The Last Operative

  BOOK REVIEW: Jordan Kirkwood's career as an NSA intelligence operative has taken a toll. His two adult children are little more than acquaintances. His wife has been patient and supportive, but she deserves better. That was one reason they were going to meet in London. HE wanted her to see Europe like a tourist. But horrifying intelligence confided to him in Frankfort on the way changes everything. The threat is grave--worse than 9/11. And someone inside the NSA may be behind it all. Jordan's deepest secret--one unknown to even him--will be unmasked during his most dangerous mission, but first he must figure out who he can trust, with the fate of his country in the balance.

  MY REVIEW:  The Last Operative is a rewrite of Jerry Jenkin's 1987 The Operative. The publisher suggested he rewrite the story to fit today's audience. So he did, changing the antagonist, the main character's last name, and a few other things. He also experimented with a new dialogue structure, omitting any "he said/she said" sequences. I found it to be very well-done--I had no problem keeping up. In fact, it seemed to make the story more of an eye-witness account than a retelling.
  I like thrillers, and this was no exception. One of the main reasons I liked it is the international intrigue involving NSA, CIA, and Interpol.
  Jenkins spends the first half of the book building the foundation, bringing in background information, and thoroughly outlining the events bringing on the case. The action itself comes out in the second half when Jordan is "saving the world". Many books like this would be tedious at best, but I enjoyed this one.