The Rule of Three by Eric Walters - Reviewed by Galadrielle Soulard

The Rule of three written by Eric Walters is the first book of a series of three. The story takes place in Ontario, Canada. Most of the novel takes place in a village called Eden Mills. The two main characters are one high school student, Adam and a seventy-year-old retired employee from the government, Herb. The setting takes place in the author’s neighborhood.

Adam is a sixteen-year-old high school boy who owns an old 1981 Omega Oldsmobile. Herb is Adam’s neighbour. Everything starts when there is an electronical crash.  The reader assumes it is all over North America. When the crash takes place, Adam is in school and his father in Chicago. Anything that runs on computers including cars and planes does not function. Adam’s car is so outdated that he is one of the fortunate to drive home while others are obliged to walk home from school. With this in mind, Adam’s father is stranded in Chicago.

Upon Adam’s arrival to his house, Herb has Adam drive him to the nearest pool shop to buy large amounts of chlorine. Adam is surprised and does not understand this strange purchase. In this critical moment, Herb explains the rule of survival in emergency situations to Adam.

A person can last: three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food. Herb seems to know things ahead of time and knows that the situation is only going to get worse. Adam is taken aback by Herb’s planning. The chlorine is used to purify water.

That night Adam learns from his mother that some looting has taken place in town and that she was obliged to put Brett on guard. The situation in the village starts to deteriorate. Herb is the one who organizes distribution and payment of supplies.

Meanwhile in the suburbs, robberies, fires, and assaults continue. Adam’s mom cannot control this. Herb suggests that Adam’s family and himself move somewhere else. Adam’s idea is to use all the available land in the neighborhood to grow crops. His idea was accepted. Everybody started working together. They built walls (and a gate) around Eden Mills neighborhood. Meanwhile, another nearby neighbourhood, Olde Burnham is then assaulted by a dishonest group. Knowing this might eventually happen to their enclosed village. Herb decided to take a step ahead by fighting this rogue group back.  The book ends here.  It leaves the reader in suspense.

The main topic of the story revolves around a society that is not ready for a national emergency. The abuse and aggression of citizens due to a desperate situation are what really come to light.  One positive attribute of the novel is the relationship between Herb and Adam. This novel has, romance, deft humor, and suspense .This book is intriguing. I suspect you might find it too.