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The Hurst Chronicles #2
Sentinel
The truth about the outbreak had remained hidden until now. Could a clandestine government research project help explain the scale and speed of its spread?
When the search for a vaccine leads Zed and the others to Porton Down, a classified government research facility beyond the New Forest, will an inactive biological weapons program speed up their understanding of the Millennial Virus?
The UK survivors of a worldwide pandemic adjust to their new lives under the watchful protection of an Allied relief operation. The Isle of Wight faces an unrelenting tide of refugees placing impossible pressure on already over-stretched resources.
Not everyone shares the Allies’ aspirations for reconstruction. Dark forces seek to prolong the lawlessness, pursuing their own ambitions. There’s a war coming that threatens to return the whole Solent region to chaos. Hurst Castle again finds itself in the path of the coming storm.
If you enjoy fast-paced, post-apocalyptic stories such as The Road, Station Eleven, The Stand, The Last Day, Survivors, Pandemic and The Atlantis Gene, you'll love The Hurst Chronicles series. A dark, dystopian page-turner.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2017
52 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Robin Crumby
8 books73 followersRobin Crumby is the British author of The Hurst Chronicles, a post-apocalyptic series set on the south coast of England in the aftermath of a deadly flu pandemic. Since reading John Wyndham’s Day of the Triffids as a child, Robin became fascinated by end of the world dystopian literature and was inspired to start writing by Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven. Why? Because post-apocalyptic fiction fires the imagination like nothing else. Pondering what comes next, who would survive, what would life look like? Much of the best fiction in this popular genre focuses on brain-eating zombies or events unfolding in the USA, so Robin determined to write a story set in the UK. His Eureka moment came wandering the shingle beach at Milford-on-sea, inspired by the beauty and rich history of the Solent. Where better to survive the end of the world than a medieval castle surrounded by water? Robin spent much of his childhood messing about in boats, exploring the many waterways, harbours and military forts of the Isle of Wight, where The Hurst Chronicles series is set.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 20, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
I very much enjoyed Hurst, the first book in this series and despite a three year gap, I picked the story up again instantly.
Robin Crumby has a very easy to read style which will keep most readers interested. In Sentinel he follows four or five different sets of characters to build up the plot. Although told in the third person the author tends to view things from one person’s perspective and that is often not the principal participant in the action. We have some long spells when nothing is heard from some characters but we get back to them all eventually.
The timeline of Sentinel is shortly after the events in Hurst and the action is again centred around Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight; all familiar areas that I have visited on various occasions.
With any book set in the future the author has license to determine how his world has moved on and much of Cundy’s interpretation meets the usual expectations. However, I couldn’t help wondering at how much fuel, manufactured material and pre-virus food was still accessible. This may be attributed to the presence of the American Navy who would have access to some of these things, facilitating action that otherwise would be very different.
There are moments of violence but that is to be expected, given the relative lawlessness of the times. It is very much a situation where only the strong will survive.
Sentinel has some sinister background themes which are not fully explored. The likelihood is that these are trailblazers for the third book in the series which I already possess and hope to read and review shortly.
I have awarded four stars to Sentinel by Robin Crumby.
I very much enjoyed Hurst, the first book in this series and despite a three year gap, I picked the story up again instantly.
Robin Crumby has a very easy to read style which will keep most readers interested. In Sentinel he follows four or five different sets of characters to build up the plot. Although told in the third person the author tends to view things from one person’s perspective and that is often not the principal participant in the action. We have some long spells when nothing is heard from some characters but we get back to them all eventually.
The timeline of Sentinel is shortly after the events in Hurst and the action is again centred around Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight; all familiar areas that I have visited on various occasions.
With any book set in the future the author has license to determine how his world has moved on and much of Cundy’s interpretation meets the usual expectations. However, I couldn’t help wondering at how much fuel, manufactured material and pre-virus food was still accessible. This may be attributed to the presence of the American Navy who would have access to some of these things, facilitating action that otherwise would be very different.
There are moments of violence but that is to be expected, given the relative lawlessness of the times. It is very much a situation where only the strong will survive.
Sentinel has some sinister background themes which are not fully explored. The likelihood is that these are trailblazers for the third book in the series which I already possess and hope to read and review shortly.
I have awarded four stars to Sentinel by Robin Crumby.
June 21, 2017
The Millennial Virus has devastated the world. Governments have fallen, and those who have survived find themselves in an uncertain world, where criminals become leaders and only the strong survive.
The Isle of Wight is virus free, and this has encouraged a tide of refugees who are desperate to reach a place of safety. But the authorities are at breaking point, for they have not the resources for such an influx of displaced people.
If only there was a vaccine. But in the search for one, questions are raised as to how the virus came about in the first place.
Robin Crumby has done it again. I was really looking forward to reading the second in the Hurst Chronicles series and book two did not disappoint. Crumby has created an apocalyptic world that was easy to visualise and incredibly believable. The attention to detail has to be commended. It is very clear that Mr Crumbly has done his research and this makes for a realistic read. I also loved the fact that this series is set in the UK when usually such fiction is set in America, this makes for a refreshing change.
Sentinel: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (The Hurst Chronicles Book 2) is the type of book that draws you in. There is a compelling cast of characters in this book, and each has their role to play in this fast-paced and thrilling read. It was simply unputadownable.
Although this is book 2 in the series I felt that it would work well as a standalone, however, do yourself a favour and start with book 1.
If you are looking for your next post-apocalyptic thriller that does not involve zombies, then I Highly Recommend, The Hurst Chronicles.
The Isle of Wight is virus free, and this has encouraged a tide of refugees who are desperate to reach a place of safety. But the authorities are at breaking point, for they have not the resources for such an influx of displaced people.
If only there was a vaccine. But in the search for one, questions are raised as to how the virus came about in the first place.
Robin Crumby has done it again. I was really looking forward to reading the second in the Hurst Chronicles series and book two did not disappoint. Crumby has created an apocalyptic world that was easy to visualise and incredibly believable. The attention to detail has to be commended. It is very clear that Mr Crumbly has done his research and this makes for a realistic read. I also loved the fact that this series is set in the UK when usually such fiction is set in America, this makes for a refreshing change.
Sentinel: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (The Hurst Chronicles Book 2) is the type of book that draws you in. There is a compelling cast of characters in this book, and each has their role to play in this fast-paced and thrilling read. It was simply unputadownable.
Although this is book 2 in the series I felt that it would work well as a standalone, however, do yourself a favour and start with book 1.
If you are looking for your next post-apocalyptic thriller that does not involve zombies, then I Highly Recommend, The Hurst Chronicles.
February 27, 2021
Prophetic?
Reading this in February 2021, 11 months into the Coronavirus lockdown in the UK. Being an Isle of Wight resident, there has to be something in the military protection on the Solent ... The tiers before Christmas 2020 destroyed our low numbers and brought the virus into reality.
Need to read book 3 very soon!
Reading this in February 2021, 11 months into the Coronavirus lockdown in the UK. Being an Isle of Wight resident, there has to be something in the military protection on the Solent ... The tiers before Christmas 2020 destroyed our low numbers and brought the virus into reality.
Need to read book 3 very soon!
December 11, 2018
Loved it, nice characters and a plot that wasn’t predictable.
September 9, 2019
Great read
Wow what a journey following the ups and downs of Hurst Castle Survivors . There are so many twists and turns. This is a great book and well worth reading.
Wow what a journey following the ups and downs of Hurst Castle Survivors . There are so many twists and turns. This is a great book and well worth reading.
December 14, 2017
I am sure that this book would make a good film.
At times I found it had too many characters and too many place names.
page 304 for example mentions.... Mudeford, Christchurch bay, Old Harry rocks , Studland head, Anvil point, Durlston county park, Barton on sea, Chesil beach, Lulworth cove, Swanage, and Milford village.
On occasions I found the book was very entertaining and I could picture the events happening.
Worth a Read.
At times I found it had too many characters and too many place names.
page 304 for example mentions.... Mudeford, Christchurch bay, Old Harry rocks , Studland head, Anvil point, Durlston county park, Barton on sea, Chesil beach, Lulworth cove, Swanage, and Milford village.
On occasions I found the book was very entertaining and I could picture the events happening.
Worth a Read.
November 4, 2017
This carries on from Hurst, which I did quite enjoy. This one maybe not quite so much. The characters are not developed enough to really feel enough for them and although the action rattles along at a fair pace the interest over a second, very similar book to the first, is not sustained. Not for me, at least. A shame,as the post apocalyptic bit is all done pretty well.
January 5, 2018
A real page-turner and much more exciting than the first book, Sentinel has non-stop action, lots of surprises, and some shocking twists and turns. I think anyone into the genre would really enjoy it and I'm hoping there will be a third in The Hurst Chronicles to tie up all the loose ends???
May 22, 2018
This is #2 of the Hurst Chronicles.
It carries on the struggles of the folks from Hurst Castle. Lots of action, great characters, and looking forward to the next one.
It carries on the struggles of the folks from Hurst Castle. Lots of action, great characters, and looking forward to the next one.
October 22, 2019
Randgjones51
May 13, 2020
Really enjoyed’Hurst’, but this sequel offers nothiing. As it goes on, the story becomes ever more implausible and dull to the point where you cease to care about the characters and just want it to end.
I won’t be reading the 3rd instalment!
I won’t be reading the 3rd instalment!
March 31, 2021
Who knew.........
I read the first book just before the UK lockdown for Covid 19.
Book 2 is just as good but a bit more real and vivid, for obvious reasons.
Would make a good film or excellent series, but maybe let things settle down first.
About to start book 3.
M.A.R.
I read the first book just before the UK lockdown for Covid 19.
Book 2 is just as good but a bit more real and vivid, for obvious reasons.
Would make a good film or excellent series, but maybe let things settle down first.
About to start book 3.
M.A.R.
December 13, 2017
didn't really enjoy it, not my type of book
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews