My Never Ending List

The synopsis behind this novel had me waiting for a copy of this book from my local library and little did I realize that this is a series.  Okay, maybe I knew a while ago but I had forgotten about this until the last page.  As I closed the book, I had to think how can we make this catastrophe a series?  I liked this book but to carry out this drama and misfortune into two more books, really?  I don’t want to hammer this subject to death but I guess we shall see.  No Safety in Numbers is told in alternating viewpoints by four individuals who are trapped inside a megamall where chaos is the game.  It was a typical Saturday and people are arriving at the mall to do their shopping, they’re hanging out with friends and people are going to work.  Marco was running from a group of guys in the parking garage when he came upon a black box on the ventilation shafts and then it starts to beep.  Marco knew immediately that something was up. Marco has the advantage that others individuals don’t have, as he works at the mall so he knows the back hallways and he has a service key. Doesn’t seem like much but in a situation like this, any advantage is huge.  Lexi is there with her family, enjoying family time.  Her mother is the Senator and lucky her, she is now put in charge of this major crisis.  Lexi is one smart girl and even though she doesn’t like to lie, she’s getting pretty good at now.   Ryan made varsity squad and is trying to be someone …. I said trying. This new mask that he is wearing, conflicts with his previous self and when you add that to the stress and conflicts that are occurring in his life right now, Ryan doesn’t know who he really is.  Shay, she’s at the mall with her younger sister and grandmother.  I really cared about her and as the story progressed, my feeling for her grew.  When they first announced that there is an issue at the mall, they offer gift cards to the patrons and tell them that they cannot leave. It is amazing to think that people would continue to go about the mall as if nothing is wrong and they shop using the gift cards. As the crisis continues, the store clerks man their posts and people continue shopping using their dollars and credit cards. As I read this, I am thinking, what?  Most people would be making phone calls, demanding an exit, demanding restitution, or calling the news.  Eventually bedlam breaks out and everyone panics as announcements are made throughout the week about the emergency inside the mall.   So much happens within the mall its like people have turned into another species.  They begin to riot, gangs form, there’s looting from the stores, and people are angry.  Panic starts to set in and for some of the detainees they are plotting their means of escape.  It’s a bomb, its biotoxins, a plague, terrorists, a disease: so many different ideas but no one has a way to stop it.

As you read this book, you think about what you would do in this situation.  You just can’t help but think about what you do if you were one of the characters or one of the many other individuals who are stuck inside this megamall with no means of escape.  Trying to get word out about the situation would be one of my top priorities as I wouldn’t want anyone to forget about us.  The author used quite a variety of stores in her 150 store collection in this mall and her choice of characters have taken advantages of many of the popular ones.  There is definitely tension, excitement and action inside this novel and for me, it was a fast read. I couldn’t put it down as it was one of my hair-dryer books.  Will I pick up the second book in the series? Sure, as I don’t know what to expect next, I just hope the author doesn’t drag this drama out too far and ruin my excitement.