THEY’RE COMING TO GET YOU, BARBARA!

by J.D. Allen

Contrary to what many believe; Johnny did not die that afternoon in the cemetery when they came to honor their deceased father, and the first known ghoul attacked him and his sister, Barbara! His death would come much later! This is Johnny’s story! Reviving at dusk, with a bleeding head-wound, Johnny rises to discover he is alone in the deserted graveyard, and he vows to do whatever it takes to find his missing sister, Barbara, in this all-new shocker told in a parallel timeframe adjacent to the original zombie classic, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! If you think Barbara had a wild and terrifying night, just wait until you read her brother, Johnny’s, story as he traverses the land of the undead to reunite with his sister at that infamous encounter inside the rundown farmhouse where Barbara waits in terror!

Genres: Horror

128 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2021

Reviews

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

Johnny and his sister Barbara, have traveled a distance to pay respect at their father’s gravesite. As dusk begins its descent on the day, the unexplainable begin to occur. The cemetery soon becomes a haven for the horrific, as the recently deceased begin returning to life. These slow lumbering ghouls initiate a unholy phenomenon of grisly proportions as brother and sister are forced to test their survivability.

Author J.D. Allen has created a genius concept of adding to the eerie ambiance of that classic black & white horror movie, Night of the Living Dead. The story is from the perspective of Johnny, a tale of incredible courage and the struggle to not only stay alive but to locate his sister while confrontations against the undead steadily grow. From the slow shuffling walking dead to a literal house of horrors…this is Johnny’s story.

This isn’t your mother’s soulless version of the undead. Be warned, Allen doesn’t write his fiction with kid gloves. They’re Coming To Get You Barbara is immersed with morbid sub-plots that seep of rot and decay. It’s these tense scenarios that push this experience to a 10 on the scale of ravenous teeth snapping gore. I was excited to grab this because of my inner fanboy and was not disappointed, in fact it reached higher expectations with clever references towards Romero’s creation.

Relive the first time you saw that beloved film of yesteryear through the talents of author J.D. Allen. Board up those doors and windows, tune into the newsroom reports of “it has been established that persons who have recently died have been returning to life, and committing acts of murder”. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.

[Negan88 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night of the Living Dead. Here’s Johnny!

So do you think Night of the Living Dead has been imagined, reimagined, remade, and overdone? Well, it isn’t ready to be laid to rest until you get your hands on J.D. Allen’s reimagining of that fateful night conceived years ago by the late great George A. Romero. This time around is a bit different. Did you think Johnny died in the graveyard? Wrong! See events unfold from Johnny’s point of view, and see if can he make an impact on the night that lies in waiting.

First off I have to say this novella was absolutely amazing! Many have attempted to pay homage to George’s masterpiece that introduced the populace to a new type of horror. Some resulting as atrocities, others being decent, and a rare few that really blow you away. They’re Coming to Get You Barbara! by J.D. Allen is of the latter. If you are a Romero junkie this is right up your alley. Even if you are just familiar with the original Night of the Living Dead the book is full of references to the film, legacy, and the times. I think George would be very proud of what Allen has created. Especially, coming from an independent author being that George’s career started off very meager indeed!

As I began reading this familiar tale with a different spin I never really thought of Johnny’s fate before. I always assumed he died. There are many instances where the story crosses paths with the cinematic treasure’s events that we all know and love. However, J.D. weaves a very intriguing story while injecting it with new life and a fresh spin! Reading along I was entertained and then BAM! Chapter 11 comes along and suddenly I am enamored! The world has been flipped, and everything previously pictured in my head pertaining Night of the Living Dead is out of the window and I’m on a new adventure.

I most certainly do not want to say too much about this book for the many who know and love Romero’s classic. I really do not want any spoilers to be given away. All I can say is this is a new imagining that I felt was amazing, satisfying, very creepy, awesome ending, and needs to be on film! I suggest you grab your copy now you zombie junkies, sit back, devour, and enjoy the ride.

Overall, I must give They’re Coming to Get You Barbara! by Joseph Dean Allen four and a half gravestones out of five. I only deducted half a headstone due to a few minor flaws that any fan will overlook, and I am rounding it up to a full five. Keep in mind this is an independent work, and our independent authors depend on readers word of mouth. So keep that in mind while reading if you glance a typo here or there (not excessive by any means). Personally, I couldn’t get enough of Johnny’s point of view, and Allen gave the character so much depth rather than a nerdy dude who teases his sister. This is definitely a must read, and a fantastic homage to Night of the Living Dead! Until next time, my friends.

[Tim Eagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Romero Would be Proud

Here it is, the true story about Johnny, and until this story I always thought he was a "cool jerk". J.D. Allen pulls this story off without a hitch. If you're a fan if Night of the Living Dead this book is a must read. I loved the macabre back story of Johnny and Barbara. I loved the tip of the hat to Tom Savini and a bond between brother and sister that is love and hate but inseparable. Enjoy the roller coaster ride, the flashback in history and let Johnny guide you through his, Night of the Living Dead, you won't regret this book, ever. Who are they really coming to get?

[Sheri White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to get this book for the premise alone - if you're a fan of the original movie, you will love the premise too.

Although we were led to believe that Barbara's brother Johnny died after he saved her from the zombie in the cemetery, he really hadn't.

This is his story.

This was such a fun read. I was so curious how the author was going to handle the scene where Johnny grabs Barbara out of the house, and so satisfied with it. There are a lot of Easter eggs, sly references, and names throughout the book that prove the author is a huge fan of Romero's masterpiece.

Highly recommended.

[Tina Kroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have watched the 1968 Night of the Living Dead, the beginning of this book will be very familiar. This story takes place parallel to the movie but instead of following Barbara, we follow her brother Johnny as he wakes up in the cemetery after a head injury that knocks him unconscious. When he realizes Barbara is gone he sets out to find her, fighting to survive through hoards of the undead. I wish so hard this book was a movie because it is phenomenal. It was gripping and fun and puts such a unique and fantastic spin on a classic. Fans of the Night of the Living Dead movie will love and appreciate this book and even if you have never seen the movie, the book is amazing all on its own. It’s a definite must read that I will reread over and over.

[Mark M J Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing that is abundantly clear with They’re Coming to Get You, Barbara, is how much of a fan J D Allen is. Events from the film are accurately described, including ones witnessed from a different perspective. And there are nods aplenty to the creators, stars and folks who were involved in not only the original film but beyond as well. Anyone who has looked at the movie credits will recognise familiar character names cropping up and also used for some locations including a fast food joint. And yet, I never thought they felt forced. If you spot them, it feels like a little reward and a sign of respect for the original. If you do not spot them, no problem; it will not deter you from the story.

The clever thing about the book; is how much it feels like part of the franchise. It isn’t just respectful of the path it’s treading; it feels like a natural part of the story. If I had any say in the matter, it would be considered canon. That’s how accurate, well told and respectful it is. I know without a doubt that scenes from the book will be in my head when I next re-watch the film. Everything ties in nicely to make They’re Coming to Get You, Barbara feel like an intrinsic part of the story. It doesn’t just complement it; it joins it.

The book is such a love letter to Night of the Living Dead that you would be missing out by not experiencing them both.

I highly recommend it. It expands upon the movie without changing it, and as I said, you can tell it came from a place of fondness for the film and the franchise.

It truly is the perfect companion piece.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You J. D. Allen for gifting me this wonderful love letter to the Original Movie. It was so beautifully written and it honored the late George A. Romero and others that passed that were connected with the original movie.

Fans of the original 1968 Night Of the Living Dead will enjoy this Novella. It tells the Adventures of Johnny when He woke up in the Cemetery without his sister. It answered most of the questions left unanswered. Johnny goes thru a lot of encounters in one night. Find out for yourself if he makes it thru.

I Recommend everyone should read this
I am 99.9 percent sure you will love it .


This would make a great movie companion to the original movie

[Ashley Chmielewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a spooky, classic storyline! Enjoyed every page! Can't go wrong with this quick read!

[Destiny Pifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed to get a print copy of this book autographed by the author himself. I wasn't sure what to expect going in but once I started reading it I was blown away. I loved how the author went in a different direction by making the lead character one that we barely got to know in the movie. I enjoyed reading the book from the perspective of that character. I found this book really addicting and hard to put down. I finished it in two days and loved every moment of it. Highly recommend the book for Night of the Living Dead fans!

[Christopher Besonen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not usually one to read a lot of fan fiction, but being a major fan of Romero's Night of the Living Dead, I decided to give this book a chance. I quickly engaged with the familiar story and before I knew it was flipping through the gore filled pages to the terrifying end! At one point, I turned on the movie as background noise, and on three occasions the film scenes aligned perfectly with the written passages!! I love this book passionately and will be getting a signed copy immediately!!!

[Matthew Gleason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really excellent companion piece to the original 1968 film. This feels like the midpoint between Night of the Living Dead and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

[Shane Vozar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for Romero fans!

Really exciting and scary book! I'm a big fan of the Romero films and this book expands that universe in a really clever way.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to read about ghouls, you still need to read this. It’s quick, it’s fun, it’s a story tribute to the cult classic movie ‘Night of the Living Dead.’ There are some names and references in the story that include characters and those involved in the movie.
Johnny and Barbara were taken by surprise when they were set upon by a ghoul while they were visiting their father's grave. The story follows Johnny, who is searching for Barbara.
This little novella is so entertaining it belongs on a ghoul’s bookshelf.
It is easy to get lost in the story and grow close to the characters, even though it is a quick story to read. I love ghouls, so this one is definitely a favorite of all the stories of ghouls I have read.
If you dug 'Night of the Living Dead', this book is for you.
I like that J. D. Allen’s writing has a bunch of nostalgia in his stories.