fuonlyknew

Welcome to My Monday Minis where I share short reviews about books I’ve read.

I’ve read a bunch of Anthony’s books and his stories showcasing Mike Beem are among my favorites.  Zombie Beach and The Mike Beem Chronicles are up for pre-order on Amazon and they’re killer.

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Zombie Beach

by Anthony Renfro

This short story is told in two parts.

Part 1: Mike and Captain

On the Coast, Mike runs into an old Sea Captain and they form an instant bond. Mike learns of Captain’s boat and his son and daughter-in-law. Captain is desperate to get off Carolina Beach, but there is a problem (and it is a big problem) the town is swarming with zombies. Mike decides to help the old man fight his way through the hordes in order to gain safe passage on his boat.

Part 2: Mike and Myrtle Beach

Alone again. Mike finds an old motel on the South Carolina coast and decides to call it home. While rebuilding his life and motel he meets some new friends, fights off countless numbers of zombies, and settles into his new life by the sea.

Amazon: US / UK / AU / CA

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My Review

I’m always excited to read more about Mike Beem. He’s often bumping into new people, some good, some deadly. And he does what he has to in a calm manner, mostly. You don’t want to rattle his cage though. Then he’s as deadly as the bad guys he comes across and leaves death in his wake.

Zombie slaying is his game and he does it without flinching. It’s when people enter the mix that Mike gets sidetracked. This is where I warn you to get ready for blood and guts and some sad times. It’s an apocalypse after all and not everyone can make it through.

There are plenty of cringe worthy scenes and some glimpses at happy endings, maybe. Another winner from Anthony and I hope you give it a go. I’d recommend you read the previous stories about Mike, but you can read and enjoy this without having done so.

5 Stars

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Check out this glimpse inside

Mike Beem lowered his rifle, put his right eye on the scope, and closed his left eye. The zombie he was about to shoot was an ugly sucker. He was currently hanging ten on a tall gigantic wave. The zombie surfer was riding a long board, wearing red flowered swimming trunks, and a tee shirt with a dirty smiley face on it. His shirt and shorts along with his thin long blonde hair were flapping in the breeze as he sailed down the wave at top speed.

Poof!

The zombies head exploded leaving only a ragged stump shooting blood up into the air. The headless body surfed for a moment or two before tumbling into the crashing wave.

“Why’d you do that?” A voice behind Mike asked, an older voice full of age and salty wisdom. He sounded like a man who had sailed the sea for most of his adult life.

Mike turned around to face him, lowering his rifle.

“Just saying, he wasn’t hurting anybody,” the old guy replied, leaning on a wooden cane with a silver metal ball on the top of it. His long white hair and soft white beard reminded Mike of his own granddad who had died when he was just a boy.

“I found this silencer, and I just wanted to try it out,” Mike replied, reloading his gun. “Besides, one dead zombie is one less zombie in this world as far as I’m concerned. Don’t care if it’s a threat or not.’”

“Got a name, son?”

“Mike Beem, you?”

“Most folks call me Captain, and I’m fine with it,” the old guy replied, as a cool blast of air pushed back his long hair. “Storm’s moving in. Going to be a nasty one.”

“I had the same feeling,” Mike replied, scanning the late afternoon sky filling up with grey storm clouds.

“That your truck?” Captain asked, nodding towards the 1955 Chevy.

“It was,” Mike replied, turning to face the machine, which was currently sitting perfectly positioned in a parking spot. Pieces of zombies where sticking out of the smoldering radiator, including one complete head with the eyes still looking around, mouth chomping away. “Parking lot was full of corpses. I had to get down to the beach somehow.”

“Guess so,” Captain replied, thinking this Mike guy wasn’t exactly all there. “How about a hot meal and a place to rest your head?”

Mike looked up and down the empty beach, across the decaying splintered boardwalk and the buildings now falling into disrepair. His decision was a quick easy one to make. “Sure, lead the way, Captain,” he replied, climbing down off the bench he’d been standing on. He slung the rifle over his shoulder, picked up his small bag of personal items, and then set off after the old man.

Anthony shares about his books

If you haven’t read the rest of the Chronicles you can get all of them along with this story at the links below. What are the Mike Beem Chronicles? The Mike Beem Chronicles are a series of short stories that I wrote involving a character named Mike Beem. They are stories about hope, survival, and people trying to keep humanity alive in a world filled with the living dead. Descriptions for all six stories in this collection flow below. Enjoy.

The Mike Beem Chronicles

A Zombie Thanksgiving: A short story about a woman who risks life and limb in a Zombie Apocalypse in order to keep the Thanksgiving tradition alive.

A Zombie Christmas: This short story is about three men who risk life and limb in a Zombie Apocalypse in order to bring happiness to surviving kids on Christmas Morning.

A Zombie New Year’s Eve: This short story is about Becky and Joe who are separated in a Zombie Apocalypse and risk life and limb in order to reunite for their New Year’s Eve kiss.

A Zombie Christmas 2: A boy lost. A family desperate. It’s Christmas in a Zombie Apocalypse and Mike Beem is once again aiming for another Holiday miracle. His goal this year isn’t toys for the kids in the neighborhood. His goal this time is trying to save one small life so another family doesn’t have to suffer the way he suffered.

Flesh for the Zombies: When Mike Beem’s community is savagely attacked, he must exact revenge on those who wronged him. He must put aside all the good he has ever accomplished in order to become someone else. A man without a moral compass. A man without right or wrong. A man who is a cold blooded killer. Will he get his justice or will he die trying? The answers lie within the pages of this short story.

Zombie Beach: Mike Beem has given it all up and run off to live by the beach. Life down on the coast isn’t all that it should be. Days of lying in the sun are replaced with brutal survival. Mike does his best to not only survive, but to rebuild a life among the ruins of these beach side towns.

Amazon: US / UK / AU / CA

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My Review

Of all of Anthony’s characters, I have to say that Mike Beem is my favorite. When I was first introduced to him he won my heart with his unending compassion for people in the horrific events of the zombie apocalypse. He went beyond what anyone could expect to try to make things as safe as he could while also trying to bring back some wonderful traditions.

But alas, no good deeds went unpunished as I learned how bad things got for Mike and how disillusioned he became. Now he’s wandering on his own, looking for purpose and dreaming of a time when things will be better.

Along the way he crosses paths with some desperate people, and though he’s reluctant to get involved, he lends them a hand, risking his life to help them and perhaps find his purpose.

Anthony has made Mike a flesh and blood man. One you might call a reluctant hero. I’m always glad to run into him again, and would be happy to have him by my side in dark times. He’s gentle yet aloof, and dangerous like a rattlesnake when provoked.

I felt for Mike in the encounters revealed in this series. The author puts him in some tough situations, throwing zombies into his path at every turn. It’s gory to the nth, but I was ready for it. Characters die at alarming rates and I try not to get too attached to them. I’m still caught off guard at times, surprised by who dies and who survives. It’s not always a familiar character, but you are made to connect with them quickly and feel the loss. A great talent of Anthony’s.

Lovers of horror, zombies and genuine characters should check out the Mike Beem Chronicles and meet the man.

5 Stars

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