First and foremost, my thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Ben Coes for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

My review will focus on my thoughts about The Island; the book’s promo describes the topic: Iran’s three prong terrorist attack on NYC, much more extensive and deadly than 9/11.

WOW! THE explosive thriller for the summer!

DYNAMIC CHARACTERS~
Ben Coes has created a likable character in Dewey Andreas. His over-the-top superhuman veneer is juxtaposed with emotional vulnerability (especially in his personal relationships). Balancing these two sides develops a round, three dimensional character. A technique the writer uses to expose his personal conflicts is his self talk; the reader is privy to Dewy’s emotional hurts and soul searching thoughts, endearing him to readers. Other characters are well developed with authentic voices. While most books in this genre are plot driven, it is delightful to have the depth of characters to enjoy as well!

DYNAMIC PLOT AND ACTION~
Mr. Coes never fails to enthrall readers with exciting storylines. The Island is fast paced and (non-stop) action packed. ELECTRIFYING action fuels the plot from the opening page. It is the quintessential edge-of-your-seat, heart pounding espionage thriller. Of course, as usual in this genre, one must suspend disbelief. In The Island, suspension of disbelief is necessary to the 10th power! It pushes the envelope even further as it has fantastically futuristic SCI-FY scenarios (iodine sheets/ force fields guarding the Federal Reserve). There are other over-the-top scenes that are not credible (and irksome if one is seeking authenticity). However, the overall FUN and ADRENALINE RUSH of reading The Island overrides these concerns. Just enjoy the ride!

Warning:and regret: carve out a day to immerse yourself in The Island. It is truly unput-down-able! : I read it in a day and wish I could have enjoyed the ride longer!

I just reviewed The Island by Ben Coes. #TheIsland #NetGalley. The book is action packed and a great fun read. I found the story line to be similar to all of the genre as of late. Terrorists from Iran, bombs, attack on the USA...I am going to take a break and read other stuff as I feel I can always tell what is going to happen next

# The Island by Ben Coes
#btb/review

Dewey Andreas is back, and he’s better than ever! I missed reading a full Dewey novel last year, and the much anticipated installment in the Dewey Andreas series, *The Island*, is the ninth in the series, Coes’s tenth book in all. Last year we got to have a fun spin-off starring Rob Tacoma, who fans of this series will know well. And this year, we get another Andreas novel packed with all of the thrilling, action-packed adventures we’ve come to expect out of Coes.

This can be read as a standalone, although going back and reading the series will give the reader much more clarity. However, one of the things I appreciate so greatly about Coes’s writing, is his way of summarizing previous books. It has been some time since I read his debut novel, but in *The Island*, Coes catches the reader up, allowing you to have much knowledge of the previous novels.

A pre-emptive attack against Andreas fails, as Iranian terrorists plan a plot to destroy Manhattan. After the failed attempt on Dewey’s life, he sneaks into Manhattan in an attempt to take down the enemy.

Once again, Coes has created a nonstop thriller, but Coes’s incredible writing doesn’t stop there. He creates an emotional rollercoaster. I remember four years ago, I was listening the the audiobook of *Trap the Devil*, book number 6 in the series, as I went for a run. There is an incredibly difficult, emotional part in that novel, and I actually stopped running so I could ingest what I was hearing. Coes is unparalleled in the industry in this way. He not only created an amazing, dynamic character in Andreas, but he’s able to make him human, and he guides you along the way, forcing you to feel each and every feeling Dewey feels. He is shadowed by much tragedy, which makes him all the more interesting. This is one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite series, and *The Island* is such an awesome addition. It’s another wild ride, but you’ll love every second of it.

If you’ve been around the thriller genre for some time, it should be no surprise to you that this book is phenomenal. If you haven’t read the series, there’s no better time to start than now. Coes delivers a pulse-pounding, gut-wrenching drag race of a thriller. It’s currently one of my favorites in the series, and it’s a must-read for this summer.