Oh yes, without a doubt, it is the editors/publisher to blame. Even if rhe original manuscript had errors, they should have cleaned it up. Not Maberry's fault at all, IMO.

Well stated, Carl. And yes, you are right on the errors and/or typos...but that would be whoever did the final edit for it (the editor/publisher), NOT th author, I am sure! There were a surprising number the the third book...but honestly, I was so into the story it was such a minor thing. No big deal.

The Pine Deep Trilogy is so good that I REALLY hope a specialty press does a version of it, fixing all of the typos and grammatical errors in it. It is really ridiculous how many there are in the whole series. But if a specialty press did that, I would buy the whole thing over again and re-read it gladly. It is one of those series of books that really deserves the best treatment, and has not recieved it. But also one that even though there are errors a plenty, it should NOT keep anybody from reading it, as Maberry does such an amazing job building the tension, getting you to seriously love even the most minor of characters (I add Ruger into the "love" section though), and loath all of the ones you are meant to. Then the climax is, as I have said, 200 pages of pure exhaustion. When you see the "The Red Wave" in the final third of BAD MOON RISING...hang on tight!!!

Tressa wrote: "How many times am I going to hear how great the Pine Deep series is until I read them? I am a glutton for punishment!"

Same here, Tressa :)

Welcome to the group, Slager! Yeah, Maberry is excellent!

Tressa...go pick up the first Pine Deep novel, Ghost Road Blues...PLEASE! ;)

How many times am I going to hear how great the Pine Deep series is until I read them? I am a glutton for punishment!

New to the group. Ironically I had finished reading Patient Zero about 2 weeks ago. Then I promptly went out and got the Pine Deep series and just finished it. Read them non stop - could not put them down. Amazing. I am now hooked on Maberry.

I am going to have to give this one a try sometime in the new year. I enjoyed Ghost Road Blues and the 2nd book has been on my holds list at the library for a long time.They must have lost the book somewhere though.Because i have been number 1 for like a month. I think it's it so cool he comes on here and posts as well. So I will be moving up his books on my Mt TBR.

Absolutely great book!! Im in the middle of Under the Dome right now, and I keep thinking back to Patient Zero and thinking that PZ was so much a better story.

Indeed it does, Carl! :)

I am definitely going to finish that trilogy.

...especially those final 200 pages of BAD MOON RISING. Moves like wildfire!

Good luck, Rusty! And get a hold of another copy of Ghost Road Blues and the other two "Pine Deep" trilogy books....some of the best horror I've read in a while...

It's never too late to join the discussion, even though the date for the group read has passed. In my other group the thread can be resurrected whenever someone finishes the book and has something to add or discuss.

Okay, I like Maberry's books so far, but I'm having awful luck with them. I got Ghost Road Blues early, and I was over 100 pages in before October started. I thought I would be ahead of the game and even be able to participate in the discussion. But no - I went to New Mexico for business, lost the book out there somewhere. By the time I verified that it was lost, and bought one off Amazon, the month was over. At least this way I can read it at my leisure, kind of, before I donate it to the library (because I lost their copy). And now I've been very busy at work and at home, and wasn't able to finish Patient Zero before the library needed it back. The damn book is popular, so there are holds and I couldn't renew. Anyway, I'm embarrassed that I recommended this book, but haven't read the whole thing or participated in this discussion. And, I guess that's all I wanted to say. The first 90 pages were good, though.

Well.. the group is called "horror aficionados" ;)

LOL Maybe he'll like it! ;)

I'm afraid to hand him a Lee book I read lest he wonders what kind of woman he married.

Has he read Edward Lee yet, Tressa? :P

It is a thriller. But I went in thinking it was going to be a straight zombie story and was pleasantly surprised, even though I'm not big into macho thrillers. I enjoyed it. My husband likes zombies and loves espionage, so he couldn't put it down.

Well, c'mon....it IS definitely an action-thriller, blended with horror. But I think Maberry's novel would appeal to fans of both genres.

I'm sure Jonathan has forgiven you. Wonder why someone would think it was a horror story just because of some zombies? What were you thinking? ;)

Ok... so I made a retarded comment. My bad for assuming it was a horror story, not "action thriller"

Jonathan wrote: "Action sequences are kinda crucial in an action thriller.

But...I do understand that not everyone is an action fan."

Keep it up Jonathan! You are high on my list of must read authors!

Indeed, Rachel...they usually do.

I do think it would make a great movie but i loved the book too. I think the way it's written would mean moronic movie producers would screw it up less...hehe

yeah ~ the action scenes & multiple POV did work well with the story. Just not my thing. For me, it is much more fun to watch than it is to read :)

Action sequences are kinda crucial in an action thriller.

But...I do understand that not everyone is an action fan.

A lot of authors--King being one, for sure--use multiple POVs and I had no problems with what maberry did in the novel. I do understand your feelings on long action sequences...but than again, it was kinda crucial to the story.

Jonathan wrote: "Joe Ledger will return in THE DRAGON FACTORY (March 2010) squaring off against modern day Nazis who are using cutting-edge genetics to complete the Master Race program.

And in 2011 he'll face of..."

I'll looking for the next books, thanks!

I would love to see Patient Zero as a movie. Didn't really enjoy reading it, though. I'm not a big fan of long action scenes, and unfortunately that seemed to be a large part of the novel. Also, I hate it when authors continue to use multiple points of view and short segments at the climax of the novel. I realize that is what helped the story keep the reader on edge ~ but I like to be able to relax and get into a story. Hard to do when the POV keeps jumping around.

