Downward Cycle: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Catalyst Book 1)

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In a single heartbeat, the modern world dies.
Planes plummet from darkened skies. Cars become lifeless husks at dead traffic lights. Every screen goes black, every connection severed.

As thousands of satellites fall silent like dying stars, humanity faces a truth they’re not ready to accept: the power isn’t coming back. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

Scott Montgomery thought his coastal cabin would be his escape from society. From a past he no longer wanted to remember. Now, as millions cling to the desperate belief that this is just another temporary outage, he alone seems to grasp the horrifying reality. But when he learns his young niece is trapped in a city falling into chaos, his self-imposed isolation must end.

With a small group of new-found allies and Solo—a dog whose fierce intelligence matches his own survival instincts—Scott ventures into a collapsing world.

In a race against time and human nature itself, Scott must navigate a landscape where every darkened window could hide either desperate survivors or something even worse. Because in a world where civilization crumbles faster than people’s faith in it, saving his niece means becoming the very thing he’s spent his life avoiding: someone others depend on to survive.
Perfect for fans of William Forstchen’s One Second After and A.G. Riddle’s Pandemic. A haunting vision of civilization’s end where the most dangerous thing isn’t the darkness—it’s the fatal hope that the lights will come back on.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ” Freaking awesome book. I’m on the second one now! Can’t wait to see how it turns out.—Brian M.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “The storyline for this post-apocalyptic dystopian world is dramatic, believable, and packed with enough action to keep me glued to the pages late into the night, much like ‘A.G. Riddle’s Pandemic.’” -Amazon Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ” Thank for the greatest reading adventure I’ve ever been on!” -Phil R. Amazon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I want to thank you for the best book series I have ever read in my life. Your work is absolutely amazing! .” -Amazon Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “After reading this book the first word that come to mind is Splendid! Writing of this order is too rarely encountered and even for those who usually avoid post-apocalyptic stories, this one is so well conceived and written that it supersedes genre. It reminds me of the depth found in ‘One Second After by William Forstchen.’” — Grady Harp on San Francisco Review of Books

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Great book. Couldn’t put it down. I bought this book because I have read about every post-apocalyptic book series out there, including ‘The Silo book series.’ I was floored by how this is written. The people come alive, drawing you in. Many shocks, surprises keep you riveted to the page. I highly recommend.” -Amazon Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “As an author of apocalyptic fiction myself, I had to write a review detailing what an exceptional job of portraying how society could collapse following a large-scale Carrington Event, JK Franks has done. It’s as immersive as ‘The Cabin at the End of the World,’ offering a unique take on the apocalypse. I absolutely loved this first book in the Catalyst series…”

From the Publisher

Immerse yourself in “Downward Cycle” – a raw and riveting journey set in a desolate American landscape. In the aftermath of a catastrophic solar storm, Scott and his brave band of survivors grapple with their new reality – food is scarce, supplies are dwindling, and their hometown hangs on the edge of oblivion.

A seemingly ordinary mission to save his niece swiftly spirals into a deadly confrontation when they encounter an imposing enemy force. The landscape of their once-familiar country is now dominated by an overpowering and merciless new order, harboring a nefarious plan for the U.S.

In the heart of a quaint coastal town, discover a tale of relentless courage and unwavering survival. Amidst a rapidly decaying world, every breath is a battle, every day a war. Brace yourself for a relentless action-adventure where the laws of the jungle prevail – it’s survival of the fittest, kill or be killed.

Downward Cycle

Here in the early days of the collapse, power, Internet, and communication networks eventually go down…a deadly pathogen escapes overseas. With the United States and much of the world is crippled, opportunist and evil begin to rise up to fill the void. This gritty, edge-of-your-seat post-apocalyptic adventure chronicles the harrowing journey of ordinary people trapped in an encroaching dark age. The apocalypse meets the one man who just won’t give up in an epic struggle for control over the very future of the country and us as a species.

Kingdoms of Sorrow

A murderous army, an unspeakable plague, and an approaching hurricane/ Cities, nations, and governments lie in ruins and billions have perished. In the wake of a global apocalypse, survival has become a way of life in a world that increasingly seems intent on wiping them all out. One man and his newfound friends will risk it all to save his community. Now with the help of new and uncertain alliances they must face a new threat none of them saw coming. The ‘Messengers’ are like a biblical plague, destroying everything—and everyone—in their path.

American Exodus

Steven Porter had a mostly charmed life, one that most people would envy, that is, until it all vanished. He was far from home on the day the world changed forever. Millions of people are fleeing the cities trying to find safety. Steve finds himself as one of those lost souls wandering the highways. Each step forward is fraught with peril. What will he find if he even makes it back home? To survive the dangerous journey he must battle hunger, thirst, and the relentless attacks by others as well as brutal response by our government that raises more questions than answers. Normal is a fading memory, survival is all that matters. His challenge is simple, adapt or die.

Ghost Country

What remains of the country’s leaders are hiding a secret; something that threatens not just the U.S. but the entire world. The Gulf Coast town of Harris Springs, Mississippi has suffered from gang attacks, famine, hurricanes and battled a crusading army of religious zealots. Now, they face their greatest challenge. Outsmarting a tyrannical President and escaping an approaching pandemic. The few remaining military leaders are beginning to come to grips with the facts of America being ripped apart at the seams. They must act quickly to give the remaining population any chance for survival. As the nation falls apart in the aftermath of civil war, the survivors must decide how far they will go to save the ones they love

Sci-Fi Thriller Author JK Franks

JK Franks is the popular author of numerous post-apocalyptic and technothriller novels. He is an admitted tech geek, science nerd, cyclist, and storyteller, JK Franks’ world was formed by a childhood growing up during the Space Age when he developed a love for books. He became an avid student of history and science, and a regular reader of everything from reference books to dusty old biographies. Once he discovered science fiction he never looked back. His work is mostly near-future thrillers, characterized by meticulous research, hard science and a gritty, seldom-matched realism. “I hate stupid characters,” states Franks. “Or even worse, smart characters, acting stupid.” All of his work combines his passion for Hard Science Fiction, well-crafted characters and superb storytelling.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01K0ZZGVM
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Red Leaf Books
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 8, 2016
Edition ‏ : ‎ 3rd
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 433 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0997728910
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Catalyst