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Dewey Andreas #9
The Island: A Thriller
CIA operative Dewey Andreas is America's last line of defense when terrorists take over Manhattan, targeting the U.N. and the President himself in The Island , the next in this New York Times bestselling series by Ben Coes.
America is about to face the deadliest terrorist attack on it's soil since 9/11. Iran has been planning a revenge attack for years, with three goals in mind. Bring America to its knees. Assassinate the popular U.S. President J. P. Dellenbaugh. And neutralize their most successful agent, Dewey Andreas.
The first pre-emptive attack against Dewey Andreas fails but it worries the head of the CIA enough that he sends Dewey out of town and off the grid. But as intelligence analysts work as fast as they can to unravel the chatter on terrorist networks, Muhammed el-Shakib, head of Iran's military and intelligence agency, launches a bold strike. When the President arrives in New York to address the U.N., embedded terrorist assets blow up the bridges and tunnels that connect Manhattan to the mainland. Taking control of the island with it's hidden forces, they race to the U.N. in search of Dellenbaugh and to launch an even deadlier attack that will wreak unimaginable destruction on the country itself.
While a shocked country struggles to mount a counter-attack, a hopeless, outmanned and outgunned Dewey Andreas sneaks onto the island of Manhattan to fight a seemingly impossible battle.
America is about to face the deadliest terrorist attack on it's soil since 9/11. Iran has been planning a revenge attack for years, with three goals in mind. Bring America to its knees. Assassinate the popular U.S. President J. P. Dellenbaugh. And neutralize their most successful agent, Dewey Andreas.
The first pre-emptive attack against Dewey Andreas fails but it worries the head of the CIA enough that he sends Dewey out of town and off the grid. But as intelligence analysts work as fast as they can to unravel the chatter on terrorist networks, Muhammed el-Shakib, head of Iran's military and intelligence agency, launches a bold strike. When the President arrives in New York to address the U.N., embedded terrorist assets blow up the bridges and tunnels that connect Manhattan to the mainland. Taking control of the island with it's hidden forces, they race to the U.N. in search of Dellenbaugh and to launch an even deadlier attack that will wreak unimaginable destruction on the country itself.
While a shocked country struggles to mount a counter-attack, a hopeless, outmanned and outgunned Dewey Andreas sneaks onto the island of Manhattan to fight a seemingly impossible battle.
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 17, 2021
322 people are currently reading
2713 people want to read
About the author
Ben Coes
35 books1,791 followersHi and thanks for visiting my Goodreads profile!
I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of international political and espionage thrillers. Nine of these books are part of a series featuring Dewey Andreas, including:
Power Down #1
Coup D'Etat #2
The Last Refuge #3
Eye for an Eye #4
Independence Day #5
Trap the Devil #6
First Strike #7
Bloody Sunday #8
The Russian is the first book in a new spin-off series about the Russian Mafia, starring Rob Tacoma.
My next book The Island comes out this summer and is available for pre-order.
All of my books are based on current events and are strongly influenced by friends who are or were in the military, law enforcement, and intelligence circles.
I went to Columbia College and was awarded the university's highest writing award, the Bennett Cerf Memorial Prize for Fiction. I was a White House Intern under Ronald Reagan and served as a White House-appointed speechwriter to the U.S. Secretary of Energy during the Gulf War. I was a Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
I lives in Massachusetts with my wife and children.
I hope you'll visit my website and sign-up for my newsletter: https://bencoes.com
Thanks for being a reader!!
I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of international political and espionage thrillers. Nine of these books are part of a series featuring Dewey Andreas, including:
Power Down #1
Coup D'Etat #2
The Last Refuge #3
Eye for an Eye #4
Independence Day #5
Trap the Devil #6
First Strike #7
Bloody Sunday #8
The Russian is the first book in a new spin-off series about the Russian Mafia, starring Rob Tacoma.
My next book The Island comes out this summer and is available for pre-order.
All of my books are based on current events and are strongly influenced by friends who are or were in the military, law enforcement, and intelligence circles.
I went to Columbia College and was awarded the university's highest writing award, the Bennett Cerf Memorial Prize for Fiction. I was a White House Intern under Ronald Reagan and served as a White House-appointed speechwriter to the U.S. Secretary of Energy during the Gulf War. I was a Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
I lives in Massachusetts with my wife and children.
I hope you'll visit my website and sign-up for my newsletter: https://bencoes.com
Thanks for being a reader!!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
September 23, 2021
My audio edition from Overdrive is missing three chapters. It appears to end at chapter 110, but in fact has chapters 110 through 120, plus an epilogue. However, it skips three chapters. If you're missing chapters 112, 115, and 119, see below under spoiler.
New York is under siege, and POTUS is trapped. Iran (Hezbollah) planned an attack on American soil physically and financially.
This is a fast-moving story with non-stop action from beginning to end. Dewey Andreas, a former Army Ranger is hunted then is ordered by his superior to lay low. He decides to spend time with his colleague, Jenna. A strike on NYC is planned when the POTUS will appear at the UN General Assembly. This is a sophisticated plan of attack that America isn't prepared for.
Dewey Andreas series is consistently good. This is a geopolitical action thriller. The Island is #9 in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Ben Coes did a wonderful job at recapping Dewey's background early in the book. I haven't read them all, but it's my goal to finish the whole catalog.
Overdrive (Libby) audiobook missing chapters; 112, 115 and 119. Summary of these chapters contain ⚠️SPOILERS.⚠️
New York is under siege, and POTUS is trapped. Iran (Hezbollah) planned an attack on American soil physically and financially.
This is a fast-moving story with non-stop action from beginning to end. Dewey Andreas, a former Army Ranger is hunted then is ordered by his superior to lay low. He decides to spend time with his colleague, Jenna. A strike on NYC is planned when the POTUS will appear at the UN General Assembly. This is a sophisticated plan of attack that America isn't prepared for.
Dewey Andreas series is consistently good. This is a geopolitical action thriller. The Island is #9 in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Ben Coes did a wonderful job at recapping Dewey's background early in the book. I haven't read them all, but it's my goal to finish the whole catalog.
