Bloody Sunday: A Thriller (A Dewey Andreas Novel)

Awful story, third grade prose, amateurish manipulation of the reader, and even the editing is horrible. If you are unlucky enough to read it, trying counting all the continuity and editing mistakes!

In this latest offering the author, Ben Coes, has former Delta Force and now CIA operative pretty well going up against the entire North Korean army. Not only has Dewey been injected with a deadly poison which will kill him in a matter of a couple of days, but Dewey must prevent a nuclear war which involved two American cities and the destruction of North Korea. He also throws in this old nemeses Iran for good measure. This all creates the conditions for a great body count.

Dewey is stiff haunted by the death of this young wife and a number of issues which haunt him.

Now all the Dewey Andreas book are link but unlike many in this genre each can the read as a stand alone as the author skillfully gives a very readable summary of what has happened in previous novels.

These novels are action packed and I like the way the author gives all the sides of the various elements of the story including not only the good guys but the bad ones also. The author also gives great technical day, which is nice even for a non-technical guy such as by self, but also gives us a very action pact adventure with a very satisfactory body count.

Now remember folks, this is a FANTASY novel and not a documentary even though it very much addressed current events. Think of James Bond on steroids and gets into even more action packed and is even unlikely than the super warrior stuff than Jason Borne. Hey – if you are going into this fantasy stuff you might as well go all the say. I personally like this sort if thing,

This tale has some nice twists; new characters are introduced and the bad guy in this case, Kim Jun-un is truly bat crap crazy.

I anticipated greatly the next installment of this series. It is one of my personally favorites.

Bloody Sunday is the latest installment in author Ben Coes' Dewey Andreas series. Andreas, a former elite Delta, is resigning from his years of CIA operative work as he comes to grips with the fact that his wife's suicide was really a murder staged by the agency in order to recruit him. But at the request of the president himself, Andreas is drawn to one last operation, this time inside North Korea, where he is tasked with tracking down the only known antidote to a deadly poison he was injected with during a skirmish with its intended target - North Korea's General Pak Yong-sik
Andreas is racing against two clocks - one to save his own life and one to prevent North Korea's Kim Jung-un from unleashing a nuclear attack on the United States. At the same time, the U.S. is preparing its own nuclear strike that risks the lives of Andreas and the Navy SEALS sent in to help carry out the mission and extract Andreas.
This is a timely political thriller involving one of the most secretive nations in the world and introduces Jenna Hartford, an M16 operative on loan to the CIA, to the operation. If you are new to Coes, each novel stands alone so you won't feel lost if you jump in now. When necessary, Coes adds in a brief backstory without weighing down the action for those already familiar with a character or past plot reference.
As author Brad Thor summed up on a previous book jacket, "Envision Clancy, Forsyth and le Carre all writing in their prime." I like to think of this as the thinking man's espionage - riveting and explosive with just enough unanswered questions to set the stage for the next Dewey Andreas adventure but not so many that the reader feels unsatisfied.
If you haven't discovered Ben Coes, now is the time to start.

Ben Coes has nailed another book, which shouldn't be a surprise at this point. Over the last seven Dewey Andreas novels, Coes has positioned himself as one of the upper echelon authors in the genre. His writing is fantastic, he creates characters that draw in readers, his background provides insider knowledge which help to elevate the story arcs, and his action scenes are riveting. Bloody Sunday only helps solidify his status as an elite author. Which writers have the audacity and cajones to kill their main character? No spoilers here, you'll have to read the book to see if Coes does.

With all of the posturing of the Kim Jong Un and North Koreas nuclear weapons, there is an obvious draw to staging a book in North Korea. Coes is out in front of this curve since books are a year or more in the process of writing, editing, and printing. The book seems ripped out of the headlines of the day, with the possible exception of the fictional POTUS being less flamboyant than the actual POTUS.

I don't care to rehash the story. You can check out the blurbs elsewhere. Instead I'd like to introduce new readers to some of my favorite characters, many of whom have been developed in one or more of the previous books.

Dewey Andreas
Like many of his peers across the thriller genre, Dewey is a patriotic force to be reckoned with. He is larger than life. He has a keen ability to adapt on the fly when things start to go sideways, as they often do. Given all of this bravado, Coes has also given Dewey a tragic past, having lost a wife, child, and fiancé, which both helps the reader connect emotionally with Dewey, as well as fuels the fire/passion with which he operates. Dewey is flawed. He makes occasional mistakes. In short, while seemingly a larger-than-life superhuman, Dewey is an average guy, with extraordinary training and skills, and a passion to do the right thing.

