THE FLENSE: China

The Flense Serial #3

by Saul W. Tanpepper

Hundreds die in a fiery train crash in northern China. A cargo ship smuggling refugees is lost to calm seas off the Libyan coast. Entire villages in Ghana are abandoned overnight. Contracted by an apocalypse prepper group to investigate a series of seemingly disconnected global tragedies, a young medical investigative reporter, Angelique de l'Enfantine, uncovers a disturbing pattern to the tragedies. Are they harbingers of an impending biblical catastrophe? Or practice runs by a fanatical organization bent on global annihilation? As each new event proves more grisly than the last, Angel must race against time to uncover the truth, because the next life lost could be her own. Sign up to be notified of new releases and exclusive giveaways, including advance access to new THE FLENSE 12-part serial is also available in 4 novel-length ~ China (installments 1-3) ~ Iceland (installments 4-6) ~ Africa (installments 7-9) ~ America (installments 10-12) Requiring no more than the slightest skin-to-skin contact, the Flense spread across the globe with ruthless speed and stealth, decimating mankind before it was barely even aware of it. The infected were turned into soulless creatures, Wraiths, which wrought destruction upon anyone and anything in their path. Secure inside ten isolated bunkers are Humanity's tattered remains, each working tirelessly to unravel the mystery of the scourge. But the bunkers were never meant to protect forever. In fact, they were never meant to protect at all. CONTAIN (BUNKER 12 series pilot): Three years. That's how long Finnian Bolles has been hiding inside the impregnable walls of the hydroelectric complex known as Bunker 8. Three years, with enough resources to last him and the other thirty survivors three more. But then a series of disturbing events culminates in the sudden appearance of a stranger at their door. Before he too falls victim to the mysterious sickness known as the Flense, he warns them of a fate more horrific than the one they've been avoiding. But to prevent it, they must leave and seek a place many insist doesn't exist, a mythical twelfth bunker. Built in the middle of Long Island’s abandoned industrial wasteland is a hundred-square-mile virtual reality arcade where the rich and privileged compete in a high-stakes game and the undead are their real-life avatars. There are only two ways to get into this horrifying yet wildly addictive game. The first is by paid invitation. The second is by volunteering to become an Undead Player. After finding themselves trapped inside a massive gaming arcade in the middle of Long Island's abandoned wasteland, a group of young computer hackers must figure out how to escape while staying out of the clutches of its undead inhabitants and their living controllers. Episode Deep Into the Game : A reckless end-of-summer prank sends six hackers trespassing onto abandoned Long Island hoping for a glimpse of the victims of the decade-old outbreak. But if they find breaking was easy, they'll soon learn that getting back out is a killer. Get the first two GAMELAND books for free while you still can! Subscribe to get your own four-book GAMELAND starter

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2015

About the author

For the latest news, events and giveaways, subscribe to the Tanpepper Tidings: https://tanpepperwrites.com

Got a Kindle? Find me at http://viewauthor.at/SaulTanpepper
Got a Nook? I'm here http://bit.ly/VpgXlh
iTunes? Click this http://bit.ly/QnMoJp
Google Play? http://bit.ly/2jVLtVL
Kobo? http://bit.ly/TNIWZX
Do you Smashwords? http://bit.ly/P4SEWi
Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/SaulTanpepper

Saul is the specfic pen name of author Ken J. Howe, who writes in a variety of genres. He is a retired biotech entrepreneur with a PhD in molecular genetics and is a former combat medic.

Reviews

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing the suspense, the first "cycle" in this 12-part serial, "China," completes in this episode. Like life, there are loads of loose ends, but if one reads no further he is not left on the edge of a cliff. The very nature of the story prevents full resolution and leaves your conspiracy sensors on high alert. (Is it really paranoia if some IS trying to kill you?)

I was only able to listen [AUDIO] on the open road as too much concentration was required for traffic (read that either way--you'd best be paying attention to where you are in traffic!) but the excellent narration has been consistent. Don't bother to start here--this is not designed nor intended to be standalone.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angelique has more pieces to the puzzle including the only survivor from the train, but if Angelique doesn't do something fast the girl won't be a survivor much longer.

Again, Mr. Tanpepper and Mr. Greene have brought this story out front and alive for the listener of this audiobook. It makes you wonder if all of this could really happen in real life right here, right now. Mr. Tanpepper's story makes you think and his story's is filled with all the action and twist and turns of a super roller coaster ride. Mr. Greene brings the book alive with his awesome narration and storytelling abilities, he puts you right there in the middle of the action and everything that is going on and he might even put you in some spots you do not care to go. This serial is so great I can't wait for more, really I can't wait more, really please hurry.

[PJ Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

ow, a scary climax to The Flense,China!
Angel is still searching for answers and she finally discovers exactly what the mysterious group X6 is looking for.
It sounds simple but is a very complicated plot with lots of action and intrigue.
Aston is a truly evil character but Norstrom turns out to be an enigma, with an unknown agenda. Cheong is also a strange one, there is definitely something below the surface that we have yet to see.
I enjoyed the intrigue, the fast paced plot and the complicated relationships between the characters. The medical scenarios and explanations were easy to follow, even though I know nothing about this field.
I am looking forward to part 4, it's just a shame we have to wait until January to read it.
*This was a review copy. My opinions are my own*

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angel’s continuing search for answers is full of action and nerve-wracking tension. The information she finds is bewildering and terrifying, as are the people that are determined to keep her from sharing it. Still, she finds a possible ally in an unexpected place. How much that can help her remains to be seen.

There’s no happy ending here, and the loose ends are not tied in neat bow. It’s not that kind of story. The incident in China concludes with this episode, while the unresolved elements clearly indicate a much bigger story is out there somewhere, more than Angel expected to deal with, clearly. I certainly want to see where it goes from here.