Two different couples, one on each coast of the United States, struggle with the typical challenges of modern life. In New York, Walt is happy in his relationship with Vanessa, but he knows that she is planning to dump him because he found a goodbye note when rummaging through her dresser. He is pretty sure that she is cheating on him with one of her fellow actors and he starts scheming ways to keep the relationship going just a bit longer. On the west coast, Raymond and Mia are madly in love but are flat broke and about to lose their home. Raymond is a screw up who can't seem to keep a job and things go from bad to worse as he loses the last of his savings when he tries to make a quick buck. All of these challenges are about to become meaningless as the outbreak from the Outcome novella hits and the world is changed forever.
Edward W. Robertson details the impact of the deadly Panhandler virus on each coast of the United States as it disrupts the world of both of these couples. None of these characters are in any way prepared for what is about to come and each must adapt and become something they are not if they want to survive. As civilization crumbles each individual must look inside themselves and decide what type of person they are going to be. Are there lines that shouldn't be crossed or is it enough to survive at any cost? Even if that cost means the death of others? Is it even worth surviving at all? These are questions that will be asked and answered for each of the characters as the story goes on and then when it seems like a new kind of normal has been reached the unthinkable happens.
Apocalypse number two hits. That's right, one civilization ending catastrophe is not enough for Robertson and when the second event occurs things start to get really interesting and the series story arc is firmly established. Both of the independent character PoV threads eventually intersect and then events build to a exciting conclusion. Of course this is only the beginning and the double apocalypse landscape that was created here allows for many more interesting stories to be told and there are seven further books in the series (so far.)
Ray Chase does another great narration on the audiobook and voices the entire series to date.