Helpful Score: 3
I read a lot of zombie books. While this one doesn't measure up to the best of the best (World War Z, etc) its good. Really good. If you're looking for great character development and well crafted sentences.. look elsewhere. If you're looking for a zombie book full of action that reads like a Bruce Willis Die Hard (or Will Smith Bad Boys) movie.. get this book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.. has likeable characters and an interesting story. I'll even go so far to say the "Die Hard w/zombies" type theme is original (haven't read anything like it).
The main character doesn't have just one partner in the book--he has many as he moves through the city looking for his wife/child. While there are parts of the story (a little 'zombie philosophy--what if they weren't dead/re-animated.. what if they had a virus?) that drag it down a bit because they try to make more of the issue than it should have (govt's will kill healthy people to contain an outbreak that threatens their nation/let alone kill someone who's trying to eat people and shows not outward consciousness).
Anyway--some extras aside I loved the book--couldn't put it down infact--read it over a 2 day span while on vacation at the beach.
I see now its the first of a serious (sounds like different characters in the next one)... I'll definitely be checking out the second book.
Anyone who likes zombie books should definitely check this out... it was a fast read and great fun.
Just a side note--the description makes it sound like the main character escapes the city to start his own village/outpost/haven. Not sure where that comes from--the entire book is him fighting to find/save his family in a city overrun by zombies.
The main character doesn't have just one partner in the book--he has many as he moves through the city looking for his wife/child. While there are parts of the story (a little 'zombie philosophy--what if they weren't dead/re-animated.. what if they had a virus?) that drag it down a bit because they try to make more of the issue than it should have (govt's will kill healthy people to contain an outbreak that threatens their nation/let alone kill someone who's trying to eat people and shows not outward consciousness).
Anyway--some extras aside I loved the book--couldn't put it down infact--read it over a 2 day span while on vacation at the beach.
I see now its the first of a serious (sounds like different characters in the next one)... I'll definitely be checking out the second book.
Anyone who likes zombie books should definitely check this out... it was a fast read and great fun.
Just a side note--the description makes it sound like the main character escapes the city to start his own village/outpost/haven. Not sure where that comes from--the entire book is him fighting to find/save his family in a city overrun by zombies.
Helpful Score: 2
I had to make myself finish this book. Just alittle to slow and predictable for me. Not a page turner, the "hero" didnt have to try alot to get away from the zombies, everything sort of fell into place for him.
Helpful Score: 2
rating: 5 of 5 stars
Completely enjoyed this book. I stayed up late into the night to finish it because I did not want to put it down.
I enjoyed the fact that the author even made us think about the ethical side of zombies. What if zombies were living human beings who had caught a virus and turned into cannibalistic killers? That is they question that we left to consider after reading this book.
Over all a great read and I am really looking forward to more books by this author.
Completely enjoyed this book. I stayed up late into the night to finish it because I did not want to put it down.
I enjoyed the fact that the author even made us think about the ethical side of zombies. What if zombies were living human beings who had caught a virus and turned into cannibalistic killers? That is they question that we left to consider after reading this book.
Over all a great read and I am really looking forward to more books by this author.
Helpful Score: 2
Dead City by Joe McKinney is an action packed zombie novel and a strong first novel. Dead City has all the action you could want out of a zombie book and the main character is pretty well fleshed out. If Dead City has any true weakness, it's the lack of depth in the setting and the story may be a little bit too straight forward.
The story follows Eddie, a San Antonio cop, as tries to survive the zombie hordes and tries to get home to his Wife and child. Along the way he has to overcome some hard decisions and at times trust people who he normally wouldn't.
Dead City scores big points for action and gore content. The action scenes are exciting; fast paced, and keeps the pages turning. Gore is frequent and vivid. I have heard others say that this would make for a great movie, I have to agree. With the amount of action, the compelling action, and the way each scene cuts away it would make for a great film. Hopefully, some day, we'll see a movie happen.
My only reservations about Dead City are that the setting is little blurry, characters beyond the Eddie are weak and it doesn't make you think. There is enough there that nothing seems out of context, but it also left me asking a lot of questions. Eddie is truly a great character, but beyond him, the rest are fairly uninteresting but serve a purpose. This is no philosophical zombie novel, that's for sure. It's not really required for a zombie novel to be a great read, but it is nice when you do read one that gets the brain ticking. These are all pretty minor issues and in fact may not bother many readers at all.
In the end Dead City is well worth a read for it's sheer master of action and gore in a zombie novel. I cannot think of a reason why a fan of zombie fiction would be disappointed with this book.
The story follows Eddie, a San Antonio cop, as tries to survive the zombie hordes and tries to get home to his Wife and child. Along the way he has to overcome some hard decisions and at times trust people who he normally wouldn't.
Dead City scores big points for action and gore content. The action scenes are exciting; fast paced, and keeps the pages turning. Gore is frequent and vivid. I have heard others say that this would make for a great movie, I have to agree. With the amount of action, the compelling action, and the way each scene cuts away it would make for a great film. Hopefully, some day, we'll see a movie happen.
My only reservations about Dead City are that the setting is little blurry, characters beyond the Eddie are weak and it doesn't make you think. There is enough there that nothing seems out of context, but it also left me asking a lot of questions. Eddie is truly a great character, but beyond him, the rest are fairly uninteresting but serve a purpose. This is no philosophical zombie novel, that's for sure. It's not really required for a zombie novel to be a great read, but it is nice when you do read one that gets the brain ticking. These are all pretty minor issues and in fact may not bother many readers at all.
In the end Dead City is well worth a read for it's sheer master of action and gore in a zombie novel. I cannot think of a reason why a fan of zombie fiction would be disappointed with this book.
Helpful Score: 1
I am admittedly biased towards zombie books. I've finished more bad zombie books than is reasonable, especially when compared to the number of bad books (of every other genre) I've chosen to give up on. Knowing this, I'll allow that for those not as biased towards zombies, you may consider my review a "3 Star Review" rather than 4. ;)
This is a fast paced book, full of action and excitement. It's definitely what I would categorize as "brain candy"- fun, but not very filling.
I enjoyed the first person narrative of 'Eddie' and the fact that he didn't immediately have all the answers. He wasn't portrayed as some super cop with an instant sound game plan, endless tolerance for others and a selfless soul, but a panicked man trying to find his family and survive a nightmare.
I liked that throughout the story the author gives examples of how different personality types might react to a zombie plague. True, there was a good deal of stereotyping going on, but I didn't mind it...much.
I won't spoil it for the people interested in reading the book by giving all the details. It's a fast and fun read...and I'll likely read its sequel.
This is a fast paced book, full of action and excitement. It's definitely what I would categorize as "brain candy"- fun, but not very filling.
I enjoyed the first person narrative of 'Eddie' and the fact that he didn't immediately have all the answers. He wasn't portrayed as some super cop with an instant sound game plan, endless tolerance for others and a selfless soul, but a panicked man trying to find his family and survive a nightmare.
I liked that throughout the story the author gives examples of how different personality types might react to a zombie plague. True, there was a good deal of stereotyping going on, but I didn't mind it...much.
I won't spoil it for the people interested in reading the book by giving all the details. It's a fast and fun read...and I'll likely read its sequel.
What would happen if a killer hurricane came through and the aftermath zombies were born?
Good story but left to many questions as to how and why? Nothing really wrapped up.
Good story but left to many questions as to how and why? Nothing really wrapped up.
This books vaguely descriptive, which sometimes makes it difficult to understand and it's easy to get confused when reading it. McKinney is also rushed, and things that should be dramatic and drawn out are only a few sentences long. The zombies in this book deviate a little from Ramero's zombies, but they're still the slow, shuffling, stupid zombies you know and love. The ending isn't very satisfactory and the book could be a lot longer. It kind of seems like McKinney got bored with writing his book and decided to end it quicker than it could have been. I liked the book, but it could have been better.
What a rolling good time I had reading this. What a night those people went through and we were allowed to see it. An easy, exciting and sometimes gory read. Great book!
While the battle scenes got to be repetitive after a while, I enjoyed this horror book about a virus which turned people into zombies. I only wish that the zombie portion ended earlier in the book so that the story would move onto how Eddie and others dealt with the aftermath.
This was a great zombie book it kept me on my toes and i cant stop reading it even after i read it
First off, I'm a zombie fangirl if there ever was one. I've read some extremely bad zombie fiction in my time, but this isn't one of them. I was pleasantly surprised at how this novel caught me and kept me interested. There are no lulls in action and the fast pace and heavy gore-packed action made me finish this novel in on sitting. I haven't done that in years.
I give it a three and a half because while it is entertaining and grammatically correct (you wouldn't believe how many self-published or small publishing house-published stories need some serious editing), it is, after all, a zombie novel. There are no deep thought-provoking conversations or events (although there are attempts made), the side characters are not anything that you could get attached to or cry over, and there are no amazing leaps in zombie canon. There are slow zombies and a few fast ones and all seem to ignore every wound save for headshots. There is a good bit of discussion about how the zombies are actually living beings with heartbeats and such, but that simply makes this a novel more along the Rage virus of 28 Days Later.
There are mentions at the end of a PETA-like organization rallying for zombie rights (of sorts), which led me into many a hilarious daydream. However, there is nothing innovative or new about this story. It is simply an action-filled, fast-paced, gore-filled shambling thing that didn't even make me scared to turn out the lights. It was a fun read, a fluffy read, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it without having to look for anything deep or meaningful.
I give it a three and a half because while it is entertaining and grammatically correct (you wouldn't believe how many self-published or small publishing house-published stories need some serious editing), it is, after all, a zombie novel. There are no deep thought-provoking conversations or events (although there are attempts made), the side characters are not anything that you could get attached to or cry over, and there are no amazing leaps in zombie canon. There are slow zombies and a few fast ones and all seem to ignore every wound save for headshots. There is a good bit of discussion about how the zombies are actually living beings with heartbeats and such, but that simply makes this a novel more along the Rage virus of 28 Days Later.
There are mentions at the end of a PETA-like organization rallying for zombie rights (of sorts), which led me into many a hilarious daydream. However, there is nothing innovative or new about this story. It is simply an action-filled, fast-paced, gore-filled shambling thing that didn't even make me scared to turn out the lights. It was a fun read, a fluffy read, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it without having to look for anything deep or meaningful.
The book, to me, felt like a handful of setpieces, with zombies thrown in. I had a hard time feeling an emotional attachment to the story
This is a fast-paced, enjoyable read but I have to admit I kept expecting it to develop into a STORY. About half-way through, I had to give up on that notion. While there doesn't seem to be much of a plot (just survive, find wife and kid, and hunker down somewhere safe until the worst blows over), it does have a first-person perspective and very action-oriented writing which I enjoyed. The author doesn't bog you down with a lot of unnecessary detail. Another reviewer said it seemed like a lot of set-pieces which were thrown together and that does seem to be an accurate description. If you enjoy zombie novels in general, you'll probably enjoy this. Very nice debut novel.
Very good read. If you're looking for a good "End of the world" book, this is it.
What if Hurricane Katrina was ten times worse? And what if a virus that creates zombies is spawned in the aftermath? A good zombie story thats what!
