing as a possible travel destination.
I can appreciate the research it took to write this book. Very thorough and precise.

Thriller set in the world of the cold war,secret agents,Russia and intelligence. The characters are all multi-fasceted,strong and interesting. Fast paced enjoyable read.

I've enjoyed several Robert Dugoni books, I found this one to be solidly written (as always), and enjoyable. Just not overly original, for me was just a spy novel, not unique.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

In “The Last Agent” (Charles Jenkins #2) by Robert Dugoni we are brought back into the life of Charles Jenkins. After being betrayed by his country and tried for treason the people who made him the scapegoat come back with news of a women being held in Russia – if it is the agent who sacrificed her life for him, he needs find her and get her out. But that is not going to be easy and he needs help. But can he trust the former Russian officer who was sent to kill him?

Great story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Looking forward to book three.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Net Galley and this is my honest review.

I first read Robert Dugoni with, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell. It was a fabulous story so I was excited to see this book offered as an ARC for my honest review.

This is the second book in a series. Book #1, The Eighth Sister, is recapped in the beginning of the story. Since I hadn’t read the first book it set the stage for the continuation of the story. The plot is very intriguing and takes place in Russia. I had difficulty with the names of the people, streets and cities so I had to fake it through. The dialogue was very realistic with the Russian characters words in Russian. Thank you Robert Dugoni for translating them into English directly following these parts.

I did lose some sleep over this book as the plot thickened and became so intense. I really loved the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone even if they are not espionage fans.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for this advanced copy. This is my honest review in my own words.

Charles Jenkins served with distinction in the CIA for many years until the Russian job went wrong. He made a harrowing escape from Russia, returned to the United States, and was tried for treason. After the finding of not guilty, he took to living the life of a gentleman farmer in Washington with his wife and child. Then the CIA, once again, came calling. He needed to return to Russia where President Putin was still looking for him. Could he return and get back to the family he loved even though the mission was to save the person who saved him? The person who his daughter was named after?
Mr. Dugoni is the author of eleven other novels and knows how to put a thriller together. It comes with several interesting and surprising twists and turns. It could be called a page-turner except for his use of foreign languages I don't read. I would be ripping through the story and be stopped cold by Russsian or Finnish dialogue followed closely by the translation. It would have been a much smoother read if I was told they were speaking in whatever language and given it to me in English. It would not have distracted from the plot and moved the story along.
For its one failure, I gave it four stars instead of five. It's an excellent CIA agent thriller with intriguing descriptions of Russia which are incorporated into the plot well. I highly recommend it, and I am going to find some of his other books to read.

Dugoni has written yet another compelling novel. His extraordinary command of information and facts was exhibited in the detailed background he developed in this story of espionage and human kindness mixed with cruelty. Fully developed characters were allowed the reality of human frailties and the courage to survive despite overwhelming odds against that occurring. I could not put this book down once I started it.

I’ve read several books by Robert Dugoni. I like his writing style. Having read the first book in this series I was excited to get a chance to read this one. It doesn’t disappoint. Good fast paced read. I highly recommend this book.

3+ More than 3 stars but not quite 4 for me.

I have read only a few [author: Robert Dugoni] novels and the ones I read were Tracy Crosswhite. I enjoyed them very much!!
I did read “The Eighth Sister which was the first in the Charles Jenkin series and this is a sequel.

Charles is 64, has a young wife, one year old baby daughter Lizzie and CJ who is now in middle school plays soccer and I am guessing not the Harry Potter fan he was in the earlier story.
There is no doubt that Charles is a very likeable guy!!

This story starts with Charles returning to his home outside of Seattle from his undercover travels to Moscow. (An assignment offered by his former CIA bureau chief ).
He is bitter at the way the agency disposes of him.

Here is no doubt [author: Robert Dugoni] does his research. In fact, I totally enjoyed reading the “Acknowledgments” notes in the back of this novel as well as the detailed information provided in “The Eighth Sister”. Dugoni explains that his knowledge of Russia comes from his visit to Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Certain am looking forward to the next Dugoni thriller.

Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishers for this early release granted in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of this author. I like all his Tracy Crosswhite books, his legal thrillers and stand-alones. But this book fell short for me in the narrative, plot, the various improbable escapes. It was a bit too much to take. I could not connect with any of the characters. 3 stars for the author.

Robert Dugoni knows how to tell a story, and he has another winner in this book. Spycraft, espionage, high- level plotting and conspiracies, but most important, loyalty is on display here as Jenkins gives up the comfort of home to head back to Russia and rescue a friend.

Robert Dugoni is favorite of mine. His legal thrillers are brilliant.. well written and very cleverly plotted. His novel with Sam Hell as the protagonist is a treasured book. This spy novel is in a series featuring Charles Jenkins. I have to be honest, I think Dugoni’s other books are much better. This new one certainly has thrills and suspense but ultimately hard to believe. How he manages to elude the best Russian agents who pursue him so assiduously is just not easy to imagine. Ultimately, the series of Houdini like escapes wear thin and seem excessive. I feel like the novel could have ended without several of theses exploits. The Cold War spy genre does not capture my interest as courtroom dramas do. Dugoni is a master of the latter.. he should stick to them.

4,5 stars

We all search for a friend like Charles Jenkins. He is the type of friend that quite literally will lay his life on the line for someone he cares about. In this second installment of the Charles Jenkins series, we find out how much friendship means to this man.

Would you ever want to go back to a place where you knew your life was in constant peril, where the fate that awaited you at best was prison and at worst prison accompanied by torture, suffering, and misery? Would you ever want to work once again for a place that prosecuted you falsely for espionage and treason? Most of us would definitely decline this "opportunity", but not Charles.

What would entice Charles back into the deadly business of spying, leaving his loving wife and two children, leaving a life of retirement, leaving a life where he was exonerated of his supposed crimes?

For Charles, there was no question to do so when he learned of the possibility that his friend and the women who previously saved him might be alive. Paulina Ponomayova, had years ago provided the way for Charles to escape Russia, literally sacrificing herself, and if she is still alive, Charles owes her a debt he feels he needs to repay. If alive, Paulina would be held in the heinous prison called Lefortovo, a virtual hell hole on earth.

Returning to Russia, Charles meets up with his former nemesis, Viktor Federov. Viktor, maltreated by the Russian government, is enlisted, and in a twist of fate, joins in helping Charles free Paulina, a task that has insurmountable odds of not succeeding. In essence two former enemies become united in what once had seemed an impossibility.

The game is on to free Paulina and the stakes are ever so high as one vindictive ruthless Russian agent pursues Charles and seems to be always anticipating Charles's next move. Who will win this cat and mouse game where death seems to be the only option?

If you enjoy stories that never let up on the thrills and suspense factors, pick this one up. It keeps getting better as every page is turned and your breathe is held as Charles races to save not only Paulina, but also his own life that hangs in the balance at every turn in the road.

Thank you to Robert Dugoni, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this electrifying book due out September 22, 2020.

Exotic locales, interesting characters and entertaining plot..."The Last Agent" had it all for me. I have read as many of Dugoni's books as possible and have enjoyed every one. I like to be transported into a story as more than a reader and experience the events just as the characters and locations do.