I love reading historical fiction, particularly anything which revolves around World War II, and this was no exception. Set in a small town in Sussex, close to Brighton, John Cook fought in World War I and now, during the Second World War, he becomes part of an auxiliary unit in the countryside, ready to take on the Germans, should they manage to get across the English Channel.

Considering the subject matter, The Last Line was pretty lighthearted and easy to read, John Cook, with all the best intentions, seems to tackle every situation like a bull at a gate, head down and hoping for the best! John, Margaret and Eric were brilliant characters. I loved them and everything they stood for. Take down the baddies at any cost!

Check the trigger warnings before you buy this book, but if you enjoy historical fiction, particularly WWII, then I’d thoroughly recommend it. I gather there is another book in the series on the way and I can’t wait to read that one next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read and review The Last Line by Stephen Ronson.

The Last Line review
I am not usually a big fan of historical fiction, but found this book to be fast-paced, suspenseful, and, most importantly, thrilling regardless of its setting/time period.

Initially, I couldn’t get into the book (the first 25-40 pages or so). But I persisted and became enveloped in the world, characters, and story the author has created.

The main character, John Cook, is a really well written three dimensional character. Despite his physical prowess — you certainly wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of him! — he is a lovable character.

Something I really like in any book is short, snappy chapters — it keeps me motivated to read a book. Most the chapters in The Last Line meet this criteria, so I really liked that.

Thanks again @stephenronsonauthor for the opportunity to read your fantastic novel.

While I am a big history fan I don't often read fiction books set so far in the past so this was a bit of a different read for me & I'm so glad I read it as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This was a gripping thriller with a strong tension filled atmosphere from the very beginning and the backdrop of England during WWII added an extra dimension to the story.
It was a fast paced page turner full of action, suspense and mystery with well developed likeable characters, I particularly enjoyed reading about about what life was like for people at that time, it was a real eyeopener.
The blending of thriller and history worked so well, I could even picture the story being adapted as a film.
Overall an enjoyable page turner I would highly recommend particularly for fans of thrillers, mystery, action & history or if you're just looking for something different.

At the centre of The Last Line, an historical thriller, is John Cook. He served in the First World War and went on to fight in Afghanistan. Now he is back home in Uckfield, Sussex, where he has spent his time turning the family farm back into some semblance of profitability, cutting a lonely figure as he toils.

He’s now contemplating how best to play a role in the war against Hitler and the Nazi fascists, something more than one of his wartime acquaintances has ideas about. Cook is an interesting man. He understands only too well the impact of war on men and that makes him able to live alongside those for whom the war has been a less than positive experience. He himself never really left the war behind.

When he left the farm to fight for his country he left behind a woman he loved. Tired of waiting, she married another man and John recognises that’s a pretty fair thing for her to have done. He’s an interesting man with his own very clear moral compass and he never hesitates when making a decision – he just makes it and acts instantly.

This leads him into some interesting situations, not least when Mary, a young local woman of his acquaintance is found brutally murdered on his land. She had stopped by looking to find information on a young female evacuee, Elizabeth, who has gone missing – and now Mary is dead and John was the last person to see her alive.

Acting in his own interests he begins to investigate and in the process he uncovers a range of deeply dodgy events and some pretty heinous adversaries. The deeper he digs, the more repugnant his findings and that in turn leads to his discovery of a horrendous set of crimes.

Stephen Ronson’s WW2 thriller is action packed and offers a fascinating glimpse into life in wartime Sussex and how Hitler’s advance through France was perceived by the British. He captures the sense of impending invasion amongst ordinary people as they prepare for the forces of darkness to breach their shores. John Cook is preparing his land to ensure that the enemy will have a hard time crossing it and this together with lots of other small touches add a real sense of authenticity to this gripping tale.

Ronson’s cast of characters is very well observed and offer alternative perspectives on what’s going on. In particular, the impoverished Lady Margaret proves to be both a great ally and an independent outspoken advocate for action. Cook’s adversaries are both loathsome and formidable

Verdict: Stephen Ronson keeps his pace brisk and the unsentimental approach of his characters leads to a thrilling read, full of action which is both violent and hard hitting. The Last Line is a terrific read; intelligent, morally challenging and with a great sense of time and place.

The author came to me with his book and I'm really grateful i got the chance to read it as I don't think it would have been something i picked myself. I ended up really enjoying this book. I've never read a book like this before, I don't tend to read books which are set so far in the past so i learnt a lot from this book. The book was sent 1940 in a time of war. This book had elements of a thriller which i loved. Also really strong characters! A Great read and one to look out for when released!

I'm really glad that Stephen reached out to ask me to read and review his book. Without that request, I would have probably overlooked it - war-time historical fiction isn't generally my bag - but this is just a great story about great people in terrible times. It's a brilliant crime thriller with a backdrop of what was going on in England in 1940, which give it another dimension. I don't know a lot about what life was like in that time and I found it much more interesting than I thought I would...definitely helped by the quality of writing.
The theme that rich and bad people leveraged the chaos all around to get away with awful things is chilling and all-too-easy to believe. It is used to weave a story that just keeps getting more and more despairing, and to give a hero an opportunity to shine. John Cook is brilliant and his crime-fighting partner, Lady Margaret, is a formidable character. He's a farmer, but so much more than that - he fought in the Great War and stayed on in the Army afterwards. I was reminded of Steven Seagal in Under Siege saying 'I'm Just a Cook'!! Lady Margaret has a country pile and enough smarts to fill every room.
The story races along at a fantastic pace which mirrors the increasing action on the pages - I was so utterly drawn in and thoroughly enjoyed every word

While veteran John Cook is preparing against invasion in the English countryside, he discovers a mystery surrounding a missing evacuee child and strives to put things right.

A gripping thriller that will have you turning the pages as fast as possible.

I have never read a book set in WW2 England before and it was really eye-opening. I found that this backdrop for the story made me think so much about how life would have been for people living during this time period.

John Cook is a brilliant protagonist and I loved his dedication to doing the right thing. I was rooting for him throughout the book. The plot was very intriguing and cleverly written. As the story unfolded I couldn't wait to get to the end and find out what would happen.

I'm very much looking forward to the next book in this series as I have quickly become a huge fan of John Cook.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to Stephen Ronson for reaching out to me on Twitter and offering me access to this ARC.

I am going to be honest, it didn’t seem like the kind of book I’d have went for despite the synopsis peaking my interest, however, I was pleasantly surprised!

The reader is thrown into the tense atmosphere, the action and twists and turns from the get-go.

I enjoyed the different genres throughout yet blended together very well. The era in which this book was set and the crimes the reader followed was very interesting. The character building was exceptional.

It is a very fast-paced book and keeps the reader piqued from the first few pages. I really took to John, I thought he was a great character and has strong morals and beliefs which is carried throughout.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend if you like thrillers, crime and war - all in the one! Thank you again to Stephen for my ARC and to Netgalley for allowing me access

What a fantastic read! Set during WWII, packed with action, history and wonderful characters, this is a must read for historical thriller enthusiasts but for those that like a good thriller as well!

I recently read several historical thrillers but this stands out for several things: the realism, the likeable characters, the action scenes and the setting.

Loved the rural background of South East England with descriptions of the landscape I could relate to as living in rural England myself. Loved also John Cook, an ex soldier in the first world war, with special training making him a perfect killing machine, but with a soft heart.. Don't make any mistakes though, if he deems you a threat or a target you're done for!

I don't want to give any spoilers so I won't say much about the plot, just that it starts off with a mystery that it becomes like a Russian doll as John Cook digs deeper.. The war is always a complex time where the worst and the best of humans come to life, although often the latter is very rare!

Really appreciated all the action scenes and the way of tactical thinking of John Cook.. I very much can see this book as being adapted for the cinema, easy! If you like historical thrillers or just thrillers, this is the perfect one to pick up!

Thanks Stephen Ronson for a copy and this is my honest review.

A brilliant debut that I have fallen in love with so easily! The characters were easy to like and the plot a historical crime thriller. I enjoyed the drama and was enthralled by the descriptions. The story gets into the action from the first page and doesn't end until the last.

Thank you to Stephen for reaching out to me about his book.

I said to myself “I’ll just read a couple of pages to start with and see how I go” Yea that is not what happened! I zoned out and had read 10 chapters where I was planning 1 or 2.

The story is absorbing from the get go and starts off with immediate tension/action.

I really took to the main character John from the get go. There was just something innately good about him. A former soldier from World War I who follows his instincts and has a profound sense of morality even if he does use brute force more liberally than most.

This story though set in 1940 and having an overarching sense of the war, is about so much more than that. This showed the home front of the war effort and how day to day life continues on in England with the impacts of the war felt across the country.

Whilst this book starts out with 2 murders - one some may not think of as murder but part of war) the plot escalates into other crimes which I won’t spoiler for the reader.

I’m so glad that Stephen reached out about his book as I really enjoyed his writing and storylines. Definitely one for those who enjoy historical fiction set during the wartime period but want more than the usual war story.

I requested the book because the premise looked very interesting to me. Unfortunately, the request was denied. However, sometime later, the author sent me a message asking me if I would be interested in reading the book. I explained the situation and then he provided me with a digital copy of this book. And I'm absolutely grateful he did that because this is most definitely a book you would want to read! It is published by Hodder and Stoughton and it'll be out on the 16th of November.

It's the start of World War II. England prepares itself for the inevitable War fearing Hitler wilt cross the English Channel as he sweeps across Europe as an almost unstoppable force. John Cook, a war veteran, is tasked with preparing the resistance effort in rural Sussex. In the meantime, children are being evacuated from London out of fear of bombing. However, many children don't make it to the host families. They seem to have disappeared. John Cook is troubled by this and starts to investigate. Here comes across a rather dark conspiracy that reaches high up in the ranks of society. What can he do?

I'm very grateful to the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book. The main character is quite likable and well worked out. You get to know him and the reason why he does things the way he does them. The story itself is fast-paced and filled with action turning it into quite the roller coaster that you just can't put away. The comparison to Lee Child's Jack Reacher is an absolute compliment and when the author continues writing about John Cook I have no doubt that John Cook will be mentioned in the same breath as Jack Reacher.

This book has it all. A great cast of characters, a brilliantly worked out story in combination with action and suspense, written superbly in the time frame of World War 2. This is a must have and a must read!

5/5 ⭐

It is May 1940 and Europe, in particular Great Britain, is becoming aware of the enormity of the task ahead of them. This war is not going to be fought in trenches, the German’s have developed Blitzkrieg and soon the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) is about to be encircled and cut off with a huge loss of manpower and weaponry. For them the army life is not fine, George helped to keep spirits high, but now the war may be lost before its even started. This is the backdrop for a fine novel that captures the dawning realisation of what lies ahead for people back in Britain.

John Cook is a prosperous farmer, a veteran of the First World War, who then went on to create commando units in the Far East, thereby developing an array of unorthodox fighting skill. He wants to serve his country but is turned down. Instead, they want him set up an off-the-books clandestine auxiliary unit to fight back once the Germans invade. As the title implies, they will become The Last Line of defence. Weaponry will be provided but they would be on their own and if discovered before invasion they could be taken as German spies. Desperate measures for desperate times. Here the author has done an excellent job picturing the sense of inevitability amongst civilian population as it prepares for invasion along with the tentative steps taken. The barbed wire on beaches, Cook preparing his land to prevent the progress of tanks across it, the sort of touches easily overlooked but which add real period detail. The scenes set in the pub manage to convey the sense of trepidation as the coming invasion takes over conversations. With recent societal changes its easy to overlook the importance of the public house at that point in time as a place for people to gather and express themselves.

The Germans are not the only enemy though, as we find ones closer to home. The black marketeer in fiction is so often portrayed as a loveable, cheeky spiv the man who could lay his hands on what you wanted for a price. Here they are more accurately seen as serious criminals, willing to exploit anyone and anything at the right price. The author pays a small homage to Brighton Rock by Graham Greene, with the spivs based in Brighton and sharing the cold-blooded psychosis of Pinky Brown. Young men of fighting age dodging call up and their duty who decide to put self-interest ahead of anything else. As Cook muses ‘nothing good ever came out of Brighton’ and he is eventually proved right, though it does prove the backdrop for some great action scenes against real villains.

The plot centres on the criminal activity of the spivs, complicity within the police force and instances of missing persons. I don’t want to give too much away, but much of the plot could almost be transplanted into 2023 and work just as well. There are no new crimes they just manifest in different guises. That Cook gets drawn into an investigation is a given but the flow of it still manages to surprise even when you think you know the answer. It’s a case of good versus evil, but one in which the boundaries between the two are a little smudged, which add to the interest.

The pacing is perfectly judged, starting off on the slow side before increasing as action set pieces, of which there are several, become imminent but all the while still building up a head of steam for the finale. The early chapters can feel a little short (it is the current trend) but in the latter third they really do inject a sense of urgency There is bloodshed and violence, how could there not be in such a story, but it’s nicely handled without being too gratuitous. An excellent job for a debut novel.

Cook is a killer too, but a trained one with a sense of morality, albeit with rules set by himself. A violent man, but a considered one, with an outlook moulded from bitter personal experience, thereby being part hero part antihero. Here we have an honest portrayal of the effects of war which is often glossed over by other authors, a whole generation who survived but returned changed men. Cook couldn’t switch himself off when the fighting ended and Nob is so shellshocked he is effectively dumb, but even minor characters carry physical and mental scars. The interaction between Cook, his best friend Doc and Doc’s wife (and Cook’s ex-fiancé) Jane is both complex and subtle, with mere looks conveying more than words. Lady Margaret is the woman to keep Cook on his toes and possesses much more spirit than hard cash, a formidable young woman to say the least.

Packed with action, superb characters and a real feel for the time and place for the setting, The Last Line is everything you would want from an intelligent war-time thriller.

I would like to thank Net Galley, the author and publisher for access to an eARC in exchange for a fair review.

A huge thank you to Stephen for the eARC of this war time novel. We meet John Cook, an ex-soldier bracing himself and his country for the invasion of south east England by Hitler. John’s a real character, a hero, flawed, charismatic and a solid presence throughout the novel. I wouldn’t normally say this is my typical genre but I really, really enjoyed it and I’d love to read more about what John gets up to next. The Last Line is out on 16th November and will have you gripped from start to finish. Thank you @netgalley , Hodder and Stephen once again.

Unputdownable.

Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this and to NetGalley for providing it. All views are my own.

This isn’t my usual type of book as I haven’t read many set in wartime before but I really enjoyed it and it made a change from my usual reads.

The story is a mix of thriller, crime and war, with a bit of politics thrown in for good measure, and as a whole it made an interesting read, and being set in wartime gave a different perspective on your traditional crime story. It’s fast paced with lots of action but easy to follow, and a couple of different narrative threads to keep you interested. Overall an enjoyable read and a strong debut from the author.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book after the author asked me if I would mind giving it a read. At the time I had no real idea what it was about. But the minute I started it I couldn’t put it down. Sometimes books do that to you, they completely engage your attention and I guarantee this one did that. As it was on my kindle I carried on reading through the night, no idea of the time. So what’s it about?

The story begins in May 1940, world war 11 has begun, children are being sent to areas away from London for their safety from any bombings in London, seeing it to be safer in the country. John Cook fought in WW1 and was ready to sign up for this war, but they don’t want him, he can’t probably do better at home in Uckfield working with the resistance.

John has done ok for himself he owns a farm, at the start of the story a plane crashes, the pilot is German, local lad Baxter is a spitfire pilot and a young soldier he shoots the pilot with no regrets or remorse. Later that same day John is in the local pub having a drink when he sees Baxter slap his girlfriend Mary, John immediately sticks up for her. The following day Mary cycles to thank John for his help, she asks the John if the local dr is trustworthy, when John says yes she thanks him and says it’s for a friend she then rides off on her bicycle where she is off to play tennis. The only thing is she isn’t seen alive again. The local police are looking at John as the claim he was the last person to see her. Her dead body is found in John’s field, she has been beaten and raped. John decides he will investigate the death and prove it wasn’t him. Obviously the police aren’t happy with this as it is their job, but if they aren’t doing it what else can he do?

I loved John’s character, he is not a killer of women that’s for sure, he takes no nonsense from anyone, he follows his gut and he is rarely wrong. His skills from knowing the area, and from fighting in the First World War he knows how to watch and hide without being seen and followed. He is a men of honour if anyone he knows is treated badly he will stand up for them.

Other characters Lady Margaret, Eric, Doc and Jane gives you a great set of characters if I am honest I really hope we will see more of these. I love a book which is character led and you really get involved with them. I had times when my heart was pounding.

Add to the story, a missing evacuee Elizabeth which adds another strand to the story, and which leads to more than you will expect. As John and Lady Margaret get to know each other and work on finding out what happened to Elizabeth. Because that was who Mary was going to play tennis with.

This is an absolute ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, great characters, great plot, gripping from start to finish, go pre order a copy of this it is due for release mid November 2023. It’s a book that has everything. Perfect for a wet windy day snuggled under a blanket. Once you start this you won’t be able to stop. Thank you to #Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Thank you Stephen Ronson for reaching out to me to with the ARC of The Last Line for my honest review. All opinions expressed below are my own.

The story revolves around a man named Cook who had served in World War 1 when he was younger. He is now 40 years old. He tries to help out again but is told he is too old. Then he is asked to help out by secretly getting a resistance team together just in case the worst happens.
While getting a team together, Cook gets drawn into the mysterious disappearance of a young evacuee. Is there something sinister going on in his small town? Can he figure things out? He discovers a dark conspiracy that seems to be connected to the highest ranks of society.
I really liked the main character, Cook. He so reminds me of Jack Reacher which I am sure others will comment on also. All the characters are very well developed.
I have to say author Stephen Ronson really researched this story well. I enjoyed reading all the information he shared about this era. His writing is solid and flows well. Once I started reading The Last Line, I honestly could not put it down. I certainly enjoyed this debut novel!
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a action packed thriller with mystery and light romance.

As someone who reads a lot of thriller and loves any sort of sub genres in thriller. Historical thrillers are usually the sub genre I don't read enough of. That being the case, I devoured this book pretty much in a couple of days. I couldn't put the book down, the mystery of the death of a young woman, coupled with a missing person made for a thrilling mystery. The characters and their relationships with each other grew throughout the book as well as the connections of them to the reader.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to get a copy early in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say I love to read any stories set during WWII. I have read many and they have all been diverse in the area of the war the stories are centred on.

The Last Line is set in country England on the outskirts of the war zone but the citizens are still very much aware that the Germans could arrive at any minute.

The protagonist John Cook is a farmer but he has fought in WWI and Afghanistan. He is a trained killer.
When a young woman is found murdered on his land he is the prime suspect to a lazy police force. Knowing the murder won't be investigated further, John turns vigilante and starts his own reconnaissance work, never expecting the level of corruption he will become embroiled in.

The Last Line is a fast-paced mystery thriller written in a crime noir style narration. It is hard not to barrack for John, he is a marvelous anti-hero. There is a lot of violence throughout the novel and the main subject is quite confronting. However, I loved all the intrigue and the character of John was very believable. He made mistakes and took them badly.

The setting is fabulous - distanced from the war yet right there amongst it with children being evacuated from London and billeted to country families, whilst underground groups are setting up defence tactics if the Germans reach them.

The Last Line is a great read! I'm looking forward to another John Cook novel and wondering where he will go from here.

Wham, bam, lots of action man! Cross between Lee Child and older WW2 thriller writers like Jack Higgins and Alistair MacLean. Deftly plotted with plenty of historical detail to keep the reader hooked. Superbly entertaining wartime thriller.