Chasing Shadows

by Kevin W. Luby

John Callahan is a middle-aged tax attorney, living in Portland, Oregon, when he comes face-to-face with an extraordinary challenge - an extinction-level pandemic. When governments around the world collapse and martial law is declared in America, how does John protect himself and his family from both this deadly virus and the military?Major Roger Boulden is an angry and violent Afghan War Vet who, through attrition more than talent, becomes the military leader of the Oregon Territory and uses every means available to try and retain some semblance of civilization, at least as a local level. Whenever possible, he seems to choose the cruelest method to accomplish his goals.The lives of these two men, so different in background, personality, and temperament, become intertwined as one tries just to stay alive while the other tries, by whatever means he deems necessary, to keep some semblance of the human race alive and himself in a position of power.Can John protect himself and his family? Can Roger Boulden control his inner demons sufficiently to maintain the Oregon Territory? What if neither one can? Why must only one survive? What kind of world will be left if the pandemic prevails and, should that happen, would it be a world anyone would want to live in?This novel creates a hyper-realistic environment that raises issues for the reader as to what he or she would do to survive. Even more importantly, is it worthing trying to survive amidst complete global devastation and the loss of almost everyone and everything you have ever known?

376 pages, Paperback

Published November 29, 2018

Reviews

[Tim Sprehe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this right when it came out as a courtesy to the author. I was expecting a pretty mundane read, but both my wife and I found ourselves hooked! What a pleasant surprise! I think we liked it in part because it was set in Portland, but mostly the fact that the story was pretty tight and moved at a good pace. In fact, we still will comment on the book as we drive around town!

It was scarily prescient in its topic of a pandemic, too! If you are looking for a fun, fast read, check it out!

[Mmtimes4]

John Callahan is an ordinary man with a great family and solid, albeit boring, career as a tax attorney. One morning he notices a small news article about a new virus originating out of Ecuador. He's not concerned until in the coming months, the virus (dubbed the Curse) begins to spread and turn into a global pandemic of unprecedented proportions. The Curse has a chance of becoming a cataclysmic, and ultimately a species ending, event.


Roger Boulden is a sheriff's deputy in Eastern Oregon who battles with issues of anger and violence. When called up from the Army Reserves after martial law is declared, he quickly becomes the leader of the Oregon Territory after the federal government collapses. His rise to leadership is due more to attrition than to intelligence or skill.


These two men both fighting for survival come to realize that one cannot survive without the destruction of the other. What is it about John Callahan that makes him such a continuing threat to Roger Boulden and mankind as a whole? If John Callahan can survive, will he even want to?


This book takes a look at a realistic and frightening scenario that deals with how ordinary people, faced with extraordinary challenges, fight to survive. GR description

This is a book club choice for NW Author.