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The Warning
Two roads lead to Mount Hope. None leads out.Following a freak nuclear power-plant explosion, the small southern town was evacuated. Now, after a year in isolation, some residents are finally allowed to return home.Best friends Maggie and Jordan quickly discover that Mount Hope is not as it was before. The roads leading out of town are blocked, phone networks and the Internet are cut off, and the power plant remains on military lockdown.Something is horribly wrong, and their determination to uncover the truth soon has Maggie and Jordan in the crosshairs of a force more sinister than any they could have imagined.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2019
1797 people are currently reading
3625 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
954 books356k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 608 reviews
August 20, 2019
Friends, I am feeling a bit frustrated.
James Patterson is my go-to author for the times that I've read, but not reviewed, way too many ARCs. It's not like I can just "not read".
So, Mr. Patterson.
Because I'm usually guaranteed to get a suck-you-in-story that is easy to walk away from. And, because it comes from the author who, rightfully, blurbs his own books, I do expect perfection.
I purchased my copy of The Warning, first-time-in-print, retail--as a finished, polished product. I am not reading an ARC.
Initially, I am all kinds of excited. This seems like something 'my' students would totally dig. The younger characters carrying the heavy load in an action-inundated, frenzied race to save humanity--all while being held captive by an apparently malicious AI is, obviously, appealing.
Then, a small error. Jordan spots his "...dad's SUV down there..." (p. 197) His dad drives a pickup. I know this, because I've read it many, many times up to this point, as well as after.
Yes. There are real problems in the world and this is not one of them. I am still annoyed.
But then, a continuity error that made me want to slap someone upside the head. On one page, "My brain also got around to noticing that my hands were cuffed behind my back." (p. 254) Later, but in the same scene "I put my hands to my head and felt around." (p. 255).
This one may be just me. Perhaps I am the odd human wholly incapable of raising my hands, which are cuffed behind my back, to my head to feel around. If so, my apologies, my mistake.
If, however, this is the second error...it really is aggravating. To me, in these Not-So-United States, general expectations are being lowered considerably, with many people being complacent.
I do think that this story-line is a good one. I also expect published books by James Patterson to be perfect. I understand that the author is not the only human involved in the publication process and I am equally annoyed with each set of eyes, be they actual or artificial, that let these slide.
This book will not be going to my favorite classroom library, but for all normal people that are not perturbed by the tiniest things, it's pretty entertaining.
James Patterson is my go-to author for the times that I've read, but not reviewed, way too many ARCs. It's not like I can just "not read".
So, Mr. Patterson.
Because I'm usually guaranteed to get a suck-you-in-story that is easy to walk away from. And, because it comes from the author who, rightfully, blurbs his own books, I do expect perfection.
I purchased my copy of The Warning, first-time-in-print, retail--as a finished, polished product. I am not reading an ARC.
Initially, I am all kinds of excited. This seems like something 'my' students would totally dig. The younger characters carrying the heavy load in an action-inundated, frenzied race to save humanity--all while being held captive by an apparently malicious AI is, obviously, appealing.
Then, a small error. Jordan spots his "...dad's SUV down there..." (p. 197) His dad drives a pickup. I know this, because I've read it many, many times up to this point, as well as after.
Yes. There are real problems in the world and this is not one of them. I am still annoyed.
But then, a continuity error that made me want to slap someone upside the head. On one page, "My brain also got around to noticing that my hands were cuffed behind my back." (p. 254) Later, but in the same scene "I put my hands to my head and felt around." (p. 255).
This one may be just me. Perhaps I am the odd human wholly incapable of raising my hands, which are cuffed behind my back, to my head to feel around. If so, my apologies, my mistake.
If, however, this is the second error...it really is aggravating. To me, in these Not-So-United States, general expectations are being lowered considerably, with many people being complacent.
I do think that this story-line is a good one. I also expect published books by James Patterson to be perfect. I understand that the author is not the only human involved in the publication process and I am equally annoyed with each set of eyes, be they actual or artificial, that let these slide.
This book will not be going to my favorite classroom library, but for all normal people that are not perturbed by the tiniest things, it's pretty entertaining.
August 16, 2019
Fair warning that this reads very much like a YA tho it’s not classified as one. But that doesn’t deter from the fact that it’s a pretty cool story. Kind of apocalyptic and futuristic and some great humor thrown in an adventurous tale.
August 26, 2019
I will rate this a 2.5. It wasn't labeled as a Young Adult.. or even Middle School...book, but it certainly read like one. Very simplistic writing at best. I feel like it was kind of a waste of time. Thank heavens it only took a day to read it.
August 21, 2019
I love a good James Patterson book... however this was not one of them. While the premise sounded good, the book was more like a young adult book and not his usual work. I wish he would stop writing with other authors and coming out with a book a week and go back to focusing on the story and element of surprise which seems to be lacking in this book. Let down and would the real James Patterson please stand up and return to writing like he used to.
May 3, 2020
This is a pretty good YA science fiction thriller that really held my attention. With narration alternating between two teens named Jordan and Maggie, the story is set in a small South Carolina town where things get weirder and weirder after residents return home after an evacuation caused by an incident at the local power plant. I found it all quite entertaining, though the conclusion did seem a bit rushed.
April 23, 2020
The perfect read for me right now! I'm having a little trouble concentrating, what with the Corona and all that, and this was, as advertised: A fast-paced thriller!
There's weird shiz galore: from a potential nuclear incident to animals going crazy to humans acting weird, and I was 100% on board with it. Jordan and Maggie are excellent lead characters, and I really liked Maggie and her mom and their vet clinic/house, it made for perfect home base. Towards the end I felt like stuff happened too fast: I didn't get to savor the weirdness as much as I wanted to, but it did have a satisfying conclusion.
I listed this as YA because it's about two teenagers, but they do say the F-word a LOT and I'm not entirely sure it was meant to be YA? So, you know, proceed with caution.
There's weird shiz galore: from a potential nuclear incident to animals going crazy to humans acting weird, and I was 100% on board with it. Jordan and Maggie are excellent lead characters, and I really liked Maggie and her mom and their vet clinic/house, it made for perfect home base. Towards the end I felt like stuff happened too fast: I didn't get to savor the weirdness as much as I wanted to, but it did have a satisfying conclusion.
I listed this as YA because it's about two teenagers, but they do say the F-word a LOT and I'm not entirely sure it was meant to be YA? So, you know, proceed with caution.
October 4, 2019
‘The Warning’ is the ⚠️ Warning!
If Patterson contributed anything to this one, then I’m the Pope! A genre-confused (YA/Dystopian/Sci Fi/Fantasy, to list just a few), read that gets worse as it progresses.
It gets one star for contributing to my GR Challenge!
If Patterson contributed anything to this one, then I’m the Pope! A genre-confused (YA/Dystopian/Sci Fi/Fantasy, to list just a few), read that gets worse as it progresses.
It gets one star for contributing to my GR Challenge!
July 30, 2019
Well, what should I say about this novel. It seems the original title was called “Disasterland”, which is a good description of the writing. This should be classified as a YA genre, because it definitely reads like it. There was good humor and a decent plot in there, but it was difficult to enjoy.
August 16, 2019
This was one of the dumbest books I’ve read and kept thinking it would get better but it never did. A year after a power plant accident, residents are allowed to return to their homes but things are not as they seem. The two main characters are Jordan and Maggie. Jordan seems to have abnormal powers while Maggie is a normal teen. They hear rumors about Ishango but have no idea of what or who this is.
I don't recommend wasting your time reading this drivel!
I don't recommend wasting your time reading this drivel!
October 19, 2020
This was a very easy to read, quick novel. And not just because it’s YA, either. But it was a lot of fun, sometimes funny, sometimes sweet, and almost always totally interesting novel. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.
Robison Wells isn’t an author ive come across before, but I’m going to try one of his novels soon. He sounds like fun.
The narrators of this novel are Christine Lakin and Will Collyer. Lakin is a wonderful narrator that I’ve heard before, and I enjoy her a great deal. Collyer is new to me, but he was very good also. I hope they are both used a great deal more.
3.5 stars, and recommended to people who like YA, and post nuclear explosion novels.
Robison Wells isn’t an author ive come across before, but I’m going to try one of his novels soon. He sounds like fun.
The narrators of this novel are Christine Lakin and Will Collyer. Lakin is a wonderful narrator that I’ve heard before, and I enjoy her a great deal. Collyer is new to me, but he was very good also. I hope they are both used a great deal more.
3.5 stars, and recommended to people who like YA, and post nuclear explosion novels.
September 10, 2019
Read like a poor young adult book, and certainly didn’t have the James Patterson vibe about it. Come on Mr Patterson, don’t accept all authors just to make money, keep to what made you popular.
Read
November 14, 2019DNF did not take my interest
June 25, 2020
not his best I am afraid - read like a YA book
August 21, 2019
I was so excited to read this! Robison Wells is an amazing author and I have loved everything he has written; James Patterson, not so much. But I figured the collaboration would allow Mr. Wells the notoriety he so richly deserves. Instead, this reads like a group project. Where Mr. Wells built lovable, quirky characters, Mr. Patterson laced their conversation and thoughts with an abundance of f-bombs that was incongruous with characters who quote unfashionably old movies and use the term "bananas" to describe weirdness. Also, the editing felt like a hack job with missing information, lack of flow, and inconsistent characters. I would happily pay money to read Mr. Wells' original manuscript; I bet it was amazing. 2.5 stars
June 1, 2020
I’ve previously read James Patterson and was rather let down, if I’m honest. The story was interesting, but the writing style never gripped me. I put off reading more for a long time, but I finally decided to give another of his books a read.
The Warning had a lot of potential and could have been a gripping story. There were plenty of things that could have been amazing, things that should have left me powering through the story, but I found myself unable to connect. I did not care for the characters, the storyline was never as dramatic as it could have been, and things felt too easy.
I’m sure fans of the author will enjoy this one, but it didn’t work for me.
The Warning had a lot of potential and could have been a gripping story. There were plenty of things that could have been amazing, things that should have left me powering through the story, but I found myself unable to connect. I did not care for the characters, the storyline was never as dramatic as it could have been, and things felt too easy.
I’m sure fans of the author will enjoy this one, but it didn’t work for me.
September 27, 2019
A good story for young adults. The short chapters and the action packed plot holds the readers interest. An interesting theme about dangers of nuclear power and computer technology.
March 20, 2020
Another hot mess of a book by James Patterson and A.N.Other. Started off reasonably well but just got more and more ridiculous! Why do I keep coming back for more?
February 29, 2020
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was a quick easy read but it sadly didn’t blow me away! ☹️The blurb had me intrigued (an interesting concept) but it didn’t live up to expectations. It read like a teenage novel (don’t get me wrong, I love a teenage novel if written well) and it was really rushed in places, especially the ending! All of the football references were lost on me as well. It wasn’t awful but I’m not sure I would rush to read this again.
August 31, 2019
This clearly should have been designated as Young Adult but JP doesn't want to cut down on his profits by labeling it as such. I returned it to the library within the first 5 chapters. There are so many books out there that I want to read that I just don't have time to waste on a YA "horror" story. Sorry JP......you just aren't worth betting on anymore.
September 15, 2019
An OK story with a couple twists that centers on a power plant disaster and two high school friends, but like most of Patterson’s stand alones with coauthors, a far too familiar tale with over paced storytelling and little depth. B- (67%/Decent)
December 29, 2019
Well if you suspend all thoughts of reality, you will enjoy this book. It is reminiscent of his previous series “The Zoo,” a look at a world that has gone crazy with technology. Good luck.
August 22, 2019
No one’s lived in Mount Hope for almost a year. An accident at the power plant caused the evacuation of the town. Now, some residents are coming home. But there’s a strong military presence, there are roadblocks on the only two roads that lead into town, and teen-agers Jordan Conners and Maggie Gooding discover that things are different.
No internet.
No cell phone service.
Animals behaving bizarrely, angry and raging, leaving the town veterinarian with no choice except to euthanize them.
No one can leave.
And there’s a military guard at the locked-down power plant.
Can Jordan and Maggie discover the cause of the strange happenings in their town? And what will they discover about themselves as they try to save the town they’ve always called home?
Although not classified as a Young Adult book, “The Warning” definitely is part of that genre [co-author Robison Wells has written several books in the young adult and/or science fiction genre].
Jordan and Maggie, the main characters in this somewhat apocalyptic science fiction tale, are well-drawn and believable, as are the other residents of Mount Hope. And the power plant characters are both imaginative and credible. But the story belongs to the two teens and unfolds from their dual point of view. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns; although the plot is largely predictable, there are a few surprising reveals as the suspense builds and the tension mounts.
Even though most readers will predict the final outcome long before they’ve reached the last page, it’s an enjoyable quick read, marred only by a couple of bewildering inaccuracies in the narrative that have a tendency to momentarily pull the reader out of the story.
Recommended for readers of young adult fiction and apocalyptic science fiction.
No internet.
No cell phone service.
Animals behaving bizarrely, angry and raging, leaving the town veterinarian with no choice except to euthanize them.
No one can leave.
And there’s a military guard at the locked-down power plant.
Can Jordan and Maggie discover the cause of the strange happenings in their town? And what will they discover about themselves as they try to save the town they’ve always called home?
Although not classified as a Young Adult book, “The Warning” definitely is part of that genre [co-author Robison Wells has written several books in the young adult and/or science fiction genre].
Jordan and Maggie, the main characters in this somewhat apocalyptic science fiction tale, are well-drawn and believable, as are the other residents of Mount Hope. And the power plant characters are both imaginative and credible. But the story belongs to the two teens and unfolds from their dual point of view. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns; although the plot is largely predictable, there are a few surprising reveals as the suspense builds and the tension mounts.
Even though most readers will predict the final outcome long before they’ve reached the last page, it’s an enjoyable quick read, marred only by a couple of bewildering inaccuracies in the narrative that have a tendency to momentarily pull the reader out of the story.
Recommended for readers of young adult fiction and apocalyptic science fiction.
December 17, 2020
The book I received is not the book I expected: When I
thought of a thriller involving a nuclear power plant,
authored by James Patterson, I envisioned a realistic
sci-fi thriller a la Michael Crichton: kind of like the
movie, "The China Syndrome," with a modern twist.
Nope. There are sci-fi inventions galore in this book,
introduced on a whim, without caring a fig about
verisimilitude: omniscient computers, androids,
"soul transmigration," perception falsifiers (a la the
John Carpenter film, "They Live"), etc etc etc.
The result is pretty far-fetched. I lost interest halfway
through the book, but soldiered through.
But, in retrospect, I don't think my experience
is the authors' fault.
A better guide to what to expect from this book
is not Patterson's style of realistic investigative
thriller, but rather his co-author Robison Wells'
body of work. Wells is an acclaimed YA
writer of speculative fiction--and his
fingerprints are all over this story. For that
reason, even though I found this book hard
to swallow, I'm pretty confident that younger
readers would be dazzled by this hyper-
imaginative tale.
thought of a thriller involving a nuclear power plant,
authored by James Patterson, I envisioned a realistic
sci-fi thriller a la Michael Crichton: kind of like the
movie, "The China Syndrome," with a modern twist.
Nope. There are sci-fi inventions galore in this book,
introduced on a whim, without caring a fig about
verisimilitude: omniscient computers, androids,
"soul transmigration," perception falsifiers (a la the
John Carpenter film, "They Live"), etc etc etc.
The result is pretty far-fetched. I lost interest halfway
through the book, but soldiered through.
But, in retrospect, I don't think my experience
is the authors' fault.
A better guide to what to expect from this book
is not Patterson's style of realistic investigative
thriller, but rather his co-author Robison Wells'
body of work. Wells is an acclaimed YA
writer of speculative fiction--and his
fingerprints are all over this story. For that
reason, even though I found this book hard
to swallow, I'm pretty confident that younger
readers would be dazzled by this hyper-
imaginative tale.
September 4, 2019
This 2019 novel from James Patterson co-authored by Robison Wells is a YA thriller. With its behavior modification, mind control and AI themes it qualifies as SciFi, and although it seems to be limited to a small South Carolina town, it has a dystopian, post apocalyptic flavor. I struggled to complete this book. Although the teen protagonists were likeable, for the most part, it was difficult to predict the maturity level they would adopt from chapter to chapter. For example, although she was able to do scientific research and stitch up wounds and he was able to fight adult adversaries and plan an explosive solution to the communal problem - they agonize over whether he is her boyfriend and the bestowal of a first kiss. Uneven mess.
Two roads lead to Mount Hope. None leads out. There's no place to run in a community that's been taken--and is being intentionally kept--off the grid. A small southern town was evacuated after a freak power-plant accident. As the first anniversary of the mishap approaches, some residents are allowed to return past the national guard roadblocks. Mount Hope natives Maggie and Jordan quickly discover that their hometown is not as it was before. Downed cellular networks fail to resume service. Animals savagely attack humans. And the damaged power plant, where Jordan's father is an engineer, is under military lockdown. As friends and family morph into terrifying strangers, Maggie and Jordan increasingly turn to each other.
Two roads lead to Mount Hope. None leads out. There's no place to run in a community that's been taken--and is being intentionally kept--off the grid. A small southern town was evacuated after a freak power-plant accident. As the first anniversary of the mishap approaches, some residents are allowed to return past the national guard roadblocks. Mount Hope natives Maggie and Jordan quickly discover that their hometown is not as it was before. Downed cellular networks fail to resume service. Animals savagely attack humans. And the damaged power plant, where Jordan's father is an engineer, is under military lockdown. As friends and family morph into terrifying strangers, Maggie and Jordan increasingly turn to each other.
November 29, 2023
As I started reading this story, I realized it was a young adult story,though it wasn’t marked as such. The two main characters, Jordan and Maggie and their families have just returned to their town. As there was a power plant accident, they had been evacuated and upon returning to their homes , the entire town was bright and new with everything new looking. They should have been happy but why was there no outside communication. Why couldn’t anyone leave the town? Why the armed guards?
September 13, 2019
I could not get into this book until I was half way through it. It did get good but confusing. Where the book starts off, it seems like there was a story before it. And the end was left open. I think Im going to only read books where it’s only by James Patterson and not him having co-writers.
May 16, 2021
3.5 stars
September 4, 2023
Beautiful By Design’s (BBD) book club meeting was hosted by both Rewa and Cindy. Rewa hosted virtually since she is no longer in the area but remains part of BBD and Cindy was kind enough to open her home up to us again in this cycle for us to have a place to fellowship. Big shot outs for the coordination and collaboration on making this another successful meeting. We are AWESOME women! I am so grateful for the friendships that has been cultivated through this club. Thank you to Rewa for asking questions that took us down our own path of discission within this book.
BBD read The Warning by James Patterson which received 3.58 out of a 5-star rating. This was the seventh and last read in this book cycle where the host selects a wish list book she has been wanting to read. Unanimously, we felt that this book was a wild roller coaster ride with some parts bordering on being unrealistic and far-fetched. Even still, it had twists and turns that kept us wanting to read further to find out what would happen next. The book reminded us of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie like ‘The Terminator’ as far as the thriller and action with the Alpha always coming back to life after getting shot or beat to a pulp. The chapters were short, but entailed very descriptive scenes with immense detail to visualize the action and feel the intensity as the story was building up to the climax. Two things we did appreciate were the author’s portrayal of a black family in that role of heroism and his inclusion of a diverse group of characters in this storyline. This book also introduced aspects of Artificial Intelligence and made us think could there really be other life forms potentially living amongst us. With technology as advanced as it is and continuously evolving, there is a possibility. Also, it made us ponder the theory of what is being injected in us when we get shots or vaccinations or even what is being done to us when we have surgery and under anesthesia. These are just things to consider. We are not conspiracy theorists or living in fear.
On a different note, there were a few inconsistencies in the later chapters in the book which I won’t put spoilers in the review. They weren’t significant enough to take away from the story. The last few chapters started to drag as if the author was trying to make the book longer. The ending was a letdown. It seemed to be left open for the main characters: Jordan, Maggie, and their families to continue in a part 2 to this book that may be coming at some point. Compared to the author’s other works that has been read by members of BBD, this was deemed as not one of his best. Some thought it could possibly be that he is attempting to cater to a younger demographic to draw in that group. If that was the intent, it is a great attempt to get young adults to appreciate reading again.
BBD read The Warning by James Patterson which received 3.58 out of a 5-star rating. This was the seventh and last read in this book cycle where the host selects a wish list book she has been wanting to read. Unanimously, we felt that this book was a wild roller coaster ride with some parts bordering on being unrealistic and far-fetched. Even still, it had twists and turns that kept us wanting to read further to find out what would happen next. The book reminded us of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie like ‘The Terminator’ as far as the thriller and action with the Alpha always coming back to life after getting shot or beat to a pulp. The chapters were short, but entailed very descriptive scenes with immense detail to visualize the action and feel the intensity as the story was building up to the climax. Two things we did appreciate were the author’s portrayal of a black family in that role of heroism and his inclusion of a diverse group of characters in this storyline. This book also introduced aspects of Artificial Intelligence and made us think could there really be other life forms potentially living amongst us. With technology as advanced as it is and continuously evolving, there is a possibility. Also, it made us ponder the theory of what is being injected in us when we get shots or vaccinations or even what is being done to us when we have surgery and under anesthesia. These are just things to consider. We are not conspiracy theorists or living in fear.
On a different note, there were a few inconsistencies in the later chapters in the book which I won’t put spoilers in the review. They weren’t significant enough to take away from the story. The last few chapters started to drag as if the author was trying to make the book longer. The ending was a letdown. It seemed to be left open for the main characters: Jordan, Maggie, and their families to continue in a part 2 to this book that may be coming at some point. Compared to the author’s other works that has been read by members of BBD, this was deemed as not one of his best. Some thought it could possibly be that he is attempting to cater to a younger demographic to draw in that group. If that was the intent, it is a great attempt to get young adults to appreciate reading again.
July 15, 2019
great book
December 7, 2019
When you pick out a James Patterson novel you expect an exciting, fast-paced mystery. What a surprise to find him dabbling in science fiction. This story follows two small town teens who make some surprising discoveries after their town had been quarantined following an accident at the nuclear power plant on their community. Strange animal behaviors and amazing feats of superhuman strength lead them to investigate the power plant and there they find more unbelievable things. Their attempt to stop a doomsday scenario makes up the last third of the book that reveals the truth behind all of the weird things that had been happening. It causes you to ask: could a super computer actually take over the world? The banter between the two principal characters is entertaining and the references to popular movies and culture lend this way-out novel a sense of reality. I don’t think this is Patterson’s best work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 608 reviews