Zoners:

by M.H. Mead

It’s called the Zone—the ring of dangerous neighborhoods surrounding the newly prosperous Detroit.

Officially, it doesn’t exist. Unofficially, it’s the home of the hiding, the forgotten, and the criminal. PI Aidra Scott avoids the area when she can. But when she sees her son’s best friend jump a fence and head into the Zone, she has no choice but to follow. What Aidra finds is something far beyond a lawless shadow city, and her simple search-and-rescue may not be so simple after all.

This short story can be enjoyed as a stand-alone or as part of the Detroit Next series.

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2013

Reviews

[Megan Cutler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic little novella. It stands alone pretty well, but it certainly helps to have the context of at least one of the books in the series it accompanies. The story's lead, Aidra, is one badass lady and I liked her instantly. There's no filler here. The story is clean and concise, the images of the Zone are vivid and the story's pacing is perfect (not too slow but not so fast you feel like you're struggling to keep up). It's a bite-size read and definitely worth the time!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 stars, maybe 4.5.

This was a really creative exploration of a dystopian future in which the "haves" have thoroughly blocked themselves away from the "have nots," and conflict ensues. But the story focuses on a single mother who is trying to protect her son's best friend, who she has taken in as nearly a son to herself. It mixes the personal and the global incredibly well to define a complex world in accessible ways.

Recommended! Fairly short, and worth your time.

[Ernesto I. Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick an decent read. an interesting development for detroit and the main character is both likeable and believable.