Jenna Hartford
Jenna is introduced as a world class architect (operational planner) in British Intelligence. She also has recently suffered the loss of her husband which has left her in a stagnant state. Hoping to revive her with a change of scenery and pace, she is loaned out to the CIA and sent to DC. She is instantly likeable. She has a presence in every scene she is involved in and forms an interesting bond with Dewey. She is a character that I anxiously look forward to seeing in future novels. It may be sacrilege to say, but she might be my favorite character across all 8 books.

President Dellenbaugh
President Dellenbaugh is back having filled several of his key advisor positions after the last book. He is very level-headed with a grasp on the bigger picture that helps him excel in his role as leader of the free world. He listens to advisors and "experts", but is not afraid to step up and make the decisions and be responsible for them. He is likeable. As a former hockey player he has been found mixing it up on the ice in pick up games in previous books, and isn't afraid to get rough. In one particularly emotional scene he confronts Dewey ready to stand his ground mano-a-mano if necessary. Given their past history, he has implicit trust in and deeply rooted love for Dewey. In short, he is the type of person that I'd hope all Americans would want in the Oval Office.

Hector Calibrisi
Calibrisi is the Director of the CIA, and the closest thing to a living father figure that Dewey has, a relationship that both draw on. He has also suffered family loss across previous books. His sense of duty and position as Director allow him to wield his most potent weapon, Dewey. He is also politically astute, and not afraid to voice his thoughts and opinions and stand his ground over what he feels to be the correct course of action. He belongs in the political circles, and excels in this role.

I have been a fan of Ben Coes for many years now, and it is a treat to watch and participate as a reader as he continues to hone his craft and develop new stories. There isn't a better author in the espionage/political/military thriller genre today. He is leading the charge of new blood and vitality in this arena, and will be a major player for years to come.

I did receive an advance e-book copy of Bloody Sunday in exchange for sharing my thoughts and reviews. I have a count-down clock running for the release date so I can add a physical copy to my collection.

