Review of The Last Rival
-
ken4512
- Posts: 155
- Joined: 28 Sep 2023, 12:18
- Favorite Book: Tachyon Tunnel 2
- Currently Reading: Your Internal Board of Directors
- Bookshelf Size: 118
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ken4512.html
- Latest Review: Mindweavers I by Paul Michael Privateer
Review of The Last Rival
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Last Rival" by Kyle Palmer.]
"The Last Rival" by Kyle Palmer is a gripping historical fiction thriller set in 1946, in WWII's aftermath and the Cold War's geopolitical complexities. President Truman learns of the very real possibility that Adolf Hitler is not dead but may have escaped to Argentina together with some of the Nazi leadership. Time is of the essence. An American covert operation is immediately created to stop an explosive situation that could shatter the fragile peace of the post-WWII times. The story is action-packed from the outset, as the men must plan, train, and learn to work together as a cohesive team. The team must leave for Argentina immediately before the Nazis escape again.
As the story unfolded, four characters became the focus of my reading. These men would become involved in the most perilous elements of the covert mission to locate and destroy the Nazis in Argentina. These characters were James "Jim" Bolden, Lewis "Lew" Weinman, Al Myers, and Jack Powell.
Powell coordinated the overall operations and assigned team members to specific tasks. Myers supported Powell and was the key person involved in communications, particularly intelligence relating to their mission. Jim Bolden was a WWII veteran with significant experience in covert missions. Lew Weinman was a brilliant physicist with expertise in applied physics during WWII operations.
I liked how details of the unique backstories and expertise of each member of the covert mission team emerged right from the start. The result was character and plot development occurring together, creating a well-crafted and richly detailed interwoven picture of the team members.
I liked how the tension and suspense build in the novel to incredible and almost unbearable levels. The settings in every chapter of the story are evocative and atmospheric, showing the extreme dangers faced by the team. The descriptions are fantastic, with the vivid juxtaposition of beautiful mountainous landscapes, the deep and utter silence of forests, the shattering sound of explosives, and the horrifying sounds of vibrant life ending in sudden death. The result was the entire novel sprang to life. I could picture the novel's characters and the dangerous clandestine operation that could end the lives of men in an instant.
At times, I was overwhelmed by the graphic descriptions of death and destruction. However, the graphic depictions of violence and strong language were within the Cold War mission and character development context.
The novel has minor typos related to the use of upper and lowercase letters, as well as punctuation errors. However, these errors did not detract from my reading as I was pulled into the story and remained hooked by the gripping storyline. For this reason, I chose not to deduct any stars for the errors.
Last but not least, I greatly appreciated the quotations at the start of every chapter by different historical figures, including Marcus Aurelius, Alexander the Great, George Washington, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, John von Neumann, and Richard Feynman.
I rate Kyle Palmer's "The Last Rival" 5 out of 5 stars. I liked the complexity of the characters and their development within the narrative of the covert mission. I liked the well-crafted and well-written situations and actions that show an enduring spirit and resilience under life-threatening conditions. I liked the compelling and thought-provoking themes in the story of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and freedom vs. tyranny.
I highly recommend "The Last Rival" by Kyle Palmer to readers of historical fiction, alternate history, WWII, and post-war espionage stories.
******
The Last Rival
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"The Last Rival" by Kyle Palmer is a gripping historical fiction thriller set in 1946, in WWII's aftermath and the Cold War's geopolitical complexities. President Truman learns of the very real possibility that Adolf Hitler is not dead but may have escaped to Argentina together with some of the Nazi leadership. Time is of the essence. An American covert operation is immediately created to stop an explosive situation that could shatter the fragile peace of the post-WWII times. The story is action-packed from the outset, as the men must plan, train, and learn to work together as a cohesive team. The team must leave for Argentina immediately before the Nazis escape again.
As the story unfolded, four characters became the focus of my reading. These men would become involved in the most perilous elements of the covert mission to locate and destroy the Nazis in Argentina. These characters were James "Jim" Bolden, Lewis "Lew" Weinman, Al Myers, and Jack Powell.
Powell coordinated the overall operations and assigned team members to specific tasks. Myers supported Powell and was the key person involved in communications, particularly intelligence relating to their mission. Jim Bolden was a WWII veteran with significant experience in covert missions. Lew Weinman was a brilliant physicist with expertise in applied physics during WWII operations.
I liked how details of the unique backstories and expertise of each member of the covert mission team emerged right from the start. The result was character and plot development occurring together, creating a well-crafted and richly detailed interwoven picture of the team members.
I liked how the tension and suspense build in the novel to incredible and almost unbearable levels. The settings in every chapter of the story are evocative and atmospheric, showing the extreme dangers faced by the team. The descriptions are fantastic, with the vivid juxtaposition of beautiful mountainous landscapes, the deep and utter silence of forests, the shattering sound of explosives, and the horrifying sounds of vibrant life ending in sudden death. The result was the entire novel sprang to life. I could picture the novel's characters and the dangerous clandestine operation that could end the lives of men in an instant.
At times, I was overwhelmed by the graphic descriptions of death and destruction. However, the graphic depictions of violence and strong language were within the Cold War mission and character development context.
The novel has minor typos related to the use of upper and lowercase letters, as well as punctuation errors. However, these errors did not detract from my reading as I was pulled into the story and remained hooked by the gripping storyline. For this reason, I chose not to deduct any stars for the errors.
Last but not least, I greatly appreciated the quotations at the start of every chapter by different historical figures, including Marcus Aurelius, Alexander the Great, George Washington, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, John von Neumann, and Richard Feynman.
I rate Kyle Palmer's "The Last Rival" 5 out of 5 stars. I liked the complexity of the characters and their development within the narrative of the covert mission. I liked the well-crafted and well-written situations and actions that show an enduring spirit and resilience under life-threatening conditions. I liked the compelling and thought-provoking themes in the story of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and freedom vs. tyranny.
I highly recommend "The Last Rival" by Kyle Palmer to readers of historical fiction, alternate history, WWII, and post-war espionage stories.
******
The Last Rival
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Mindweavers I by Paul Michael Privateer
