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Sympatico Syndrome #2
Isolation
Cole Evans thought he'd found a safe haven for his family and a growing band of survivors of the most lethal virus the world has ever known. But he finds continued survival is far from guaranteed as they battle hostile encounters with other survivors, nature, and devastating accidents. Are they prepared to survive their first brutal Wisconsin winter after the rest of the world has perished?
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2017
1032 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
M.P. McDonald
26 books180 followersM.P. McDonald makes a living from taking your breath away... then giving it back via a tube or two. She lives in a frozen land full of ice, snow, and abominable snowmen. On the days that she's not taking her car ice-skating, she sits huddled over a chilly computer, tapping out the story of a camera that can see the future. She hopes it can see summer approaching, too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
July 10, 2018
This is the continuation of Infection:A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Novel (Sympatico Syndrome Book 1).
Survival isn't all that easy without all the modern conveniences as Cole and his family find out. And there are other survivor's out there that may or may not be that friendly. Then there is the worry about having enough food to survive the brutal Wisconsin weather. They begin to realize that they will have to become hunter gatherers and travel farther and farther from their island. They all realize that they have strengths that will help all the others. Thankfully Cole's brothers wife is a nurse--although medical supplies are almost non existent. A couple more people are added to their band including 2 very young children that were found in one of the houses they scavenged. They managed to have a Christmas where all the gifts were handmade--
This one ends with the group trying to decide if just maybe they should try to move a bit south where the weather isn't so brutal.
Yes, I have the 3rd and final book in this series and you will see it reviewed on my blog--keep your eye out for it.
Isolation: A Pandemic Survival Novel
Survival isn't all that easy without all the modern conveniences as Cole and his family find out. And there are other survivor's out there that may or may not be that friendly. Then there is the worry about having enough food to survive the brutal Wisconsin weather. They begin to realize that they will have to become hunter gatherers and travel farther and farther from their island. They all realize that they have strengths that will help all the others. Thankfully Cole's brothers wife is a nurse--although medical supplies are almost non existent. A couple more people are added to their band including 2 very young children that were found in one of the houses they scavenged. They managed to have a Christmas where all the gifts were handmade--
This one ends with the group trying to decide if just maybe they should try to move a bit south where the weather isn't so brutal.
Yes, I have the 3rd and final book in this series and you will see it reviewed on my blog--keep your eye out for it.
Isolation: A Pandemic Survival Novel
July 30, 2023
Good summertime read - you can set it aside, but then you are right back into it as soon as you pick it up.
March 31, 2019
This is part 2 of the Sympatico Syndrome series.
In this volume, the group settles in to prepare for winter (winters must be very harsh in Wisconsin!) and it's mostly about dealing with the lack of modern conveniences, lack of food, lack of medicines, etc. It's very realistic (that's not a criticism) but there is not as much action or adventure as there was in the first book. There is some - they come across some other people and spend a lot of time scavenging, hunting, dealing with accidents and illnesses. The hunting and 'field dressing' descriptions are a bit gory but I've only ever eaten meat from a supermarket, and had to look up field dressing. I'd certainly want to team up with people like these as they know a lot about foraging and hunting. I had no idea you could make flour from acorns, or eat reed roots. One thing which annoyed me - they scavenged a lot but no-one though to look for two-way radios or CB sets? Would have saved a lot of trouble.
I will move on to book 3 (Invasion) soon and hope the action picks up a bit.
In this volume, the group settles in to prepare for winter (winters must be very harsh in Wisconsin!) and it's mostly about dealing with the lack of modern conveniences, lack of food, lack of medicines, etc. It's very realistic (that's not a criticism) but there is not as much action or adventure as there was in the first book. There is some - they come across some other people and spend a lot of time scavenging, hunting, dealing with accidents and illnesses. The hunting and 'field dressing' descriptions are a bit gory but I've only ever eaten meat from a supermarket, and had to look up field dressing. I'd certainly want to team up with people like these as they know a lot about foraging and hunting. I had no idea you could make flour from acorns, or eat reed roots. One thing which annoyed me - they scavenged a lot but no-one though to look for two-way radios or CB sets? Would have saved a lot of trouble.
I will move on to book 3 (Invasion) soon and hope the action picks up a bit.
May 13, 2018
Great premise, good editing, so so execution
Everyone is always freaking out and going to look for everyone for want of a couple of cheap walkie talkies from Wal-Mart and some AA batteries. Come on the CDC public health lady, electrician, avid hunter and outdoorsman, nurse, and Navy epidemiologist didn't think of radios? There are several annoying holes in the plot like that. Otherwise I liked the premise but got bored with it and skimmed to get to the end.
Everyone is always freaking out and going to look for everyone for want of a couple of cheap walkie talkies from Wal-Mart and some AA batteries. Come on the CDC public health lady, electrician, avid hunter and outdoorsman, nurse, and Navy epidemiologist didn't think of radios? There are several annoying holes in the plot like that. Otherwise I liked the premise but got bored with it and skimmed to get to the end.
February 16, 2021
The continuation of Cole and his family surviving in a world where an
Awful virus has killed millions of people. Coles brother Sean is also with him
And many times their hierarchy comes out. Cole is an epidemiologists and knows every thing
About virus etc. where Sean is more hands on and can build and make things work. More than
Once Sean questions why Cole seems to always take charge in the decisions. I suppose that’s sibling rivalry never ends. I very much enjoyed that “ every single thing” is useable, regardless of what it is.
Nothing gets wasted. I found it interesting how Cole meets other people and has to use his
Gut feelings to decide whether or not to allow them into their group. Hunter, Coles son finds two horses, there are goats, chickens and other random children that get involved with this group.
Cole does ALOT thinking throughout the book. Always planning for the next step.
Basically everything falls on him to get organized and done. Naturally there are very sad
Parts to the story and after Tate (Sean’s son) dies of the virus I had expected a little more
Mourning and sadness. Nope! They buried him and keep going. It almost seems like Tate was just an afterthought. He rarely gets mentioned...
I enjoy the easy read and am fascinated at how they mange to makes things work out of nothing
Almost. Personally I’d like having Cole with me if there were a situation like this book.
They are on the Island for almost a year, tracking back and forth to the mainland to obtain whatever they can get to use. Their-winter was harsh naturally but they always make things work.
It’s a page turner for sure.
Awful virus has killed millions of people. Coles brother Sean is also with him
And many times their hierarchy comes out. Cole is an epidemiologists and knows every thing
About virus etc. where Sean is more hands on and can build and make things work. More than
Once Sean questions why Cole seems to always take charge in the decisions. I suppose that’s sibling rivalry never ends. I very much enjoyed that “ every single thing” is useable, regardless of what it is.
Nothing gets wasted. I found it interesting how Cole meets other people and has to use his
Gut feelings to decide whether or not to allow them into their group. Hunter, Coles son finds two horses, there are goats, chickens and other random children that get involved with this group.
Cole does ALOT thinking throughout the book. Always planning for the next step.
Basically everything falls on him to get organized and done. Naturally there are very sad
Parts to the story and after Tate (Sean’s son) dies of the virus I had expected a little more
Mourning and sadness. Nope! They buried him and keep going. It almost seems like Tate was just an afterthought. He rarely gets mentioned...
I enjoy the easy read and am fascinated at how they mange to makes things work out of nothing
Almost. Personally I’d like having Cole with me if there were a situation like this book.
They are on the Island for almost a year, tracking back and forth to the mainland to obtain whatever they can get to use. Their-winter was harsh naturally but they always make things work.
It’s a page turner for sure.
May 31, 2017
Wonderful series!
This is book 2 in the Sympatico Syndrome series and if you haven't read the first book, you need to before you read this one! "Isolation" begins immediately where book 1, " Infection " leaves off. The pandemic has swept through civilization and there appears to be few survivors. The main character, Cole, has assembled his family and a few stragglers on his island and they have all managed to stay infection free during their struggle to get to the Island. ( read book 1) All but one, Coles nephew. After having to deal with his nephew's infection, Cole tries desperately to keep the rest of his "family" safe. He also must make sure they all work together to survive the coming winter. This isn't easy when they must face many threats from nature and man. Mistakes are made that threaten lives, evil people are still around and must be dealt with and trial and error play a part in survival itself. There are many things they find they don't know about and must learn. This book should be a wake up call to us all in not only preparedness, but in our lack of knowledge in basic things we might need to know in any long term disaster situation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and encourage you to read this series. As there was a soft cliff hanger, I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series!
