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Fall of Houston #1
No Way Out
The lights go out. Cars stall. Communications fail.
Cities descend into chaos.
An EMP attack leaves single-father Will Fontenot and his son stranded in Houston, Texas.
It's an all-out battle for survival.
Wracked with guilt and struggling with PTSD from the accident that took his wife’s life, he’ll do whatever it takes to get his son out of the city.
But an encounter with two injured women hurls them into a deadly game of cat and mouse and puts all their lives at risk.
It’s a race against time as the plot to bring America to her knees unfolds in this fast-paced post-apocalyptic EMP survival thriller. No Way Out will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
Cities descend into chaos.
An EMP attack leaves single-father Will Fontenot and his son stranded in Houston, Texas.
It's an all-out battle for survival.
Wracked with guilt and struggling with PTSD from the accident that took his wife’s life, he’ll do whatever it takes to get his son out of the city.
But an encounter with two injured women hurls them into a deadly game of cat and mouse and puts all their lives at risk.
It’s a race against time as the plot to bring America to her knees unfolds in this fast-paced post-apocalyptic EMP survival thriller. No Way Out will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2020
1105 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 14, 2022
Great basis for story, poor characters killed it.
Having lived in South Texas and worked in Houston and Louisiana in the oil and gas industry, the characterization of Will and his thinking killed the story for me before it got started.
Refining and production operations are all about planning. The fact that will was released tells you the plants were already shutdown/safed in preparation for storm passage and tidal surge as they ALWAYS are. All an EMP would have accomplished for them is potentially making them hard or impossible to restart, depending on the level of shielding in the facilities. No out of control fires, all tankage would have been filled to prevent it from being floated off its bases, etc.
Given is family history it is equally improbable that will had no weapons. Nit impossible, but almost.
The final insult is that Will, from all evidence presented, is not in the upper or even the middle of the IQ bell curve. Hard to be sympathetic with someone that is puzzled by just about everything. IMO. I had enough after the first dozen chapters, sorry.
Having lived in South Texas and worked in Houston and Louisiana in the oil and gas industry, the characterization of Will and his thinking killed the story for me before it got started.
Refining and production operations are all about planning. The fact that will was released tells you the plants were already shutdown/safed in preparation for storm passage and tidal surge as they ALWAYS are. All an EMP would have accomplished for them is potentially making them hard or impossible to restart, depending on the level of shielding in the facilities. No out of control fires, all tankage would have been filled to prevent it from being floated off its bases, etc.
Given is family history it is equally improbable that will had no weapons. Nit impossible, but almost.
The final insult is that Will, from all evidence presented, is not in the upper or even the middle of the IQ bell curve. Hard to be sympathetic with someone that is puzzled by just about everything. IMO. I had enough after the first dozen chapters, sorry.
March 27, 2021
This has a lot of elements of some good disaster potential with a major hurricane closing in, EMP and aggression by a foreign power. Most of that becomes incidental to the spy-FBI-thriller plot and the separate Louisiana power struggle. The hurricane and EMP simply makes those plots more of a challenge. Will is constantly beset by angst over the death of his wife a few years earlier and struggles to be effective (maybe have asked the military if they could have gotten them closer to his sister if they couldn't go all of the way there?). Isabella is very inconsistent. One minute able to use a weapon to protect the group and the next upset that they are forced to loot items to survive. There were also a lot of editing errors and these should have been caught in a cursory proofread.
September 8, 2022
No Way Out by T.L. Payne is the first book in the Fall of Houston five book series. I have a hard time reviewing this type of series by each book, so I'm talking about them all as a unit. This series could have benefited from some heavy editing. I think cutting it down to two (or possibly three) books would've been an improvement. A lot of the action in this story gets repetitive. People get into trouble, then fight their way out again and again. I got tired of the main character constantly saying all he wanted to do was protect his boy. I also thought the politics of the situation were a bit simplistic. Communist countries don't cooperate with each other just because they're communist. Unless I was a true blue fan of this genre, I'd skip it.
November 24, 2024
Dnf 37%
Why do these authors not think an emp is enough? Instead they add a hurricane, melting chemical reactors, crazy politicians! No thanks!
Why do these authors not think an emp is enough? Instead they add a hurricane, melting chemical reactors, crazy politicians! No thanks!
May 10, 2021
I love Post Apocalypse story but this falls flat
This has several holes its main characters. Any adult alive in 2020 would know what would happen if the power goes and and cell phone fail together. Will is so naive it boggles the mind. Having been through hurricanes before he should have known what would happen. So much is predictable. Its been done before.
This has several holes its main characters. Any adult alive in 2020 would know what would happen if the power goes and and cell phone fail together. Will is so naive it boggles the mind. Having been through hurricanes before he should have known what would happen. So much is predictable. Its been done before.
November 30, 2020
I’ve read all of TL Payne’s Days Of Want series and have loved every book. This book is in some ways similar as it also features the US being attacked by an electro-magnetic pulse that destroys all electrical devices as well as the power grid. That is where the similarities end though because we have a very different set of characters in this book. The story is told from three distinct character viewpoints, the first being widower Will who is trying to evacuate Houston because a hurricane is inbound. Along with his teenage son they get caught up in the devastating attack that leaves them stranded after a car accident. It’s Will's fear for his son's safety, however, that really gives this story its heart as he tries to protect him. They’re both still grieving for the loss of Will’s wife and trying to rebuild their own relationship. Then there’s Savanah who, bringing up her children alone, lives under constant threat of her town's local corrupt mayor. Finally, we have James Betley, an FBI agent who is investigating possible Chinese incursions into the US. It’s Betley’s story, that links up with some of the other characters later on, that I liked the most because he knows who is behind the attack. A lot of EMP apocalypse fiction follows people during the immediate attack, through their panic, then their struggles as violence erupts all around them. This story features a lot of those reasonable reactions but it takes a different route and never becomes just another EMP story with different characters. TL Payne avoids the pitfalls of regurgitating what she has done before giving us a very different look at the end of the world. The characters are all linked in various ways but I won’t say how. The fun is in reading and finding out and seeing if they can survive long enough to meet up.
May 19, 2024
This book definitely sets this series up for a wild ride! There are so many aspects and storylines to follow that I’m curious to see how they all intertwine.
Will and his son Cayden, are the main characters of the book and they are preparing to evacuate from a hurricane that is supposed to make landfall in Houston. Being a native Htown and surrounding area resident, I had to check this out. There are so many details that are believable and so many things here in the book that I have personally witnessed or participated in when preparing for a hurricane, so I could relate to that part of the story and I don’t think it disappoints in how it is written. The evac process during Rita was brutal and the storm and surge from Ike was intense. All of the flooding that is talked about is real for the Houston area, so all of those details were pretty spot on.
In regards to the EMP that happens in the book, it takes place at the most inconvenient time because people are trying to evacuate and the roads are congested and no one is prepared for the loss of power, services, running vehicles or anything. The intro of an FBI agent who is in league with an informant who works for the Chinese Embassy may have information about the EMP attack.
There are serval POVs and storylines. Aside from Will and his son, the book also has a dual timeline with Will’s sister Savanah in Louisiana. She is facing her own set of challenges with no electricity and people in the Parish already trying to take things from others.
I’m curious to see where this story goes and will give the second book a try. I’m not sure if I’m overall attached to the characters yet, but I am curious to see their next move and how they handle the next step in survival. Plus, I’m really curious about how all of the others people around the, will act once the hurricane hits and what the aftermath of that will be.
Will and his son Cayden, are the main characters of the book and they are preparing to evacuate from a hurricane that is supposed to make landfall in Houston. Being a native Htown and surrounding area resident, I had to check this out. There are so many details that are believable and so many things here in the book that I have personally witnessed or participated in when preparing for a hurricane, so I could relate to that part of the story and I don’t think it disappoints in how it is written. The evac process during Rita was brutal and the storm and surge from Ike was intense. All of the flooding that is talked about is real for the Houston area, so all of those details were pretty spot on.
In regards to the EMP that happens in the book, it takes place at the most inconvenient time because people are trying to evacuate and the roads are congested and no one is prepared for the loss of power, services, running vehicles or anything. The intro of an FBI agent who is in league with an informant who works for the Chinese Embassy may have information about the EMP attack.
There are serval POVs and storylines. Aside from Will and his son, the book also has a dual timeline with Will’s sister Savanah in Louisiana. She is facing her own set of challenges with no electricity and people in the Parish already trying to take things from others.
I’m curious to see where this story goes and will give the second book a try. I’m not sure if I’m overall attached to the characters yet, but I am curious to see their next move and how they handle the next step in survival. Plus, I’m really curious about how all of the others people around the, will act once the hurricane hits and what the aftermath of that will be.
December 9, 2020
No Way Out
The first book (No way Out) is the start of a potential good series. Please note I have lived in Houston for 30+ years and looked forward to this specific series. First, the people in the book are interesting and story line is exciting. However, I would suggest noting in the story more landmarks or areas around Houston. I feel being more specific is good, its fun to recognize areas you know or have been to. Kudos for the areas you did include. I also thought there was way to much Will thinking back regarding his late wife. Dont mean to sound cold but it got redundant to me. I do like the idea of potential China invasion, I have read other EMP books and many do not think of or mention another country invading the US, after the EMP, which I would assume would really happen. Overall alittle disappointed, but still giving 5 stars knowing it takes a book or 2 to get into the depth of the story. I like your books and plan to read all you write for the series. Hope this help. KD
The first book (No way Out) is the start of a potential good series. Please note I have lived in Houston for 30+ years and looked forward to this specific series. First, the people in the book are interesting and story line is exciting. However, I would suggest noting in the story more landmarks or areas around Houston. I feel being more specific is good, its fun to recognize areas you know or have been to. Kudos for the areas you did include. I also thought there was way to much Will thinking back regarding his late wife. Dont mean to sound cold but it got redundant to me. I do like the idea of potential China invasion, I have read other EMP books and many do not think of or mention another country invading the US, after the EMP, which I would assume would really happen. Overall alittle disappointed, but still giving 5 stars knowing it takes a book or 2 to get into the depth of the story. I like your books and plan to read all you write for the series. Hope this help. KD
January 19, 2026
I borrowed the audiobook from the library. The book and the narrator were cringe worthy at times. When Will was supposed to be yelling for his son, the narrator raised his monotone voice just a little with no emotion. The author repeated himself over and over. Isabella was annoying in her self righteousness and then because she was from Oklahoma she knew how to use an AR15 and was a bad ass? Will was fumbling and confused through most of the book and stuck in grief and guilt about his wife's death and his lack of a relationship with his son. He let everyone around him make the decisions because he didn't want to rock the boat.
But with all that I like this genre and it was exciting at times and I did go on to the next book in the series.
But with all that I like this genre and it was exciting at times and I did go on to the next book in the series.
May 28, 2021
WARNING: Non-Stop Action
T.L. Payne has penned a tale to keep you awake at night. The very real possibility of an EMP attack is laid out in the city of Houston just as a Category Five Hurricane is rolling into town. The plight of a father and his son to survive both deadly challenges takes them on a journey of terror that becomes even more complicated by Chinese spies trying to kill them for a thumb drive with top secret information that China does NOT want the United States to have about the up-coming Chinese invasion of the USA. You will not put this book down until it’s done!
T.L. Payne has penned a tale to keep you awake at night. The very real possibility of an EMP attack is laid out in the city of Houston just as a Category Five Hurricane is rolling into town. The plight of a father and his son to survive both deadly challenges takes them on a journey of terror that becomes even more complicated by Chinese spies trying to kill them for a thumb drive with top secret information that China does NOT want the United States to have about the up-coming Chinese invasion of the USA. You will not put this book down until it’s done!
December 14, 2020
This is so true of many people that don't think and they will put their family like his sons life in danger by helping others and not thinking of your family comes first. It is specially true to not leave when you know what will happen with the flood waters and what is going to be in the water and air. I lived thru Hurricanes and lived out on a barrier island you leave and get your family to safety. Flood waters is one thing you don't want to try to walk thru. Good book and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
January 21, 2021
Great Apocalypse!
This was a really exciting story right from the start with a car pileup caused by an EMP, gas station catching fire and a spy on the run. And there’s a hurricane on the way. It gets more intense from there. There are layers and hints of more. And Will’s sister and her children are in danger at her farm from a drug cartel. I can understand the cliffhanger ending. There’s just so much more to cover. A great story and awesome characters plus breathtaking battles - what more could you possibly want!!!
This was a really exciting story right from the start with a car pileup caused by an EMP, gas station catching fire and a spy on the run. And there’s a hurricane on the way. It gets more intense from there. There are layers and hints of more. And Will’s sister and her children are in danger at her farm from a drug cartel. I can understand the cliffhanger ending. There’s just so much more to cover. A great story and awesome characters plus breathtaking battles - what more could you possibly want!!!
September 9, 2021
Hurricane and EMP Attack All In One Day !
This story about two factions of two families caught in the dual catastrophe of a storm and a foreign military strike describes the struggle to simply survive and how young teens grow up quickly to aid their parents. Foreign intrigue enters in the 2nd half when an FBI Agent gets involved in their effort to survive. I gave 3 stars vs. 4 to this new series since one tragic event in the life of one family was referred to all too often. Otherwise, a fast paced drama and a good read.
This story about two factions of two families caught in the dual catastrophe of a storm and a foreign military strike describes the struggle to simply survive and how young teens grow up quickly to aid their parents. Foreign intrigue enters in the 2nd half when an FBI Agent gets involved in their effort to survive. I gave 3 stars vs. 4 to this new series since one tragic event in the life of one family was referred to all too often. Otherwise, a fast paced drama and a good read.
September 14, 2022
Want a heart thumping action packed thrill ride of a story? Then please purchase Fall of Houston series by TL Payne.
Set in Houston, Texas a recently widowed father and son struggle to escape a quickly approaching hurricane when an EMP hit the United States. Injuries, rising water and terrorist both foreign and domestic are just a few interesting finds within this novel.
Ultimately my favorite part of this was Will's determination to heal a wounded bond with his son and protect him at all costs.
Set in Houston, Texas a recently widowed father and son struggle to escape a quickly approaching hurricane when an EMP hit the United States. Injuries, rising water and terrorist both foreign and domestic are just a few interesting finds within this novel.
Ultimately my favorite part of this was Will's determination to heal a wounded bond with his son and protect him at all costs.
May 28, 2021
I wanted to like this - I love a good EMP/Apocalypse story, and this one has the novel twist of an EMP happening at the same time as a major hurricane. However, the characters are extremely thinly drawn caricatures - I never got a feel for any of them, and never felt like I understood them or cared about their plight. This book also seemed to focus on the most boring/trivial aspects of survival, and included pages and pages of boring shoot-outs.
August 14, 2023
Fall of Houston series book 1
WOW, what an adventure. Will, and his son Cayden packed, and boarded up thier home before a Category 5 Hurricane made landfall. They were in bumper to bumper traffic and went to get gas, all the cars on the highway stopped running, phones quit working and electric was out.
How could a hurricane do all of that before it even hit. Will doesnt understand whats going on, he just wants to protect his son. Great EMP thriller.
WOW, what an adventure. Will, and his son Cayden packed, and boarded up thier home before a Category 5 Hurricane made landfall. They were in bumper to bumper traffic and went to get gas, all the cars on the highway stopped running, phones quit working and electric was out.
How could a hurricane do all of that before it even hit. Will doesnt understand whats going on, he just wants to protect his son. Great EMP thriller.
April 24, 2024
Way more fun than the average EMP novel
In addition to opening with an EMP, No Way Out throws a hurricane, refinery fires and attacks by the Chinese mafia, creating one hell of a fun read. If you're new to the apocalyptic genre, No Way Out would be a perfect introduction. 5/5 seriously well earned stars. Knowing TL Payne, I had no doubt about the quality of the book, but was pleasantly surprised. A superlative work!
In addition to opening with an EMP, No Way Out throws a hurricane, refinery fires and attacks by the Chinese mafia, creating one hell of a fun read. If you're new to the apocalyptic genre, No Way Out would be a perfect introduction. 5/5 seriously well earned stars. Knowing TL Payne, I had no doubt about the quality of the book, but was pleasantly surprised. A superlative work!
December 10, 2020
Huston we have a problem.
Multiple traffic bumps, lines of traffic leaving the city. A cat 5 hurricane heading towards them. Then suddenly. Everything stands still, no sounds except for people swearing, cursing their motors, and the heat in the city.
No one knows what’s happened. No lights, no phones, cars have died, multiple pile ups. Brilliant read.
Multiple traffic bumps, lines of traffic leaving the city. A cat 5 hurricane heading towards them. Then suddenly. Everything stands still, no sounds except for people swearing, cursing their motors, and the heat in the city.
No one knows what’s happened. No lights, no phones, cars have died, multiple pile ups. Brilliant read.
December 16, 2020
Loved It!!
It was definitely different from the other two series. The group has so much more devastation infront of them as they not only navigate through an EMP (Chinese Attack) but a roaring hurricane. I can not wait to continue reading Payne's work! Truly brilliant and gives so much insight as to what could actually happen.
It was definitely different from the other two series. The group has so much more devastation infront of them as they not only navigate through an EMP (Chinese Attack) but a roaring hurricane. I can not wait to continue reading Payne's work! Truly brilliant and gives so much insight as to what could actually happen.
February 23, 2021
Just too many errors
Ms. Payne is a really good storyteller but either she or her editors need to pay attention to the writing. The first several chapters had so many errors I almost quit reading. I highlighted my copy with possible revisions. If anyone wants to see it I will try to find a way to forward them.
Ms. Payne is a really good storyteller but either she or her editors need to pay attention to the writing. The first several chapters had so many errors I almost quit reading. I highlighted my copy with possible revisions. If anyone wants to see it I will try to find a way to forward them.
November 9, 2021
Great Book!
Started reading as it was taking place in Houston Tx. Continued reading as it was different having the EMP and a Hurricane right in the middle of a big storage area of plants processing and storing chemicals. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one on the series!
Started reading as it was taking place in Houston Tx. Continued reading as it was different having the EMP and a Hurricane right in the middle of a big storage area of plants processing and storing chemicals. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one on the series!
April 6, 2022
A glimpse into what could very well happen. Will and his son need to evacuate for the Hurricane that is bearing done on Houston. While stopping for gas suddenly lying cars stop working g, power is go e and no cell phone service. Could the Hurricane cause these events? Read how helping one person out of a burning car and another with a possible head injury turn his evacuation into a nightmare
January 11, 2023
Ignorance Is Not Bliss!
Will doesn’t know anything about EMP’s and wha can do so it was totally interesting to see how he worked through what was happening. And seeing him react and take charge was great. Then there is Isabella… she is one tough girl! There is a chemistry between hem and I’ll be wondering if she makes it into Book 2.
Will doesn’t know anything about EMP’s and wha can do so it was totally interesting to see how he worked through what was happening. And seeing him react and take charge was great. Then there is Isabella… she is one tough girl! There is a chemistry between hem and I’ll be wondering if she makes it into Book 2.
May 10, 2024
This was good! I liked all the characters and it was fun that it was set in my city. The audiobook kept pronouncing Humble wrong but I'll let it slide. I liked the concept that a terrorist attack occurred at the same time as a hurricane hit. I'm not sure how much more story there is to make up a whole series, however. I'm going straight to the second book, so I guess I'll find out soon!
December 3, 2020
TL Payne's No Way Out Series is A Great Read
Post Apocalyptic fiction is my favorite genre and the No Way Out Series doesn't disappoint in any way. Full of action, interesting well done character's and a great storyline makes for a great read!
Post Apocalyptic fiction is my favorite genre and the No Way Out Series doesn't disappoint in any way. Full of action, interesting well done character's and a great storyline makes for a great read!
December 31, 2020
Thumbs up
I have read T.L Payne's other book series and I love this one as well, I actually was raised in Houston so to read about this city and familiar places around the city I can picture where they where at in the book I loved it
I have read T.L Payne's other book series and I love this one as well, I actually was raised in Houston so to read about this city and familiar places around the city I can picture where they where at in the book I loved it
January 6, 2021
Texas hurricanes
Expecting a category five hurricane, Will tries to head out to his lake cabin but when an EMP attack occurs plans change. His sister in Louisiana has her own problem. The start of another great series by T.L. Payne.
Expecting a category five hurricane, Will tries to head out to his lake cabin but when an EMP attack occurs plans change. His sister in Louisiana has her own problem. The start of another great series by T.L. Payne.
February 3, 2021
Great book
Really good read. It's more of a realistic setting than other apocalyptic books I've read. It is definitely one of those types of books you stay up late into the night reading. I did give it 4 stars instead of 5 because there is some bad language which isn't needed.
Really good read. It's more of a realistic setting than other apocalyptic books I've read. It is definitely one of those types of books you stay up late into the night reading. I did give it 4 stars instead of 5 because there is some bad language which isn't needed.
March 14, 2021
My Musings
Wow just wow! This book is an exciting read from the first page to the last. I love the characters and the amazing story. I M so glad I found this series on Kindle Unlimited. Happy ☺reading 📚!
Wow just wow! This book is an exciting read from the first page to the last. I love the characters and the amazing story. I M so glad I found this series on Kindle Unlimited. Happy ☺reading 📚!
March 28, 2021
Entertaining
Interesting storyline with multiple disasters happening, a hurricane is hitting Houston and EMP is detonated over north America. Will and his son Cayden must navigate through but add a FBI Agent and Chinese intruders.
Interesting storyline with multiple disasters happening, a hurricane is hitting Houston and EMP is detonated over north America. Will and his son Cayden must navigate through but add a FBI Agent and Chinese intruders.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews