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White Flag of the Dead #3
America the Dead
Book 3 of the White Flag of the Dead Series.
John Talon and his son have survived the Upheaval, the event which saw the dead rising to feed on the living. After two years of fighting off the worst the infection had to throw at them, a new danger emerges which threatens to take apart their small hold on humanity and the one chance they have to rebuild the country.Sometimes the biggest threat to humanity isn’t the living dead, and the survivors will learn if they will live in America the Beautiful or America the Dead.
John Talon and his son have survived the Upheaval, the event which saw the dead rising to feed on the living. After two years of fighting off the worst the infection had to throw at them, a new danger emerges which threatens to take apart their small hold on humanity and the one chance they have to rebuild the country.Sometimes the biggest threat to humanity isn’t the living dead, and the survivors will learn if they will live in America the Beautiful or America the Dead.
228 pages, ebook
First published September 27, 2010
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203 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 27, 2021
2.5 Stars rounded up to 3
CW: All of them
Book 9 of my zombie-a-thon!
Well a lot more happened in the 3rd instalment of this series and there were some great zombie attack scenes. I will read one more in this series to hopefully see what happens to a particularly unlikeable character.
CW: All of them
Book 9 of my zombie-a-thon!
Well a lot more happened in the 3rd instalment of this series and there were some great zombie attack scenes. I will read one more in this series to hopefully see what happens to a particularly unlikeable character.
March 4, 2013
Zombie apocalypse books are my guilty pleasure. I find most to be a quick yet entertaining read, but hate having to wait between installments to see what happens next. For this reason, if the reviews are mostly positive, I tend to buy the first few books in a series all at once (assuming I’ll like the books too). This practice has served me well…until the White Flag of the Dead series. After reading books 1-3, I can only assume that those doling out 5 star ratings are either 1) friends/family of the author or 2) ultra-undiscriminating readers who will 5 star anything short of a list of personal insults directed at their mother.
Without further adieu, I am delighted to post my review of the final book (for me anyway) of this disappointing series (SPOILER ALERT):
PROS
- Credit where credit is due - this time around, the author stepped up his game in terms of employing more descriptive language. Also appreciated were his efforts to avoid using the same words/phrases over and over again.
- There was more purposeful action in this book (rather than a random series of questionable choices/endeavors), some of which was fairly interesting.
CONS
- UNBELIEVABLE PLOT (EVEN BY ZOMBIE BOOK STANDARDS): In the midst of a zombie apocalypse, as the dead walk the Earth and survivors live hand-to-mouth while trying to avoid being eaten, John Talon goes on a cross-country mission to rescue…a school full of children trapped by a horde of zombies? No, silly, he’s on a mission to save the original copies of the Constitution/Bill of Rights from a delusional sociopathic pedophile posing as US Army brass dubbed “the Major”. The Major believes that destroying these documents will stop his survivor slaves from whining about their “civil rights”; John Talon decides it is imperative to stop him because, even during the zombie apocalypse, there is nothing more pressing to occupy his time.
Lacking any capacity for abstract thought (secondary effect of Enillo virus?), John Talon and Co. come to believe that physical destruction of the original Constitution/Bill of Rights = actual eradication of every founding principle – nay, the very essence of America. John Talon, former government-hating separatist turned moony-eyed “Founding Fathers” fanboy, cannot allow this to kill his newly-born, totally inexplicable dream of restoring the federal government. Although the zombie apocalypse has robbed him of almost everything (including his beloved wife), JT now asserts that maybe it was actually “a blessing” because it has wiped clean the slate of dirty government, allowing us to rebuild from scratch. Yes, a blessing indeed.
John “My Only Reason for Living is to Protect my Son” Talon, after learning that The Major has sent a faction of his army of sociopathic rapists to murder the Talon family (including/especially Jakey-Poo), finds himself in a quandary. After several milliseconds of careful introspection, JT bravely concludes that the little tyke can fend for himself; our protagonist cannot be deterred from his mission to save the soul of America, one historic document at a time - “We had to have something to fight for and those documents would cement our belief that we were a country worth saving.” Also, that Jakey kid really cramps his style.
- GRAMMAR/TYPOS: Ugh, still? A third grader could spot these! Does anyone at Severed Press actually read the books before they go to print?
- MAGICALLY MORPHING ZOMBIES: First they are shamblers, then shamblers + random fast movers, then some have glowing eyes/brains, now (2 years into the apocalypse) the kiddie zombies are asthmatic and turbo-charged. Also, maybe the zombies aren’t really “dead-dead” but are instead infected living people who just look dead…but are actually a cure away from living out a full, rewarding life…as a severed head in a pit of other severed heads.
- ZOMBIE EVASION TECHNIQUES: Zombies are fierce predators with superhuman senses of smell and hearing. Unless you are riding in/on the roof of an RV and duck your head down real low as you drive by. This maneuver renders you invisible to them, even in a horde of thousands.
- THE FELINE FACTOR: Through charisma and an aura of uber-manliness, John Talon (through no conscious effort of his own) transforms a wild cougar into a docile playmate/possible babysitter for his toddler son. He also adopts a stray cat who is able to construct complex ruses (by cat standards, anyway) for the purpose of trapping zombies in giant construction pits. Clearly the Talluto household’s cable package does not include Animal Planet.
- D’YER B’TER: Driving through the city of Dyer, John Talon and Co. happen upon an abandoned school/former shelter for survivors. Through some cunning investigatory work, they hypothesize that late one night, all the survivors were transformed into raggedy-throated zombies by one badass little infected girl (who wheezes loud and runs real fast). They are able to deduce this, in part, due to finding a drawing that another child made of this kiddie killing machine…apparently mid-overnight throat-ripping zombie murder spree. Talk about dedication to your art!
- WINGNUT SHOUT OUT: John Talon casually observes that survivors are more plentiful in states that allow their citizens to carry concealed firearms…because being able to hide guns on your person somehow prepares you for the zombie apocalypse. Bizarre comment, especially given that 95% of the survivors in this book are from Illinois (which I’m pretty sure is the only state that doesn’t allow concealed firearms).
That’s it for me. Please tune in next week when, after learning of a crazed narcissistic necrophiliac’s plan to deface the iconic Hollywood sign, John Talon springs to action. Cancelling survivor search/rescue missions and aborting vital supply runs, JT refocuses the group’s resources on a high-risk pilgrimage to Tinsel Town - “It is my duty to stop this assault on the soul of America – not for me, but for my son Jake. He deserves to live in a world where the magic of movies is kept alive. Assuming we figure out how to make electricity again.”
Without further adieu, I am delighted to post my review of the final book (for me anyway) of this disappointing series (SPOILER ALERT):
PROS
- Credit where credit is due - this time around, the author stepped up his game in terms of employing more descriptive language. Also appreciated were his efforts to avoid using the same words/phrases over and over again.
- There was more purposeful action in this book (rather than a random series of questionable choices/endeavors), some of which was fairly interesting.
CONS
- UNBELIEVABLE PLOT (EVEN BY ZOMBIE BOOK STANDARDS): In the midst of a zombie apocalypse, as the dead walk the Earth and survivors live hand-to-mouth while trying to avoid being eaten, John Talon goes on a cross-country mission to rescue…a school full of children trapped by a horde of zombies? No, silly, he’s on a mission to save the original copies of the Constitution/Bill of Rights from a delusional sociopathic pedophile posing as US Army brass dubbed “the Major”. The Major believes that destroying these documents will stop his survivor slaves from whining about their “civil rights”; John Talon decides it is imperative to stop him because, even during the zombie apocalypse, there is nothing more pressing to occupy his time.
Lacking any capacity for abstract thought (secondary effect of Enillo virus?), John Talon and Co. come to believe that physical destruction of the original Constitution/Bill of Rights = actual eradication of every founding principle – nay, the very essence of America. John Talon, former government-hating separatist turned moony-eyed “Founding Fathers” fanboy, cannot allow this to kill his newly-born, totally inexplicable dream of restoring the federal government. Although the zombie apocalypse has robbed him of almost everything (including his beloved wife), JT now asserts that maybe it was actually “a blessing” because it has wiped clean the slate of dirty government, allowing us to rebuild from scratch. Yes, a blessing indeed.
John “My Only Reason for Living is to Protect my Son” Talon, after learning that The Major has sent a faction of his army of sociopathic rapists to murder the Talon family (including/especially Jakey-Poo), finds himself in a quandary. After several milliseconds of careful introspection, JT bravely concludes that the little tyke can fend for himself; our protagonist cannot be deterred from his mission to save the soul of America, one historic document at a time - “We had to have something to fight for and those documents would cement our belief that we were a country worth saving.” Also, that Jakey kid really cramps his style.
- GRAMMAR/TYPOS: Ugh, still? A third grader could spot these! Does anyone at Severed Press actually read the books before they go to print?
- MAGICALLY MORPHING ZOMBIES: First they are shamblers, then shamblers + random fast movers, then some have glowing eyes/brains, now (2 years into the apocalypse) the kiddie zombies are asthmatic and turbo-charged. Also, maybe the zombies aren’t really “dead-dead” but are instead infected living people who just look dead…but are actually a cure away from living out a full, rewarding life…as a severed head in a pit of other severed heads.
- ZOMBIE EVASION TECHNIQUES: Zombies are fierce predators with superhuman senses of smell and hearing. Unless you are riding in/on the roof of an RV and duck your head down real low as you drive by. This maneuver renders you invisible to them, even in a horde of thousands.
- THE FELINE FACTOR: Through charisma and an aura of uber-manliness, John Talon (through no conscious effort of his own) transforms a wild cougar into a docile playmate/possible babysitter for his toddler son. He also adopts a stray cat who is able to construct complex ruses (by cat standards, anyway) for the purpose of trapping zombies in giant construction pits. Clearly the Talluto household’s cable package does not include Animal Planet.
- D’YER B’TER: Driving through the city of Dyer, John Talon and Co. happen upon an abandoned school/former shelter for survivors. Through some cunning investigatory work, they hypothesize that late one night, all the survivors were transformed into raggedy-throated zombies by one badass little infected girl (who wheezes loud and runs real fast). They are able to deduce this, in part, due to finding a drawing that another child made of this kiddie killing machine…apparently mid-overnight throat-ripping zombie murder spree. Talk about dedication to your art!
- WINGNUT SHOUT OUT: John Talon casually observes that survivors are more plentiful in states that allow their citizens to carry concealed firearms…because being able to hide guns on your person somehow prepares you for the zombie apocalypse. Bizarre comment, especially given that 95% of the survivors in this book are from Illinois (which I’m pretty sure is the only state that doesn’t allow concealed firearms).
That’s it for me. Please tune in next week when, after learning of a crazed narcissistic necrophiliac’s plan to deface the iconic Hollywood sign, John Talon springs to action. Cancelling survivor search/rescue missions and aborting vital supply runs, JT refocuses the group’s resources on a high-risk pilgrimage to Tinsel Town - “It is my duty to stop this assault on the soul of America – not for me, but for my son Jake. He deserves to live in a world where the magic of movies is kept alive. Assuming we figure out how to make electricity again.”
February 19, 2021
Wait.
What happened to Zeus the cat?????
🤭
What happened to Zeus the cat?????
🤭
December 27, 2012
Crack commando team of zombie killers who are awesome at everything (and, ps, have totally hot girlfriends and everyone loves them BUT they are in no way an author-insertion) have to save The Bill of Rights because... MURRICA!
The bad guy is kind of Dolph Lundgren from Universal Soldier, but a pedo. And hates Freedom©.
ps: zombies
Dumb fun, with the emphasis on dumb.
The bad guy is kind of Dolph Lundgren from Universal Soldier, but a pedo. And hates Freedom©.
ps: zombies
Dumb fun, with the emphasis on dumb.
January 2, 2015
Unfortunately, this book wasn't as good as the first two. It was still entertaining, but Ken, the "villain" is extremely cartoon-ish. While the story had lots of action, it still dragged a lot. To be honest, if I didn't care about the characters, I'd have given this two stars.
September 2, 2016
Well, - this on was a bit better than the previous one. Was nice to see another competent female character. Will continue reading to see how the story unfolds.
May 31, 2018
I found my interest waning in the third book, not as good as the first two books
December 5, 2023
A stranger camping on his land has escaped from a brutal regime run by fake military man 'Major' Ken Thorton and his gang of psychos. Simon warns him that Major Ken is headed this way from California on a mission, and intends to enslave, rob and rape his way through every surviving town he finds on the way. John is worried about this despot trying to take control of surviving communities and John and his people go to see Nate, to coordinate a plan to stop Major Ken's mission.
This is where a lot of people lost interest in the series and I can see why. The plot makes little sense when you compare it to what the character has done before and a lot of readers seem to feel the same, based on their reviews. John takes risks to expand safe zones, reach out to survivors, rescue and protect the people he knows and take out anyone who threatens their safety. For me his actions in this book make no sense at all. And don't even get me started on the pet cougar sub plot.
Major Ken is mentally unbalanced, a paedophile and a savage. He pretends to be military to get people to trust him so they will let he and his men enter their towns. He enslaves and murders men, lets his troops rape women, while he holds kids hostage and rapes young girls. Hearing his victims whine about their rights has planted the crazy idea in his head that if he goes to destroy the Bill Of Rights and Constitution, then it no longer exists and people will believe in his rule, not their forever gone rights. Yes I know, but he is a psycho so he can believe that stupidity if he wants. How he intends to contact every living citizen to tell them this is beyond me, never mind get them to comply and believe, but I have no issue with him thinking it's a good idea to travel to Washington DC to destroy the documents across zombie infested America.
Now if John knows this guy is coming, there are certain routes the guy can take across the central US, avoiding the main routes for safety. John has thousands of armed allies at his side. Why not send groups of armed people to appropriate points ahead on these routes to stop this guy? Or use the radio to lure him to an ambush spot? Ambush and kill his people before he gets too far along, take out the trash, continue your life safer, save potential lives. No, John decides to get in an RV and race him to Washington DC to get the documents. I could not believe that decision. Destroying the documents does not destroy people's rights as long as they believe in it.
By racing him instead of stopping him, John lets Major Ken murder and rape his way across the country for weeks while endangering his friends in zombie filled towns and getting involved in fights with Major Ken's people who are hunting him. He has also left his loved ones with only Charlie as real protection when some of Major Ken's people are on their way to his home, as Simon warned. All John had to do is use some of Nate's people and ask for a handful of people from the other towns they helped out to make themselves available for ambushing these guys or luring them to a trap. It just seems crazy to me.
John's enlarged ego is really starting to grate on me. In book one, Nate was the former National Guard guy who taught John how to use a knife and trained all the recruits. Now he thinks Nate has gone soft, forgot how to use a weapon and is as useless as John is brilliant. Nobody else has any good ideas, John's word is law and his dumb decisions put them all in danger. He knows that there is a trap set by his enemy but he just blunders into it anyway and nearly gets them all killed. Though why the enemy leaves a military truck with helpful map for him to see says a lot about their brains as well. I really don't like John at all now, especially his disrespect for Nate. He throws his weight around with any survivors he meets, telling them his mission and how he intends to impose rule of law once he beets Major Ken. Nice.
Despite these issues with John, the book itself is a solid three stars as the action scenes were still good. I'm sad about the way they are reducing Nate to useless RV driver while John Rambo becomes super zombie killer. I'm also sad that we aren't seeing what Charlie is doing back home as he is the most interesting character in the series. I'd also like to see if any of Major Ken's base prisoners have escaped. I'm not sure how much further I can go in the series. I'm going to start the next one but if John gets any worse, I'm done. I do want to see Major Ken get what he deserves though.
This is where a lot of people lost interest in the series and I can see why. The plot makes little sense when you compare it to what the character has done before and a lot of readers seem to feel the same, based on their reviews. John takes risks to expand safe zones, reach out to survivors, rescue and protect the people he knows and take out anyone who threatens their safety. For me his actions in this book make no sense at all. And don't even get me started on the pet cougar sub plot.
Major Ken is mentally unbalanced, a paedophile and a savage. He pretends to be military to get people to trust him so they will let he and his men enter their towns. He enslaves and murders men, lets his troops rape women, while he holds kids hostage and rapes young girls. Hearing his victims whine about their rights has planted the crazy idea in his head that if he goes to destroy the Bill Of Rights and Constitution, then it no longer exists and people will believe in his rule, not their forever gone rights. Yes I know, but he is a psycho so he can believe that stupidity if he wants. How he intends to contact every living citizen to tell them this is beyond me, never mind get them to comply and believe, but I have no issue with him thinking it's a good idea to travel to Washington DC to destroy the documents across zombie infested America.
Now if John knows this guy is coming, there are certain routes the guy can take across the central US, avoiding the main routes for safety. John has thousands of armed allies at his side. Why not send groups of armed people to appropriate points ahead on these routes to stop this guy? Or use the radio to lure him to an ambush spot? Ambush and kill his people before he gets too far along, take out the trash, continue your life safer, save potential lives. No, John decides to get in an RV and race him to Washington DC to get the documents. I could not believe that decision. Destroying the documents does not destroy people's rights as long as they believe in it.
By racing him instead of stopping him, John lets Major Ken murder and rape his way across the country for weeks while endangering his friends in zombie filled towns and getting involved in fights with Major Ken's people who are hunting him. He has also left his loved ones with only Charlie as real protection when some of Major Ken's people are on their way to his home, as Simon warned. All John had to do is use some of Nate's people and ask for a handful of people from the other towns they helped out to make themselves available for ambushing these guys or luring them to a trap. It just seems crazy to me.
John's enlarged ego is really starting to grate on me. In book one, Nate was the former National Guard guy who taught John how to use a knife and trained all the recruits. Now he thinks Nate has gone soft, forgot how to use a weapon and is as useless as John is brilliant. Nobody else has any good ideas, John's word is law and his dumb decisions put them all in danger. He knows that there is a trap set by his enemy but he just blunders into it anyway and nearly gets them all killed. Though why the enemy leaves a military truck with helpful map for him to see says a lot about their brains as well. I really don't like John at all now, especially his disrespect for Nate. He throws his weight around with any survivors he meets, telling them his mission and how he intends to impose rule of law once he beets Major Ken. Nice.
Despite these issues with John, the book itself is a solid three stars as the action scenes were still good. I'm sad about the way they are reducing Nate to useless RV driver while John Rambo becomes super zombie killer. I'm also sad that we aren't seeing what Charlie is doing back home as he is the most interesting character in the series. I'd also like to see if any of Major Ken's base prisoners have escaped. I'm not sure how much further I can go in the series. I'm going to start the next one but if John gets any worse, I'm done. I do want to see Major Ken get what he deserves though.
January 8, 2019
Horrible part 3
Part one and two were some of the best zombie books I have read in a while.
Then Part 3 “America the Dead”, a book that suddenly changes from taking back the world a block at a time to one that has them worried that if the American bill of rights - the paper - gets destroyed the game is over.
Really? No one would know. No internet, no phones, zombies everywhere and no communications except face to face.
So now our hero turns into a moron, gets an RV, and goes cross country to find 1 bad man.
John was near Chicago, has to go to California to find his guy.
Somehow the guy hears about John and decides to come kill him in Chicago.
STUPID.
A dead America-3.797 million square miles in which these 2 men have to find arch other.
2,137 miles via the shortest route to get to each other.
Duhhhhhhhh.
I stopped ready.
Done with this. What a horrible thing to do to a good story.
Part one and two were some of the best zombie books I have read in a while.
Then Part 3 “America the Dead”, a book that suddenly changes from taking back the world a block at a time to one that has them worried that if the American bill of rights - the paper - gets destroyed the game is over.
Really? No one would know. No internet, no phones, zombies everywhere and no communications except face to face.
So now our hero turns into a moron, gets an RV, and goes cross country to find 1 bad man.
John was near Chicago, has to go to California to find his guy.
Somehow the guy hears about John and decides to come kill him in Chicago.
STUPID.
A dead America-3.797 million square miles in which these 2 men have to find arch other.
2,137 miles via the shortest route to get to each other.
Duhhhhhhhh.
I stopped ready.
Done with this. What a horrible thing to do to a good story.
August 12, 2022
Book 3 was interesting, credit to Mr. Talluto for creating such a heinous antagonist, someone you can really love to hate. But the mission they have set out on seems absurd. The idea of travelling across the country to save documents which since civilization has fallen mean even less. The many challenges they could possible face far out weigh the idea of getting relics that if you come to my town after the apocalypse would get you little more then a bullet. There are may symbols that could have been chosen so that whole idea eludes me. Why not chase down the last Bible or Quran or any other religious text. I have some beef with inconsistency, but I'm still going to move forward. Now I need to see what happens. Will this be a fruitful or fruitless trip, how do the rest of the people fair?
May 30, 2022
still a good book, MC make stupid decisions.
Book is still pretty good storyline is OK. Good versus evil story. The only thing I still do not like is the main character doing stupid things like walking into a trap. He knows it’s a trap but he still walks right into it with the possibility of getting his comrades killed. These things take me out of the story and make me want to yell at the author for writing things this way. It makes us a seat seem a little on the side of idiocy. Besides that the book and storyline are OK.
Book is still pretty good storyline is OK. Good versus evil story. The only thing I still do not like is the main character doing stupid things like walking into a trap. He knows it’s a trap but he still walks right into it with the possibility of getting his comrades killed. These things take me out of the story and make me want to yell at the author for writing things this way. It makes us a seat seem a little on the side of idiocy. Besides that the book and storyline are OK.
May 18, 2022
Dark, grim, and consistently bloody, America the Dead introduces a worthy villain in Ken Thornton and delivers some adrenaline-pumping action. However, the main plot is borderline preposterous: Is protecting the Bill of Rights, an antiquated document that has no significant value in a post-apocalyptic world where no government exists, more important than protecting your family from hungry zombies, vile murderers, and harsh nature? Sure, Johnny.
January 17, 2018
When ordinary men become super heroes... i roll my eyes. No school principal was ever this cool. But i like that he is unconventional. Female characters need to grow some balls and become more prominent in this author's story telling. They are all pretty plastic and one dimensional.
May 9, 2019
Started out rough. Didn't think I'd like it. Got a lot better. Good read.
May 19, 2019
"The Question hung in the air like a fart in church"
May 19, 2021
GOOD BOOK
December 5, 2021
Zombie1956
Great books keep them coming and I will be reading all of them.!!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!!
Great books keep them coming and I will be reading all of them.!!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!!
April 20, 2024
Fantastic!!
February 22, 2025
This series is well thought out, and the main character is hero with old school values
September 4, 2025
I have to say the writing is improving
September 19, 2022
Listen to the Audiobook. Overall pretty good, guys got a George Washington Complex lol but it’s a decent zombie series so far. Yes there is some ‘yah right’ moments but you get that with zombie movies so no complaints from me.
May 13, 2015
As I said in my review of the previous book in this series, what Taking it Back was missing was an overall story arc to join the various almost stand alone tails of our hero John Talon rescuing people - always 'just in time' - from zombies or nasty humans.
It was some relief then to find that not only is there a story arc in this but we get an anti-hero for John to pit himself against, who isn't wiped out the moment we hear about him.
However, it's just a shame that the main premiss of this book is rather stupid as not only does the enemy - a fake major called Ken - decided that the best way to get people to do what he says is to destroy both the US Bill of Rights and the Constitution as apparently without these, then they'd be happy to be slaves. That this involves traveling thousands of miles across the USA past millions of zombies, doesn't seem to bother someone described as a coward.
Now, fair enough, Ken is nuts so that would make sense to him, but then John decides to race him to the documents as apparently the only way to re-start the US is with them, even if that means yet again leaving his toddler son, and traveling thousands of miles past millions of zombies. Of course John being John is going to be right because he always is, and no one suggests otherwise, even those that don't know him.
So off we go on a road trip race, which isn't that much of a race as both sides stop all the time so either Ken can do some terrible things in a new town, or John can save some people, naturally, just in time as always. This is actually quite good, as it expands on all the best bits of the previous book/s and will clearly carry over into the next one which explains why there's no hurry, I guess.
The style of the book is very much the same as the previous ones. There are still some minor errors, John still goes on too much about his and other people's guns, while saying next to nothing about the people, even the main characters. He still goes on about doing it all for his son, but can't seem to wait to dump the kid on someone else and go off and do his thing. Women barely get a mention at any time. He clearly has a thing against teenagers and governments and yet used to be a teacher, and wants to start a new government.
All of that said, if you've got to the third book, you should be used to all that, and this one, moves along nicely, the action sequences are nicely done, and there's even some much better dialogue in this one, especially between John and his crew.
The only real issue I have now is that now we are two years past the zombie rising and yet there is still no need for anyone to go looking for fuel with everyone driving around in large trucks, RV's and the like, yet still with enough left over to burn whatever they want. Why hasn't it all gone off, in the baking summers and frozen winters, or did the oil industry / petrol processors just keep working?
Still I'm going to continue reading as despite the flaws I rather enjoy Joseph Talluto style now I've got used to it and actually want to find out what happens when the two groups finally meet.
It was some relief then to find that not only is there a story arc in this but we get an anti-hero for John to pit himself against, who isn't wiped out the moment we hear about him.
However, it's just a shame that the main premiss of this book is rather stupid as not only does the enemy - a fake major called Ken - decided that the best way to get people to do what he says is to destroy both the US Bill of Rights and the Constitution as apparently without these, then they'd be happy to be slaves. That this involves traveling thousands of miles across the USA past millions of zombies, doesn't seem to bother someone described as a coward.
Now, fair enough, Ken is nuts so that would make sense to him, but then John decides to race him to the documents as apparently the only way to re-start the US is with them, even if that means yet again leaving his toddler son, and traveling thousands of miles past millions of zombies. Of course John being John is going to be right because he always is, and no one suggests otherwise, even those that don't know him.
So off we go on a road trip race, which isn't that much of a race as both sides stop all the time so either Ken can do some terrible things in a new town, or John can save some people, naturally, just in time as always. This is actually quite good, as it expands on all the best bits of the previous book/s and will clearly carry over into the next one which explains why there's no hurry, I guess.
The style of the book is very much the same as the previous ones. There are still some minor errors, John still goes on too much about his and other people's guns, while saying next to nothing about the people, even the main characters. He still goes on about doing it all for his son, but can't seem to wait to dump the kid on someone else and go off and do his thing. Women barely get a mention at any time. He clearly has a thing against teenagers and governments and yet used to be a teacher, and wants to start a new government.
All of that said, if you've got to the third book, you should be used to all that, and this one, moves along nicely, the action sequences are nicely done, and there's even some much better dialogue in this one, especially between John and his crew.
The only real issue I have now is that now we are two years past the zombie rising and yet there is still no need for anyone to go looking for fuel with everyone driving around in large trucks, RV's and the like, yet still with enough left over to burn whatever they want. Why hasn't it all gone off, in the baking summers and frozen winters, or did the oil industry / petrol processors just keep working?
Still I'm going to continue reading as despite the flaws I rather enjoy Joseph Talluto style now I've got used to it and actually want to find out what happens when the two groups finally meet.
April 3, 2023
John and the gang decide to go on a mission to save the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights from a perverted ex-airport security guard who has dubbed himself a Major. He wants to destroy the founding documents, which he believes is the first step to taking over the United States. John thinks this is actually a dangerous thing to the country so he decides to save them from him.
Okay, I have never really been a fan of this series. The only reason I’m reading them at all is because my husband loves the series and has insisted I listen to them as audiobooks with him. I’m not really into zombie books and even if I was, this wouldn’t be the series for me.
The first issue is the main character is a “perfect” person who can do no wrong. He makes no mistakes and is basically inhuman. He succeeds in everything he does and never fails. All of which makes it hard to relate to him in any way. And in this book he adds being an arrogant dick head to his qualities when he makes sure to let one of his friends (Nate) know that he’s the best and better than him. Yep, he actually says this to his friend. What a guy.
The side characters are really flat and one dimensional as well. And the one character I actually do like in the series (Charlie) is hardly in this book at all.
I also think the entire mission to save the founding documents is absolutely absurd. Because, you know, during a zombie apocalypse my biggest concern is that our country’s founding documents are preserved. THAT is my biggest concern right there. #priorities
I also hate Major Pervert (who is actually called Major Ken Thornton — and no, he’s not actually military, he gave himself the title). He’s a pedophile and an asshole and I don’t like having to jump into his perspective. No thanks.
Honestly, there’s not much I like about this series other then laughing at it because it’s stupid. It’s rather sexist (and I’m not even the type of person who is sensitive to that sort of thing). And it’s filled with impersonal characters who I don’t connect with. And the plot arc it’s currently on is very lame and too political for my liking. I just don’t like it.
Okay, I have never really been a fan of this series. The only reason I’m reading them at all is because my husband loves the series and has insisted I listen to them as audiobooks with him. I’m not really into zombie books and even if I was, this wouldn’t be the series for me.
The first issue is the main character is a “perfect” person who can do no wrong. He makes no mistakes and is basically inhuman. He succeeds in everything he does and never fails. All of which makes it hard to relate to him in any way. And in this book he adds being an arrogant dick head to his qualities when he makes sure to let one of his friends (Nate) know that he’s the best and better than him. Yep, he actually says this to his friend. What a guy.
The side characters are really flat and one dimensional as well. And the one character I actually do like in the series (Charlie) is hardly in this book at all.
I also think the entire mission to save the founding documents is absolutely absurd. Because, you know, during a zombie apocalypse my biggest concern is that our country’s founding documents are preserved. THAT is my biggest concern right there. #priorities
I also hate Major Pervert (who is actually called Major Ken Thornton — and no, he’s not actually military, he gave himself the title). He’s a pedophile and an asshole and I don’t like having to jump into his perspective. No thanks.
Honestly, there’s not much I like about this series other then laughing at it because it’s stupid. It’s rather sexist (and I’m not even the type of person who is sensitive to that sort of thing). And it’s filled with impersonal characters who I don’t connect with. And the plot arc it’s currently on is very lame and too political for my liking. I just don’t like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2013
A little over 3 stars for this one. Not quite enough to bump it up into a four star range... I liked that this brought in a new antagonist other than just the zombies, however the plot line is a bit weak. As usual though the story keeps moving and doesn't really slow down, but the whole premise behind this book I found to be a bit ludicrous. I also felt that the two major groups weren't behaving realistically. In the cross country 'race' that they were both in, both groups seemed to be taking their time, making unnecessary stops, and just stretching out the story. About 7/8 of the way through the book I was wondering when the final conflict was going to come, and it never did. The book ended, not with a cliffhanger, but more like a split between chapters. I started the fourth book already (United States of the Dead) and it picks up right where this one left off, like they were a single book split in half. Also, the protagonist does some 'really' dumb things in this book. Other reviewers complained in the previous books that John Talon is just too lucky. That was way too apparent in this book (and it's actually mentioned at one point). Additionally, this book felt a little rushed to print. There seemed to be more typos, grammatical errors, and poor phrasing in this book than the previous books. There was slightly less machismo in this one, but it was still pretty rampant.
Overall this was an enjoyable read and I'll continue to finish the series, but while there are aspects of the story that I like better than The Walking Dead series (a slightly more positive outlook on human nature and how people will, hopefully, pull together to survive in general rather than the numerous roving bands of psychotic thugs that fill The Walking Dead books), I think The Walking Dead has a bit more depth to the characters, especially the TV show version.
Overall this was an enjoyable read and I'll continue to finish the series, but while there are aspects of the story that I like better than The Walking Dead series (a slightly more positive outlook on human nature and how people will, hopefully, pull together to survive in general rather than the numerous roving bands of psychotic thugs that fill The Walking Dead books), I think The Walking Dead has a bit more depth to the characters, especially the TV show version.
November 4, 2012
5 stars - want more, more books, more movies about the books, more movies about the authors and the making of the movie, just more!!!
How I review...
1 star - binned it before half way, please don't write anymore!!!
2 stars - finally binned it after really trying, I mean really trying and I hate to not finishing someth....
3 stars - finished it but boy was that hard work on times, it just about hooked me back in as I was about to dump it
4 stars - great book but it lacked something, something, can't put my finger on it but.... something
5 stars - want more, more books, more movies about the books, more movies about the authors and the making of the movie, just more!!!
How I review...
1 star - binned it before half way, please don't write anymore!!!
2 stars - finally binned it after really trying, I mean really trying and I hate to not finishing someth....
3 stars - finished it but boy was that hard work on times, it just about hooked me back in as I was about to dump it
4 stars - great book but it lacked something, something, can't put my finger on it but.... something
5 stars - want more, more books, more movies about the books, more movies about the authors and the making of the movie, just more!!!
May 29, 2016
After a long winter our survivor community decides to go back home to Leeport for a visit with their old friend Nick. The renegade Major Thornton needed to be stopped and his threat to destroy the Constitution and Bill of Rights original documents needed to be squashed as well. My impression is that Talon no longer wants to "just" survive, which in itself is no small task. He wants to destroy the zombies and take the country back. The revolution will start with his group and expand as word spreads. First he must deal with Thornton as he has threatened Talon's family while advancing to attack the community. The story continues on this path.
August 1, 2014
The main character does it again :D This time, he makes a stand for the idea of the better future - for *all* of the US, as much as it can be called the US, after the zombie apocalypse. And for that, he needs to go to a city to fight both creepyasf*** men and ever-so-constant zombies, both of which come with constant, still unpleasant surprises.
Also, imho, the author is getting better in characterizing & describing people (alas, babies stay the same) which is nice. As before, the book left me with a wish to read the next one in the series.
Also, imho, the author is getting better in characterizing & describing people (alas, babies stay the same) which is nice. As before, the book left me with a wish to read the next one in the series.
January 13, 2013
Very enjoyable 3rd installment of the white flag of the dead series. Story line is a little wacky but not being American I don't no how strongly you would feel about the Declaration of Independence! So apart from the quest the story action zombies and the evil murdering basta** Thornton was hugely entertaining action packed exciting and full of twists and turns you won't be disappointed part for in a week or so got blue plague survival next!
February 4, 2017
Best book so far of series. Nice action with bad guys and zombies. This is a good old shoot em up adventure story except in modern times and he is a bad ass school administrator protecting his kid. Not full of gore like a lot of zombie books. Enjoyable story, with mission, friends, the bad guys and of course zombies.
October 14, 2011
I am eagerly awaiting book four.
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