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Dead City (Dead World Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 583 ratings

A relentless thrill ride. . . Break out the popcorn, you're in for a real treat. --Harry Shannon, author of Dead and Gone

Texas? Toast.

Battered by five cataclysmic hurricanes in three weeks, the Texas Gulf Coast and half of the Lone Star State is reeling from the worst devastation in history. Thousands are dead or dying--but the worst is only beginning. Amid the wreckage, something unimaginable is happening: a deadly virus has broken out, returning the dead to life--with an insatiable hunger for human flesh. . .

The Nightmare Begins

Within hours, the plague has spread all over Texas. San Antonio police officer Eddie Hudson finds his city overrun by a voracious army of the living dead. Along with a small group of survivors, Eddie must fight off the savage horde in a race to save his family. . .

Hell On Earth

There's no place to run. No place to hide. The zombie horde is growing as the virus runs rampant. Eddie knows he has to find a way to destroy these walking horrors. . .but he doesn't know the price he will have to pay. . .

"Hair-raising. Do yourself a favor and snag a copy. . . thank me later." --Gene O'Neill, author of
Deathflash

"A merciless, fast-paced and genuinely scary read that will leave you absolutely breathless." --Brian Keene

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A merciless, fast-paced and genuinely scary read that will leave you absolutely breathless." ---Brian Keene

About the Author

Joe McKinney is the author of numerous horror, crime, and science fiction novels, including Quarantined, Dodging Bullets, and the four-part Dead World series. He has a master's degree in English literature and has worked as a homicide detective and a disaster mitigation specialist for the San Antonio Police Department.

Audiobook veteran Michael Kramer has recorded more than two hundred audiobooks for trade publishers and many more for the Library of Congress Talking Books program. An AudioFile Earphones Award winner and an Audie Award nominee, he earned a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award for his reading of Savages by Don Winslow.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003IYI7GY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pinnacle Books (October 1, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 754 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 289 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0786017813
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 583 ratings

About the author

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Joe McKinney
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Joe McKinney has his feet in several different worlds. In his day job, he has worked as a patrol officer for the San Antonio Police Department, a DWI Enforcement officer, a disaster mitigation specialist, a homicide detective, the director of the City of San Antonio’s 911 Call Center, and a patrol supervisor. He played college baseball for Trinity University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in American History, and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He was the manager of a Barnes & Noble for a while, where he indulged a lifelong obsession with books. He published his first novel, Dead City, in 2006, a book that has since been recognized as a seminal work in the zombie genre. Since then, he has gone on to win two Bram Stoker Awards and expanded his oeuvre to cover everything from true crime and writings on police procedure to science fiction to cooking to Texas history. The author of more than twenty books, he is a frequent guest at horror and mystery conventions. Joe and his wife Tina have two lovely daughters and make their home in a little town just outside of San Antonio, where he pursues his passion for cooking and makes what some consider to be the finest batch of chili in Texas. You can keep up with all of Joe’s latest releases by friending him on Facebook.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
583 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining and engaging. They appreciate the exciting action scenes and good pacing. The characters are well-developed, with realistic relationships between them. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and emotional. They also mention that the humor is in just the right amounts to keep the reader amused.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

90 customers mention "Readability"85 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it entertaining and a page-turner that keeps them interested. The story is described as an action movie, with good content.

"...real situations (aside from the zombie outbreak) and an all around entertaining read. "..." Read more

"...This does have some good stuff in it, enough to ignore a few broad generalizations and one annoying character with something of a deathwish, making..." Read more

"The book was alright although I kept feeling like it was leading to something bigger. It didn't...." Read more

"...is not just one helluva zombie book but I'd rank it with one of the best books period I've read this year...." Read more

65 customers mention "Story quality"65 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's engaging and realistic plot. They find the action scenes exciting and fast-paced, keeping the pages turning. The book is described as an enjoyable zombie fiction with polished prose and logical plot points. Readers mention the book spans one night in hell, as a San Antonio cop rides a bloody rollercoaster.

"...Rising" or the best zombie novel written: "World War Z" but it's damn entertaining and I totally recommend it for any fan of this genre!" Read more

"...There was no real climax to the story but there was plenty of zombie action. The reasons why Eddie kept being surrounded were never revealed...." Read more

"...Dead City scores big points for action and gore content. The action scenes are exciting; fast paced, and keeps the pages turning...." Read more

"...A lot of the book seems pretty standard to me. There are some great moments where you're biting your nails wondering how he's going to get out of..." Read more

61 customers mention "Pacing"58 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing. They find it fast-paced and engaging, with an effective start. The zombies are described as slow-moving and patient. Readers praise the author's skill in writing realistic characters and clear geography.

"...there, along with a main character that you can't help empathize, real situations (aside from the zombie outbreak) and an all around entertaining..." Read more

"...that sounds like your type of book, then this is a good read with a brisk pace that asks you to enjoy the ride." Read more

"...I don't know that I'd recommend this book but I do like his writing style so I will read more of his work with the hope his stories get better...." Read more

"...He sets such a furious pace that I literally read the last page then kept turning it back and forth because I couldn't believe I had finished it in..." Read more

36 customers mention "Character development"27 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find the relationships between characters well-done, with the main character acting rationally and not doing unrealistic things. The story has a realistic feel, with human characters and situations.

"...The violence is there, along with a main character that you can't help empathize, real situations (aside from the zombie outbreak) and an all around..." Read more

"...I liked that part of the story, the humanity of it all, because it had a real feel that cuts past the masculine banter of many tales and talks about..." Read more

"...And not die. There is that part too. The secondary characters are also well-drawn...." Read more

"...about Dead City are that the setting is little blurry, characters beyond the Eddie are weak and it doesn't make you think...." Read more

33 customers mention "Writing quality"26 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find it well-written with descriptive and emotional language. The author has a technical ability to craft a story, making it an easy read. The book is well-formatted with chapter breaks, and the gore is frequent and vivid.

"...And you'll order it immediately. Joe McKinney writes with such description and emotion, I was drained...." Read more

"...Gore is frequent and vivid. I have heard others say that this would make for a great movie, I have to agree...." Read more

"...It was fast paced, and it was well written. It is a keeper for sure, and I can't wait to read the other Dead City novels...." Read more

"I liked the book. An easy read for the bathroom or a plane flight...." Read more

6 customers mention "Humor"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has just the right amount of humor and action to keep them amused. They find the tone grim and sad at the same time, with a cop's plain speaking analysis.

"...Dead City scores big points for action and gore content. The action scenes are exciting; fast paced, and keeps the pages turning...." Read more

"...The tone of the book was grim, which I attribute to a cop's plain speaking analysis of the situation...." Read more

"...didn't drag, great characters and just enough action/gore to keep the reader amused...." Read more

"...The story was really fun and sad at the same time - Like getting a divorce.. - time very cathartic." Read more

31 customers mention "Plot"14 positive17 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot. Some find it engaging with a human storyline and likeable characters. They appreciate the reasonable premise and believable character development. However, others feel the plot lacks a real climax and is too straightforward, with a rushed ending that may need a sequel.

"...course, the book is short at 12 pages under 300, and yeah, the plot itself is week, not really going anywhere or presenting the reader with any..." Read more

"...his own knowledge of being a police officer, McKinney never steps outside believability...." Read more

"...It didn't. There was no real climax to the story but there was plenty of zombie action...." Read more

"...This anti-hero is motivated by a simple objective: get back to his loved ones, ie his 6-month old son and his woman-with-an-attitude wife through..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2011
    REVIEWED BY THE FUNKY WEREPIG

    Zombies. There are at last count 42,792,932 zombie stories written each year. Novels. Anthologies, Comic Books. While this says that zombies are a fan favorite and obviously they must sell or publishers wouldn't still want them, there is a large saturation point. So why bother reading yet one more zombie story?

    Because in this pile of recycled boredom you'll find Joe McKinney. And his novel DEAD CITY--the first of a series--is not just one helluva zombie book but I'd rank it with one of the best books period I've read this year.

    Taking place in his own backyard, the walking dead have overrun Texas like a tidal wave no one saw coming. Eddie Hudson is a police officer who checks on what is thought to be a neighborhood disturbance and finds out hell has broken loose. He sees people mobbed and eaten and within hours the same goes for the entire population of San Antonio. All Hudson can think about is getting home to his wife and baby boy.

    McKinney shows he's in that elite class of fiction writers because he focuses on not the horror his character faces in a story, but the journey. We are running right alongside of Hudson, trying to find any way home through endless hordes of flesh-eating monsters. And there are often points where we don't think we're going to make it. Using his own knowledge of being a police officer, McKinney never steps outside believability. We see exactly how an officer would react as he encounters scattered survivors and the hopeless situations build. My favorite insight is that it takes about halfway through the story before Hudson finally admits to himself those he has to battle are actual zombies.

    If there is one negative to the story it's that the character Hudson brings up incredibly interesting questions about the zombies, the biggest being how do they always know exactly where he is? While I was expecting some great revelation or original twist, McKinney simply lets the answers drop. I hadn't been teased so badly since my prom. But again, I can't hold this against McKinney. It's accurate. Not getting answers is a very realistic part of life.

    I can't recommend DEAD CITY enough and if you buy the second printing, you'll get a sneak preview of the next book in the series, APOCALYPSE OF THE DEAD. And you'll order it immediately. Joe McKinney writes with such description and emotion, I was drained. He sets such a furious pace that I literally read the last page then kept turning it back and forth because I couldn't believe I had finished it in a couple of sittings. Like the zombies he uses so masterfully, I craved more.

    DEAD CITY sets the bar for the other 42,792,932 zombie stories out there. Do yourself a favor. Save time. Start with this one.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2007
    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.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2011
    Eddie Hudson, a police officer, is responding to a regular call of a fight in progress only to get attacked by people who don't respond to pepper spray, shouted orders or getting shot. So begins a harrowing night while Officer Hudson fights his way through the city and hordes of zombies to find his wife and infant son. A lot of the book seems pretty standard to me. There are some great moments where you're biting your nails wondering how he's going to get out of this mess but then there are some moments that made no sense to me. The start of the novel is most effective since it's always horrible to read through the slow process of everyone figuring out what's going on. Unfortunately as the book went on and the gore really kept piling up it had less of an impact. The character of Marcus in particular bothered me. As an old partner of Eddie's I expected something other than a class clown in the midst of these horrors but Marcus is exactly that. At one point he starts flirting with a random reporter and tries to save her only to let her get eaten in the back of their own patrol car! After her leg gets ripped off they make a crack about it being a shame since she had great legs. As our narrator and his allies got desensitized to the violence so did I and that's not what I was looking for. I want to be horrified to the end and this didn't deliver.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Lupiondrake
    1.0 out of 5 stars Muy mal
    Reviewed in Spain on July 8, 2021
    Compré este título porque no es posible encontrarlo en castellano y me ayudo de un traductor (Google como no) para ir traduciendo. Mi sorpresa viene cuando no me deja copiar párrafos porque dice el libro que he pasado el número de copias pre-establecido. No volveré a comprar libros en otros idiomas.
  • Hammer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tout pour une bonne histoire de zombies !
    Reviewed in France on March 7, 2018
    Du sang, du rythme, de l'humour noir. Tout est réuni pour un excellent moment sanguinolent avec les morts-vivants.
    Si l'histoire est assez basique : les zombies arrivent, maintenant survivez si vous pouvez ; les rebondissement s'enchaînent très rapidement.
    C'est un livre sans prise de tête qui conviendra parfaitement aux personnes en recherche d'un livre un peu gore impliquant des zombies aux tripes à l'air.
  • John Milton
    5.0 out of 5 stars McKinney's impressive debut novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2013
    Over the last year or so, I have read and enjoyed a number of novels and short stories from American author Joe McKinney. Next up on my `To read' list was McKinney's 2006 novel Dead City.
    Here, the author puts the old adage "write what you know, write what you love" to use and bases proceedings in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas and unleashes a series of hurricanes on the Lone Star state which seemingly cause the dead to rise with an insatiable appetite for living flesh. Furthermore, McKinney draws on his years of experience as a serving police officer to add depth to both the plot and his characters that is often lacking in other similar titles in the sub-genre.

    There is little in the way of preamble in Dead City. Almost immediately, there is a pitched battle between the emergency services and the walking dead. I had never thought of this before but it's only logical that this is how proceedings would pan out in reality; when people are in trouble and make that call, it is the police that would respond and effectively be the first line of defence against any such outbreak. Given such a frantic start, I had expected matters to slow somewhat thereafter. This wasn't to be and McKinney sets an utterly relentless pace with the events occupying the pages of Dead City taking place largely over a period of about 24 hours.

    Naturally, McKinney's protagonist is a police officer. Usually I would baulk at the idea of yet another zombie tale with a hero cop/ soldier as the main character. However, McKinney's lead is no stereotype. Officer Eddie Hudson is no one-man-army, being at best an average shot with his pistol and his main concern is getting home to his own wife and newborn child.

    As for the villains of the piece, the quote on the front cover sums it up well "These aren't your mother's zombies..." and I'll say no more than that about the nature of McKinney's flesh eaters, leaving it for you to discover for yourself. There are some expository characters within Dead City that aid in adding death to proceedings without slowing down the pace set by the author. This however, is also my main criticism of Dead City.

    There seems to be a degree of negativity about Dead City, largely aimed at having a lack of empathy for the main character. I can't say that I agree with that, for the reasons outlined above, I found the main character and his actions to be entirely plausible. On a critical note, at times I had to put the book down in order to digest all that had occurred, since there is little in the way of let up or respite for the reader as McKinney whips along, throwing Eddie Hudson from one perilous situation to another.

    Despite being less than 300 pages, Dead City has much to keep the more gore-hungry horror fan sated as McKinney lays waste to his hometown. A word of warning though: watch out for chapter 12; it's a kicker...

    Dead City is unquestionably a quick but ultimately satisfying read, delivering a high paced action-driven plot that's enriched by the author's own personal experience; and I certainly can't wait to get started on the follow up titles to this book.
  • A Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars At Times Hard to Follow
    Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2010
    I give this book three stars. It's high on action but at times I found it hard to follow certain scenes. Often I found myself skimming pages that didn't hold my interest enough to read every word. If you're a fan of zombies, it's a half decent read.
  • Andy Phillips
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fairly typical zombie uprising
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2007
    Although I enjoyed this book and I think it's well written, it's not very original and that's why it only gets 4 stars. The story consists of a police officer making his way through San Antonio via various encounters with zombies along the way in an attempt to reach his family. The zombies are the classic dim-witted slow dead people type zombies, allowing the hero to take on hordes of them by himself or with small groups of survivors that he encounters along the way.

    None of this is a bad thing as there is enough action to keep the story going. Some of the scenes are a little unrealistic, but then how realistic is a zombie pandemic anyway? I personally found the ending refreshing, even if it isn't particularly logical.

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