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The Cursed Manuscripts
Zombie
On December 21, 2012, according to the Mayan Calendar, the world was supposed to end. It didn't. But on that day, 113 mysterious manuscripts were discovered around the world, each one written in blood by an unknown author. After several dozen unexplained deaths befell the finders of said manuscripts, a decision was made to lock them up for good in a secret vault beneath the Vatican. It is said that anyone who reads the stories will die, and as such they are now referred to as 'The Cursed Manuscripts.'
In December 2020, new manuscripts started turning up around the world. 'Zombie' was one of them.
In December 2020, new manuscripts started turning up around the world. 'Zombie' was one of them.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2022
732 people are currently reading
1251 people want to read
About the author
Iain Rob Wright
163 books1,813 followersOne of Horror's most respected authors, Iain Rob Wright is the writer of more than forty books, many of them bestsellers. A previous Kindle All-Star and a mainstay in the horror charts, he is a prolific producer of unique and original stories. From his apocalyptic saga The Gates to his claustrophobic revenge thriller ASBO, Iain writes across a broad spectrum of sub genres, creating both beloved series and standalone titles.
With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.
To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com
With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.
To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
April 9, 2022
A nice zombie book. Not very scary, but a good time.
June 17, 2022
Story 4/5
Narration 5/5
Zombie by Iain Rob Wright isn’t what I expected.
There’s a lot of family drama on top of the zombie mystery. However, I enjoyed it. The story is well written, the plot is interesting and the main characters are well developed.
I’ll read the next book.
Narration 5/5
Zombie by Iain Rob Wright isn’t what I expected.
There’s a lot of family drama on top of the zombie mystery. However, I enjoyed it. The story is well written, the plot is interesting and the main characters are well developed.
I’ll read the next book.
Read
March 14, 2022Reviewing this one for SCREAM Magazine. Look for my review in an upcoming issue
May 3, 2025
This book starts with a young couple Danny and Laura they have a three year old daughter, they fight a lot. They are on their way home from Laura's parents at night and their fighting starts, they stop on a dark road and the action starts. Good zombie story, has that nail biting edge of your seat feelings of being chased by flesh eating zombies. Danny is not likable, he is angry man with a fragile ego well let's call him a bully, Laura's character grows in this story of survival. This book did break one zombie rule I am use to and Laura conveniently took a long time to figure out another. The action in this book pulled me in and kept my interest, entertaining.
October 11, 2022
Great!
I didn't know what to expect but this book was really good! I'm not really into zombies but this book is awesome!
I didn't know what to expect but this book was really good! I'm not really into zombies but this book is awesome!
February 13, 2022
I loved this book!! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this. I really appreciated it being an old trope used in a new way. I've read a ton of zombie books and not one is close to being like this one. I really enjoyed it being a very isolated perspective with just the one small family and a few other late night drivers. It really worked for this story. Anyways, this was a great read and I give it 5/5 zombie skulls 💀
March 27, 2023
The idea behind this book was pretty good but the execution was really lackluster.
The parts that were in the car were decent enough, the claustrophobic aspect was interesting.
The fact that apparently it was more important to remind us that the woman was fat than of the fact that she was both dead and disemboweled was kind of tiresome especially since it was the only zombie whose physicality kept being brought up while also being the only female and therefore the one which needed the least amount of words to be differentiated from the male zombies which were for all intents and purposes pretty much entirely interchangeable since they were presumably not fat and as we all know nothing is scarier than fatness. There were times where it worked to play on the fact that it was a very big zombie but mostly it just came across as lazy writing.
The flashbacks were just kind of meh and, for me, didn't really add to the story only to the word count.
The parts that were in the car were decent enough, the claustrophobic aspect was interesting.
The fact that apparently it was more important to remind us that the woman was fat than of the fact that she was both dead and disemboweled was kind of tiresome especially since it was the only zombie whose physicality kept being brought up while also being the only female and therefore the one which needed the least amount of words to be differentiated from the male zombies which were for all intents and purposes pretty much entirely interchangeable since they were presumably not fat and as we all know nothing is scarier than fatness. There were times where it worked to play on the fact that it was a very big zombie but mostly it just came across as lazy writing.
The flashbacks were just kind of meh and, for me, didn't really add to the story only to the word count.
January 28, 2022
This is definitely not your average zombie fest! Prepare to be freaked out for days after you finish reading this one. Could it be reality? Maybe. Of course, it’s well written with characters that create empathy or disgust. Because wordsmith Wright doesn’t publish anything but. So what are you waiting on? Go get it!
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Read via Kindle Unlimited
May 30, 2022
I wish I’d gotten to read this one in one piece as it was so good I struggled to put it down. I like that it was a bit different then the usual zombie books I read and the main character Laura was someone you could root for. Pretty good overall but no real gore or scares
January 27, 2022
Great book
I don't normally read zombie stories. However, I know Mr Wrights work, so I assumed it would be a good story. I wasn't wrong. Good story and a good read. I recommend reading this.
I don't normally read zombie stories. However, I know Mr Wrights work, so I assumed it would be a good story. I wasn't wrong. Good story and a good read. I recommend reading this.
February 18, 2023
A little too emotional for my taste but not bad.
June 8, 2022
Overall just not very well written.
The characters are so,e of the dumbest ever written, just stupid decisions one after the other. There’s also a few small logic gaps. One zombie gets the lower half of its face blown off, then moments later is snapping its teeth trying to bite. How? Luckily it’s a quick read, and free.
The characters are so,e of the dumbest ever written, just stupid decisions one after the other. There’s also a few small logic gaps. One zombie gets the lower half of its face blown off, then moments later is snapping its teeth trying to bite. How? Luckily it’s a quick read, and free.
October 4, 2022
Iain Rob Wright is quickly becoming one of my favorite British horror writers. This was "dope," if I can use an old expression. Plus, I'm too tired to write a real review. Suffice to say, if you love horror, this one's great stuff.
August 3, 2025
It was alright. I felt like it was quite a realistic representation of a zombie apocalypse. However, I did feel like the book was too centred around the characters' abusive relationships as opposed to the zombie plot.
January 16, 2022
Reading Stuff 'n' Things
I have loved reading horror books since I was a wee teenager and whilst I don't read as many nowadays, I do enjoy a Zombie-fest every now and again and here we have yet another cracker from Iain Rob Wright, who is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors to satisfy my horror fix.
What I like about Iain's books is that it's not just about the blood and gore, there is a good story behind it and interesting and believable characters and although they may not always react logically, it does make things interesting.
Zombie is a quick read but there's a lot packed into it. It's full of tension and heart-in-the-mouth moments as you would expect in this genre and if you don't like violence, I would give this a miss but for me, I am looking forward to more instalments in this story to see where it goes.
Well written and a great pace, this is a book that will appeal to lovers of the Zombie stories and horror books in general.
My thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with an advance copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
I have loved reading horror books since I was a wee teenager and whilst I don't read as many nowadays, I do enjoy a Zombie-fest every now and again and here we have yet another cracker from Iain Rob Wright, who is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors to satisfy my horror fix.
What I like about Iain's books is that it's not just about the blood and gore, there is a good story behind it and interesting and believable characters and although they may not always react logically, it does make things interesting.
Zombie is a quick read but there's a lot packed into it. It's full of tension and heart-in-the-mouth moments as you would expect in this genre and if you don't like violence, I would give this a miss but for me, I am looking forward to more instalments in this story to see where it goes.
Well written and a great pace, this is a book that will appeal to lovers of the Zombie stories and horror books in general.
My thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with an advance copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
April 14, 2023
I love Iain rob Wright, I've always found his books so easy to read and entertaining. I love the way he writes characters and this is what makes him stand out for me. But for some reason I just didn't click with the characters in this book, this left me not caring who lived or died which kind of left me a bit flat. The story moves at pace as usual and the horror is great but for me this left me wanting... For the first time with an Iain rob Wright book! It is still good though and by no means will it put me off his work. I was just a little underwhelmed by the characters is all, I blame Iain for setting such a high bar with all of his other amazing books.
February 24, 2022
I enjoyed this zombie book… it had me talking out loud due to common sense scenarios that of course I would do a lot better if a zombie apocalypse broke out 🤣🤣🤣
February 4, 2022
Excellent storytelling
Iain is one of my favorite authors for a reason. He is such an awesome storyteller. As per his usual style, he tells an apocalyptic story of a troubled family intermixed with zombies. It is the depth of the relationship between husband and wife that adds an extra layer to a simple zombie adventure. It is absolutely striking how perfectly he understood and wrote about a woman bullied and abused by her partner. He nailed how a woman will find a way to blame herself and make excuses for her mate’s bad behaviour; how she will lose part of her identity in the meantime. This is also a story about monsters and how the monsters are not always the ones we recognize right away.
Absolutely recommend “Zombie: A Horror Novel”. Can’t wait until Iain writes another story!!!
Iain is one of my favorite authors for a reason. He is such an awesome storyteller. As per his usual style, he tells an apocalyptic story of a troubled family intermixed with zombies. It is the depth of the relationship between husband and wife that adds an extra layer to a simple zombie adventure. It is absolutely striking how perfectly he understood and wrote about a woman bullied and abused by her partner. He nailed how a woman will find a way to blame herself and make excuses for her mate’s bad behaviour; how she will lose part of her identity in the meantime. This is also a story about monsters and how the monsters are not always the ones we recognize right away.
Absolutely recommend “Zombie: A Horror Novel”. Can’t wait until Iain writes another story!!!
April 14, 2022
Despite not particularly enjoying Wright's last offering in the Cursed Manuscript series, I thought I'd give Zombie a fair shot. In all honesty, it's an improvement on the last novel; unfortunately, that's a low bar, and overall Zombie still fails to impress.
As with the last book, the underlying premise is reasonably robust; a married couple and their three-year-old daughter, stranded on a quiet road and beset by the living dead. It's a tried-and-tested narrative that should, at the very least, evoke the kind of horror one might find in the Netflix back catalogue - however, as with Witch, Wright's inconsistent characterisation and tendency toward cliche make it difficult to get invested. The titular zombies veer from having the strength to drag a grown adult to the ground, to flailing impotently at a half-open car window; likewise, the protagonist spends half of her time utterly incapable of mustering the most basic drive to survive, and ends the story delivering Marvel-esque quips and fighting the undead with household objects.
It's not entirely terrible, in that it measurably builds on Wright's Cursed Manuscript universe which, to his credit, I genuinely wanted to know more about. The overarching notion of shadowy agencies monitoring supernatural occurences is simple but effective, and evokes something of the SCP wiki. It's just a shame that it's undermined by cartoon-level villainy and, spoiler alert, an epilogue in which the hero investigates the shadowy, extra-legal, government-infiltrating company Le Grande Mer by hopping on sodding Google.
Overall, I still can't recommend the series, but it piqued enough of my interest for me to hope that Wright takes the time to give it the polish it deserves.
As with the last book, the underlying premise is reasonably robust; a married couple and their three-year-old daughter, stranded on a quiet road and beset by the living dead. It's a tried-and-tested narrative that should, at the very least, evoke the kind of horror one might find in the Netflix back catalogue - however, as with Witch, Wright's inconsistent characterisation and tendency toward cliche make it difficult to get invested. The titular zombies veer from having the strength to drag a grown adult to the ground, to flailing impotently at a half-open car window; likewise, the protagonist spends half of her time utterly incapable of mustering the most basic drive to survive, and ends the story delivering Marvel-esque quips and fighting the undead with household objects.
It's not entirely terrible, in that it measurably builds on Wright's Cursed Manuscript universe which, to his credit, I genuinely wanted to know more about. The overarching notion of shadowy agencies monitoring supernatural occurences is simple but effective, and evokes something of the SCP wiki. It's just a shame that it's undermined by cartoon-level villainy and, spoiler alert, an epilogue in which the hero investigates the shadowy, extra-legal, government-infiltrating company Le Grande Mer by hopping on sodding Google.
Overall, I still can't recommend the series, but it piqued enough of my interest for me to hope that Wright takes the time to give it the polish it deserves.
February 1, 2022
Just Another Zombie Story...
No spoilers. 3 stars. I found nothing new here that George A. Romero didn't cover in his excellent 60s movie NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD...
Indeed, the plot was very similar to that old black and white zombie flick...
Laura, her husband Danny and their 3 year old daughter Rose are leaving for home very late at night after an ugly visit with Laura's parents...
...they are arguing and end up throwing each other's phones out of the car window...
... thinking better of it, they leave their car parked in the middle of the dark road, get out and start searching along the roadside for the phones...
... then their car is hit by a van carrying a load of zombies... the undead quickly escape the van and begin their murderous and gluttonous rampage...
I read the 4 and 5 star reviews of this novel and against my better instincts I decided to try it because many of those reviews said this zombie story was different.
I saw nothing new and interesting or different here... just another zombie story.
WITCH by this author was excellent and different. This story not so much.
No spoilers. 3 stars. I found nothing new here that George A. Romero didn't cover in his excellent 60s movie NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD...
Indeed, the plot was very similar to that old black and white zombie flick...
Laura, her husband Danny and their 3 year old daughter Rose are leaving for home very late at night after an ugly visit with Laura's parents...
...they are arguing and end up throwing each other's phones out of the car window...
... thinking better of it, they leave their car parked in the middle of the dark road, get out and start searching along the roadside for the phones...
... then their car is hit by a van carrying a load of zombies... the undead quickly escape the van and begin their murderous and gluttonous rampage...
I read the 4 and 5 star reviews of this novel and against my better instincts I decided to try it because many of those reviews said this zombie story was different.
I saw nothing new and interesting or different here... just another zombie story.
WITCH by this author was excellent and different. This story not so much.
January 19, 2022
Brilliant read!!
I have been reading this author's books for years and he never disappoints me. From the first page to the very last he reels you in and doesn't let go to the end.
Loved Laura the character but did not like Danny at all, but each book has one you love and hate don't they.
Anyway they go and visit Laura's parents house and after bickering they decide to leave early with their daughter Rose in the back of the car. Danny has quite a bit of a temper and he's had a few drinks but Laura decides to keep quiet and leave with him it's just not worth it.
It escalates again another argument in the car on the way home I'll leave it there, not spoiling it.
You need to read the book as it has lots of horror and is shocking but loved the way the book concluded.
Looking forward to more of this series. Loved this read!!!
I have been reading this author's books for years and he never disappoints me. From the first page to the very last he reels you in and doesn't let go to the end.
Loved Laura the character but did not like Danny at all, but each book has one you love and hate don't they.
Anyway they go and visit Laura's parents house and after bickering they decide to leave early with their daughter Rose in the back of the car. Danny has quite a bit of a temper and he's had a few drinks but Laura decides to keep quiet and leave with him it's just not worth it.
It escalates again another argument in the car on the way home I'll leave it there, not spoiling it.
You need to read the book as it has lots of horror and is shocking but loved the way the book concluded.
Looking forward to more of this series. Loved this read!!!
July 1, 2025
Zombie by Iain Rob Wright is supposedly the second Cursed Manuscript, but I'm unclear how this one (Zombie) fits with the first one (Witch.) I read and reviewed Witch, I don't get how they fit as one series. Suffice it to say that the Cursed Manuscripts are all part of an End-of-Days Apocalyptic scenario in which anyone reading a CM is supposed to die. However, if a manuscript has been read in either of the first two books, I have yet to witness it.
After being isolated by Covid, Danny and Laura had gone to visit Laura's parents. Finding their company uncomfortable, Danny forces an early departure, causing a major dispute with his wife while on the way home. Literally, having thrown cell phones out of car windows, they stop to recover their phones, only to find themselves in a car accident with a car containing infected.
The story is OK, diminished by unlikeable characters. The situation is plausible although contrived. a child makes the threat more imminent and real. Suspense is like a pall over the proceedings. Good story, not great.
After being isolated by Covid, Danny and Laura had gone to visit Laura's parents. Finding their company uncomfortable, Danny forces an early departure, causing a major dispute with his wife while on the way home. Literally, having thrown cell phones out of car windows, they stop to recover their phones, only to find themselves in a car accident with a car containing infected.
The story is OK, diminished by unlikeable characters. The situation is plausible although contrived. a child makes the threat more imminent and real. Suspense is like a pall over the proceedings. Good story, not great.
January 27, 2022
This is a zombie novel so expecting originality going into this would be a bit foolish, but this is still the best zombie novel I have read since Bryan Smith’s Slowly We Rot. The true strength of the story comes from the beginning and end portions where zombies aren’t even all that important. The characters and their troubled histories were what kept my interest. This is a quick, brutally emotional tale in which the zombies are just a plot device to move the characters about and eventually lead one of them to a revelation and rebirth of themselves. If you want nothing but zombie violence, blood, guts, and mindless action, you will find it, but don’t expect to feel absolutely nothing the way most shit zombie stories have become. Emotion is the word of the day here, folks. Rejoyce, for the zombie genre isn’t quite dead yet! … See what I did? How not clever of me :)
February 7, 2022
An easy quick read and slightly different take on Zombies making it feel more realistic. An arguing couple stumble into a difficult situation, encounter a zombie and then they struggle to survive commences. This was well written and is what I would envisage happening, everything is by chance as characters drift in to help the couple and also save themselves. Also pleased this is just one book rather than a series where is loses its way with the zombies, although there is potential to take this another way in a larger story...
January 28, 2022
A different take on zombies
A husband with a chip on his shoulder and anger problems, a wife whose at the end of her tether,desperate to leave their toxic marriage,the only thing stopping her is there baby girl. To much drink,to much anger causes A fateful car trip, an accident involving a van carrying things that exist in movies,tragedy ensues,corporate greed,men willing to sacrifice anyone who discovers their dirty secret,a mother willing to do what it takes to keep her baby daughter safe, just who is the corporation,one mother is determined to find out, but at what cost.
brilliant book cant wait for the next one.
A husband with a chip on his shoulder and anger problems, a wife whose at the end of her tether,desperate to leave their toxic marriage,the only thing stopping her is there baby girl. To much drink,to much anger causes A fateful car trip, an accident involving a van carrying things that exist in movies,tragedy ensues,corporate greed,men willing to sacrifice anyone who discovers their dirty secret,a mother willing to do what it takes to keep her baby daughter safe, just who is the corporation,one mother is determined to find out, but at what cost.
brilliant book cant wait for the next one.
January 25, 2023
A very fast paced and edge-of-your seat zombie story! Not too long, so you can probably read it in one sitting.
There was actually a lot of character development going on, especially for Laura. She went from weak and dependent to standing up for herself and her daughter.
The 2nd of The Cursed Manuscripts I’ve read by Iain Rob Wright and my favourite so far!
Definitely one to add to your reading list!
There was actually a lot of character development going on, especially for Laura. She went from weak and dependent to standing up for herself and her daughter.
The 2nd of The Cursed Manuscripts I’ve read by Iain Rob Wright and my favourite so far!
Definitely one to add to your reading list!
February 21, 2022
I loved this. This was one particular encounter with zombies, so we got to know the characters well and it felt like I was going through it as well. I loved that the female, Laura finds her strength and is ready to kick some as* by the end. I don't know what is to come, but I eagerly await whatever it is.
Iain Rob Wright never disappoints me.
Iain Rob Wright never disappoints me.
January 28, 2022
A rare gem
It's not often that you find a zombie book, movie, our show in which the characters immediately know and accept they are dealing with zombies. One would think that would make it easier on the characters but if you're expecting that, you don't know Iain Rob Wright
It's not often that you find a zombie book, movie, our show in which the characters immediately know and accept they are dealing with zombies. One would think that would make it easier on the characters but if you're expecting that, you don't know Iain Rob Wright
January 29, 2023
So Laura *radio rebel mode* want to marry me?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews