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Queen & Country novels #3
The Last Run
In the Special Operations Section of the British Secret Intelligence Agency, there are only three ways you leave the You’re promoted out, you quit, or you die. Tara Chace has been waiting for the first while avoiding the third. After ten years, though, she’s getting old, and she’s getting slow, and the time has come for her to step aside.
But before she can leave the Section to younger hands, a mysterious message out of the past has Chace embarking on one final run, into the most dangerous field of operations in the Iran. Communication from a decades-silent agent brings with it the potential for a devastating blow against a repressive regime. Chace’s instructions are Bring the agent out alive. But nothing in service of Queen and country is ever that simple. With allies and enemies alike all serving their own agendas, Chace finds herself alone, hunted—and racing the clock to complete what is destined to be her last run.
But before she can leave the Section to younger hands, a mysterious message out of the past has Chace embarking on one final run, into the most dangerous field of operations in the Iran. Communication from a decades-silent agent brings with it the potential for a devastating blow against a repressive regime. Chace’s instructions are Bring the agent out alive. But nothing in service of Queen and country is ever that simple. With allies and enemies alike all serving their own agendas, Chace finds herself alone, hunted—and racing the clock to complete what is destined to be her last run.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2010
11 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
Greg Rucka
1,494 books1,920 followersGreg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 1, 2018
BRITISH MICE AND PERSIAN CATS
"a wicked, evil regime. It rests on terror."- Daphne Park UK Secret Intelligence Service Officer
As of 2018, Iran has managed to dodge several metaphorical bullets that should have spelled the end for a hypocritical, morally bankrupt Islamofacist regime with all the economic problems of its Sunni Arab enemies. Economic issues, bursts of political instability, despite lacking the economic bounty that allows their sugar daddy in Beijing a nice comfy cushion to fall back on, the heirs to Khomeini have coasted through over the years with sophisticated repression, the strategic use of oil revenues and masterful asymmetric warfare. However, by now whatever adulation for Shia Islamist hegemony has since evaporated. The moment when this happened was during the Green Revolution where Ahmadimajad and the IRGC rigged the low-level elections that gave the Iranian masses the illusion of representative democracy in a Shia theocracy. The most severe protests in the history of contemporary Iran kicked off and were brutally put down. Since then, there’s been a constant undercurrent of civil disobedience as the people of Iran increasingly realize that their rulers are squandering their oil revenues on grandiose foreign policy pursuits. It’s on this backdrop that the last book in the Queen and Country finale trilogy by Greg Rucka takes place. The Last Run. Set in 2011, it tells the story of the original great female Post 9/11 spy novel heroine Tara Chace going into retirement and being called in for one final job in Tehran, a city which was once the plaything of Great Britain in a simpler time. Tasked with facilitating a defection, the success of which would be a major propaganda coup, she’s pursued by the counter intelligence department of VEVAK, a legendary, formidable organization which maintains the most infamous traditions of the old SAVAK for the pleasure of the Mad Mullahs. Now to the review, how far can a spy run when they take on that one, last job?
The Last Run begins with Tara Chace at Fort Mockton doing a refresher course. She nearly makes it to the end, but then slips and fails to complete it. This convinces her that she’s finally come to the end of her usefulness as one of the Minders, the assassins the SIS fields to kill for Queen and Country and Chace resolves to retire, staying on until a suitable replacement is found. Across the world in Tehran, Youness Shirazi director of counter – intelligence at Vevak and hypothetically one of the most powerful, if not most important men in Iran is lost in thought on a problem that needs to be solved. His political masters in the Supreme Leaders hardliner camp demand a ready-made spy scandal. Shirazi protests, arguing that it will ruin his careful identification work on the members of the UK SIS station in Tehran. Alas as he is the tool and not the person holding the tool, he is forced to arrest and get certain embassy employees declared persona non grata, thus sending him and his department back to square one. A few days after that sorry episode, he arrests a member of the ruling elite, a relative of Khomeini who was a SIS asset once upon a time. Back in London, Paul Crocker, the SIS Director of Operations is recovering from a heart attack when Tehran Station sends him a message about a long lost asset making contact with them. The current “C”, decides that the propaganda value of getting the asset out of the country would be very high, and if they don’t, it would be a perfect opportunity to get rid of Crocker, whom she believes has been in the job for too long. Crocker however smells a rat, and only the threat of being fired forces him to send Chace whom he wants alive to inherit his position, a job he believes she’s perfectly suited for, to Tehran. Arriving in Iran, Chace soon finds herself being watched and shortly after that, running for the border with some of the best spies and secret policemen on her tail. Only unexpected help and luck can get her over the finish line, but with time running out, only one question remains. Can a spy struggling to complete the midnight run have enough will to get back home?
In terms of plot, the last run is short, sharp and sweet for a novel. A slow build up and long explosion, we get to see a trap made and our heroes fearing that there is a trap but being unsure what the trap is. Interlaced with this rather direct, simple story is a running thread of change, and how countries, intelligence services and individuals have to come to terms with moving on or letting go what they once held dear for the better. One prominent character and his enemy go through this, the former being willing to let go, while his rival would rather die in the world he knows. Iran itself has this theme applied to it, with the current regime fighting with all its power to resist the change that would wipe it out. Despite being the shortest of the Queen and Country finale trilogy, The Last Run still maintains a relatively complex, interesting plot.
Action and setting? Rather unique. There’s very little killing in this story and few action set pieces as Rucka portrays a semi – realistic worst case scenario asset extraction. We have a slow build up and only in the second half of the story it’s a straight ended run where a realistic demonstration of tradecraft and escape and evasion tactics are used. It’s a rather low key in the action stakes all things considered, but realistic as well.
Research? Rucka did not slack off in this department for the final Queen and Country story. Everything from Iranian culture, a realistic down to earth portrayal of the Iranian intelligence community and the current state of Iranian politics in the aftermath of the Green Revolution is portrayed to perfection. The dynamics of asset extraction are portrayed realistically as well. In this case, there’s no glorious helicopter rescue, rather the boats and seaplane route out of Iran is portrayed along with all the weaknesses and disadvantages.
Characters? I’ll focus on a few. Chace, Crocker and Youness Shirazi. First Chace. She starts the story at the height of her career, having briefly been the acting Director of operations at the SIS while her boss recovered from his heart attack. World weary after more than 10 years on the job, she’s even willing to forego the plush management position as heir apparent to Director of Operations Crocker for a quiet life as the mission planning functionary. However she’s shaken out of her rut when ordered to take part in one of the biggest operations undertaken in UK SIS history. Tough, competent and unflappable when the plan collapses around her, Chace makes sure the last time she gets to show how much of a badass she is a memorable one. Even when the original plan fails, she makes a near clean getaway and is only undone by her opponent making a crazy last ditch move that puts him in danger. Someday I want Rucka to create a sequel series where Chace is working as the new D – Ops chief with some new protégés as Minders. The character and the series was ahead of their time and a Queen And Country movie would get all the fools who want a female James Bond to shut up and realize that such sentiments are unnecessary when there’s already one female spy fiction character who deserves a movie of her own, one which Hollywood has constantly dropped the ball on.
Next, we have Crocker. Crocker is nearing retirement and like Chace, this story is his last run. We get to see him at his best. Despite being a callous, ruthless spymaster, Crocker still has plenty of humanity, loves his operatives and will suffer dearly to get them home. When presented with a lucky break, he immediately crafts together a coherent replacement plan to replace the one forced on him that blew up in everyone’s faces. Convincing a variety of agencies, department heads and even world leaders to cooperate just to give a win for the good guys is no easy task, but after what he went through, Crocker would most certainly win best spymaster award for the 2011 thriller novel year.
Finally we have Shirazi. Youness steals the show in many ways. He works for one of the biggest human rights abusers on earth, but is rather polite, professional and very good at his job. He chafes at the political games, backstabbing and odious bootlicking that goes on in most dictatorships like his own but is seemingly the good soldier who keeps his head down. He’s also a match for Chace in the planning department, able to anticipate her moves and even at one point have her at his mercy. He’s a very noble demon and it’s such a shame this is the only time we’ll see him.
Constructive criticism? The length. The book could have been longer.
Overall, The Last Run is a fitting end to the Queen and Country saga. Great characterization, realism, research, the trademarks that made this sadly so underappreciated series great are on prominent display in this book. I recommend everyone read the Queen and Country comic books and the three finale novels to fully appreciate just how visionary Greg Rucka was and how much of a big debt the current crop of badass female spy/military thriller protagonists owe to Tara Chace, UK SIS Minder One for how big of a trail she blazed. Someday, I hope Rucka writes that sequel series with a new team of minders being led by Chace and eventually the Queen and Country film that was put in development hell being made. The world deserves it.
RECOMMENDED
November 9, 2011
This is more of a 3.5-star review. WHY CAN'T I HAVE HALF STARS, GOODREADS?
I love Greg Rucka. I've pretty much braingasmed over everything he's ever written, novels and comics both.Even his misfires (Fistfull of Rain) feature endearing characters who make me give a shart.
The Last Run is the third (and last?) of the Queen & Country novels, and the novels serve to cap the story started in a pretty lengthy comic series. It's a decent, entertaining read, and I was satisfied with the end to the series. HOWEVAH, Last Run also highlights the single issue I have with Rucka's ongoing series(es).
When Q&C started, Tara Chace was a boozing, conflicted, terrified, competent-but-unsure spy. By The Last Run, she's Jason-effing-Bourne, taking bullets and performing surgery on herself. Which, in a way, is cool. Rucka's characters grow, unlike, say, Robert B. Parker's, who exist on some weird Leave It To Beaver static universe. But with that growth comes a certain detachment, at least for me.
The same thing happened in Rucka's Atticus Kodiak series. Early Atticus Kodiak is one of my favorite characters ever. He's a well-intentioned bodyguard, filled with doubt, constantly making wrong choices and getting his pals killed. By the latest book, Atticus is a globetrotting super-ninja assassin who makes James Bond look sloppy. It's great that the Atticus and Tara evolve, but they are much more endearing when there's a little doubt.
All that said, I'd rather have a changing landscape than a new goddamn Jack Reacher novel every six months.
I love Greg Rucka. I've pretty much braingasmed over everything he's ever written, novels and comics both.Even his misfires (Fistfull of Rain) feature endearing characters who make me give a shart.
The Last Run is the third (and last?) of the Queen & Country novels, and the novels serve to cap the story started in a pretty lengthy comic series. It's a decent, entertaining read, and I was satisfied with the end to the series. HOWEVAH, Last Run also highlights the single issue I have with Rucka's ongoing series(es).
