Review of The Last Rival

[KeishaMoore]

This is a well-thought-out and engaging review! It does a great job of balancing historical context with personal insight, making it clear that you’re both knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. Your analysis of character development, particularly how Weinman’s personality adds depth, is a great touch. Congratulations on BOTD!!

[Victory Ositaorah]

The Last Rival sounds exciting. The secret agency with former OSS agents and a mission to deal with Hitler is an awesome concept. I will love to read it because of the action, suspense, and history.

[vz13]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Last Rival" by Kyle Palmer.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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“The Last Rival” by Kyle Palmer is a historical fiction story about President Truman’s strategy for dealing with the Adolf Hitler problem. In this book, President Truman comes to a point where he needs to deal decisively with the challenges posed by the Hitler-led Nazis. He recruits former OSS operatives to form a secret agency to carry out a task codenamed “Operation Louveterie.” William “Wild Bill” Donovan, General George Marshall, and Dr. Stanley Lovell will spearhead this secret agency. The team’s core members are James “Jim” Bolden, Lewis “Lew” Weinman, Al Myers, Carl Toms, Harry Marshak, and Jack Powell. Others include Charles Berg, Frank Morrison, Hans Von Fischer, and Felix Winger. Does this team have the capacity to help President Truman take care of Adolf Hitler?

I am a fan of history and never fail to seize any opportunity to take a trip down history lane. When I read the description of this book, I was intrigued and could not wait to get into it. Before now, I already read about President Truman’s escapades: his coming into power two weeks before the death of Hitler, the creation of the CIA, and the authorization to use the atomic bomb. It was amazing how the author used these elements of history to create a fictional story. If you aren’t familiar with historical events, you might stand the risk of assuming everything that happened in this book was not fictional. However, if you are a history buff, you will be thrilled by the author’s depiction of pivotal historical moments in American history. The author deserves all the accolades he can get for this book.

I liked how the author used the first few chapters to introduce key characters early in the story before the action kicked in. The author showed their backstories and what unique nature they would bring into the story. That way, I could connect with the characters and their proclivities. For instance, Weinman had a weakness for women. If you ever suspected someone was flirting with a lady in the story, that would most likely be Weinman. This was his response to Al’s request to go to Washington: “Al, my dear friend, you should know better by now. I’m not going to Washington for the politics. I’m going for the prostitutes.” There were other unpredictable characters, like Hans Von Fischer. His role was such that you’d find it hard to figure out where his allegiance was.

Even though this book is lengthy, readers won’t feel it because of the author’s skillful writing. I can’t find anything to fault the book with. Therefore, I rate it a 5 out of 5. Lovers of fictional historical narratives will enjoy this book.

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The Last Rival
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Nice review. This sounds like a very interesting book. Harry Truman forming a secret team to dismantle what Hitler is doing in Germany? I love it. All the fictional characters seem to be very interesting as well. I like in the review where the reviewer talks about Being able to know which characters are doing what based on what the author wrote about their personality like the example given with the character that is obviously a womanizer. I too love history and fiction putting the two together is always interesting. From what this review says I am interested in reading the book myself. I love that. I got it for free on Kindle. There’s absolutely no reason for me not to read it. Thank you.

[Alissa Deann Devargas]

'Before now, I already read about President Truman’s escapades: his coming into power two weeks before the death of Hitler, the creation of the CIA, and the authorization to use the atomic bomb.'
I'll like to read about this renowned historical figure.

[tarafarah7]

Masterfully written and highly rated, today's BOTD is a historical fiction novel that follows two covert intelligence agents who are tasked with putting a stop to the negative forces still lingering from WWII. In addition to confronting external enemies, they must also face their internal struggles for humanity's redemption, while questioning what it truly means to fight for peace. Thank you so much for your review! It was helpful and very well-written. Keep up the great work!

[Nina Rosario]

Honestly, I don't tend to gravitate towards political books, but you had me at "a trip down history lane". If a story can feel believable enough to make you question whether these events actually happened, SIGN ME UP. I love a good story, and this sounds like a great one! I think the main part of your review that intrigued me had to be when you referenced that the book sprinkles in real pieces of history to ground the story in some reality. I think that takes a crafty writer, to create a fictional story that feels so real at times. I will definitely consider picking this up!

Story length is not too much of an issue as long as the writing is good. Based on your review, it seems like the author did a great job with pacing.

[Suhayl mirza]

If you enjoy history as much as I do, *The Last Rival: A Time of Our Choosing* by Kyle Palmer is a book that pulls you right into the chaos of the post-World War II world. It’s a mix of espionage, action, and deep moral questioning, following covert operatives Jim Bolden and Lew Weinman as they hunt down remnants of the Nazi regime still trying to claw their way back into power.

What I really appreciated about this novel is how Palmer doesn’t just focus on the action—though there’s plenty of it—but also on the emotional weight these characters carry. You can feel the tension of their missions, but just as gripping is the way they wrestle with the cost of their choices. It’s a novel that reminds you history isn’t just about battles and victories; it’s about the people who had to make impossible decisions in the shadows.

If you love historical fiction that makes you think while keeping you on the edge of your seat, *The Last Rival* is definitely worth a read. It’s one of those books that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.

[azza lia]

I'm not usually into politics and historical fiction, but your review convinced me this book is worth a second look. I don't know much about President Truman and his role in Hitler's death. Now I'm curious about the Operation Louveterie. The author did a good job making the characters alive. Thank you for your enthusiastic review.

[Seamstress]

Definitely not my cup of tea, because while I am usually an avid historical fiction fan, everything related to World War II and hate generated by Adolf Hitler is not something I will ever willingly dedicate my time to. Sorry and congrats with BOTD, anyway!

[Soma Ezenwanne]

“The Last Rival” by Kyle Palmer seems like an exciting historical book, and I’m eager to find out if President Truman’s secret team can successfully take down Adolf Hitler.

[Amy Luman]

I graduated from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State) and I made it a point to learn all that I could about him when the name changed. Congratulations on BOTD!

[Chris Agbara]

"The Last Rival" by Kyle Palmer is a masterfully crafted historical fiction novel that will captivate history buffs and fans of suspenseful storytelling. With its meticulous character development, skillful writing, and intriguing blend of fact and fiction, this book is a must-read.

[Priscila Soares 1]

“The Last Rival” is an engaging book that brilliantly blends fiction and history, bringing to life the challenges faced by President Truman during World War II. The narrative is rich with intriguing, well-developed characters, each with their unique motivations, making the reading experience captivating. Additionally, the author’s skill in intertwining real historical events with a fictional plot immerses readers in a crucial moment of American history. If you enjoy stories that educate while entertaining, this book is a must-read!

[Surabhi Rani]

'Official Review: The Last Rival' by Kyle Palmer provides an insight into the engrossing plot of the story. Readers will learn about the main thoughts of the book. This is a historical fiction story about President Truman's strategy for dealing with the Adolf Hitler problem. President Truman needed to deal decisively with the challenges posed by the Hitler-led Nazis. The author shows the key characters' backstories and what unique nature they would bring into the story. It was great to learn that fans of history will love the book!

[Sofia outlaw]

“The Last Rival by Kyle Palmer is an intense, gripping story that explores themes of competition, resilience, and personal growth. The tension between the protagonists, as they vie for victory, is both thrilling and thought-provoking. Palmer’s writing pulls you into the complex world of rivalry and the lengths people will go to in order to succeed. It left me thinking about how competition can shape and sometimes distort our lives.”