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The Blue Lives Apocalypse #1
Survive and Escape
Sam and Jane Archer walk out of a backcountry-hiking trip into a living nightmare. Their car is vandalized and dead, along with every other vehicle in the trailhead parking lot. Unable to get a cell phone signal, and spooked by a threatening encounter--they resign themselves to a long hike home, suspecting a possible EMP attack against the United States.
What they discover along the way shakes them to the core!
The electrical grid has been down for two weeks, plunging the world as they once knew it into complete chaos. Citizens live in helpless terror of violent gangs--the police hunted down and killed on sight. Food and essential resources have dwindled to nothing, taken by the wild bands of marauders that have risen from the collapse to murder and plunder at will.
Little hope remain, as Jane, a local police officer, and her husband Sam, a military veteran, start the harrowing journey home to save their only daughter Lea--before she is consumed by the madness.
What they discover along the way shakes them to the core!
The electrical grid has been down for two weeks, plunging the world as they once knew it into complete chaos. Citizens live in helpless terror of violent gangs--the police hunted down and killed on sight. Food and essential resources have dwindled to nothing, taken by the wild bands of marauders that have risen from the collapse to murder and plunder at will.
Little hope remain, as Jane, a local police officer, and her husband Sam, a military veteran, start the harrowing journey home to save their only daughter Lea--before she is consumed by the madness.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2016
1887 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Lee West
34 books13 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
February 25, 2017
It's okay I guess
I don't quite understand the high ratings some of these shtf, prepper, EMP novels get. If you've read any good thriller books by Vince Flynn, Brad Thor...you know a good storyteller when you see/read one, this isn't one. Even if it's a $2.99 Kindle novel I expect a good story and this ones okay at best. I did like the escape inmates taking over the town as opposed to the street gangs approach. I thought the main characters seemed very aware of the crisis at hand one moment and completely oblivious the next. Ever thought of posting a guard when sleeping surrounded by 'the bad guys'? Sam seems kind of soft for a former Marine. The underground railroad for PD officers was interesting. At least no one took their Glock off safe so that's always a plus for these novels. It has potential, just not sure I'll try book 2.
I don't quite understand the high ratings some of these shtf, prepper, EMP novels get. If you've read any good thriller books by Vince Flynn, Brad Thor...you know a good storyteller when you see/read one, this isn't one. Even if it's a $2.99 Kindle novel I expect a good story and this ones okay at best. I did like the escape inmates taking over the town as opposed to the street gangs approach. I thought the main characters seemed very aware of the crisis at hand one moment and completely oblivious the next. Ever thought of posting a guard when sleeping surrounded by 'the bad guys'? Sam seems kind of soft for a former Marine. The underground railroad for PD officers was interesting. At least no one took their Glock off safe so that's always a plus for these novels. It has potential, just not sure I'll try book 2.
June 19, 2018
When the author of a book has a character do or say something that is just not believable I start to lose interest and if it happens a 2nd and 3rd time I'm pretty much done. An example is the parents are separated from their child when an EMP strikes causing loss of all electrical power and throwing their world into chaos. The parents (Moms a cop) fight their way back home and sneak into their house while the bad guys running the town and living in their house, have left the house giving mom/dad a chance to look and see if daughter is inside. They search each room floor by floor but for some reason never think to search the basement!!! What??? Luckily of course the daughter makes a noise and bingo! they are reunited. I could give several other examples that defy explanation but wont carry on. The one redeeming thing is the book is very short but even the "hook" that is supposed to make you want to read the next series is poor so no thanks.
July 14, 2020
The writing in this book was at best at the three star level, but the author abruptly ends the book with no resolution so the reader will be enticed (forced?) to buy his next book to see what happens to his still undeveloped characters in this dystopian story. In my rating system, this ploy knocks the rating down two more stars. If the author has to give away this book and then trick the reader into buying another one to finish the story, it demonstrates the author's own lack of confidence in his novel's quality.
January 16, 2021
Interesting book. Not so much on the technicality of the EMP specifically but good in preparation of the social breakdown and some scenarios to prepare for. I believe that if we continue divided as a country they way we are, it’s only a matter of time that a real enemy will take the opportunity and attack us. Maybe not in the typical way we expected but an EMP is easily created and can cripple the entire country which would make us extremely vulnerable. I think that if the incoming administration and their supporters get their way in removing weapons from people, an EMP is very, very plausible. I am not a full-fledged prepped but I have made certain preps for different scenarios. One of the best advice I can give is “don’t plan for a particular scenario”. You never know what could come; natural disaster, pandemic, social unrest, government tyranny. Sadly these have all been experience by the US in 2020.
February 17, 2020
😊
A good post apocalyptic story. Decent action packed pages. Not the usual post apocalyptic starts of most stories along the same lines so it was refreshing to see it done in a different way. It's written well and keeps the imagination running too.
After hiking in the back country Sam and Jane encounter something unusual and kinda scary. Once back at their car they find not on my their car but every other car in the lot has been damaged. Smashed Windows and it just won't start. So they decide the on my thing to do is hike the long way home where they left their daughter at home. It's what they begin to encounter on the way when things begin to sink in that the world they knew no longer exists. Can things ever be normal again?
A good post apocalyptic story. Decent action packed pages. Not the usual post apocalyptic starts of most stories along the same lines so it was refreshing to see it done in a different way. It's written well and keeps the imagination running too.
After hiking in the back country Sam and Jane encounter something unusual and kinda scary. Once back at their car they find not on my their car but every other car in the lot has been damaged. Smashed Windows and it just won't start. So they decide the on my thing to do is hike the long way home where they left their daughter at home. It's what they begin to encounter on the way when things begin to sink in that the world they knew no longer exists. Can things ever be normal again?
July 20, 2020
This is a relatively good story, but i dont think it should have had so many random people be badass marines and cops. I know that is the series line, but sometimes it felt unrealistic to me. I felt the characters were good, but it was suddenly weird to have Mark be a recon marine, because it didn't fit his personality when you met him. I would have preferred a gun enthusiast or a hunter.
I felt the characters were too comfortable in the apocalypse. Way too comfortable, but also suddenly not looking in the basement of their own house during a sweep.
Its a good read, but I feel more realistic characters would do this book some good. Thats the only reason I felt it was a 4 instead of a 5.
I felt the characters were too comfortable in the apocalypse. Way too comfortable, but also suddenly not looking in the basement of their own house during a sweep.
Its a good read, but I feel more realistic characters would do this book some good. Thats the only reason I felt it was a 4 instead of a 5.
May 17, 2017
Survive And Escape. Lee West
Sam and his wife went backpacking into the wilderness near there home in Evansville . Hiking back to there car, they quickly observe changes. There car as well as all the others in the parking lot are vandalized. The car won't start. The ranger station is in ruins. No power of any kind exists. An unknown EMP attack has occurred. Everything is in chaos. No police, no authority of any kind. Chaos. This is a chilling story of survival and individual bravery. Very fast paced, an extraordinary read. I highly recommend!
Sam and his wife went backpacking into the wilderness near there home in Evansville . Hiking back to there car, they quickly observe changes. There car as well as all the others in the parking lot are vandalized. The car won't start. The ranger station is in ruins. No power of any kind exists. An unknown EMP attack has occurred. Everything is in chaos. No police, no authority of any kind. Chaos. This is a chilling story of survival and individual bravery. Very fast paced, an extraordinary read. I highly recommend!
January 14, 2019
An LW. SYFY. Novel/Blue Lives (1)/The Beginning
LW. has. penned a SYF Y Novel About an EMO disaster. The two primary characters take a two week vacation and when they return an EMP. attack
has destroyed the way of life as people understood it to be. They find that Prisoners who escaped from jail have killed everyone for miles. The survivors begin to plan how to survive and what must be done for their
survival. A change of attitude must be made. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
LW. has. penned a SYF Y Novel About an EMO disaster. The two primary characters take a two week vacation and when they return an EMP. attack
has destroyed the way of life as people understood it to be. They find that Prisoners who escaped from jail have killed everyone for miles. The survivors begin to plan how to survive and what must be done for their
survival. A change of attitude must be made. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
May 26, 2023
Survive and Escape
This book is exciting but really scary too. As all power is lost for some unknown reason. Convicts from a prison escape and take over and kill the police departments. Now all the towns are at the mercy of these thugs. Sam and Jane went on a couple week hike before all this happened. As they cone out if the mountains to find we are in a complete mess. Now they must find there daughter which they left at home. Will they find her before these thugs do. Can't wait to read book 2
This book is exciting but really scary too. As all power is lost for some unknown reason. Convicts from a prison escape and take over and kill the police departments. Now all the towns are at the mercy of these thugs. Sam and Jane went on a couple week hike before all this happened. As they cone out if the mountains to find we are in a complete mess. Now they must find there daughter which they left at home. Will they find her before these thugs do. Can't wait to read book 2
May 17, 2018
Super suspence
Good story line but designed to hpok you into a serial! I remember saturday am watching the tom mix serial movie and hoppalong serial and red ryder seria?l and having to go back next week for the next part of the story! I read a book abou every three days, and when it turns out to be a serial, its dishertening! I will probably never find out about lea,jane sam,charlie,mark ,doris,marta and tank!
Good story line but designed to hpok you into a serial! I remember saturday am watching the tom mix serial movie and hoppalong serial and red ryder seria?l and having to go back next week for the next part of the story! I read a book abou every three days, and when it turns out to be a serial, its dishertening! I will probably never find out about lea,jane sam,charlie,mark ,doris,marta and tank!
April 5, 2020
Good
The storytelling is intriguing, Jane and Sam are on a backpacking vacation in the mountains for 2 weeks. On their final day hiking out they begin to notice people hiking who appear totally unprepared for hiking. When they reach the parking lot their car has been vandalized as well as all the other vehicles and none will run. Jane is a police officer in Evansville and Sam is her husband. They start their harrowing journey home.
The storytelling is intriguing, Jane and Sam are on a backpacking vacation in the mountains for 2 weeks. On their final day hiking out they begin to notice people hiking who appear totally unprepared for hiking. When they reach the parking lot their car has been vandalized as well as all the other vehicles and none will run. Jane is a police officer in Evansville and Sam is her husband. They start their harrowing journey home.
October 21, 2025
Short Chapters, incomplete.
This is one of those action books with really short chapters. It doesn’t have an ending, so don’t start it unless you plan to read the whole series. The power goes out and none of the cars work, then, when the plot needs it, the cars work again. No explanation is given for the change. The whole book seems a bit amateurish. Maybe it was the author’s first book.
This is one of those action books with really short chapters. It doesn’t have an ending, so don’t start it unless you plan to read the whole series. The power goes out and none of the cars work, then, when the plot needs it, the cars work again. No explanation is given for the change. The whole book seems a bit amateurish. Maybe it was the author’s first book.
May 18, 2018
Holds your! In?terest.
Highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good guessing game.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
the? z
Well written Difficult to anticipate what comes next.
Kept me interested from beginning to end
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good guessing game.
Keeps the reader involved throughout.
Looking w
Highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good guessing game.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
the? z
Well written Difficult to anticipate what comes next.
Kept me interested from beginning to end
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good guessing game.
Keeps the reader involved throughout.
Looking w
May 25, 2018
Worth getting into the series
The storyline is really good. The premise is familiar but the flow around it is pretty thorough and not as usual. I just bought book 2 and can't wait to get into it. Yes it has a cliffhanger and you need to go on to the next book to finish the story but I didn't resent it as much as I usually do.
The storyline is really good. The premise is familiar but the flow around it is pretty thorough and not as usual. I just bought book 2 and can't wait to get into it. Yes it has a cliffhanger and you need to go on to the next book to finish the story but I didn't resent it as much as I usually do.
March 28, 2020
Tension Abounds!
I felt dirty and hot and sweaty along with them as they made their way toward their home carrying heavy backpacks. The tension never let up through the whole book. I grew to like and respect these characters for the way they each handled the experience. But the New Order is only to be feared.
I felt dirty and hot and sweaty along with them as they made their way toward their home carrying heavy backpacks. The tension never let up through the whole book. I grew to like and respect these characters for the way they each handled the experience. But the New Order is only to be feared.
March 26, 2023
Loved it
Action packed and fast paced. Like bingeing on candy ...except can't get my fill. Could not put it down. Have to move on to the sequel as soon as I have finished stocking up on supplies.
Loved the different characters ... Jane, Sam and Lea. Charlie and Mark , Doris and Marta. Need to know they are all safe.
Action packed and fast paced. Like bingeing on candy ...except can't get my fill. Could not put it down. Have to move on to the sequel as soon as I have finished stocking up on supplies.
Loved the different characters ... Jane, Sam and Lea. Charlie and Mark , Doris and Marta. Need to know they are all safe.
May 16, 2017
Surprised me
This is a very good story of a bad situation. The characters continue to develop & are not one dimensional except for a few evil bad guys. Better than many similar stories.
This is a very good story of a bad situation. The characters continue to develop & are not one dimensional except for a few evil bad guys. Better than many similar stories.
May 22, 2017
Well written
This book is well written with lots of suspense and surprises. Rooting for the underdogs keeps you wanting more. In the worst times people show their true colors. They either are the problem or become part of the solution
This book is well written with lots of suspense and surprises. Rooting for the underdogs keeps you wanting more. In the worst times people show their true colors. They either are the problem or become part of the solution
May 31, 2017
Takes a bit to achieve takeoff
It feels slow for a while. I don't know why they couldn't just ask the first people they encountered what was going on. It did finally get off the ground well enough for me to order the sequel.
It feels slow for a while. I don't know why they couldn't just ask the first people they encountered what was going on. It did finally get off the ground well enough for me to order the sequel.
November 22, 2017
Did not finish
Maybe someone else can get involved with the characters; I could not. I felt the storyline was okay, I just could not get involved enough to really care what happened next. It was a shame too because I am desperately looking for a new series in this genre.
Maybe someone else can get involved with the characters; I could not. I felt the storyline was okay, I just could not get involved enough to really care what happened next. It was a shame too because I am desperately looking for a new series in this genre.
May 21, 2018
West has a way of keeping you involved by giving you great characters and great a story that keeps you turning pages from page one. I have read many books in this genre and this is at the top of my list.
Well worth the time spent..
Thank you West for a great read.
Well worth the time spent..
Thank you West for a great read.
June 21, 2018
Left me breathless
A quick read with non-stop action. If I read correctly all of this happened during g a two-week period? I find that highly implausible. Even if it happened within a four-week period it seems too short for all that chaos to happen. But that's my only complaint.
A quick read with non-stop action. If I read correctly all of this happened during g a two-week period? I find that highly implausible. Even if it happened within a four-week period it seems too short for all that chaos to happen. But that's my only complaint.
September 5, 2018
Riveting story with suspense and action
The author has written a story that is sure to keep you guessing as to what will happen next. The suspense is outstanding and the author is a very good storyteller.
The author has written a story that is sure to keep you guessing as to what will happen next. The suspense is outstanding and the author is a very good storyteller.
January 16, 2019
Intriging
I’m not a great fan of post apocalyptic stories, usually finding them cliche and repetitive. This novel offers a fresh start to a tired topic. Hope the sequels prove out in a similar manner.
I’m not a great fan of post apocalyptic stories, usually finding them cliche and repetitive. This novel offers a fresh start to a tired topic. Hope the sequels prove out in a similar manner.
July 9, 2019
Propaganda & Tropes
Did not realize this was a “Blue Lives Matter” Book (my kindle recommended it to me and didn’t show the full title). So poorly written and so anti-prison reform and FULL to the brim of tropes.
Did not realize this was a “Blue Lives Matter” Book (my kindle recommended it to me and didn’t show the full title). So poorly written and so anti-prison reform and FULL to the brim of tropes.
August 2, 2019
Different!
I really like this small series. Another look at the life of people trying to to exist following the employees yet, living in there shadows of a cruel and sick group of ex-,cons! I highly recommend reading this one. Nicely done.
I
I really like this small series. Another look at the life of people trying to to exist following the employees yet, living in there shadows of a cruel and sick group of ex-,cons! I highly recommend reading this one. Nicely done.
I
December 11, 2019
Impending EMP
I believe fully I will see an EMP in my lifetime, whether intentional or not. In this book, there are a few ideas I've not yet read. While I haven't gone to the extremes referenced in this book, I think I might.
I believe fully I will see an EMP in my lifetime, whether intentional or not. In this book, there are a few ideas I've not yet read. While I haven't gone to the extremes referenced in this book, I think I might.
August 8, 2020
Very suspenseful & kinda gritty. But when you come out of the wilderness & you don't know what's happening unless you are prepared for anything. You will not survive. But this is a continuing series leaves off with a cliffhanger.
April 6, 2023
Nice clean story
I enjoyed this tale enough to give it a second go round. It does not have any surprises for those who are fans of the genre. It is clean without the usual messy bedroom scenes. Worthy of continuing.
I enjoyed this tale enough to give it a second go round. It does not have any surprises for those who are fans of the genre. It is clean without the usual messy bedroom scenes. Worthy of continuing.
April 11, 2023
Great read with a dark atmosphere
Characters are well written and the descriptions of everything can place you on a road in your own home town. End of world vibe is deep and realistic.
Characters are well written and the descriptions of everything can place you on a road in your own home town. End of world vibe is deep and realistic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews