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After the Crash #2
The Collapse
The struggles of the outside world - both natural and manmade - have reached Redemption's doorstep as survivors fight for safety in Book 2 of After the Crash.Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic tale? Welcome to your new addiction.When a new nationwide city-planning program goes online, the results are more than disastrous. They’re apocalyptic.As tens of millions die across the country, the world’s technology, power grids and infrastructure collapse, effectively throwing the planet back into the Stone Age.In one of the few towns that escape the worst of the crash, a small-knit community called Redemption struggles to survive as others seek refuge behind their walls - including those who know more about the disaster than they let on….Explore the world after the crash in this 6-book mini-series-esque adventure featuring realistic characters, a unique story and heart-pounding action. *****Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Justin Bell, JJ Pike, Tara Ellis, Kenny Soward and others on titles such as Zero Hour, MELT, Flashpoint and Weathering the Storm.
- GenresPost Apocalyptic
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2022
221 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Tara Ellis
64 books251 followersWith over 50 published books across ten genres, author Tara Ellis is best known for her heart-pounding post-apocalyptic and thriller series. A heavy dose of mystery often underscores her character-driven plots, heralding back to what fueled her desire to tell stories from an early age.
A certified firefighter in the state of Washington, Tara volunteered as a FF/EMT for over eight years. She also responded as a support officer, worked as an emergency room technician, was a 911 dispatcher, and taught life-saving techniques to the public and first responders. As an author of thriller and survival stories, she draws upon her personal experience throughout her storytelling.
Tara lives in the gorgeous Cascade Mountains of Washington State. When not writing or spending time with family, she can be found hiking the woods while plotting her next adventure.
*Join Tara's newsletter on her author website: Tara Ellis Books
*Check out her women's literature and mysteries under the pen name of Tara Meyers
*Find her on FB under Tara Ellis Author
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
Coming this year, in 2025:
*A new post-apocalyptic series with Aethon Books, The 6th Extinction, releases in April
*A new thriller series co-authored with L.T. Ryan was announced to release later this year!
*The third and final book in The Fallen series, The Redeemed, is coming this summer
*Several new audiobooks will go live throughout the year
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
A certified firefighter in the state of Washington, Tara volunteered as a FF/EMT for over eight years. She also responded as a support officer, worked as an emergency room technician, was a 911 dispatcher, and taught life-saving techniques to the public and first responders. As an author of thriller and survival stories, she draws upon her personal experience throughout her storytelling.
Tara lives in the gorgeous Cascade Mountains of Washington State. When not writing or spending time with family, she can be found hiking the woods while plotting her next adventure.
*Join Tara's newsletter on her author website: Tara Ellis Books
*Check out her women's literature and mysteries under the pen name of Tara Meyers
*Find her on FB under Tara Ellis Author
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
Coming this year, in 2025:
*A new post-apocalyptic series with Aethon Books, The 6th Extinction, releases in April
*A new thriller series co-authored with L.T. Ryan was announced to release later this year!
*The third and final book in The Fallen series, The Redeemed, is coming this summer
*Several new audiobooks will go live throughout the year
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 8, 2022
The Collapse:
After the Crash Book 2
Wow, that snow storm was crazy.
There was a lot going on in the book it kept me wanting to read more. I can’t wait to read the next one and see what happens to Kathy and Hunter, then all the people in Redemption. And if the snow storm is finally over.
After the Crash Book 2
Wow, that snow storm was crazy.
There was a lot going on in the book it kept me wanting to read more. I can’t wait to read the next one and see what happens to Kathy and Hunter, then all the people in Redemption. And if the snow storm is finally over.
July 13, 2022
great book
I really enjoy reading this series it keeps you on the end of your seat I’m on to read book number 3
I really enjoy reading this series it keeps you on the end of your seat I’m on to read book number 3
July 1, 2022
This was another very good addition to the series and the writing and editing are good. I like the town and people of Redemption a lot and how core group work to try to help the community survive. I really like Kathy and Hunter as they make the long journal back to her home in Redemption. Kathy is a loner, seemingly troubled by a trauma from her time as a cop, but she is a decent woman and doesn't hesitate to help a young boy in need. Since I don't believe there is enough injustice in the cosmos to have Kathy's journey end prematurely, I await what happens. I also like that both she and Hunter and Wes/Hope encounter good people along the way. Sometimes it seems that good people don't survive the apocalypse and I'm glad that is not the case in this series. I find Bucky to be a very curious character. At the onset, he is an opportunistic snake who has used his family's money and status in the area to cut corners in his fracking business and endanger the town's water source. Unsavory locals are not uncommon in this genre, but in this book as the disaster unfolds, including a major blizzard, Bucky starts to become uncomfortable with and ashamed of his prior actions and even pitches in to help the town. His reaction to the deceased veteran was very telling. He seems to be on the cusp of either a redemption arc or a descent into a desire to be on top at all costs; I hope his soul-searching indicates the former. There is, of course, the mystery of Watchtower. We know it is a man and, assuming it is a character that we have seen, I have a couple of suspects in mind. I look forward to the next book.
May 31, 2022
The Collapse - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Redemption is not just a state of mind, it's a small South Dakota town, where locals Sage, Ruth, Dr Pearlman and those like them, do what they can to help others, as a mega-virus wipes out all O.N.E-controlled technology and millions of lives, in The Collapse, Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus's second book, in their 'what if ..?', dystopian epic series After the Crash.
Evil terrorist factions/fanatics, Entangled/Watchtower manipulate MIT student Wes, aka Helix, to cause the Crash and its violent aftermath, amid a near apocalyptic freeze.
Who survives in/en route to redemption?
The tension rises exponentially throughout, and you should hurry to your local bookstore and get your copy of the unputdownable thriller The Collapse, today, to find out all the answers...don't delay!
Redemption is not just a state of mind, it's a small South Dakota town, where locals Sage, Ruth, Dr Pearlman and those like them, do what they can to help others, as a mega-virus wipes out all O.N.E-controlled technology and millions of lives, in The Collapse, Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus's second book, in their 'what if ..?', dystopian epic series After the Crash.
Evil terrorist factions/fanatics, Entangled/Watchtower manipulate MIT student Wes, aka Helix, to cause the Crash and its violent aftermath, amid a near apocalyptic freeze.
Who survives in/en route to redemption?
The tension rises exponentially throughout, and you should hurry to your local bookstore and get your copy of the unputdownable thriller The Collapse, today, to find out all the answers...don't delay!
October 12, 2022
Another excellent start to a believable and frightening apocalyptic series by the master. Tracking and all its dangerous problems take front stage along with the total collapse of all electrical, satellite, communication, transportation, etc. systems worldwide. The world is in a state of total chaotic collapse as many struggle just to survive....
June 16, 2022
Interesting. Book 2 continues this series by Tara Ellis and Mike Kraus.
The end of life as they knew it. Only a day or two and society breaks down. Survival of the fittest. Different people trying to make it home to Redemption. Why ? Will the town still be there? Will families still be there? Every obstacle is placed before them including blizzard conditions will they make it home?
The end of life as they knew it. Only a day or two and society breaks down. Survival of the fittest. Different people trying to make it home to Redemption. Why ? Will the town still be there? Will families still be there? Every obstacle is placed before them including blizzard conditions will they make it home?
December 18, 2023
wasted chapters and unlikely action
For some reason the authors think it’s good technique to spend chapters on random unconnected characters in bad situations only to have them die at the end, just when readers are intrigued about how they’ll get out of it and how they’ll connect the main characters. These chapters add nothing to the story and are frustrating to readers. If you’re going to kill someone off right away don’t name them and give them a backstory. That raises expectations that are then not fulfilled, causing the reader to lose confidence that the author knows what she’s doing.
And it’s impossible to bike ride 10 miles in deep snow, especially with only one useful arm and in a fever delirium. I know; I’ve delivered newspapers on a bike in snowstorms. Try it and see how tired you get after just a few blocks.
For some reason the authors think it’s good technique to spend chapters on random unconnected characters in bad situations only to have them die at the end, just when readers are intrigued about how they’ll get out of it and how they’ll connect the main characters. These chapters add nothing to the story and are frustrating to readers. If you’re going to kill someone off right away don’t name them and give them a backstory. That raises expectations that are then not fulfilled, causing the reader to lose confidence that the author knows what she’s doing.
And it’s impossible to bike ride 10 miles in deep snow, especially with only one useful arm and in a fever delirium. I know; I’ve delivered newspapers on a bike in snowstorms. Try it and see how tired you get after just a few blocks.
November 11, 2025
Things get more tense in Redemption...
The Collapse: After The Crash book 2, continues the story of the small, South Dakota town, Redemption in the wake of a massive and electronic apocalypse causing cyber attack. The writing is every bit as good as one should expect from anything written by Ellis or Kraus, with a great plot, narrative quality, great characters and excellent pacing. There are several unexpected surprises and sources of hardship, keeping the reader entertained and involved. 5/5 stars, highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival thrillers and thrillers in general!
The Collapse: After The Crash book 2, continues the story of the small, South Dakota town, Redemption in the wake of a massive and electronic apocalypse causing cyber attack. The writing is every bit as good as one should expect from anything written by Ellis or Kraus, with a great plot, narrative quality, great characters and excellent pacing. There are several unexpected surprises and sources of hardship, keeping the reader entertained and involved. 5/5 stars, highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival thrillers and thrillers in general!
September 8, 2022
Awesome
As usual, Mike Kraus has hit another home run with this book. All of his books are worth reading, no matter who he writes with! Tara Ellis, this is the first time I have ever read a book you've written, but if this is how you consistently write, I'm a fan of yours forever! I highly recommend this series.
As usual, Mike Kraus has hit another home run with this book. All of his books are worth reading, no matter who he writes with! Tara Ellis, this is the first time I have ever read a book you've written, but if this is how you consistently write, I'm a fan of yours forever! I highly recommend this series.
September 10, 2022
Intriguing Series
The suspense continues to grow.
Totally new and different apocalypse story.
Characters trying to get to town of Redemption and the residents face survival against all odds.
Underlying all this, a mystery continues surrounding the cause of the attack and one young boy who holds the key to reversing the crash.
Exciting story and interesting characters.
The suspense continues to grow.
Totally new and different apocalypse story.
Characters trying to get to town of Redemption and the residents face survival against all odds.
Underlying all this, a mystery continues surrounding the cause of the attack and one young boy who holds the key to reversing the crash.
Exciting story and interesting characters.
January 12, 2023
Good PA Yarn
Enjoying this series. Great character development.
A little geographic confusion, as the story seems to place NORAD'S Cheyenne Mountsin complex in Cheyenne, Wyoming, instead of Corado Springs, Colorado. Perhaps just an editing oversight.
I will continue the series, so yes, I recommend.
Enjoying this series. Great character development.
A little geographic confusion, as the story seems to place NORAD'S Cheyenne Mountsin complex in Cheyenne, Wyoming, instead of Corado Springs, Colorado. Perhaps just an editing oversight.
I will continue the series, so yes, I recommend.
March 7, 2024
Patched everything together
In this book it explains the background of the events of this small town of Redemption and all its players. The story line was not what I expected but cleared a lot of it up. I thought it would take off where book one left us, so let's hope book 3 will move on.
In this book it explains the background of the events of this small town of Redemption and all its players. The story line was not what I expected but cleared a lot of it up. I thought it would take off where book one left us, so let's hope book 3 will move on.
October 5, 2022
A Good Yarn
Whiling it competes with the other dystopian tales it provides an alternative result.
A good story within the restraints of the dystopian novel, it still manages to transcend the limits of that genre.
Whiling it competes with the other dystopian tales it provides an alternative result.
A good story within the restraints of the dystopian novel, it still manages to transcend the limits of that genre.
October 22, 2022
after the crash book 2
Wow. Snow blizzards, high winds, blackouts, with everything electrical. People getting lost on foot in the bad weather. Others out looking for them on snowmobiles. Danger everywhere, and more deaths. Read on.
Wow. Snow blizzards, high winds, blackouts, with everything electrical. People getting lost on foot in the bad weather. Others out looking for them on snowmobiles. Danger everywhere, and more deaths. Read on.
May 11, 2025
Great story.
The second book in the After the Crash series had me on the edge of my seat.
The story and characters are written really well. The plot has great depth.
There are many questions I have after finishing this story and am looking forward to reading book 3.
The second book in the After the Crash series had me on the edge of my seat.
The story and characters are written really well. The plot has great depth.
There are many questions I have after finishing this story and am looking forward to reading book 3.
June 5, 2022
Another fantastic book by two superb writers. Locals try their best to help others through a disaster. Will they have a chance at survival. Fast action.
June 22, 2022
Much better than book #1
This part was much easier to follow than book #1, but still not up to the quality I hoped for.
This part was much easier to follow than book #1, but still not up to the quality I hoped for.
July 27, 2022
Can't put book down
The second book is as good as the first. Keeps you wanting to find out more, and anticipating what's going to happen next.
Good read!
The second book is as good as the first. Keeps you wanting to find out more, and anticipating what's going to happen next.
Good read!
November 1, 2022
Great Series
I just finished book 2 and can't wait to start book 3. Very entertaining and great characters. Glad to have found these authors.
I just finished book 2 and can't wait to start book 3. Very entertaining and great characters. Glad to have found these authors.
December 24, 2022
Time for bed.
Looks like I couldn't put the book down! Finished it and finally get to go to bed! It was a great read!
Looks like I couldn't put the book down! Finished it and finally get to go to bed! It was a great read!
February 19, 2023
Good read
Good read but a little slow in parts. Good characters and character development. I'll read the next installment and see where it goes.
Good read but a little slow in parts. Good characters and character development. I'll read the next installment and see where it goes.
April 16, 2025
All talk no action, unless you think getting caught in a snow storm is action, then its exciting stuff.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews