Tom is a prepper, having been raised fishing, hunting and trapping in some wild land in northern Michigan. Tom and three friends have made plans for a summer vacation of camping. Tom’s friends include an EMT, Jordon, and Tom’s best friend Brian and his wife Tracy. Tom isn’t thrilled to have Tracy along since she happens to be his ex-wife from many years before when they were ‘young and stupid’.
The four friends are flown in shifts into a remote area of Canada for their adventure of fishing and camping. Tom is the last one to be dropped off with his gear. As the pilot heads out, suddenly the plane drops and crashes in the lake. As they attempt to rescue the pilot he whispers that the electronics of the plane have stopped and they realize that his pacemaker has stopped.
Tom is quick to suspect that there has been an EMP strike. He has brought extra supplies but certainly not enough for an extended stay. As time passes they accept that they are stranded and they begin to set up more extended food and living supplies to see them through the coming months and the bitter cold winter.
When a mother bear with two cubs crashes camp, the campers, with limited weapons, must improvise traps from the tools they have. Tom stumbles upon a young woman swimming in a neighboring lake. She engages their help to render medical assistance to her father. The family consists of the parents and two daughters, the younger being deaf.
The new friends pool their resources and talents as they face a serious battle for survival. I enjoyed the prepper details and the relationship tensions and growths. The story is engaging both with the survival aspects and the interactions. It moves at a good pace with interesting challenges to be faced.
Although this is part of a series it can be read as a stand-alone. Reading the first book, Good Fences, explains a little bit more of what happen that the characters in this book don’t know since they have no means of communication. However, the ending of this book adds more information about how the country is managing after the collapse caused by the EMP strike.
I appreciated the fact that Mr. Craven presents interesting stories with tension and some foul language but not overboard. I hope there will be more in this series and I may just have to pick up some of Mr. Craven’s The World Burns series to enjoy until there are more Scorched Earth books.
Audio Notes: Kevin Pierce is a talented narrator. He portrays the different accents well and conveys the fear, intensity and humor of the story. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.
I received this audio through Audiobook Blast for an honest review.