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John Cook #1
The Last Line
May 1940.
With Nazi forces sweeping across France, invasion seems imminent. The English Channel has never felt so narrow.
In rural Sussex, war veteran John Cook has been tasked with preparing the resistance effort, should the worst happen.
But even as the foreign threat looms, it's rumours of a missing child that are troubling Cook. A twelve-year-old girl was evacuated from London and never seen again, and she's just the tip of the iceberg - countless evacuees haven't made it to their host families.
As Cook investigates, he uncovers a dark conspiracy that reaches to the highest ranks of society. He will do whatever it takes to make the culprits pay. There are some lines you just don't cross.
THE LAST LINE is a blistering action thriller combined with a smart noir mystery, played out expertly against the taut backdrop of the British home front.
With Nazi forces sweeping across France, invasion seems imminent. The English Channel has never felt so narrow.
In rural Sussex, war veteran John Cook has been tasked with preparing the resistance effort, should the worst happen.
But even as the foreign threat looms, it's rumours of a missing child that are troubling Cook. A twelve-year-old girl was evacuated from London and never seen again, and she's just the tip of the iceberg - countless evacuees haven't made it to their host families.
As Cook investigates, he uncovers a dark conspiracy that reaches to the highest ranks of society. He will do whatever it takes to make the culprits pay. There are some lines you just don't cross.
THE LAST LINE is a blistering action thriller combined with a smart noir mystery, played out expertly against the taut backdrop of the British home front.
Audiobook
Published November 16, 2023
520 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Ronson
4 books64 followersStephen Ronson grew up in Sussex, and spent a large part of his childhood exploring the woods and fields around Uckfield, many of which were still dotted with reminders of WW2 - pill boxes, tank traps, nissen huts, and graffiti left by soldiers awaiting D-Day.
He is a passionate student of local history, and when he learnt about Auxiliary Units - groups of men who were instructed to lay low during the predicted nazi invasion and lead the fight back, he knew he had to write about a Sussex farmer, one with a love of the land, and a natural desire and ability to get the job done.
Many of the locations and characters in the John Cook series are inspired by real places and real people. In particular, Stephen was inspired by his grandparents, Eric, Bessie, Peter and Vera, each of whom did their bit on the home front.
He is a passionate student of local history, and when he learnt about Auxiliary Units - groups of men who were instructed to lay low during the predicted nazi invasion and lead the fight back, he knew he had to write about a Sussex farmer, one with a love of the land, and a natural desire and ability to get the job done.
Many of the locations and characters in the John Cook series are inspired by real places and real people. In particular, Stephen was inspired by his grandparents, Eric, Bessie, Peter and Vera, each of whom did their bit on the home front.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
June 12, 2024
From the opening pages of The Last Line, I was transported back to 1940s England. A Spitfire crash landing in the countryside? Doesn’t get more British than that!
"At first, just a speck in the sky. The engine sounded wrong, the revs falling, spluttering, then finally cutting off with a last cough."
War veteran John Cook is tasked with preparing the resistance effort, should England be invaded. He soon finds himself wrongfully accused of murder, and learns about a disturbing series of evacuee disappearances. As Cook sets out to investigate, mayhem and conspiracy follow.
This story moves faster than a Spitfire. It never treads water. Ronson throws everything but the kitchen sink at the reader. The chapters fly past like scenes from a movie – sometimes just a page long. It’s quite the page-turner, plot always moving. A gripping read.
“I was about to move again when I heard a car engine, and the darkness was pierced by thin shafts of light. I hugged the ground, trying in vain to disappear.”
The boys-own-adventure vibes are strong. There’s plenty of action, and fights, along with shady characters, romance, and conspiracies involving elite society. It felt like Foyle’s War meets Taken – the latter comparison, ensuring some difficult themes. There’s much to potentially trigger readers: child abuse, sex trafficking and sexual assaults. There’s also animal violence, that while brief, felt unnecessary to the plot.
John Cook was sometimes too clever and overconfident for his own good, putting others in harm’s way. I was frustrated by his decisions, yet these flaws also made him real. He felt like a 90s action hero dropped into the Sussex countryside of WWII. Lady Margaret was a refreshing injection of female strength, and I admired the author for portraying Spitfire pilot, Billy Baxter, as more villain, instead of typical hero.
I loved the historical touches which gave authenticity and found myself learning new things about life on the Home Front– the likes of Spitfire Funds, disabling cars overnight to prevent German parachutists using them etc. The Author’s Note was also fascinating and made me want to read about Auxiliary Units and their roles during WWII.
Despite this attention to detail, I found some scenes far-fetched, which momentarily took me out of the story. While historically authentic on one hand, it also required the reader to suspend disbelief at certain plot developments on the other.
The final showdown was a fitting end to this action-packed novel, and Ronson did well to tie up various loose threads. I’m already intrigued by what will happen in book two, The Berlin Line.
Recommend to those after an action-packed WWII read.
“One thing I learnt in the trenches - you win every fight you don’t have.”
"At first, just a speck in the sky. The engine sounded wrong, the revs falling, spluttering, then finally cutting off with a last cough."
War veteran John Cook is tasked with preparing the resistance effort, should England be invaded. He soon finds himself wrongfully accused of murder, and learns about a disturbing series of evacuee disappearances. As Cook sets out to investigate, mayhem and conspiracy follow.
This story moves faster than a Spitfire. It never treads water. Ronson throws everything but the kitchen sink at the reader. The chapters fly past like scenes from a movie – sometimes just a page long. It’s quite the page-turner, plot always moving. A gripping read.
“I was about to move again when I heard a car engine, and the darkness was pierced by thin shafts of light. I hugged the ground, trying in vain to disappear.”
The boys-own-adventure vibes are strong. There’s plenty of action, and fights, along with shady characters, romance, and conspiracies involving elite society. It felt like Foyle’s War meets Taken – the latter comparison, ensuring some difficult themes. There’s much to potentially trigger readers: child abuse, sex trafficking and sexual assaults. There’s also animal violence, that while brief, felt unnecessary to the plot.
John Cook was sometimes too clever and overconfident for his own good, putting others in harm’s way. I was frustrated by his decisions, yet these flaws also made him real. He felt like a 90s action hero dropped into the Sussex countryside of WWII. Lady Margaret was a refreshing injection of female strength, and I admired the author for portraying Spitfire pilot, Billy Baxter, as more villain, instead of typical hero.
I loved the historical touches which gave authenticity and found myself learning new things about life on the Home Front– the likes of Spitfire Funds, disabling cars overnight to prevent German parachutists using them etc. The Author’s Note was also fascinating and made me want to read about Auxiliary Units and their roles during WWII.
Despite this attention to detail, I found some scenes far-fetched, which momentarily took me out of the story. While historically authentic on one hand, it also required the reader to suspend disbelief at certain plot developments on the other.
The final showdown was a fitting end to this action-packed novel, and Ronson did well to tie up various loose threads. I’m already intrigued by what will happen in book two, The Berlin Line.
Recommend to those after an action-packed WWII read.
“One thing I learnt in the trenches - you win every fight you don’t have.”
August 27, 2023
The Last Line by Stephen Ronson
5/5 stars
First of all I want to thank Stephen Ronson for reaching out to me and asking me to read his book in exchange for an honest review. I am forever grateful, thank you so much.
The Last Line is a book that is a bit out of my comfort zone. But boy I am glad that I read it. It really took me by surprise and I was fully immersed right from the first page onwards.
In this novel we follow John Cook. It's 1940 and John Cook is acutely aware of the dangers of war. He served many years in the army and wants to return. But he is not allowed to join the army again. They do ask him to become a part of a small group of auxiliary units. To kill as many jerry's as he can once England is invaded.
John owns a farm and in the beginning an airplane crashes. Billy Baxter, a young soldier and spitfire pilot, shoots the pilot without remorse. Later that evening he slaps his girlfriend Mary in the pup and John immediately sticks up for her. The next morning she thanks him. And also asks if the local doctor is trustworthy. He confirms that and she tells him it's for a friend.
But that same day Mary is found dead in his field. She is raped and beaten and the police think John is involved. He starts to investigate and they tell him off. That is our job, not yours.
But John absolutely refuses and continues to investigate the death of Mary. And that is what I absolutely love about John. He is a no nonsense man, follows his own path, trusts his own judgement and wants to do right to those he loves or wants to protect.
I love how tenacious and true his compass is. And I loved Lady Margaret, Eric, Doc and Jane. The side characters have so much depth and integrity to them. It made them outstanding and they really added a lot to the story.
Billy Baxter's character arc was brilliantly written as well.
And I didn't know about how the children from danger zones got sent to the country to get them to safety.
I love how all those separate story lines all come together in the end. And how brilliantly impactful it all is.
5 huge and brilliant stars from me!
5/5 stars
First of all I want to thank Stephen Ronson for reaching out to me and asking me to read his book in exchange for an honest review. I am forever grateful, thank you so much.
The Last Line is a book that is a bit out of my comfort zone. But boy I am glad that I read it. It really took me by surprise and I was fully immersed right from the first page onwards.
In this novel we follow John Cook. It's 1940 and John Cook is acutely aware of the dangers of war. He served many years in the army and wants to return. But he is not allowed to join the army again. They do ask him to become a part of a small group of auxiliary units. To kill as many jerry's as he can once England is invaded.
John owns a farm and in the beginning an airplane crashes. Billy Baxter, a young soldier and spitfire pilot, shoots the pilot without remorse. Later that evening he slaps his girlfriend Mary in the pup and John immediately sticks up for her. The next morning she thanks him. And also asks if the local doctor is trustworthy. He confirms that and she tells him it's for a friend.
But that same day Mary is found dead in his field. She is raped and beaten and the police think John is involved. He starts to investigate and they tell him off. That is our job, not yours.
But John absolutely refuses and continues to investigate the death of Mary. And that is what I absolutely love about John. He is a no nonsense man, follows his own path, trusts his own judgement and wants to do right to those he loves or wants to protect.
I love how tenacious and true his compass is. And I loved Lady Margaret, Eric, Doc and Jane. The side characters have so much depth and integrity to them. It made them outstanding and they really added a lot to the story.
Billy Baxter's character arc was brilliantly written as well.
And I didn't know about how the children from danger zones got sent to the country to get them to safety.
I love how all those separate story lines all come together in the end. And how brilliantly impactful it all is.
5 huge and brilliant stars from me!
October 25, 2023
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I have to say I love to read any stories set during WWII. I have read many and they have all been diverse in the area of the war the stories are centred on.
The Last Line is set in country England on the outskirts of the war zone but the citizens are still very much aware that the Germans could arrive at any minute.
The protagonist John Cook is a farmer but he has fought in WWI and Afghanistan. He is a trained killer.
When a young woman is found murdered on his land he is the prime suspect to a lazy police force. Knowing the murder won't be investigated further, John turns vigilante and starts his own reconnaissance work, never expecting the level of corruption he will become embroiled in.
The Last Line is a fast-paced mystery thriller written in a crime noir style narration. It is hard not to barrack for John, he is a marvelous anti-hero. There is a lot of violence throughout the novel and the main subject is quite confronting. However, I loved all the intrigue and the character of John was very believable. He made mistakes and took them badly.
The setting is fabulous - distanced from the war yet right there amongst it with children being evacuated from London and billeted to country families, whilst underground groups are setting up defence tactics if the Germans reach them.
The Last Line is a great read! I'm looking forward to another John Cook novel and wondering where he will go from here.
*I received my copy through netgalley
I have to say I love to read any stories set during WWII. I have read many and they have all been diverse in the area of the war the stories are centred on.
The Last Line is set in country England on the outskirts of the war zone but the citizens are still very much aware that the Germans could arrive at any minute.
The protagonist John Cook is a farmer but he has fought in WWI and Afghanistan. He is a trained killer.
When a young woman is found murdered on his land he is the prime suspect to a lazy police force. Knowing the murder won't be investigated further, John turns vigilante and starts his own reconnaissance work, never expecting the level of corruption he will become embroiled in.
The Last Line is a fast-paced mystery thriller written in a crime noir style narration. It is hard not to barrack for John, he is a marvelous anti-hero. There is a lot of violence throughout the novel and the main subject is quite confronting. However, I loved all the intrigue and the character of John was very believable. He made mistakes and took them badly.
The setting is fabulous - distanced from the war yet right there amongst it with children being evacuated from London and billeted to country families, whilst underground groups are setting up defence tactics if the Germans reach them.
The Last Line is a great read! I'm looking forward to another John Cook novel and wondering where he will go from here.
*I received my copy through netgalley
October 17, 2023
An action packed novel set in 1940, England. Germany in the brink of invading the UK and everybody is on edge. War veteran John Cook wants to sign up again and go to war. The powers that be have other ideas for him at home.
This book has everything.. there is murder, smuggling, spies, conspiracies and many many bodies. John was a character with a big heart and a lot of strength. You don’t want to be in his bad side. He will fight for what he feels is right, no matter what he is told. I love the way he worked with the others to make things right.
I don’t often read war stories but I really enjoyed this. Short chapters and realistic characters made this a fast read. So much research has gone into writing this book, I learnt so much.
Thanks to the author and Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on November 16th
This book has everything.. there is murder, smuggling, spies, conspiracies and many many bodies. John was a character with a big heart and a lot of strength. You don’t want to be in his bad side. He will fight for what he feels is right, no matter what he is told. I love the way he worked with the others to make things right.
I don’t often read war stories but I really enjoyed this. Short chapters and realistic characters made this a fast read. So much research has gone into writing this book, I learnt so much.
Thanks to the author and Hodder and Stoughton via NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Published on November 16th
June 29, 2023
“I wasn’t sure how he’d react if I told him I’d killed two men with no more thought than you’d have killing a couple of rats in the cellar.”
—————————————————————————————
First of all thank you to Stephen for reaching out. I am so glad that you did and am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read The Last Line. If love mystery/thriller novels and have an interest in ww2 fiction, this is the book for you. This book feels like the perfect combination between Jack Reacher and a 1940s war-time Britain setting, with our MMC teaming up with likeminded civilians concerned with protecting the Homefront, forming an almost vigilante-style group. All of this created a captivating, suspense-driven read that I couldn’t and didn’t put down.
At its core, this is a well-written and undoubtedly well-researched authentic thriller that immerses you in the Sussex countryside, aided by the extremely descriptive passages that really help you to envisage exactly what the author wants you to see.
However, even though the book is set during 1940s war-time Britain, the main plot we follow is away from the war, concerned with evacuees, and a murder that has people looking towards our main character John. This really showed the other side to the war, how life and crime still continued despite the war occurring. Everyday life continues on.
Despite all of this, it was the characters that really sold me on this book. John, our male MC, you just can’t help but route for him every step of the way, despite his vigilante style, talk with his hands, ethically and morally questionable investigative techniques. And Margaret. An absolutely incredible female character, especially for the time period, and her strength, intelligence and role were brilliant to read!
This was a fantastic debut, and I cannot wait to see what Stephen has in store for us all next!
—————————————————————————————
“I’d be ready. Ready to do my bit. Ready to get the job done.”
—————————————————————————————
First of all thank you to Stephen for reaching out. I am so glad that you did and am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read The Last Line. If love mystery/thriller novels and have an interest in ww2 fiction, this is the book for you. This book feels like the perfect combination between Jack Reacher and a 1940s war-time Britain setting, with our MMC teaming up with likeminded civilians concerned with protecting the Homefront, forming an almost vigilante-style group. All of this created a captivating, suspense-driven read that I couldn’t and didn’t put down.
At its core, this is a well-written and undoubtedly well-researched authentic thriller that immerses you in the Sussex countryside, aided by the extremely descriptive passages that really help you to envisage exactly what the author wants you to see.
However, even though the book is set during 1940s war-time Britain, the main plot we follow is away from the war, concerned with evacuees, and a murder that has people looking towards our main character John. This really showed the other side to the war, how life and crime still continued despite the war occurring. Everyday life continues on.
Despite all of this, it was the characters that really sold me on this book. John, our male MC, you just can’t help but route for him every step of the way, despite his vigilante style, talk with his hands, ethically and morally questionable investigative techniques. And Margaret. An absolutely incredible female character, especially for the time period, and her strength, intelligence and role were brilliant to read!
This was a fantastic debut, and I cannot wait to see what Stephen has in store for us all next!
—————————————————————————————
“I’d be ready. Ready to do my bit. Ready to get the job done.”
November 16, 2023
Hugest of thanks must go to Morgan at Hodder Books for kindly sending me a proof copy of The Last Line.
As my followers know, I’m heavily into World War Two novels and when I saw the blurb for The Last Line, I was immediately interested.
The Last Line is a fantastically written thriller set in Sussex during the early part of WW2. We meet John Cook a Veteran of the Great War, and now a Farmer, living with his Mum and Uncle on his large farm estate. Now I, as usual, do not want to spoil the story in any way, especially because this is an absolute belter of a book! John Cook is a loveable character who, like most men returning from WW1, has his demons and these make him a pretty tough, hardworking and organised chap, who has a short fuse and doesn’t suffer fools! But I adored him from the first page!
There is also a great supporting cast who compliment John, and again without giving anything away, Margaret is also a brilliant character and I adored her!! The Last Line, is a snappy, smart and immersive thriller, the story runs at pace throughout the novel, and I found it extremely realistic, and it is clear that Stephen Ronson has done a lot of research into the activities of veterans during WW2 especially on the Home Front, in the South East of England. And in fact, I learnt several things during this read, as there are elements based on fact in here.
Ive read many novels set during the wars, and I have to say that The Last Line is up there with the best, its just a superb example of how to write a book with passion and love. It is thrilling, easy to read, whip-smart, there’s a lot of violence but that goes hand in hand with the character of John Cook, and I personally love a lead character that’s not afraid to use his fists! But there’s also humour and empathy in The Last Line. The plot is also really well written, with many twists and turns and it builds to a marvellous ending which was really well thought out!
So in summing up, this is an easy 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read, it is the start of a series, and I am already itching to read John Cook book 2! If you like a gripping thriller, set during WW2, with easy to like characters and cast, and a superb storyline, then I urge you to get buying The Last Line. A BookBanger 💥
As my followers know, I’m heavily into World War Two novels and when I saw the blurb for The Last Line, I was immediately interested.
The Last Line is a fantastically written thriller set in Sussex during the early part of WW2. We meet John Cook a Veteran of the Great War, and now a Farmer, living with his Mum and Uncle on his large farm estate. Now I, as usual, do not want to spoil the story in any way, especially because this is an absolute belter of a book! John Cook is a loveable character who, like most men returning from WW1, has his demons and these make him a pretty tough, hardworking and organised chap, who has a short fuse and doesn’t suffer fools! But I adored him from the first page!
There is also a great supporting cast who compliment John, and again without giving anything away, Margaret is also a brilliant character and I adored her!! The Last Line, is a snappy, smart and immersive thriller, the story runs at pace throughout the novel, and I found it extremely realistic, and it is clear that Stephen Ronson has done a lot of research into the activities of veterans during WW2 especially on the Home Front, in the South East of England. And in fact, I learnt several things during this read, as there are elements based on fact in here.
Ive read many novels set during the wars, and I have to say that The Last Line is up there with the best, its just a superb example of how to write a book with passion and love. It is thrilling, easy to read, whip-smart, there’s a lot of violence but that goes hand in hand with the character of John Cook, and I personally love a lead character that’s not afraid to use his fists! But there’s also humour and empathy in The Last Line. The plot is also really well written, with many twists and turns and it builds to a marvellous ending which was really well thought out!
So in summing up, this is an easy 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read, it is the start of a series, and I am already itching to read John Cook book 2! If you like a gripping thriller, set during WW2, with easy to like characters and cast, and a superb storyline, then I urge you to get buying The Last Line. A BookBanger 💥
November 16, 2023
The year is 1940 and the setting is Uckfield, Sussex. World War 2 is ramping up in Europe – Germany has invaded Belgium, Netherland and France and are only 33 miles across the sea from reaching the UK. In the UK, men are enlisting and threat of German occupation is becoming a very real possibility.
John Cook fought in World Ward 1 and now lives a quiet life as a farmer with his mum and Uncle. He tries to enlist but is refused and is instead recruited to become part of the Auxiliary Unit, a group of resistance fighters. As evacuees start arriving in rural Sussex, John becomes aware that some young girls have gone missing and starts to investigate. He soon discovers the initial evacuations were a shambles and there is no official records of these girls. As he starts to investigate, with the help of local aristocrat Lady Margaret, he travels from Uckfield to Brighton to London and meets a lot of shady characters along the way. But John Cook knows how to handle himself .
This was a fast paced piece of historical fiction. I really liked both the characters of John Cook and Lady Margaret – Cook isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and isn’t adverse to violence while Margaret takes every situation in her stride. I also loved the local setting – I’ve spent a lot of time in Uckfield and it was cool to see mentions of landmarks I recognised like the cinema and the church I got married in!
I also learnt a lot – I realised a lot of my knowledge of World War 2 is based around the politics and the bigger events and I didn’t know much about what was actually happening in the UK beyond the bombings in London. I found it really interesting to learn about the defence plans from the very real threat of Germany invading from the Sussex coast.
A thrilling, exciting read set against the tense backdrop of the early days of World War 2, I absolutely loved this debut. I understand, this is not the last we will hear from John and Margaret and I look forward to any future instalments!
John Cook fought in World Ward 1 and now lives a quiet life as a farmer with his mum and Uncle. He tries to enlist but is refused and is instead recruited to become part of the Auxiliary Unit, a group of resistance fighters. As evacuees start arriving in rural Sussex, John becomes aware that some young girls have gone missing and starts to investigate. He soon discovers the initial evacuations were a shambles and there is no official records of these girls. As he starts to investigate, with the help of local aristocrat Lady Margaret, he travels from Uckfield to Brighton to London and meets a lot of shady characters along the way. But John Cook knows how to handle himself .
This was a fast paced piece of historical fiction. I really liked both the characters of John Cook and Lady Margaret – Cook isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and isn’t adverse to violence while Margaret takes every situation in her stride. I also loved the local setting – I’ve spent a lot of time in Uckfield and it was cool to see mentions of landmarks I recognised like the cinema and the church I got married in!
I also learnt a lot – I realised a lot of my knowledge of World War 2 is based around the politics and the bigger events and I didn’t know much about what was actually happening in the UK beyond the bombings in London. I found it really interesting to learn about the defence plans from the very real threat of Germany invading from the Sussex coast.
A thrilling, exciting read set against the tense backdrop of the early days of World War 2, I absolutely loved this debut. I understand, this is not the last we will hear from John and Margaret and I look forward to any future instalments!
June 8, 2023
First World War veteran John Cook has been tasked with establishing the resistance effort where he farms in the Sussex countryside. The Nazis have been advancing through Europe and an invasion along the southern English coast seems imminent.
When 12-year-old Elizabeth, a London evacuee, goes missing, John discovers she isn't the only one — there are other children who also haven't made it to their host families. Feeling compelled to investigate, he unearths a criminal gang operating on his home turf. Using skills learnt during his military career and a fair amount of sheer brute force, John wades in to put a stop to their activities once and for all.
The Last Line is a cracking novel from author Stephen Ronson. With excellent characterisation I immediately felt immersed and captivated. The writing is superb and the story flowed with ease. Descriptions of the Sussex countryside, towns and villages were idyllic and created an authentic sense of time and place. Just be warned though — the story contains child abuse and a fair amount of violence which some readers may find triggering. Putting that aside, it was a thrilling read and I really hope there will be more books to follow. A great debut novel which I highly recommend.
When 12-year-old Elizabeth, a London evacuee, goes missing, John discovers she isn't the only one — there are other children who also haven't made it to their host families. Feeling compelled to investigate, he unearths a criminal gang operating on his home turf. Using skills learnt during his military career and a fair amount of sheer brute force, John wades in to put a stop to their activities once and for all.
The Last Line is a cracking novel from author Stephen Ronson. With excellent characterisation I immediately felt immersed and captivated. The writing is superb and the story flowed with ease. Descriptions of the Sussex countryside, towns and villages were idyllic and created an authentic sense of time and place. Just be warned though — the story contains child abuse and a fair amount of violence which some readers may find triggering. Putting that aside, it was a thrilling read and I really hope there will be more books to follow. A great debut novel which I highly recommend.
November 30, 2023
Historical fiction, crime fiction AND World War II? How could I possibly have told Stephen Ronson "no, thank you" when he reached out to me with his debut novel 'The Last Line'?
The Germans have never felt so close. It seems as if the English Channel is shrinking and it's time to prepare for the worst. In Uckfield, John Cook has been tasked with preparing the resistance effort. But even with a war going on and the threat hanging over English heads, other troubling things are going on. Children are being evacuated to the country side, but it seems not all of them are arriving at their destinations. War or no war, Cook can't just let this go and he sets off to investigate.
John Cook has a very distinctive voice. As a former military man, a war veteran, there is a bit of a Reacher vibe to him. Mostly in that whole "will not run away from a fight" kind of thing. His heart is in the right place, he's intelligent, and a master tactician. A man with regrets, but fair and willing to do whatever it takes to right a wrong. A man to root for. And also to hide behind when things get rough.
The first person narration drew me in from the very first page. It works incredibly well for this story. There's such a wonderful noir atmosphere to 'The Last Line' too. I could almost see things play out in front of my eyes, in black and white, and I found it extremely compelling. This is just one of those books where all the elements seem to come together effortlessly to create something a little bit different.
I can't even begin to understand the level of research the author must have done. At no point does 'The Last Line' feel like a history lesson though, even if I learnt a thing or two. It does not get bogged down by pages and pages of historical detail. In fact, some chapters you can almost forget there is a war going on at all. Much like some of the residents of Uckfield and the surrounding landscape at that point in time. The war was across the water. Some of their pilots just flew off in the morning and casually returned for tea in the evening. As you do.
All that, and Cook trying to figure out how to set up a resistance, is the perfect backdrop for the mystery surrounding the missing children. Where did they go? Why were they taken? And by whom? Various brutal attempts to stop Cook from investigating further have no effect on this man. He will not rest until he finds those responsible, no matter how high up the chain they go. Because even in the middle of a war, there are those who think they are untouchable.
'The Last Line' is an action-packed and tense tale of despicable people doing despicable things. It is part historical fiction, part action adventure, part spy thriller, ... there's even room for a dash of romance. It has just about everything you could possibly ask for. I found it utterly gripping from the beginning until the wholly satisfying conclusion. It even looks like there may be more from Cook in the future and I, for one, can't wait!
The Germans have never felt so close. It seems as if the English Channel is shrinking and it's time to prepare for the worst. In Uckfield, John Cook has been tasked with preparing the resistance effort. But even with a war going on and the threat hanging over English heads, other troubling things are going on. Children are being evacuated to the country side, but it seems not all of them are arriving at their destinations. War or no war, Cook can't just let this go and he sets off to investigate.
John Cook has a very distinctive voice. As a former military man, a war veteran, there is a bit of a Reacher vibe to him. Mostly in that whole "will not run away from a fight" kind of thing. His heart is in the right place, he's intelligent, and a master tactician. A man with regrets, but fair and willing to do whatever it takes to right a wrong. A man to root for. And also to hide behind when things get rough.
The first person narration drew me in from the very first page. It works incredibly well for this story. There's such a wonderful noir atmosphere to 'The Last Line' too. I could almost see things play out in front of my eyes, in black and white, and I found it extremely compelling. This is just one of those books where all the elements seem to come together effortlessly to create something a little bit different.
I can't even begin to understand the level of research the author must have done. At no point does 'The Last Line' feel like a history lesson though, even if I learnt a thing or two. It does not get bogged down by pages and pages of historical detail. In fact, some chapters you can almost forget there is a war going on at all. Much like some of the residents of Uckfield and the surrounding landscape at that point in time. The war was across the water. Some of their pilots just flew off in the morning and casually returned for tea in the evening. As you do.
All that, and Cook trying to figure out how to set up a resistance, is the perfect backdrop for the mystery surrounding the missing children. Where did they go? Why were they taken? And by whom? Various brutal attempts to stop Cook from investigating further have no effect on this man. He will not rest until he finds those responsible, no matter how high up the chain they go. Because even in the middle of a war, there are those who think they are untouchable.
'The Last Line' is an action-packed and tense tale of despicable people doing despicable things. It is part historical fiction, part action adventure, part spy thriller, ... there's even room for a dash of romance. It has just about everything you could possibly ask for. I found it utterly gripping from the beginning until the wholly satisfying conclusion. It even looks like there may be more from Cook in the future and I, for one, can't wait!
October 10, 2024
A very masculin, old-fashioned type of novel, probably something my father would have loved! The atmosphere of the south of England at a time when everyone feared an invasion by Hitler's army is very well described. Add to that a murder mystery, missing evacuees and an ex-soldier who doesn't mind a lot of extreme rough-and-tumble, and we have an enjoyable read, assuming murdering lots of baddies during wartime is acceptable for you...!
August 3, 2023
A blistering read that you won't be able to set down! John Cook has been described as the Reacher of the 1940s, but he is so much more. Cook is an experienced WW1 veteran and no stranger to front-line fighting and death. With WW2 on the doorstep, Cook steps up to offer his services for his country. He is denied a place I'm the infantry, as there are much bigger plans for him - to secretly form security on the home front, buy he will be acting without any official protection. He has a big job to do and there is no better man for the job. It soon becomes apparent that children are going missing in this war and dark forces are acting. Cook makes it his mission to discover these children and uncover the truth. This is a completely refreshing WW11 story and had me gripped from beginning to end. Cook is an extraordinary protagonist and a formidable force. A well constructed action-packed and unputdownable read. #thelastline #stephenronson #netgalley
October 9, 2023
Thank you to Stephen Ronson, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my approval to read and review book.
I don't read a lot of historical crime fiction but I am so glad that I read this book. The time is 1940, during the Second World War, set in and around Uckfield, East Sussex. John Cook, a gentleman farmer, is in his forties living with his Mother and Uncle Nob, he owns a large area of farmland. John becomes involved in discovering the body of a young girl he knows, Mary. He sets about looking for the killer or killers. Throughout the story John and his friends - Doc, Jane, Margaret, Bill, Cyril find themselves at the centre of a mystery and how to fight off the Germans should they bomb or land their corner of England. There is a also a mystery surrounding missing girl evacuees but I don't to spoil be revealing more of the book. This is one book that I didn't want to finish as it's full of plot twists and turns, red herrings, and a roller-coaster of a read!! I will be recommending this book.
I don't read a lot of historical crime fiction but I am so glad that I read this book. The time is 1940, during the Second World War, set in and around Uckfield, East Sussex. John Cook, a gentleman farmer, is in his forties living with his Mother and Uncle Nob, he owns a large area of farmland. John becomes involved in discovering the body of a young girl he knows, Mary. He sets about looking for the killer or killers. Throughout the story John and his friends - Doc, Jane, Margaret, Bill, Cyril find themselves at the centre of a mystery and how to fight off the Germans should they bomb or land their corner of England. There is a also a mystery surrounding missing girl evacuees but I don't to spoil be revealing more of the book. This is one book that I didn't want to finish as it's full of plot twists and turns, red herrings, and a roller-coaster of a read!! I will be recommending this book.
August 5, 2023
John Cook is a farmer who served in the Great War and beyond. He wants a quiet life on his land but a new war is breaking out and the powers that be need men with his particular talents. As the war with Germany ramps up a young woman of his acquaintance is found murdered on his land plus there's something fishy about a missing evacuee. This is a compelling thriller with various threads interwoven adding to the mystery. Cook is a flawed hero as usual (nothing wrong with that as it makes them interesting) and the wartime setting adds to the tension of the crime aspect of the story. I do hope that this is the beginning of a series.
October 24, 2024
GREAT enjoyable read, havnt read a story involving 2ww and missing evacuees before so a new angle and one I very much enjoyed. I likened the Character John Cook ex war veteran to Jack Reacher in style and morals but a higher casualty rate amongst the 'badies' - and yes we do know who they are. Made me feel that I was very much a part of the countryside in East Sussex waiting the invasion of the UK by Germany 1940. Thank you NetGalley and the author for a pre release version of this book. Well worth waiting for this to come out, made me dribble for book 2.
August 11, 2023
Summary: John Cook is a gentleman farmer living in Uckfield, Sussex, England in 1940 when he decides that it is time to do his bit in the war and decides to journey to London to enlist. When he arrives there and meets with an officer, he is advised that the army declines to take him, a forty-something man who has already seen service during the first war and in Afghanistan. He is offered another option instead – to head up a top-secret unofficial militia – operated entirely by private citizens and provided with weapons and supplies. The idea appeals to him and he heads home to commence preparations, in a time when Germany was riding roughshod over Europe on its way to England.
While this is happening, thousands of young children are being evacuated out of London and sent to the countryside to protect them from the expected German bombing raids. When the evacuations commence, it is chaotic and disorganized, and a pretty 12-year-old girl goes missing. Cook becomes aware of this disappearance and when he discovers that other young girls are also missing, he suspects that a more sinister operation is at work.
Thoughts: I don’t read much historical fiction, especially books set during wartime. Something about that time period and setting just depresses me and turns me off from reading war-era novels. The Last Line just proved me completely wrong! This was an excellent wartime thriller/mystery/action novel with a sexy, courageous soldier-turned-gentleman farmer as the hero.
It sounds unlikely. John Cook is an unassuming man of few words who is trying to do right in the world. Although we know he is a former soldier, it is a bit of a shock to realize that he knows many excruciating ways to harm and kill an enemy. He does just that.
The pace is quick and the action keeps coming. With well-chosen prose, the author gives the reader a snapshot of English countryside during wartime, with victory gardens, makeshift landing strips in farmers’ fields and railway platforms full of evacuated children. It was a page-turner and I couldn’t get enough. From the author’s comments at the end, it sounds like a second book is in the works and I will definitely be reading it.
Many thanks to Stephen Ronson, the author, for offering me a copy of his excellent book to read.
While this is happening, thousands of young children are being evacuated out of London and sent to the countryside to protect them from the expected German bombing raids. When the evacuations commence, it is chaotic and disorganized, and a pretty 12-year-old girl goes missing. Cook becomes aware of this disappearance and when he discovers that other young girls are also missing, he suspects that a more sinister operation is at work.
Thoughts: I don’t read much historical fiction, especially books set during wartime. Something about that time period and setting just depresses me and turns me off from reading war-era novels. The Last Line just proved me completely wrong! This was an excellent wartime thriller/mystery/action novel with a sexy, courageous soldier-turned-gentleman farmer as the hero.
It sounds unlikely. John Cook is an unassuming man of few words who is trying to do right in the world. Although we know he is a former soldier, it is a bit of a shock to realize that he knows many excruciating ways to harm and kill an enemy. He does just that.
The pace is quick and the action keeps coming. With well-chosen prose, the author gives the reader a snapshot of English countryside during wartime, with victory gardens, makeshift landing strips in farmers’ fields and railway platforms full of evacuated children. It was a page-turner and I couldn’t get enough. From the author’s comments at the end, it sounds like a second book is in the works and I will definitely be reading it.
Many thanks to Stephen Ronson, the author, for offering me a copy of his excellent book to read.
October 26, 2023
Thank you Stephen Ronson for reaching out to me to read the ARC of The Last Line for my honest review. All opinions expressed below are my own.
The story revolves around a man named Cook who had served in World War 1 when he was younger. He is now 40 years old. He tries to help out again but is told he is too old. Then he is asked to help out by secretly getting a resistance team together just in case the worst happens.
While getting a team together, Cook gets drawn into the mysterious disappearance of a young evacuee. Is there something sinister going on in his small town? Can he figure things out? He discovers a dark conspiracy that seems to be connected to the highest ranks of society.
I really liked the main character, Cook. He so reminds me of Jack Reacher which I am sure others will comment on also. All the characters are very well developed.
I have to say author Stephen Ronson really researched this story well. I enjoyed reading all the information he shared about this era. His writing is solid and flows well. Once I started reading The Last Line, I honestly could not put it down. I certainly enjoyed this debut novel!
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a action packed thriller with mystery and light romance.
@shortbookthyme
The story revolves around a man named Cook who had served in World War 1 when he was younger. He is now 40 years old. He tries to help out again but is told he is too old. Then he is asked to help out by secretly getting a resistance team together just in case the worst happens.
While getting a team together, Cook gets drawn into the mysterious disappearance of a young evacuee. Is there something sinister going on in his small town? Can he figure things out? He discovers a dark conspiracy that seems to be connected to the highest ranks of society.
I really liked the main character, Cook. He so reminds me of Jack Reacher which I am sure others will comment on also. All the characters are very well developed.
I have to say author Stephen Ronson really researched this story well. I enjoyed reading all the information he shared about this era. His writing is solid and flows well. Once I started reading The Last Line, I honestly could not put it down. I certainly enjoyed this debut novel!
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a action packed thriller with mystery and light romance.
@shortbookthyme
November 13, 2023
A huge thank you to Stephen Ronson for reaching out to me on Twitter and offering me access to this ARC.
I am going to be honest, it didn’t seem like the kind of book I’d have went for despite the synopsis peaking my interest, however, I was pleasantly surprised!
The reader is thrown into the tense atmosphere, the action and twists and turns from the get-go.
I enjoyed the different genres throughout yet blended together very well. The era in which this book was set and the crimes the reader followed was very interesting. The character building was exceptional.
It is a very fast-paced book and keeps the reader piqued from the first few pages. I really took to John, I thought he was a great character and has strong morals and beliefs which is carried throughout.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend if you like thrillers, crime and war - all in the one! Thank you again to Stephen for my ARC and to Netgalley for allowing me access
I am going to be honest, it didn’t seem like the kind of book I’d have went for despite the synopsis peaking my interest, however, I was pleasantly surprised!
The reader is thrown into the tense atmosphere, the action and twists and turns from the get-go.
I enjoyed the different genres throughout yet blended together very well. The era in which this book was set and the crimes the reader followed was very interesting. The character building was exceptional.
It is a very fast-paced book and keeps the reader piqued from the first few pages. I really took to John, I thought he was a great character and has strong morals and beliefs which is carried throughout.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend if you like thrillers, crime and war - all in the one! Thank you again to Stephen for my ARC and to Netgalley for allowing me access
November 16, 2023
An excellent read, this feels like a WWII Jack Reacher book, but in a really good way. John Cook is an ex soldier, now running a farm in 1940, too old to enlist but not too old to offer resistance. Add to that the black market, missing female evacuees and an old adversary, and this book really comes to life. There has obviously been some really good research, giving a real feel of authenticity. John is a great character, and along with Lady Margaret, Doc, you know it’s going to be a good read. There are some dark topics, but realistically portrayed. Highly recommended
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 17, 2023
Brilliantly written.
A superb take on a different side of WW2. A story that flows, characters that leap off the pages, and subtle descriptions that make the settings seem familiar. I love it!
A superb take on a different side of WW2. A story that flows, characters that leap off the pages, and subtle descriptions that make the settings seem familiar. I love it!
November 8, 2023
I requested the book because the premise looked very interesting to me. Unfortunately, the request was denied. However, sometime later, the author sent me a message asking me if I would be interested in reading the book. I explained the situation and then he provided me with a digital copy of this book. And I'm absolutely grateful he did that because this is most definitely a book you would want to read! It is published by Hodder and Stoughton and it'll be out on the 16th of November.
It's the start of World War II. England prepares itself for the inevitable War fearing Hitler wilt cross the English Channel as he sweeps across Europe as an almost unstoppable force. John Cook, a war veteran, is tasked with preparing the resistance effort in rural Sussex. In the meantime, children are being evacuated from London out of fear of bombing. However, many children don't make it to the host families. They seem to have disappeared. John Cook is troubled by this and starts to investigate. Here comes across a rather dark conspiracy that reaches high up in the ranks of society. What can he do?
I'm very grateful to the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book. The main character is quite likable and well worked out. You get to know him and the reason why he does things the way he does them. The story itself is fast-paced and filled with action turning it into quite the roller coaster that you just can't put away. The comparison to Lee Child's Jack Reacher is an absolute compliment and when the author continues writing about John Cook I have no doubt that John Cook will be mentioned in the same breath as Jack Reacher.
This book has it all. A great cast of characters, a brilliantly worked out story in combination with action and suspense, written superbly in the time frame of World War 2. This is a must have and a must read!
5/5 ⭐
#recommendation #read #reading #review #netgalleyreviewer #netgalley #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads #stephenronson #hodderandstoughton #bookrecommendations #bookreviewer #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #bookcommunity #bookreview #bookstagrammer #booklovers #bookstagram #booknerd #booklove #bookaddict #thelastline
It's the start of World War II. England prepares itself for the inevitable War fearing Hitler wilt cross the English Channel as he sweeps across Europe as an almost unstoppable force. John Cook, a war veteran, is tasked with preparing the resistance effort in rural Sussex. In the meantime, children are being evacuated from London out of fear of bombing. However, many children don't make it to the host families. They seem to have disappeared. John Cook is troubled by this and starts to investigate. Here comes across a rather dark conspiracy that reaches high up in the ranks of society. What can he do?
I'm very grateful to the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book. The main character is quite likable and well worked out. You get to know him and the reason why he does things the way he does them. The story itself is fast-paced and filled with action turning it into quite the roller coaster that you just can't put away. The comparison to Lee Child's Jack Reacher is an absolute compliment and when the author continues writing about John Cook I have no doubt that John Cook will be mentioned in the same breath as Jack Reacher.
This book has it all. A great cast of characters, a brilliantly worked out story in combination with action and suspense, written superbly in the time frame of World War 2. This is a must have and a must read!
5/5 ⭐
#recommendation #read #reading #review #netgalleyreviewer #netgalley #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads #stephenronson #hodderandstoughton #bookrecommendations #bookreviewer #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #bookcommunity #bookreview #bookstagrammer #booklovers #bookstagram #booknerd #booklove #bookaddict #thelastline
January 19, 2024
Incredible action in this WW2 Britain historical fiction novel. A bad ass vigilante, tons of interesting historical details, page turning suspense and very well-written. I’ll be getting a copy for my father-in-law straightaway!
January 15, 2024
It has been far, far too long since I last opened the laptop to share my thoughts on a book. Time to dust off the cobwebs and get back to doing what I love the most – sharing the booklove and helping readers to find those books I think they really should be reading. Despite the lack of reviews I have still been reading my way through some wonderful stories and I have some catching up to do – where better to start than with Stephen Ronson’s excellect The Last Line?
This book made its way into my list of Ten Favourite Reads of 2023 – it’s an extremely readable and highly enjoyable historical adventure thriller. The wartime setting gives it a constant foreboding tension as the characters live with the constant threat of German invasion as the enemy troops sweep through France, just across the English Channel from where the events in The Last Line unfold.
The hero of the piece is John Cook. He’s a war vetran who’d seen more than his fair share of action on the front lines in Europe and now he’s home in Sussex and watching the incoming threat of a German army on the march. Unfortunately for Cook there’s more than just the potential threat of a German invasion for him to worry about. The Last Line opens with a dramatic confrontation between two pilots, a Spitfire pilot and a Messerschmitt pilot – the whole event witnessed by Cook. The reason he has such a good view of the confrontation is due to the fact both planes are grounded and the pilots are out of their cockpits.
From the opening exchanges we get a measure of Cook – the confrontation he witnesses, his reaction to the conversation he overhears and how he deals with the subsequent reprecussions help readers define what type of character John Cook will be. It puts us in a good place as it won’t be long before Cook is going to become caught up in a particularly deadly sequence of events and as I reader I enjoyed knowing this was a character I could root for.
What I did enjoy was the clever way Stephen Ronson sets up the mystery at the heart of his story, there’s a big incident very early on – Cook is implicated and the police will come calling. Under a cloud of suspicion and mistrust John Cook will continue with the tasks he set out to do and will face down anyone that may try to stop that. However it is not just the police that will come calling on Cook, as a former soldier he’s not fully off the radar of the army either. With an enemy on their doorstep and a real demand for skilled and trustworthy operatives, the army will seek out anyone they feel could be considered an asset and do whatever is required to acquire that asset. Cook is going to be facing a number of challenges.
There’s one puzzle which will just not go away – a missing evacuee who’s left London but seemingly not arrived in the safety of Sussex. Enquiries into what may have happened to the schoolgirl yield no results and Cook doesn’t even seem able to find many who actually care enough to help him. But as he keeps digging he finds that it isn’t just one girl that’s missing – there are multiple children leaving the city but vanishing before they can be placed with new families. Cook will make his way to Brighton to continue his investigations into the missing children – what he uncovers is a disturbing and vast network of lies and abuse of power.
It’s not all about John Cook doing this solo – he does have a few allies he can rely upon, most notably is Lady Margaret – local landowner and woman of considerable influence. She has her own agenda and is more than happy to enlist Cook’s assistance…when their paths cross there’s more than just a spark of attraction and their friendship and possible relationship is another fun development in the story.
I’ve skirted around a lot of the elements of the story which really made The Last Line shine for me. I really want you to read this book and I really don’t want to drop too many spoilers or flag up key elements of the plot. Suffice to say this book was an absolute gem for me last year. I liked Cook and Lady Margaret and would love to read more of their story, the wartime setting and threat of German attack gave the story a strange claustrophobia which really should not have been a factor in the Sussex fields. There was one scene which actually had me shouting “NO” at a decision Cook took at one of the most tense moments in the story.
If I finally cut to the chase…
I loved this story, it cut through the busy chaos that was the end of 2023, it held my attention when many other books just didn’t even get a second glance and, when I had finished reading, I immediately wanted more with these characters. Did I mention it was one of my favourite reads last year? Make it one of your favourite reads this year.
This book made its way into my list of Ten Favourite Reads of 2023 – it’s an extremely readable and highly enjoyable historical adventure thriller. The wartime setting gives it a constant foreboding tension as the characters live with the constant threat of German invasion as the enemy troops sweep through France, just across the English Channel from where the events in The Last Line unfold.
The hero of the piece is John Cook. He’s a war vetran who’d seen more than his fair share of action on the front lines in Europe and now he’s home in Sussex and watching the incoming threat of a German army on the march. Unfortunately for Cook there’s more than just the potential threat of a German invasion for him to worry about. The Last Line opens with a dramatic confrontation between two pilots, a Spitfire pilot and a Messerschmitt pilot – the whole event witnessed by Cook. The reason he has such a good view of the confrontation is due to the fact both planes are grounded and the pilots are out of their cockpits.
From the opening exchanges we get a measure of Cook – the confrontation he witnesses, his reaction to the conversation he overhears and how he deals with the subsequent reprecussions help readers define what type of character John Cook will be. It puts us in a good place as it won’t be long before Cook is going to become caught up in a particularly deadly sequence of events and as I reader I enjoyed knowing this was a character I could root for.
What I did enjoy was the clever way Stephen Ronson sets up the mystery at the heart of his story, there’s a big incident very early on – Cook is implicated and the police will come calling. Under a cloud of suspicion and mistrust John Cook will continue with the tasks he set out to do and will face down anyone that may try to stop that. However it is not just the police that will come calling on Cook, as a former soldier he’s not fully off the radar of the army either. With an enemy on their doorstep and a real demand for skilled and trustworthy operatives, the army will seek out anyone they feel could be considered an asset and do whatever is required to acquire that asset. Cook is going to be facing a number of challenges.
There’s one puzzle which will just not go away – a missing evacuee who’s left London but seemingly not arrived in the safety of Sussex. Enquiries into what may have happened to the schoolgirl yield no results and Cook doesn’t even seem able to find many who actually care enough to help him. But as he keeps digging he finds that it isn’t just one girl that’s missing – there are multiple children leaving the city but vanishing before they can be placed with new families. Cook will make his way to Brighton to continue his investigations into the missing children – what he uncovers is a disturbing and vast network of lies and abuse of power.
It’s not all about John Cook doing this solo – he does have a few allies he can rely upon, most notably is Lady Margaret – local landowner and woman of considerable influence. She has her own agenda and is more than happy to enlist Cook’s assistance…when their paths cross there’s more than just a spark of attraction and their friendship and possible relationship is another fun development in the story.
I’ve skirted around a lot of the elements of the story which really made The Last Line shine for me. I really want you to read this book and I really don’t want to drop too many spoilers or flag up key elements of the plot. Suffice to say this book was an absolute gem for me last year. I liked Cook and Lady Margaret and would love to read more of their story, the wartime setting and threat of German attack gave the story a strange claustrophobia which really should not have been a factor in the Sussex fields. There was one scene which actually had me shouting “NO” at a decision Cook took at one of the most tense moments in the story.
If I finally cut to the chase…
I loved this story, it cut through the busy chaos that was the end of 2023, it held my attention when many other books just didn’t even get a second glance and, when I had finished reading, I immediately wanted more with these characters. Did I mention it was one of my favourite reads last year? Make it one of your favourite reads this year.
November 29, 2024
Let's keep it short: The Last Line is absolutely delightful.
November 6, 2023
It is May 1940 and Europe, in particular Great Britain, is becoming aware of the enormity of the task ahead of them. This war is not going to be fought in trenches, the German’s have developed Blitzkrieg and soon the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) is about to be encircled and cut off with a huge loss of manpower and weaponry. For them the army life is not fine, George helped to keep spirits high, but now the war may be lost before its even started. This is the backdrop for a fine novel that captures the dawning realisation of what lies ahead for people back in Britain.
John Cook is a prosperous farmer, a veteran of the First World War, who then went on to create commando units in the Far East, thereby developing an array of unorthodox fighting skill. He wants to serve his country but is turned down. Instead, they want him set up an off-the-books clandestine auxiliary unit to fight back once the Germans invade. As the title implies, they will become The Last Line of defence. Weaponry will be provided but they would be on their own and if discovered before invasion they could be taken as German spies. Desperate measures for desperate times. Here the author has done an excellent job picturing the sense of inevitability amongst civilian population as it prepares for invasion along with the tentative steps taken. The barbed wire on beaches, Cook preparing his land to prevent the progress of tanks across it, the sort of touches easily overlooked but which add real period detail. The scenes set in the pub manage to convey the sense of trepidation as the coming invasion takes over conversations. With recent societal changes its easy to overlook the importance of the public house at that point in time as a place for people to gather and express themselves.
The Germans are not the only enemy though, as we find ones closer to home. The black marketeer in fiction is so often portrayed as a loveable, cheeky spiv the man who could lay his hands on what you wanted for a price. Here they are more accurately seen as serious criminals, willing to exploit anyone and anything at the right price. The author pays a small homage to Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, with the spivs based in Brighton and sharing the cold-blooded psychosis of Pinky Brown. Young men of fighting age dodging call up and their duty who decide to put self-interest ahead of anything else. As Cook muses ‘nothing good ever came out of Brighton’ and he is eventually proved right, though it does prove the backdrop for some great action scenes against real villains.
The plot centres on the criminal activity of the spivs, complicity within the police force and instances of missing persons. I don’t want to give too much away, but much of the plot could almost be transplanted into 2023 and work just as well. There are no new crimes they just manifest in different guises. That Cook gets drawn into an investigation is a given but the flow of it still manages to surprise even when you think you know the answer. It’s a case of good versus evil, but one in which the boundaries between the two are a little smudged, which add to the interest.
The pacing is perfectly judged, starting off on the slow side before increasing as action set pieces, of which there are several, become imminent but all the while still building up a head of steam for the finale. The early chapters can feel a little short (it is the current trend) but in the latter third they really do inject a sense of urgency There is bloodshed and violence, how could there not be in such a story, but it’s nicely handled without being too gratuitous. An excellent job for a debut novel.
Cook is a killer too, but a trained one with a sense of morality, albeit with rules set by himself. A violent man, but a considered one, with an outlook moulded from bitter personal experience, thereby being part hero part antihero. Here we have an honest portrayal of the effects of war which is often glossed over by other authors, a whole generation who survived but returned changed men. Cook couldn’t switch himself off when the fighting ended and Nob is so shellshocked he is effectively dumb, but even minor characters carry physical and mental scars. The interaction between Cook, his best friend Doc and Doc’s wife (and Cook’s ex-fiancé) Jane is both complex and subtle, with mere looks conveying more than words. Lady Margaret is the woman to keep Cook on his toes and possesses much more spirit than hard cash, a formidable young woman to say the least.
Packed with action, superb characters and a real feel for the time and place for the setting, The Last Line is everything you would want from an intelligent war-time thriller.
John Cook is a prosperous farmer, a veteran of the First World War, who then went on to create commando units in the Far East, thereby developing an array of unorthodox fighting skill. He wants to serve his country but is turned down. Instead, they want him set up an off-the-books clandestine auxiliary unit to fight back once the Germans invade. As the title implies, they will become The Last Line of defence. Weaponry will be provided but they would be on their own and if discovered before invasion they could be taken as German spies. Desperate measures for desperate times. Here the author has done an excellent job picturing the sense of inevitability amongst civilian population as it prepares for invasion along with the tentative steps taken. The barbed wire on beaches, Cook preparing his land to prevent the progress of tanks across it, the sort of touches easily overlooked but which add real period detail. The scenes set in the pub manage to convey the sense of trepidation as the coming invasion takes over conversations. With recent societal changes its easy to overlook the importance of the public house at that point in time as a place for people to gather and express themselves.
The Germans are not the only enemy though, as we find ones closer to home. The black marketeer in fiction is so often portrayed as a loveable, cheeky spiv the man who could lay his hands on what you wanted for a price. Here they are more accurately seen as serious criminals, willing to exploit anyone and anything at the right price. The author pays a small homage to Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, with the spivs based in Brighton and sharing the cold-blooded psychosis of Pinky Brown. Young men of fighting age dodging call up and their duty who decide to put self-interest ahead of anything else. As Cook muses ‘nothing good ever came out of Brighton’ and he is eventually proved right, though it does prove the backdrop for some great action scenes against real villains.
The plot centres on the criminal activity of the spivs, complicity within the police force and instances of missing persons. I don’t want to give too much away, but much of the plot could almost be transplanted into 2023 and work just as well. There are no new crimes they just manifest in different guises. That Cook gets drawn into an investigation is a given but the flow of it still manages to surprise even when you think you know the answer. It’s a case of good versus evil, but one in which the boundaries between the two are a little smudged, which add to the interest.
The pacing is perfectly judged, starting off on the slow side before increasing as action set pieces, of which there are several, become imminent but all the while still building up a head of steam for the finale. The early chapters can feel a little short (it is the current trend) but in the latter third they really do inject a sense of urgency There is bloodshed and violence, how could there not be in such a story, but it’s nicely handled without being too gratuitous. An excellent job for a debut novel.
Cook is a killer too, but a trained one with a sense of morality, albeit with rules set by himself. A violent man, but a considered one, with an outlook moulded from bitter personal experience, thereby being part hero part antihero. Here we have an honest portrayal of the effects of war which is often glossed over by other authors, a whole generation who survived but returned changed men. Cook couldn’t switch himself off when the fighting ended and Nob is so shellshocked he is effectively dumb, but even minor characters carry physical and mental scars. The interaction between Cook, his best friend Doc and Doc’s wife (and Cook’s ex-fiancé) Jane is both complex and subtle, with mere looks conveying more than words. Lady Margaret is the woman to keep Cook on his toes and possesses much more spirit than hard cash, a formidable young woman to say the least.
Packed with action, superb characters and a real feel for the time and place for the setting, The Last Line is everything you would want from an intelligent war-time thriller.
June 11, 2023
As the by-line for this title says, if you like Lee Child then you will like this book. It has all the familiar hallmarks…vivid writing, well crafted characters, excellent plot and a crusading Superman with definite ideas about right and wrong and meting out his version of justice. The setting is Southern England, just across the water from the British Expeditionary Force who have been driven back to Dunkirk and a German invasion of England seems inevitable. Hasty preparations are being made to prevent the invasion but failing that, plan B is to thwart the pace using guerrilla tactics from armed resistance groups. John Cook, a WW1 veteran, is tasked with secretly preparing for such events but he gets distracted trying to solve the rape and murder of a young women which Leeds him on a quest to track down a missing 12 year old evacuee from London. He discovers deplorable crimes being committed by the most reprehensible characters and in true Jack Reacher style, starts his own private war!
I do like Lee Child books so I too found it a real page turner. I also like WW2 history so I enjoyed the context of Britain on the brink of being invaded. That being said, I found John Cook a bit of an anachronism. His ruthless and brutal dispensing of the bad guys did not fit typical WW1/2 heros we are used to in fiction from this genre. On balance I think I am more comfortable with a Richard Hannay or a Biggles to a Rambo or a Jack Reacher but even with that caveat, I found it a great read!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing access to this book.
I do like Lee Child books so I too found it a real page turner. I also like WW2 history so I enjoyed the context of Britain on the brink of being invaded. That being said, I found John Cook a bit of an anachronism. His ruthless and brutal dispensing of the bad guys did not fit typical WW1/2 heros we are used to in fiction from this genre. On balance I think I am more comfortable with a Richard Hannay or a Biggles to a Rambo or a Jack Reacher but even with that caveat, I found it a great read!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing access to this book.
