Crimson Phoenix

By: John Gilstrap

Narrated by: Kate Forbes

“The novel seizes you on page one and never lets go...this riveting book will stay with you long after you finish it. And to top it all off, he’s created one of the most singular and compelling heroines to come along in years.” (Jeffery Deaver, New York Times best-selling author)

“Snaps with action from the very first page.” (Marc Cameron, New York Times best-selling author of Stone Cross and of Tom Clancy’s Code of Honor)

From John Gilstrap, the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the Jonathan Grave novels, comes Crimson Phoenix - first in the new Victoria Emerson Thriller series. With America brought to the brink of destruction, one woman becomes the last hope of a nation and its people....

Victoria Emerson is a congressional member of the US House of Representatives for the state of West Virginia. Her aspirations have always been to help her community and to avoid the ambitious power plays of her peers in Washington, DC. Then Major Joseph McCrea appears on her doorstep and uses the code phrase Crimson Phoenix, meaning this is not a drill. The United States is on the verge of nuclear war. Victoria must accompany McCrea to a secure bunker. She cannot bring her family.

A single mother, Victoria refuses to abandon her three teenage sons. Denied entry to the bunker, they nonetheless survive the nuclear onslaught that devastates the country. The land is nearly uninhabitable. Electronics have been rendered useless. Food is scarce. Millions of scared and ailing people await aid from a government that is unable to regroup, much less organize a rescue from the chaos.

Victoria devotes herself to reestablishing order - only to encounter the harsh realities required of a leader dealing with desperate people....

“A gripping page-turner.” (Taylor Stevens, New York Times best-selling author)

“An explosive story that keeps your mind churning and pulse racing.... Don't miss this powerful new series from a master thriller writer.” (Jamie Freveletti, international best-selling and award-winning author)

©2021 John Gilstrap (P)2021 Recorded Books

Well written but there was no conclusion

The book was well written and a page turner. It was also well performed. But there was no conclusion. It just sort of ended. I understand if the author wanted to create a hook for the next book, but this was over the top. The book just seemed to suddenly end in the middle of the story.

good story, not what I expected.

out of all the post-apocalyptic novels out there, this is one of them. it was a good read.

where's the ending?

this was going well until it abruptly ended without any resolution to the story

Unrealistic.

Not worth the effort to listen to this very juvenile book. Don't waste your time.

New twist on survival novel

Good story but never mentioned at end there would be a sequel. What happened to the internal infighting in the congress, Vicky is going to stay and Adam waiting on his family at the flat rock or wherever their meet up place is?
But good book.

...new series by John Gilstrap that's really good!

Audiobook Review - John Gilstrap introduces a new post apocalyptic thriller entitled Crimson Phoenix that is surprisingly good with a really good narrator - Kate Forbes. It’s a new series about the aftermath of nuclear war, specifically in West Virginia and centered around an ex-Congresswoman and her three sons. The protagonist, Victoria Emerson, abruptly resigns from Congress when she was unable to bring her two teenaged boys into the Congressional-leaders only bomb shelter (no family members allowed). Preset for recovery of the government for after a nuclear strike, this caused tremendous angst for those who never read the ‘what-to-do’ material during code Crimson Phoenix. Emerson’s apparent lack of knowledge of Crimson Phoenix procedures caused her to walk away from the safe-haven bunker with two of her three boys and to start utilizing her "prep-per" skills in the West Virginia mountains. Vicky Emerson is a politician prone to getting her way and occasionally making impulsive decisions, but who also seems to grow into a true leader role as a survivalist in the aftermath of the nuclear attack. This is not a book so much about the terrible effects of multiple nuclear strikes across America, though it certainly doesn't shy away from it, as much as it is about the need for all different classes of people to find ways to regroup and cope during a nuclear holocaust. The only enemies that appear in the book are fellow Americans who try to seize the moment for their own personal gain even though every thing as been destroyed. Gilstrap’s storyline and plot are well written and are very believable.. The characters are strongly developed and characteristically spot on. His knowledge, details and explanations of the survivalist community is also remarkable! Although there are three distinct stories taking place in this one novel, they’re all relevant to each other and complete the overall storyline. Overall, this book was riveting, fast-paced, action-oriented, and scary to think about. As a first in a series, I can’t wait to find out what happens next for Vicky, her sons as well as the two military escorts that were tasked with delivering the former Congresswoman to the Congressional bomb shelter but were not allowed in as well, thus left to die in the nuclear attack. Gilstrap has an exciting new thriller series that is sure to please - from 'prep-pers', to politicians and elected officials, to thriller book listeners, to gun ethicists, to even wild game hunters, this one is a must listen...

left me hanging

what happened to the people in the bunker? what really happened to the US? too many unanswered questions

Outstanding

Wow, what a great listen. Considering what is happening in today's world, makes you wonder. Hope there is more to come.

Great new character-great story

I’m such a fan of the Jonathan grave series that I was reluctant to try this new story. I shouldn’t have been. This story grabs you right away and holds on tight. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Surprisingly loved it

I love John Gilstrap’s books and have listed to all of them many times. I have admit I did have to question if I would get this one. I do not care for end of times books and pretty much stay away from them. Obviously I gave it a chance and could not stop listening to it. All I have to say is WOW I really enjoyed it look forward to the next one.