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Joe Tesla #2
The Tesla Legacy
In this sequel to the award-winning The World Beneath, software genius, Joe Tesla, confronts an equally brilliant and far more powerful foe.
Still crippled by agoraphobia and confined to the tunnels under New York City, Joe is haunted by the fact that he cannot even attend his father's funeral. His father’s death brings threats to the safety of Joe's underground home: guilt over the broken relationship that can never be healed, a mysterious box of papers inherited from eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla, and a ruthless enemy determined to steal those papers no matter the cost.
Mystified by why his inheritance is so valuable, Joe and his service dog, Edison, follow clues left a century ago by Joe's famous ancestor to reveal the power of his family legacy. While Joe must rely on his considerable talents as a hacker, he must also reach out to friends.
But whom can he trust as he battles to save his beloved city from . . . The Tesla Legacy?
Praise for the first in the series:
* Winner of International Thriller Writers Thriller award!
* Chosen as Indie Insider by Amazon, Top Indie Pick by Barnes& Noble,
* “THE WORLD BENEATH by Rebecca Cantrell is a heart-pounding thriller with an infective puzzle! Rebecca Cantrell brings to life the amazing world beneath the sidewalks of New York…a virtual page-turner!” – Publisher’s Marketplace
* “Cantrell has also ventured into deep, dark places — most literally — for her new novel, “The World Beneath,” which plunges the reader into New York’s vast subway system…a taut and dangerous struggle.” — The Edge
* “Cantrell’s THE WORLD BENEATH simply blew me away: exciting, visceral, inventive, illuminating. The main character, Joe Tesla, is as charming as he is resourceful. He’s an agoraphobic trapped within the dark bowels of New York City who must face a threat to the bright world above him. Full of tantalizing true secrets of that subterranean world, matched with a breakneck pacing of a shocking thriller, here is a novel that shines a light on the beauty and horror hidden just out of sight beneath the world’s greatest city. So grab a flashlight and get ready an adventure like no other.” – James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Eye of God
Still crippled by agoraphobia and confined to the tunnels under New York City, Joe is haunted by the fact that he cannot even attend his father's funeral. His father’s death brings threats to the safety of Joe's underground home: guilt over the broken relationship that can never be healed, a mysterious box of papers inherited from eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla, and a ruthless enemy determined to steal those papers no matter the cost.
Mystified by why his inheritance is so valuable, Joe and his service dog, Edison, follow clues left a century ago by Joe's famous ancestor to reveal the power of his family legacy. While Joe must rely on his considerable talents as a hacker, he must also reach out to friends.
But whom can he trust as he battles to save his beloved city from . . . The Tesla Legacy?
Praise for the first in the series:
* Winner of International Thriller Writers Thriller award!
* Chosen as Indie Insider by Amazon, Top Indie Pick by Barnes& Noble,
* “THE WORLD BENEATH by Rebecca Cantrell is a heart-pounding thriller with an infective puzzle! Rebecca Cantrell brings to life the amazing world beneath the sidewalks of New York…a virtual page-turner!” – Publisher’s Marketplace
* “Cantrell has also ventured into deep, dark places — most literally — for her new novel, “The World Beneath,” which plunges the reader into New York’s vast subway system…a taut and dangerous struggle.” — The Edge
* “Cantrell’s THE WORLD BENEATH simply blew me away: exciting, visceral, inventive, illuminating. The main character, Joe Tesla, is as charming as he is resourceful. He’s an agoraphobic trapped within the dark bowels of New York City who must face a threat to the bright world above him. Full of tantalizing true secrets of that subterranean world, matched with a breakneck pacing of a shocking thriller, here is a novel that shines a light on the beauty and horror hidden just out of sight beneath the world’s greatest city. So grab a flashlight and get ready an adventure like no other.” – James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Eye of God
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2015
424 people are currently reading
1022 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Cantrell
61 books541 followersA few years ago Rebecca Cantrell quit her job, sold her house, and moved to Hawaii to write a novel because, at seven, she decided that she would be a writer. Now she writes the award-winning Hannah Vogel mystery series set in Berlin in the 1930s. “A Trace of Smoke,” "A Night of Long Knives," "A Game of Lies," and "A City of Broken Glass." She also co-writes the Order of Sanguines series with James Rollins, starting with the upcoming book 1: "The Blood Gospel." And she writes the iMonster series as Bekka Black, including "iDrakula" and "iFrankenstein."
A faded pink triangle pasted on the wall of Dachau Concentration Camp and time in Berlin, Germany in the 1980s inspired “A Trace of Smoke.” Fluent in German, she received her high school diploma from the John F. Kennedy Schule in Berlin and studied at the Freie Universität in Berlin and the Georg August Universität in Göttingen.
When she visited Berlin in the summer of 2006, she was astounded to discover that many locations in her novel have been rebuilt and reopened in the last few years, including the gay bar El Dorado and the Mosse House publishing house.
Her short story “Coffee” will appear in the “Missing” anthology in February 2009.
Her screenplay “The Humanitarian” was a finalist at Shriekfest 2008: The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival. Her screenplay “A Taste For Blood” was a finalist at the Shriekfest 2007: The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival.
As of this writing, she lives in Berlin with her Ironman husband and son.
A faded pink triangle pasted on the wall of Dachau Concentration Camp and time in Berlin, Germany in the 1980s inspired “A Trace of Smoke.” Fluent in German, she received her high school diploma from the John F. Kennedy Schule in Berlin and studied at the Freie Universität in Berlin and the Georg August Universität in Göttingen.
When she visited Berlin in the summer of 2006, she was astounded to discover that many locations in her novel have been rebuilt and reopened in the last few years, including the gay bar El Dorado and the Mosse House publishing house.
Her short story “Coffee” will appear in the “Missing” anthology in February 2009.
