Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Fabulous story that I could not put down. Would highly recommend to fans of this genre. Great writing, and I will look for more from this author.

This was a fast paced, action heavy thriller that any fan of the genre would enjoy. Global implications, sinister opponents, and plot twists that will drop your jaw made this a fantastic read.

I've read several books by Jason Kasper and have enjoyed them all. This one, like all of them was easy to read and fast paced. Good characters and pacing. I highly recommend this book.

4.5 stars 🌟

I was giving the opportunity to read this ARC, but then realized that it was the second book in the series (Actually, if we are being totally honest, I found out that this is the second series featuring this male protagonist - David Rivers. There is a prior series of 5 books about his life prior to this series, but...I digress) Why do I mention this? Well, because I have this weird thing where I can't read a book if I know it is part of a series without going back and starting the series first. Weird I know...but, it is what it is.

So, I read the first book in this series and was glad I did. This second book starts off with a bang and there is not really a lot of time given to get a first time reader up to speed. A lot of the character development has been done in the first book and it has been done very well. These men - this team - have a very tight bond, and it is one that has been honed in the fire. They each not only have their purpose on the team, but they have extremely individual personalities and one of the best things is the way they gel as a team.

This book is a direct follow on from the ending of book one. The team is following up on the one lead they were able to get from the head of the terrorist group that attempted the largest terror attack in US history. I will say this...this book starts with a bang, and does not let up. It is filled with non stop action and definitely keeps the reader (and by reader, I mean me) on their toes.

Bottom line, I enjoyed it tremendously. There is a very realistic relationship between the leadership of the CIA back in the Ops Center who have to walk a very fine line to deal with the political ramifications of certain actions, the extremely arrogant and pompous Senator who only seems to care whether certain actions will make him look good or not and then the reality of the team on the ground who is for the most part expendable. That is, unless they can procure something that all of a sudden makes them LESS expendable. The ability of the Team Leader to manage the communications between the team and the folks back in the US is a thing of genius. The ability of this team to achieve ANY mission objectives, given the support they have been given is to be appreciated. Granted, their team logo is "Fast and Loose" and they definitely live to to that motto.

If, like me, you are a fan of books featuring Tier One operators (the excellent series by Andrews and Wilson comes to mind), then this will be another series to add to your list of good reads.

I will admit, since this is my first series by this author that a lot of the reviews mention the fact that there was a new narrator for this series than there had been from the prior 5 book series and he was not well received. Many, many comments. But, since I had nothing to compare it to, the narration was fine for me. It wasn't great and the narrator has a really bothersome habit of reading while articulating each syllable of each word that makes it sound like you are reading with out contractions - but after a while, you get over it because there is so much action going on, you just really care about what the heck is happening in the story.

This book does have a completed story arc, while at the same time setting up the next book in the series. In the very last paragraph, it becomes clear that David's team has a new lead to follow as they keep going up the chain looking for the mastermind of the attempted terror attacks.

Sign me up - I'll be clicking on the "Buy" button the minute the next book is available.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. The reviews above are mine and mine alone.

Jason Kasper dropped a must read right in my lap with The Enemies of My Country. The characters were great and worthy of a follow up. His next Shadow Strike series adventure, Last Target Standing, releases September 14, and I was floored at the movie-quality story in this CIA revenge thriller.

The storyline is top notch, building off the great start of The Enemies of My Country. The team is back and raring to go, personal relationships are built, bets are wagered, and lies are told all in the name of the American people. The group is dead set on revenge for the atrocities that were dealt in the first adventure.

In Last Target Standing, we catch up with David Rivers, former Green Beret turned CIA Special Activities operative that is on the hunt in a country far from home. After missing the initial LZ on an infill into a country they shouldn’t be in, David ‘Suicide Actual’ (callsign) and team are immediately placed in a bind. Of course, things don’t go to plan.

Kasper has a good thing going and the writing keeps you engaged from the start. I had no problem staying glued to the pages on this one. The characters are robust enough to find some you like, or don’t. The villains are vile, while being savvy. The interaction between the top levels of government and boots on the ground are amazing, it’s like you get a little into each of their heads, wishing you could make the decisions yourself. This is a fast-paced guns blazing retribution tour, and you will love it.

Last Target Standing by Jason Kasper. Thanks to Severn Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC,

Second book of Kaper's that I have read. Loved it! Once in awhile a former operator turns out to be a great author. Jason Kasper is really hitting his stride. I look forward to reading more of his work.

Book Review – Last Target Standing – Jason Kasper
While ‘advance’ reading via NetGalley Jason Kasper’s second book in the Shadow Strike thriller series, “Last Target Standing,” I kept hearing the 1961 song by singer Chubber Checker, “...Come on let’s twist again” because of the multiple risky and intense military struggles that filled this non-stop, fast-paced action thriller that I couldn’t stop reading until I finished it! Kasper’s former Army Ranger and Green Beret experiences glowed brightly in this formidable and vigorous action fiction novel. Kasper’s writing made this read feel ‘real’! The plot and storyline flowed smoothly, albeit very quickly; the highly skilled and very lethal special ops guys worked together seamlessly; the rugged mountains of China’s Xinjiang Province geography, politics and other characters were vivid and rich; the fight sequences and how they played out were realistic; and the “bad guys” just weren’t the average regular bad guys, but Kasper created some sinister characters that brought more menacing and threatening appeal to the story. I first read Kasper’s “Enemies of My Country” and listened to the short story “The Ranger Experience” via audiobook and now. I’m a big fan! I wholeheartedly recommend this series and will purchase any future hardcovers for my book collection. Good stuff by an actual Special Forces warrior turned ‘awesome’ action-thriller author. Thanks to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for providing me an Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Last Target Standing by Jason Kasper
A David Rivens Thriller (Shadow Strike #2)

Riveting Read ~ Could not put it down ~ Read into the wee hours of the morning as I had to see what would happen and how the story would end!

What I liked:
* Stepping into the shoes of military men and seeing, feeling, and experiencing an Op as if I were there, too.
* The team: five intrepid, highly skilled, lethal, dedicated, admirable, and intriguing men that worked together seamlessly.
* The location and learning more about the geography, people, and politics
* That it felt real
* The fight sequences and how they played out
* Being able to see this story as if it were playing out on a big screen in a theater
* Wondering if it will become a movie…it easily could be one
* The plot and writing
* That the “bad guys” were not the usual ones
* The split-second decisions required and seeing how the team made those decisions
* Hearing David’s first-person experience and a more omniscient version of the other four team members experiences
* Seeing what was happening back at Langley while the team was on the ground
* Hearing about David’s family in memories he shared/flashed back to
* The setup for the next book in the series

What I didn’t like:
* Exactly what and who I was meant not to like…
* Having to wait for book three in the series

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I began reading Jason Kasper over the last year and have become a big fan. I've jumped around his different series but I began with Enemies of My Country and enjoyed it so much I went back and began his American Mercenaries series. What sticks out to me is how much Kasper has grown and improved as a writer. Last Target Standing is the best thing he's written and I don't think it's particularly close. It's a fast paced thriller with a tight plot and a cast of characters that Kasper manages to play off each other incredibly well. The only gripe I have is I finished it too quickly.

I want to thank Severn River Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of Last Target Standing.

Last Target Standing is a surprising treat for military action thriller fans best described as the much more realistic and interesting version of “The Expendables”, with constant shootouts and a one-setting premise utilized to near perfection by Jason Kasper.
After the events of The Enemies of My Country, a ragtag team of violently talented CIA contractors are on the bloodthirsty hunt for a person of interest who had concocted an attack on American soil on the 4th of July. Their mission takes them in the treacherous rugged mountains of China’s Xinjiang Province, an area filled with opium smugglers and Chinese secret agents. The story plays out entirely around the team’s insertion into the region and the subsequent mission that is plagued with the infamous Murphy’s Law as the team contends with twisty accidents and constant showdowns with enemy combatants, resulting in detailed adrenaline-pumping action sequences written with razor-sharp authenticity that is found only in the finest of action thrillers.
Jason Kasper’s experiences as a former Green Beret immensely help to set a captivating tone for remarkable characters that fit the real-world modern-day escapades of deniable assets sent behind enemy lines. Far from cliched tropes, each member of the CIA contractor team is distinctive and extremely fun albeit dark to read. The narrative changes POV frequently between the different characters to help readers connect with each team member in unique fashion. The dynamic nature of the team’s mission with utmost unpredictability hooks readers in from the very beginning.
With an arching storyline that is preserved to be told over multiple books, Last Target Standing entertains with high action and tense situations brimming with realistic challenges for the “good” guys to overcome, and a fascinating backdrop ripped right from the most current worldwide news.

This review is also posted on this website with a blurb image: https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kashif-hussain/last-target-standing-by-jason-kasper

An intense, heart-thumping, race-against-the-clock military thriller filled with bold action, multiple plot twists and dire global implications. Filled with realism and authenticity from author Jason Kasper’s experience as a former Green Beret, Last Target Standing is a bright and blistering new entry into the thriving military thriller genre.

David Rivers and his team of fully deniable and expendable CIA contractors are sent on top secret mission to kill the alleged mastermind behind an attack on US Soil. It just happens that this individual is hiding in the mountains of rural China with danger lurking around every corner from a high altitude insertion via the peaks of Afghanistan to drug traffickers en route, violent separatists surrounding the target, and the Chinese government itself who wouldn’t take too kindly to this kind of US military action on their soil. With a mission this risky and fraught with danger, you’d expect not everything to go to plan. And you’d be right. Leaving Rivers and his team of former mercenaries to improvise and make judgment calls that could either uncover a broader conspiracy or start World War III.

Beyond the stimulating storyline, great action sequences and intriguing characters, perhaps the aspect of this novel I appreciated the most was the linear nature and singular focus of the story. It’s a refreshing change of pace from novels that jump around, have a bunch of subplots, and force the reader to connect numerous dots. Instead, Last Target Standing has a clear focus and makes it easy for readers to fully immerse themselves in the present situation without trying to figure out how it plays into a bigger narrative.

Fans of Kyle Mills, Andrews & Wilson, Jon Gilstrap and Brad Taylor will want to check out Last Target Standing and closely follow the series as it progresses. Two books in, Jason Kasper has something brewing that promises to grow into something worth being mentioned with the big names in the genre.

Kasper writing continues to get better as the missions Rivers' team partake get more intense. I enjoy reading these military thrillers written by actual Special Forces warriors, they've been there, done that and it shows up in their writing. Tactics and combat scenes are frighteningly realistic, you can hear the bullets whizzing past your head, and I've caught myself more than once starting at an unexpected noise safe in my home. This team is awesome! They are not superheroes, they are guys we know and have served with. They aren't perfect and don't always follow the rules and make the right decisions, but damn if they don't get the job done and find a way to complete their mission. My only gripe is that I wish they had a couple more shooters on the team, but I'm enjoying the makeup of the team so far. This story flows directly from the previous novel exactly like his previous series, if you find something that works, don't mess with it. I find when my heart rate speeds up while I'm reading, I'm definitely reading the right books; and Kasper makes my heart race reading his stuff. I wholeheartedly recommend this series (and the previous one) and have purchased his other stuff because I'm sure he will not disappoint.

A fantastic military thriller filled with ups, downs and turns, clearly written by an author with tactical experience. To any one wanting an action packed thriller, I do recommend.

Clandestine operatives are sent into China via secretive routes/methods to assassinate an enemy of the United States. As the action continues, things begin to go wrong, and eventually it becomes a journey to return home unscathed. Hurdles, detours, battles, and betrayals abound while minimal support is provided from home in this non-stop thriller.