As other have mentioned, though ~ it was an interesting take on the tried and true zombie story :)

I saw a listing for THE DRAGON FACTORY in our book lookup system at work but of course there was no plot sypnosis yet...but damn, Jonathan, all the upcoming Ledger novels sound fantastic. Thanks for the info and links to the free stories. :)

Joe Ledger will return in THE DRAGON FACTORY (March 2010) squaring off against modern day Nazis who are using cutting-edge genetics to complete the Master Race program.

And in 2011 he'll face off against THE KING OF PLAGUES, a secret society who are using modern versions of the Ten Plagues of Egypt as terrorist weapons to crash world economies.

There's also a free Joe Ledger shot story, COUNTDOWN, available for download: http://us.macmillan.com/CMS400/uploadedF... and a second free story, DEEP DARK will go up in a few weeks.

Hope you stick around for the wole ride!

Best
Jonathan

Jonathan wrote: "Just an FYI...PATIENT ZERO wasn't written to be a horror novel. It's a thriller, the first in a series of science-based action thrillers I'm writing for St. Martins Griffin. It does have horror e..."

Sounds great, Jonathan! I just finished Patient Zero and really enjoyed it. Any hints on what the next Joe Ledger/DMS novel might be about? Rot & Ruin sounds fantastic, from what you've told us, too.

I'm in here on a regular basis, so I'll be sure to mention it. Thanks to everyone here for making PATIENT ZERO your November read.

Jonathan, I'm glad Patient Zero was not the usual zombie story. Although I enjoy these, Patient Zero was a breath of fresh air coming on the heels of other zombie novels I've read lately. I enjoyed it and can't wait to read the other thrillers.

Just handed it off to my husband, who is normally a sci-fi geek but enjoys a good zombie AND military story, so he's having a lot of fun with Patient Zero. He has remarked several times about what a good book it is.

Can't wait for Rot & Ruin. Make sure you poke your head in here next September and remind us it's coming out.

Just an FYI...PATIENT ZERO wasn't written to be a horror novel. It's a thriller, the first in a series of science-based action thrillers I'm writing for St. Martins Griffin. It does have horror elements, of course (and I cut my teeth as an author writing horror novels).

I have a different take on zombies, ROT & RUIN (more Romero, less Borne Identity) coming out from Simon & Schuster next September. That one takes place fourteen years after the zombie apocalypse.

Hmmm, really, Carl? I doubt Borders has store personnel "ordering" horror for the store, because that's generally done by buyers at the corporate level, unless they get a lot of customer requests for a title or titles, then they can place a special store order.

Is it a Borders? I think you actually stand a chance to find more small press and stuff of the sort at the mom and pop shops than you do at a Borders and such. Though I do have a Borders not too far from me that obviously has a person doing orders who does know something about the genre, as they stock better Horror than any other Borders I ever set foot in. But I haven't seen a Ligotti book in a store since I bought NIGHTMARE FACTORY 10 years ago.

My store had a couple Ligotti novels, and we're a smallish store, so go figure.

I will probably finish Patient Zero today and I think this is a brilliant 'zombie' novel, blending action-adventure with horror. Yeah, kinda macho in its tone and style, but what would you expect given most of the characters? This book KILLS! ;)

I thought you sounded a little calm for such a calamity. Still, sorry about that commute. I can get back and forth to work and home in 15 mins. during normal driving conditions. But in rush hour it's about 30 mins. But, man, if I had to drive an hour more I don't know what I'd do. I listen to audio CDs on my drives.

No, don't think so. The company is consolidating and shutting down my office. I am safe, but some are not. My drive will also be jumping up to about an hour and a half.

Carl, you're going to lose your job? I'm so sorry.

It's just VERY fitting now as my office might be shut down on tuesday...so it seemed appropriate to grab. Plus I learned you don't walk by Ligotti since his stuff is hard to find in brick and mortars.

Patient Zero was more about the main characters than the zombies. It's not one of those zombie books where the zombies attack en masse, making their way through town leaving death and destruction. It's different but a good read. Don't give up on it. There are some interesting twists near the end.

I liked My Work Is Not Yet Done OK. The first story was the best, and it really highlighted the paranoia that lowly office workers feel; the impotence at being at the mercy of someone with so much more power; the knowledge that your livelihood can be terminated in that 8 hour work day.

I had this in hand tonight, all set to buy, turned around and saw a copy of Thomas Ligotti's MY WORK IS NOT DONE HERE and had to grab it. Dammit.

Hate giving up on a book, especially zombies! I'll stick with it a little longer. Hopefully the boasting will die down as the story picks up :)

The first half is really macho, but it gets better once the action picks up in the middle. Don't give up on it.

I was so excited to read this book.... but it is taking me forever to actually get into it. Seems much more macho guy/action than horror.

I had NO idea this was the November pick and I started this last week. I am a BIG fan of Maberry's Pine Deep trilogy....and I'm a third of the way through this novel and thoroughly loving it!

Marisella...this is a work of fiction. I don't believe Maberry is making a statement. At all. In fact, one of the villians behind the evil in the story is British. And quite frankly, the trend these days is to bash Christians, also. I understand how you feel and don't want to offend you...but again, this is a work of fiction.