Bloody Sunday: Ben Coes
Revenge is the key to success within the pages of this multi-complex and multiple plot novel as we begin with a group of highly trained medical personnel entering Korea and meeting with its President Kim Jong Un in order to assess his medical issues and determine if they can provide a diagnosis and treatment for this ailing leader. Entering the facility we hear the team speak and get into place explaining their procedures but the final analysis was to come within two days but cut short when they realized that this world leader had only days or hours to live. Upon hearing the verdict and the diagnosis Kim Jong Un summoned his General and only person he trusted to explain his next move which would be to attack the United States with nuclear missiles as retaliation for this diagnosis and because he wanted to go out in blazing glory.
Sometimes events happen and you cannot let them go until you yourself yield the final outcome or punishment. CIA agent Dewey Andreas is deadly and toxic when administering his own brand of justice to those responsible for killing his wife Holly. He can’t bring her back but the President of the United States and other powerful people were responsible for her death, Dewey faced them down and the end result was they would never see another light of day.
Completing his task even though he is warned about the end result, Dewey does what he feels is necessary and then meets with his immediate superior and things from this point on move in many different directions. With the understanding that Kim Jong –un has got stage 4 cancer and cares only to take down two American cities with him, he reaches out to Iran to get some long-range missiles in order to complete this task.
The goal is to find a way to eliminate the nuclear threat but someone has to infiltrate North Korea and Jenna Hartford formerly of M16 has been enlisted to create a way to take down General Pak Yong-sik the head of the Korean armed forces and right hand man to Kim Jong Un. But, the method might be unorthodox as she and her partner create a poison that would be injected into the General giving him 24 hours to give the United States the documents needed to thwart the nuclear threat and then President. J.P, Dellenbaugh would order the release of the antidote and where it was stored. But, in the spy world nothing ever goes as planned or smoothly as we learn when Dewey hands in his resignation and the President asks him personally to complete this mission and go to Macau to take out the General who will be heavily guarded at the Mandarin Hotel in a private room waiting for a dealer to have his hand at blackjack.
Jenna Hartford’s husband Charlie was killed but was he the real target or was she? As we get to know more about his death the reader begins to wonder just who Jenna really is and why would someone want to warn her by killing her husband and does she have something to hide?
The Intel to stop Kim from his attack needs to be solidified and they need to know exactly when the missiles will be launched and how long they have and can it be stopped? Sir Derek Chambers is having doubts about her father and her and wants her investigated but what will they find out? Someone is sent to deal with the person who killed Charlie and that scene is quite revealing and tense as we get to know something behind the murder but not the reasons why he was killed.
Jenna is a former Circus employee and they are allowed to investigate her but not her parents. Hiring Katie Foxx and Rob Tacoma to do the investigation, it’s Tacoma who deals with the killer and the scene allows readers to see up close what definitely can happen in real life. While Dewey is able to get to the Korean General what he does not expect is that Yong-sik is skilled in martial arts and the fight results in both men getting injected with the poison heightening the suspense and intrigue allowing readers to wonder if either one will get the antidote in time as the author brilliantly allows us to experience the effects of this deadly poison and the time frame is slowly winding down before the antidote won’t do either man any good.
The documents that the US wanted are delivered but since this is confidential I won’t leak what they are and just how important they will be to the safety and security of our country and North Korea. But, one document can be revealed and we wonder why the General included a document about Kim’s stage 4 Cancer. Was this his way of letting the U.S. know that what he sent was real?
Dewey had to deal with the fact that poison took effect at various times and he need help in order to complete the mission but in reality the U.S. President added an additional request that might not only endanger him but four navy seals. Information infiltrated and they learned about a way that he and these men can escape that Kim created in case of a coup but Kim was irrational at this time and his orders to his men were to launch the missiles. General Yong-sik was placed between a rock and a hard place plus his loyalty to Kim when questions were asked and the final order is given. The situation room was tense on our side and Samantha Stout had the fate of the mission in her hands as she tried to figure out how every missile launch created by the Korean’s happened, when they would happen and the order of the launch. But, will this be enough to stop what has been set in place? Dewey has the fate of two nations in his hands and the author keeps us guessing until the reveal and the dramatic explosive ending that lets readers know there is much more to come and that Dewey is in danger, the fate of the U.S. and Korea are at stake and the final reveal will let readers know what happens when General Yong-sik comes face to face with a harsh reality and will have to make life changing decisions that will affect his people. General Trailes disagrees with waiting for the amount of time to allow Dewey to complete his mission and stay alive. There are many different situations that involve non-nuclear attacks on one will a nuclear retaliation. Just what the ending brings and the final confrontation is what author Ben Coes creates and everyone in the world hopes that someday endings to books come true. The characters are quite unique in their different roles and the cabinet members each have their own personalities but the President in this novel is strong, determined and a leader in his own right. Jenna Hartford at times has misgivings about her role and feels responsible if something happens to Dewey. The final outcome will let readers know that there is much more to come and the Chapter 90 is quite revealing and lets readers know that this situation with Jenna is not over yet. What is the fate of the U.S. and Korea? Will Kim stop what he started? Will Dewey take him down and if he does what about Yong-sik. If this attack happens and the day of the week is Sunday the ending will be what the title announces but even more bloody and tragic as we learn the final outcome of BLOODY SUNDAY! A storyline that could be ripped right out of the headlines or on the news at any minute author Ben Coes brings the situation with North Korea to light but in a unique and creative way.

Events sometimes overtake us. So I doubt that, while writing this edge-of-your-seat thriller, Ben Coes ever imagined that President Donald Trump would be meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un just a couple of months before this latest installment in the Dewey Andreas series would be published. It is an indication of the depth of Coes’ talent that, although the real-world occurrences haven’t quite turned out as he postulated, every paragraph here is worth reading.

BLOODY SUNDAY begins with Dewey, a former Delta operative and current CIA agent, getting some measure of revenge for a past wrong visited upon him. When I say “measure,” please note that Dewey does nothing by halves. However, he still feels an emptiness and decides that nothing can fill it other than quitting the CIA and retiring to his family’s farm. That is exactly what he does, even though he is hardly out of the clandestine door before he is being recruited for one more mission. Dewey refuses, but is brought back into the fold in a very interesting way. The mission is a complicated one, with a simple equation.

Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, is up to something. The reader knows more than the CIA, since Coes lets the story spin out on parallel tracks before intersecting. North Korea has the uranium, and Iran has the rockets. Kim sends his most trusted general to meet with a delegation from Iran for a trade. The idea is that Dewey will inject a highly specialized, fast-acting poison into the general. He’ll get an antidote, which is at another location, but only if he gives up all of the state secrets about what Kim is planning. Things go awry, with Dewey accidentally getting a dose of the poison as well. He has to go to North Korea, find the antidote and save himself.

If that clock isn’t ticking loud enough for you, the United States learns that Kim is planning a nuclear attack on all of its cities. Since Dewey already is heading to North Korea, it is decided that he also should remove the threat to the U.S. by killing Kim. He must do it quickly, though, as the U.S. isn’t going to wait around to let Kim set off his missiles. Instead, North Korea --- with Dewey right in the middle of it --- will be the subject of a preemptive nuclear strike.

This all would be a bit too much in lesser hands, but Coes keeps things moving in an orderly manner, though at breakneck speed. That said, if you’re not exhausted by the time you reach the last page, you weren’t paying attention.

There is enough action and casualties in BLOODY SUNDAY for multiple thrillers. If you are just now coming to the Church of Coes, be of good heart. He does a masterful job --- maybe the best of anyone --- of bringing newbies up to speed on all things Dewey Andreas by revealing just enough to compel going back and reading all that has gone before. Trust me, it’s all great.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

This was the first of Ben Coes' Dewey Andreas novels I have read. The author does a great job of making this into a standalone book - he gives enough of the background from other novels to fill in the reader, but not so much as to bog down in having a complete retelling of prior stories - a nice balance. So, this book can be easily read without having read all the prior eight novels in this series - something that is not possible with other series books.

I can always tell when I really get into a book - I tend to carry it around with me during the day and dip into it for a bit of reading whenever I get a chance - this was such a book.

This novel is what I call a "Beach Book" - in that it is the type you can take to the beach and read to escape from reality. It is a very, very fast paced action novel following the super Tier One operator for the CIA, Dewey Andreas. In this book he is dispatched to North Korea to stop a nuclear missile launch.

Although I found several places where a valid word was incorrectly used in place of the correct word - such as "tow" for "two", etc., I am hopeful that these errors will be caught in the proof reading process, as I read the "Uncorrected Advance Reader Copy" of the novel.

There was one, and I think significant flaw, in the plot line - in the North Korean launch sequence, there was a "single point of failure" (which no country would allow) - a single soldier had control of the mobile missile launcher, and it was up to him, and him alone, to do the actual firing of the missile. Such a situation is illogical - that one person could lose their nerve, or decide, once they had the launch code, to simply ignore the order to launch. Especially in a country where no one trusts any other person, such a single point of potential failure would never be allowed.

All and all this is great book for the type of book it is - a fast, action packed spy novel. Not some kind of deep thinking, mystery of intrigue, just straight forward action and a good plot.

To make the point that I really enjoyed this book, let me say, that even before completing my reading, I ordered the other eight novels previously written in this series.

There is one thing absolutely sure about any book featuring Dewey Andreas . There will be action galore! Since Ben Coes first introduced Dewey as an employee of an ocean going drill rig his character has grown in stature and the violence that he interacts with along with his increasing importance to the U.S. government. Bloody Sunday finds Dewey reeling from previous adventures narrated in prior books. He is getting ready to retire from the CIA and just relax. Obviously this is not a possibility for Dewey - his country needs him and fast.

North Korea has successfully developed nuclear bombs but not the long range missiles necessary to deliver them to their arch enemy - the United States. But of course where there is a will there is always a way and so it is that a trade has been planned between the North Koreans and another mad regime in Iran. The Iranians will exchange two missiles for nuclear triggers and fissionable material to help them develop their own anti west weaponry. But both of these evil doers have not reckoned on Dewey Andreas being called up by the president of the United States to break up the scheme. Present with the CIA is a brilliant British agent on loan to aid in inter-agency relations. It is a young lady who is quite pretty and trying to get over the murder of her husband. It is thought that her husband was killed in error in place of her. Jenna Hartford, the exchange agent has come up with a scheme to inject a poison into the person of the high level North Korean officer that will be handling the trade between Iran and his country. An antidote would be hidden somewhere in the city of Pyongyang the capital of North Korea to deliver to the officer injected once he delivers the secret plans for the firing of the missiles to the U.S. Obviously Dewey is the ideal man to handle the tasks of both breaking up the trade,and injecting the poison.

Action involves the first set of problems complicated by Dewey injecting himself with a tiny quantity of the poison and than having only 24 hours to go after the antidote. The events are machine gun fast and calculated to keep the reader drawn to the book with no inclination to put it down. Of course the novel leaves us with the ingredients for the next book featuring Dewey Andreas and the possibility of a romance while involved with the events he faces.

I won’t spend time summarizing Bloody Sunday’s plot other than to say it involves North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un dying of cancer and wanting to go out in a blaze of nuclear glory and take two American cities with him.

Instead my review will focus on why I consider Bloody Sunday (which I received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review) to be a highly exciting thriller, and why I would recommend it to you.

Like in all seven of Ben Coes' previous books featuring Dewey Andreas -- but to an even greater extent in this book, Bloody Sunday very effectively delivers a torn-from-the-headlines plot with a very heroic, complex main character and well enough developed secondary characters. Further, Coes continues to pump new blood and non-stop, flat-out action into this well-worn sub-genre within the thriller category, and does so in a way that will keep you turning the pages at a very fast pace, particularly in the second half of the book.

Having said the above, I’ve deducted one star (out of five stars) from my overall rating due to Coes, at times, having Andreas engaging in action that, to me, is too over the top, even for a superhero of his caliber.

Despite this limitation in Bloody Sunday, as well as to the potential danger to those associated with Dewey, I am all ready to volunteer to go out with him on his next mission. To those of you who enjoy heavily plot driven thrillers in the tradition of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, I'd recommend you give serious consideration to Bloody Sunday (as well as to all seven of the other books in the Dewey series). I'm sure you'll be glad you did.

#Bloody Sunday #NetGalley

This wasn't my favorite Dewey Andreas novel, but given recent news it is definitely a very timely storyline. I don't think this book will be on Kim Jung Un's reading list, however!

The book starts out a little slow (not really slow but not nearly as fast paced as it gets) with information that sets up the characters for what is coming. There is a new female character introduced (possibly to become a love interest replacement for Jessica) who is on loan from the British government.

Once the plans are set in motion, the action is nearly nonstop because Dewey has to race not only to save the USA from a nuclear strike but also to save himself. It is pretty much classic Dewey Andreas which means extreme physical feats, hand-to-hand combat, and shoot-outs galore.

The only thing I missed is that Rob Tacoma made only a brief appearance and his partner wasn't in the book at all. I really like them and always appreciate when they are part of the story.

There are also some teasers about the new character that are sure to come up in future books.

Although this was not my favorite of the series, it was still an exciting addition and I really enjoyed reading it. I would not suggest readers new to the series start with this one because there is too much history to the character to get the full enjoyment. I would read at least one or two of the earlier books before reading this one.

Book Review: Bloody Sunday (Dewey Andreas #8) by Ben Coes

Pure red meat. Uninhibited by political correctness, Ben Coes has authored an impressive series of books where in no uncertain terms the good guys are sorted from the bad guys, with an intuitive focus on relevant hot-button topics and issues, delivered with the level of technical accuracy, realism and plausibility which make each story compelling and provocative. Admittedly for some readers, the stories may border on jingoism - but, shall we say, on the good side.

The latest, the eight of the series, "Bloody Sunday" reads like newsflash ripped off the wires on the probably one of the most highly-charged issues at the time of the book's publication - the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, North Korean nuclear weapon testing, and the potential end of the 70-year Korean conflict. In the story, ICBM deployment is facilitated by another rogue regime, which could very well be happening or may happen in future. At the time of this review, the American President in real life is meeting with the North Korean Leader to try to seek a resolution to issues.

The protagonist, a CIA agent of sorts with his own demons, is brusque and brutal, unapologetically patriotic and absolutely the opposite of a suave Bond superspy, yet utterly human, vulnerable to pain, bullet holes, a little love, with some compassion.

Non-stop action, twists and turns, a little melodramatic at times, easy to read creative "iceberg" style, unputdownable.

Review based on an advance reading copy presented by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Current thriller/espionage series ( 8 in all) in the style of Michael Flynn and others.  Power  Down sets the stage and the backstory and the series adds on from there. America is under attack and each book covers a different key actor who is driving it. From Muslim , Iran, China , Russia , North Korea, and even some internal US players pretty well everyone gets into the act.  And always in the end, All American Seal, Delta Dewey Andreas saves the day  while getting in and out of serious death defying situations. There seems an unending appetite for these rah rah America home and builder of the tough warrior novels where the weapons are described in agonizing detail as are  the planes, helios and what have you.  The yarns move  quickly and just stretch beyond credibility. But the stories will hold your attention and are an escape from business books.  Be warned that the point of view of all the books is that there are bad actors including jihadists around every corner that need to be terminated with bullets, knives and explosives

Poor Dewey, just like in the Godfather - every time he tries to get out, they pull him back in! Ben Coes adds another thrill a minute book to the series. This thriller is rather far fetched, but that's one of the reasons I choose Mr. Coes' novels, I know they will move along quickly, and the situations depicted will be innovative and downright entertaining. Is it a little predictable? Yes, but the characters are so complex and interesting, and so well drawn, that I credit the ability to predict towards those full character portraits. If you've read Ben Coes before, Dewey is Dewey and I think you'll enjoy this installment. If you haven't read Ben Coes, what are you waiting for? I recommend him to fans of Tom Clancy, David Baldacci, Brad Thor, but I suggest you read the books in order. Bloody Sunday can stand alone, but the series is excellent.

This is my first Dewey Andreas saga. Honestly, at first, I was a bit put off by the "only super Dewey can do it" hero worship. Then, there was the odd repetition of phrases within a few lines in several places making me briefly wonder if the book could possibly have been written by one of the new fangled AIs that stumble into awkwardness every now and again. But, I am guessing this is a writer's artifact and will be taken care of during final editing. Anyway, as I got into it, I became engaged by the characters and the plot bore me along. I will have to read the next book just to find out what happens with Jenna who intrigues me. The interaction between the intelligence principals and their operators was also engaging - enough so that, while waiting for the next book, I am going to go back and read the first seven books to get a better handle on the series.

Review: BLOODY SUNDAY by Ben Coes
(Dewey Andreas #8)

Those of us who fear North Korea's aggression and nuclear capability and the leader's instability will find much foundation for that anxiety here. In this 8th installment in Ben Coes' Dewey Andreas Series, Kim Jong-Un is diagnosed with aggressively metastasized cancer, and decides to go out in a literal blaze of glory: the glory to accrue to himself, while the great enemy America perishes in nuclear travail.

Fortunately, there is tragic hero Dewey Andreas, still diligently drinking himself to death. Hot on the trail of the remaining culprits responsible for the murder of his wife, he will be put into play to save the US from utter destruction--somehow.

I reviewed a digital ARC generously provided by the publisher, at no cost, obligation, or remuneration. I opted to review this title.

This is the 8th book featuring Dewey Andreas. And, as usual, the action begins on page 1. A highly specialized team of medical professionals are flying to Pyongyang, North Korea to examine the supreme leader, Kim Jong-un. Within 24 hours he is handed a diagnosis that sets in motion a potentially world changing event - the use of a nuclear bomb on the U.S. Andreas is ready to quit his job in clandestine services and move to Maine when he approached by President J. P. Dellenbaugh to take on one more mission. He is sent to Macau to discover why both North Korean and Iranian representatives are converging there. And then he must stop Jong-un from executing the plan. Clearly drawing upon current events and political alliances, the action is non-stop, and there is even a teaser of what is to come in the next book in the series. Coes, in my opinion, is in the top tier of thriller writers today. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy of this timely novel.

Bloody Sunday is fantastic! I really like the story arc with Dewey wrestling with his professional life versus his personal life, as it's something many of us can relate to. Of course, I can't relate to his profession risking his life but I always enjoy seeing these bad ass operators show some personality and self reflection. It can't be 100% ass kicking all the time...though those parts are awesome. Loved the action sequences, felt the story was fantastic and was on the edge of my seat throughout. Also like that the author is potentially setting up more character development for Dewey with the potential for a new relationship. Overall, 5 stars and can't recommend this book highly enough. Loved it!

I really enjoyed the first ninety five percent of the book which goes very fast and is very enjoyable. Although there were some minor edit problems like saying an Iranian was speaking Arabic when in reality they speak Farsi. The major part of the book is a great read. However I did not care for the ending, it did not fit well with the rest of the book and gave me the feeling that Ben Coes was being pushed by his editor to get it done. I would have preferred a better written ending compared to the totally impossible last scenes. However overall it was a very enjoyable book.

"Bloody Sunday", by Ben Coes is a very well-written 2018 thriller about a superhero, Dewey Andreas, who is tasked with trying to assassinate a top general in the North Korean military. In the middle of this operation, the hero manages to inject himself with some of the poison intended for his target. This starts a ticking clock scenario.

This was the first book by Ben Coes that I read. Coes' protagonist, is an interesting character: a CIA operative who seems to have an unlimited level of endurance and resilience. He is also very slightly flawed. He drinks too much, and he even manages to inject himself with poison during a very unlikely operation against a North Korean general. Things get even crazier after that. Dewey Andreas does the impossible in just about every chapter. He even makes periodic quips when he is in the middle of an operation. I have seen other authors try this, but Coes does it very well. The author layers a very clever sense of humor throughout this novel. Beginning with his backstory in which the author summarizes some of Dewey Andreas' prior exploits in a few short paragraphs, the reader gets an idea as to what to expect. To me, the backstory came off as slightly unbelievable and somewhat humorous. I believe the author intended this atmosphere of light humor throughout the novel. I found that to be the best part of the novel. It is a lot more clever than just non-stop action. Coes writes excellent non-stop action, however, and if non-stop action is your thing, "Bloody Sunday" will make you very happy. If you approach "Bloody Sunday" as fantasy and a fun thrill-ride, you will enjoy this book very much. Dewey Andreas is a little too capable for my taste, but his adventures make great fantasy.

I believe a reader would enjoy this novel more if they had read some earlier entries in the Dewey Andreas series. Also, I was wondering about Dewey Andreas' drinking. It seemed heavy to me and it didn't really seem to have much to do with the plot, at least in this novel. His drinking certainly didn't interfere with his combat skills. There was also a subplot about a strong female character in "Bloody Sunday" that seems to lead into the next book. I usually view lead-ins like this as an unpleasant but frequently used marketing technique to generate interest in the next book. I understand the need to do this, but I felt this particular subplot did not add much to this story and did not pique my interest for the next novel. My criticisms are small, however, and a reader looking for a fun thrill-ride with a very effective ticking clock with an overlay of light humor will thoroughly enjoy "Bloody Sunday".

Bloody Sunday is a thrilling and suspenseful story with a superhero operative, Dewey Andreas, and a spectrum of good and bad characters to keep the reader interested and guessing. The action and violence is over the top as the US deals with an insane dictator bent on launching a nuclear war. The story and action is up to date and could very well be taking place as you read this. The story begins with Dewey resigning from the CIA, only to be cajoled back by no less then the President. I can't wait to see the movie.

The only problem with this book is that you cannot put it down. I read it far too quickly and now I have to wait til next year. I loved the North Korea insertion as the adversary. It made for an even more interesting plot. The new MI6 character Jenna Hartford was terrific and well managed. She has the correct amount of mystery to add significantly to the book. There are plenty of reviews describing the content. Suffice to say this is one fabulous read from Ben Coes and I have read all of he Dewey books.

Dewey Andres has decided to retire. North Korea's dictator has decided to attack the United States before as his legacy. He makes a deal with Iran for nukes that work and he will send uranium that Iran wants. A meeting in Macau will bring Kim what he wants. The US has to find out what is going on and stop it in time. Dewey is needed to do this and as always he can do the job but there was a problem that he did not take into account. Can he win the day for the US government? They are depending on him.

Ben Coes has written another outstanding story. Dewey seems to find himself up to his neck in as usual. The US Gov. continues to ask him to step up because they know he will. Coes pens another crafty read that will keep you reading. Always hard to stop when you get started. This story goes along with current events in the US. Another great read from the master. Ben is my favorite writer and I always look forward to his books. Sure bet for any fan.

Completely improbable but compulsive readable as long as you don't quibble about details. This was my first Coes book so I don't have the track record with Dewey that others might. He's quite the action figure. I liked Anna, the MI=6 officer who works with him on this totally out there operation. It's imaginative and totally plot driven- perfect for travel or. beach day. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This would make a good movie.

Bloody Sunday takes Dewey Andreas into the depths of N. Korea to do his best to avert a nuclear war. Coes continues to thrill with Andreas at the center of the action. This novel is nothing if not entertaining. From the hand-to-hand combat scenes to the spy intrigue, this is a faced-paced page-turner that is full of action. It is just what you want for a book to read on the plane or to take your mind off the stress of the day.

Ben Coes is definitely the master of his genre! I have looked forward to this book for a year and the wait was definitely worth it! So now I wait again for Dewey' s next adventure. Fabulous job, Ben Coes! As far as I am concerned, you are top of the list!

With BLOODY SUNDAY Ben Coes rises to the tippy-tippy-top of the small mountain retreat housing our chief thriller writers. Dewey Andreas, BC's protagonist, has resigned from the CIA. He wants to have a personal life, with a wife, kids and some quiet time in Castine, ME. Unfortunately, the U. S. of A. has a big problem. The little rocket man is dying of pancreatic cancer and he wants to go out with a literal bang on a Sunday that will hereafter be known as the bloody one. A new character—from MI6—is seconded to Langley and develops a scheme for understanding North Korea's full military capabilities (at this point they do not know of Kim's physical condition and immediate plans). His top military advisor and surrogate father is headed to Macau, ostensibly to gamble but actually to meet with his counterpart from Iran, to trade dastardly weapons parts so that Kim's mushroom cloud dreams can come true.

I won't reveal the details of the MI6 agent's plan, but suffice to say it doesn't all work as envisioned and Dewey has to be dispatched to Pyongang. "Ripped from today's headlines" one might almost say, but this Kim is even darker than the Emmenthaler cheese-gorging article. He chain smokes, snorts cocaine and surrounds himself with scantily-clad 'waitresses'. He also surrounds himself with armed guards, so Dewey will have his hands full.

So why is this series so successful? There is little philosophizing here and few reflections on the plight of man. These are piledriver thrillers with great premises, amazing technical detail (both with regard to geography and ordnance), a terrific protagonist and a very nice continuing, supporting cast. The protagonist's personal life, his mourning for his murdered wife and longing for personal peace, are foregrounded here and there is even a hint of a possible future relationship, though that relationship may be clouded by some suspicious Russian connections (all hinted at here, but not resolved, so that the very satisfying conclusion includes some cliffhanger elements).

What I most admire is Ben Coes's ability to modulate the narrative. Some thrillers are unrelievedly intense and border on the claustrophobic. While we want to be stimulated we do not want to be tormented. BC knows how to cut between characters and events, offer just enough violence without forcing us to swim in it and gag. He offers us fascinating technical detail but does not bury us in facts and measurements. He gives us human interest but not melodrama or silliness. All is very nicely balanced and thus we read on, fully engaged but not annoyed. This is not easy to do and BC does it very, very well. At the same time, do not expect the kind of heavily-layered, thoughty, existential angst that sometimes characterizes traditional espionage fiction. The clock is ticking, the missiles are aimed, the countdown orders have been given and we don't have time for all that.

Bottom line: here's your perfect vacation book. Clutch it to your heart and enjoy.

Dewey Andres has decided to retire. North Korea's dictator has decided to attack the United States before as his legacy. He makes a deal with Iran for nukes that work and he will send uranium that Iran wants. A meeting in Macau will bring Kim what he wants. The US has to find out what is going on and stop it in time. Dewey is needed to do this and as always he can do the job but there was a problem that he did not take into account. Can he win the day for the US government? They are depending on him.

Bloody Sunday is a thrilling and suspenseful story with a superhero operative, Dewey Andreas, and a spectrum of good and bad characters to keep the reader interested and guessing. The action and violence is over the top as the US deals with an insane dictator bent on launching a nuclear war. The story and action is up to date and could very well be taking place as you read this. The story begins with Dewey resigning from the CIA, only to be cajoled back by no less then the President. I can't wait to see the movie.

Coes never disappoints in the way he envelops a reader in the story, and within the characters themselves.
I'm always impatiently awaiting the next chapter in the Dewey Andreas saga as it has moved to the top of my list of SOG/CIA covert ops series such as Mitch Rapp, Kolt Raynor, etc.

This was a thrilling, moving read throughout, and I'm ready for the next one already.. if Dellenbaugh can coax Dewey into service once again.. although I'm sure Jenna' s possible entwinement with the Russians and a budding relationship with Dewey leaves that door agape.

The only thing in the book that made me call B.S. was when Dewey jumped from a low flying helo at 250km/h without a deployed chute into a tree canopy and suffered zero injuries.
COME ON, BEN !! Not even our Dewey.

Still.. give me more, please !

The story line made the present day situations in the world so believable. Was constantly hoping the Korean leader would not know about this book or have a chance to read it and give him any ideas. Great book. Keep it up on your next one.