Breakwater

Tide Series, Book 2

By: Anthony J. Melchiorri

Narrated by: Ryan Kennard Burke

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Governments across the globe have failed to stop the spread of the Oni Agent. The biological weapon continues to wreak havoc. Those that are infected become abominations known as Skulls, a fate worse than death.

Captain Dominic Holland and Meredith Webb have made it to Fort Detrick. The Army base was once a bastion for America's biodefense. Now, swarms of hungry Skulls prowl outside the walls. With Fort Detrick's resources, Dom and Meredith think they may finally have a chance to slow the spread of the Oni Agent.

But with the United States military in disarray, the situation outside Detrick's walls grows bleaker. More and more civilians succumb to the Skulls - or become them. Dom leads a desperate mission to establish a safe zone for civilians fleeing the nightmarish creatures.

Despite this apocalyptic new world, Dom and the Hunters are determined to succeed. New threats and discoveries challenge them every step of the way. But they soon find potential help from an unlikely source...if they can survive long enough to receive it.

©2015 Anthony J Melchiorri (P)2016 Anthony J Melchiorri

Military Advisor Needed

While reading the Tide Series, it is obvious the author has a background and education in the medical and biological elements of the virus. I have no background in such things. I do have an extensive background in tactics, boat and helicopter raids, and urban tactics. I get that critiquing extreme fiction and zombie stories for realism may be a contradiction,, but some elements of realism would be nice. Do the "Hunters"; a battle hardened elite force, ever need sleep, even fueled on adrenaline and potentially stims? Sleep and rest are a necessity. The first encounter with the Skulls is an introductory battle against a new threat. After the battle and escape a debrief and "hot wash" would have been an absolute and new tactics and gear would have been implemented with future encounters. M203's, armor piercing rounds, laser optics and red dot site for easier headshots. Kevlar and ceramic armor for the team? If Skulls rely on sound and visual then smoke grenades and flashbangs. New tactics and team formations would have been implemented, none of this "hey lets use the same gear and tactics that gets our butts beaten each time". The military bases, installations, and naval fleets should of played a higher presence. All the radio traffic would have been less dramatized, speak quick short words and sentences, no conversations, keep the channels clear especially during intense combat.
The main plot was decent and getting past the tactical SNAFU, I found I enjoyed it enough to continue the read. The author kept on and on and on with the intensity of the Skull attacks and missed some opportunities for character building and a deeper storyline.
The narrations is not horrible, but Ryan Burke does not have the voice for such books. The narration are too soft spoken and during the combat portions of the book, when certain common terms like "frag out" are use the audible sounded like a 10 year old playing soldier.
The series is a decent listen for teens, and apocalyptical fan people. If you served on any Teams or have a background in tactics, you might find yourself cringing at the lack of research done here..

Even better than the first one. Loved it!

This series is excellent! I can't wait for book three. There's a great mix of action and drama. The dialogue also fantastic. He really does a great job with character development which is hard to do with this type of genre. Everything played out in my head like a really good movie that you don't want to end. Basically a bio-weapon has been unleashed throughout the world and the Hunters are charged with saving what's left of humanity while stopping those that are infected, the skulls, from taking over the world. There's no need to read any more reviews. If you read the first one and liked it even a little. Then you'll love this one.

Return of the "Crazies".

After destroying the oil rig housing the enemy lab, Captain Holland & crew along with the CIA handler Meredith Webb make their way to Fort Detrick. Once upon-a-time the Army base was the center for the United States’ bio-defense. Also, back in post WWII days it was home to scientists, both American and Japanese, working on black projects of the biological and chemical warfare type. Perhaps it is more than coincidental that the government chose Fort Detrick once again as central headquarters for the biological research. Captain Holland & crew are assigned to protect Fort Detrick and its inhabitants from the roaming infected folks commonly called “Crazies”. Later, Holland will also be charged with inspecting and administering a bug-out location when the situation demands it. There’s plenty of action to go along with the dialog and sub-plots within the story. Decent characters without a lot of background brought forward from book one. I hesitate to rate this book higher than three.point.five as the tempo slows then picks up with action then slows again. I’m hoping this improves or ceases in the next book.

Exciting Ride Continues! Can't Wait for Next Book!

This series has it all. The exciting plot keeps me wanting to know what next. The science is intriguing and the question of who is doing this and how and why is compelling. I love the characters and I can't wait to begin next book.

Great followup

I truly enjoyed the story. Hope to read the next real soon
4 stars give it a listen

AWESOME!!!

Anthony doesn't disappoint AGAIN book #2 was stellar! In fact I am reading it again! His characters are so believable I find myself so engrossed I forget my surroundings!!

zombie goodness with extra sauce

Would you consider the audio edition of Breakwater to be better than the print version?

yes, to be fair, I didn't read any of the books - just listen to them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Breakwater?

When Dom was saved in the helocopter

Which character – as performed by Ryan Kennard Burke – was your favorite?

Dom of course! My Hero

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Hunters revenge!

Any additional comments?

this is a great series, it's not too complicated but intelligently written & lots of fun (in a zombie take of the world kind of way).

Awesome, Great, Thrilling and exciting

This book is even better than the first.
This is going to be a great series.

Even better than the 1st!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Hell yes, this is one badass series that combines several of my favorite genres. The author uses real science to make it even more frightening and his character development gets even better.

What other book might you compare Breakwater to and why?

Anything by Michael Crichton.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It only took a few sittings to finish this one. Very fast paced and exciting.

Any additional comments?

Looking forward to the next book!

Another Intense Episode

Loved it. A perfect mix of characters, plot, and intensity. You feel the loss at each death, the righteous fury of each kill, and the triumph of each victory. It plays as a movie in the mind.

Keeps getting bettwe

What did you like most about Breakwater?

the high-paced action driven storyline

Who was your favorite character and why?

the huntress's helicopter pilot, charismatic, brought a ray of controlled humor through the haze of stress, death and destruction

Have you listened to any of Ryan Kennard Burke’s other performances? How does this one compare?

yes, Ryan's performance in this production has been drastically improved from the first book, there was more life, excitement, the characters were more distinguishable, their emotions had feeling and purpose

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

chapter 24 onwards, the assault/rescue of the naval base, there was a noticeable improvement in both the writing, (detail and selection of words) and the narrator's performance, chapter 24 onwards was like a different more improved book.

Any additional comments?

the detail to the bio-medical detail is astounding, it's what makes this series unique and a joy to listen to, also the armoured zombies and the arrival of the bigger and meaner skull.

not a book for me

as it was seconed series i thought id try it but couldnt finish it not a zommbie fan