Review: The Departing by Daniel Greene

Author: Daniel Greene
Publisher: October 2018
Publication Date:  Rune Publishing LLC

Steele and his followers retreat before the might of Colonel Jackson’s rogue military unit. Jackson is always two-steps ahead in their small apocalyptic war and Steele’s back is against the ropes. He must find a way to outlast his opponent while holding his loose confederation of allies and former enemies together or face certain annihilation.

Back in her small hometown of Hacklebarney, Iowa, Gwen struggles to convince her cautious neighbors to provide refuge for Steele’s haggard forces. If she doesn’t succeed, Jackson’s noose will tighten and her friends and loved ones will be crushed on the banks of the Mississippi River.

The remaining loyal United States military implements a daring plan to hold the nation’s eastern flank against the dead. Operation Homefront hinges on the successful training of the civilian population for war. Colonel Kinnick quickly finds that not everyone wants their help.

The Departing is the fourth book in the End Time Saga.  If you had told me a few months ago that I would have stuck with a post apocalyptic series for this long, I would have called you crazy.  But, here we are at book four and waiting to find out when book five will be coming out.  

Reading one of these books feels like watching an entire season of a TV show.  There is so much packed in each one with multiple perspectives.  This book picks up right after the end of the third book.  So, I can't recommend reading these out of order.  The characters go through a lot of growth over the books and their motivations may not make sense to someone coming into the series later on.  

There is a bit of a lack of undead in this installment. However, as I have said from the beginning, the books are less about the zombies and more about how the apocalypse affects the human condition. No one is safe in the series.  No spoilers, but there was one death that had me choked up.  I will miss that character..  If you like shows like The Walking Dead, then I highly recommend this series.  I really hope there is going to be a fifth book.  I want to see what is next for these characters both good and evil.