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Locker Nine #1
Locker Nine
Grace Hardwick’s dad is a science fiction writer who makes his living destroying the world. When Grace decides to go away for her first year of college her dad, Robert, can’t help but think of all of the potential ways that society could collapse and strand his daughter hundreds of miles from home. Then, near the end of her freshman year, it happens. Like a scene from one of Robert’s books, coordinated terror attacks take place at dozens of locations around the country – including on the campus of Grace’s university.
Grace and her father barely have time for a single rushed phone call before they lose signal. In that call, Robert reminds his daughter of the key he gave her when she left for school – the key that she constantly wears around her neck. She doesn’t know what it opens. She doesn’t know where the engraved numbers will lead her. All she knows is that her dad is not the type to let her go hundreds of miles from home with no backup plan.
With her roommate in tow, Grace embarks on a treacherous journey that may lead her home or may lead her right into the path of another stranded traveler -- a disturbed gamer who sees nothing but opportunity in a world that now closely resembles that of his favorite video games.
Grace and her father barely have time for a single rushed phone call before they lose signal. In that call, Robert reminds his daughter of the key he gave her when she left for school – the key that she constantly wears around her neck. She doesn’t know what it opens. She doesn’t know where the engraved numbers will lead her. All she knows is that her dad is not the type to let her go hundreds of miles from home with no backup plan.
With her roommate in tow, Grace embarks on a treacherous journey that may lead her home or may lead her right into the path of another stranded traveler -- a disturbed gamer who sees nothing but opportunity in a world that now closely resembles that of his favorite video games.
252 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2016
1199 people are currently reading
660 people want to read
About the author
Franklin Horton
57 books369 followersFranklin Horton lives and writes in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. He attended Virginia Intermont College and Virginia Commonwealth University. In his spare time he pursues outdoor adventures with his wife and two children. His interests include camping, kayaking, backpacking, mountain biking, and shooting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 5, 2025
This was a fast-paced read, a mix of survival thriller meets doomsday prepper fantasy. Grace is a likeable lead, intelligent, resourceful, and grounded, but still very much a college kid trying to survive a nightmare scenario.
Grace’s dad is a sci-fi writer who’s spent his career imagining the end of the world, so of course when it actually happens, he’s got a plan in place. The father-daughter bond was written very well here.
Her dad had told her hundreds of times that urban settings were no place for women in the event of societal collapse.
Some of the action was ott (especially with the gamer villain). He was horrible. If you like survival stories and a strong female lead, this one’s entertaining.
No romance in this one, but there’s a hint that something might be possible for the next book. I really appreciated the addition of the equine therapy element, and there’s a side character introduced here that I really hope gets more page time going forward!
Be forewarned, ends with a HFN, and lots of good characters dying.
Grace’s dad is a sci-fi writer who’s spent his career imagining the end of the world, so of course when it actually happens, he’s got a plan in place. The father-daughter bond was written very well here.
Her dad had told her hundreds of times that urban settings were no place for women in the event of societal collapse.
Some of the action was ott (especially with the gamer villain). He was horrible. If you like survival stories and a strong female lead, this one’s entertaining.
No romance in this one, but there’s a hint that something might be possible for the next book. I really appreciated the addition of the equine therapy element, and there’s a side character introduced here that I really hope gets more page time going forward!
Be forewarned, ends with a HFN, and lots of good characters dying.
March 10, 2018
Grace Hardwick’s dad is a science fiction writer who makes his living destroying the world. When Grace decides to go away for her first year of college her dad can’t help but think of all of the potential ways that society could collapse and strand his daughter hundreds of miles from home. Then it happens. Robert reminds his daughter of the key he gave her when she left for school. She doesn’t know what it opens. She doesn’t know where the engraved numbers will lead her. All she knows is that her dad is not the type to let her go hundreds of miles from home with no backup plan.
If I could sum up Locker Nine in one sentence it would be: This is every worst case scenario a prepper prepares for.
Honestly it's one thing to be prepared, but this dad borders on paranoid. No one should have to grow up thinking of all the bad things that could happen to them and carry around everything it would take to save them, but that's Grace in this book. From the key she never takes off her neck to the ginormous truck she drives, complete with armored bumper, Grace is prepared for anything and suspicious of everyone, thanks to dad. I personally couldn't stand to live that way. But of course in this story Grace is right to be suspicious every time. I personally don't think society would deteriorate as quickly as it does in this book. I mean there are thieves and murders lurking around every corner the very next day.
In the beginning of the book there is a coordinated terrorist attack that leaves much of the US without electricity and other important resources. I thought the book would continue on with the point of view of the terrorists, but as soon as the attack happens we never see them again. It was all just the set up for Grace to begin her journey across the US to get home, and an excuse for her to use every single resource her dad has given her, even the armored bumper on the big truck.
Grace is accompanied by her lifelong friend and college roommate, who is the complete opposite of Grace and inexplicably is surprised by some of the things Grace says and does, even though they have been friends since they were 6 years old. One thing that really irked me about this book was the fact that the best friend is portrayed as a rather weak character, but she is also the only character that shows any real emotion in the book. Grace is quite a Mary Sue, as she is good at everything, and shows next to no emotion, even after having to kill someone. There is one time she shows emotion near the end when someone dies, but other than that it's like she's on auto pilot.
There are also chapters from another character's point of view that I disliked a lot, and in the end I felt like his character and several others were just pointless to the plot. I think it would have made more sense if the book had focused on the terrorists and Grace trying to get home and left this other person out. But what really annoyed me the most about this book was that in the end after all that preparation and Mary Sue-ing on Grace's part, someone has to step in and save her because of her one emotional moment.
I also have to add in here that there is a part in the book where someone who has just been pretty much burned to a crisp gets up and walks for miles and does all kinds of other things in this condition, and that shouldn't be possible. Eventually this person knocks at a door and the person who answers the door just opens the door to them without even doing a double take at their appearance. It's like it completely goes unnoticed. I'm pretty sure if someone that looked like that knocked on my door I would hesitate to let them in, or at least want to know what happened to them.
This book was not what my fellow book club members and I thought it was going to be. I think I can definitely say this book was not for me, but if you like post-apocalyptic stories that include a lot of preppers and all that encompasses you might like it.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
If I could sum up Locker Nine in one sentence it would be: This is every worst case scenario a prepper prepares for.
Honestly it's one thing to be prepared, but this dad borders on paranoid. No one should have to grow up thinking of all the bad things that could happen to them and carry around everything it would take to save them, but that's Grace in this book. From the key she never takes off her neck to the ginormous truck she drives, complete with armored bumper, Grace is prepared for anything and suspicious of everyone, thanks to dad. I personally couldn't stand to live that way. But of course in this story Grace is right to be suspicious every time. I personally don't think society would deteriorate as quickly as it does in this book. I mean there are thieves and murders lurking around every corner the very next day.
In the beginning of the book there is a coordinated terrorist attack that leaves much of the US without electricity and other important resources. I thought the book would continue on with the point of view of the terrorists, but as soon as the attack happens we never see them again. It was all just the set up for Grace to begin her journey across the US to get home, and an excuse for her to use every single resource her dad has given her, even the armored bumper on the big truck.
Grace is accompanied by her lifelong friend and college roommate, who is the complete opposite of Grace and inexplicably is surprised by some of the things Grace says and does, even though they have been friends since they were 6 years old. One thing that really irked me about this book was the fact that the best friend is portrayed as a rather weak character, but she is also the only character that shows any real emotion in the book. Grace is quite a Mary Sue, as she is good at everything, and shows next to no emotion, even after having to kill someone. There is one time she shows emotion near the end when someone dies, but other than that it's like she's on auto pilot.
There are also chapters from another character's point of view that I disliked a lot, and in the end I felt like his character and several others were just pointless to the plot. I think it would have made more sense if the book had focused on the terrorists and Grace trying to get home and left this other person out. But what really annoyed me the most about this book was that in the end after all that preparation and Mary Sue-ing on Grace's part, someone has to step in and save her because of her one emotional moment.
I also have to add in here that there is a part in the book where someone who has just been pretty much burned to a crisp gets up and walks for miles and does all kinds of other things in this condition, and that shouldn't be possible. Eventually this person knocks at a door and the person who answers the door just opens the door to them without even doing a double take at their appearance. It's like it completely goes unnoticed. I'm pretty sure if someone that looked like that knocked on my door I would hesitate to let them in, or at least want to know what happened to them.
This book was not what my fellow book club members and I thought it was going to be. I think I can definitely say this book was not for me, but if you like post-apocalyptic stories that include a lot of preppers and all that encompasses you might like it.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
July 7, 2017
4 Stars
Set in what I assume is the same time period as Franklin’s other series, The Borrowed World , this follows college student Grace and how she tries to get home after the US is rendered helpless with no fuel or electricity. Luckily her dad has thought of every contingency should such a horrific thing happen. One has to admire his dogged thoroughness.
Shockingly, stability and morality desolve quickly. The world is forever changed and one must adapt or perish. Survival of the fittest has never been more apt.
Definitely full of adventure, heartbreak, wins and losses. Many a time I was reading behind my fingers due to major anxiety wrought, as our heroine encounters one harrowing situation after the other. The apocalypse more than just sucks, but note, proper preparedness just might save your life. It certainly did so for Grace.
Set in what I assume is the same time period as Franklin’s other series, The Borrowed World , this follows college student Grace and how she tries to get home after the US is rendered helpless with no fuel or electricity. Luckily her dad has thought of every contingency should such a horrific thing happen. One has to admire his dogged thoroughness.
Shockingly, stability and morality desolve quickly. The world is forever changed and one must adapt or perish. Survival of the fittest has never been more apt.
Definitely full of adventure, heartbreak, wins and losses. Many a time I was reading behind my fingers due to major anxiety wrought, as our heroine encounters one harrowing situation after the other. The apocalypse more than just sucks, but note, proper preparedness just might save your life. It certainly did so for Grace.
September 30, 2016
Kick butt heroine. Loved her most of the time, but what happened with her BFF turned me off, although I didn't like that girl at all. This is an excellent read. I regret having to depart with the series so early. Why? Because Not Today.
September 13, 2016
Great narrator! This dystopian survival tale is told in 3rd person POV and set in contemporary Mississippi and Alabama. Main characters include two young women finishing their freshman year in college, a young military veteran in a wheelchair, and a psychopathic computer gamer, plus a few knowledgable and caring adults, including parents.
Premise:
Numerous severe Jihadist bombings strike simultaneously across the United States. Thus, two college roommates (young women) attempt to drive home from their bombed campus in Mississippi, despite nationwide collapse.
Zoe is helpless but Grace is prepared because her father trained her to survive, plus he has stocked up oodles of equipment, supplies, and travel maps for her, in locker #9. As Grace and Zoe begin the 600-mile drive, a psycho begins his own road trip, finding joy in societal collapse, counting the hits in his gleeful killing spree.
The quality of the writing is fine, and there are some helpful survival tips, but too much emotion is glossed over. This book largely ignores the psychological effects of killing, even in self defense. It also ignores the effects of NOT stopping to help people, even in cautious proactive defense.
The first five chapters focus on the POV of the terrorists, but then we never hear any more about that. They felt too stereotyped.
The author never gave a rationale for why the girls needed to brave the highways. Why not stay safely at their first stop? Or their second stop? I wanted to know why the author felt that setting out amidst mayhem and murder was the wisest decision.
Premise:
Numerous severe Jihadist bombings strike simultaneously across the United States. Thus, two college roommates (young women) attempt to drive home from their bombed campus in Mississippi, despite nationwide collapse.
Zoe is helpless but Grace is prepared because her father trained her to survive, plus he has stocked up oodles of equipment, supplies, and travel maps for her, in locker #9. As Grace and Zoe begin the 600-mile drive, a psycho begins his own road trip, finding joy in societal collapse, counting the hits in his gleeful killing spree.
The quality of the writing is fine, and there are some helpful survival tips, but too much emotion is glossed over. This book largely ignores the psychological effects of killing, even in self defense. It also ignores the effects of NOT stopping to help people, even in cautious proactive defense.
The first five chapters focus on the POV of the terrorists, but then we never hear any more about that. They felt too stereotyped.
The author never gave a rationale for why the girls needed to brave the highways. Why not stay safely at their first stop? Or their second stop? I wanted to know why the author felt that setting out amidst mayhem and murder was the wisest decision.
November 2, 2016
It's a DNF for me.
Firstly the whole premise is stupid, the FBI maybe fairly inept but not that inept so I will go with an it ain't going to happen on the whole thing.
On the story apart for that it's just prepper masturbation material.
Firstly the whole premise is stupid, the FBI maybe fairly inept but not that inept so I will go with an it ain't going to happen on the whole thing.
On the story apart for that it's just prepper masturbation material.
September 29, 2016
When a series of bombs blow all over the US at the same time and incapacitate the country, Grace and her roommate decide that they have to return home before it's too late. Thankfully though, Grace's dad is a science fiction writer who makes his living destroying the world, thus he is well capable and prepared for what is happening. Before she left for college, Grace's dad gave her a key to a locker, Locker #9, and told her that she would find what she needed in the event of an emergency. Before the phones went down for good, Robert told Grace to go to the locker and then come home. At the locker Grace finds it stuffed with everything she will need for the trip, like food, water, shelter, weapons and gas etc. He even has maps of the route home with multiple ways to get there "just in case". What follows is Grace's struggle to reach her father, despite a world gone mad!
So many many books like this have a worthy hero in it, one who knows what he is doing and does it well, well, this one has an amazing heroine!! Grace was fantastic!!!! Her dad had prepared her for an eventuality like this so she keeps her head and does what's needed! I loved that she never really hesitated to do what was needed. She knew that when society crumbled, then humanity takes a back seat and people are not to be trusted! She wasn't going to be fooled by some of the things that were happening on the way home and I liked that she was so confident in her self.
The plot of this was really fast paced and intense. The first few chapters we see through the bombers eyes and it was quite scary! Seeing their commitment to their "cause". Then we follow Graces journey, but we also have a psycho gamer that is relishing in this new world. How do they all connect?? Read it to find out, you won't be sorry.
In all this was an amazing, action packed, and addicting read. With compelling characters, a thrilling story line and a book that will immediately grab you, this is a must read!! I can not wait to see more from Grace and her family!!!
Even though this was a mostly female perspective, Kevin Pierce did such a great job with this that I didn't think it mattered that the narrator was male. I've said it time and again, that Kevin Pierce really know how to tell a story. He has such an easy to listen to voice and one that feels familiar, that you start listening to the book and would feel like no time has passed.
*I received a copy of this for review from AudioBook Boom. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
So many many books like this have a worthy hero in it, one who knows what he is doing and does it well, well, this one has an amazing heroine!! Grace was fantastic!!!! Her dad had prepared her for an eventuality like this so she keeps her head and does what's needed! I loved that she never really hesitated to do what was needed. She knew that when society crumbled, then humanity takes a back seat and people are not to be trusted! She wasn't going to be fooled by some of the things that were happening on the way home and I liked that she was so confident in her self.
The plot of this was really fast paced and intense. The first few chapters we see through the bombers eyes and it was quite scary! Seeing their commitment to their "cause". Then we follow Graces journey, but we also have a psycho gamer that is relishing in this new world. How do they all connect?? Read it to find out, you won't be sorry.
In all this was an amazing, action packed, and addicting read. With compelling characters, a thrilling story line and a book that will immediately grab you, this is a must read!! I can not wait to see more from Grace and her family!!!
Even though this was a mostly female perspective, Kevin Pierce did such a great job with this that I didn't think it mattered that the narrator was male. I've said it time and again, that Kevin Pierce really know how to tell a story. He has such an easy to listen to voice and one that feels familiar, that you start listening to the book and would feel like no time has passed.
*I received a copy of this for review from AudioBook Boom. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
September 29, 2016
*I was given a code for this audio book in exchange for an honest review*
**Audible version**
Thrilling!! It had everything, from the preppers to the clueless stoners, and everyone in between. Including a certain character who gave me the heebie jeebies right off the bat!
The plot ran swiftly, keeping me very engaged and interested, and I thought the story's flow was perfect! All throughout, there was that little sliver of fear that kept saying, "this is possible, you know?" It really added to it all for me.
The narrator was wonderful! Only slight voice changes, but you could easily tell when different characters were speaking, and I liked his pacing and emphasis - one of my biggest things when listening to audio books!
**Audible version**
Thrilling!! It had everything, from the preppers to the clueless stoners, and everyone in between. Including a certain character who gave me the heebie jeebies right off the bat!
The plot ran swiftly, keeping me very engaged and interested, and I thought the story's flow was perfect! All throughout, there was that little sliver of fear that kept saying, "this is possible, you know?" It really added to it all for me.
The narrator was wonderful! Only slight voice changes, but you could easily tell when different characters were speaking, and I liked his pacing and emphasis - one of my biggest things when listening to audio books!
November 20, 2016
If you've been paying attention to my reading list, I'll stipulate I'm a fan of the apocalypse. I'm willing to give stories the benefit if they're marginal. This was beyond marginal. Character development was barely paper thin, relying on tropes to "flesh" them out. You're either a good guy with a gun, evil muther hubbard (with a gun natch), or dead. Nothing in between.
The main protagonist Grace is a badass heroine, who I had high hopes for from the start, but I quickly lost faith in the story when the roomate is merely left to be wallpaper, waiting because she's too scared to go into the dorm (while waiting outside when "all hell is breaking loose" following the "terror attack"). My hopes were highest when Horton started with the conspiracy for the attack, but pretty much forgot about it after the triggers were literally pulled. For all of that why bother?
The dad is painted as this "science fiction" writer, but all we hear about is his major prepping skills, and his "gold star" friends. While there have been some SF writers who've been a bit nutty (Heinlein much?), there's no mention of his writing, ideas, or thoughts. Most SF I've been exposed to, even when faced with the "end of the world", has some hopefulness, inclusiveness, or even curiosity at what could be. I got none of that here. The end scene was just a coda, not an ending that rang true with this reader.
Even the big bad sort of left me hanging, with him suddenly becoming strong and resilient following a significant injury. Given the other characters being felled by much less didn't hold water.
The final straw, if a bit piling on, was that every major speaking character following the "terror attack" was a white dude or dudette. Every villain was a person of color, except the slacker gamer; every hero (or potential) was not. This added to the oblique references to the 2016 election cycle (this was published during the summer of 2016) only reinforced this "America is awesome" feeling received from this tale.
Disappointing is putting it mildly.
The main protagonist Grace is a badass heroine, who I had high hopes for from the start, but I quickly lost faith in the story when the roomate is merely left to be wallpaper, waiting because she's too scared to go into the dorm (while waiting outside when "all hell is breaking loose" following the "terror attack"). My hopes were highest when Horton started with the conspiracy for the attack, but pretty much forgot about it after the triggers were literally pulled. For all of that why bother?
The dad is painted as this "science fiction" writer, but all we hear about is his major prepping skills, and his "gold star" friends. While there have been some SF writers who've been a bit nutty (Heinlein much?), there's no mention of his writing, ideas, or thoughts. Most SF I've been exposed to, even when faced with the "end of the world", has some hopefulness, inclusiveness, or even curiosity at what could be. I got none of that here. The end scene was just a coda, not an ending that rang true with this reader.
Even the big bad sort of left me hanging, with him suddenly becoming strong and resilient following a significant injury. Given the other characters being felled by much less didn't hold water.
The final straw, if a bit piling on, was that every major speaking character following the "terror attack" was a white dude or dudette. Every villain was a person of color, except the slacker gamer; every hero (or potential) was not. This added to the oblique references to the 2016 election cycle (this was published during the summer of 2016) only reinforced this "America is awesome" feeling received from this tale.
Disappointing is putting it mildly.
September 9, 2016
Ah... how nice to finally have a story about a competent woman! College freshman Grace Hardwick has been taught from a young child how to fend for herself by her prepper dad, and after a large scale terrorist attack every thing she's learned will be put to the test and mean the difference between life and death and she and her best friend try desperately to get back home.
On a different arc to this story, life long gamer slacker Ray and his friends are heading back home after a road trip, when they get wind of the attacks as they make their way back home, the stress causes Ray behavior to become increasingly erratic and when he finally snaps, the monster he becomes is horrifying!
If there's any criticism it's that I could have done without the political pandering at the beginning. It truly added nothing to the story and could have been left out.
The narration by Kevin Pierce was stellar as usual, he rarely makes a misstep!
I listened to the audiobook version on this book. Overall if you're a post apocalyptic junkie like me you'll love this audiobook too.
This audiobook was given to me at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review, thanks Audiobook Boom.
On a different arc to this story, life long gamer slacker Ray and his friends are heading back home after a road trip, when they get wind of the attacks as they make their way back home, the stress causes Ray behavior to become increasingly erratic and when he finally snaps, the monster he becomes is horrifying!
If there's any criticism it's that I could have done without the political pandering at the beginning. It truly added nothing to the story and could have been left out.
The narration by Kevin Pierce was stellar as usual, he rarely makes a misstep!
I listened to the audiobook version on this book. Overall if you're a post apocalyptic junkie like me you'll love this audiobook too.
This audiobook was given to me at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review, thanks Audiobook Boom.
July 19, 2018
I am not sure if this was gifted to me, or if I bought it....I do know when I saw this was on audio, I was super thrilled...so I think I may have bought it...Either way...Love Kevin Pierce and I love Franklin Horton...great combo here...and if you did gift me this Kevin..THANKS!
Grace is away at college when it happens a major terrorist attack, well lucky for Grace she has been trained for this, and her Dad already has a plan in place for her to get home. She grabs her roomie Zoey and sets off...her dad had given her a key and gps coordinates and tells her he has her all set! She follows the gps instructions and it leads her to a storage facility where her dad has her stocked for her trip home, gas, camping supplies, weapons, food, water and medical supplies, also a notebook of contacts that will help her...her and Zoey load up and take off....they learn quickly that end of the world conditions are not the real challenge its the desperation of other people!
SO AWESOME!!! LOVED IT...AND I THINK IT WAS LEFT OPEN FOR ANOTHER BOOK!!!!
JUST ADD TO YOUR CART NOW AND BUY IT...THANK ME LATER!!!
LOVED IT AGAIN!!! SO GOOD!!!
Grace is away at college when it happens a major terrorist attack, well lucky for Grace she has been trained for this, and her Dad already has a plan in place for her to get home. She grabs her roomie Zoey and sets off...her dad had given her a key and gps coordinates and tells her he has her all set! She follows the gps instructions and it leads her to a storage facility where her dad has her stocked for her trip home, gas, camping supplies, weapons, food, water and medical supplies, also a notebook of contacts that will help her...her and Zoey load up and take off....they learn quickly that end of the world conditions are not the real challenge its the desperation of other people!
SO AWESOME!!! LOVED IT...AND I THINK IT WAS LEFT OPEN FOR ANOTHER BOOK!!!!
JUST ADD TO YOUR CART NOW AND BUY IT...THANK ME LATER!!!
LOVED IT AGAIN!!! SO GOOD!!!
April 17, 2017
Franklin is a new author to me, Kevin Pierce (narrator) is not. Kevin is my absolute favorite narrator ever. Lucky for me he reads books like this, also my favorite kind of book. The SHTF kind. Ok so I really love zombie books too, this isn't a zombie book.
I can say one of the things I enjoyed the most is that it ends. Don't get me wrong I love series books too but I hate when they leave you with a cliffhanger.
I also love when I learn something new or find a new item I need to stockpile or add to my bug out bag. You'll learn a lot from this short novel. The story is really good. The characters are well thought out. I do feel there was a bit of time wasted with the story behind the attacks. It could have been summed up or even glossed over allowing for more travel & adventure.
While there is violence (small spoiler) the one part where a woman is sexually assaulted is only mentioned in a way that you'll know what happened to her.
I will definitely read another book by Horton but I will be even more likely to listen to one if Pierce narrates it.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.
I can say one of the things I enjoyed the most is that it ends. Don't get me wrong I love series books too but I hate when they leave you with a cliffhanger.
I also love when I learn something new or find a new item I need to stockpile or add to my bug out bag. You'll learn a lot from this short novel. The story is really good. The characters are well thought out. I do feel there was a bit of time wasted with the story behind the attacks. It could have been summed up or even glossed over allowing for more travel & adventure.
While there is violence (small spoiler) the one part where a woman is sexually assaulted is only mentioned in a way that you'll know what happened to her.
I will definitely read another book by Horton but I will be even more likely to listen to one if Pierce narrates it.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.
June 24, 2019
Average post apocalyptic tale to appease those who like their SHTF stories fluffy, and faith based. Disappointingly blatant stereotyping on the weed smoking, violent video game playing character, Ray.
Ironic as the author manages to conjure up some pretty horrific, and violent scenes in the book himself.
Dialogue is wooden, and almost childlike in places, and the characters never managed to really stand out from the page.
I was grateful however that the author didn't sink to the embarrassing level, that a lot of U.S based post apocalyptic authors do. To omit swearing. So at least the language was realistic.
In places the story was brutal, which is a credit to the author, but the mourning period for the loss of friends, seem to be about a paragraph.
Ironic as the author manages to conjure up some pretty horrific, and violent scenes in the book himself.
Dialogue is wooden, and almost childlike in places, and the characters never managed to really stand out from the page.
I was grateful however that the author didn't sink to the embarrassing level, that a lot of U.S based post apocalyptic authors do. To omit swearing. So at least the language was realistic.
In places the story was brutal, which is a credit to the author, but the mourning period for the loss of friends, seem to be about a paragraph.
December 13, 2016
A quick listen to be sure. Nothing really new here, we find a typical EMP story. Not much background or character development. An EMP strikes the United States, characters are caught away from home and their travels along with whom and what they ran across are revealed. That’s about it really. One character turns unusually cold-blooded due to the lack of accountability during the crisis and gets away with more than his common abilities should allow. To me it was rather shocking and didn’t fit with the tone of the story up to that point. Kevin Pierce makes it palatable. Three.point.five for the effort.
October 22, 2016
An alternative beginning:
After getting her gear from the room, Grace shot Zoe in the head.
"You'd just slow me down."
This would have eliminated so much whining.
This prepper masturbation aid follows many of the normal paths of such books.
Terrorists attack.
Inept government.
Someone needing to cross the country.
I didn't continue on but wouldn't be surprised if rape gangs were introduced later. They usually are.
"I don't have food to eat or water to drink but I'd sure like some rape!" - every redneck in every survival book ever.
After getting her gear from the room, Grace shot Zoe in the head.
"You'd just slow me down."
This would have eliminated so much whining.
This prepper masturbation aid follows many of the normal paths of such books.
Terrorists attack.
Inept government.
Someone needing to cross the country.
I didn't continue on but wouldn't be surprised if rape gangs were introduced later. They usually are.
"I don't have food to eat or water to drink but I'd sure like some rape!" - every redneck in every survival book ever.
September 25, 2019
comecei e não vou terminar não, autor americano branco colocando muçulmanos como terroristas nao obrigadoooo
July 7, 2017
A very plausible storyline and enchanting tale. A good writer can make you feel emotion throughout an adventure and this book truly does that. Spoiler, Chapter 43 damn near had me in tears!! After reading "The Borrowed World" Series of five books, although this was a one book story, the characters are well developed, the attention to detail of the various activities are amazing and the tale ends with tying up lose ends in 230 print pages (I read it on Kindle).
November 6, 2017
Another page turner by Franklin Horton. As a father of three, I could really identify with the story. I'd hate for my daughter to be in the jeopardy Grace finds herself in.
May 28, 2025
Excellent drama during Post-Apocalyptic times
A college girl and her roommate struggle to return home when the power goes out. This tale follows them and the bad guy of this saga.
A college girl and her roommate struggle to return home when the power goes out. This tale follows them and the bad guy of this saga.
March 22, 2017
I chose this book mainly for the narrator. Kevin Pierce always does an excellent job! The book itself was great. Great prepper info as well as the reality of how being a "gamer" won't help you in the real world. I don't care how many shooter games you played, if you've never handled a gun in real life you're screwed.
September 9, 2016
"" By the rocket's red glare... ""
A series of numerous coordinated terrorist attacks across America causes widespread panic and social breakdown. One of there takes place on a college campus in Oxford, Mississippi. Two students, close friends from childhood, decide to head home. This story follows Grace and Zoe as they try to drive back the several hundred miles through the increasing chaos.
They are better prepared than the average teenager. Grace's father is an avid prepper and has not only given his daughter survival instructions since her childhood, he has also left her an emergency get-home-safe supply in locker number nine.
This is a terrific book and, even allowing for differences between England and the U.S.A. is one which everyone looking to get through a major, widespread disaster should read. So many aspects of security, personal and of property, are touched upon which would be invaluable to know should our small worlds fall apart. Not many people here in the U.K. are proper preppers, though I dare say many of us keep a few extra tins of food tucked away just in case, but Locker Nine brings home just how fragile is our civilised society and how easily people in fear can turn upon others. Following the story of two young people just trying to get back to their families in a time of emergency brings all of this into focus and makes for a thrilling, if chilling, book.
It takes a fine narrator to maintain a sense of reality, of ordinariness in a frightening scenario whist still conveying the fear and excitement of the journey. Kevin Pierce, with his steady, somewhat gravelly voice, does just that. Through him, the listener grows to know and empathise with the two young women, as well as getting to understand why some people go rogue, using the time of emergency to hurt not help.
The book has a slowly increasing tension as social cohesion continues to decay and it is obvious that the journey will not be an easy one no matter how well the travellers think themselves prepared. The ideas will stay with me into the future.
I received a complimentary copy of Locker Nine from the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. My thanks for this. I hope that the review I have written above conveys at least a small part of the pleasure I had in listening to it .
Definitely recommended
A series of numerous coordinated terrorist attacks across America causes widespread panic and social breakdown. One of there takes place on a college campus in Oxford, Mississippi. Two students, close friends from childhood, decide to head home. This story follows Grace and Zoe as they try to drive back the several hundred miles through the increasing chaos.
They are better prepared than the average teenager. Grace's father is an avid prepper and has not only given his daughter survival instructions since her childhood, he has also left her an emergency get-home-safe supply in locker number nine.
This is a terrific book and, even allowing for differences between England and the U.S.A. is one which everyone looking to get through a major, widespread disaster should read. So many aspects of security, personal and of property, are touched upon which would be invaluable to know should our small worlds fall apart. Not many people here in the U.K. are proper preppers, though I dare say many of us keep a few extra tins of food tucked away just in case, but Locker Nine brings home just how fragile is our civilised society and how easily people in fear can turn upon others. Following the story of two young people just trying to get back to their families in a time of emergency brings all of this into focus and makes for a thrilling, if chilling, book.
It takes a fine narrator to maintain a sense of reality, of ordinariness in a frightening scenario whist still conveying the fear and excitement of the journey. Kevin Pierce, with his steady, somewhat gravelly voice, does just that. Through him, the listener grows to know and empathise with the two young women, as well as getting to understand why some people go rogue, using the time of emergency to hurt not help.
The book has a slowly increasing tension as social cohesion continues to decay and it is obvious that the journey will not be an easy one no matter how well the travellers think themselves prepared. The ideas will stay with me into the future.
I received a complimentary copy of Locker Nine from the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. My thanks for this. I hope that the review I have written above conveys at least a small part of the pleasure I had in listening to it .
Definitely recommended
August 18, 2016
A wonderful book and (hopefully) new series by Franklin Horton. I hope this is a start of another series for him. After the amazing story of 'The Borrowed World' trilogy, I'm always ready for more from this author.
The story follows Grace in her first year of college. Everything is new and she has big plans for her upcoming summer break with her best friend, Zoe. When the world turns to chaos from a terrorist attack, her only message from her father is to go to locker nine, and it will help her get home.
A journey home of 600 miles is daunting when she realizes that basic humanity is becoming a threat. Her own perseverance, determination, and the knowledge (and key) that her father gave her will be the only help she can count on.
Do they have the supplies and the means to get home? Is there anyone who can help them? Can she and Zoe make it home safely? Will they survive this...two young girls against the world? The answers to some of those questions can be found in locker nine....when she can locate it.
An outstanding story with action, a great pace, and an unfortunate but realistic glimpse of the depravity of humanity. I highly recommend this. Very well done!
The story follows Grace in her first year of college. Everything is new and she has big plans for her upcoming summer break with her best friend, Zoe. When the world turns to chaos from a terrorist attack, her only message from her father is to go to locker nine, and it will help her get home.
A journey home of 600 miles is daunting when she realizes that basic humanity is becoming a threat. Her own perseverance, determination, and the knowledge (and key) that her father gave her will be the only help she can count on.
Do they have the supplies and the means to get home? Is there anyone who can help them? Can she and Zoe make it home safely? Will they survive this...two young girls against the world? The answers to some of those questions can be found in locker nine....when she can locate it.
An outstanding story with action, a great pace, and an unfortunate but realistic glimpse of the depravity of humanity. I highly recommend this. Very well done!
April 4, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. This book takes a different view of getting home in the event of SHTF. Many of the books in this genre deal with a parent separated from the family and trying to get home. This story focuses on the daughter of a Prepper, who is away from home at collage when the U.S. suffers a terrorist attack.
Grace Hardwick is a no nonsense independent strong young woman and a great character. Even though she has been raised with or taught all her life what to do in this type of situation, it will take every skill and resource she has as well as a little luck to get back home after SHTF. Very entertaining and engaging listen.
This is the 4th book by Franklin Horton I have read, and I have enjoyed every one of them. He has definitely made a fan out of me.
Kevin Pierce does a another fantastic job with the narration. He has the perfect voice for this type of story. Great character voices. Clearly spoken with a smooth even pace. You are never disappointed when he is doing the narration.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.com
Grace Hardwick is a no nonsense independent strong young woman and a great character. Even though she has been raised with or taught all her life what to do in this type of situation, it will take every skill and resource she has as well as a little luck to get back home after SHTF. Very entertaining and engaging listen.
This is the 4th book by Franklin Horton I have read, and I have enjoyed every one of them. He has definitely made a fan out of me.
Kevin Pierce does a another fantastic job with the narration. He has the perfect voice for this type of story. Great character voices. Clearly spoken with a smooth even pace. You are never disappointed when he is doing the narration.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.com
January 14, 2025
****SPOILERS*****
This is one of the best "Prepper Novels" I have ever read. It has a lot of good ideas for dealing with sending a child away to college. The author has some great ideas, and isn't afraid to put your favorite characters into danger. Great real life info and a great fictional story. Couldn't ask for more.
The one complaint that I have is one I have with many books of the genre. He didn't spend a lot of time developing the traveling companion as a character I could relate to. The brutality of her death was well played and drew pathos from the reader, but it would have been more effective had she been more developed. A few paragraphs about trying to train her which didn't save her because training is a lifestyle and you can't get a blackbelt in 2 lessons.
Anyway, that being covered, I found the ideas in the book new and refreshing. It made me think about my own kids going away to school in a few years and what I could do to make them safer. Locker Nine was a good look from a different angle at the way things can go sideways in an uncivilized world.
This is one of the best "Prepper Novels" I have ever read. It has a lot of good ideas for dealing with sending a child away to college. The author has some great ideas, and isn't afraid to put your favorite characters into danger. Great real life info and a great fictional story. Couldn't ask for more.
The one complaint that I have is one I have with many books of the genre. He didn't spend a lot of time developing the traveling companion as a character I could relate to. The brutality of her death was well played and drew pathos from the reader, but it would have been more effective had she been more developed. A few paragraphs about trying to train her which didn't save her because training is a lifestyle and you can't get a blackbelt in 2 lessons.
Anyway, that being covered, I found the ideas in the book new and refreshing. It made me think about my own kids going away to school in a few years and what I could do to make them safer. Locker Nine was a good look from a different angle at the way things can go sideways in an uncivilized world.
October 22, 2016
Grace Hardwick's college life has changed when her school and other parts of the US are attacked. She gets a call through to her dad, Robert, who writes books about the apocalypse and prepping, he reminds her to use the key he gave her, Grace is confused but he just says use the key before being cut off. Once she follows the coordinates on the key and finds a fully stocked storage locker, locker number nine, of everything she will need to get home. This is the story of that trek home.
This is a exciting, action packed, suspense filled book. I really enjoyed it and think it would be really cool to have a dad like Grace's. You also get some glimpses into Grace's childhood which is really insightful and awesome. I had the audio version narrated by Kevin Pierce who did such a awesome job on this book I can't wait for more. Mr. Pierce really ahs a way with bringing these characters to life and giving you someone to root for in these tough times.
This is a exciting, action packed, suspense filled book. I really enjoyed it and think it would be really cool to have a dad like Grace's. You also get some glimpses into Grace's childhood which is really insightful and awesome. I had the audio version narrated by Kevin Pierce who did such a awesome job on this book I can't wait for more. Mr. Pierce really ahs a way with bringing these characters to life and giving you someone to root for in these tough times.
May 31, 2025
Great introduction into different Franklin Horton series!
Locker 9, book 1 in Franklin Horton's The Locker 9 series tells the story of a massive terrorist attack on national infrastructure and how the main protagonist Grace, along with her friend Zoe, deal with the aftermath of the attacks. She faces both random violence and an attack by a deranged man who believes life became Grand Theft Auto. Everything comes to a head at the ranch of a friend of Grace's father and not everyone lives to tell the tale or walks away unhurt. The writing is every bit as excellent as I've come to expect from anything Horton writes, with great characters, excellent placing and immaculate plotting. If you're a fan of survival thrillers, or thrillers in general, Locker 9 will not disappoint! 5/5 stars!
Locker 9, book 1 in Franklin Horton's The Locker 9 series tells the story of a massive terrorist attack on national infrastructure and how the main protagonist Grace, along with her friend Zoe, deal with the aftermath of the attacks. She faces both random violence and an attack by a deranged man who believes life became Grand Theft Auto. Everything comes to a head at the ranch of a friend of Grace's father and not everyone lives to tell the tale or walks away unhurt. The writing is every bit as excellent as I've come to expect from anything Horton writes, with great characters, excellent placing and immaculate plotting. If you're a fan of survival thrillers, or thrillers in general, Locker 9 will not disappoint! 5/5 stars!
May 24, 2017
The premise for this sounded so promising, but the execution was lacking for me. Partly, the audiobook narrator for this book did not really do the female characters justice in my opinion - they came across very flat, and I thought it was an odd choice to have a male narrator when the book is supposedly about a young woman. I realize now that there is an alternative male POV and we focus on him for roughly half the book as well, but when I first picked it up, it threw me given the synopsis provided. And the other thing that fell flat for me was the storytelling style - everything was laid out for me very bluntly and shallowly. I felt I was constantly just skimming the surface of the events happening and never got a chance to really know our protagonist.
August 30, 2016
This book started off great, really fast paced. I loved the set up at the beginning. Once the story is set we are introduced to our main character, and things happen quickly. We also get a story from a side character which became more interesting as the story progresses. At first there was a lot of suspense and action. but around the 70-80% mark in this book it bogs down, becoming slow, and at many points I kept rolling my eyes. The main characters whole story seems to be on pause as she waits things out at a farm. The last few chapters pick back up, but not enough to gain anything higher than 2 stars for me.
December 11, 2019
I am being generous with 3 stars here. Typically in this genre, an apocalyptic event (nukes, EMP, Meteor, Alien invasion, virus, etc) leads to sudden panic followed by slow decline in civilization. This story depicts a terrorist attack, and within hours, society has broken down entirely. I was mildly offended that the author depicted civil collapse as a video game and that Grand Theft Auto is an adequate training method for the end of times. The protagonist wavered between highly trained survivalist to incompetent idiot. I suppose if I were a prepper or "off the grid" type, I might have appreciated this more...it was basically an anthem to them. Meh....pass on any further of these.
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