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The Lions of Mercer
Bound by purpose. Haunted by failure. He stands on the edge of ruin.
Micah Mercer is alone. He’s lost his job. He hasn’t spoken to his wife in months. His friends tread carefully around him. All because an obsession has overtaken saving the next child from a life of slavery. Mercer leverages his past life as a CIA paramilitary officer and Army Ranger to rescue those in desperate need, but, working alone, his expertise can only take him so far.
Shocked by the impending fall of Kabul, Mercer pulls whatever strings he has left to get to Afghanistan to extract his former Ranger platoon interpreter and his family. But when a rogue paramilitary organization abducts Altair’s daughter, Mercer won’t stop until he finds her and puts down those responsible.
But there is something far more sinister at play. Mercer learns this is not a random kidnapping and that Aya is one of many Pashtun girls taken to satisfy the perverse delight of the international elite.
From Taliban-infested Kabul to a private island in the Caribbean, Mercer must wage a war no one will acknowledge to be the savior Aya desperately needs. As the stakes climb higher and higher, Mercer fights not only for Aya’s future, but for his own.
From USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author John Lovell and acclaimed military thriller author Harrison Kone comes a new hard-hitting, high-stakes thriller where one determined hero risks everything to do what is right.
Micah Mercer is alone. He’s lost his job. He hasn’t spoken to his wife in months. His friends tread carefully around him. All because an obsession has overtaken saving the next child from a life of slavery. Mercer leverages his past life as a CIA paramilitary officer and Army Ranger to rescue those in desperate need, but, working alone, his expertise can only take him so far.
Shocked by the impending fall of Kabul, Mercer pulls whatever strings he has left to get to Afghanistan to extract his former Ranger platoon interpreter and his family. But when a rogue paramilitary organization abducts Altair’s daughter, Mercer won’t stop until he finds her and puts down those responsible.
But there is something far more sinister at play. Mercer learns this is not a random kidnapping and that Aya is one of many Pashtun girls taken to satisfy the perverse delight of the international elite.
From Taliban-infested Kabul to a private island in the Caribbean, Mercer must wage a war no one will acknowledge to be the savior Aya desperately needs. As the stakes climb higher and higher, Mercer fights not only for Aya’s future, but for his own.
From USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author John Lovell and acclaimed military thriller author Harrison Kone comes a new hard-hitting, high-stakes thriller where one determined hero risks everything to do what is right.
- GenresFiction
282 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2025
105 people are currently reading
359 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 24, 2025
WE GO AS LIONS.
Readers beware — a new thriller hero has arrived. Guided by justice and righteousness as his north star, former Army Ranger and CIA paramilitary operator Micah Mercer traverses the globe rescuing victims of a trafficking scheme that reaches the highest levels of the government he once served. Against impossible odds and torn by grief and loss, Mercer undertakes one final unsanctioned mission as Afghanistan falls. What he discovers on this mission will forever change the world.
Incompetent leadership surrendering one of America’s most strategic strongholds, abandoned allies, and an island entangled with the elite — this narrative rings eerily true.
As readers will soon realize, this is not just another thriller. Set against the haunting headlines of recent years, Lovell and Kone have crafted Lions of Mercer with unsettling realism. The authenticity of these two Warrior Poets results in an unforgettable tale. Rarely does one encounter a story with as much substance as Lions of Mercer.
Readers beware — a new thriller hero has arrived. Guided by justice and righteousness as his north star, former Army Ranger and CIA paramilitary operator Micah Mercer traverses the globe rescuing victims of a trafficking scheme that reaches the highest levels of the government he once served. Against impossible odds and torn by grief and loss, Mercer undertakes one final unsanctioned mission as Afghanistan falls. What he discovers on this mission will forever change the world.
Incompetent leadership surrendering one of America’s most strategic strongholds, abandoned allies, and an island entangled with the elite — this narrative rings eerily true.
As readers will soon realize, this is not just another thriller. Set against the haunting headlines of recent years, Lovell and Kone have crafted Lions of Mercer with unsettling realism. The authenticity of these two Warrior Poets results in an unforgettable tale. Rarely does one encounter a story with as much substance as Lions of Mercer.
January 14, 2026
These guys did a great job with this one! You can see my full thoughts in the video, but a bullet-point overview is:
1. The war fighting details are on point (obviously)
2. The Christianity does not feel forced (thank the LORD)
3. They exhibit really well the Christian warrior balance of ruthlessly defeating evil while also truly longing for evil men to repent and be saved
4. They masterfully display the fact that masculine strength is NOT the problem and that for a man to be good he MUST first be dangerous.
Overall, it’s definitely one I would recommend picking up a copy of and I’m excited to see what they come out with next!
Full thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50ZT4...
1. The war fighting details are on point (obviously)
2. The Christianity does not feel forced (thank the LORD)
3. They exhibit really well the Christian warrior balance of ruthlessly defeating evil while also truly longing for evil men to repent and be saved
4. They masterfully display the fact that masculine strength is NOT the problem and that for a man to be good he MUST first be dangerous.
Overall, it’s definitely one I would recommend picking up a copy of and I’m excited to see what they come out with next!
Full thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50ZT4...
October 27, 2025
the heroes we need
In a world filled with bystanders, nearly all of them sheep, John and Harrison have introduced a call to action in the form of a novel. The topic is disturbing, but confronting evil always is. Thankfully, our nation has sheep dogs to help protect the flock from the wolves that prey on them. If this had been the moral high ground the authors chose, it would have been a righteous one to stand on. They would probably be satisfied with that too. However, they call to a tiny percentage of men and women to go one step further, to become a hunter of wolves. Candidly, the few with the skills and mentality required already know who they are. It’s including our lives with the baggage of our 20 year war, centering ourselves, picking back up our shield and swords and dedicating our lives to continue the fight. Thanks for the push in the back/kick in the ass gentlemen. RLTW Send Me
In a world filled with bystanders, nearly all of them sheep, John and Harrison have introduced a call to action in the form of a novel. The topic is disturbing, but confronting evil always is. Thankfully, our nation has sheep dogs to help protect the flock from the wolves that prey on them. If this had been the moral high ground the authors chose, it would have been a righteous one to stand on. They would probably be satisfied with that too. However, they call to a tiny percentage of men and women to go one step further, to become a hunter of wolves. Candidly, the few with the skills and mentality required already know who they are. It’s including our lives with the baggage of our 20 year war, centering ourselves, picking back up our shield and swords and dedicating our lives to continue the fight. Thanks for the push in the back/kick in the ass gentlemen. RLTW Send Me
October 19, 2025
Enjoyed the book, definitely in the same vein as Jack Carr literature. I think this book was written with inspiring young teenage men as the goal, while still sheltering their minds from depravity. The phrasing and choice of wording appears tamed down. The subject matter of this book is some of the darkest known to humankind, I wish the verbage reflected that vs skirting around these abominable offences. If I was raising young men, I WOULD want them to read this book.
October 5, 2025
I love that the authors’ faith is Jesus is the overarching theme of this book.
October 2, 2025
amazing story writing
This book was outstanding! The tactics are sounds and the strategy amazing! I love the incorporation of the Bible in this book and their shared faith. This is the second book I have read from this other and I am never left disappointed.
This book was outstanding! The tactics are sounds and the strategy amazing! I love the incorporation of the Bible in this book and their shared faith. This is the second book I have read from this other and I am never left disappointed.
October 23, 2025
Actually closer to a 2.75 but I rounded it up. Not a bad book but there were definitely some times that had me rolling my eyes. The villain(s) are comically evil and, it just so happens, that every hero is Christian. I have nothing against Christianity but there are times the book feels more like a sermon than an action thriller. Finally, the product placement. A character doesn't simply grab a tourniquet from his IFAK no he has to grab it from his Warrior Poet Society IFAK. All that was missing was a link to the product page on the WPS shop.
Again, not a bad book and I can see myself coming back for more.
Again, not a bad book and I can see myself coming back for more.
December 29, 2025
Absolutely great read. As a reader, I’ve been waiting for a hero like Micah Mercer. Who is willing to risk it all for what is right. There were some holes in the story, but none that took over the premise of the read in its entirety. I also enjoyed the credit they gave God and how Micah’s faith played a big part in his life.
In this book he by saving enslaved women held as sex slaves in Brazil and it ended with Micah, his friend Novac, and his team rescuing Jaime, Aya, Nazo, and 50+ other kids from Clinton Adler’s Island.
The search for Aya came after Micah tried to rescue Altair Sayyid and his family after the U.S. was pulling out from Bagram in Afghanistan. Aya’s family had been slaughtered and Aya had been kidnapped, along with other Pashtun girls.
Adler, Derrick Thrash, and Foster who ran Warden. A company that partook in human trafficking.
Jamie Mercer worked for the DNI and was under Adler. Until his fascination with Jamie caused him to kidnap her and opened up the possibility of Micah saving her, to which he did.
In the end, HER, Hosea Emergency Rescue, blew up. Jaime and Micah rekindled their relationship, and they adopted Aya and Nazo.
In this book he by saving enslaved women held as sex slaves in Brazil and it ended with Micah, his friend Novac, and his team rescuing Jaime, Aya, Nazo, and 50+ other kids from Clinton Adler’s Island.
The search for Aya came after Micah tried to rescue Altair Sayyid and his family after the U.S. was pulling out from Bagram in Afghanistan. Aya’s family had been slaughtered and Aya had been kidnapped, along with other Pashtun girls.
Adler, Derrick Thrash, and Foster who ran Warden. A company that partook in human trafficking.
Jamie Mercer worked for the DNI and was under Adler. Until his fascination with Jamie caused him to kidnap her and opened up the possibility of Micah saving her, to which he did.
In the end, HER, Hosea Emergency Rescue, blew up. Jaime and Micah rekindled their relationship, and they adopted Aya and Nazo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2025
I listened to this book with my husband on a road trip and I thought it was a great read! The only reason for the 4 stars is because this book was written towards men and I did find myself not loving the detailed killing scenes but I totally get why they are there. My heart loves justice and so I felt satisfied by the end that justice was done. I also love how the author waves all through the book his love for Jesus, marriage, and how being a faithful Christ follower does not mean always being nice and pretending evil is not there but instead to fight it head on.
October 14, 2025
What a debut for fiction from John Lovell! While not quite as strong a literary work as other authors within this genre, a place is definitively carved out for this Biblical worldview and faith laced tale. Characters could have been a bit more fleshed out, and I feel theological discussions between characters could have been more fleshed out. The book asks us to look unflinchingly at true evil, without being too explicit, while contrasting the actions of good men who are truly willing to deal with the evil. I hope we get more adventures from this author duo.
November 10, 2025
The book itself is good, touches on a topic that some might consider taboo, and blends in accurate weapon, equipment, and complex nature of people of action who are fathers, husbands, sons, Christians, yet capable of incredible violence.
My only complaint was I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was not my favorite, but that is not a negative on the writer or the book’s narrative.
My only complaint was I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was not my favorite, but that is not a negative on the writer or the book’s narrative.
January 6, 2026
I gave it a 5 because I love the author’s work, thoroughly enjoyed the story, and appreciate the topic of human trafficking being discussed. With that said, the characters can seem shallow, quick to brush past major issues, and somewhat cardboard. And the plot is somewhat forced and rushed. I wish they’d opted for a longer book to allow more things to play out. But the subject matter is good enough that despite its flaws, I’m glad I read it.
February 3, 2026
(AB) Pretty good, will read more of this series. Mercer is ex CIA ground branch, goes back, sort of unofficially to save the family of his afghan interpreter. But that family is all killed before he can get them out, except for teenage daughter.
Daughter is taken to island for trafficking, with many parallels to Epstein. Mercer's estranged wife works for CIA DOO, who is kingpin of this sex trafficking.
Mercer and his old team invade the island and rescue all.
Daughter is taken to island for trafficking, with many parallels to Epstein. Mercer's estranged wife works for CIA DOO, who is kingpin of this sex trafficking.
Mercer and his old team invade the island and rescue all.
October 22, 2025
Intense Read
I don’t usually read fictional war accounts. But I really Lovell and so plowed through this book in no time. Very engaging read. My favorite part was strong ranger vs. smart ranger. I was just telling my daughter about that a couple days earlier and was applying it to some of her decisions.
I highly recommend.
I don’t usually read fictional war accounts. But I really Lovell and so plowed through this book in no time. Very engaging read. My favorite part was strong ranger vs. smart ranger. I was just telling my daughter about that a couple days earlier and was applying it to some of her decisions.
I highly recommend.
December 9, 2025
absolutely my favorite this year. the attention to detail and specificity can be a bit much sometimes, even for me who is a nerd. however, the realism and immersion are so validating and amazing. Definitely giving to my friends for a good thriller read.
January 31, 2026
The Lions of Mercer is a fast pace thriller that has you cheering for the good guys. Thank you for continue to bring awareness to the
awful & traggic problem of Child Trafficking. God bless you both!
awful & traggic problem of Child Trafficking. God bless you both!
November 19, 2025
Great Book
This is a must read. It has lots of action plus lots of good Christian values to go with the action. Plus John Lovell seems to be an awesome person. Glad to support him.
This is a must read. It has lots of action plus lots of good Christian values to go with the action. Plus John Lovell seems to be an awesome person. Glad to support him.
November 19, 2025
would highly recommended, and even though it's fiction there is tons of heartbreaking truth in this novel.
December 16, 2025
1.5 rounded up and that is generous. In-depth review to come.
December 29, 2025
Absolutely phenomenal! John and Harrison pair together beautifully and this is a book you will not be able to put down! Can’t wait to read the next one
January 5, 2026
Wow, simply Wow
What an amazing book. Super well written, it was hard for me to out it down. Can't wait for the next one to come out.
What an amazing book. Super well written, it was hard for me to out it down. Can't wait for the next one to come out.
January 16, 2026
Inspiring story!
October 9, 2025
The Lions of Mercer happily exceeded my expectations. I do not know Harrison Kone’s background, but this is the first suspense novel from John Lovell, so I expected to see more growing pains. Lovell clearly drew from his experiences as an Army Ranger veteran to shape his characters and create realism in describing weapons and tactics.
That said, this book does not rank among the best in the genre. The plot, though timely, lacked imagination. There are. No surprises in this book. Many of the character names are ridiculous. And the primary villain lacked any dimension whatsoever. I think he would have been scarier if he had been written more realistically.
I am happy to see John Lovell spread his wings into writing suspense thrillers. I am a fan of what he is doing with Warrior Poet Society. I hope that this book is a success and that it leads to more and better books from him.
That said, this book does not rank among the best in the genre. The plot, though timely, lacked imagination. There are. No surprises in this book. Many of the character names are ridiculous. And the primary villain lacked any dimension whatsoever. I think he would have been scarier if he had been written more realistically.
I am happy to see John Lovell spread his wings into writing suspense thrillers. I am a fan of what he is doing with Warrior Poet Society. I hope that this book is a success and that it leads to more and better books from him.
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November 10, 2025This was a good book. However, a bit graphic and too much "romance" for my taste. If this were the type of book I were accustomed to, then it would likely be at the very top of the list. A very good combination of The Terminal List, Shooter and Sound of Freedom. The graphic stuff is hard to read but it is real. I am glad to have read this book but I will likely not revisit it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews