Dead Moon: Nightmares are Born

Dead Moon/The Unseen #1

by Matthew James

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.


As a seasoned detective with the NYPD, Frank Moon thought he’d seen everything. He basically had until a meteor landed in Central Park, exposing the surrounding area to a hellish radiation. Something instantly happened to the people who witnessed its entry into Earth’s atmosphere—something within their genetic code changed. And it happened violently.

They turned into monsters.
They turned into the thing of nightmares.

Now, Frank must make his way through the chaos that was Manhattan in search of his wife. “Abaddon,” it’s what the experts at NASA called the meteor… It not only carried a beautifully sinister red glow, but it also brought with it the closest thing to evil anyone had ever seen.

Genres: Horror, Zombies, Science Fiction, Fiction

299 pages, ebook

First published April 4, 2016

About the author

MATT JAMES is the international bestselling author of over thirty-five action-packed titles, including the fan-favorite Jack Reilly series, The Cursed Thief, and The Blood King. He specializes in globetrotting thrillers that fans of James Rollins, Steve Berry, and Ernest Dempsey will devour!

He lives twenty minutes from the beach in sunny South Florida with his amazing wife, three beautiful children, a lovable pitty, and an overly dramatic black cat.

Go to MattJamesAuthor.com and subscribe to his newsletter for early and exclusive news and updates! You will NOT be mercilessly spammed with junk mail. And don't forget to click the FOLLOW button on his Amazon page to receive new release alerts!

Reviews

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A meteor landed somewhere inside Central Park. Regrettably, it brought along a hellish radiation that altered the genetic code of those that witnessed its entrance into Earth’s atmosphere. Fortunately, I was busy binge-watching my favorite TV show to share their fate. A large population of New York City wasn’t so lucky, though.

They turned into the things of nightmares.
They turned into monsters.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A badass monster fueled adventure! Frank Moon is a great protagonist. I wish the rest of the series was available as audiobooks. I love to read, but audio is much more convenient these days.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 starsNon stop thrills
By Miss Lyn on April 5, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
When the meteor Abaddon heads for Manhattan it seems very thrilling. The thrill turns to horror as the rock brings a different kind of excitement by turning people into crazed,ravenous monsters.Frank Moon has a big job ahead to stay alive,save his family and try to solve what caused this chaos.
Dead Moon is a non stop freight train of a thriller that will leave you breathless.
I received this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Terry Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Such a fast read where you have to make yourself slow down. This is not a zombie book per se as some will think. Its a story about a meteorite that hits earth and the destruction it causes to humans who look at the red light. And Frank is a detective trying to survive and get to his wife. A lot of action is involved in this book and not all of it good, but sure helps with the story. A damn good read in my opinion and hoping there will be another one.

[Mike Pastore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Moon was a fantastic take on an apocalyptic disaster. While reading it, I felt like I lived the adventure with Frank Moon as he fought his way through the big city in real time to reach his ultimate goal, and repair a damaged relationship with his wife. I'll be hoping for a sequel so see what happens next!

[John R. Dailey Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DAMN FINE TALE OF AN ALIEN INVASION IT IS...

Hello, this is, so far, my favorite story from Mr. James. I hope he continues this new and different story. The characters are so real that it is like watching a movie in your mind. I am pretty sure that everyone will like this story. Good stuff. Thanks.

[Julie Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Moon is one fast-paced thrill ride. The story starts with a meteor falling to earth and landing in Central Park and causing complete chaos. People who are outside when it hits are turned into killing machines, and Detective Frank Moon must survive to rescue his wife. His journey to get to her is intense and makes for an excellent read.

[FictionFreak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, apocalyptic romp

Dead Moon was a different kind of apocalyptic story. Matthew James does well to make this story keep a steady, interesting pace throughout. If you want something a little different than most stories of this nature, check it out!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

New take on the invasion story

This is quite an interesting and new take on the invasion story filled with action, adventure and an ending that leaves you wondering.

[Glízia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quem me conhece sabe que eu não curto muito história sobre zumbi. Tem que ter algo muito diferente pra me fisgar, mas até mesmo histórias sobre modos diferentes de se tornar zumbi me cansam porque vira aquela mesmice de personagens foda, que nunca erram um tiro, conseguem correr pra sempre, presos num The Walking Dead que me dá preguiça.
E eu vou confessar que não fazia a menor ideia do que se tratava Dead Moon. Eu comprei simplesmente porque esse foi o primeiro audiobook que o Brian Holden narrou. ( Sim, o cara que fez o Lupin em A Very Potter Sequel. Sim, um dos cabeças do Starkid) E eu fiquei mais curiosa em ouvir o Holden do que a história em si, mas olha, me surpreendi.
Primeiro porque eu gostei muito da construção do personagem principal e da história. Ao mesmo tempo que tem todos os clichés de histórias de zumbis, ele tem momentos que só podem ser encontrados nesse livro.
E o personagem principal foi o que eu mais gostei de tudo. ( Mentira, foi em como as pessoas se tornaram zumbis) Mas eu gostei muito em como ele foi muito mais humano do que qualquer personagem que encontrei que passar pela mesma situação que ele. Não tem nada de bravura no que ele faz, e o autor deixa o personagem sentir outra coisa que não seja adrenalina.
Ainda assim, senti que faltou trabalhar algumas coisas no final, assim como algumas coisas aconteceram só pra ficar mais impactantes. Mas eu gostei muito mesmo desse livro!

( Só lembrando que não é pq eu dei três estrelas pro livro que eu não gostei dele. Mas não tem como dar mais do que isso, falta aí algumas coisas essenciais, como disse nesse parágrafo acima.)

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one. Good pacing and action, and left lots of questions. I think it could have ended about 10 pages earlier, the last few pages seemed a little fluff.

[Donna Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew James introduces a tough, entertaining new character in this intriguing apocalyptic thriller. I’m new to the world of Matt James, and I must say this book is a terrific introduction! His character Frank Moon is stubborn, tough, and funny even as he fights mutated humans and animals. Moon struggles to find his wife in a post-apocalyptic New York City, and takes us along on his adventure. Often punishing physically and emotionally, the humor and love in this story took me on an emotional rollercoaster. I can’t wait for the next book! This book was given to me by a friend.

[Louise Feagans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Moon

This is the first book that I have read by this author, Matthew James, and I can't wait to read another. Dead Moon is a fast paced action story with creatures that are sort of like zombies but yet not. When a meteor lands in Central Park, people start changing and things start happening. And then there is Detective Moon trying to get around the park to find his wife. To find out more, get the book. You won't be disappointed.

[Deb G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC!!!
God, I can only hope and pray that there's a Book-2!?!? This book was that good; excellent character development; story keeps you on the edge of your seat with the different types of 'monsters', and some surprises as to who gets 'bumped' off. I was sad to see a certain character depart....Oh No.... Overall a really good apocalyptic type story. Again, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for book 2 (fingers crossed)...

[Syreeta Laney · Rating 5 out of 5]

No time at all

Normally, it takes me about a month to finish a book. Only because, I work odd hours, and I have a demanding schedule. I really enjoyed reading this book. Not only did it have the scary side, but also the funny side; with him naming all the monsters. Please read...

[Brian Sewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

Reading a few of James' book you come to expect excellence. Through this book you experience intrigue, suspense and the mind numbing thought......will they make it. Excellent writing, could not put this book down.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Imagine waking up and finding your would destroyed. This is that story.

I really enjoyed the love stories interwoven in the disaster. It makes me remember to appeeciate what we have.

I'm looking forward to book 2.

[kenneth L. Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Ride

Unique approach to the great disaster! Will keep you on edge and waiting for the movie to follow. You will enjoy it. I did.

[trci werman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enigmatic

Fast paced post apocalyptic fun. Nonstop action, horror, and humor all in a short period of time. Read in one sitting.

[Pearl Barley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adventure to read. It hit the ground running from the first page, and I got caught up immediately with the predicament that would leave most of us shaking in our shoes and peeing our pants. A meteor of sorts falls to earth and from that moment everything changes, especially the people. Ordinary folk, neighbours and friends are no longer who they were before. Touched by some unknown force it turns them into the living dead and they in turn hunt down the unaffected to basically tear them to shreds ... and there's seems nowhere to hide.

Frank Moon, a police officer, needs to find his wife, then his parents and hopefully her parents - everyone lives in different areas and there's no communications, no electricity, no authorities to aid survival and nowhere to lay his head without being on ultra-alert, but first he must survive the onslaught of creatures not of this world hell-bent on destroying everything in sight, even the buildings, and different strains of creature emerge making the quest for survival almost impossible as even animals are affected and you can bet your very life they will sniff you out and go straight for your throat, unfortunately successfully due to their altered states.

It's not long before the streets are literally running with blood and buildings burn as crashed and mangled vehicles, sometimes with the dead still inside, line the streets. There are even rogue unaffected who will use brute force to protect their territory if they've found a place habitable enough to survive in - who shoot first and ask questions later. It seems that Frank is being got at from all sides.

But he's determined even though he doesn't understand what's going on, who the aliens are, why they came in the first place, or where he can find sanctuary when the whole town is under siege. He dubs the creatures as the Unseen as they have no sight but rely on their sense of smell and they're stealthy, sneaky, and extremely deadly. (Personally I would have called them The Unseeing, but that's my own private opinion).

This is a fearful thriller keeping you on the edge of your seat with a high anxiety level as you root for Frank and a few die-hard companions battling for their lives hoping to make it through the nightmare and finding their loved ones safe. It's anybody's guess how this will end.

I don't read zombie stories as a rule, and I'm not that keen on post-apocalyptic tales but this one is an epic movie waiting to be made and I, for one, will be in a front row seat if and when that happens. I absolutely couldn't wait to get to the next instalment. In a word, it's brilliant!

[Zed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I though Robert Ludlum was a terrible writer... Until I read this P.O.S. Even with the total cost of $0.00, I still like my money back. Failing that, my time spent reading it. (I freely own up to being OCD and it is not Mr. Jame's fault that I have to finish what I start. No, he did not force me to start it, or even to finish it. But, I still wish he'd read my review and perhaps incorporate some of my tips. I bear him no malice, and to actually write a book does take effort. So props for that.)
The overall story is not a bad idea, in fact, it could be epic. But in execution, Mr. James fails time after time. One piece of writing advice I'd like to share:

First: If you do not know about weapons or any other type of mechanical device; don't use them in your writing if at all possible. Or if you must introduce "the gun..." do so in the most rudimentary manner possible and do not make your protagonist an expert in that device or field. Or, conversely, study up on the tools you do plan on introducing. (Pro tip: the part of a semi-automatic pistol that hold the cartridges is called a "Magazine" or "mag". Not a "CLIP"

Second: If they are not super humans from planet Krypton, don't afford them supper powers when all others succumb to the "creatures" in fractions of seconds.

Third: make they awesome, or lucky: not both.

Time after time, Mr. James had what we are supposed to believe is an perhaps above the average NYC-PD Detective, yet, this "hero" survives countless encounters with all manner of physic's that would kill or at the very least maim the average non-Krytonian.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read: Jan 4 2020
Rating: 3,5 stars

A refreshing take on both alien-like stuff and on zombie-ish creatures.
It starts off pretty fast, the introduction is the bare minimum before you're thrown into action and that really suits the story since it's one action-packed book.

You do get to know the main character well enough to get attached to him but the rest of the characters are less fleshed out, (BUT not cardboard), because of their limited "screentime.

What I really liked is the fact that the women are not helplessly standing by and quivering in fear while the big bad hero saves all but actually kick ass as well.

The story is pretty original in my opinion and I, so far, have only read one series that had sort of the same plotline.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the change and found the start very good, then Frank started being stupid. Having to go back to a specific store when his clothes became blood covered, for one thing. After taking 2 days to get from a to b, why go back to a? There are many clothing stores in Manhattan

No character development and lousy dialogue.

I found it ridiculous that one night, you can be chased right to an entry and still safely sleep in a washroom, but later you can never find respite, until its time to have sex.

Then the creatures started getting silly, and earthquakes, and, and, and.

I wont be reading any more of this series.

[Mark Carnelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different take on the zombie apocalypse

Great start to a good hard-hitting series where both the male and female characters are true bad-asses! Great idea to change up the zombies to mutated humans with the males and females almost become two new species.
Looking forward to the rest of the series. An easy to read story that doesn’t get too involved. Fast paced which helps move the story along in the right direction.
Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for a solid read.

[Michael Chesler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uh Oh!

Alien rocks pucker the sky and land in Central Park. Those who witnessed the event are changed for the worse.Detective Frank Moon is showcases as one of a few survivors and what he experienced on his way to safety.
It is not unique, as stories go, but it is well told with different angels and interesting characters.
Matt James is an accomplished writer with his own style. This makes the reading fresh and riveting. Give this title a try!

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Moon interesting apocaliptical book

I read the book Dead Moon which was about a meteor that hit in Central Park and created havoc by changing humans and animals into monsters and the struggle of a police detective to survive and and find his wife and try to get off the island. It was a good book with a lot of excitement and horror and the struggle to survive.

[Chisala Mulemba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad to one back into the reading mode

The characters are not fleshed out and survive so many close shaves. No description of the cause of the disaster and every time they find respite it is almost immediately lost. However, it seems to be the beginning of a series and perhaps the characters will get fleshed out in the future editions. Leaves very little hope though.

[Kelly Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story line

I enjoyed the story but some of the writing seemed choppy and confused. The dialogue was okay but not great. All in all, it was interesting enough for me to try the next book in the series.

[Tricia S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!

The action was good and the pacing was just about perfect. The grammatical and spelling errors were tough because they kept throwing me out of the story trying to decipher exactly what was being said. Better editing would make this book 5 stars!

[Michael Fennessy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like at all

Absolutely no character development. No explanation for the main event. It is 300 pages of action sequences. Honestly I am surprised this wasn't self published. Stay away