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What Happened Next #2

Bad Things Happened Here: What Happened Next Book 2

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After a treacherous journey, Milo and Becca have arrived at a place where they hope to find sanctuary, and they begin to enjoy the hospitality of their charismatic host.

At first, Rosewood seems to be a friendly little community. They’re given their own chalet and Brody and Sally start to attend the school and day care. Becca and Milo even take up jobs. Becca finds new friends in the laundry, whilst Milo enjoys the mentorship of an old man named Miller, out in the farm.

But once they begin to dig a little deeper, they start to realize that the place - and its people - are harboring some dark secrets, and that their fast-approaching plans must be stopped at all costs.

Meanwhile, Rex learns some unexpected news about his heritage and is set down a dangerous new path, whilst Denzel, who is slowly regaining his strength in Rosewood’s hospital, plots his long-awaited revenge on the High Eagle.

418 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2024

24 people are currently reading
43 people want to read

About the author

Jon Colt

8 books24 followers
Jon Colt is a novelist based in Edinburgh, known for his debut book, What Happened Next.

Writing has always been his passion, and he draws inspiration from the likes of Stephen King, James Herbert and Dan Brown.

When he's not writing, he can be found walking his charcoal labrador, Ringo, re-watching TV shows such as Breaking Bad, Mr Robot or What We Do in the Shadows, reading, or playing the guitar.

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5 stars
38 (56%)
4 stars
21 (31%)
3 stars
6 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for TheseHauntedPages.
307 reviews9 followers
August 8, 2025
What a total shift from book one, I went into this series thinking it would be a cool dystopian novel (maybe zombies because of the virus) to reading about racial propaganda which was fully amped up in this book.

Some of the dialogue in this book was very awkward to read, I didn't particularly like reading about people being referred to as "darkies" and "spooks".

I enjoyed book one but unfortunately this one was just not my vibe at all so I probably won't continue the series.
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
63 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2025
This novel, second in the series, follows on immediately after the ending of What Happened Next? The story of a world where a vaccine has gone wrong, and all adults who were given the vaccine have died.

We continue our story at the DLC (distanced living center) where our MMC, Milo, has gone to find his uncle.

Picking up his gripping narrative, Colt throws his protagonists, Milo and Becca, into a seemingly tranquil haven, only to slowly expose its unsettling undercurrents. The tension builds masterfully as the pair unravel the hidden darkness of Rosewood and the motives of its eerie inhabitants This is where we are further introduced to new characters and get to see how life continues as the members of the DLC are planning their 'march'. This is where they have planned to leave where they live and to build their army of followers.

From the character of Malcom, Milo's uncle, we experience themes of radicalisation, racism and white supremacy within this story, Colt deals with these issues in a very respecful tone and it adds to the plot of the story.

This story came with plot twists that I wasnt expecting and character growth and story lines for minor characters that were simply brilliant. I feel also that the ending is set up in such a way that the 3rd book is just gonna continue again at where we left of and i'm excited to see where this goes.

If you are a fan of 'end of the world' type stories, dystopian elements in a suspenseful story punctuated by dark mysteries and bold protagonists, or just fancy a good adventure following a group of brave, courageous and relatable kids, this one is for you!
Profile Image for Amy Thomas.
182 reviews9 followers
January 6, 2026
Bad Things Happened Here is book 2 of the What Happened Next series and follows directly on from where book 1 ends. Milo & co have made it to the DLC, a seemingly peaceful community who welcome them with open arms. Yet, as they settle in, something sinister seems to be lurking behind the friendly facade and Milo's uncle, Malcolm, appears to be at the centre of it.

This book took a direction that I wasn't expecting. While the virus and the deadly vaccine are still a focal point, racial tensions and white supremacy play an equal role in the story. Some questions start to be answered, with more than cropping up as the story progresses.

The writing is very easy to read, despite the heaviness of the topics, and the chapters are short making it one you can pick up and put down when needed - although you won't want to put it down!
The suspense is built well and we are treated to an explosive ending that paves the way nicely for book 3.

133 reviews
September 1, 2025
I liked it a lot better than "What Happened Next," but that's not a knock on the first book of this series.

The first book had to do a lot of world-building - and it did that well - so this book could take off and play in the sandbox the first book created.

And that's what made this SO much better.

It's violent, brutal, dark, and does not help back whatsoever. But - because of the three (four if you could the dog) main characters Milo, Becca, and Sally - there's a lot of heart and hope as well.

But be warned if you don't like very VERY detailed descriptions of brutality. The author does that incredibly well.

This book also introduced a whole host of new characters to this world. All of them - even those that didn't last long - were well fleshed out and felt real.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Profile Image for Lauren Dobson.
18 reviews
March 27, 2026
Book 2 did not disappoint! The anxiety I felt while reading certain chapters had me completely on edge. I really enjoy the way Jon Colt tells the story...using short chapters and shifting between multiple characters keeps the pace fast and the tension constant, with never a dull moment.

This second instalment dives deeper into heavy and challenging themes, including racism, hate crimes, brainwashing, sexual assault, and domestic abuse. If you find these topics difficult, it’s worth being aware that parts of this book may be a tough read.
Profile Image for Gloria.
125 reviews1 follower
June 20, 2025
You always expect subsequent books in a series to be slightly subpar to first installment. Not the case here. This was excellent. Interesting and intense throughout. I’m off to read part 3. Hopefully it will be just as good 🤞🏻.
5 reviews
January 16, 2025
Wow, just wow! I loved the first book and this one did not disappoint either! Really had me gripped and now I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book to come out! Excellent book!
Profile Image for Gemma Mills.
106 reviews5 followers
February 3, 2025
Gripping!

Such a brilliant read yet again! Many twists, and I love that it keeps you guessing and wanting to read more!
8 reviews
February 20, 2026
Thanks for the sleepless nights!

This series is phenomenal. Characters you really invest in. An eerily precient plot & dynamite story arcs! Great job. 5 stars
Profile Image for Kayla  Rogers.
3 reviews
February 26, 2026
This was a whole other level of suspense from the first book! I bloody loved this one so much. The evilness of the newer characters is just incredible, you really loath them so much. I have never rooted for the good guys as hard as I did during this. It was a rollercoaster of a ride, which was so brutal and was written so damn well. I couldn’t recommend this one enough.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews