Before Safe Haven: The Complete Box Set

By: Christopher Artinian

Narrated by: Kim Bretton

Length: 14 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Before Safe Haven–Alex

A virus has infected billions all over the world, turning its victims into vicious zombies. The UK and Ireland have remained uninfected...until now.

Alex Munro’s city is put in lockdown as an outbreak of the zombie virus takes hold. Each day the government broadcasts claim a new victory in the fight. Each night more shots are heard as the undead begin to stake their claim to the streets of Leeds.

What will he do? What can he do? For Alex, family is everything. Survival is everything. Heroes aren’t born. Heroes are made. Today we need a new hero. Today we need Alex.

Before Safe Haven–Mike

Trapped in a corrupt hellhole with thieves, sadists and killers, Mike didn’t think things could get any worse. He was wrong. When everyone around him opted to do the easy thing, he chose to do the right thing. He chose to stand up.

Several years on, and a new hell has found him. A virus has infected billions all over the world, turning its victims into vicious zombies. The UK and Ireland have remained uninfected...until now. Lawlessness threatens to take over the streets as the government does everything it can to keep control. With the city in lockdown and every resource stretched to breaking point, Mike finds himself in familiar territory.

The stakes could not be higher as Mike has to fight for his family’s very survival. His greatest weapon is the will to do anything for the ones he loves, but will that be enough?

Before Safe Haven–Lucy

A virus has infected billions all over the world, turning its victims into vicious zombies. The UK and Ireland have remained uninfected...until now.

Lucy Blair is an American doctor stationed at a field hospital outside the quarantined city of Leeds. Each day she hears more rumors circulating about the virus spreading. Each day she plays her part in the vast mechanism that has been constructed by the British government to safeguard the population.

But today, the rumors stopped. Today, the rumors became reality. Now she is in a new kind of hell as she fights her way through a dangerous city to find a last ray of hope and that one last chance for survival.

Before Safe Haven–Jules

Jules is just the girl next door. She works hard and likes to party. She’s young, smart, good-looking, and the future is hers for the taking…or at least it was.

A zombie plague killing billions has swept over the planet, and she is trapped with a rag-tag group of survivors in an infested city.

She never wanted this responsibility, but everyone is looking to her. Disaster after disaster plunges them into more danger…more chaos.

And now, every day is a fight for survival. Every day a new nightmare awaits them. Every day could be their last.

Finding a safe haven is nothing but a dream, but dreams are all Jules has.

This is the beginning, and the end is nigh.

©2022 Christopher Artinian (P)2022 Christopher Artinian

Before Safe Haven

"This is Hell, and damnation is eternal."

This pretty much sums up life during a Zombie Apocalypse. Just when you think things have a chance of getting better, it all comes crashing down.

I love Christopher Artinian's "Safe Haven" series and the prequels he has written for the books really add a lot to the reader's understanding of the characters. I like the fact that he has created this "before" group of stories about some of the main characters, then neatly ties them together with the rest of the series.

There is plenty of zombie action, a few deaths of characters that you have come to love (of course!), and invasion by another species that will set your heart racing. I hope that the author continues this series for a long time. I also hope that there might be a HEA ending for some of the characters!

Even though I had read these stories in physical form, I jumped at the chance to listen to the audiobook version. Kim Bretton does an outstanding job in bringing each of the characters to life and you can tell who is talking just by her wonderful voices for each of them. Her performance makes a great book even better!

Best narrator EVER

Not only does this narrator do the voices well, but she really knows how to deliver on the comedy parts. Bravo.

Best zombie series ever

This collection is best after you’ve read the books in the series…..but maybe I say that because they came after the books…. Idk. I don’t really see why you couldn’t start with these.
I can never get enough of these characters or this series! Absolutely fantastic and you will love all of these characters as much as I do. Strong women, check! Smart ass comebacks, check. Deeply complicated and flawed men and women, check. Everything you’ve ever wished for in a zombie series and more, check.
Artinian and Bretton are the audible power duo you need in your life!
Can’t say enough good things about this writer, series and narrator. Do your self a favor and pick up anything by these two and you can thank me later!
If I had to live in a zombie world I would already be dead but these characters make me think at least some would survive and thrive! My old arthritic knees would slow me down and I’d be the bait while everyone else ran away to safety!

Self-Proclaimed Zombie Novel Aficionado

Having read 200+ zombie genre novels at this point, I’m thrilled to have come across this author! Poor narration can kill a great book and this book is narrated by a master! Def in my top 3 series!

Four of my favorite short stories in one!

I’ve read, re-read, listened and re-listened. I used to be the once is enough for any given book. I have found certain authors and characters are so good, some narrators so engaging that you can’t help but enjoy the stories again and again until you practically have them memorized.
Kim Bretton has a lovely voice to listen to, she brings the characters to life! I really enjoy her renditions, if they came out with the books, I may never need to read again. 😉
I didn’t know how much I liked zombie books until Artinian’s books - but he has this spectacular balance of terror and joy, fear and love, etc. I’ve read them all a couple times and listened many as well.

Before Safe Haven: Alex

It is so cool to get to know the man who helped raise our favorite characters and see how he tries to tame the fighter in Mike.
If you are unfamiliar with the series, this is a good one to start with because it begins before the outbreak and follows a family through the actions that the Prime Minister took to try and save Great Britain from succumbing to the Reanimation virus. Come join me and many other adoring fans of this family as they face challenges that are terrifying.
Oh the nightmares in the making!

Before Safe Haven: Mike

Oh, where to begin, this is the formation story of one of my favorite characters. He is so black and white and believes there is always wrong and right choices. I have seen him sacrifice everything! When he was young it was the same story: As the “THEN” we get to listen as he spent time in the young offenders institute where everyone is willing to look the other way to the corruption and gangs running it. Mike is not one to look the other way, when bad things or people are about he will fight- even if it costs him his life.
We then flash to “Now” with PM Beck’s announcement (which I’ve heard a few times with how many times I’ve read, listened and listened again.)

I think anyone who likes Prison survival stories would love this version.

Before Safe Haven: Lucy

As fans of Safe Haven, there were quite a few questions about Lucy, the doctor from America, and Samantha, her nurse assistant that helped Mike out. This book answers some of those questions, from a viewpoint with Lucy in the center.
We get to share sweet memories from Before “Doomsday” (another great book & audio if you haven’t found them).
Before the Rock Chick in Safe Haven this brief and touching look is narrated beautifully.
Instead of just reading, Kim brings a depth of emotion to Lucy that I didn’t hear when reading the book either time.

Before Safe Haven: Jules

One of our favorites from Safe Haven, Jules is no nonsense, doing her best to protect a small group of survivors on the edge of Inverness. The ending will feel abrupt if you haven’t read the series, but I’m guessing if you start with this book, you’ll fall in love with these survivors and need to go listen to Safe Haven!

Tina has made my weekend by providing me a requested review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.

4 In-depth Introductions

I enjoyed this box set very much. These four stories provided a more comprehensive picture of the circumstances and events that helped to mold the prominent characters of the "Safe Haven" series: Alex, Mike, Lucy, and Jules. Each person's story was exhilarating and intense. This audiobook was so captivating that I listened to it in one day. The flow of words and pacing of the tale was so fluid that I couldn't put it down. Kim Bretton's narration was awesome. Her performance helped to bring the characters to life. It wasn't until the combination of Christopher Artinian's creative writing skills and Kim Bretton's narrative skills that I became a fan of zombie horror stories. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

More details filled in!

I did not expect to enjoy the back stories as much as I do the Safe Haven and End of Everything series, but boy was I wrong! they were great! loved every minute as I do the entire series. Christopher Artinian is a genius storyteller and Kim Bretton is absolutely fabulous at narration! I love these books and cannot get enough of them.

awesome

This box set is awesome!! I love his books!! can not wait for his next book series! don't miss put listening to these books! they will make you laugh, ,cheer, cuss and cry!

Another great set by Christopher and Kim

What’s an author to do when fans are clamoring for more, more, more. Well, you do what Christopher Artinian does. You give more. This set of 4 Before Safe Haven books will bring Alex, Mike, Lucy and Jules to life with the telling of their back stories. These individuals all went through their own hell to get where they are now. Not all will make it to Safe Haven but learning of their journey through the world of Rams gives us insights to their character we would never have gotten. I know I sound like a broken record here, but the Dynamic Duo does another outstanding job. Christopher with his gift of words and Kim with her gift of bringing those words to life never cease to amaze me. Obsessed with them both!

Amazing deal

Hands down One of the best zombie series on the market
Full of bad ass characters and action this boxset is a great way to start your addiction
Flawless narration from Kim enhancing the entertainment even more
Be sure to check out The tie-in series the end of everything for the full experience
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review