What do you think?
Rate this book
Element 42
That time you stumbled onto a mass grave and mercenaries bolted from the jungle to hunt you down.
Veteran bodyguard Jacob Stearne aims to spend quality time with his heiress-boss during a charitable mission to Borneo. Building a school seems simple enough until the locals give chase. She won’t say what she did to provoke them, but providing her protection just flipped from being a mini-vacation to a death sentence.
Athlete Pia Sabel intended to put her fortune to use helping educate isolated children. When corrupt officials force her to flee, she remains haunted by the sight of dead and dying villagers. Without evidence of murder, international authorities dismiss her as simply rich and spoiled. Her obsession even grates on the Sabel Security team. Then one of their own contracts a highly contagious disease.
Her friend is near death. A mole in her ranks tries to destroy her. Pia turns to Jacob and his questionable sanity to help bring the guilty to justice. When their primary suspects turn up dead, she must recalculate the evidence. Can Jacob and Pia expose the conspiracy before a tyrant unleashes an apocalyptic virus?
Veteran bodyguard Jacob Stearne aims to spend quality time with his heiress-boss during a charitable mission to Borneo. Building a school seems simple enough until the locals give chase. She won’t say what she did to provoke them, but providing her protection just flipped from being a mini-vacation to a death sentence.
Athlete Pia Sabel intended to put her fortune to use helping educate isolated children. When corrupt officials force her to flee, she remains haunted by the sight of dead and dying villagers. Without evidence of murder, international authorities dismiss her as simply rich and spoiled. Her obsession even grates on the Sabel Security team. Then one of their own contracts a highly contagious disease.
Her friend is near death. A mole in her ranks tries to destroy her. Pia turns to Jacob and his questionable sanity to help bring the guilty to justice. When their primary suspects turn up dead, she must recalculate the evidence. Can Jacob and Pia expose the conspiracy before a tyrant unleashes an apocalyptic virus?
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2015
362 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Seeley James
27 books308 followersOn a rainy day when I was ten, I was transported to eighteenth century England where I met Captain Billy Bones, heard the tapping of Blind Pew’s cane, and witnessed the treachery of Long John Silver. When I closed the cover of Treasure Island, I thought to myself: When I make stuff up, I get in trouble. I need to become a writer.
Which was the career I planned on pursuing. Planned on …
At 17, I was homeless, wandering from one minimum wage job to another. At 19, I found purpose in life when I adopted a 3-year-old girl and raised her (she’s 51 now and lives across town). Children need a lot of things that cost money, so I shelved the writing idea and pursued a career in technology, selling products and services to Fortune 500 company executives.
Along the way, I met and married the love of my life. We added two children (now grown and living in LA and NYC) and carved out a life. When I’d made all the gold I could eat, I returned my focus to the career I’d always wanted: writing adventures filled with thrills and mysteries.
My beloved wife passed unexpectedly in early 2024. Now, I spend my time talking to my imaginary friends and hiking a small mountain in my hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona. I hope you enjoy the Sabel Security Series, and the characters of Jacob Stearne and Pia Sabel. As of this writing, there are sixteen novels completed and two more in my head. I plan to keep writing them until my mortal ink dries up.
To buy books from my writer-direct site, visit seeleyjames . com
Contact Seeley James:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: SeeleyJamesAuth
Twitter: @SeeleyJamesAuth
Seeley is a proud member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Which was the career I planned on pursuing. Planned on …
At 17, I was homeless, wandering from one minimum wage job to another. At 19, I found purpose in life when I adopted a 3-year-old girl and raised her (she’s 51 now and lives across town). Children need a lot of things that cost money, so I shelved the writing idea and pursued a career in technology, selling products and services to Fortune 500 company executives.
Along the way, I met and married the love of my life. We added two children (now grown and living in LA and NYC) and carved out a life. When I’d made all the gold I could eat, I returned my focus to the career I’d always wanted: writing adventures filled with thrills and mysteries.
My beloved wife passed unexpectedly in early 2024. Now, I spend my time talking to my imaginary friends and hiking a small mountain in my hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona. I hope you enjoy the Sabel Security Series, and the characters of Jacob Stearne and Pia Sabel. As of this writing, there are sixteen novels completed and two more in my head. I plan to keep writing them until my mortal ink dries up.
To buy books from my writer-direct site, visit seeleyjames . com
Contact Seeley James:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: SeeleyJamesAuth
Twitter: @SeeleyJamesAuth
Seeley is a proud member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
May 7, 2019
Earlier this year, because he knew that I'd greatly liked the two previous Sabel Security novels, my Goodreads friend Seeley James gifted me with the e-book editions of all of the remaining five. This was just an act of friendly generosity, with no actual request for reviews; but I'm glad to treat them as review copies, and (as always) to review them fairly on their merits. This book's merits earn it very high marks, which came as no surprise to me!
Unlike some series, this one really should be read in order; you need the background of the first two to fully understand the characters and premise, and the previous experiences that shape their situation and relationships. (My reviews of the previous books, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... , also provide background for this review, and a lot of the earlier comments would also apply here.) Here, Pia and her team of veteran agents stumble onto a scheme that clearly involves unethical biological research on natives in the jungles of Borneo. What else it ultimately involves --well, that would be telling, but plumbing the full depth of what's going on will have our gallant band of heroes/heroines (where gender is concerned, Seeley's an equal-opportunity writer!) facing danger and death on three different continents, with LOTS of lives, and maybe the future of mankind, at stake.
Like the previous book, Bring It, this one interweaves two narrative strands, one in third person and one in the first-person voice of Sabel Security agent Jacob Stearne. Also like the previous one, its premise builds a fictional narrative on the real-life realities of actual geopolitical problems and a world ruled by elitist corporations and governments that are almost totally devoid of any ethic except self-centered utilitarianism, and in the grip of a hubris that's willing and eager to play God. (No, we don't have any concrete evidence that anybody's planning a scheme like the one depicted here --but at the same time, it's a pretty plausible guess that there are plenty of people in high places who at least contemplate it, or would if they calculated they could pull it off.) Of the three books I've read to date, this one has the most action, with an almost manic pace, and the highest body count. We also have some more revelation of what makes Pia tick psychologically, and a hint of more revelations to come about the murder of her birth parents when she was five years old. (She's operating to a big extent in vigilante mode here, but for me that's not necessarily a negative thing; the book will force readers to consider how they feel about that, and my personal opinion of it is that it can be morally justified at times.) The plotting is complex, and the chapters tend to end on cliffhanger notes, only to switch back and forth between equally precarious narrative strands. Seeley knows a great deal about high-tech surveillance equipment, weaponry, etc., and makes liberal use of what he knows here; but the reader doesn't have to share that knowledge --we can just accept that things work the way he says they do, and go with the flow. If one had unlimited time to read, this would be a quick read; it took me nearly two months to finish only because I read it irregularly here and there in electronic format. (I'd have blazed through it a lot faster in paper format, and would have read it in one sitting if I could have!) No spoilers, but the ending was particularly good.
My reaction to the read wasn't without a few quibbles. Although I sometimes got lost in plot details and couldn't remember a connection, etc., I think that was mostly because of the piecemeal way I had to read the book over a span of weeks, not due to deficiencies in the narration. Mostly, I could follow the action sequences (not always; they'd be clearer in movie format, and this would be a great subject for movie adaptation!). But on at least three occasions, characters with their hands tied behind their backs reverse that by, apparently, jumping backwards through their own arms. I don't believe this is physically possible, no matter how athletic the person is; and even if it was, I think it would result in two dislocated shoulders. Seeley also tends to forget details from previous books. It was established in the first two books that persons shot with Sabel Security tranquilizer darts need to be injected with an antidote to prevent possible allergic reactions (if I correctly recall the explanation); that requirement disappears here. Jacob specifically mentioned in the previous book that fellow agent Carla was married; here he tells us specifically that he never knew anything about her marital status, and it's made clear that she's single. Bad language is probably within the limits of realism, and there's no explicit sex (though, Jacob being Jacob, we're not terribly surprised in the opening scene when he's rousted out of bed, and is sharing it with a recently-met woman). But the revelation, at one point, of past messed-up sexual escapades and inter-relationships among some of the characters (not Pia) is so off-putting it inspires eye rolling. (However, while I recently dropped another series because I discovered that the author wants us to believe his protagonist really has conversations with animals, I don't believe Seeley really wants us to believe Jacob has actual conversations only he can hear with the Roman god Mercury. IMO, we should understand this simply as a hallucinogenic coping mechanism when he's not on his meds, and the "warnings" from that source as really deriving from a sixth sense and highly-keen natural senses and instincts. I could be wrong, though....)
Regardless of quibbles, though, I really liked the book and continue to really like the series. I'm invested in it for the long haul, though It'll be autumn before I'm able to get to the next book. But I'll be champing at the bit!
Unlike some series, this one really should be read in order; you need the background of the first two to fully understand the characters and premise, and the previous experiences that shape their situation and relationships. (My reviews of the previous books, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... , also provide background for this review, and a lot of the earlier comments would also apply here.) Here, Pia and her team of veteran agents stumble onto a scheme that clearly involves unethical biological research on natives in the jungles of Borneo. What else it ultimately involves --well, that would be telling, but plumbing the full depth of what's going on will have our gallant band of heroes/heroines (where gender is concerned, Seeley's an equal-opportunity writer!) facing danger and death on three different continents, with LOTS of lives, and maybe the future of mankind, at stake.
Like the previous book, Bring It, this one interweaves two narrative strands, one in third person and one in the first-person voice of Sabel Security agent Jacob Stearne. Also like the previous one, its premise builds a fictional narrative on the real-life realities of actual geopolitical problems and a world ruled by elitist corporations and governments that are almost totally devoid of any ethic except self-centered utilitarianism, and in the grip of a hubris that's willing and eager to play God. (No, we don't have any concrete evidence that anybody's planning a scheme like the one depicted here --but at the same time, it's a pretty plausible guess that there are plenty of people in high places who at least contemplate it, or would if they calculated they could pull it off.) Of the three books I've read to date, this one has the most action, with an almost manic pace, and the highest body count. We also have some more revelation of what makes Pia tick psychologically, and a hint of more revelations to come about the murder of her birth parents when she was five years old. (She's operating to a big extent in vigilante mode here, but for me that's not necessarily a negative thing; the book will force readers to consider how they feel about that, and my personal opinion of it is that it can be morally justified at times.) The plotting is complex, and the chapters tend to end on cliffhanger notes, only to switch back and forth between equally precarious narrative strands. Seeley knows a great deal about high-tech surveillance equipment, weaponry, etc., and makes liberal use of what he knows here; but the reader doesn't have to share that knowledge --we can just accept that things work the way he says they do, and go with the flow. If one had unlimited time to read, this would be a quick read; it took me nearly two months to finish only because I read it irregularly here and there in electronic format. (I'd have blazed through it a lot faster in paper format, and would have read it in one sitting if I could have!) No spoilers, but the ending was particularly good.
My reaction to the read wasn't without a few quibbles. Although I sometimes got lost in plot details and couldn't remember a connection, etc., I think that was mostly because of the piecemeal way I had to read the book over a span of weeks, not due to deficiencies in the narration. Mostly, I could follow the action sequences (not always; they'd be clearer in movie format, and this would be a great subject for movie adaptation!). But on at least three occasions, characters with their hands tied behind their backs reverse that by, apparently, jumping backwards through their own arms. I don't believe this is physically possible, no matter how athletic the person is; and even if it was, I think it would result in two dislocated shoulders. Seeley also tends to forget details from previous books. It was established in the first two books that persons shot with Sabel Security tranquilizer darts need to be injected with an antidote to prevent possible allergic reactions (if I correctly recall the explanation); that requirement disappears here. Jacob specifically mentioned in the previous book that fellow agent Carla was married; here he tells us specifically that he never knew anything about her marital status, and it's made clear that she's single. Bad language is probably within the limits of realism, and there's no explicit sex (though, Jacob being Jacob, we're not terribly surprised in the opening scene when he's rousted out of bed, and is sharing it with a recently-met woman). But the revelation, at one point, of past messed-up sexual escapades and inter-relationships among some of the characters (not Pia) is so off-putting it inspires eye rolling. (However, while I recently dropped another series because I discovered that the author wants us to believe his protagonist really has conversations with animals, I don't believe Seeley really wants us to believe Jacob has actual conversations only he can hear with the Roman god Mercury. IMO, we should understand this simply as a hallucinogenic coping mechanism when he's not on his meds, and the "warnings" from that source as really deriving from a sixth sense and highly-keen natural senses and instincts. I could be wrong, though....)
