The first three books of the Durango Chronicles series, a Dark Road spinoff.In the rugged, snow-capped mountains of Colorado, a new dawn breaks over a world reshaped by the apocalypse. This first book in the Dark Road spin-off series follows Ben and his family after returning to the heart of the San Juan Mountain range in Durango, Colorado to rebuild their lives after a harrowing cross-country journey.But survival in this new reality is anything but simple. As the group settles into their mountain homestead, they face relentless challenges—harsh weather, dwindling resources, and the ever-present threat of hostile factions vying for control of the surrounding territory.Tensions rise when a nearby militia offers protection in exchange for allegiance, forcing Ben to weigh the cost of safety against the price of freedom. For Joel and Allie, young love blossoms amid the chaos, but their growing independence clashes with Ben’s cautious leadership. Meanwhile, Emma, Brad and Sandy carve out their own paths, discovering untapped talents that could make or break the group’s survival.As external threats mount and internal dynamics shift, the family must unite against forces that seek to exploit the fragile peace they’ve built. Their fight is no longer just to live—it’s to thrive, preserve their freedom, and forge a future worth fighting for.
All four books in the Dark Waters seriesThe hardest thing and the right thing are often the same.Spencer Hayes, along with his girlfriend, Kate, and their dog, Finn, enjoy a life most people only dream about. Living aboard their thirty-one foot sailboat, Restless, they make the most of all that paradise has to offer. But that changes in the blink of an eye when EMPs strike the east coast of the United States.Spencer quickly finds himself struggling to survive as the once laid back little town of Marathon in the Florida Keys is thrust into chaos and destruction. To complicate matters further, Kate is out of town visiting her parents in Stuart, Florida when the nuclear attack disables the grid, leaving Spencer with some tough choices to make.His prior military service gives Spencer an overwhelming sense of duty to his community. But the responsibility he feels to help his fellow man clashes with his desire to reunite with Kate in a world turned upside down.As humanity unravels, desperation becomes the new normal, adding to the seemingly insurmountable odds he and Finn must overcome in order to survive. Spencer is forced to make decisions he may regret. Only time will tell if the hard thing was also the right thing.
Books six through nine of the Dark Road series by Bruno MillerWill you be ready when the reckoning comes?After a grueling trip, Ben, Joel, Allie, her mother Sandy, and Gunner have reached their destination on the Eastern shore of Maryland.Ben is reunited with his two younger children who have been surviving with the help of their ailing grandfather, Jack and his dog Sam. But reaching Jack’s farm doesn’t guarantee their safety, however, and the struggle to survive continues.They must remain vigilant in their efforts to protect what is theirs, and the people they love. Ben is hoping for a chance to re-supply and get some much needed rest after their cross country ordeal, but fate has other plans for them.Jack’s stubbornness in accepting help and refusal to leave his farm means Ben must make a tough decision about doing what’s best for his children. They’re forced to prepare quickly for the journey back to Colorado. But will they all make it home?
Books 10 through 12 of the Dark Road series.Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Things go from bad to worse for Ben and his crew as they struggle to push on toward Colorado. Unfortunately, due to Emma’s deteriorating health, they’re forced to alter their plans. But a delay might not be their biggest problem.Battling the elements and their own physical limits proves to be almost as treacherous as the roving gangs of highway bandits that lurk in the shadows, looking to prey upon the weak or unprepared. It’s more important than ever to remain vigilant. Especially when being deep in Patriot Hooligan territory makes every stop to fuel the vehicles a potential life and death situation. The murderous gang of extremists leave no question about their intent for anyone unlucky enough to cross their path. Something made clear by the grim remains of their evil deeds that litter the route to Fort Wayne.With no other choice, they must push on toward their new destination for Emma’s sake. But Ben sees Colorado and home slip further from their grasp, along with his expectations of humanity. Even the youngest of the group can no longer be sheltered from the problems this post-apocalyptic world presents or the tough choices that come along with surviving in it.
Books 13 through 15 of the Dark Road series.Courage isn’t having the strength to go on, it’s going on without having the strength. Betrayal by one of their own leaves Ben and the others with more questions than answers as they push westward toward Colorado and their home in Durango. Or what’s left of it.Ben tries to put Martin’s midnight escape and theft of their supplies in the past but soon finds out that won’t be as easy as he’d hoped. Circumstances beyond their control and Martin’s selfishness land them in trouble yet again, forcing Ben, Sandy, and the kids to fight for their survival.The road home is fraught with peril and only getting worse thanks to dwindling resources and an unrelenting heat wave that threatens their progress. The remaining survivors they encounter are forced to desperate new lows, redefining evil for Ben and his crew. It’s all they can do to find the courage to go on.
In the quiet aftermath of bloodshed, the truth begins to stir.
Winter deepens in the San Juan Mountains, but for Ben and his family, the real storm is just beginning. When a routine response to smoke in the valley reveals the charred remains of a homestead—and a message meant for Ben—uneasy questions rise to the surface. Victor Slade is still out there. And he’s not alone.
As whispers of a possible alliance between two of the region’s most dangerous men reach Ben’s ears, the fragile peace at the family’s mountain refuge begins to crack. Joel and Allie struggle to hold onto their sense of right and wrong as Ben, once their steady guide, begins to slip further into the shadow of the man he’s hunting.
With loyalties tested and secrets buried deep, the fight for survival is no longer just about defending their home. It’s about exposing the truth before it’s too late for those still holding on in Durango.
Because if there’s ever going to be a future worth rebuilding, the people left behind deserve to know what they’re up against. And in a world this broken what comes next won’t wait for them to be ready.
*A DARK ROAD SERIES SPIN OFF*
In the frozen depths of a Colorado winter, survival is no longer just about enduring the elements—it’s about confronting the darkness that thrives in the wake of collapse.
Ben thought he’d carved out a fragile peace in the mountains above Durango, but when his youngest son, Brad, is kidnapped by Victor Slade, a brutal leader of an outlaw faction, everything changes. With time running out and a storm closing in, Ben, Joel, and Allie set out on a desperate rescue mission that will push them to the edge of their limits.
For Ben, one truth becomes unavoidable: peace will never come easy, not in a world that keeps dragging them back into the fight. With winter tightening its grip and fresh threats emerging from the shadows, the family must decide what kind of life they’re willing to fight for, and what they’re willing to sacrifice to build it.
Descent is a raw, relentless continuation of The Durango Chronicles, where survival is personal, freedom comes at a cost, and the road forward begins only after the blood has dried.
Sometimes the only way out of the storm is directly through it.
Spencer and his loyal dog, Finn, along with their crew—Rob, Natalie, and young daughter, Maya having barely survived the treacherous seas, discover that the dangers they left behind on the open ocean are nothing compared to what lies ahead. As they reach their destination in Stuart, Florida they find a ravaged coastline, and the remnants of civilization descended into anarchy.
With the safety of Spencer’s girlfriend, Kate, still uncertain, his resolve and training are tested more than ever. The crew must navigate through a landscape where survival depends not only on their strength but also on their wits and unity.
But as the barriers to reaching Kate mount, Surreal conditions, the gnawing terror of uncertainty and a relentless pursuit by those who want what little they have, push the crew of the Black Bird to their limit. Spencer and his friends must confront the dark side of humanity. It’s no longer just a race against time; it’s a fight for their very survival.
Will Spencer’s courage and leadership be enough to steer his crew through the storm of human desperation, or will they be torn apart by those that seek to capitalize on the shattered world they once knew?
A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival series
Navigating through one storm builds courage for the next. Spencer and his faithful Labrador Retriever, Finn, continue their quest to reach his girlfriend, Kate, in Stuart, Florida, before she becomes another casualty of the chaos caused by the EMPs that have crippled the eastern seaboard and possibly the country.
Leaving Marathon, Florida, in lawless turmoil behind them, Spencer, and his newly minted crew, consisting of Rob, Natalie, and their daughter Maya, soon realize the open ocean is no safe haven. With the potential for danger lurking behind every wave and conditions rivaling those found on shore, Spencer and the others are forced to fight for their survival on the high seas.
As time runs out for Kate in Stuart, Spencer must overcome the odds that threaten to break his resolve and test his skills as a Coast Guard veteran in a race against the clock where he finds himself the de facto captain of the recently commandeered Black Bird. Success requires more than just a steady hand—it demands a crew bound by trust and a willingness to do whatever it takes to make it through.
Brutal storms, murderous pirates and desperate travelers fleeing the EMP ravaged coast, who seem more than willing to abandon all vestiges of civility, are only the beginnings of the challenges they will face together as a team. Can Spencer find a way to navigate the dangers ahead, bring his crew together, and reach Kate before it’s too late?
*DARK ROADS SPIN OFF SERIES*
In the rugged, snow-capped mountains of Colorado, a new dawn breaks over a world reshaped by the apocalypse. This first book in the Dark Road spin-off series follows Ben and his family after returning to the heart of the San Juan Mountain range in Durango, Colorado to rebuild their lives after a harrowing cross-country journey. But survival in this new reality is anything but simple.
As the group settles into their mountain homestead, they face relentless challenges—harsh weather, dwindling resources, and the ever-present threat of hostile factions vying for control of the surrounding territory. Tensions rise when a nearby militia offers protection in exchange for allegiance, forcing Ben to weigh the cost of safety against the price of freedom.
For Joel and Allie, young love blossoms amid the chaos, but their growing independence clashes with Ben’s cautious leadership. Meanwhile, Emma, Brad and Sandy carve out their own paths, discovering untapped talents that could make or break the group’s survival.
As external threats mount and internal dynamics shift, the family must unite against forces that seek to exploit the fragile peace they’ve built. Their fight is no longer just to live—it’s to thrive, preserve their freedom, and forge a future worth fighting for.
Challenge is inevitable. Defeat is not.
In the gripping finale of this cross-country post-apocalyptic odyssey, Ben and his crew traverse the desolate landscapes of a world ravaged by disaster, facing untold challenges, and forging unlikely alliances along the way.
As Ben and the others approach their final destination of Durango, Colorado, the group is tested yet again on their final push home, confronting the ghosts of their past and the harsh realities of a fractured world.
In a climactic showdown against the remnants of a once-civilized society turned ruthless, the bonds of family and the strength of the human spirit are pushed to their limits. The journey culminates in an unforgettable and heart-wrenching conclusion, where sacrifices are made, destinies are revealed, and the true meaning of survival is discovered.
In the shadows of a post-apocalyptic sunset, Ben, Sandy, and the kids grapple with the bittersweet reality of a new beginning forged from the ashes of the old world. The last leg of their journey is a testament to resilience, hope, and the enduring power of the human will in the face of an uncertain tomorrow.
Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors.
Spencer and his loyal dog Finn are determined to survive the aftermath of an unthinkable EMP disaster, while outfitting their thirty-one foot sailboat, Restless, in a desperate attempt to reach Stuart, Florida where Spencer hopes to reunite with his girlfriend Kate.
As Marathon, Florida spirals into chaos, escaping the fire-ravaged town proves more difficult than anticipated, thanks to swiftly diminishing resources and marauding looters. The recent recruitment of a couple and their young daughter to help Spencer and Finn crew their boat for the journey north results in an unexpected friendship and a sense of overwhelming responsibility to get the family home safe.
As Spencer witnesses’ humanity’s descent into a lawless free-for-all, where theft and murder are the new norm, his Coast Guard training is put to the test. Will his decision to take on passengers prove to be a wise move, or will the added burden cost him everything?
“We never know the worth of water until the well is dry.” (Thomas Fuller)
Ben and his crew have come a long way since they first began their dystopian road trip from hell. But hard-learned lessons and discovering what it takes to survive in a world that doesn’t tolerate the weak or unprepared has molded them into a cohesive team.
With the eastern slope of the Rockies almost on the horizon, Ben and the others must remain more vigilant than ever. If the highway has taught them anything, it’s to never let their guard down. Danger is never far away in a world where their only assurance is that the next day will be harder than the last.
Ben must rally the troops and push on toward Colorado, while trying to navigate a gauntlet of murderous bandits, dwindling resources, and a doomsday cult leader who would like nothing more than to make sure they never see home again.
The hardest thing and the right thing are often the same.
Spencer Hayes, along with his girlfriend, Kate, and their dog, Finn, enjoy a life most people only dream about. Living aboard their 31-foot sailboat, Restless, they make the most of all that paradise has to offer. But that changes in the blink of an eye when EMPs strike the east coast of the United States.
Spencer quickly finds himself struggling to survive as the once laid back little town of Marathon in the Florida Keys is thrust into chaos and destruction. To complicate matters further, Kate is out of town visiting her parents in Stuart, Florida when the nuclear attack disables the grid, leaving Spencer with some tough choices to make.
His prior military service gives Spencer an overwhelming sense of duty to his community. But the responsibility he feels to help his fellow man clashes with his desire to reunite with Kate in a world turned upside down.
As humanity unravels, desperation becomes the new normal, adding to the seemingly insurmountable odds he and Finn must overcome in order to survive. Spencer is forced to make decisions he may regret. Only time will tell if the hard thing was also the right thing.
Courage isn’t having the strength to go on, it’s going on without having the strength.
Betrayal by one of their own leaves Ben and the others with more questions than answers as they push westward toward Colorado and their home in Durango. Or what’s left of it.
Ben tries to put Martin’s midnight escape and theft of their supplies in the past but soon finds out that won’t be as easy as he’d hoped.
Circumstances beyond their control and Martin’s selfishness land them in trouble yet again, forcing Ben, Sandy, and the kids to fight for their survival.
The road home is fraught with peril and only getting worse thanks to dwindling resources and an unrelenting heat wave that threatens their progress. The remaining survivors they encounter are forced to desperate new lows, redefining evil for Ben and his crew. It’s all they can do to find the courage to go on.
You can’t outrun the truth.
Fresh off the heels of a major firefight with the Patriot Hooligan gang, Ben and the others must turn their attention to the treacherous road ahead and the final task of reaching Colorado.
In addition to the dangers they face in their everyday struggle to survive, there are tough decisions to be made. Ben is forced to choose between a guilty conscience and what’s best for his family when they find themselves at odds with a member of the group.
Amid the chaos that their lives have become, one thing still remains the same. Life on the road is as brutal as it ever was.
Honest enemies are better than false friends.
Ben, Joel, and Ed find themselves in the belly of the beast. During a heroic mission to find Emma’s much needed medicine, the trio, and Max, Ed’s highly trained canine companion, are captured and questioned. Ben learns a difficult lesson. Sometimes, the person you’d take a bullet for is standing behind the trigger.
They must find a way to escape, rescue Max if he’s still alive, and get the medicine back to Emma. The only thing standing in their way is a blood thirsty gang of lawless extremists.
The Patriot Hooligans have plagued Ben and the others since crossing the state line, leaving gruesome examples of the gang’s blood lust in their wake. Ben did what he could to avoid the gang and continue on to their home in Colorado, but circumstances dictated otherwise.
Ben, his son Joel, and Ed must now face their biggest adversary yet, while at the same time struggling to come to terms with some hard truths about the post-apocalyptic world they live in, and the people they trusted.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Things go from bad to worse for Ben and his crew as they struggle to push on toward Colorado. Unfortunately, due to Emma’s deteriorating health, they’re forced to alter their plans. But a delay might not be their biggest problem.
Battling the elements and their own physical limits proves to be almost as treacherous as the roving gangs of highway bandits that lurk in the shadows, looking to prey upon the weak or unprepared. It’s more important than ever to remain vigilant.
Especially when being deep in Patriot Hooligan territory makes every stop to fuel the vehicles a potential life-and-death situation. The murderous gang of extremists leave no question about their intent for anyone unlucky enough to cross their path. Something made clear by the grim remains of their evil deeds that litter the route to Fort Wayne.
With no other choice, they must push on toward their new destination for Emma’s sake. But Ben sees Colorado and home slip further from their grasp, along with his expectations of humanity. Even the youngest of the group can no longer be sheltered from the problems this post-apocalyptic world presents or the tough choices that come along with surviving in it.
No rest for the weary.
With a second chance ahead of them and the moonshiner’s compound in the rearview mirror, Ben and his crew can resume their cross-country trek to Colorado. Or can they?
Three newly rescued acquaintances and another canine companion complicate their life on the road. And the addition of two more vehicles to their west bound convoy only adds to Ben’s responsibilities. Making matters worse, the open road quickly proves more hostile than they remember. Scarce supplies, extreme weather, and desperate miscreants have made the landscape a living hell. They soon find themselves fighting for survival once again.
Ben’s mettle and army training are put to the test in more ways than one, and he realizes it will take greater determination and cunning than ever before to stay on course. All while learning that help sometimes comes from the most unlikely places.
Will they ever see home again?
Colorado seems farther away than ever for Ben and his crew. Especially when a road block lures them deeper into the Appalachian Mountains.
Ambushed and captured, they fall prey to a gang of backwoods moonshiners turned post apocalyptic outlaws. After being led back to camp and locked up, the crew’s morale is at an all time low. Ben knows they must come together as a team if they are going to survive.
As the moonshiners’ intentions for them and their dogs comes to light, Ben and the others realize they must devise a way to escape no matter the risk. The alternative is unthinkable.
But sometimes even the best laid plans fall apart in the heat of battle, as Ben and the others soon find out while fighting for their freedom and their lives.
Are there any decent people left?
Having reached his kids in Maryland, Ben is faced with the challenge of crossing the country once more and getting everyone safely home to Colorado.
The struggle to survive is the only constant in their otherwise unpredictable lives. With each passing day, Ben becomes increasingly cynical about the state of mankind and worries that the children will grow up to feel the same.
Remaining vigilant is no guarantee that they will avoid problems on the journey back. Even when things seem safe, danger and evil lurk in the shadows. Letting their guard down means inviting trouble.
Ben knows that the protection he provides for his children has limits and in the end, they must learn to fight for themselves if they are to make it home. But the hardest lesson comes when Ben’s two youngest, Bradley and Emma, discover that things are not always what they seem on the road.
