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Jake Mercer #1
Absolute Threat
When the President of the United States or his family are threatened, it is up to Jake Mercer, former Marine sniper turned Secret Service agent, to protect them from dangers—both foreign and domestic.As a lethal militia targets the most powerful man in the world, Jake must thwart their assassination plot and protect the nation's highest office—even if the mastermind behind it is a shadow from his own past.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2024
574 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Jack Mars
260 books670 followersJack Mars is author of the bestselling LUKE STONE thriller series, which include the suspense thrillers ANY MEANS NECESSARY (book #1), OATH OF OFFICE (book #2) and SITUATION ROOM (book #3).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 1, 2024
I get that this is a quick schmaltzy easy action read but even considering that it's bad.
Jake constantly breaks Secret service protocol and it's okay because... he's better than literally every other secret service member?
The misogyny is real with this one too as Jake just wants to take Sheila away from the dangerous world and protect her (she's a fragile beautiful creature)
And definitely the line "they spread red white and blue freedom" with their rifles was icing on this sh*t cake.
Jake constantly breaks Secret service protocol and it's okay because... he's better than literally every other secret service member?
The misogyny is real with this one too as Jake just wants to take Sheila away from the dangerous world and protect her (she's a fragile beautiful creature)
And definitely the line "they spread red white and blue freedom" with their rifles was icing on this sh*t cake.
July 28, 2024
The plot line was interesting. However, the execution was implausible to the point of being asinine. Scenarios were unrealistic to the point of being ridiculous: President’s daughter just “showing up” all the time; MC going Lone Ranger and not following protocol. Dialogue was banal or terribly silly. If I heard Jack’s response of “outstanding” or read, “Jack frowned” one more time… 🙄arghh. Character development poor with flat, one dimensional characters. No motives provided for the antagonists.
A writer should show a course of action, explaining how situation developed. This author just tells, without explanation, the most riveting part of the story: an assault of over one hundred terrorists infiltrated the White House, which was already on high alert with multiple agencies guarding various points of ingress. No explanation. No showing HOW they could possibly do that. Just told the reader they were in the White House. Disappointing and disrespectful to the reader.
I kept reading because I really wanted to see how the story would end, hoping it would redeem itself. Not. The need to suspend disbelief to such an extreme level completely squelched my enjoyment. It was beyond implausible to the point of stupidity.
I see the author has written a number of books and he has high ratings in reviews. It’s either a one-off or maybe I’m off.
A writer should show a course of action, explaining how situation developed. This author just tells, without explanation, the most riveting part of the story: an assault of over one hundred terrorists infiltrated the White House, which was already on high alert with multiple agencies guarding various points of ingress. No explanation. No showing HOW they could possibly do that. Just told the reader they were in the White House. Disappointing and disrespectful to the reader.
I kept reading because I really wanted to see how the story would end, hoping it would redeem itself. Not. The need to suspend disbelief to such an extreme level completely squelched my enjoyment. It was beyond implausible to the point of stupidity.
I see the author has written a number of books and he has high ratings in reviews. It’s either a one-off or maybe I’m off.
November 11, 2024
It was appropriately lame and action-packed. It just felt uninspired. A main character who makes inapropriate comments in the work place and is expectedly gung ho.
April 17, 2024
2 ⭐️. This felt like a drawn out Call of Duty scene. The hero is the President’s secret service agent, making his way through a terrorist attack. He’s “not” in love with his conveniently beautiful, low maintenance, partner. And the president’s daughter keeps showing up at his doorstep, unannounced, late at night, to “check in”. The conversations and relationships are as developed as video game characters and the story is a temu-version Jason Bourne operation.
August 24, 2025
Looking forward to this series
September 7, 2025
I enjoyed the interactions Mercer had and the seemly conflicts with job, love life and co-workers. It shows a realism though fiction reality…
October 29, 2024
I listened to the audiobook of this, for the sole purpose of experiencing a book that was both written and narrated by AI. Unsurprisingly, the experience is. Bad.
In case there is any doubt of this AI status, the US Copyright Office registration (TX0009372625) states that its text was “generated by artificial intelligence”. On hoopla, the narration is attributed to “Hades (Synthesized Voice)”.
