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Abe: A Remaining Universe Novel (Lee Harden Series

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Play stupid games, get stupid prizes.

That’s a favorite phrase of Major Abe Darabie. It makes it easier to justify the terrible things he does while at war against the Nuevas Fronteras cartel, a powerful syndicate that is intent on controlling oil production by seizing refineries along the Gulf Coast.

After all, if Abe has to snip off some fingers and toes to get the intelligence he needs, well...they played a stupid game, and that’s their stupid prize.

Abe knows he’s a black-hearted devil. But he gets the job done.

His current job? Extract seven families being held hostage by the cartel, their lives bargaining chips in a deadly game of power.

Saving a bunch of women and children seems like a pretty righteous mission, and Abe is fully prepared to do whatever it takes to save those families–regardless of the brutal toll it may exact –even if it means leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

But when he’s forced to choose between the success of the mission or a local girl’s life, Abe confronts the chilling reality that even in the darkest of battles, some lines must never be crossed.

As the cartel's grip tightens and the stakes soar to unthinkable heights, Abe teeters on the edge of his own morality, grappling with the haunting How much of a black-hearted devil is he really willing to be?

----
Perfect for fans of Quentin Tarantino's visceral intensity, Jack Carr’s militaristic realism, and Cormac McCarthy’s morally charged narratives. Abe is a dystopian post-apocalyptic thriller that will grip you from start to finish, taking you on an unforgettable journey into the heart of darkness, where the line between right and wrong is extremely thin.


Abe is a story within The Remaining Universe (The Remaining Series, Lee Harden Series, and several standalones).

Chronologically, Abe is concurrent with Defiant, Lee Harden Series, Book 4.

411 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

117 people are currently reading
58 people want to read

About the author

D.J. Molles

45 books1,431 followers
D.J. Molles became a New York Times and USA today bestselling author while working full time as a police officer. He's since traded his badge for a keyboard to produce over 20 titles. When he's not writing, he's taking steps to make his North Carolina property self-sustainable, and training to be at least half as hard to kill as Lee Harden (his most popular protagonist).

Molles also enjoys playing his guitar and drums, drawing, cooking, and “shredding that green pow” on his Onewheel.

Most nights you can find him sitting on the couch surrounded by his dogs and family, trying to stream an hour of Netflix with his really sketchy satellite internet connection.

Are you interested in becoming a writer? I've started a video series called "Lessons in Writing" which you can find on all my socials.

Follow on IG & FB @djmolles
TikTok @djmollesauthor

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Brigitte.
8 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2024

I loved the book Abe. It is horror/military/sci-fi. Lots of combat and action. Storyline is great with vivid characters that seem true to life.
Molles has improved as he’s matured. He is a master storyteller.
Character development is perfection. You know them and are invested in them in just a few paragraphs. I don’t know how he does it but I love it. Authors are often vomiting words on pages to get their characters to be vivid and seen but Molles doesn’t have to do that he is the master of “less is more”. In a few paragraphs you know the characters physical appearance, likes, dislikes, mannerisms and speaking cadence.
The dialog is brilliant. I have been a Molles reader/fan for years now. His writing has progressed and it’s very apparent with his dialog. Little mundane observations the characters make and talk about, little jibes at each other and speaking with their adversaries all feels so true and real.
The story itself always feels very real with his everyday observations, especially with aging. Some of his characters have been very seasoned at this point and as a “mature” person I can relate.
If you want to be on the edge of your seat and gasping for breath read Abe it won’t disappoint. This is a stand alone book but if you want to delve into the beginnings of Project Hometown and see how all this craziness started check out The Remaining series I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Profile Image for Zombie Reader.
132 reviews17 followers
July 9, 2024
Another fantastic book in the Remaining series by DJ Molles with Christian Rummel as narrator, on Audible. Abe is a dark and gritty story where no one is really a good guy. The narrative follows a group of former Army types on a mission to rescue several families being held by a cartel in Mexico. They break things and kill people along the way using only a little discrimination with all eyes on their narrow objective. Although this is a "Remaining" book, there are few interactions with the undead. They do encounter a couple of packs of Primals but they are peripheral to the main story.
Otherwise, action packed, exciting and well worth the time.
Profile Image for Kelly Smelcer.
393 reviews2 followers
April 23, 2024
I don't know where DJ Molles comes up with these ideas for these books, but I'm so glad he's writing them for us to read! This entire series needs to be put onto the screen somehow because they're THAT good!

This book follows Abe Darabie and his venture with his team into cartel territory south of the border. The objective is to locate and extract seven families of refinery workers who have been kidnapped in retaliation by the Nuevas Fronteras cartel. Along the way, the guys get help from a fifteen-year-old girl named Isabella who helps them. What ensues is a high-octane thrill ride with a ton of action and firefights with an expansive group of bad guys. Ride with Abe, Dez, EZ, Lucky, Branch and Marty as they try to keep promises - and their lives - in a dangerous world ruled by dangerous people.

You don't have to read the other 16 books in this series to enjoy this book, but it sure helps.
66 reviews
May 7, 2024
“Actions speak louder than words.” That’s what Abe thinks as he sees the beautiful sunrise of a new day.

D.J. Molles knocks it out of the park again with this great book. Abe and his team - his friends - have a goal: break the cartel’s hold on the workers at the refinery by rescuing their families held hostage by Nuevas Fronteras. The plan is set in motion…until the first stop of their mission.

The introspection begins immediately asking how important is the mission, and what is justified in order to complete it for the good of the big picture? We meet Isabella and her family who indirectly work with the cartel, and even see them as the good guys. This 15 year old girl becomes the lynch-pin of this story that makes us want to support Abe’s tough calls, as well as learn about the nuance of leadership and staying Oscar Mike.

We as the readers have our opinions firmly in place and on the side of humanity and righteousness, right? Wrong. This chapter of the story of humans fighting for survival against evil in its many forms (oh yeah, there are Primals!) ads a very human element that we haven’t experienced with Lee Harden since the very beginning of the series. And now, well into Abe’s journey through his own hell, we are attached to his conscience through a very dark time and series of moments we will never actually find ourselves in, but become a part of through him.

How would we handle the scenarios in this book? As the mission progresses and the excrement hits the oscillating wind distributor, the paradigms shift. Is the life of a child worth saving at all costs when it means your own death and the deaths of your friends? What if one child’s life meant the failure of a mission to rescue entire families of innocents? What if one child’s life meant the struggling new nation on the brink of collapse loses its chance?

This wasn’t an easy read for me. This is a story full of vile death, wrenching despair, and maybe a tiny bit of bitter hope. That hope in this story is named Isabella, and we see Abe coming back from the brink of the void because of her and for her. Abe and Menendez’s team of hardcore operators - stone cold killers - learn to protect innocence again, and it’s a hell of a story. I highly recommend this book if you’re already a fan of The Remaining Universe.
Profile Image for William.
73 reviews
June 18, 2024
This book was great overall and transpired from the first person point of view.

The story was great, but I am conflicted by the end over two things that I am still unsure about:

1) The threat of Primals in this book, which is what the entire series has been based off of, is not that prominent. Honestly, I forgot about the Primals throughout this book because they're only discussed here and there. This disappointed me.

2) When the unit invades Diego's compound and Abe passes the kid off to Marry who then kills him, despite the kid obeying Abe's requests for quiet, Abe is able to move on from that and compartmentalize it and more or less forgive Marty. But then later once they're in the city avoiding the cartel and members of the cartel are indiscriminately shooting at the fleeing vehicle of women and children hostages Abe's team just saved, this lights a fire in him and produces a rage because their innocents who are being threatened, well.... isn't this hypocritical of Abe's character? I mean, after all, he also protected Isabella throughout the entire story, so it'd have made more sense to me if he'd have wiped Marty out right then and there when he knifed the kid. On top of that he doesn't kill Diego, despite the reader knowing that Diego is going to confirm his wife is dead but also that his son is now dead too and will (if there are future Abe novels) be hunting those responsible down. I don't know, I am more or less venting as this whole dilemma feels like too many conflicting things took place that left me with more confusion at the end rather than relief the characters made it.

As always Molles writes a page turner and I credit his stories with getting me into reading again, but these two points prevent me from saying this is my favorite (as I normally say after reading each new book of his).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shane Werlinger.
6 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2024
For those who don’t know, Abe is part of the DJ Molles Remaining Universe. It follows Abe Darabie as he and a team go on a mission to rescue the families of people in their group who are being held by a cartel. This is all happening after the downfall of America while battling the rise of people who claim to be the legitimate government. If this is the first book of The Remaining Universe you have picked up, you can read this book and do pretty well. Just know that this takes place the same time frame of the second part of The Remaining Universe around the time of the book titled Defiance. There will be some questions though, so you will want to pick up the book that started it, The Remaining, and plow through the series.

Molles does what he does best here, which is pretty much everything. Action galore – There are fire fights, car chases, Primals, and the cartel. Digging deeper into the characters - We’ve known of Abe from the very beginning. As time has gone on, Molles has revealed more of his character as he first orders Lee’s assassination and then as he operates with Lee. Molles has shown that Abe deserves to have a bigger part of his story told. The complexity of Abe shines through despite what he thinks of himself. Like Lee, his heart is too big and gets in the way of the mission at times. But no matter what, he pushes through to get the job done. That’s what a Coordinator does.

This expansion shows that there are so many more stories to be told in The Remaining Universe. Abe Darabie is a fascinating character, and it has been fun to see him in action, literally. I am excited to see what happens not only with Lee, Abe and the rest, but to read other stories of people in The Remaining Universe.
Profile Image for The Geeky Viking.
709 reviews4 followers
June 18, 2024
I'll admit right up front. I haven't read much by D.J. Molles since the first book of The Remaining dropped about a decade ago. I enjoyed it, but, despite wanting to, haven't managed to get back into that world since. When Abe was released it sounded like a good jumping on point, and I'm happy to say I enjoyed the ride for the most part.

Abe is a cool character. Sort of an anti-hero type. He's got a lot more darkness to him than Lee Harding. Same goes for his band of operators. Told in the first person (which is a great shout by Molles) Abe and his crew must venture behind cartel enemy lines to rescue several families that are being held hostage by the gangs. It's a fairly simple story and that's all this type of book needs.

My one problem with the whole thing is that it felt padded out. I think this clocks in around 320 pages, and there's probably 50 to 70 in there that could have been cut to make it a much tighter, action-packed thriller. The beginning is great and the climax is a non-stop running gun battle, but that middle bit really drags. The primals are also an after thought, which I felt was a bit of a mistake. They make a few appearances, especially towards the end, but I would have liked to have seen more of them.

All in all, it's a solid start to the series and I'm looking forward to seeing where Molles goes with the next one.
5 reviews
May 8, 2024
Great read, worth every minute! He brought the character of Abe to life. Within the Remaining Universe, Abe is a key character, but you don't get to truly understand how he ticks until now. Its a brutally realistic story of how humans cope with being a cog in the machine of war and survival. Throughout the whole story, you see glimpses of humanity. Molles doesn't shy away from highlighting ways we bullshit ourselves into thinking that we're always the good guys. Made me feel uncomfortable in several moments. This discomfort is also shared by many of the characters, which honors those kinds of realities. Yet the story also brings some humility, instead of abandonment of the pursuit of Good. The story flows and is immediately engaging. The novel works as a standalone novel, not much backstory needed to understand what's happening or get to know the characters. One thing I really appreciate about Abe that sets it apart from most works in this genre is the emphasis on the psychology and development of characters. There's a depth that goes beyond the action sequences or plot twists. I can't wait to read the next one.

Profile Image for Vickie.
298 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2024
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Anyone who has read the Remaining series is familiar with the character of Abe. Here we get a deeper look into the mind of the black-hearted devil, and oh boy, is it dark and full of turmoil. This story is still classic Molles- great characters, non-stop action, edge of your seat thrill ride- but it's also a story of morality. How far is one willing to go to get the job done? What lines are willing to be crossed in order to be successful? We find out with Abe. Fair warning, though, this story is DARK. Probably the darkest Molles has written, in my opinion, so please be aware of that before diving in. Oh, and don't go falling in love with the characters again because, as usual, you don't know who will survive. Another fantastic addition to the Remaining Universe!
Profile Image for Tim McCarthey.
3 reviews
May 11, 2024
I received an ARC for an honest review.
There are three things I look forward to every year. My Birthday, Christmas, and a new book release from DJ Molles. Unless my wife is reading this, then there are four things, with our anniversary being number one. I loved this book! Ever wonder how things were going for Abe during the events of Defiant? Well, now we know. Written in the first person, the story follows that black hearted devil and his team in Mexico, on a mission to rescue the families of refinery workers back in Texas. Of course, things don’t always go as planned, forcing Abe and his team to improvise, escape, and survive. Turns out that black hearted devil’s heart might not be so black after all. If you’re a fan of the other books in The Remaining Universe, you’ll love this one also.
Profile Image for Lou Canning.
324 reviews4 followers
December 19, 2024
…. and breath…….

Oh.my.gosh! What a ride!!!
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book (as it’s written as if Abe wrote it) But I got used to it quickly and from then on I couldn’t put it down!!

I’ll admit I can fall pretty quickly and easy for certain characters in books and boy did I in this one!
I read parts of it with my mouth agape (in shock) others times welling up with tears and other times with a smile and so on.

This was an absolute brilliant book by DJ Molles, probably my favourite so far. He is so good at describing the scene playing out you can’t help but feel like you’re actually there with them, watching it all unfold because you can see it all in your mind from what he has written.

If you haven’t read this one yet why the hell haven’t you?! Go get it now! 10/10! 👏👏👏👏👏
5 reviews
May 2, 2024
I absolutely *blazed* through this book. I really enjoyed getting to know Abe Darabe better than the other stories in the Remaining universe have allowed me to do.

I could go on about what to expect out of the book, but instead I’ll say this: if you’ve been on the journey with Lee and his crew thus far, keep going with them.

Abe is a conflicted character who recognizes that the devil within him is also the one that allows others to not have to let that part of themselves out. In that sense he is as much of a tool as the weapon he carries, however when his humanity is tested he fights back to preserve what he has left. Gruff and grizzled, Abe is the stuff of nightmares for those he hunts and the necessary evil for those he helps.
Profile Image for Colleen Mitchell.
91 reviews
January 8, 2025
Abe Larabie, Lee Harden's bestie and fellow Hometown Coordinator, leads a team into Mexico to rescue the family members of the people running an oil refinery in Texas. A cartel is using the families to threaten and control the refinery workers. It's a flimsy excuse to drive around Northern Mexico and have a bunch of shoot-outs. Are there zombies? Well, there are a few skirmishes with primals but, for the most part, this isn't a zombie book. As for Abe, I don't know or like him any better than I did before reading this book. This is a paramilitary story about guns and shooting and killing. It adds nothing to the Remaining universe.
3 reviews
May 8, 2024
I absolutely love when authors are able to revisit a time in a wonderful series . So much happens in this world I know it’s hard for Molles to give us all we want all the time with each character. I’ve always wondered. And NEEDED to know more about this character and His worries about being a sociopath are in line with what I used to believe about him. These books stress me out but in a good way . I know Lee Harden is a super hero, but I love seeing Abe bail him out
Profile Image for CK.
10 reviews
April 25, 2024
Sweet and salty Abe!

Abe has nothing to prove. He does what is necessary and offers no apologies. To his enemies he is a black hearted devil. But if you’re lucky enough to be in his people or if you could use a hero Abe is a man you want in your corner! Such an awesome book.
Another must read from the talented DJ Molles
824 reviews7 followers
June 15, 2024
Very enjoyable

I love The Remaining Universe series and this novel is as good as the previous books. The writer spins the tale of hardened men sent on a mission to free hostages from the cartel. Abe Darabe is in charge and like Harden he believes “do or die”.

I recoomend this book.
2 reviews
July 11, 2024
quick and dirty

I am a fan, and have been reading about Abe and Lee for a long while.
I usually appreciate the hours of enjoyment i get when there is a new book released.

I should note that my review is biased around my own liking of sci-fi, fantasy, space operas and military adventures.
Profile Image for Michael  Keller.
935 reviews10 followers
July 15, 2024
The story of Abe Darabie in The Remaining Universe

The refinery has been retaken from the Cartel, but Abe has a new mission. The Cartel is holding the families of the seven refinery workers as hostages to ensure their compliance. Abe's new mission? To rescue the families. He has a handful of tired troops to help him. They'll get the job done, but blood and death accompany them every mile of the way.
Great characters, intense combat action, a great storyline from an accomplished storyteller make a great read!
487 reviews7 followers
July 17, 2024
Excellent

A very enjoyable stand alone novel within the overall Remaining Series. We got a more in depth look at Abe's psyche than we had previously experienced. There was plenty of action with solid support characters. The storyline was intriguing, and Isabella particularly added much with the relationship that developed between her and Abe.
13 reviews
July 20, 2024
what a brilliant read

Abe, a guy that works with our hero Lee Harden, and after this story Abe is also a hero.
From an impossible task of finding kidnapped families and then rescuing and returning them to their husbands you would have thought that there was no chance of that happening. Enjoy
Profile Image for Maggie Deaton.
748 reviews4 followers
September 5, 2024
Heartbreaking and inspiring in one fell swoop!

The things warriors are capable of both doing and enduring in war time will both chill your blood and warm your heart. Inside of each of his resides a pocket of darkness as well as a ray of light. Which guides our final direction is a choice governed by character, will, and perseverance... A wonderful read...
Profile Image for Brett Grossmann.
544 reviews
May 14, 2024
Well written as always. The books lack the allure the original series had. Without zombies it’s just a post apocalyptic military book. The tank is half full before you start reading. It’s just all diminishing returns
53 reviews
May 18, 2024
Keep em comingt!!

D. J. Moles has quickly become one of my favorite authors and the remaining series, one I can't get enough of. I was very excited to see this book and it did not disappoint. Hope you have more in store for us! Bring on Archangel
3 reviews
May 19, 2024
D.J. Molles does not dissapoint.

I loved this book as much as I've loved every Lee Harden book. Great characters, great story. The only negative is that they end. I want more... D.J. Molles is a great writer.
1 review2 followers
May 24, 2024
I absolutely loved this book!!!! DJ Molles keeps getting better with each book he writes. Abe, I think may be my favorite character so far,and in all the Remaining and Harden series there are so many great characters!!! I only hope that the story keeps going on for a long long time.
6 reviews
July 10, 2024
Action packed thriller

What a great look into the character of Abe ! Love the edge of your seat, military action, pace of this book. This series is one of the best post-apocalyptic survival stories I have read.
63 reviews
July 24, 2024
Abe

Congratulation D.J.Molles! You have another great story here. I did lose a bit of sleep, grieving over a few imaginary characters, not going to mention their names due to readers that are not there yet. Continued blessings and much success to you Sir. Thanks for the adventure.
Profile Image for Joe.
10 reviews
May 13, 2024
Another awesome addition to the Remaining Universe. Loved every second of it!
1 review
May 14, 2024
Awesome

Another great book in The Remaining Universe. DJ Molles is one of my favorite writers. Only down side for me was
72 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2024
Great story

Definetely worth the read. Non stop action from start to finish. I like when we get some fill in or background stories
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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