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Robin Crumby
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Hurst: The Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (The Hurst Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Robin Crumby (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 968 ratings
See all formats and editions

Where would you go to survive the end of the world?

Far from the smoking ruins of the cities, Hurst Castle stands alone. A medieval fortress surrounded by the tidal waters of the Solent on the south coast of England.

Hurst’s seventy-four occupants scrape a living, scavenging for food and supplies in a lawless society without electricity or government. There is no time to mourn. Survival is all that matters.

But they are not alone. Rival groups covet the castle’s closely guarded resources, probing its defences.

When a military-led relief operation makes contact, Hurst’s stalwart leader, Jack, faces a desperate choice. To set aside their differences and join an alliance that promises hope or to unite against the newcomers and their plans for reconstruction. Jack must discover the truth about the Allies before it’s too late, but who can he trust? Only time will tell.

The battle for Hurst has begun.

"Contagion meets The Road", "Terrifyingly realistic", "A perfect blend of science fiction, history and social commentary." “Written in 2016, before COVID-19, the author just got so many details spot on in this series.”

If you enjoy fast-paced, post-apocalyptic stories such as The Road, Station Eleven, The Stand, The Last Day, Survivors, Pandemic and The Atlantis Gene, you'll love Hurst, book one in The Hurst Chronicles post-apocalyptic series. “A dark, dystopian page-turner.” Get book one now.

"One of the most original and just flat out interesting and intelligently profound dystopian novels I’ve ever read." - Indie Book Reviewers

"An action-packed, disturbing and thought-provoking story of an all-too-possible dystopian future." - The Book Reviewers

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 5
    The Hurst Chronicles
  2. Print length
    396 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    April 11, 2016
  6. File size
    3225 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An action-packed, disturbing and thought-provoking story of an all-too-possible dystopian future." - The Book Reviewers

"Simply unputdownable! The type of book that draws you in. A fast-paced and thrilling read. Highly recommended." - Mary Anne Yarde, multi award-winning author of the Du Lac Chronicles

"A dystopian thriller that features various locations from around the Solent and New Forest." - The Lymington Times

"One of the most original and just flat out interesting and intelligently profound dystopian novels I've ever read." - Indie Book Reviewers

"An edge-of-your-seat page turner. The pace was fast and the setting was immersive. A diatribe on the dark heart of man, a well-written adventure story. Five Stars." Christian Indie Book Reviews

"Will definitely be reading the next in the series. Recommended." - Amazon review

"I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!" - Amazon review

"Real page turner. Good story." - Amazon review

"I know the locations . So I thoroughly enjoyed picturing the story having been there. Great ideas and authenticity. Very exiting." - Amazon review

"Excellent, dark and original. Geography is superb. Gritty, comfortably British." - Amazon review

"An entertaining and charming read." - Goodreads

"Great tale with so many twists and turns it will keep you reading. Hope it never ends." - Goodreads

"A dark, dystopian novel that post-apocalyptic aficionados will love!" - Goodreads

"Great thriller with lots of action and drama to keep you swiftly turning the pages!" - Goodreads

"Really enjoyable read-well written, have read all the series so far, and look forward to another." - Amazon review

About the Author

Robin Crumby is the British author of The Hurst Chronicles, a post-apocalyptic series set on the south coast of England in the aftermath of a deadly flu pandemic. Since reading John Wyndham's Day of the Triffids as a child, Robin became fascinated by end of the world dystopian literature and was inspired to start writing by Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven. Why? Because post-apocalyptic fiction fires the imagination like nothing else. Pondering what comes next, who would survive, what would life look like? Much of the best fiction in this popular genre focuses on brain-eating zombies or events unfolding in the USA, so Robin determined to write a story set in the UK. His Eureka moment came wandering the shingle beach at Milford-on-sea, inspired by the beauty and rich history of the Solent. Where better to survive the end of the world than a medieval castle surrounded by water? Robin spent much of his childhood messing about in boats, exploring the many waterways, harbours and military forts of the Isle of Wight, where The Hurst Chronicles series is set.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01E5G8Q2S
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Novatum Press (April 11, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 11, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3225 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 396 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 968 ratings

About the author

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Robin Crumby

Robin Crumby

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Robin Crumby is the British author of 'The Hurst Chronicles', a post-apocalyptic series set on the south coast of England in the aftermath of a deadly flu pandemic. Since reading John Wyndham’s Day of the Triffids as a child, Robin became fascinated by end of the world dystopian literature and was inspired to start writing by Cormac McCarthy’s 'The Road' and Emily St. John Mandel’s 'Station Eleven'. Why? Because post-apocalyptic fiction fires the imagination like nothing else. Pondering what comes next, who would survive, what would life look like? Much of the best fiction in this popular genre focuses on brain-eating zombies or events unfolding in the USA, so Robin determined to write a story set in the UK. His Eureka moment came wandering the shingle beach at Milford-on-sea, inspired by the beauty and rich history of the Solent. Where better to survive the end of the world than a medieval castle surrounded by water? Robin spent much of his childhood messing about in boats, exploring the many waterways, harbours and military forts of the Isle of Wight, where 'The Hurst Chronicles' series is set.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
968 global ratings
A fast-paced, post-apocalyptic thriller that will grab you and not let go!
5 Stars
A fast-paced, post-apocalyptic thriller that will grab you and not let go!
Robin Crumby has created a very real world, in an all-too-believable post-apocalyptic world, where the characters are authentic, the relationships realistic, and the plot twists come fast and furious. The book follows the experiences of a motley tribe of people who have huddled in Hurst Castle on the coast of England to survive and rebuild society after a devastating global plague throws the global economy and society into chaos. I love the settings, the characters and the plot -- and can't wait for the next installment of The Hurst Chronicles.
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Top reviews from the United States

Tony Parsons
5.0 out of 5 stars & Sean (teen) another group did their best to keep useable supplies coming in
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
Hurst Castel. Christchurch Bay. 74 PPL were camped out in the east wing, about to awake from their iron bunk beds.

Jack (leader, former Royal Fleet Auxiliary), Tommy (2nd. leader), Sam (Skip), Zed (scavenger), Nathan, Liz (cook), Greta (30, Swedish, head of security), Cedric (aka Scottie), Will (South African), James, Sarah (teen) Adele (child), & Terra, were discussing the necessities they needed to survive.
The Millennial virus had taken many lives everywhere.
BBC News 24 had confirmed that.
Bob, Riley (f), Joe, Mila (teen), Will, & Sean (teen) another group did their best to keep useable supplies coming in.

Later Will (South African) had been captured & Bob had been killed.
Captain Anders Bjorklund (Norwegian, former Navy) & 1st. Officer Victor greeted Jack & Bob aboard the Charlotte Maersk (shipping vessel).
The Nipper (fishing boat) was now loaded down with supplies.
Who was Dr. Ganesh (aka Raj) attending to?
Lieutenant Peterson (American) had landed the Seahawk helicopter on the Hurst property.
What did the guest speakers: Captain Armstrong (Royal Navy), Captain Bjorklund, & Professor Nichols (U of Southampton, Centre for Biological Science) have to say?
Where were Copper, & Trevor headed too?
Hurst Castel. Christchurch Bay. New arrivals are: Roger, Simon, Gary, Jackson, Toby, & Shannon.
The nun’s: Sister Immelda, Sister Mel, Sister Georgina, Sister Theodora (25+), & Jean Farley were striving to stay alive also.

Will an antidote be discovered to fight the deadly Millennial Virus?
Maersk Charlotte or Charlotte Maersk?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written dystopian thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great dystopian thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Novatum Group publisher; Smashwords; Instafreebie; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
3 people found this helpful
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K. Hudson
4.0 out of 5 stars Better than most in this genre.
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book was interesting and had plenty of suspense to hold the reader’s attention. The pacing felt off, because at times there was just too much detail and conversation. I was disappointing at the appearance of the tired dystopian tropes - the militaristic raider group, the all female man hater group, the evil scientists, the dregs of society gang. Good writing and editing were in evidence, which is refreshing compared to many books I have read recently. Overall, I’d rate it a 3.5, if half stars were allowed.
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Linda Trefts
3.0 out of 5 stars Pandemic of Confusion
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2019
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This book seems as though it’s book 2 of a story. So much missing information prior to chapter 1, that it feels like starting a story in the middle instead of the beginning.
A lot of characters, and many playing both sides against each other.
I struggled to finish the story, due to the missing information, the secrets and the alliances.
5 people found this helpful
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Huma Rojo
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2018
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This actually showed up in my Facebook feed, and on the off chance I ordered it. The narrative is surprisingly good. The character development was very interesting, and the writing was skilled and interestingly driven. I wasn’t terribly keen in that book ended with a nod to its sequel, but the story itself kept me engaged, the characters were well formed, and the pace of action definitely kept me interested. The story itself is completely plausible, and I very much appreciated the fact that the author had done research on the actual historical sites that then made the text all the more interesting. If you like Apocalyptic genre stories, then I would recommend this text highly. I have ordered the second and third texts in the series, because I was so intrigued by the first book.
4 people found this helpful
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Michael. Port
4.0 out of 5 stars A good quick read.
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2023
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Fast-paced action, relatable characters, great detail of British culture,settings, and history,It made me regret that my British accent wasn't better.
One person found this helpful
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David
5.0 out of 5 stars Humans behaving poorly--just like now!
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2016
Verified Purchase
If current environmental, health, economic, and nationalist trends continue, the few humans who survive will band together to form a new utopia, right? Ha--read Robin Crumby's Hurst Chronicles now if you need to be disabused of that silly notion. In fact, what happens is competing dystopias who resort to all our natural basest instincts. Unnecessary violence, unproductive greed and destructive hoarding, militarism at all levels, cult-of-personality leadership (including a wicked set of post-feminist nuns, no less), disrespect for the planet, etc. etc.--that's what happens. You won't be left with any illusions--thankfully. Crumby paints a wildly funny and also wonderfully horrifying picture of a future that's exactly like the present--in fact, after reading this book, you'll be tempted to travel again to southern England to draw comparisons between the real locales in the book and what happens to them after the latest uber-plague sweeps in a la Jose Saramago in Blindness. Nothing changes--except perhaps the plumbing is worse.
5 people found this helpful
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BorderKellie
3.0 out of 5 stars Old hat in a castle
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2018
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I really like post-apocalyptic fiction, but this one, while the setting was novel, just rehashed the same old storylines. If you're new to the genre, it's worth the read, but otherwise unimpressive.
One person found this helpful
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Roger Deming
2.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2019
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Well written book of action and suspense fast paced action that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Bookaholic
5.0 out of 5 stars You will not want to put this book down.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2016
Verified Purchase
A deadly virus has ravaged the world and those who are lucky enough to have survived now have to face the real struggle of staying alive.

Set in the south of England, Book One Of The Hurst Chronicles drew me in from the first page and kept me engaged to the very last one. The story was so fast paced that I didn't notice the pages turning.

Coming from the south of England, I am familiar with many of the places mentioned in this book. I thought the story was incredibly well crafted. On one hand, Crumbly talks about what these places were like before the virus, and then he describes what they are like in this dystopian world that he has created. This, for me, added a disturbing slant to the story, which I found strangely appealing.

There are several characters, whose story's, although interwoven with each other, you follow throughout this book. Each character has a unique personality, and each brought something new to the novel.

This is a well executed and stunning book. I really enjoyed it, and I would have no hesitation in recommend this book.
3 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Hurst book one
Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
A really good book, a little hard to follow at times but it all comes around eventually. Disappointed that it has a continuation book
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Andrea
4.0 out of 5 stars A bit of a muddle
Reviewed in Australia on August 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
It’s less a post-apocalyptic series than a bioterrorism whodunnit, delving into the history of bio weapons, WW2, Iraq wmd and the Cold War. Most of the biology is based on reality, but some of the series reads more like a treatise on virology and immunology with a bit of adventure thrown in. Different…
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Cheryl Frenette
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Reviewed in Canada on November 6, 2019
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I like the story, writing, characters and that its not in the US for a change. Only about half done but it's a decent read so far.
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Michael G. Annis
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2017
Verified Purchase
First third of the book was spot on. Good read then it got bogged down with oddballs, weird groups and a lot of talking. Found it hard to complete after a good start. Too much psychoanalysing by the characters.
2 people found this helpful
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