REVIEW: The Last Line by Anthony Shaffer and William H. Keith

The Last Line by Anthony Shaffer and William H. Keith
Publishing Information: Paperback; 385 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 4 June 2014
ISBN: 978-1250048509
Standalone
Copy: Out of pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Amazon

Synopsis: "THE WAR ON DRUGS
Just because Chris Teller is one of the best in the intelligence business doesn’t mean he’s the most popular. Far from it, in fact. While Teller may be a threat to the status quo, however, the only thing saving him from expulsion is an even greater threat to his country—one that’s already within our borders…

IS ABOUT TO BECOME REAL.
With Mexico descending into anarchy, the drug cartels have kicked up the heat, allying with Hezbollah and the Iranian secret service in a plot aimed at nothing less than the destruction of the United States of America. As Teller races to unravel the plot, he discovers that the most dangerous and pernicious enemies are not bloodthirsty drug lords but a terrifying and treasonous cabal within the U.S. government itself."

I looked at this book on the bookstores shelves for a few months before finally pulling the trigger and buying it. I get on the thriller genre a few times a year and not all authors are created equal so I find myself hesitant to look for new novelists. The fact that Shaffer was a real intelligence officer is what finally put me over the top and get the book.

Chris Teller is a very dedicated intelligence officer who doesn't always play by the rules. In the beginning of the book he is at a SEREs training exercise (SERE- Survival, Evade, Rescue, and Escape) and we immediate learn why he isn't so popular with his peers and his superiors as he bends the rules of the drill. But beyond his creative understanding of directions, he doesn't seem to be much of a hothead or trouble maker. He just seems dedicated to his job.

When events on the Mexican border heat up, Teller is sent down to gain additional intel with the hopes that it will lead to something actionable. What happens next leads readers on a roller coaster of events that will uncover a plot that involves the Iranian Intelligence Agency, SAVAK and a nefarious plan to detonate a nuclear weapon inside the US.

What I really enjoyed about The Last Line was that Shaffer did an excellent job of blending Iran's Ministry of Intelligence with Mexican smugglers in a plot to stop the United States. The geo-politics were brought up but it would have been nice for Shaffer to expand on the idea and really bring it to the forefront although I understand it is hard to do when your hero is against the clock looking for WMDs in America's backyard.

The Last Line was a fun read but not as gritty and detailed as I was expecting from someone with real world experience as the author. However, as this is one of his first novels, it can only get better. It is a decent read but not as great as other books out there in the genre.

Overall 6/10