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Quake: A Natural Disaster Thriller
A deep rumble in the earth, a screeching noise, and the world begins to shake, throwing people off their feet and hurling buildings to the ground. The New Madrid Fault has ruptured again, wreaking havoc over seven states.
Gale Swanton, city planner for a small Missouri river town, is left in charge when the city manager and mayor are both killed. He struggles to help the townsfolk in the face of broken water mains and impassable roads, with little help from a FEMA overwhelmed by the vast destruction in St. Louis and Memphis.
Tempers fray as food and drinking water run low. Gale and his RN husband struggle to hold together a crumbling community and protect its citizens from their own worst instincts.
And there is more shaking yet to come.
Gale Swanton, city planner for a small Missouri river town, is left in charge when the city manager and mayor are both killed. He struggles to help the townsfolk in the face of broken water mains and impassable roads, with little help from a FEMA overwhelmed by the vast destruction in St. Louis and Memphis.
Tempers fray as food and drinking water run low. Gale and his RN husband struggle to hold together a crumbling community and protect its citizens from their own worst instincts.
And there is more shaking yet to come.
- GenresThriller
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2014
81 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Lou Cadle
32 books124 followersLou Cadle grew up in Tornado Alley near the New Madrid fault, was in San Francisco's 1989 earthquake, watched minor eruptions of Mt. St. Helens from close up, and hiked several times over Kilauea's active lava flows. Cadle currently lives in haboob country.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 28, 2017
Damn. I saw the blurb for this and went out of my way to find a copy. Then when I started it I discovered the main protagonists were gay. Too good to be true: a normal, mainstream apocalyptic novel with a gay couple rather than the usual. But this isn't really a novel. It's a manual on how to survive an earthquake. It's as if the author had been an earthquake emergency civil officer and someone had said to him, "Hey, you should write down all these procedures," and he'd then had the brilliant (awful) idea to turn his technical manual into a novel. I do feel better equipped to cope after an earthquake now, but as to a good reading experience? Not so much. I gave up.
July 30, 2023
First there was a great sound, like a million pieces of Styrofoam being ripped apart at once, or a distant train wreck, at the same time both low and loud and full of squeaks and creaks. And then the earth beneath his feet lurched, and as suddenly was gone from underfoot, and he felt himself falling.
First of all, I absolutely love fictional books about natural disasters. I don't know what it is exactly, but it just shows the rawness of human nature and it's both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
In this book we follow the married couple Bash and Gale, Bash being a nurse and Gale being involved with town politics. When disaster strikes in the form of a huge earthquake, both men try their best to help their town in different ways. Bash is on the frontline providing first aid, while Gash tackles the fast growing problems of clean drinking water, housing and food. They run into trouble here and there with people growing more anxious and violent while supplies are running lower and lower. Unfortunately it doesn't get more exciting than that.
Most of this book describes the hours and days after the earthquake, setting temporary housing up and dealing with immediate threats. It's interesting to see how people bounce back from such a disaster, what the priorities are and how the community comes together to work as a team to survive. (Obviously this is a work of fiction, but there are some truths to it). This was nice to read, though I missed a certain thrill to keep my eyes glued to every page and wanting to know what would happen next.
When the thrill is finally happening, and the book really starts getting interesting with riots breaking out, the book is cut off and we're left with a rushed and unsatisfying ending. It's like the author just kind of gave up and didn't want to tackle the truly intriguing parts of human nature when driven to its limits. Such a shame, because to me that's the most interesting parts in disaster novels.
Overall this book was written well, as well as the characters. The story was a little less exciting than I would've liked it to be, but still it was a decent read and would recommend if you like natural disaster fiction like me.
3.5✨
First of all, I absolutely love fictional books about natural disasters. I don't know what it is exactly, but it just shows the rawness of human nature and it's both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
In this book we follow the married couple Bash and Gale, Bash being a nurse and Gale being involved with town politics. When disaster strikes in the form of a huge earthquake, both men try their best to help their town in different ways. Bash is on the frontline providing first aid, while Gash tackles the fast growing problems of clean drinking water, housing and food. They run into trouble here and there with people growing more anxious and violent while supplies are running lower and lower. Unfortunately it doesn't get more exciting than that.
