In Volume Three of Prepper’s Crucible, our group encounters a situation that is spinning out of
control.
Gangs are on the attack. Local law enforcement needs help countering
the existential threat the gangs pose. Don and Kate come to loggerheads
over his participation in the defense of the town. Cory steps up, and
becomes a leader within the group. An epic battle takes place on the
outskirts of town, with Don in command of the defending force. Follow
along as our group steps up and takes a stand against evil.
My Review:
Dangerous times are coming to the group at the ranch when
Deputy Baxter visits to warn them of drug addicts on the rampage and a
well armed gang released from prison who are targeting rural properties.
When a neighbouring property is targeted, a distraught Ben tells the
group of the fate of the family, convincing Don and Cory to join him in a
revenge attack to stop them from hurting anyone else.
In this
book, the group decide that to protect themselves and other survivors in
the area, they need to attack and destroy the killers. There are mixed
views and much debate over what exactly to do but the men are determined
to come up with a plan to take out as many as possible. Can they
actually carry out such a raid without compromising the safety of those
at the ranch? It is also decided that they need to alter their own
defence plans to take into account the new threat facing them. If this
wasn't enough Sheriff Bear reveals that a 200 strong biker group are
heading their way, destroying every place that they pass through, and
Don agrees to assist in drawing up a battle plan to save the town, which
leads to conflict with a worried Kate.
I liked Sheriff Bear,
Cory's former brother-in-law. He is a good honest man who wants to do
everything by the book, believing that law will some day be restored and
that people will be held accountable for their actions. He views the
attack on the raiders as illegal and is suspicious of Don and Cory's
involvement in it, not wanting confirmation. While you want to yell at
Bear that these are criminals who are killing people, you do understand
that he is sworn to protect, not kill people, and does not wish to be
judge and jury. We see Cory starting to change in this book. He has
decided that killing bad people is more important than the rule of law
and he proves to be more ruthless than anyone expected.
As well
as seeing the three men dealing with the issue of armed gangs, there is
plenty of interest happening at the ranch. Everyday life is now being
balanced with the need for defence and security, and an alternative plan
is needed in case they need to leave the ranch. Everyone is in a state
of high anxiety which is transmitted to the reader...I was getting
worried about what was going to happen to the characters as there is
nobody that I don't like! Darn these authors for making you care about
the characters!
There was so much I liked about the book. This is
the book with the most action in it and the tension is ramped up
greatly. The run-ins with the raiders and the fight against the bikers
lead to action packed and tension filled scenes which I very much
enjoyed. I'm not going into details about what happens during these
scenes as I don't want to ruin it for anyone who plans to read the
series. I loved the way Don and the people in the town came up with the
defence plan and started to implement it. It was an unexpected but
exciting addition to the story. It also leads to Cory having his own
crisis to deal with back at the ranch.
This was probably my favourite book in the series which has certainly kept up its standards so far.
Read February 2016.
