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Trackers #1
Trackers
Book #1 from: The Trackers Series
🎧Listening Length = 8 hours and 28 minutes
No power. No rules. No help coming.
The end of the world is just the beginning of the hunt....
Estes Park police chief Marcus Colton and tracker Sam "Raven" Spears have never liked one another, but when a young girl goes missing in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colton hires Spears to help find her. Their search ends after a night of devastating horror. When word reaches Estes that the nation has been hit by a coordinated electromagnetic pulse attack, Colton and Spears are forced to work together again. But they quickly realize they aren't just tracking a killer - they are tracking a madman. As the United States descends into chaos, the hunters become the hunted.
Halfway across the country, Senator Charlize Montgomery awakes to find the nation's capital has gone dark. Forced to set off on foot, she treks across a city that has woken to a new world, and as the night progresses she learns the EMP attack was just the beginning.
🎧Listening Length = 8 hours and 28 minutes
An action-packed listen from a USA Today bestselling author: When a girl disappears in the Rocky Mountains, Police Chief Marcus Colton and Marine veteran Sam “Raven” Spears are on the case, despite their personal grievances. But when an EMP attack shakes the US, they soon discover that they’re not tracking a mere killer — but someone with incredibly dangerous ties…
No power. No rules. No help coming.
The end of the world is just the beginning of the hunt....
Estes Park police chief Marcus Colton and tracker Sam "Raven" Spears have never liked one another, but when a young girl goes missing in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colton hires Spears to help find her. Their search ends after a night of devastating horror. When word reaches Estes that the nation has been hit by a coordinated electromagnetic pulse attack, Colton and Spears are forced to work together again. But they quickly realize they aren't just tracking a killer - they are tracking a madman. As the United States descends into chaos, the hunters become the hunted.
Halfway across the country, Senator Charlize Montgomery awakes to find the nation's capital has gone dark. Forced to set off on foot, she treks across a city that has woken to a new world, and as the night progresses she learns the EMP attack was just the beginning.
Audiobook
First published January 7, 2017
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About the author
Nicholas Sansbury Smith
124 books2,413 followersNicholas Sansbury Smith is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels with two million copies sold. Before his writing career, he served at Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a background that inspired many of his story concepts. A two time Ironman triathlete, he enjoys running, biking, and hiking. Nicholas also loves traveling, especially to his cabin in Northern Minnesota where he weaves his tales. He lives in Iowa with his wonderful wife and their son and daughter.
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Note: Nicholas is no longer an active user on Goodreads and does not use the platform. If you want to connect with him on social media here are some links. He would love to hear from you.
Facebook Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NSSFa...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/nicholassans...
Website: nicholassansburysmith.com
Instagram: instagram.com/author_sansbury/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
April 7, 2025
WWIII IS WELL UNDERWAY, THE U.S. ATTACKED WITH EMPS & NUCLEAR MISSILES, & DESTRUCTION IS EVERYWHERE
☆☆☆☆☆
Trackers: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller by Nicholas Sansbury Smith is a well written tell of an attack on the U.S. by the North Koreans. The U.S. is more than crippled by the EMP and the nuclear missiles sent into Washington DC, leaving little left of the government. Civilians nationwide are facing multiple hardships with no relief insight. It's all going to be up to those who survived the initial attack to come together and survive.
The characters are well defined and you will quickly find yourself routing for Raven, Creek, Sandra, Colton, Nathan, and Charlize and the community of Estes Park, Colorado and what's remaining of the U.S. government. This first book is action-packed, thrilling, and just too close to what may happen in our near future if tensions in today's politics are not turned around.
One of my pet peveves is authors who do not use footnotes or perenthesis when using acronyms for military and mechanical terminology. What's worse is when they use acronyms for phrases that are not even recognized by the Kindle dictionaries or Google. Come on, how hard is it to use footnotes or parenthesis when first throwing out a technical acronym?
That being said, I really enjoyed this first book in this series and I have gone as far as 50 plus percent into the second book and I will tell you this, so far, as good as the first book is, the second book is even better so far.
Quotes:
"Fear was, in Sandra's option, the most powerful emotion in the world."
"Fear turned normal, law-abiding citizens into panicked mobs."
☆☆☆☆☆
Trackers: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller by Nicholas Sansbury Smith is a well written tell of an attack on the U.S. by the North Koreans. The U.S. is more than crippled by the EMP and the nuclear missiles sent into Washington DC, leaving little left of the government. Civilians nationwide are facing multiple hardships with no relief insight. It's all going to be up to those who survived the initial attack to come together and survive.
The characters are well defined and you will quickly find yourself routing for Raven, Creek, Sandra, Colton, Nathan, and Charlize and the community of Estes Park, Colorado and what's remaining of the U.S. government. This first book is action-packed, thrilling, and just too close to what may happen in our near future if tensions in today's politics are not turned around.
One of my pet peveves is authors who do not use footnotes or perenthesis when using acronyms for military and mechanical terminology. What's worse is when they use acronyms for phrases that are not even recognized by the Kindle dictionaries or Google. Come on, how hard is it to use footnotes or parenthesis when first throwing out a technical acronym?
That being said, I really enjoyed this first book in this series and I have gone as far as 50 plus percent into the second book and I will tell you this, so far, as good as the first book is, the second book is even better so far.
Quotes:
"Fear was, in Sandra's option, the most powerful emotion in the world."
"Fear turned normal, law-abiding citizens into panicked mobs."
June 27, 2018
1.5 stars rounded up
I've read some of this author's other stories. I've read and greatly enjoyed his Hell Divers series and I just recently read the first book in his Extinction Cycle series. Mr. Smith knows how to craft an exciting, adrenaline fueled story of the summer, blockbuster-movie ilk. They might be light on deep characterization but they're high on thrills. Trackers, sorry to say, doesn't measure up, which is surprising considering the USA has just been sent into the stone age due to an EMP attack...oh, and there's amostly idiotic serial killer plot going on too. The narration didn't help to elevate this mediocre tale at all. This was my first book with Bronson Pinchot as the narrator and I'd heard nothing but praise for him. He may do a bang up job with other books but I HATED his work here. A lot of his delivery was overly emotive which, instead of driving home the dire conditions the characters were facing, made everything sound farcical. And, when reading some of the dialogue, Pinchot would choose to emphasize words that made the speech patterns sound completely unnatural. Several times I almost DNF'd due to the awful narration, alone. For example, if he read my last sentence he would likely do it like this: "Several times I almost DNF'd due to the awful narration, alone. No one speaks that way.
I've read some of this author's other stories. I've read and greatly enjoyed his Hell Divers series and I just recently read the first book in his Extinction Cycle series. Mr. Smith knows how to craft an exciting, adrenaline fueled story of the summer, blockbuster-movie ilk. They might be light on deep characterization but they're high on thrills. Trackers, sorry to say, doesn't measure up, which is surprising considering the USA has just been sent into the stone age due to an EMP attack...oh, and there's a
February 6, 2017
After spending quite a lot of time battling monsters in post-apocalyptic settings in the Extinction Cycle series and the recent Hell Divers, Nicholas Sansbury Smith takes a more grounded, and worryingly realistic, approach to the end of the world as we know it.
Smith's latest action thriller, Trackers, kicks off with a black ops rescue mission in North Korea, sparking a savage retaliation by the Supreme Leader against the United States of America. After a series of nuclear missiles are detonated high above the US, the resulting electromagnetic pulse stops the country dead in its tracks. Cars stall out in the middle of the highway, and the nation's power grid grinds to a halt.
While there's plenty of political action on the flip-side of this story, the main thrust of the narrative surrounds the hunt for a serial killer in Estes Park, CO, after the abduction of several children. Readers of Smith's prior works already know he's a solid action writer who can really keep a story moving, and Trackers is no exception. While there's plenty of action, Smith does well in focusing on characters, putting family dynamics front and center in this post-apocalyptic entry.
Perhaps the one aspect I appreciated most was the incorporation of Native American mythology thanks to one of Smith's primary protagonists, a Cherokee serviceman nicknamed Raven. While there are no supernatural elements in Trackers, the incorporation of Native American beliefs into the spine of the story and its characters was very well done. In fact, I'm looking forward to book two largely to see what other, if any, Native American elements Smith draws upon.
Trackers is a solid first entry into a new series, and I'm looking forward to seeing how these groups of characters move forward and adapt to the altered landscape they find themselves in.
[Note: I received an advanced reader's copy of this title from the author.]
Smith's latest action thriller, Trackers, kicks off with a black ops rescue mission in North Korea, sparking a savage retaliation by the Supreme Leader against the United States of America. After a series of nuclear missiles are detonated high above the US, the resulting electromagnetic pulse stops the country dead in its tracks. Cars stall out in the middle of the highway, and the nation's power grid grinds to a halt.
While there's plenty of political action on the flip-side of this story, the main thrust of the narrative surrounds the hunt for a serial killer in Estes Park, CO, after the abduction of several children. Readers of Smith's prior works already know he's a solid action writer who can really keep a story moving, and Trackers is no exception. While there's plenty of action, Smith does well in focusing on characters, putting family dynamics front and center in this post-apocalyptic entry.
Perhaps the one aspect I appreciated most was the incorporation of Native American mythology thanks to one of Smith's primary protagonists, a Cherokee serviceman nicknamed Raven. While there are no supernatural elements in Trackers, the incorporation of Native American beliefs into the spine of the story and its characters was very well done. In fact, I'm looking forward to book two largely to see what other, if any, Native American elements Smith draws upon.
Trackers is a solid first entry into a new series, and I'm looking forward to seeing how these groups of characters move forward and adapt to the altered landscape they find themselves in.
[Note: I received an advanced reader's copy of this title from the author.]
January 6, 2017
I purchased this book and was sent an advanced reviewer's copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I will be posting a review on Amazon when I can and you can see I'm a legitimate buyer, etc.
I am completely impressed with Mr. Smith's latest offering. He is quite a prolific author who has established himself in the sci-fi and dystopian future genre. This is his first venture into a future that I would describe as realistic, in fact, tragically, even possible given the situation around the world. In this book he tackles the subject of the threat of a nuclear attack on the USA in the form of very high altitude nuclear weapon explosions causing an EMP = Electromagnetic Pulse, which will wipe our nations electrical grids and anything that has modern electronic circuitry: cars, all electronics, etc. Yes, it's real.
The North Koreans launch an EMP attack against the USA and we join the characters of this book involved in their various challenging lives and situations and from there they must deal with the "fallout" (OK, I'm sorry, could not help myself).
Mr. Smith writes in an engaging fashion and is extremely good at offering up rich character development with exciting action.
You will really enjoy this book, but you will find it difficult, as I did, to stop reading, so I devoted the last full day of my Christmas/New Year vacation to devouring this book.
I am completely impressed with Mr. Smith's latest offering. He is quite a prolific author who has established himself in the sci-fi and dystopian future genre. This is his first venture into a future that I would describe as realistic, in fact, tragically, even possible given the situation around the world. In this book he tackles the subject of the threat of a nuclear attack on the USA in the form of very high altitude nuclear weapon explosions causing an EMP = Electromagnetic Pulse, which will wipe our nations electrical grids and anything that has modern electronic circuitry: cars, all electronics, etc. Yes, it's real.
The North Koreans launch an EMP attack against the USA and we join the characters of this book involved in their various challenging lives and situations and from there they must deal with the "fallout" (OK, I'm sorry, could not help myself).
Mr. Smith writes in an engaging fashion and is extremely good at offering up rich character development with exciting action.
You will really enjoy this book, but you will find it difficult, as I did, to stop reading, so I devoted the last full day of my Christmas/New Year vacation to devouring this book.
November 7, 2020
Der Einstieg ins Buch hat mich etwas zweifeln lassen, ob es das richtige für mich ist. Wie man es von amerikanischen Actionfilmen kennt, in dem das Militär eine Rolle spielt, wird Patriotismus ja ganz groß geschrieben - und ich hab auch nichts dagegen, aber der "Pathos" des Soldaten, der nichts hinterfragen darf und für sein Land alles tut (ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste), rührt bei mir einfach immer unangenehme Gefühle auf. Wenn man das aber weiß und sich damit arrangiert hat, kann man sich sehr gut darauf einlassen.
Ich war jedenfalls sehr gespannt, wie der Autor die Menschen nach so einem EMP Angriff reagieren lassen wird. Den Begriff hatte ich zwar schonmal gehört, konnte ihn aber nicht mehr in Bezug setzen und war dann unangenehm überrascht, wie realitätsnah das ganze Szenario ist. EMP ist eine Abkürzung für "Elektromagnetischer Impuls", was bedeutet, das hier in großem Umfang sämtliche Stromnetze außer Gefecht gesetzt werden - und wenn man überlegt, was alles am Strom hängt ... wollen wir einfach hoffen, das sowas nie wirklich passieren wird.
Dennoch waren mir die Ausführungen zu den Folgen davon etwas zu wenig. Der Fokus liegt hier eher auf den Figuren und den Folgen in ihrem direkten Umfeld, was den Blick fürs ganze geschmälert hat.
Wir begleiten vor allem die Senatorin Charlize, die uns einen Einblick aus der Sicht der machthabenden Politiker gibt. Nichts neues, dass hier die "Elite" sofort evakuiert wird, da die Organisation zur Rettung des Landes und der Menschen gewährleistet sein muss.
Dann haben wir noch den Polizeichef Colton sowie den Ex-Marine Raven Spears, die in dem Städtchen Esten Park nicht nur mit den Folgen des Angriffs, sondern auch noch mit einem psychopathischen Mörder zu kämpfen haben. Während anfangs noch die Spannung durch die apokalyptischen Ereignisse vorwärts getrieben wird, verlegt sich das ganze dann sehr auf die Jagd nach dem Täter. Ein Nebenstrang, der mir nebensächlich lieber gewesen wäre, denn das ganze drumherum, die Panik, die um sich greift und wie die Bevölkerung mit der Situation umgeht, wäre für mich interessanter gewesen. Aber es folgen ja noch drei Bände, vielleicht gibts dann da mehr davon.
Aufgebaut ist das ganze aber trotzdem sehr spannend durch die wechselnden Sichtweisen und die Dramatik der Verwicklungen der Figuren.
Der Part mit den Morden und den damit verbundenen Mythen der "Wasserkannibalen" fand ich als zusätzlichen Spannungsfaktor gut, wurde mir aber zu sehr ausgebaut. Ich hab mich hier einfach eher auf das Weltuntergangs-Szenario eingestellt und nicht auf eine Mörderjagd in einer Kleinstadt...
Insgesamt eine sehr temporeiche, in manchen Szenen fast zu kurz geratene, teilweise actionreiche Handlung, die mich mitreißen konnte - aber mich nicht in allen Momenten überzeugen konnte. Band 2 werde ich auf jeden Fall noch ausprobieren, weil mich doch interessiert, ob die weiträumigen Folgen so eines Anschlags besser beleuchtet werden.
Wenn der "Kriegshelden" Status allerdings noch mehr Gewicht bekommt, bin ich allerdings raus. Ich weiß, was diese Menschen (leider) leisten müssen, aber ich mag keine Kriege und keine damit verbundenen Machthaber, die solche Entscheidungen treffen, wie es hier der Fall war. Entscheidungen sind nie leicht, aber was hier mitgeschwungen ist, widerspricht mir einfach sehr.
Ich war jedenfalls sehr gespannt, wie der Autor die Menschen nach so einem EMP Angriff reagieren lassen wird. Den Begriff hatte ich zwar schonmal gehört, konnte ihn aber nicht mehr in Bezug setzen und war dann unangenehm überrascht, wie realitätsnah das ganze Szenario ist. EMP ist eine Abkürzung für "Elektromagnetischer Impuls", was bedeutet, das hier in großem Umfang sämtliche Stromnetze außer Gefecht gesetzt werden - und wenn man überlegt, was alles am Strom hängt ... wollen wir einfach hoffen, das sowas nie wirklich passieren wird.
Dennoch waren mir die Ausführungen zu den Folgen davon etwas zu wenig. Der Fokus liegt hier eher auf den Figuren und den Folgen in ihrem direkten Umfeld, was den Blick fürs ganze geschmälert hat.
Wir begleiten vor allem die Senatorin Charlize, die uns einen Einblick aus der Sicht der machthabenden Politiker gibt. Nichts neues, dass hier die "Elite" sofort evakuiert wird, da die Organisation zur Rettung des Landes und der Menschen gewährleistet sein muss.
Dann haben wir noch den Polizeichef Colton sowie den Ex-Marine Raven Spears, die in dem Städtchen Esten Park nicht nur mit den Folgen des Angriffs, sondern auch noch mit einem psychopathischen Mörder zu kämpfen haben. Während anfangs noch die Spannung durch die apokalyptischen Ereignisse vorwärts getrieben wird, verlegt sich das ganze dann sehr auf die Jagd nach dem Täter. Ein Nebenstrang, der mir nebensächlich lieber gewesen wäre, denn das ganze drumherum, die Panik, die um sich greift und wie die Bevölkerung mit der Situation umgeht, wäre für mich interessanter gewesen. Aber es folgen ja noch drei Bände, vielleicht gibts dann da mehr davon.
Aufgebaut ist das ganze aber trotzdem sehr spannend durch die wechselnden Sichtweisen und die Dramatik der Verwicklungen der Figuren.
Der Part mit den Morden und den damit verbundenen Mythen der "Wasserkannibalen" fand ich als zusätzlichen Spannungsfaktor gut, wurde mir aber zu sehr ausgebaut. Ich hab mich hier einfach eher auf das Weltuntergangs-Szenario eingestellt und nicht auf eine Mörderjagd in einer Kleinstadt...
Insgesamt eine sehr temporeiche, in manchen Szenen fast zu kurz geratene, teilweise actionreiche Handlung, die mich mitreißen konnte - aber mich nicht in allen Momenten überzeugen konnte. Band 2 werde ich auf jeden Fall noch ausprobieren, weil mich doch interessiert, ob die weiträumigen Folgen so eines Anschlags besser beleuchtet werden.
Wenn der "Kriegshelden" Status allerdings noch mehr Gewicht bekommt, bin ich allerdings raus. Ich weiß, was diese Menschen (leider) leisten müssen, aber ich mag keine Kriege und keine damit verbundenen Machthaber, die solche Entscheidungen treffen, wie es hier der Fall war. Entscheidungen sind nie leicht, aber was hier mitgeschwungen ist, widerspricht mir einfach sehr.
April 22, 2017
A world in chaos
Author Nick Smith is quite a versatile writer. There's no getting "stuck in a rut" when you read his books and follow his career. I've enjoyed the many books of his I've read previously containing aliens, zombie-like monsters, and frightening glimpses at future worlds that are full of danger. But, to me, TRACKERS is the scariest book Smith has written so far - because the disaster contained within its pages might actually happen.
TRACKERS starts out with an Acknowledgement section that gives the reader a look into a bit of the author's background in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. It also tells about the research he meticulously did for the book.
Then, to really scare the bejeebers out of the reader, is a Foreward by senior NASA scientist and author Dr. Arthur T. Bradley, just emphasizing that the events noted in this novel COULD actually happen.
High altitude nuclear blasts centered in strategic locations could cause EMPs - electromagnetic pulses - that would fry computer circuitry over broad stretches of the country (and what isn't operated by computer any more) and leave the country without electricity, water, communication, defenses, and so much more. Life as we know it would be gone.
Author Smith throws the reader right into the chaotic world that an EMP would unleash. It's no-holds-barred and very frightening. The main part of the story takes place in or near Estes Park, Colorado - an area I'm very familiar with and I still have family and friends living near there. So that made this story seem even more realistic and horrifying to me.
The characters are complex and believable and I appreciated the way the Native American characters were portrayed, especially since my husband is part Cherokee (the best part, he says).
So Trackers is a mega-disaster thriller and also includes a second storyline about serial killings. The whole book held my attention and I did literally sit down and read it straight through. TRACKERS II: THE HUNTED is due out in just a few months (May 2017) and I am already looking forward to reading more about the characters I got close to in this first book.
EDIT: The author has now posted that book 2 of the TRACKERS series is due out earlier than first planned - May 4, 2017.
Author Nick Smith is quite a versatile writer. There's no getting "stuck in a rut" when you read his books and follow his career. I've enjoyed the many books of his I've read previously containing aliens, zombie-like monsters, and frightening glimpses at future worlds that are full of danger. But, to me, TRACKERS is the scariest book Smith has written so far - because the disaster contained within its pages might actually happen.
TRACKERS starts out with an Acknowledgement section that gives the reader a look into a bit of the author's background in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. It also tells about the research he meticulously did for the book.
Then, to really scare the bejeebers out of the reader, is a Foreward by senior NASA scientist and author Dr. Arthur T. Bradley, just emphasizing that the events noted in this novel COULD actually happen.
High altitude nuclear blasts centered in strategic locations could cause EMPs - electromagnetic pulses - that would fry computer circuitry over broad stretches of the country (and what isn't operated by computer any more) and leave the country without electricity, water, communication, defenses, and so much more. Life as we know it would be gone.
Author Smith throws the reader right into the chaotic world that an EMP would unleash. It's no-holds-barred and very frightening. The main part of the story takes place in or near Estes Park, Colorado - an area I'm very familiar with and I still have family and friends living near there. So that made this story seem even more realistic and horrifying to me.
The characters are complex and believable and I appreciated the way the Native American characters were portrayed, especially since my husband is part Cherokee (the best part, he says).
So Trackers is a mega-disaster thriller and also includes a second storyline about serial killings. The whole book held my attention and I did literally sit down and read it straight through. TRACKERS II: THE HUNTED is due out in just a few months (May 2017) and I am already looking forward to reading more about the characters I got close to in this first book.
EDIT: The author has now posted that book 2 of the TRACKERS series is due out earlier than first planned - May 4, 2017.
January 10, 2017
Trackers is the latest release from author Nicholas Sansbury Smith and one of his best in my opinion. What begins as a search for a missing girl in Rocky Mountain National Park soon turns into devastation as America is hit by an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) sending the nation into disarray.
Trackers has the whole package and more. This book is part thriller, part mystery and part post-apocalyptic fiction, which has been accomplished marvellously. Although it took me a couple of chapters to get into, once I got there I was totally absorbed while reading Trackers. The plot within this novel is a great piece of work full of intrigue, mystery and thrills which will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Mr Smith’s extraordinary writing skills made many themes in this novel feel very realistic, which is a tad scary to say the least. It really hits home in the atmosphere of the world today. Let’s breathe a sigh of relief that Mr Smith only writes fiction. It is clear that Nicholas Sansbury Smith has completed extensive research to be able to accurately write about such themes and make them believable. The characters were extremely well written with each having their own unique voice, personality and background.
I admire the hard work that went into this endeavour and have nothing but praise for this book. Trackers is an amazing piece of work that just needs to be read! This is one of Mr Smith’s best work to date.
Note: I received an advanced reader’s copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Trackers has the whole package and more. This book is part thriller, part mystery and part post-apocalyptic fiction, which has been accomplished marvellously. Although it took me a couple of chapters to get into, once I got there I was totally absorbed while reading Trackers. The plot within this novel is a great piece of work full of intrigue, mystery and thrills which will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Mr Smith’s extraordinary writing skills made many themes in this novel feel very realistic, which is a tad scary to say the least. It really hits home in the atmosphere of the world today. Let’s breathe a sigh of relief that Mr Smith only writes fiction. It is clear that Nicholas Sansbury Smith has completed extensive research to be able to accurately write about such themes and make them believable. The characters were extremely well written with each having their own unique voice, personality and background.
I admire the hard work that went into this endeavour and have nothing but praise for this book. Trackers is an amazing piece of work that just needs to be read! This is one of Mr Smith’s best work to date.
Note: I received an advanced reader’s copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 7, 2017
Review to come on my website on 1-17-17.
August 10, 2017
Estes Park police chief Marcus Colton, has a missing girl on his hands and knows there is only one person capable of finding her, and that's tracker Sam "Raven" Spears. Raven is the best and, even though he has been in trouble with the law, Colton knows Raven will do his all to help. Raven, Colton and Raven's dog set out to hopefully find the girl alive.
Meanwhile, Major Nathan Sardetti, is on his way to visit his nephew when he is called back to base. A plane has entered US space and the pilots are not responding. The plane is coming up as a Chinese plane. Nathan is a fighter pilot and goes up to investigate. He is not far over Estes Park when he realises something is really wrong because, for 1 thing, it doesn't look like the plane it's supposed to be, and for another, it's rising steadily. Before Nathan and another pilot can do anything, there is a blast of light and the electronics and everything on board fail. Nathan has some time to eject before his plane crashes.
Nathan's sister, Senator Charlize Montgomery wakes up to the news that there has been a nuclear bomb denoted in the atmosphere causing an EMP to happen. It's not just in one place, there have been a few bombs detonated and things look bad. While fighting to keep the US government going, she is also trying to find her son Ty, who was at a camp near where one of the bombs detonated. She is also worried about her brother, Nathan who she knew was on the way to Ty.
After finishing this authors other series about Variants, I wasn't too sure how he could top that. But top it he did. Now this one isn't as action packed as the other series, but it is just as gripping and just as scary, not monster scary, but real thing that could happen scary! Especially with the tension that is happening with North Korea!!
This has so much happening in it that it is impossible to put down. We not only have an EMP attack and all the ramifications that happen with that including Nuclear fallout, but we also have, what looks like a serial killer, running loose in Estes Park!! Plus, it doesn't look like an ordinary serial killer either, this killer seems to be trying to bring and old Cherokee legend alive. It's a legend that frightened Raven when he was young and it's even more terrifying now.
One thing I've noticed about this author is his ability to create characters that you immediately connect with. Every single one of them were well written and developed and they are characters you can easily care about. The book starts with when Raven was a soldier, he had a secret mission in North Korea and it's stayed with him. Now that North Korea has attacked, Raven is racked with guilt that the mission he was on could have caused all this! I loved Raven, and his dog!!! I also loved Colton and how genuine he was. There are also a wider variety of characters, but those 2 were my favourite, though I'm starting to like Nathan too.
Anyway, this book is incredibly scary because it's a threat that could happen. You can tel that the author did his research with how descriptive he is, not only with the EMP, but also the effects it has, and I particularly loved how descriptive he was with the Cherokee parts. It was fascinating!! I read this as slowly as I could because I wanted to savour it, and I have to say that I'm glad I went and bought book 2, because I seriously needed to dive straight in after finishing this one. With it's amazing characters and it's exceptional story telling, this is a must read!!!!
Meanwhile, Major Nathan Sardetti, is on his way to visit his nephew when he is called back to base. A plane has entered US space and the pilots are not responding. The plane is coming up as a Chinese plane. Nathan is a fighter pilot and goes up to investigate. He is not far over Estes Park when he realises something is really wrong because, for 1 thing, it doesn't look like the plane it's supposed to be, and for another, it's rising steadily. Before Nathan and another pilot can do anything, there is a blast of light and the electronics and everything on board fail. Nathan has some time to eject before his plane crashes.
Nathan's sister, Senator Charlize Montgomery wakes up to the news that there has been a nuclear bomb denoted in the atmosphere causing an EMP to happen. It's not just in one place, there have been a few bombs detonated and things look bad. While fighting to keep the US government going, she is also trying to find her son Ty, who was at a camp near where one of the bombs detonated. She is also worried about her brother, Nathan who she knew was on the way to Ty.
After finishing this authors other series about Variants, I wasn't too sure how he could top that. But top it he did. Now this one isn't as action packed as the other series, but it is just as gripping and just as scary, not monster scary, but real thing that could happen scary! Especially with the tension that is happening with North Korea!!
This has so much happening in it that it is impossible to put down. We not only have an EMP attack and all the ramifications that happen with that including Nuclear fallout, but we also have, what looks like a serial killer, running loose in Estes Park!! Plus, it doesn't look like an ordinary serial killer either, this killer seems to be trying to bring and old Cherokee legend alive. It's a legend that frightened Raven when he was young and it's even more terrifying now.
One thing I've noticed about this author is his ability to create characters that you immediately connect with. Every single one of them were well written and developed and they are characters you can easily care about. The book starts with when Raven was a soldier, he had a secret mission in North Korea and it's stayed with him. Now that North Korea has attacked, Raven is racked with guilt that the mission he was on could have caused all this! I loved Raven, and his dog!!! I also loved Colton and how genuine he was. There are also a wider variety of characters, but those 2 were my favourite, though I'm starting to like Nathan too.
Anyway, this book is incredibly scary because it's a threat that could happen. You can tel that the author did his research with how descriptive he is, not only with the EMP, but also the effects it has, and I particularly loved how descriptive he was with the Cherokee parts. It was fascinating!! I read this as slowly as I could because I wanted to savour it, and I have to say that I'm glad I went and bought book 2, because I seriously needed to dive straight in after finishing this one. With it's amazing characters and it's exceptional story telling, this is a must read!!!!
February 19, 2017
Frightening.
It's frightening how easily this scenario could become reality.
A new series with an intense storyline, combining a countrywide disaster and a personal horror, uniting a group of well thought out characters.
I was almost glued to this book so it gets 4.5 out of 5.
It's frightening how easily this scenario could become reality.
A new series with an intense storyline, combining a countrywide disaster and a personal horror, uniting a group of well thought out characters.
I was almost glued to this book so it gets 4.5 out of 5.
February 21, 2017
My original Trackers audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Nicholas Sansbury Smith is not happy with just terrifying his readers with apocalyptic creatures that rip and tear humans in to bite size morsels. No, he has moved on to more terrifying and realistic-life-like events to stir and make the nightmares even more horrifying.
In addition to EMP’s being strategically dropped around the United States followed up by nuclear and other deadly bombs the US is already struggling to survive and bounce back. Thousands have died, millions more will die horrible deaths due to radiation, starvation and the elements. Senator Charlize Montgomery fights to save her family and keep the US government functioning as DC falls into ruin.
In Colorado, Police Chief Marcus Colton and his sometimes tracker, Sam (Raven) Spears are trying to save their small town of Estes Park from the chaos created by the EMP’s AND a vicious serial killer hunting and killing to fulfill a personal agenda. Time is running out for the victims as well as for Colton and Spears as they race against the serial killer’s timeline.
Sansbury Smith is a thorough writer who tickles the minds of his audience stirring up deep-seated fears. He knows what strings to pull to provoke the greatest reaction. Skillfully weaving two stories together, he creates the chaos we all pitifully imagine but he does it more completely and detailed bringing it to fruition. His characters are well-developed and grow to their potential.
Bronson Pinchot again, does an amazing job of owning the book through his talented skills narrating the book. Each character’s voice sets the tone as to who the reader will enjoy and who they will fear or dislike. While I hated the voice used for the President Diego, it was exactly the voice I would expect him to have, furthering my dislike of the character. Pinchot’s narration of the story matches the level of suspense and horror. I could listen to Pinchot for hours and never tire of his voice.
Sansbury Smith and Pinchot together are amazing! While I have enjoyed Sansbury Smith's other books, this is the best one yet.
There were no issues with the production quality of this book.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Nicholas Sansbury Smith is not happy with just terrifying his readers with apocalyptic creatures that rip and tear humans in to bite size morsels. No, he has moved on to more terrifying and realistic-life-like events to stir and make the nightmares even more horrifying.
In addition to EMP’s being strategically dropped around the United States followed up by nuclear and other deadly bombs the US is already struggling to survive and bounce back. Thousands have died, millions more will die horrible deaths due to radiation, starvation and the elements. Senator Charlize Montgomery fights to save her family and keep the US government functioning as DC falls into ruin.
In Colorado, Police Chief Marcus Colton and his sometimes tracker, Sam (Raven) Spears are trying to save their small town of Estes Park from the chaos created by the EMP’s AND a vicious serial killer hunting and killing to fulfill a personal agenda. Time is running out for the victims as well as for Colton and Spears as they race against the serial killer’s timeline.
Sansbury Smith is a thorough writer who tickles the minds of his audience stirring up deep-seated fears. He knows what strings to pull to provoke the greatest reaction. Skillfully weaving two stories together, he creates the chaos we all pitifully imagine but he does it more completely and detailed bringing it to fruition. His characters are well-developed and grow to their potential.
Bronson Pinchot again, does an amazing job of owning the book through his talented skills narrating the book. Each character’s voice sets the tone as to who the reader will enjoy and who they will fear or dislike. While I hated the voice used for the President Diego, it was exactly the voice I would expect him to have, furthering my dislike of the character. Pinchot’s narration of the story matches the level of suspense and horror. I could listen to Pinchot for hours and never tire of his voice.
Sansbury Smith and Pinchot together are amazing! While I have enjoyed Sansbury Smith's other books, this is the best one yet.
There were no issues with the production quality of this book.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
February 9, 2017
This book has to be one of the most frighteningly real fiction books I've ever read. It would be so easy, given the current political climate around the world, for a very similar scenario to play out in real life.
In Trackers Smith brings us a nuclear electro-magnetic pulse disaster story. But of course it's far more personal than that. The story homes in on a police chief and a tracker in Estes Park, Colorado, as they try to track down a serial killer - just as the EMP blast hits the country.
One could tell from the get go that this story is close to Smith's heart. He has said as much - that it comes from his professional experience as well as from his personal life. And my goodness, but he brought these characters and their settings to life. One could almost smell the fir trees as one read the book, feel the biting chill in the air. One particular sentence, towards the end of the book, makes me chuckle every time I see it.
"...he was covered in so many evergreen needles that it looked like he’d covered himself in sap and then tried to climb every ponderosa in the forest."
Evidence that Smith has a well-developed sense of humour.
In Trackers you will get a gripping, harrowing story that will hold you spellbound long after you've finished reading. And definitely Smith's best book yet. The fact that it's somewhat shorter than his previous novels takes nothing away from the story told.
In Trackers Smith brings us a nuclear electro-magnetic pulse disaster story. But of course it's far more personal than that. The story homes in on a police chief and a tracker in Estes Park, Colorado, as they try to track down a serial killer - just as the EMP blast hits the country.
One could tell from the get go that this story is close to Smith's heart. He has said as much - that it comes from his professional experience as well as from his personal life. And my goodness, but he brought these characters and their settings to life. One could almost smell the fir trees as one read the book, feel the biting chill in the air. One particular sentence, towards the end of the book, makes me chuckle every time I see it.
"...he was covered in so many evergreen needles that it looked like he’d covered himself in sap and then tried to climb every ponderosa in the forest."
Evidence that Smith has a well-developed sense of humour.
In Trackers you will get a gripping, harrowing story that will hold you spellbound long after you've finished reading. And definitely Smith's best book yet. The fact that it's somewhat shorter than his previous novels takes nothing away from the story told.
January 4, 2017
I have this book preordered, but I did receive it as an ARC as well. Release date is 11 January! First let me start off by saying, if your have read any of the other books that Nicholas Sansbury Smith has written, this is something different and new. This book is AWESOME! The cast of characters in the story is great. The plot superbly done, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. The Author does such a great job, describing the setting of the story throughout the book, you can almost smell the pine trees, and fresh mountain air! And lets not forget the best part. There is enough, action and suspense in this book, that you will not be willing to put it down. I started it yesterday, and finished it today, had I not been at work and needed to sleep, I would have happily finished it in one sitting! Amazing story!
December 1, 2017
If you suspect that what is missing from your life is a story about someone kidnapping children, burning them alive, and then eating them during a nuclear holocaust, then this might be the book for you.
May 6, 2017
Review of TRACKERS
(TRACKERS #1)
by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
TRACKERS is a tremendously exciting novel, the first by this author I had read. It won't be the last. It was heart-in-mouth reading from about the first page, through to the last. Thrills, chills, terror, sorrow, all wrapped in the love of parents for children and mature love, plus abnormal psychology and Native American legendry brought to life.
The plot of TRACKERS is amazingly apropos (making the story all the more terrifying and realistic.) North Korea attacks the U.S. With electromagnetic pulses caused by high-altitude nuclear explosions, and the loss of the grid inevitably results in a collapsed federal government, nearly total loss of communications, as well as loss of electricity and any electrical devices.
I read TRACKERS in one sitting and I scarcely breathed throughout the reading. What a thriller!
(TRACKERS #1)
by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
TRACKERS is a tremendously exciting novel, the first by this author I had read. It won't be the last. It was heart-in-mouth reading from about the first page, through to the last. Thrills, chills, terror, sorrow, all wrapped in the love of parents for children and mature love, plus abnormal psychology and Native American legendry brought to life.
The plot of TRACKERS is amazingly apropos (making the story all the more terrifying and realistic.) North Korea attacks the U.S. With electromagnetic pulses caused by high-altitude nuclear explosions, and the loss of the grid inevitably results in a collapsed federal government, nearly total loss of communications, as well as loss of electricity and any electrical devices.
I read TRACKERS in one sitting and I scarcely breathed throughout the reading. What a thriller!
September 18, 2018
The trackers series is starting out to be another great post-apocalyptic series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. I love his Hell Divers series and want to check out the rest of his work. The trackers series is a post EMP story with a little bit of nuclear fallout. It's more than just that though. This story is more of a murder mystery in the middle of the apocalypse. Great series so far and I'm excited to listen to the rest. I enjoyed most of the narration by Bronson Pinchot, although two of the character voices were a little bit off-putting.
December 10, 2020
Sehr guter Einstieg in die Reihe.
Natürlich auch keine neue Idee, aber gut umgesetzt bis jetzt. Ich mag die Charaktere und den Schreibstil sowieso.
Ich bin gespannt was da noch alles passieren wird.
Die nächsten drei Bände liegen schon zum lesen bereit!
Natürlich auch keine neue Idee, aber gut umgesetzt bis jetzt. Ich mag die Charaktere und den Schreibstil sowieso.
Ich bin gespannt was da noch alles passieren wird.
Die nächsten drei Bände liegen schon zum lesen bereit!
February 5, 2017
Nicholas Sansbury Smith quickly became one of my favorite authors as I made my way through The Extinction Cycle series. I was eager to dig into Trackers as soon as it became available.
I've read a lot of EMP based stories, many of which were very good, so I had high expectations for this book. Unlike other EMP stories I have read, this book had a subplot running through it regarding a murderer on the loose.
At first I wasn't sure if this subplot would be a distraction from the main story or not. Fortunately I found that this subplot actually added to my enjoyment of the story. The author also skillfully used this subplot to glue together many of the characters in the book which I am sure will benefit the upcoming installments of the series.
I've read a lot of EMP based stories, many of which were very good, so I had high expectations for this book. Unlike other EMP stories I have read, this book had a subplot running through it regarding a murderer on the loose.
At first I wasn't sure if this subplot would be a distraction from the main story or not. Fortunately I found that this subplot actually added to my enjoyment of the story. The author also skillfully used this subplot to glue together many of the characters in the book which I am sure will benefit the upcoming installments of the series.
January 16, 2017
Trackers is a post-apocalyptic tale filled with suspense, murder and mystery. It's a refreshing change from other post-apocalyptic stores as there are no monsters or zombies. The characters are well developed and interesting. There are elements of Native-American culture which I enjoyed a lot. It's a war story and a tale of survival. Without spoiling it much, an EMP by a foreign country over US soil triggers a nuclear war. The story roped me in quickly and left me wanting for more. I can't wait for the next book!
January 6, 2017
I purchased this book and the author sent me an Advance Review Copy in exchange for a truthful review. As you can see by my start and finish dates, I could not put the book down. I have read all of Nicholas Sansbury Smith's books and they never disappoint. This story is like no other. I am obviously a reader, not a writer, so my review does not do justice to this book nor the author. Unique and likable characters. Sci-Fi, Dystopia topped off with a serial killer loose in a small town. This book has it all and is a must read
April 5, 2017
This was a pretty good story & I will probably read the next installment. Just a few things about the writing kind of bugged me. For one, I thought some of the character names were goofy. For example, "Lyndsey Plymouth" made me picture a plus size exotic dancer. Then again, some of the male characters with common names we're indistinguishable from one another & I kept getting them mixed up. There were also a few hard to believe plot points but I can be more forgiving of those. I will say I found this book even more chilling after having a 3 day power outage. An EMP would suck.
May 7, 2017
It is terrifying just how realistic and believable this book is with the volatile relationship between The USA and North Korea at present.
Sansbury Smith delivers a compelling, action packed and heart pumping story that will have you on the edge of your seat and begging for more.
It is very easy to read this and imagine it being turned into a TV series. I was a huge lover of the TV show Jericho and this book definitely fits into that same style.
I am blown away by how much I enjoyed the first book in the series and can't wait to dive into book 2!
Sansbury Smith delivers a compelling, action packed and heart pumping story that will have you on the edge of your seat and begging for more.
It is very easy to read this and imagine it being turned into a TV series. I was a huge lover of the TV show Jericho and this book definitely fits into that same style.
I am blown away by how much I enjoyed the first book in the series and can't wait to dive into book 2!
November 4, 2023
A young girl has gone missing in the town of Estes Park, possibly abducted. Police Chief Marcus Colton has reluctantly brough in former marine and native American tracker Raven Spears and his dog to try and find her. The men have had run-ins over Raven's behaviour and find themselves having to rely on each other when an EMP suddenly hits the area, the result of a nuclear attack by North Korea. It soon becomes clear that the killer they are tracking is not going to be stopped by this and is using the chaos to claim more victims while the overworked police have a lot more to deal with. Marcus and Raven will need to find a way to work together to deal with the dangers of this new situation.
Military pilot Nathan is looking forward to a weekend off base with his nephew but is called in to patrol the skies when North Korea become a worrying threat. Four fighter pilots are in the sky when the rogue North Korean invader let off EMPs, forcing all the jets to crash. Unaware of the status of the other pilots, Nathan needs to find help in the local area before contacting his base. But with electrical items not working and the threat of radiation, he cannot get in touch with anyone, including his sister and nephew.
Nathan's sister Charlize is a Senator in Washington DC when the EMP hits and she quickly realises what has happened. As a mother she wants to get home to her son but knows that she and other government people have a duty to the nation. With her chief of staff and security detail, she starts the walk across the city to get to work, watching as the citizens begin to fall apart around her. Which members of the Cabinet have survived? Will they be able to retaliate against the enemy? And have her son and brother both been killed in the attack?
The book was well written as I would expect from this author and I liked the idea of the plot and the way it was put together. Combining the EMP story with the ongoing hunt for a serial killer in a small town was interesting. The police are trying to track the killer while also having to worry about looting, radiation and the safety of the town in the aftermath of the nuclear attack. The police are trying to keep order while getting ready for a potential influx of refugees from nearby cities, as well as looking after their own people.
I liked the character of Charlize. Former military pilot who becomes a Senator, a single mother after the tragic death of her husband, trying to care for her son who was injured in the same accident. She is now trying to help the government recover from the attack while at the same time worrying about what is going to happen to her son. She is also fearing that her brother may have been killed trying to fight the invader aircraft. Nathan is also a good character, just as worried about his sister and nephew as he tries to help the police and contact his own base. He ends up helping and being helped by Sandra, Raven's very capable sister who is a nurse. She also has to worry about her daughter while trying to do her job.
I wasn't very keen on Raven as a character. Everything wrong in his life was blamed on other people and he took no responsibility for his own actions. Yes he had a tough time in the military, especially his last mission but he was somewhat whiny about why he wasn't enjoying his service. He went on about the problems he had with his senior officers picking on him. It might have something to do with him playing the idiot and having a lack of discipline, along with getting into non stop trouble. He says he only had one friend in the unit-no doubt the other men didn't much like his attitude problem and him being in trouble.
He also dislikes Police Chief Colton, blaming him for his current troubles. He whines about putting all his money into a hunting and guiding business, and when the police put a stop to it, he ends up in debt to a loan shark, ruining his life. The fact that he was running an illegal business that let clients pay to hunt protected animals in the area doesn't seem to bother him, and yet again, it's everyone's fault but his. His negative attitude to Nathan, calling him arrogant and know-it-all is pure jealousy at a man who actually has his life in order.
I liked the various characters within the police department-thankfully none of these steriotype racist cops and dumb deputies that you see in so many books and films. I particularly like family man Marcus and his best officer Jake. The police are dealing with a disaster that is sending them back to the stone age in the sense of what tools they have available, the threat of radiation, fear of looting, fights with the local Mayor...but they are doing their best and I was rooting for them.
I did like the story and most of the characters. It was a good mix of drama, following interesting characters whose lives all connect with each other. However I'm not sure if I'll be reading on with the series yet. While I liked it, it didn't leave me with the instant desire to read the next book, which I do have already. I'll have a think about it and decide at a later date.
Military pilot Nathan is looking forward to a weekend off base with his nephew but is called in to patrol the skies when North Korea become a worrying threat. Four fighter pilots are in the sky when the rogue North Korean invader let off EMPs, forcing all the jets to crash. Unaware of the status of the other pilots, Nathan needs to find help in the local area before contacting his base. But with electrical items not working and the threat of radiation, he cannot get in touch with anyone, including his sister and nephew.
Nathan's sister Charlize is a Senator in Washington DC when the EMP hits and she quickly realises what has happened. As a mother she wants to get home to her son but knows that she and other government people have a duty to the nation. With her chief of staff and security detail, she starts the walk across the city to get to work, watching as the citizens begin to fall apart around her. Which members of the Cabinet have survived? Will they be able to retaliate against the enemy? And have her son and brother both been killed in the attack?
The book was well written as I would expect from this author and I liked the idea of the plot and the way it was put together. Combining the EMP story with the ongoing hunt for a serial killer in a small town was interesting. The police are trying to track the killer while also having to worry about looting, radiation and the safety of the town in the aftermath of the nuclear attack. The police are trying to keep order while getting ready for a potential influx of refugees from nearby cities, as well as looking after their own people.
I liked the character of Charlize. Former military pilot who becomes a Senator, a single mother after the tragic death of her husband, trying to care for her son who was injured in the same accident. She is now trying to help the government recover from the attack while at the same time worrying about what is going to happen to her son. She is also fearing that her brother may have been killed trying to fight the invader aircraft. Nathan is also a good character, just as worried about his sister and nephew as he tries to help the police and contact his own base. He ends up helping and being helped by Sandra, Raven's very capable sister who is a nurse. She also has to worry about her daughter while trying to do her job.
I wasn't very keen on Raven as a character. Everything wrong in his life was blamed on other people and he took no responsibility for his own actions. Yes he had a tough time in the military, especially his last mission but he was somewhat whiny about why he wasn't enjoying his service. He went on about the problems he had with his senior officers picking on him. It might have something to do with him playing the idiot and having a lack of discipline, along with getting into non stop trouble. He says he only had one friend in the unit-no doubt the other men didn't much like his attitude problem and him being in trouble.
He also dislikes Police Chief Colton, blaming him for his current troubles. He whines about putting all his money into a hunting and guiding business, and when the police put a stop to it, he ends up in debt to a loan shark, ruining his life. The fact that he was running an illegal business that let clients pay to hunt protected animals in the area doesn't seem to bother him, and yet again, it's everyone's fault but his. His negative attitude to Nathan, calling him arrogant and know-it-all is pure jealousy at a man who actually has his life in order.
I liked the various characters within the police department-thankfully none of these steriotype racist cops and dumb deputies that you see in so many books and films. I particularly like family man Marcus and his best officer Jake. The police are dealing with a disaster that is sending them back to the stone age in the sense of what tools they have available, the threat of radiation, fear of looting, fights with the local Mayor...but they are doing their best and I was rooting for them.
I did like the story and most of the characters. It was a good mix of drama, following interesting characters whose lives all connect with each other. However I'm not sure if I'll be reading on with the series yet. While I liked it, it didn't leave me with the instant desire to read the next book, which I do have already. I'll have a think about it and decide at a later date.
May 5, 2019
Nicholas Sansbury Smith's _Trackers, #1_ receives four stars from me due to the engaging plot, interesting characters, and the believable scenario.
Because this is a audio version, I'd like to first discuss the reader. For this book and all of the series, the reader is Bronson Pinchot. I remember Pinchot from the Beverly Hills Cop, and that silly sitcom that I never got to watch. He is recently on the Sabrina series on Netflix. As good of an actor as he is, he may be a better reader. First, I was hardly able to recognize his voice. It was deeper, more masculine than I remembered. It fit perfectly with this novel. He has a good range of voices and does subtle accents when appropriate. I really enjoyed his version of Jake, one of the side characters. If you see a book read by Bronson Penchot, it is worth the time to listen.
The book. This is clearly a plot driven text, but not exclusively. There is a bit of character development along the way. The text is direct, straight forward, and clear. It is a good one to listen to as it is engaging, but not complex in language or dialogue. Thus it is easy to understand while cleaning or whatever.
Smith begins with an introduction where he explains the idea of the power grid going down by an EMP. I felt that he really looked into what would happen if we were hit by an EMP. For example, what would happen to cars, to computers etc. Well thought out. (However, I do have one question about fuel. Yes, I realize that there are still gas stations, but if the pumps or computerized then they would be useless to fill even older cars.)
I also thought his location was ideal for this kind of novel. He sets the novel in a small town in Colorado, that feels isolated, and unreachable. It sits high in the mountains. Great idea really. Additionally, Smith has Washington, DC as a second location. I liked this because often in apocalyptic novels the narration is focused on one area. Smith paints a bigger picture of what happened with his choice of two settings.
Recommended: yes, absolutely. If you like apocalyptic novels and military novels, this is a good choice. It isn't a military novel, but is a close cousin.
Because this is a audio version, I'd like to first discuss the reader. For this book and all of the series, the reader is Bronson Pinchot. I remember Pinchot from the Beverly Hills Cop, and that silly sitcom that I never got to watch. He is recently on the Sabrina series on Netflix. As good of an actor as he is, he may be a better reader. First, I was hardly able to recognize his voice. It was deeper, more masculine than I remembered. It fit perfectly with this novel. He has a good range of voices and does subtle accents when appropriate. I really enjoyed his version of Jake, one of the side characters. If you see a book read by Bronson Penchot, it is worth the time to listen.
The book. This is clearly a plot driven text, but not exclusively. There is a bit of character development along the way. The text is direct, straight forward, and clear. It is a good one to listen to as it is engaging, but not complex in language or dialogue. Thus it is easy to understand while cleaning or whatever.
Smith begins with an introduction where he explains the idea of the power grid going down by an EMP. I felt that he really looked into what would happen if we were hit by an EMP. For example, what would happen to cars, to computers etc. Well thought out. (However, I do have one question about fuel. Yes, I realize that there are still gas stations, but if the pumps or computerized then they would be useless to fill even older cars.)
I also thought his location was ideal for this kind of novel. He sets the novel in a small town in Colorado, that feels isolated, and unreachable. It sits high in the mountains. Great idea really. Additionally, Smith has Washington, DC as a second location. I liked this because often in apocalyptic novels the narration is focused on one area. Smith paints a bigger picture of what happened with his choice of two settings.
Recommended: yes, absolutely. If you like apocalyptic novels and military novels, this is a good choice. It isn't a military novel, but is a close cousin.
January 12, 2023
3.5 rounded up. This book is far less over the top than the Hell Divers series (which was my introduction to the author... or maybe it was Orbs...).
Massive attacks on the US result in an emp, fallout radiation, and the breakdown of the government.
What I like: the actual tracker character and his sister. The sheriff's not bad either. The book opens with a search for an abducted child in rough terrain on a mountain. The Indigenous folk tale and the tribal identify was an interesting twist.
Ok: the fighter pilot.
Ehhhh: the politician who is also a fighter pilot. And North Korean? Really? At least it wasn't just some vague group of Muslims, but like did the publisher say not China? The DC part got very action heavy (ok, she's soooo tough she comes back from the burns and collapsed building. Ok. Yeah. Sure).
I want to keep reading to find out what happened to the kid at the camp. Books 2 and 3 are already downloaded.
Massive attacks on the US result in an emp, fallout radiation, and the breakdown of the government.
What I like: the actual tracker character and his sister. The sheriff's not bad either. The book opens with a search for an abducted child in rough terrain on a mountain. The Indigenous folk tale and the tribal identify was an interesting twist.
Ok: the fighter pilot.
Ehhhh: the politician who is also a fighter pilot. And North Korean? Really? At least it wasn't just some vague group of Muslims, but like did the publisher say not China? The DC part got very action heavy (ok, she's soooo tough she comes back from the burns and collapsed building. Ok. Yeah. Sure).
I want to keep reading to find out what happened to the kid at the camp. Books 2 and 3 are already downloaded.
April 12, 2017
This was my 4th book by Smith. I read the first two
books, and
(probably my favorite of all 4 so far). But I liked this one as well. As if the end of the world (due to a nuclear attack by N. Korea) wasn't enough, some of the characters have to deal with a serial killer in their midst. Looking forward to reading more books in all 3 series.
books, and
(probably my favorite of all 4 so far). But I liked this one as well. As if the end of the world (due to a nuclear attack by N. Korea) wasn't enough, some of the characters have to deal with a serial killer in their midst. Looking forward to reading more books in all 3 series.November 16, 2017
Recommended
Fun read ad solid writing, pretty much burned through the book, will def move on to book 2 in serves
Fun read ad solid writing, pretty much burned through the book, will def move on to book 2 in serves
February 1, 2019
I enjoy apocalyptic type books and this one was a little different than most. The author has done his homework and the book was a little scary to say the least
January 10, 2020
Decent story within a story
May 20, 2019
One of the few times i would say there was too much buildup. The true story line is a little unclear for most of the book.
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