By far, the best of the lot! Alpha Plague 4 picks up from the preceding installment and then fast forwards 10 years into the future. The foursome are still on the containers near the airport, but have carved out a life there for over 10 years. Daily scavenger hunts are still required and usually left to Vicky and Rhys to forage and provide sustenance for the group. They maintain a small garden and have opened and used every container as part of their living space. The three adults remain over-protective of Flynn, and even at the age of 16 still refuse to allow him off the containers. This may or may not help him in the near future.

Vicky finds a small wind-up radio on a mission and soon hears a message broadcasted over one of the channels. The voice invites all survivors to come HOME where it's safe, with plenty of food, water and electricity. Could there be others alive? Is this real?

A decision is soon reached to leave the container mansion and head for HOME. However, there in lies plenty between their containers and the new destination who lie in wait, intent on stopping them.

This installment kept me on the edge of my seat and sometimes holding my breath. I have to commend the author on his imagination and ability to craft surprises and traps that seem impossible to escape, then an unexpected turn of events turn things around again. Bravo Mr. Robertson! I'm already half way through #5 and can't wait to see how the series ends.

John Podlaski, author
"Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" and "When Can I Stop Running?" ( )