This is book 2 in the Sympatico Syndrome series and if you haven't read the first book, you need to before you read this one! "Isolation" begins immediately where book 1, " Infection " leaves off. The pandemic has swept through civilization and there appears to be few survivors. The main character, Cole, has assembled his family and a few stragglers on his island and they have all managed to stay infection free during their struggle to get to the Island. ( read book 1) All but one, Coles nephew. After having to deal with his nephew's infection, Cole tries desperately to keep the rest of his "family" safe. He also must make sure they all work together to survive the coming winter. This isn't easy when they must face many threats from nature and man. Mistakes are made that threaten lives, evil people are still around and must be dealt with and trial and error play a part in survival itself. There are many things they find they don't know about and must learn. This book should be a wake up call to us all in not only preparedness, but in our lack of knowledge in basic things we might need to know in any long term disaster situation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and encourage you to read this series. As there was a soft cliff hanger, I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series!
July 21, 2019
This flows seamlessly from the first book, picking up right where it left off, so there’s no noticeable bump in the road. There is enough lightly-sprinkled backstory throughout the book that if it had been awhile between volumes you could catch up, but not so much that the reader is groaning and skimming for pages for new material.
The characters continue to grow and develop as they struggle with slowly encountering other survivors, and having to make the difficult decisions on whether to reach out to others or pull back and continue to live in Isolation. Again, they react in very normal, human ways—bad encounters make them more cautious about reaching out next time, and good encounters cause them to rethink moving back into the world. These remain “just people” who are doing the best they can. They’re all getting better at survival, but none of them have become superheroes.
I know I keep saying this, but I just can’t get over how good the writing and characterization are. It’s compelling drama even when they’re trying to move frozen deer meat or cutting holes for ice fishing. This is a high, high recommendation from me, and even if post-apocalyptic isn’t normally your style, this is still well worth the read.
The characters continue to grow and develop as they struggle with slowly encountering other survivors, and having to make the difficult decisions on whether to reach out to others or pull back and continue to live in Isolation. Again, they react in very normal, human ways—bad encounters make them more cautious about reaching out next time, and good encounters cause them to rethink moving back into the world. These remain “just people” who are doing the best they can. They’re all getting better at survival, but none of them have become superheroes.
I know I keep saying this, but I just can’t get over how good the writing and characterization are. It’s compelling drama even when they’re trying to move frozen deer meat or cutting holes for ice fishing. This is a high, high recommendation from me, and even if post-apocalyptic isn’t normally your style, this is still well worth the read.
June 29, 2020
A very well written pandemic series by M.P. McDonald. Written well before COVID
Cole is a widowed epidemiologist who has retired from the army and is now renovating houses. His son is in college and his brother and sister-in-law live nearby with their son and daughter.
One day he gets a phonecall from a co-worker he battled ebola with in Africa called Elly. She warns him a virus has escaped a navy lab on an island and that she expects that 95% of the world population will be dying from it in the coming week. So he best bunkers down somewhere save but only to warn the people dear to him as otherwise the chaos will make his survival hopeless too.
Cole decides to try to reach the island he has inherited in Lake Michigan and warns his family members to go there too.
The story is with our COVID experience still going on quite eerie and familiar. But the first novel was written in 2016!
Some of the group survive the outbreak and survive a cold winter in an idyllic spot so I was flabbergasted when Cole thought it necessary to leave there. And that is when the author shows how good she is as most writers will just let their survivors scavenge and farm.
Cole is a widowed epidemiologist who has retired from the army and is now renovating houses. His son is in college and his brother and sister-in-law live nearby with their son and daughter.
One day he gets a phonecall from a co-worker he battled ebola with in Africa called Elly. She warns him a virus has escaped a navy lab on an island and that she expects that 95% of the world population will be dying from it in the coming week. So he best bunkers down somewhere save but only to warn the people dear to him as otherwise the chaos will make his survival hopeless too.
Cole decides to try to reach the island he has inherited in Lake Michigan and warns his family members to go there too.
The story is with our COVID experience still going on quite eerie and familiar. But the first novel was written in 2016!
Some of the group survive the outbreak and survive a cold winter in an idyllic spot so I was flabbergasted when Cole thought it necessary to leave there. And that is when the author shows how good she is as most writers will just let their survivors scavenge and farm.
October 3, 2019
The next step in the saga...
Just as good as the first! I read it in one sitting except for making a cup of tea.
Still very, very good editing and only one word tripped me up in Chapter 1. There seems to be a conflict about Hunter’s roommate Chris being a frequent midweek party animal. Sorry, my cut and paste isn’t working right now, or more honestly, I’m not sure how it works in this specific app. Anyways, I’m confident it will be found easily.
I really appreciate not being left with the traditional cliffhanger ending for these first two books. We are given a good bit of resolution. Since MS McDonald doesn’t use this cheap device to motivate me to read the next one in the trilogy, I really admire her skills all the more.
Because of a very brief synopsis at the beginning of #2, I think they could almost be stand alone novels. That is remarkable evidence of her skill.
Ok, it’s past 3 am and I have one more to read!
Enjoy!!!
Just as good as the first! I read it in one sitting except for making a cup of tea.
Still very, very good editing and only one word tripped me up in Chapter 1. There seems to be a conflict about Hunter’s roommate Chris being a frequent midweek party animal. Sorry, my cut and paste isn’t working right now, or more honestly, I’m not sure how it works in this specific app. Anyways, I’m confident it will be found easily.
I really appreciate not being left with the traditional cliffhanger ending for these first two books. We are given a good bit of resolution. Since MS McDonald doesn’t use this cheap device to motivate me to read the next one in the trilogy, I really admire her skills all the more.
Because of a very brief synopsis at the beginning of #2, I think they could almost be stand alone novels. That is remarkable evidence of her skill.
Ok, it’s past 3 am and I have one more to read!
Enjoy!!!
June 9, 2017
The premise of this series is a virus that wiped out many, maybe most, of the world’s population. This band of survivors believe they’ve outlasted the virus although they still take precautions in many situations. In this second volume of the series they’ve survived the initial problems and are trying to figure out the long term.
I found the world they’re living in, the premise, and the things they have to work out an interesting mind exercise to go through with them. Of course, there is much more than planning involved as accidents happen, plus other survivors pop up from time to time and it isn’t clear who is friend and who foe. Not to mention the issues involved in a Wisconsin winter. I’m looking forward to the next in the series to see where things go from here.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
I found the world they’re living in, the premise, and the things they have to work out an interesting mind exercise to go through with them. Of course, there is much more than planning involved as accidents happen, plus other survivors pop up from time to time and it isn’t clear who is friend and who foe. Not to mention the issues involved in a Wisconsin winter. I’m looking forward to the next in the series to see where things go from here.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
March 18, 2018
This books follows everyone who made it through the first book as they survive on and around their island, which happens to be someplace very cold in the winter, so not exactly a picnic. This one wasn't as exciting, but it was still worth a read.
I liked that there were other survivors who seemed bad, or at least did bad things, but the book didn't set up the extremely tiresome "big bad" and drag everything down while we make room for "THE VILLAIN". The Apocalypse should be THE adversary in a story like this and the author let that happen in this book.
Again, good characters, decent action.
Minor quibbles:
1. Enough of the shopping lists already.
2. Not sure I buy the ending. The big reveal and the plan for book 3 both seem kind of far-fetched, but we'll see when it comes out.
I liked that there were other survivors who seemed bad, or at least did bad things, but the book didn't set up the extremely tiresome "big bad" and drag everything down while we make room for "THE VILLAIN". The Apocalypse should be THE adversary in a story like this and the author let that happen in this book.
Again, good characters, decent action.
Minor quibbles:
1. Enough of the shopping lists already.
2. Not sure I buy the ending. The big reveal and the plan for book 3 both seem kind of far-fetched, but we'll see when it comes out.
March 20, 2018
I think what makes this such a fun, easy read is the relatability of the whole story. It takes place in Wisconsin, not far from my homeland, and I am VERY familiar with the deep freeze of the winters there. Anyone who lives in the Midwest is going to feel every chill and snowflake on each page. The people are just regular folks, doing regular folks things as they try to survive the isolation of a post-apocalyptic world. They fight with family, work together, and make some REALLY BONEHEADED mistakes.
(Two grown men remember sanitary supplies for their women on a scavenging trip, but somehow CONDOMS never cross their minds, even though they're in the same aisle in most stores.)
This book isn't about the end of the world. It's about surviving so that the human race can rebuild. It's a kind, hopeful story with an ambiguous ending. Most Americans can probably relate.
(Two grown men remember sanitary supplies for their women on a scavenging trip, but somehow CONDOMS never cross their minds, even though they're in the same aisle in most stores.)
This book isn't about the end of the world. It's about surviving so that the human race can rebuild. It's a kind, hopeful story with an ambiguous ending. Most Americans can probably relate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2018
The book seems to flit about with an inconsistent timeline. It jumps from being incredibly detailed in parts, with pages devoted to shopping, items they found, some they didn't,.... And on and on. Then to a severe lack of detail in other events, one gets shot, and it's hardly mentioned. It it very difficult to get a handle on the time sequence, there seems no logical flow. Survival is relatively easy for these people, they make no difficult decisions, nor are they pushed to make any. They add numbers to their group without thought of consequences. Characters lie dormant and then reappear..... The whole plot lacks any real direction. Now planning a move to Las Vegas,... Really, I live in Northern Ireland, never been to Vegas, but I would suggest a move to somewhere fertile might be a better move.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2021
This book was much slower than the first and had a rather uneven quality to the flow of the story. I like how they are working together and trying to solve problems, but it seems like they miss a lot of stuff when salvaging. There have to be radios that would be useful so they are not always wondering when someone is going to return (and therefore not always try to charge out to find them). In that part of Wisconsin, there should be snowmobiles and other vehicles that might be useful, equipment to set up a greenhouse etc. Cole gets shot yet feels like they should stop to get the windmill parts before getting him to some medical care? The kidnapping part was really weak. You have a group of elderly people on the brink of starvation but they are focused on enslavement and repopulation? Nah. I'm really on the fence about continuing.
April 8, 2023
Where did I find it: on a Facebook advert.
What I liked: that it was simply a great story, brilliantly told. It switched between three viewpoints. Cole, mentioned in the blurb, his son Hunter, and his friend, Elly. The latter two were making their way across country to the island where Cole was. They each had their own adventure getting there, and it was riveting reading.
What I didn’t like: there was nothing I didn’t like. If I wanted to be really picky, there were paragraphs where the same word was repeated, which made it jar. But on the whole, I saw no spelling errors, no editing problems and was just lost in the storyline.
Overall: I loved this story. I loved the premise. No bad zombies or horrible men out for themselves, as in previous books I’ve read. Just a really good and entertaining storyline. Best thing is I can move straight on to the next one. Highly recommended for apocalyptic and series lovers.
What I liked: that it was simply a great story, brilliantly told. It switched between three viewpoints. Cole, mentioned in the blurb, his son Hunter, and his friend, Elly. The latter two were making their way across country to the island where Cole was. They each had their own adventure getting there, and it was riveting reading.
What I didn’t like: there was nothing I didn’t like. If I wanted to be really picky, there were paragraphs where the same word was repeated, which made it jar. But on the whole, I saw no spelling errors, no editing problems and was just lost in the storyline.
Overall: I loved this story. I loved the premise. No bad zombies or horrible men out for themselves, as in previous books I’ve read. Just a really good and entertaining storyline. Best thing is I can move straight on to the next one. Highly recommended for apocalyptic and series lovers.
June 14, 2023
Do your Homework
People who write books and include animals need to do their homework. Those 2 horses would not be wearing their shoes for that long. The feet grow spread nail,holes get loose shoes fall,off. There is no mention of getting the any hay. Saw dust is fine but on a concrete garage floor you need more than 4 inches to cushion them. Feed yes oats work but they need quit a bit of grain once grass is gone. Chickens you do know they moult and slow down laying over the winter. You can feed them table scraps. You did get the male goats right. Also might be good to mention what they lined their deer skin gloves with. Soft and supple but require a lining for warmth. Hey and while they were getting tampons why not condoms?
People who write books and include animals need to do their homework. Those 2 horses would not be wearing their shoes for that long. The feet grow spread nail,holes get loose shoes fall,off. There is no mention of getting the any hay. Saw dust is fine but on a concrete garage floor you need more than 4 inches to cushion them. Feed yes oats work but they need quit a bit of grain once grass is gone. Chickens you do know they moult and slow down laying over the winter. You can feed them table scraps. You did get the male goats right. Also might be good to mention what they lined their deer skin gloves with. Soft and supple but require a lining for warmth. Hey and while they were getting tampons why not condoms?
September 22, 2017
Before you read this one, please note it is the second book of a series: you need to read Infection: A Pandemic Survival Novel (Sympatico Syndrome Book 1) first, or the situations, characters, etc., won’t make much sense to you.
The author picks the story up right where book one ended. If you’ve read other post-apocalyptic novels you will see a lot of similarities, but the author’s writing style is relaxed and makes you feel as if you are right in the middle of the story and living it out yourself. The ending did leave it open for a seuquel, but it did have enough of an ending for me that it could be complete if the author so desired. If a sequel is published, I would purchase it.
The author picks the story up right where book one ended. If you’ve read other post-apocalyptic novels you will see a lot of similarities, but the author’s writing style is relaxed and makes you feel as if you are right in the middle of the story and living it out yourself. The ending did leave it open for a seuquel, but it did have enough of an ending for me that it could be complete if the author so desired. If a sequel is published, I would purchase it.
November 5, 2017
Realistic Apocalypse
This book had just the right amount of terror and violence balanced with a realistic approach to surviving an apocalypse. The island group applied their skills to survive...planting a garden.; canning food; gathering meds and weapons. Their enemies were of the humankind and their problems were ongoing with with no easy fixes. The only small criticism I have is the time line. Some complicated tasks were too easily solved. For example planting a garden and harvesting it requires more time than what was indicated. That being said, I would still definitely buy the next book in this series. I d like to know. Did they stay or go?
This book had just the right amount of terror and violence balanced with a realistic approach to surviving an apocalypse. The island group applied their skills to survive...planting a garden.; canning food; gathering meds and weapons. Their enemies were of the humankind and their problems were ongoing with with no easy fixes. The only small criticism I have is the time line. Some complicated tasks were too easily solved. For example planting a garden and harvesting it requires more time than what was indicated. That being said, I would still definitely buy the next book in this series. I d like to know. Did they stay or go?
January 6, 2023
Great story line but needs some editing.
Great story line. Good flow between chapters making it hard to put down. As with all good books, this series could use a good second-party editor to remove unneeded commas and other grammatical oversights. Recurring phrases such as “his dad” should often be replaced with “Cole" in places that don’t contain a direct reference to Hunter. Found myself re-reading many paragraphs that could have been provided with a better flow of thought. A good editor can spot these breaks in flow and offer corrections. Overall, well thought out and written. I can’t wait to get to the next book!
Great story line. Good flow between chapters making it hard to put down. As with all good books, this series could use a good second-party editor to remove unneeded commas and other grammatical oversights. Recurring phrases such as “his dad” should often be replaced with “Cole" in places that don’t contain a direct reference to Hunter. Found myself re-reading many paragraphs that could have been provided with a better flow of thought. A good editor can spot these breaks in flow and offer corrections. Overall, well thought out and written. I can’t wait to get to the next book!
September 15, 2023
This is one of my favourite apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic thriller series. As I mentioned in my little review of the first book, much of the tension comes from encounters with healthy people who never catch the virus but who turn savage without a legal system to keep them in check. In this book, there are no more infected people; they're all dead. More suspense arises from the characters' struggle to survive in a hostile, wild, snowy environment. The genius of the series is how relatable the characters become and how readers are made to feel like we're living and battling the odds along with them.
June 8, 2017
Very good post-apocalyptic novel, the second in its series, that strikes the right balance between the technical aspects of "prepping" for a disaster and the human side of living through such an event. This book features great characters and just enough action interspersed with details about how this family (with friends, too) manages to survive in a world where disease has killed off a large percentage of humanity.
It ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, and I definitely want more, even moreso than after finishing Book 1. Looking forward to future installments of the series.
It ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger, and I definitely want more, even moreso than after finishing Book 1. Looking forward to future installments of the series.
July 19, 2019
Cole and family and friends try to survive a harsh winter on the island after most of the people in the world died from sympatico syndrome.
I enjoyed the realism of family infighting and irritations. I like reading about the scavenging for food or usable items. But why not find a ham radio or cb or at least walkie talkies? Why not grab some condoms while out looking for meds? There are male and female teens and adults in this island folks!
I enjoyed this book but not quite as much as the first book. Definitely engaged with the story and characters and I’m starting book 3 right now!
I enjoyed the realism of family infighting and irritations. I like reading about the scavenging for food or usable items. But why not find a ham radio or cb or at least walkie talkies? Why not grab some condoms while out looking for meds? There are male and female teens and adults in this island folks!
I enjoyed this book but not quite as much as the first book. Definitely engaged with the story and characters and I’m starting book 3 right now!
December 19, 2019
Two down, one to go, I love this series. The first book grabbed me and the second sucked me in. I hope the third lives up to these two. Honestly I’m almost tempted to become a prepper and start hoarding supplies for the inevitable downfall these books say is coming. That’s probably why I like them cause they scare the crap out of me. If nothing else it makes me more conscious of what I waste and how to be better at conserving things. This should be required reading in school for all teens to learn how to survive without a cell phone in their hands!
January 22, 2026
Isolation (Sympatico Syndrome) is the second book in the series by M. P McDonald. At this point Cole Evans and his family are struggling to survive after a killer disease has taken so many. But the while you have the disease is around the biggest thing to fear may other survivors.
I wanted to like this book but I there were times I thought that the characters were making dumb choices and I wanted to scream at them. And as another reviewer pointed out why didn't they have any radios?
Overall, it was a decent book or in my case Audible book, but not much more.
I wanted to like this book but I there were times I thought that the characters were making dumb choices and I wanted to scream at them. And as another reviewer pointed out why didn't they have any radios?
Overall, it was a decent book or in my case Audible book, but not much more.
November 6, 2017
Loved this, great plot, characters and actually realistic scenarios
It seems everyone has read a SHTF end of the world book lately and most have the characters doing stupid stuff or magically finding everything they need. This pelt was well thought out, and I could actually picture people behaving as the author described. Picks right up from the first book, and I hope another will be released soon. I could easily see this as a television show :)
It seems everyone has read a SHTF end of the world book lately and most have the characters doing stupid stuff or magically finding everything they need. This pelt was well thought out, and I could actually picture people behaving as the author described. Picks right up from the first book, and I hope another will be released soon. I could easily see this as a television show :)
February 4, 2018
Apocalypse without the element of Mad Max
Book 2 of the Sympatico Syndrome trilogy is better then the first. Almost nothing has happened in my life except reading since I started reading about this family and their challenges and triumphs of survival and even joy when a disease wipes out almost all of the human race. I am so very so very tired from not sleeping since I am a slow reader and can’t stop reading their story. Don’t miss it!
Book 2 of the Sympatico Syndrome trilogy is better then the first. Almost nothing has happened in my life except reading since I started reading about this family and their challenges and triumphs of survival and even joy when a disease wipes out almost all of the human race. I am so very so very tired from not sleeping since I am a slow reader and can’t stop reading their story. Don’t miss it!
April 19, 2018
Wouldn't waste my time or money on this one
Really didn't hold my attention as well as the first book. The first book had moments it dragged on but the second book dragged on and on without anything really important happening, basically boring. The book abruptly stopped. There was no climax and no ending, no resolution. Very disappointed with the way the book just stopped without an ending. I wouldn't waste my time reading the third one.
Really didn't hold my attention as well as the first book. The first book had moments it dragged on but the second book dragged on and on without anything really important happening, basically boring. The book abruptly stopped. There was no climax and no ending, no resolution. Very disappointed with the way the book just stopped without an ending. I wouldn't waste my time reading the third one.
May 8, 2018
Book #2
I am still enjoying the series. Well written. Fun plot.
Note to author.
1. When Piper made cinnamon rolls and said she wished she had powdered sugar....she does. It is just sugar ground up.
2. Hoover dam. Yes there is water. But they want to have a garden in the Spring? Better start it in January. They are moving to a desert. August it gets over 110 degrees. So going from one extreme to another. ????
I am still enjoying the series. Well written. Fun plot.
Note to author.
1. When Piper made cinnamon rolls and said she wished she had powdered sugar....she does. It is just sugar ground up.
2. Hoover dam. Yes there is water. But they want to have a garden in the Spring? Better start it in January. They are moving to a desert. August it gets over 110 degrees. So going from one extreme to another. ????
April 21, 2019
There’s a little disconnect between Infection and Isolation in that the garden is already producing, like a couple of months have past. I don’t remember it taking but maybe a couple of weeks for Hunter and Elly to get there? Maybe I missed the transition of the time passing. Action is slow until halfway through when problems crop up like Jake and Sophie missing. It keeps on generating interest as it goes. Another great story by McDonald.5
April 28, 2024
M. P. McDonald has a Great Series Going Here!
Book 2 is an outstanding read. A compelling and realistic story that provides adventure, suspense, and is very realistic. The characters in the book are genuine, the setting of the story is quite good, and the obstacles they are facing are very realistic. I am looking forward to the third book in the series. I would highly recommend this book and the series!
Book 2 is an outstanding read. A compelling and realistic story that provides adventure, suspense, and is very realistic. The characters in the book are genuine, the setting of the story is quite good, and the obstacles they are facing are very realistic. I am looking forward to the third book in the series. I would highly recommend this book and the series!
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