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Helius Legacy
The last potential heir to the Helius Energy legacy was quietly eliminated over half a century ago . . . or so they thought
In December of 1999, a young reporter discovers an ancient deed in the Travis County archives of Austin, Texas. Hidden a century earlier, the original copy of the deed includes a covenant excised from the version available to the public. This covenant gives the grantor's descendants the right to reclaim ownership of the property if any future owner violates an explicit use a bar against the extraction of mineral wealth from the land.
The reporter is stunned by the discovery--the land subject to the deed is one of the most valuable oil fields in the world. Now, any descendant of the original grantor has the power to reclaim ownership of this billion-dollar asset with the stroke of a pen, and Helius Energy, the energy conglomerate that owns the land, has no intention of allowing this to happen.
Within hours of the discovery, the reporter is on the run, desperately racing to stay ahead of a team of killers dispatched by Helius. A second team is winging its way to California, with orders to kill John Caine, the last living heir entitled to claim the legacy created by the deed.
Caine is unaware of his ancestry and the nightmare coming his way. His only hope for survival is Andrea Marenna, a beautiful lawyer in Austin who is unwittingly drawn into Caine's race. Together, they must find a way to survive long enough to unravel the century-old mystery that has placed them in harm's way.
In December of 1999, a young reporter discovers an ancient deed in the Travis County archives of Austin, Texas. Hidden a century earlier, the original copy of the deed includes a covenant excised from the version available to the public. This covenant gives the grantor's descendants the right to reclaim ownership of the property if any future owner violates an explicit use a bar against the extraction of mineral wealth from the land.
The reporter is stunned by the discovery--the land subject to the deed is one of the most valuable oil fields in the world. Now, any descendant of the original grantor has the power to reclaim ownership of this billion-dollar asset with the stroke of a pen, and Helius Energy, the energy conglomerate that owns the land, has no intention of allowing this to happen.
Within hours of the discovery, the reporter is on the run, desperately racing to stay ahead of a team of killers dispatched by Helius. A second team is winging its way to California, with orders to kill John Caine, the last living heir entitled to claim the legacy created by the deed.
Caine is unaware of his ancestry and the nightmare coming his way. His only hope for survival is Andrea Marenna, a beautiful lawyer in Austin who is unwittingly drawn into Caine's race. Together, they must find a way to survive long enough to unravel the century-old mystery that has placed them in harm's way.
- GenresFiction
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
S. Alexander O'Keefe
3 books60 followersS. Alexander O’Keefe was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Fordham University School of Law, and he practices law in Orange County, California. Mr. O’Keefe and his wife, Cathy, who live in Irvine, California, have three children. Phantom Money is Mr. O'Keefe's third novel.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 10, 2011
5 STARS
Action packed, greed,power hungry, bad guys and good friends. It never stops or drags. You don't want it to put the book down till its over.
A reporter Richard Steinman working on his own found out about a billion dollar fraud by Helius Energy and Mason family for decades.
A property that the mason family bought in 1890s would be returned if any minerals were taken out of the land. In the early 1900s oil was discovered and drilled on the property it has made billions of dollars it is the 5th biggest oil field in US. Carter Mason's grandfather had all the descendents murdered or so he thought. They also got passed a law that all previous land deeds would be sunset in after the upcomming at the beginning of the year.
Richard was looking and found that their was one heir left, he tried calling and left a message to John Caine. Also called a lawyer friend to know whats going on. When Richard learned that the Helius company learned he was looking into the records. Why Richard left the bar he noticed a guy acting suspicous and communicating to a car. Richard made it to his car and a car chase started.He tried to call Andrea again only to leave a message. He had a package almost ready to mail with Fedx to get proof to Andrea as back up and was able to throw into a delivery truck of another companie. Richard was able to do that without the car chasing him see. Then after his tires shot out and he was killed.
Helius has a private security that handles a lot of problems for the international company. If he needs someone to disappear or be bribed or made to look unreliable. They did what ever they had to. Their orders were to get rid of Richard Steinman and evidence of the story. They got Richard's cell phone and reciept for fedx delivery before car exploded.
They learned that John Caine was a heir to the property. So He was marked for death and Andrea was bugged to find out what she knew and to get the package.
John Caine was up at his cabin when a helacopter woke him up. On his way to kitchen he saw movement in trees and realized a team heavy armed was getting into position around cabin. Unknown about John was that he used to be a member of US army. Later John was a member of French Foreign league in a very secret top level assault team. John was trained and did many top secret missions for USA and other originations. He also had a backpack with weapons ready to go at minute so he figured away to distract team while he escaped on snowmobile. Then the real chase begins with many cars,helacopter, buildings destroyed ,kidnapping. While John figured out what was going on.
I would read more S. Alexander O'Keefe books in the future. I was very well entertained and into the story. I would recommend this book a lot. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley
Action packed, greed,power hungry, bad guys and good friends. It never stops or drags. You don't want it to put the book down till its over.
A reporter Richard Steinman working on his own found out about a billion dollar fraud by Helius Energy and Mason family for decades.
A property that the mason family bought in 1890s would be returned if any minerals were taken out of the land. In the early 1900s oil was discovered and drilled on the property it has made billions of dollars it is the 5th biggest oil field in US. Carter Mason's grandfather had all the descendents murdered or so he thought. They also got passed a law that all previous land deeds would be sunset in after the upcomming at the beginning of the year.
Richard was looking and found that their was one heir left, he tried calling and left a message to John Caine. Also called a lawyer friend to know whats going on. When Richard learned that the Helius company learned he was looking into the records. Why Richard left the bar he noticed a guy acting suspicous and communicating to a car. Richard made it to his car and a car chase started.He tried to call Andrea again only to leave a message. He had a package almost ready to mail with Fedx to get proof to Andrea as back up and was able to throw into a delivery truck of another companie. Richard was able to do that without the car chasing him see. Then after his tires shot out and he was killed.
Helius has a private security that handles a lot of problems for the international company. If he needs someone to disappear or be bribed or made to look unreliable. They did what ever they had to. Their orders were to get rid of Richard Steinman and evidence of the story. They got Richard's cell phone and reciept for fedx delivery before car exploded.
They learned that John Caine was a heir to the property. So He was marked for death and Andrea was bugged to find out what she knew and to get the package.
John Caine was up at his cabin when a helacopter woke him up. On his way to kitchen he saw movement in trees and realized a team heavy armed was getting into position around cabin. Unknown about John was that he used to be a member of US army. Later John was a member of French Foreign league in a very secret top level assault team. John was trained and did many top secret missions for USA and other originations. He also had a backpack with weapons ready to go at minute so he figured away to distract team while he escaped on snowmobile. Then the real chase begins with many cars,helacopter, buildings destroyed ,kidnapping. While John figured out what was going on.
I would read more S. Alexander O'Keefe books in the future. I was very well entertained and into the story. I would recommend this book a lot. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley
June 27, 2025
Next up on the chopping block is another NetGalley title. This one is called The Helius Legacy, and it was written by S. Alexander O'Keefe. It's a thriller, and the plot goes a little something like this:
An evil organization of evil decides it needs to pick on some of the little people for one reason or another. Some people die, but one of said people being picked on turns out to be a ex-military or a kooky survivalist or a hot-as-lava computer hacker who puts up a fight. More people die, there are some car chases and maybe a narrow escape or two from death's bony clutches. In the midst of all that adrenalin-pumping action a love interest blossoms (sometimes inexplicably), and the ever-present danger makes the two lovebirds cleave even closer to one another. After a few more harrowing escapes and perhaps a climactic battle or two, eventually the big bad is vanquished through wit and brawn and good old fashioned determination, and then everyone lives happily ever after.
Sound familiar? It should. That's pretty much the same plot of just about every other conspiracy/thriller novel out there--The Da Vinci Code, The Firm, hell, just about every book Robert Ludlum ever wrote. It's enough to make a man sick. And if the writing is sub-par or lackluster, then it's almost unpalatable. Do I have go to on? I'm sure you can already tell that I didn't like it. But alas, I do have to go on. The reading public deserves an honest run-down of this thing, and there's no way to do it except by getting into the messy details. So on we go.
In this particular thriller the big bad organization happens to be an oil company called Helius Energy. The year is 1999, and an investigative journalist has pieced together enough information to prove that one of Helius' most profitable properties (and the profits from the barrels and barrels of oil extracted from the property over the years) should in actuality belong to a man named John Caine, a veritable hermit living in the California mountains. Caine is an orphan, the only survivor of an entire family line that was exterminated back in the 1920s by the ancestors of Helius' CEO, Carter Mason. Upon learning of the journalist's discovery, Mason follows the family tradition and has him killed. He then sends his professional goon squad off to find anyone else the reporter might have blabbed to. Target number one his lawyer friend, Andrea Marenna. Target number two is John Caine himself... who just so happens to be a retired special forces operative for the French Foriegn Legion. Convenient, no? After a failed attempt on his life (in which he mind-bogglingly shoots down a helicopter with a shotgun), he flies to Austin in time to foil an attempted hit on Andrea, and the two of them are off and running for their lives. Several narrow escapes ensue, and then Andrea is captured by the Helius goon squad. Helius tries to sucker Caine into coming to rescue her, and he does... along with four of his ex-special forces buddies, who rescue the girl and blow the goon squad to kingdom come. After that point, Caine and Andrea decide to bring in the Feds, clear their names, and bring Carter Mason to justice. There's some legal finegaling, a lot of head-butting with a bitchy U.S. Attourney, and another attempt from the Helius hit squad, but all is set right in the end. Caine gets his cash money, Mason goes to jail, and he and Andrea get it on after professing their undying love to one another.
I tried hard to like this one. I really did. I said to myself, "self, you know you got this book for free from those nice folks at NetGalley. Maybe you should try to write a positive review this time." And myself replied, "Have you read this freakin' thing? It's a warmed over turd sandwich."
What can I say? Myself can be an a-hole at times. But while The Helius Legacy isn't a turd sandwich exactly (if we're being honest here, completely sans hyperbole), it isn't good either. For one the plot has been done to death before. And while the basic plots have been acted out since time immemorial (Hero's Journey, anyone?), a book can tell the same story and still be innovative if new twists or slants are applied to the same basic plot, or if the cast of characters is particularly interesting, or if there's some snappy dialogue to tie everything together. There was none of that here. The characters were also predictable and utterly flat, fitting in with the archetypal molds you'd come to expect from a cheesy action flick. Plus, the writing simply wasn't that good. Oh, it was competent all right, but it was the kind of competency you'd expect from a mid-level English student, not from a published writer. The prose had no flair, no panache. You can have a lackluster story and still win me over if the writing is sharp and witty, if you describe things in new ways, or use especially inventive metaphors. Mr. O'Keefe did none of that.
One thing almost saved the book for me. Almost. And that was the fact that the storyline touched on something near and dear to my heart--corporate dystopia. It's an element essential in any good cyberpunk novel: corporations run amok, comercialism at its worst, common people held in thrall by organizations who suck them dry of money and life and their very souls. I mean come on, what's not to like? But The Helius Legacy didn't touch on any of that. The big bad corporation was just a vehicle with which to heap death and destruction on the hero and in turn give him someone to whoop up on. O'Keefe didn't even go into an Occupy Wallstreet-esque rant about the abuse of wealth and power by corporations. It was all so... disappointing.
I dunno, maybe I'm too critical. Maybe I'm a fool for expecting mindless entertainment to have a brain. Maybe. But I've seen the light, and I can't go back to the darkness. At least, I can't go back and not bitch about it for a thousand words or so. I suppose I've read too many good authors. Now I'm spoiled. Oh well. Can't change it now. Apologies to you, Mr. O'Keefe, for what I'm about to do. I know you probably poured a lot of time and effort into this tome, but I can't bring myself to pull any punches. Two stars.
An evil organization of evil decides it needs to pick on some of the little people for one reason or another. Some people die, but one of said people being picked on turns out to be a ex-military or a kooky survivalist or a hot-as-lava computer hacker who puts up a fight. More people die, there are some car chases and maybe a narrow escape or two from death's bony clutches. In the midst of all that adrenalin-pumping action a love interest blossoms (sometimes inexplicably), and the ever-present danger makes the two lovebirds cleave even closer to one another. After a few more harrowing escapes and perhaps a climactic battle or two, eventually the big bad is vanquished through wit and brawn and good old fashioned determination, and then everyone lives happily ever after.
Sound familiar? It should. That's pretty much the same plot of just about every other conspiracy/thriller novel out there--The Da Vinci Code, The Firm, hell, just about every book Robert Ludlum ever wrote. It's enough to make a man sick. And if the writing is sub-par or lackluster, then it's almost unpalatable. Do I have go to on? I'm sure you can already tell that I didn't like it. But alas, I do have to go on. The reading public deserves an honest run-down of this thing, and there's no way to do it except by getting into the messy details. So on we go.
In this particular thriller the big bad organization happens to be an oil company called Helius Energy. The year is 1999, and an investigative journalist has pieced together enough information to prove that one of Helius' most profitable properties (and the profits from the barrels and barrels of oil extracted from the property over the years) should in actuality belong to a man named John Caine, a veritable hermit living in the California mountains. Caine is an orphan, the only survivor of an entire family line that was exterminated back in the 1920s by the ancestors of Helius' CEO, Carter Mason. Upon learning of the journalist's discovery, Mason follows the family tradition and has him killed. He then sends his professional goon squad off to find anyone else the reporter might have blabbed to. Target number one his lawyer friend, Andrea Marenna. Target number two is John Caine himself... who just so happens to be a retired special forces operative for the French Foriegn Legion. Convenient, no? After a failed attempt on his life (in which he mind-bogglingly shoots down a helicopter with a shotgun), he flies to Austin in time to foil an attempted hit on Andrea, and the two of them are off and running for their lives. Several narrow escapes ensue, and then Andrea is captured by the Helius goon squad. Helius tries to sucker Caine into coming to rescue her, and he does... along with four of his ex-special forces buddies, who rescue the girl and blow the goon squad to kingdom come. After that point, Caine and Andrea decide to bring in the Feds, clear their names, and bring Carter Mason to justice. There's some legal finegaling, a lot of head-butting with a bitchy U.S. Attourney, and another attempt from the Helius hit squad, but all is set right in the end. Caine gets his cash money, Mason goes to jail, and he and Andrea get it on after professing their undying love to one another.
I tried hard to like this one. I really did. I said to myself, "self, you know you got this book for free from those nice folks at NetGalley. Maybe you should try to write a positive review this time." And myself replied, "Have you read this freakin' thing? It's a warmed over turd sandwich."
What can I say? Myself can be an a-hole at times. But while The Helius Legacy isn't a turd sandwich exactly (if we're being honest here, completely sans hyperbole), it isn't good either. For one the plot has been done to death before. And while the basic plots have been acted out since time immemorial (Hero's Journey, anyone?), a book can tell the same story and still be innovative if new twists or slants are applied to the same basic plot, or if the cast of characters is particularly interesting, or if there's some snappy dialogue to tie everything together. There was none of that here. The characters were also predictable and utterly flat, fitting in with the archetypal molds you'd come to expect from a cheesy action flick. Plus, the writing simply wasn't that good. Oh, it was competent all right, but it was the kind of competency you'd expect from a mid-level English student, not from a published writer. The prose had no flair, no panache. You can have a lackluster story and still win me over if the writing is sharp and witty, if you describe things in new ways, or use especially inventive metaphors. Mr. O'Keefe did none of that.
One thing almost saved the book for me. Almost. And that was the fact that the storyline touched on something near and dear to my heart--corporate dystopia. It's an element essential in any good cyberpunk novel: corporations run amok, comercialism at its worst, common people held in thrall by organizations who suck them dry of money and life and their very souls. I mean come on, what's not to like? But The Helius Legacy didn't touch on any of that. The big bad corporation was just a vehicle with which to heap death and destruction on the hero and in turn give him someone to whoop up on. O'Keefe didn't even go into an Occupy Wallstreet-esque rant about the abuse of wealth and power by corporations. It was all so... disappointing.
I dunno, maybe I'm too critical. Maybe I'm a fool for expecting mindless entertainment to have a brain. Maybe. But I've seen the light, and I can't go back to the darkness. At least, I can't go back and not bitch about it for a thousand words or so. I suppose I've read too many good authors. Now I'm spoiled. Oh well. Can't change it now. Apologies to you, Mr. O'Keefe, for what I'm about to do. I know you probably poured a lot of time and effort into this tome, but I can't bring myself to pull any punches. Two stars.
February 25, 2021
Good story
This was a very well written and crafted book. Good character development and an interesting premise. I liked the characters. It was violent but when billions of dollars are at risk that would bring violence. Well worth the read. Couldn't put it down
This was a very well written and crafted book. Good character development and an interesting premise. I liked the characters. It was violent but when billions of dollars are at risk that would bring violence. Well worth the read. Couldn't put it down
October 30, 2021
Great read
A well written story,good plot and strong characters. Lots of action, a page turner.Always keeps you guessing,wanting to know more. I would recommend this book
A well written story,good plot and strong characters. Lots of action, a page turner.Always keeps you guessing,wanting to know more. I would recommend this book
January 29, 2013
Yet again, I find myself wishing for a half-star option in rating books. This one is really better than 3 stars but not quite 4 stars.
Another reviewer commented that this is formulaic stuff. Agreed...to a point. But it isn't only the formula that determines the rating. It is the execution of the formula. (And, in my opinion, things often remain true to form because it works!) Lots of books are formulaic and suffer from mediocre or poor writing. I did not find that to be the case in this instance. Aside from (only 3) editing issues that I noticed, I was surprised that I could not find another book under Mr. O'Keefe's belt. It did not feel or read like a first book. I put aside another book to read this thinking I would alternate between them only to find I couldn't put this one down until I had finished it.
I enjoyed the plot, the characters and most everything about this novel. Thank you Mr. O'Keefe for keeping the objectionable language to a minimum - and confining that language to the rough characters - underscoring their roughness. I really cringe when I read that language and if there is too much of it in a book, I tend to toss it aside in favor of something better.
This book is on currently on our local library's Reader's Choice; I will be sure to cast a favorable vote for Helius Legacy. And will look forward to another book from Mr. O'Keefe.
Another reviewer commented that this is formulaic stuff. Agreed...to a point. But it isn't only the formula that determines the rating. It is the execution of the formula. (And, in my opinion, things often remain true to form because it works!) Lots of books are formulaic and suffer from mediocre or poor writing. I did not find that to be the case in this instance. Aside from (only 3) editing issues that I noticed, I was surprised that I could not find another book under Mr. O'Keefe's belt. It did not feel or read like a first book. I put aside another book to read this thinking I would alternate between them only to find I couldn't put this one down until I had finished it.
I enjoyed the plot, the characters and most everything about this novel. Thank you Mr. O'Keefe for keeping the objectionable language to a minimum - and confining that language to the rough characters - underscoring their roughness. I really cringe when I read that language and if there is too much of it in a book, I tend to toss it aside in favor of something better.
This book is on currently on our local library's Reader's Choice; I will be sure to cast a favorable vote for Helius Legacy. And will look forward to another book from Mr. O'Keefe.
March 9, 2013
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars. For the action, it's worth 5 stars. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because of the timeline of it. I'm not giving anything away here, but throughout the book, O'Keefe gives you date, time, and location for where the action is occurring. Unfortunately, sometimes the time goes back a bit ---- quite a bit before the action you're reading about occurs. Now, I know it's important for flow and readability, but this bothered me a little (just a little, though).
Overall --- if you like action books, this is one to pick up. Just be careful because it's difficult to put down.
Overall --- if you like action books, this is one to pick up. Just be careful because it's difficult to put down.
February 21, 2013
Meh. It's fine, but very trite and predictable. Characters felt flat. I skimmed the last third of the book. If you'd never read anything in this genre it's decent, but there are stronger authors/books.
Language
Language
April 17, 2016
A fantastic book
This storey was really put together in an intriguing fashion. You just didn't know what was to come next. It was very hard to put down. Looking forward to other books by this author.
This storey was really put together in an intriguing fashion. You just didn't know what was to come next. It was very hard to put down. Looking forward to other books by this author.
May 5, 2016
Absolutely amazing- I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. Action packed, twists, unexpected and surprising occurrences- unpredictable and I loved every minute of it! So glad I picked this book up, absolutely worth it!!!
February 12, 2013
A fun, fast-paced thriller. Not especially believable, but still fun.
April 5, 2013
Fun, fast-paced entertaining read. I would reccomend to action fans, reminiscent of the Bourne books.
March 31, 2013
fun, predictable, action-packed, not very believable
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews