Cataclysm: A Matt Sheridan Novel - Book One is a thriller by Robert Cole. Matt Sheridan is a former Ranger and Special Forces Officer. He awakens to a flash of lightning and immediately senses that something terrible has happened. A nuclear bomb had just exploded in New York City, and life as Matt and his family knew it changed forever. Matt wants to take his family to Vermont and be on his way while everyone was still asleep and unaware of what just happened. He suspects that the police will close the roads to control evacuations. Matt’s contact in Johannesburg confirms rumors about smallpox, which is the ultimate biological weapon. Radical Islamic terrorists have created a strain of black pox as a biological weapon. The vaccine that the United States developed for smallpox is ineffective against this virus.

Cataclysm has an unusual and complicated plot. It moves quickly and there is never a dull moment. I just kept turning the pages as fast as I could with all the action. I did not want to miss out on anything and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. Robert Cole used his knowledge and experience as a red-cell leader to write this excellent story. All the steps taken to be self-sufficient in a crisis were an eye-opener. I would never have thought of everything, and it was interesting to discover what was needed. I was intrigued from the start, and the plot kept my attention until the end. The characters were distinctive with their special skills. Together they formed an excellent team to combat this terror. I can't wait to read the next book.

As former special forces officer Matt Sheridan watched the news on the early morning of 8 September, he knew that all hell had broken loose. An Islamic terror gang had launched nuclear attacks on at least eight American cities. In retaliation, the American government initiated operation Hellfire, which entailed nuking seventeen nations that provided support for Islamic terror groups. As if things could not get any worse, a deadly bioweapon linked to Al Qaeda was discovered in South Africa. Just like millions of other American citizens, Matt and his family had fled to safety far away from the destroyed cities. With radioactive fallout spreading all over the world, the looming threat of a deadly bioweapon, and few resources available for the restless American population, is there hope for Matt and his family? Find out in Robert Cole’s Cataclysm: A Matt Sheridan Novel - Book One.

Robert Cole’s Cataclysm is the first installment in a new series and will appeal to lovers of terrorist thriller novels with a touch of conspiracy and crime. Cole whisked me away from reality and wrapped me in the storyline as he steadily built the tension. Through the vivid depictions, I found myself watching every scene as if I was right there. One minute I was looking at a desperate shopper dramatically waving a pistol at a BJ’s exit. The next minute I was at the farmhouse in Vermont watching Matt’s family staring at the TV in horror as the president gave his briefing. Cole allowed me to experience the emotions of the cast, making me empathize with them. Matt is an intuitive, intelligent, and protective guy who always seems to see the next thing coming way before it happens.