****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Just a great read. Spoiler alert.This one starts with Marcus Battle. Its been four years since the world suffered the Scourge. the Scourge that killed millions all over the world.The Scourge was carried by fleas and many became ill and passed that illness to loved ones and family. The Scourge killed two thirds of the worlds population.Battle lives in a very isolated house out in the middle of nowhere which he and his wife had built. It has electricity, well water and all the amenities. Most of it runs on solar power and propane gas which he has piped into his house. The closest city is an hour away.Marcus Battle is ex military. He served six tours of duty in three war zones. He was a major and served in Iran and Syria. He's one very capable guy. A man who has plenty of weapons and the ability to defend himself and his home. He was also a prepper who made sure he had enough food to last for years. It took him years to stock the shelves in his barn. His wife used to laugh at his prepper ways but after a Winter storm where they were stranded for days she finally saw what a good idea her man had.Marcus has no wish for contact with anyone since the death of his wife and son. They both died because Sylvia, his wife, broke his cardinal rule of never letting anyone in the house after the Scourge and it rampage. Her mistake caused the death of their son Wesson and herself. She blamed Marcus for not keeping them safe and Marcus blames himself as well. He now hears her in his mind at times.Marcus's home hasn't been discovered by anyone because Marcus has played it safe and killed anyone who came around. The bodies are buried around the property.Marcus was almost killed when he felt sympathy for a woman who appeared at his gate. This woman was part of a crew and her job was to get in. Marcus killed her and those with her and learned a valuable lesson. Trust no one. Anyone who comes to the gate is after what you have and will kill you to get it. Lesson learned.That all changes when Marcus is in the tree house that he built for his son. He's watching the area with his scoped rifle. He sees a woman who's calling for help. She's being chased by two men that he can see. Marcus kills them both then comes down the tree to find out the woman's story. A woman he came close to killing because another woman at another time was bait. Bait for those who want what he has. He came close to dying and now takes no chances. If you come around his fifty acre property you will die.Once down Marcus is almost killed by a third man and the woman tells him there were four men chasing her. One has escaped and now knows where Battle's property is.The woman tells him she was the slave of the Cartel. Cartels run everything now. You have to purchase electricity and food from them or you are a slave working for them. Gas is available but in short supply. Horses are now the prime mode of transportation. Lola is the woman's name and Battle is anxious to get her out of his house and life.Lola asks him for help. Her son is still with the cartel and she wants Battle to get him. Battle has no interest in helping her or anyone else. The only interest he has is in blaming himself for the death of his wife and son though his wife is really to blame. Her stupidity caused her and their son's death.So begins a pretty damned good read.This one has Battle, Lola, a man named Pico who turns out to be a friend, the Cartel, a Lola who fills Battle in on the Cartel, a Lola who's amazed at what Battle has, a man named Queho who's a Cartel boss, boss's wear brown hats so they can be seen and recognized as bosses, Queho plans to return to battle property once Pico who's known as a grunt or soldier makes it back and tells him about the deaths of the three men who were with him, the area Cartel captain Cyrus Skinner, a man named Rudabaugh, and attack on Battles home, death, destruction and a more than capable Marcus Battle deciding he will bring the war to the Cartel.Damned fine read. Five Stars.
