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Dewey Andreas #8
Bloody Sunday
North Korea, increasingly isolated from most of the rest of the world, is led by an absolute dictator and a madman with a major goal―he's determined to launch a nuclear attack on the United States. While they have built, and continue to successfully test nuclear bombs, North Korea has yet to develop a ballistic missile with the range necessary to attack America. But their missiles are improving, reaching a point where the U.S. absolutely must respond.
What the U.S. doesn't know is that North Korea has made a deal with Iran. In exchange for effective missiles from Iran, they will trade nuclear triggers and fissionable material. An exchange, if it goes through, that will create two new nuclear powers, both with dangerous plans.
Dewey Andreas, still reeling from recent revelations about his own past, is ready to retire from the CIA. But he's the only available agent with the skills to carry out the CIA's plan to stop North Korea. The plan is to inject a singular designer poison into the head of the North Korean military and in exchange for the nuclear plans, provide him with the one existing dose of the antidote. But it goes awry when Dewey manages to inject a small amount of the poison into himself. Now, to survive, Dewey must get into North Korea and access the antidote and, while there, thwart the nuclear ambitions of both North Korea and Iran. And he has less than 24 hours to do so―in the latest thriller from Ben Coes.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2018
About the author
Ben Coes
26 books1,755 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 324 reviews
August 13, 2021
Ben Coes! I wanted to scream while reading this book. What a roller coaster ride that was! I almost had a heart attack in every chapter that Dewey appears whether it was the Iranian or the old North Korean general (6'2"? c'mon now....) and also at the apartment in Pyongyang.
This is what I called action-packed from start to end. I have so many questions about Jenna, I'm guessing we'll find out next year?
This is what I called action-packed from start to end. I have so many questions about Jenna, I'm guessing we'll find out next year?
June 30, 2018
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.
A fan of Ben Coes, I could not wait to get my hands on this latest Dewey Andreas thriller, which did not fall short in any way. After some of Dewey’s most harrowing experiences, he is ready to hang-up his gun and check out. The events surrounding the murder of his wife have proven to be too much for him and he dreams of nothing but life in the countryside. Trouble is, no one else seems to have that same dream for Dewey and hope he has a little more juice inside to run a few more ‘essential’ missions. When MI6 sends a top mission architect to the CIA, Jenna Hartford is somewhat bitter, but willing to try things on the other side of the Pond. Significant intel shows that the North Koreans have been stirring up the pot in the region with their nuclear testing and have a covert meeting planned in Macau with the Iranians. What these two American foes have to say and what plans might come for this remains unknown, but Hartford has an idea about how to extract it. Dewey is the key to its success, though he remains fixated on life after the Agency. A singlet persuasive chat changes his mind, if only for a time, and he agrees to make his way to the ‘Asian Las Vegas’, where the highest-ranking North Korean General awaits. While trying to execute a plan to force the news from the lips of the General, Dewey is struck with the same weapon and has only a short time to counteract the measure. The CIA learns a snippet of what North Korea has in store and it is nothing short of disaster, in a strike codenamed ‘Bloody Sunday’. Now, Dewey must try to stay alive and save himself before he can turn his attention to America, all while infiltrating the North Korean border, where spies and traitors are killed before breakfast. All eyes are on Dewey, as the countdown clock reaches its perilous final moments. Coes has done it again and brilliantly entertains readers in this fast-paced thriller sure to impress. Recommended for those who love the series and readers who cannot get enough political thrillers with an espionage twist.
I always look forward to a Ben Coes thriller, as I never know what to expect. Full of political and spy-based branch-offs, Coes always injects just the right amount of dry wit and suspense to keep me coming back. In the early stages of the book, the reader sees some interesting happenings inside North Korea and a flame lit under its dictator with a plan to finally strike on US soil. Counter that with Dewey Andreas, who is hellbent on avenging the life of his wife, and the story could not get more intense if it tried. Andreas has long be a rogue character, none more than at this point in time. He is fuelled by revenge and wants nothing more than to strike at the heart of those who have wronged him. However, he still has a little something left in him and Coes portrays his protagonist as being steel-willed to the very end, making moves that few could expect to work. The introduction of Jenna Hartford has its own interesting spins, though the reader will have to take the time to see what Coes has in store for her. She is surely an interesting addition to to series and, should she remain, could prove interesting. The handful of secondary characters add flavour to an already spicy novel and allows the reader to feel in the middle of the action. The story is great, though the nuclear threat is by no means a new theme in the genre. However, Coes goes about it in a wonderful manner and portrays both the North Koreans and Americans in a light I have not seen. The intensity of the narrative and the action build within it to reach the climax is wonderful and keeps the reader guessing and hoping. As an unrelated aside, those who have read the short story that Coes released ahead of this novel, Shooting Gallery, may notice that this novel (#8), actually precedes the short story (labelled as #7.5) from a chronological point of view. Both stories run independently to one another, so there is no risk of spoilers, but I did notice that early on and promised to put it into my review. There is never a lack of excitement when Coes at the wheel and I can only hope that more novels are in the works, even with a different character base after the North Korean fallout.
Kudos, Mr. Coes, for a stunning addition to the series. I am addicted and cannot wait to see what else you have in store for your fans.
Like/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/...
A fan of Ben Coes, I could not wait to get my hands on this latest Dewey Andreas thriller, which did not fall short in any way. After some of Dewey’s most harrowing experiences, he is ready to hang-up his gun and check out. The events surrounding the murder of his wife have proven to be too much for him and he dreams of nothing but life in the countryside. Trouble is, no one else seems to have that same dream for Dewey and hope he has a little more juice inside to run a few more ‘essential’ missions. When MI6 sends a top mission architect to the CIA, Jenna Hartford is somewhat bitter, but willing to try things on the other side of the Pond. Significant intel shows that the North Koreans have been stirring up the pot in the region with their nuclear testing and have a covert meeting planned in Macau with the Iranians. What these two American foes have to say and what plans might come for this remains unknown, but Hartford has an idea about how to extract it. Dewey is the key to its success, though he remains fixated on life after the Agency. A singlet persuasive chat changes his mind, if only for a time, and he agrees to make his way to the ‘Asian Las Vegas’, where the highest-ranking North Korean General awaits. While trying to execute a plan to force the news from the lips of the General, Dewey is struck with the same weapon and has only a short time to counteract the measure. The CIA learns a snippet of what North Korea has in store and it is nothing short of disaster, in a strike codenamed ‘Bloody Sunday’. Now, Dewey must try to stay alive and save himself before he can turn his attention to America, all while infiltrating the North Korean border, where spies and traitors are killed before breakfast. All eyes are on Dewey, as the countdown clock reaches its perilous final moments. Coes has done it again and brilliantly entertains readers in this fast-paced thriller sure to impress. Recommended for those who love the series and readers who cannot get enough political thrillers with an espionage twist.
I always look forward to a Ben Coes thriller, as I never know what to expect. Full of political and spy-based branch-offs, Coes always injects just the right amount of dry wit and suspense to keep me coming back. In the early stages of the book, the reader sees some interesting happenings inside North Korea and a flame lit under its dictator with a plan to finally strike on US soil. Counter that with Dewey Andreas, who is hellbent on avenging the life of his wife, and the story could not get more intense if it tried. Andreas has long be a rogue character, none more than at this point in time. He is fuelled by revenge and wants nothing more than to strike at the heart of those who have wronged him. However, he still has a little something left in him and Coes portrays his protagonist as being steel-willed to the very end, making moves that few could expect to work. The introduction of Jenna Hartford has its own interesting spins, though the reader will have to take the time to see what Coes has in store for her. She is surely an interesting addition to to series and, should she remain, could prove interesting. The handful of secondary characters add flavour to an already spicy novel and allows the reader to feel in the middle of the action. The story is great, though the nuclear threat is by no means a new theme in the genre. However, Coes goes about it in a wonderful manner and portrays both the North Koreans and Americans in a light I have not seen. The intensity of the narrative and the action build within it to reach the climax is wonderful and keeps the reader guessing and hoping. As an unrelated aside, those who have read the short story that Coes released ahead of this novel, Shooting Gallery, may notice that this novel (#8), actually precedes the short story (labelled as #7.5) from a chronological point of view. Both stories run independently to one another, so there is no risk of spoilers, but I did notice that early on and promised to put it into my review. There is never a lack of excitement when Coes at the wheel and I can only hope that more novels are in the works, even with a different character base after the North Korean fallout.
Kudos, Mr. Coes, for a stunning addition to the series. I am addicted and cannot wait to see what else you have in store for your fans.
Like/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/...
August 19, 2018
A fair effort, although Coles has written better stories with less sadness as an overall theme. 6 of 10 stars
July 30, 2018
As North Korea is one of the places I find absolutely fascinating I was overjoyed to be able to nab an ARC of Ben Coes eighth book in the Dewey Andreas series, "Bloody Sunday" to read. His titles are most commonly described as political or espionage thrillers and Coes is no stranger to the world of politics. He started his career as a White House intern under President Ronald Reagan and went on to become a prominent speechwriter in President George H. W. Bush's government before turning his hand to fiction, penning his first Dewey Andreas book, "Power Down" which was released in September 2010. I have no idea whether his time in the political arena inspired him to write some of the stories within these books but if you read the synopsis for "Bloody Sunday" it will be instantly recognisable as almost mirroring real world events. The denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula plays a substantial role in the plot and all the players from the real world are present - North Korea, United States and there's a tie-in to Iran too.
I haven't had the luxury of reading all of the previous seven books in the series but I do know that of the ones I have tried that it is often necessary to be able to suspend your disbelief. That being said, there have also been other times when i've thought that the plot was very plausible and realistic. Either way, it doesn't matter as I adore this series. A thrilling, exciting, seat-of-your-pants adventure that you literally gallop through to find out what is going to happen in the end! One of the things that separates Coes books from those of similar writers is that he seems to have the edge over them regarding technical details and his thrillers contain stories that are ripped from today's headlines making them even more compelling to the reader.
If you liked fast-paced, action packed, political thrillers then this is a book you shouldn't miss! Ben Coes is quickly becoming my go-to author in this genre. Intelligently crafted and exhilarating as well as topical, I thoroughly appreciated my romp through Dewey's perilous world! Needless to say, I eagerly anticipate his next book.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I haven't had the luxury of reading all of the previous seven books in the series but I do know that of the ones I have tried that it is often necessary to be able to suspend your disbelief. That being said, there have also been other times when i've thought that the plot was very plausible and realistic. Either way, it doesn't matter as I adore this series. A thrilling, exciting, seat-of-your-pants adventure that you literally gallop through to find out what is going to happen in the end! One of the things that separates Coes books from those of similar writers is that he seems to have the edge over them regarding technical details and his thrillers contain stories that are ripped from today's headlines making them even more compelling to the reader.
If you liked fast-paced, action packed, political thrillers then this is a book you shouldn't miss! Ben Coes is quickly becoming my go-to author in this genre. Intelligently crafted and exhilarating as well as topical, I thoroughly appreciated my romp through Dewey's perilous world! Needless to say, I eagerly anticipate his next book.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
April 16, 2018
>Read this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com
Ben Coes has dazzled readers throughout his career, but he’s never treated readers to a show quite like this before.
Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s Supreme Leader, is terminally ill. Cancer has spread throughout his entire body, his prognosis confirmed by one of the most elite cancer specialists in all the world. But rather than surrender to his fate and make plans to pass peacefully, Kim does just the opposite.
Keeping his diagnosis private, Kim (who is described as having “the body of a sixty-year-old and the face of a child) decides that if he’s going down, he’s taking the United States down with him. Instructing his scientists to ramp up their nuclear weapons program, the morbidly obese leader then looks for a partner to provide North Korea with the long-range ballistic missile needed to carry the nuclear payload.
Meanwhile, in America, Dewey Andreas is still reeling from the jaw-dropping revelation that Coes stunned readers with in Trap the Devil (2017). Fueled by rage and heartache, Dewey goes on a personal mission. His quest for retribution brings him face-to-face with someone from his past, a character that longtime fans of the series will immediately recognize.
At the same time Dewey is off the grid handling his personal side mission, CIA Director Hector Calibrisi (along with many others in the United States government) is becoming more and more concerned with North Korea’s dramatic increase in nuclear activity. Directed by President Dellenbaugh to find a way to slow down Kim’s efforts, a daring plan is hatched to flip one of Kim’s top military generals into playing for the U.S.
Jenna Hartford, an operation designer on loan from MI6, heads up the mission planning. Rather than kill General Yong-sik, Hartford pitches the idea of poisoning him with a synthetic drug designed to act slowly — giving the host twenty-four hours to obtain an antidote before dying a slow and painful death. If he complies and gives the CIA the information they need about North Korea’s nuclear program, they’ll direct Yong-sik to the antidote. If he doesn’t, well, they’ll move to Plan B.
It’s a can’t-lose situation, at least on paper, and Calibrisi green-lights it, with Dewey their top choice to fly to Macau in order to drug the traveling North Korean general.
Hartford, who steals every scene she’s in, soon watches her can’t-lose scenario take a disastrous, unforeseen turn when Dewey — who needed significant urging to even agree to take the mission in the first place — accidentally injects a small amount of the poison into himself during a struggle. Worse, the only vial containing the antidote is already in North Korea, which means that in order to survive. . . Dewey Andreas must get to North Korea and locate the antidote, while also trying to find a way to stop Kim’s sinister plot to nuke the United States before it’s too late.
With the clock ticking down from the moment the poison enters his bloodstream, Dewey quickly finds himself facing the most challenging and dangerous mission of his illustrious career.
When it comes to writing talent, characters, and high-octane plots, Ben Coes is right on par with the late Vince Flynn. Like Flynn, Coes clearly has an understanding of how things work behind-the-scenes. Some of his best chapters involve the mission prep, which takes readers inside the CIA and walks them through how an operation is carried out — from conception to getting an agent in place. Those parts alone are riveting, even if they aren’t meant to be, and the action stuff is absolutely off the charts. Coes’ trademark humor is the cherry on top and everything his readers have come to expect from him and then some. (Dewey might be the only guy who can accidentally inject himself with poison and still provide well-timed sarcastic one-liners. That humor, like in earlier books, really adds a layer of entertainment to the story.)
Dewey Andreas continues to grow as a character, and Coes once again masterfully handles his development. Longtime fans will especially appreciate one standout, lighthearted scene between Andreas and the president, which is equal parts emotional and funny. Like other series protagonists, Dewey is larger than life, but Coes finds subtle ways to keep him human. That authenticity really helps bring the series to life, and even raises the stakes for readers, especially in this book, when Dewey’s life is on the line.
Ever since Independence Day (2015), Ben Coes has been operating on another level, unmatched by anyone else in the genre. Bloody Sunday is his boldest, most daring thriller yet. . . and Coes has the ballsy wit to pull it all off in a way that only he can.
Book Details
Author: Ben Coes
Series: Dewey Andreas #8
Pages: 400 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 1250140765
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: July 31, 2018
Book Spy Rating: 9.75/10
Order Here: https://amzn.to/2uWeN7B
Praised as “one of today’s finest book reviewers” by New York Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). He currently lives in Southwest Michigan with his wife and their six children
Ben Coes has dazzled readers throughout his career, but he’s never treated readers to a show quite like this before.
Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s Supreme Leader, is terminally ill. Cancer has spread throughout his entire body, his prognosis confirmed by one of the most elite cancer specialists in all the world. But rather than surrender to his fate and make plans to pass peacefully, Kim does just the opposite.
Keeping his diagnosis private, Kim (who is described as having “the body of a sixty-year-old and the face of a child) decides that if he’s going down, he’s taking the United States down with him. Instructing his scientists to ramp up their nuclear weapons program, the morbidly obese leader then looks for a partner to provide North Korea with the long-range ballistic missile needed to carry the nuclear payload.
Meanwhile, in America, Dewey Andreas is still reeling from the jaw-dropping revelation that Coes stunned readers with in Trap the Devil (2017). Fueled by rage and heartache, Dewey goes on a personal mission. His quest for retribution brings him face-to-face with someone from his past, a character that longtime fans of the series will immediately recognize.
At the same time Dewey is off the grid handling his personal side mission, CIA Director Hector Calibrisi (along with many others in the United States government) is becoming more and more concerned with North Korea’s dramatic increase in nuclear activity. Directed by President Dellenbaugh to find a way to slow down Kim’s efforts, a daring plan is hatched to flip one of Kim’s top military generals into playing for the U.S.
Jenna Hartford, an operation designer on loan from MI6, heads up the mission planning. Rather than kill General Yong-sik, Hartford pitches the idea of poisoning him with a synthetic drug designed to act slowly — giving the host twenty-four hours to obtain an antidote before dying a slow and painful death. If he complies and gives the CIA the information they need about North Korea’s nuclear program, they’ll direct Yong-sik to the antidote. If he doesn’t, well, they’ll move to Plan B.
It’s a can’t-lose situation, at least on paper, and Calibrisi green-lights it, with Dewey their top choice to fly to Macau in order to drug the traveling North Korean general.
Hartford, who steals every scene she’s in, soon watches her can’t-lose scenario take a disastrous, unforeseen turn when Dewey — who needed significant urging to even agree to take the mission in the first place — accidentally injects a small amount of the poison into himself during a struggle. Worse, the only vial containing the antidote is already in North Korea, which means that in order to survive. . . Dewey Andreas must get to North Korea and locate the antidote, while also trying to find a way to stop Kim’s sinister plot to nuke the United States before it’s too late.
With the clock ticking down from the moment the poison enters his bloodstream, Dewey quickly finds himself facing the most challenging and dangerous mission of his illustrious career.
When it comes to writing talent, characters, and high-octane plots, Ben Coes is right on par with the late Vince Flynn. Like Flynn, Coes clearly has an understanding of how things work behind-the-scenes. Some of his best chapters involve the mission prep, which takes readers inside the CIA and walks them through how an operation is carried out — from conception to getting an agent in place. Those parts alone are riveting, even if they aren’t meant to be, and the action stuff is absolutely off the charts. Coes’ trademark humor is the cherry on top and everything his readers have come to expect from him and then some. (Dewey might be the only guy who can accidentally inject himself with poison and still provide well-timed sarcastic one-liners. That humor, like in earlier books, really adds a layer of entertainment to the story.)
Dewey Andreas continues to grow as a character, and Coes once again masterfully handles his development. Longtime fans will especially appreciate one standout, lighthearted scene between Andreas and the president, which is equal parts emotional and funny. Like other series protagonists, Dewey is larger than life, but Coes finds subtle ways to keep him human. That authenticity really helps bring the series to life, and even raises the stakes for readers, especially in this book, when Dewey’s life is on the line.
Ever since Independence Day (2015), Ben Coes has been operating on another level, unmatched by anyone else in the genre. Bloody Sunday is his boldest, most daring thriller yet. . . and Coes has the ballsy wit to pull it all off in a way that only he can.
Book Details
Author: Ben Coes
Series: Dewey Andreas #8
Pages: 400 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 1250140765
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: July 31, 2018
Book Spy Rating: 9.75/10
Order Here: https://amzn.to/2uWeN7B
Praised as “one of today’s finest book reviewers” by New York Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). He currently lives in Southwest Michigan with his wife and their six children
January 7, 2019
This is another in the action-filled Dewey Andreas series by Ben Coes, and indeed, I especially recommend it to the Action-Adventure Aficionado group.
There are many details I like about the protagonist--his home in Castine, Maine (a real place & I've finally been there), his strength and training, his initial oilfield job, and of course his loyalty and patriotism. In this book, those who watch world news may question the plot line a bit only because we now know more than we have in the past about North Korea.
Additionally, there are a few fight sequences where it feels as if I'm watching a first-person-shooter video game instead of reading.
These are minor points in a well-plotted, well-researched, high-action book where the countdown clock takes us to the last possible anxious second.
Highly recommended for readers of action/adventure, international thrillers, military thrillers, and anyone who has enjoyed the prior Dewey Andreas books.
There are many details I like about the protagonist--his home in Castine, Maine (a real place & I've finally been there), his strength and training, his initial oilfield job, and of course his loyalty and patriotism. In this book, those who watch world news may question the plot line a bit only because we now know more than we have in the past about North Korea.
Additionally, there are a few fight sequences where it feels as if I'm watching a first-person-shooter video game instead of reading.
These are minor points in a well-plotted, well-researched, high-action book where the countdown clock takes us to the last possible anxious second.
Highly recommended for readers of action/adventure, international thrillers, military thrillers, and anyone who has enjoyed the prior Dewey Andreas books.
May 11, 2021
This latest entry in the Dewey Andreas series starts fast and never lets up on the accelerator.
Dewey agrees to one last mission. Those things always go wrong!
Kim Jong Un is dying, and he wants to take the whole world out with him. To this end he finally gets a nuke that will reach the US.
Dewey is sent on what should be a simple assignment: Inject a North Korean General with a slow acting poison in order to blackmail him. Unfortunately for Dewey, the general is a genuine tough guy, and Dewey gets injected along with the general. Dewey then has to infiltrate North Korea, find the antidote, and help stop Un's crazy plan.
One of the best books of this kind I've read all year.
Dewey agrees to one last mission. Those things always go wrong!
Kim Jong Un is dying, and he wants to take the whole world out with him. To this end he finally gets a nuke that will reach the US.
Dewey is sent on what should be a simple assignment: Inject a North Korean General with a slow acting poison in order to blackmail him. Unfortunately for Dewey, the general is a genuine tough guy, and Dewey gets injected along with the general. Dewey then has to infiltrate North Korea, find the antidote, and help stop Un's crazy plan.
One of the best books of this kind I've read all year.
July 28, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read a complimentary ARC of BLOODY SUNDAY in exchange for an honest review.
Dewey Andreas is back in the saddle with a multitude of missions on his plate! This installment in the series takes him from Maine, Arlington, Va, and China to North Korea and back. Since you can read the summary of the book in the jacket cover, I won’t rehash the plot. However, I will give my thoughts.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERIZATION! Coes has created a dynamic, multi dimensional character in Dewey Andreas. He is a tragic hero, which endears him to us. He is conflicted, which provokes sympathy in us. The level of characterization is excellent; the reader have a vested interest in him because we care about him! Mr. Coes has developed the character even more in BLOODY SUNDAY; the reader is privy to not only his love for America but his need for a normal life. His passions are shifting, personal yearnings are growing. The character driven plot is enthralling as we await the discovery of his next step in life!
ENTHRALLING PLOT! As per the genre, BLOODY SUNDAY is a suspenseful thriller; the pacing is spot on and the plot is complex and captivating! The tension builds to an electrifying climax!
A new character, Jenna, is introduced who will be playing an important role in the next installment. There is a twist and mystery about her that we learn toward the end of the book, leaving us with yet another mysterious cliffhanger. I don’t like cliffhangers, yet their purpose is to whet the appetite for the NEXT installment. Therefore, mission accomplished!
If you like the adrenaline rush of espionage and political thrillers, add this series to your list!
Dewey Andreas is back in the saddle with a multitude of missions on his plate! This installment in the series takes him from Maine, Arlington, Va, and China to North Korea and back. Since you can read the summary of the book in the jacket cover, I won’t rehash the plot. However, I will give my thoughts.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERIZATION! Coes has created a dynamic, multi dimensional character in Dewey Andreas. He is a tragic hero, which endears him to us. He is conflicted, which provokes sympathy in us. The level of characterization is excellent; the reader have a vested interest in him because we care about him! Mr. Coes has developed the character even more in BLOODY SUNDAY; the reader is privy to not only his love for America but his need for a normal life. His passions are shifting, personal yearnings are growing. The character driven plot is enthralling as we await the discovery of his next step in life!
ENTHRALLING PLOT! As per the genre, BLOODY SUNDAY is a suspenseful thriller; the pacing is spot on and the plot is complex and captivating! The tension builds to an electrifying climax!
A new character, Jenna, is introduced who will be playing an important role in the next installment. There is a twist and mystery about her that we learn toward the end of the book, leaving us with yet another mysterious cliffhanger. I don’t like cliffhangers, yet their purpose is to whet the appetite for the NEXT installment. Therefore, mission accomplished!
If you like the adrenaline rush of espionage and political thrillers, add this series to your list!
September 13, 2018
This author has been a solid 4-5 stars for me. I have absolutely loved his books. So with that, that is what I'm always expecting with each new book. While I didn't love this one as much as some of this others, it was still infinitely better the the book that preceded this one.
I love Dewey, the MC. He is a favorite character of mine. The author can create memorable characters and he tortures them just enough to keep things interesting. However.......the main issue that keeps coming up though, is plausibility. This one sounded like such a stretch but Dewey and the rest of the cast, saves this from 2 stars. Again, the author does character development well, but I'm just not connecting with the story line. So 3 stars
I love Dewey, the MC. He is a favorite character of mine. The author can create memorable characters and he tortures them just enough to keep things interesting. However.......the main issue that keeps coming up though, is plausibility. This one sounded like such a stretch but Dewey and the rest of the cast, saves this from 2 stars. Again, the author does character development well, but I'm just not connecting with the story line. So 3 stars
July 1, 2018
2.5 stars
Dewey Andreas, after his last assignment, is ready to take care of some personal business and then retire. But when Kim Jong-un, faced with imminent death from cancer, decides to cement his legacy by dropping nukes on the US, the president urges Dewey to take the crucial assignment to stop him. Considering the recent tentative rapprochement between our countries, the timing of this book is a bit unfortunate, but it’s not difficult to imagine such a crisis having happened when relations were more hostile.
I read the first Dewey Andreas book and then skipped ahead to this one, a bit worried that I would have missed too much in between. I needn’t have been concerned. Coes reviews most, if not all, of Dewey’s adventures a couple of times in this story, so I’ve basically been spoiled for the earlier books. Fortunately or unfortunately, that won’t be a problem.
While I love fast-paced thrillers with international intrigue, some of the same things that irked me in the first book were in force in this one. Dewey still is on page for perhaps half or less of the book. Despite a lot having happened to him over the course of several novels, his character seems much the same. He has two modes: operational (which is fun to read) and his the-hell-with-this mode (which he snaps out of, sometimes with help).
But the real sticking point again for me had to do with details. I understand that perhaps only medical professionals might find some of the discussions and events unrealistic, so much of that would not bother most laymen. But there were so many sloppy mistakes with easily-checked information that I became increasingly detached from the narrative as more cropped up. A couple examples: Korean naming conventions have the (usually one syllable) surname first followed by the given name (which may have a syllable about birth order, etc.). For Kim Jong-un, Kim is his family name and Jong-un his given name. The story got this correct. But for every other Korean character, including General Pak Yong-sik who appears throughout the book, it is wrong every time. He is referred to as General Yong-sik rather than General Pak. Another example: an Iranian character spoke to a countryman in Arabic instead of Farsi. Both of these would have been so easy to check and get right.
Now I realize I’m kind of a PITA about details in books, but it only really gets in the way of my enjoying a story when mistakes are frequent, especially if they should be easily corrected. Dewey’s exploits are fun to read, and the stories feature pretty clear-cut good guys and bad guys for an enjoyable, escapist thriller. For many readers, that’s great. But for the type of reader I am, perhaps it’s not enough for me.
Dewey Andreas, after his last assignment, is ready to take care of some personal business and then retire. But when Kim Jong-un, faced with imminent death from cancer, decides to cement his legacy by dropping nukes on the US, the president urges Dewey to take the crucial assignment to stop him. Considering the recent tentative rapprochement between our countries, the timing of this book is a bit unfortunate, but it’s not difficult to imagine such a crisis having happened when relations were more hostile.
I read the first Dewey Andreas book and then skipped ahead to this one, a bit worried that I would have missed too much in between. I needn’t have been concerned. Coes reviews most, if not all, of Dewey’s adventures a couple of times in this story, so I’ve basically been spoiled for the earlier books. Fortunately or unfortunately, that won’t be a problem.
While I love fast-paced thrillers with international intrigue, some of the same things that irked me in the first book were in force in this one. Dewey still is on page for perhaps half or less of the book. Despite a lot having happened to him over the course of several novels, his character seems much the same. He has two modes: operational (which is fun to read) and his the-hell-with-this mode (which he snaps out of, sometimes with help).
But the real sticking point again for me had to do with details. I understand that perhaps only medical professionals might find some of the discussions and events unrealistic, so much of that would not bother most laymen. But there were so many sloppy mistakes with easily-checked information that I became increasingly detached from the narrative as more cropped up. A couple examples: Korean naming conventions have the (usually one syllable) surname first followed by the given name (which may have a syllable about birth order, etc.). For Kim Jong-un, Kim is his family name and Jong-un his given name. The story got this correct. But for every other Korean character, including General Pak Yong-sik who appears throughout the book, it is wrong every time. He is referred to as General Yong-sik rather than General Pak. Another example: an Iranian character spoke to a countryman in Arabic instead of Farsi. Both of these would have been so easy to check and get right.
Now I realize I’m kind of a PITA about details in books, but it only really gets in the way of my enjoying a story when mistakes are frequent, especially if they should be easily corrected. Dewey’s exploits are fun to read, and the stories feature pretty clear-cut good guys and bad guys for an enjoyable, escapist thriller. For many readers, that’s great. But for the type of reader I am, perhaps it’s not enough for me.
August 11, 2018
Another great Dewey book. The great cast of characters is also along for the ride with Jenna added. Will be interesting to read about her in the next book! I have started my husband on this series as I like it that much, hope he does too!
June 7, 2018
Dewey Andreas is back and in great form. Dropped into a bold storyline of malefic plots - involving coercion, personal reckoning, city-wide destruction and action - Ben Coes delivers another exciting edition to the Andreas legacy. Coes continues to find ways to develop his character into a mythic yet relatable hero. He also has an uncanny knack towards description when it comes to the daily mechanics of CIA operations. Together with his increasing ability to devise sinister plots, Coes shows his growing skills as a great writer and addition to the thriller genre.
May 24, 2018
Oh, dear.
When I find a book unreadable, there's a discipline I impose on myself. I read on, a few chapters beyond the want-to-give-up point. Then before I let myself quit, I go on to each further chapter heading and read at least a few pages from each. 99 times out of 100, something clicks and I get engaged and then go back and read everything that led up to my breakthrough.
In that rare instance when there is no breakthrough, I tell myself and others it just wasn't my cup of tea. But dammit, this book should have BEEN my cup of tea. I love international intrigue, I collect taciturn, superhuman protagonists. I really wanted to like Bloody Sunday. But I made it all the way to Chapter 91, having read 50 of the chapters in their entirety and perhaps 2/3 of the rest of the text. And I still didn't like or believe the hero Dewey Andreas and didn't care about what should have been a heart-stopping drama unfolding.
It seemed . . . adolescent? shallow? Other reviewers have raved about Coes's character development, but I didn't get it. Maybe this was the wrong book on which to try to enter a new series (I've never read an Andreas story, or anything by Ben Coes.)
Perhaps I was put off by my need for accuracy. Very early in the book, the author references one of Kim Jong-Un's top advisers, Pak Yong-Sik. While Kim Jong-Un is correctly referred to by his surname Kim for the rest of the book, Pak is instead called Yong-Sik, even General Yong-Sik. And each time I read it, I had to stop and correct it to General Pak.
Too bad. I was hoping for something to fill the gaps between appearances by John Wells and Jack Reacher. This is not in their league.
When I find a book unreadable, there's a discipline I impose on myself. I read on, a few chapters beyond the want-to-give-up point. Then before I let myself quit, I go on to each further chapter heading and read at least a few pages from each. 99 times out of 100, something clicks and I get engaged and then go back and read everything that led up to my breakthrough.
In that rare instance when there is no breakthrough, I tell myself and others it just wasn't my cup of tea. But dammit, this book should have BEEN my cup of tea. I love international intrigue, I collect taciturn, superhuman protagonists. I really wanted to like Bloody Sunday. But I made it all the way to Chapter 91, having read 50 of the chapters in their entirety and perhaps 2/3 of the rest of the text. And I still didn't like or believe the hero Dewey Andreas and didn't care about what should have been a heart-stopping drama unfolding.
It seemed . . . adolescent? shallow? Other reviewers have raved about Coes's character development, but I didn't get it. Maybe this was the wrong book on which to try to enter a new series (I've never read an Andreas story, or anything by Ben Coes.)
Perhaps I was put off by my need for accuracy. Very early in the book, the author references one of Kim Jong-Un's top advisers, Pak Yong-Sik. While Kim Jong-Un is correctly referred to by his surname Kim for the rest of the book, Pak is instead called Yong-Sik, even General Yong-Sik. And each time I read it, I had to stop and correct it to General Pak.
Too bad. I was hoping for something to fill the gaps between appearances by John Wells and Jack Reacher. This is not in their league.
March 5, 2019
This is one of my favourite Action Thriller series. Ben Coes has created one of the best characters in ‘Dewey Andreas’ and he also has that wonderful ability of drawing you into the story, where you can just lose yourself for hours. I enjoyed the tense plot, and there is just the right amount of action.
Dewey Andreas might have been better of declining the latest request for a dangerous mission with the CIA. Poisoning one of North Korea’s most powerful men was never going to be an easy task. However, the US are lucky that they did when it’s revealed the North Korean President has plans to launch nuclear missiles on parts of America. It’s also not helping that the time line is tight, and the US President is going to need to make some pretty quick decisions if they need to wipe North Korea off the face of the earth, which they really don’t want to do. This is a Thriller in every sense of the word. From start to finish this is an exceptional book, and I would certainly recommend it. 5/5 Star Rating.
Dewey Andreas might have been better of declining the latest request for a dangerous mission with the CIA. Poisoning one of North Korea’s most powerful men was never going to be an easy task. However, the US are lucky that they did when it’s revealed the North Korean President has plans to launch nuclear missiles on parts of America. It’s also not helping that the time line is tight, and the US President is going to need to make some pretty quick decisions if they need to wipe North Korea off the face of the earth, which they really don’t want to do. This is a Thriller in every sense of the word. From start to finish this is an exceptional book, and I would certainly recommend it. 5/5 Star Rating.
August 18, 2018
Best Dewey Andreas book yet. Should be subtitled "SuperDewey>"
February 19, 2023
Let's hope to see more of Jenna in the next book.
March 28, 2024
Book Review - Bloody Sunday - Ben Coes
I haven't read a bad Ben Coes novel yet, and this one, “Bloody Sunday,” was no exception. They say thriller writers are trying to beat the headlines, and I truly feel like Coes did it with this story. With an all-too-real plot, Coes knits a tightly woven story that, although fiction, sounds like it could happen tomorrow. You get a more in-depth look at his main character, Dewey Andreas, who Coes has been slowly revealing more and more over the previous books. I absolutely loved Bloody Sunday, and I think it jumped up to one of my favorite novels of all-time, no joke! Bloody Sunday, I believe, is the best Ben Coes novel yet, and arguably one of the ‘must-read’ thrillers to date. I’ve always been very impressed with how Coes continues to write relevant, exciting, and very real action thrillers. Top 10 Favorite right here! And my favorite Ben Coes book cover to date as well...
I haven't read a bad Ben Coes novel yet, and this one, “Bloody Sunday,” was no exception. They say thriller writers are trying to beat the headlines, and I truly feel like Coes did it with this story. With an all-too-real plot, Coes knits a tightly woven story that, although fiction, sounds like it could happen tomorrow. You get a more in-depth look at his main character, Dewey Andreas, who Coes has been slowly revealing more and more over the previous books. I absolutely loved Bloody Sunday, and I think it jumped up to one of my favorite novels of all-time, no joke! Bloody Sunday, I believe, is the best Ben Coes novel yet, and arguably one of the ‘must-read’ thrillers to date. I’ve always been very impressed with how Coes continues to write relevant, exciting, and very real action thrillers. Top 10 Favorite right here! And my favorite Ben Coes book cover to date as well...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2018
Well, this is the one we’ve been waiting for. As a thriller, it’s wonderful. Ben Coes Is definitely the successor to Vince Flynn. This is my highest praise, and anything further would be just superfluous.
February 9, 2020
This has got to be one of the most exciting books I've read in a while. Sure there are things that would never happen...this book is fiction! So get over it. You want something that is fun to read...pick this book up!!
July 19, 2018
Dewey Andreas has had enough. He has given his all in his role as the top Special Forces operative for the CIA. He has lost most of what makes life worth living, including his wife and now he wants nothing more than to leave his job and all of his tragic past behind him. But alas, when the leadership of the United States learns of an imminent North Korean nuclear missile launch, the president personally asks Dewey to take on a mission that might save millions of lives.
This 8th novel in the Dewey Andreas series is, perhaps, my favorite one so far. I was an early adopter of Ben Coes' work, having been fortunate to get my hands on an advanced reader’s copy of Power Down, the very first book. Since then, I’ve read every novel as soon as it comes out. Not all of them have been superb, but this one is. It’s very easy to get in to with an easy style that keeps the pages turning. The plot is interesting, and very relevant to today’s headlines.
Major characters like CIA director Calibrisi continue on from previous books and new ones are introduced. Among the latter is Jenna Hartford, an “architect” (meaning those that design the missions, rather than field agents), who is a brilliant mind on loan from MI-6 but also has her own mysterious secrets. There are a couple of key scenes that indicate she will be back in the next novel in the series. General Yong-sik, the head of the North Korean military, is another intriguing character and we get to see the unfolding of his personal moral battle between his loyalty to Kim Jong-un and what is best for his country. And of course, we have Kim Jong-un himself in a bit of a wishful/alternate history sort of scenario where he is dying of cancer and hasn’t long to live, and therefore nothing to lose.
This is a fast-paced thriller to be sure but not without its personal moments. It’s one of those books that will keep you going past any self-imposed deadlines. Of course, the action ratchets up over the final 50 pages, reminding me of many an edge-of-your-seat action movie where the hero races against time in order to save the day. Yes, it’s over-the-top, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for. One wishes the final result could be realized in our own real world.
This 8th novel in the Dewey Andreas series is, perhaps, my favorite one so far. I was an early adopter of Ben Coes' work, having been fortunate to get my hands on an advanced reader’s copy of Power Down, the very first book. Since then, I’ve read every novel as soon as it comes out. Not all of them have been superb, but this one is. It’s very easy to get in to with an easy style that keeps the pages turning. The plot is interesting, and very relevant to today’s headlines.
Major characters like CIA director Calibrisi continue on from previous books and new ones are introduced. Among the latter is Jenna Hartford, an “architect” (meaning those that design the missions, rather than field agents), who is a brilliant mind on loan from MI-6 but also has her own mysterious secrets. There are a couple of key scenes that indicate she will be back in the next novel in the series. General Yong-sik, the head of the North Korean military, is another intriguing character and we get to see the unfolding of his personal moral battle between his loyalty to Kim Jong-un and what is best for his country. And of course, we have Kim Jong-un himself in a bit of a wishful/alternate history sort of scenario where he is dying of cancer and hasn’t long to live, and therefore nothing to lose.
This is a fast-paced thriller to be sure but not without its personal moments. It’s one of those books that will keep you going past any self-imposed deadlines. Of course, the action ratchets up over the final 50 pages, reminding me of many an edge-of-your-seat action movie where the hero races against time in order to save the day. Yes, it’s over-the-top, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for. One wishes the final result could be realized in our own real world.
September 16, 2018
Ari Fliakos did an excellent job with the narration. This is not one of the normal genres I read books in, but the writing and narration kept me listening. I loaned my copy to a friend who really enjoys these kinds of books. I won my audiobook copy of Ben Coes' "Bloody Sunday" from a Goodreads giveaway and I appreciate the opportunity to listen to and review this work.
I would recommend this book/audiobook to those who like current fiction or those who enjoy listening to something different, like me.
I would recommend this book/audiobook to those who like current fiction or those who enjoy listening to something different, like me.
September 29, 2018
This one has fired up my interest in Dewey Andreas again.
September 3, 2018
Another top-notch novel from Ben Coes.
August 3, 2018
Review: BLOODY SUNDAY by Ben Coes
(Dewey Andreas #8)
Those of us who fear North Korea's aggression and nuclear capability and the leader's instability will find much foundation for that anxiety here. In this 8th installment in Ben Coes' Dewey Andreas Series, Kim Jong-Un is diagnosed with aggressively metastasized cancer, and decides to go out in a literal blaze of glory: the glory to accrue to himself, while the great enemy America perishes in nuclear travail.
Fortunately, there is tragic hero Dewey Andreas, still diligently drinking himself to death. Hot on the trail of the remaining culprits responsible for the murder of his wife, he will be put into play to save the US from utter destruction--somehow.
(Dewey Andreas #8)
Those of us who fear North Korea's aggression and nuclear capability and the leader's instability will find much foundation for that anxiety here. In this 8th installment in Ben Coes' Dewey Andreas Series, Kim Jong-Un is diagnosed with aggressively metastasized cancer, and decides to go out in a literal blaze of glory: the glory to accrue to himself, while the great enemy America perishes in nuclear travail.
Fortunately, there is tragic hero Dewey Andreas, still diligently drinking himself to death. Hot on the trail of the remaining culprits responsible for the murder of his wife, he will be put into play to save the US from utter destruction--somehow.
August 4, 2018
I'm relatively new to the Dewey Andreas series. I blasted through the first 7 books within the last year. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, I was eager to get my ears on the new book. I wasn't disappointed. Dewey continues to prove himself a character with character; his grit, determination, and patriotism particularly inspiring given all that is taking place in the real world. Another 5-star read, in my opinion. I can't wait for book #9!
February 17, 2023
5 heart-pounding stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just when I thought Ben Coes couldn’t get any better, he completely outdoes himself in the latest Dewey Andreas adventure. Full review to come after I catch my breath!
Just when I thought Ben Coes couldn’t get any better, he completely outdoes himself in the latest Dewey Andreas adventure. Full review to come after I catch my breath!
February 15, 2023
This book had an interesting storyline that kept me at the edge of my seat. I’m not sure if I want to hug Dewey or kick him in the ass!! Another great book by Ben Coes
August 2, 2018
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; AUGUST 1, 2018
Narrator; Ari Fliakos
Simple, straightforward plot; high-octane action scenes aplenty. Read the blurb for the entire story,or read some of the reviews which, instead of reviewing the book, tell you the whole story to save you time reading the book.
Dewey's character hasn't developed over the last 8 books and he's still stunted by guilt from his wife's murder. I hope by the time we get to the 12th book, Dewey will have improved, as Pike Logan has, or Scot Harvath.
Neither the plot nor the action can be faulted if one accepts that this is a fictional hero who is able to detonate bombs and shred his enemies a few feet from him while he walks away unscathed and that said invincible hero manages to accidentally inject himself with the poison. What did bother me, though, was that the makers of the poison would make only one antidote (turns out to be two) of the poison and the rationale being so that you can't just walk into a hospital and get the antidote. This was nonsensical and, IMO, a very weak reason to have Dewey go into N Korea. No one would be stupid enough to make just one dose of the antidote. Not for the reason they gave. Realistically, one would make a few doses and have those secured. And not kept in N Korea, for heaven's sake. You would keep the extra antidote where you can get hold of it easily if your operative is dumb enough to get some poison into his system. That way, Dewey would be able to inject General Pak (and I would spell it 'Park', a common Korean last name) then fly next door to South Korea for the standby antidote, thereby cutting this book to 7 or 8 hours instead of 10 hours 43 minutes.
But...it did keep me listening to the end and despite its imperfections, I enjoyed it. Ari Fliakos was excellent and I won't mind if he narrates the next book where, if going by how Bloody Sunday handles Jenna Hartford, the MI6 agent-on-loan, we will be seeing more of. Nice subtle thread of mutual attraction there.
Narrator; Ari Fliakos
Simple, straightforward plot; high-octane action scenes aplenty. Read the blurb for the entire story,or read some of the reviews which, instead of reviewing the book, tell you the whole story to save you time reading the book.
Dewey's character hasn't developed over the last 8 books and he's still stunted by guilt from his wife's murder. I hope by the time we get to the 12th book, Dewey will have improved, as Pike Logan has, or Scot Harvath.
Neither the plot nor the action can be faulted if one accepts that this is a fictional hero who is able to detonate bombs and shred his enemies a few feet from him while he walks away unscathed and that said invincible hero manages to accidentally inject himself with the poison. What did bother me, though, was that the makers of the poison would make only one antidote (turns out to be two) of the poison and the rationale being so that you can't just walk into a hospital and get the antidote. This was nonsensical and, IMO, a very weak reason to have Dewey go into N Korea. No one would be stupid enough to make just one dose of the antidote. Not for the reason they gave. Realistically, one would make a few doses and have those secured. And not kept in N Korea, for heaven's sake. You would keep the extra antidote where you can get hold of it easily if your operative is dumb enough to get some poison into his system. That way, Dewey would be able to inject General Pak (and I would spell it 'Park', a common Korean last name) then fly next door to South Korea for the standby antidote, thereby cutting this book to 7 or 8 hours instead of 10 hours 43 minutes.
But...it did keep me listening to the end and despite its imperfections, I enjoyed it. Ari Fliakos was excellent and I won't mind if he narrates the next book where, if going by how Bloody Sunday handles Jenna Hartford, the MI6 agent-on-loan, we will be seeing more of. Nice subtle thread of mutual attraction there.
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