Overdrive (Libby) audiobook missing chapters; 112, 115 and 119. Summary of these chapters contain ⚠️SPOILERS.⚠️
July 31, 2021
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Ben Coes, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Whenever Ben Coes decides to publish something, fans of political thrillers should take notice. Coes is able to mix wonderful political backstories with intense strategic fighting in novels that show just how important agents of the CIA can be in the protection of America. In this latest from the Dewey Andreas series, it would appear that the Republic of Iran has been working with Hezbollah to strike terror into the hearts of Americans with a plot like no other. Before doing so, someone will have it remove Andreas from the equation. While this is undertaken, it’s a close call, but nothing will deter Hezbollah from their plan. Targeting the sitting US president, they set their sights on Manhattan, as the UN General Assembly is expecting the Leader of the Free World to speak. What follows is a harrowing tale that pushes Andreas to act swiftly, trying to save America from what could be its worst attack yet. Sensational writing in a series that keeps getting better.
Dewey Andreas is a man who is known around the world for his protection of America. A CIA operative, Andreas has foiled plots hatched by some of the world’s most ruthless countries and assassinated many who needed to die. However, with this fame comes a large target on his back, something the leadership within the Republic of Iran wish to highlight. While working with Hezbollah the Iranians concoct a plan to bring America to its knees and see Dewey Andreas dead, but it will take precise planning for it to work.
While Andreas is targeted, he narrowly escapes and agrees to a unique bit of R&R with a woman he is getting to know. While he’s resting up, all eyes are on New York City, where US President Dellenbaugh is set to address the UN General Assembly. As POTUS makes his way there, hundreds of Hezbollah fighters are strategically positioned to take out all access to Manhattan when they explode massive bombs in each of the found tunnels connecting it to the rest of the city.
As Dellenbaugh is inside the UN, additional forces storm ther building, leaving many dead as they push to reach the Great Satan. Dellenbaugh, a past sports star, wants to defend himself, but soon discovers that these are men on a mission, willing to die for their cause. As the game of cat and mouse commences, many scramble to find safety amidst all the chaos.
Dewey Andreas and a few of his fellow agents are called into duty, as the true nature of the attack becomes clearer. It will take strategy and patience to locate POTUS and ensure his safety, all while killing those who seek to bring America down. Andreas always puts country before anything else, so it will take little to convince him. However, with Dellenbaugh severely injured, this might be too little too late. All the while, something’s up with the Federal Reserve!
There’s nothing that compares to the work of Ben Coes, particularly when he is on his game. This is the ninth novel in the series, which has not lost any of its intensity or intrigue. Dewey Andreas is in fine form and shows why he is a key character in the genre, happy to help his country in whatever way possible. Adding some intense political drama and a secondary plot to keep the reader enthralled, Coes shows why he belongs with other household names in the thriller genre.
Those who have followed the series will know that Dewey Andreas has a hard shell that is all but impossible to penetrate. However, once you do, there is much depth to the man. His rough exterior is a front, but also a means of keeping his focussed on the task at hand, usually protecting the country and its institutions. Andreas shows why he is a stellar part of the CIA, with some great character development and a few threads left untied for future novels.
The cast of secondary characters is, as usual, top notch and shows that Ben Coes is always thinking. There are a number of individuals who have been along for the ride throughout the series, as well as some one-offs, all of whom add depth and flavour to the story. The intensity of the piece is furthered by the development of these men and women on both sides of the good/evil divide, which keeps the reader flipping pages just to discover what adventures await them.
As with many of the past novels, this is a highly addictive story that keeps moving without hesitation. The narrative flows well, told primarily in a single day, and keeps the reader wanting more. The multi-faceted plot is perfect for the book and makes the story come to life. Short chapters are timestamped to show the minute-by-minute progression of the action, which only makes the reader want to read more to discover what’s to come. I could not pull myself away from this book, bingeing it whenever I could. This is surely one of the best in the series and treats a threat to the US as something plausible with many moving parts. Series fans will not be disappointed, though those who are not well-versed on Dewey Andreas really ought to start at the beginning in order to capture many of the nuances.
Kudos, Mr. Coes, for a stellar piece of writing. You’ve made a fan out of me long ago and I hope others can echo my sentiments.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Whenever Ben Coes decides to publish something, fans of political thrillers should take notice. Coes is able to mix wonderful political backstories with intense strategic fighting in novels that show just how important agents of the CIA can be in the protection of America. In this latest from the Dewey Andreas series, it would appear that the Republic of Iran has been working with Hezbollah to strike terror into the hearts of Americans with a plot like no other. Before doing so, someone will have it remove Andreas from the equation. While this is undertaken, it’s a close call, but nothing will deter Hezbollah from their plan. Targeting the sitting US president, they set their sights on Manhattan, as the UN General Assembly is expecting the Leader of the Free World to speak. What follows is a harrowing tale that pushes Andreas to act swiftly, trying to save America from what could be its worst attack yet. Sensational writing in a series that keeps getting better.
Dewey Andreas is a man who is known around the world for his protection of America. A CIA operative, Andreas has foiled plots hatched by some of the world’s most ruthless countries and assassinated many who needed to die. However, with this fame comes a large target on his back, something the leadership within the Republic of Iran wish to highlight. While working with Hezbollah the Iranians concoct a plan to bring America to its knees and see Dewey Andreas dead, but it will take precise planning for it to work.
While Andreas is targeted, he narrowly escapes and agrees to a unique bit of R&R with a woman he is getting to know. While he’s resting up, all eyes are on New York City, where US President Dellenbaugh is set to address the UN General Assembly. As POTUS makes his way there, hundreds of Hezbollah fighters are strategically positioned to take out all access to Manhattan when they explode massive bombs in each of the found tunnels connecting it to the rest of the city.
As Dellenbaugh is inside the UN, additional forces storm ther building, leaving many dead as they push to reach the Great Satan. Dellenbaugh, a past sports star, wants to defend himself, but soon discovers that these are men on a mission, willing to die for their cause. As the game of cat and mouse commences, many scramble to find safety amidst all the chaos.
Dewey Andreas and a few of his fellow agents are called into duty, as the true nature of the attack becomes clearer. It will take strategy and patience to locate POTUS and ensure his safety, all while killing those who seek to bring America down. Andreas always puts country before anything else, so it will take little to convince him. However, with Dellenbaugh severely injured, this might be too little too late. All the while, something’s up with the Federal Reserve!
There’s nothing that compares to the work of Ben Coes, particularly when he is on his game. This is the ninth novel in the series, which has not lost any of its intensity or intrigue. Dewey Andreas is in fine form and shows why he is a key character in the genre, happy to help his country in whatever way possible. Adding some intense political drama and a secondary plot to keep the reader enthralled, Coes shows why he belongs with other household names in the thriller genre.
Those who have followed the series will know that Dewey Andreas has a hard shell that is all but impossible to penetrate. However, once you do, there is much depth to the man. His rough exterior is a front, but also a means of keeping his focussed on the task at hand, usually protecting the country and its institutions. Andreas shows why he is a stellar part of the CIA, with some great character development and a few threads left untied for future novels.
The cast of secondary characters is, as usual, top notch and shows that Ben Coes is always thinking. There are a number of individuals who have been along for the ride throughout the series, as well as some one-offs, all of whom add depth and flavour to the story. The intensity of the piece is furthered by the development of these men and women on both sides of the good/evil divide, which keeps the reader flipping pages just to discover what adventures await them.
As with many of the past novels, this is a highly addictive story that keeps moving without hesitation. The narrative flows well, told primarily in a single day, and keeps the reader wanting more. The multi-faceted plot is perfect for the book and makes the story come to life. Short chapters are timestamped to show the minute-by-minute progression of the action, which only makes the reader want to read more to discover what’s to come. I could not pull myself away from this book, bingeing it whenever I could. This is surely one of the best in the series and treats a threat to the US as something plausible with many moving parts. Series fans will not be disappointed, though those who are not well-versed on Dewey Andreas really ought to start at the beginning in order to capture many of the nuances.
Kudos, Mr. Coes, for a stellar piece of writing. You’ve made a fan out of me long ago and I hope others can echo my sentiments.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 23, 2022
3 1/2 stars in my mind. This was something akin to a few movies I've seen and books I've read with a slight twist in a few of the scenerios. Regardless of the imagination that seemed lacking, the presentation and procedure to get us to the end, was methodically done. You don't need to read the first 8 for this to make sense.
August 25, 2021
Murder, mayhem, 911 plus. Perhaps Mr. Coes was paid by casualty counts. Least favorite Dewey ever. 0 of 10 stars
July 15, 2021
Flipping amazing and brilliantly executed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m rather new to the Coes following and one of the first things I noticed about this book is that it is part of a series. However, that did not stop me. I am very familiar with reading espionage-based novels and I assumed I could get with the flow pretty quickly. I was not wrong and thrilled that I dived into the story.
The Island is epic!
Coes keeps us on the edge of our seat throughout most of this book. If you stop and think about it, it’s a bit scary in the reality of it all. This could possibly happen in our country, God forbid. But, as an all great thrillers, you have to have a fabulous ending.
This novel is fast-paced, bloody, gory, and brilliantly crafted. You get completely sucked into the plot as Coes grabs your attention and never lets it go.
I could go on and on about the virtues of The Island, the brilliant story telling, and imagination the author brings to us. But I’ll save you from all of that. For me, it was a gripping novel, with high tension and energy. I especially enjoyed the fact that it is mainly based on US soil so everything was very familiar. I need more!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m rather new to the Coes following and one of the first things I noticed about this book is that it is part of a series. However, that did not stop me. I am very familiar with reading espionage-based novels and I assumed I could get with the flow pretty quickly. I was not wrong and thrilled that I dived into the story.
The Island is epic!
Coes keeps us on the edge of our seat throughout most of this book. If you stop and think about it, it’s a bit scary in the reality of it all. This could possibly happen in our country, God forbid. But, as an all great thrillers, you have to have a fabulous ending.
This novel is fast-paced, bloody, gory, and brilliantly crafted. You get completely sucked into the plot as Coes grabs your attention and never lets it go.
I could go on and on about the virtues of The Island, the brilliant story telling, and imagination the author brings to us. But I’ll save you from all of that. For me, it was a gripping novel, with high tension and energy. I especially enjoyed the fact that it is mainly based on US soil so everything was very familiar. I need more!
August 10, 2021
Dewey Andreas is back and he is better than ever. I loved last years the Russian with Rob Tacoma but reading the Island I realise how much I have missed Dewey. Ben Coes is a great writer and I love the way he has developed Dewey and the other characters over the years. I think that Dewey Andreas is as strong character as Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath, which says a lot.
The book was well-written, fast-paced, intense and action packed and I can't recommend this book enough.
Thanks to the author, Canelo and NetGalley for this advanced copy.
The book was well-written, fast-paced, intense and action packed and I can't recommend this book enough.
Thanks to the author, Canelo and NetGalley for this advanced copy.
October 10, 2021
Wow. I love reading a book that I SEE in my mind as action movie. FBI, CIA and so many other ALPHABET agencies involved. Iran is the country attacking the USA. But if you thought the goal was to kill their president. You are wrong.
Unputdownable
Unputdownable
August 22, 2021
Stunningly good, ninth boook in the Dewey Andreas series. I’ve read them all and I believe this to be the best one yet.. this is another in this series by the author that scares the hell out of me. If the Iranians read this, New York could be in serious trouble. The Iranian Quds force have managed to slip upwards of 500 seasoned fighters into the United States. They timed an attack to kill the President during an address at the United Nations. To accomplish this they want to destroy the four tunnels that access Manhattan and render all bridges unusable. They have a greater agenda in mind, an attempt to render the United States irrelevant by destroying the Federal Reserve. This book can be read as a stand-alone but, to get the full measure of former Ranger Dewey Andreas, do yourself a favor and READ THEM ALL!!!
October 10, 2021
I am having a hard time rating this book. I liked the story idea with the federal banking system. The casualties were beyond my overload by far. 5 stars for the ending after Dr. Yakahama shows up. I found it an easy book to put down and come back to due to the violence. Still thinking about stars....
