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In this apocalyptic thriller, the nation is amid a major financial collapse when the United States is pulled into regional wars in Europe and Asia. Suddenly, phones and internet go out, likely the cause of a cyber-attack by a hostile foreign actor. Unprepared for such a reality, society as we know collapses and chaos is the new normal.

As civilization collapses around him, Doug Chapman, a retired Air Force OSI Special Agent and Wisconsin State Trooper, has prepared his family for the worst. But when his community asked him to step up once again to serve as the local law enforcement, he needs assistance. Raising a posse consisting of volunteer firefighters, teachers, and military veterans, they work together to help the small town of Rockport survive the collapse.

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2022

34 people are currently reading
37 people want to read

About the author

David Jones

8 books14 followers
David Jones is a retired Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). During his career, he conducted hundreds of criminal investigations, counterintelligence, and anti-terrorism operations across the globe. His final assignment was as the Superintendent of the United States Air Force Special Investigations Academy Detachment 1. With eight deployments to the Middle East and serving several years in Europe, his writing is shaped by his vast real-world experience. Since retirement from the Air Force, David has served as a Wisconsin Chief of Police, a University Criminal Justice Program Chair, and the author of several law enforcement training articles and fiction novels.

David is a public speaker specializing in topics from Police Response to Active Shooter situations and issues involving combat veterans. He resides near Appleton, Wisconsin, and continues to serve his community as a volunteer firefighter.

David holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and was the Magnus Graduate at the National Law Enforcement Command and Staff College.

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5 stars
75 (72%)
4 stars
16 (15%)
3 stars
9 (8%)
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3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Corinne Marshall.
409 reviews10 followers
June 28, 2023
Right from the very first pages I was hooked on this story. I love all the main characters but Doug is my hero. He is witty, strong and tough with a loving side to him. Lots of funny moments to break up the harsh realities of life. I'm very glad I found this author and his books. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Debra Sneesby.
100 reviews7 followers
March 17, 2023
Guardians of Rockport: The Collapse by David Jones
5 Shining Stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Storytelling 📖📖📖📖📖
World Building 🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏
Characters 🙍‍♀️🙍🙍‍♂️👮‍♀️👩‍🌾
WARNING! Once picked up, you can’t put down.

David Jones is an author that has lived a very rare life and worked at a top level in a very niche market. All this has led him to gain crazy ass skills set that few people have access to. To find out more, your going to have to read his brilliant and thought provoking book.

The first few pages will hit home to everyone, and David takes this to a logical next level. Our story takes place in Rockport, Wisconsin. His world creation is rich and vivid as the town and the people. He shows how this rural setting try to adjust to external pressures, with a breakdown of all communication systems. How David writes this story is so believable.

Characters are well written, and so is the character growth, not only the main characters and supporting characters, but also those who pop up once in a while.

Our main character is Doug who, oddly enough had the same job as David, and gained the same mad skill set. We follow Doug, his family, friends and associates as well as the fire brigade, as they band together and try to hold together the community of Rockport during this time of uncertainty and lawlessness.

I rate the books I read on what they give me, and what lasting impressions I have when I have finished reading. I love to be able to immerse myself in the story, the settings, the characters, to have an adventure in my mind, and when I’m finished, the characters and story continue to linger in my mind. Paul Jones ticks all the above, and it’s hard to believe this well written book is the first book written by a first time author.

I’ve also finished reading the second book in the series, and waiting on David’s third book in the series.

Remember my warning, Guardians of Rockport: The Collapse, once picked up, is hard to put down.

Do I recommend this book? Absofreakinlutley!
11 reviews
July 22, 2022
A terrific book from a NEW Author

Well, I bought this book because it was written by a fellow retired AFOSI agent, but, in reading the book I find that David truly has some great writing skills. He successfully coupled his experiences from his AF law enforcement career with those from his days as a Chief of Police. I judge a book by how successfully the author is at creating a mental image of each scene he writes…and David really hit a home run. I could see the scenes he wrote, heard his wife call to him in the house and see the gunfights throughout the book. His main character is well developed and used his LEO experiences to become a real “protector” to his family and community. But, the thing David captured was the real picture of the times we live in; ie. A country with high inflation, troubled citizenry, lack of survival skills and a vision of what could happen if an apocalyptic event took place.
I can say that is started the book yesterday and have read it straight through; yes even while I was at an automotive repair shop. I just couldn’t stop reading the exploits of his Protector, his posse and friends/neighbors/family a special ing dog and the Pastor of the church in his home town.
If you want a captivating book to read by a talented new author then you need to get The Guardians of Rockport. But, be prepared to spend a lot of time reading this book as you will want to read it straight through.
1 review
November 6, 2022
Great book for anyone who is interested in what happens when society collapses or anyone that just likes an adventure story. I thought the writing was very good and the attention to detail amazing. The plot really comes together at the end in unexpected ways and at many points you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. Can’t wait to see what the next installation in the series brings!
Profile Image for cindy bliss.
103 reviews
December 27, 2022
Wow

What a wonderful book this is. I wish I could give it another 5 stars. A little tear fell at the end, but worth it.
145 reviews3 followers
December 28, 2022
A Must Read

Don’t pass this one up. So heartfelt, timely and well written. But beware of the ending, you’ll need Kleenex. Can’t wait till the next ones.
9 reviews
April 2, 2025
Good story

I really enjoyed the story and am always a fan of books with found family. There was enough time to invest in the characters along with enough action as well.
23 reviews
November 28, 2025
Good story line and characters. The dialogue is very stilted. I am hoping this is because it’s the first book in the series. Will try book two to see if it flows a little better.
Profile Image for Amy.
33 reviews
January 12, 2026
Started a little slow and “wordy” but was needed to make it all go together.
1 review
April 25, 2024
This book and books 2+3 of this series are impossible to buy : Kindle and other ebook editions have vanished somewhere ; book number 4 however is available in ebook format ??? WtF , i do NOT want paperback books anymore, i have about 30 000 paperbacks, cannot find storage space for any more of them.

Please fix this so that the series is purchasable in ebook format and i will buy all of them and revise the one star rating.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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