This is a CME-on steroids book, though the actual science that would explain the extreme damage to the ozone layer from a CME is a bit murky. The fact that a CME could originate from the sun and hit the earth in minutes and not days, is bad science. I had trouble with the characters. Barry is an abusive and obnoxious toad. Meredith is a passive, milquetoast woman willing to accept abuse. A wronged former cop and his underground fight promoter (what an odd couple) spend most of the time below ground unaware of the danger above. It wasn't hard to figure out who had wronged Jake, the former cop, after he told his story to the crime boss promoter. Then there are vicious, escaped convicts...seems like they are a requirement in this genre, but I am really tired of them. I need someone to cheer for so had to settle on Jake and on Colonel Morris. Not sure that is enough to continue this rather ordinary series.