Regardless of quibbles, though, I really liked the book and continue to really like the series. I'm invested in it for the long haul, though It'll be autumn before I'm able to get to the next book. But I'll be champing at the bit!
October 15, 2020
Having read the prequels first, I was surprised to discover that these books are not centered around Pia Sabel, but around her slightly crazy right-hand man Jacob Stearne. One I realigned to that, this adventure really took off. This is a wild ride on a truly global scale, and the bad guys are really nasty.
Our heroes all have back-stories which contribute to their motivations and skillsets. Almost everyone gets shot at least once, and a few characters are surprisingly red-shirted. Consider this like the Mission Impossible movies, only with more bad-ass females, and possibly even more over-the-top.
I'll keep reading the series.
Our heroes all have back-stories which contribute to their motivations and skillsets. Almost everyone gets shot at least once, and a few characters are surprisingly red-shirted. Consider this like the Mission Impossible movies, only with more bad-ass females, and possibly even more over-the-top.
I'll keep reading the series.
February 21, 2021
3 and half stars.
Jacob Sterne is an Army veteran. Now, he’s employed by Sabel Security, an international security organization. He has some problems, though. He hears the voice of Mercury, the Roman god of messages in his head. Mercury usually warns him about danger but sometimes he just makes snarky comments about how soft Jacob is, unlike tough old Romans in the good old days. Jacob knows that Mercury is most likely a reaction to trauma but they still banter. He also has problems with women: he wants to sleep with all of them.
Pia Sabel is a former Olympic level soccer player. Now she’s a multimillionaire and runs the security company. She has her own problems because she saw her parents murdered when she was very young. Her adoptive father owned the security company, among other firms, and gave it to her. She’s headstrong and used to getting her own way. But she also wants to do what’s right, no matter if that’s cutting off body parts from rapists or tracking down corporation which are trying to poison millions of people. Jacob is in love with her but considers her way out of his league.
The story begins in Borneo where Pia Sabel is building a school. But she and her team manages to get on the nerves of the local tough guys and they must leave quickly. On the road, Pia meets a young girl who is carrying her sick younger brother. Pia insists that they stop to help, even though Jacob is against it. The team finds a place they think is a hurriedly built hospital full of local sick people. But the place has guards with guns and the medics are too nervous. Jacob steals three vials. Jacob, Pia, and the team are forced out and to leave the girl and her brother behind. Later, they hear that everyone in that camp are dead. Worse, someone tipped off the media that Pia and her company were there.
Pia is determined to find out who killed the people and why. Also, killers are determined to get back the vials Jacob took.
This is a fast-paced story with lots of violence but the plot is surprisingly complex. Sabel Security seems to employ almost exclusively former soldiers so they also swear like soldiers. The hunt for the bad guys takes Jacob all over the world. However, it does have a couple of gruesome torture scenes. And a lot of people are shot. Sabel Security actually uses dart guns with tranquilizers but their enemies don’t and Jacob and the others change to regular weapons when needed and when Pia isn’t around.
Jacob is a first person narrator for most of the book, but there are two other POV characters in third person. One of them is one of the bad guys so we get a pretty good picture of how they operate and bit about why. Still the full explanation for the reasons of all this came as a surprise to me in the end.
Surprisingly many of the secondary characters are women, in addition to Pia. Two of them are actually Jacob’s ex-girlfriends and he isn’t very comfortable working with them, at first. Many of the women are former soldiers who are just as good in a fight as Jacob and the other men.
This was like a summer action flick with lots of action and some humor. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters but it was entertaining.
While the book is labeled as the first in the series, there are references to past events. In fact, near the end one plot point is dependent on them. Apparently, this is the third book about these characters. The first two books are now called Sabel Origins series. But that’s a pretty minor point.
Jacob Sterne is an Army veteran. Now, he’s employed by Sabel Security, an international security organization. He has some problems, though. He hears the voice of Mercury, the Roman god of messages in his head. Mercury usually warns him about danger but sometimes he just makes snarky comments about how soft Jacob is, unlike tough old Romans in the good old days. Jacob knows that Mercury is most likely a reaction to trauma but they still banter. He also has problems with women: he wants to sleep with all of them.
Pia Sabel is a former Olympic level soccer player. Now she’s a multimillionaire and runs the security company. She has her own problems because she saw her parents murdered when she was very young. Her adoptive father owned the security company, among other firms, and gave it to her. She’s headstrong and used to getting her own way. But she also wants to do what’s right, no matter if that’s cutting off body parts from rapists or tracking down corporation which are trying to poison millions of people. Jacob is in love with her but considers her way out of his league.
The story begins in Borneo where Pia Sabel is building a school. But she and her team manages to get on the nerves of the local tough guys and they must leave quickly. On the road, Pia meets a young girl who is carrying her sick younger brother. Pia insists that they stop to help, even though Jacob is against it. The team finds a place they think is a hurriedly built hospital full of local sick people. But the place has guards with guns and the medics are too nervous. Jacob steals three vials. Jacob, Pia, and the team are forced out and to leave the girl and her brother behind. Later, they hear that everyone in that camp are dead. Worse, someone tipped off the media that Pia and her company were there.
Pia is determined to find out who killed the people and why. Also, killers are determined to get back the vials Jacob took.
This is a fast-paced story with lots of violence but the plot is surprisingly complex. Sabel Security seems to employ almost exclusively former soldiers so they also swear like soldiers. The hunt for the bad guys takes Jacob all over the world. However, it does have a couple of gruesome torture scenes. And a lot of people are shot. Sabel Security actually uses dart guns with tranquilizers but their enemies don’t and Jacob and the others change to regular weapons when needed and when Pia isn’t around.