When Q&C started, Tara Chace was a boozing, conflicted, terrified, competent-but-unsure spy. By The Last Run, she's Jason-effing-Bourne, taking bullets and performing surgery on herself. Which, in a way, is cool. Rucka's characters grow, unlike, say, Robert B. Parker's, who exist on some weird Leave It To Beaver static universe. But with that growth comes a certain detachment, at least for me.
The same thing happened in Rucka's Atticus Kodiak series. Early Atticus Kodiak is one of my favorite characters ever. He's a well-intentioned bodyguard, filled with doubt, constantly making wrong choices and getting his pals killed. By the latest book, Atticus is a globetrotting super-ninja assassin who makes James Bond look sloppy. It's great that the Atticus and Tara evolve, but they are much more endearing when there's a little doubt.
All that said, I'd rather have a changing landscape than a new goddamn Jack Reacher novel every six months.
April 20, 2011
This is my first novel by Mr. Rucka. It's a humdinger of a spy caper. Starts out sort of slow, but once it gains traction, the pace is crisp, the characters likeable, and their cause just. I like Tara Chace, the hardboiled, gutsy heroine. But she's also her own lady. The modern setting of the Iran add to its flavor. I plan to read more in the series.
August 6, 2016
PROTAGONIST: Tara Chace, Minder One (special agent)
SETTING: Iran
SERIES: #3 of 3
RATING: 3.5
Rucka’s Town and Country series has always felt like the author was ripping the story from today’s headlines. In A GENTLEMAN’S GAME, he wrote about attacks on the London subway system before they actually happened. The second book in the series, PRIVATE WARS, was set in Afghanistan; THE LAST RUN is set in Iran. I liked how the book began, with a very succinct history of the life of Tara Chace, interesting even after having read the first two books in the series. However, as the book progressed, I felt that the plot in the beginning sections was sacrificed in order to lay out the politics of the region. Although that background is important to understanding the narrative, far too much page time was spent establishing that base before we got into the action that carried the book forward. In addition, I had difficulty keeping the characters and their agencies straight. There were several intelligence groups within the UK to sort out, plus the various Iranian players and factions.
Once we move past the opening of the book, there is plenty of action and that kept me turning the pages rapidly. Thankfully, Tara Chace is no super woman. She recognizes that her time as a Minder should come to an end, that she needs to move on to something less physically and emotionally demanding. As a result of her years in the SIS, she’s extremely resourceful and dedicated to her mission, despite knowing that it is likely her last. But even she can be wounded, and her efforts to continue on despite potentially fatal injuries are noteworthy. Unfortunately, the devastating damage that she suffered led to one of my major issues with the book, since Tara’s attempts to treat her injury were completely, incredibly over the top.
Despite those flaws, THE LAST RUN is an engrossing read. The contributions by the secondary characters are just as important as those of the protagonist. Rucka knows how to draw out suspense, and he is skilled at moving the plot in directions other than what is expected.
It appears that THE LAST RUN is the final book in the Tara Chace series. Whatever direction Rucka decides to take next, he can count on me coming along for the ride.
SETTING: Iran
SERIES: #3 of 3
RATING: 3.5
Rucka’s Town and Country series has always felt like the author was ripping the story from today’s headlines. In A GENTLEMAN’S GAME, he wrote about attacks on the London subway system before they actually happened. The second book in the series, PRIVATE WARS, was set in Afghanistan; THE LAST RUN is set in Iran. I liked how the book began, with a very succinct history of the life of Tara Chace, interesting even after having read the first two books in the series. However, as the book progressed, I felt that the plot in the beginning sections was sacrificed in order to lay out the politics of the region. Although that background is important to understanding the narrative, far too much page time was spent establishing that base before we got into the action that carried the book forward. In addition, I had difficulty keeping the characters and their agencies straight. There were several intelligence groups within the UK to sort out, plus the various Iranian players and factions.
Once we move past the opening of the book, there is plenty of action and that kept me turning the pages rapidly. Thankfully, Tara Chace is no super woman. She recognizes that her time as a Minder should come to an end, that she needs to move on to something less physically and emotionally demanding. As a result of her years in the SIS, she’s extremely resourceful and dedicated to her mission, despite knowing that it is likely her last. But even she can be wounded, and her efforts to continue on despite potentially fatal injuries are noteworthy. Unfortunately, the devastating damage that she suffered led to one of my major issues with the book, since Tara’s attempts to treat her injury were completely, incredibly over the top.
Despite those flaws, THE LAST RUN is an engrossing read. The contributions by the secondary characters are just as important as those of the protagonist. Rucka knows how to draw out suspense, and he is skilled at moving the plot in directions other than what is expected.
It appears that THE LAST RUN is the final book in the Tara Chace series. Whatever direction Rucka decides to take next, he can count on me coming along for the ride.
October 26, 2015
If Queen and Country: A Gentleman's Game was Queen & Country the novel, and Queen and Country: Private Wars was Q&C as a season finale, then this book is Q&C as an action blockbuster, one relentless tide of one last operation for Tara Chace.
Given the events of Private Wars this is wholly unsurprising. Part of the question of that entire novel was "just how many more operations does Tara Chace have in her". And the answer is this book, this last book. Needless to say it goes well. Especially because Tara makes sure to tell everyone ahead of time "this is my last op." So, naturally when someone says "one more and I'm out" it's clearly going to go well.
What we're left with is a novel that is 100% gauntlet from the moment Chace lands in Iran. It is brutal and relentless and excellent in the way that Rucka's novels always are, but Rucka puts Chace through absolute hell, more hell than he's ever put her through. Gentleman's Game was an emotional roller coaster for her, putting her through the ringer at all angles. This is just nonstop and with plenty of twists and turns to keep you rolling right through. And even though I knew what the last page was, it still had me wondering and wondering and wondering.
Oh. And it ends well. Knowing that this is the promise of what happens next for Tara Chace makes me so want this to not be the ending that it feels like it is. It's good enough for now. Yes. Fine. It still leaves one character thread completely dangling (no spoilers) in a way that makes me go "BUT WHAT HAPPENED" (and I have a theory based on an exchange about halfway through the book, but that's still just a theory), but it's not like that particular character was in mortal peril. And it still leaves a promise for a whole new wealth of stories that I am way, way interested in Rucka telling if he ever gets the chance to. According to him (or at least an interview I heard from him years and years ago around the time this book came out) this book bridges seasons "one" and "two" of Q&C, with the last page of this novel being the status quo for that season two. At the time he said he was committed to getting artist Nicola Scott to draw the first arc of the new Queen & Country, but now that they have a new creator owned series coming out at Image I fear the worst, and as it looks increasingly more and more unlikely we'll get more as time passes, I fear this as an ending despite how good an ending it is.
Needless to say, I'm always open to more, but until I find the next big thing that crackles and spy novels that are more or less focused on stories like this, this series will be my gold standard for the genre and I am so glad I finally got around to reading the actual novels because while the comics were good, the novels were the true joy of this series for me.
Highly recommended (both novels and the comic series) for anyone who wants good spy stuff. Anyone who likes Homeland, for instance, should check this out because this be right up that alley.
4.5 Stars
Given the events of Private Wars this is wholly unsurprising. Part of the question of that entire novel was "just how many more operations does Tara Chace have in her". And the answer is this book, this last book. Needless to say it goes well. Especially because Tara makes sure to tell everyone ahead of time "this is my last op." So, naturally when someone says "one more and I'm out" it's clearly going to go well.
What we're left with is a novel that is 100% gauntlet from the moment Chace lands in Iran. It is brutal and relentless and excellent in the way that Rucka's novels always are, but Rucka puts Chace through absolute hell, more hell than he's ever put her through. Gentleman's Game was an emotional roller coaster for her, putting her through the ringer at all angles. This is just nonstop and with plenty of twists and turns to keep you rolling right through. And even though I knew what the last page was, it still had me wondering and wondering and wondering.
Oh. And it ends well. Knowing that this is the promise of what happens next for Tara Chace makes me so want this to not be the ending that it feels like it is. It's good enough for now. Yes. Fine. It still leaves one character thread completely dangling (no spoilers) in a way that makes me go "BUT WHAT HAPPENED" (and I have a theory based on an exchange about halfway through the book, but that's still just a theory), but it's not like that particular character was in mortal peril. And it still leaves a promise for a whole new wealth of stories that I am way, way interested in Rucka telling if he ever gets the chance to. According to him (or at least an interview I heard from him years and years ago around the time this book came out) this book bridges seasons "one" and "two" of Q&C, with the last page of this novel being the status quo for that season two. At the time he said he was committed to getting artist Nicola Scott to draw the first arc of the new Queen & Country, but now that they have a new creator owned series coming out at Image I fear the worst, and as it looks increasingly more and more unlikely we'll get more as time passes, I fear this as an ending despite how good an ending it is.
Needless to say, I'm always open to more, but until I find the next big thing that crackles and spy novels that are more or less focused on stories like this, this series will be my gold standard for the genre and I am so glad I finally got around to reading the actual novels because while the comics were good, the novels were the true joy of this series for me.
Highly recommended (both novels and the comic series) for anyone who wants good spy stuff. Anyone who likes Homeland, for instance, should check this out because this be right up that alley.
4.5 Stars
June 29, 2017
That's it. I'm through reading anything by Rucka. Well, actually I've read all of his novels so that's an easy statement to make.
Chace realizes that she's been Minder 1 for long enough if not too long. She tenders her resignation to her boss and asks for a desk assignment but before that can happen the proverbial feces hits the air movement device and no once can do the job but Chace, not Minder 2, not Minder 3.
Complicating things is Tasmin, her 5 year old who is now sick and Chace has no choice, she must go and leave her beloved daughter in the hands of a nanny.
But this mission is anything but what it seems and Chace is wounded and loses the person she was sent to extract from the very closed country of Iran. Now, bleeding, having major problems breathing, she's on the run, that is until she's captured.
But even then nothing is as it seems.
Rucka writes Chace's swan song keeping the reader reading. This book is as well written, is as hard to put down as anything he's written before. If you are a Rucka fan and you haven't read this book or this series then you have done yourself a disservice.
Chace realizes that she's been Minder 1 for long enough if not too long. She tenders her resignation to her boss and asks for a desk assignment but before that can happen the proverbial feces hits the air movement device and no once can do the job but Chace, not Minder 2, not Minder 3.
Complicating things is Tasmin, her 5 year old who is now sick and Chace has no choice, she must go and leave her beloved daughter in the hands of a nanny.
But this mission is anything but what it seems and Chace is wounded and loses the person she was sent to extract from the very closed country of Iran. Now, bleeding, having major problems breathing, she's on the run, that is until she's captured.