I am going with ...
I am going with ...
September 3, 2021
Another fantastic installment in the Dewey Andreas series. Non-stop pulse pounding tension and action. Coes does not pull any punches and delivers a classic in the terrorism/thriller genre.
June 12, 2021
The key feature of any good suspense novel is having suspense. This book is devoid of any.
The plot is good enough: Hezbollah attacks Manhattan and it’s up to the hero, Dewey Andreas, to save the world.
Here are the problems I had which caused me to struggle through this reading:
- it’s very cliche for a suspense novel. From the characters to the situations, there aren’t a lot of new ideas here (except inside the Fed)
- the hero, Dewey, appears in the first 1/3 of the book and sporadically in the last 1/3 but not at all in the middle
- there are too many characters to keep track of
- from about page 10 you can extrapolate everything that’s going to happen and not be wrong.
- the author cares more about details of weapons than I care to know
I wouldn’t exactly consider this a suspense novel since there’s none of that, maybe it’s just a theoretical invasion novel.
The bottom line is that there are a bunch of other authors out there that do better in this genre. Much better. I’m glad this book is done.
#netgalley #theisland
The plot is good enough: Hezbollah attacks Manhattan and it’s up to the hero, Dewey Andreas, to save the world.
Here are the problems I had which caused me to struggle through this reading:
- it’s very cliche for a suspense novel. From the characters to the situations, there aren’t a lot of new ideas here (except inside the Fed)
- the hero, Dewey, appears in the first 1/3 of the book and sporadically in the last 1/3 but not at all in the middle
- there are too many characters to keep track of
- from about page 10 you can extrapolate everything that’s going to happen and not be wrong.
- the author cares more about details of weapons than I care to know
I wouldn’t exactly consider this a suspense novel since there’s none of that, maybe it’s just a theoretical invasion novel.
The bottom line is that there are a bunch of other authors out there that do better in this genre. Much better. I’m glad this book is done.
#netgalley #theisland
August 19, 2021
The Island is the ninth instalment in the Dewey Andreas Thrillers series in which another action-packed, compulsive and simply sensational plot ensues. The Commander General of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, Iranian Zakaria Mansour, is devising a brutal plan to target and assassinate the popular serving President of the United States, J. P. Dellenbaugh, hoping for it to be lauded as the worst terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11. Not only do they plan to kill Dellenbaugh as he delivers an important speech to the United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan but they also plan on launching an army of 500 Iranian terrorists to wreak havoc on the city and bring it to its knees. Somehow Andreas can foresee what is about to happen and manages to foil their plans for him to meet his demise. The carnage begins and the terrorists move to isolate Manhattan island by blowing up the tunnels leading into the centre and blocking bridges that could be used as potential escape routes. They also begin to massacre thousands of civilians in New York City’s streets and invade the headquarters of the Federal Reserve, intent on destroying a computer that regulates much of the world’s economy.
But they have one other objective to fulfil that day and it's to slaughter prominent CIA operative Dewey Andreas and their active nemesis as revenge for him managing to scupper Iran’s chances at obtaining a nuclear bomb some time ago. But the group have vastly underestimated Dewey who is safely tucked away on a yacht. Can he survive this hellish situation? This is action-thriller writing at its best – gripping, fast-paced and authentic and there is never a dull moment; the carnage and palpable tension continue to increase as the story progresses. While it is tautly plotted you must be willing to suspend your disbelief at the stretching of credulity and far fetched nature of some of the coincidences, but if you can you'll be rewarded with heart-pounding, edge of your seat thrills. It is a book that is often so tense and claustrophobic that you barely have the chance to catch your breath. Well written and tautly plotted, this is a thriller with a serious sense of danger to it with twists and turns all along the journey and you embark on a rollercoaster of emotion with the characters who go through a gamut of feelings as the suspenseful story progresses. Dewey once again manages to keep his head above water and is determined to save as many people as possible. Highly recommended.
But they have one other objective to fulfil that day and it's to slaughter prominent CIA operative Dewey Andreas and their active nemesis as revenge for him managing to scupper Iran’s chances at obtaining a nuclear bomb some time ago. But the group have vastly underestimated Dewey who is safely tucked away on a yacht. Can he survive this hellish situation? This is action-thriller writing at its best – gripping, fast-paced and authentic and there is never a dull moment; the carnage and palpable tension continue to increase as the story progresses. While it is tautly plotted you must be willing to suspend your disbelief at the stretching of credulity and far fetched nature of some of the coincidences, but if you can you'll be rewarded with heart-pounding, edge of your seat thrills. It is a book that is often so tense and claustrophobic that you barely have the chance to catch your breath. Well written and tautly plotted, this is a thriller with a serious sense of danger to it with twists and turns all along the journey and you embark on a rollercoaster of emotion with the characters who go through a gamut of feelings as the suspenseful story progresses. Dewey once again manages to keep his head above water and is determined to save as many people as possible. Highly recommended.
July 3, 2021
This ninth in the Dewey Andreas series, The Island (St. Martin's 2021) is vintage Dewey Andreas. It’s as good as any in the series and better than many. The last few Dewey Andreas books, I enjoyed but didn't love. Dewey seemed off his game, fallible when I needed him to be infallible. Which he always has been. Here, in The Island, Dewey is back to the miracle worker my country needs, the guy we call when there's no one else.
That Dewey.
In this story, someone wants to assassinate the U.S. President but as a distraction from a more dastardly attack. I won't tell you what that is but it's big. The only hint I'll give you is about the geography of an island, specifically the island of Manhattan New York. This piece of land floating in the Atlantic is connected to the mainland by four fragile tunnels. You figure out the rest.
Coes as usual lays out the How so well that I believe it can happen. It's left to Dewey to once again do the impossible while surviving odds no one else can. The man has an enviable sixth sense but it doesn't necessarily bring him satisfaction. He may excel at being a super hero but is unable to run his own personal life.
This book and the entire series is highly recommend foe those who like superheroes with heart.
That Dewey.
In this story, someone wants to assassinate the U.S. President but as a distraction from a more dastardly attack. I won't tell you what that is but it's big. The only hint I'll give you is about the geography of an island, specifically the island of Manhattan New York. This piece of land floating in the Atlantic is connected to the mainland by four fragile tunnels. You figure out the rest.
Coes as usual lays out the How so well that I believe it can happen. It's left to Dewey to once again do the impossible while surviving odds no one else can. The man has an enviable sixth sense but it doesn't necessarily bring him satisfaction. He may excel at being a super hero but is unable to run his own personal life.
This book and the entire series is highly recommend foe those who like superheroes with heart.
March 4, 2022
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Coes delivers a pulse-pounding, gut-wrenching drag race of a thriller. It’s currently one of my favorites in the series, and it’s a must-read for this summer.
Coes delivers a pulse-pounding, gut-wrenching drag race of a thriller. It’s currently one of my favorites in the series, and it’s a must-read for this summer.
August 25, 2021
The best book of 2021 tbh. Dewey comes back with a bang. An absolute nonstop thriller that keeps you engaged in every chapter.
December 8, 2021
What is this hot mess?
I ask that simple question after reading this wannbe spy/techno-thriller. While there is action, it reads like a really bad B-movie that Hollyweird would put out. Heavy on unrealistic action, terminology, weapons use and extremely light on accuracy.
The main character is referred to as an ex-Ranger, ex-Delta, but never former Special Forces. While its somewhat likely a Ranger could apply to SFOD-D (Delta Force), the D-boys are all former SF that moved up from Ranger to Green Beret and then were accepted to Delta. You don't skip a step for a good reason as Delta wants their people to be seasoned in the ranks of SF.
Overlooking that issue, we have Iranian terrorists doing what they do best - creating terror. However, the leader dons a bullet jacket. What is that? Why its the casing a bullet sits in. But in this case, it turns out to be a raid jacket emblazoned with the 3-letter agency on the back.
While this review may contain spoilers, big clue, terror event in Manhattan, read the synopsis, big spoiler right there, how about we address the major technical issues?
The terrorists succeed in cutting off Manhattan and then, and this is the part that I literally almost face-palmed, they engage the UN building with SA-7 Strela anti-air, SAM missiles. You know because the UN building flies and somehow generates enough heat for the infrared homing on the SA-7 to lock onto.
And they’re sterile SA-7s, from an arms broker who guaranteed them to be sterile and operational. Like that would make a difference or truly matter? Sure, why not use a Surface to Air Missile to fire into a building? The infrared home on target, should work no problem. Just find someone inside who had serious Taco Bell for lunch and is generating a heat source. And flying. At engagement altitude.
Apparently, after smuggling in the Strela’s there just wasn’t room or money for some RPGs or anything that might actually work better maybe the Sagger that Iran has for anti-tank? That would be 9M14 Malyutka, easier to get and far easier to use. But someone just had to use the Strela. Why not? Don't US forces use the Stinger to shoot at structures all the time? Not very likely, but it sounds like the author knows what's talking about. Sure. he does.
Based on the information provided that the terrorists were from Iran and Iran apparently in the book, just couldn’t scratch up an RPG to save their ass. Yeah, sure, I’d buy that for a dollar.
Super Operator’s buddy, Tacoma, on Manhattan getting his ashes hauled, hears and feels the explosions and checks the action out from his high-rise apartment. He determines the best course is to engage the terrorists now swarming the island with a HOWA 6.5 Creedmore, whereupon he screws the bipod to the deck railing. Don’t ask, I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean.
Not satisfied with the performance of that weapon system, your guess is as good as mine as to why he wasn’t satisfied, moves to an AR-15. That rifle, the AR, somehow has a full-auto setting therefore making it a military grade M-4 not a civilian AR-15. He uses the lesser performing round, 5.56, to engage targets where the 6.5 would have been better.
But wait, this is the part where it gets really funny or sad, take your pick, he moves the selector switch on the AR to ‘semi-manual’.
Just for shits and giggles, I checked the weapon manual and then the weapon system just in case someone slipped that in somewhere as a joke. No, not in the manual and not on the weapon system, but, I like to be thorough. Must be like that fictional, fully semi-automatic setting that was erroneously mentioned a couple years ago by someone who should have known better but was totally lacking knowledge in that department.
Total wtf right there.
How about the mention that the cartridge killed a terrorist? Yeah, that makes sense. So the cartridge, the actual casing (bullet jacket for real this time) the bullet is in, packed with powder and containing the primer, somehow exited the barrel instead of being ejected out the ejection port as part of the firing sequence, and killed a tango?
Oh, yeah, that works out. Shit like that happens all the time.
Not.
Police in and around the UN building have the same problem with their rifles. They have AR-15s that have a selector switch that somehow goes to full-auto. That’s just not going to happen. It’s an either/or, either the weapon is an AR-15 pattern rifle with a selector that goes from Safe to Fire (that’s semi-automatic only). Or it’s an M-4 with a selector switch that goes from Safe to Semi-auto to Full-auto. I could go into how some early model M-4s had different selector switches, and how police units might have a semi-auto ‘patrolman’ rifle. Could even go into how someone could attempt to illegally modify an AR to fire full-auto. Say some police armorer would do that in his spare time just to mess with his co-workers. Or he was bored and thought that life in prison would be far more exciting.
That makes no sense at all, but its in the book so, yeah, we'll just kind of go with it.
CIA and all the other agencies collectively shit themselves about the events taking place and some rocket scientist says, ‘send in the SEALs that are on the Eisenhower’. Yeah, that works.
So the admiral of the Eisenhower Carrier Battle Group, a former SEAL, note he’s not referred to as an ex-SEAL unlike the other former operators being referred to as an ex-Ranger, etc, it was written that way, no shit.
Admiral former SEAL (why go from SPECWAR to Fleet remains a mystery) races down from the Bridge to the area where the SEALs are berthed. Why? There’s an internal communications system on all naval vessels, and if this was an ongoing event, the SEALs intelligence support would already be in CIC along with the admiral and his staff preparing a pre-mission brief. But no, the admiral races down to where the embarked SEALs berthing space is and throws open the hatch to reveal a brigade of SEALs.
A brigade?
Holy shit, a brigade.
A brigade, a unit designation that is not used within the US Navy, is between 3,000 and 5,000 personnel. If that were the case, how big is the carrier? Carriers have, on average, 5,000 personnel with the embarked air wing, and those personnel are packed in tight. Now we tossed in at least 3,000 special operators (minimal size of a brigade), note that about 4,000 is the entire combined manpower of NAVSPECWAR (SEALS, SDV. SWCC), and somehow packed them onto a carrier. Clear out the hangar deck and pack them in nut to butt. They won’t need to breathe, eat, or move, they’re special warfare, trained to be able to not eat, breathe, or move.
Right.
It only gets worse from that point, I would have thought that impossible, but that just isn’t true.
The admiral speaks with the lieutenant colonel of the SEALs.
That is worth at least a face palm and muttering of WTF?
A lieutenant colonel?
That rank does not exist in the US Naval rank structure and certainly does not exist on a SEAL team or within the Naval Special Warfare community.
It was at that point I realized that continuing reading this drivel would decrease my intelligence and I really can’t afford to lose any more brain cells.
Let this be a lesson, boys and girls, when an author writes a novel containing any of the above elements, basic research or dare I say it? Contacting someone who might have some info and advice they could pass on, would make your work so much better. All this could have been prevented and led to a far superior, and enjoyable, reading experience.
August 19, 2021
This is the 9th book in the Dewey Andreas series. For the most part, I have enjoyed these books. The last two weren't my favorite, but with this one it felt like Dewey was back.
I liked the story. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. Dewey is a solid MC. I like his humor and his humility. Plus, he knows how to get the job done. I also like that he has a new love interest. So 4 stars.
I liked the story. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. Dewey is a solid MC. I like his humor and his humility. Plus, he knows how to get the job done. I also like that he has a new love interest. So 4 stars.
May 27, 2021
Riveting Throughout and Pulse-Pounding In The Second Half!
I won’t spend time summarizing The island (which I received from NetGalley and the publisher in advance to review prior to publication) other than to say its plot involves New York City facing the deadliest terrorist attack on America’s soil since 9/11. Iran has been planning a revenge attack for years, with three goals in mind. Bring America to its knees. Assassinate the popular U.S. President J. P. Dellenbaugh. And neutralize their most successful agent, Dewey Andreas.
Instead my review will focus on why I consider The Island to be a highly exciting thriller, and why I would recommend it to you.
Like in all of Ben Coes' previous eight books featuring Dewey Andreas -- but to an even greater extent in this book, The Island — he very effectively delivers a torn-from-the-headlines plot with a very heroic, complex main character and well developed secondary characters. Further, Coes continues to pump new blood and non-stop, flat-out action into this well-worn sub-genre within the thriller category, and does so in a way that will keep you turning the pages at a very fast pace, particularly in the second half of the book.
Having said the above, I find that Coes, at times, has Andreas engaging in action that, to me, is too over the top, even for a superhero of his caliber.
Despite this minor limitation, as well as to the potential danger to those associated with Dewey, I am all ready to volunteer to go out with him on his next mission. To those of you who enjoy heavily plot and action driven thrillers in the tradition of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, I'd recommend you give serious consideration to The Island (as well as to all eight of the other books in the Dewey series). I'm sure you'll be glad you did.
Overall, 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5 stars!
#The Island #NetGalley
I won’t spend time summarizing The island (which I received from NetGalley and the publisher in advance to review prior to publication) other than to say its plot involves New York City facing the deadliest terrorist attack on America’s soil since 9/11. Iran has been planning a revenge attack for years, with three goals in mind. Bring America to its knees. Assassinate the popular U.S. President J. P. Dellenbaugh. And neutralize their most successful agent, Dewey Andreas.
Instead my review will focus on why I consider The Island to be a highly exciting thriller, and why I would recommend it to you.
Like in all of Ben Coes' previous eight books featuring Dewey Andreas -- but to an even greater extent in this book, The Island — he very effectively delivers a torn-from-the-headlines plot with a very heroic, complex main character and well developed secondary characters. Further, Coes continues to pump new blood and non-stop, flat-out action into this well-worn sub-genre within the thriller category, and does so in a way that will keep you turning the pages at a very fast pace, particularly in the second half of the book.
Having said the above, I find that Coes, at times, has Andreas engaging in action that, to me, is too over the top, even for a superhero of his caliber.
Despite this minor limitation, as well as to the potential danger to those associated with Dewey, I am all ready to volunteer to go out with him on his next mission. To those of you who enjoy heavily plot and action driven thrillers in the tradition of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, I'd recommend you give serious consideration to The Island (as well as to all eight of the other books in the Dewey series). I'm sure you'll be glad you did.
Overall, 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5 stars!
#The Island #NetGalley
December 15, 2021
This is a really good story idea, and really mediocre execution of it. Honestly I think I'm done with Ben Coes. I really liked Power Down and Coup D'état a few years ago, but I wasn't impressed with any books after that. I decided to try this one based on the premise and even though it was ok it wasn't as enjoyable as other books in the genre. I've never thought the Dewy Andreas character was that great, but apparently Coes doesn't either as he's completely missing from the middle section of this book. You can't make a great character if you literally don't give him anything to do. Also, the pacing of this book is very strange. It felt like the setup for events to happen takes forever despite the fact that we know they are going to happen before the book even starts based on the premise. There are also tics that Coes has in his writing that drive me nuts. He repeatedly uses the phrase "pumped the trigger" which is not something I've ever heard anyone say. Despite all of that this was still an ok action thriller novel. It's just missing the intrigue, suspense, and good character moments of better books in the genre.
September 7, 2021
Wow. Two lines in the book have left me asking why have I not read any of Ben Coes books before. “I was wondering when you’d get here,” and I need a helicopter, Dad. Great book from start to finish. Even though this is my first book in the series, I was not lost one bit. Well written with non stop action. Hard to put down. If you are fans of Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills or Brad Taylor this is a must read book or series you should read. Definitely a fan and can’t wait to see what happens next.
September 6, 2021
It`s good to have Dewey back. Coes took a break last year to do a Rob Tacoma stand alone. This is a plausible, lean, action-packed thrill ride. My only qualm unnecessary romance.
November 6, 2021
Book Review – The Island – Ben Coes
I always get excited when author Ben Coes releases a new Dewey Andreas book. Andreas is such a great character and you can’t help but to like him. He’s a ‘man’s man’ with a heart of gold and is nothing but a pure fighting machine. I was extremely ‘stoked’ when I received both an autographed Advance Reader’s Copy of “The Island” from Coes himself, and then an electronic ebook copy from NetGalley. And what a treat! Each of Coes’ books keeps getting better than the last. This is definitely the best one yet! Coes continues to pump new blood and non-stop, flat-out, full speed ahead ‘sizzling’ action into each of his novels. And he does it in a way that keeps the reader engaged and thrilled throughout the entire story. The Island is fast-paced, violently bloody, humorous and brilliantly crafted. Coes knows how to suck the reader into the plot, grab their undivided attention and then captivates them until the very end. After setting up the plot, Coes turns the rest of the book into one battle scene after another as Hezbollah ‘terrorizes’ Manhattan, New York. The storyline is unique and different but is scary too. It was so well researched and written, the reality of its possibility is extremely frighting. It went beyond the typical anti-terror shoot-em-up to a ‘realistic’ robust cyber-terrorism story that could very well happen. The story was so creative, it seemed real! But the one thing I question Coes on is, what was he thinking by writing that only three Iranian assassins were sent to take out Dewey Andreas?! Those overconfident fools didn’t stand a chance! Coes also did a great job of weaving in the different characters into the story with seamless transitions. I’m still hoping for a Rob Tacoma #2 to follow up from “The Russian” novel. The Island story was stunningly good, and again, I believe this to be Ben Coes’ best one yet. I can imagine it as an action movie. Overall, it is an excellent addition to the Dewey Andrea series. Thank you for the ARCs Ben Coes, NetGalley and publisher, St. Martin’s Press.
I always get excited when author Ben Coes releases a new Dewey Andreas book. Andreas is such a great character and you can’t help but to like him. He’s a ‘man’s man’ with a heart of gold and is nothing but a pure fighting machine. I was extremely ‘stoked’ when I received both an autographed Advance Reader’s Copy of “The Island” from Coes himself, and then an electronic ebook copy from NetGalley. And what a treat! Each of Coes’ books keeps getting better than the last. This is definitely the best one yet! Coes continues to pump new blood and non-stop, flat-out, full speed ahead ‘sizzling’ action into each of his novels. And he does it in a way that keeps the reader engaged and thrilled throughout the entire story. The Island is fast-paced, violently bloody, humorous and brilliantly crafted. Coes knows how to suck the reader into the plot, grab their undivided attention and then captivates them until the very end. After setting up the plot, Coes turns the rest of the book into one battle scene after another as Hezbollah ‘terrorizes’ Manhattan, New York. The storyline is unique and different but is scary too. It was so well researched and written, the reality of its possibility is extremely frighting. It went beyond the typical anti-terror shoot-em-up to a ‘realistic’ robust cyber-terrorism story that could very well happen. The story was so creative, it seemed real! But the one thing I question Coes on is, what was he thinking by writing that only three Iranian assassins were sent to take out Dewey Andreas?! Those overconfident fools didn’t stand a chance! Coes also did a great job of weaving in the different characters into the story with seamless transitions. I’m still hoping for a Rob Tacoma #2 to follow up from “The Russian” novel. The Island story was stunningly good, and again, I believe this to be Ben Coes’ best one yet. I can imagine it as an action movie. Overall, it is an excellent addition to the Dewey Andrea series. Thank you for the ARCs Ben Coes, NetGalley and publisher, St. Martin’s Press.
May 31, 2021
Number nine in the Dewey Andreas series is action packed. Hezbollah and Iran are out for revenge on the “Great Satan”, and they decide to take the the fight to the US. President Dellenbaugh is scheduled to give at speech at the United Nations, but before the speech is given Hezbollah turns Manhattan into an island. Cut off from the rest of the country, it is up to Dewey Andreas, Rob Tacoma, and friends to rescue the president and prevent further disaster.
The Island is action packed. It is has the most action of any book I have read thus far this year. After stetting up the premises, Mr. Coes turns the rest of the book into one battle scene after another as Hezbollah tries to overtake Manhattan. The premise of the novel is unique and different from the same old boring storylines told in today’s thrillers. There is a decent amount of Dewey Andreas in the story with a side of Rob Tacoma mixed in. Mr. Coes does a great job of weaving the different characters into the story with seamless transitions.
Overall this is an excellent thriller, well deserving of five stars. You can start the series at the beginning or pick up The Island to indoctrinate yourself into the Dewey Andreas saga. Either way you won’t be disappointed. The you to @NetGalley @authorbencoes and @StMartinsPress for a free Arc for an honest review.
The Island is action packed. It is has the most action of any book I have read thus far this year. After stetting up the premises, Mr. Coes turns the rest of the book into one battle scene after another as Hezbollah tries to overtake Manhattan. The premise of the novel is unique and different from the same old boring storylines told in today’s thrillers. There is a decent amount of Dewey Andreas in the story with a side of Rob Tacoma mixed in. Mr. Coes does a great job of weaving the different characters into the story with seamless transitions.
Overall this is an excellent thriller, well deserving of five stars. You can start the series at the beginning or pick up The Island to indoctrinate yourself into the Dewey Andreas saga. Either way you won’t be disappointed. The you to @NetGalley @authorbencoes and @StMartinsPress for a free Arc for an honest review.
July 19, 2021
Dewey Andreas is back and he is hunted. The Island by Ben Coes is an action thriller masterpiece. I thought the series was great from the beginning but then it kind of slowed down in the middle of the series. I am sure glad I kept reading about Dewey because this is one of the best books I have read in a while. I even laughed out loud at some things in the story, this book has it all. Politics, military action, terrorism, romance, suspense and humor. I already am looking forward to the next one from Ben Coes. Thank you for writing these books. I also thank Edelweiss, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan for letting me have this advance copy. @canelo_co @netgalley
August 22, 2021
THE ISLAND is a breath of fresh air in a summer of hot gas. Time may fly when you’re having a grand time, but it seems it was just a year or two ago that Ben Coes introduced CIA agent Dewey Andreas to the thriller genre. Obviously it has been longer than that since this is the ninth entry in the series, which is hard to believe. While those familiar with what has gone before should need no urging to pick up this latest installment, the uninitiated should feel free to jump on now. Coes does an excellent job of filling in the backstory when necessary in this ultimate beach read for all seasons.
The book’s title refers to Manhattan, which is the headquarters of the United Nations. The setup here is that U.S. President J.P. Dellenbaugh is scheduled to give a well-publicized speech before the UN General Assembly. A plain-speaking, two-fisted fighter, Dellenbaugh is ready to deliver a stem-winder of an address to the ears of the people who need it most and want it least, and is determined that nothing will prevent him from doing so.
Muhammed el-Shakib, the head of Iran's military and intelligence agency, has decided that he is going to use the speech as a means of paralyzing the United States across all fronts. El-Shakib is no stranger to Dewey and moves to take him out ahead of the event. He fails, of course, but is assured that Dewey will be far enough away from the action that he will not constitute a threat.
Dellenbaugh travels to New York the following day and arrives at the UN in time to give his speech as scheduled. But before he can begin, el-Shakib uses long-embedded terrorist agents to launch a series of surgical strikes to cut Manhattan off from the rest of the world and assassinate the President. The wild card, of course, is Dewey, who is off the shore of Long Island. He has been made aware of the attack and steadily inserts himself into the situation.
Rob Tacoma, who could be described as Dewey’s understudy, is there to lend a hand, and lend it he does. It is a good thing, too, because assassinating the President is an important but not the primary goal of el-Shakib’s exercise. There is in fact a large quarrel of clocks ticking here, and it is all by the munitions, fisticuffs and stabbings that seem to be featured on every page in unforgettable and vivid prose as the story races to its conclusion.
Not everyone makes it to the end of THE ISLAND, but enough of the right folks do that you will be happy to have expended the time and effort to read it. Coes brings a clear-headed, practical and realistic vision of how the world works to the story, which blessedly does not contain a woke checklist to be waded through before one gets to the good stuff. All thrillers should be as good as this one, which is why I highly recommend it. Coes will know what I mean when I suggest you keep an eye out for it.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
The book’s title refers to Manhattan, which is the headquarters of the United Nations. The setup here is that U.S. President J.P. Dellenbaugh is scheduled to give a well-publicized speech before the UN General Assembly. A plain-speaking, two-fisted fighter, Dellenbaugh is ready to deliver a stem-winder of an address to the ears of the people who need it most and want it least, and is determined that nothing will prevent him from doing so.
Muhammed el-Shakib, the head of Iran's military and intelligence agency, has decided that he is going to use the speech as a means of paralyzing the United States across all fronts. El-Shakib is no stranger to Dewey and moves to take him out ahead of the event. He fails, of course, but is assured that Dewey will be far enough away from the action that he will not constitute a threat.
Dellenbaugh travels to New York the following day and arrives at the UN in time to give his speech as scheduled. But before he can begin, el-Shakib uses long-embedded terrorist agents to launch a series of surgical strikes to cut Manhattan off from the rest of the world and assassinate the President. The wild card, of course, is Dewey, who is off the shore of Long Island. He has been made aware of the attack and steadily inserts himself into the situation.
Rob Tacoma, who could be described as Dewey’s understudy, is there to lend a hand, and lend it he does. It is a good thing, too, because assassinating the President is an important but not the primary goal of el-Shakib’s exercise. There is in fact a large quarrel of clocks ticking here, and it is all by the munitions, fisticuffs and stabbings that seem to be featured on every page in unforgettable and vivid prose as the story races to its conclusion.
Not everyone makes it to the end of THE ISLAND, but enough of the right folks do that you will be happy to have expended the time and effort to read it. Coes brings a clear-headed, practical and realistic vision of how the world works to the story, which blessedly does not contain a woke checklist to be waded through before one gets to the good stuff. All thrillers should be as good as this one, which is why I highly recommend it. Coes will know what I mean when I suggest you keep an eye out for it.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
May 28, 2021
The Island, the ninth Dewey Andreas book by Ben Coes, was absolutely worth the wait! It's been two-ish years since the last Andreas book and Coes gives fans of this series everything they wanted and more. Coes has surrounded Andreas with fantastic characters including Rob Tacoma, who may be a bigger badass than Andreas. The plot and "villains" in The Island are topnotch and the pacing is lightning fast. After the past few years, the last thing I want authors to do is push their politics on the reader, so I appreciate Coes leaving most of the politics out.
If you have never read a Dewey Andreas book before you can read this as a stand-alone. Coes uses an ingenious way to get the reader caught up on the previous exploits of Andreas. I can't stress enough how much of a fun read The Island was.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing The Island
If you have never read a Dewey Andreas book before you can read this as a stand-alone. Coes uses an ingenious way to get the reader caught up on the previous exploits of Andreas. I can't stress enough how much of a fun read The Island was.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing The Island
August 31, 2021
Holy crap was this book AMAZING!!!! I would easily rate this the best book of 2021.
Now to the critique. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but noticed that Rob and Dewey's roles seemed a little diminished in this book. Overall, this book was everything I had hoped for, yet terrified me at the same time. The events in this book could very well happen in the future, given the state of the world.
Now to the critique. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but noticed that Rob and Dewey's roles seemed a little diminished in this book. Overall, this book was everything I had hoped for, yet terrified me at the same time. The events in this book could very well happen in the future, given the state of the world.
August 19, 2021
Excellent book! Scary story but the usual characters are back and saving the day. Good read - highly recommend. Now on to #10, please.
November 12, 2021
Love Dewey ! Great Narration and Great Story!
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