Jacob is a first person narrator for most of the book, but there are two other POV characters in third person. One of them is one of the bad guys so we get a pretty good picture of how they operate and bit about why. Still the full explanation for the reasons of all this came as a surprise to me in the end.
Surprisingly many of the secondary characters are women, in addition to Pia. Two of them are actually Jacob’s ex-girlfriends and he isn’t very comfortable working with them, at first. Many of the women are former soldiers who are just as good in a fight as Jacob and the other men.
This was like a summer action flick with lots of action and some humor. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters but it was entertaining.
While the book is labeled as the first in the series, there are references to past events. In fact, near the end one plot point is dependent on them. Apparently, this is the third book about these characters. The first two books are now called Sabel Origins series. But that’s a pretty minor point.
August 5, 2017
What a ride ! This is virtually non stop action from start to finish. Another great Sabel Security story with Pia doing her thing as always. These are great fun to read, if you're not reading them you are really missing out !
August 24, 2023
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this thriller from author Seeley James. Thank you, Sir, for sharing your hard work with me. Element 42 is the first in a Series based on Sabel Security but is a complete tale. I have read Element 42 of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I thoroughly enjoy Seeley James' novels - his mind is a fertile hotspot that brings us compelling tales. I am happy to recommend his work to friends and family. He writes a strong thriller with personable characters and solid backgrounds.
Wealthy heiress Pia Sabel and her bodyguard Jacob Stearne, a US military veteran who is slightly mad and considers the god Mercury his silent partner, are recurring characters in Seeley James novels, and they take the reins in Element 42 right from the get-go.
Someone has developed a virus that will kill most older people and any folks with compromised immunity within just a day or two. They are spreading it around in Borneo on the first trial of the virus - a virus to be used as a population control when water and food become even rarer than they are today. Only big Pharma will have the antidote - and it will be massively expensive. Written in 2015 before we even dreamed of a worldwide pandemic, this defines an international situation that looks frighteningly familiar. Just the thought of it will keep you up nights.
Reviewed on November 2, 2022, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
Wealthy heiress Pia Sabel and her bodyguard Jacob Stearne, a US military veteran who is slightly mad and considers the god Mercury his silent partner, are recurring characters in Seeley James novels, and they take the reins in Element 42 right from the get-go.
Someone has developed a virus that will kill most older people and any folks with compromised immunity within just a day or two. They are spreading it around in Borneo on the first trial of the virus - a virus to be used as a population control when water and food become even rarer than they are today. Only big Pharma will have the antidote - and it will be massively expensive. Written in 2015 before we even dreamed of a worldwide pandemic, this defines an international situation that looks frighteningly familiar. Just the thought of it will keep you up nights.
Reviewed on November 2, 2022, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
July 23, 2020
I love the Jack Reacher series so I was excited to get this one and of course it did not disappoint! Jacob is on a mission in Borneo even though he has PTSD schizophrenia and is "advised" through the god, Mercury (which is hilarious just on its own)! There is so much to this plot: kidnappings, missing vials of blood, chase scenes, racism, and oh so relevant is a planned pandemic! It's so packed with action that I found myself having to stop reading as my heart was racing frequently! If you're looking for a thriller with an amazing cast of quirky characters, this is the book for you. And even better news is it's the first in a series of Sable Security (with a take-no-prisoners beautiful woman in charge)!
Thanks to the author for this ARC!
Thanks to the author for this ARC!
April 12, 2015
Definitely a must read for anyone who is a fan of action and adventure. Well written with great characters. Perfectly crafted with just the right amount of humour for this action/adventure lover.
March 25, 2018
Mercury Is Awesome. This is the story that really brings Mercury in as an actual character, and he pretty much steals the show. Still not enough Pia, as I still consider The Geneva Decision the best in this series due to its focus on Pia herself, but there was enough development with her that it still felt worthwhile. Great read with an interesting concept that it has been a while since I've seen done, and I haven't seen it done this good in even longer. Very much recommended.
April 16, 2015
Nicely done
Great leap forward in the Pia series. A excellent fast moving action thriller, it was a nice beach time read.
Great leap forward in the Pia series. A excellent fast moving action thriller, it was a nice beach time read.
December 17, 2018
Element 42
Sabel Security Book 1
Seeley James
Machined Media, Apr 2015
350 pages, kindle, paperback
Thriller, action
✭✭✭✭✭
Purchased
The cover is totally appropriate to the story and yet I really didn’t like it. It seemed sort of like a bunch of disjointed elements placed on there that weren’t related. Oh well, not all cover pictures can be gorgeous, especially when they’re supposed to be showing drug using killers in the jungle about to be taken out by a beautiful crusader. It’s a hard concept to show.
The story was complex, interesting, totally current in world events and concerns. It was multinational with Americans, Chinese, and Khazaks in a plan to lower the world population in an effort to counteract the drought problems facing the world. That does leave me with one question, though. If you kill off certain age groups and disease-prone groups to leave healthier portions of the population living wouldn’t the healthier population eventually grow to the point of overwhelming the resources? Ya think?
The characters are outrageous individuals such as Jacob Stearne, a former master sergeant who hears a Roman God (Mercury) in his head to help him avoid danger. Jacob might still be in love with Tania. There’s Pia Sabel, former Olympic soccer star, now head of her own security business, Sabel Security, and crusader for good. Tania works for Pia was in a relationship with Jacob, and might still love him, but she had a fling with Miguel, who also works for Pia. And Emily, a Post reporter who had a fling with Jacob. Carmen, one of the fighters on their team.
The pace is constant and fast with lots going on from one pitched battle to the next or the lull between preparing for the next. You get all the information you need in the briefings for the strikes. With the pace and events, you worry about the characters and I became involved early on. I honestly watched out for them to make sure nothing happened to any of them. I felt pulled into the battles and worried about coming out alive, no more so than in the fight when the Khazaks grabbed Carmen and murdered her in front of the whole team. Not only did they do it in a brutal way, but it was abrupt and unexpected, a total shock.