But even then nothing is as it seems.
Rucka writes Chace's swan song keeping the reader reading. This book is as well written, is as hard to put down as anything he's written before. If you are a Rucka fan and you haven't read this book or this series then you have done yourself a disservice.
May 3, 2011
While the best-paced of the "Queen & Country" novels, the ending of the series here seemed half-developed and not wholly satisfying. Don't get me wrong, where Tara ends up at the end of the novel is a logical ending for her, but I felt like Rucka was just rushing to this end instead of giving us some solid (though cliche, I suppose) final scenes/moments between Tara and Paul, Tara and Tamsin, etc. that would've provided some emotional payoff. I also wasn't a huge fan of Tara being nearly completely incapacitated for half of the book; I understand Rucka wanted to demonstrate that she was too old to serve as a Minder, but having her take a backseat to other characters like Shirazi and Caleb in her own final adventure seemed a bit lackluster and not fitting for such a badass character.
I would love to see a continuation of this series where Tara is D-Ops and Nicky Poole and Lankford are Minders One and Two. An interesting dynamic between that group, since they have more of a sense of mutual camaraderie than Crocker and Tara had.
I would love to see a continuation of this series where Tara is D-Ops and Nicky Poole and Lankford are Minders One and Two. An interesting dynamic between that group, since they have more of a sense of mutual camaraderie than Crocker and Tara had.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2014
The Last Run is the final book in the Queen and Country trilogy (A Gentleman's Game and Private Wars are the two others). The main character in the trilogy is a female secret agent, Tara Chace. In The Last Run, Tara has elected to retire but is sent on one final mission before her retirement.
I've enjoyed all three books in the trilogy, but this one is perhaps my favorite. The characters are well developed by this final installment, and the plot is both complicated and filled with unexpected twists and turns. The pacing is fast and intense. And the ending is satisfying and a worthy concluding book to this trilogy.
While each book can be read as a standalone, it's best to read the books in order. For a worthy addition to the thriller genre, I highly recommend this trilogy. And I look forward to reading the author's other books!
I've enjoyed all three books in the trilogy, but this one is perhaps my favorite. The characters are well developed by this final installment, and the plot is both complicated and filled with unexpected twists and turns. The pacing is fast and intense. And the ending is satisfying and a worthy concluding book to this trilogy.
While each book can be read as a standalone, it's best to read the books in order. For a worthy addition to the thriller genre, I highly recommend this trilogy. And I look forward to reading the author's other books!
May 27, 2014
The final episode in a trilogy I have really enjoyed. I have seen the odd review that suggests the author fails to capture a very British organisation (the Secret Intelligence Agency) or the British culture, I would completely disagree as I think it has been captured perfectly.
In The Last Run, Tara Chace is feeling her age and the challenges of being a front line agent. As she seeks to resign, she is convinced to undertake one last mission, bringing out a sleeper agent from Iran. But nothing is ever simple and she finds herself caught between different agendas and is the expendable component in the middle. Clever writing, strong plotting and great characters.
For those who like these kind of thrillers, especially with a strong female lead, this is highly recommended.
In The Last Run, Tara Chace is feeling her age and the challenges of being a front line agent. As she seeks to resign, she is convinced to undertake one last mission, bringing out a sleeper agent from Iran. But nothing is ever simple and she finds herself caught between different agendas and is the expendable component in the middle. Clever writing, strong plotting and great characters.
For those who like these kind of thrillers, especially with a strong female lead, this is highly recommended.
January 6, 2024
Greg Rucka brings his Queen & Country character Tara Chase to straight print in The Last Run. It's the story of Chase's final mission, the extraction of a high-ranked Iranian defector. It's told from two sides, the British spies trying to complete the mission in Iran, and the Iranian counter-espionage agency trying to stop them.
Convincing, plausible, riveting, fascinating. Great book. Wonderfully plotted and reasonably well-written.
Convincing, plausible, riveting, fascinating. Great book. Wonderfully plotted and reasonably well-written.
August 14, 2014
I have enjoyed reading this series. Tara Chace is like a female version of Jack Bauer, or you could say Jack Bauer is a male version of Tara Chace. Very similar in nature to Strike Back: Season 2 (Cinemax), but not with all the sex. Well written.
May 12, 2024
As nail-biting on the second read as it was on the first. Greg Rucka is a master at exciting spy thrillers
November 26, 2022
Greg Rucka's, Queen and Country, series always excels at making the bureaucratic side of espionage highstakes and captivating. And "The Last Run" is no different. A very intense all be it short story that follows the last mission of Tara Chace. Rucka does a great job of concealing the true motive of the story without making it confusing.
I really enjoyed the book and the anticipation it brought with every problem the characters faced. Which is why its abrupt ending severely disappointed me. I don't know if Rucka had a page limit for this story, but all three major plot points for this book are wrapped up in just three pages. One of them just having a paragraph!
The final climax of Tara's escape is only seen from her perspective, which is semiconscious and going into shock, so it revealed nothing. There were two other character perspectives that would have been better than her's. And then after all that it further disappoints by having a weak "and they all lived happily ever after" conclusion.
I really enjoyed the book and the anticipation it brought with every problem the characters faced. Which is why its abrupt ending severely disappointed me. I don't know if Rucka had a page limit for this story, but all three major plot points for this book are wrapped up in just three pages. One of them just having a paragraph!
