Mindless

Mountain Man #6

by Keith C. Blackmore

Out of the zombie apocalypse comes a new medieval empire with terrifying ambitions in this dystopian horror thriller.

After securing a vast government bunker, Collie Jones is heading west to challenge the sinister road clan known as the Leather. And she won't stop until she's killed its maniacal the Dog Tongue. Gus Berry is at her side every step of the way, his growing affection for the operator matched only by his dislike of the former prisoner Milo, whom Collie insists on bringing along.

Together, this unlikely trio will face an ominous new order. An empire of cruelty is building its strength on the broken wills and spines of its minions, all the while weaponizing the very thing that destroyed civilization in the first place . . .

Genres: Horror, Zombies, Audiobook, Post Apocalyptic, Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia

450 pages, Paperback

First published December 26, 2020

About the author

Books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and others.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Must listen to RC Bray on audible. Makes the experience so much better. Highly recommended

[Ken Langwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best zombie series out there!

Blackmore is very unique in that his character dialog doesn't sound like any other writer out there, and it's entertaining as hell.

I love the Mountain Man series and was excited when, in spite of stating that he was done with the series a couple of years ago, he picked it back up. The series lost a very integral character in Collie so any future additions to the series will have to fill that huge void, but my vote is for another book, and I'd love to see Gus and Milo reunite.

[Wayne Fielding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent a great series of books.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I did like this one, some of the others were better as it pertains to character building however this sure was action packed pretty much from beginning to end.
I'm so happy to see a new book in the series will be coming out soon because what I really want is for Gus to go home and reunite with Scott, Milo, and even the little girl.

[Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrill ride from start to finish. Its the best mountain man book yet. I want more!

[Todd Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Keep em coming Blackmore and Bray! The Mountain Man series started out as just another zombie story, an awesome zombie story. The series and the characters have evolved so much since the beginning. I'm eagerly awaiting book 7!

[Isaac Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this on 4 starts (if you are into apocalyptical stories, you should read this) because the reality is it's a good book.

The problem for me is that I am getting tired of this story. The series should've stopped after the first three books. All the books after that, including prequels, are getting tiresome for me.

I'm not into this kind of stories, but the first book got me hooked up, and I had to read everything else in the series. But I got bored with this one. It isn't that the story is not good, or I should say worse than the others; it's that the story is just more of the same.

I like the characters, which is why I keep reading about them, but Mr. Blackmore no more please.

Again, this is just my opinion, and you'll probably like the book if you're into apocalyptical stories and/or zombies.

[Lorre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book started out a bit slow and I thought Blackmore might have lost his Mountain Man mojo.
Nope! The story picked up in pace and OMG, it was so good!
The days of fighting hordes of zombies might be over but that doesn't make this book any less gory.
The Leather are scary and crazy AF! It's the zombie apocalypse in Mad Max style!

I really want more Mountain Man books and I hope more will come because that open ending felt like it might be the end of the series. But I want more Gus, especially now that he has reacquainted himself with some "old friends" again and is off on his own again.

[C O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series! I recommend you start with the short story "Hospital"

[Nubian Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt so many emotions while listening to this book! I laughed out loud! I yelled at the characters! I sat on the edge of my seat! This book is so good! Once again, the tales of Gus and Collie didn’t disappoint! This installment of the series was even more dynamic than the last one, which was no small task! I really enjoyed the new characters and really look forward to seeing where the next book will lead us! Highly recommend!

[Colin G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Once again Keith has written another great story. I can't get enough Gus. Hope there's a book 7. The audiobook is awesome as well with the one and only R. C. Bray.

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books. I am highly confused about the ending. maybe I was not paying enough attention to the characters somewhere? Hopefully a book #7 is being written that will help me lol. I highly recommend this series. never a dull moment.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready for book 7 please!

I laugged, I cried, i cheered on the heroes and i want MORE of Gus!

These books just get better & better..so yes I would buy more of MOUNTAIN MAN Series. Book 6 has to be my favorite but dont hold me to that because each time I finished one i said the same thing!

[Jeff Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

Blackmore kills it in this series. If you love zombie stories this series will be a classic. Great characters great writing lotsa fun I highly recommend reading

[The Musing Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d missed Gus and his antics, so when I saw that book six was coming I pre-ordered and waited with bated breath!

This book was Collie’s book, which wasn’t an issue for me. Her character is amazing and fierce. She is a great protagonist. I loved the transformation, mental and physical, of Collie. She’s what I think I’d be like in a zombie apocalypse (but really wouldn’t be. I’m sure I’d get eaten browsing books in an empty library. Lol). The plot left me wanting though. It just wasn’t realistic, but we are talking about a book set in the zombie apocalypse so...yeah. I also didn't enjoy how cowardly Gus came off in this book. He seemed more skittish than I remembered. I found myself muttering a lot for him to get himself together. However, he stepped up to the plate when necessary. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I definitely recommend this book for lovers of horror. 4.5 stars

[Mr Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the best zombie series I've ever read.
Even after 6 books, this story goes into new ways and never seems to tire. Gus the lead is going with Collie to kick some Leather arse and it's as glorious, shocking, bloody, and overall ruthless as the last 5 books.

I've enjoyed all of Mr. Blackmore's books but I hope this series will end soon as I hate seeing good stories get strung out for that one more adventure.
*I'm staring at you The Walking Dead

I gave it 4 stars because I felt some characters made choices they wouldn't do normally (surrendering, panicking) after everything they have gone through, but was added in to keep the story flowing.

If you want a zombie series to read don't think and just get this. Personally would recommend getting it on audio as R.C. Bray does a fantastic job of telling the story.

[Kelton Whittington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book of the series so far

[Samantha Shields Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course this is five stars. Keith never disappoints with Mountain Man series. It is my absolute favourite series of books. I feel like Gus is like a much loved member of my family. I need a Gus if we ever face the end of humanity.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exceptional addition to the series.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Keith C. Blackmore has done it again! I listened to this on Audible and couldn't stop listening! I love this series!

[John Nordyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I must say I am biased. I have loved this series from the start. I listened to 'The Hospital' because my oldest son had loved it. After that I was hooked. I know some get hung up on the alcohol use, the coarse language, the gore and violence just for the sake of the gore and violence. Oh, and the the nut scratching. For me, Gus' infinity for adjusting his junk; is funny and enduring.

I love the progression of Gus from overweight painter thrust into the end of the world. To the Gus who slowly learned to cope with the world he was now forced to survive in. To me the steps Gus takes with no real survival skill(s) make sense. The self medication and the self doubt. Also Gus is just a good guy deep down. The moral choices he makes, and the not so moral ones; make him the flawed human we all are. After all if the constraints of law and order are removed and you are faced with people who are truly evil. What would you do?

This book seems to take us along on the ride to redemption for some, and the end of the road for others. Without getting into spoiler territory, this book grabbed me emotionally. The relationship between Collie and Gus was doomed from the start really, however I hope given a chance it could have blossomed into something really special. The ending of this book was heart breaking, yet makes perfect sense. Gus and Collie were a great team. They also chirped each other perfectly.

Is it a perfect book? No, but show me a perfect book. It was a thrilling rollercoaster ride with ups and downs and even a few upside down loops thrown in. It was fun, and the first in this series where I became completely emotionally invested in the relationships between the three main characters in this latest adventure.

I can only hope for more 'Mountain Man' books. Hint hint, wink wink... I just want to know Gus is okay.

[Michael Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collie, Gus and Milo chase the Leather creeps

When Milo shot Collie dead through her heart his sniper rifle left a hole big enough to shove a fist through. You could see clean through her chest where her heart used to be. When she sat up Gus could plainly tell she was undead but unlike the Mindless, she was still Collie, just really creepy. Like any time she could go full zombie and try to eat him or Milo. It would be okay if she ate Milo, Gus really didn't mind. He still didn't trust the ex-soldier and couldn't figure why she insisted Milo accompany them on her expedition to kill all the Leather creeps.

The characters are so familiar that I almost know what they are going to do next. The storyline provides near non-stop action as the threesome of heroes go about dismantling the Leather gang on their way to eliminate the head honcho and rescue the captured children. The action draws you in and the devilish smile as I'm reading of slaughter and retribution on nearly every one of the more than 400 pages. A master storyteller lays out the plot and draws us in to the very last page. This is a tremendous read!

[Tyler James · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Keith has this ability in his writing where I am hooked during the entire story. This includes chapters that have no action and can be just conversations and traveling. His writing is masterful, addicting, and absolutely compelling. I am so sad that I made it to the final book in the series (so far). I’m legit going to miss these characters.
- EVERY villain and bad guy is unique. They are all written brilliantly to the point that I can easily image them in my mind. It makes the writing so much more immersive.
- Dog dicks backstory was unexpected but super cool.
- I love how intense the story can get at times and never knowing if our main characters will actually be able to get out of it or not.
- I FUCKING love this series. On to book 7!!!

[Kaci Guisinger-harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the worst book yet. It's written very well, this review is a ME problem. I hate constant fight scenes in movies/shows and this book was one giant fight scene. I don't like the fancy state of the art fantasy tech in this book. It went from being possible-ish with the zombies and cannibals etc. but then we bring in a limo that shoots rockets and has lasers and shit. NO! The mindless were stupid, the limo was dumb. It really was a great book but I had to fight to stay awake during it. I just needed more of a story other than going to look for dog dick and then they take out ARMYS of people. 3 people take out army's of other people that are dressed like a bad mad max movie. This next book better bring me back.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of hope this is the last volume, because it is the best of the series. I've been thinking all along that Mountain Man has the action and the gore of most zombie stories, but without the heart or the poignancy of the best ones. The series is fun, but not deep. This volume finally made me feel something. Not deeply, still, but Blackmore finally made the relationship between Gus and Collie feel real, and made me care what happened between them. If this is the last volume, it is going out on a high note, so I really hope we don't end up with a volume 7 that goes no deeper than drunken ball scratching.

[Bob Gaffney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love apocalypse zombie books but the genre has become a bit stale. That changed when I started reading the MM series. Keith breathed new life into the zombie genre with his own unique take that other writers haven’t. I thought this was the best book of the series finding each character incredibly authentic. There was such an ebb and flow to the story with great anticipation of not knowing what would happen next. Collie was a unique and lovable character with her charms and flaws that I kept picturing Charlize Theron. Looking forward to another story.

[Josh Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute thrill ride of a story! I wasn't sure what to expect with the next entry in the MM series but man, my mind was blown away like a rotting mindless.

My favorite aspect of this entire entry in the series was the relationship between Gus and Milo. It was such a raw shift in emotions that I found myself waiting for the next scene involving the two. Likewise, Colly was always a favorite of mine and it was interesting to watch her help shape Gus's persona.

I can't recommend this series enough. Very well done, Mr. Blackmore and Mr. Bray! Bravo!

[John Cheeseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to this book for ages and luckily it didnt disappoint. Keith C Blackmore is such a good action writer and knows how to draw out the tension and suspense as well as writing realistic dialogue and plenty of humour.
The books starts off a bit stupid with a government super-limo out of science fiction but once you get over that the characters take over and the truly horrific actions of the antagonists that the heroes have to overcome kept me on the edge of my seat. I've got the next book lined up and hope its as good as the last few.

[kevin r. wilburn]

Waiting for More.

I chose this rating because EVERYTHING in the MOUNTAIN MAN Series deserves 5 Stars. The Characters, the Story...it's all so griping. My biggest regret is burning thru the pages so fast. Blackmore always leaves me wanting more. If you haven't read the Series, I'd strongly recommend you do so. KEITH C. BLACKMORE...I'm gonna need you to continue this Saga. I'll be waiting. Thank you!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a Prequel, short story, and 5 previous entries under its belt, you have to ask, Is the Mountain Man series still worth checking out?

Short Answer - yes
Long Answer - If the series were to end here, it would be a satisfying ending. It's more focused than the previous 2 entries, and surprisingly, not as miserable. I continuously waited for everything to go wrong for Gus, and it somehow things always manage to go his way

To quote Collie "You Lucky Civie You"

An excellent Entry