This is considered a man’s adventure story according to classifications on Amazon, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I can’t say I’d like a constant diet of this type of lit, but I certainly would be open to reading more in this series.
Highly recommended to adventure readers.
Sabel Security Book 1
Seeley James
Machined Media, Apr 2015
350 pages, kindle, paperback
Thriller, action
✭✭✭✭✭
Purchased
The cover is totally appropriate to the story and yet I really didn’t like it. It seemed sort of like a bunch of disjointed elements placed on there that weren’t related. Oh well, not all cover pictures can be gorgeous, especially when they’re supposed to be showing drug using killers in the jungle about to be taken out by a beautiful crusader. It’s a hard concept to show.
The story was complex, interesting, totally current in world events and concerns. It was multinational with Americans, Chinese, and Khazaks in a plan to lower the world population in an effort to counteract the drought problems facing the world. That does leave me with one question, though. If you kill off certain age groups and disease-prone groups to leave healthier portions of the population living wouldn’t the healthier population eventually grow to the point of overwhelming the resources? Ya think?
The characters are outrageous individuals such as Jacob Stearne, a former master sergeant who hears a Roman God (Mercury) in his head to help him avoid danger. Jacob might still be in love with Tania. There’s Pia Sabel, former Olympic soccer star, now head of her own security business, Sabel Security, and crusader for good. Tania works for Pia was in a relationship with Jacob, and might still love him, but she had a fling with Miguel, who also works for Pia. And Emily, a Post reporter who had a fling with Jacob. Carmen, one of the fighters on their team.
The pace is constant and fast with lots going on from one pitched battle to the next or the lull between preparing for the next. You get all the information you need in the briefings for the strikes. With the pace and events, you worry about the characters and I became involved early on. I honestly watched out for them to make sure nothing happened to any of them. I felt pulled into the battles and worried about coming out alive, no more so than in the fight when the Khazaks grabbed Carmen and murdered her in front of the whole team. Not only did they do it in a brutal way, but it was abrupt and unexpected, a total shock.
This is considered a man’s adventure story according to classifications on Amazon, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I can’t say I’d like a constant diet of this type of lit, but I certainly would be open to reading more in this series.
Highly recommended to adventure readers.
January 8, 2019
Elemental
Mr. James' first installment of the Sabel Security series (5 at this time) was action packed with an interesting premise portrayed factually (or not) which evil plot expands until, in final few chapters, it explodes into the reader as well as the characters.
The protagonists are Jacob Stearns, a combat marred "base" hero who is rough, tough, courageous? driven by by a manic compulsion to kill, and he enjoys it in an orgasmic rush? crudely misogynistic in his feminine encounters, he basically wants to screw all the women he meets and teams with on missions (several of which precede the situation here and are left unexplained) until he finds his true love, and he is adept enough, or sparkly eyed enough to sway women's egos and Eros. This is brought out in remembering past conquests, all the women there except one, whose love pursuit takes an unexpected turn.
Pia Sabel is a wealthy heiress, former Olympian, physically attractive as well as combat ready, as are all the women, save one. She is the owner operator of an international "security" enterprise employing Jacob's unit. She is a Jacob target until their relationship is molded by her in a strange twist.
Both are similarly challenged which condition is their intimate link strangely.
Unfortunately, the characters who live are barely revealed, including Jacob, and interactions found in so many "buddy" tales are left for subsequent installments.
However, by the end though the reader will likely have connected with both Jacob and Pia and want to continue reading about them.
Mr. James' first installment of the Sabel Security series (5 at this time) was action packed with an interesting premise portrayed factually (or not) which evil plot expands until, in final few chapters, it explodes into the reader as well as the characters.
The protagonists are Jacob Stearns, a combat marred "base" hero who is rough, tough, courageous? driven by by a manic compulsion to kill, and he enjoys it in an orgasmic rush? crudely misogynistic in his feminine encounters, he basically wants to screw all the women he meets and teams with on missions (several of which precede the situation here and are left unexplained) until he finds his true love, and he is adept enough, or sparkly eyed enough to sway women's egos and Eros. This is brought out in remembering past conquests, all the women there except one, whose love pursuit takes an unexpected turn.
Pia Sabel is a wealthy heiress, former Olympian, physically attractive as well as combat ready, as are all the women, save one. She is the owner operator of an international "security" enterprise employing Jacob's unit. She is a Jacob target until their relationship is molded by her in a strange twist.
Both are similarly challenged which condition is their intimate link strangely.
Unfortunately, the characters who live are barely revealed, including Jacob, and interactions found in so many "buddy" tales are left for subsequent installments.
However, by the end though the reader will likely have connected with both Jacob and Pia and want to continue reading about them.
January 4, 2022
This is a well-written introduction to the world of Sabel Security. I thought it would be centered on Pia Sabel, but much of the book is actually told from and centered on Jacob Stearne--a former soldier and now employee of Sabel Security who sometimes hears the god Mercury talking to him (generally to warn him of danger). I was surprised that I wasn't bothered by the shift from 1st person Jacob POV to 3rd person Pia or bad guys POV. The story still flowed smoothly and the changing POV allowed James to tell a more well-rounded story than he would have otherwise. This was an intricate plot with multiple levels of players and motives. I was impressed that James sometimes made the hard decisions of which characters to let live or die, and even who was injured and in what way. He didn't shy away from the harsh realities of life in this sort of world. It took me a while to read this after I first heard of it (and downloaded it) but I don't think it will take me as long to get to book 2. I really liked Jacob's character and after months of reading James's newsletter, I feel like Jacob and James share the same irreverent sort of attitude and view of the world. I also appreciated the struggles within the team; that they all respect one another but don't know if they really love or hate each other on any given day. But it never stops them from working together to get the job done and cover each other's back.
March 21, 2019
I received this book from a Book Funnel giveaway and this is my honest opinion. I have had this book for quite a while and had put off reading it because all the references to the god Mercury had me thinking it was more of a fantasy novel than my normal genre (which is mystery, suspense or thriller). I finally decided to give it a try and I really wish I had done so sooner. I have been missing out. Yes, the god Mercury plays a major (major/minor?) role in the story, but not in the way I had anticipated. This is my basic favorite story (a tight-knit group of men and women, shoot 'em up, traveling all over the world to get the bad guys) with a little extra ingredient thrown in. A previous reviewer said they didn't like the character of Pia because nobody could be that good and so she wasn't realistic. Well, I don't read for realism; I have enough of that in my day to day life. I need escapism and that's exactly what this book provides. The only thing I wish I had done differently was read the two Origins books first; not that it hampered my enjoyment of Element 42 by not having read them. There were just comments about previous events that I would have been familiar with if I had read the others. Needless to say, I will be going back and reading Origins as soon as possible. I definitely recommend this series.
December 1, 2020
Wow! What a novel! Action from beginning to end. Jacob goes to work for Ms. Sabel and, almost from day one, all hell breaks loose.
This story takes the reader on a mission to stop Element 42, from the USA to the jungle of Borneo, to China, back and forth several times. Jacob and his team encounter bad guys and gals from the US, China, and Russia. During their various adventures it comes to light that there is a leak somewhere within Sabel Security. Question is: Who can it be? As a reader, I was surprised to find out I was very wrong in my suspicion.
Jacob loves Tanya, or Ms. Sabel, or Emily...another question. Who, among the Sabel team makes it through to the end of this story? Who is injured? Who is savagely killed? Does the Sabel team stop Element 42? The ending will surprise you.
I really want to read all ten of the books in this series, not only because I want to see what Jacob gets into next, but also to see who he ends up with. Problem for me is I get my reading material free through authors' offers and Kindle Unlimited and I do not afford to purchase the remaining volumes of this series. For those who do afford the complete series, I am absolutely positive you will not regret the purchases.
Definitely a five-star read.
This story takes the reader on a mission to stop Element 42, from the USA to the jungle of Borneo, to China, back and forth several times. Jacob and his team encounter bad guys and gals from the US, China, and Russia. During their various adventures it comes to light that there is a leak somewhere within Sabel Security. Question is: Who can it be? As a reader, I was surprised to find out I was very wrong in my suspicion.
Jacob loves Tanya, or Ms. Sabel, or Emily...another question. Who, among the Sabel team makes it through to the end of this story? Who is injured? Who is savagely killed? Does the Sabel team stop Element 42? The ending will surprise you.
I really want to read all ten of the books in this series, not only because I want to see what Jacob gets into next, but also to see who he ends up with. Problem for me is I get my reading material free through authors' offers and Kindle Unlimited and I do not afford to purchase the remaining volumes of this series. For those who do afford the complete series, I am absolutely positive you will not regret the purchases.
Definitely a five-star read.
November 13, 2018
Athletic, intelligent millionaire Pia Sable runs into danger as owner of Sable Security when she and her employee Jacob Stearne, ex-military with a unique PTSD problem, find a dying girl in the jungles of Borneo. Element 42 is a story of world-wide travel and hostile encounters as Pia and her team attempt to solve the mystery of the girl's illness and the disappearance of the patients in the Borneo hospital. Pia must use her company's resources to travel the world while taking on villains both physically and mentally. Jacob gets advice from the voice of a Roman god who speaks to him as he encounters trouble. Fists and bullets fly and people die in a flurry of exciting activity. Established characters die and others learn more about themselves as the action occurs fast and furiously. Pia proves to be a good match for the forces behind Element 42. This is an involving story with embedded humor that pops at appropriate times. One quibble, while people get shot or die, those involved in fighting and being tortured seem to exhibit no external manifestations of injury. Still, the story is a good quick read.
October 1, 2018
It got 1 star because I was able to finish it and the last few pages were actually captivating.
There was zero character development in this book. Jacob has potential to be really interesting but he doesn’t ... do anything. He occasionally thinks oh am I crazy? Am I evil? Or good? And then just goes back to being brutal af. Pia is ... I don’t even know. She’s a spoiled rich girl with apparently a team of people willing to do dumb stuff for her. THERE IS NO DEPTH HERE PEOPLE.
And the plot - good god. It just rampaged on from one violent scene to another - and didn’t even wrap everything up at the end.
The violence annoyed me - it was gratuitous and LOL when pia said about torturing ‘that’s not the Sabel way’ (or something equally saccharine) I was like uhm lady do you realize your employees are torturing the fuck out of people?
I have nothing against violence if it has a purpose and it’s done with ... depth. This was not.
Basically this was a book version of a dumb action movie. Good god.
There was zero character development in this book. Jacob has potential to be really interesting but he doesn’t ... do anything. He occasionally thinks oh am I crazy? Am I evil? Or good? And then just goes back to being brutal af. Pia is ... I don’t even know. She’s a spoiled rich girl with apparently a team of people willing to do dumb stuff for her. THERE IS NO DEPTH HERE PEOPLE.
And the plot - good god. It just rampaged on from one violent scene to another - and didn’t even wrap everything up at the end.
The violence annoyed me - it was gratuitous and LOL when pia said about torturing ‘that’s not the Sabel way’ (or something equally saccharine) I was like uhm lady do you realize your employees are torturing the fuck out of people?
I have nothing against violence if it has a purpose and it’s done with ... depth. This was not.
Basically this was a book version of a dumb action movie. Good god.
May 15, 2022
Element 42 - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Two main characters in Seeley James' Sabel Securities novel Element 42, are the Lara Croft-like Pia Sabel, head of an international security services company, former Olympic athlete and rich socialite and her would-be lover, PTSD sufferer and veteran-turned-security-advisor at Pia's Sabel Securities, Jacob Stearne. A quasi James Bond, who revels in the seduction of those willing females he encounters (in work and elsewhere), and the number of kills he's completed, yet is nevertheless unsatisfied with life. He's also plagued with a mental issue he's named Mercury, that voices unspoken/ unbidden thoughts and beliefs in Stearne's mind.
When they head out on their latest mission they're soon in danger when they're targeted by evil scientist Violet Veratti whose eponymous element either kills subjects or turns their eye whites blue! Who's behind her experiments?
Can Pia and the team stop them?
Find out, by getting Seeley James' Element 42 today!
Two main characters in Seeley James' Sabel Securities novel Element 42, are the Lara Croft-like Pia Sabel, head of an international security services company, former Olympic athlete and rich socialite and her would-be lover, PTSD sufferer and veteran-turned-security-advisor at Pia's Sabel Securities, Jacob Stearne. A quasi James Bond, who revels in the seduction of those willing females he encounters (in work and elsewhere), and the number of kills he's completed, yet is nevertheless unsatisfied with life. He's also plagued with a mental issue he's named Mercury, that voices unspoken/ unbidden thoughts and beliefs in Stearne's mind.
When they head out on their latest mission they're soon in danger when they're targeted by evil scientist Violet Veratti whose eponymous element either kills subjects or turns their eye whites blue! Who's behind her experiments?
Can Pia and the team stop them?
Find out, by getting Seeley James' Element 42 today!
October 21, 2017
This book starts with wild action and never lets up. All the characters are developed in depth and have the good and bad elements to make them come alive as real people. The plot unfolds as a number of double dealing bad guys push to complete an action that will release a deadly manufactured virus into major population centers. Pia Sabel and her staff are blocked by everyone, including the American president, from active pursuit of the group causing sickness and death to innocent people. As the book ends the disgusting reasons for development and distribution of the virus are made clear. The action takes place all over the world, and the suspense is unceasing as danger lies around every corner. The style of writing is perfect for this story, flowing smoothly and creating great mental images. This is one book that is perfect in every respect.
January 28, 2020
Like the first two books featuring Pia Sabel, Element 42 is an almost non-stop race start to finish. James has something happening on nearly every page.
There was one episode of what I felt was gratuitous violence. It was valid for the story but I didn’t think it was needed, could easily have been avoided.
Jacob Stearne’s frequent internal conversations with Roman god Mercury – usually right in the middle of a situation endangering Jacob’s life – were distracting and broke up the flow just when the storyline should be totally focused on Jacob getting out of the dilemma he’s in.
Jacob also spent a little too much time pondering love and life. Those ‘asides’ could have been trimmed back or some of them cut to keep the story moving forward.
There were, too, several threads that were neither resolved or lopped off, just sort of faded away.
I’ll be back for more.
There was one episode of what I felt was gratuitous violence. It was valid for the story but I didn’t think it was needed, could easily have been avoided.
Jacob Stearne’s frequent internal conversations with Roman god Mercury – usually right in the middle of a situation endangering Jacob’s life – were distracting and broke up the flow just when the storyline should be totally focused on Jacob getting out of the dilemma he’s in.
Jacob also spent a little too much time pondering love and life. Those ‘asides’ could have been trimmed back or some of them cut to keep the story moving forward.
There were, too, several threads that were neither resolved or lopped off, just sort of faded away.
I’ll be back for more.
November 14, 2022
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 November 2022
An engaging story that grips your attention.
A plot to release a bio hazard to kill off the elderly and less robust people might well have a direct comparison with COVID? Why target them?
The story chases down perpetrators whilst also trying to prevent the bio hazard threat from happening.
As ever there is the bull in the china shop approach by Pia who too often ignores her own mentor and much more experienced colleagues. Some major casualties along the way reduce the available team. Pia begins to doubt her darts not bullets mantra. How long will she think like that and will she really change her mind?
A significant falling out with the US President endangers the Sabel team and could scupper their attempts to stop the planned release of the bio hazard.
An engaging story that grips your attention.
A plot to release a bio hazard to kill off the elderly and less robust people might well have a direct comparison with COVID? Why target them?
The story chases down perpetrators whilst also trying to prevent the bio hazard threat from happening.
As ever there is the bull in the china shop approach by Pia who too often ignores her own mentor and much more experienced colleagues. Some major casualties along the way reduce the available team. Pia begins to doubt her darts not bullets mantra. How long will she think like that and will she really change her mind?
A significant falling out with the US President endangers the Sabel team and could scupper their attempts to stop the planned release of the bio hazard.
July 6, 2017
“The only way I can stay on the right side of sanity is when somebody’s trying to kill me.” That pretty-well sums up Jacob Stearne, PTSD stricken ex-military who usually does not take his meds, and engages in mental dialog with the God Mercury. His boss, Pia Sabel, youthful owner of Sabel Security has a similar MO, in that some of her most interesting moves are based on acting in situations that usually do not qualify for a result that “ends well”.
The operatives of Sabel Security do not always play well with each other, you will come to love them at first shot, and that relationship will deepen from scene-to-scene and book-to-book. This is book #3 in the series, and there are two more beyond this that you are going to really want to check out.
The operatives of Sabel Security do not always play well with each other, you will come to love them at first shot, and that relationship will deepen from scene-to-scene and book-to-book. This is book #3 in the series, and there are two more beyond this that you are going to really want to check out.
May 4, 2020
4-1/2 stars! This was possibly the worst time to read such a book since we are going through the Coronavirus pandemic. That being said, I really did enjoy this novel. The author kept you in suspense from the first page till the last. There were a couple surprise twists and turns that I did not expect! The characters in the book were believable …there was a great story plot …ending with a satisfying build up to the finish it off! I liked the author’s style of writing and loved the humor. This was the first time I have read from this author and it definitely won't be the last!
I would like to thank the author for a free copy of his novel in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I would like to thank the author for a free copy of his novel in return for an honest and unbiased review.
November 12, 2020
Truth or fiction?
What a frightening story to be reading right in t he middle of this pandemic! The parallels between fact and fiction becomes very blurred! Being in our eighties both my husband and I are in the high-risk group and have been taking precautions to avid exposure to Covid-19. You really have to wonder? This book exposes all my deepest, darkest worries about what is really going on in this world? This really wasn't the escape I was looking for! I have been wondering for months whether or not there is a plan to g e r rid of the elderly, sick, the drain on resources? The greed and thirst for power in our society is rampant! Time for a return to decency! Definitely not a Hallmark story!
What a frightening story to be reading right in t he middle of this pandemic! The parallels between fact and fiction becomes very blurred! Being in our eighties both my husband and I are in the high-risk group and have been taking precautions to avid exposure to Covid-19. You really have to wonder? This book exposes all my deepest, darkest worries about what is really going on in this world? This really wasn't the escape I was looking for! I have been wondering for months whether or not there is a plan to g e r rid of the elderly, sick, the drain on resources? The greed and thirst for power in our society is rampant! Time for a return to decency! Definitely not a Hallmark story!
September 4, 2019
Dang, what a good book! I was hooked within the first few paragraphs. Maybe it was because our “hero” hears voices or maybe it was the kick butt women but I really enjoyed this story. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath. That’s total immersion and that’s good writing! This is far from my usual cozy mystery genre and I was surprised that i enjoyed it so much. I will say that there was some gritty scenes that I didn’t like reading but it was all pertinent to the story. The author offered the book for free and I’m glad I took the opportunity to read it.
April 18, 2020
So happy that Mr. James made this book free for me.
Unfortunately I simply couldn't finish it. I'm so very weary of all the offensive language. Maybe it's just the current pandemic that's getting to me, I'm not sure. I just know that the further on I got in the book, the less engaged I was. The less interested I was in what was going to happen. And the less I wanted to read. The free book (thanks again for letting me have a glimpse of your writing without spending precious $) went into the unfinished-never-to-be-finished pile.
If one of the author's books was absent so much of the language I might be tempted to give it a try. But until then....no.
Unfortunately I simply couldn't finish it. I'm so very weary of all the offensive language. Maybe it's just the current pandemic that's getting to me, I'm not sure. I just know that the further on I got in the book, the less engaged I was. The less interested I was in what was going to happen. And the less I wanted to read. The free book (thanks again for letting me have a glimpse of your writing without spending precious $) went into the unfinished-never-to-be-finished pile.
If one of the author's books was absent so much of the language I might be tempted to give it a try. But until then....no.
November 8, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great Thriller
I read the Pre Sable Security books one & two and enjoyed them both. I finished “Element 42” and was quite impressed at the tightening up of this book. The characters are more filled out as is the world that Pia plays in. A world far removed from a normal person’s. I wish Mr. James had explained how Pia got to be such a good security guard with just high level sports as her teacher. She seems extremely qualified in her new line of work. This story has all the tricks and turns of most thrillers but there are a few that you don’t think she will get out of the particular predicament she is in. But her partners, other Sable Security agents, manage to save her, just in the knick of time. Of course that could be because her main security guard has a God in his head talking to him all the time and advising him of what is going to happen. What to know how that can be? Grab a copy, believe me it’s worth the read. I’m well into book two ‘Death and Dark Money’. Tells you how much I loved “Element 42’. I highly recommend this series so far it has more spills and chills than anything I’ve read in a quite awhile. You really need to start it.
Great Thriller
I read the Pre Sable Security books one & two and enjoyed them both. I finished “Element 42” and was quite impressed at the tightening up of this book. The characters are more filled out as is the world that Pia plays in. A world far removed from a normal person’s. I wish Mr. James had explained how Pia got to be such a good security guard with just high level sports as her teacher. She seems extremely qualified in her new line of work. This story has all the tricks and turns of most thrillers but there are a few that you don’t think she will get out of the particular predicament she is in. But her partners, other Sable Security agents, manage to save her, just in the knick of time. Of course that could be because her main security guard has a God in his head talking to him all the time and advising him of what is going to happen. What to know how that can be? Grab a copy, believe me it’s worth the read. I’m well into book two ‘Death and Dark Money’. Tells you how much I loved “Element 42’. I highly recommend this series so far it has more spills and chills than anything I’ve read in a quite awhile. You really need to start it.
May 15, 2017
I really liked this story. The premise (scarily enough) seems less far fetched these days. The characters are likeable and human, warts and all. I think reading the other books in this series first may have helped, but it still worked pretty well as a stand alone piece as well. I'm not sure why but it took me a lot longer to read it than I expected. It felt like it was a long book, and seemed to take forever to complete the plot, I kept thinking I was near the end and then would see I was only 65% completed. Weird, because I was entertained throughout, and really enjoyed reading it, and I wanted to finish the story! I like the characters, and the plot was excellent. I'm pretty sure the problem was me not the author. I was given a free copy of this book to review, thanks to the author for keeping me entertained.
September 17, 2017
Seeley's prose shoots across the page with the rapid staccato pace of an AK-47. It's surprising that he still manages to slip in moments of exposition and character development to round-off a satisfying read. Even though this is the third installment in the series, it's the first one I've read. I liked that I never felt I was missing something by not reading the initial two; I prefer novels in a series to be able to stand alone. Seeley makes an interesting choice by going back-and-forth between first person narrative to omnipotent. It's not something I would ever do, but he makes it work.
June 1, 2020
From the outset, 'Element 42' grabs your entire attention. The characters are intriguing, entertaining and compelling - who wouldn't want a god at their back? - and the action moves at a lick. The plot is all too real given today's warfare techniques. It is a cracking read and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.
I confess, though, that the cover wouldn't make me pick up the pick from a shelf - it is in no way indicative of the intelligent basis of the story, or of the quality of Seeley James's writing.
I confess, though, that the cover wouldn't make me pick up the pick from a shelf - it is in no way indicative of the intelligent basis of the story, or of the quality of Seeley James's writing.
November 20, 2021
This is my second book by Seeley James, and so much of what I didn’t quite get in the first book, definitely made sense in this one. So if you can help it, don’t read them out of order.
Mr. James is an excellent writer and he keeps the reader engaged with the various scene changes, location changes, narrator changes. You definitely need to read the chapter headings to not get confused.
Considering he wrote this book several years ago, his major plot of a man made virus being released into the populations was pretty timely.
Mr. James is an excellent writer and he keeps the reader engaged with the various scene changes, location changes, narrator changes. You definitely need to read the chapter headings to not get confused.
Considering he wrote this book several years ago, his major plot of a man made virus being released into the populations was pretty timely.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews