What do you think?
Rate this book
The Way of Dan #2
The Path Of Water
After an EMP strands Dan in Boise, he escapes to the Idaho mountains with his new friend, Holly. She's not entirely sure what she's gotten herself into. She's straight-laced, pragmatic, and comes from a law enforcement background. Dan is a vigilante who thinks murder is sometimes the best solution to a problem. He's also a weed-smoking drinker who's constantly spouting his personal philosophy, The Way of Dan. Somehow the two of them have to find a way to survive together in the close quarters of their isolated cabin.
All seems idyllic at first. Everyone they meet in their new community is kind and helpful. It's almost too good to be true, like they've each found a better life in the midst of this crisis than the one they had before. Dan and Holly spend their evenings sitting in a mountain hot spring with their new friends, drinking up the inventory of the local brewery and laughing into the night.
One charismatic neighbor in particular charms Dan with his larger-than-life personality, but his intensity concerns Holly. Does he have ulterior motives or is she just being suspicious? After all, everyone has their secrets, including Dan and Holly, but in such a tight-knit community can a secret stay buried forever?
All seems idyllic at first. Everyone they meet in their new community is kind and helpful. It's almost too good to be true, like they've each found a better life in the midst of this crisis than the one they had before. Dan and Holly spend their evenings sitting in a mountain hot spring with their new friends, drinking up the inventory of the local brewery and laughing into the night.
One charismatic neighbor in particular charms Dan with his larger-than-life personality, but his intensity concerns Holly. Does he have ulterior motives or is she just being suspicious? After all, everyone has their secrets, including Dan and Holly, but in such a tight-knit community can a secret stay buried forever?
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2021
349 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Franklin Horton
65 books373 followersFranklin Horton lives and writes in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. He attended Virginia Intermont College and Virginia Commonwealth University. In his spare time he pursues outdoor adventures with his wife and two children. His interests include camping, kayaking, backpacking, mountain biking, and shooting.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 26, 2021
A pothead's viewpoint of the apocalypse
The Dan and Holly show had me laughing and agreeing with Dan's logic. Missy was definitely the funniest character. Her off the wall quips had me thinking she's the law enforcement up here? Loved it.
This series is so much different from Horton's other books. It was just a days in the life story. No super preppers, know all, do all individuals. Just every day people trying to survive.
Fav quotes:
....what a lot of people born in the 50-60's eventually say:
"Fucking pothead." "I wasn't always," Dan protested. "I worked my way back around to it. Reached a point after my wife died that I was going to do whatever the hell I wanted from then on. I was going to revisit my twenty-year-old self and pick up where I left off." "So before you came to Boise you were a law-abiding citizen?" "Absolutely." Dan held his hand up. "Scout's honor. Well, a stoned law-abiding citizen anyway."
Dan was almost ready to say Stevie Ray Vaughn instead, but he'd learned long ago that he couldn't talk and listen to Steve Ray at the same time. The guitar sucked him in and he soon lost all track of what was being discussed. Good blues could turn him into a drooling idiot.
I love Holly.....her off the wall personality. When she told Dan "Get me a beer bitch!". When Dan called himself the 'Beer Bitch'.... I started laughing!
The Dan and Holly show had me laughing and agreeing with Dan's logic. Missy was definitely the funniest character. Her off the wall quips had me thinking she's the law enforcement up here? Loved it.
This series is so much different from Horton's other books. It was just a days in the life story. No super preppers, know all, do all individuals. Just every day people trying to survive.
Fav quotes:
....what a lot of people born in the 50-60's eventually say:
"Fucking pothead." "I wasn't always," Dan protested. "I worked my way back around to it. Reached a point after my wife died that I was going to do whatever the hell I wanted from then on. I was going to revisit my twenty-year-old self and pick up where I left off." "So before you came to Boise you were a law-abiding citizen?" "Absolutely." Dan held his hand up. "Scout's honor. Well, a stoned law-abiding citizen anyway."
Dan was almost ready to say Stevie Ray Vaughn instead, but he'd learned long ago that he couldn't talk and listen to Steve Ray at the same time. The guitar sucked him in and he soon lost all track of what was being discussed. Good blues could turn him into a drooling idiot.
I love Holly.....her off the wall personality. When she told Dan "Get me a beer bitch!". When Dan called himself the 'Beer Bitch'.... I started laughing!
July 5, 2021
Review
You never miss when reading a novel by Mr. Horton. This is
unique in that there aren’t inner city gangs running amok. Great plot twists.
You never miss when reading a novel by Mr. Horton. This is
unique in that there aren’t inner city gangs running amok. Great plot twists.
June 4, 2021
Always good
I’ve read all of Franklin Horton’s books, I love them all including this one. The character Dan is different than others he written about in his other series but interesting and well written just the same. It will be interesting to read the next adventure of Dan and Holly.
I’ve read all of Franklin Horton’s books, I love them all including this one. The character Dan is different than others he written about in his other series but interesting and well written just the same. It will be interesting to read the next adventure of Dan and Holly.
February 20, 2022
These books are a lot better than I thought they would be. I thought they would be stereotypical survivalist stuff but it really was not that. The people were not super-soldiers etc.. While I am not personally into pot just about everything else about Dan is something I can identify with. Especially the love of good blues!
December 30, 2022
First - I am a big fan of Franklin Horton. To me, this book was not special. Dan is still Dan i think? but it seems they are now very laid back in this new world. There wasn't a lot of excitement in this book. They laid around the hot spring, smoked a lot of dope and drank a lot of wine.
Dan and his new companion make it to the cabin and don't seem too worried about their survival now. They meet a radio talk show host (gone mad apparently) that has built a survival retreat and lives there all alone. I can see this happening, however in a small town such as this, I guarantee that the locals would find out what's going on as it was being built. Apparently this town doesn't have a clue.
I think it was too easy for Dan to volunteer to hide a dead body without any type of remorse at all.
The hippies seem like intelligent people so I think being where they are and knowing the state of the world they would have figured out that they need to search the vacated town for food and other survival items.
I really like Franklin Horton but this one just wasn't up to my expected standard.
Dan and his new companion make it to the cabin and don't seem too worried about their survival now. They meet a radio talk show host (gone mad apparently) that has built a survival retreat and lives there all alone. I can see this happening, however in a small town such as this, I guarantee that the locals would find out what's going on as it was being built. Apparently this town doesn't have a clue.
I think it was too easy for Dan to volunteer to hide a dead body without any type of remorse at all.
The hippies seem like intelligent people so I think being where they are and knowing the state of the world they would have figured out that they need to search the vacated town for food and other survival items.
I really like Franklin Horton but this one just wasn't up to my expected standard.
November 30, 2025
This book is much about relationship. In the beginning, Dan and Holly are almost strangers and have found themselves living together in a remote, rough setting. Dan is lax and what I would call a geriatric hippy. Holly is structured and straight laced. I LOVE their banter. I laughed out loud many times throughout the book.
Holly is critical and sarcastic towards Dan. He responds with humor and optimism. I found myself getting annoyed with her but then thrilling, deadly crisis changed everything. She softened towards Dan and (my long wait), finally consumated their relationship. (Which in my opinion, was very tastefully done.) No detailed sex, just soft reference that they had achieved intimacy.
This is an easy read that kept me entertained throughout the book. I look forward to the next book in the series as it appears that they are off to new unknown adventures.
Holly is critical and sarcastic towards Dan. He responds with humor and optimism. I found myself getting annoyed with her but then thrilling, deadly crisis changed everything. She softened towards Dan and (my long wait), finally consumated their relationship. (Which in my opinion, was very tastefully done.) No detailed sex, just soft reference that they had achieved intimacy.
This is an easy read that kept me entertained throughout the book. I look forward to the next book in the series as it appears that they are off to new unknown adventures.
May 28, 2021
The Path of Water. Franklin Horton
Dan and Holly. Unlikely people to meet and become friends. Holly a police officer in Boise. Dan a man of many seasons. From Tennessee, in Boise to sort out his recently deceased best friends affairs. Then an EMP strike, chaos. Survival of the strongest, most skilled or lucky. Take your pick. Boise is in shambles, violence rules the day. Law and order is long gone. They journey on foot into the wilderness of Idaho. There they are met by initially new friends but one of them is an egotistical self serving sociopath. What ensues is a story of survival. New friends, lost friends as their relationship strengthens. This is a believable scenario and an excellent read!!! My highest recommendation!!!
Dan and Holly. Unlikely people to meet and become friends. Holly a police officer in Boise. Dan a man of many seasons. From Tennessee, in Boise to sort out his recently deceased best friends affairs. Then an EMP strike, chaos. Survival of the strongest, most skilled or lucky. Take your pick. Boise is in shambles, violence rules the day. Law and order is long gone. They journey on foot into the wilderness of Idaho. There they are met by initially new friends but one of them is an egotistical self serving sociopath. What ensues is a story of survival. New friends, lost friends as their relationship strengthens. This is a believable scenario and an excellent read!!! My highest recommendation!!!
June 9, 2025
Keep your friends close...
The Path Of Water, Book 2 in the Way Of Dan series, picks up shortly after Dan and Holly reach the cabin in the mountains after escaping Boise. Several new characters are introduced: Kyle, the conspiracy podcaster, Missy, the area Ranger, Bird and Krin, hippies that work at a local brewery. Everyone gets along great...... for a while. The writing picks up the pace of the action, and the writing is impeccable. Even the title is perfect, as you'll find when you read it. Horton hits another home run with The Path Of Water. Any fan of apocalyptic survival thrillers will absolutely love this book. 5/5 stars!
The Path Of Water, Book 2 in the Way Of Dan series, picks up shortly after Dan and Holly reach the cabin in the mountains after escaping Boise. Several new characters are introduced: Kyle, the conspiracy podcaster, Missy, the area Ranger, Bird and Krin, hippies that work at a local brewery. Everyone gets along great...... for a while. The writing picks up the pace of the action, and the writing is impeccable. Even the title is perfect, as you'll find when you read it. Horton hits another home run with The Path Of Water. Any fan of apocalyptic survival thrillers will absolutely love this book. 5/5 stars!
June 14, 2021
Stay or Go
Not long after Dan and Holly begin settling in to the cabin, they began to meet some of the townsfolk and an interesting neighbor. Krin and Bird run the brewery and are more than welcome to share, Missy is a Ranger who enjoys a good beer and toke, Kyle is a famous and comes with some quirks, and then there's a nosy Mayor. The local hot springs are a popular meet-up location and things are good...at first. Who would think that a decision to stay or go could spark so much trouble?
Not long after Dan and Holly begin settling in to the cabin, they began to meet some of the townsfolk and an interesting neighbor. Krin and Bird run the brewery and are more than welcome to share, Missy is a Ranger who enjoys a good beer and toke, Kyle is a famous and comes with some quirks, and then there's a nosy Mayor. The local hot springs are a popular meet-up location and things are good...at first. Who would think that a decision to stay or go could spark so much trouble?
May 18, 2022
This seems to be what it would be like to spend the apocalypse with a rambling stoner. With all of the quirky characters and tangential philosophizing, there is not much sense of urgency about survival or the apocalypse or much beyond weed and beer. It is a very slow progress and not much is mitigated by the sudden killing spree of an otherwise odd person. The story itself is really a 2, but because the editing and and writing are both good, I bumped it. Not sure that I care much about book three. Neither Dan nor Holly seem to care what happens next.
June 25, 2024
Getting Settled into The Apocalypse
After getting out of Boise and making it to the cabin it didn’t take Dan and Holly too long to settle in and start to feel good about where they were at physically and emotionally. Their relationship was good and the future, though dark enough… was bright in other ways. Then Kyle came in and threw everything out of kilter. And then he tried to kill Dan and succeeded in killing Ranger Molly… and then he was killed. Sadness surrounded them but again, they are optimistic and I’m looking forward to the next book!
After getting out of Boise and making it to the cabin it didn’t take Dan and Holly too long to settle in and start to feel good about where they were at physically and emotionally. Their relationship was good and the future, though dark enough… was bright in other ways. Then Kyle came in and threw everything out of kilter. And then he tried to kill Dan and succeeded in killing Ranger Molly… and then he was killed. Sadness surrounded them but again, they are optimistic and I’m looking forward to the next book!
May 29, 2021
Dan is Great Man!
I've been sucked in again! Fabulous story pace, fantastic characters, and great attention to detail. I love dan , he's a man after my own heart. Just a little younger than he is but I grew up with a love of the same things. Keep hoping to read about him singing some classic Pink Floyd while he smokes some of Kyle's stash. Great series and another must read from Franklin Horton
I've been sucked in again! Fabulous story pace, fantastic characters, and great attention to detail. I love dan , he's a man after my own heart. Just a little younger than he is but I grew up with a love of the same things. Keep hoping to read about him singing some classic Pink Floyd while he smokes some of Kyle's stash. Great series and another must read from Franklin Horton
July 15, 2024
Will the real Franklin Horton please stand up?
I'm so disappointed in this series even though I am only in the second book.
This does not read like a Franklin Horton book. The characters are so unbelievable and, quite honestly, stupid.
I read or purchased other series by this author and thoroughly enjoyed them, like the 11 books of both the Borrowed World and Mad Mick.
I guess I was hoping for more great characters. So sorry this book is not even coming close.
I'm so disappointed in this series even though I am only in the second book.
This does not read like a Franklin Horton book. The characters are so unbelievable and, quite honestly, stupid.
I read or purchased other series by this author and thoroughly enjoyed them, like the 11 books of both the Borrowed World and Mad Mick.
I guess I was hoping for more great characters. So sorry this book is not even coming close.
May 27, 2021
Dan Continues On
Loved this second book in the series. We find Dan and Holly have arrived in Idaho mountains. Dan discovers his next door neighbor is rather famous, but all is not what it seems. There are some who have survived the CME in the small town but as usual for Dan mayhem and blood shed soon follows. More mystery than just surviving. Recommend.
Loved this second book in the series. We find Dan and Holly have arrived in Idaho mountains. Dan discovers his next door neighbor is rather famous, but all is not what it seems. There are some who have survived the CME in the small town but as usual for Dan mayhem and blood shed soon follows. More mystery than just surviving. Recommend.
June 21, 2021
I could only give this book 4 stars as I felt the story line was a bit thin. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book and still love Dan as the main character. Most of the book was spent focusing on Dan's search for weed and beer...
There is a bad guy and of course the final confrontation is what forms the core of the story, but it was all at the end and quite brief.
There is a bad guy and of course the final confrontation is what forms the core of the story, but it was all at the end and quite brief.
July 12, 2021
Light fun but a little lame.
This is my second book in the series and I have had enough. The story reads like a mystery/comedy. Not much depth at all. And a little dumb in places. Plus, the story just keeps going on and on. I skimmed the last third of the second Book of Dan. No more. Not for me.
This is my second book in the series and I have had enough. The story reads like a mystery/comedy. Not much depth at all. And a little dumb in places. Plus, the story just keeps going on and on. I skimmed the last third of the second Book of Dan. No more. Not for me.
September 25, 2022
Solid Entertainment
While there were a few slow spots, overall the pace was good. This series is less about action and more about the characters which is fine with me. It is a change of pace from some of the more action oriented books I read. It has a good storyline and some very likeable characters.
While there were a few slow spots, overall the pace was good. This series is less about action and more about the characters which is fine with me. It is a change of pace from some of the more action oriented books I read. It has a good storyline and some very likeable characters.
May 24, 2021
I loved this book by Franklin Horton. I also loved the characters. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I would recommend this book and all of Franklin’s books. I listened to this book on audiobook.
May 31, 2021
Excellent read
The way of Dan may sound easy but it is definitely not. I can relate to Dan's way. This one is action packed and laid back at the same time. But when its action packed you better be holding on. Looking for further adventures.
The way of Dan may sound easy but it is definitely not. I can relate to Dan's way. This one is action packed and laid back at the same time. But when its action packed you better be holding on. Looking for further adventures.
May 31, 2021
Another great read from Franklin Horton
I've been waiting for a follow up to Burning Down Boise and I wasn't disappointed. I read the whole thing in two days. Great characters, as always. Looking forward to book three!
I've been waiting for a follow up to Burning Down Boise and I wasn't disappointed. I read the whole thing in two days. Great characters, as always. Looking forward to book three!
June 18, 2021
Not nearly as good as the first one, but Dan is an enjoyable fella. The book is not very exciting; it feels like it might to a guy who is baked during the apocalypse. Which is sort of how it's supposed to feel, i guess.
June 28, 2021
It seems there wasn't a lot of action for the first three fourths of the book, and I was perfectly fine with that pace. A slow buildup gives time to further explore the characters, a rare commodity in this genre.
June 30, 2021
Never disappointed
Franklin Horton has done it again! I can say with all sincerity and honesty that I have thoroughly enjoyed every book from this author. Great addition to The Way of Dan and I would highly recommend all of Mr. Horton's books.
Franklin Horton has done it again! I can say with all sincerity and honesty that I have thoroughly enjoyed every book from this author. Great addition to The Way of Dan and I would highly recommend all of Mr. Horton's books.
July 4, 2021
I just figured out why these books aren't as good as Horton's other books...the main character is simply awful. I don't like him and I can't relate to him, so I don't really care what happens to him. That makes the books far less enjoyable.
August 1, 2021
Great read.
I enjoyed this book, held my attention, and had twists included that I didn't expect. I would recommend this book to anyone, if your new to the genre its great to get you started.
I enjoyed this book, held my attention, and had twists included that I didn't expect. I would recommend this book to anyone, if your new to the genre its great to get you started.
August 11, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyable
I highly recommend this author. Post apocalyptic but with deeper soul. Plausible happenings and bad guys that make sense , at least some logical progression of sense.
I highly recommend this author. Post apocalyptic but with deeper soul. Plausible happenings and bad guys that make sense , at least some logical progression of sense.
January 31, 2022
Anther good chapter to this story
An interesting segue to the main story. I.e. the insertion of the Lunatic broadcaster. felt sorry for Ranger ?. I thought she could have counterbalanced some of the weaker characters. Cheers Jim
An interesting segue to the main story. I.e. the insertion of the Lunatic broadcaster. felt sorry for Ranger ?. I thought she could have counterbalanced some of the weaker characters. Cheers Jim
May 8, 2022
such a great book
This is a wonderful book, and series. The story is well written, the character development excellent, and the concepts are believable. I was casting around for another great series, and I found it. Thank you Franklin Horton.
This is a wonderful book, and series. The story is well written, the character development excellent, and the concepts are believable. I was casting around for another great series, and I found it. Thank you Franklin Horton.
January 9, 2024
A lot more woo-woo than I expected but with all the pot use I guess it figures....:)
Interested in whether b the make the trip back to Tennessee so I will keep reading! Definitely a Franklin Horton FAN!
Interested in whether b the make the trip back to Tennessee so I will keep reading! Definitely a Franklin Horton FAN!
May 27, 2021
Excellent work!
As always, Horton has crafted an excellent story that keeps you on your toes. I had to keep reading; I couldn't stop!
As always, Horton has crafted an excellent story that keeps you on your toes. I had to keep reading; I couldn't stop!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews