What happens when you’re in the right place, with the wrong past…
Los Angeles, 2001- Mike Green thought he’d left covert politics behind and built a new life. But when Mike’s new life collides with a mission under Tony McCollister’s command, the threads that once only connected them now inextricably bind them together. Between the black ops orchestrated in Washington and the gang war raging on the gritty streets of Los Angeles, the real battle is protecting life from a system designed to erase it.
This contemporary action thriller blends police procedural and covert military operations into a global adventure that questions what redemption looks like when lies cascade into human damage.
And there are no clean exits—just consequences.
This is the second book in The Helix Project series, and while you technically can read it as a standalone, it would be difficult to follow without crucial backstory. Like the first book, it’s an extremely layered and fast-paced political crime thriller. The story often refers to protagonist Mike Green’s past, his connection to US President Stockton (and his political dynasty), and the fallout of the first novel—and this one begins a few years later. The book has a very unique mix of tropes—espionage intrigue, political noir, police procedural, psychological suspense, gang violence, mental health/addiction issues, and morally gray characters—all woven into an intricate narrative. And if you’ve never read J.L. Calder before, this series showcases his high-quality writing that feels cinematic.
The story is mostly told through the POV of Mike Grennan (formerly Mike Green) but also occasionally jumps to Tony McCollister. Mike is still very much affected by his past and everything that happened in the first book. He’s taken on a new last name and identity as an LA police officer and husband to Josie (also from Book 1), but still carries trauma, buried anger, and lingering substance abuse issues—very evident in his inner monologues, dialogue, and decision-making. The relationship between Mike and Tony McCollister is a highlight. Tony is a very morally gray character that you may admire or detest—he’s set Mike up with his new police officer gig and is watching his life in the shadows from Washington, alongside President Stockton, who’s a father-figure for Mike. Tony is mostly in Washington dealing with President Stockton, whose questionable decisions create fallout that Tony has to manage without question. The story jumps back and forth between Los Angeles and Washington, giving you the perfect mix of crime atmosphere and political intrigue, all interconnected.
There’s also a lot of tension between Mike and Tony because of Josie, Mike’s wife, who previously had a relationship with Tony—something Mike struggles with. At the same time, Mike and Josie’s marriage is strained for other reasons—and you may find Josie cold and unlikeable as she not only works with the DEA in Washington (often at odds with Mike’s LA police force) but also seems to be keeping secrets while being emotionally distant and accusatory toward Mike. An unexpected surprise is thrown in to further complicate their marriage, and their drama gets more intense.
This is the kind of thriller where you need to pay close attention, as there are a lot of important details in almost every conversation and relationship dynamic, along with references from the previous book and the characters’ pasts thrown in at any moment. If you’re listening on audio, it’s recommended to listen at a slower speed (or even 1.0) so you don’t miss crucial details and can fully appreciate how well written and immersive the story is. There are also a lot of characters introduced throughout, so taking notes while reading or listening, or even creating a mystery board to keep track of it all, is a great idea—and would be even more beneficial if reading the books back to back. The short, punchy chapters and good momentum make the book easier to fly through, despite how intricate it is.
The story’s climax has some thrilling scenes and some interesting emotional fallout and consequence. The epilogue and “Helix Project File” give readers more clues about the story’s unresolved mysteries and lingering threads, while also hinting that another book may be on the way. As of now, there’s no release date for Book 3 (or its audiobook), but the author has expanded this universe with a series of shorter books called The McCollister Files, which explore Tony McCollister’s earlier years and connections to the Helix Project world—most definitely worth reading to get your head fully wrapped around the intricate world-building!
And for you audiobook lovers, narrator Nicholas Kennedy narrates both books in the series, bringing Mike Green and all the characters vividly to life and keeping the tension and drama alive from start to end! Don’t hesitate to grab copies!
Narrator Performance
BINDING COIL is read by seasoned voice actor Nicholas Kennedy. He portrays protagonist Mike Grennan with a tight, anxious voice that really conveys how much pressure the character is constantly under. Mike is living under a new identity as an LA police officer, and you can hear insecurity and indecision in his dialogue with police partner Brian as they navigate investigations. In Mike’s inner monologues, Kennedy does a great job conveying how he’s trying to stay functional while dealing with lingering substance abuse issues and unresolved trauma. There’s a noticeable shift in Mike’s tone when he becomes emotionally reactive or unstable, especially when old memories resurface and when speaking with his wife Josie.
The other occasional POV in the story, Tony McCollister, is voiced with a steady, authoritative tone that really captures him as someone used to being in control, especially under political pressure. There are several questionable decisions Tony’s forced to make, especially with regard to instructions from the President, and each time Kennedy subtly shifts his tone to show how Tony can easily emotionally distance himself from bad outcomes, emphasizing him as a morally grey character. The dialogue between Mike and Tony is a highlight—Kennedy makes their tension palpable, almost to the point where it feels like both are on the brink of losing control when around each other. That tension is even more amplified when Josie, Mike’s wife, is mentioned in conversation, as her history with Tony creates major suspicion in Mike—and the domestic drama is deliciously entertaining!
There are a lot of characters in this book—from President Stockton and his political dynasty in Washington to the police force in LA, to a criminal priest, to characters at an orphanage, and more—and Kennedy clearly differentiates them all with distinct voices, accents, and convincing personalities to give the listening experience a cinematic, highly immersive vibe. In particular, Josie (Mike’s wife) is given an emotionally distant, accusatory (at times) tone that makes her quite unlikable and a strong contrast to Mike. Kennedy emphasizes their marriage strain throughout—and you may have a hard time warming to her.
By the end, Kennedy’s delivery captures Mike’s evolving character arc—he begins to sound more determined to reshape his future, especially evident in conversations with his birth father, his dialogue at the orphanage, and his conversations with Josie about creating a family. At the same time, there’s still a lot of uncertainty in his voice, highlighting how his inner conflicts are far from resolved. The final scenes are well executed, with emotional intensity and suspense, leaving listeners unsettled but eager to find out what happens next. As of now, there is no confirmed release date for the next audiobook in the series, but a third book is in the works!
Narrator Performance
BINDING COIL is read by seasoned voice actor Nicholas Kennedy. He portrays protagonist Mike Grennan with a tight, anxious voice that really conveys how much pressure the character is constantly under. Mike is living under a new identity as an LA police officer, and you can hear insecurity and indecision in his dialogue with police partner Brian as they navigate investigations. In Mike’s inner monologues, Kennedy does a great job conveying how he’s trying to stay functional while dealing with lingering substance abuse issues and unresolved trauma. There’s a noticeable shift in Mike’s tone when he becomes emotionally reactive or unstable, especially when old memories resurface and when speaking with his wife Josie.
The other occasional POV in the story, Tony McCollister, is voiced with a steady, authoritative tone that really captures him as someone used to being in control, especially under political pressure. There are several questionable decisions Tony’s forced to make, especially with regard to instructions from the President, and each time Kennedy subtly shifts his tone to show how Tony can easily emotionally distance himself from bad outcomes, emphasizing him as a morally grey character. The dialogue between Mike and Tony is a highlight—Kennedy makes their tension palpable, almost to the point where it feels like both are on the brink of losing control when around each other. That tension is even more amplified when Josie, Mike’s wife, is mentioned in conversation, as her history with Tony creates major suspicion in Mike—and the domestic drama is deliciously entertaining!
There are a lot of characters in this book—from President Stockton and his political dynasty in Washington to the police force in LA, to a criminal priest, to characters at an orphanage, and more—and Kennedy clearly differentiates them all with distinct voices, accents, and convincing personalities to give the listening experience a cinematic, highly immersive vibe. In particular, Josie (Mike’s wife) is given an emotionally distant, accusatory (at times) tone that makes her quite unlikable and a strong contrast to Mike. Kennedy emphasizes their marriage strain throughout—and you may have a hard time warming to her.
By the end, Kennedy’s delivery captures Mike’s evolving character arc—he begins to sound more determined to reshape his future, especially evident in conversations with his birth father, his dialogue at the orphanage, and his conversations with Josie about creating a family. At the same time, there’s still a lot of uncertainty in his voice, highlighting how his inner conflicts are far from resolved. The final scenes are well executed, with emotional intensity and suspense, leaving listeners unsettled but eager to find out what happens next. As of now, there is no confirmed release date for the next audiobook in the series, but a third book is in the works!
BINDING COIL is read by seasoned voice actor Nicholas Kennedy. He portrays protagonist Mike Grennan with a tight, anxious voice that really conveys how much pressure the character is constantly under. Mike is living under a new identity as an LA police officer, and you can hear insecurity and indecision in his dialogue with police partner Brian as they navigate investigations. In Mike’s inner monologues, Kennedy does a great job conveying how he’s trying to stay functional while dealing with lingering substance abuse issues and unresolved trauma. There’s a noticeable shift in Mike’s tone when he becomes emotionally reactive or unstable, especially when old memories resurface and when speaking with his wife Josie.
The other occasional POV in the story, Tony McCollister, is voiced with a steady, authoritative tone that really captures him as someone used to being in control, especially under political pressure. There are several questionable decisions Tony’s forced to make, especially with regard to instructions from the President, and each time Kennedy subtly shifts his tone to show how Tony can easily emotionally distance himself from bad outcomes, emphasizing him as a morally grey character. The dialogue between Mike and Tony is a highlight—Kennedy makes their tension palpable, almost to the point where it feels like both are on the brink of losing control when around each other. That tension is even more amplified when Josie, Mike’s wife, is mentioned in conversation, as her history with Tony creates major suspicion in Mike—and the domestic drama is deliciously entertaining!
There are a lot of characters in this book—from President Stockton and his political dynasty in Washington to the police force in LA, to a criminal priest, to characters at an orphanage, and more—and Kennedy clearly differentiates them all with distinct voices, accents, and convincing personalities to give the listening experience a cinematic, highly immersive vibe. In particular, Josie (Mike’s wife) is given an emotionally distant, accusatory (at times) tone that makes her quite unlikable and a strong contrast to Mike. Kennedy emphasizes their marriage strain throughout—and you may have a hard time warming to her.
By the end, Kennedy’s delivery captures Mike’s evolving character arc—he begins to sound more determined to reshape his future, especially evident in conversations with his birth father, his dialogue at the orphanage, and his conversations with Josie about creating a family. At the same time, there’s still a lot of uncertainty in his voice, highlighting how his inner conflicts are far from resolved. The final scenes are well executed, with emotional intensity and suspense, leaving listeners unsettled but eager to find out what happens next. As of now, there is no confirmed release date for the next audiobook in the series, but a third book is in the works!
