AFTER THE ATTACK : First Novel in the ATA Triology

by Deb Baron

Do you believe in serendipity? Have you longed to fall in lust, fall in love, find your soulmate - but when it finally happens the world around you is ruled by a crisis so all encompassing that the human race might not survive? In the not too distant future. The visions of one man, one sociopath, one terrorist have been bundled into an evil plan and at once, without warning, without explanation, without so much as a last dying wish, the world has gone mad. Chemical, nuclear, biological and old fashioned armor attacks were simultaneously launched on all countries of the civilized world. Survivors are few, and a state of pandemonium rules. So the world has gone to war, a mix of radiation outfall and biochemical weapons have wracked havoc. In the ruins of an old airbus A380 airplane at Washington Dulles Airport, Dr. Sophia Matheson has set up her camp and her reign. She is an aloof, tough and hard headed surgeon who is almost impossible to approach and has become a cynic from having seen too much disaster in too little time. When strategists must come up with a plan to try and save the world, the remaining geniuses have to come together, combining all the smart brain power still left on the planet to come up with solutions for a possible future on earth. Sophia, who came out to reluctant parents when she was 16, surprisingly finds herself falling for Major Connor McGuire, a cocky jock, a soldier with a hard muscled body, an arrogant ass with piercing blue green eyes and a full head of blond curls cut razor short. And it seems as if Connor feels the same way. Dealing with their mutual unwanted attraction while forced to be in close quarters together turns out to be the challenge of their lives. The question will they give in to it? Will Sophia find out the truth about Connor, will she use that knowledge to her advantage to get rid of Connor, something she has wanted to achieve since they met? Or will flames arise from the sparks flying between them? Will they be successful in their mission or fail? At the same time on another continent. Europe lies as much in shambles as the USA. Dutch scientist, Dr. Zoe van der Berg, is fighting to survive on the dangerous streets of Amsterdam. When she is forced to travel in search of a possible future she stumbles across a US delegation led by the elegant yet hard ass General Cassandra McVay. Wills clash as lives crumble and plans change to an extent neither of them had ever expected as they embark on a fateful journey. Through fate, coincidence and serendipity, four complete strangers meet and fall in love. Together they vow to rebuild the world like phoenix from the ashes, to find survivors all over the universe, to restore infrastructure and communication. But in order to be able to do that they need the help of the individual responsible for the apocalypse, a man of Mongolian descent named Sheng-Li. An unholy union is formed. Will the women, and the love they found, survive or crumble as the world around them?

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2020

About the author

Stories don’t begin with plot. They begin with people.

Deb Baron writes emotionally rich sapphic fiction and psychological thrillers centered on complex women, impossible choices, and the extraordinary strength found in human connection. Whether exploring love or fear, her stories are driven by authentic characters, quiet moments, and emotional truth.

Her sapphic romances celebrate trust, loyalty, resilience, and relationships that are built long before the first kiss. Her psychological thrillers delve into obsession, trauma, manipulation, and the fragile line between justice and vengeance, always asking one simple question: What if?

By day, Deb is a trauma and vascular surgeon. Years spent in operating rooms, emergency departments, and those quiet moments suspended between life and death have shaped the psychological realism that defines her fiction. Her medical career provides a unique perspective on both the resilience and vulnerability of the human spirit.

When she isn’t writing or working in the operating room, she’s usually at the piano, experimenting in the kitchen, or chasing the next story before it slips away.

Deb is the author of the acclaimed Byrne Saga, a beloved sapphic romance series, and the Mercer Series, featuring forensic psychologist Dr. Arden Mercer and forensic pathologist Dr. Eli Markov in gripping psychological thrillers where every clue is human and every secret has a cost.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book; post apocalyptic stories are one of my favourite genres.

There's a fair amount going off, with the story split in two to feature two sets of main characters on different continents. Despite that the author does a good job of not making it overly difficult to keep up with what is happening where.

The 'unmasking' of the sociopath, means that something obvious for a plot line becomes less so and therefore intriguing as to what his ultimate end game will be.

I liked that the author has included a diverse bunch of main and supporting characters which reflect identities and/or situations found in real life e.g. age gaps, identifying your own sexuality, crushes etc.
I warmed well to the main characters and felt for the most part their evolvement and progression would probably be true to life given the dire circumstances they are in.

My only negative would be that it felt like the book needed another edit, the copy i read had a fair amount of misspellings, typos etc.
Depending how much you as a reader are able to overlook those things will depend on your level of frustration.
That being said whilst a little annoying for me, i enjoyed the story too much to give anything other than 5 stars.
The story the author wanted to tell, won out for me, regardless of how it was presented on the page. I'm genuinely really excited to read the next installment!