Fear the Dead 1

Fear the Dead #1

by Jack Lewis

Kyle Vauss wanders alone across the ruins of England trying to block out his past. If he can't, he'll never be able to shut out the memory of his wife getting torn to shreds by the infected.

Fifteen years ago the world fell apart. By day the zombie infected swarm the streets, and at night the stalkers come out of their nests to kill. Mankind is on the brink of extinction.

When a teenager called Justin tricks Kyle into taking him along, Kyle has to learn to trust others, and himself, again. He doesn't want to face his past, but there are some things that you can't turn away from.

A gripping story of survival that zombie apocalypse fans will love.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Fiction, Science Fiction, Apocalyptic, Post Apocalyptic, Audiobook

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2015

About the author

I'm from Lancashire in the North of England, a bleak place that influenced Winterfell in Game of Thrones. I love a good story, afternoons in the sun with my wife, zombies, watching Game of Thrones, stroking dogs and medium-rare steak.

Check out my book series if you're a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic fiction:

Fear the Dead

An apocalypse series set in the North of England 15 years after the event, where we see how normal people survive the end of the world. Or sometimes, how they don’t survive…

Fear the Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2flF3yQ
Fear the Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2eRGO6h
Fear the Dead 3 - http://amzn.to/2eN3rp1
Fear the Dead 4 - http://amzn.to/2fM7Xqp


The Dying & the Dead

A post-apocalyptic series set in a world where a regime called The Capita has taken control of the mainland. The air is laced with infection, and people must wear masks to survive. Some survivors are born with immunity to the virus, and this lets them breathe the air unfiltered. The Capita hunts these people down in an attempt to make a vaccine for themselves.

The Dying & The Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2eN5GJ0
The Dying & The Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2fKXNZd


The Haunting of Towneley Manor

It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something bad happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.

The Haunting of Towneley Manor - http://amzn.to/2fKXMol

Reviews

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio version

This was an average zombie apocalypse story. It wasn't bad but there was nothing that made it stand out from all the others.

I liked the narrator. Not sure if I'll try the next book or not.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very well written, great characters and lots of action and suspense. It truly felt like I was reading an episode of TWD. So, I'd say if you love zombies and you love TWD then you should pick up a copy of this book ASAP.

[Di · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this, there was nothing that really made it stand out. I enjoyed it enough to see where the rest of the series takes me.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Warning, this review contains very small spoilers*

This is the first by Jack Lewis I've read and it falls into my favourite genre of zompocalypse fiction. There are currently two books in this series the second having just been released. At the time of this reader's purchase the book is a very reasonable £1.99 on Amazon.co.uk for Kindle.

I like the author's style. It's punchy and short and to the point. There's not a lot of zombie gun porn in this novel and that is definitely to the book's credit. There is also an excellent new type of zombie in this book which added fear and loathing to this outbreak of undead (grip your seat kind of terror). The protagonist in the story is a loner and doesn't wish at all to be any kind of hero, he's lost a lot and made a few mistakes and he beats himself (and others) up because of it.

I want to point out a few things and I hope the author doesn't mind. There isn't any background given in this book at all really. Not about the main character, the outbreak or even the canon (the world) that we find ourselves in. A good example would be the new type of zombie that's introduced. There's nothing quite like it in any of the other zompocalypse books I've read which is very cool but at the same time we get so little description of it that it loses some of scariness that's introduced in the beginning of the book when it first appears. Also, this world takes place well into the future after such an outbreak but there's no memories or discussions (monologue) of this at all. Which is a shame because as there are very few zombie books that take place in the British Isles and it would have added a lot to this tale.

I would have only given this book three stars but the last 30 pages or so really found a stride and brought the strength of the author's story and writing together.

I hope that by the third book the author can start to tell us, even if only from the main protagonist's viewpoint, some of the lore and history of this world he finds himself in.

Looking forward to the next book when I read it. Probably next!

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok for me. I didn't like the narrator. This book, of course by the title, is zombie based and these books I can take them and leave them sometimes. I just wanted to like this book but was not that into the story. I was a little disappointed. * I received this book from a Librarything giveaway in exchange for an honest review*

[Angela Verdenius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Love how the hero had a destination in mind and was heading for it, come hell or high water. Also interesting to see how he was avoiding people if possible (and you can see why!).

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As some of you may know I like zombies and will read most any zombie book. That being said, I enjoyed this story. It was a good zombie story set in the UK. I found a few mistakes and had to learn to accept words that are not what we would use here in the US. Basically if you are going to be critical of language you might not want to read this. I on the other hand want to read the other books in the series. I might have to ask my daughter about why some of the words I read are being used, but rest assured she will explain it to me from a writers point of view. If you like zombies read this authors work. You won't be sorry.

[Tonya Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

It keeps you turning the pages......quick!

This is a really good "end of the world as we know it" story with the twist being it starts out 15 yrs after the zombies arrive. It's very fast paced with something happening on every other page that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The characters are as interesting as the storyline and I'm off to get the next book......happy reading y'all!!

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

Story was ok. Canned food that lasts 15 years. Petrol still good sitting in the tank of a car after 15 years. Warehouses still having food on the shelves, again 15 years into the ZA? Firing a pistol into a gas tank and it blows up. Batteries still working, I need to know what brands they are.

[Carole Lathrop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big TWD fan and in between seasons. This was a good book to fill that gap. I read book 1 in one afternoon . The book flowed well. The characters were interesting and will build as series moves along. There is good balance between action and character building. I enjoyed this book

[Angie Anderson]

A psychological zompoc book

Jack Lewis delivers an unusual twist on the zompoc. His main antagonist has deep seated issues and a goal. His unwelcome companion just might be his savior.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely an intriguing book in the zombie genre. Well done!

[Cheryl Viner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is the first zombie tale I read that is set in England. It is a quick read and keeps your attention until the last page

[Area51 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very generic zombie story with way too many errors. Clearly the book was not edited.

[Betty Almes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one pretty quickly. Some things just didn't make sense not sure I will read more on the series.

[Deana Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing for an honest review

I have read several zombie apocalyptic books and they all seem to have a theme you can find in each book in this genre. They all have the typical gore and survival instincts. What I liked about this book was it was written in first person. Kyle , the main character is a loner and doesn't trust anyone.
He meets different characters on his journey, but can they be trusted?

The author did a good job of having action that keeps the reader entertained and hungry for more. He brings us through his writing style a book that shows the drive to survive and the obstacles that they face trying to succeed.
At first I didn't care for Kyle. He seemed arrogant and a need to do things on his own. The author did a great job showing thst Kyke is also vulnerable and has to decide if he can really make it on his oen? He at times let his pride get the best of him.

There are other characters in the book you will either cheer for or have a feeling of hate for. It is all about survival of the fittest and who is willing to dig deep into their selves to overcome the ones who want you dead.
The description of the dead and what they can do to you if infected was well written and painted a picture of true fear in some . There is always a fear of the unknown. What Mr. Lewis has done has used thst fear to show the strength of from people who want to survive and conquer the enemy. Where there be a time when we may be called on to fight together to destroy the fear that lurks among us? The story line was action packed and moved along quickly.,
The question is do you want to fear the dead, the stalker or survive?

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through a giveaway on librarything.com in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick read, I think it took me two or three hours to get through it. The book was okay. I felt it was more of a short story than a book. Perhaps if it appeared in a longer anthology of zombie/apocalypse type stories I would have enjoyed it more. I found the narrator Kyle to be a sort of irritating fellow. I thought he was sort of whiny, and in addition to that it was almost as if he was trying to convince the reader that he was tougher than he really was. He gets hooked up with this younger kid (Justin) who again and again does the exact opposite of what Kyle tells him to do, and yet he lets him stick around.

I think one of the main complaints I had was that we know next to nothing about Justin. I was almost hoping for him to be Torben's son since he is somewhere with the mother, the reader never does find out where. I thought that would be an interesting little tidbit of information.

All in all it wasn't a terrible read. At the end of the book the author does say that there will be a second book with other characters, perhaps it will answer some questions from this past book or shed some light on Justin and where he came from.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read lasting 2 hours depending on reading speed. Well written. A zombie book that has all the classic parts, a solo man encounters a young partner on his journey to a specific location, zombies and encounters with humans occur.

Slight negative the main character talks like how we all feel if we were in a zombie apocalypse, whatever we would do would be faultless and perfect and everyone else will get us killed. this ability of hindsight as his foresight was kinda nagging throughout and made me dislike the main character especially as his arrogance got himself in the tough spots mostly but I can see a lot of people would relate as they read because they would think along the same lines as him.

I enjoyed the read but im biased and enjoy anything zombie related. nothing outstanding actually occurs that makes the book more unique or memorable such as the passage achieves or zombie fallout or we're alive the podcast. but a quick read containing the undead did what it was suppose to in a very short read and kept me entertained for two hours in the garden. the second book sounds promising...

[Alice J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fear the Dead is a zombie apocalypse novel. Set fifteen years after the initial outbreak, the reader finds Kyle Vauss who has spent his time wandering around England. He lost his wife but always remembered the promise he made to her that they would reach the old farm owned by her dad and so with a battered old GPS and armed with nothing more than the bag on his back, he sets out to find it.

Kyle is waylaid one night when a stalker--something that has evolved from being just a zombie--begins to stalk him. He is wounded and taken to the local town where he meets Justin, a teenager born inside the walls of Vasey and without a clue how the real world is outside. Justin attaches himself to Kyle in a move that outwits him and Kyle has no choice but to let him tag along if he plans to reach the farm. They are dogged along the way by more than just zombies.

This was a good read. I found that at times Kyle was a little unlikable--it felt like he was just being mean for the sake of it, however most of the time it was fine.

[D.J. Bodden · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fear the Dead" by Jack Lewis is like a combo of Dying Light and Dead State, or if you're into movies like Book of Eli except the hero is a crappy fighter with anger issues.

I enjoyed the development of the characters. While "Fear the Dead" isn't long on reflection, the two main survivors in the tale show an endearing amount of growth in what was a very quick read for me. There's a tiny bit of a slow down a quarter of the way through, but it never happens again until the heads have rolled and the hero is planning his next move (presumably, the next book).

There were also some nice moments of edge of your seat tension here or there that made me forget I was reading, like when the characters are searching through a dark building that's been flashing warning signs at the reader for two chapters.

Overall, "Fear of the Dead" was entertaining, short on fluff, and constantly fighting to maintain its pace. Both a coming of age story and a quest, it's well worth the price.

[Grw]

A good post zombie apocalypse book that while it may not break any new ground is a great and surprisingly fast read.

Kyle is a loner, years after the zombies first arrived, who stumbles upon other survives and ends up being taken in by them, only to leave again as soon as he can. However, a teenager tricks his way into being his companion, as do a few others along the way, and while Kyle doesn't become the sort of person you'd want at a party, he is certainly the right person to survive with. Of course not everyone sees it that way, as the survivors become hunted.

The characters are nicely done, if missing a bit of backstory. There's a touch of repetition in some of the narrative, but nothing terrible and thankfully, for once in a zombie novel, the fight scenes are dealt with quickly, rather than being dragged out for pages after page.

All in all, a great start to a series. Looking forward to the next one now.

[Holly Copella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so easy to read, I read it in a single sitting! I'm not a fan of first person narrative, but it really worked here--probably because I really liked the main man. I felt a connection with him only a chapter or two into the book. It's a character driven story, and you actually care what happens to them. I felt the characters actions and responses were realistic to their situation. The good guys gave hope for the future; and the bad guys made you root for "team zombie". The book keeps pace and flows nicely from beginning to end, always moving the reader forward. I love a good "journey" story. There were moments of mild gore and some "creep me out" scenes but not "blood for the sake of blood". Foul language was kept to a minimum and used only when necessary. An overall good read for the general population. I highly recommend this book!

[Sherron Capitano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast moving story and well developed characters

I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the next book. I find the characters interesting.

I would have liked to have more of the characters stories of what they experienced in their past. I'm hoping future books will flashback and give more of their past.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys this genre.

[Carrie Kellenberger · Rating 2 out of 5]

The zombie apocalypse began 15 years ago and life has been very different for Kyle since his wife was turned into a zombie. He wanders through England and tries to forget the past. Eventually, he meets a teenager named Justin while he is out wandering. Justin tricks Kyle into taking him along on his journey. The two of them end up battling off against zombies and a group of cannibals that they meet on their way.

This is a typical horror-zombie read. I couldn't relate to the characters or the story and I don't think I'll continue with the series, but if you're into Young Adult Fiction and zombie apocalypse stories, you might like Fear the Dead: Post Apocalyptic Survival Fiction.

[Jeff Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fear the Dead is a promising start. My favorite aspect of the zombie and P.A. stories is not the monsters, the weapons and tactics or what caused the end but rather how the survivors deal with the horror that is now their life. This is where I think Jack Lewis does a very good job. The protagonist, Kyle has been through 15 years of hell and when we meet him he is not easy to like. But he is real and sticking with him till the end of the story is worth it. Mr. Lewis has set up an interesting character in Kyle and I hope that we get to see him regain his humanity through the course of the remaining novels.

[Ralph Wark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparse and Good

This was a bit stripped down compared to many post apocalyptic books, a main character/flawed hero, Justin, the intensive, brother Dave and bad man Torben. Not a tricky plot line, a man tortured by his past trying to get to a safe place, pushed by his nemesis. Nothing original, no ground breaking concepts, but the author does a great job on characters. You like them, there's even a twinge of empathy for the big bad, so I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's an easy read, short chapters with good pacing to keep your interest up, it only takes a couple days to read. So good for quickness, and a nice start of a trilogy, it has promise.........

[NightReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters in this book were all kind of dumb. Granted, with humanity's luck, it probably will be mostly dumb people who survive the zombie apocalypse, but it didn't make them likeable. Plus, I don't understand the passing of time versus mileage. The main character has been walking, walking, walking for what seems like forever, but when he decides (after still more walking) that he is tired of walking, he is still within walking distance of one of the people he was walking away from and that person's car. If there is a follow up to this, I most likely won't keep reading.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kyle the lead character is a good man and despite being a little pig-headed is a compelling character. He is full of rage, but it is understandable after what he has been through.

Excellent baddies and a realistic depiction of a post apocalyptic future. Fear the Dead has left me wanting more and I'd love to know what happens next. I would read a sequel in a heartbeat!

Good on you Jack Lewis.

[Amy Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read

A really great take on post apocalyptic fiction. It was really great to see Kyle evolve from his "lone wolf" persona to actually needing and trusting in others, even though he really didn't have much of a choice. I love that there are different types of zombies as well. It makes the story more thrilling because you don't know what's coming. Excited to read on and see what path the story takes next.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read

The story line was interesting and a bit different than the typical zombie story. It was definitely a quick read, perfect for an afternoon or evening read with no distractions. I wish the editing had been a bit tighter as there are a number of misspellings and odd word choices that bothered me though if you read quickly it may not bother you much. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it for anyone looking for a quick zombie tale.