Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini
Series: Charles Jenkins #2
Published by Brilliance Audio on September 22, 2020
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 10 hours, 31 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
Betrayed by his own country and tried for treason, former spy Charles Jenkins survived an undercover Russian operation gone wrong. Exonerated, bitter, and safe, the retired family man is through with duplicitous spy games. Then he learns of a woman isolated in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo Prison.
If it’s 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, Jenkins must return to Russia. Next move: blackmail Viktor Federov, a former Russian officer with his own ax to grind, into helping him infiltrate Lefortovo. The enemy who once pursued Jenkins across three continents is now the only man Jenkins can trust.
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.
I own the first book in this Charles Jenkins series, The Eighth Sister, which was a heart-stopping fire hose of action and life-or-death danger. The main character is unusual in that he is older, in his 60s, and left the CIA 40 years ago. He has a young son and a newborn daughter. He only escaped with his life last time due to the sacrifice of Paulina and now it turns out she is not dead.
I am really enjoying this series. I think you should read it is order due to the character and plot development as it progresses. Definitely some of the same people and goals are still in play in The Last Agent.  It is fascinating that Jenkins has so many skills for the short time he was in the CIA and after such a long time has retained his careful ways and his physical fitness.
In spite of his complete distrust for the CIA, Jenkins still loves his country. He also has his own sense of honor and compassion which clearly have him going into a new life-threatening situation. The whole escapade had me on edge and I can’t wait to see what is next for this man, his family and his country.
Narration:
The narrator is capable and does an enjoyable performance. He handles the different voices and accents comfortably, including the inflections for foreign countries. I don’t know if they are accurate but they sound authentic. I am thrilled the audiobook version is also available through Kindle Unlimited. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Edoardo Ballerini
Edoardo Ballerini is an Award-winning narrator of Audiobooks and has appeared in over 40 films and television series, including recurring roles in “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Sopranos” and “24,” as well as a starring turn in the indie hit “Dinner Rush.”
In June 2019, Edoardo was inducted as a Golden Voice, AudioFile’s lifetime achievement honor for audiobook narrators.
About Robert Dugoni
Robert Dugoni is the New York Times, #1 Amazon, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of the Tracy Crosswhite series: My Sister’s Grave, Her Last Breath, In the Clearing, The Trapped Girl and Close to Home, as well as the short prequels The Academy and Third Watch. The police procedural featuring Seattle Homicide Detective Tracy Crosswhite has kept Dugoni in the Amazon top 10 for more than three years and sold more than 4 million copies. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, released April 2018. Dugoni’s first series featured attorney David Sloane and CIA agent Charles Jenkins.
He is the winner of the Nancy Pearl Award for fiction, a two-time nominee for the Harper Lee Award for Legal Fiction, A two-time nominee for the Mystery Writer’s of America Edgar Award and a two-time nominee for the International Thriller of the year. His non-fiction expose, The Cyanide Canary, was a 2004 Best Book of the Year. He is published in more than 30 countries and two dozen languages.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
 |
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Sunday Post – 19 January 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - January 19, 2025
- 🎧 Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan @DervlaMcTiernan#AoifeMcMahon @HarperAudio #LoveAudiobooks - January 18, 2025
- Read-along & #Giveaway:On the Edge by Ilona Andrews @ilonaandrews @ilonaandrews.bsky.social @reneeraudman @AceBooksPub @acebookspub.bsky.social @TantorAudio @tantoraudio.bsky.social #Read-along #GIVEAWAY @victoria7401.bsky.social - January 17, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
Excellent review, Anne? I’m excited about this book and you’ve got me anxious to get to it now. I really like the character and am glad he decided to continue. I’ve got it on audio, too.
Thank you. I really enjoy these characters and the danger is palpable.
I like books with older protagonists now and then. Sounds like a really good series?
I enjoy both of the series from this author. This one is all Russian spy / CIA and it’s something old and yet new.
it’s great to hear that the second book is good like that too
It’s is a great series, very thrilling and well-written.
I can see from the related posts that you like this author! I do like a good thriller and I also like the fact the main man is older. Thanks for sharing!
They are some of the best books in this category.
This is a new series and author for me. I do love a good thriller.
This one is great with Russian and CIA ops. I like the smart strategies and the edge of survival here. I always would say start with the first in a series though.
What a coincidence. The book I’m reading now has Russian and CIA Ops in it. It’s Ice Hunt by James Rollins.
I’ll have to look at that. I don’t read too many CIA / Russian books these days.