Her screenplay “The Humanitarian” was a finalist at Shriekfest 2008: The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival. Her screenplay “A Taste For Blood” was a finalist at the Shriekfest 2007: The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival.
As of this writing, she lives in Berlin with her Ironman husband and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
December 26, 2022
3.5 rounded up
December 3, 2015
I am truly enjoying the Joe Tesla series. In this second edition, Joe continues to live in the New York subway underground in a beautiful Victorian home built by one of the original architects of the subway system with his service dog, Edison. Joe mysteriously developed agoraphobia and cannot go outside without having full scale panic attacks. His father recently died and left Joe a very cryptic legacy from their ancestor, the genius inventor Nikola Tesla. But others want to know what this undiscovered legacy is and so begins the search. What is it and who will get to it?
A very good and unique series.
A very good and unique series.
February 9, 2021
The second book in this series did not seem to be quite as good as the first one, but that's usually the case with this type of story. All the interesting world building and character definitions are in the first book so the second usually doesn't have as much of a 'fresh' feel to it.
Even so, it was a good story centered around Tesla's legendary lost oscillator device. Fairly fast moving with the last 50 or so pages keeping me up late to finish it off. Some additional character building, especially with the supporting cast but the main characters dog steals quite a few of the scenes.
A good sequel and I will be looking out for the third book in the series.
Even so, it was a good story centered around Tesla's legendary lost oscillator device. Fairly fast moving with the last 50 or so pages keeping me up late to finish it off. Some additional character building, especially with the supporting cast but the main characters dog steals quite a few of the scenes.
A good sequel and I will be looking out for the third book in the series.
July 8, 2015
Publication Date: 22nd January 2015
ISBN: 978-1507676677
Source: Author
Rating: 5*
Book Description:
In New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Cantrell's sequel to the award-winning The World Beneath, software genius, Joe Tesla, confronts an equally brilliant and far more powerful foe.
Still crippled by agoraphobia and confined to the tunnels under New York City, Joe is haunted by the fact that he cannot even attend his father's funeral. His father’s death brings threats to the safety of Joe's underground home: guilt over the broken relationship that can never be healed, a mysterious box of papers inherited from eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla, and a ruthless enemy determined to steal those papers no matter the cost.
Mystified by why his inheritance is so valuable, Joe and his service dog, Edison, follow clues left a century ago by Joe's famous ancestor to reveal the power of his family legacy. While Joe must rely on his considerable talents as a hacker, he must also reach out to friends.
But whom can he trust as he battles to save his beloved city from . . . The Tesla Legacy?
My Review:
Although I've not read the first book in this series, it didn't impede my enjoyment of this second book to feature Joe Tesla. All the background needed was provided - in fact, I had forgotten it was part of a series by the time I finished reading it.
Joe is quite a mysterious character but he is likeable and believable. He's complex, well developed and so very interesting. Joe's dog, Einstein, is a wonderful character too, as is Vivian, who provides his security.
I found the story quite compelling, it's a real page turner with some really tense moments. A great book, thoughtfully and intelligently written.
Praise for the first in the series:
* Winner of International Thriller Writers Thriller award!
* Chosen as Indie Insider by Amazon, Top Indie Pick by Barnes& Noble
* “THE WORLD BENEATH by Rebecca Cantrell is a heart-pounding thriller with an infective puzzle! Rebecca Cantrell brings to life the amazing world beneath the sidewalks of New York…a virtual page-turner!” – Publisher’s Marketplace
* “Cantrell has also ventured into deep, dark places — most literally — for her new novel, “The World Beneath,” which plunges the reader into New York’s vast subway system…a taut and dangerous struggle.” — The Edge
* “Cantrell’s THE WORLD BENEATH simply blew me away: exciting, visceral, inventive, illuminating. The main character, Joe Tesla, is as charming as he is resourceful. He’s an agoraphobic trapped within the dark bowels of New York City who must face a threat to the bright world above him. Full of tantalizing true secrets of that subterranean world, matched with a breakneck pacing of a shocking thriller, here is a novel that shines a light on the beauty and horror hidden just out of sight beneath the world’s greatest city. So grab a flashlight and get ready an adventure like no other.” – James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Eye of Go
About the author:
New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Cantrell's novels have won the Bruce Alexander and the Macavity awards and been nominated for the Barry, Mary Higgins Clark, APPY, RT Reviewers Choice, and Shriekfest Film Festival awards. She and her husband and son just left Hawaii's sunny shores for adventures in Hannah Vogel's hometown--Berlin.
She is the author of the Hannah Vogel mystery series, including A Trace of Smoke, A Night of Long Knives, A Game of Lies, and A City of Broken Glass. She also co-writes the Order of Sanguines series with James Rollins, including The Blood Gospel and the upcoming Innocent Blood.
As Bekka Black, Rebecca wrote the critically-acclaimed YA cell phone novels iDrakula and the iFrankenstein.
ISBN: 978-1507676677
Source: Author
Rating: 5*
Book Description:
In New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Cantrell's sequel to the award-winning The World Beneath, software genius, Joe Tesla, confronts an equally brilliant and far more powerful foe.
Still crippled by agoraphobia and confined to the tunnels under New York City, Joe is haunted by the fact that he cannot even attend his father's funeral. His father’s death brings threats to the safety of Joe's underground home: guilt over the broken relationship that can never be healed, a mysterious box of papers inherited from eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla, and a ruthless enemy determined to steal those papers no matter the cost.
Mystified by why his inheritance is so valuable, Joe and his service dog, Edison, follow clues left a century ago by Joe's famous ancestor to reveal the power of his family legacy. While Joe must rely on his considerable talents as a hacker, he must also reach out to friends.
But whom can he trust as he battles to save his beloved city from . . . The Tesla Legacy?
My Review:
Although I've not read the first book in this series, it didn't impede my enjoyment of this second book to feature Joe Tesla. All the background needed was provided - in fact, I had forgotten it was part of a series by the time I finished reading it.
Joe is quite a mysterious character but he is likeable and believable. He's complex, well developed and so very interesting. Joe's dog, Einstein, is a wonderful character too, as is Vivian, who provides his security.
I found the story quite compelling, it's a real page turner with some really tense moments. A great book, thoughtfully and intelligently written.
Praise for the first in the series:
* Winner of International Thriller Writers Thriller award!
* Chosen as Indie Insider by Amazon, Top Indie Pick by Barnes& Noble
* “THE WORLD BENEATH by Rebecca Cantrell is a heart-pounding thriller with an infective puzzle! Rebecca Cantrell brings to life the amazing world beneath the sidewalks of New York…a virtual page-turner!” – Publisher’s Marketplace
* “Cantrell has also ventured into deep, dark places — most literally — for her new novel, “The World Beneath,” which plunges the reader into New York’s vast subway system…a taut and dangerous struggle.” — The Edge
* “Cantrell’s THE WORLD BENEATH simply blew me away: exciting, visceral, inventive, illuminating. The main character, Joe Tesla, is as charming as he is resourceful. He’s an agoraphobic trapped within the dark bowels of New York City who must face a threat to the bright world above him. Full of tantalizing true secrets of that subterranean world, matched with a breakneck pacing of a shocking thriller, here is a novel that shines a light on the beauty and horror hidden just out of sight beneath the world’s greatest city. So grab a flashlight and get ready an adventure like no other.” – James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Eye of Go
About the author:
New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Cantrell's novels have won the Bruce Alexander and the Macavity awards and been nominated for the Barry, Mary Higgins Clark, APPY, RT Reviewers Choice, and Shriekfest Film Festival awards. She and her husband and son just left Hawaii's sunny shores for adventures in Hannah Vogel's hometown--Berlin.
She is the author of the Hannah Vogel mystery series, including A Trace of Smoke, A Night of Long Knives, A Game of Lies, and A City of Broken Glass. She also co-writes the Order of Sanguines series with James Rollins, including The Blood Gospel and the upcoming Innocent Blood.
As Bekka Black, Rebecca wrote the critically-acclaimed YA cell phone novels iDrakula and the iFrankenstein.
February 19, 2016
While I really enjoyed the first book, this one just took my breathe away! Breathtaking adventure, tense scenes and the heart pounding action, makes for an amazing book!
The synopsis pretty much tells all so I'll get straight to my thoughts.
One thing I love about this story is Joe and his dog. Despite his agoraphobia, Joe will do all he can to solve the mystery of the oscillator. He shows that even with the debilitating condition, he can lead a fairly normal (for him anyway) life. That even stuck in the darkness, he can push through. It did break my heart though to see what he went through when he sees the outside. Poor Joe!!!
And as for Edison, he rocks!! Such a faithful, loyal and smart dog.
As with the first, this is a fast paced, edge of your seat, ride and one you won't want to get off. The author is a phenomenal writer and captured my attention from the very first page. I loved how she brought the Tesla inventions into the story and found the inventions themselves to be fascinating. It truly shows how much effort and research she put into this book, but you know what, it was worth it because the story was amazing. I will be checking out more of her books!!!
In all, this was an amazing second book filled with action, adventure and suspense. I loved the plot and how it came together, I loved the characters and how well written and developed they are and I loved the fact that it was so exciting and engrossing. I started this and found it hard to take out my headphones, particularly with what happened to Joe!! My poor heart was in my mouth!
This book, and indeed, the series is a must read!! I highly recommend and I honestly can't wait for the next installment in this fantastic series.
Jeffrey Kafer was as awesome as always. It's so easy to become engrossed in an excellent book, when you have such an easy to listen to narrator. Every book I've listened to that's read by him, he always delivers! If you are new to audios, I'd recommend listening to one of his narrations.
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
The synopsis pretty much tells all so I'll get straight to my thoughts.
One thing I love about this story is Joe and his dog. Despite his agoraphobia, Joe will do all he can to solve the mystery of the oscillator. He shows that even with the debilitating condition, he can lead a fairly normal (for him anyway) life. That even stuck in the darkness, he can push through. It did break my heart though to see what he went through when he sees the outside. Poor Joe!!!
And as for Edison, he rocks!! Such a faithful, loyal and smart dog.
As with the first, this is a fast paced, edge of your seat, ride and one you won't want to get off. The author is a phenomenal writer and captured my attention from the very first page. I loved how she brought the Tesla inventions into the story and found the inventions themselves to be fascinating. It truly shows how much effort and research she put into this book, but you know what, it was worth it because the story was amazing. I will be checking out more of her books!!!
In all, this was an amazing second book filled with action, adventure and suspense. I loved the plot and how it came together, I loved the characters and how well written and developed they are and I loved the fact that it was so exciting and engrossing. I started this and found it hard to take out my headphones, particularly with what happened to Joe!! My poor heart was in my mouth!
This book, and indeed, the series is a must read!! I highly recommend and I honestly can't wait for the next installment in this fantastic series.
Jeffrey Kafer was as awesome as always. It's so easy to become engrossed in an excellent book, when you have such an easy to listen to narrator. Every book I've listened to that's read by him, he always delivers! If you are new to audios, I'd recommend listening to one of his narrations.
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
March 18, 2015
Review
No messing around on this one, straight into a simple question, please read these two books and someone please tell me how on earth these are being self published and are not coming out via a major publishing house?
Its not like the author hasn't proven herself with the simply impeccable Order of the Sanguines series, she and James Rollins have created one of my favorite supernatural series of all time, each author seemingly bringing something better, deeper out of the others writing.
The Tesla series is an excellent, original and addictive series. Book 2 the Tesla Legacy shows some of the skills that i think consciously or unconsciously that she has drawn from writing with James Rollins, im going to be very intrigued to read his next stand alone, i feel he will also have picked up something.
I find that the series is very brave with its lead character, trapped as he is by his agoraphobia, any resolving of a crime or running from authorities, criminal, anyone at all is hindered, restricted to the tunnels. But those tunnels are vast, bigger than you can imagine. They go everywhere and give access to so much. Rebecca Cantrell brings those tunnels to life, makes them living arteries to the world of Joe Tesla. Unlike many authors she also knows the power of the supporting cast, who are drawn in, filled out and made fully fledged members of the plot, so you care what happens to them.
I rocketed through both of these books in a couple of days, and really want to get my hands on book three. Rebecca Cantrell is firmly ensconced as one of my go to Thriller writers now, bring on book 3
Highly recommended
(Parm)
No messing around on this one, straight into a simple question, please read these two books and someone please tell me how on earth these are being self published and are not coming out via a major publishing house?
Its not like the author hasn't proven herself with the simply impeccable Order of the Sanguines series, she and James Rollins have created one of my favorite supernatural series of all time, each author seemingly bringing something better, deeper out of the others writing.
The Tesla series is an excellent, original and addictive series. Book 2 the Tesla Legacy shows some of the skills that i think consciously or unconsciously that she has drawn from writing with James Rollins, im going to be very intrigued to read his next stand alone, i feel he will also have picked up something.
I find that the series is very brave with its lead character, trapped as he is by his agoraphobia, any resolving of a crime or running from authorities, criminal, anyone at all is hindered, restricted to the tunnels. But those tunnels are vast, bigger than you can imagine. They go everywhere and give access to so much. Rebecca Cantrell brings those tunnels to life, makes them living arteries to the world of Joe Tesla. Unlike many authors she also knows the power of the supporting cast, who are drawn in, filled out and made fully fledged members of the plot, so you care what happens to them.
I rocketed through both of these books in a couple of days, and really want to get my hands on book three. Rebecca Cantrell is firmly ensconced as one of my go to Thriller writers now, bring on book 3
Highly recommended
(Parm)
February 4, 2015
Can't Get Enough Joe!
TBH, I’m already a huge Joe Tesla fan. That being said, Rebecca Cantrell doesn't disappoint in her second novel, THE TESLA LEGACY. With the death of Joe’s father, Rebecca effortlessly weaves multiple storylines together as she lays out a whole new meaning for Joe and his four-legged sidekick, Edison. I loved delving even deeper into Joe’s character and peeking into his past whilst accompanying him on a thrilling race save New York as we know it.
I know I keep talking, Joe, Joe, Joe, but he’s obviously not the only character in the book (otherwise, as much as I love Joe, it’d get pretty darn boring.) Love/hate his new antagonists. Rebecca makes you just want to jump into the pages and help stop them yourself.
Emotionally, Rebecca Cantrell took me to a place I’ve never been (& I can’t say more as I don’t want to reveal that part of Joe’s story.) By the end of the book I wanted to re-trace Joe’s footprints (& Edison’s paw prints) to explore their stomping grounds…can only imagine how much trouble I’d get into if I tried it in real life, however. Thankfully I have my copies of THE WORLD BENEATH and THE TESLA LEGACY to re-read when I get the itch to go exploring the underground world of Joe Tesla. How long do we need to wait until the next one??? Whenever it is, it can’t come fast enough!!!
TBH, I’m already a huge Joe Tesla fan. That being said, Rebecca Cantrell doesn't disappoint in her second novel, THE TESLA LEGACY. With the death of Joe’s father, Rebecca effortlessly weaves multiple storylines together as she lays out a whole new meaning for Joe and his four-legged sidekick, Edison. I loved delving even deeper into Joe’s character and peeking into his past whilst accompanying him on a thrilling race save New York as we know it.
I know I keep talking, Joe, Joe, Joe, but he’s obviously not the only character in the book (otherwise, as much as I love Joe, it’d get pretty darn boring.) Love/hate his new antagonists. Rebecca makes you just want to jump into the pages and help stop them yourself.
Emotionally, Rebecca Cantrell took me to a place I’ve never been (& I can’t say more as I don’t want to reveal that part of Joe’s story.) By the end of the book I wanted to re-trace Joe’s footprints (& Edison’s paw prints) to explore their stomping grounds…can only imagine how much trouble I’d get into if I tried it in real life, however. Thankfully I have my copies of THE WORLD BENEATH and THE TESLA LEGACY to re-read when I get the itch to go exploring the underground world of Joe Tesla. How long do we need to wait until the next one??? Whenever it is, it can’t come fast enough!!!
February 7, 2015
Joe Tesla faced the death of his father with sadness and guilt. He has never forgiven him and now he's gone, but he left his son a message. "Be Careful" and a job to complete. With his agoraphobia how will he be able to get this done? Joe and his service animal, Edison, are amazing. Using the world beneath Grand Central Station, they have access to the city. The suspense intensifies when Nikola Tesla's dangerous invention, The Oscillator, become the prize for evil men. I couldn't put this book down. I loved the mixture of reality and fantasy. It made for compelling reading. The setting fired my imagination as did the plot. Joe is intelligent and determined. He's a fighter who won't let his fears stop him. He looks logically at issues and takes the high road. His caring for Edison just made me like him more. The secondary characters add to the danger. I especially enjoyed getting a glimpse of Joe growing up. Seeing his parents gave me more insight into his character. Rebecca Cantrell is an amazing author. She painstakingly increased the intensity with glimpses from the past. This story is a roller coaster ride of suspense and treachery. The twists and turns took my breath away. This story is extraordinary!
February 6, 2015
The Tesla Legacy is the second book in Rebecca Cantrell’s Joe Tesla series, and it is a great follow-up to the first! I was eager to dive back into the world under the streets of New York City and find out what was in store for our protagonist, Joe Tesla, and his service dog Edison. Joe is still suffering from the inexplicable agoraphobia described in the first book, and he soon encounters new challenges when his father dies and he is unable to attend the funeral. We learn more about Joe’s past (his conflicted relationship with his father, his life growing up in the circus), and then events rapidly veer out of control when his mother passes on a suitcase with items his father wanted him to have. Rebecca Cantrell has given us another incredibly entertaining book! And I simply love Edison… how could you not? I was happy to see that there are hints of what we might find out next in future books, so fingers crossed the months will pass quickly until we can welcome the next book in the series!
February 14, 2015
Imaginative and quite ingenious, book two of this series may be even better than the first. Already a huge fan of this author’s work, The Tesla Legacy kidnapped me from the first page. Action, intrigue and the desire to discover “what now” rockets the plot in a most satisfying manner. Ms. Cantrell is a master of suspense and her newest is worthy of study. I can only imagine how much research involved crafting this piece, but the result is fascinating, captivating and explained with detail and care. A wild ride rife with characters you will connect with. Hoping for many more books from this series. Also compelling are the do not miss links that lead to other items included in the Kindle version.
August 17, 2019
The author based the story around the oscillator that Nikola Tesla designed and tested in NYC to create a small earthquake (Mythbusters built one using Tesla's design and tried to take down a bridge, but failed). In this novel, the device actually works and is being sought by the antagonist. Joe Tesla's father dies and leaves him the clues to find the original device, which puts Joe's life in danger. I love Joe's agoraphobic existence beneath the streets and buildings of New York, and I really love his support dog. This is the second Joe Tesla book, and as good as the first. I do hope the author writes more. I was surprised that my city's library system didn't have it. I had to borrow it through WorldCat and it came in from Madison, WI.
October 29, 2017
Not as good as the first book in the series. I was shocked to find out that Joe Tesla is not really a Tesla, but it didn't seem to affect Joe that much, which was strange. The plot itself had stretched my disbelief to a few breaking points, and I wished for more of Vivian. Still, Cantrell knows how to grab a reader, and once she does, she never lets go. In this respect this book is as good as its predecessor, making you shiver with suspense throughout. Moving on to the third book in the series, hope Cantrell is back to form in it.
January 13, 2019
This was a little thinner and more predictable than the first book in this series, but still pretty good.
September 21, 2021
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book but was disappointed that it really didn’t follow through with the ending of the first book.
February 14, 2015
All I can say is can't wait for the next Joe Tesla!
April 10, 2017
This is the second book in the Joe Tesla trilogy. It's not as good as book one, but I still enjoyed it. Joe Tesla's father has died and Joe is still crippled with agoraphobia and stuck in the tunnels under New York City. He inherits a secret invention and mysterious papers from Nicola Tesla. This legacy is also being sought after by ruthless other people. An exciting story. Looking forward to book three!
November 23, 2022
Another very interesting thriller in the series.
Getting to know the main characters better.
Love this series....on to book 3 at some point.
Getting to know the main characters better.
Love this series....on to book 3 at some point.
February 16, 2015
Rebecca Cantrell does not disappoint in this 2nd book about Joe Tesla. Joe is still suffering from agoraphobia and remains in the tunnels under New York City's Grand Central Station with his service dog Edison. Love the bond between Edison and Joe. As an owner of a Golden Retriever, I felt as special bond with Edison.
We learn more about Nikola Tesla. I enjoyed that information. To be honest, I know very little about him. Interesting to say the least. One of Nikola Tesla's inventions, the Oscillator, takes center stage in this story. Rumored to have existed but never found we find in coming in to Joe's hand. The device is lethal, especially in the wrong hands.
Besides learning about Nikola Tesla, we get important background in Joe's family. The conflict between him and his dad which comes to the front as Joe deals with his dad's death. The bond between Joe and his mother. His mother doesn't quite understand the degree of Joe's agoraphobia but comes to understand fully when he ends up in hospital. It is she who gives him the suitcase, from his father, that contains papers from Nikola Tesla and clues to the location of the Oscillator. Loyalty abounds to those who know, love and work for Joe. We see that very clearly with Vivian, one of his body guards
Rebecca Cantrell has an unique ability to make the reader feel as if they are part of the action. You suffer right along with Joe and he suffers through his agoraphobia, doing the right thing even if it is hard, feeling his emotions... especially with Edison.
The Tesla Legacy is a roller coaster ride from the beginning to the end. The book ended way too soon. I can't wait until the next novel to see where Joe's adventures take him, Edison and maybe... just maybe... Joe and Vivian.
We learn more about Nikola Tesla. I enjoyed that information. To be honest, I know very little about him. Interesting to say the least. One of Nikola Tesla's inventions, the Oscillator, takes center stage in this story. Rumored to have existed but never found we find in coming in to Joe's hand. The device is lethal, especially in the wrong hands.
Besides learning about Nikola Tesla, we get important background in Joe's family. The conflict between him and his dad which comes to the front as Joe deals with his dad's death. The bond between Joe and his mother. His mother doesn't quite understand the degree of Joe's agoraphobia but comes to understand fully when he ends up in hospital. It is she who gives him the suitcase, from his father, that contains papers from Nikola Tesla and clues to the location of the Oscillator. Loyalty abounds to those who know, love and work for Joe. We see that very clearly with Vivian, one of his body guards
Rebecca Cantrell has an unique ability to make the reader feel as if they are part of the action. You suffer right along with Joe and he suffers through his agoraphobia, doing the right thing even if it is hard, feeling his emotions... especially with Edison.
The Tesla Legacy is a roller coaster ride from the beginning to the end. The book ended way too soon. I can't wait until the next novel to see where Joe's adventures take him, Edison and maybe... just maybe... Joe and Vivian.
January 30, 2015
I was very excited to get a pre-publication copy of this novel as I have been waiting patiently for the next chapter of this story. The second installment in the Joe Tesla series is even better than the first. This time we dive a bit little deeper into Joe’s family and his personal background as he races against time to prevent a dangerous, lethal invention crafted by Nikola Tesla from getting into the wrong hands. Hampered by his crippling agoraphobia, which requires him to be more inventive in forestalling his foes, Joe needs to rely on the assistance of others including his ever-faithful companion, his dog Edison.
I continue to be swept up and fascinated by the atmospheric surroundings of Joe’s world, which includes any underground passageway he manages to find and navigate. The tunnels underneath Grand Central Station indeed become an additional character in these novels. I certainly do not suffer from synesthesia like Tesla does, but I will admit to seeing his world in the sepia tones that this series evokes. Just as the character is tied to his underworld, the reader will imagine no sunlight in this book.
Cantrell did a superb job of researching not only Nikola Tesla’s world, but also creating a WMD of creative proportions that is the focus of this thriller. I love the fact that aside from the use of the Internet in this story, the novel itself could have taken place in the forties. We have a modern hero that we somehow do not see in a modern way. That is what adds to the charm of this series and what make it unique.
I loved the book and look forward to the next Joe Tesla adventure.
I continue to be swept up and fascinated by the atmospheric surroundings of Joe’s world, which includes any underground passageway he manages to find and navigate. The tunnels underneath Grand Central Station indeed become an additional character in these novels. I certainly do not suffer from synesthesia like Tesla does, but I will admit to seeing his world in the sepia tones that this series evokes. Just as the character is tied to his underworld, the reader will imagine no sunlight in this book.
Cantrell did a superb job of researching not only Nikola Tesla’s world, but also creating a WMD of creative proportions that is the focus of this thriller. I love the fact that aside from the use of the Internet in this story, the novel itself could have taken place in the forties. We have a modern hero that we somehow do not see in a modern way. That is what adds to the charm of this series and what make it unique.
I loved the book and look forward to the next Joe Tesla adventure.
January 20, 2015
Tesla lovers are going to go Ga-Ga reading this riveting adventure! Superbly written! Fast-action from start to finish. I love that this novel begins with Nikola Tesla. Rebecca Cantrell really outdid herself with in-depth research and then putting to words little tidbit facts of Tesla's life that so many are not aware. Following down a path of time to a distant relative who suffers from agoraphobia. Meaning he cannot leave the tunnels underneath the city of New York City due to his phobia of being outside. His faithful dog is there every step of the way assisting Joe Tesla in the adventure that he finds himself suddenly trying to solve.
The Oscillator is a real invention. Tesla's earthquake machine. And, the real oscillator has never been found. Until Joe Tesla's father passes away and leaves an inheritance to rival ALL inheritances! A suitcase filled with old papers that are directions to making a machine. A machine that is the beginning of a thrilling adventure that will take the reader breathlessly from one tunnel to another. Adventure awaits! The bad guy is a weasel that we are allowed to read his thoughts and follow his disturbed inner desires. Unfortunately, he also has enough money to match Joe Tesla dollar per dollar in getting what he wants. A game of chess that will be played out under the streets and in some of the more well known buildings in New York City.
Fantastic book! Start reading this one when you have a three day weekend! You will not be able to sleep until you've finished the last savory word!
The Oscillator is a real invention. Tesla's earthquake machine. And, the real oscillator has never been found. Until Joe Tesla's father passes away and leaves an inheritance to rival ALL inheritances! A suitcase filled with old papers that are directions to making a machine. A machine that is the beginning of a thrilling adventure that will take the reader breathlessly from one tunnel to another. Adventure awaits! The bad guy is a weasel that we are allowed to read his thoughts and follow his disturbed inner desires. Unfortunately, he also has enough money to match Joe Tesla dollar per dollar in getting what he wants. A game of chess that will be played out under the streets and in some of the more well known buildings in New York City.
Fantastic book! Start reading this one when you have a three day weekend! You will not be able to sleep until you've finished the last savory word!
February 5, 2015
International Thriller Writers’ Best Ebook winner, Rebecca Cantrell, has an award-winning series on her hands with the Joe Tesla Series! Joe Tesla and his brave-heart, adorable service dog, Edison, are back with another thrilling hit adventure sure to keep you on the edge of that seat! I'll never rob you of the excitement of reading with a detailed outline of the book, but I will tell you that the adventure is amped, times 2! The voice of the novel, like the first, shines through--nary a cloud in sight and the characters are written so vividly that you don't notice the sentences, words, paragraphs, etc. This....is the kind of novel I love. A novel that truly makes you forget about the world around you. A novel that plunges you into a different world. A world that is impossible to leave once the last page (if you notice the pages) is turned! Another element that I treasure when reading is the "learned" factor. A story is great and all, but one that excites, thrills and reveals interesting TRUE facts is a story penned for greatness. Nothing thrills me more than learning something while enjoying a story. Oh? Did I mention the plot? CLEVER, CLEVER, CLEVER! Stop reading my balderdash, and start reading The Tesla Legacy to discover it for yourself! Then you'll know what I'm talking about! Have I ever steered you wrong?
January 27, 2015
Well Rebecca looks like you have done it again, like falling down the rabbit hole one more you transport the reader into the world of the underground at Grand Central Station and we reconnect with the wonderful characters that are Joe Tesla and his dog Edison.
Looking at the world from a completely different perspective....outside looking in the past collides with the present in a manner that causes Joe to confront demons from his past that continue to haunt him.
Factor in an invention destined to save the world or destroy as we know it and we are instantly drawn into the rip roaring thriller that Rebecca has created....another world existing underground.
I said I would give an honest and frank review, again a fantastic read - one problem (only for the reader) it ended too soon....Once the ball began rolling and adrenaline kicked in I looked to the page count expecting to be quarter of the way through.....I had ten pages left. Again I am left wanting more....is this a bad thing??? Certainly not.....I am merely anxious to see how much further these characters will develop.
An immensely enjoyable read that I shall certainly be reccomending to others.
I certainly hope that Joe and Edison return soon.
Looking at the world from a completely different perspective....outside looking in the past collides with the present in a manner that causes Joe to confront demons from his past that continue to haunt him.
Factor in an invention destined to save the world or destroy as we know it and we are instantly drawn into the rip roaring thriller that Rebecca has created....another world existing underground.
I said I would give an honest and frank review, again a fantastic read - one problem (only for the reader) it ended too soon....Once the ball began rolling and adrenaline kicked in I looked to the page count expecting to be quarter of the way through.....I had ten pages left. Again I am left wanting more....is this a bad thing??? Certainly not.....I am merely anxious to see how much further these characters will develop.
An immensely enjoyable read that I shall certainly be reccomending to others.
I certainly hope that Joe and Edison return soon.
February 16, 2015
Entering the tunnels of Tesla
Joe Tesla finds himself dealing with the death of his estranged father and the mysterious papers handed down from Nicola Tesla. Do these papers contain the blueprints of Tesla's most dangerous invention or is it just a toy?
Someone wants it, but who?
An exciting sequel to The World Beneath, Joe and Edison lead us to mysterious hackers and fanatical power plays. The tunnels of NYC subways are strewn with clues, plots, and death. You will enjoy the characters, setting, and the adventure of discovery as Joe and his service dog, Edison, race to stop a hacker who has no conscious! Is your flashlight handy? For it's time to enter the tunnels.
Joe Tesla finds himself dealing with the death of his estranged father and the mysterious papers handed down from Nicola Tesla. Do these papers contain the blueprints of Tesla's most dangerous invention or is it just a toy?
Someone wants it, but who?
An exciting sequel to The World Beneath, Joe and Edison lead us to mysterious hackers and fanatical power plays. The tunnels of NYC subways are strewn with clues, plots, and death. You will enjoy the characters, setting, and the adventure of discovery as Joe and his service dog, Edison, race to stop a hacker who has no conscious! Is your flashlight handy? For it's time to enter the tunnels.
February 16, 2015
This was a fantastic followup to the first Joe Tesla book. The mystery of Joe's condition is explored while we learn more about his family and their complicated history. Joe races against the clock while fighting his phobia, all the while trying to uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious and troubling deaths. Your favorite characters from the first book are back for more, making for a fast paced, enjoyable novel. This is a 5-star read that's sure to leave you looking forward to book #3.
March 11, 2017
More like 3-1/2 stars. Not quite as good as the first book, in my opinion, but still entertaining. I really like Joe Tesla and Edison. I feel like there wasn't as much time spent beneath the city in this installment and a little too much time was spent with the villains of the novel. I am looking forward to book three, though. Again, solid narration by Jeffrey Kafer in the audiobook version. Definitely recommend it in either print or audio format.
February 20, 2015
WOW
This book was extremely well written and so entertaining. Definitely a winning writer to provide books that are a real pleasure to read. I sincerely hope that there will be additional books in this series. Excellent. Thank you for such a pleasurable reading experience.
This book was extremely well written and so entertaining. Definitely a winning writer to provide books that are a real pleasure to read. I sincerely hope that there will be additional books in this series. Excellent. Thank you for such a pleasurable reading experience.
March 11, 2016
Amazing
This story grabbed you from chapter 1 and never let go . Characters so real and place descriptions so vivid it's easy to visualize your self right there with Joe and Edison. I loved it
This story grabbed you from chapter 1 and never let go . Characters so real and place descriptions so vivid it's easy to visualize your self right there with Joe and Edison. I loved it
September 24, 2016
This book is better than the first book of the series. The characters are more polished and the plot moves in a nice linear manner. The ending is interesting and opens up several possibilities for future novels.
February 16, 2015
Once again Rebecca Cantrell's character Joe Tesla reeled me in from the beginning and didn't let go. The characters are very real and the story is well written and fast paced.
May 16, 2019
The Tesla Legacy (Joe Tesla Series 2) by Rebecca Cantrell
I picked this one up on a recommendation, through twitter. It's part of a series; but it stands well alone. There are references that make you want to read the first book, but that's alright. Oddly it's difficult to mention some things about this story without running a risk of spoiling some of the previous story, but to confirm that; I have to first read that one. So this is the warning this might contain some spoilers; or not.
This is a sort of suspense mystery that starts out introducing a character that in some ways seems similarly challenged as Nero Wolf was in this genre. Where Nero Wolf had a mobility problem by being somewhat overweight and usually solved murders from his home; Joe Tesla has his own problems that limit the scope of his mobility. Being extremely agoraphobic he lives in a house in an underground cave in New York. His home is connected to the underground caverns for the steam and subway that exists under New York. His fear is something that might be the result of chemical poisoning and some possibility that someone deliberately poisoned him; though the answer to that puzzle doesn't exist in this story. Joe tries to stick mostly to the underground and mostly what is local to the house that he rents from the family of the lead engineer of the station and tracks of New York underground. This house and the keys for many doors throughout the tunnel allow Joe access to a large perimeter of the playing field. Joe must stay underground because his reaction to the open and to sunlight would make a vampire shiver in sympathetic terror.
This novel has a large cast of well defined characters. And while as such it could be overwhelming, the overall handling of the narrative is quite crisp and clear. In an age when first person writing is becoming predominant in some genre, it's refreshing not only to see third person writing; but to see it crafted so well. Characters get their separate chapter allowing each character to be fully developed and to inform the reader of things that begin to make this less of a mystery of who done it than a suspense of when will the characters reveal themselves or each other and who will pay a price at the climax of that event. And though there is the risk that some of the threads created therein will not be fully realized there is a gestalt of a main story that takes us from a time before Joe's birth to the excitement of the ending in his time.
Joe, having his own problems, is helped around with a companion dog named Edison; he has an ex-girlfriend Celeste who suffers ALS and could die any day. Being a rich software designer, in his crippled state he still consults with Pellucid, the company he created. He tried to be selective when he sold Pellucid to ensure no one abuse the software, but he fears that the NSA are taking advantage of his facial recognition software to keep tabs on everyone and he has trouble reconciling himself between doing what he feels is right and bringing the company down and destroying his constant source of income. Vivian Torres works as Joe’s security and often the person doing his legwork similar to Nero Wolf's Archie Goodwin. Vivian is ex-military, a climbing enthusiast and has a well sculpted body; she's not to be messed with. She also seems to work though Tesla's lawyer, Mr. Rossi, which is important because between her, the lawyer, and Dirk, a part time helper who is a police officer, they constitute something I've seen a lot of in Robert Heinlein's writing. This is the knowledgeable group or couple who help the protagonist, for less than understandable reasons, and keep them out of trouble when possible. And lastly in the mix of the good we have Tatiana, Joe Tesla's mother.
On the evil or not so nice end, we have Ash who is Alan Wright who leads a double life as the creator of a company that helps the environment while staying in the lead with commerce; and as Ash he is the creator of a hacker entity called Spooky, which has some rather shady membership and borders on the potential to become radicalized. Two of his most involved contacts as Ash are known to him as Geezer and Quantum and together the three make an alliance of distrust that hatch a plan to steal the Tesla Oscillator from Joe; though Joe doesn't yet know that he has such a thing. When the target becomes Joe Tesla it molds the story perfectly by keeping it well within the confines where Joe's disability has kept him. The diverse directions of each of the villains in the story add more depth to a somewhat already cluttered plot.
When Joe finally realizes what he had and lost and the threat that it presents, it's a mad dash to try to find and stop an evil he has yet to unmask. In this particular story it's not so much the final outcome as it is the road we take to get there. And there is no lack of excitement on the way.
This is a great SFF novel that works as suspense thriller and has some elements that could almost qualify it with the steam-punk category. Well worth the read; and for some of us it might be a one sit read.
J.L. Dobias
I picked this one up on a recommendation, through twitter. It's part of a series; but it stands well alone. There are references that make you want to read the first book, but that's alright. Oddly it's difficult to mention some things about this story without running a risk of spoiling some of the previous story, but to confirm that; I have to first read that one. So this is the warning this might contain some spoilers; or not.
This is a sort of suspense mystery that starts out introducing a character that in some ways seems similarly challenged as Nero Wolf was in this genre. Where Nero Wolf had a mobility problem by being somewhat overweight and usually solved murders from his home; Joe Tesla has his own problems that limit the scope of his mobility. Being extremely agoraphobic he lives in a house in an underground cave in New York. His home is connected to the underground caverns for the steam and subway that exists under New York. His fear is something that might be the result of chemical poisoning and some possibility that someone deliberately poisoned him; though the answer to that puzzle doesn't exist in this story. Joe tries to stick mostly to the underground and mostly what is local to the house that he rents from the family of the lead engineer of the station and tracks of New York underground. This house and the keys for many doors throughout the tunnel allow Joe access to a large perimeter of the playing field. Joe must stay underground because his reaction to the open and to sunlight would make a vampire shiver in sympathetic terror.
This novel has a large cast of well defined characters. And while as such it could be overwhelming, the overall handling of the narrative is quite crisp and clear. In an age when first person writing is becoming predominant in some genre, it's refreshing not only to see third person writing; but to see it crafted so well. Characters get their separate chapter allowing each character to be fully developed and to inform the reader of things that begin to make this less of a mystery of who done it than a suspense of when will the characters reveal themselves or each other and who will pay a price at the climax of that event. And though there is the risk that some of the threads created therein will not be fully realized there is a gestalt of a main story that takes us from a time before Joe's birth to the excitement of the ending in his time.
Joe, having his own problems, is helped around with a companion dog named Edison; he has an ex-girlfriend Celeste who suffers ALS and could die any day. Being a rich software designer, in his crippled state he still consults with Pellucid, the company he created. He tried to be selective when he sold Pellucid to ensure no one abuse the software, but he fears that the NSA are taking advantage of his facial recognition software to keep tabs on everyone and he has trouble reconciling himself between doing what he feels is right and bringing the company down and destroying his constant source of income. Vivian Torres works as Joe’s security and often the person doing his legwork similar to Nero Wolf's Archie Goodwin. Vivian is ex-military, a climbing enthusiast and has a well sculpted body; she's not to be messed with. She also seems to work though Tesla's lawyer, Mr. Rossi, which is important because between her, the lawyer, and Dirk, a part time helper who is a police officer, they constitute something I've seen a lot of in Robert Heinlein's writing. This is the knowledgeable group or couple who help the protagonist, for less than understandable reasons, and keep them out of trouble when possible. And lastly in the mix of the good we have Tatiana, Joe Tesla's mother.
On the evil or not so nice end, we have Ash who is Alan Wright who leads a double life as the creator of a company that helps the environment while staying in the lead with commerce; and as Ash he is the creator of a hacker entity called Spooky, which has some rather shady membership and borders on the potential to become radicalized. Two of his most involved contacts as Ash are known to him as Geezer and Quantum and together the three make an alliance of distrust that hatch a plan to steal the Tesla Oscillator from Joe; though Joe doesn't yet know that he has such a thing. When the target becomes Joe Tesla it molds the story perfectly by keeping it well within the confines where Joe's disability has kept him. The diverse directions of each of the villains in the story add more depth to a somewhat already cluttered plot.
When Joe finally realizes what he had and lost and the threat that it presents, it's a mad dash to try to find and stop an evil he has yet to unmask. In this particular story it's not so much the final outcome as it is the road we take to get there. And there is no lack of excitement on the way.
This is a great SFF novel that works as suspense thriller and has some elements that could almost qualify it with the steam-punk category. Well worth the read; and for some of us it might be a one sit read.
J.L. Dobias
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