June 632 A.D.: Deep within the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat in Mecca, the Prophet Mohammed shares with his closest companions a final and startling revelation. Within days, he is assassinated.
September 1789: U.S. Minister to France Thomas Jefferson, who is charged with forging a truce with the violent Muslim pirates of the Barbary Coast, makes a shocking discovery—one that could forever impact the world’s relationship with Islam.
Present day: When a car bomb explodes outside a Parisian café, Scot Harvath is thrust back into the life he has tried so desperately to leave behind. Saving the intended victim of the attack, Harvath becomes party to a perilous race to uncover a secret so powerful that militant Islam could be defeated once and for all. But as desperate as the American government is to have the information brought to light, there are powerful forces determined that Mohammed’s mysterious final revelation continue to remain hidden forever.
What Jason Bourne was to the Cold War, Scot Harvath is to the War on Terror. In The Last Patriot, readers will be engrossed as Harvath once again takes them on a whirlwind tour through international cities and nail-biting suspense where the stakes are higher than they have ever been before.
BRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five thrillers, including EDGE OF HONOR, SHADOW OF DOUBT, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
After saving a man from a car bomb outside of a Paris cafe, Scot Harvath gets pulled back into the web of political intrigue. Scholars have uncovered the fabled last revelation of Mohammed, a revelation so shocking that it will shake radical Islam to its core. Can Harvath protect the scholars involved when a former CIA assassin turned Islam convert is gunning for them?
The Last Patriot was a lot better than the other Brad Thor book I got for my birthday. The tying of Thomas Jefferson, Barbary pirates, a 12th century Arabian inventor, a first edition Don Quixote, and terrorist cells was nicely done. Harvath didn't seem like such a prick and the action was even better, as was the writing, although the two and three page chapters still irked me. I wanted to give it more than a three but several things kept biting at me...
... and here they are. Brad Thor's extreme political views are just as prominent in this book as the last one and his anti-Muslim sentiments are even stronger. I think if he could get away with calling the book "All Muslims Are Bad," he would. It's no wonder The Last Patriot was banned in the Middle East. The thing that really scares me is that some people could read Thor's character's views and begin to agree with them.
On a less serious note, the gun descriptions were way over done. When Harvath goes into his basement, there are over three pages of what kinds of guns and devices he has on the walls. Every time someone uses a weapon or drives a car, we get the make and model.
So, in conclusion, The Last Patriot was a good thriller and way better than The First Commandment but not really my cup of tea.
I looked this book up to put it on my ‘currently-trying-to-read’ list and noticed following the title: (Scot Harvath, #7). Number SEVEN? There are six more with this character? Shit. I am already hating this one and probably won’t make it to the end. Maybe the author wrote a few good books and then burned out on this one. It is poorly written, the characters are completely uninteresting, the American Government is trying to destroy the Muslim religion (oh, give me a break please) and Thomas Jefferson is, or was, somehow involved. I am exactly at the half way mark and opposite of “a rip roaring page turner” I have no desire to go any further. It is rare for me not to finish a book. But, Brad – this one is just awful.
Note to the author and the world in general: my neighbor has given me a few more Bad [sic:] Thor books so I will be trying others. Maybe it is just this one. Or my electrolytes are screwed.
This is the second book in the Scot Harvath series I've read and will be the last. I have had it with stories that only see black and white, good and evil, etc. and ignore any nuances. This book fits the genre perfectly.
The plot revolves around Harvath saving the U.S. from evil Muslims by finding a missing Sura written by Mohammed just before he was poisoned in which Muslims are told that instead of killing all infidels and conquering the world they should get along with other religions. This document would supposedly embolden moderate Muslims to take over leadership from the radical elements. Yeah, right.
Harvath's major opponent is a former CIA assassin who converted to Islam and is at the beck and call of those radical elements. There are a number of other characters, good and bad, who remind me of the cardboard cutouts of my youth. Thor also paints a picture of a U.S. in which political correctness has taken over giving the evil Muslims a free hand to threaten the U.S. or they will scream "Islamaphobia".
Along the way much blood is spilled and Harvath manages to escape bullets, bombs, and well meaning law enforcement officers to accomplish his mission. He and others also do some incredibly stupid things to put themselves in danger and keep the plot from resolving itself too soon.
At the end of the book, Thor offers thanks to a number of people and especially Glenn Beck, the crazy conspiracy theorist as his major inspiration. At that point all that had gone before was made clear. My decision to pass on reading any other Thor authored books made even more sense.
The reason I give The Last Patriot 5 stars isn't just for the story, although improbable it is fast paced and edgy and keeps the reader totally engaged, I give also award 5 stars for shining a bright light into the reality of Islam in America and the danger of being politically correct. It is rather like Nero mythically fiddling while Rome burned after he had the fires set. Thor holds up a light in a dark room of denial. There are domestic terrorists in the United States just like there are in London and Madrid. The story begins June 632 AD with the last revelation of the Prophet Mohammed deep in the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat in Mecca. Then segues to September 1789 and the startling discovery made by Minister to France from the U.S. Thomas Jefferson while dealing with the violent Muslim terrorists of his day the Barbary Pirates. Then skips to the present day when a car bomb explodes outside a Parisian café and former Secret Service and DHS agent Scot Harvath is thrust back into the life he has tried so desperately to leave behind forcing him to follow the trail of the Last Prophecy of the Prophet Mohammed. I had a hard time putting this one down and have already recommended it to a number of people.
This book was really incredible. I loved the fast paced feel of it along with the need to solve the world problem. It really got me thinking about how our country is ran and how much goes on without us ever knowing about it. On page 190-191 the President is talking and saying how the next person to take office will be shocked at how much they did not know and what dangers are out there people are just trying to keep at bay. This book was great I would put it up there with The Da Vinci Code. There are a lot of characters to remember and my solution is reading it in a day or two so I could remember easily who each one of them were.
Although this thriller is part of a series and I prefer reading the books in sequence I had no trouble picking this one at this stage. I was fast taken in by this exiting story and enjoyed Scot Harvath attempts to uncover a revelation that could damage the standing of radical Islam. This book was on the New York bestseller while being banned in Saudi Arabia when it came out (no wonder).
Being my first attempt reading this author was a good experience although having said this, “The Last Patriot” is very formulaic. . I had to set aside that the plot was pure fantasy and not be offended by its topic. Throughout the book we have long anti-Islamic diatribes that may be too much and again we have Homeland Security operatives working under the radar for the president, nothing new there. Many authors have hashed this over and over, it is time to let go.
“The Last Patriot” mixes a certain amount of truth with creative and artistic fiction. The plot is wrapped around the idea that the prophet Mohammed shared a final revelation with some of his closest friends, who then murdered him to keep him quiet and what he said a secret. It all started when the president read the White House diary of Thomas Jefferson sending Harvath on a journey looking for clues to the Jefferson discovery.
This thriller is a buffet of everything we want in a good thriller: suspense, action, well-written, fun, a high-adrenaline escapist and a cinematic page-turner hard to put down. This is pure entertainment.
Once again wildly entertaining, with a mixture of action and some history!
An American Historian has been targeted for assassination by a band of Muslim Terrorists, a Historian that holds a clue to a long-lost mystery going back to the 1800's, a mystery involving a former US President, Thomas Jefferson! Something the Terrorists want to get their hands on and will do anything to get it. Only one thing stands in their way, Scot Harvath! In the wrong place in the wrong time, or is it the right time at the right place? He thwarts the assassination attempt and steps back into the life he was hoping to leave behind, but he just can't turn away. Now Harvath is in a race against time to uncover an ancient relic before the enemy!
Very fast-paced, and I enjoyed the History lessons about Thomas Jefferson, the big History buff that I am! And fun fact, I did a report on Jefferson in History Class, learned a lot of stuff about him that I never knew and found fascinating!
This is my first Brad Thor book. I was really hoping for a 5 star read. I at least wanted to be able give this book 4 stars, but I couldn't. I liked it, but I can't say I REALLY liked it (I had hoped I could). Was it a good book? Yes, it was. It was much to quick a read though. Done and over in less than a week of evening reading. There were points I didn't want to/couldn't put the book down, which may be why I got through it so quickly. In the end, however, I felt...let down.
The plot was decent, however everything fell together much to quickly and much too conveniently. A little more struggle and a little more development would have been nice. This is the continuation of a series and I haven't read any of the others, so I have no "emotional investment" in the characters. Maybe that would have made a difference.
Ultimately, I feel like I didn't get my monies worth. I'm glad I picked this book up at Sam's Club for $17 and didn't pay $26 retail. I would have felt really ripped off.
I did like it enough that I do plan on going back and reading earlier Brad Thor books...if I can find them at the local library.
I found this book at the departure lounge in LAX. I'm now pretty certain as to why it was left behind. I can deal with tacky spy novel writing but this book was oozing with so much patriotic Americanism that it was pretty hard to stomach.
