Review: Ticking Time Bomb . . .
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2012
I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of EXIT 9 directly from the author. I thoroughly enjoyed, "Sick," the first installment, so I jumped at the chance to read and review the second book. I have a background in hard science and I am a huge fan of apoc thrillers. EXIT 9 did not disappoint and kept me up too late more than once.Like Star Wars, the trilogy is interconnected chapters of the story arc. While you could read EXIT 9 as a stand-alone, it wouldn't be as enjoyable if you hadn't read "Sick" first.I'm not a big one on doing plot summaries. Too easy to give spoilers and key points. However, if you like Rainbow 6 by Tom Clancy and the TV show "24," you will enjoy EXIT 9. The clock ticks relentlessly and is updated every chapter. Only a few days stands between your existence and the end of the world. As doomsday approaches, our heroes at The Ranch scramble to uncover the secrets of Project Eden. Where is the headquarters? Where are the devices? How will the plague be launched? Using an alternating POV, Battles lets us in on each sides' secrets while we watch the two forces play a chess game where the the stakes are the human race. Meanwhile, a third player, suspected, but unknown, by either side decides to throw in and topple the game board. Fun stuff!Really, my only complaints come from getting so vested in the story that any flaw bothered me. First, I'm still not totally on board with The Ranch and its motivations. A little more info about its founding and how it became involved would have helped (i.e. Is Matt a former Eden operative that became disillusioned. Is he former government?) Also, the ticking clock is almost too relentless (but, I say the same thing about 24). It took Ash and his crew too long to get ready to go north hunting Bluebird. I found myself saying, "Come on, wouldn't the Ranch have the gear for an Arctic mission ready to roll right after they lost contact with the first recon team?" or "Come on, wouldn't Eden have a better contingency plan for a leaking drum?" or "Come on, wouldn't Eden have used its own trucks without transponders?"(BTW, I loved the kill switches in the cargo containers - talk about extreme prejudice). Nits to be sure, but it also shows that I wasn't just reading the story, I was experiencing it.Like Star Wars ESB, EXIT 9, the second chapter of the trilogy resolves almost nothing. Two fingers are on two triggers and armageddon hangs in the balance. Since there is another book to go, it is safe to say that mayhem ensues. I look forward to it.