Caspian Anderson is keeping a new secret from his girlfriend, Liesel. If you haven't read book one in this series, stop reading this now and check out The Elias Network. Even though this can be read as a standalone, if you want to read book one, everything else here will be a huge spoiler for it.

Caspian goes after the woman who tried to kill Liesel and spots another woman in the vicinity that he is certain is Liesel even though she is supposed to be at home. However, he is supposed to be on a diving trip, not assassinating someone in Kenya. But before he can decide what to do, his parents are picked up by ATF. There is more to them than meets the eye as well. Caspian is pulled into a global drama involving foreign investors in American tech companies.

Caspian is a man trying to do the right thing. His background as an assassin gives him a particular set of skills, but he doesn't want to be used for nefarious purposes again. After living a life of lies for so long, he isn't quite sure how to be open with Liesel.

This is an action-packed thriller with lots of ties to real world situations. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to lovers of assassin/military thrillers.

Not family friendly due to profanity and violence.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Action Packed Thriller!

The Elias Enigma picks up from the first book in the series and builds the characters even more; looking forward to what comes next after the ending cliffhanger.

I really enjoyed the book and the pacing was well done even if there are a few things that seem implausible. It made for a good read and shouldn’t disappoint anyone who enjoys thrillers. Definitely check out this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance!

Assassins, spies, covert operations, and politics combine in Simon Gervais’s The Elias Enigma. Caspian Anderson, who was once an assassin known as Elias, now works for the Defense Clandestine Service. However, unfinished business leads him to glimpsing a familiar face. He believes it’s his partner in life and work, Liesel Bergmann, a German spy working as a liaison with his agency. This discovery is unresolved as a new mission is given to the team who are dispatched to Bordeaux, France. They need to track down a start-up founder, Frank LaBelle, before his defense technology falls into enemy hands. However, Caspian’s team is compromised and to complete the mission, he must become Elias once again.

As Caspian gets more comfortable in his new role and working with a team, he is learning more about himself and how to work with others. Despite being used to working alone, he still adapts to unforeseen situations quickly and creates plans with contingencies. Liesel has the ability to appear comfortable in any setting and is skilled at lying. The other characters did not have as much depth, but it seemed adequate for their roles.

The novel has aspects of espionage and political thrillers and has diverse settings that include Mornaguia, Tunisia; Washington D.C.; Portland, Maine; and Nairobi, Kenya; as well as Bordeaux, France and nearby areas. While most of the story is from Caspian’s point of view, it switches to other characters as well. The plot is multi-layered and complex with a narrative that is suspenseful and action-filled throughout. The author’s military and federal experiences are reflected in the well-crafted action scenes and the serious topics.

There is a strong sense of good versus evil throughout the novel. The story kept me engaged from the first chapter to its conclusion. The author does a great job of bringing together the various subplots into a cohesive tale. There are plenty of twists and a few surprises along the way. Themes include assassins, global politics and stakes, covert missions, relationships, loyalty, and more.

Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, and pulse-pounding. If you enjoy political and action thrillers with a strong lead character, then this may be the series for you. The combination of an entertaining story line and lots of action makes this an intoxicating novel. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I can’t wait to read what happens in book three. Readers should be aware that this is the second book in the series which should be read in order.

Thomas and Mercer and Simon Gervais provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for July 08, 2025.

Simon Gervais is a former federal agent with extensive experience in military operations and law enforcement where he specialized in protective operations and counterterrorism. He has used his deep knowledge of the intelligence community to write more than a dozen popular espionage thrillers that have attracted a strong reader following.

His newest book is The Elias Enigma (Thomas & Mercer, 8 July 2025), the second book in his series about retired assassin Caspian Anderson and his girlfriend, German spy Liesl Bergmann, who has been temporarily assigned to support the Defense Clandestine Service, a well-hidden department of the United States. Anderson is being brought back into the organizational fold, which isn’t sitting all that well with him because he likes to operate as a lone agent.

Anderson has been assigned to follow small business and technology whiz Frank LaBelle, the founder of Scout Orbital, to France where LaBelle is meeting with representatives of a large organization that wants to acquire LaBelle’s latest invention. The United States is concerned about the political allegiance of the associates of the acquiring corporation and wants to keep the cutting-edge technology out of adversarial hands. Another group aligned with the purchasing company is determined to make sure the sale goes through. A third faction is shadowing LaBelle for reasons unclear to Anderson. When all three crowds converge in a hotel lobby at a business convention, things go boom.

In the meantime, Anderson’s parents, who quietly run a medium-sized trucking company in Maine, are taken into ATF custody for protection from gangsters who seem to have been using their trucks to transport ill-gotten goods. The crates and boxes were sent through two or three layers of intermediaries, and the Andersons had no way to know the contents were not as described on the bills of lading. When they accidentally found out, they reported the shipments to the authorities, putting themselves in danger.

Original plots, breakneck action, and authentic tradecraft make this title a winner. Fans of spy thrillers such as the Gray Man, Orphan X, Terminal List, Victor the Assassin, and Mitch Rapp series will want to add this new book to their reading lists.

The third book in the series is scheduled for publication in July 2026.

My bad again. I DNF the first book and should have realized that when I requested this one. It's implausible and over the top but I suspect adventure fans that aren't wedded to reality will enjoy it. Over to others.

Like the first book, this is a very well written book with an interesting plot, excellent characters, plausible action, and a very good pace. Entertaining and easy to read.

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story then begins with Caspian in Kenya where he is on a mission to kill a person who has threatened to kill Liesel, Caspian's girlfriend. He gets the opportunity and is able to kill Dolores Araujo and while leaving believes that he sees Liesel who was supposedly in the U.S. After arriving back in Maine, he and Liesel are having dinner with Caspian's parents. Unexpectedly, the parents are taken by members of the ATF. Caspian later learns that they have been assisting the ATF and now their lives may be in danger. Soon after, Caspian and Liesel are meeting with Samantha Ranger, their boss. They are given a task to France and find out who Frank LaBelle, the founder of Scout Orbital, was meeting up with. It seems that they weren't the only ones doing the same thing. A certain incident happened which forced Caspian's team to abort.

Discover what the incident was, who else was interested in Frank, what events happened where it became dangerous. Learn why Frank was so important and once he disappeared, a great effort was made to find him. The ending will supl any answers that you had questions on.

This is definitely a book well worth reading!

Thank you to Netgalley for my first ARC, I was so excited to read the second installment in the Caspian Anderson series.

The Elias Enigma feels like you were dropped in the middle of an action movie, I was hooked from the first chapter. If you haven't read The Elias Network, read that first to get Caspian's back story. While this book stands on its own, some of the relationship dynamics will make more sense if you've read the first book.

This sequel keeps the action and adds a personal layer: Caspian’s mission suddenly intersects with his parents, who get pulled into the operation when they're detained by ATF—as part of a global criminal conspiracy that he and Leisel must unravel. Imagine you barely visited your parents during the pandemic to learn they've gotten themselves mixed up with cartels and the ATF. What his parents don't know is he was an assassin while they thought he was an interpreter for the United Nations, talk about family secrets!

If you like stories that read like an action movie—complete with assassins, shadowy missions, global stakes, and emotional tension—The Elias Enigma delivers. The pacing is tight, the stakes are high, and the moral gray zones will have you saying one more chapter until the sun comes up.

Book two, like The Elias Network, had me on edge of my seat with tension and anticipation. It is a
fast-paced intense novel that's incredibly hard to put down. Its very complex plot takes the reader to every corner of the globe on a real thrill ride! Fantastic!
#TheEliasEnigma by @SimonGervaisBooks #CaspianAndersonBk2 #ThomasandMercer #netgalley Pub Jul 08, 2025 ***** review #bookbub #goodreads #LibraryThing #storygraph
#internationalcrime #theeliasnetwork #actionAdventure #assassins #espionage #thriller #betrayal
#contemporary #spythriller #suspense #fastpace #riveting #unputdownable #conspiracy #family #blackops #internationalpolitics #Canadianauthor #formerRCMP #readmorebooks #relationships

There’s a reason a book appears each year with Simon Gervais’ name printed on the cover. This year there are two books, but as of now we are focusing on his first book with the sequel to 2024’s thrilling THE ELIAS NETWORK. The sequel book, THE ELIAS ENIGMA, Caspian Anderson has found himself slipping back into the Elias alias, the infamous international assassin with deadly skills and a side of charm.

What Gervais does so well is craft a smooth character that delves into the high-end world of espionage with plenty of deception. Continuing to play on the Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes from the first book, we see Caspian have to navigate a concerning situation with his girlfriend Liesel Bergmann-former German spy, lover, and field partner. Caspian Anderson a.k.a. Elias is an incredible character with high-stakes that shift from espionage to love in an organic way.

On a covert assignment by his new employer, the Defense Clandestine Service working under Samantha Ranger’s command, Caspian finds himself concerned with a woman he spots in the field, is it Liesel or not. An unexpected surprise and something out of left field. When he returns home, Liesel covers her tracks he assumes and he is further met by a left turn as he discovers his parents in hot water with the DEA. Things further heat up as he discovers a bigger conspiracy and Caspian is left on his own unable to trust anyone. Caspian's last option is to resurrect his Elias alias and go to work.

THE ELIAS ENIGMA reads smooth and cool, a perfect summer read to escape the day-to-day monotony or even better under the sun on vacation. Simon Gervais writes engaging characters while crafting a genuinely thrilling story. The Elias series is Simon Gervais’ best work yet. Your time is rewarded reading due to Gervais. He crafts a thrilling story that is an enjoyable read, one I couldn’t put down until I finished. I absolutely recommend The Elias Enigma!

Five out of Five Stars!!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Simon Gervais picks up right where he left off in the Elias Network. Caspian and Liesel are now working together as part of a super secret government organization trying to save the world. You could say it's the same cookie cutter thriller plot, keep world-changing technology out of enemy hands, but Gervais has a way of setting himself apart from the rest. His character development is top-notch as is his picture painting ability.

I will say the side plot with the parents didn't feel impactful or fully integrated into the main story.

He left us wanting more with "We. Are. Everywhere."

The Elias Enigma, book 2 in the Elias saga, is a wild ride and it didn't disappoint. A whole lot of action, drama, and a bit more character development in the latest installment. Caspian and his wife/partner, Liesel are tasked with keeping new technology out of the bad guys hands. There are a lot of bad guys out there looking to get their hands on the tech and great action scenes ensue.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC of this awesome thriller. I highly recommend this book, but read The Elias Network before this one comes out in late July.

This was a very fun international thriller in the style of Bourne and Bond. The setup was a bit confusing (perhaps just because the ATF and smuggling rings are not something I've had reason to learn much about) but otherwise I really enjoyed it. The final scene was a great setup for the next book in the series, and I look forward to it!

A winding tale that includes family, past relationships, various locations, and suspense. I enjoyed it though it took me a while to grasp who was who - and who met when and where.

It's evenly paced, a gripping spy story of mayhem and behind-the-scenes maneuvering. If you like a good thriller, spy story, or mystery, you'll like this one.

Thanks, @netgalley @simongervaisbooks & the publishers for the ARC.

This is the 2nd instalment in the Caspian Anderson/Elias series & you definitely need to have read the first book to understand what is going on in this book, or it won't make any sense!
This book, quite like the first, took a while to get going, but once it did, I was hooked. It was fast-paced and full of espionage intrigue that I love reading!
There was a lot of description in the book, sometimes too much that it did detract from the story. The part with his mum & dad felt, in my opinion, random & far fetched and didnt really add any substance to the story.I personally think Caspian/Elias needs to be a solitary character as an assassin, not in a duet.

This was a good book overall, I devoured it! Can't wait for the next one!

First, I want to know, right now, what happens next ~ after the revelations at the
conclusion of this action packed and fascinating trek around the world!
So, I have to wait? OK, but my excitement and expectations are sky high.
This series is super well written and it’s easy to enjoy. Even if you cannot
guess what is around every turn, you will find that things are really well
fleshed out and easy to understand. I thigh;y recommend this to all
readers of politically motivated international espionage.
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read the
download of the book for review purposes.

Action-packed, suspenseful and anxiety-inducing, The Elias Enigma is a full throttle thrill ride filled to the brim with fisticuffs, shootouts, chases and international intrigue. Simon Gervais proves once again why he’s one of the best in the genre, delivering a well-crafted cinematic story that will make you hold your breath with every pulse-pounding moment.

After an unsanctioned operation to Kenya to eliminate a personal threat that raised more questions than answers, Caspian Anderson (code name: Elias) is back in action in France surveilling the CEO of an important defense technology start-up. However, this operation goes sideways as multiple factions with different agendas collide in their operations targeting the same individual. With no clarity on who’s who in the zoo and an inability to trust anyone, Caspian and his team must work alone to untangle this complex web and stop foreign powers from completing their mission to acquire game-changing technology that would put the US at risk of deadly attack.

The Elias Enigma is just a damn good book that you can’t put down. It’s got action, it’s got emotion, it’s got conflict, it’s got multiple international players with different agendas, and it’s got heart. In addition, as the second book in this series, it does a great job of using the plot as a vehicle to add depth and development to the main characters, providing more insight into their motivations, emotional states and capabilities. Furthermore, Gervais does a brilliant job of taking these extraordinary individuals and making them relatable, forging a connection with the reader that makes them live and die with every action, rooting for our valiant protagonists to win the day.

In short, this novel is well-written, contains fantastic characters, and is tons of fun to read. All of which is completely unsurprising for a Simon Gervais thriller. He always delivers and I can’t wait to see where he takes this series next.

The Elias Enigma opens a whole new world for Caspian Anderson. In this fantastic follow-up to The Elias Enigma, Simon Gervais provides more twists and turns that kept me turning pages later into the night than I intended. I particularly like the way the author shows a scene from one characters point of view and then in the next chapter picks up a few moments before the last one ends, so you can see the same scene from the perspective of another character. The action and intrigue in the last quarter of the book was captivating and left me anxiously awaiting the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. #TheEliasEnigma #NetGalley

Action-packed suspense

The suspense doesn’t let up, from the first page to the last, it keeps you gripped in a fierce adrenaline rush. I have read Simon Gervais’s Clayton White series before. He is a master of intricate and fast-paced plots. The Elias Enigma doesn’t disappoint. It is a high-stakes game of keep-away with a newly developed defense technology the object of the game. Caspian Anderson and his partner, Liesel Bergmann are to keep it out of the hands of all the usual bad actors. Think Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea, and you get the picture. Now add the ally countries too and you can begin to see the monumental problems they face. He and Liesel are part of the Defense Clandestine Service. Their team goes to France to ensure the CEO of the vital tech company doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Caspian has more going on than the task at hand though. He worries about his relationship with Liesel and is keeping secrets from her. He discovers that his parents have become tangled in the web of a DEA surveillance operation. Caspian needs to use all his skills to keep his loved ones safe. The assassin known as Elias may have to come out to play.

If you love thrillers that grip you by the throat and don’t let go, then you will love The Elias Enigma. If non-stop international action is your thing, then prepare to be enthralled. Enjoy a complex hero and a smart strong heroine. The Elias Enigma will appeal to readers who devour books by John Gilstrap and Leo J Maloney.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC.

Another compelling adventure in the Caspian Anderson series! After a reveal in book one that shook his identity to the very core, and with a desire to protect a love interest also in the spy game, Elias navigates between coloring both outside and inside the lines in a highly-charged plot where black and white lines no longer exist - just varied shades of grey.

There's plenty of bumps, scrapes and bruises - both figurative and literal - in the storyline for Elias. As the story unfolds, we see foes become friends and vice versa. When the adventure comes to an end, we're of the realization that while the battle may have been one, the war is just beginning.

Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege of previewing The Elias Enigma. I enjoyed this book and look forward to follow the series as it develops.