Origins of the Outbreak

by Brian Parker

Every epidemic begins with a relatively small group of people who’ve been exposed to an illness. The Centers for Disease Control believes that it is imperative to reach the site of an initial outbreak as quickly as possible in order to prevent further spread of the disease. Sometimes that isn’t always possible and events reach a catastrophic tipping point before the government can organize a response.Origins of the Outbreak follows the chain of infection from one person to another after a university researcher in a small Texas town unwittingly develops an disease that turns its victims into zombies and threatens to destroy the world as we know it.Told as a series of short stories from the perspective of each victim as they experience their own version of hell while struggling to survive, Origins of the Outbreak will leave you gasping in fear.

Genres: Horror, Zombies

282 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2014

About the author

A veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan war, Brian Parker was born and raised as an Army brat. He moved all over the country as a child before his father retired from the service and they settled in a small Missouri town where the family purchased a farm. It was on the farm that he learned the rewards of a hard day's work and enjoyed the escapism that books could provide.

He’s currently an Active Duty Army soldier who enjoys spending time with his family in Texas, hiking, obstacle course racing, writing and Texas Longhorns football. His wife is also an Active Duty soldier and the pairing brings its own unique set of circumstances that keep both of them on their toes. He's an unashamed Star Wars fan, but prefers to disregard the entire Episode I and II debacle.

Brian self-published four books before signing a 4-book contract with Permuted Press. His novels Enduring Armageddon and GNASH were previously self-published and will be re-released by Permuted beginning in May 2015 along with two previously unpublished works, REND and SEVER.

He is also the author of The Collective Protocol, a paranormal thriller that shows how far people will go to gain power; Zombie in the Basement is a children's picture book written to help children overcome the perceived stigma of being different than others; and his how-to guide Self-Publishing the Hard Way is for writers looking for pointers to self-publish their manuscript.

Follow Brian on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BrianParkerAuthor and on his blog at www.BrianParkerAuthor.com where he posts small, unedited sections of his works in progress.

Reviews

[Keona El]

Oh this is not for the softhearted !

I could not stop reading even though I was totally grossed out and could not eat dinner lol ! Well written and great storyline. Going to go find more to read from Mr. Parker.. as soon as I eat first Lol

[Alicia Huxtable]

Zombies

Ok, there's a reason I don't read Zombies too often.......The fire factor. But I managed to get through this one ok.

[Kristin]

This is a very simple fun read from Brian Parker. While this isn't one of my favorites from Brian it does have some good qualities. It just felt to simple to me compared to his other works. I always love a good patient zero story. Yes there are tons of those in the zombie genre but reading one more never hurts :)

It is dark which was a bonus to me. Very descriptive gore which helped me along in this book. Also we have some action in this as well which is a must have in a zombie book. For the price I would for sure give this book a chance. It's a simple read and gory along the way. I'm curious how the next installment will go.

[Sabrina]

What an exciting book! As it followed a single outbreak of the 'zombie virus' and it's effects on different people as it spread through a small Texas town and beyond...it was like 'World War Z' on steroids! Everyone's reactions and personal state of mind was fascinating!

This book was well written and extremely engrossing. A few minor points in the editing, but it really did not detract from the story at all. Really an awesome read and kept me going to complete it in one sitting. Mr. Parker definitely has a handle on all of the mannerisms and detail of each of his characters and the ending just makes me want more. A very entertaining read!

[Rich Baker]

I really enjoyed the way this was written. The quick hit jump from patient zero to then next, and the next, spider-webbing out across the Texas landscape was thrilling. Great concept for an outbreak-themed novel!

[Livvy]

Title: Origins Of the Outbreak  
Author: Brian Parker


➡ how I felt about this book. Likes & dislikes and character's⬇
This was different way to view zombie Apocalypse. It get to follow the victim's before they get attacked and turn into monsters that's a new twist we haven't seen before. Not saying they don't do it just not the whole book like this one. Was there character's that made it yes and we probably get to see them again in the future. I hope the Author​​ keeps to the timetable and don't skip to week's or mouth's with the next book in this series. Character's detail was good on each of them fair warning to all you won't be able to connect with any of them with this book sorry just warning.


⬇Goodreads & Amazon 5 star rating ⬇
(⭐) horrible
(⭐⭐) bad
(⭐⭐⭐) okay
(⭐⭐⭐⭐) great
(⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) amazing✔


~{ 1-10 Rating system }~
Quality of the writing. [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]
Reading pace. [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]
Plot development. [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]
Character development. [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]
Enjoyable. [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]
Book cover. [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]
Editing. [⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]



➡Would you recommended this book to other's? ➡ yes
➡Would you read more book's by this Author​​? ➡ yes

[N.W. Wisniewski]

This book as it says follows the chain of infection from a college lab in Texas of the "Zombie" virus. Pretty graphic in some spots. However the story-line is developed, but the characters you don't get to know in this type of story. The short time you are with each you will either hate or like the person. Victim zero is a character that you do get to know. I personally did not like him as he was rude and abrasive, but I did feel bad for him.

Overall I did like this book. It followed the spread and makes you realize how interconnected we can be with people that we truly do not know. I generally don't like this style of book tho. I love watching as characters develop and grow and you really don't get that with this book. I do recommend this book for people who like zpoc stories and wants a break from the traditional.

[Susana Duarte]

This book ends up being a collection of short stories that are told from the point of view of the different characters as a killer zombie virus is set set free and spread.
Put like this it may sound boring, but it reality it worked out really well as most of the stories (specially in the beginning) share a comum tread. As with the classic movie genre, there are the sex theme, the nerds, the fun jokes, and a lot more of the usual stereotypes. It still ends up being an original and funny story. The ending is also quite unexpected for this kind of stories.
Zombie stories is not my favourite theme but I do love great stories and this one actually nailed it for me.
The narrator amazing job also helps a lot.
I will recommend for those that look for some different approach to the typical zombie theme stories.

[RJ]

Numerous vignettes examining classes and professions of people on how the apocalypse affected individual lives while describing the ultimate spread of the infection. Not one of my favorites from Brian Parker. I prefer more substance in my novels; something I can get into rather than a bunch of short stories. Three.point.five. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[timj26]

This has everything you need for a balls to the walls zombie novel
Told from the point of view of multiple victims the gory action is nonstop
The narrator was excellent voicing a large cast
If you haven’t listen to Brian’s work before this is a great place to start
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review

[Deedra]

Audible:This was a really good virus to zombies to containment book.I liked the way the chapters were laid out and the ending was great! Veronica Fox was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Teresa Tidwell]

Excellent!

Wonderful romp through the beginnings of zombieland! Almost non stop action. Very well written and definitely believable. Hope there is a sequel.

[Grivante Grivante]

I enjoyed this book and the way it took us from the initial infection to all out apocalypse level zombie destruction. Please find the full review on our blog.

http://www.grivantepress.com/2017/04/...