This book has approximately negative depth, a flatline of emotion, and extremely poor writing. Jake Mercer is a caricature of a tough man, drinking only black coffee, likening scotch to tasting of “bathwater” unlike ~true American whiskey~, and an absurd sycophantic loyalty to a shitty-ass president - in a way that felt like a knight swearing eternal fealty to their king for as long as they may live. All side characters are just as flimsy, and politically this book tries to say something while saying nothing at all - entirely unsurprising given its AI origins.
If you are looking for an audiobook containing flatline narration in which the AI voice reads out “asterisk asterisk asterisk” repeatedly, contains masterfully written lines like “he wasn’t known publicly, since the secret service preferred their agents weren’t known publicly”, and in saying almost nothing still manages to be for USMC war crimes, against Miranda rights, and somehow gender inclusive in the execution of terrorists (“girls, boys, and otherwise”), then I have found the perfect book for you!!!
In case there is any doubt of this AI status, the US Copyright Office registration (TX0009372625) states that its text was “generated by artificial intelligence”. On hoopla, the narration is attributed to “Hades (Synthesized Voice)”.
This book has approximately negative depth, a flatline of emotion, and extremely poor writing. Jake Mercer is a caricature of a tough man, drinking only black coffee, likening scotch to tasting of “bathwater” unlike ~true American whiskey~, and an absurd sycophantic loyalty to a shitty-ass president - in a way that felt like a knight swearing eternal fealty to their king for as long as they may live. All side characters are just as flimsy, and politically this book tries to say something while saying nothing at all - entirely unsurprising given its AI origins.
If you are looking for an audiobook containing flatline narration in which the AI voice reads out “asterisk asterisk asterisk” repeatedly, contains masterfully written lines like “he wasn’t known publicly, since the secret service preferred their agents weren’t known publicly”, and in saying almost nothing still manages to be for USMC war crimes, against Miranda rights, and somehow gender inclusive in the execution of terrorists (“girls, boys, and otherwise”), then I have found the perfect book for you!!!
December 2, 2024
Oh dear, this is not great.
In a nutshell, the US Secret Service is trying to protect the President from some highly trained and capable terrorists. Jake Mercer is in charge of protecting the President and tracking down the bad guys. He does this by exchanging banter with his female colleague, falling in love with the President’s daughter, not using resources available, not seeing the obvious and making bad decisions.
It’s nonsense and infuriating for the reader who will feel a lot brighter than Jake Mercer.
In a nutshell, the US Secret Service is trying to protect the President from some highly trained and capable terrorists. Jake Mercer is in charge of protecting the President and tracking down the bad guys. He does this by exchanging banter with his female colleague, falling in love with the President’s daughter, not using resources available, not seeing the obvious and making bad decisions.
It’s nonsense and infuriating for the reader who will feel a lot brighter than Jake Mercer.
January 4, 2025
This is probably a 2 star (average) book that gains an extra star because of the last quarter of the book which was exciting if a little implausible - but hey I have no real plausibility problem - I mean it is fiction, so what am I expecting?
I have spent 50 years reading science fiction, and most of that can be described as implausible unless you let your mind out of the box occasionally.
It is enjoyable, there is depth in some of the characterisations, although I am still stumped a little about Jess (I can't picture her, is what I mean).
I did spend a fair bit of the book thinking - would I have taken that action if I were a member of a Presidential detail.
I would certainly recommend it as a good bedside read, but please don't believe for one minute that this is how the Secret Service actually works.
Am I going to buy Book 2?- Probably not, because there are so many others out there with similar plot lines, but better reads overall.
I have spent 50 years reading science fiction, and most of that can be described as implausible unless you let your mind out of the box occasionally.
It is enjoyable, there is depth in some of the characterisations, although I am still stumped a little about Jess (I can't picture her, is what I mean).
I did spend a fair bit of the book thinking - would I have taken that action if I were a member of a Presidential detail.
I would certainly recommend it as a good bedside read, but please don't believe for one minute that this is how the Secret Service actually works.
Am I going to buy Book 2?- Probably not, because there are so many others out there with similar plot lines, but better reads overall.
December 9, 2024
Very gungho, but I liked it! Jake Mercer was a sniper in the marines then morphed into a secret service agent who is in charge of the security for the president and his family, plus he has feelings for the president's daughter Sheila. Word reaches the secret service that an attempt is about to be made on the president's life. The president insists in having some parade go ahead and then a drone with a machine gun kills people. It is a long drawn book but it gains momentum as it rolls along. I quite like Jake despite his stance of preferring to work alone and do his own thing and get into trouble for it, but the ending with all the fire power going on would make a very good film! Just not Tom Cruise for the hero he's done far too many of those for my liking.
July 27, 2025
"Absolute Threat" delivers a political thriller with relentless action and sharp twists. Jack Mars crafts a suspenseful plot that keeps moving at high speed, and Bruce Nix’s narration lifts the story even higher. His crisp, compelling performance adds depth to every moment, making the audiobook an engaging ride from start to finish.
Jake Mercer is the definition of a lone wolf. He's bold, relentless, and always front and center (sometimes to the detriment of the story). His refusal to let anyone else handle the spotlight, along with his occasional chauvinistic streak, makes him a complicated lead that I didn't always like.
Jake Mercer is the definition of a lone wolf. He's bold, relentless, and always front and center (sometimes to the detriment of the story). His refusal to let anyone else handle the spotlight, along with his occasional chauvinistic streak, makes him a complicated lead that I didn't always like.
August 23, 2025
The one star is for the great narrator of the audiobook. Otherwise it was an awful “book” more like a novella or screenplay for a single bad episode of NCIS …. Plot so implausible that every chapter was annoying …. Main character of course knows the terrorists from his past, has illicit love interest in presidents daughter, has a 25 year old partner he has “worked with for years” , who is also a senior secret service agent and computer expert… goes alone to investigate leads into terrorist attack on DC. ….. maybe this new series is written by his intern but if not I don’t see how author is so popular …
November 17, 2024
This was a great book to read, the characters in the book were very believable and the story line was very well written. If you enjoy characters that seem very real and do not always make the correct choices in life, combined with excitement then you would enjoy reading this book!
The author did a great job,
I hated to have to stop reading to deal with everyday life and could not wait to read more to find out what was happening next!
The author did a great job,
I hated to have to stop reading to deal with everyday life and could not wait to read more to find out what was happening next!
December 12, 2024
As always, this was a Jack Mars romp…non-stop from page one. But, good grief, get a proof reader. I can’t remember the last book I read that had so many typos. The action was barreling along but had to come to a screeching halt so many times as typos required backing up and re-reading sections to figure out what was going on due to the typos. It was like racing a formula one car and blowing a tire, stopping down to replace that tire. Again and again.
December 29, 2024
Exciting Victory over Evil!
Loved the main character! As Mercer does his job to protect the President, he makes mistakes that cost lives but aggressively takes his job as serious as any Special Agent! Only complaint is the F word bombs along the way. These fantastic stories do not need to use foul language to keep a reader intrigued! It often turns some from reading an excellent plot. No longer to follow this author!
Loved the main character! As Mercer does his job to protect the President, he makes mistakes that cost lives but aggressively takes his job as serious as any Special Agent! Only complaint is the F word bombs along the way. These fantastic stories do not need to use foul language to keep a reader intrigued! It often turns some from reading an excellent plot. No longer to follow this author!
June 29, 2025
Great characters!
This action packed book will keep you hostage from the start and gives lots of promise towards a great series. The characters are good, determined people who fit together in a way that works smoothly, and the humorous banter between them adds a level of intelligence that is amusing and admirable, especially in the face of impending disaster.. This is one you will want to read in one sitting because it is hard to put down once you get started.
This action packed book will keep you hostage from the start and gives lots of promise towards a great series. The characters are good, determined people who fit together in a way that works smoothly, and the humorous banter between them adds a level of intelligence that is amusing and admirable, especially in the face of impending disaster.. This is one you will want to read in one sitting because it is hard to put down once you get started.
March 14, 2024
A pretty good start to a new series by Jack Mars. Jake Mercer is a secret service agent tasked to protect the president of the US. When terrorist starts to attack them things get dicey. And his past seems to be catching up to Jake. A fast paced and short read with a bit of a cliffhanger ending. I'm looking forward to the next one.
November 3, 2024
Great story and characters. Movie ending. Why only a three? I've read 5 books in the Mars universe in the past two months. This one isn't written quite as well as the others. It was like he was being assisted by a new person. Had I not read the others so soon I wouldn't have noticed, but...
I'm going on to #2 regardless. I'm a certified fan.
I'm going on to #2 regardless. I'm a certified fan.
December 2, 2024
Good start
For new series. It’s highly irritating that pride could put so many agents at risk and lead to so many deaths. While this is fiction looking at reality shows many a political leader acting out of pride and therefore causing undue risk and harm to those whose job is to protect. Looking forward to next book.
For new series. It’s highly irritating that pride could put so many agents at risk and lead to so many deaths. While this is fiction looking at reality shows many a political leader acting out of pride and therefore causing undue risk and harm to those whose job is to protect. Looking forward to next book.
December 22, 2024
good but predictable
Predictable story with few surprises.
Book needs an editor because of grammar errors and punctuation errors that distract from reading.
Hero is a one man army who does not obey rules well. Also appears to have side arm that has unlimited magazine as there’s never a mention of having to change.
Predictable story with few surprises.
Book needs an editor because of grammar errors and punctuation errors that distract from reading.
Hero is a one man army who does not obey rules well. Also appears to have side arm that has unlimited magazine as there’s never a mention of having to change.
January 6, 2025
Great book
Great introduction to Jake Mercer. Jack Mars is a fantastic writer that can capture the reader and draw them into the book as if they are right there with all the characters. This book was very hard to put down and I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Great introduction to Jake Mercer. Jack Mars is a fantastic writer that can capture the reader and draw them into the book as if they are right there with all the characters. This book was very hard to put down and I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 23, 2025
Once a marine, always a marine.
Jake Mercer is a secret service agent protecting the president. An attack on the president sent wheels into motion. From that moment on the book was nonstop stressful situations. The story will keep you glued to the book. Good writing Jack Mars. Would have given a five star but someone needs to proofread.
Jake Mercer is a secret service agent protecting the president. An attack on the president sent wheels into motion. From that moment on the book was nonstop stressful situations. The story will keep you glued to the book. Good writing Jack Mars. Would have given a five star but someone needs to proofread.
August 10, 2025
Satisfying page-turner of a read!
Jake Mercer and the rest of the characters are well-drawn to keep the story racing as events unfold. I really like the details of the plot as they are interesting to consider more realistic than fictional. Nice to know this is part of a series--I look forward to reading the rest of the books!
Jake Mercer and the rest of the characters are well-drawn to keep the story racing as events unfold. I really like the details of the plot as they are interesting to consider more realistic than fictional. Nice to know this is part of a series--I look forward to reading the rest of the books!
September 27, 2024
Good Enough to Read
I chose 4 stars, it was good read, but not great. I’d recommend to a newer reader of political military genre. Resembled more of a Lifetime For TV movie, or an episode from SWAT. Obviously a series set-up.
I chose 4 stars, it was good read, but not great. I’d recommend to a newer reader of political military genre. Resembled more of a Lifetime For TV movie, or an episode from SWAT. Obviously a series set-up.
November 7, 2024
A really good story extremely well told with lots of action.
Jake and his partner really have their hand full trying to save the President and his cabinet from the terrorist and get everybody possible out safely.
b
Jake and his partner really have their hand full trying to save the President and his cabinet from the terrorist and get everybody possible out safely.
b
November 27, 2024
Action at it's best
Wow, what an intense action filled thriller. Couldn't put this book down. Chewed my fingertips to the bone, Jack Mars really outdid himself here. I'm ready for the next one.
Wow, what an intense action filled thriller. Couldn't put this book down. Chewed my fingertips to the bone, Jack Mars really outdid himself here. I'm ready for the next one.
November 28, 2024
Excellent start to a series. I am a big fan of Luke Stone character. A little light on how Jake got started. I would have enjoyed a little more background.
Definitely will continue with Jake Mercer.
Definitely will continue with Jake Mercer.
December 9, 2024
Enjoyable action book; no real surprises and horrible editing. Unfortunately, the misspelled words or words that don't make sense really detract from would be a great, simple, read - great to escape to.
December 13, 2024
Jack Mars does it again.
A new protagonist, but another great story. I've become a real Jack Mars fan, and I'm pretty sure that Jake Mercer has plenty more adventures ahead of him... and I look forward to living them through the words of a terrific author.
A new protagonist, but another great story. I've become a real Jack Mars fan, and I'm pretty sure that Jake Mercer has plenty more adventures ahead of him... and I look forward to living them through the words of a terrific author.
December 19, 2024
lots of Action.
The book ends a lot faster than the start. The marines job was to safe the President. This was an interesting book that wasn’t a loss for action. Seem like Jake acted for the secret service above his pay grade and experience. The book is well worth reading.
The book ends a lot faster than the start. The marines job was to safe the President. This was an interesting book that wasn’t a loss for action. Seem like Jake acted for the secret service above his pay grade and experience. The book is well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews