Ghost Country

Catalyst, Book 3

De: JK Franks

Narrado por: Steven Varnum

The battle for survival continues in book 3 of the best-selling Catalyst series....

Two years ago, a super solar storm triggered a CME pulse that crippled the country and destroyed the electrical grid. What remains of the country’s leaders are hiding a secret: something that threatens not just the US but the entire world.

The Gulf Coast town of Harris Springs, Mississippi has suffered from gang attacks, famine, hurricanes, and has battled a crusading army of religious zealots. Now, they face their greatest challenge: outsmarting a tyrannical president and escaping an approaching pandemic.

The few remaining military leaders are beginning to come to grips with the facts of America being ripped apart at the seams. They must act to give the remaining population any chance for survival. As the nation falls apart in the aftermath of civil war, the survivors must decide how far they will go to save the ones they love.

©2018 JK Franks (P)2018 JK Franks

Story seems to take a left turn

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

Ok, I loved the first two stories in this series, including the side story, but this one was a little bit harder to get through. Things have been good for Scott and his friends. They've survived the initial CME, they survived the mass attack by the Saviors and now they're trying to put the pieces back together, to try and live and thrive. Of course, things don't stay that way for long. There's a main villain to the story, though we don't find out just exactly who it is until the end when there's a big twist reveal. The other villains in the story are the Homeland Security forces which are basically Nazis and the President who is orchestrating things but unknown to most, she's being controlled by the main villain.

Where this book seems to struggle is in the middle. A lot of loved characters die, which sucks and actually made me angry. I didn't want them to die and how they die is so pointless. I understand you need to kill characters sometimes but their deaths need to mean something, not just throw-away actions. Also, while Scott is trying to rescue Solo and Bartos, the story really seems to drag. It went on longer than it needed to and I wish the author had shortened that part. I'm also trying to figure out the motives of two of the morally grey characters. What is it they want, what side are they on? Yes, I understand you're supposed to not be sure but they go back and forth so much, it's more frustrating than interesting.

The genetic discussions also bog things down. I understand the author wants us to understand what's going on but there's ways to do that without going into such detail. I also didn't like the twist on who the villain is and their explanation on their reactions to certain actions or how they behaved during certain times. It just didn't seem to match the first two stories, it came out of nowhere and just didn't feel like it was part of the same story as the first two. Maybe if we'd had hints about this in at least the second book, it might not have been so bad but it seemed to come out of left field.

I did like the ending though and I'm really curious to see where the author goes from here. I want to find out what happens to the AG people and especially what happens to Scott now that things have really turned upside down for him. Mr. Varnum once again does an excellent job narrating the story and he makes the story flow nicely, keeping the action interesting but even the slower parts going at a good pace.

Great story

Thanj god for Audible. Nice way to pass time while out in the garden working. Including spending time with my aging parents who can watch CNN and the news most waking hours. JK Franks has the gift and skill to develope some fascinating characters. Some unexpected turns of events and plot twists make the story easier to listen to.
I'm schooled in economics so I like following the scientific babble which is enlightening.
Waiting for more stories. JK Frank's is well up There in the hundreds of dystopian novels

Ghost Country

The book was great. The series was great. Had some great plot twist that I never saw coming. If you like prepping and survival stories. This is for you.

Good story

Author is very engaging and descriptive so you can “see” the story. Enjoyed all 4

Solid book, series end and plot twist

Loved the last book to this series. Every character has you rooting for them as well as identifying with parts of yourself. Fun use of tech and foreshadowing as well. Hope they end up making a mini-series out of the books.