Bridges of Smoke

by Julie March

All Leecie Huffman cares about is surviving her next shift as a barista—until the world goes up in blue smoke, millions of people die at the hands of a biological weapon, and life as she knew it ends. With a harsh new reality dawning over the Florida Panhandle, she sets out on a truth-seeking road trip, armed only with a folder full of stolen documents.

Bolton Elwood doesn’t want to hide out in an abandoned fort with a powder-keg group of suburban draft-dodgers. Keeping the peace, however, is the least of his problems when the dreaded blue veins begin to appear on his body.

As Leecie’s mission veers toward disaster, and Bolton is forced to confront the secrets he left for her to find, they discover the explosions were just the first step in a sinister plan for world domination.

401 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2022

About the author

I’ve been on this planet since 1996, which is 20-something Earth years, and have for the most part enjoyed my experience. This “getting a job” and “paying the bills” business, however, I could do without.

When I was a kid, someone thought it would be a good idea to give me a notebook and teach me how to spell and make up stories (thanks, mom!). I haven’t ever really…stopped since then. I’ve dabbled in novels, short stories, and poetry (even got some recognition for that one) over the years, but novels are my favorite.

I have several other hobbies besides writing outlandish stories – some of them even pay the bills (design and photography, to be specific). But at the risk of offending my freelance clients, I’d have to say that writing is definitely my favorite.

I live in Tennessee with a cat and a dog.

I hope you enjoy the story.

Reviews

[Julie Bihn]

I don't know why I thought this would be more sci-fi than suspense, but it's heavy on the suspense with villainous entities that feel eerily plausible. Also, I think I might kind of like suspense? Dramatic and yet intimate; an exciting read.

[Helyna Clove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update September 2024: Re-read it before the next installment and I enjoyed every minute. Full of action, full of anguish, Bolton is my son.

Review December 2022:

Oh man, this was such a sad book. And I loved it.

Okay, so it's about the apocalypse, right? There's a virus, or something, being released, and people are all dying and communities are in upheaval and people walk around with guns (I suppose, not a big change in the USA (ouch) but still) it's all going to crap, just in the most subtle and terrifying way. As it would, I guess. And we have Leecie, with her absolutely honest narration, messy, messy family issues, anxiety, and neurodivergence, leading us through a suburban exodus, an investigation of shady chemical warfare corporations, several car- and foot-chases...have I mentioned she is unbreakable? She is so fragile, and lost, and desperate, but she's the strongest person I've met and that's a fact even if I haven't met her.

On the other hand of the narration is Bolton, Leecie's friend and not-friend-but-perhaps-something-else who has Something To Do with the infection. His dry humour was so, so needed, and his unwavering devotion for Leecie brought me to tears, y'all. And even though the plot is huge (an apocalypse, hello?) the story itself feels intimate. Like a personal hell for the characters. It hurts. But then it made me smile also, sometimes. They are all so human and lovely, and their dynamics are just great. And the villains are the unknowable and awful corporate overlords that they are, and I don't want to hear it, it's horrible, and it's such an impossible task for our main characters to fight against them, but then they do! For each other. To live one more day. And I'm all for that.

And then there's a cliffhanger. So I'll be just over there waiting for the next book.