I've read a couple of recent-ish spy novels lately and it's been very interesting to me. I used to read this genre a lot more but that was 15 years ago. As a Canadian who has experienced this gap in spy/thriller novels, I have recognized a new, really strong patriotic slant. These books are a heck of a lot more USA flag waving than they use to be. Maybe I've just been unlucky and need to read more to see that this isn't the case.
Boring, boring, boring. Great if you need a half hearted lecture about Islam. Bad if you want a book that is anything good. The writing is just passable. nothing breathtaking. I have a bad habit of reading more than one book at a time. It's really bad when I'm reading an author like Susanna Clarke at the same time as Brad Thor. When reading the work of a great author like Clarke, it only magnifies the weaknesses of a mediocre writer like Thor. I only made it about 50-60 pages in and just couldn't bring myself to keep going. It is like The DaVinci Code for Islam, but less engrossing.
This thriller was intriguing from a couple different perspectives. It dealt with radical Islam, a very current events type subject. It also dealt with our third president, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a polymath who spoke seven different languages. He had a curiosity unrivalled by anyone in history I can think of, unless you count Ben Franklin. I'm not prepared to reveal much more than that about this novel; if you follow the series, then definitely consider picking up this installment. A very good effort and well worth the time spent.
I have now discovered Brad Thor. This is the first book I read by him, yet after some really superficial research I have found that he has made quite a name for himself as a writer of what the book cover proclaims is a "thriller". I have also discovered that this particular book has landed Mr. Thor in a rather Thorny (no pun intended) controversy. And I can see why.
Let me be clear about a couple of things. First, I would be dishonest if I said this book did not keep me turning the pages. I finished it in 2 days (472 pages). Yes, it is fast-paced and yes, it keeps you on edge throughout, always eager for what will come next. At the same time, I find Mr. Thor to be a rather annoying clone of Dan Brown. Both in the sense of being able to spin a captivating tale and in the sense of being a truly ATROCIOUS stylist. If you like well-crafted language and enjoy a clever turn of phrase, this is not your book. It reads more like a forced, rather artless narrative, than a book of literature fiction. I am a fan of "thrillers" (there is that word again), but as far as that genre is concerned, Mr. Thor has to take a good, long read of some of Lee Child's novels.
Secondly, the controversy. Apparently, the book has been banned all over the Islamic world for promoting a stereotype of Muslims as unscrupulous villains. Oh, please. For every Muslim villain there are at least a couple of Muslim characters who are portrayed as honest, caring, humane people. That's quite apart from the couple of Muslim characters (Ozbek and Salam) who, in addition to that, are portrayed as truly and incorruptibly patriotic Americans. So, that part of the criticism and controversy are so much a storm in a cup of tea. Now, the part about the lost revelation of the Prophet Mohammed and him being assassinated over it was bound to cause controversy. Considering what happened to the Danish cartoonist (and newspaper) who published cartoons of the prophet, the Muslim world is not especially tolerant of any compromising depiction of the prophet. Those sensitivities I can understand. Still, I believe Mr. Thor has treated Islam as a faith with a lot of respect. His scorn and anger are aimed solely at those who seek to encourage (and profit from) terrorism. The lost revelation may be fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story Mr. Thor spins about it, complete with some early American history and a lot of biographical detail on Thomas Jefferson. From that perspective, this is an adventure akin to the "National Treasure" movies. I do remember the Catholic Church going into apoplexy over "The Da Vinci Code" too. Well... what can I say? I am glad for First Amendment rights.
Still, I have to reserve judgement on Brad Thor. As this happens to be his most controversial book and as I have not read anything else by him yet, I will try at least another of his "thrillers" before deciding if I need to bother with a third.
In this one Scott (Harvath) and his girl friend (recovering from the attempt on her life) are still on their rather unofficial and abrupt vacation. Against their will they get involved in another deadly affair.
The search for a "last and suppressed" revelation of Mohammad is at the center of this book. With a search for a machine from the past that will transcribe "something" reminiscent somewhat of Da Vinci Code (though i really didn't care for that book).
A good read...maybe not quite as good as some before, but still a good thriller.
I really enjoy Brad Thor’s books. This one is no exception. For some reason, this one seemed a little slow getting started but when it hooked me I couldn’t put it down. I liked the Thomas Jefferson plot line in this book as well. Highly recommend!
A delightful mix of historical fiction, Thomas Jefferson, Barbary pirates, an Indiana Jones style plot. Add hero Scot Harvath and team. Resulting in the best book I have read this year. 5 stars plus...
Overall a very enjoyable book! The action was good and the story kept me coming back! The ending was a little lackluster with a character who had very little effect on the book ultimately causing it to end in some sort of a cliffhanger. But overall I enjoyed it very much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Another great work by Brad Thor! Each book seems to be better and better. This one started fast and was so exciting it kept me up late reading for several nights. Truly a great author writing another great story.
4 Stars. Even though Thor explained that he bent facts into fiction in some ways in this one, I always feel like I learn something reading him, fiction or not. This was a very interesting story. Believable to the end. It showed how religion controls and in my opinion, was created in a large part to do just that. The fact that there are Revelations that could change entire parts of a worldwide religion is truly frightening to consider.
Harvath was great, once again. Can’t wait for the next chapter in his story.
This novel is packed with action and suspense. Fans who enjoyed Jason Bourne on the screen and in Robert Ludlum's books will enjoy this novel. As other reviewers have noted, it combines the character of prior Brad Thor thrillers with the puzzle solving of "The Da Vinci Code." The plot centers on the discovery of the final revellation given to Muhammed. It contains a strong rejection of Islimists who embrace violence to meet their objectives. Scot Horvath, the counterterrorism operative, saves a man earmarked for death in a car bomb. Anthony Nichols was working on the discovered document. Finding the missing piece involves obtaining a rare manuscript before the militant Islimists can get their hands on it and destroy it.
I found the plot both interesting and informative. It did give an increased understanding of the Muslim philosophy where one Muslim is not supposed to harm another Muslim. Scot is the heroic character I enjoy reading about. He does his best to eliminate the terrorists intent on harming the United States or its citizens. Some of the antagonists were rather cardboard figures and the action of Sheik Mahmood Omar and Abdul Waleed seemed overly naive. Mathew Dodd was also a perplexing character. The dichotomy of being a CIA agent, then converting to Islim and then becomming an assassin because of a tragedy to his family, didn't seem logical. Overall the story was a fun read and entertaining.
Book Review – “The Last Patriot” by Brad Thor was a great change of pace and very educational thriller on Islam. I love how Thor puts real snippets of history into his action thriller novels. It really makes for exciting reading. The historical information only lends a fascinating authenticity to the story and it sheds incredible light on current world issues. A really good thriller with solid writing and very interesting history points. Thor obviously did his homework especially with regards to technical details and weapons. It’s refreshing to see a book with so many law enforcement, military and special ops details that are right! Every time I start a Brad Thor thriller, I am sucked into a well written story that plays like a movie in my head. The details and research that he places into his books are amazing. The Last Patriot was Scot Harvath meeting the Da Vinci Code with non-stop action and plenty of interesting factual background concerning President Thomas Jefferson and his dealings with Muslims. Absolutely one of the best action thrillers I've ever read combining true US history and today's terroristic threats. The end notes by Thor were beneficial to stop my mind from wandering about ‘what if?” Great story and concept by Brad Thor. Although the overall story is fictional, the information regarding the Muslim faith and Islam was very educational. A must read in the Scot Harvath series.
632 AD. Deep within the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat, the prophet Mohammed shares with his closest companions a final and startling revelation. Within days, he is dead. September, 1789. US minister to France, Thomas Jefferson, charged with forging a truce with the violent Muslim pirates of the Barbary Coast, makes a shocking discovery: one that could forever impact the world's relationship with Islam. Present day. When a car bomb explodes outside a Parisian cafe, Scot Harvath is thrust back into the life he has tried so desperately to leave behind. Saving the intended victim of the attack, Harvath becomes party to an amazing and perilous race to uncover a secret so powerful that militant Islam could be defeated once and for all without firing another shot or dropping another bomb.
In this the 7th book in the Scot Harvath series the author tried something new. He tried to write in a similar vein to Dan Brown's DaVinci Code, and for me it just didn't work. It all seemed to be a bit like writing by numbers, with a plot line borrowed from National Treasure. I liked the idea that whilst trying to create a new life for himself, Scot and Tracey unwittingly get drawn back into things, but then the rest of the book just didn't feel right. Hopefully this was just a one off experimental book and things will get back to normal.
OMG, epic, epic fail. This is the kind of book that makes your soul cry out with the injustice that you invested your time and energy only to be utterly disappointed with the most unsatisfying ending imaginable.
If you don't like books with really, really bad endings, don't read this. I wish I had been so warned!
To clarify without spoilers, the entire story is based on good guys trying to accomplish something, but in the end the task that the good guys were try to accomplish is deemed so utterly irrelevant by the author that he doesn't even tell you what ends up happening! Rather the only thing that I guess the reader is supposed to care about is the life story of the good guys? It's baffling.