The Auctioneer

Chase Hardeman #1

by D.J. Williams

Chase Hardeman, a former special ops veteran, is left questioning whether his past covert missions in the Middle East are the cause of the chaos that's erupted in his life. Dreams of leaving a clandestine war behind and becoming a legend like his father in the auction arena teeter on the brink once he implements a contingency plan amidst an FBI investigation. Captivated by an old flame, Chase navigates the dark corridors of the collector car world in search of a myth. He believes finding this hidden treasure will reveal answers to a ghost buried in the desert of Mosul known to US intelligence as the Prodigal. On this perilous quest, Chase is drawn closer to a deadly threat as he leverages the criminal underworld to prevent a global terrorist attack. With the clock ticking, Chase is forced to relive the past in an imminent showdown and discovers the truth is not as it seems.

As a fresh voice in mystery and suspense, Williams is proving once again that he is a storyteller on the rise in this captivating covert international thriller filled with riveting characters and a gripping storyline amidst spellbinding twists and turns.

Genres: Thriller

447 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2019

About the author

D.J. Williams is an author, storyteller, executive producer, and director born and raised in Hong Kong. Growing up between cultures shaped the global perspective that now defines his work across fiction, nonfiction, and brand storytelling.

He is the author of the Chase Hardeman thriller series and the Beacon Hill trilogy, novels known for blending high-stakes action with deeper cultural and spiritual tension. His books have reached #1 on Amazon Hot New Releases and have been featured in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Writer’s Digest, with endorsements from bestselling authors and industry leaders.

His forthcoming nonfiction book, Art of the Margins: Unearthing Your Creativity in Obscurity (David C Cook, 2026), explores how meaningful creative work is formed in hidden seasons where calling is forged.

Reviews

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is hard for me to review this book ... every scene was brilliantly presented and the excitement never stopped ... but putting the pieces together was so difficult ... many plot lines, many characters with difficult to remember names, many events not linked to others ... still 4****

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

A different type of story than I usually read. I was anxious to finish, but not because of the excitment and suspense-I just don't like DNF.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, if there was a rating greater than a five. I'd give it. This book was sent to me from the Publisher at no charge to me. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be among the first to read this. I now choose to offer a review. For fans of NCIS or 24 this book has a lot of action, intrigue, & mystery and is definitely for you. Written extremely well. Easy to follow. One that grips a person from the first page and keeps you in it's grasp until the final page. Introducing Chase Hardeman the Auctioneer. I wish the next one was available already

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational, Electrifying, Spectacular
Read!!
Explosions, a plane crash, a city left in total
darkness, murder, arson, terrorist from the
past, the ghost, terrorist in the present,
international political intrigue, the Prodigal,
dark secrets, sinister plots of destruction,
corruption and revenge, The Auctioneer
has all of this plus more!!
The story contains harsh reality. It is a
compulsive page turner with tension that was
thick and well-sustained. Better take a deep
breath and fill your lungs now because this
stunning emotionally packed read will leave
you breathless!!
The plot has many surprising twist and turns
plus subplots.
The characters are creatively and artfully drawn.
Each character is a distinctive person. Each one
influences whether the consequences involving
the others will be evil or good.
Come along on an intriguing, intense, descriptive,
adventure with Chase Hardeman as his life is in
the process of being destroyed. He along with
his deceased father, Michael dealt in rare items
such as antiquities, rare models of cars even
black market weapons. They would find them
then sell them by auctioning the items to the
richest, elitist customers. These auctions were
not exactly kosher and were kept secret until the
Federal government got them in their eyesight.
The auctions had an international flair to them.
A highly recommended, riveting storyline!!
I volunteered to read the book. Thanks to the
author and publisher via the Review Crew for
the opportunity. My opinion is my own.

[Sara Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Auctioneer from DJ Williams is, what I hope is, the first book in becomes a long series. To say that it was action packed would be a gross understatement, the entire book had me fully absorbed from chapter one, all the way to the very end. Initially, I picked it up and the sheer size of it seemed daunting, at 447 pages long, however it was a smooth read and went by more quickly than expected. This book had everything an action adventure novel needs with well written and thought out characters. Between the auctions for rare vehicles, antiquities, and black market weapons, the terrorists, the secrets, relationships, friendships, lies, and military missions, there are countless reasons I could not put The Auctioneer down. Chase Hardeman and his father Michael, deal in rare items, finding, selling, and auctioning them to rich and elite clientele, that prefer to remain anonymous. Not all of these deals have been done on the “Up and Up” and that has gotten the men into a bit of trouble with the Federal Government. But that isn't even the biggest or most chaotic part of the story line. I want to get into the storyline but every single bit of everything is connected and anyone could be the person trying to destroy the Hardeman family legacy (and so much more). It got to the point where I was getting paranoid about nearly every character, no one was beyond the realm of possibility as a suspect for me, for so many chapters I pointed the finger in the wrong directions repeatedly, the “aha” moment for me hit barely before the truth came out in the story. I have not read a book that came together at the end and tied everything together as perfectly as The Auctioneer in a very long time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good action, adventure, intrigue, and military story, it has every single thing that makes an irresistible read for men and women alike.

I received this book from the publisher/author for free, to read and review. This fact has in no way swayed my opinion on the story, all thoughts expressed above are my own.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review -

The book is well suited for individuals interested in the seedy underworld of auctioning antiquities, rare cars, and weapons. It's fast paced with plenty of intrigue, and a fair bit of romance laced in.

I found the characters well developed and worth exploring, each with their own backstory deserving of their own books if I'm completely honest. Excellent work and fantastic for the audience!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of excitement. Once I started reading it I had trouble putting it down (stayed up past my bedtime a few nights reading it!). There are spies, organized crimes, murder and more in this book. Chase, the main character, is looking into his father's death and he learns a lot more than he was expecting including government secrets and information about lost treasures. I am just hoping there's a sequel someday!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what Chase Hardeman had in store for me when I picked up this book. He is the perfect, 'imperfect' hero with a great, unique backstory. Gritty (yet clean) twists and turns caused an obsession that could only be quenched by reading more...From loveable sidekick Dax to the sultry 'Black Widow of Bratva,' this tale is filled with unforgettable characters that leave you wanting more and more with each page. The book read as an action-packed mystery/thriller in the cinema of the mind - easily translatable to a tv series or movie.

Now that it is through, withdrawals have already begun. Thinking back, my only regret is that I did not ration the delectable morsels to curb the anticipation for the next book of the series. What have you done to me, Derek Williams?!?

[Hannah Hargrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.J. Williams is a master storyteller, who clearly knows how to craft a complex and compelling plot. In The Auctioneer, his third (and best) international thriller, he has yet again created a heart-stopping narrative that grips you from the outset. This is a mile-a-minute read – ingenious, intelligent and high-intensity. But, at the same time, there is an authenticity to the writing. The characters are well-developed and three-dimensional. They feel real. There is also a strong visual, filmic quality to the novel, evidence of Williams’ background as a Los Angeles producer and director. The Auctioneer is a riveting read, and very difficult to put down! Highly recommended.

[Heath Henwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Auctioneer
By D.J. Williams

4 stars

With twists and turns this action thriller hooks the reader.

While a long way from the realms of realism, this book satisfies the readers desire for an easy thriller that has some mystery coupled with plenty of action.

Chasing terrorist the hero of the story is beaten and bashed repeatedly, but always able to noun code back.

Chase Hardeman, a former special ops veteran, is left questioning whether his past covert missions in the Middle East are the cause of the chaos that's erupted in his life. Dreams of leaving a clandestine war behind and becoming a legend like his father in the auction arena teeter on the brink once he implements a contingency plan amidst an FBI investigation. Captivated by an old flame, Chase navigates the dark corridors of the collector car world in search of a myth. He believes finding this hidden treasure will reveal answers to a ghost buried in the desert of Mosul known to US intelligence as the Prodigal. On this perilous quest, Chase is drawn closer to a deadly threat as he leverages the criminal underworld to prevent a global terrorist attack. With the clock ticking, Chase is forced to relive the past in an imminent showdown and discovers the truth is not as it seems.

Characters are well developed and the story line moves quickly, giving the reader plenty of trills along the way.

This title has been reviewed by www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

This title was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

#TheAuctioneer #NetGalley

[Jacqui Huntley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a high octane thriller, not as far fetched as many with a definite 'yes, this could happen' throughout. Chase Hardeman, hero, is an ex special ops chap but with a dark side too. Whilst he plans a quiet retirement following in his father's trade as an auctioneer this is unlikely to happen anyway given he auctions rare cars and other treasures essentially on the black market, although a very lucrative market. His father dies mysteriously in an apparent air accident but we are then lead into FBI versus criminal underworlds, Muslim extremists, political intrigue not to mention an old girlfriend and her family. Ably assisted by sidekick Dix, Chase ducks, weaves and dives through various dangerous situations, always one step behind the Really Bad Guy until he reaches a satisfying denouement which ties up most loose ends. The characters develop nicely and work well together; The situations seem mostly real although evacuating Los Angeles felt less so. A read to take you through a wet day. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even once the book is finished for good, I still wonder if everything in the story is fictional. The Auctioneer is action packed, with very vivid descriptions of fights, attacks etc. The descriptions are almost too real, the vocabulary sounds professional and the logic of the interaction between the protagonists is perfect.
It is difficult to speak about the plot without revealing too much. I appreciated the equality between men and women, the feelings of dismay of some characters. The book reads well, with chapters with very good cliffhangers without though too many points left without explanations. Chapter after chapter, the whole picture becomes apparent.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love action, grab on to this book and fasten your seatbelt because your in for a major thrill ride. With so many twists, turns, stops, and starts, the plots, sub-plots, alliances, and betrayals are too many to number. Starting with an airplane crash the kills the protagonist’s father, the auctioneer searches for those responsible, reasons, and revenge. Woven into this tale are industrial espionage, priceless artifacts, the Middle East war, the FBI, Russians, and much much more. Truly beyond description in scope. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover. If you're a fan of spy thrillers, then you're sure to find hours of enjoyment within these pages. There's plenty of action, and Chase was a great MC. As much as he would like to, Chase just can't leave his past in the past. Who would have guessed that the world of auctions could bring so much excitement to life?

[Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I won this on goodreads) This would make a very entertaining movie reminded me of is a spy/thriller with a "Thomas Crown Affair" flair.
A rapid pace, well fleshed out characters a very entertaining read...

[Kat M · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read with an interesting premise, it wasn't my favorite but I still enjoyed reading it. The characters were good and the story itself was entertaining. Overall it was a good read and I look forward to more in the series.

[Karen Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to review this book and received a copy. That's the admin out of the way. I'm a big thriller fan so approached it with enthusiasm and in terms of fast action it didn't disappoint. Williams is a scriptwriter and that's evident in his writing - the focus is on movement. At times I found that difficult because there's a lot of plot and back story to absorb particularly in the early sections, and I found I had to reread to keep up. But all the elements of a popular, contemporary thriller are there - glamorous settings in the world of the super rich, special ops, intelligence agencies, Mr President... If I'm honest, I found it hard going at times but I can see that it will appeal to a broad audience, hence the four stars. Williams is a more than competent writer who knows what he's doing. I suspect this is the start of a series that could earn a loyal following.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and loved talking about it with the author. Can't wait for the next one.

[Nina Maldonado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised in how much I loved this book. Also enjoyed talking with the author in our book club!