Most of this book describes the hours and days after the earthquake, setting temporary housing up and dealing with immediate threats. It's interesting to see how people bounce back from such a disaster, what the priorities are and how the community comes together to work as a team to survive. (Obviously this is a work of fiction, but there are some truths to it). This was nice to read, though I missed a certain thrill to keep my eyes glued to every page and wanting to know what would happen next.
When the thrill is finally happening, and the book really starts getting interesting with riots breaking out, the book is cut off and we're left with a rushed and unsatisfying ending. It's like the author just kind of gave up and didn't want to tackle the truly intriguing parts of human nature when driven to its limits. Such a shame, because to me that's the most interesting parts in disaster novels.
Overall this book was written well, as well as the characters. The story was a little less exciting than I would've liked it to be, but still it was a decent read and would recommend if you like natural disaster fiction like me.
3.5✨
March 26, 2019
Sebastian and Gale relocated from California to Missouri so that Gale, an engineer, could further his career in earthquake preparation, but the couple is miserable in the conservative little town. Gale is making no headway in convincing officials to strengthen building codes, despite the town’s location on the New Madrid fault, while Bash, a chemotherapy nurse, is coping not only with sick patients, but a disagreeable coworker who specializes in patronizing superiority. Each exists in their own miserable bubble … until tectonic plates inevitably slide and the fault produces a massive earthquake that devastates the town.
Both men are thrown into action — Gale heading the Emergency Operations Center outside the demolished City Hall, while Bash sets up a makeshift ER in a parking lot, since the hospital — and everyone inside — has vanished in a cloud of dust and mortar. The next few days are spent in an exhausted frenzy of triage, red tape, and crisis resolution — including assuming parental responsibilities for two teenaged girls whose mother is nowhere to be found — but a bigoted father pushes Bash and Gale into danger that overshadows a blighted river, sand blows, food and drug thieves, ruptured roads, and shattered structures. Quake is a compelling novel that entices readers with disaster and holds them with riveting personal drama.
Both men are thrown into action — Gale heading the Emergency Operations Center outside the demolished City Hall, while Bash sets up a makeshift ER in a parking lot, since the hospital — and everyone inside — has vanished in a cloud of dust and mortar. The next few days are spent in an exhausted frenzy of triage, red tape, and crisis resolution — including assuming parental responsibilities for two teenaged girls whose mother is nowhere to be found — but a bigoted father pushes Bash and Gale into danger that overshadows a blighted river, sand blows, food and drug thieves, ruptured roads, and shattered structures. Quake is a compelling novel that entices readers with disaster and holds them with riveting personal drama.
October 26, 2017
There is one major difference between this novel and the other ones like it I have read. The two main characters are not only gay but they are married. This becomes significant later.
They are in a small town in Missouri. Bash is working as a nurse in a hospital. Gale is working for the city government. Bash wants to go back to California and this causes some trouble between the two.
It's nothing, though, compared to what happens next. Major earthquakes occur (like the Madrid quake but much, much worse.) Half of the city's people die right off. The major is killed and Gale becomes the highest ranking official left while Bash is working incredibly hard trying to deal with the injured. The hospital ends up destroyed and they have to use a parking lot to try and deal with what has happened to the people.
The story becomes quite realistic as both men have to search for people to help them and especially for any supplies they can find, especially medical ones. There's a lot of stories involved in that part alone. Fortunately they find two teenage girls who are able to help them out a lot in the medical area, doing jobs that free up other, more trained people.
Things get worse with more quakes and the river rising. Then there's an event in which a guy blames gays for what has happened, saying it's God's vengeance for what has happened (an incredibly stupid belief.)
The anti-gay bozo ends up getting a whole bunch of people to go after Bash and he has to flee to avoid being killed. Gale and Bash have done everything any human could possibly due to help others in this situation but it's the old adage, no good deed goes unpunished. Here people are dying in droves, others are barely hanging on and you gut a bunch of religious fanatics refusing to help others but deciding to bully the two guys who have done perhaps the most of anyone to help others.
Such a thing I find disgusting to the nth degree. It all makes for a very, very moving story.
They are in a small town in Missouri. Bash is working as a nurse in a hospital. Gale is working for the city government. Bash wants to go back to California and this causes some trouble between the two.
