Before Safe Haven: Mike

De: Christopher Artinian

Narrado por: Kim Bretton

Trapped in a corrupt hellhole with thieves, sadists, and killers, Mike didn’t think things could get any worse. He was wrong. When everyone around him opted to do the easy thing, he chose to do the right thing. He chose to stand up.

Several years on, and a new Hell has found him. A virus has infected billions all over the world, turning its victims into vicious zombies. The UK and Ireland have remained uninfected...until now.

Lawlessness threatens to take over the streets as the government does everything it can to keep control. With the city in lockdown and every resource stretched to breaking point, Mike finds himself in familiar territory.

The stakes could not be higher as Mike has to fight for his family’s very survival. His greatest weapon is the will to do anything for the ones he loves, but will that be enough?

©2019 Christopher Artinian (P)2021 Christopher Artinian

Excellent book

Another excellent book. I have to say that Mike Fletcher is my favorite character in the series. He is a honest person who had a bad stroke of luck. I love this it series. Christopher is a excellent writer.

Wow! Everyone should be reading this series!

Loved hearing Mike's backstory on audible. Really gives a better understanding into Mike and his life before the Rams. I can relate to Mike and his sense of Justice, Loyalty, and Fairness. Once again the narrator brings to life the riveting story of these complex characters. I feel we are very fortunate that we have had Miss Kim as the narrator for all of Mr. Chris’s work. She is a gifted and very talented narrator. They are a winning combination. If you have not listened or read any of Mr. Chris’s work then what are you waiting on? Get the audible and/or books and leave your reviews! You will not regret it!

Before Safe Haven: Mike

Oh where to begin, this is the formation story of one of my favorite characters. He is so black and white and believes there is always wrong and right choices. I have seen him sacrifice everything, when he was young it was the same story. As the “THEN” we get to listen as he spent time in the young offenders institute where everyone is willing to look the other way to the corruption and gangs running it. Mike is not one to look the other way, when bad things or people are about he will fight- even if it costs him his life.
We then flash to “Now” with PM Beck’s announcement (which I’ve heard a few times with how many times I’ve read, listened and listened again.)

I think anyone who likes Prison survival stories would love this version.
I didn’t know how much I liked zombie books until Artinian’s books - but he has this spectacular balance of terror and joy, fear and love, etc. I’ve read them all a couple times and listened many as well.

So this may not be unbiased but is 100% my unabashed praise for a worthy author and another bringing to live by Bretton. (A much anticipated and lived to the hype in my head, I am looking forward to the other Before Safe Havens too.)









(This was a review copy I requested and I am voluntarily leaving this review.)

Before Safe Haven: Mike

Before Safe Haven: Mike was very entertaining! I loved getting a better understanding of Mike's life before the zombie apocalypse . It helped to both explain and understand Mike so much. This well written by Christopher Artinian. And Kim Bretton, the narratedr did a great job.

Excellent

Excellent as always and as to be expected!
I’ll never get enough of this series or of Christopher’s writing! And Kim Bretton narrating is just the icing in the cake! You get to find out more about why Mike is the man he becomes in the future. Getting to revisit his past was a wonderful treat!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Mike's life before and at the beginning of the Z's

Before Safe Haven: Mike by Christopher Artinian and narrated by Kim Bretton puts the pieces of the Mike’s past into place. I’ve been waiting for this one since I was first introduced to Mike and it didn’t disappoint. Highly recommend, especially if you are curious about Mike’s life. If you are new to the series, you could start with this one and be hooked as it’s excellently written and narrated and sets the path/tone for the future books (know in the future books there’s a lot of Z action).

What’s it about? The beginning of the book takes places before the outbreak and deals with Mike’s time in Priory Bridge Young Offenders Prison. The remainder deals with the outbreak and the events in Mike’s life at that time. I’m not going to go into much detail as I don’t want to give spoilers, be aware there’s bad people and corruption and the end of the book will pull at your heartstrings.

The narrator, Kim Bretton- yes Kim, yes! She does a fabulous job and I can’t imagine the series without her. Characters, tone, and pace all great.


Highly recommend whether you are new to the series or a seasoned vet.


Parental guidance/trigger warnings: Ok, so hard to do without giving spoilers, but here’s some of the topics: domestic abuse, alcoholism, corruption, sexual assault (clergy, other talk but not in detail), violence, attempted murder, gangs, drugs, mobsters, prison, death. Language used: Fx112, Sx70 (it didn’t feel like this much when listening, but nevertheless impressive Christopher :) )


*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!

The Beginning

Christopher Artinian's "Safe Haven" series is what started my (recent) love of the Zompoc genre. His writing is superb, his characters are well-developed and the action is non-stop.

After reading the first few books in the series, I discovered that Mr. Artinian had written several novellas that focus on main characters before the SHTF. And, of course, I had to start with Mike's since he is my favorite character from these books!

Mr. Artinian weaves a wonderful story about Mike's early life living with a cruel and abusive father, which explains a lot about his anger management issues. For one thing, Mike cannot abide bullies and this gets him into a lot of trouble! But, it also what makes him such a realistic and likeable character.

Mike spends time in prison because of his temper and feelings toward bullies, but then becomes a good family man, in part because of his stepfather, Alex. When the dead start reanimating, it soon becomes clear that things will never be the same.

This book is very well-written and I love the way that the author works well-loved books into the story (Shawshank Redemption, The Stand, The Green Mile, Animal Farm, 1984). There are a couple of poignant scenes in the book that brought me to tears, but these also make the book even more of a great read.

Even though I had read the book before listening to the audio version, Kim Bretton's performance really brought it to life. Her voices and performance are perfect and made a great book even better! i was given the chance to listen to this book by the author, but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A Favorite Character's Backstory

I enjoyed this backstory about Mike, who is one of my favorite characters from the "Safe Haven" series. This in-depth story broadened my knowledge of the events that helped to make Mike the person that he is and increased my appreciation of the character that he becomes in the series. I recommend this tale and the whole series to others. Christopher Artinian is an amazing writer who creates characters that one could wish were real. Kim Bretton's narration is outstanding and adds to the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.

I love his Safe Haven & End of Everthing Books

Christopher Artinian is master story writer! You will not regret buying his books. In Audible he always has phenomenal narrators!

great

as always a great book. explains a few things too. your books make my day!