What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Peak #2
The Darwin Collapse: A Thriller (The Last Peak)
Mankind on the brink. The few survivors face an unexpected new threat… some of them changed.
A week after the outbreak and the world is utterly transformed. Ex-soldier Mason West and his family emerge from the wreckage only to confront the horrifying aftermath. Civilization in ruin. Los Angeles is truly the city of angels—a burial ground for millions.
Packs of deranged humans roam the streets stalking anything that lives. The West family faces impossible odds and an uncertain future. With dwindling resources and danger at every turn, their survival is anything but assured.
The Final Collapse is the second novel in the gripping Edge of Survival series. If you like terrifying hordes and edge-of-your-seat action, then you’ll love William Oday’s high-octane second installment.
* This book was previously titled The Darwin Collapse. *
A week after the outbreak and the world is utterly transformed. Ex-soldier Mason West and his family emerge from the wreckage only to confront the horrifying aftermath. Civilization in ruin. Los Angeles is truly the city of angels—a burial ground for millions.
Packs of deranged humans roam the streets stalking anything that lives. The West family faces impossible odds and an uncertain future. With dwindling resources and danger at every turn, their survival is anything but assured.
The Final Collapse is the second novel in the gripping Edge of Survival series. If you like terrifying hordes and edge-of-your-seat action, then you’ll love William Oday’s high-octane second installment.
* This book was previously titled The Darwin Collapse. *
440 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2016
132 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
William Oday
34 books43 followersWant my FREE Starter Library? One novel, one novella and one short story, all for free. Get it at WWW.WILLIAMODAY.COM.
I grew up in the red dirt of Oklahoma, the center of the states. I later meandered out to the West Coast and have remained off-center ever since. Living in Los Angeles, I achieved my Career 1.0 dream by working on big-budget movies for over a decade. If you’ve seen a Will Smith or Tom Cruise blockbuster action movie, you’ve likely seen my work.
The work was challenging and fulfilling… until I got tired of telling other people’s stories. I longed to tell my own. So, now I’m pursuing my Career 2.0 dream—a dream I’ve had since youth—to write stories that pull a reader in and make the everyday world fade away.
I’ve since moved to a small town in Northern California with my lovely wife, vibrant children, and a dog that has discovered the secret to infinite energy. His name is Trip and he fits the name in four unique ways.
You can find out more about me and my stories at WILLIAMODAY.COM.
I grew up in the red dirt of Oklahoma, the center of the states. I later meandered out to the West Coast and have remained off-center ever since. Living in Los Angeles, I achieved my Career 1.0 dream by working on big-budget movies for over a decade. If you’ve seen a Will Smith or Tom Cruise blockbuster action movie, you’ve likely seen my work.
The work was challenging and fulfilling… until I got tired of telling other people’s stories. I longed to tell my own. So, now I’m pursuing my Career 2.0 dream—a dream I’ve had since youth—to write stories that pull a reader in and make the everyday world fade away.
I’ve since moved to a small town in Northern California with my lovely wife, vibrant children, and a dog that has discovered the secret to infinite energy. His name is Trip and he fits the name in four unique ways.
You can find out more about me and my stories at WILLIAMODAY.COM.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 2, 2017
After reading The Darwin Protocol, I immediately began The Darwin Collapse and I'm sure I'll be back to review The Darwin Sacrifice soon. This series is so fast paced that you don't want to stop reading. Questions from the first book are answered and then you have questions you need the third book to answer. The author does a great job developing the characters and helping you see what's playing out through their eyes and personalities. Mason West is a true hero whose work is never done. He's constantly put in impossible situations and somehow squeezes through them. You get to see the situations that he's blamed for first-hand and it always turns out that he's taking the fall for someone else and the blunt of someone's revenge that shouldn't be his to bear. I'm not sure he ever has time to explain that before the next near death experience. There's also tons of information the author obviously spent a lot of time researching. All around great post apocalyptic thriller with a true bad ass leading the charge through mission after impossible mission.
February 6, 2020
There is a lot of action in this book and it does keep your attention. I was surprised that security-guard-former-Marine, Mason West, had some situational awareness lapses, such as not having a guard detail while moving supplies and getting surprised by a bent-on-revenge cop. They all seem a bit willing to run off alone. I also am not convinced that an immature and cossetted super model would be incapable of understanding others might be uncomfortable with her constant nudity. To be fair, she ultimately had a moral compass and decency not inherited from her father. I also kind of think that Reshenko's engineered solution to his belief that humans are destroying the planet and need a reset is really flawed. While not just have a virus that kills most everyone rather than have millions of dangerous, de-evolved people? Still, this book kept me entertained (hence 4 stars and not 3) and I look forward to the next.
