Audible Book Review: Rise of the Locusts: A Post-Apocalyptic Techno-Thriller (Cyber Armageddon, Book 1) by Mark Goodwin

This is a fast-paced post-apocalyptic story.

Rise of the Locusts: A Post-Apocalyptic Techno-Thriller (Cyber Armageddon, Book 1)
By: Mark Goodwin
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski

Series: Cyber Armageddon, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-03-19
Language: English
Publisher: Goodwin America Corp.
Genre: Christian, Futuristic, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Cyber Armageddon has come. America will not survive!
Cyber-security analyst Kate McCarthy knows something ominous is about to happen in the US banking system. She has a place to go if things get hectic, but it’s far from the perfect retreat.
When a new breed of computer virus takes down America’s financial network, chaos and violence erupt. Access to cash disappears and credit cards become worthless. Desperate consumers are left with no means to purchase food, fuel, and basic necessities. Society melts down instantly and the threat of starvation brings out the absolute worst humanity has to offer.
In the midst of the mayhem, Kate will face a post-apocalyptic nightmare that she never could have imagined. Her only reward for survival is to live another day in the gruesome new reality which has eradicated the world she once knew.
As with all works by Mark Goodwin, this book contains no profanity and no embarrassing sex scenes. However, if you're offended by conservative principles and references to Scripture, this book might not be for you.
©2018 Mark Goodwin (P)2018 Mark Goodwin.

Review:
Kate McCarthy works in cyber-security for a bank in Atlanta. The bank experiences a computer ‘glitch’ which requires a temporary shutdown. The bank officers are unhappy but trust Kate and her team to deal with the situation after she provides a detailed report of the risks and a plan to mitigate damage and find the breach. As the security team races against time to find the virus before it shuts down the bank, Kate begins to suspect that this is more than a simple virus. She believes there is a serious cyber threat that will shut down connectivity on a widespread, creating social chaos.

Kate convinces her brother to gather his wife and children to escape the city and seek shelter in their mountain cabin. They manage to escape the crowds but run into danger on the road that starts a trail of tragedy. The teens experience a range of emotions from confusion to fear to determination. Arriving at the cabin doesn’t assure safety especially when they discover their unproductive and noncontributing brother has already settled in with an unannounced guest. His thoughtless actions bring more trouble to their door. Things are going to get much more difficult while Kate and her family try to survive.

I have read other stories by Mark Goodwin and I believe he does a good job creating a realistic crisis and dangers. He develops characters of diverse natures who will have different but fitting reactions and growth. The story creates a bit of roller coaster tension as Kate and her family push from one danger to face another.

This is an easy and quick listen. I like that there is no foul language or sex. The author shares Christian faith, sometimes in an unusual way. I recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic who, as noted in the blurb, don’t mind the conservative and Christian elements. I do plan to continue the series.

Audio Notes: Stacey Glemboski does a nice job with the narration. Although I am accustomed to some of the male sci-fi narrators, Glemboski delivers the emotions and intensity well from the view of the female protagonist. I enjoyed the audio and expect to listen as I continue the series.

Source: October 2019 Two for One Credit Audible Sale. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020Alphabet goals.