Edgar "Ed" Hill is just going through the motions of his drudgery of a life, drinking too heavily and doing little to help his wife, Beth, care for their kids. The morning the asteroids strike the United Kingdom, he awakes with a hangover and tries to turn on the tv. Static. Slowly, he remembers the news warnings about the imminent asteroid strike but it's too late to prepare. Thus begins a long journey for Ed as he tries to reunite with his family after a series of events, even if it means he has to run daily to do so.

Ed isn't exactly the most likable character but he's realistic as you probably know someone just like him. His journey character-wise is just as important as his physical journey as we delve into his mind during the catastrophic events. Ed is not a reliable narrator by any stretch of the imagination and that only heightens the uniqueness of the storyline as we question him at every step of the journey.

The secondary characters in THE END OF THE WORLD RUNNING CLUB are an intriguing bunch. I couldn't help but like Bryce, even as I wanted to smack him at times. Grimes is another favorite and I wish her character had been developed just a tad more. I won't spoil anything but be prepared to meet an odd assortment of individuals, some quite hideous.

And oh my, the world building in THE END OF THE WORLD RUNNING CLUB is very well done! Adrian J. Walker's descriptions of the world we know scarred by the asteroids is heart-wrenching but it is his depiction of the aftermath that stands out. I love that he includes little details that create a sense of realism in such a harsh, startling new scene.

I love post-apocalyptic stories so I couldn't resist giving THE END OF THE WORLD RUNNING CLUB a try, despite my total aversion to running. And oh, what a pleasant surprise Adrian J. Walker has in store for readers! THE END OF THE WORLD RUNNING CLUB has the typical things you expect in a post-apocalyptic story (struggle for survival, society collapsing, etc) but Adrian J. Walker puts a unique spin on the events, making THE END OF THE WORLD RUNNING CLUB a great new addition to the genre!