Elize arrives in Mogadishu with instructions to assassinate a Russian embassy official. She has tactical command of a US kill-team, CIA operatives, rookies and veterans of a dozen war zones. It should be a straightforward hit but her luck is about to run out. She will soon find herself trapped in a city gone to hell, struggling to complete her mission in the face of betrayal, a spreading pandemic and a population hungry for flesh…
Killchain by Adam Baker is Infected books opening novella in their year of the Zombie series. Twelve authors, twelve zombie novellas and all to celebrate 15 years since the publication of Infected Books first novel, David Moody’s Autumn.
Set within the same world as Baker’s bestselling novels Outpost, Terminus and Impact, Killchain takes place at ground zero, Mogadishu in Somalia where a dead satellite crashed. The virus entered the population and quickly spread leaving the infected flesh hungry zombies.
The Russians are here desperately seeking an antidote and also here, not trusting them an inch are the Americans with rookie CIA field operative Elize Mahone. Her first live mission to assassinate the leading Russian surgical specialist using a troubled young man willing to die for their cause.
The Zombie horde are getting closer, the hit needs to be done before they can get on the last flight out but betrayal is the ruination of many a good plan and this one's no different. Elize's luck just ran out. This story doesn't concentrate so much on the battle against the Zombies but more on the political games of the superpowers in the form of four people, two on the mission, one having second thoughts about killing himself and one unfortunate enough to be caught slap bang in the middle of it.
This was my first read from Adam Baker and I enjoyed it, the story gets interesting as Elize tries to fortify the mind of her kamikaze attacker and her mission partner discovers a double cross.
I will never cease to be amazed at the levels of human stupidity and the “them” or “us” attitude that is so prevalent in this world. What the hell will it take for us to just all live together and cooperate? How bad does it have to get before we stop worrying about “them” getting ahead of “us”.
Adam Baker has kicked off Infected Books’ Year of the Zombie. What a great idea! Twelve months – twelve new zombie stories, all to celebrate fifteen years of zombies from Infected Books.
So here is the concept. It has finally hit the fan, the pandemic has spread to the four corners of the earth, and the human race is in the crapper. What should be the priority? Working together to find a cure? Uh, no! Securing safe zones to help the people who haven’t been infected yet? No, that can wait until later. No, the number one priority - making sure “they” don’t find the cure before “us”, because that is what really matters right now.
Adam Baker has put together a perfect leadoff batter for the Year of the Zombie. He has put together a shocking, frustrating, and addictive short. I was quickly pulled into Killchain and appalled by what these characters were doing, given the scenario.
Killchain is a great way to get a new year going. Short enough that you can finish it in one sitting; yet long enough and engaging enough that I was satisfied by the end. Although I must admit that I would like to learn more about this apocalyptic world created by Adam Baker.
Killchain by Adam Baker is a fun and focused novella that starts a new series called Year of the Zombie. I am a huge fan of Baker and have read all of his works. I try and limit my zombie reading these days as I have had my fill. Nevertheless, I loved the mechanism which Baker utilized to introduce us to the shufflers.
Short, sweet, and a good start from a great author.
Killchain is the first in a series of monthly novellas published to celebrate the anniversary of Infected Press, one of the leading publishing houses of undead fiction. Adam Baker is an amazing author, one I was very impressed with when I read Outpost several years ago. Killchain is set in the same universe, at the heart of the outbreak. Set at the precipice of the Mogadishu falling to the infected, the story starts with city resident David preparing to flee his apartment when it is overtaken by two American operatives intent on assassinating a Russian scientist by means of a human bomb. For two short chapters, the story is intense and immediate and oh, so very good. I need more Adam Baker stories in my life!
A great short read that kicks of a series of Novellas from some great Zombiesque authors from Infected Books. One book a month to celebrate the "Year of the Zombie." It kicks off with Adam Baker of the Output series.
While only a short read it is certainly hits hard. The story takes place in Mogadishu and combines a CIA hit and a mysterious Zombie outbreak. The two story arcs are on a collision course from the outset and provide for a tense and exciting narrative.
A great start from a very promising serious. The Year of the Zombie is looking good and I for one am going along for the ride.
A very good short story set in Baker's Outpost universe. No need know anything about the world before reading this, but i bet that after this the new readers will want to find out more.
Readers familiar with the Baker's style knows that he dives straight to story, no time for set ups. This is an apocalyptic action-horror: John Carpenter movie without moving pictures and sound....or you could play Cartenter's scores while readinng this, which i recommend.
Downside after this, i wanted more, the whole new Outpost-world book. Yeah, i know one is coming, but not soon enough.
"Get out, the house is on fire." "I don't care, sod off". Yep this is the kind of novella that could get me to ignore an inferno. Excitement from start to finish. If this is typical of Adam Baker's writing, then im sold.
A SHORT STORY ABOUT THE CIA AND A SPRINKLE OF ZOMBIES IT IS..
Hello, this story held a lot of promise, but choked down and stalled way too soon. This story deserved another 300 hundred pages at least. As soon as you got interested, it was over. Thanks.
I think a lot more could have been done with this but seeing as it was a short story it wasn't too bad. Maybe the other books in the series will shed more light on it all.
This is the first book in a series of short zombie stories. I am not sure if they are interconnected or not as they are by different authors. I will admit that the reason I am reading them is because one of the authors is a favorite of mine. I am unfamiliar with the others.
This tale was full of action and had several twists that I did not see coming. Considering how short it was, the author did a good job of putting plenty in. The only reason I did not rate it higher (and one of the reasons I am not a big fan of short stories) is I was not able to become as involved with the characters as I like to do. However, this is a personal opinion and should not stop anyone else from trying this story
This is a good beginning of a series. I believe it showcases the talent of the authors quite well. While I wanted more of a survival zombie horror. I was quite pleased to quickly turn the pages and find myself lost in a dusty world filled with dread. It plays out like a Michael Bay film. The thread pulled taut. You just know the explosions are going to rock you.
As with all the Outpost novels, this short narrative is incredibly intense and also packed with a surprising amount of character building. The two operatives trying to execute a kill mission via a suicide bomber while holding a hostage with a zombie horde encroaching is definitely a setup that kept me on the edge of my seat while reading! I really love the Outpost series, and I really hope to see more from it.
The theme of the series is zombies. While I enjoyed the book. It seemed like the focus was more on another event entirely. Not to spoil it because it is such a quick read. I think the author did a fantastic job with the story but I am a zombie fan. I need zombies to be the main event!
Set in Adam Baker's Outpost world, this is an excellent addition. Four stars because it really is very short. Still not to be missed if, like me, you are a fan.
I am a huge fan of Adam Baker and was anxiously awaiting an n o 've l, so I was thrilled to see this released on Amazon. The story caught my attention right away. The tension was built immediately with the undead almost secondary to the other plot threads. I will definitely read the next installment - and that is my only complaint...the book was one chapter. I wish authors would stop this and publish a full book. Otherwise this is a great start.
This book was written almost entirely in dialogue and, thus, moved quickly from beginning to end. There was not much interaction between the characters and the infected. The story could easily be presented as a play, everything occurring in a single room of an apartment building. With all of that said, it was an engaging tale and I'll probably read the following novella in the series.
I didn't know what to think of this story. It was over so quick, you really do not get to know any characters. I also did not like the plot. Oh yes, lets use a suicide bomber to take out someone even though there is a zombie apocalypse. I just didn't get it.
I normally enjoy Adam Baker's books but this short story doesn't really do it for me, spending too long building up to an all too short finale where all is finally explained.