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Victoria Emerson #3
White Smoke
Perfect for fans of Tom Clancy and Ken Follett, the pulse-pounding new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author follows a community of survivors working to rebuild in the wake of a global conflict that has ravaged America, as they look to one woman—single mother and former West Virginia congressional representative Victoria Emerson—to balance survival with justice…
One-time congressional representative Victoria Emerson has received a request from the deposed president of the United States—come to the bunker at Hilltop Manor, where the remnants of the U.S. government have been imprisoned. A ruthless band has seized power, leaving civilians to die of starvation and untreated injuries. The self-appointed leader, Roger Parsons, plans to punish the former rulers for thrusting the country into Hell Day, the devastating war that changed the world in just a few hours.
Victoria is reluctant to leave Ortho, the West Virginia town she has developed and defended. But as a born leader, she feels the call of duty. Forging her way through a landscape terrorized by local warlords and desperate scavengers, she arrives at Hilltop Manor to find a powder keg of battling factions.
The lofty ideals on which the Republic was founded and the values that once held society together have devolved into anarchy. Calling on her deepest personal resources and her unwavering convictions, Victoria must somehow return the rule of law to a society where many of the old rules and laws don’t matter anymore.
One-time congressional representative Victoria Emerson has received a request from the deposed president of the United States—come to the bunker at Hilltop Manor, where the remnants of the U.S. government have been imprisoned. A ruthless band has seized power, leaving civilians to die of starvation and untreated injuries. The self-appointed leader, Roger Parsons, plans to punish the former rulers for thrusting the country into Hell Day, the devastating war that changed the world in just a few hours.
Victoria is reluctant to leave Ortho, the West Virginia town she has developed and defended. But as a born leader, she feels the call of duty. Forging her way through a landscape terrorized by local warlords and desperate scavengers, she arrives at Hilltop Manor to find a powder keg of battling factions.
The lofty ideals on which the Republic was founded and the values that once held society together have devolved into anarchy. Calling on her deepest personal resources and her unwavering convictions, Victoria must somehow return the rule of law to a society where many of the old rules and laws don’t matter anymore.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2023
347 people are currently reading
10163 people want to read
About the author
John Gilstrap
79 books1,209 followersA little bit about my background... I've always been a closet-writer. As a kid, I lived for the opportunity to write short stories. I was the editor of my high school newspaper for a while (the Valor Dictus, Robinson High School, class of 1975), until I quit ("You can't fire me! I quit!") over a lofty First Amendment issue that seemed very important at the time. My goal, in fact, was to become a journalist in the vein of Woodward or Bernstein. Okay, I confess, I wanted to be Woodward; Robert Redford played him in the movie, and chicks really dug Robert Redford.
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1979, and armed with a degree in American history, I couldn't find a job. I ended up settling for a position with a little-noticed trade journal serving the construction industry. They called me the managing editor and they paid me food stamp wages. I hated it. About this time, I joined the Burke Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, if only to find relief from the boredom of my job. Running about a thousand calls my first year with the department, I was hooked, and the volunteer fire service became an important part of my life for the next 15 years. In the early eighties, hating my job, I went the way of all frustrated liberal arts undergrads—back to graduate school. Earning a Master of Science degree in safety engineering from the University of Southern California, I started down a whole new road. For the next decade and a half, I became an expert (don't you hate that word?) on explosives safety and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, I kept writing. I didn't tell anyone, of course, because, well, you just don't share artistic dreams with fellow engineers. They look at you funny.
My first novel, Nathan's Run, was in fact my fourth novel, and when it sold, it sold big. At a time in my life when things were going well—I was president of my own consulting firm—things were suddenly going very well. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Nathan's Run two days after the first book rights were sold, and as of this date, the novel has been translated and published in one form or another in over 20 countries. With Nathan's Run in the can, as it were, I thought I might finally be on to something, but I didn't quit my "day job" until after I sold the book and movie rights to my second novel, At All Costs. I figured that while one-in-a-row might be luck, two-in-a-row was a trend. So, I started writing full-time.
More novels followed, and then a few screenplays. I was living the dream.
But I really didn't like it much. I learned pretty quickly that when you're born a Type-A personality, those extrovert tendencies don't go away just because you're practicing a craft you love. In fact, after just a couple of years of dream fulfillment, I was pretty friggin' bored with the company of my imaginary friends, so I did something that I've never heard a full-time artist do before: I went back to a day job. At first, it was just a matter of reactivating my consulting business, but then, in 2004, I was handed my ideal Big-Boy Job (that's what my wife calls it) working as the director of safety for a trade association in Washington, DC.
And I continue to write. In 2006, Six Minutes to Freedom was published to considerable acclaim. My first (and probably last) foray into book-length non-fiction, SixMin tells the story of Kurt Muse, the only civilian of record ever rescued by the super-secret Delta Force. Thanks to Kurt's cooperation (he is co-author), I gained access to people and places that lifelong civilians like me should never see. The heroic warriors I met during that research turned out to be nothing like their movie stereotypes. These were not only gentlemen, but gentle men, who remained free of the kind of boasting and self-aggrandizement that I was expecting. They were supreme professionals, and very nice guys.
And through them I got the idea for my new series character, Jonathan Grave. He's fo
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1979, and armed with a degree in American history, I couldn't find a job. I ended up settling for a position with a little-noticed trade journal serving the construction industry. They called me the managing editor and they paid me food stamp wages. I hated it. About this time, I joined the Burke Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, if only to find relief from the boredom of my job. Running about a thousand calls my first year with the department, I was hooked, and the volunteer fire service became an important part of my life for the next 15 years. In the early eighties, hating my job, I went the way of all frustrated liberal arts undergrads—back to graduate school. Earning a Master of Science degree in safety engineering from the University of Southern California, I started down a whole new road. For the next decade and a half, I became an expert (don't you hate that word?) on explosives safety and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, I kept writing. I didn't tell anyone, of course, because, well, you just don't share artistic dreams with fellow engineers. They look at you funny.
My first novel, Nathan's Run, was in fact my fourth novel, and when it sold, it sold big. At a time in my life when things were going well—I was president of my own consulting firm—things were suddenly going very well. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Nathan's Run two days after the first book rights were sold, and as of this date, the novel has been translated and published in one form or another in over 20 countries. With Nathan's Run in the can, as it were, I thought I might finally be on to something, but I didn't quit my "day job" until after I sold the book and movie rights to my second novel, At All Costs. I figured that while one-in-a-row might be luck, two-in-a-row was a trend. So, I started writing full-time.
More novels followed, and then a few screenplays. I was living the dream.
But I really didn't like it much. I learned pretty quickly that when you're born a Type-A personality, those extrovert tendencies don't go away just because you're practicing a craft you love. In fact, after just a couple of years of dream fulfillment, I was pretty friggin' bored with the company of my imaginary friends, so I did something that I've never heard a full-time artist do before: I went back to a day job. At first, it was just a matter of reactivating my consulting business, but then, in 2004, I was handed my ideal Big-Boy Job (that's what my wife calls it) working as the director of safety for a trade association in Washington, DC.
And I continue to write. In 2006, Six Minutes to Freedom was published to considerable acclaim. My first (and probably last) foray into book-length non-fiction, SixMin tells the story of Kurt Muse, the only civilian of record ever rescued by the super-secret Delta Force. Thanks to Kurt's cooperation (he is co-author), I gained access to people and places that lifelong civilians like me should never see. The heroic warriors I met during that research turned out to be nothing like their movie stereotypes. These were not only gentlemen, but gentle men, who remained free of the kind of boasting and self-aggrandizement that I was expecting. They were supreme professionals, and very nice guys.
And through them I got the idea for my new series character, Jonathan Grave. He's fo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
January 29, 2023
A fantastic protagonist, exciting scenes, and a shocking story kept me captivated throughout
White Smoke
, John Gilstrap’s newest novel in the Victoria Emerson dystopian series. It also has aspects of a political thriller and an action thriller.
Victoria (Vicky) Emerson was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the state of West Virginia when a nuclear war was imminent. When she couldn’t take her sons into the bunker for Congress, she resigned and she, her two youngest sons (Caleb and Luke), and her escorts, Major Joseph McCrea and First Sergeant Paul Copley end up in Ortho, West Virginia. The world is in chaos after an electromagnetic pulse has wiped out all electronics and technology. With Victoria as the de-facto leader of the town, they are trying to provide housing for refugees that are starting to inundate the town. Living off the land is necessary. Food, clothing, shelter are needed. Medicines are in short supply. The town has established rules for those that want to stay. Criminals face a type of frontier justice that can be brutal.
Victoria receives a request from the deposed president of the United States to come to the bunker at Hilltop Manor 40 miles east of Ortho. A ruthless group of people has imprisoned the remnants of the U.S. government. They plan to punish the former rulers. Meanwhile, citizens that have gathered outside Hilltop Manor are starving. Victoria feels she has to answer the call, but it won’t be easy. Brigands terrorize travelers along the road. Can she succeed in returning the rule of law to society?
Victoria is optimistic, honest, caring of others, cautiously trusting of others, and inspires them as well. However, she isn’t perfect, and that adds realism to the story. The secondary characters have varying degrees of depth and several are dynamic, experiencing changes in attitude or outlook as they respond to events.
This book is exactly what one would expect from a well-written dystopian thriller with lots of concern over how to survive and protect one’s family, but it is so much more than that. It raises several questions about justice, cooperation, leadership, fear, power struggles, supporting others, trust, desperation, political infighting, having to deal with the loss of all of the electronics we rely upon today, and much more. The loss of electricity, basic sanitation, running water, and communications present problems that most have not faced in their lifetimes.
The author brought a strong sense of time and place to the events in the book. I felt as though I had been transplanted to West Virginia and was living through the events. Survival, adjusting to a new normal, and strength of character take center stage in this novel. The plot is intriguing, includes several twists and turns, and definitely has some surprises. The action and suspense had me rapidly turning the pages.
Overall, this book was riveting, fast-paced, action-oriented, and pulse-activating. Would we have the skills to rebuild and survive if this actually happened? This is the third book that I have read by this author and the third in this series. I recommend that the series be read in order for best understanding of the characters, their backgrounds, and the events that have occurred. I hope there will be another book featuring Victoria. I also want to read Gilstrap’s Jonathan Grave series.
Kensington Books and John Gilstrap provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be February 21, 2023.
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My 4.72 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
Victoria (Vicky) Emerson was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the state of West Virginia when a nuclear war was imminent. When she couldn’t take her sons into the bunker for Congress, she resigned and she, her two youngest sons (Caleb and Luke), and her escorts, Major Joseph McCrea and First Sergeant Paul Copley end up in Ortho, West Virginia. The world is in chaos after an electromagnetic pulse has wiped out all electronics and technology. With Victoria as the de-facto leader of the town, they are trying to provide housing for refugees that are starting to inundate the town. Living off the land is necessary. Food, clothing, shelter are needed. Medicines are in short supply. The town has established rules for those that want to stay. Criminals face a type of frontier justice that can be brutal.
Victoria receives a request from the deposed president of the United States to come to the bunker at Hilltop Manor 40 miles east of Ortho. A ruthless group of people has imprisoned the remnants of the U.S. government. They plan to punish the former rulers. Meanwhile, citizens that have gathered outside Hilltop Manor are starving. Victoria feels she has to answer the call, but it won’t be easy. Brigands terrorize travelers along the road. Can she succeed in returning the rule of law to society?
Victoria is optimistic, honest, caring of others, cautiously trusting of others, and inspires them as well. However, she isn’t perfect, and that adds realism to the story. The secondary characters have varying degrees of depth and several are dynamic, experiencing changes in attitude or outlook as they respond to events.
This book is exactly what one would expect from a well-written dystopian thriller with lots of concern over how to survive and protect one’s family, but it is so much more than that. It raises several questions about justice, cooperation, leadership, fear, power struggles, supporting others, trust, desperation, political infighting, having to deal with the loss of all of the electronics we rely upon today, and much more. The loss of electricity, basic sanitation, running water, and communications present problems that most have not faced in their lifetimes.
The author brought a strong sense of time and place to the events in the book. I felt as though I had been transplanted to West Virginia and was living through the events. Survival, adjusting to a new normal, and strength of character take center stage in this novel. The plot is intriguing, includes several twists and turns, and definitely has some surprises. The action and suspense had me rapidly turning the pages.
Overall, this book was riveting, fast-paced, action-oriented, and pulse-activating. Would we have the skills to rebuild and survive if this actually happened? This is the third book that I have read by this author and the third in this series. I recommend that the series be read in order for best understanding of the characters, their backgrounds, and the events that have occurred. I hope there will be another book featuring Victoria. I also want to read Gilstrap’s Jonathan Grave series.
Kensington Books and John Gilstrap provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be February 21, 2023.
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My 4.72 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
December 21, 2022
I would follow Victoria Emerson through the gates of Hell. And that's saying something because I'm a world-class wuss. White Smoke is the third (and possibly final?) installment of John Gilstrap's nuclear armageddon series featuring former WV Congressional Representative Victoria Emerson. Living in Ortho, WV, Emerson has helped create an idyllic community based on respect, accountability and forgiveness.
Meanwhile, the bunker the president and the rest of Congress sheltered in has been taken over and the acting government faces a kangaroo court and probable execution. Victoria is asked to come to be an impartial judge. Emerson also knows eventually a fight is going to come knocking on the doorstep. Knowing it is possibly a trap, Emerson and her ragtag group must decide whether to leave relative safety and face who-knows-what or stay knowing what's left of the government will be executed along with any hope of resurrecting the country she loves.
I hate books like this. They scare the doo doo out of me. I am certain I would be one of the first to die assuming I survived the bombings. My idea of "roughing it" is a Motel 6. However, this series is fantastic.
Not only a terrific story with deep characters, this series, and especially White Smoke, is a world-class lesson in leadership. I mean topnotch. I got more out of this series than most of the leadership books I've read.
While not for everyone, I still recommend White Smoke and this series to everyone I talk to . It really is an eyeopener.
Many thanks to John Gilstrap, Kensington, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of White Smoke.
Meanwhile, the bunker the president and the rest of Congress sheltered in has been taken over and the acting government faces a kangaroo court and probable execution. Victoria is asked to come to be an impartial judge. Emerson also knows eventually a fight is going to come knocking on the doorstep. Knowing it is possibly a trap, Emerson and her ragtag group must decide whether to leave relative safety and face who-knows-what or stay knowing what's left of the government will be executed along with any hope of resurrecting the country she loves.
I hate books like this. They scare the doo doo out of me. I am certain I would be one of the first to die assuming I survived the bombings. My idea of "roughing it" is a Motel 6. However, this series is fantastic.
Not only a terrific story with deep characters, this series, and especially White Smoke, is a world-class lesson in leadership. I mean topnotch. I got more out of this series than most of the leadership books I've read.
While not for everyone, I still recommend White Smoke and this series to everyone I talk to . It really is an eyeopener.
Many thanks to John Gilstrap, Kensington, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of White Smoke.
November 9, 2022
John Gilstrap is such a great writer. I love his Jonathan Grave series and the Victoria Emerson series is not far behind. The first two books in the series were fantastic so my expectations on the third book was high and I'm glad it didn't disappoint. It's fast paced and well written. The story is scary relevant and the characters interesting. This series reminds me in some ways of The Walking Dead except from the zombies. It's a story about building a new society in a post apocalyptic world and the battle between different groups of people. It's dark and terrifying but there's also hope thanks to a group of people fighting for what's good in this world. There are parallels in all three books to what's going on in the world today and it's a scary picture that John Gilstrap is depicting. I highly recommend this book but you should read them in order to fully appreciate them.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Edelweiss for this advanced copy.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Edelweiss for this advanced copy.
December 30, 2022
The Victoria Emerson saga continues as the nuclear war has devastated normal life and survival is everything. There is a lot of violence as people have no government and are trying to find ways to live with no support and fear is the overriding motivator.
In this third book, Victoria is called upon to travel to Hilltop Manor, where the remainder of the US Government have been imprisoned by a ruthless band of marauders. She was requested by the now acting President to be the judge in his trial. Roger Parsons, the leader of the marauders, has his own plan though - and it is not for a fair trial to take place. Victoria answers the call and takes a group from the Ortho community toward the Hilltop Manor site. Her group is met with serious obstacles on their journey. Will they arrive? What will they find when and if they get there? Will they survive?
This is a tense drama surrounded by unimaginable circumstances. I have followed each book with anticipation of what will happen next to these determined people or Ortho. Victoria's moral character amazes me with some of the decisions she faces. You can't help but admire her leadership.
Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on February 21, 2023.
In this third book, Victoria is called upon to travel to Hilltop Manor, where the remainder of the US Government have been imprisoned by a ruthless band of marauders. She was requested by the now acting President to be the judge in his trial. Roger Parsons, the leader of the marauders, has his own plan though - and it is not for a fair trial to take place. Victoria answers the call and takes a group from the Ortho community toward the Hilltop Manor site. Her group is met with serious obstacles on their journey. Will they arrive? What will they find when and if they get there? Will they survive?
This is a tense drama surrounded by unimaginable circumstances. I have followed each book with anticipation of what will happen next to these determined people or Ortho. Victoria's moral character amazes me with some of the decisions she faces. You can't help but admire her leadership.
Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on February 21, 2023.
January 27, 2023
Review coming soon.
July 7, 2023
I used to read the books of John Gilstrap often, that was the Jonathan Graves series. It surprised me to read a book he authored about post apocalyptic America. I was intrigued. The book was.a little idealistic but still believable. I enjoyed the flow of the action. It produced conflict but gave the reward of resolution. I do not like to start on number three of a series but this was a “give away” book. I will go back and read the two prior novels in this series. All in all it was a good read.
December 30, 2022
I had a great time reading White Smoke by John Gilstrap, it's the third book set in a dystopian world featuring Victoria Emerson. The world has gone mad and some people are trying to start over and some people are only trying to be rich and powerful. I found this series very interesting from the start and I still like the struggle and the problems that arise for the survivors. I don't know if there will be more books in this series but I sure hope so. The book is like anything else from Gilstrap, well written and he poses some great thoughts in it, I like the thoughts mrs. Emerson has on how to deal with right or wrong along their journey to a new society. I stongly recommend this series and thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for letting me have a copy.
Want to read
November 27, 2022While I hope this isn't the last installment of the Victoria Emerson series, I have enjoyed the ride!!!
The world has come to an end as we know it by way of a nuclear war. Everyone is in the dark with no communication. With this is the third in the series, they should be read in order to get the full effect of the story line. Jon is an excellent storyteller and get a message through his work of fiction. I'm not a political person, but as in the novel, the world was reset, and I think the real world in need of a reset.
The tempo of Whtie Smoke isn't super-fast but keeps moving along. If you've enjoyed the first two novels, this will be a fitting end.
The world has come to an end as we know it by way of a nuclear war. Everyone is in the dark with no communication. With this is the third in the series, they should be read in order to get the full effect of the story line. Jon is an excellent storyteller and get a message through his work of fiction. I'm not a political person, but as in the novel, the world was reset, and I think the real world in need of a reset.
The tempo of Whtie Smoke isn't super-fast but keeps moving along. If you've enjoyed the first two novels, this will be a fitting end.
November 20, 2022
This was an intense read! Shocking, heartbreaking, stressful, and too close to reality for my taste.
I wish I had read the first two books in the series, it’s not totally necessary, but I would’ve preferred it.
Excellent writing that sucks you into the story, this one was hard to stop reading, even if you emotionally/mentally need a break. It was really captivating.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author & Kensington Books for a copy!
I wish I had read the first two books in the series, it’s not totally necessary, but I would’ve preferred it.
Excellent writing that sucks you into the story, this one was hard to stop reading, even if you emotionally/mentally need a break. It was really captivating.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author & Kensington Books for a copy!
November 19, 2022
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Make sure to check out the full review
Make sure to check out the full review
November 25, 2022
Following a “mini” nuclear war and an electromagnetic pulse, the United States is in shambles with most national elected officials having been evacuated to a luxurious resort. With no national leadership, Victoria Emerson, a Congresswoman from West Virigina, emerges as a leader and helps to establish a peaceful community in her state bringing the populace some of stability that was lost. A dystopian story with hope. I received an ARC from Net Galley and the opinions expressed are my own.
February 27, 2023
The 3rd (is it the last?) of the Victoria Emerson trilogy and it doesn't wrap up issues, but we do follow her and many of the characters to the 'HILL'. This series literally scares the hell out of me. The premise shows so many meanings and issues...and could be our future. It is plausible that this could happen in our world today. With these books, I realized how dependent we are on utilities, nature, electricity and each other, altho the barbaric actions seem a bit far-fetched, we are ALL capable of resorting to drastic actions if it means life or death. I already miss Victoria, and hope there is a fourth book in the works.
March 11, 2023
I assume this book ends the Victoria Emerson and family saga. Post annihilation novels are not my favorite but Gilstrap does a commendable job of contemplating what follows nuclear holocaust.
February 7, 2025
I really enjoyed all three books in this series. I like post-apocalyptic stories that explore how survivors adjust to the destruction of society as we know it. I hope there will be more Victoria Emerson stories but if not I think the series ended appropriately.
January 29, 2023
This is the first John Gilstrap book I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. Quite a gripping story, and very well written. It makes you look at the nature of humanity in the post apocalyptic environment. The concept of leadership and putting the good of the overall over immediate emotions is very thought provoking. I look forward to reading the earlier two books in this series.
Thanks to John Gilstrap and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy.
Thanks to John Gilstrap and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy.
April 25, 2023
DNF. I have read some really great prize winning literature lately. This is not that.
May 23, 2023
A good dystopian read. The main character not only wants to survive, but she wants to survive with dignity. She wants the world-as it is now-to remember law & justice. Very pleased!
October 29, 2022
Things are running almost smoothly, or as smoothly as they can after the end of the world as we knew, when Victoria gets a visitor in the form of an severely thin rough looking man. He's delivering a letter from the now President who is begging for her help in assuring a fair trial for him. Now she and some of the towns people must pack up and go try to keep the President of the United States from being unjustly killed. What she encounters on the way is shocking and heart stopping. Follow along as she finds one of her sons shot and another kidnapped and has to make the hardest decision of her life.
Keep some tissue ready and maybe some Xanax as you read the next installment in the Victoria Emerson series. You might be able to breath by the end of the book.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Keep some tissue ready and maybe some Xanax as you read the next installment in the Victoria Emerson series. You might be able to breath by the end of the book.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2023
In author John Gilstrap's WHITE SMOKE, Victoria Emerson is still leading the small town of Ortho, West Virginia through the early stages of rebuilding after Hell Day, the nuclear war that destroyed the world.
But the every day tasks of maintaining what they have built in Ortho as more people arrive in town soon give way to a new challenge. The remaining government officials that survived the attack in a bunker have not only been captured by a lunatic wannabe warlord named Roger Parsons, but they've now been charged with treason in what is sure to be a show trial leading to their deaths.
The president of the United States, Penn Glendale, has smuggled a letter out of the bunker imploring Victoria to come and serve as a judge in the trial to ensure it being fair. While her family and others are convinced it is a trap so that Parsons can kill her to stop the growing legend sprouting up around her efforts to rebuild society.
But Victoria is not going to be dissuaded from going. She wants to see society start to rebuild and figures the best way is to do it by sticking to her principles and getting people to see her point of view...without violent persuasion.
As a group heads to the bunker, they are confronted by gangs wanting their goods and weapons and refugees trying to get away from said gangs. Victoria may not want to use violence but she and her group aren't afraid to give as good as they get if they are attacked. But this leads to a number of tragic and/or possibly tragic events long before they get to the president.
Can Victoria stop a madman from killing the president without resorting to more killing? How will she protect what she loves from more harm and yet help lead her people towards a better tomorrow? And can she survive herself?
Let me clear in the fact that overall I did like author John Gilstrap's third Victoria Emerson thriller WHITE SMOKE.
But I'd be lying if I said that after the outstanding CRIMSON PHOENIX and BLUE FIRE books, that WHITE SMOKE felt a little lesser of a read to me. Maybe because of the way the narrative differed from the first two books. While the first two books were about surviving the end of the world and the start of trying to rebuild some semblance of life in the newly shattered world, WHITE SMOKE seemed to be all about reckoning but with far less action overall than in the past books. Yes, there were obviously some action scenes with gunfire aplenty, but the grand plan to try and win hearts and minds with more words than applied violence just felt like it was too early in the series for that to happen. And while it may something about me that I wanted a bit more of a fiery confrontation between Victoria and her people against all of the aggressors lined up against her, the more diplomatic approach she takes felt like a jarring 180 degree turn from the first two books.
Also, while I haven't seen any official confirmation, the book plays out like it could be the last in the series. I was a big fan of the first two books, including doing the Mystery Scene magazine review of Blue Fire. But for some reason I just found John Gilstrap's storytelling choices here to not be quite as much to my liking.
But the every day tasks of maintaining what they have built in Ortho as more people arrive in town soon give way to a new challenge. The remaining government officials that survived the attack in a bunker have not only been captured by a lunatic wannabe warlord named Roger Parsons, but they've now been charged with treason in what is sure to be a show trial leading to their deaths.
The president of the United States, Penn Glendale, has smuggled a letter out of the bunker imploring Victoria to come and serve as a judge in the trial to ensure it being fair. While her family and others are convinced it is a trap so that Parsons can kill her to stop the growing legend sprouting up around her efforts to rebuild society.
But Victoria is not going to be dissuaded from going. She wants to see society start to rebuild and figures the best way is to do it by sticking to her principles and getting people to see her point of view...without violent persuasion.
As a group heads to the bunker, they are confronted by gangs wanting their goods and weapons and refugees trying to get away from said gangs. Victoria may not want to use violence but she and her group aren't afraid to give as good as they get if they are attacked. But this leads to a number of tragic and/or possibly tragic events long before they get to the president.
Can Victoria stop a madman from killing the president without resorting to more killing? How will she protect what she loves from more harm and yet help lead her people towards a better tomorrow? And can she survive herself?
Let me clear in the fact that overall I did like author John Gilstrap's third Victoria Emerson thriller WHITE SMOKE.
But I'd be lying if I said that after the outstanding CRIMSON PHOENIX and BLUE FIRE books, that WHITE SMOKE felt a little lesser of a read to me. Maybe because of the way the narrative differed from the first two books. While the first two books were about surviving the end of the world and the start of trying to rebuild some semblance of life in the newly shattered world, WHITE SMOKE seemed to be all about reckoning but with far less action overall than in the past books. Yes, there were obviously some action scenes with gunfire aplenty, but the grand plan to try and win hearts and minds with more words than applied violence just felt like it was too early in the series for that to happen. And while it may something about me that I wanted a bit more of a fiery confrontation between Victoria and her people against all of the aggressors lined up against her, the more diplomatic approach she takes felt like a jarring 180 degree turn from the first two books.
Also, while I haven't seen any official confirmation, the book plays out like it could be the last in the series. I was a big fan of the first two books, including doing the Mystery Scene magazine review of Blue Fire. But for some reason I just found John Gilstrap's storytelling choices here to not be quite as much to my liking.
March 8, 2023
ARC received through Goodreads. This is not my "normal" type of thriller so I was a little uncertain if I would like it. The storyline was a mix of Mad Max & The Oregon Trail. The main character, Victoria has been given a position of authority after what they refer to as Hell Day. Victoria is tasked with saving the country & making quick decisions that could put her own family in jeopardy. They encounter plenty of detestable characters along the way
October 7, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
White Smoke is an apocalypse novel within an apocalypse.
After a war decimates much of the world, communities struggle to survive. In West Virginia a congresswoman (and single mother) leads the community in an effort at the stabilization of the area and works to restore some level of order.
In DC a group of surviving government members have taken over and they intend to create another destructive war - to annihilate all other survivors and rule the world by themselves.
I am not a fan of books that mirror contemporary issues - or is it vice-versa. Which says the book is relevant and stressful.
White Smoke is an apocalypse novel within an apocalypse.
After a war decimates much of the world, communities struggle to survive. In West Virginia a congresswoman (and single mother) leads the community in an effort at the stabilization of the area and works to restore some level of order.
In DC a group of surviving government members have taken over and they intend to create another destructive war - to annihilate all other survivors and rule the world by themselves.
I am not a fan of books that mirror contemporary issues - or is it vice-versa. Which says the book is relevant and stressful.
November 21, 2023
White Smoke is the third book in Victoria Emerson series. It delivers Gilstrap's action-packed, post-nuclear war, survivalist story well, featuring both strong lead characters and unsympathetic antagonists.
Although I read the first book Crimson Phoenix, I skipped the second installment Blue Fire and was still able to follow the story just fine. White Smoke was a good read, but it didn't blow me away as Crimson Phoenix did.
Many thanks for the ARC I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: February 21, 2023.
Although I read the first book Crimson Phoenix, I skipped the second installment Blue Fire and was still able to follow the story just fine. White Smoke was a good read, but it didn't blow me away as Crimson Phoenix did.
Many thanks for the ARC I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: February 21, 2023.
January 8, 2023
4.25 Stars 🌟
Let me start off by saying that I am a huge fan of John Gilstrap. I especially love the Jonathan Graves series but I have enjoyed the first two books in this new series - the Victoria Emerson Series - and now we are on the third and possibly last book in the series.
What has been particularly intriguing about this series is how it is so very possible to see society actually devolving in just the way we are shown after "Hell Day". First of all, the government and governing bodies of the US are a mess right now with the level of hate and negativity between the parties at an all time high. It seems as if the focus of these elected officials is on bettering their personal and financial situations, regardless of how it affects the American citizens. Secondly, there would not be very much, if any, notice to the public of the launch of nuclear weapons so there would not be any time to evacuate (and honestly, where would we even go?). And lastly, very few Americans have even basic survival skills not to mention the skills necessary to survive without automobiles, electricity, plumbing and what we have come to expect as "modern conveniences". So, yes, things could devolve very quickly.
What we see in this book is the continuation of Victoria Emerson's journey and how one person actually can make a difference in the middle of chaos. In this book we actually see the different results that come about from the drastically different leadership styles of two very different people. There is Victoria who has emerged as a leader and who still believes that we can be better and should aspire to be better and then there is Roger Parsons who has ruled through fear and whose only real concern is for himself.
We get to follow along on the journey that was started in the last book as the group from Ortho is traveling to try to get Victoria up to the Hillside Manor to preside over the trial of the new President. This book is full of action with lots of drama. We get to see the events occurring with Victoria's group and also the events happening with the group at the hotel at the same time.
I have to admit that I could not figure out how in the world this was going to have any type of a happy ending but decided to just go along with it. Without going into spoilers, let me just say that I finished the last page and felt like this story arc was complete and I was at peace. I really liked the character development that we saw with the Emerson family. The boys - Luke, Caleb and Adam - are amazing examples of how the skills and values that we teach our children really do make a difference. Each of the boys was able to step up under extraordinarily awful circumstances and were shining examples of surviving in the face of adversity. They still had their doubts and at times were completely overwhelmed, but they made a great team and served as examples to the others.
All in all, I enjoyed this series and would definitely continue onward if there are more additions to this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.
Let me start off by saying that I am a huge fan of John Gilstrap. I especially love the Jonathan Graves series but I have enjoyed the first two books in this new series - the Victoria Emerson Series - and now we are on the third and possibly last book in the series.
What has been particularly intriguing about this series is how it is so very possible to see society actually devolving in just the way we are shown after "Hell Day". First of all, the government and governing bodies of the US are a mess right now with the level of hate and negativity between the parties at an all time high. It seems as if the focus of these elected officials is on bettering their personal and financial situations, regardless of how it affects the American citizens. Secondly, there would not be very much, if any, notice to the public of the launch of nuclear weapons so there would not be any time to evacuate (and honestly, where would we even go?). And lastly, very few Americans have even basic survival skills not to mention the skills necessary to survive without automobiles, electricity, plumbing and what we have come to expect as "modern conveniences". So, yes, things could devolve very quickly.
What we see in this book is the continuation of Victoria Emerson's journey and how one person actually can make a difference in the middle of chaos. In this book we actually see the different results that come about from the drastically different leadership styles of two very different people. There is Victoria who has emerged as a leader and who still believes that we can be better and should aspire to be better and then there is Roger Parsons who has ruled through fear and whose only real concern is for himself.
We get to follow along on the journey that was started in the last book as the group from Ortho is traveling to try to get Victoria up to the Hillside Manor to preside over the trial of the new President. This book is full of action with lots of drama. We get to see the events occurring with Victoria's group and also the events happening with the group at the hotel at the same time.
I have to admit that I could not figure out how in the world this was going to have any type of a happy ending but decided to just go along with it. Without going into spoilers, let me just say that I finished the last page and felt like this story arc was complete and I was at peace. I really liked the character development that we saw with the Emerson family. The boys - Luke, Caleb and Adam - are amazing examples of how the skills and values that we teach our children really do make a difference. Each of the boys was able to step up under extraordinarily awful circumstances and were shining examples of surviving in the face of adversity. They still had their doubts and at times were completely overwhelmed, but they made a great team and served as examples to the others.
All in all, I enjoyed this series and would definitely continue onward if there are more additions to this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.
February 14, 2023
This series continues to impress. Unlike other "end of world" series Gilstrap focuses on the political side and the positive. The main character, Senator Victoria Emerson, decided at the last moment not to enter the government bunker during an eminent nuclear strike because her sons were not to be allowed in with her: select government personnel only. She and her family, along with the two military officers whose final duty was to deliver her to the bunker, take off in an attempt to get as far out of DC as possible before the missile hits. They find refuge in a small town and Victoria's down-to-earth, common sense leadership skills take center stage. It's not her intent to lead this community but it does seem to be her calling. Those left in the world are frightened, some to the point of violence and cruelty others to get what they need and others who will cower and concede just to live another day. Victoria doesn't believe it needs to be this way and a peaceful society can be rebuilt through a lot of hard work and cooperation.
The second half of the story has been those government officials tucked safely away in their bunker with all their needs being met, but no way to interact with or help the survivors, and their petty in-fighting believing they still hold a position of power.
This third book brings Victoria back to the bunker away from the "Eden" she's helped build. The security of the bunker has been pierced by a group of marauders who take for themselves and terrorize others for what they have. Parsons is the leader of these marauders and has made himself judge, jury and executioner of the remaining members of Congress. Victoria and her loyal followers aim to bring peace and justice to their holdout and the refugees surrounding it.
Again, I truly enjoy this series not just for the action and survival stories but the morality and focus on what it would take to truly rebuild a society and for the better. The characters and setting are so well presented they are nearly tangible.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The second half of the story has been those government officials tucked safely away in their bunker with all their needs being met, but no way to interact with or help the survivors, and their petty in-fighting believing they still hold a position of power.
This third book brings Victoria back to the bunker away from the "Eden" she's helped build. The security of the bunker has been pierced by a group of marauders who take for themselves and terrorize others for what they have. Parsons is the leader of these marauders and has made himself judge, jury and executioner of the remaining members of Congress. Victoria and her loyal followers aim to bring peace and justice to their holdout and the refugees surrounding it.
Again, I truly enjoy this series not just for the action and survival stories but the morality and focus on what it would take to truly rebuild a society and for the better. The characters and setting are so well presented they are nearly tangible.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 21, 2023
ARC Book Review – White Smoke – John Gilstrap
“White Smoke,” the third book in the Victoria Emerson series by John Gilstrap is some wonderful eye-opening fiction. It's suspenseful, well written and scary relevant. The story moves along at a decent pace and the characters are all interesting and appealing. It’s a very intense action-drama encircled by unimaginable circumstances. Gilstrap’s narrative points out human behavior during times of crisis. He paints a picture that's both uplifting and horrifying at the same time. This story brings main character Victoria Emerson back to the government bunker where the remaining members of Congress and other government officials are being held captive by a group of bandits. The security of the bunker was penetrated by the bandits who took for themselves after the nuclear attack and terrorized struggling survivors. Roger Parsons, a former professional wrestler, has taken charge of the raiders making himself judge, jury and executioner of the remaining government officials/politicians and has vowed to put them on trial for their roles in causing the nuclear disaster. The former Speaker of the House, now acting President manages to get a message to Victoria Emerson asking her to come help save what's left of the United States government. Victoria and her loyal followers answer the call, and the story leads to a final showdown between the two leaders of a post-apocalyptic environment – Victoria Emerson and Roger Parsons. White Smoke is a riveting and engrossing story that makes the reader take a hard look at the nature of humanity. The concept of leadership and putting the good of the overall over immediate sentiments and personal ambitions is very telling in this well written novel. Gilstrap’s penning of the effectiveness of partisan politics in a time of crisis is brilliant and Victoria Emerson’s moral character and leadership is amazing! One could only hope that there's a ‘Victoria Emerson’ around if something like this ever happens in real life! Intense. Shocking. Heartbreaking. Stressful, and way too close to reality, White Smoke is a ‘must-read’ action-drama thriller! I thoroughly enjoyed this series and recommend all three books to any thriller enthusiast. Special thank you to Kensington Publishing, NetGalley and author John Gilstrap for the honor in reviewing an Advance Reader’s Copy of White Smoke.
“White Smoke,” the third book in the Victoria Emerson series by John Gilstrap is some wonderful eye-opening fiction. It's suspenseful, well written and scary relevant. The story moves along at a decent pace and the characters are all interesting and appealing. It’s a very intense action-drama encircled by unimaginable circumstances. Gilstrap’s narrative points out human behavior during times of crisis. He paints a picture that's both uplifting and horrifying at the same time. This story brings main character Victoria Emerson back to the government bunker where the remaining members of Congress and other government officials are being held captive by a group of bandits. The security of the bunker was penetrated by the bandits who took for themselves after the nuclear attack and terrorized struggling survivors. Roger Parsons, a former professional wrestler, has taken charge of the raiders making himself judge, jury and executioner of the remaining government officials/politicians and has vowed to put them on trial for their roles in causing the nuclear disaster. The former Speaker of the House, now acting President manages to get a message to Victoria Emerson asking her to come help save what's left of the United States government. Victoria and her loyal followers answer the call, and the story leads to a final showdown between the two leaders of a post-apocalyptic environment – Victoria Emerson and Roger Parsons. White Smoke is a riveting and engrossing story that makes the reader take a hard look at the nature of humanity. The concept of leadership and putting the good of the overall over immediate sentiments and personal ambitions is very telling in this well written novel. Gilstrap’s penning of the effectiveness of partisan politics in a time of crisis is brilliant and Victoria Emerson’s moral character and leadership is amazing! One could only hope that there's a ‘Victoria Emerson’ around if something like this ever happens in real life! Intense. Shocking. Heartbreaking. Stressful, and way too close to reality, White Smoke is a ‘must-read’ action-drama thriller! I thoroughly enjoyed this series and recommend all three books to any thriller enthusiast. Special thank you to Kensington Publishing, NetGalley and author John Gilstrap for the honor in reviewing an Advance Reader’s Copy of White Smoke.
February 28, 2023
White Smoke by John Gilstrap
Victoria Emerson #3
Good fiction is believable, draws the reader in, and makes them feel a part of the story – this series does just that. I am not sure if this is the final book in a trilogy or if there will be more books to look forward to.
What I liked:
* Victoria: politician, widow, mother, prepper, convinced that good will overcome evil, willing to do what is difficult, not always easy to understand her thinking but admired her and wondered if I could/would do what she did
* Adam, Caleb, and Luke Emerson: sons of Victoria, well trained by their parents, grew up quickly, capable, strong, intelligent and lethal
* Major McRea: a good man, strong sense of duty, widow, stalwart, protective, strategic thinker, grounds Victoria and provides balance
* The plot, pacing, writing, and conclusion…if it is the conclusion
* That it made me think, care, feel, and wonder what skills I would have to offer if in a similar situation after a nuclear war and how I would act and react
* Getting to see how the Ortho community was doing and how those at the annex fared – definitely would have preferred to be in Ortho!
* Wondering what will happen next in the lives of the Emersons, the lives they come in contact with, and the rest of the world
* All of it really…except…
What I didn’t like:
* Parsons and his posse and how wickedly evil they were
* Thinking about how easily society can devolve
* Contemplating government and how it does-doesn’t benefit society
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Victoria Emerson #3
Good fiction is believable, draws the reader in, and makes them feel a part of the story – this series does just that. I am not sure if this is the final book in a trilogy or if there will be more books to look forward to.
What I liked:
* Victoria: politician, widow, mother, prepper, convinced that good will overcome evil, willing to do what is difficult, not always easy to understand her thinking but admired her and wondered if I could/would do what she did
* Adam, Caleb, and Luke Emerson: sons of Victoria, well trained by their parents, grew up quickly, capable, strong, intelligent and lethal
* Major McRea: a good man, strong sense of duty, widow, stalwart, protective, strategic thinker, grounds Victoria and provides balance
* The plot, pacing, writing, and conclusion…if it is the conclusion
* That it made me think, care, feel, and wonder what skills I would have to offer if in a similar situation after a nuclear war and how I would act and react
* Getting to see how the Ortho community was doing and how those at the annex fared – definitely would have preferred to be in Ortho!
* Wondering what will happen next in the lives of the Emersons, the lives they come in contact with, and the rest of the world
* All of it really…except…
What I didn’t like:
* Parsons and his posse and how wickedly evil they were
* Thinking about how easily society can devolve
* Contemplating government and how it does-doesn’t benefit society
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
February 6, 2023
Wow. White Smoke, the third installment of the Victoria Emerson thrillers by John Gilstrap, begins hot and continues at a fiery pace. Although I'm not a fan of dystopian stories, I'm hooked on this series!
Settled in the West Virginia enclave where Victoria has helped build a settlement that uses trust, helpfulness, and honesty as they move forward after a global nuclear disaster, other groups have decided that marauding, stealing, and killing are what needs to happen. People look up to Victoria. She is brave, honest, and charismatic. She speaks her mind and is fair to all.
Now Victoria is called to head up a group going to the 'new' seat of government. There are those in her group who want her stay. It might be a set-up. It might be a way to attack her thriving new town while she is gone. Right or wrong, Victoria feels the need to go and at least see what this new 'government' is all about.
How will this end? Will Victoria meet her demise while trying to do the right thing? Will her children be safe when she heads out? Knowing that there are many more people who might be against her at this meeting, can she turn people so that good and right prevail?
In my opinion, this series should be read is order. You need the background laid out in the previous books to be able to follow the story. Having said that, you could read this one first and then go back and read the rest, then re-read White Smoke! It's just that good.
I hope this is not the end of the Victoria Emerson series. There are still so many ways this story can play out!
I was gifted an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
Settled in the West Virginia enclave where Victoria has helped build a settlement that uses trust, helpfulness, and honesty as they move forward after a global nuclear disaster, other groups have decided that marauding, stealing, and killing are what needs to happen. People look up to Victoria. She is brave, honest, and charismatic. She speaks her mind and is fair to all.
Now Victoria is called to head up a group going to the 'new' seat of government. There are those in her group who want her stay. It might be a set-up. It might be a way to attack her thriving new town while she is gone. Right or wrong, Victoria feels the need to go and at least see what this new 'government' is all about.
How will this end? Will Victoria meet her demise while trying to do the right thing? Will her children be safe when she heads out? Knowing that there are many more people who might be against her at this meeting, can she turn people so that good and right prevail?
In my opinion, this series should be read is order. You need the background laid out in the previous books to be able to follow the story. Having said that, you could read this one first and then go back and read the rest, then re-read White Smoke! It's just that good.
I hope this is not the end of the Victoria Emerson series. There are still so many ways this story can play out!
I was gifted an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
May 29, 2023
#3 in the Victoria Emerson series. I have not read books one and two. You can figure out book 3 without them. The world throws some nuclear missiles at each other and the world implodes. This is the after math of that war. In WV, Victoria Emerson was not in the bunker with the other senators and politicians. She resigned because they would not let her children in the bunker. She makes her way to a Eden a town in WV where she becomes the no facto leader/mayor. She preaches cooperation instead of killing. Back at the bunker under a resort, a pro wrestler was at the resort when the war happened, he gets a bunch of his cronies and fans to take over the resort and shoot anyone that doesn't agree with him. So instead the resort with the food are the bad guys well outside are the survivors who show up and hand over their weapons and food and hang out at the resort hoping for crumbs. IN the bunker are the politicians. The resort guys break into the bunker and put all the politicians in jail and set up a courtroom where they can lynch the politicians and tell the people is is all their fault ( ignoring the fact that they now have all the food but are not sharing either ) Vickie and some of her towns people decide to go to the resort and try and convince the bad guys they should have a REAL trial.... Vickie and her band of merry men ( her sons included) run into bands of bad guys every few miles. I have read a few series of post third war and this one was not as interesting. I did not fall in love with the characters yet.
December 31, 2023
As a military wife, our family knew how quickly the life we knew could change, and not for the better. I'm a sucker for the "end of life as we knew it" books but I don't know how I have managed to moss John Gilstrap's post-apocalyptic thrillers. It opens with Congresswoman Emerson's military escort arriving at her home in the middle of the night to notify her that Crimson Phoenix has begun. This is the code name for the evacuation and relocation of the Senate and Congress to a designated bunker, designed to keep them safe as they wait out the fallout from nuclear war. When Congresswoman Emerson learns her sons will not be allowed entry into the bunker, she resigns on the spot. She will leave the area with her sons and her military escort. At this point, the storyline separated into two distinct, but equally important parts.
The 3rd Book in this awesome series finds our heroes on their way back to the bunker to lend their voices of reason to the political upheaval in progress. If the United States is to survive the catastrophic event and return to anything close to "normal" Congresswoman Emerson must use every skill she has to barter for the lives of the good guys.
This book is REALLY good. It's full of tension, intrigue, action, camaraderie, and almost every adjective you could think of in a thriller. The characters are great, even the jerks fill out an integral part of the story. This is one of those books that you'd love to be able to give it more than 5 stars.
The 3rd Book in this awesome series finds our heroes on their way back to the bunker to lend their voices of reason to the political upheaval in progress. If the United States is to survive the catastrophic event and return to anything close to "normal" Congresswoman Emerson must use every skill she has to barter for the lives of the good guys.
This book is REALLY good. It's full of tension, intrigue, action, camaraderie, and almost every adjective you could think of in a thriller. The characters are great, even the jerks fill out an integral part of the story. This is one of those books that you'd love to be able to give it more than 5 stars.
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