May 23, 2019
A WOD. SYFY. Novel (EOB. - 2)/The Beginning of the End
WOD. has. penned a SYFY. novel. that begins with begins with one man's trust being destroyed by allowing a virus of unimaginable damage at the beginning until the near eradication of the human race as we know it. The U.S. And the rest of the world is devastated and people are dying like flies no matter their status in humanity. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
WOD. has. penned a SYFY. novel. that begins with begins with one man's trust being destroyed by allowing a virus of unimaginable damage at the beginning until the near eradication of the human race as we know it. The U.S. And the rest of the world is devastated and people are dying like flies no matter their status in humanity. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
March 12, 2017
This book is just as fantastic as the first in the series! I read it in one day as I was unable to put it down. If you love fast paced books this one is brilliant! The characters are well developed and you cannot help caring for them and cheering for them as every page turns. Non stop action, on to the next book!
October 8, 2018
Book 2
This book would be a good place to end this series, but apparently not. We will see how America gets back on its feet.
Still think the flashbacks to his military service is taking away from the story.....it isn't linking just distracting.
This book would be a good place to end this series, but apparently not. We will see how America gets back on its feet.
Still think the flashbacks to his military service is taking away from the story.....it isn't linking just distracting.
November 4, 2017
Didn’t expect the second one to be even better than the first one. Such suspense to keep you on the edge
March 6, 2018
The Darwin Collapse
As thrilling as the first book, this one is full of surprises, near-misses, and heroism. I'm eager to start reading the next book!
As thrilling as the first book, this one is full of surprises, near-misses, and heroism. I'm eager to start reading the next book!
September 11, 2019
Zombies with a twist! This is book 2 of the series. I think it was actually better than the first one. I couldn't put it down. Off to find book 3. :)
March 5, 2020
Story continues well
Oday is doing a great job building a ruined world. I'm enjoying his portrayal and moving right on to the next one.
Oday is doing a great job building a ruined world. I'm enjoying his portrayal and moving right on to the next one.
April 15, 2020
Edge of my seat
This story has so many twists and the back stories had purpose. Definitely raised my blood pressure a few times as the characters reacted to their situations.
This story has so many twists and the back stories had purpose. Definitely raised my blood pressure a few times as the characters reacted to their situations.
January 24, 2022
Another page-turner.
November 29, 2023
Zombies with a twist!
This is book two of the series. I think it was actually better than the first one. I couldn't put it down. Off to find book three. :)
This is book two of the series. I think it was actually better than the first one. I couldn't put it down. Off to find book three. :)
February 25, 2017
The (genuinely) courageous West family (and the bad guys) get a couple of days rest between the end of The Darwin Protocol and the start of the Darwin Collapse. They certainly needed it.
William Oday continues the torrid pace and the creative plot elements that made the Darwin Protocol such a fun read. A zoo running amok, black helicopters, full metal jacket firefights and the reader getting near emotionally paralyzed by the situations that much-admired characters get into, and somehow get out of (somewhat mauled) make for an intense read.
I love getting in contact with authors. I exchanged emails with William Oday and laid out some of my initial impressions. There were times I felt that the amount of action / violence was a bit over-the-top. William Oday is a compelling writer who commits to a solid timeline for what takes place, and upholds family values that get swept under by many of today’s blazing action movies and first-person shooter games.
I have purchased book #3 (The Darwin Sacrifice) as my statement of full confidence in Mr. Oday.
William Oday continues the torrid pace and the creative plot elements that made the Darwin Protocol such a fun read. A zoo running amok, black helicopters, full metal jacket firefights and the reader getting near emotionally paralyzed by the situations that much-admired characters get into, and somehow get out of (somewhat mauled) make for an intense read.
I love getting in contact with authors. I exchanged emails with William Oday and laid out some of my initial impressions. There were times I felt that the amount of action / violence was a bit over-the-top. William Oday is a compelling writer who commits to a solid timeline for what takes place, and upholds family values that get swept under by many of today’s blazing action movies and first-person shooter games.
I have purchased book #3 (The Darwin Sacrifice) as my statement of full confidence in Mr. Oday.
February 20, 2020
Seriously??
Just when you think it is ok to sit back and breath again, Mr. West is on another mission to protect someone else......, but not just any one... The president of the United States . Sit back and put your feet up. It's going to be a wild ride!
Just when you think it is ok to sit back and breath again, Mr. West is on another mission to protect someone else......, but not just any one... The president of the United States . Sit back and put your feet up. It's going to be a wild ride!
August 5, 2016
Holy Cow!! The first book, The Darwin Protocol, was awesome, but the second is even better! The story starts right where it left off in book one, following Mason and his family, along with the few extra 'family' they've picked up along the way. The plot just thickens from page one on, you get to know the characters a lot more in depth, which helps you understand the dynamics between characters much better. I read this in one sitting, then sat down and reread it the next day. Mr. Oday, I seriously hope you are already almost done with book three!! I can't wait! On a -more- serious note, the writing in this book is great, and the storyline has great twists and turns that also make perfect sense.
August 15, 2016
The second installment of this series did not disappoint. Keeping the focus on the West family, the story describes the week after the outbreak of a mysterious, brain-destroying disease. Well paced and well written, William Oday has created a highly engaging, action-packed thriller while still keeping that personal connection with one family as they struggle to survive while remaining human. I highly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys thrillers, post-apocalytic stories or sci-fi. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2016
Great follow-up to The Darwin Protocol. Once this story takes off it is nonstop, along with the current events happening in Los Angeles with the outbreak of the virus, and the emergence of the Deltas, the West “family” - nuclear and extended by happenstance - enlarges. The reader is also provided the back story on Mason West’s days as a Marine, and his experiences with his squad in Iraq.
If you liked The Darwin Protocol, this is sure to be a must read. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series.
If you liked The Darwin Protocol, this is sure to be a must read. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series.
March 23, 2020
Just when you think it is ok to sit back and breath again, Mr. West is on another mission to protect someone else......, but not just any one... The president of the United States . Sit back and put your feet up. It's going to be a wild ride! Book 3?
March 30, 2017
This was another triumph for Oday. I enjoyed the next "chapter" in the sage so much I bought the next one!
I am not a lover of the apocalyptic flavour but this one had enough character development sprinkled in that I am hooked!
I am not a lover of the apocalyptic flavour but this one had enough character development sprinkled in that I am hooked!
April 5, 2017
Part 2 of the series that began with the Darwin Protocol has the extended family scrambling to protect themselves from the Delta's while trying to collect needed supplies. As family members go of in pairs or alone they have close calls from attacks by Deltas and eventually by the troupes of the leader of the group that has unleashed the virus that has shut down the country. Action abounds in this post apocalypse type tale. A follow up book to come.
April 18, 2017
I read the first book in this series a while ago and was not always happy with it, though I did enjoy it. I can say that this one kept my attention from start to finish and was very satisfying. The characters got a chance to stretch and grow here adding more dimension to their personalities, though some were still very much the same. The locations are spot on and great for me since I know the names of the streets and freeways so well that I could tell exactly where I was when they mentioned it. The victims of the virus are terrifying because they are us with all of the humanity stripped away.
Mason West and his family survived the first days of the outbreak but not without injuries both physical and mental. Mason continues to protect Iridia even though he really does not have to but he is an honorable man and would not do anything else. Elio is in the West home because he is enamored of their daughter Theresa but also because he needs to heal.
Anton Reshenko has unleashed hell on earth for the people of the world and is focused on locating his daughter and going to the next phase of his plan. The Deltas are doing what he expected, more or less but he wants more from them. He is willing to kill anyone for his vision of the future.
This is told from multiple points of view which is great since there are so any things going on. This had some great action with very emotional parts. I did some laughing, crying and yelling. Loved every minute of it! Definitely recommend.
Mason West and his family survived the first days of the outbreak but not without injuries both physical and mental. Mason continues to protect Iridia even though he really does not have to but he is an honorable man and would not do anything else. Elio is in the West home because he is enamored of their daughter Theresa but also because he needs to heal.
Anton Reshenko has unleashed hell on earth for the people of the world and is focused on locating his daughter and going to the next phase of his plan. The Deltas are doing what he expected, more or less but he wants more from them. He is willing to kill anyone for his vision of the future.
This is told from multiple points of view which is great since there are so any things going on. This had some great action with very emotional parts. I did some laughing, crying and yelling. Loved every minute of it! Definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews