Customer Reviews

The Last Operative

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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For the past two decades, Jordan Kettering has worked as an NSA field analyst. His job made him a stranger to his wife, daughter and son. To make up for his neglect when the kids were growing up, Jordan arranges to meet his spouse at Heathrow Airport for a European vacation. Before Jordon goes to the airport, he meets with author Stanley Stewart, who insists there are MIGs in a Quonset hut brought there by al Qaeda to use them to attack the United States after missiles are smuggled into the country.

At Heathrow, a sniper opens fires on Jordan wife and the man she is talking to killing many bystanders. While being debriefed in DC, Jordan meets with his former handler Chuck Wallington. He learns that Stanley was murdered too. Irate and grieving Jordon hides at his Uncle Denton's house. Wallington conceives a plan to stop the missiles from being loaded on a ship in Ecuador, but the enemy is one step ahead of the American counteragents. Kettering ponders whether NSA has a mole working for the enemy as time is running out to prevent the worst attack on American soil since 9/11.

The Last Operative is a rewriting of Jerry B. Jenkins' first stand-alone The Operative written two decades ago and freshened with a revision of the political situations since the original publication. The story line is a pulse pumping thriller starring a fascinating patriot who goes about his dangerous mission with no time to stop to mourn his loss; yet consequently he remains in the early stages of grief compounded by remorse and regret as he for the first time questions the personal cost. Nathan Hale stated that his only regret was he could only give one life for his country, but that was comparatively easy as Hale bravely gave his own. Loaded with action, this is a character driven taut thriller as the hero faces personal demons he puts on hold while he confronts those killers who claim God on their side while murdering his children.

Harriet Klausner

Jerry Jenkins has written some excellent books over the years, but this one just zoomed to the top of my favorites list! I read a lot of books, most sent to me by authors wanting reviews/recommendations, and some (like this one) that I purchase because of the author's reputation as an excellent writer. I can easily say that Jenkins lived up to and even surpassed his reputation in the writing of The Last Operative, which is the best novel I've read in a very long time. It's gripping, exciting, and even believable in a setting/lifestyle that is unimaginable to most readers. This is a book you do NOT want to miss!

P. Gaston Blanc was at Heathrow when he became the witness of a violent terrorist attack. Shocking, disturbing, perhaps even life-altering. But the fact of the matter is that he isn't P. Gaston Blanc. He is Jordan Kirkwood and while he finds the terrorist attack frightening, even more frightening is that he knows it was directed towards him. He was the one they meant to kill. They wanted to get rid of The Last Operative.

Jordan has long been a member of a special program within the NSA that has put him in some very dangerous situations and made him some very dangerous enemies. His job is so classified that few within the NSA - not even the director - know the exact nature of his assignments. Now someone within the agency might be a part of the terrorist attack that tried to kill him, and Jordan doesn't know who can be trusted. He doesn't know who wants him dead, but he does know why - He's the only one who knows that Al-Qaeda has gone nuclear and has made plans to attack.

In The Last Operative, New York Times bestselling author Jerry Jenkins paints an all-too-real scenario about an al-Qaeda plot that would make 9/11 look like child's play. The action is gripping, the characters appealing, and the relationship dynamics intense. Jenkins takes the reader on a roller coaster journey where nothing is at it seems and tricky reversals and subtle deceptions make the story wild, unpredictable, and exciting.

The life of a spy is cryptic and exciting, and superspy Jordan Kirkwood is one of the best. Jenkins portrays the character in a very real and three-dimensional way, throwing him into adversity not only on the job but from within his own family. One of the most entertaining aspects of this character for me was the depiction of Jordan's rigorous training regimen to stay in top physical condition. The flashbacks to his days of training not only fleshed out the character but brought some levity and lightness to an otherwise dark and intense story. Such well-roundedness is what makes this a truly enjoyable novel.

A thorough rewrite of Jenkins' first standalone novel, The Operative (published by Harper & Row in 1987), the novel reflects not only an update of twenty years in the sense of the book's history but also twenty years in Jenkins writing history. The result is a labor of love that has turned a solid debut thriller into a masterpiece. In the eyes of a reader, it's a fun and exciting read that will leave you breathless. In the eyes of the writer, one can learn a lot about the art of story by considering the stylistic changes and differences between this and Jenkins' original novel. It's a powerful story, masterfully written by one of the greats in the Christian market.

Jordan Kirkwood wants to go quietly into the sunset. His career as an NSA intelligence officer has taken a significant toll. His two adult children are little more than distant acquaintances. His wife has been patient and supportive, but he knows she has deserved better. That was part of the reason they were going to London. He wanted her to see Europe like a tourist. But that was before he was given intelligence information during the recent mission to Germany. The threat is grave--bigger than 9/11. And the risk is compounded by the fact that someone inside the NSA is involved. The most hidden place in Kirkwood's past will have to be unmasked in order to meet the challenges of this mission.


I was not riveted by this book until halfway through it. I appreciate the great care Jerry Jenkins took in getting details about the spy life just right. I felt the book moved a little too slow for me though. A book that is almost 400 pages long needs to have me drawn in right away, or a little less detail given.


I give Jenkins props though for the many twists that he puts into the plot. I hate it though when I can figure something out beforehand. I was hoping to get a sense that Kirkwood had finally turned his life back to God, but that never came for me. His relationship with his children was still left hanging for me too. Overall, not a bad book, but not one I'll likely read again.

When I learned of the opportunity to review The Last Operative by Jerry B. Jenkins, I leapt at the chance. The only other thing I had read by him, was the Left Behind series. I was curious to read more. When the book arrived, I wasted no time and dove right in. My husband had to work at getting my attention to let me know he was going to bed. I looked at the clock, 90 minutes had passed. This book had really drawn me in.

There were a few parts that were predictable, but in a nice way. The whole premise of a secret agent not able to trust even those on 'his side' often reminded my of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne books. Just to be clear, I like those books. :) No crazy car chase, but plenty of plausible action to keep you reading 'just a little more'. Jordan Kirkwood is also a Christian. Pretty rare among secret agents. I like the way his faith is handled. I have previously been turned off of Christian fiction because of how artificial a character and/or their faith felt. This book shows me that with a skillful author, it can be done well, really well. My 'faith' has been renewed in the genre--pun intended.

As a reviewer for the Tyndale Blog Network, I was given a copy free for this review. These are my own thoughts. No other compensation has been given.

While making a 6-hour ride out of state last week, I read a really good international spy thriller -- The Last Operative by Jerry Jenkins. Of course, Jerry Jenkins is well known as a co-author of the Left Behind series, but he has written many other excellent books, including this one.

According to an author's note in the front of the book, this is a re-write of Jerry's first stand-alone novel, written over twenty years ago. Through a little on-line research, I found that it was the publisher who suggested this re-write, and Jenkins made several changes in technology, the enemy, and even the main character's last name to come up with this up-to-date story of intrigue and faith.

Jordan Kirkwood is an operative with the National Security Agency, thinking seriously about leaving behind the kind of life that has kept him on the go and away from his family for so many years. As he waits for his wife to join him in Europe for a long-deserved vacation, he receives information that draws him reluctantly into another case. By the end of the first chapter, he has suffered horrible personal tragedy and found himself caught up in something much bigger than he imagined. In fact, as is stated on the cover of the book, "The fate of America lies in the hands of one man," -- and Jordan Kirkwood is that one man.

The book is a real page-turner, with lots of twists and turns in plot and characters. Who are the good guys, who are the bad guys, where will Jordan go, what disaster will strike next -- these questions and others have unpredictable answers that keep you wanting to read more. To the espionage, add in the elements of complicated family dynamics, romance, and struggles with faith, and you find an excellent read.

Jordan Kirkwood is a NSA operative whose life is upended and challenged when his wife is murdered in an attempt to stop Jordan from uncovering a terrorist attack on the US. The storyline of The Last Operative by Jerry B Jenkins moves seamlessly through all the exciting twists and turns as it reaches the dramatic conclusion and then on to tie up those loose ends every reader wants the answers to before closing the book.
The story was intriguing and an enjoyable read but I must say I was disappointed at its conclusion. It took me a few days of ruminating over the storyline. (Yes, I think about the plot of books for awhile after I read them just like I do with a good movie.) That's when I came to the conclusion that what I was disappointed in was the life reaction. I know the main character is more James Bond then every man, still I felt some of his reactions were not realistic enough. A few of the secondary characters especially his daughter could have been more distraught over the family drama that was taking place while her father saved the world. From a woman's perspective I find that emotional connection satisfying.
That said I would admit that the details of how organizations like NSA and their operatives work was fascinating and the mystery compelling. I hope Jordan Kirkwood has another adventures for us to follow.

Tyndale sent me a review copy of The Last Operative by Jerry B. Jenkins. It's better than the Left Behind series, which is the only other thing I've read by him. Interestingly, according the author's note at the beginning, The Last Operative is a rewrite of his very first novel in order to update it make the material current.

In the novel, Jordan Kirkwood considers retiring from his life as an NSA field operative. Shortly after receiving dangerous information from an old friend, Jordan witnesses his own wife killed in an airport shooting, himself the target. He confides in his mentor and handler at the NSA, and after spending some time with family, he begins investigating the information given him. His handler sends him to Central America to meet a contact, which turns out to be an old flame from before his marriage, and together they attempt to foil plans that could bring an attack to America worse than 9/11.

I enjoyed this novel. It moves quickly, even though there's not much action through much of the book, just conversation and Jordan Kirkwood's own conflicts within himself. Throughout the story, Jordan tries to rekindle his relationship with his grown children, having missed out on much of their lives due to his job. Telling them about his old flame doesn't help the situation. The "threat to America" plot resolved a little quickly, and seemed more of a backdrop for the story of Jordan reconciling his personal life with his professional life. The involvement of the old flame and it's repercussions was predictable but enjoyable. The reason for the final ending with Jordan and his old flame meeting seemed contrived but worked to show Jordan's commitment to the security of the United States.

The Last Operative moves quickly and ends with a satisfying resolution.

From[...]

The Last Operative by Jerry B. Jenkins is not a novel for the faint of heart. From the first sentence to the last, The Last Operative is an action-packed roller coaster ride.

Jordan Kirkwood is an NSA intelligence operative whose missions are so secret that many in the intelligence world don't know he exists. His brilliant career has left his personal life needing a lot of work. His adult children are practically strangers, and his wife is supportive and encouraging but would like more of Jordan than he has given her.

Jordan arranges a special trip for his wife, planning to escort her through Europe while showing her the highlights along the way. Before she arrives, however, Jordan receives devastating information that leaves the fate of the United States in his hands, and someone in the NSA may be the mastermind behind the threat. In his attempt to save the U.S., Jordan's life is laid bare, his deepest secrets revealed, and his true friends discovered.

I'm not a big fan of spy novels and movies. Although I've seen my share of James Bond movies (both the older and more recent ones), I don't seek out spy stories. I chose to read The Last Operative because I've read other works by Jerry B. Jenkins (Left Behind series, Writing for the Soul). Those books were so good that I jumped at the opportunity to read his latest release. I was not disappointed. The Last Operative is well-written, with a fantastic plot, well-developed characters, and an innovative treatment of dialogue. (See the Author's Note for more about the dialogue.)

Are the dog days of summer getting you down? Grab a copy of The Last Operative, fasten your seatbelt, lock your tray table in the upright position, and settle in for a wild ride of international intrigue!

Note: I received a free copy of The Last Operative from Tyndale House Publishers for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I wanted to give this a 4.5 rating. Started out way too sad for me, I had to keep putting it down. Then finally the story turned and I couldn't put it down and all too soon I was at the end. I hope we don't have to wait too long for book two. Great read!