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The Last Line
THE DRUG WAR
is about to become
A REAL WAR
Chris Teller may be the best in the intelligence business, but that doesn’t mean he’s the most popular. Far from it, in fact. While he may be a threat to the status quo, however, the only thing saving him from expulsion is an even greater threat to country, one that’s already within our borders.
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 in the U.S. government itself.
Former military intelligence officer Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer made headlines when his memoir, Operation Dark Heart, faced Department of Defense censorship. Now he returns with The Last Line, an eye-opening thriller rooted in the shadow world of espionage, government power, and betrayal.
is about to become
A REAL WAR
Chris Teller may be the best in the intelligence business, but that doesn’t mean he’s the most popular. Far from it, in fact. While he may be a threat to the status quo, however, the only thing saving him from expulsion is an even greater threat to country, one that’s already within our borders.
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 in the U.S. government itself.
Former military intelligence officer Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer made headlines when his memoir, Operation Dark Heart, faced Department of Defense censorship. Now he returns with The Last Line, an eye-opening thriller rooted in the shadow world of espionage, government power, and betrayal.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2013
20 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Shaffer
3 books15 followersThis profile is for the American military officer. For the British playwright, see Anthony Shaffer.
Anthony Shaffer retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in July 2011, after more than 30 years of service. He is a 1986 graduate of Wright State University, where he was awarded a BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies. He is now a Senior Fellow with both the London Center for Policy Research and the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (CADS), and a consultant.
Anthony Shaffer retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in July 2011, after more than 30 years of service. He is a 1986 graduate of Wright State University, where he was awarded a BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies. He is now a Senior Fellow with both the London Center for Policy Research and the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (CADS), and a consultant.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 5, 2014
Quite a good story. Political thriller about two stolen suitcase nukes floating around. Somewhere.
The author is a retired US intelligence director, and the technology he writes about, whether it actually exists or not -- seems quite believable.
I noted a resemblance to Vince Flynn, the late master of political thrillers. Characters not quite as well crafted as Flynn's, but this is a good read.
The author is a retired US intelligence director, and the technology he writes about, whether it actually exists or not -- seems quite believable.
I noted a resemblance to Vince Flynn, the late master of political thrillers. Characters not quite as well crafted as Flynn's, but this is a good read.
July 10, 2014
I highly recommend this book by Anthony Shaffer. Overall this is a very well written and very thrilling novel. I believe that with the current (summer 2014)border crisis with Mexico that this is a very timely and interesting read as well. Check it out!
I will not give away the story but I will tell you that this is a thrilling spy novel where intelligence agents are the last line of defense for America against terrorist bad guys.
I especially like the books writing style as it is a very enjoyable read. I must be honest, when I have read other books which cite many government agencies, it is easy to get lost in a maze of acronyms where one has to stop and re-think what one just read. This book is not like that. It is instead a relaxing read. Also, I read the hard cover edition and am thankful that the fonts used were large enough for me to see well.
This book presents an inside view of what our intelligence officers must face in the course of their work and lives. The book details the bureaucratic butt covering by political opportunists and contrasts it with the dedication of agents who are willing to go all in to save the republic and to defend the Constitution.
I noticed a lot of great inside baseball inside the book as well. Its cool that Col Shaffer gives shout outs to people like Catherine Herridge in there. He also gives his strong opinions on the NDAA 2012 and the current erosion of our rights in present day America. If you are looking for a good read, please get this book. I liked it!
I will not give away the story but I will tell you that this is a thrilling spy novel where intelligence agents are the last line of defense for America against terrorist bad guys.
I especially like the books writing style as it is a very enjoyable read. I must be honest, when I have read other books which cite many government agencies, it is easy to get lost in a maze of acronyms where one has to stop and re-think what one just read. This book is not like that. It is instead a relaxing read. Also, I read the hard cover edition and am thankful that the fonts used were large enough for me to see well.
This book presents an inside view of what our intelligence officers must face in the course of their work and lives. The book details the bureaucratic butt covering by political opportunists and contrasts it with the dedication of agents who are willing to go all in to save the republic and to defend the Constitution.
I noticed a lot of great inside baseball inside the book as well. Its cool that Col Shaffer gives shout outs to people like Catherine Herridge in there. He also gives his strong opinions on the NDAA 2012 and the current erosion of our rights in present day America. If you are looking for a good read, please get this book. I liked it!
July 22, 2014
Out side the political machinations is the secret world of alphabet soup: CIA, DIA, and so on. In this world is Captain Chris Teller, a one of the best intelligence operatives in the United States. He has a way of getting things done that doesn't make him popular with his superiors. When he is sent to Mexico to reestablish an intelligence network to counter the drug cartels, he unearths more than he bargained for. Treason on both sides of the boarder, people agitating for the southwestern states to break away, with Iranian Intelligence smuggling nuclear weapons into the United States.
Anthony Shaffer has written a spy thriller that takes the reader from the treacherous streets of Mexico to the jungles of Belize to Washington DC. The story is fast paced. However, he does get bogged down in technical details of equipment and weapons. These are interesting details for geeks like me, but the placement of details on weapons during a fire fight does slow the action down. All things considered, it was a very enjoyable read.
Anthony Shaffer has written a spy thriller that takes the reader from the treacherous streets of Mexico to the jungles of Belize to Washington DC. The story is fast paced. However, he does get bogged down in technical details of equipment and weapons. These are interesting details for geeks like me, but the placement of details on weapons during a fire fight does slow the action down. All things considered, it was a very enjoyable read.
February 8, 2014
WOW... not sure how many books that Mr. Shaffer has written,,, but I hope there are a lot. What a story... Chris Teller is a great character.
Book is recommended and I hope there are many more to come.
Book is recommended and I hope there are many more to come.
August 21, 2014
This was the best book in this genre I have read, there wasn't a boring page in it.
October 24, 2013
This was a good story, but the unfolding of it was a bit tiring at times.
September 24, 2023
This was a very good book. The author does do a little preaching about the horrors of the Mexican Cartels, and yes, we all should know they can be quite ugly. Strange how he pairs them with the Middle East problem folks. Add a sprinkle of some hard core deep U.S agents that have a tendency to go "cowboy". And some deep U.S. Government corruption. O.K. enough!! Is the stew done yet? Really the author does a decent job of mixing it all together to make palatable bowl. This reader was pleased and is moving along. Later y'all.
April 26, 2020
4/5. Strong first thriller about international terrorism. The author is a former army officer and intelligence operator who brings a lot of insider information about the military and the government’s three-letter agencies to his work. His writing is every bit as technical as Tom Clancy’s.
June 8, 2019
It was a chore to read. The few spots that were good weren't enough.
October 16, 2021
Middle ground. Lots of informational content but drudged on in other areas.
August 12, 2025
This book was written in 2013 and it’s amazing how much it’s accurate about issues that were going to come up in the future. Written by a CIA operator so he knows his stuff.
March 12, 2017
An okay thriller that has decent well described action but too much exposition in dialogue between two characters that should already know most of the details. Also there are many plot conveniences and guesses at the end just to wrap things up
September 23, 2014
OK, kinda.
The reality of the core plot was quite strong on the complexity of and corrupting combination of Cartel Drugs and political - cross borders corruption and linkages as well as the dreadful consequences of the non-policed or totally amok Southern border of the USA w/ Mexico.
The techno-spook violations of Constitutional liberties and the persistent escalation of the Wash D.C. soulless
Agencies was real but depressingly predictable. The actually technology and combat stuff was interesting but not new to me.
The Armageddon briefcase nukes is old Vince Flynn stuff retreaded but barely
Hold for a plane ride and vote for less government.
The reality of the core plot was quite strong on the complexity of and corrupting combination of Cartel Drugs and political - cross borders corruption and linkages as well as the dreadful consequences of the non-policed or totally amok Southern border of the USA w/ Mexico.
The techno-spook violations of Constitutional liberties and the persistent escalation of the Wash D.C. soulless
Agencies was real but depressingly predictable. The actually technology and combat stuff was interesting but not new to me.
The Armageddon briefcase nukes is old Vince Flynn stuff retreaded but barely
Hold for a plane ride and vote for less government.
May 14, 2016
A gung-ho story of 'black ops' beating - the Mexican drug lords - terrorist nuclear bombs - Iranian secret service and as many anachronisms as anyone would want. Each one, followed by the explanation. I don't think I have read a book with as many capital letters as this novel, from CIA, VEVAK, NVD, DIA, DEA, INSCOM, DoD, DIO, WINPAC, VBSS, and many more. I suppose they added authenticity to the dialog, but the explanation of each slowed the book. Perhaps a book mark list or a back page list would have been better, because many readers would be aware of many of the meanings.
August 3, 2015
Great Read & Uncomfortably Plausible
Clearly the work of an author who knows far more than he can legitimately integrate into a work of fiction, but this thriller flies along and makes for a terrific weekend escape. This feels like an insiders view into how dark missions are accomplished - fascinating and fun read. Waiting on a sequel! Recommend.
Clearly the work of an author who knows far more than he can legitimately integrate into a work of fiction, but this thriller flies along and makes for a terrific weekend escape. This feels like an insiders view into how dark missions are accomplished - fascinating and fun read. Waiting on a sequel! Recommend.
August 4, 2013
The premise is sloppy--that corrupt government is the enemy of good undercover agents--but it was very exciting and easy to read.
August 27, 2013
Just ok but with some interesting ideas. He's no Vince Flynn...
But I do want to read his other book.
But I do want to read his other book.
August 29, 2013
Interesting facts about the drug cartels as well as historical info on the US vs Mexico. As for the fiction story, a bit slow in parts.
November 4, 2015
This is a solid military thriller written by someone who really knows his stuff.
June 9, 2016
DNF. I could not get into this book.
March 22, 2016
Great Book
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews