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Downfall #3
Breakdown
When the lights went out, civilization fell in hours. Now survival means becoming someone you never thought you'd be.
Sam Prescott has survived the impossible, escaping military detention, outrunning wildfires, and navigating a landscape where every mile reveals new horrors. Now, with Adam and Keith at his side, he faces his greatest test Denver. The once-thriving city has become an inferno, its streets choked with the dead and dying, its buildings consumed by uncontrolled fires. But Denver stands between Sam and St. Louis, between him and his family. There's no way around it. They'll have to find a way through.
A thousand miles away, Rachel and Jeff have found sanctuary at their father's mountain cabin, but sanctuary is an illusion. Gerard's raiders are closing in. As Jeff sets lethal traps in the frozen forest and Rachel learns to kill to protect her children, they realize the collapse hasn't just destroyed civilization, it's unleashed the predators who thrived in its shadows.
Two separate struggles. One desperate in this new world, family is the only thing worth fighting for, and the price of reunion may be higher than any of them can pay.
Sam Prescott has survived the impossible, escaping military detention, outrunning wildfires, and navigating a landscape where every mile reveals new horrors. Now, with Adam and Keith at his side, he faces his greatest test Denver. The once-thriving city has become an inferno, its streets choked with the dead and dying, its buildings consumed by uncontrolled fires. But Denver stands between Sam and St. Louis, between him and his family. There's no way around it. They'll have to find a way through.
A thousand miles away, Rachel and Jeff have found sanctuary at their father's mountain cabin, but sanctuary is an illusion. Gerard's raiders are closing in. As Jeff sets lethal traps in the frozen forest and Rachel learns to kill to protect her children, they realize the collapse hasn't just destroyed civilization, it's unleashed the predators who thrived in its shadows.
Two separate struggles. One desperate in this new world, family is the only thing worth fighting for, and the price of reunion may be higher than any of them can pay.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 27, 2026
Ratchets Up The Tension With Every Chapter!
Breakdown, book 3 in the outstanding Downfall series, continues the story of the Prescott family and their companions fight to survive in a post-EMP world. We also get to know Bella Presley, A homes reader near the cabin with Jeff, Rachael and the kids, who is being terrorized by Gerard and his group, the same group that previously attacked the cabin. Meanwhile, Jeff, Adam and Keith are still on the road east, back to Missouri and Jeff's family. The dangers faced escalate with every encounter. Overall, 5/5 stars! Highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival thrillers, especially post-EMP thrillers, fans of disaster thrillers and fans of sci-fi thrillers!
Breakdown, book 3 in the outstanding Downfall series, continues the story of the Prescott family and their companions fight to survive in a post-EMP world. We also get to know Bella Presley, A homes reader near the cabin with Jeff, Rachael and the kids, who is being terrorized by Gerard and his group, the same group that previously attacked the cabin. Meanwhile, Jeff, Adam and Keith are still on the road east, back to Missouri and Jeff's family. The dangers faced escalate with every encounter. Overall, 5/5 stars! Highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival thrillers, especially post-EMP thrillers, fans of disaster thrillers and fans of sci-fi thrillers!
August 30, 2026
This continues what is, so far, a very good EMP series. The travels and obstacles encountered by Sam, Adam and Keith is very fast-paced and good. I like the bonding of the three men, especially since both Keith and Adam have lost their families. The use of gliders seemed a bit unrealistic in the outcome but then again YOLO, right? The situation at the cabin with Rachel, Jeff and the kids is exciting, though Jeff's PTSD etc gets a bit dragging at times. The group there is smart and determined and I always root against the bullies. On to book 4
Review of advance copy received from Author
Breakdown: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller
By: Justin Bell
Publisher: Independently Published
Published Date: June 26, 2026
ASIN: B0GL2TFLHT
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Apparently, I walked into book three of Downfall, where the power is still out, humanity has fully thrown its manners into a ditch, and everyone is learning that “survival mode” sounds empowering until you are freezing, hunted, exhausted, and considering whether today is the day you become a person your pre-collapse self would have avoided at Walmart.
Breakdown wastes no time reminding us that the end of civilization is not just about dead phones and empty shelves. It is about people. Specifically, the worst people. The kind who see society crumble and immediately think, “Finally, my time to be awful has arrived.”
Sam Prescott has already survived military detention, wildfires, and a landscape full of nightmares, because apparently one traumatic disaster buffet was not enough. Now he has to get through Denver, which has become a flaming hellscape packed with death, fire, chaos, and every possible reason to turn around. Unfortunately, Denver sits between Sam and St. Louis, and St. Louis means family. So through the nightmare he goes, because post-apocalyptic fiction loves nothing more than making love look like a suicide mission.
Here’s What Slapped:
The tension is brutal in the best way. Bell does a great job keeping both storylines moving without making either feel like filler. Sam’s journey has that relentless road-trip-from-hell energy, while Rachel and Jeff’s storyline at the mountain cabin digs into a different kind of fear. The kind that waits in the woods. The kind that has a name. The kind that knows you are trying to protect children.
Rachel learning what she is willing to do to keep her family alive is one of the strongest parts. She is not playing tough for fun. She is being sharpened by necessity, and honestly, good for her. Terrible circumstances, excellent character work.
Jeff setting traps in the frozen forest also gave exactly the kind of “don’t come up this mountain unless you enjoy consequences” energy I wanted.
What Could’ve Been Better:
This is book three, so no, do not wander in here like a confused raccoon. Start at book one. Your future self will thank you.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
EMP survival thrillers, collapsing cities, family-driven survival, mountain cabin danger, raiders who need handled, and post-apocalyptic stories where every mile costs something.
Book Series Order:
Downfall: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Downfall Book 1)
Book 1 of 4: Downfall
Blackout: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Downfall Book 2)
Book 2 of 4: Downfall
Breakdown: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller
Book 3 of 4: Downfall Available June 26, 2026
Crossfire: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Downfall Book 4)
Book 4 of 4: Downfall Available August 28, 2026
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
By: Justin Bell
Publisher: Independently Published
Published Date: June 26, 2026
ASIN: B0GL2TFLHT
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Apparently, I walked into book three of Downfall, where the power is still out, humanity has fully thrown its manners into a ditch, and everyone is learning that “survival mode” sounds empowering until you are freezing, hunted, exhausted, and considering whether today is the day you become a person your pre-collapse self would have avoided at Walmart.
Breakdown wastes no time reminding us that the end of civilization is not just about dead phones and empty shelves. It is about people. Specifically, the worst people. The kind who see society crumble and immediately think, “Finally, my time to be awful has arrived.”
Sam Prescott has already survived military detention, wildfires, and a landscape full of nightmares, because apparently one traumatic disaster buffet was not enough. Now he has to get through Denver, which has become a flaming hellscape packed with death, fire, chaos, and every possible reason to turn around. Unfortunately, Denver sits between Sam and St. Louis, and St. Louis means family. So through the nightmare he goes, because post-apocalyptic fiction loves nothing more than making love look like a suicide mission.
Here’s What Slapped:
The tension is brutal in the best way. Bell does a great job keeping both storylines moving without making either feel like filler. Sam’s journey has that relentless road-trip-from-hell energy, while Rachel and Jeff’s storyline at the mountain cabin digs into a different kind of fear. The kind that waits in the woods. The kind that has a name. The kind that knows you are trying to protect children.
Rachel learning what she is willing to do to keep her family alive is one of the strongest parts. She is not playing tough for fun. She is being sharpened by necessity, and honestly, good for her. Terrible circumstances, excellent character work.
Jeff setting traps in the frozen forest also gave exactly the kind of “don’t come up this mountain unless you enjoy consequences” energy I wanted.
What Could’ve Been Better:
This is book three, so no, do not wander in here like a confused raccoon. Start at book one. Your future self will thank you.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
EMP survival thrillers, collapsing cities, family-driven survival, mountain cabin danger, raiders who need handled, and post-apocalyptic stories where every mile costs something.
Book Series Order:
Downfall: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Downfall Book 1)
Book 1 of 4: Downfall
Blackout: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Downfall Book 2)
Book 2 of 4: Downfall
Breakdown: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller
Book 3 of 4: Downfall Available June 26, 2026
Crossfire: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Downfall Book 4)
Book 4 of 4: Downfall Available August 28, 2026
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
September 2, 2026
This was book 3 in the Downfall series and the action has NEVER let up! So far, an amazing series! These books absolutely need to be read in order. Each book picks up exactly where the previous book left off so if you try to start the series out of order, you are going to be completely confused about who is who, what has happened, and who is actual family vs found family.
Each group of people in the series are connected even as they each struggle to survive thousands of miles apart. I think that’s what makes this series so enthralling. I’m completely invested in whether Sam makes it back to STL and his family. How is Jeff going to be received by Sam? And what about Adam and Keith? Will Rachel accept them into the fold? I also wonder about Vaughn and if him and the Doctor will be reintroduced back into the story at some point. Lots of questions, but no answers yet.
The devastation that each group has seen and fought through is immense and it makes you wonder - how would I survive if something of this magnitude happened? Where would I go? Would my family survive?
Now I basically wish I had some elite military training and had been taught some basic survival skills!
Each group of people in the series are connected even as they each struggle to survive thousands of miles apart. I think that’s what makes this series so enthralling. I’m completely invested in whether Sam makes it back to STL and his family. How is Jeff going to be received by Sam? And what about Adam and Keith? Will Rachel accept them into the fold? I also wonder about Vaughn and if him and the Doctor will be reintroduced back into the story at some point. Lots of questions, but no answers yet.
The devastation that each group has seen and fought through is immense and it makes you wonder - how would I survive if something of this magnitude happened? Where would I go? Would my family survive?
Now I basically wish I had some elite military training and had been taught some basic survival skills!
July 3, 2026
Breakdown is another thrilling book in this series. My blood was pumping and I had to remember to breathe. The trials and dangers continue to happen to our characters leaving us wanting more. Great story. Can't wait for the next book.
July 16, 2026
great series
A familiar tale of disaster after EMP with a few new twists. Characters real and likable. No bad language which is good.
A familiar tale of disaster after EMP with a few new twists. Characters real and likable. No bad language which is good.
September 15, 2026
good reading
This is one book in a set of apocalyptic novels that will make you feel like you’re inside the story. Wonderful thought put into it. Can’t wait for the next book!
This is one book in a set of apocalyptic novels that will make you feel like you’re inside the story. Wonderful thought put into it. Can’t wait for the next book!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews