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Surviving the Black #1
Breckinridge Valley: Surviving the Black--Book 1 of a Post-Apocalyptical series
Breckinridge A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Surviving the Black--Book 1), is set in today’s timeframe. After Jeremy Breckinridge’s wife dies, he’ll do anything he can to care for his two girls. He resigns from the Army and settles into a quiet Tennessee county to raise his family and help run the family businesses. However, the Breckinridge’s have a well-concealed secret. They are survivalists focused on protecting their family and allies from any large-scale disruption. When the SHTF, they learn no plan survives contact with reality. While they have prepared more extensively than their neighbors, even they find themselves stretched to provide for Breckinridge Valley’s growing population. Jeremy is shocked by how quickly societal norms break down outside the relative oasis of Breckinridge Valley. When a local militia and then a depraved deputy threaten to take over the area, Breckinridge Valley must act to preserve its future. This electrifying novel of persistence demonstrates the expanding versatility of new author Zack Finley. This dystopian novel features well-researched survival tips and ideas against the backdrop of rural America. The Surviving the Black series presents one version of a possible future, should American society continue its increasing dependence on a poorly managed electrical grid and food supplies coming from half a continent away. Mature themes, not suitable for persons under 18.
- GenresPost Apocalyptic
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2019
416 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Zack Finley
8 books10 followersZack Finley is my pen name. My spouse and I live on about 100 acres in rural Mendocino County, California. When I say rural, it means we depend on satellites for internet and television. Only one cell phone company works at our place, and that carrier gets less than one bar if you stand at the far corner of our deck. Sometimes texts work, sometimes not. We depend on a landline that is frequently out of service several times a year.
Our main news feed is monitoring the county emergency services scanner. This was a lifesaver for many during last year’s deadly firestorm.
I have a degree in Chemical Engineering and worked 25 years for a large oil company in refineries and chemical plants across the country. I started at a refinery in the San Francisco area. While I moved too many times in between, I was working there again when I retired. During my tenure, I had more than 15 different assignments and spent a whole lot of company money. I enjoy building stuff, and I had my hand in a lot of construction. I retired when I could.
We’ve lived in Mendocino County for about 20 years and share the land with bears, mountain lions, bobcats, deer, and many smaller critters. Our pond has water in it year ‘round and is full of mosquito fish, turtles, and the occasional newt. We get nearly five feet of rain each winter but none in the summer months. Some winter and early spring snows but it usually melts away within a few days.
We escaped the rat race of the city and fully embraced a rural lifestyle. On a new homestead, there was lots of hard physical work to do. Over nearly a decade I built a large workshop, upgraded our road, planted a huge garden, planted trees, cut down dead trees, cut and split firewood. I trained our deer to eat deer resistant plants and our bears to tear through fences and snap trees to get to the ripe fruit. I taught bears and raccoons to raid our compost pile, even when protected by a cage.
Mostly we live in peace with our critter friends, with rattlesnakes being the main exception. When rattlers come on my deck and around the outside of the house, they die. I have no interest in risking a rattlesnake bite for myself, my spouse, nor my pets. During rattlesnake season, we watch where we step. They are territorial, and I am territorial. They can live in peace on the other 99 acres, they just are not welcome around my house.
My spouse worked part-time off and on, but I was satisfied with life on our homestead.
And then, one day that was not enough. I left retirement and became a reporter for our small-town newspaper. Years passed, my editor retired, and I moved up into the hot seat. Years later, the corporate ax fell. My newspaper was cut to one reporter and one front office staffer. When told the cuts were not negotiable, I quit.
I’m now in my second retirement and writing novels.
Our main news feed is monitoring the county emergency services scanner. This was a lifesaver for many during last year’s deadly firestorm.
I have a degree in Chemical Engineering and worked 25 years for a large oil company in refineries and chemical plants across the country. I started at a refinery in the San Francisco area. While I moved too many times in between, I was working there again when I retired. During my tenure, I had more than 15 different assignments and spent a whole lot of company money. I enjoy building stuff, and I had my hand in a lot of construction. I retired when I could.
We’ve lived in Mendocino County for about 20 years and share the land with bears, mountain lions, bobcats, deer, and many smaller critters. Our pond has water in it year ‘round and is full of mosquito fish, turtles, and the occasional newt. We get nearly five feet of rain each winter but none in the summer months. Some winter and early spring snows but it usually melts away within a few days.
We escaped the rat race of the city and fully embraced a rural lifestyle. On a new homestead, there was lots of hard physical work to do. Over nearly a decade I built a large workshop, upgraded our road, planted a huge garden, planted trees, cut down dead trees, cut and split firewood. I trained our deer to eat deer resistant plants and our bears to tear through fences and snap trees to get to the ripe fruit. I taught bears and raccoons to raid our compost pile, even when protected by a cage.
Mostly we live in peace with our critter friends, with rattlesnakes being the main exception. When rattlers come on my deck and around the outside of the house, they die. I have no interest in risking a rattlesnake bite for myself, my spouse, nor my pets. During rattlesnake season, we watch where we step. They are territorial, and I am territorial. They can live in peace on the other 99 acres, they just are not welcome around my house.
My spouse worked part-time off and on, but I was satisfied with life on our homestead.
And then, one day that was not enough. I left retirement and became a reporter for our small-town newspaper. Years passed, my editor retired, and I moved up into the hot seat. Years later, the corporate ax fell. My newspaper was cut to one reporter and one front office staffer. When told the cuts were not negotiable, I quit.
I’m now in my second retirement and writing novels.
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August 29, 2021What a kick off to a first book. Read this book in just over 1 day.
All of the PA books I have read, pretty much imply that normally good humans will turn bad in a PA world.
I think most would in a way to try to survive or rule their little area of the earth around them.
All of the PA books I have read, pretty much imply that normally good humans will turn bad in a PA world.
I think most would in a way to try to survive or rule their little area of the earth around them.
April 10, 2019
Meh
Decent premise. But since when does a Ranger need dads input on how to do his job? These "Rangers" acted like boy scouts...except with less skills than boy scouts. And for battle tested warriors they sure required a lot of supervision by civilians with no military experience. I spent 8 years military and these guys were so far from military as to be laughable. Lastly, how many more times did the head boy scout need to say "that wasn't a line he was willing to cross" ? Completely unrealistic. Make your characters realistic. Real life is gritty and ugly, but even though this was supposed to represent the end of modern America, it was all sunshine and roses. I'm not reading the next book. 400 pages to make this work and you missed the mark by a long shot.
Decent premise. But since when does a Ranger need dads input on how to do his job? These "Rangers" acted like boy scouts...except with less skills than boy scouts. And for battle tested warriors they sure required a lot of supervision by civilians with no military experience. I spent 8 years military and these guys were so far from military as to be laughable. Lastly, how many more times did the head boy scout need to say "that wasn't a line he was willing to cross" ? Completely unrealistic. Make your characters realistic. Real life is gritty and ugly, but even though this was supposed to represent the end of modern America, it was all sunshine and roses. I'm not reading the next book. 400 pages to make this work and you missed the mark by a long shot.
March 21, 2019
Excellent looking forward to the second third and fourth in the series
Well some parts of the book seem to bogged down in minutia , this book seems to be well-thought-out well written into his credit the character is tried to cope with everything coming his way . Should such a catastrophic event occur I cannot fathom the amount of anxiety here and hopelessness a parent would have with children . That probably is what is so infuriating about the lackadaisical attitude of people who take so much of our modern civilization for granted and don't even think about what would happen should the " power , food , and social order " ever come to a screeching halt. The scenarios that have been portrayed in this book are mild compared to some extrapolations . I have been reading this sort of fiction for a few years . It is made me think , take some " prudent precautions ", and while these precautions have eased some anxiety like the character in this book I know there is so much that I have not thought of. This book made me think " oh yeah – I forgot about that !" Thank you very much for that. beyond that the book was very entertaining well written and shows just what people can do when they been together and work together a very positive lesson thank you Bill Hodges
Well some parts of the book seem to bogged down in minutia , this book seems to be well-thought-out well written into his credit the character is tried to cope with everything coming his way . Should such a catastrophic event occur I cannot fathom the amount of anxiety here and hopelessness a parent would have with children . That probably is what is so infuriating about the lackadaisical attitude of people who take so much of our modern civilization for granted and don't even think about what would happen should the " power , food , and social order " ever come to a screeching halt. The scenarios that have been portrayed in this book are mild compared to some extrapolations . I have been reading this sort of fiction for a few years . It is made me think , take some " prudent precautions ", and while these precautions have eased some anxiety like the character in this book I know there is so much that I have not thought of. This book made me think " oh yeah – I forgot about that !" Thank you very much for that. beyond that the book was very entertaining well written and shows just what people can do when they been together and work together a very positive lesson thank you Bill Hodges
February 15, 2019
This takes a good look the world post-CME and it is often very grim, as would likely be the case in such a scenario. A lot of first part of the book involves the main character becoming re-acquainted with his prepper parents/valley and it is a while before they even know a disaster is coming. There is a great deal of detail about what they had done and what they are doing and while I found a lot of this detail fairly interesting, the plot line and character development suffered and it was a relief to know the CME was coming. There are a lot of military acronyms, some of which I knew and some that I had to guess. The editing was pretty good with not a lot of spelling or grammar errors. The writing style was terse and fragmented, using a lot of short sentences, so it gave the book a kind of staccato-flow. There are a few spots of action and then back to the mundane, though the sequence with the Huntsville deputies was generally well done.
October 21, 2024
Interesting story with great character development. The choice of calling semi-automatic rifles "automatics" means the author doesn't really know much about guns. His crews recover "automatics" from almost every encounter and frankly, those rifles just don't exist in the US in private hands in any quantifiable way. Full auto M4's and full auto AK's certainly exist in the country but these are very limited and frankly are pretty worthless for most users. M249 SAW's are great guns but they only exist in very limited quantities with poiice departments and National Guard units have them along with .50 BMG's. He also says that LAW's rockets and mortars are available on the internet. That's just plain BS and it dilutes the storyline somewhat. I'm going to read thru the next installments with a somewhat jaundiced eye towards his storytelling. I think his human interaction narratives are worthwhile and his calorie count requirements are closer to the truth than most authors.
February 2, 2019
Although the topic is grim (and realistic which is SCARY), it is also hopeful in that it shows family and being prepared can help a whole community survive.
I purchased the book on Amazon early on and can recommend it. There are no zombies and nothing unrealistic; in fact, it is well researched and completely believable.
If you want to watch an ex-soldier and see how he thinks and evolves from going along to get along with his family to being the link-pin of fighting and surviving in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, this book will interest you.
I purchased the book on Amazon early on and can recommend it. There are no zombies and nothing unrealistic; in fact, it is well researched and completely believable.
If you want to watch an ex-soldier and see how he thinks and evolves from going along to get along with his family to being the link-pin of fighting and surviving in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, this book will interest you.
March 19, 2019
Excellent - definite read
The cover grabbed me, the summary pulled me in. This is one of those diamonds you stumble over in the depths of the cave that is the Kindle labyrinth on Amazon. It's a fascinating take on the world after STHF. It reads, for the most part, like a journal. It works, it works well. The characters aren't super heroes, they're just your average, every day Joe and Josephine. That makes them understandable and easy to relate to. The things the struggle with are the things I think we'd all struggle with, right down to female, pre-teen angst.
The cover grabbed me, the summary pulled me in. This is one of those diamonds you stumble over in the depths of the cave that is the Kindle labyrinth on Amazon. It's a fascinating take on the world after STHF. It reads, for the most part, like a journal. It works, it works well. The characters aren't super heroes, they're just your average, every day Joe and Josephine. That makes them understandable and easy to relate to. The things the struggle with are the things I think we'd all struggle with, right down to female, pre-teen angst.
June 23, 2019
Way too much Military
I have never been in the military and would of know a LAW from a SAW even if it was next to a Ma Deuce in an FOB. I am just a regular person trying to learn a little something about what I might have to face in an apocalypse and what I might have to do to survive. Reading a story is not entertaining or educational for me because I don't have a group of Rangers armed to the teeth with guns, grenades and flash bangs sitting in my livingroom. The battle strategy was tedious The book was well written but there was little I could identify with.
I have never been in the military and would of know a LAW from a SAW even if it was next to a Ma Deuce in an FOB. I am just a regular person trying to learn a little something about what I might have to face in an apocalypse and what I might have to do to survive. Reading a story is not entertaining or educational for me because I don't have a group of Rangers armed to the teeth with guns, grenades and flash bangs sitting in my livingroom. The battle strategy was tedious The book was well written but there was little I could identify with.
October 26, 2019
love it when you find another great series.
if you like NC Read Fire In Sky series you should like this series. I haven't like a new author in the prepping subject in some time. Got into them three years ago. I like the planning involved and problem solving plus a little action, but the started getting to Tin Hat plots for me. this series very reasonable witch makes it more believable and enjoying. Only wish the first part the prepping and planning were longer before the event happens
if you like NC Read Fire In Sky series you should like this series. I haven't like a new author in the prepping subject in some time. Got into them three years ago. I like the planning involved and problem solving plus a little action, but the started getting to Tin Hat plots for me. this series very reasonable witch makes it more believable and enjoying. Only wish the first part the prepping and planning were longer before the event happens
April 27, 2019
A ZF. Apocalyptic Adventure Thriller (STBB. - 1)/The Grid Has Fallen and Now Everyone is on Their Own
ZF. has. penned a novel about an apocalyptic event to the Electric Grid. The characters in this novel, a family have purchased a valley just for that reason. The men he recruits are his son and the area men who are ex Rangers or still active duty Rangers released from the Army. They defend the valley and all of its citizens. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
ZF. has. penned a novel about an apocalyptic event to the Electric Grid. The characters in this novel, a family have purchased a valley just for that reason. The men he recruits are his son and the area men who are ex Rangers or still active duty Rangers released from the Army. They defend the valley and all of its citizens. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
July 2, 2019
Very impressed
A SHTF survivalist story with retired U.S. Military taking a front row seat . Usually these books throw military jargon in our face and want to prove they know what they are talking about. This author knows what he is talking about and allows us the chance to figure out how things are run without us having to watch every doorstep they take. Very commendable .I will be reading more by this author.
A SHTF survivalist story with retired U.S. Military taking a front row seat . Usually these books throw military jargon in our face and want to prove they know what they are talking about. This author knows what he is talking about and allows us the chance to figure out how things are run without us having to watch every doorstep they take. Very commendable .I will be reading more by this author.
July 13, 2019
Skip this one
It is unusual for me to rate a book so low. I feel that with the author using a single character’s perspective throughout the entire book, it didn’t allow for the development of a believable story or the characters. In addition, the use of so many acronyms can be confusing to the reader and one of my biggest pet peeves is the use of poor grammar. ‘There’ does not have the same meaning as ‘their’.
I won’t be reading book two.
It is unusual for me to rate a book so low. I feel that with the author using a single character’s perspective throughout the entire book, it didn’t allow for the development of a believable story or the characters. In addition, the use of so many acronyms can be confusing to the reader and one of my biggest pet peeves is the use of poor grammar. ‘There’ does not have the same meaning as ‘their’.
I won’t be reading book two.
April 5, 2019
Very good read
The author penned a good story that obviously required a great deal of thought. It especially highlighted an aspect of modern life that is fading awability to think for ourselves and do things that require work. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. The "Greatest Generation" we're called that for good reason .
The author penned a good story that obviously required a great deal of thought. It especially highlighted an aspect of modern life that is fading awability to think for ourselves and do things that require work. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. The "Greatest Generation" we're called that for good reason .
June 9, 2019
Clinical
My favorite genre but I never connected with the characters felt more like the main character was just reading from manuals all day they went here did this with proper terms for weapons but there was no character development at the end I felt nothing for or about the characters
My favorite genre but I never connected with the characters felt more like the main character was just reading from manuals all day they went here did this with proper terms for weapons but there was no character development at the end I felt nothing for or about the characters
August 3, 2019
I loved this book. I am just ready to read the no.2 book . SO I will you know about the second book .But this first book very we!I written . Can't wait to read more. !
This book was very exciting it was hard to put it down. Because all the people in the book kept the book very entertaining .
must
This book was very exciting it was hard to put it down. Because all the people in the book kept the book very entertaining .
must
April 25, 2020
Ok
I gave it three stars because I don’t think it’s best but not the worst. While I respect that the MC wasn’t blood thirsty he was also too timid in my opinion. I just expected a little bit more from him when it comes to initiative and decision making. He’s not in his early 20s he’s a grown veteran with children yet his dad makes most of the key decisions.
I gave it three stars because I don’t think it’s best but not the worst. While I respect that the MC wasn’t blood thirsty he was also too timid in my opinion. I just expected a little bit more from him when it comes to initiative and decision making. He’s not in his early 20s he’s a grown veteran with children yet his dad makes most of the key decisions.
May 21, 2024
Jeremy breckenridge comes home After his wife dies To be with his kids and help his community.
In order to keep his valley secure Jeremy starts up A force Of rangers from his old unit To protect everyone With his dad's guidance His mom's Sense Of community, they expand their small group of 40 people 2 over 300.
In order to keep his valley secure Jeremy starts up A force Of rangers from his old unit To protect everyone With his dad's guidance His mom's Sense Of community, they expand their small group of 40 people 2 over 300.
February 5, 2019
Excellent story of survival
The characters were real to life, very believable. This Bloomingdales readers of what took. Order to survive a disaster. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading book 2.
The characters were real to life, very believable. This Bloomingdales readers of what took. Order to survive a disaster. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading book 2.
March 13, 2019
lots of good information but written like a documentary narrated by the main character or written like a diary. I don't have any desire to buy any more styled like this book. I did take notes on pepper stuff.
March 12, 2019
Surviving the Black review
Surviving the Black is the first post apocalyptic book in the Breckinridge Valley series written by author Zack Finley. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
Surviving the Black is the first post apocalyptic book in the Breckinridge Valley series written by author Zack Finley. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
March 13, 2019
Very intense and informative.
Hard choices for these peppers hav ing to stay a step ahead of people who had only one agenda. That agenda of selfishness and pure evil often appears after an event such as this
Hard choices for these peppers hav ing to stay a step ahead of people who had only one agenda. That agenda of selfishness and pure evil often appears after an event such as this
March 19, 2019
Really good
This book was really good, I enjoyed the characters and the setting. A lot of Emp books get off track and worry about some opposing force. This author kept up the prepping, stocking, and garden growing aspects throughout and was able to hold a strong story.
This book was really good, I enjoyed the characters and the setting. A lot of Emp books get off track and worry about some opposing force. This author kept up the prepping, stocking, and garden growing aspects throughout and was able to hold a strong story.
May 10, 2019
Well Done!
Well done with an emphasis on how to organize survival in an end of world scenario. Enjoyed the well thought out military planning an implementation during the battle events.
Well done with an emphasis on how to organize survival in an end of world scenario. Enjoyed the well thought out military planning an implementation during the battle events.
June 16, 2019
Second time around
Yes, I have read this book twice now! I believe it is better this time, if that's possible! I found things t hat I missed the first time. It's great to find another very good author. Cudos to the editor also.
Yes, I have read this book twice now! I believe it is better this time, if that's possible! I found things t hat I missed the first time. It's great to find another very good author. Cudos to the editor also.
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July 29, 2019Excellent post CME read
This author has you visualizing a life that most cannot or will not imagine You become invested slowly into the many characters but hand in there it’s just getting started
This author has you visualizing a life that most cannot or will not imagine You become invested slowly into the many characters but hand in there it’s just getting started
August 30, 2019
I am a Vietnam veteran myself and I like books that have Rangers banding together to help society to rebuild our country.
I would recommend this book to my friends. if there is a book 2 i hope it comes out soon.
I would recommend this book to my friends. if there is a book 2 i hope it comes out soon.
September 2, 2019
This was a pretty good start to a new series. The book was much longer than it needed to be and I found myself skimming it. Too focused on details that I found boring. When the action started though it was really good.
September 16, 2019
Capitvating
With nearly 1000 dystopian books under my belt as a reader, I must say that this is the Best series that I have read since A. American. Excellent job. I couldn't put the book down. Very impressed.
With nearly 1000 dystopian books under my belt as a reader, I must say that this is the Best series that I have read since A. American. Excellent job. I couldn't put the book down. Very impressed.
March 25, 2020
Review
Very interesting story about the results of a CME. These people are prepared way more than most of us which is becoming obvious now with the Chinese virus. The characters are somewhat wooden and show few emotion with the exception of the 13 year old girls.
Very interesting story about the results of a CME. These people are prepared way more than most of us which is becoming obvious now with the Chinese virus. The characters are somewhat wooden and show few emotion with the exception of the 13 year old girls.
July 8, 2020
Preparations for the unknown major events pay dividends.
This book could be used as a model for thinking ahead and use as a check list. The process of preparations for a complete loss of power makes for a excellent read.
This book could be used as a model for thinking ahead and use as a check list. The process of preparations for a complete loss of power makes for a excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews