Review: Independence Day

Independence Day by Ben Coes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dewey #5 is awesome!

The Andreas series has been improving steadily with each addition! Independence Day becomes one of my first 5-star ratings in the political/thriller/shooter realm (of which I've read nearly every series.) Most intriguing about #5 is the pull towards a few side characters, the Katie/Tacoma duo and Katya the antagonist's girlfriend. I can't tell if author Ben Coes is just trying to portray Katya's stunning beauty, OR if we're being prepped for a future interest with Dewey? This wouldn't be the first time a top-tier door kicker linked up with an advisory's women, any fan of the Mitch Rapp series would know this.

Rob Tacoma, an ex-seal gone private sector shooter, is once again in the action. I believe this is his 3rd appearance in the series? I'm a bit bias on this because I've looked ahead and seen that Ben Coes is set to launch a new series focused on Tacoma this year. That being said, he's certainly building up to it the right way, Tacoma's presence in this story is fantastic. Not overshadowing but just enough to make you think "Damn, Tacoma's a real BAMF in the making." His business partner in the private sector, Katie Fox, is also a little bad ass and #2 on my list of possible Dewey partners? :: Spoiler to Dewey #4:: I think moving forward we are going to see Dewey struggle with new feelings towards a women, while being torn at having just lost his fiancé to a bullet meant for him.

As far as plot/story telling, Ben Coes continues to be one of the best (if not The) at telling one of these political shooters without getting the reader lost in who's who and doing what. Possibly my only gripe with Independence Day is that Dewey is once again dealing with a Nuclear threat, I believe this is 3 in a row now? A Russian made nuke has been floating around 3rd party buyers/sellers and finds it's way to a genius computer hacker. I know, strange right? Although this hacker has one hell of a gripe with the U.S and the brain power to formulate and execute a nuclear attack on the U.S. Dewey, who's "settled" back down in New England for retirement, is pulled back into the action against his will in a very refreshing mini-plot. The ensuing action is a race to find the bomb, it's creator, his motive and subsequently his smoking hot ballet star girlfriend. A total can't-put-down story that leaves us with one of the best/humorous cliff hangers I've ever read in a shooter.

View all my reviews