It's nothing, though, compared to what happens next. Major earthquakes occur (like the Madrid quake but much, much worse.) Half of the city's people die right off. The major is killed and Gale becomes the highest ranking official left while Bash is working incredibly hard trying to deal with the injured. The hospital ends up destroyed and they have to use a parking lot to try and deal with what has happened to the people.
The story becomes quite realistic as both men have to search for people to help them and especially for any supplies they can find, especially medical ones. There's a lot of stories involved in that part alone. Fortunately they find two teenage girls who are able to help them out a lot in the medical area, doing jobs that free up other, more trained people.
Things get worse with more quakes and the river rising. Then there's an event in which a guy blames gays for what has happened, saying it's God's vengeance for what has happened (an incredibly stupid belief.)
The anti-gay bozo ends up getting a whole bunch of people to go after Bash and he has to flee to avoid being killed. Gale and Bash have done everything any human could possibly due to help others in this situation but it's the old adage, no good deed goes unpunished. Here people are dying in droves, others are barely hanging on and you gut a bunch of religious fanatics refusing to help others but deciding to bully the two guys who have done perhaps the most of anyone to help others.
Such a thing I find disgusting to the nth degree. It all makes for a very, very moving story.
October 31, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this disaster story from Lou Cadle. It meant even more to me, though, because it was told through the eyes and experience of a male couple, Gale and Bash. Those of us who are gay, lesbian, and bisexual don't often get to see ourselves represented in fiction that is not specifically about us. I so appreciated that here. Beyond that the story itself is generally quite well done. An excellent read.
January 24, 2015
A strong social reactive story during a major natural disaster
This book was enjoyable and I'm going to miss my new friends! It's based on a huge earthquake but more a story of social reaction after to that disaster.it's light on geologic facts, almost as an afterthought.that is disappointing to me but characters were strong and the unfolding of the aftermath was realistic.for that, the book is excellent.worth the read but don't expect a detailed earthquake story!
This book was enjoyable and I'm going to miss my new friends! It's based on a huge earthquake but more a story of social reaction after to that disaster.it's light on geologic facts, almost as an afterthought.that is disappointing to me but characters were strong and the unfolding of the aftermath was realistic.for that, the book is excellent.worth the read but don't expect a detailed earthquake story!
January 31, 2015
different, and interesting
Not just another disaster novel. An in depth look at the lives of two gay men, in the midst of an earthquake, their heroic actions, love for each other, and both acceptance and rejection of the town towards them. Lots of action, but still has moments of quiet contemplation, all in all a worthwhile read.
Not just another disaster novel. An in depth look at the lives of two gay men, in the midst of an earthquake, their heroic actions, love for each other, and both acceptance and rejection of the town towards them. Lots of action, but still has moments of quiet contemplation, all in all a worthwhile read.
March 27, 2016
Love this book.
This author never dissapoints me..i always enjoy the books..earthquakes are frightening i've been in a few though nothing on this scale.. Cadles books are informative as well as entertaining..
This author never dissapoints me..i always enjoy the books..earthquakes are frightening i've been in a few though nothing on this scale.. Cadles books are informative as well as entertaining..
February 15, 2018
I liked that this book takes place in a smaller town and in a place not as acclimated to earthquakes. It allowed the impact to unfold clearly and the associated issues without the overwhelming population numbers of a large city. It also highlighted the unfortunate, but probably, inevitable case that the big focus of rescue would go to the bigger cities. I also liked that the main characters were gay, something not seen often in this genre. I liked Bash a lot as a person thrown into unfamiliar waters and stepping up to do his best as did his husband and others. I really liked McKenna and Haruka, the teenagers who also helped in meaningful ways as volunteers and were not expected to take that role. Even in such a small community, the impact of these quakes were devastating and it was interesting to see how they all did their best to work through the problems(well not the bad church people). I felt like it wrapped up way fast though and just kind of stops.
January 12, 2025
I got this for Christmas (with a gift card), and it was my intro to Cadle's writing. I'm a disaster junkie (in books only, ha), and I definitely enjoyed this. It was interesting to see how the two main characters (a gay couple, one a nurse and the other a city planner/leader) worked in their respective areas to help the small town after the quake hit. I liked the details, though I did start to feel bogged down a bit. I also was a little annoyed with the attitude toward the men (), and I felt like that aspect of the story detracted a bit from everything else. Still, I enjoyed this, and it led to me seeking out more Cadle books.
January 15, 2018
[3,5 stars]
Earthquakes wreaking havoc in a small town in Missouri. The story is told from the viewpoints of Bash and Gayle an nurse and a city planner, both in charge in key postitions after the first devastating quake and also a married same-sex couple. Which I did not even realize at first since I did not pay that much attention to the names :-) (Don't panic, there's only some hugging described!) The story appears to me very realistic after such a major catastrophe. The struggle to live without water and food, collapsed and still collapsing buildings, aftershocks and mounting frustrations as no help arrives. I enjoyed it.
Earthquakes wreaking havoc in a small town in Missouri. The story is told from the viewpoints of Bash and Gayle an nurse and a city planner, both in charge in key postitions after the first devastating quake and also a married same-sex couple. Which I did not even realize at first since I did not pay that much attention to the names :-) (Don't panic, there's only some hugging described!) The story appears to me very realistic after such a major catastrophe. The struggle to live without water and food, collapsed and still collapsing buildings, aftershocks and mounting frustrations as no help arrives. I enjoyed it.
March 22, 2023
Human nature at its worst.
I enjoyed this novel very much, but some of the realism caught me off guard (which was exactly the point). The way that the community succumbed to acting like little more than wild animals really hit home to the fact that people can turn into monsters for the sake of their own survival. This book was so well written that it was like visualizing a movie or a news broadcast in your head. If you like disaster novels, read this and the other books from this author. You won’t be bored, I’ll tell you that.
I enjoyed this novel very much, but some of the realism caught me off guard (which was exactly the point). The way that the community succumbed to acting like little more than wild animals really hit home to the fact that people can turn into monsters for the sake of their own survival. This book was so well written that it was like visualizing a movie or a news broadcast in your head. If you like disaster novels, read this and the other books from this author. You won’t be bored, I’ll tell you that.
June 8, 2017
This book based on the reality of potential tragedy brings home some much needed truths. No matter what our beliefs are there has never been proof presented that one race is superior to another and regardless of the beliefs of some the number of perfect persons that have lived probably is confined to single digits. That means that the rest of shouldn't be judging others! After reading this story we should all be convinced of the desirability of having emergency supplies. Well done.
December 2, 2017
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Cadle offers fascinating and visceral perspective to someone who has not been in a disaster zone. He also portrays striking and alarming realism when it comes to the breakdown of patience under stress and hunger. Some of the writing in this book was chilling. The main characters, Bash and Gale, were vivid and beautifully written, and the side characters were delightfully fleshed out. This was a great read.
June 30, 2025
A great read but needs editing. At first I was a little disappointed that the story focuses around only two people, but since those characters are in important positions you don't feel like you are missing anything. Besides, with a disaster as large as this it would be too overwhelming to try and cover more. The story gives you a snapshot of one cities attempt to survive in the middle of disaster, and one couples struggle to help.
September 2, 2017
Good book
Read all of the books in order to really enjoy. Characters are realistic and get better and better. Storyline continues to grow and develop.
Read all of the books in order to really enjoy. Characters are realistic and get better and better. Storyline continues to grow and develop.
June 7, 2021
This book is a nice easy read that keeps you interested and delves a bit into the world of disasters and disaster relief. The ending seemed a bit rushed and random but overall an engaging read.
December 15, 2015
Great storytelling
It reminds me a lot of the book The Rift by walter j Williams, mostly because they use the same source text that refer to the same series of three earthquakes that occurred in the new Madrid seismic zone in 1811-1812. I really liked the dual perspectives and the change from the typical straight narrators. Some might not enjoy it, but it's totally PG-13, and that is mainly due to a few f bombs. Good solid writing, with some errors that are undoubtedly from the conversion of the book to kindle format. It's not disaster porn though, and mostly deals with the real life consequences from earthquakes, instead of dwelling on extensive descriptions of gory injuries and second by second descriptions of the quakes themselves. It feels pretty realistic, even if it does get a little after school special sometimes. It's sort of like The Rift Lite, which isn't necessarily a bad thing at all.
It reminds me a lot of the book The Rift by walter j Williams, mostly because they use the same source text that refer to the same series of three earthquakes that occurred in the new Madrid seismic zone in 1811-1812. I really liked the dual perspectives and the change from the typical straight narrators. Some might not enjoy it, but it's totally PG-13, and that is mainly due to a few f bombs. Good solid writing, with some errors that are undoubtedly from the conversion of the book to kindle format. It's not disaster porn though, and mostly deals with the real life consequences from earthquakes, instead of dwelling on extensive descriptions of gory injuries and second by second descriptions of the quakes themselves. It feels pretty realistic, even if it does get a little after school special sometimes. It's sort of like The Rift Lite, which isn't necessarily a bad thing at all.
May 16, 2015
Almost like being there..
About a small town in Missouri when the New Madrid fault gives, with earthquakes wreaking havoc throughout the zone.
The main characters are Bash and Gayle, a gay couple who work as a city planner and as a nurse. (There's no sex, so don't freak out!) The story of what happens to people in a small town devastated by earthquakes when several states have been devastated is told very realistically. Almost too realistically. Not only the immediate aftermath, but the daily stresses as more earthquakes occur, more deaths, injuries, collapsed buildings, and help doesn't come.
The hospital collapsed during the first big quake, and medical help and supplies are outside in the elements. The same with city government.
Results: a thoughtful and disturbingly realistic story. I'm glad I read it.
About a small town in Missouri when the New Madrid fault gives, with earthquakes wreaking havoc throughout the zone.
The main characters are Bash and Gayle, a gay couple who work as a city planner and as a nurse. (There's no sex, so don't freak out!) The story of what happens to people in a small town devastated by earthquakes when several states have been devastated is told very realistically. Almost too realistically. Not only the immediate aftermath, but the daily stresses as more earthquakes occur, more deaths, injuries, collapsed buildings, and help doesn't come.
The hospital collapsed during the first big quake, and medical help and supplies are outside in the elements. The same with city government.
Results: a thoughtful and disturbingly realistic story. I'm glad I read it.
January 1, 2021
Pretty good disaster novel. It was a nice change of pace having the two lead good guys as a gay couple. and with that you are obviously going to have your dumbass religious bigots as well. But the couple took care of business and worried about the massively destroyed town they live in and ALL of it's surviving population.
Only problem I had was kind of trivial... That most of the people that started their own fires for heating water and food received "hospital" worthy burns. while I can imagine that it can happen to some people, just not believable that 90% of the people in this story are made to act like they should never touch anything fire related ever.
But still an entertaining book.
Only problem I had was kind of trivial... That most of the people that started their own fires for heating water and food received "hospital" worthy burns. while I can imagine that it can happen to some people, just not believable that 90% of the people in this story are made to act like they should never touch anything fire related ever.
But still an entertaining book.
March 22, 2016
I really enjoyed this. It's not a gay story. It's a story that has main characters that happen to be gay. It's not a love story but, the two main characters are gay men in a long-term relationship. It's a story of a very real scenario of what might happen during and the aftermath of a massive quake on the New Madrid fault line. If you're looking for romance and happily ever after fluff or sex, you're not going to find it here.
November 2, 2016
I have read every book of Lou Cadle's and love love all of them. A book about an earthquake in an area not California is brilliant. And I loved the main male characters. Who are married to each other and gay. Not sure why more authors don't do this.
The characters are well developed and you grow to care for them. Only complaint I have is I wish it were longer. Maybe the author will revisit them somewhere down the road.
Grab all Lou's books and spend a great weekend reading.
The characters are well developed and you grow to care for them. Only complaint I have is I wish it were longer. Maybe the author will revisit them somewhere down the road.
Grab all Lou's books and spend a great weekend reading.
January 16, 2016
Disappointed
I've read a lot of this authors books & loved them, this wasn't one. I had a hard time finishing this one.
I've read a lot of this authors books & loved them, this wasn't one. I had a hard time finishing this one.
February 8, 2016
While some parts were interesting, the story became tedious and boring, and the dramatic stuff at the end was just annoying and cliche.
August 16, 2016
Well researched and I am really finding this author to be one of my new favorites.
September 27, 2015
I loved this book! Great read. Very well done.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews