The writing gets better with each book. Very believable, people can be such a-holes. Highly recommend. ( )

If one reads this volume as a stand alone work, it is not possible to tell from the narrative what happened to the United States to cause a post-apocalyptic state. However, you can tell from the opening chapters that Floridians are without federal law enforcement and citizens find themselves in situations that cause them to carry and use weapons. The bloke who goes bonkers about not having food to feed his family will find himself killed for his behavior. There are no police, judges, or courts to make those decisions. The book was quite easy to read and comprehend but I am not disposed to read the other four books in this series. Of all the end of the world novels that I have read, I do not find this one particularly outstanding. It could serve as a TV or movie script since much of the text is dialogue. I thank the author and the Penguin First to Read program for a complimentary copy of this book. ( )