What do you think?
Rate this book
The Haunting of Derek Stone #1
City of the Dead: Author's Preferred Edition
The sequel to one of those most popular zombies of all time in a new, uncut, author's preferred edition!
In this sequel to THE RISING, cities are overrun with legions of the undead, intent on destroying what's left of the living. Trapped inside a fortified skyscraper, a handful of survivors prepare to make their last stand against an unstoppable, merciless enemy. With every hour their chances diminish and their numbers dwindle, while the ranks of the dead continue to rise. Because sooner or later, everything dies. And then it comes back, ready to kill.
Deadite Press is proud to present this uncut, Author's Preferred Edition of Brian Keene's seminal CITY OF THE DEAD
In this sequel to THE RISING, cities are overrun with legions of the undead, intent on destroying what's left of the living. Trapped inside a fortified skyscraper, a handful of survivors prepare to make their last stand against an unstoppable, merciless enemy. With every hour their chances diminish and their numbers dwindle, while the ranks of the dead continue to rise. Because sooner or later, everything dies. And then it comes back, ready to kill.
Deadite Press is proud to present this uncut, Author's Preferred Edition of Brian Keene's seminal CITY OF THE DEAD
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
34 people are currently reading
874 people want to read
About the author
Brian Keene
386 books2,997 followersBRIAN KEENE writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. He is the author of over forty books, mostly in the horror, crime, and dark fantasy genres. His 2003 novel, The Rising, is often credited (along with Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later film) with inspiring pop culture’s current interest in zombies. Keene’s novels have been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French, Taiwanese, and many more. In addition to his own original work, Keene has written for media properties such as Doctor Who, Hellboy, Masters of the Universe, and Superman.
Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.
Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.
Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.
The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.
Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.
Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.
The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
April 28, 2023
* Enjoy my reviews? I would appreciate knowing what you enjoy with a comment, instead an empty ‘like button’ click.
You look at the cover of “The Haunting Of Derek Stone”, note that it is from 2009, and imagine it will entail fantasy-type battling, heavy with the frustration of a protagonist needing to catch a break. I dislike all of that. I need hope and relief early in a story. I love the ethereal but could see that this new series reinvented spirituality. New Orleans on the other hand, adds a sparkle of its own and being at a charity sale, I gave this a whirl. I declare this the book that surprised me most this year! I am a broad reader but a hard sell about some things and I stand multitudinously impressed!
Even its recent publication, compared to the old youth adventures I frequent, did not overdo technology. On the contrary, it exhibited the resourcefulness and instinct that I think is the reason people favour historical fiction. It is action-packed and also emotional in the extreme but covers real issues, in the midst of dramatic fiction and leaves a lot of room for heart. A fourteen year-old, whose Mother has not lived with them since he was tiny, survives a train accident in a canyon. He does not know if his Dad and elder Brother lived. An Uncle flies in to help handle this trauma at Derek’s New Orleans house.
Bizarre figures are after him, others might be on his side. Library research suggests that a site of tragedy can leave spirits angry. If a similar catastrophe were to occur in proximity, a rift might allow previous victims’ spirits to overtake vacated bodies. I caution Tony Abbott that his excellent writing need not resort to cliff-hangers to lure readers. The novel should have concluded one story. I will watch for volume #2, intrigued by mystique around Derek’s Mother.
You look at the cover of “The Haunting Of Derek Stone”, note that it is from 2009, and imagine it will entail fantasy-type battling, heavy with the frustration of a protagonist needing to catch a break. I dislike all of that. I need hope and relief early in a story. I love the ethereal but could see that this new series reinvented spirituality. New Orleans on the other hand, adds a sparkle of its own and being at a charity sale, I gave this a whirl. I declare this the book that surprised me most this year! I am a broad reader but a hard sell about some things and I stand multitudinously impressed!
Even its recent publication, compared to the old youth adventures I frequent, did not overdo technology. On the contrary, it exhibited the resourcefulness and instinct that I think is the reason people favour historical fiction. It is action-packed and also emotional in the extreme but covers real issues, in the midst of dramatic fiction and leaves a lot of room for heart. A fourteen year-old, whose Mother has not lived with them since he was tiny, survives a train accident in a canyon. He does not know if his Dad and elder Brother lived. An Uncle flies in to help handle this trauma at Derek’s New Orleans house.
Bizarre figures are after him, others might be on his side. Library research suggests that a site of tragedy can leave spirits angry. If a similar catastrophe were to occur in proximity, a rift might allow previous victims’ spirits to overtake vacated bodies. I caution Tony Abbott that his excellent writing need not resort to cliff-hangers to lure readers. The novel should have concluded one story. I will watch for volume #2, intrigued by mystique around Derek’s Mother.
August 31, 2008
I am a little annoyed. I was drawn into reading it, and interested enough to keep reading to find out what was going on. However, it is one of those books where there is no satisfying conclusion and you must read the next book(s) to find out how it ends. Sigh. Great for book sales, I'm sure, but I can't stand when a story reaches a climax and then abruptly ends. It is a very short book.
This is a creepy, dark story about a kid who survives a terrible train crash that killed his brother and father... or maybe it didn't. The dead are coming back.
This is a creepy, dark story about a kid who survives a terrible train crash that killed his brother and father... or maybe it didn't. The dead are coming back.
September 17, 2013
The city of dead is about a boy named Derek Stone who was in a train crash with his brother and father. When he wakes up he find out that he died in the crash but is now alive but as a ghost. He can see and hear the dead and they say their coming for him but he doesn't know why. This is as great mystery book for young adults who like action and suspense.
The city of the dead is a great book because the author Tony Abbot uses many descriptive details making you feel as if your really in the book. The city of dead is an amazing book to read because Tony Abbot makes the characters so believable that you can really relate to them which makes the book easy to understand. The book contains so much action that it really makes the book come to life,if your a person who loves action,mystery or suspense books i can assure that you will really love this book as much as i do. Its an amazing book.
The city of the dead is a great book because the author Tony Abbot uses many descriptive details making you feel as if your really in the book. The city of dead is an amazing book to read because Tony Abbot makes the characters so believable that you can really relate to them which makes the book easy to understand. The book contains so much action that it really makes the book come to life,if your a person who loves action,mystery or suspense books i can assure that you will really love this book as much as i do. Its an amazing book.
October 9, 2018
This book was very good and has a very interesting plot to go with it. Derek and his brother and father are on their way back from a train convention when the train they are riding on crashes and they fall into a river. 9 die but the rest live. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes horror books or just books that are in a series.
March 31, 2015
Derek is 14, a little over weight and can't hear too well out of his left ear. He lives in New Orleans with his father and brother. Derek's mother left 10 years ago and it hasn't really bothered him.
Derek is someone who doesn't believe in the strange or unusual. As he says, "Up is up. Down is down." and it always has been.
But, after him, his father and brother are in a train accident, he to rethink about "Up is up. Down is down." because his world isn't like that anymore. Strange things are happening and Derek cannot explain them. He's hearing noises and voices, but no one else seems to hear them.
And his brother, his father . . . . Derek decides he needs to find out what's going on.
What an exciting read! I quite like the story and Derek. He's just a normal 14 year old that something bad happens to and afterwards something even stranger happens. You do feel bad for Derek, as the beginning is very sad for him and throughout the book things become confusing for him since his views on things have to change.
But, it was very good. A great story and not scary, but it definitely wants you to keep reading to find out what happens. Can't wait to read the other books.
Derek is someone who doesn't believe in the strange or unusual. As he says, "Up is up. Down is down." and it always has been.
But, after him, his father and brother are in a train accident, he to rethink about "Up is up. Down is down." because his world isn't like that anymore. Strange things are happening and Derek cannot explain them. He's hearing noises and voices, but no one else seems to hear them.
And his brother, his father . . . . Derek decides he needs to find out what's going on.
What an exciting read! I quite like the story and Derek. He's just a normal 14 year old that something bad happens to and afterwards something even stranger happens. You do feel bad for Derek, as the beginning is very sad for him and throughout the book things become confusing for him since his views on things have to change.
But, it was very good. A great story and not scary, but it definitely wants you to keep reading to find out what happens. Can't wait to read the other books.
October 12, 2015
I liked this book because of the mystery on how the dead were coming back to life and that it wasn't the same way that is used in the zombie books and shows.
PLOT
When I started reading this book I thought it was just going to be about zombies and not have an actual story behind it. When I found out that two trains crashed on the exact same bridge, the exact same way I didn't think anything was wrong with that until Derek started doing research on why his brother was acting weird. It turns out that if two people die the same way, many years apart the long dead soul can reanimate the dying body. I was surprised when Derek found his dad after a month of him being dead.
AUDIENCE
I would recommend this book to adolescent males who like science-fiction and mystery. I feel that not many women would like to read this book. There is zombies and a good mystery to why the dead are coming back.
PLOT
When I started reading this book I thought it was just going to be about zombies and not have an actual story behind it. When I found out that two trains crashed on the exact same bridge, the exact same way I didn't think anything was wrong with that until Derek started doing research on why his brother was acting weird. It turns out that if two people die the same way, many years apart the long dead soul can reanimate the dying body. I was surprised when Derek found his dad after a month of him being dead.
AUDIENCE
I would recommend this book to adolescent males who like science-fiction and mystery. I feel that not many women would like to read this book. There is zombies and a good mystery to why the dead are coming back.
November 2, 2012
I am currently reading the book The Haunting of Derek Stone Book One by Tony Abbott. I really like this because it is exciting and suspenseful. The book starts out with a train crash that kills both his father and brother. After the crash Derek has many scary dreams and hears voices so it kept my attention. When I have seen a scary movie I have had bad dreams so I understand how Derek must have felt. After the crash Derek's life changed because his uncle had to move into his house to care for him. The bad dreams and strange voices in his dreams made me want to keep reading. I think this is a good story to read but it starts out very slow, then the action and suspense begin to build. I would recommend this book to anyone.
February 9, 2011
so, i'm a book slut. i like EVERYTHING on some small level...even things i don't really like, i enjoy in some way. you know how they say sex is like pizza, even when it's bad it's still pretty good? yeah that's generally how i am about books...except for this one...it's kind of awful...abbott starts a bunch of really really interesting story threads and just as the climax of the story should arrive...the end. i was listening to the book on cd and i got to the end and literally yelled, "WHAT THE FUCK?" in my car, went back a few tracks thinking i'd missed something...i hadn't. i can see now that this is a series but really, i'm not even interested in finishing it.
March 13, 2012
I read this book in one day... actually I began at 8am and finished around 4pm. I loved it. I thought it was fast paced and I love when Middle Grade novels are told in the first person point of view. I think it gives the reader a better view of the character and they feel like they are in the book. It was definitely creepy and the fact that it takes place in New Orleans just makes ti that much better. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves ghostly, creepy, paranormal middle grade fiction. Now, I must buy book 2 the series.
-R.D.
-R.D.
June 24, 2013
For a juvenile book, I think this would be pretty intense - explicit description of a train wreck and ensuing carnage, voices out of nowhere, being chased by a 'dead' criminal and rushing to an old cemetery. For myself, I loved it! Reminds me of those old mystery books I used to read as a child - though not quite so graphic in that the adventure that follows is a really cool one.
This one left the reader on a huge cliffhanger. Luckily I already have the next book and plan to start it tonight :)
This one left the reader on a huge cliffhanger. Luckily I already have the next book and plan to start it tonight :)
September 22, 2011
This book was not the best but it is one of the best I've read.
January 27, 2012
It was really scary!!
September 12, 2013
Has a great hook and attracts readers ,but is missing more adjectives and clever word choice so that readers will end up gaped.:)
Read
March 11, 2016very good book.Recomended to all friends reading horror
October 16, 2011
A pregnant boy and his ghost friends! D:
May 4, 2022
The Haunting of Derek Stone (Series)
by Tony Abbott
City of the Dead, Bayou Dogs,The Red House, and The Ghost Road are titles in this new series starring 14-year-old Derek Stone in the city of New Orleans. A train wreck leaves Derek's older brother Ronny and father dead, having been thrown off a bridge. Derek survives along with a girl named Abby who sat across from him on the train. Several weeks later Ronny returns home with an apparent memory loss, and things become even stranger after he visits an old, blind jazz musician late one night. The musician informs Derek that Ronny is not his brother at all, but Virgil Black, a young soldier he knew from 1938 who also happened to die in a train wreck at the exact same spot that Ronny did. Further, Derek learns that Virgil has returned from the other side through a tear that separates the two worlds and is using Ronny's body to fight others, with evil intent, who are reentering this world the same way. This begins the wild adventure Derek, Ronny, and Abby embark upon through the swamps and battlefields of New Orleans to fight the "Legion" and close the "Rift" before the "Grand Return" begins. This series will appeal to readers in grades 4-8 who enjoy fast-paced adventures and lots of ghosts. It is not especially scary as much as it is a mystery for the good guys to solve before the bad guys take over the world. The covers are enticing. Each book is a manageable length and with the low reading level, this is a great choice for reluctant readers. The ending leads me to believe that there might be more adventures in the future for Derek Stone, or is it Ulysses?
June 18, 2022
How is it I never discovered this book before now?
Wow. Just Wow. The writing in this book is incredible. So much is packed into such a short book. Marketed to a younger audience, do NOT be deceived. I read this out loud to my husband in the car as we went to and from work and we'd forget to get out of the car at the end of the drive while we finished off the next chapter, and the one after that.
Derek Stone is 14. The story happens on a heart-stopping violent tragedy and never lets up from there. His family is killed in the wreck, but they don't stay dead quite like you expect they would. They come back. So do a few others who were better off dead.
The story is violent and twisty, scary and heartbreaking and so well-written that while I screamed in frustration when the first book end, I was prepared and had the second book ready to go. Really, if you're going to read this, your best bet is to grab all four books and take them one after the other. I can't wait to see how this story comes out!
Wow. Just Wow. The writing in this book is incredible. So much is packed into such a short book. Marketed to a younger audience, do NOT be deceived. I read this out loud to my husband in the car as we went to and from work and we'd forget to get out of the car at the end of the drive while we finished off the next chapter, and the one after that.
Derek Stone is 14. The story happens on a heart-stopping violent tragedy and never lets up from there. His family is killed in the wreck, but they don't stay dead quite like you expect they would. They come back. So do a few others who were better off dead.
The story is violent and twisty, scary and heartbreaking and so well-written that while I screamed in frustration when the first book end, I was prepared and had the second book ready to go. Really, if you're going to read this, your best bet is to grab all four books and take them one after the other. I can't wait to see how this story comes out!
August 8, 2018
Derek Stone lost his father and brother in a train crash. Then a few weeks after the crash, the police pull up to his house and his brother steps out of the car. But is it really his brother? Why is he acting so strange? And why is Derek hearing strange voices and sounds in his head? Derek sets out to find answers but not before things go from creepy to down right scary.
I liked this book. It looks at death and dying in an intersting way. I, like other reviewers, don't like the complete cliffhanger though. I am going to read the second book in the series to see if we find out what is happening to Derek and to get some of the answers to those questions.
I liked this book. It looks at death and dying in an intersting way. I, like other reviewers, don't like the complete cliffhanger though. I am going to read the second book in the series to see if we find out what is happening to Derek and to get some of the answers to those questions.
February 19, 2024
Derek, his brother Ronny and their dad are traveling by train when a horrible accident occurs. Derek survives, but it appears that Ronny and Dad have died. Then, a few days later, Ronny comes home. But he’s different…odd.
Derek researches train wrecks, paranormal activity and he gets some clues about a thread in the dimensions between life and death.
City of Dead is #1 in the Series The Haunting of Derek Stone. A not-too scary mystery for tween readers, yet has some chilling outcomes.
Derek researches train wrecks, paranormal activity and he gets some clues about a thread in the dimensions between life and death.
City of Dead is #1 in the Series The Haunting of Derek Stone. A not-too scary mystery for tween readers, yet has some chilling outcomes.
June 17, 2022
Read this when I was a teenager. Loved every bit of it. Now 15 years later, I can still remember every detail that kept my eyes glued to the page. It played like a movie in my head - the books after this one was pretty good as well.
June 1, 2023
How have I never heard of this series? I stumbled on this series at my local library and was immediately hooked. It's so different from anything I've read. Dark, eerie, and so hard to put down. Can't wait to read book two!
May 13, 2018
Fun/short read, but ends on a cliffhanger!! Ahhh!!!
October 16, 2019
If you like scary books then you should get it. Here is a part that surprised me one of the characters named Ronny he had another spirit in him. Also, more characters have spirits in their bodies.
November 14, 2019
It was a really good novel. Very thrilling, mysterious and interesting. Nicely written and great plot.
May 13, 2021
This one surprised me. Surprisingly dark and well-written.
January 13, 2022
OH MY GOD I REMEMBER LISTENING TO THE AUDIO BOOK OF THIS LIKE 500 TIMES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AHHH
October 25, 2022
It's been years since I read this series but this was the very series that made me fall in love with reading as a kid! Easy to digest, spooky, all the fun stuff.
October 27, 2022
It's thrilling and scary and I love it
September 3, 2024
I loved this book, even though some parts made me want to cry I still loved it
March 15, 2025
I thought that this book was really interesting and I kept having question after question. I am excited to read the next book to fulfill my intrigue!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews