“Beneath the Flames by Gregory Lee Renz is a mesmerizing story that brims with life and humanity, a story that explores themes of race, love, family, and an adventure within the firefighting department. The prose is gorgeous and, from the very beginning, the author had me captivated by the wonderful imagery and the lyrical nature of the story.”—Readers’ Favorite Five-Star Review.
Gregory Renz’s new novel is a triumph of poignancy, compassion, and restraint. In it, a man’s regret is transformed to triumph.—Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of the bestselling novel, The Deep End of the Ocean
“Renz’s debut novel is exactly the kind of book I want to read right now — one where decency is a virtue, where empathetic people win, and it’s full of the complex, hardworking Midwestern folks I enjoy reading and writing about.”—J. Ryan Stradal, best-selling author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest and Lager Queen of Minnesota.
Renz draws on his years of experience as a firefighter to bring a hardscrabble authenticity to his novel. He packs the tale with plenty of action and a lot of heart. His firefighting sequences are detailed and thrilling, placing readers right in front of the flames. His prose is clean and, at times, poetic… Kirkus Reviews
In his debut novel, Gregory Lee Renz gives us an action-packed story of a Wisconsin farm boy turned Milwaukee firefighter, but that’s not all. Beneath the Flames lies a tender journey of compassion, redemption, and community that will stick with you for a long time.—Ann Voss Peterson, author of over thirty novels with millions of books in print all over the globe. Winner of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award
BENEATH THE FLAMES is an action-packed debut novel with something for every reader: suspense, romance, friendship, forgiveness, family, and more. A novel that like its protagonist, relentlessly presses on into fiery and controversial terrain where many other writers fear to tread.—NICKOLAS BUTLER, author of The Hearts of Men and Little Faith
Gregory Lee Renz’s Beneath The Flames tells a vivid tale of Mitch Garner’s journey from the farm to inner-city Milwaukee. A young man caught between the national horror of 9/11 and personal tragedy becomes a firefighter in a neighborhood wracked with poverty and violence. —Parks Kugle, Managing Editor for Lumina Literary Journal.
Renz’s skill as author is evident in the depth of each character and their dialogue and mannerisms—so much so that we feel as though we’ve met them all in real life. This is a book with serious themes and subjects; suicide, racism, gang violence, domestic abuse, sexual assault, murder and more. But this is also a story about hope, love, and family. Renz handles them all with a brave pen that isn’t squeamish with the tough parts.—Valerie Biel, author of the award-winning book series Circle of Nine.
Gregory Lee Renz applies first-hand experience as a decorated firefighter to his searing, emotional debut novel Beneath the Flames. With Renz, you are in the hands of a reliable guide and deft writer as he captures the fraternal bond of this unique band of heroes…On one level, Beneath the Flames contains moving life lessons, sprinkled with messages about friendship, relationships, race and the perils of a dangerous profession. It’s about a personal pursuit of excellence, the obstacles in achieving it, and coming to terms with sometimes falling short. It’s about rooting for the good and having faith in convincing, uplifting characters.—BookTrib Reviews
This story vividly transports us to the life of firefighters and the harrowing situations they face almost every day. It focuses on one fireman, Mitch Garner, and his growth as a human being. It also gives us a glimpse of life in the inner city. It illustrates the burden of memories that can traumatize an individual, but how facing them one grows and heals. Greg Renz is a masterful storyteller who keeps your attention from the beginning of the story to its end.—Tania Friedman, Retired Administrator, Harvard Medical School.
As a white rookie firefighter in Milwaukee’s inner city, Mitch Garner has much to learn, not the least is a bit of advice from his captain – “You’ll need to learn to smile at the dying. Your mug might be the last thing they see”. Set in the urban Midwest, this poignant story of one man’s journey to save lives while helping to save his own life will stay with you well after you read it. Mitch’s rural past catches up with his present as he becomes involved in his new life as a hero – and sometimes the most heroic acts are those that happen beyond the firefighting incidents. This is clearly one of the best and most brilliant debut novels I’ve ever read by first-time novelist Greg Renz. Read this book NOW. Laurie Scheer, Writing Mentor, Director-UW-Madison Writers’ Institute, UW-Madison
It would be too easy to say that Beneath the Flames is filled with burning passion, but it’s the truth. One would expect a novel about a firefighter to be full of fire and flames, and Renz doesn’t disappoint. However, to the reader’s great delight, he also takes the burning within, to a firefighter who seeks to set things to rights and to put out the most dangerous internal flame of all – guilt. Renz’s gripping and sensitive story-telling will take the reader along with Mitch Garner as he walks his road from young farmer and volunteer firefighter to professional firefighter in the inner city streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Renz is the rare writer who can create action-packed scenes and the tenderest of intimacies with the same talented hand.—Kathie Giorgio, critically acclaimed author of four novels, two story collections and a poetry chapbook.
“Beneath the Flames is not your typical debut novel. The topics covered are both timely and timeless, giving us some much-needed light in very dark times. The protagonist compels us not only to be better, but to do better. The prose is sharp and modern, the themes and subplots are thought-provoking, and the characters will stick with you for days after you finish reading. In a world where superheroes dominate the box office week after week, it is refreshing to see real heroes performing real miracles. Renz has truly delivered a wholly unique story that will simultaneously bring you to tears and inspire you to make a difference.” —Jeff Hill, faculty member of The Writers Hotel Conference in New York
“Outstanding! Beneath The Flames is an intimate combination of love, race, life as a Milwaukee Firefighter from outside the city, and life as an African American family, all trying to coexist in crazy and chaotic urban and rural environments. This is a MUST READ for anyone in the fire service or anyone wanting to get into the fire service!”—City of Milwaukee Fire Chief Douglas A. Holton Sr.
“A mesmerizing debut novel, written from the heart with a passion and authenticity that leaps out and grabs you on the very first page.” — Joanna Elm, author of Scandal (1996) and Delusion (1997)
As a retired fire captain, Gregory Lee Renz artfully weaves in gritty scenes taken from actual fire-fighting tragedies that will leave you breathless. Beneath the Flames is one novel you simply can’t put down.— Kristin Oakley, author of the award-winning novel Carpe Diem, Illinois
In Beneath the Flames, Gregory Lee Renz weaves together seemingly disparate story threads — the unflinching account of a rookie fire fighter, the hardships of maintaining a family farm, the culture clash of a young man trading rural life for the inner city, and a love story. Tying these threads together is the story at the heart of this book: a man haunted by his past and trying to make amends. With great compassion and skillful writing, Renz shows us the human side of a tragedy and reminds us that when life doesn’t turn out as expected, you can build yourself a new life.—Jen Rubin, author of We Are Staying: Eighty Years in the Life of a Family, a Store, and a Neighborhood.