Absolute Damage

Jake Mercer #2

by Jack Mars

When the President of the United States or his family are threatened, it is up to Jake Mercer, former Marine sniper turned Secret Service agent, to protect them from dangers—both foreign and domestic.

When Paris falls prey to a ruthless bio-terrorist, Secret Service Agent Jake Mercer must race against time to prevent a deadly pandemic, and to protect world leaders—including the President of the United States.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

161 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2024

About the author

Jack Mars is author of the bestselling LUKE STONE thriller series, which include the suspense thrillers ANY MEANS NECESSARY (book #1), OATH OF OFFICE (book #2) and SITUATION ROOM (book #3).

Reviews

[Joanne Hurley]

Finished the book. Typical action adventure. I liked the first book, this was not as good, but my one main issue, and the reason for the two stars, is the atrocious editing. Spelling errors, punctuation in the middle of words, typos (ie food instead of good, and others). We’ll see if the next is any better.

[Patricia B.]

Absolute Damage

Many, many typos and wrong names inserted into a sentence. Hard to follow. Sorry I spent the money. I will give Jake Mercer a rest from reading any more books.

[Carlos Mock]

Absolute Damage (Jake Mercer #2) by Jack Mars - Kindle Edition

This is a stand alone book. You don't have to read book one to understand it.

After saving US President, Bryan Jackson, from a White House Trident terrorist attack, Secret Service Senior Special Agent Jack Mercer is back to protecting the US President, Bryan Jackson, his wife, Carrie, and daughter Sheila (Jack's girlfriend) at a G 7 Summit in Paris.

As the Summit is about to start, the Secret Service gets a note from Trident threatening the President's life. This is followed by a lethal virus attack at a Paris Metro - killing almost 86 percent of the exposed victims. Luckily, the virus is easily contain and although it is lethal, it is not very contagious.

Mercer's first reaction is to get the President out of France and return to Washington, but the President refuses. He will not be labeled a coward and will not let the terrorists cancel the summit. After several other attacks - Notre Dame, The Tour Eiffel - Jack uncovers that Vincent St Claire - a leading biochemist and medical researcher at Columbia University until he was fired for cause - is the creator of the lethal virus. Unlike Trident - who wishes to kill the President - St Claire has a wider agenda. He wants to kill most world leaders and subjugate the world to his views, creating a new World Order with him, St Claire, at the helm.

Will Jack be able to stop St Claire? Will the President and his family survive? Will Trident be eliminated - especially since it is run by two former government agents; Eli Bard (CIA) and Andrew (Drew) McNeil (Secret Service)?

Narrated from the third person point of view this was a disaster. The characters are not believable and I never cared for them. The plot is ridiculous and an absolute fantasy. I never got involved in it and did not care for it.

The book is a short quick read, but I would not recommend it.

[Beach Bum]

Too many flaws

For me the story too many significant flaws, without spoiling it too much the one I'll highlight is Jake captures a low level terrorist, turns out not to be so low level, but this goes unnoticed even by Jake. Just not going to happen, too many pictures of the person would be around
Other than the flaws, the issues with Jake still being on the team, his relationship with the daughter and so many other things, make you wonder how the author ever thought this to be a viable concept
I might give Book 3 a go at some point, but not right away, too many other good books out there

[Peter]

While I enjoyed the book, IMO there was something wrong with the writing. There seemed to be misspellings and the writing was choppy. There were sections where I felt the writing had stopped and then I had to fill in what followed. Fortunately, what I thought was going to come up next was right. It’s almost as if the author needed to go back and reread what he wrote. To me it felt like Mars started the novel, left to go out for coffee. While he was gone someone who knew his style came in and wrote a few pages. When Mars returned he finished the book. Sorry that’s my imagination running wild!

[Manfred]

Jake Mercer and Jess travel with the president and his family to France for a G7 meeting. There a bio-terrorist first attacks a subway station. Soon more attacks with the same bio-weapon follow. It turns out the terrorist has help from Trident and again the persident is in grave danger. Very entertaining second book in the new series by Jack Mars.

[Bob Ryan]

After I finished the first one I was uncertain due to the difference in writing from the other Mars books I’ve read. After this one I think it’s a deliberate difference in style, it’s more minimalist. I still didn’t enjoy as much as the other Mar’s books but the story was so strong I still gave it a 4 star rating.

[Anna Hefner]

excitingly tormenting!

Great follow up as Secret Agent Jake Mercer, along with former agents in book 1 of this series heads after Trident once again but there is an evil addition to this terrorist group. St. Claire. I will let you figure out his plan to exterminate and set up a new world order!

[P.S. Seaton]

I really expected better of Jack Mars after reading so many of his thrillers.
The editing is sloppy. In the first book of the series, Jake is called Jack for an entire chapter. In this one, proofreading has missed many typos. It's disconcerting.
The plot wanders between Jake second-guessing himself and defying death from a virus that kills most people it infects. He, of course, lives and jumps back into action almost immediately .
I won't purchase or read any more of this mess.

[Joseph]

These books are high paced but if the secret service was 1/2 this bad at their jobs they would not exist. Well I guess the trump secret service might be that bad but I assume they are way better than this series makes them out.

[Lloyd]

Outstanding

An outstanding story about the Secret Service led by the main character and and his partner leading the way against a couple of terrorists and their minions who art trying to assassinate the President of the US. Non stop action.

[Frank Butler]

Great action novel, but...

A ton of spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes which I found quite surprising. I expect better proofreading from someone publishing a best-selling novelist.

[Garry Thompson]

Another chapter in this extended story:
The same bad guys are still after the president.
Our hero is still involved with the president's daughter.

Like the first book, it fell short of my expectations.
I don't plan to read more of the exploits of Jake Mercer

[Tim]

Not well written. Unsurprising after having read the first installment.
The main character's (Jack Mercer) internal dialogue is relentlessly repetitive and seems so unlikely considering the circumstances at the time.
Amazed that this book has a 4 star rating. To each their own.

[Mike]

Top notch thriller

Once again Jack Mars has created a thrilling fast paced plot that will keep the reader up late turning page after page. A realistic plot and characters that are reminiscent of actual people. Action packed through and through. Highly recommend.

[Sara Coyne]

Can't wait to continue reading the Jack Mercer series

Excellent book, I enjoyed every single aspect of it. It kept me on my toes, it was a true page turner.

[James Holden]

Getting a bit far fetched.

[Valérie]

Malgré quelques invraisemblances, c’est une bonne enquête qui réserve pas mal de surprises.

[patricia sendelbach]

This book kept my reading until I finished. There were clues throughout the story line. Looking forward to the next in the series.

[Gerard]

It was almost good, I skipped a lot near the end, I will probably go back and read the first one but won't continue with the series.

[John Roach,]

Another top story from a top author

[Cara Tafoya-Toste]

Wanting MORE!

Both books 1 and 2 are fantastic! Up all night to finish Both. Hopefully the tales of Jake Mercer will continue. Can't imagine that they won't.

[Garrett Lee]

A very good and intriguing story well told with a logic action.

Jake and his team have their hands full trying to stop the killers and insure that the President is safe.

[Nicola Anderson]

Brilliant

What a fantastic read, full of twists and turns, the characters were believable and interesting. It goes to show how twisted some people are!

[Kim A. Mann]

good book

Reallll good
Lots of action and intrigue
Several plot twists and some good dialog
I would recommend this book to read

[Ryan and Sara Wendt]

Action-packed Book!

This book was an exciting read! It kept my attention throughout the book. I enjoyed Jake Mercer's character as well.

[Melody]

not the best.

Not one of his best books. There were too many things unrealistic even for a fiction novel. And the bad guys still live.

[Pierre (Enjoying Books)]

Great fun to read and easy to get involved.

[Jeremy Henry]

Book 2 Great!

Highly recommend reading this book. Action packed and really gives a sad reality of what unfortunately could happen. Excited to read the next book in the series.

[Sara Beth Lyon]

2⭐️ I expected more and the audio was synthesized! 😠