December 7, 2023
The Last Line had me completely captivated. Full of historical elements that are so descriptive it truly felt like I was being pulled back in time. The storylines are brilliantly woven together with so much detail that it is a book you will get lost in thinking you are actually there along side the main character John Cook. Set during WW2 as an ex soldier and a farmer John soon finds himself on a mission to put right the wrongs whilst preparing for the invasion of the Germans in the South East of England. The insights that you learn from John are intriguing and makes for a very compelling page turner.
Whilst planning on how best to defend his farm and surrounding local land John finds himself caught up with the local police over the attack and murder of a local girl who was trying to find her friend. Her friend Elizabeth is an evacuee who goes missing. It is fast paced thrilling story that catapults you into the mind of John, how he thinks, how he views people and the world around him. You are then taken on a compelling thrilling journey as John battles to organise a trusted unit to defend the land whilst also unravelling and uncovering the dark secrets of the criminal world and their activities. Trying to put right the wrongs and always ready to get the job done John and his trusted unit face many challenges along the way.
This is a first class 5 star read that is a cleverly written compelling, captivating historical crime thriller that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys an unputdownable thrilling read.
Whilst planning on how best to defend his farm and surrounding local land John finds himself caught up with the local police over the attack and murder of a local girl who was trying to find her friend. Her friend Elizabeth is an evacuee who goes missing. It is fast paced thrilling story that catapults you into the mind of John, how he thinks, how he views people and the world around him. You are then taken on a compelling thrilling journey as John battles to organise a trusted unit to defend the land whilst also unravelling and uncovering the dark secrets of the criminal world and their activities. Trying to put right the wrongs and always ready to get the job done John and his trusted unit face many challenges along the way.
This is a first class 5 star read that is a cleverly written compelling, captivating historical crime thriller that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys an unputdownable thrilling read.
July 25, 2023
Refreshing and original, The Last Line explores some of the hard hitting, hidden and often forgotten sides of war.
The book is full of mystery and suspense as readers are swept along on a missing person and murder mystery adventure.
I particularly enjoyed that this book captured the emotions of the people during war time and was clearly well researched. It really emphasised the difficulty some soldiers had in switching from the battlefield to regular life and also the complacency (such as not taking your gas mask with you) that often occured.
War time propaganda and "cosy" war time stories and films often portray evacuees as enjoying a safe haven in the countryside, almost like a holiday of sorts. The author addresses what may have been the reality for countless children when placements go wrong. Please be advised there are some hard hitting themes here so use discretion but I would highly recommend this well written, captivating book!
Thanks so much to Stephen for highlighting this Netgalley copy to me.
The book is full of mystery and suspense as readers are swept along on a missing person and murder mystery adventure.
I particularly enjoyed that this book captured the emotions of the people during war time and was clearly well researched. It really emphasised the difficulty some soldiers had in switching from the battlefield to regular life and also the complacency (such as not taking your gas mask with you) that often occured.
War time propaganda and "cosy" war time stories and films often portray evacuees as enjoying a safe haven in the countryside, almost like a holiday of sorts. The author addresses what may have been the reality for countless children when placements go wrong. Please be advised there are some hard hitting themes here so use discretion but I would highly recommend this well written, captivating book!
Thanks so much to Stephen for highlighting this Netgalley copy to me.
August 6, 2024
3.5 stars but not rounded up ! An enjoyable read except for the over graphic descriptions of how the hero kills people. The setting in both tome and place is always interesting and the plot is clever. Probably will read the sequel.
May 9, 2024
It's May 1940. Dunkirk is just around the corner. The Battle of Britain is not far behind. The Americans haven't joined the war. And Britain is in the path of the greatest threat it has ever faced.
But something sinister is going on in the country. Only ex-Commando John Cook can find out what it is and stop it.
Cook is soon framed for murder and out for justice. I'm pretty sure the bad guys weren't counting on him.
I loved this book. It has both of my favourite things. A Reacher-like avenger and a historical setting. But it is the writing, characters, and plot that kept me hooked.
Cook is a complex man. He's more gentlemanly than Reacher for a start, at one point not putting down a young fool pilot cause Britain needs him for the war. There's also a tenderness to him, as he takes in a young evacuee and acts as a father figure for the troubled young lad.
That doesn't mean he can't get the job done. As he says, step one is to find your enemy. And step two is to eliminate them. Which he does very, very well.
He's surrounded by a host of interesting, complex, and well-drawn characters, who are all worthy of being alongside him. I won't spoil who they are, but they all made an impression.
Ronson is also brilliant at the historical detail of the piece, and you'll learn a lot about the war, including why France fell so easily. He's obviously been meticulous in his research, which as a fellow historical fiction writer, I applaud wholeheartedly.
All in all, I'm now a huge fan of Stephen Ronson. The man has oodles of talent, and I look forward to his next book with anticipation.
If you like Reacher, historical fiction, or just a corking good yarn, you should read The Last Line. Trust me. You'll love it.
But something sinister is going on in the country. Only ex-Commando John Cook can find out what it is and stop it.
Cook is soon framed for murder and out for justice. I'm pretty sure the bad guys weren't counting on him.
I loved this book. It has both of my favourite things. A Reacher-like avenger and a historical setting. But it is the writing, characters, and plot that kept me hooked.
Cook is a complex man. He's more gentlemanly than Reacher for a start, at one point not putting down a young fool pilot cause Britain needs him for the war. There's also a tenderness to him, as he takes in a young evacuee and acts as a father figure for the troubled young lad.
That doesn't mean he can't get the job done. As he says, step one is to find your enemy. And step two is to eliminate them. Which he does very, very well.
He's surrounded by a host of interesting, complex, and well-drawn characters, who are all worthy of being alongside him. I won't spoil who they are, but they all made an impression.
Ronson is also brilliant at the historical detail of the piece, and you'll learn a lot about the war, including why France fell so easily. He's obviously been meticulous in his research, which as a fellow historical fiction writer, I applaud wholeheartedly.
All in all, I'm now a huge fan of Stephen Ronson. The man has oodles of talent, and I look forward to his next book with anticipation.
If you like Reacher, historical fiction, or just a corking good yarn, you should read The Last Line. Trust me. You'll love it.
September 19, 2023
Firstly a massive thank you to @stephen Robson for sending me an ARC copy of his first book! If he hadn't reached out I probably never would have read this book as I'm not usually keen on war/historical fiction. I am so glad I gave this a chance!
Book review -
Stephen Ronson - The Last Line
4 ⭐️
It's 1940 and John Cook, war veteran, is preparing for what to do next if the first line goes down.
He ends up investigating the disappearance of a 12 year old evacuee and gets drawn into a dark conspiracy... and those to blame do not want to mess with him!
One of the things that usually put me off these novels is that I find them hard to focus on and a lot I've came across have long chapters. I loved that these chapters were such a good length and especially near the end I found it so effective in terms of it becoming more fast paced.
John is a brilliant character, reminds me a lot of Jack Reacher. He's definitely a man you'd want in your corner! The side characters were also great though, particularly Margaret and Doc.
I liked how the book made you think about and question so many things relating to war... like the soldiers on both sides, the evacuees and how they must have been feeling and the processes worked.
If you're a fan of war/historical fiction, action, thrillers I definitely recommend it. If you fancy something slightly out of your comfort zone and you don't normally read this genre...I still recommend it. I will definitely be looked out for future books of his 😊
Book review -
Stephen Ronson - The Last Line
4 ⭐️
It's 1940 and John Cook, war veteran, is preparing for what to do next if the first line goes down.
He ends up investigating the disappearance of a 12 year old evacuee and gets drawn into a dark conspiracy... and those to blame do not want to mess with him!
One of the things that usually put me off these novels is that I find them hard to focus on and a lot I've came across have long chapters. I loved that these chapters were such a good length and especially near the end I found it so effective in terms of it becoming more fast paced.
John is a brilliant character, reminds me a lot of Jack Reacher. He's definitely a man you'd want in your corner! The side characters were also great though, particularly Margaret and Doc.
I liked how the book made you think about and question so many things relating to war... like the soldiers on both sides, the evacuees and how they must have been feeling and the processes worked.
If you're a fan of war/historical fiction, action, thrillers I definitely recommend it. If you fancy something slightly out of your comfort zone and you don't normally read this genre...I still recommend it. I will definitely be looked out for future books of his 😊
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