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The Last Enemy #0.1
The Commander
Commander Jacob Edwards is Captain Tommy Williams of Naval Intelligence, best operative in the field. As part of a secret elite inter- military/law enforcement task force he has rose to be the #2 man in that organization. Jacob is also now the captain of the Coast Guard completely refurbished Hamilton Class Cutter, First Responder. On its shakedown cruise after being refurbished all hell breaks loose in the Gulf of Mexico and Tommy calls on Commander Edwards to take care of the problem. Industrial sabotage, mass murder, and terrorism are just a few of the things he's got to stop as he and his men try to figure out what's really going in the Gulf. Edwards has to juggle being in the command structure of the Coast Guard while secretly carrying out orders that come from the president himself. Best-case scenario is he gets the job done, and no one knows it was him that did it.
290 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2020
4 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Dan E. Hendrickson
9 books11 followersBorn in Sheridan Wyoming in 1962 near the rustic Big Horn mountain range , to Carl and Helen Hendrickson. Dan went to school in the Sheridan School District graduating from Sheridan High School in 1981. He was an avid participator in boxing, martial arts, wrestling and a little track. His father Carl owned a small eight lane bowling alley that he ran until Dan was 12 years old. Carl also had a masters degree in English and loved to write poetry and plays. Dan picked up on his fathers love for the written word and enrolled in Casper Community College in 1982 majoring in journalism. Although he found that he had an aptitude for investigative reporting he decided that his desires lied in other areas. He went on to do much volunteer Christian ministry work throughout the United States most of his adult life and continues to pursue those endeavors to this day. During that time he gained another degree in Practical Theology and throughout his many ministry assignments worked several secular jobs. Some of his work experience led him to being in law enforcement, security, emergency medical technician, and fire fighting. He also helped run a Martial Arts School where he was a senior instructor. Most notable of his work experience is his auto detailing endeavors. He and his wife Cheryl have owned three different detailing businesses throughout the country the last of which they still run to this day.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 18, 2023
The Commander is the prequel of the series of military action novels The Last Enemy. In this book, Commander Jacob Edward is suddenly promoted as the commander of a Hamilton class cutter. But underneath his promotion there is an undercover mission, he has to secretly find out about terrorist actions in the Gulf of Mexico. The story includes murder, terrorism, human trafficking and drugs.
This action-packed book keeps the reader hooked from beginning to the very end. Its vivid dialogues and description, the feeling that he is going to be discovered and the risks he takes... you can´t stop reading it! I really think this book should be turned into an action movie.
This action-packed book keeps the reader hooked from beginning to the very end. Its vivid dialogues and description, the feeling that he is going to be discovered and the risks he takes... you can´t stop reading it! I really think this book should be turned into an action movie.
July 5, 2020
A must read book
Wow what a great book and I want more of the commander please Mr Dan Hendrickson I want to find out what happens next
Wow what a great book and I want more of the commander please Mr Dan Hendrickson I want to find out what happens next
June 15, 2020
I have read the full Last Enemy Series and have enjoyed it immensely. I have watched Dan E. Hendrickson grow as an author and each iteration of this wonderful series has been even better than the previous. I was especially excited when the author asked me to review his latest effort, the prequel to the series. One of the difficulties of writing a prequel to an established series is the juggling of timelines, characters and events that have already been written about but occur in the future. As a reviewer, I am always on the lookout for any errors of this nature or plot holes that make no sense given what has already been written. I am thrilled to report that I found no such holes or errors in this excellent story. As with all the stories in this series, although they are linked, they are stand-alone tales and can be read in any order. That having been said, I would still suggest any new readers to Hendrickson’s work start with the prequel and work their way through the series. It just makes more sense to do it that way.
In, The Commander, we meet Commander Jacob Edwards just as he is promoted to being the youngest Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard and given command of the refurbished Coast Guard Hamilton Class Cutter, First Responder. Jacob, his wife and nine-year-old daughter are required to move to where the cutter is based but thankfully that is the same place as his wife’s parents live, so Jacob will feel more comfortable about leaving them alone when he is off on patrol. As he takes command of First Responder, it becomes increasingly apparent, to the Coast Guard, that something big is brewing out in the Gulf of Mexico. It seems that terrorists may be planning to sabotage one or more of the deep-sea oil rigs based in the Gulf, to try to strangle the U.S, supply of oil. Captain Tommy Williams (The Legend) is tasked, by the President, with finding out who is planning the terrorist attack and thwarting it. Tommy knows the best men for that job will be Commander Edwards and the rest of his top-secret military task-force that he is in charge of. So begins an epic showdown in the Gulf of Mexico between a desperate band of criminals and the might of the United States Coast Guard.
The characters Hendrickson has created in this series are fascinatingly overdrawn. At one end of the scale you have the evil mastermind of the criminal enterprise, Boris Rasmov, his family and criminal enterprise, while at the other end we have the dedicated, moral, and powerful leadership of Commander Edwards, his extended family, his crew, and his paramilitary team. What I liked particularly was those fringe characters who were at or near the top of the Coast Guard’s hierarchy but who were morally flawed and therefore able to be manipulated and indeed subverted by the evil Rasmov.
As with all of Hendrickson’s books the action is fast and furious and the author’s research, to this lay-reader, anyway, appears impeccable. The author knows his onions when it comes to the U.S. Coast Guard, its hierarchy, its weaponry and its procedures. Commander Jacob Edwards appeals partly because of his heroism and all-American ingenuity (Bondish or McGyverish in many ways) but what makes him so likeable and identifiable as a real person, is his willing acceptance of other’s ideas and talents. He will always listen to ideas from anyone, and give them credit for them, no matter what their rank. Yes, he’s a lead-by-example hero but he’s more than that. He has a genuine care and concern for his fellow “Guardies” and also for humanity in general. There is a lot to like about Commander Jacob Edwards.
As a reviewer who has reveled in and enjoyed watching Hendrickson’s growth as an author over the past couple of years, I can definitely proclaim The Commander: Last Enemy Series Prequel as the crowning jewel of a superb action/adventure Coast Guard series. Dan E. Hendrickson has arrived, in my opinion, and I am eager to see where his fertile imagination will take him next on his literary journey. I can highly recommend this book and the entire series. It was a truly enjoyable and satisfying read.
In, The Commander, we meet Commander Jacob Edwards just as he is promoted to being the youngest Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard and given command of the refurbished Coast Guard Hamilton Class Cutter, First Responder. Jacob, his wife and nine-year-old daughter are required to move to where the cutter is based but thankfully that is the same place as his wife’s parents live, so Jacob will feel more comfortable about leaving them alone when he is off on patrol. As he takes command of First Responder, it becomes increasingly apparent, to the Coast Guard, that something big is brewing out in the Gulf of Mexico. It seems that terrorists may be planning to sabotage one or more of the deep-sea oil rigs based in the Gulf, to try to strangle the U.S, supply of oil. Captain Tommy Williams (The Legend) is tasked, by the President, with finding out who is planning the terrorist attack and thwarting it. Tommy knows the best men for that job will be Commander Edwards and the rest of his top-secret military task-force that he is in charge of. So begins an epic showdown in the Gulf of Mexico between a desperate band of criminals and the might of the United States Coast Guard.
The characters Hendrickson has created in this series are fascinatingly overdrawn. At one end of the scale you have the evil mastermind of the criminal enterprise, Boris Rasmov, his family and criminal enterprise, while at the other end we have the dedicated, moral, and powerful leadership of Commander Edwards, his extended family, his crew, and his paramilitary team. What I liked particularly was those fringe characters who were at or near the top of the Coast Guard’s hierarchy but who were morally flawed and therefore able to be manipulated and indeed subverted by the evil Rasmov.
As with all of Hendrickson’s books the action is fast and furious and the author’s research, to this lay-reader, anyway, appears impeccable. The author knows his onions when it comes to the U.S. Coast Guard, its hierarchy, its weaponry and its procedures. Commander Jacob Edwards appeals partly because of his heroism and all-American ingenuity (Bondish or McGyverish in many ways) but what makes him so likeable and identifiable as a real person, is his willing acceptance of other’s ideas and talents. He will always listen to ideas from anyone, and give them credit for them, no matter what their rank. Yes, he’s a lead-by-example hero but he’s more than that. He has a genuine care and concern for his fellow “Guardies” and also for humanity in general. There is a lot to like about Commander Jacob Edwards.
As a reviewer who has reveled in and enjoyed watching Hendrickson’s growth as an author over the past couple of years, I can definitely proclaim The Commander: Last Enemy Series Prequel as the crowning jewel of a superb action/adventure Coast Guard series. Dan E. Hendrickson has arrived, in my opinion, and I am eager to see where his fertile imagination will take him next on his literary journey. I can highly recommend this book and the entire series. It was a truly enjoyable and satisfying read.
May 20, 2020
The Commander by Dan E. Hendrickson is a prequel to the military suspense Last Enemy series, which is followed by book one, The Good Fight, book two, The Cartel Crusher, and book three, The Last Enemy. This installment is an origin story for Commander Jacob Edwards, a Coast Guard Cross recipient and one of the youngest to be given the rank and command. As a result, Edwards has achieved a legendary status among his subordinates on the second largest vessel in the Coast Guard's fleet, First Responder. While Edwards wears the sleeve rank insignia of Commander, one thing it doesn't reveal is Edwards' involvement as part of an elite task force that compromises Coast Guard protocol as an international crisis emerges on an oil rig, and the orders that sanction a resolution come directly from the highest authority possible.
The Commander is a well crafted military fiction novel, ripe with an almost true to life blend of realism and cinematic depiction by author Dan E. Hendrickson. The book provides multiple point of view characters that allows a reader to immerse themselves in the full scope of its plot. The pacing is well executed and Hendrickson doesn't waffle about with unnecessary information dumps that seem to be the modus operandi in the genre, and the simple style of writing makes this series a solid entry point for those who are just now discovering a love for military suspense. I enjoyed the humanizing of Edwards and the delicate balance achieved of Edwards the husband and father, and Edwards the American hero. I was particularly enthralled by a plot that surrounds an oil rig , eliciting the recent memory of the deadly, real life failure of the infamous oil rig Deepwater Horizon. Overall, this is an exciting prequel that is easy to recommend.
Review written for Readers' Favorite.
The Commander is a well crafted military fiction novel, ripe with an almost true to life blend of realism and cinematic depiction by author Dan E. Hendrickson. The book provides multiple point of view characters that allows a reader to immerse themselves in the full scope of its plot. The pacing is well executed and Hendrickson doesn't waffle about with unnecessary information dumps that seem to be the modus operandi in the genre, and the simple style of writing makes this series a solid entry point for those who are just now discovering a love for military suspense. I enjoyed the humanizing of Edwards and the delicate balance achieved of Edwards the husband and father, and Edwards the American hero. I was particularly enthralled by a plot that surrounds an oil rig , eliciting the recent memory of the deadly, real life failure of the infamous oil rig Deepwater Horizon. Overall, this is an exciting prequel that is easy to recommend.
Review written for Readers' Favorite.
May 19, 2023
Headline: Sinister world events lead to spying, and sabotage end up fighting pirates
The book is set- in the world of the Coast Guard, along the Mexican border, where drugs and pirates concern the locals; local law enforcement there- federal law enforcement. In the beginning, the reader is met with Lt. Commander Jacob Edwards chasing a criminal smuggler near the Mexican water border. Not wanting to ruin the book for you, I will say this: at the end of the novel, the daddy-daughter dinner that was supposed to happen ends up being the two of them restoring a vehicle. And in the middle of the book, it tells of the events that take place on his surveillance of the Event Horizon until the end of the book.
What I like about the book is that it follows a written formula regarding the story setup and resolution. Anyways I think that it went by so quickly. I recommend reading it.
The book is set- in the world of the Coast Guard, along the Mexican border, where drugs and pirates concern the locals; local law enforcement there- federal law enforcement. In the beginning, the reader is met with Lt. Commander Jacob Edwards chasing a criminal smuggler near the Mexican water border. Not wanting to ruin the book for you, I will say this: at the end of the novel, the daddy-daughter dinner that was supposed to happen ends up being the two of them restoring a vehicle. And in the middle of the book, it tells of the events that take place on his surveillance of the Event Horizon until the end of the book.
What I like about the book is that it follows a written formula regarding the story setup and resolution. Anyways I think that it went by so quickly. I recommend reading it.
May 19, 2023
The commander by Daniel Hendricson is an action book with an excellent plot, it tells the story of Jacob who is the commander of the United State Coast Guard who is chosen to find the cause of a terrorist attack. When he is chosen, he and other secret agents must face in the Gulf of Mexico with these criminals. The book also touches aspects of the protagonist's personal life, with rounded and well-developed characters. It is a very good book that I highly recommend, not only did it keep me entertained all the time but it also led me to imagine the story in its entirety. Terrorism, mystery and a lot of tension, you will find this and more on each page; an incredible plot and the beginning of a captivating adventure.
May 19, 2023
This is an intense and gripping thriller that pushes the reader into a world of high-stake action, suspense and covert operations.
The author, Dan Hendrickson, could weave a clever and intricate web of intrigue and mystery that will absolutely captivate any kind of reader from the opening chapter. Personally, this story had me turning pages from beginning to end.
In my opinion, one of the book’s strengths lies in its portrayal of the challenges of carrying out secreted operations. The author highlights the psychological and moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist Commander Jacob Edwards, adding complexity and depth to this character.
The action scenes are vividly described providing an adrenaline reading experience.
The author, Dan Hendrickson, could weave a clever and intricate web of intrigue and mystery that will absolutely captivate any kind of reader from the opening chapter. Personally, this story had me turning pages from beginning to end.
In my opinion, one of the book’s strengths lies in its portrayal of the challenges of carrying out secreted operations. The author highlights the psychological and moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist Commander Jacob Edwards, adding complexity and depth to this character.
The action scenes are vividly described providing an adrenaline reading experience.
May 16, 2023
This is an action-packed and fast-moving novel, full of fight scenes, incredible plots, terrorism, sabotage and a lot more. While I do understand that this book is an action novel and that the genre as such does not put much focus on deep character building and carefully crafted literary language, this book just has too many language errors in it for me to enjoy. The book urgently needs revision and improved editing. Other than that, the characters are suitable enough for the genre, although I thought they lacked “flesh and blood.” Still, if you are looking for a book that’s mostly about military action, then this might do the trick. It’s a three out of five for me.
May 22, 2023
dazzling book
“The Commander: Last Enemy Series Prequel” by Dan Hendrickson is one dazzling book that I can only recommend. Jacob, the main character is charged with too many jobs at once. Will he get them done? That’s what this book is about and I loved it. It’s somehow stressful but at the same time very satisfying to read. How on earth is one man supposed to handle things such as mass murder and terrorism while carrying out two jobs at the same time: managing what's going on at the gulf and direct missions of the president. It’s really incredible how Edward is able to keep a clear head in the midst of all of this.
“The Commander: Last Enemy Series Prequel” by Dan Hendrickson is one dazzling book that I can only recommend. Jacob, the main character is charged with too many jobs at once. Will he get them done? That’s what this book is about and I loved it. It’s somehow stressful but at the same time very satisfying to read. How on earth is one man supposed to handle things such as mass murder and terrorism while carrying out two jobs at the same time: managing what's going on at the gulf and direct missions of the president. It’s really incredible how Edward is able to keep a clear head in the midst of all of this.
June 30, 2021
I love how the plot of the book is well-detailed. The scenes which we will likely imagine in the movies. My only concern is that I was confused about the names of the characters. There's one instance where the name is wrong based on who should it refers to. But overall, I'm looking forward to the next sequel of the book. Great job!
July 17, 2020
one of the greatest books I have read in a long time.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews