Escape the Breakdown

A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller

By: Jack Hunt

Narrated by: Miles Meili

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

An EMP hits, the lights go out, the breakdown begins.

When Colby Riker, a former LAPD cop turned skillful bounty hunter is hired to bring in Alicia Scott, an elusive bail-jumper, he figured it was an easy payday - until a catastrophic EMP obliterates the country’s power grid and millions are thrust into chaos.

No electricity, no transportation, no phones, no rules.

As panic grips the City of Angels, Colby soon finds out he isn’t the only one anxious to get Alicia. But in the murky underworld of bail bonds and a grid-down disaster, staying one step ahead isn’t easy. Colby must keep her alive as they embark on a cross-city chase to escape the breakdown.

With no power, do you have what it takes to survive?

Six hundred miles north of LA, his small California hometown’s struggle to survive is just beginning as two feuding families confront each other in the darkness of the Redwoods.

Escape the Breakdown is the first explosive book in the Powerless World saga. From the international best-selling author of All That Remains comes a thrilling, post-apocalyptic EMP thriller series about two families fighting for survival in a world gone dark.

©2021 Jack Hunt (P)2021 Jack Hunt

Enjoyable EMP Story

The best and most realistic EMP story is One Second After, though it was partly intended as a warning story from its conception. Unfortunately for me, it taints my impression of all other books in the sub-genre. That said, this is a pretty good story. It has two major plot lines with an obvious family connection that will merge in future books.
Perhaps the missing element is a sense of urgency. There is probably enough awareness of the post-apocalyptic scenarios that people would respond more aggressively than portrayed in this story. It just seemed like most people viewed the event as a temporary blackout. But when planes are falling from the sky, people are going to freak out! It will be chaos, and every market everywhere will be hit for goods within a day or two. In this tale there is a market that is untouched for days, until two rival families coincidentally arrive at similar times. The first was making an orderly, careful raid. When the second family came it was then chaos.
That is it for the complainants. There were indeed some very realistic elements, such as people mobbing any functional vehicles and some folks fleeing cities.
The narration is very good. I haven’t heard much from Miles Meili but I like his work here.

New take on post EMP survival

I've listened to a lot of apocalyptic survival books. Compared to others, this one is fast paced but has a farfetched plot involving Russians relentlessly chasing a woman, which never gets adequately explained. Maybe it's covered in future books in the series. May pick up the next one to see. Regardless, it's a good listen.

Anything can happen when the lights go out

After reading the synopsis I had high hopes for this one and it certainly delivers! I really liked the viewpoint from our main character the bounty hunter as that is not an occupation that has been explored too much in the others that I have read in this genre. There are about three or four different storylines that all converge at once and really leave the listener wanting more. Going into this one you have to understand that it’s going to be a series so not all of your questions are going to be answered but I think the author does a great job of not leaving too much hanging. There are people you are going to love to hate in this one and each is read very very nicely. Did I mention that all of the story lines converge with one huge bang? The narration was done very well and he definitely took time to voice each character just a little bit differently. There is a wide range from female, 16-year-old teenagers and also Russian mobsters each with their own unique nuances to the voice. There are some really cool scenes in this book and one epic gun fight which you come to expect with this author. Cannot wait for the second book to be released an audio. Please note, I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review from audiobook boom. This in no way affected my opinion of this work.

OK pace, ok narration, reasonable pace

Wandered a bit at times due pace and number of different nationality characters.EMP meets Russian mafia.

No mercy!

Colby Riker, former LAPD, is a bounty hunter. He’s on the trail of bail-jumper Alicia Scott. What he is unaware of is that the Feds and the Bratva, Russian organized crime, also want her. The interplay of characters is well-written and believable. The cat and mouse chase across the Los Angeles area is exciting and fast-paced. For me, Colby’s partner Cain, a highly-skilled Belgian Malinois, steals the show. In a separate plotline, we go to Colby’s hometown in Humboldt County. There, Colby’s family, the Rikers, and long-time neighbors the Stricklands are engaged in a feud that would rival the Hatfields and the McCoys. Somewhere down the line, in the next book of the series, this storyline will gain relevance when Colby returns home. I enjoyed the story and is a good opener to a new series. Miles Meili provided an excellent performance as the narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

EMP story with real people

Very happy to have found a Post-Apocalyptic EMP story that is not all about the prepper story. None of the characters in this story were preppers although many good prepper concepts and ideas were included. This is two stories in one with an obvious connection in future volumes of the series. MC is an ex-cop turned bounty hunter. He has just picked up his latest runner when he finds that many people want her and now him dead. They are on the run from these killers when the EMP hits and this just makes the chase that much more interesting.
Very well written and well read as well. I will be looking for more in this series.

I received this free review audiobook and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.

Escape the Breakdown

I enjoyed this EMP survival story.Jack Hunt is a master at telling these! Colby finally nails the bail jumper he has been hunting when the lights go out.As civilization breaks down they go about life like they will still get paid! Colbys co worker also wants the money and Russians are after the bail jumper.Miles Meili was a terrific narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Typical end of the world saga

Like most EMP tales, this has lots of action, deaths, lawlessness then throw in the Russian mob and you have the basic story.

An EMP Fuels a Decades-Old Fued

'A Powerless World’ is the newest post-apocalyptic series by Jack Hunt. The first book introduces Colby Riker, former LAPD officer and current bounty hunter, along with his loyal K-9 partner. During this first installment, readers get some background on the modern-day Hatfields-and-McCoys-esque feud that Colby fled 10 years ago. With LA becoming an increasingly dangerous place due to an EMP, Colby makes the decision to head home to Humboldt County.

I really like the diversity of the characters Hunt has created. Besides man-with-a-past Colby, there’s the fugitive, Alicia, that he’s tasked with bringing in. She, in turn, is being chased by Russian mobsters. There's Daisy, a crazy female bounty hunter bent on capturing Alicia herself. And, in Humboldt County, recently paroled Jesse Riker and his family are competing with the Stricklands for control of their mountain town. All these characters and more set the stage for what promises to be quite the showdown.

Once again, Hunt proves his skill as an action/suspense writer. He keeps the tension high and adds twists the reader doesn’t see coming. I like the action just as much as the characterizations and I’m looking forward to more of this story.

Miles Meili is my favorite narrator in the post-apoc/survival thriller genres. I love his straightforward delivery. He doesn’t give an overdramatic performance. It's perfectly suited to Jack Hunt’s style of writing.

This audiobook was given to me as a free review copy, at my request. I’ve now written this voluntary opinion of it.

Recommended.

Dog and the Bounty Hunter

Jack Hunt's stories are always a great listen. Good solid characters and story structure. This book feels like the beginning of a series. I hope so. There is a lot of room to run on this. I'll be pondering the possible plot twists and turns until the next book {hint to Mr. Hunt}.

The choice to go with California as the location is not common in the genre but is a good one for this story. Throw in the dichotomy between LA and the Emerald Triangle and you just made a very interesting storyscape. The characters are a perfect fit. I appreciate the creativity and unique juxtaposition.

Miles Meili does a great job on the narration. Easy to follow, good definition between the characters, professional in every way. The narrator makes or breaks an audiobook. I really appreciate the great job on this one.

I give this audiobook a solid recommendation.

This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.