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Seeley James

Death & Dark Money - Softcover

Death & Dark Money - Softcover

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Legendary veteran Jacob Stearne’s inquiry into the last words of a dying lobbyist clashes with heiress Pia Sabel’s probe of financial anomalies in her father’s company, driving them both into an international conspiracy – from which neither will escape unscathed.

Decorated hero Jacob Stearne is preparing a romantic dinner for a beautiful woman when a lobbyist is shot to death in his driveway. Across town, former athlete Pia Sabel wants to unravel a money laundering scheme in the company that bears her name. These two seemingly disparate events drive the pair into the same dark intersection of American political funding and foreign influence.


When they start asking questions, bodies begin to pile up. As they dig deeper, shadowy financiers emerge in the center of the conspiracy. Pia and Jacob face the most formidable enemy to date: greed. And worse: realizing some of the people who govern the world’s biggest economy and deadliest military owe their offices to foreigners. Discovering who pulls the puppet’s strings will shock Pia and Jacob to the depths of their souls.

Read the opening pages here.

 

Note: this is a softcover copy, a high-quality, 6" x 9" paperback. It usually ships in two to three weeks.

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D
Daniel Yauger
Another Strong Entry in the Jacob Stearne and Pia Sabel Series

Death and Dark Money is an action thriller by Seeley James, first published in 2016. The story centers on two compelling protagonists: Jacob Stearne, a possibly unhinged army veteran who receives life-saving advice from the Roman god Mercury, and Pia Sabel, an ex-Olympic-level soccer player turned head of a global security empire. The plot tackles the corrupting influence of dark money in American politics, especially following the Citizens United decision, with what I suspect are some nods to Macbeth along the way.

The short, action-packed chapters alternate between Jacob's first-person perspective and third-person chapters that typically follow Pia or the antagonists. Having read the first three books in the series, I've enjoyed seeing the characters grow (and, in some cases, meet untimely ends). While each book is self-contained, I recommend reading them in order for the full character arcs.

What keeps me coming back are the protagonists themselves. Pia is a standout—headstrong, brilliant, and physically formidable—even if her determination sometimes lands her team in precarious situations. The series also offers moments of humor, especially through the banter between Jacob and his unconventional advisor, Mercury. Though Jacob's first-person narration might suggest he's the main focus, I think readers looking for a strong female lead in a non-fantasy action series will find Pia particularly appealing.