The final climax of Tara's escape is only seen from her perspective, which is semiconscious and going into shock, so it revealed nothing. There were two other character perspectives that would have been better than her's. And then after all that it further disappoints by having a weak "and they all lived happily ever after" conclusion.
July 15, 2017
Remember, one man's plot summary from the bookflap is another man's spoiler.
Tara Chace, a brilliant spy for England, after a decade plus in the field wants to leave field work for a desk job. She's got a young daughter at home that she's raising solo after her husband, a fellow agent, was killed in the line of duty.
But a curious event in Tehran, Iran, requires one last run by Chace.
Using an obsolete code, someone has messaged to British intelligence that a high-level Iraqi wants to defect. Chace goes in to investigate, and to lead out the defector. She receives multiple wounds and a reversal or two before she succeeds.
Tara Chace, a brilliant spy for England, after a decade plus in the field wants to leave field work for a desk job. She's got a young daughter at home that she's raising solo after her husband, a fellow agent, was killed in the line of duty.
But a curious event in Tehran, Iran, requires one last run by Chace.
Using an obsolete code, someone has messaged to British intelligence that a high-level Iraqi wants to defect. Chace goes in to investigate, and to lead out the defector. She receives multiple wounds and a reversal or two before she succeeds.
May 7, 2019
I have not really read any spy novels before. I know Rucka's work from comics, and when I saw this at a library sale, decided to pick it up. I thought it was an enjoyable, quick read. the reliance on a lot of acronyms became a little tiring, but also seemed pretty appropriate for the genre.
August 7, 2019
Greg Rucka is an amazing writer, and his Queen and Country series may be my favorite of his creations. This novel is just as good as the previous ones, advancing the lives of our main characters, sometimes in surprising ways, and with incredibly tense action scenes.
May 9, 2022
Top notch, serious espionage
Great characters, believable plotting, authentic dialog. What a breath of fresh air for those of us raised on Le Carre. Yet action that would put Fleming to shame.
Great characters, believable plotting, authentic dialog. What a breath of fresh air for those of us raised on Le Carre. Yet action that would put Fleming to shame.
April 4, 2024
This was an outstanding series and I was sorry to see it come to an end. Greg Rucka is a great writer, one that makes the words flow easily. Tara Chase is a great heroine and makes the story come alive. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy spy/thriller/espionage type reads.
June 30, 2025
It's been a while since I've read the first two books in the series, but that wasn't an issue. Rucka draws you right into the spy thriller with plenty of controversy, action, strategic planning and just enough twists to keep you intrigued.
An entertaining read.
Highly recommended.
An entertaining read.
Highly recommended.
January 20, 2019
If you dig spy/action novels with thrilling scenes, check out this series (and the comics, too). Rucka is one of my all-time favorite writers, and for this genre, he is top of the list.
December 30, 2019
Tara Chace forever.
July 24, 2022
Well-plotted and paced finale to the Q&C series.
May 11, 2023
I'm honestly pretty annoyed with Rucka for making these books so good because now I have to go back and read the comics again
November 15, 2010
Endings are tricky and often messy things, but they're necessary especially in the world of series fiction. Awhile back I interviewed a writer about his series of books and he says if a series goes on too long you run the risk of it just becoming a collection of expected scenes and not a novel. So when you write series fiction you always want to keep things fresh and moving forward or you want to bring your series to a close. With his last novel “The Walking Dead” writer Greg Rucka showed that he knew how to bring his series of novels about former bodyguard Atticus Kodiak to a close. And in his most recent novel “The Last Run” Rucka successfully wraps up the story of another one of his long running series characters, female British spy Tara Chase.
Chase made her first appearance in Rucka's long running creator owned comic series from Oni Press “Queen & Country” and for those of you who haven't read the graphic novels you really should. They're great, gritty reads. After that Rucka brought Chase into the world of prose with two novels, “Private Wars” and a “A Gentlemen's Game”. For those of you unfamiliar with Chase she could probably be best thought of as a female version of Daniel Craig's James Bond from “Casino Royal”. She's cool, charismatic, very lethal and by the time “The Last Run” begins she's haunted.
Chase is haunted by the memory of a deceased lover who gave her a daughter. She's also haunted by the fact that time is taking it's toll on her body and her psyche. She knows that if she's to live to see her five year old daughter become a woman she has to retire. So she submits her resignation. However the British Secret Service isn't quite ready for Tara to retire. A very important individual is looking to defect from Iran. The United States is ready to help with the defection but only if the British send their top operative, Chase.
So Tara heads to Iran and walks right into a deadly trap. It's a trap that has her running from, hiding from, and trying to escape the counter intelligence arm of the Iranian Secret Service. Much of the novel focuses on Chase's desperate attempt to escape the country and make it back to her daughter alive. So “The Last Run” is fun, fast, and exciting read. Rucka knows how to write believable action scenes and puts his protagonist in danger that feels very real, especially since you know it's the final novel in the series.
Another reason Rucka succeeds with “The Last Run” is his cast of characters. Chase is very likeable, but my favorite character in the “Queen & Country” books has always been her boss Paul Crocker. In “The Last Run” Rucka gives Crocker plenty of time to shine. His most interesting traits; his loyalty, his hot hotheadedness, and his ingenuity are all compelling and important story elements.
The other compelling supporting players in “The Last Run” are new characters. Caleb Lewis is a sort of a rookie British SIS agent stationed in Tehran that's called in to help Tara in her mission. Caleb is a charismatic character who is a better spy than he thinks he is. It's a lot of fun and satisfying to see how he handles certain situations. Youness Shirazi is the antagonist in “The Last Run”. He's a passionate, capable and intelligence spy who also happens to be the head of Iran's counter intelligence. He's a great foil for Tara Chase's final mission.
And I'm sure some of you are wondering just how Tara's final mission ends. Well no spoilers here! I will say though that with “The Last Run” Rucka brings his “Queen & Country” series to a fitting and satisfying close.
Chase made her first appearance in Rucka's long running creator owned comic series from Oni Press “Queen & Country” and for those of you who haven't read the graphic novels you really should. They're great, gritty reads. After that Rucka brought Chase into the world of prose with two novels, “Private Wars” and a “A Gentlemen's Game”. For those of you unfamiliar with Chase she could probably be best thought of as a female version of Daniel Craig's James Bond from “Casino Royal”. She's cool, charismatic, very lethal and by the time “The Last Run” begins she's haunted.
Chase is haunted by the memory of a deceased lover who gave her a daughter. She's also haunted by the fact that time is taking it's toll on her body and her psyche. She knows that if she's to live to see her five year old daughter become a woman she has to retire. So she submits her resignation. However the British Secret Service isn't quite ready for Tara to retire. A very important individual is looking to defect from Iran. The United States is ready to help with the defection but only if the British send their top operative, Chase.
So Tara heads to Iran and walks right into a deadly trap. It's a trap that has her running from, hiding from, and trying to escape the counter intelligence arm of the Iranian Secret Service. Much of the novel focuses on Chase's desperate attempt to escape the country and make it back to her daughter alive. So “The Last Run” is fun, fast, and exciting read. Rucka knows how to write believable action scenes and puts his protagonist in danger that feels very real, especially since you know it's the final novel in the series.
Another reason Rucka succeeds with “The Last Run” is his cast of characters. Chase is very likeable, but my favorite character in the “Queen & Country” books has always been her boss Paul Crocker. In “The Last Run” Rucka gives Crocker plenty of time to shine. His most interesting traits; his loyalty, his hot hotheadedness, and his ingenuity are all compelling and important story elements.
The other compelling supporting players in “The Last Run” are new characters. Caleb Lewis is a sort of a rookie British SIS agent stationed in Tehran that's called in to help Tara in her mission. Caleb is a charismatic character who is a better spy than he thinks he is. It's a lot of fun and satisfying to see how he handles certain situations. Youness Shirazi is the antagonist in “The Last Run”. He's a passionate, capable and intelligence spy who also happens to be the head of Iran's counter intelligence. He's a great foil for Tara Chase's final mission.
And I'm sure some of you are wondering just how Tara's final mission ends. Well no spoilers here! I will say though that with “The Last Run” Rucka brings his “Queen & Country” series to a fitting and satisfying close.
January 31, 2011
One of my favorite comics of the last ten years is Queen & Country, Rucka’s series about British secret agent Tara Chase. A few years ago, the comics series ended, but he continued Queen & Country as a series of prose novels. Like the comic, they’re gritty, violent, and very firmly based in the real world. They’re not James-Bond-with-Boobs stories full of larger-than-life escapades where the hero escapes unscathed after tossing off a few quips. They’re intense, down-to-earth, and nobody ever truly seems safe. Not even Tara Chase.
As usual with Rucka’s books, I found myself unable to put it down (which, considering I was reading it on my lunches and breaks at work, made for frustrating reading). At first, it seemed like a typical spy-mission-gone-wrong story—Tara is sent to Iran to help a Very Important Person defect, even though the whole thing smells like a trap to all concerned—but just when things reached their lowest point, Rucka springs a twist that turns the story completely on its head. Great stuff.
In a lot of ways, this feels like the final Tara Chase story, at least in the series' current format. I know Rucka has talked about bringing her back to comics, but the longer we go without a new issue, the less likely that seems. And honestly, if this is the last time we see Tara, I’ve got closure.
As usual with Rucka’s books, I found myself unable to put it down (which, considering I was reading it on my lunches and breaks at work, made for frustrating reading). At first, it seemed like a typical spy-mission-gone-wrong story—Tara is sent to Iran to help a Very Important Person defect, even though the whole thing smells like a trap to all concerned—but just when things reached their lowest point, Rucka springs a twist that turns the story completely on its head. Great stuff.
In a lot of ways, this feels like the final Tara Chase story, at least in the series' current format. I know Rucka has talked about bringing her back to comics, but the longer we go without a new issue, the less likely that seems. And honestly, if this is the last time we see Tara, I’ve got closure.
August 6, 2014
Greg Rucka started out a mystery novelist who then migrated to comics where he first created Tara Chace, a special operations operative for British Intelligence. Later he took into novels where his storytelling for this character works better. The Last Run is exactly that-Chace's last operation as a field agent. She has turned in her resignation, but the nephew of Iran's Supreme Leader has said he wants to come in (he was a former British asset). The CIA insists on Chace, and Britain insists on U.S. aid in extricating the nephew and Chace.
The influence, that Rucka has never denied, of the television show Sandabggers is very evident. The war in the corridors of Britsih power is as violent in its own way as what Chace encounters in Iran. There is a lot of logic behind Chace's retirement. It goes beyond her having a child now, to admitting to her superior who in the intelligence community doesn't know her face and name. She is almost worthless as a field operative after nine years in the field.
There are some minor twists that seem obvious in retrospect. If you want a more realistic intelligence tale than Flemming or Clancy you should try this.
The influence, that Rucka has never denied, of the television show Sandabggers is very evident. The war in the corridors of Britsih power is as violent in its own way as what Chace encounters in Iran. There is a lot of logic behind Chace's retirement. It goes beyond her having a child now, to admitting to her superior who in the intelligence community doesn't know her face and name. She is almost worthless as a field operative after nine years in the field.
There are some minor twists that seem obvious in retrospect. If you want a more realistic intelligence tale than Flemming or Clancy you should try this.
August 23, 2014
The Last Run by Greg Rucka - again I've started a series by
reading the last book. Not to worry though, that simply means
that I still have two to enjoy.
The centerpiece of this thriller is super agent Tara Chace,
called in another review a "female version of Jack Bauer".
Well, tactically yes, she's brilliant, but there's only one
strategic thinker in the entire cast and it doesn't go too
well for him.
It's also been mentioned that the book starts rather slowly
and that too is true. However, once the action starts, things
move so quickly that you likely won't even have time to notice
how silly some of it is (or actually care even if you do.)
Nail biting tension abounds for all, the reader included, and
it's all great fun. I'm very much looking forward to the first
two book in the series.
reading the last book. Not to worry though, that simply means
that I still have two to enjoy.
The centerpiece of this thriller is super agent Tara Chace,
called in another review a "female version of Jack Bauer".
Well, tactically yes, she's brilliant, but there's only one
strategic thinker in the entire cast and it doesn't go too
well for him.
It's also been mentioned that the book starts rather slowly
and that too is true. However, once the action starts, things
move so quickly that you likely won't even have time to notice
how silly some of it is (or actually care even if you do.)
Nail biting tension abounds for all, the reader included, and
it's all great fun. I'm very much looking forward to the first
two book in the series.
April 3, 2011
The latest (and last?) Tara Chace tale that began with the unparalleled Queen and Country comics and has continued in two other novels before this one. It's been five years since the operation readers know about, Red Panda, and Tara is juggling the pressures of life when a job only she could do becomes necessary.
By this point Tara is a find of mine and it's great to read her again. This is a gripping read as Rucka doesn't waste any page on things that don't matter. I read a lot of "literature" that, while enjoyable, does seem to digress from the main story for weak reasons. Rucka discards that and keeps to the story. This has the effect of continuing forward motion and pages that fly by. Rucka also pays hard - he will kill just about anyone, and let you deal with the circumstances.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves spies and international adventure. I gave it an 8/10 on my own scale.
-tpl
By this point Tara is a find of mine and it's great to read her again. This is a gripping read as Rucka doesn't waste any page on things that don't matter. I read a lot of "literature" that, while enjoyable, does seem to digress from the main story for weak reasons. Rucka discards that and keeps to the story. This has the effect of continuing forward motion and pages that fly by. Rucka also pays hard - he will kill just about anyone, and let you deal with the circumstances.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves spies and international adventure. I gave it an 8/10 on my own scale.
-tpl
July 30, 2012
I will take any and all of the Queen and Country I can get. LOVE this series (both the original comics) and the 3 novels. This one was the least powerful in some ways, because the hero (Tara Chace) has changed so much in the 10 years since we started following her character as a field operative on an assassination mission in Afganistan. That being said, it is one of the best things the author has done: kept her aging/changing rather than freezing her in time.
That being said, in the moments where Tara really explodes into action, I'm reminded of just how awesome Rucka's command of pulse-pounding sequences. Of course, the other best part of any Q&C book is Paul Crocker (Director of Operations within the British Government) fighting the overwhelming bureaucracy in London. It is in fine form here.
Meanwhile, I highly recommend you go get the initial Queen & Country graphic novel and take an amazing journal.
That being said, in the moments where Tara really explodes into action, I'm reminded of just how awesome Rucka's command of pulse-pounding sequences. Of course, the other best part of any Q&C book is Paul Crocker (Director of Operations within the British Government) fighting the overwhelming bureaucracy in London. It is in fine form here.
Meanwhile, I highly recommend you go get the initial Queen & Country graphic novel and take an amazing journal.
May 3, 2014
This was virtually the only book I started and finished while I was out sick for a week, and it was altogether too short! I like the Tara Chace series - and while I agree she's nearing the age of retirement from the field, I'd still like to see what happens after her time as a spy.
Just like the others in the trilogy, this one moves quickly through time, offers a good balance between the action and the thinking scenes, and furthers the character development of Tara and a few of her cohorts. Rucka is great at building believable tension (Tara, after all, is not a superhero), and this one - with a possible double agent who has possible irreconcilable loyalty issues - is something that kept me turning pages.
Basically, the only problem I had was that it was over before I wanted it to be. I know Rucka has been focusing on graphic novels lately, but I wish he'd make a few more good, old-fashioned spy stories.
Just like the others in the trilogy, this one moves quickly through time, offers a good balance between the action and the thinking scenes, and furthers the character development of Tara and a few of her cohorts. Rucka is great at building believable tension (Tara, after all, is not a superhero), and this one - with a possible double agent who has possible irreconcilable loyalty issues - is something that kept me turning pages.
Basically, the only problem I had was that it was over before I wanted it to be. I know Rucka has been focusing on graphic novels lately, but I wish he'd make a few more good, old-fashioned spy stories.
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