Here are a few more reviews for BENEATH THE FLAMES:

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.


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.

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.

Greg Renz knows firefighting from the inside out, and his heroism got him inducted into the State of Wisconsin Fire and Police Hall of Fame. This novel proves he’s equally wise about the vagabond ways of the human heart, with a storytelling gift that keeps the pages turning.
—Doug Moe, coauthor of “Tommy: My Journey of a Lifetime,” the autobiography of Gov. Tommy G. Thompson.

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.

I had the pleasure of meeting the writer of this book, Mr. Gregory Lee Renz, on our trip to Lake Mills, WI with my family, visiting a family friend. We are a Belgian family with two teens. He invited us on a trip on his boat on Rock Lake, and told us about his career as a firefighter, things he had experienced and how he ended up writing a book. I cannot tell you how special this was. Mr. Renz spoke in such a calm, intriguing way about very emotional events and about the writing process that lead to this novel. Of course, I wanted to read this novel. I started reading at the shores of Rock Lake, it was so special to read it after meeting the author, and being in Wisconsin. Being a foreigner, it was not easy at times to read in English. Upon our return, I didn't have time or opportunity to continue reading much. However, finally, spring is back, and on the first sunny day I installed myself in my garden, with the book and boy, it was so special to relive our talk and be plunged back in the USA nearly a year later. I could not stop reading. It is so incredibly well written, so emotional, as a reader you feel so much sympathy for the main characters. This novel should be translated into other languages, a movie should be made of it. Mr. Renz told us he is working on a 2nd novel and I am so curious what that one will be about. Highly recommended!