The 19th Element, A James Becker Thriller (A James Becker Suspense/Thriller Novel) [Kindle Edition]

In the 19th Element, we find James Becker, "Beck" to his friends, his close friend "Bull," and his wife Beth back to solving another mystery. Beck was formerly with special operations, and has now retired and brought his family to this small, safe town where he can finally live under his own name.

This particular story begins with a dead professor found in the small community of Red Wing where Beck and Beth now live. Beck, who "plays at" being a lawyer begins to check out the details and it seems like everything is shouting terrorism. But small towns and bureaucracies aren't willing to consider this as a possibility, so Beck begins to explore the situation on his own.

In this book, Betcher answers many questions concerning the characters in The Missing Element: A James Becker Mystery, and adds a new level of believability to his characters. And, while two of the antagonists could have seemed corny by their very stupidity, the response of those around them to the acts is equal to our own puzzlement, making them actually believable.

John Betcher offered me a complimentary early copy of this book for review since I enjoyed his first one, however I was unable to read it until last night. I thought I'd read a couple of chapters then drop off to sleep. I didn't - I was intrigued enough to read it to the end in a single setting, and I was up well past midnight.

I do tend to be a bit "tougher" on authors who offer me their books, so I must admit that early on I found myself locating a periodic table to find the 19th element, as well as checking out what it could do. I double checked the online information on storage pools for spent nuclear rods, and current risk issues concerning them. And finally, I checked, and sure enough the takeoff checklist for the B24 can be found online. As far as I can tell, not a single detail was incorrect!

If anything, this book made me more aware of the issues related to nuclear power and the problems with long-term storage of nuclear waste.

I also want to comment that while Betcher keeps up the intensity of the story, Beth and Beck continue to show one another respect and love. And Betcher tells the story without resorting to a bunch of four letter words to shock his audience, or graphic intimate details of the romance between Beth and Beck. Five stars, for a wonderful story, and even more a story I am willing to strongly recommend to my friends.

It was just luck that I happened to read The Missing Element first, because it quickly pulled me in as a fan of this series. One of the reasons why I wanted to read the book is that he advertised it as somewhat like the writing of Robert B. Parker, who was one of my favorite authors

And I was pleased to see similar dialogue and a wonderful threesome fighting crime as was displayed in the Spenser series...John L. Betcher had my attention!

But it was The 19th Element that won John L. Betcher his own place on my list of favorite authors. This novel firmly sets the character, Beck, in a solid role of hero in my book! Not willing to give away anything, I can only say that the climactic plane scene is really amazing!

James L. Becker is an attorney-at-law who went back to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota, to begin his retirement after 20+ years of hush-hush military intelligence operations. His wife, Elizabeth, also has quite a background, but she's a minor character in The 19th Element and I did mention to the author that I missed their lively, fun dialogue this time! To which I got an "Understood." (Well, if you don't ask...LOL)

Beck could keep busy with his law practice, but whenever something happens in or around Red Wing, he tends to look at it from all angles...and if it doesn't "feel" right to him, he'll start to asking questions. So of course when a dead body is found on the Mississippi River shoreline north of his town, he immediately wanted to know more--who was he, first of all.

Gunner (Doug Gunderson) is Ottawa County's Chief Deputy Sheriff. Normally, he wouldn't be interested in having a "civilian" involved in his business, but he has already discovered that Beck always seems to make sense and usually is of help, even if he's somewhat pushy about knowing everything! Actually, they are old school friends and Gunner is one of the few individuals who was persistent enough to be told a little of Beck's background. Besides, while Gunner operates strictly by the book, he knows that Beck...has his own rules. I love the dialogue between the two men...

After the usual press by Beck to be told all, he learned that the dead man had been a professor of Agriculture at the university. He had been stabbed. And his lab assistant, Farris Ahmed, was also missing. Beck was already profiling and wanting to know the international activities, etc. Of course, Gunner's response was strictly stated: "No racial profiling..."

But Beck was already thinking! Were there any ties to Al Qaeda? What was in the area that might be of interest to terrorists? And to be more specific--what had the professor been working on in his lab? Was there anything missing?

When you ask the right questions as Beck did, you start getting a handle on the possibilities! The professor had been involved with studying the use of potassium and had invented a "potassium electrolysis separator." With the device, it was possible to extract pure potassium from potassium chloride, transforming it from a solid to a gas, which would then convert to solid potassium metal... What readers will learn is that it can be a very dangerous explosive!

And the potential interest in the area? Oh, that would be the...nuclear plant, specifically, the Minnesota's Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant--See front cover!

The thrilling suspense comes in as Beck uses one clue after another to arrive at what the plans will be. His knowledge and experience, plus his inborn wisdom allows an empathy that reflects not only the overall plan but the details that must be considered and countered.

Especially, when nobody supports his announced theory of a major threat and only his friend Bull will work with him... that is, until it is almost too late!

Wow! I loved it! John L. Betcher has written a thriller that will keep you turning pages and reading until you finish, especially once you arrive on the scheduled day! The choice of potassium as the explosive is very risky; events leading to its use, in themselves, are dangerous. The characters created to support the incident lead to the terror in many ways...only in America...right? Don't know what I mean, well, you're just going to have to read the book! You won't be sorry...

Book provided
by Author

G. A. Bixler

Al Qaeda plans to attack Minnesota's Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant to remind everyone they are still very active and to get back in the international headlines. They have recruited some homegrown anarchists to add to their terrorist forces, one of which is a Three Mile Island survivor with a huge grudge against the power plant, and two more with questionable education and background.

James "Beck" Becker is a former elite U.S. government intelligence operative who has retired to his childhood hometown of Red Wing, Minnesota just a few miles from the Prairie River Nuclear Power Plant. After a university professor's body is found along the shore of the Mississippi River, clearly murdered, "Beck" gets in on the investigation and all his instincts tell him, this dead body is just the start of something much bigger. He is very concerned when he learns the professor's assistant is missing along with what could be a very dangerous piece of lab equipment. Later clues like a missing fertilizer truck and an international phone call only confirm to "Beck" that terrorists are involved and that something major is going to happen, but he can't convince any government officials that a huge threat exists. So with the help of his American Indian friend "Bull", he tries to foil the plan on his own.

I LOVE IT!!!!!

I am so glad John Betcher sent me the extraordinary thriller. It is scary good!! I say this because this fiction could easily become reality. This could definitely be a "ripped from the headlines" story. When I think of terrorist targets in the United States, I think of major cities, Washington D.C., New York, maybe Los Angeles, but this story takes place in my "backyard", the Upper Midwest. Also we know from history there are terrorists and their supporters here in the states, and this story brings them out front and center. Yes, this story is fiction but it has all the details that make you realize this could really happen. While this book entertains it also raises the readers awareness that there are people that want to hurt Americans.

I had the pleasure of reading, reviewing and interviewing the author after her sent me his first book, The Missing Element, and while I truly loved that book, I enjoyed this book even more. This book is now tied with Harlan Coben's CAUGHT as the best book I have read this year. If you like a riveting, page turner this is definitely a book that should be in you hot little hands today. Don't wait, click the link and order this book today! You will not be able to put it down until you finish the last page and you will be thinking about the reality of it for a long time after you put this book on your keeper shelf.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author.. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."