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In 2014 humanity didn’t stand a chance. A series of fatal climatic disasters struck, entirely drowning the planet. Now, just one hundred and twenty-five souls remain, surviving on a flotilla of damaged ships. But their survival isn’t guaranteed. Facing severe threats to their numbers by a fatal bacterium and increasingly warring factions, they discover a serial killer within their midst.
When the murderer targets Eva Morgan’s friend, her investigations draw her into a deadly mystery and a race against time before the killer’s actions destroy the fragile existence on the flotilla. The further she digs, the more secrets she uncovers, and the truth becomes a pawn in a game for ultimate survival.
With humankind on the brink of extinction, the story of SALT will take you on a thrill ride of intense emotions and incredible revelations.
When the murderer targets Eva Morgan’s friend, her investigations draw her into a deadly mystery and a race against time before the killer’s actions destroy the fragile existence on the flotilla. The further she digs, the more secrets she uncovers, and the truth becomes a pawn in a game for ultimate survival.
With humankind on the brink of extinction, the story of SALT will take you on a thrill ride of intense emotions and incredible revelations.
344 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2014
414 people are currently reading
2369 people want to read
About the author
Colin F. Barnes
25 books194 followersColin F. Barnes is a British author of thrillers featuring working-class heroes doing extraordinary things. He is published by 47North, Audible, and Podium. He is represented by Paul Lucas of Janklow & Nesbit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
January 25, 2016
2.5 stars
This was an okay story, but the pace was a bit slow. Basically we had a murder which took place on a boat, in a dystopian world where the world was basically flooded and the last remaining humans lived on ships. Even with the deaths, the story was just not my cup of tea, the pace was too slow, and the whole thing just dragged. I wouldn’t want to read a sequel.
5 out of 10
This was an okay story, but the pace was a bit slow. Basically we had a murder which took place on a boat, in a dystopian world where the world was basically flooded and the last remaining humans lived on ships. Even with the deaths, the story was just not my cup of tea, the pace was too slow, and the whole thing just dragged. I wouldn’t want to read a sequel.
5 out of 10
March 12, 2018
I adore post-apocalyptic stories. The inventive ways in which authors have managed to decimate the planet and its population. Who they choose to let live, how they survived and what those survivors do from this point on is always interesting. However, I occasionally read one that could have been much more than it was, as was the case with Salt.
Solar storms and earthquakes have turned the Earth into a water world with only a few points of land which were previously mountaintops. At one of these mountaintops, 150 survivors are living on a flotilla of boats, ships, etc. which are tied together but extend ¾ of a mile wide (I’m willing to overlook the feasibility of Earth becoming a water world but there is some definite overkill on the amount of boats these people have collected)
Overcoming this situation would have been something to read about in itself but the author threw in:
1. A biological roadbump – there is bacteria living in the ocean water that sickens people to the point of catatonia followed by death. To prevent getting infected, they use salt masks and salt washes (as the bacteria is living in salt water, I’m not sure why this would help)
2. A murderer – someone living amongst the survivors is killing people for reasons unknown. Thankfully an American detective survived the flooding and is among the survivors (how convenient)
3. A captain with a huge secret – he’s occasionally sending survivors off on boats to see if they can find anything or anyone beyond what is visible from the flotilla but no one ever returns. People are getting upset at this but the Captain has his reasons (which would have been OK if the reason had’ve been remotely believable)
Normally this would be too much going on in one book but since none of these things turned out to be overly exciting, they fit. My biggest problem was the ending itself. There is finally a reason given for the survivors to even bother to try and survive. Somewhere they could go and people who also survived, but the story was dropped at that point. What? There’s the story. Maybe even a sequel that sounds like it might be more exciting than the first but I see no mention of this story going any further. Too bad – this should have been explored rather than being used as an ending.
Editing-wise, it was put together fairly well although I came across one blunder and one case of forgetting his American detective didn’t speak like a Brit. Overall, it was a reasonably under-climactic story. Not bad but not great.
Solar storms and earthquakes have turned the Earth into a water world with only a few points of land which were previously mountaintops. At one of these mountaintops, 150 survivors are living on a flotilla of boats, ships, etc. which are tied together but extend ¾ of a mile wide (I’m willing to overlook the feasibility of Earth becoming a water world but there is some definite overkill on the amount of boats these people have collected)
Overcoming this situation would have been something to read about in itself but the author threw in:
1. A biological roadbump – there is bacteria living in the ocean water that sickens people to the point of catatonia followed by death. To prevent getting infected, they use salt masks and salt washes (as the bacteria is living in salt water, I’m not sure why this would help)
2. A murderer – someone living amongst the survivors is killing people for reasons unknown. Thankfully an American detective survived the flooding and is among the survivors (how convenient)
3. A captain with a huge secret – he’s occasionally sending survivors off on boats to see if they can find anything or anyone beyond what is visible from the flotilla but no one ever returns. People are getting upset at this but the Captain has his reasons (which would have been OK if the reason had’ve been remotely believable)
Normally this would be too much going on in one book but since none of these things turned out to be overly exciting, they fit. My biggest problem was the ending itself. There is finally a reason given for the survivors to even bother to try and survive. Somewhere they could go and people who also survived, but the story was dropped at that point. What? There’s the story. Maybe even a sequel that sounds like it might be more exciting than the first but I see no mention of this story going any further. Too bad – this should have been explored rather than being used as an ending.
Editing-wise, it was put together fairly well although I came across one blunder and one case of forgetting his American detective didn’t speak like a Brit. Overall, it was a reasonably under-climactic story. Not bad but not great.
December 21, 2014
I'll admit that I may have entered the giveaway for this book based solely on its cover.( I know, I know!) However it would seem that my shallow lust for a pretty picture paid off because this book was amazing!
I read a lot of post-apocalyptic novels but not many thrillers. It's probably for the best though as I don't think my poor heart could handle an abundance of this type of perfected suspense. I literally bit my nails down to the quick while reading this, my heart hammered like crazy in my chest and I stayed up all night for two nights in a row to finish this.My advice, save this book for weekend reading unless you want to risk being late for work.
I really can't gush enough about this book. The cover, the plot, the characters are all perfection. The flotilla was so perfectly described that I swear this book even made me a little seasick :P
This story will be playing in my head for quite a while, what a wild ride. Thank you Colin for hosting this giveaway and for the hours of entertainment this book granted me.
May 18, 2014
Salt is a post-apocalyptic murder mystery come thriller amidst a slightly different backdrop than most in this genre, the world has drowned, the only land visible being the highest peaks of the world and a whole host of problems for humanity who survive on an island of boats lashed together to a half sunken cruiser at the Orizaba peak of Mexico.
On board a host of desperate characters from the captain and his crew, a London gangster contingent and an ex-cop right down to a bunch of religious nutcases.
Their very existence is bought under question when murder hits the flotilla, with no lack of suspects, Eva must investigate as tensions rise and loyalties are challenged, who can she trust?
An excellent mystery with some surprise twists to the plot that on the whole feel fresh and a totally different direction to the horror novella Dead Fives Pass from the same author, both stories of which I enjoyed.
On board a host of desperate characters from the captain and his crew, a London gangster contingent and an ex-cop right down to a bunch of religious nutcases.
Their very existence is bought under question when murder hits the flotilla, with no lack of suspects, Eva must investigate as tensions rise and loyalties are challenged, who can she trust?
An excellent mystery with some surprise twists to the plot that on the whole feel fresh and a totally different direction to the horror novella Dead Fives Pass from the same author, both stories of which I enjoyed.
May 24, 2014
First I must say this is the second book I've read by Colin F. Barnes and I think it is his best. This is a great read, suspenseful, filled with action, mystery and near impossible to put down. The setting for the book is aboard a floating city of boats after an apocalyptic event has occurred. We slowly learn about some of the events that led to our characters having the city of ships they call home. Colin F. Barnes does a great job setting up multiple story lines and mysteries with a multitude of characters. There are many different groups that exist on the floating city, as would in any small community. Many story lines are added and expanded on while the story plays out, keeping the reader engrossed and the story quickly moving to the end. Colin F. Barnes has set up great tension and animosity between many characters and groups leaving you unsure who you can trust and who are the bad guys. Our main character Eve, a former cop, finds herself in charge of solving a murder that soon opens to a wider mystery. Jim, our captain, tries to hold everyone together while the strains of life after the apocalypse increases as supplies are constantly decreasing. The book is a fast paced read and keeps your attention with suspense and great story telling. The answers are revealed but not too early and are not obvious, I wondered who was to be trusted. This is a great read for anyone who loves books about apocalyptic events. I have come to really enjoy Colin Barnes' books and look forward to reading his Techxorcist series.
May 21, 2014
Salt is an amazing read, one that I quickly found myself aggravated at those around me who kept interrupting me while I tried to finish one more chapter to do things like "get out of the store, sir, we're closing", and "Daddy? I'm hungry."
The story in Salt revolves around a constant and tumultuous conflict between two main protagonists: Eve and Captain Jim. As ex-police officer Eve tries to come to grips with her own guilt of surviving while helping other survivors, finds herself trying to solve a strange murder on their last bastion of known life - a flotilla of tied together boats and ships just outside of the Orizaba in Mexico after an apocalyptical storm destroyed most life on the planet. The other protagonist, Jim, finds himself slowly delving deeper into madness of trying to keep everything together on the colony, while looking for hope outside the flotilla, all while trying to balance the new temperament within the small community.
The story is masterfully put together, the world building top notch (even though I would love to hear more about the internal struggles between the different groups on the flotilla outside of the main story, but that's just me), and I can't wait to read more from Colin!
If you are a fan of murder, mysteries, thrillers, apocalypse stories, crime drama, or just well written literary fiction - you can't go wrong with Salt.
The story in Salt revolves around a constant and tumultuous conflict between two main protagonists: Eve and Captain Jim. As ex-police officer Eve tries to come to grips with her own guilt of surviving while helping other survivors, finds herself trying to solve a strange murder on their last bastion of known life - a flotilla of tied together boats and ships just outside of the Orizaba in Mexico after an apocalyptical storm destroyed most life on the planet. The other protagonist, Jim, finds himself slowly delving deeper into madness of trying to keep everything together on the colony, while looking for hope outside the flotilla, all while trying to balance the new temperament within the small community.
The story is masterfully put together, the world building top notch (even though I would love to hear more about the internal struggles between the different groups on the flotilla outside of the main story, but that's just me), and I can't wait to read more from Colin!
If you are a fan of murder, mysteries, thrillers, apocalypse stories, crime drama, or just well written literary fiction - you can't go wrong with Salt.
January 24, 2016
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
I didn't like this one unfortunately.
The pacing was really really slow, and it made the whole thing drag badly. I felt bored pretty much from the start, and it felt like it would never end at points.
Overall, Not a book I enjoyed.
I didn't like this one unfortunately.
The pacing was really really slow, and it made the whole thing drag badly. I felt bored pretty much from the start, and it felt like it would never end at points.
Overall, Not a book I enjoyed.
December 24, 2014
This book has a solid action plot.
I read it in one day.
This is a 'new-ish' indie author. He hits the sweet spot in some elements: pacing, plenty of action/mystery, red herrings and other twists.
However he misses the mark on character development. I cringed every time I hit the stereotypical flat 'villain(s)'. The MC wasn't one that I could easily get behind either. Frankly, I had to put aside my dislike for her in order to read on. Thankfully, this story has a wide cast of characters to cheer for.
I had guess the villain early on, but let go of my suspicions in favor of another. Yup, I got distracted and chased the wrong bad guy right until the reveal! I Love that when that happens!
For me, this book was a satisfying read.
This is the second book from this author that I have read. I am hooked on his style and will read more! :-)
I truly look forward to the sequel of this series.
I recommend this book to Lovers of Post-Apocalyptic, Thrillers.
I read it in one day.
This is a 'new-ish' indie author. He hits the sweet spot in some elements: pacing, plenty of action/mystery, red herrings and other twists.
However he misses the mark on character development. I cringed every time I hit the stereotypical flat 'villain(s)'. The MC wasn't one that I could easily get behind either. Frankly, I had to put aside my dislike for her in order to read on. Thankfully, this story has a wide cast of characters to cheer for.
I had guess the villain early on, but let go of my suspicions in favor of another. Yup, I got distracted and chased the wrong bad guy right until the reveal! I Love that when that happens!
For me, this book was a satisfying read.
This is the second book from this author that I have read. I am hooked on his style and will read more! :-)
I truly look forward to the sequel of this series.
I recommend this book to Lovers of Post-Apocalyptic, Thrillers.
November 8, 2015
I was so lucky to win this in a giveaway I absolutely loved it and I'm so looking forward to the next one, great murder, mystery and suspense, had the same sort of feeling of wool by Hugh Howey although totally different at the same time, this deserves its place on my favourites shelf!
November 5, 2015
BLUF: Good way for those who prefer murder mysteries, but want to branch out into the post-apocalyptic genre. (Enjoy!)
**I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review**
Plot: Salt is set three years after our world has flooded due to solar flares and earthquakes. Our survivors are aboard a flotilla, which is (essentially) many ships secured together. Among the battles to keep the various clans civil and cooperative, the flotilla’s residents must also be weary of a fatal sickness. Not everything goes as well as the flotilla’s captain hopes, and when murders begin occurring on the ship he puts Eva, a former police detective, on the case. As she tries to find the killer, the tension between clans rises to an all-time high.
Overall: I really enjoyed this book, but I’m not sure I can do it justice in this review. All I can say is that it hooked me quick and I’m still thinking about how the characters are doing even though I finished the book. (I would definitely read the sequel!)
"Genre":This book was part conspiracy, part murder mystery, and part survival. I’m a big fan of murder mystery, but new to the post-apocalyptic concept. I was afraid of disliking this book for the sci-fi factor, but I found that the day-to-day happenings in a post-apocalyptic world were well mixed with the murder mystery. The story is smooth and will keep you entertained.
Characters: I was impressed with the character development and how human they were (for lack of better words). Some books seem to make the narrators omnipresent when it doesn’t make sense or for them to be over-aware of themselves and their surroundings. I didn’t find that here. The characters were intriguing, and as much of a mystery as they would be in real life.
**I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review**
Plot: Salt is set three years after our world has flooded due to solar flares and earthquakes. Our survivors are aboard a flotilla, which is (essentially) many ships secured together. Among the battles to keep the various clans civil and cooperative, the flotilla’s residents must also be weary of a fatal sickness. Not everything goes as well as the flotilla’s captain hopes, and when murders begin occurring on the ship he puts Eva, a former police detective, on the case. As she tries to find the killer, the tension between clans rises to an all-time high.
Overall: I really enjoyed this book, but I’m not sure I can do it justice in this review. All I can say is that it hooked me quick and I’m still thinking about how the characters are doing even though I finished the book. (I would definitely read the sequel!)
"Genre":This book was part conspiracy, part murder mystery, and part survival. I’m a big fan of murder mystery, but new to the post-apocalyptic concept. I was afraid of disliking this book for the sci-fi factor, but I found that the day-to-day happenings in a post-apocalyptic world were well mixed with the murder mystery. The story is smooth and will keep you entertained.
Characters: I was impressed with the character development and how human they were (for lack of better words). Some books seem to make the narrators omnipresent when it doesn’t make sense or for them to be over-aware of themselves and their surroundings. I didn’t find that here. The characters were intriguing, and as much of a mystery as they would be in real life.
August 3, 2015
This post-apocalyptic murder mystery had many good ideas, but I think in the end, there was just too much going on. What I did like was the idea of a flotilla settlement of survivors trying to make it after the oceans rose. The flotilla itself was well described and is unique - something I haven't read about or thought about in a post-apocalyptic novel, except for maybe Waterworld.
What I didn't like was that the science was a bit.. lacking and uncertain. Solar flares caused storms that caused earthquakes that caused polar ice melting that released a virus as the seas swallowed up everything but the highest mountains? I have way more questions after reading it than I started.
It did have a good mystery, even if I didn't care where it led, and some very solid character writing.
There was just..too much. Post-apocalyptic high seas, electromagnetic storms, religious zealots, sharks, government conspiracies, a virus infection/plague that makes you crazy, a whole lot of happenstance and an ending that that wasn't exactly an ending as much as an abrupt 'everything's fine now'. It also ends with an opening for a second book.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if just one or two of those things had been removed. No zealots, or no sharks eating everyone that needed to die for plot's sake. The virus thing became an unnecessary side-plot when it could have been the entire book.
What I didn't like was that the science was a bit.. lacking and uncertain. Solar flares caused storms that caused earthquakes that caused polar ice melting that released a virus as the seas swallowed up everything but the highest mountains? I have way more questions after reading it than I started.
It did have a good mystery, even if I didn't care where it led, and some very solid character writing.
There was just..too much. Post-apocalyptic high seas, electromagnetic storms, religious zealots, sharks, government conspiracies, a virus infection/plague that makes you crazy, a whole lot of happenstance and an ending that that wasn't exactly an ending as much as an abrupt 'everything's fine now'. It also ends with an opening for a second book.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if just one or two of those things had been removed. No zealots, or no sharks eating everyone that needed to die for plot's sake. The virus thing became an unnecessary side-plot when it could have been the entire book.
December 20, 2014
Loved the setting - a flotilla of boats tied together against the apex of a mountain top, two years after an apocalyptic flood destroyed the earth and most of humanity. The murder mystery was good too - I especially found the 9-year-old boy Danny endearing. I wish, however, there was more made of world itself. I would think, with the threat of infection surrounding these few survivors every day, that the salt used to reduce infection would be more of a daily deal that the brief mentions that are made of it.
All in all, a good read.
All in all, a good read.
June 12, 2014
Regular readers of my reviews will know that I can’t ever let an opportunity to revel in good apocalyptic fiction pass me by. I just love this devilish little sub-genre. I wish I could tell you exactly why, but in all honesty I’m not sure I can. All I know is that apocalyptic fiction really resonates with me, just can’t get enough of it. The latest work I’ve cast my beady eye over is SALT by Anachron Press supremo, Colin F Barnes. So let’s sit back, relax, and get ourselves comfortable while the water starts to rise and the world comes to an end…
Eva Morgan is a suitably engaging heroine. She is completely committed to learning the truth and won’t let anything stand in her way. It doesn’t matter to her that the world has almost gone to hell. Eva will keep digging because she has to learn why her friends are being targeted. There aren’t enough people left to allow a murderer to go about their business. If humanity is to have any hope, Eva must find the killer and stop them before they act again. This isn’t just about justice and hunting down a killer, this is about the preservation of the species.
I also really enjoyed the dynamic that exists between the character of Jim and his son Duncan. Between them they are the de-facto leaders of the flotilla, and watching the evolution of their relationship was another real highlight. The many pressures of trying to keep things together effects both men on a fundamental level.
With people living in such close proximity this is bound to cause friction. Barnes focuses on this and really ramps up the growing sense of claustrophobia and unease, it’s almost palpable. The survivor’s world has shrunk away to almost nothing and the realisation that things are only going to get worse is at the forefront of every action. Looking at each of the groups of survivors, I liked how I could spot how the small new community had become a microcosm of the old. It’s almost as though specific characters were living embodiments of the areas they came from. Crime, religion, law and order, engineering, medicine and the military are all represented in one form or another. The various factions that exist within the flotilla highlight these different facets of a society that have all but disappeared overnight. One of the things I liked most about the plot is watching the power-plays and in-fighting that occurs. Watching as the group begins to implode when all the secrets and lies start being revealed is great fun.
There’s little better than when a novel manages that tricky task of straddling multiple genres effectively. SALT does a fine job of this. The compelling, well-paced narrative and realistic action both help to create a novel that that succeeds in being both crime thriller and science fiction adventure. The science fiction elements of the story are very subtly handled and I like that for the most part they remain in the background. Events comes across as believable and never veer off into the outlandish.
I’ve checked on the Anachron website and SALT is listed under the heading of The Flotilla Chronicles. Good news as there is an open-ended quality to the ending of the book that suggests this story is not over quite yet. I’d certainly love to know what happens next. There is also plenty of scope to discover a bit more about events prior to the flood, the only area where I felt things were slightly lacking. I’ll admit a healthy curiosity regarding what they all did before the flood and how this disparate group of characters found themselves thrown together.
Eva Morgan is a suitably engaging heroine. She is completely committed to learning the truth and won’t let anything stand in her way. It doesn’t matter to her that the world has almost gone to hell. Eva will keep digging because she has to learn why her friends are being targeted. There aren’t enough people left to allow a murderer to go about their business. If humanity is to have any hope, Eva must find the killer and stop them before they act again. This isn’t just about justice and hunting down a killer, this is about the preservation of the species.
I also really enjoyed the dynamic that exists between the character of Jim and his son Duncan. Between them they are the de-facto leaders of the flotilla, and watching the evolution of their relationship was another real highlight. The many pressures of trying to keep things together effects both men on a fundamental level.
With people living in such close proximity this is bound to cause friction. Barnes focuses on this and really ramps up the growing sense of claustrophobia and unease, it’s almost palpable. The survivor’s world has shrunk away to almost nothing and the realisation that things are only going to get worse is at the forefront of every action. Looking at each of the groups of survivors, I liked how I could spot how the small new community had become a microcosm of the old. It’s almost as though specific characters were living embodiments of the areas they came from. Crime, religion, law and order, engineering, medicine and the military are all represented in one form or another. The various factions that exist within the flotilla highlight these different facets of a society that have all but disappeared overnight. One of the things I liked most about the plot is watching the power-plays and in-fighting that occurs. Watching as the group begins to implode when all the secrets and lies start being revealed is great fun.
There’s little better than when a novel manages that tricky task of straddling multiple genres effectively. SALT does a fine job of this. The compelling, well-paced narrative and realistic action both help to create a novel that that succeeds in being both crime thriller and science fiction adventure. The science fiction elements of the story are very subtly handled and I like that for the most part they remain in the background. Events comes across as believable and never veer off into the outlandish.
I’ve checked on the Anachron website and SALT is listed under the heading of The Flotilla Chronicles. Good news as there is an open-ended quality to the ending of the book that suggests this story is not over quite yet. I’d certainly love to know what happens next. There is also plenty of scope to discover a bit more about events prior to the flood, the only area where I felt things were slightly lacking. I’ll admit a healthy curiosity regarding what they all did before the flood and how this disparate group of characters found themselves thrown together.
March 5, 2016
**3.5 out of 5 stars**
Thank you NetGalley and 47North for allowing me to review this novel!
Salt by Colin F. Barnes is a Sci-Fi/Post-Apocalyptic novel, following 125 survivors living on a flotilla of ships and boats moored to a mountain peak. After a solar flare left the earth completely submerged in water, these survivors have had to figure out to exist on just a few ships, with a mysterious infection lingering in the air and water. This book is the first installment in the Last Flotilla series.
~I’m a sucker for opening lines, and Salt had one of the best I’ve read this year:
The uniqueness of this premise really pushed me to read Salt . We’ve all read post-apocalyptic novels before, but this one stood out to me. It even (somewhat) reminded me of The Martian by Andy Weir, minus the humor. I didn’t realize this until I was well into the book, but Salt is not only an “end-of-days” novel, it’s also a lovely mix of detective sleuthing and murder-mystery. This really kept me on the edge of my seat!
The characters were surprisingly well-developed, a trait not often seen in detective novels or post-apocalyptic tales. The reader primarily follows Eva, a former Baltimore cop, and Jim, the elected leader for the flotilla. You get a lot of the characters’ back stories that show how complex this people are; they truly feel like they could be real. Jim actually reminded me a lot of Rick from The Walking Dead: he’s sometimes liked, sometimes hated, but he keeps his group’s well-being at the forefront of his mind. Eva was a strong female character, which is hardly EVER seen in detective novels/murder mysteries/post-apocalyptic stories.
Scene-setting is essential in sci-fi novels, and Barnes did a good job in showing us what it would be like to live in this world. He describes the setting really well, while also giving us a bit of background on how the world came to be this submerged in water, as well as describing the horrific infection that’s floating around the flotilla. Was it the best scene-setting I’ve ever read? No. But it was still solid. Just a few examples:
An intriguing concept that kept me thinking about Salt long after I finished it was how terribly religion is portrayed in the novel. I’m a Christian (pretty unorthodox, but I am a Christian), and the group of crazed fanatics on the ship didn’t really show my faith in a positive light. Then I got to thinking: perhaps the examples of fanaticism in Salt was to show the reader that there’s nothing inherently wrong with being religious, but when your so-called religion commands you to do unspeakable acts against your fellow man, that’s a huge issue. In that case, Barnes did a great job.
Was Salt the greatest book I have ever read? Nope. But it was pretty enjoyable: a compelling “whodunit”, solid writing, and fast-paced plot kept me entertained for the entirety of the novel. I look forward to the sequels in this series, and I gave Salt 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and 47North for allowing me to review this novel!
“The world was a better place with people in it, even if some of them were no good.”
Salt by Colin F. Barnes is a Sci-Fi/Post-Apocalyptic novel, following 125 survivors living on a flotilla of ships and boats moored to a mountain peak. After a solar flare left the earth completely submerged in water, these survivors have had to figure out to exist on just a few ships, with a mysterious infection lingering in the air and water. This book is the first installment in the Last Flotilla series.
~I’m a sucker for opening lines, and Salt had one of the best I’ve read this year:
“It took just a few weeks for the world to end.”
The uniqueness of this premise really pushed me to read Salt . We’ve all read post-apocalyptic novels before, but this one stood out to me. It even (somewhat) reminded me of The Martian by Andy Weir, minus the humor. I didn’t realize this until I was well into the book, but Salt is not only an “end-of-days” novel, it’s also a lovely mix of detective sleuthing and murder-mystery. This really kept me on the edge of my seat!
The characters were surprisingly well-developed, a trait not often seen in detective novels or post-apocalyptic tales. The reader primarily follows Eva, a former Baltimore cop, and Jim, the elected leader for the flotilla. You get a lot of the characters’ back stories that show how complex this people are; they truly feel like they could be real. Jim actually reminded me a lot of Rick from The Walking Dead: he’s sometimes liked, sometimes hated, but he keeps his group’s well-being at the forefront of his mind. Eva was a strong female character, which is hardly EVER seen in detective novels/murder mysteries/post-apocalyptic stories.
Scene-setting is essential in sci-fi novels, and Barnes did a good job in showing us what it would be like to live in this world. He describes the setting really well, while also giving us a bit of background on how the world came to be this submerged in water, as well as describing the horrific infection that’s floating around the flotilla. Was it the best scene-setting I’ve ever read? No. But it was still solid. Just a few examples:
“There were no recognizable seasons anymore; just day after day of heavy clouds, rain, and high winds.”
“The flu-like symptoms seemed to mutate where water evaporated off the ocean and returned to rain.”
An intriguing concept that kept me thinking about Salt long after I finished it was how terribly religion is portrayed in the novel. I’m a Christian (pretty unorthodox, but I am a Christian), and the group of crazed fanatics on the ship didn’t really show my faith in a positive light. Then I got to thinking: perhaps the examples of fanaticism in Salt was to show the reader that there’s nothing inherently wrong with being religious, but when your so-called religion commands you to do unspeakable acts against your fellow man, that’s a huge issue. In that case, Barnes did a great job.
Was Salt the greatest book I have ever read? Nope. But it was pretty enjoyable: a compelling “whodunit”, solid writing, and fast-paced plot kept me entertained for the entirety of the novel. I look forward to the sequels in this series, and I gave Salt 3.5 out of 5 stars.
June 5, 2014
Thank you to the author for the review copy.
In 2014 humanity didn’t stand a chance. A series of fatal climatic disasters struck, entirely drowning the planet. Now, just one hundred and twenty-five souls remain, surviving on a flotilla of damaged ships. But their survival isn’t guaranteed. Facing severe threats to their numbers by a fatal bacterium and increasingly warring factions, they discover a serial killer within their midst.
Highly enjoyable tale this one, combining two of my very favourite things, Post Apocalypse and Crime thriller, cleverly meshing to create a quite addictive tale. Some great characters and a very tight and claustrophobic feel to the whole thing, being set as it was in a very small area, gave it great added depth and sense of place.
One of the best things for me was the ebb and flow of the relationships on board the flotilla, where not everyone is quite what they appear. Jim is probably my favourite, how he changes over the course of the novel, but Eva was also highly intriguing. There is a mystery within a mystery here – who is killing the survivors, and what happens to the ones who leave and never return? Add to that a virus that appears uncurable and you have a heady mix of hurdles faced by a very small cross section of society – and one that is becoming more fractured by the day..
Overall an excellent read, like Waterworld if it had been a darn good novel, but with a much better feel to it. Intelligently plotted I would recommend this for fans of both Apocalyptic thrillers and Crime/Mystery – whether you like one, the other, or both you will find a great read here.
It feels like there is more to discover – I, for one, am hoping for a sequel
Happy Reading Folks!
In 2014 humanity didn’t stand a chance. A series of fatal climatic disasters struck, entirely drowning the planet. Now, just one hundred and twenty-five souls remain, surviving on a flotilla of damaged ships. But their survival isn’t guaranteed. Facing severe threats to their numbers by a fatal bacterium and increasingly warring factions, they discover a serial killer within their midst.
Highly enjoyable tale this one, combining two of my very favourite things, Post Apocalypse and Crime thriller, cleverly meshing to create a quite addictive tale. Some great characters and a very tight and claustrophobic feel to the whole thing, being set as it was in a very small area, gave it great added depth and sense of place.
One of the best things for me was the ebb and flow of the relationships on board the flotilla, where not everyone is quite what they appear. Jim is probably my favourite, how he changes over the course of the novel, but Eva was also highly intriguing. There is a mystery within a mystery here – who is killing the survivors, and what happens to the ones who leave and never return? Add to that a virus that appears uncurable and you have a heady mix of hurdles faced by a very small cross section of society – and one that is becoming more fractured by the day..
Overall an excellent read, like Waterworld if it had been a darn good novel, but with a much better feel to it. Intelligently plotted I would recommend this for fans of both Apocalyptic thrillers and Crime/Mystery – whether you like one, the other, or both you will find a great read here.
It feels like there is more to discover – I, for one, am hoping for a sequel
Happy Reading Folks!
October 14, 2015
I adore post-apocalyptic stories. The inventive ways in which authors have managed to decimate the planet and its population. Who they choose to let live, how they survived and what those survivors do from this point on is always interesting. However, I occasionally read one that could have been much more than it was, as was the case with Salt.
This is a post-apocalyptic murder mystery of sorts. Basically, earthquakes and solar storms result in a near-total flooding of the Earth and most of life as we know it is washed away. Oh, and the flooding that resulted also released bacterial that is sickening and killing the few survivors that are.
This tale focuses on a group of about 150 survivors living on a flotilla of boats and ship that have been tied together. Bringing together such a varied group of people - a British gangster-type group, a group of religious fanatics, a former police detective, and regular people are thrown together in a fight for survival.
Oh, and because there are no more human predators, the fishies are a lot more aggressive. Don't fall off the boat!
In the midst of this is a murderer, but the why and the who is unknown. There is also someone stealing food and fuel, and sabotaging the water purification system - which is pretty surprising, for a small group of people. Lastly is a captain with a secret. Only he knows where the volunteers he sends off in search of land and/or other survivors is really headed, and why.
But I won't tell you more than that. You have to read to find out how it all turns out, and who the real bad guy is.
This was a good one that kept me hanging until the end and wanting still more.
I was provided an advanced reader copy by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own!
This is a post-apocalyptic murder mystery of sorts. Basically, earthquakes and solar storms result in a near-total flooding of the Earth and most of life as we know it is washed away. Oh, and the flooding that resulted also released bacterial that is sickening and killing the few survivors that are.
This tale focuses on a group of about 150 survivors living on a flotilla of boats and ship that have been tied together. Bringing together such a varied group of people - a British gangster-type group, a group of religious fanatics, a former police detective, and regular people are thrown together in a fight for survival.
Oh, and because there are no more human predators, the fishies are a lot more aggressive. Don't fall off the boat!
In the midst of this is a murderer, but the why and the who is unknown. There is also someone stealing food and fuel, and sabotaging the water purification system - which is pretty surprising, for a small group of people. Lastly is a captain with a secret. Only he knows where the volunteers he sends off in search of land and/or other survivors is really headed, and why.
But I won't tell you more than that. You have to read to find out how it all turns out, and who the real bad guy is.
This was a good one that kept me hanging until the end and wanting still more.
I was provided an advanced reader copy by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own!
November 10, 2015
I usually love apocalypse books. There is something about the end of the world via natural disaster that excites and thrills me. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this book, mainly because it felt a little clunky.
It seemed to take a long time to explain exactly what happened to cause the world to drown. Yes, it’s briefly mentioned in the summary, but there doesn’t seem to be a good explanation in the actual story.
Also, how did that many boats come together? It just felt under explained, which left me doubting.
And what was Eva’s back story? She alluded to it several times like it was something big, but it was never really explained. Why bother with all the exciting hints then?
I was also doubtful of the disease and salt baths. How did the salt baths help? And why was there no mention of dry and cracked skin, which I’m positive would be a big issue if people were always washing with salt water. It just sounds like a realistic complication that wasn’t in the picture.
I don’t like to be left doubting during a story. I want explanations I can buy into and believe, within the confines of the story parameters. It can be really crazy, but if it’s explained well, that’s all I care about. Unfortunately, not much felt well explained in this book, which left me feeling wishy washy about the whole thing.
It seemed to take a long time to explain exactly what happened to cause the world to drown. Yes, it’s briefly mentioned in the summary, but there doesn’t seem to be a good explanation in the actual story.
Also, how did that many boats come together? It just felt under explained, which left me doubting.
And what was Eva’s back story? She alluded to it several times like it was something big, but it was never really explained. Why bother with all the exciting hints then?
I was also doubtful of the disease and salt baths. How did the salt baths help? And why was there no mention of dry and cracked skin, which I’m positive would be a big issue if people were always washing with salt water. It just sounds like a realistic complication that wasn’t in the picture.
I don’t like to be left doubting during a story. I want explanations I can buy into and believe, within the confines of the story parameters. It can be really crazy, but if it’s explained well, that’s all I care about. Unfortunately, not much felt well explained in this book, which left me feeling wishy washy about the whole thing.
October 13, 2015
"It took just a few weeks for the world to end."
It's been three years since the world, except for a few mountaintops, was covered by water. Solar storms and earthquakes caused the water trapped in the Earth's crust to flood the world.
Eva, who used to be a cop (pre-flood), is living on a flotilla floating around the Pico de Orizaba Mountain on what used to be Mexico with 125 other survivors.
Murders, intrigue, secrets galore and Eva is right in the middle of the action. Oh, and on top of everything else, there is a deadly infection killing off survivors.
This book brought the movie WATERWORLD to mind as I read it. Both were based on good ideas that didn't quite work when completed.
SALT has a serious lack of character development. The characters and the dialogue were wooden and emotionless. And I had a difficult time visualizing the flotilla and living quarters of the survivors.
I wanted to like this book because post-apocalyptic tales are my favorite genre but I had a hard time reading it through to the end. I think the author could have left out some of the many "disasters" and focused his energies on developing one or two with better results.
NOTE: I received this book from Amazon Publishing through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
It's been three years since the world, except for a few mountaintops, was covered by water. Solar storms and earthquakes caused the water trapped in the Earth's crust to flood the world.
Eva, who used to be a cop (pre-flood), is living on a flotilla floating around the Pico de Orizaba Mountain on what used to be Mexico with 125 other survivors.
Murders, intrigue, secrets galore and Eva is right in the middle of the action. Oh, and on top of everything else, there is a deadly infection killing off survivors.
This book brought the movie WATERWORLD to mind as I read it. Both were based on good ideas that didn't quite work when completed.
SALT has a serious lack of character development. The characters and the dialogue were wooden and emotionless. And I had a difficult time visualizing the flotilla and living quarters of the survivors.
I wanted to like this book because post-apocalyptic tales are my favorite genre but I had a hard time reading it through to the end. I think the author could have left out some of the many "disasters" and focused his energies on developing one or two with better results.
NOTE: I received this book from Amazon Publishing through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
October 12, 2015
Salt, by Colin F. Barnes, is not a post-apocalyptic book.
I warn you now so that you know what you’re getting. I didn’t, and I was a bit disappointed at first.
While it’s set in a post-apocalypse world, one of environmental collapse (along with a mini-pandemic), this is a murder mystery. I will say that the post-apoc setting adds to the atmosphere, while adding challenges that wouldn’t exist in our everyday world, but it’s still a murder mystery.
And it’s a good one.
I wanted to know who was killing and why. And the reason behind the killing circled nicely back to our post-apoc world. The book is suspenseful, intriguing, and a seriously good read.
But it’s not post-apocalyptic.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for review purposes.
I warn you now so that you know what you’re getting. I didn’t, and I was a bit disappointed at first.
While it’s set in a post-apocalypse world, one of environmental collapse (along with a mini-pandemic), this is a murder mystery. I will say that the post-apoc setting adds to the atmosphere, while adding challenges that wouldn’t exist in our everyday world, but it’s still a murder mystery.
And it’s a good one.
I wanted to know who was killing and why. And the reason behind the killing circled nicely back to our post-apoc world. The book is suspenseful, intriguing, and a seriously good read.
But it’s not post-apocalyptic.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for review purposes.
July 22, 2014
Salt is a post apocalyptic thriller that follows a group of survivor trying to make a life after a series of disasters floods the entire planet. I found the characters wonderfully believable. I really appreciated that the author did not write the heroine in such a way that you are focused on her beauty and the dynamic that creates with all the male characters. In fact her appearance was barely mentioned and there was no silly romantic brooding in the midst of much more pressing matters. The situations the survivors faced felt realistic but also interesting and intense. I am looking very much forward to the next installment.
January 3, 2018
Set on a newly flooded Earth, Salt is a most enjoyable and tense post apocalyptic thriller. The survivors don't just have to contend with hostile seas and rain-borne diseases, there is a murderer loose aboard the flotilla, spreading fear and suspicion among the increasingly divided factions.
January 5, 2015
I enjoyed the early pacing, but the ending felt rushed. And we needed the "big reveal" spoon fed to us to know what had happened. I never really connected with any character in the book, so I'm sure that affected my enjoyment of it.
October 23, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I found it unique and suspenseful. I will eagerly await book two. I hope there is a second installment.
February 7, 2019
another great read by Colin Barnes.
August 11, 2016
Nancy Drew meets the Drowned World. Meh.
September 25, 2019
When one reads a post-apocalyptic book, one has to be expected to suspend their disbelief to some degree. After all, humanity and the world at large have managed to survive some pretty devastating things, and a disaster that manages to wipe out most of humanity and/or the world at large takes some doing. All I asked from "Salt" is that it be entertaining and not stretch that willing suspension of disbelief TOO much. And well... while (somewhat) entertaining, "Salt" ended up pushing that sense a bit too far, and didn't offer a whole lot to make up for it.
In the world of "Salt," solar storms have melted the polar ice caps and flooded the world, leaving the last of humanity living aboard a flotilla made from a hodgepodge of boats, ships, and submarines. Eva, a detective living aboard the flotilla, finds herself drawn back into police work when a murderer strikes close to home, and she sets out to find the killer. Her search will entangle her in the various forces that seek to take over or tear apart humanity's last stronghold -- Jim, the flotilla's secretive captain; Marcus, a crime lord who hopes to stake out his own claim on the flotilla; Susan, a cultist set on overthrowing all order; and a deadly plague borne on the treacherous waters. Will Eva's digging to find a killer uncover a conspiracy that could wipe out the last of humanity?
There is a LOT going on in this novel, sometimes too much to keep track of. As a consequence, few of the storylines get the development they need to work. This isn't helped by the novel's pacing, which is so slow that it drains the tension out of any of the mysteries or action in this story. There are some intriguing mysteries at play, but little urgency to solve said mysteries. Not helping are the flat-as-pancakes characters, who don't get any development past stock stereotypes save for some conveniently tragic pasts. (Also, minor but notable nitpick -- do we HAVE to assume that the Idaho-born protagonist came from a family of potato farmers? As someone from Idaho, I find this laughable... we're not all potato farmers here...)
The story has some weird gaps in logic as well. Despite what "Waterworld" taught us, the polar ice caps melting would NOT flood the entire world save the highest mountains, and salt is NOT an antiseptic -- sure, it can kill some bacteria, but I don't see how the characters treating it like an all-purpose antiseptic is going to help things. I also have a hard time believing the flotilla would have survived this long on scavenged supplies, but then again, people have survived in worse and weirder conditions...
While not terrible and with some interesting developments and ideas, "Salt" is bogged down by a slow pace, an overly busy plot, some poorly done research, and uninteresting characters. And while it ends on an obvious sequel hook, I doubt I'll be continuing this series.
In the world of "Salt," solar storms have melted the polar ice caps and flooded the world, leaving the last of humanity living aboard a flotilla made from a hodgepodge of boats, ships, and submarines. Eva, a detective living aboard the flotilla, finds herself drawn back into police work when a murderer strikes close to home, and she sets out to find the killer. Her search will entangle her in the various forces that seek to take over or tear apart humanity's last stronghold -- Jim, the flotilla's secretive captain; Marcus, a crime lord who hopes to stake out his own claim on the flotilla; Susan, a cultist set on overthrowing all order; and a deadly plague borne on the treacherous waters. Will Eva's digging to find a killer uncover a conspiracy that could wipe out the last of humanity?
There is a LOT going on in this novel, sometimes too much to keep track of. As a consequence, few of the storylines get the development they need to work. This isn't helped by the novel's pacing, which is so slow that it drains the tension out of any of the mysteries or action in this story. There are some intriguing mysteries at play, but little urgency to solve said mysteries. Not helping are the flat-as-pancakes characters, who don't get any development past stock stereotypes save for some conveniently tragic pasts. (Also, minor but notable nitpick -- do we HAVE to assume that the Idaho-born protagonist came from a family of potato farmers? As someone from Idaho, I find this laughable... we're not all potato farmers here...)
The story has some weird gaps in logic as well. Despite what "Waterworld" taught us, the polar ice caps melting would NOT flood the entire world save the highest mountains, and salt is NOT an antiseptic -- sure, it can kill some bacteria, but I don't see how the characters treating it like an all-purpose antiseptic is going to help things. I also have a hard time believing the flotilla would have survived this long on scavenged supplies, but then again, people have survived in worse and weirder conditions...
While not terrible and with some interesting developments and ideas, "Salt" is bogged down by a slow pace, an overly busy plot, some poorly done research, and uninteresting characters. And while it ends on an obvious sequel hook, I doubt I'll be continuing this series.
August 5, 2018
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publishers/author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eva is a survivor of the drowning, an apocalyptic event that left no land in the world, and the survivors all have to make a new life out at sea. Eva lives on a flotilla - a community of dozens of boats roped together - and at the start of the novel, volunteers are being sent out to find somewhere better. The problem is no volunteer has ever returned. Eva says goodbye to the man she loves, and then as soon as he's gone, things start happening in the community - people are murdered, and secrets are being kept. Former detective Eva sets out to investigate and discover the truth.
This was an okay book. It kept me gripped from a few chapters in so kudos for that but I knew very quickly that it was going to be an average read for me.
I felt like everything happened way too quickly on the boats - we were barely into the first chapter when there was an attempted murder, the second chapter there was an almost robbery, the third a murder, and so on. As a reader, I had no grip on the world or the characters before everything began to move at top speed and I really didn't like it. I like to have a moment to start caring about characters before they all start getting knifed, meaning the plot is tense and high drama for me as a reader because I care about those involved.
The writing felt very haphazard, almost like sometimes the author was just making everything up as he went along. For a post-apocalyptic thriller though, this book has something for everyone - a good Captain, a bully boy gang, religious zealots, infection killing everyone, a bad-ass female character taking down the bad guys.
This was okay, but I wouldn't be dying to read the next one.
Eva is a survivor of the drowning, an apocalyptic event that left no land in the world, and the survivors all have to make a new life out at sea. Eva lives on a flotilla - a community of dozens of boats roped together - and at the start of the novel, volunteers are being sent out to find somewhere better. The problem is no volunteer has ever returned. Eva says goodbye to the man she loves, and then as soon as he's gone, things start happening in the community - people are murdered, and secrets are being kept. Former detective Eva sets out to investigate and discover the truth.
This was an okay book. It kept me gripped from a few chapters in so kudos for that but I knew very quickly that it was going to be an average read for me.
I felt like everything happened way too quickly on the boats - we were barely into the first chapter when there was an attempted murder, the second chapter there was an almost robbery, the third a murder, and so on. As a reader, I had no grip on the world or the characters before everything began to move at top speed and I really didn't like it. I like to have a moment to start caring about characters before they all start getting knifed, meaning the plot is tense and high drama for me as a reader because I care about those involved.
The writing felt very haphazard, almost like sometimes the author was just making everything up as he went along. For a post-apocalyptic thriller though, this book has something for everyone - a good Captain, a bully boy gang, religious zealots, infection killing everyone, a bad-ass female character taking down the bad guys.
This was okay, but I wouldn't be dying to read the next one.
November 8, 2017
I randomly chose this book as part of getting 10 free ones when I fired up my Kindle. I am not the biggest fan of end of the world type disaster books, but thought this one started out pretty good. The premise of the story is interesting and the author did a pretty good job with getting you engaged with the main characters. About half way through is when my interest in the book started to wane, it was obvious that the author wanted you to think that the murders were the work of one of two seemingly villain groups, sorry I was not biting. Then, after several more turns of terrible events and process of elimination, it was pretty clear to me who was responsible. As the story was wrapping up, the back story of that was revealed. From there, it seemed it was all about setting the scene for the next book, which of course is necessary when writing a series, I would just say those things seemed too convenient.
October 27, 2018
I am going to be honest, I gave up after the 100th page. I tried to get into this book, as I like a good post or apocalyptic story, but I never could. The characters were annoying, and the main character, Eva, cares only about herself, even though she is supposed to be caring about her friends. The book begins with her selfish thoughts as a married man named Mike leaves and all Eva can think about is how Jean, his wife, should know. Neither Graves nor Jim add anything to the story, and it is all very slow. I got to a point that I didn't care who was the bad guy, nor who was the good guy, nor what was going to happen. This was slow to start, and never really felt as if it was getting off of the "boat" shall we say.
June 21, 2017
This could have been so much more than it was. Character development was limited and the 'twist' wasn't really all that surprising. That's not to say I didn't like it - because I did find myself unwilling to put it down and read it in just a few days. But - I wanted more. More background to the story, more detail about the flotilla and the way folks lived, more detail about the people that were there- it was hard to care about them when you just never got the chance to know them except for in this narrow view. Read this one free on Prime Reading and not sure I'd spend the $ on the sequel to find out how it ends...
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