What do you think?
Rate this book
James Becker #1
The 19th Element
Al Qaeda plans to attack Minnesota's Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant as a means to return the down-trodden terrorist organization to international prominence. In addition to their own devoted forces, the terrorists enlist some homegrown anarchists, and a Three Mile Island survivor with a pathological vendetta against the nuclear establishment, to assist in the assault.
James "Beck" Becker is a former elite U.S. government intelligence operative who has retired to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota -- just six miles down the Mississippi from the Prairie River nuclear facility. Possessing wisdom born of experience, Beck suspects the terrorists' intentions as soon as the body of a university professor turns up on the Mississippi shore -- the clear victim of foul play. He recognizes connections between seemingly unrelated incidents -- the murdered agronomy professor, a missing lab assistant, an international cell call, a stolen fertilizer truck, an explosion in the street in front of City Hall -- but can't piece it together in enough detail to convince government authorities that a larger threat exists. Only his American Indian friend, "Bull," will help Beck defuse the threat. So it's Beck and Bull versus international terror.
May the better men win.
James "Beck" Becker is a former elite U.S. government intelligence operative who has retired to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota -- just six miles down the Mississippi from the Prairie River nuclear facility. Possessing wisdom born of experience, Beck suspects the terrorists' intentions as soon as the body of a university professor turns up on the Mississippi shore -- the clear victim of foul play. He recognizes connections between seemingly unrelated incidents -- the murdered agronomy professor, a missing lab assistant, an international cell call, a stolen fertilizer truck, an explosion in the street in front of City Hall -- but can't piece it together in enough detail to convince government authorities that a larger threat exists. Only his American Indian friend, "Bull," will help Beck defuse the threat. So it's Beck and Bull versus international terror.
May the better men win.
316 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2010
172 people are currently reading
821 people want to read
About the author
John L. Betcher
12 books431 followersAmazon Kindle TOP 100, B&N Nook TOP 100 and USAToday Bestselling author, John L. Betcher, holds a Bachelor's Degree, cum laude, in English from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis. He has practiced law for more than twenty-five years in the Mississippi River community of Red Wing, Minnesota.
Mr. Betcher has published an award-winning series of "Becker" suspense/thriller novels. The first five are THE 19TH ELEMENT, THE MISSING ELEMENT, THE COVERT ELEMENT, THE EXILED ELEMENT. and THE CRITICAL ELEMENT. He has also authored the award-winning spiritual phenomenon, A HIGHER COURT.
Most recently, John has published BLACK DAYS: Racism and Riots in the U.S. which explores systemic racism in America viewed through the lens of civil unrest from 1863 to present.
Mr. Betcher has published an award-winning series of "Becker" suspense/thriller novels. The first five are THE 19TH ELEMENT, THE MISSING ELEMENT, THE COVERT ELEMENT, THE EXILED ELEMENT. and THE CRITICAL ELEMENT. He has also authored the award-winning spiritual phenomenon, A HIGHER COURT.
Most recently, John has published BLACK DAYS: Racism and Riots in the U.S. which explores systemic racism in America viewed through the lens of civil unrest from 1863 to present.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 10, 2012
Retired CIA agent James Becker lives in quiet Red Wing, Minnesota, where you can walk to work and to your favorite restaurants, thinking the enemies of the last 20 years and international terrorists can't catch up with him here. How wrong you can be! The good news is that when Al Queida does rear its head in Red Wing, Beck, as he is known, is ready for them.
This book has many strong points. The writing is crisp and clean, and gets right to the point without meandering constantly into philosophy and exposition, a weakness of many books in this genre. The main character, Beck, is likeable and his talents are impressive. He relies more on brains and common sense than fancy gadgets and brawn. What I liked most about 19th Element is that the characters seem like real people, from Beck himself and his wife, Beth, to their daughter Sarah, to the local police chief, Gunner Gunderson, with whom Beck has to negotiate breathing room as he investigates, to a number of others as well. The author has done a fine job sketching out just enough detail to make these characters breathe, and the dialogue is spot on.
What I also liked about The 19th Element is that I learned a ton about chemistry. The title refers to the element potassium, 19th on the periodic table. But we're not talking about bananas when it comes to Al Queida, as you might imagine. The author creates a plausible scenario for post 9-11 mayhem and destruction that should strike fear in any American heart. The tragedy of the meltdown in Fukushima, Japan makes the book even more topical, and from reading it I was able to understand better what happened there.
If you are looking for a tremendous international thriller with a likeable hero, look no further. I'll be downloading another book by this author soon.
This book has many strong points. The writing is crisp and clean, and gets right to the point without meandering constantly into philosophy and exposition, a weakness of many books in this genre. The main character, Beck, is likeable and his talents are impressive. He relies more on brains and common sense than fancy gadgets and brawn. What I liked most about 19th Element is that the characters seem like real people, from Beck himself and his wife, Beth, to their daughter Sarah, to the local police chief, Gunner Gunderson, with whom Beck has to negotiate breathing room as he investigates, to a number of others as well. The author has done a fine job sketching out just enough detail to make these characters breathe, and the dialogue is spot on.
What I also liked about The 19th Element is that I learned a ton about chemistry. The title refers to the element potassium, 19th on the periodic table. But we're not talking about bananas when it comes to Al Queida, as you might imagine. The author creates a plausible scenario for post 9-11 mayhem and destruction that should strike fear in any American heart. The tragedy of the meltdown in Fukushima, Japan makes the book even more topical, and from reading it I was able to understand better what happened there.
If you are looking for a tremendous international thriller with a likeable hero, look no further. I'll be downloading another book by this author soon.
April 15, 2012
I really like Frederick's review of this book. It says what needs to be said without giving too much away.
Speaking of chemistry...
There was great chemistry between Beck and all the other characters and that element is on my periodic table of good writing.
Great story by a writer you know right away is smart and sexy. I will definitely be reading more James Becker thrillers.
Speaking of chemistry...
There was great chemistry between Beck and all the other characters and that element is on my periodic table of good writing.
Great story by a writer you know right away is smart and sexy. I will definitely be reading more James Becker thrillers.
July 10, 2013
Started strong with an interesting main character/good guy but veered off the rails into lengthy atomic power/chemistry lectures for Tom Clancy like, weapons/techno overkill. It reminded me why I stopped reading Tom Clancy.
January 16, 2016
Al Qaeda plans to attack Minnesota's Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant to remind everyone they are still very active and to get back in the international headlines. They have recruited some homegrown anarchists to add to their terrorist forces, one of which is a Three Mile Island survivor with a huge grudge against the power plant, and two more with questionable education and background.
James "Beck" Becker is a former elite U.S. government intelligence operative who has retired to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota just a few miles from the Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant. After a university professor's body is found along the shore of the Mississippi River, clearly murdered, "Beck" gets in on the investigation and all his instincts tell him, this dead body is just the start of something much bigger. He is very concerned when he learns the professor's assistant is missing along with what could be a very dangerous piece of lab equipment. Later clues like a missing fertilizer truck and an international phone call only confirm to "Beck" that terrorists are involved and that something major is going to happen, but he can't convince any government officials that a huge threat exists. So with the help of his American Indian friend "Bull", he tries to foil the plan on his own.
I am so glad John Betcher sent me this extraordinary thriller. It is scary good!! I say this because this fiction could easily become reality. This could definitely be a "ripped from the headlines" story. When I think of terrorist targets in the United States, I think of major cities, Washington D.C., New York, maybe Los Angeles, but this story takes place in my "backyard", the Upper Midwest. Also we know from history there are terrorists and their supporters here in the states, and this story brings them out front and center. Yes, this story is fiction but it has all the details that make you realize this could really happen. While this book entertains it also raises the readers awareness that there are people that want to hurt Americans.
I had the pleasure of reading, reviewing and interviewing the author after her sent me his first book, The Missing Element, and while I truly loved that book, I enjoyed this book even more. This book is now tied with Harlan Coben's CAUGHT as the best book I have read this year. If you like a riveting, page turner this is definitely a book that should be in you hot little hands today. Don't wait, click the link below and order this book today! You will not be able to put it down until you finish the last page and you will be thinking about the reality of it for a long time after you put this book on your keeper shelf.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author.. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
James "Beck" Becker is a former elite U.S. government intelligence operative who has retired to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota just a few miles from the Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant. After a university professor's body is found along the shore of the Mississippi River, clearly murdered, "Beck" gets in on the investigation and all his instincts tell him, this dead body is just the start of something much bigger. He is very concerned when he learns the professor's assistant is missing along with what could be a very dangerous piece of lab equipment. Later clues like a missing fertilizer truck and an international phone call only confirm to "Beck" that terrorists are involved and that something major is going to happen, but he can't convince any government officials that a huge threat exists. So with the help of his American Indian friend "Bull", he tries to foil the plan on his own.
I am so glad John Betcher sent me this extraordinary thriller. It is scary good!! I say this because this fiction could easily become reality. This could definitely be a "ripped from the headlines" story. When I think of terrorist targets in the United States, I think of major cities, Washington D.C., New York, maybe Los Angeles, but this story takes place in my "backyard", the Upper Midwest. Also we know from history there are terrorists and their supporters here in the states, and this story brings them out front and center. Yes, this story is fiction but it has all the details that make you realize this could really happen. While this book entertains it also raises the readers awareness that there are people that want to hurt Americans.
I had the pleasure of reading, reviewing and interviewing the author after her sent me his first book, The Missing Element, and while I truly loved that book, I enjoyed this book even more. This book is now tied with Harlan Coben's CAUGHT as the best book I have read this year. If you like a riveting, page turner this is definitely a book that should be in you hot little hands today. Don't wait, click the link below and order this book today! You will not be able to put it down until you finish the last page and you will be thinking about the reality of it for a long time after you put this book on your keeper shelf.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author.. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 8, 2011
John Betcher's work shines in this timely nuclear thriller; The 19th Element.
In the spirit of disclosure, I purchased, and read, The 19th Element because I thought it and the author seemed interesting. At no time did I enter an agreement with the author to read or review his work.
In The 19th Element, the preface displays an actual copy of a Daily Brief presented to then President George W. Bush, one month prior to 911. The memo expressed concern about a possible strike within the U.S. by Bin Laden. John Betcher's early use of this letter was dynamic. It gave credence to the scenario that followed, and remained foremost in my mind throughout.
The author has a fabulous way with words. I found a great deal of personality in his lighthearted and refreshing, terminology. I personally, liked the term lawyering, I spend many hours working with attorneys, but where I come from; the term is not used.
The 19th Element is part of a series of thrillers based on James Beck an attorney from Red Wing Minnesota. After completely a long career stint within the government, he and his wife have returned home with their two young daughters to settle into a healthy family environment. John Betcher develops awesome dynamics between James, and his wife. I simply loved their relationship. Beth is a decoder, and James openly adores and respects her intellectually.
The book is a fabulous well-written thriller about nuclear terrorism. John understands and conveys the inner-workings of the nuclear facility with expertise. In light of the Nuclear Plant disaster in Japan, John's thriller is a timely masterpiece, especially for those interested in the structure, and mechanics surrounding Nuclear Plants.
The 19th Element presents a plausible concern for the potential danger they possess. I highly recommend this James Becker Thriller.
In the spirit of disclosure, I purchased, and read, The 19th Element because I thought it and the author seemed interesting. At no time did I enter an agreement with the author to read or review his work.
In The 19th Element, the preface displays an actual copy of a Daily Brief presented to then President George W. Bush, one month prior to 911. The memo expressed concern about a possible strike within the U.S. by Bin Laden. John Betcher's early use of this letter was dynamic. It gave credence to the scenario that followed, and remained foremost in my mind throughout.
The author has a fabulous way with words. I found a great deal of personality in his lighthearted and refreshing, terminology. I personally, liked the term lawyering, I spend many hours working with attorneys, but where I come from; the term is not used.
The 19th Element is part of a series of thrillers based on James Beck an attorney from Red Wing Minnesota. After completely a long career stint within the government, he and his wife have returned home with their two young daughters to settle into a healthy family environment. John Betcher develops awesome dynamics between James, and his wife. I simply loved their relationship. Beth is a decoder, and James openly adores and respects her intellectually.
The book is a fabulous well-written thriller about nuclear terrorism. John understands and conveys the inner-workings of the nuclear facility with expertise. In light of the Nuclear Plant disaster in Japan, John's thriller is a timely masterpiece, especially for those interested in the structure, and mechanics surrounding Nuclear Plants.
The 19th Element presents a plausible concern for the potential danger they possess. I highly recommend this James Becker Thriller.
August 8, 2013
This is probably a 5-star story for anyone who enjoys conspiracy and terrorism based thrillers. To that point, I'm less a fan -- or maybe I'm just not open to more of the same religious zealot portrayal that comes daily in chain emails and news of terrorism around the world that comes unrelenting in our nightly news.
As a work of fiction, I think the pace is good, the story is well researched and presented, and the characters are recognizable in their dialog. Some of the passages were so long that I wasn't sure whether a character was really that long winded or if the author was giving information I needed in order to follow the story. In either case, it sounded like true facts. Some of it sounded so real it made me want to pull the covers over my head and not come out again until tomorrow.
As a work of fiction, I think the pace is good, the story is well researched and presented, and the characters are recognizable in their dialog. Some of the passages were so long that I wasn't sure whether a character was really that long winded or if the author was giving information I needed in order to follow the story. In either case, it sounded like true facts. Some of it sounded so real it made me want to pull the covers over my head and not come out again until tomorrow.
May 18, 2014
I loved this thriller! The main character, Beck is a former US Intelligence agent and his wife, Beth was a translator and code breaker for the CIA. Beck narrates the story and I absolutely loved his voice. He is smooth and cool like James Bond, but a family man in a small town where he is now a part time lawyer. He connects the dots to an Al Quaeda attack on the nuclear plant near his home and no one really wants to believe him. With a little help from his friends, there is a HEA and I can't wait to continue reading this series and hope the next books are just as entertaining.
I read this as part of the compilation series "9 Killer Thrillers" and am very happy to have found this author and Beck.
I read this as part of the compilation series "9 Killer Thrillers" and am very happy to have found this author and Beck.
July 5, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book. I haven't read many books, I got burned out on reading books in school and have finally picked up books to read them again. This was a book I had to force myself to put down.
April 14, 2012
Not sure what Betcher was trying to do with the hero, but for me he came across as a nothing. Sure he had all the right answers, but he just wasn't all that likable for me. Don't think I'll be reading any more of Betcher's works.
March 27, 2013
Excellent writing, great suspense. The plot was somewhat incredible but made believable in the telling. My only small annoyance was that when an author writes about a particular region about which I am quite familiar, I don't like the names of locations and landmarks to be changed.
April 8, 2013
Great read! It was a book that once I started reading I did not want to stop. This read is a solid 4.7 stars.
November 21, 2013
I really liked the characters and the story.
August 21, 2013
Fun, fast paced...I enjoyed it
November 3, 2013
This was a great read I enjoy the story line and the characters. The was a great story.
January 26, 2011
This book really makes you stop and think. It was suspenseful to the end!
April 16, 2016
I liked. Nothing spectacular, but still held my attention.
March 9, 2019
Great read
Although I'm not a huge fan of narrative switching between 1st and 3rd person, the author does a great job of keeping the story on track and easy to read. The plot is scary, and fascinating, maybe more scary though. Our hero is funny and just a bit over the top. If the US is really filled with this many ex-military\govt types willing to protect us off the clock, we stand a fighting chance. I plan on giving the 2nd book a read.
Oh...thanks and kudos to the author. The women in this story, except the bimbo , (you'll know who I mean when you meet her) are well written, smart and strong without also being overtly sexual.
Although I'm not a huge fan of narrative switching between 1st and 3rd person, the author does a great job of keeping the story on track and easy to read. The plot is scary, and fascinating, maybe more scary though. Our hero is funny and just a bit over the top. If the US is really filled with this many ex-military\govt types willing to protect us off the clock, we stand a fighting chance. I plan on giving the 2nd book a read.
Oh...thanks and kudos to the author. The women in this story, except the bimbo , (you'll know who I mean when you meet her) are well written, smart and strong without also being overtly sexual.
May 12, 2018
In my quest to read books that have been on my Kindle for a while, I made my way through this one. Maybe I is just me, but I found the main character obnoxious. He is smarter than everyone else and he has a gorgeous wife and is in great shape, which he asserts by pointing out those who are not. The law enforcement characters are all portrayed as being inept, dim=witted and easily bribed with donuts and coffee. Maybe the author meant it as comic relief but it just didn't work.
I give some credit for the technical details which are clearly explained and interesting. I will not be reading any others in this series.
I give some credit for the technical details which are clearly explained and interesting. I will not be reading any others in this series.
January 29, 2017
Eye popping reality
Less gritty than Jack Reached. Beck is smooth and charismatic, keeps sniffing until he knows what he's looking for, Dogged.
Good background story.
Page turner!!!
Less gritty than Jack Reached. Beck is smooth and charismatic, keeps sniffing until he knows what he's looking for, Dogged.
Good background story.
Page turner!!!
August 10, 2017
Throughly enjoyed this international thriller. The author was distinct and to the point. Retired CIA agent James Becker works with the local police chief, Gunner Gunderson, to stop a terrorist attack. Will definitely be checking out the other books by John. L. Betcher.
March 2, 2021
This book took forever to grab my interest. While I enjoyed it it’s not particularly compelled me to go and read the others in the series. Lots of lengthy chemical overviews and a little too predictable but otherwise an ok read.
August 23, 2018
Very funny book Beck is too slick for his own good found some parts a bit drawn out but overall I enjoyed it and will read part 2.
October 28, 2022
Good initial book ... looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
December 2, 2011
Being a writer myself, I found this book a good read. It had all of the points of a great thriller. Terrorists. Facts that are so real you can touch them. Details about how we have become so complacent in our day-to day lives that we forget how clever people who might want to harm us could be. The characters were believable and well designed.
In his novel, John shows us his main character nicknamed James (aka Beck), and his wife Beth living in the small town of Red Wing, Minnesota. James and Beth were former agents for the US government, now retired and trying to live out a peaceful life with their daughters. That is, until a terrorist group decides to blow up a nearby nuclear plant, sending poisonous gasses across half of the continent. Beck puts a series of seemingly random incidents around town together and the big picture starts to emerge. He enlists the help of several friends in the area.
The scary part is that John has done his homework. The threat of such an event happening is laid out in such stark detail that you could see how easily it could be done if we let our guard down. That's probably the most engaging part of the whole story. It really could happen.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. The ending was action-packed and filled with the kinds of details that kept me wanting more. But to get to this fabulous ending, I found the first half of the book to be a series of very dry, heavy loads of technical overview. The writing in the first half seemed to be written in a different point of Mr. Betcher's writing journey in comparison to the last half of the book. In the beginning, the characters were formed very well, but the fact presentation was weak, making it more dry than enjoyable. I know that many readers who are looking for a "quick read before bed" or a treat to take on the train or commute to work will easily find themselves overwhelmed with the enormity of it all.
The second problem I have with the story is probably a matter of style. That is to say, I wouldn't have handled some of the wording or dialogue that way. There were some stylistic choices that Mr. Betcher employed that only compounded the enormity of the first-half-info-dump. While strictly speaking, there was nothing wrong with the writing itself, these odd choices didn't help the reader get through the dry areas. The dialogue tags should never take you out of the story. In fact, they should be nearly invisible as you read. But occasionally -- I assume to increase the speed through an action or to keep the speakers straight in a room full of people -- Mr. Betcher employed a more script-style format for dialogue that seemed to pull me out of the story and remind me that I was merely the reader, still in my bedroom reading a book.
A final pet-peeve (and now I really am just nit=picking) his main antagonist was named John. The author's name is John. The protagonist's name is James. .. Alot of very similar names throughout the book. Had they been just bit parts, I probably would have never noticed. But because we were switching from James to John (or was that John to James?) .... I frequently had to stop and re-read sections to reorient myself as to whose head I was in. Again, another simple choice that made plodding through until you get used to who-is-who more difficult.
If you are in the mood for a thriller that will leave you really thinking and watching the world around you with a fresh set of eyes, this book holds great potential. By the time I got to the end, I found that I REALLY enjoyed the story presented. Just be prepared to put in the time to see the whole story unfold, and look past some of the author's stylistic quirks.
Pros: Great story. Realistic set-up. As scary and thought provoking as any story I've read in recent years.
Cons: A bit dry at times that makes plodding through difficult, and odd stylistic choices for dialogue that compounds the issue.
(Review from: http://jerryhanel.com/)
In his novel, John shows us his main character nicknamed James (aka Beck), and his wife Beth living in the small town of Red Wing, Minnesota. James and Beth were former agents for the US government, now retired and trying to live out a peaceful life with their daughters. That is, until a terrorist group decides to blow up a nearby nuclear plant, sending poisonous gasses across half of the continent. Beck puts a series of seemingly random incidents around town together and the big picture starts to emerge. He enlists the help of several friends in the area.
The scary part is that John has done his homework. The threat of such an event happening is laid out in such stark detail that you could see how easily it could be done if we let our guard down. That's probably the most engaging part of the whole story. It really could happen.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. The ending was action-packed and filled with the kinds of details that kept me wanting more. But to get to this fabulous ending, I found the first half of the book to be a series of very dry, heavy loads of technical overview. The writing in the first half seemed to be written in a different point of Mr. Betcher's writing journey in comparison to the last half of the book. In the beginning, the characters were formed very well, but the fact presentation was weak, making it more dry than enjoyable. I know that many readers who are looking for a "quick read before bed" or a treat to take on the train or commute to work will easily find themselves overwhelmed with the enormity of it all.
The second problem I have with the story is probably a matter of style. That is to say, I wouldn't have handled some of the wording or dialogue that way. There were some stylistic choices that Mr. Betcher employed that only compounded the enormity of the first-half-info-dump. While strictly speaking, there was nothing wrong with the writing itself, these odd choices didn't help the reader get through the dry areas. The dialogue tags should never take you out of the story. In fact, they should be nearly invisible as you read. But occasionally -- I assume to increase the speed through an action or to keep the speakers straight in a room full of people -- Mr. Betcher employed a more script-style format for dialogue that seemed to pull me out of the story and remind me that I was merely the reader, still in my bedroom reading a book.
A final pet-peeve (and now I really am just nit=picking) his main antagonist was named John. The author's name is John. The protagonist's name is James. .. Alot of very similar names throughout the book. Had they been just bit parts, I probably would have never noticed. But because we were switching from James to John (or was that John to James?) .... I frequently had to stop and re-read sections to reorient myself as to whose head I was in. Again, another simple choice that made plodding through until you get used to who-is-who more difficult.
If you are in the mood for a thriller that will leave you really thinking and watching the world around you with a fresh set of eyes, this book holds great potential. By the time I got to the end, I found that I REALLY enjoyed the story presented. Just be prepared to put in the time to see the whole story unfold, and look past some of the author's stylistic quirks.
Pros: Great story. Realistic set-up. As scary and thought provoking as any story I've read in recent years.
Cons: A bit dry at times that makes plodding through difficult, and odd stylistic choices for dialogue that compounds the issue.
(Review from: http://jerryhanel.com/)
January 7, 2013
An Al Qaeda terrorist cell plots to attack a nuclear power plant in the US heartland. Only one man, James Becker, can stop disaster happening.
What's the point of a thriller? Well, I guess the clue is in the word itself. Unfortunately there were many issues with The 19th Element from a contrived plot (an Al Qaeda attack on a nuclear power plant?!) that never got out of second gear, to weak characters, and odd dialogue.
First is Becker himself who failed to convince me of his credentials. He's ex-secret service, but then describes himself as wealthy because he invented a new bullet that can kill people at 1.5 miles (great!). He also has an unused degree - this and the money mean he's been able to change profession and still act undercover (although independently of the government) but seems able to call in favours at will, like bringing in two Apache helicopters to take out the bad guys at just the right moment.
The writing isn't bad, it's just overly descriptive and ponderous. It's `tell' instead of `show', observation instead of participation. For example, Becker gets into a fight at one point, it felt like I was watching the process from afar. When Jack Reacher fights, he fights, you feel every punch, every injury, adrenalin pumps. Unfortunately not with Becker. I wanted to put on my pyjamas and go to bed with a hot water bottle.
There were quite a few examples of this over use of tell. Remember the unused degree and new job. From the following, can you guess what Becker does?
'Today was Wednesday and I was at my office. Becker Law Office. James L. Becker, Attorney-at-Law.'
Um, I think he's an attorney? But I could be wrong.
On occasion, there were long, bulleted and descriptive lists. Once Becker described everything he was carrying on a mission. So what? Then there was the whole set of instructions to take off in a B-24. Why?
Then there were continuity errors. Most, but not all, chapters started with some or all of the time, date, and location. In the early chapters, the date jumped around. It was May 8th, then the 6th, back to the 8th, then the 7th, then to 1979 (this chapter didn't have a date description though!). It was difficult to keep an eye on. Sometimes you'd be informed that it was 3 am, then be immediately told this again the first line of the chapter. Or you'd be told you were on the plane, it's obvious. We know where Becker is because he hasn't moved. Tell, not show.
Also, a couple of sub-plots seemed thrown in. A Mongolian, part of a gang Becker took down in his past, follows his daughter on campus. He races to save her. There's also some Al Qaeda observer early on that's explained away at the end, tied into the Mongolian.
Finally, the style changed in some chapters. When in the nuclear plant scenes all of the dialogue is written as if it's a screenplay. Why? For interest perhaps. If so, it didn't work. It made the dialogue clunky.
So overall a disappointing read. The 19th Element promised much but failed to deliver. I needed much more `thrill!' and a lot less `er?'
**Originally reviewed for Al's Books & Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**
What's the point of a thriller? Well, I guess the clue is in the word itself. Unfortunately there were many issues with The 19th Element from a contrived plot (an Al Qaeda attack on a nuclear power plant?!) that never got out of second gear, to weak characters, and odd dialogue.
First is Becker himself who failed to convince me of his credentials. He's ex-secret service, but then describes himself as wealthy because he invented a new bullet that can kill people at 1.5 miles (great!). He also has an unused degree - this and the money mean he's been able to change profession and still act undercover (although independently of the government) but seems able to call in favours at will, like bringing in two Apache helicopters to take out the bad guys at just the right moment.
The writing isn't bad, it's just overly descriptive and ponderous. It's `tell' instead of `show', observation instead of participation. For example, Becker gets into a fight at one point, it felt like I was watching the process from afar. When Jack Reacher fights, he fights, you feel every punch, every injury, adrenalin pumps. Unfortunately not with Becker. I wanted to put on my pyjamas and go to bed with a hot water bottle.
There were quite a few examples of this over use of tell. Remember the unused degree and new job. From the following, can you guess what Becker does?
'Today was Wednesday and I was at my office. Becker Law Office. James L. Becker, Attorney-at-Law.'
Um, I think he's an attorney? But I could be wrong.
On occasion, there were long, bulleted and descriptive lists. Once Becker described everything he was carrying on a mission. So what? Then there was the whole set of instructions to take off in a B-24. Why?
Then there were continuity errors. Most, but not all, chapters started with some or all of the time, date, and location. In the early chapters, the date jumped around. It was May 8th, then the 6th, back to the 8th, then the 7th, then to 1979 (this chapter didn't have a date description though!). It was difficult to keep an eye on. Sometimes you'd be informed that it was 3 am, then be immediately told this again the first line of the chapter. Or you'd be told you were on the plane, it's obvious. We know where Becker is because he hasn't moved. Tell, not show.
Also, a couple of sub-plots seemed thrown in. A Mongolian, part of a gang Becker took down in his past, follows his daughter on campus. He races to save her. There's also some Al Qaeda observer early on that's explained away at the end, tied into the Mongolian.
Finally, the style changed in some chapters. When in the nuclear plant scenes all of the dialogue is written as if it's a screenplay. Why? For interest perhaps. If so, it didn't work. It made the dialogue clunky.
So overall a disappointing read. The 19th Element promised much but failed to deliver. I needed much more `thrill!' and a lot less `er?'
**Originally reviewed for Al's Books & Pals blog. May have received free review copy.**
August 27, 2010
Told from the point-of-view of a former elite U.S. military intelligence operative, and the perspective of an Al Qaeda-backed terrorist cell, The 19th Element by John L. Betcher is a first rate psychological thriller that will hook your interest early and keep you reading non-stop until the final page.
Although this is the second release in the series, The 19th Element takes place a few months prior to the author's debut, The Missing Element. James "Beck" Becker has settled into retirement and is attempting to live a normal life, putting his law degree to use with a legal practice in his hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota. Not much happens in the small town so when a scientist-professor of agriculture is found murdered and the only suspect, a lab assistant, is missing, Beck takes notice. Beck may be officially retired from government intelligence work, but he cannot ignore his training, experience, or gut reactions. When he discovers that the assistant is Arab he brings his theories to the local police.
Ottawa County's Chief Deputy Sheriff, Doug Gunderson, is somewhat aware of Beck’s background and the pair has a friendship that goes back to school days. However, Gunderson is leery about starting a "terrorists in Red Wing panic" based on Beck's gut feelings and little hard evidence. When not one but two fertilizer trucks are hijacked, Beck begins to put the pieces together. He envisions an Oklahoma City-type bombing and the only target worth hitting would be the nearby Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant. Fearing a Chernobyl style meltdown, Beck continues his investigation despite the lack of support from any government agency or Gunderson. Beck has no faith in the FBI, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), state police, or power plant security to ward off a terrorist attack and calls in his ex-military friend, Terry "Bull" Red Feather, for help.
We meet perhaps the strangest sleeper cell imaginable. An Arab lab rat (desperate to show his worth to Al Qaeda) who is capable of turning a truck load of pot ash into a powerful bomb, and a pair of brainless, redneck anarchists led by a bitter and dying survivor of the 1979 Three Mile Island incident.
The author brings all the players together for a tour de force final few dozen pages that make The 19th Element one of the most entertaining, exciting thrillers I've read in a long time. Becker is a character that you can cheer for. The banter between Beck and his wife, and Beck and Gunderson shows the author’s substantial talent for writing dialogue. A relentless pace, quirky yet realistic dialogue, and fascinating, believable characters keep the pages turning. Considerable research, attention to detail, and a well-plotted story make this a memorable read. Highly recommended.
Although this is the second release in the series, The 19th Element takes place a few months prior to the author's debut, The Missing Element. James "Beck" Becker has settled into retirement and is attempting to live a normal life, putting his law degree to use with a legal practice in his hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota. Not much happens in the small town so when a scientist-professor of agriculture is found murdered and the only suspect, a lab assistant, is missing, Beck takes notice. Beck may be officially retired from government intelligence work, but he cannot ignore his training, experience, or gut reactions. When he discovers that the assistant is Arab he brings his theories to the local police.
Ottawa County's Chief Deputy Sheriff, Doug Gunderson, is somewhat aware of Beck’s background and the pair has a friendship that goes back to school days. However, Gunderson is leery about starting a "terrorists in Red Wing panic" based on Beck's gut feelings and little hard evidence. When not one but two fertilizer trucks are hijacked, Beck begins to put the pieces together. He envisions an Oklahoma City-type bombing and the only target worth hitting would be the nearby Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant. Fearing a Chernobyl style meltdown, Beck continues his investigation despite the lack of support from any government agency or Gunderson. Beck has no faith in the FBI, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), state police, or power plant security to ward off a terrorist attack and calls in his ex-military friend, Terry "Bull" Red Feather, for help.
We meet perhaps the strangest sleeper cell imaginable. An Arab lab rat (desperate to show his worth to Al Qaeda) who is capable of turning a truck load of pot ash into a powerful bomb, and a pair of brainless, redneck anarchists led by a bitter and dying survivor of the 1979 Three Mile Island incident.
The author brings all the players together for a tour de force final few dozen pages that make The 19th Element one of the most entertaining, exciting thrillers I've read in a long time. Becker is a character that you can cheer for. The banter between Beck and his wife, and Beck and Gunderson shows the author’s substantial talent for writing dialogue. A relentless pace, quirky yet realistic dialogue, and fascinating, believable characters keep the pages turning. Considerable research, attention to detail, and a well-plotted story make this a memorable read. Highly recommended.
July 7, 2011
A murder, a suspect, a nuclear plant with a spent fuel reactor that no one wants to discuss, potassium, a terrorist plot and two stolen truckloads of fertilizer … plus a couple of Mongolian goons makes for a thrilling race-against-time plot. The man to tie up the loose ends and resolve the case is none other than James “Beck” Becker, a former elite U.S. government intelligence operative who has retired to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota, just six miles down the Mississippi from the Prairie River nuclear facility.
When the body of a University professor of agronomy turns up on the Mississippi River bank, Beck suspects foul play of a terrorist kind. His instinct tells him there is a connection between the victim and his missing lab assistant Farris Ahmed, an international cell phone call and a stolen fertilizer truck, but no one believes him. After all, who could take seriously his suspicions of a potassium bomb attack on a nuclear plant facility? The local police, the FBI and the nuclear plant security scoff at his ideas until things start rolling and it looks as if there is only one way things will end … in disaster. In fact Beck is not wrong. Al Qaeda plans to attack Minnesota’s Prairie River Power Plant as a means to restore the organization’s fading reputation to international prominence. It is indeed a motley crew that Beck finds himself up against: Al Qaeda has struggled to get Arab operatives into the nuclear facility and has resorted to using two dim-witted homegrown anarchists and a Three Mile Island survivor with a pathological vendetta against the nuclear establishment.
The author has established a likeable character in James Becker, one who has appeared in a previous novel and will no doubt feature in future political thrillers. By handling much of the narration, Beck’s character imbues the novel with his own style and personality. Beck is laid-back, with a dry sense of humor and an unerring instinct for danger. He trusts his gut and so do his friends, namely Ottawa County’s Chief Deputy Sheriff, Doug Gunderson, aka “Gunner” and Terry Red Feather, a full-blooded Mdewakanton Dakota American Indian, aka “Bull.” This book is an excellent read, with the author managing to steer the untutored reader through a maze of technical details about nuclear power and potassium bombs without losing attention. My one criticism would be that the story slows down in the middle with the author “telling” rather than “showing” but speeds up to a satisfying and thrilling climax. An interesting snippet is the fact that potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (Neo-Latin kalium) and atomic number 19, hence the title of this book.
First reviewed for ReadersFavorite.com
When the body of a University professor of agronomy turns up on the Mississippi River bank, Beck suspects foul play of a terrorist kind. His instinct tells him there is a connection between the victim and his missing lab assistant Farris Ahmed, an international cell phone call and a stolen fertilizer truck, but no one believes him. After all, who could take seriously his suspicions of a potassium bomb attack on a nuclear plant facility? The local police, the FBI and the nuclear plant security scoff at his ideas until things start rolling and it looks as if there is only one way things will end … in disaster. In fact Beck is not wrong. Al Qaeda plans to attack Minnesota’s Prairie River Power Plant as a means to restore the organization’s fading reputation to international prominence. It is indeed a motley crew that Beck finds himself up against: Al Qaeda has struggled to get Arab operatives into the nuclear facility and has resorted to using two dim-witted homegrown anarchists and a Three Mile Island survivor with a pathological vendetta against the nuclear establishment.
The author has established a likeable character in James Becker, one who has appeared in a previous novel and will no doubt feature in future political thrillers. By handling much of the narration, Beck’s character imbues the novel with his own style and personality. Beck is laid-back, with a dry sense of humor and an unerring instinct for danger. He trusts his gut and so do his friends, namely Ottawa County’s Chief Deputy Sheriff, Doug Gunderson, aka “Gunner” and Terry Red Feather, a full-blooded Mdewakanton Dakota American Indian, aka “Bull.” This book is an excellent read, with the author managing to steer the untutored reader through a maze of technical details about nuclear power and potassium bombs without losing attention. My one criticism would be that the story slows down in the middle with the author “telling” rather than “showing” but speeds up to a satisfying and thrilling climax. An interesting snippet is the fact that potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (Neo-Latin kalium) and atomic number 19, hence the title of this book.
First reviewed for ReadersFavorite.com
February 3, 2011
Betcher Has Done it Again with his book
The 19th Element - you've never been scared so "good!"
The 19th Element – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“Gentlemen. You sit here in this room, insulated from reality, comfortable in your delusions that you are safe from international terrorism. In your imaginary world, your families are safe. Your neighbors are safe. We are all totally safe. Your delusions have led you to the conclusion that the nuclear catastrophe waiting to happen inside that fence across the parking lot is a fiction. Of course, you all know how extreme the consequences of a successful terrorist attack on the nuclear plant would be. But because of your fantasies, you discount the dangers – not only to yourselves and your loved ones, but to everyone in the eastern half of the United States and possibly beyond. But what if the worst possible scenario proves not to be a fantasy at all, but a deadly fact?”
These words and more are spoken by James "Beck" Becker as he tries to convince a security group meeting at the Prairie River Nuclear Plant that there is very possibly a real threat of an attempt by Al Qaeda to run a plane full of explosives into their spent fuel pool. They simply aren’t buying it.
After the murder of a professor who had been experimenting with potassium turns up on the shores of the Mississippi, Beck started putting things together. When he learned the name of the professor’s assistant, Farris Ahmed, he knew he was on to something big. After researching potassium, as well as the procedures taken to secure nuclear waste, Beck was positive that there would be an attack -- and the nuclear plant would be the target. But getting the attention of those responsible for security without appearing to be a total fool was almost impossible.
In reading The 19th Element, I’ve had a quick enlightenment as to how power companies make power. I’ve learned what actually happens to “spent” nuclear fuel. I’ve also been educated on the true hatred that seeps from the influence of Al Qaeda. And to be totally honest with everyone, it scares the pure hell out of me! I can see the possibilities of a nuclear disaster such as the one envisioned in The 19th Element actually happening. My question is, are we truly prepared for this or anything even close to this happening? I can only pray that we are. The 19th Element is definitely a “wake-up America” book that we should all read and listen to.
316 pages
2010
ISBN# 1451521014
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
The 19th Element - you've never been scared so "good!"
The 19th Element – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“Gentlemen. You sit here in this room, insulated from reality, comfortable in your delusions that you are safe from international terrorism. In your imaginary world, your families are safe. Your neighbors are safe. We are all totally safe. Your delusions have led you to the conclusion that the nuclear catastrophe waiting to happen inside that fence across the parking lot is a fiction. Of course, you all know how extreme the consequences of a successful terrorist attack on the nuclear plant would be. But because of your fantasies, you discount the dangers – not only to yourselves and your loved ones, but to everyone in the eastern half of the United States and possibly beyond. But what if the worst possible scenario proves not to be a fantasy at all, but a deadly fact?”
These words and more are spoken by James "Beck" Becker as he tries to convince a security group meeting at the Prairie River Nuclear Plant that there is very possibly a real threat of an attempt by Al Qaeda to run a plane full of explosives into their spent fuel pool. They simply aren’t buying it.
After the murder of a professor who had been experimenting with potassium turns up on the shores of the Mississippi, Beck started putting things together. When he learned the name of the professor’s assistant, Farris Ahmed, he knew he was on to something big. After researching potassium, as well as the procedures taken to secure nuclear waste, Beck was positive that there would be an attack -- and the nuclear plant would be the target. But getting the attention of those responsible for security without appearing to be a total fool was almost impossible.
In reading The 19th Element, I’ve had a quick enlightenment as to how power companies make power. I’ve learned what actually happens to “spent” nuclear fuel. I’ve also been educated on the true hatred that seeps from the influence of Al Qaeda. And to be totally honest with everyone, it scares the pure hell out of me! I can see the possibilities of a nuclear disaster such as the one envisioned in The 19th Element actually happening. My question is, are we truly prepared for this or anything even close to this happening? I can only pray that we are. The 19th Element is definitely a “wake-up America” book that we should all read and listen to.
316 pages
2010
ISBN# 1451521014
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
September 29, 2010
The first thing that struck me as I read The 19th Element, the next James Becker thriller, was that my chemistry knowledge had not completely been lost, and I knew what element he was referring to in the title. And that element is very much the center to this tale of terrorism and sloughy bureaucracy.
The novel makes a very interesting point as we near the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It speculates that because there have not been any major attacks by al Queda, we are not as well protected as we are led to believe. Combined with changing technology of warfare, that has made us vulnerable once more.
The character Beck is clearly a worried man, then again that is what he does for a living. He discovers a plot to blow up a nuclear power station and create a Chernobyl-style disaster on an enlarged scale. Not only does he have to find out what a sleeper cell is up to, he also has to battle lazy and incompetent bureaucrats who think he is paranoid.
As with Betcher's previous book the prose does not dally about. It moves quickly and I was able to read the novel in one afternoon. His minimalist approach to writing might not be for all, but it does make for a pacey read.
It can be seen as absolute antithesis to those weighty tomes that clog up the airport bookstores. This would make a perfect book to read on the plane, especially as airplanes feature in the novel.
Even more so than the last one this book screams to be made into a movie. A script would be easy to pluck from this novel.
I recommend both this release and the previous one. It is a fine summer read for your next few days off.
Read more: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/...
The novel makes a very interesting point as we near the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It speculates that because there have not been any major attacks by al Queda, we are not as well protected as we are led to believe. Combined with changing technology of warfare, that has made us vulnerable once more.
The character Beck is clearly a worried man, then again that is what he does for a living. He discovers a plot to blow up a nuclear power station and create a Chernobyl-style disaster on an enlarged scale. Not only does he have to find out what a sleeper cell is up to, he also has to battle lazy and incompetent bureaucrats who think he is paranoid.
As with Betcher's previous book the prose does not dally about. It moves quickly and I was able to read the novel in one afternoon. His minimalist approach to writing might not be for all, but it does make for a pacey read.
It can be seen as absolute antithesis to those weighty tomes that clog up the airport bookstores. This would make a perfect book to read on the plane, especially as airplanes feature in the novel.
Even more so than the last one this book screams to be made into a movie. A script would be easy to pluck from this novel.
I recommend both this release and the previous one. It is a fine summer read for your next few days off.
Read more: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews