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Just One Command

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In a space-faring future, janitorial engineer Casey Cassandra spends her days fixing robots on an ambassador’s spaceship. But when one of her robotic cleaning cubes happens to be in the wrong place at the right time, Casey overhears an ominous threat. Someone is plotting to kill the ambassador, and that someone is a traitor within their own fleet.

Armed only with a hefty cleaning cube (named Charles) and her eccentric engineering knowledge, Casey must go against all fleet standards. She’ll have to risk her life to warn her boss, Ambassador Dessian Tandor, that he’s in imminent danger—from his own people. But will anyone believe her?

It’s just one command between life and death, and somehow the ship’s janitor has found herself at the helm of a universe-wide conspiracy plot.

Narrated by Gill Mills, a former BBC broadcaster and journalist with over two decades of experience in the entertainment field. With a warm and resonant voice, Gill operates from her studio in East London. Gill has performed for TV programs across Channel 4, BBC, and ITV—as well as narrating an extensive catalog of over 130 fiction and non-fiction titles.

2025 M. E. Harker (P) 2025 ME HARKER LLC All Rights Reserved.

Audible Audio

Published July 15, 2025

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About the author

M.E. Harker

1 book5 followers
M.E. Harker is an American-based Sci-Fi and Fantasy author. Born and raised in the hurricanes of Florida, her love for fiction sparked during power outages: when reading by candlelight was the only way to weather the storm. Working now as a Medical and Mental Health professional, Harker strives to bring a touch of warmth to her stories. She blends uplifting messages with fantastical adventure, creating tales about the most unexpected of heroes.

When not chasing after her two mischievous writing assistants (her cats) — you can find her gaming, sculpting, or volunteering at ASD Support events.

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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Joan.
Author 1 book
March 17, 2025
I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. This is a fun ride that rockets you through space, from an embassy starship onto inhabitable planets and back again. Take the ride, it's fun!
1 review
March 8, 2025

This sci-fi novel captivated me from the get-go, taking me on an exhilarating adventure of a clever janitorial engineer, Casey and her "upgraded" cleaning bot, Charles.

Charles emerges as the hero of the story. His charm and unexpected bravery added a unique twist that I absolutely loved. The plot is full of unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing is beautifully descriptive, painting vivid pictures of space scapes.

Overall, this novel is a must-read for any sci-fi enthusiast, balancing thrilling adventure with unlikeliest of heros. Highly recommended!
Author 8 books3 followers
June 9, 2025
I loved it! The descriptions of everything were amazing to immerse yourself in and there was a surprising bit of comedy which really made me laugh. This was one of the first sci-fi stories I’ve read and I’m fairly certain it was at least my first full-length sci-fi novel. Normally, I find the genre to be a little intimidating because of all the technical jargon and the sense of scale with space. I can happily inform you that this was not an issue here. There’s still plenty of tech for it to feel like you’re in a futuristic world, but it’s not convoluted or confusing. Something else I liked were the specific ways it brought the reader into the experience (like that artificial sun I mentioned and how people tried to force themselves to sleep at regular times to not mess up their circadian rhythm). The world just feels so grand as you learn more about the sectors, painting a fair picture that people from the higher-numbered ones can either be dangerous because of their experiences or could be in desperate need of a new home. That gray area is something I love where you really don’t have a clean-cut answer. This is a major theme in the story to me. There aren’t simple answers to problems. You just do what you can and hope you can make it out alive.

A major selling point in my opinion was with the characters. They all were so loveable, from the fabulously fun Millie to the gruff Yozin. There’s a depth to them which makes for a really compelling read and when there's action, you feel invested in what happens because of that. Naturally, a good villain is needed, and I’d say that the threat presented by the big bad here was extreme. There was an air of power and confidence which created a lot of tension. As for the main two, Casey and Dessian were just adorable. Dessian actually wound up being my favorite. I adored how he wasn’t just some “rich jerk” who let his fancy family make him think he was superior to those around him. He’s a genuinely decent guy who treats others with respect and has the heart of a hero who’d do anything in his power to protect those he cares about. Something else I liked was that he wasn’t perfect. You can see his humanity in how he realistically feels overwhelmed by what’s going on. He’s out of his element and it shows, but he doesn’t let that stop him. The bond he has with both Casey and Yozin is so nice to see (and sort of makes me sad that this was a standalone because now, I can’t see their scenes anymore). 

I almost had a critique about a certain something seeming too on-the-nose, but I was promptly silenced by reading further. As to not spoil anything, I’ll suggest that you keep an open-mind and just pay attention. I really don’t have anything I’d change about this. If I had to pick something, maybe it would’ve been nice to get a little more background on the villain, but I still think the story didn’t suffer for that at all.

Overall, this was a great story. It actually made me want to check out more sci-fi works down the line. Whether you’re a sci-fi buff or pretty new to the genre like I am, this is a story you’ll be able to enjoy. (And then you can join the club of wishing there was more of it!).
Profile Image for Rebecca.
844 reviews27 followers
July 16, 2025

In M.E. Harker’s Just One Command, a delightful and thrilling space-faring adventure, the most unlikely hero finds herself at the center of a universe-wide conspiracy. Janitorial engineer Casey Cassandra is content with her life fixing robots until one of her cleaning bots accidentally records a plot to assassinate her boss, Ambassador Dessian Tandor. Suddenly, she and the ambassador are on the run, framed as criminals and forced to uncover a plot that runs deeper than they could ever imagine.

This novel is the perfect entry point for readers who might feel intimidated by the sci-fi genre. Harker excels at creating an immersive, futuristic world without overwhelming the audience with convoluted jargon. The story is packed with cinematic pacing, witty dialogue, and carefully-laid plans gone wonderfully awry, making it an absolute joy to experience.

The true heart of the story, however, lies in its endearing characters. From the gruff but loyal pilot Yozin to the heroic Ambassador Dessian, each character is compelling and deeply written. Dessian, in particular, defies tropes as a genuinely decent man trying to do the right thing while completely out of his element. The bond he forms with the brilliant and resourceful Casey is both adorable and authentic, making their journey all the more engaging.

Narrator Gill Mills delivers a phenomenal, five-star performance that elevates this already fantastic story. She brings every character to life with a unique voice and personality, masterfully handling the story’s blend of high-stakes action, espionage, and heartfelt humor. Her narration makes this an audiobook you simply can’t pause.

Just One Command is a warm hug and a thrilling ride all in one. It’s a fun, accessible, and masterfully crafted adventure that proves you don’t need to be a seasoned sci-fi fan to enjoy a brilliant story set among the stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lexee Toste.
2,819 reviews19 followers
July 13, 2025
I enjoyed this story and found it entertaining. It starts off with a bang pretty quickly with Casey overhearing an assassination plot for Ambassador Dessian. She can't just let it happen so she shows up in his quarters in order to warn him. It leads them to having to escape the ship and Casey has to use her wits and engineering ability and the fact that she thinks outside the box to get them both out alive. But that is just the beginning with who the traitor is and them digging into it. It goes further than anticipated and spirals out of control faster than they expected with them being framed as criminals. They now have to figure out why they are being framed, why the assassination in the first place and what they wanted to gain from doing so. This book was interesting with our 3 characters, Ambassador, engineer, and pilot and Charles the cleaning cube. Casey was great and interesting with her out of box thinking and how she continued to come up with things to help them out of the situations they found themselves in. The story flowed well and was smooth. It does have a faster pacing as things are happening on the faster side and they are on a time crunch to figure out what is going on an dhow to stop it. It never felt rushed more than it should have or like the story was missing something. Ending was pretty satisfactory and had a bit of an interesting tie up at the very end. Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a good science fiction adventure story.
The narrator did a good job with the story and the characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Kayla.
611 reviews
July 17, 2025
This one was a really interesting twist on sci-fi that I've never seen done before. It still had high stakes and kept me on the edge of my seat, but the main characters were not at all the ones you'd expect to be followed. This could have been a negative and made the book drab, but it did the opposite. We're presented with a whole new outlook, mainly through the Casey, that will leave you wondering why not sci-fi books haven't taken the underdog that seemingly shouldn't be a part of the situation approach before this book.

I'm not big on third person but this book did a good job of keeping me connected to the characters even with the far away from them feel that third person creates. It was actually nice to see little peaks into each character to see what made them tick. Each character was uniquely interesting, and all had their own outlooks on the world that made them easily identifiable as well as relatable.

I listened to this one on audiobook and really enjoyed it. The narrator's voice was soothing to listen to, and she did a great job bringing this one to life.
Profile Image for Nicole Wheelbarger.
567 reviews7 followers
July 9, 2025
B O O K 🤖 R E V I E W
TITLE: Just One Command
AUTHOR: ME Harker
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🚫
KU: ✅
NARRATOR: Gill Mills

This was a total change from my usual genre - I would put this more into a cozy sci-fi genre but I still enjoyed it! A genius engineer who is a ship janitor stumbles onto the planning of an attack on the space ship crew & works to with her robot bestie to save the day.

The narrator was enjoyable, she does have a British accent so if that bothers you, maybe read it instead.

Tropes:

* Unlikely Heroine with Nothing but her Wits.
* An Assassination Plot. Tonight.
* Enemies to Partners. Our heroine must convince her disbelieving boss to escape with her...or they both face mortal peril.
* Strong Female Protagonist + Strong Female Antagonist
* A Villain You LOVE to Hate
* Anti-Heroes, Traitors, Trust No One
Profile Image for bella rhys (semi-hiatus).
508 reviews8 followers
July 18, 2025
4.5 Stars! I was hooked from the beginning!

Casey is a janitor who spends her time fixing the spaceship of the ambassador. It’s there that she accidentally overhears a plot against the ambassador. Things go awry then and Casey, the ambassador and their pilot end up on the run where they must work to find out who is out to get them.

Filled with action, political intrigue and scandal, and various twists, Just One Command was such an enjoyable read. My first time reading from this author, but it certainly won’t be my last.

Narrated by Gill Mills. Also new to me, her voice was perfect for this story. She did amazing with her performance and brought the characters and the story to life.

Thanks to the author, M.E. Harker, and the team at HomeCooked Books for providing me with an advanced audio review copy of this book. All opinions provided in this review are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
12.1k reviews92 followers
July 18, 2025
When Casey comes across some information that she wasn’t supposed to know her only though is to protect the person who is being threatened and do the right thing. This leads to an adventure with Dessian and Yozian that will have them working together to ensure that the traitor’s plan fails.

At first Dessian has his doubts when it comes to what Casey has revealed however as the events unfold he realizes that the truth is more dire than he expected and it will take Casey, his best friend Yozian and the people they meet along the way to unravel every twist and turn that comes their way.

The personalities of the characters are intriguing as they take us on an action filled science fiction adventure. The audio performance by Gill Mills is seamless as she has you invested in the story and brings out the unique characteristics of everyone involved.
1,983 reviews8 followers
July 11, 2025
Audiobook: This was my first experience with this author's work, and it won't be my last. The genre was strictly science fiction, and I enjoyed the book a lot. I liked that Casey, Dessian, and the pilot were thrown together by circumstances which melded them together when the three were branded as criminals. I was entertained by all the twists and the political machinations which kept my attention riveted. I thought Gill Mills' narration was great, and her performance enhanced my enjoyment of the story. I was given an advanced listener's copy of the audiobook through Home Cooked Books. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.
Profile Image for B.L. Mostyn.
Author 2 books2 followers
July 31, 2025
A Galactic Good Read—clever, adventurous, and funny.
Just One Command tells the story of Casey C. Cassandra, who wants all the thing a girl is looking for when she goes to space—to meet new people, build new friends, and to see the universe. Except, she’s seeing the universe a little quicker than she expected, now that she’s on the run from the law. Ya know, you disable one little off-switch, letting you overhear a conversation you shouldn’t have, and all of a sudden you’re running for your life, with your terribly charismatic sidekick, Charles Mock 1, in tow.
A great read for Sci-Fi enthusiasts young and old. Gill Mills adds her wonderfully snarky tone to M.E. Harker’s brilliant tale of friendship, ingenuity, and justice. Check it out!
1 review
September 14, 2025
Really enjoyed the audiobook and will definitely pick up the second if it becomes a series!
That said, Sci-fi is not usually a genre I pick up because personally, the technical side of what makes the genre exciting to many fans feels dry to me. So the good things I have to say about it may put you off it you’re after a properly Sci-fi-y book.
Parts of it gave me Star Wars vibes. And I was surprised how easily the story and characters in this book hooked me in and I become really invested in this world. The writing is good, the characters are nuanced and the narrator’s performance is the perfect balance of just-enough-characterisation and just-enough-neutrality so I “hear” the characters but don’t get jarred out of the story by any accent or emotion. Thoroughly recommend!
Profile Image for Lisa.
3,747 reviews21 followers
July 11, 2025
This one is a good story that mostly kept my interest. I did lag a bit in the middle but mostly it has a lot of action and a little fun. It starts off with a bang and Casey is pretty impressive with her knowledge. What she does with Charles made me smile. We meet a few other characters but I have to say my favorite was Charles then Casey came in a close second. Charles had flair provided by Casey. She became highly involved and it was interesting watching her come up with ideas. The narration is well articulated in here and easy to listen to. This was provided by Gill Mills who is new to me and I would listen to again.
Profile Image for Lauri Walston.
72 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2025
I can not give this enough stars! It captured you from the very beginning ✨️ and kept you on your toes the entire story. You fell in love with all the characters and their battles, and a cleaning cube! (valiant with his red cape!) Betrayal, scandal, fleeing your own home trying to save yourself and others ... very good read! I had the great opportunity to listen to this that's going to be available on the July 17th, 2025! Narrator was top notch!

I was new to this author but will put her in the list of every growing talent to look for new releases!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Linda V..
531 reviews7 followers
July 18, 2025
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

Just One Command is a standalone sci-fi thriller that I found myself enjoying WAY more than I thought I would. Casey is a janitorial engineer with a cleaning cube named Charles. She overhears a plot against Ambassador Dessian and the three of them escape. This story is full of fast-paced intrigue with Casey being a daggone space MacGyver! Brilliantly descriptive, I really enjoyed this story.

The narration by Gill Mills was great. She had a LOT of characters to voice and each one was very distinctive. 5/5 stars!!
Profile Image for Jocelyne.
4,864 reviews21 followers
July 18, 2025
✩°。⋆⸜ 🎧✮ Audiobook Review! ✩°。⋆⸜ 🎧✮
This was my first book by M.E. Harker, and I really enjoyed this fun sci-fi thriller adventure. The writing is vivid, imaginative, and captivating. I loved following the fast-paced journey of Dessian, Casey, and Charles — her cleaning cube bot. The characters (and the robot!) are well-developed, and interesting. The plot is complex and enthralling, full of action, humor, espionage, and unexpected twists. Gill Mills did a great job bringing the story and characters to life. It's an entertaining listen. #HomeCookedBooks
1,004 reviews9 followers
July 18, 2025
Just One Command is an entertaining, stand alone Sci Fi adventure. The action scenes have enough tension to appeal to adults without being overwhelming for elementary age children. It would have been perfect for my road trip with teens and tweens.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by new-to-me narrator Gill Mills. She did a great job with her performance and I would listen to her again in the future.

I received a copy of the audiobook at my request and the opinions here are my own.
Profile Image for Emily Siems.
Author 3 books10 followers
October 21, 2025
Sweet Sci-Fi Read :)

This was a great read as someone who doesn’t usually dive into this genre! The writing itself was great, and I feel so attached to the characters. They’re each amazing in their own specific ways. Great plot twists and gasp moments. The author kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I thought overall it was a really sweet story of friendship and trust.
Profile Image for Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf).
1,705 reviews100 followers
July 18, 2025
This thrilling, sci-fi novel was captivating and entertaining! Science fiction isn't a genre I typically read, but I found this one very enjoyable! This action-packed, intriguing, unlikely heroine was so much fun! I really enjoyed the audiobook narrated by Gill Mills. She is a new to me narrator and she was amazing at bringing the characters to life!

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Tom.
218 reviews3 followers
July 28, 2025
Clever and entertaining entertaining

I picked this book up because of the idea of a janitor doing more on a spaceship. It was a great idea and I thought I would just take the chance and boy I was surprised. This is a great fun read I encourage you to take my word for it and read it
Profile Image for Brian Busby.
240 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2025
Great read

The storyline is very strong and a wonderful selection of characters. It's one of those books if a full review is given it would contain spoilers so all ì will finish by saying is i
Absolutely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Amp.
1 review
March 8, 2025
such a good book! it's like watching a movie, very cinematic and suspenseful with lots of fun action. i love the characters especially, and charles is obviously best bot ♥
571 reviews3 followers
September 12, 2025
ALC Audiobook Review
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️

Just One Command is a standalone complete sci-fi book. This book took me a minute to get into. M.E. Harper is a new author to me. This book follows Casey. She is a janitor and she has a cleaning robot Charles. One day while cleaning she overhears something she shouldn’t have. Casey is now trying to prevent bad things from happening to Ambassador Dessian.

Gill Mills is also a new author to me. She did a good job narrating this book.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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