This started off so well. There’s nothing I like more than a good post-apocalyptic tale, but unfortunately although the premise was intriguing enough the execution left much to be desired. The beginning is indeed compelling and I was suitably hooked and even a little scared. Eddie Chapman finds himself stuck in traffic. Nothing’s moving and he assumes a major incident up ahead. He decides to abandon his car and run home. By the time he gets there, it’s obvious there’s more than a road traffic accident to deal with. The power’s out, the water’s off. There’s been some sort of disaster. As the community starts to deal with the situation, moral dilemmas come into play, as you would expect, and as the food and drink begins to run out, panic sets in. But then it all seems to get out of hand and there are far too many unanswered questions. In such post-apocalyptic novels it’s not necessary to have everything explained and all the loose ends tied up but there must be some sort of reality-based scenario. For example, we’re in American suburbia – but the food and drink runs out almost immediately. With those big American fridges? Eddie seems to have some sort of mental breakdown – or is he just dehydrated? Is he hallucinating or are we expected to believe in what he sees? By the end the book seems to have lost its grip on reality and I became increasingly bemused. It all becomes a bit melodramatic. A shame, because the writing shows promise, and the narrative engages the reader from the first page. Pity it couldn’t be sustained.

Hi, just clearing up my shelves. I started this one a few years ago and couldn't get into it properly so left it for a while, hoping to get back to it but I've never wanted to. Sorry :(

Eddie Chapman has been stuck for hours in a traffic jam, in the heat. There are no signs of the emergency services turning up so eventually he decides to abandon his car and run home. He passes accidents along the highway, trees along the edge of a stream that have been burnt, and the water in the stream bed is gone. Something is very wrong.

When he arrives home, the power is out throughout his whole neighbourhood and there is no running water. As his wife Laura finally gets home through similar problems, the pair and their neighbours start to suffer the effects of the violent heat and limited liquid, and the terrifying realisation that no one may be coming to help.

Civilisation starts to breakdown as confusion, fear and hallucinations set in. Eddie realises that nothing else matters than that he and Laura should live – not even the secret shame she’s carried for years.

This is about as harsh and dystopian as it gets. If you liked Cormac McCarthy’s The Road then this will be right up your street (forgive the pun – I can’t help myself!)

It differs in a lot of ways, for me the most striking is the visual setting. The Road is grey and oppressive whereas in this book there is plenty of sun … but plenty of contrast too as their sleeping patterns are so disrupted that a lot of time is spent in the night. The prose is more colourful too.

The key to this working so well though is the characters, Eddie is completely believable. Although his view of what’s happening becomes less and less reliable and he does things that I’m betting he never would have dreamed he’d do before the disaster.

Get yourself a copy of this – and while you’re buying stuff don’t forget to stock up on water just in case!

4 Bites

NB I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in return for an honest review. The BookEaters always write honest reviews

Two and a half star rating.
This starts with lots of promise - a huge traffic jam so Eddie decides he cannot sit in his car a moment longer, so literally runs home which isn't a great idea in the searing heat. As he runs along he spots there's no longer any water in the stream and even worse, none at home, nor are any of the other utilities working. Eventually his wife Laura turns up and then it's everyone for themselves. The characters were most unpleasant and none of them seemed to have an iota of sense as to what they should be doing. Provisions ran out extremely quickly - didn't anyone in this place possess larders or any kind of store cupboards? Didn't they ever buy anything in a tin! Excellent descriptions of what it must be like to have very little to drink. Usually I love books like this but sadly not this one, nor was I keen on the ending.