Rating: 
Summary: Ignore those other, negative, reviews, it's a ripper.
Review: After you've read all the other reviews, with all their nitpicking, give Hernon a read. You'll love it. To those other reviewers I say, "C'mon, get a life -- this is FICTION!!" Sure, I even spotted a misuse of the possessive "its" (in the book it's printed as "it's). But give the author his due, he's done a magnificent job of stringing together a whole bunch of boring factoids, so his plot really rocks. Short chapters, each one ending with a hook to throw you forward to the next scene; plenty of power-packed verbs and adjectives to add spice.
So there's little "romance!" Big deal. There's enough. I say you should cut Hernon plenty of slack for the way he's snapped up a little-known subject (the New Madrid Fault) and given it vivid credibility. I've been a "drive by" amateur geologist for many years. I've followed the San Andreas Fault nearly every inch of the way and gazed with awe at the site where New Madrid lit up with a triple play in 1811-1812, so this book hit me right square in the gut.
About my 5-star rating: I awarded five for "readability." On other grounds I might drop to four or four-and-a-half, but I guarantee you this: I can't wait for Peter Hernon's next novel.
Rating: 
Summary: A Thriller About the Ground Beneath Us
Review: Except for California, we usually think of the ground upon which we walk as pretty solid. Think again. The earth is crisscrossed by fault lines that may slip at any time, sending our secure abode into a terrifying earthquake. One of the most threatening fault lines is the New Madrid fault that runs through five states in the midwestern United States. This thriller puts us into the shoes of two geologists when the New Madrid fault cuts loose with a devastating earthquake that promises an even bigger one is coming. Their frantic efforts to head off "the really big one" puts them into spots where none of us would want to be. It will keep you in suspense, and you will learn a lot about earthquakes and our unstable earth.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, but not without its inaccuracies
Review: Hernon missed the mark on some geological and local facts (as pointed out by other reviewers here), but 8.4 still offers an entertaining read for anyone interested in disaster stories. Some subplots fall short (the romance was uninteresting and sabotage predictable), but for once it's an earthquake story that doesn't involve the destruction of the west coast, bringing into play historical accounts as well as the region's lack of preparedness for an earthquake. Like any disaster story, it gets shaky in some places, but if you can suspend your disbelief over inaccurate facts, it should prove to be entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: Suspend your disbelief first!
Review: I actually quite enjoyed this book and flew through it. Peter Hernon has a very fluid writing style that made for an easy read. However.... Even though this was touted as a scientific thriller along the same lines as Michael Crichton, I think Hernon could have spent a bit more time researching the subject. Here's an example. A few times in the book we found the geologist and seismologist characters shrugging off the presence of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide is a naturally occuring gas that is often present in the production of natural resources like coal, oil and natural gas. It's distinctive rotten egg smell indicates its presence. But as any geologist or worker in the natural resource industry should know, it is a deadly gas in concentrations as low as 0.01%. One character, who happens to be a former senior level mine worker, even goes so far as to say, "It sure as hell stinks but I don't think its gonna kill you." These characters and Hernon should definitely know better. I am not a seismologist by any stretch but instances like this really destroyed the book's scientific credibility for its entire earthquake premise. Certain things like the books climax of setting of a nuclear bomb in a mine shaft in the hopes of preventing further earthquakes didn't make sense. The characters hoped to relieve seismic stress with the blast of the bomb. Everyone stop and think about this for a second.... Doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it. The characters were well enough cast for the story but they too made some blunders that just didn't make sense. Remember the movie "Armageddon" where they sent a crew of smelly oil rig workers into space to drill a hole in a comet. If that made sense to you, this one will absolutely thrill you. Without continuing with what was wrong with the book I'll reiterate that it was an entertaining read but please be sure to check your scientific mind at the door.
Rating:
Summary: More interesting if you live in the area ....
Review: I give 8.4 a 3.0. This book is obviously about earthquakes. The New Madrid Faultline (NMSZ) - think Memphis - is infamous for the historical triad of earthquakes that happened in 1811-1812. It's present day, and one of our heroes, Elizabeth Holleran (seismologist), comes into some information that leads her to believe that it's probably going to happen again.
As she's on her way to Memphis, to tell the Big Earthquake Guys, the first earthquake hits (great & scary descriptions of what an earthquake IS exactly - how the earth is shifting) - at a 7.1 on the Richter scale.
Of course we have to go through the scene where all the politicians (and our other hero, John Atkins - geologist) don't believe Holleran's theory, dismiss her ... and we all know what happens next. The 8.4 earthquake hits, and this causes massive destruction all across the land. The fault line has doubled in size! Holleran reiterates her belief that the 7.1 and 8.4 earthquakes that strike along the NMSZ are just a precursor to the really big one.
The character development and the unnecessary romantic storyline are what garnered this a 3.0 and not a 5.0. Atkins and Holleran aren't very interesting characters - and I just never grew to like Atkins. He was kinda slow on figuring things out (ignoring classic earthquake signs, totally dismissing the Triad-Earthquake theory) - especially considering he's supposed to be 'an expert' in the field. Although, my mom pointed out that the main character of the book is the earthquake - not Atkins or Holleran. So, I guess if you look at it that way, the main character rocked my world.
My mom read this book 2 weeks before needing to go to Memphis for a conference ... it shook her up a bit. We live only three hours from Memphis, and it is a bit disturbing to hear of how far the destruction from an earthquake there would reach. In the 1811-1812 quakes, lakes formed in Tennessee, church bells rang in Boston, and the mighty Mississippi ran backward. Isn't the earth amazing?
Rating: 
Summary: The editor didn't read the last draft
Review: I give the book 1 star - not because the science isn't accurate, (although he does get a few things right), and not because the love story is lame (because it is), but because of the hilarious lapses in continuity. I grew up near Kentucky Lake, so I know the area quite well. If he wants to call the road over Ky. Dam US 621, that's OK, but a few pages later he calls it by it's correct name of US 641. The same is true for US 51 (or 61, depending on what page you're on), Reidland or Raitland, Central Avenue or Cottage Avenue...it goes on like this.I'll let others who are more knowledgeable about the science (like my friends at the very earthquake research facility in Memphis the author refers to constantly) tear it apart, but I do know enough to realize when a basic description of the geology and geography of my hometown and it's surrounding area is totally incorrect. And how can people be standing on the shores of a lake that was formed by the very dam the author destroys a few chapters previous? That said, if you are stuck in an airport or find yourself with too much time on your hands, and there's an abandoned copy of 8.4 on the seat next to you, you could do worse. The descriptions of the actual seismic events are rather disturbing (especially now that I am living in the doomed town of Memphis), and you'll take a new look at how your houses and offices are constructed. But next time Mr. Hernon, fire your editor, bone up a bit more on your science, and please buy a map of the area you're writing about.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Book
Review: I just read 8.4, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I like earth science- earthquakes in particular - , and have always enjoyed learning more. I learned a great deal with this book - mainly, the scary picture of what would happen to the entire United States the NMSZ goes off as it did almost two hundred years ago. I currently live in a moderate damage area, but I have close family in the direct hit area. It is disturbing to contemplate. I recommend this book, as well as The Rift, by Walter J. Williams.
Rating:
Summary: Shake Rattle and Read
Review: I really did enjoy this novel. I do happen to agree with the other reviewers that there are several places that the book comes up short (the romance and some of the road names come to mind.) however, the book is fast paced and interesting. Having lived in the area and also having lived thru several earthquakes (in other parts of the country) I found myself drawn into the story several times. Especially when they are underground with earthquakes activity around. Sure it plays on several of my primal fears; however I found myself REALLY believing in the danger to the characters of the novel. The science is accurate, the characters are more than adequate, and I find that I must really recomend this novel if you are looking for an evenings escapist enjoyment. Read it, and enjoy it. It does have its flaws, but very few novels don't. I think you will enjoy it and get caught up in the situations that the author puts you in.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Eye-Opener
Review: I thouroughly enjoyed the book. I happen to live in the area where most of the action takes place and found it very interesting to see what someone thought the results of a major earthquake in this area would be. This is one to really make you think! The book does get a little technical, but overall makes for quite enjoyable reading.
Rating:
Summary: 8.4 has moments, but for this reviewer it's more like a 3.5
Review: I'd never heard of author Peter Hernon, but when I saw the subject matter of "8.4", and that it was on the clearance shelf for practically pennies, I gave the book a try. And, while I can't say that this is one of the top 500 books that I've read, it passes the mark. As one would guess from the title, this is a story about earthquakes. It particular, the "Mother of All Earthquakes" that being the one that seismologists have been predicting for years, the quake along the New Madrid Fault. I've been somewhat interested in this topic for some time now since I live in an area that might be affected by such a quake. And as people in this area know, the New Madrid Quake may be even more devastating that the San Francisco and Alaskan quakes that created such widespread damage in the last 100 years. And, if you too live along this faultline, you may not want to read this book because if Hernon is right about "the big one" you might choose to find a new address. Hernon has done a good job for the most part with his research and in some cases, the book reads like something out of Michael Crichton. Seriously limited though, is Hernon's character development and any "connection" that the reader might have with these characters. They're just not very interesting. I don't know if that flaw is by design or not, because the real star of the story, of course, is the quake or quakes. The book has suspenseful moments and even includes a little sabotage and deceit along the way. It's a very quick read and good for passing the time. In reality, though, this book will probably have only limited appeal to those readers who don't live in this area. For better books about the New Madrid faultline and the coming quake, I'd suggest "The Rift" by Walter Williams and "The New Madrid Run" by Michael Reisig (a superior, yet too short book, from an outstanding storyteller).
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