The Dread Merchant

by Todd Knight

An apocalyptic virus. A stolen cure. A life-or-death decision.
Two weeks after the mysterious "Scratch 'n Sniff" outbreak began in Boston, the world has descended into chaos and darkness.

Nick Ritter, an expert crisis consultant, shelters with his newfound family at a camp near the Canadian border. A harsh winter is coming, and time is running out to reach his survival ranch in New Zealand.

But Nick holds the key to stopping the a stolen vial of Dr. Teddy Monroe's vaccine. Now the group faces a life-or-death save themselves or save the world.

As the deadly virus and frigid winter close in, the family grapples with their new

Abby Blackwell, a postpartum teen mother, reels from the arrival of her newborn twins, Max and Lily. They bring an unexpected surprise, and Abby considers the returning her babies to Dr. Monroe.

Brian Donahue, a reawakened warrior, and his wife and daughter, Tracy and Zoe, thrive from their fresh start. But a powerful ally forces them to a lonely future or a haunted past.

Dana Foster, a battle-scarred doctor, accepts the broken world and opens her heart to Nick. But when she uncovers a dark secret, she questions if Nick is really the man she hoped.

T.J. Chandra, a humbled startup CEO, worries the monstrous Kurt Hunziker will return for a violent revenge. An old friend offers T.J. a the easy life or the good life.

Herman and Mikey Reed, grandfather and grandson handymen, settle into the family they so desperately needed. Until a surprise arrival unleashes the harsh world they hoped to leave behind.

Now Nick must call on his disaster-planning skills to survive, facing off against the enraged Dr. Monroe, who will stop at nothing to reclaim his newborn twins. As Nick unravels Monroe's plan, he awakens something bigger and more sinister than he ever imagined.

The Dread Merchant is the highly anticipated sequel to Todd Knight's bestselling debut novel, The Posh Prepper. It is the second book in The Posh Prepper trilogy.

The Dread Merchant is a dark, tense, fast-paced apocalyptic thriller with an unforgettable cast of complex characters. Perfect for fans of T.L. Payne, Grace Hamilton, and Kyla Stone.

*This book includes strong language, graphic violence, and mature themes.*

422 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2024

About the author

Todd Knight spent years working at tech companies before starting to pursue his true passion on the side: storytelling.

The Posh Prepper is his debut novel, the first of many stories built around powerful themes and unforgettable characters.

Todd loves dark, gritty, character-driven, dramatic thrillers.

Favorite books include The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, Let the Right One In, and many works by Michael Connelly and Stephen King.

Favorite shows include Breaking Bad, True Detective, Deadwood, The Leftovers, and The X-Files.

Favorite movies include The Dark Knight, Arrival, Mad Max: Fury Road, Contact, Children of Men, and Interstellar.

For film and TV rights inquiries: Todd@ToddKnightBooks.com

Reviews

[P-san~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

33% DNF

I'll start by saying that there is nothing wrong with this book, it just wasn't what I was looking for, so I am not enjoying it.
The whole plot is intricate and it can lead to a lot of different paths.
I really like how it seems very real, very possible, for this type of scenario to happen.

The thing is, I was looking for a survival book, like scavenging for food, and coming up with plans to make it a devastated word.
But this book is mainly about Nick coming up with plans, money helping these plans come true or luck in finding what they need (although it is explained why they got lucky), and mainly politics - deceit, the feeling of feeling useless in the face of the powers that move the world, media manipulation, and so on.
Very on par with the current situation, and maybe that's another reason why I'm enjoying it, I think I get enough of this from everyday news.

Also, I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really do like this series it is intelligently written and brings you in. There are different areas which add to the story and makes it all that more interesting. it is also believable.

I also really like the narration and it so suits the style.

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was way out of my usual zone — I don’t often go for apocalyptic or dystopian stories — but I ended up really into it. What pulled me in wasn’t just the survival part, but how the story moved across the world, giving these different glimpses of what was happening everywhere. It made the whole thing feel bigger and more real.
There was tension, of course, but also these quieter moments that caught me off guard. Not everything was explosions or chaos — sometimes it was just people trying to hold onto something human. I liked that balance. It wasn’t just end-of-the-world panic. There was space to think and feel.

Even if it’s not my usual type, I was surprised how much I cared about the characters by the end. Their choices, the way they adapted, and the moments of connection across all that distance… it worked.

Definitely something different for me, but I’m glad I listened. It stayed with me longer than I thought it would.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ so it does not start off where the last book ending. Instead, it takes you back
To win set up and almost assassinated. And all he did to get that, was ask questions. Of the disaster company that he worked for. Like why they already knew, certain disasters were going to happen. And him, 100%, it was set up to take the fall. And now he is set up to take the ball again at the end of this book.
I have no idea where this series is going, but it is scary. How detailed the plan is, and how this totally could happen. Exactly. The way that it is portrayed here.
This is an extremely well written book, and the narrator did a fantastic job.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC by the author, this is an honest review. The Dread Merchant is a truly stellar book as Todd Knight keeps pushing his characters beyond the limits they've already been put through. Catastrophically changed by a deadly virus that has scarred the world, Nick Ritter and his band of survivors are holed up at a summer camp trying to piece together a future that's free from all the chaos that's choking the world. And Nick wants to live up what being the Posh Prepper is and deliver these people to New Zealand and something of paradise... but what if there's a way to bring humanity some desperately needed hope because what Nick and his crew discover of what's unfolding as the government works to bring a ravaged country back into something that's normal; Nick knows the truth behind and cannot let it happen. It means once again diving back into the trenches and making himself even more enemy to the one he has and keeping everyone safe.

A Posh Pepper's job as crazy as ever as it's exciting reading every page of the intense story.

Highly recommended.

[Amy Hartmann Nestor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel to the Posh Prepper blew me away! I was anxiously waiting to catch up with Nick and his found family and Mr. Knight did not disappoint. He brought me right back into his incredibly built world that mirrors and is so relatable to our own. Just like in Prepper you feel like this is really.
Spoiler- we meet some new faces in this book and get to know our original cast even better. We meet Nick brother Paul and he really caught me off guard!
I could not put this book down. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Several times I had to stop and pace because “Wow”!!!!
I can’t wait to read what comes next from Todd Knight! Read his books and you’ll be hooked, I know I am!!!

[Ajitabh Pandey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dread Merchant, the second installment in Todd Knight’s The Posh Prepper Trilogy, delivers a gripping continuation of the series.

The plot is set in a world ravaged by the apocalyptic “Scratch ’n Sniff” virus. In this second book, the stakes are intensified as protagonist Nick Ritter and his makeshift family navigate the harsh realities of survival, morality, and sacrifice.

Each character in the plot is grappling with personal struggles and evolving dynamics within the group.

The author has maintained a fine balance between a tense action and the emotional depth of his characters. The book explores themes of trust, resilience, and the fine line between good and evil in a collapsing world.

The story details various survival scenarios which will be appreciated by the fans.

[Sammie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Listened First Then I Read

I Listened to the Posh Prepper on Audible. This was a different side of the usual Prepper books..coming from one, Nick, who sells the dream to the rich, only to end up needing to use his knowledge, resources and skills for himself and his "created" family. It's not out on Audible yet, but I wanted to know what was happening next... couldn't wait ..so I read. Sped through it. Very exciting, intensely crafted... definitely enjoyed it. Hoping Todd is going to put out the next one very soon. Highly recommended!!

[George W Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I enjoyed reading both books in this series..As a child of the 60s and 70s I was always a bit distrustful of big Government.
These books used a background of a group of powerful individuals who really influenced ongoing events. Exciting to read.

[Alejandra Martin ~ Lexi Likes to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in The Posh prepper trilogy reacquaintances us with Nick and his found family very recently after the end of book one. Once again it seems that we are right around the corner from ending up in Nick's home in New Zealand, however one crisis after another continues to block the path. Nick is torn between getting out of the country. Just like in the first book the descriptions are captivating and the scenes are descriptive to the point of being able to imagine them being very easily turned into a movie. The action packed nature of the book is exciting and keeps you interested from the very first chapter. I was a fast fan of Todd Knight after reading The Posh Prepper and this second book in the series has reaffirmed my previous thoughts. I look forward to seeing what the third book has to offer and if they finally find a location for their new home.

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had liked book 1 of "the Posh Prepper", but felt quite let down by this. In book 1, whilst I had some issue with a few of the characters, I had found the methods of prepping interesting. Those were absent in this book, but some of the character issues were far more prominent. In particular, I had issues with Nick who was supposed to be the planner of the group. Over and over, the group goes from the proverbial fire pan into the fire. As one character put it, “You’re supposed to be the ultimate planner. But we’re stumbling from one disaster to the next." I ended up not understanding why they kept following the guy. It was also disconcerted that the "Beast" cabal seemed to be the inevitable winners of all of this. I managed to finish but am disinclined to go to book three for Nick's tour of vengeance.

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in The Posh Prepper trilogy reacquaints us with Nick and his found family shortly after the events of the first book. Just as it seems they are on the brink of reaching Nick's home in New Zealand, one crisis after another keeps obstructing their path. Nick remains torn about leaving the country. Like the first book, the descriptions are captivating, with vividly depicted scenes that could easily translate to film. The action-packed narrative is exciting and gripping from the very first chapter. I became a fast fan of Todd Knight after reading The Posh Prepper, and this second installment has reaffirmed my admiration. I'm eager to see what the third book has in store and if they finally find a location for their new home.

[MaryJo Legg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic second book in "The Posh Prepper" trilogy. Another roller coaster ride between sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next to shutting my eyes and saying, "I don't want to know." As others have said, character development was great, bringing said characters to life. Although catastrophes happened quickly one right after another, it did not seem contrived. Everything flowed smoothly, except for the beating of my heart. Bronson Pinchot was stellar in his narrating. Will be impatiently waiting for the third book.

[Maggie Deaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total Delight here at what promises to be a Superb Series!

A totally believable and heartbreaking story of an engineered pandemic with deadly results and the betrayal and destruction of those who fought against it.This story will fascinate and infuriate you but it also leaves a spark of hope as there are those who will not fade quietly into the night for expediency despite the cost to them personally.... I await the next book in the series impatiently! 5 +++ stars!

[Connie Zinsmeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible

When you think it is going your way and you get hit over and over from several directions, what do you do? You do the best you can and NEVER give up. Nick just cannot give in to evil, no matter what. So he continues to plan and implement diverse trials of solutions. He Just goes on and on. Go NiCk!

[Monique Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride!

After reading the first book in the series - which I LOVED - I was excited when The Dread Merchant came out. I can’t say enough good things about this book. ‘Edge of your seat’ may be a cliche, but it sure applies to this book. I frequently caught myself holding my breath. Mr Knight, please hurry up with book 3!

[Samantha Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing this is only the author's 2nd book!

I couldn't put this down and read it in under 2 days...now I'm like bring in the 3rd! Awesome job Todd, can't wait to read all of your future books.

[Laurie Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Great fast moving story. Can't wait for the next book. However, all his talk about opsec to the group still did not keep Nick from revealing details to the wrong people! Hope he doesn't keep doing that!

[Amour.Rebelle.Reads (Bran.d) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Taylorson’s narration brings a quieter intensity that worked so well with the story’s darker tone. It’s not just about prepping anymore—it’s about who these people are becoming. And I’m all in for wherever it goes next.

[Curiouser_reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequels can be hit or miss, but The Dread Merchant really stepped things up. The pacing felt relentless—in a good way—and the stakes were higher this time around. What I loved most was how the story dug deeper into the world and its characters, making the tension feel more personal and real.

[Sumi Qurashy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you so much for that ending!!
I read all three books (trilogy) and I have to say…I was not disappointed!
So cleverly written, showing how much research and passion has gone into each book.
I couldn’t keep up with all the medical, technical and scientific knowledge, showing how hard the author worked to keep us intrigued!
I was in love in Nick Ritter within reading a few pages and never doubted his character.
A great read…I’ll miss Ritter and his crew!

Thank you for amazing read!!!!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to finish the series, but it has serious flaws. As in stupid people. Hello, they could have got on a plane to NZ and done everything from there. But no, the posh prepper was unaware he could stash stuff and phone in the location, or use something as simple as a phone

[Jane Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dread Merchant

A great read !
The saying it takes a village to raise a child,
Well it sure took a village to raise this book!
Very well researched and written .

[Deb Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

can’t wait for next book!

OMG EXCELLENT SERIES. pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down. Need to know what’s next ASAP!! Keep up the good work Todd

[Thomas Racca Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow with the twists

Great read, kept up nicely with the first novel and really excited for number three! Very talented author that is an amazing story teller.