SETH W. JAMES

The Reviews are in for “An Uncalculated Risk,” Book 3 of “The Cain Series:” “Brilliant blend of cyberpunk,” “fast-paced tale of suspense,” and “will hook lovers of SF-tinged thrillers from the opening pages.”

June 13, 2025

By Seth W. James

The editorial reviews have come in for An Uncalculated Risk, book 3 of The Cain Series, and they’re pretty good.  Reviewers seemed to focus on the world building, for this novel, which was nice to see, given how the plot involves a somewhat complicated interweaving of circumstances; always a challenge for a writer to delve far enough into the details to make the story clear, but to resist going too far, become too pedantic, and wind up boring the readers to tears.

Here are some of the highlights and links to the full reviews:

“Overall, this entry in The Cain Series is a brilliant blend of cyberpunk, geopolitics, and environmental urgency. I highly recommend An Uncalculated Risk to thriller fans and enthusiasts of the series so far.” — Readers’ Favorite

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/an-uncalculated-risk#:~:text=Overall%2C%20this%20entry%20in%20The,of%20the%20series%20so%20far

“James delivers the main action of the complicated techno-thriller plot with energy and conviction. Overall, it’s a fast-paced tale of suspense featuring some intriguing moral compromises.” — Kirkus Reviews

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/seth-w-james/an-uncalculated-risk-the-cain-series

“James weaves layered world-building, complex characters, and bursts of brutal and inventive action . . . into an intricate plot line that will hook lovers of SF-tinged thrillers from the opening pages.” — Booklife by Publishers Weekly

https://booklife.com/my/project/an-uncalculated-risk-100471

All-in-all, I’m quite pleased with the reviews for this Cain Series installment.  With all of the terrible things going on in the world, and particularly the US’s descent into totalitarian fascism, it isn’t easy to feel too pleased about anything, these days.  Hell, I’d probably shrug off a Pulitzer, at this point: what good is a prize when the constitution is no longer in effect, with the Gestapo snatching people off the streets?  But, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do: continue to speak out against fascism, write the truth, even in fiction, and try to look out for ourselves and each other.

And on that dour note, I’ll close with an update on book 4: the first draft is completed and I’m knee-deep in editing.  We’re still on track for a November/December 2025 publication.  More to come this summer or early fall.  Until then, let’s keep our chins up, vote, and read some good books along the way.