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The Hungry #1
The Hungry
Sheriff Penny Miller of Flat Rock, Nevada, is the kind of woman who will do whatever it takes to protect those she is sworn to serve, even when that includes a murderous biker, her wimpy ex-husband, a unit of incompetent National Guardsmen, and even the scientist responsible for releasing the undead upon an unsuspecting world.
If you're one of the tens of thousands of people who read the free short story, ‘Jailbreak,’ also by Booth and Shannon, this is your opportunity to find out what happens after that terrifying first night of the zombie apocalypse. And those of you encountering The Hungry for the first time are in for the ride of your life. Remember... Aim for the head!
If you're one of the tens of thousands of people who read the free short story, ‘Jailbreak,’ also by Booth and Shannon, this is your opportunity to find out what happens after that terrifying first night of the zombie apocalypse. And those of you encountering The Hungry for the first time are in for the ride of your life. Remember... Aim for the head!
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2011
16 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Steven W. Booth
14 books54 followersLike many authors, I've held far too many jobs. My most favorite was not really a job, but a volunteer position as the seneschal of the SCA Canton of St. David's at UC Santa Cruz. My least favorite was being a taxi driver. Today I am very happy being the publisher at Genius Book Publishing. Who knows what the future will bring?
I have earned a BA in Economics/Business with a minor in Medieval History from UC Santa Cruz, an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the University of Judaism (now called American Jewish University), and a Masters in Teaching from National University. I consider myself heavily over-educated (which is not necessarily the best thing to be), but still have aspirations to get a PhD in my 60s and write a book on the history of deregulation in the United States. What's that got to do with zombies, I have no idea.
I have collaborated on every published project I have, and I really admire and appreciate my collaborators. I do have aspirations to publish solo projects, and I am currently working on a YA thriller that may actually see the light of day. I also plan to write short stories and novels in the future, but one project at a time.
I have been married for 14 years (in March 2014) to a wonderful and brilliant woman, Leya Booth. She is a genius--hence the name of my company--and she also works from home, so I get to see her all day, every day, which is all I could hope for. We are proud humans owned by a couple of cats. You'll see pictures occasionally at my personal page.
Thanks!
I have earned a BA in Economics/Business with a minor in Medieval History from UC Santa Cruz, an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the University of Judaism (now called American Jewish University), and a Masters in Teaching from National University. I consider myself heavily over-educated (which is not necessarily the best thing to be), but still have aspirations to get a PhD in my 60s and write a book on the history of deregulation in the United States. What's that got to do with zombies, I have no idea.
I have collaborated on every published project I have, and I really admire and appreciate my collaborators. I do have aspirations to publish solo projects, and I am currently working on a YA thriller that may actually see the light of day. I also plan to write short stories and novels in the future, but one project at a time.
I have been married for 14 years (in March 2014) to a wonderful and brilliant woman, Leya Booth. She is a genius--hence the name of my company--and she also works from home, so I get to see her all day, every day, which is all I could hope for. We are proud humans owned by a couple of cats. You'll see pictures occasionally at my personal page.
Thanks!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 21, 2012
One strikingly hot lady in a white wedding dress and a shotgun to hand, a band of rednecks and bikers, the army and a mutated virus and oh the undead is the recipe for this fun fully loaded brain entrails explosion of a high octane charged zombie story.
The lady in the white wedding dress on the book cover is the best hope for humanity enough said enjoy and savor.
The story has some real good characters that shine and make it an interesting read I love the gal in the white dress she kicks ass and frequently says “…k duck” lovely, if you ever happen to come across her and decide to hitch up together don’t take her home to meet the parents. I would love to see her in the movie ‘Meet the Zombies’ starring de Niro and her as his new daughter-in-law.
Review also here on webpage
(From left to right: Steven W. Booth, Gillian Shure, Harry Shannon)
The lady in the white wedding dress on the book cover is the best hope for humanity enough said enjoy and savor.
The story has some real good characters that shine and make it an interesting read I love the gal in the white dress she kicks ass and frequently says “…k duck” lovely, if you ever happen to come across her and decide to hitch up together don’t take her home to meet the parents. I would love to see her in the movie ‘Meet the Zombies’ starring de Niro and her as his new daughter-in-law.
“The cruiser hit the first zombie, a soccer mom in a t-shirt and skirt. She flew wide of the speeding car, pin wheeled through the air and knocked over several other zombies. They fell like a formation of undead bowling pins. A nun slammed face first into the hood and flew over the roof of the cruiser. A little boy in a baseball uniform made Miller cringe. After that, it became difficult to sort out what happened. The car crashed through rows and rows of the creatures in slow motion, sort of like a plane flying through a flock of birds, only everything was a lot louder than that… and much bigger stuff than bird and bug guts got all over their windshield. Things Miller didn’t choose to identify.”
Review also here on webpage
(From left to right: Steven W. Booth, Gillian Shure, Harry Shannon)
March 23, 2012
If you like your heroine in the superhero mode lugging heavy duty weapons, wearing a blood-stained wedding dress, and saying stuff like "Fuck a duck," every few minutes then Penny Miller is your kind of gal. Now why would a hot sheriff be wearing a wedding dress throughout the entire story? That happens to be one of the best running gags in the book.
The character of sheriff Penny Miller is the best thing going for this hack-and-slash zombie book. She is sort of a female version of Bruce Campbell from Army of Darkness, Yet despite this and the authors' hard edged imagination and wit, the novel boils downs to being a fairly formulaic zombie tale complete with the obligatory military bad guys. That doesn't mean it isn't fun. In fact, it is a e-ticket ride of the R-rated variety. But as much as I enjoyed it I expected more. The cliff hanger tease for a sequel didn't help to boost the rating either. So if you love zombies, go for it. Or if a hot sheriff with sidearms in a wedding dress gets your motor runnung, definitely go for it...and hide the cover from your wife. Three and a half stars.
The character of sheriff Penny Miller is the best thing going for this hack-and-slash zombie book. She is sort of a female version of Bruce Campbell from Army of Darkness, Yet despite this and the authors' hard edged imagination and wit, the novel boils downs to being a fairly formulaic zombie tale complete with the obligatory military bad guys. That doesn't mean it isn't fun. In fact, it is a e-ticket ride of the R-rated variety. But as much as I enjoyed it I expected more. The cliff hanger tease for a sequel didn't help to boost the rating either. So if you love zombies, go for it. Or if a hot sheriff with sidearms in a wedding dress gets your motor runnung, definitely go for it...and hide the cover from your wife. Three and a half stars.
October 8, 2011
What makes this book a fun read is just that: It’s fun. It’s also full of action. Steve Hockensmith says in the first paragraph of the afterward: “What you hold in your hands is an adrenaline-fueled sprint through an obstacle course of horrors, and if you weren’t totally spent by the time you reached the last page of the story, you have stronger nerves than I.”
I cannot agree more.
I finished reading The Hungry a few days ago or more, but I had to wait to write my opinions of this story. At first I was a little disappointed, because the story is an expanded version of a short story found in Harry Shannon’s marvelous collection “A Host of Shadows”, so it felt like I was reading familiar material. Yet, once we got past the original short story, things blew up.
Literally.
And it never stopped.
The Hungry is like a punch in the face. It’s as though Romero’s Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead got married and had a baby and named it 28 Days Later. The story, in fact, was one of the most fun zombie stories I have ever read. I do not say this lightly.
Does it Involve a bad ass woman wearing a wedding dress as the cover suggests? Why, yes it does! Not only that, it is very interesting and somewhat comical as to why this woman, the story's protagonist, is wearing a wedding dress, and why she continues to have to wear the thing. Not only is the action jaw-dropping and terribly fun to read, the banter between characters makes this crazy ride even more fun.
This is my third book that I've read by Harry Shannon, and I am quickly becoming a fan. If this book is any indication of Steve Booth’s writing as well, I can’t wait to see what he can do on his own.
So, really, just get this book and read it. If you like fun and fast and action-packed, you will not be disappointed!
I cannot agree more.
I finished reading The Hungry a few days ago or more, but I had to wait to write my opinions of this story. At first I was a little disappointed, because the story is an expanded version of a short story found in Harry Shannon’s marvelous collection “A Host of Shadows”, so it felt like I was reading familiar material. Yet, once we got past the original short story, things blew up.
Literally.
And it never stopped.
The Hungry is like a punch in the face. It’s as though Romero’s Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead got married and had a baby and named it 28 Days Later. The story, in fact, was one of the most fun zombie stories I have ever read. I do not say this lightly.
Does it Involve a bad ass woman wearing a wedding dress as the cover suggests? Why, yes it does! Not only that, it is very interesting and somewhat comical as to why this woman, the story's protagonist, is wearing a wedding dress, and why she continues to have to wear the thing. Not only is the action jaw-dropping and terribly fun to read, the banter between characters makes this crazy ride even more fun.
This is my third book that I've read by Harry Shannon, and I am quickly becoming a fan. If this book is any indication of Steve Booth’s writing as well, I can’t wait to see what he can do on his own.
So, really, just get this book and read it. If you like fun and fast and action-packed, you will not be disappointed!
September 30, 2011
I am very pleased with how this book turned out. Both Harry and I put a lot of effort into making it as readable and enjoyable as possible. I sincerely hope that other readers get a kick out of it. Thanks.
October 28, 2011
wow, what a book, starts off with a bang and doesn't let up. A different take on a zombie apocalypse. A failed experiment gone wrong & off it goes Bang!!!!! really grabs you by the throught. A nice change to see a strong female lead character even if her dress sense is weird ( no spoilers)
Really the pace does not let up till the end and you feel quite cheated as you are desperate for more. Hope book 2 will not be long, bloody loved this book!
Really the pace does not let up till the end and you feel quite cheated as you are desperate for more. Hope book 2 will not be long, bloody loved this book!
November 15, 2011
I can’t remember where I found out about The Hungry, I believe it was from a link on facebook for a free copy of Jailbreak. Jailbreak is a short story “co-written by veteran writer Harry Shannon and newcomer Steven W. Booth, is a briskly paced weird-western-zombie-apocalypse tale.” I purchased this one for my kindle because it was free, and anyone who knows me knows I love zombies. I knew from the first page, I was going to want to buy The Hungry.
What I love from the beginning of this story is the main character. Sheriff Penny Miller. She is a kick ass woman and doesn’t take crap from anyone. You really love her right away, and it makes you want to see her through this scary adventure and see what happens to her.
The zombies in this story were well written, scary, but not too stereo typical. The main focus wasn’t on the zombies. It was but wasn’t. They were a huge factor, but the story was more focused on Penny, and other survivors that she finds, such as her ex-husband and some people she locked up in her jail. You felt like you were one of the people with Penny as you were reading this story. It felt like if I turned around, I’d see zombies behind me. I do love the constant reference to the fact that she was stuck wearing her old wedding dress, it just makes the picture so much more interesting, a tough sheriff in her wedding dress, hehe.
Reading the reflection at the end of the book, I completely agree with everything that was said. I CANNOT wait for the sequel to this book. I could not put this book down. So many twist and turns at every corner, it was just such an amazing book to read and I am so glad that I discovered it!! Amazing!
What I love from the beginning of this story is the main character. Sheriff Penny Miller. She is a kick ass woman and doesn’t take crap from anyone. You really love her right away, and it makes you want to see her through this scary adventure and see what happens to her.
The zombies in this story were well written, scary, but not too stereo typical. The main focus wasn’t on the zombies. It was but wasn’t. They were a huge factor, but the story was more focused on Penny, and other survivors that she finds, such as her ex-husband and some people she locked up in her jail. You felt like you were one of the people with Penny as you were reading this story. It felt like if I turned around, I’d see zombies behind me. I do love the constant reference to the fact that she was stuck wearing her old wedding dress, it just makes the picture so much more interesting, a tough sheriff in her wedding dress, hehe.
Reading the reflection at the end of the book, I completely agree with everything that was said. I CANNOT wait for the sequel to this book. I could not put this book down. So many twist and turns at every corner, it was just such an amazing book to read and I am so glad that I discovered it!! Amazing!
March 9, 2014
Silver tongued Nevada Sheriff Penny Miller fights her way through hordes of zombies in The Hungry, book one of the Sheriff Penny Miller series by Steven Booth and Harry Shannon. Clad in the wedding dress from her failed marriage, Penny is forced to team up with her jealous ex-husband and a felonious biker as she tries to outrun both the living dead and the military unit responsible for the outbreak.
The Hungry offers readers an engaging and action-packed work of fiction cleverly penned using third person narration. Building a solid foundation of zombie must-haves, Booth and Shannon leave their signature on the genre with a successful amalgamation of originality and three dimensional characters readers can’t help but connect with.
Best-selling horror author Joe McKinney describes Penny as ‘a great choice to play the The Hungry's lead role. The ladies want to be her, the guys want to do her. From a strictly commercial standpoint, she's solid gold.’ This leading lady is quick to deliver a piercing barb and a good old fashioned kick to the groin. Women everywhere will raise their hands in solidarity for this strong female protagonist and men will bow to her take-charge, no nonsense authority.
The pace is fast, the story is intense, and the humor is in no short supply as Penny shows the undead who’s boss. Appropriate for a mature audience, The Hungry will leave readers begging for more.
The Hungry offers readers an engaging and action-packed work of fiction cleverly penned using third person narration. Building a solid foundation of zombie must-haves, Booth and Shannon leave their signature on the genre with a successful amalgamation of originality and three dimensional characters readers can’t help but connect with.
Best-selling horror author Joe McKinney describes Penny as ‘a great choice to play the The Hungry's lead role. The ladies want to be her, the guys want to do her. From a strictly commercial standpoint, she's solid gold.’ This leading lady is quick to deliver a piercing barb and a good old fashioned kick to the groin. Women everywhere will raise their hands in solidarity for this strong female protagonist and men will bow to her take-charge, no nonsense authority.
The pace is fast, the story is intense, and the humor is in no short supply as Penny shows the undead who’s boss. Appropriate for a mature audience, The Hungry will leave readers begging for more.
April 24, 2014
Penny Miller - Zombie Killer - What a thriller. Book one of five (So far) mindless entertainment for those in the need of a zombie fix. Clad in the wedding dress from her failed marriage, Penny kills them zombies real good. And the book is funny and fast paced too.
October 2, 2017
Reviewed by Demetrius Svette
*This book was provided for an honest review
How many movies, books and comics are out there that have something to do with the undead? Answer: a lot. How many of them actually stuck with you that made you fall in love with and become a lifelong fan? Not many, I’m sure. Well, I am here to say that I have found one in the world of apocalyptic undead scenarios that is unlike anything else that is out there. The Hungry, created by the brilliant minds of Steven Booth and Harry Shannon, brings you a truly different class of zombies that will bring you back to the conspiracy politics of George A. Romero that is truly unique and not clichéd. There is enough non-stop action to have you teetering on the edge of your seat, focusing in on the pages- one right after the other. It will challenge you to try not to wake anyone that is sleeping while you laugh and may keep your panties bunching in effort to not piss yourself. I’m not sure how they did this but Booth and Shannon have created the perfect start of a series that will continue on for years to come when we join Sheriff Miller as the rise of the undead starts.
Penny Miller, the star of The Hungry, is a strong female character that is in the midst of an apocalyptic zombie uprising. In the town of Flat Rock, Nevada, she will do whatever it takes to protect those that she has been sworn in to serve as sheriff. Around every corner she is met with the uptick in the zombie population, a murderous and lawless biker gang, a pathetic former husband, National Guardsmen who are ruthless- stopping at nothing to fulfill their orders- and meeting the scientist who is responsible for the zombie outbreak. There are so many more different characters to name that you will build connections with, even loving to hate, that you will never forget. The details give you enough to vividly see the scenario play out in your head as you read. The Hungry mixes up a madness of gore, sexiness, action, violence and humor that is laid out perfectly within the pages to keep you hooked- reeling you in until the end and giving you one hell of a cliff to hang on to as you wait to start the next book in the series.
Okay, so I admit that this is the first book about a zombie apocalypse that really hooked me in by the side of my mouth and made me drool on almost every page- leaving me Hungry for more. I mean, who doesn’t want to see a top notch strong female character with a nasty mouth in a white wedding dress? Penny Miller is my new Lara Croft. I would love to see how far this goes- it is already a six book series with a side story, Blood Desert, coming out towards the end of 2017. Miller actually reminds me of Uma Thurman in Kill Bill; yes, Black Mamba in a wedding dress with the attitude of the minds that put Miller together, Steven Booth and Harry Shannon. Booth and Shannon then takes the story and invites the world of Sons of Anarchy into this alternate universe, making it a great read from start to finish with some truly unforgettable phrases. Hopefully, one day we will see this as a television series or the next cult classic zombie film as this series has more going for it then Resident Evil- yes I said it and it’s true, Miller is a much more believable and stronger character than Alice.
I bow and clap my hands together to honor the design and layout of every character within created by Steven Booth and Harry Shannon; they are both very talented and have perfected their skills to allow them to present the outcomes surrounding Sheriff Miller. Almost as if they had gotten together to come up with an idea for a movie and just decided to say ‘You know what? Let’s make a book series instead and let the readers beg for a movie later.’ They are passionate about what they do, as you can see from the book, and will become legends in the zombie world if they haven’t already made it there. It was a great privilege to read this non-stop page turner through until the end of this chapter- which reminds me, I need to move on from here and see what happens in the second book, The Hungry 2: The Wrath of God. I am proud to say that I will read anything that comes from Booth and Shannon, and I say that if anyone who does not stop for a moment to read this will regret it, because here sits a truly fascinating story that you have been waiting for in the undead realm.
*This book was provided for an honest review
How many movies, books and comics are out there that have something to do with the undead? Answer: a lot. How many of them actually stuck with you that made you fall in love with and become a lifelong fan? Not many, I’m sure. Well, I am here to say that I have found one in the world of apocalyptic undead scenarios that is unlike anything else that is out there. The Hungry, created by the brilliant minds of Steven Booth and Harry Shannon, brings you a truly different class of zombies that will bring you back to the conspiracy politics of George A. Romero that is truly unique and not clichéd. There is enough non-stop action to have you teetering on the edge of your seat, focusing in on the pages- one right after the other. It will challenge you to try not to wake anyone that is sleeping while you laugh and may keep your panties bunching in effort to not piss yourself. I’m not sure how they did this but Booth and Shannon have created the perfect start of a series that will continue on for years to come when we join Sheriff Miller as the rise of the undead starts.
Penny Miller, the star of The Hungry, is a strong female character that is in the midst of an apocalyptic zombie uprising. In the town of Flat Rock, Nevada, she will do whatever it takes to protect those that she has been sworn in to serve as sheriff. Around every corner she is met with the uptick in the zombie population, a murderous and lawless biker gang, a pathetic former husband, National Guardsmen who are ruthless- stopping at nothing to fulfill their orders- and meeting the scientist who is responsible for the zombie outbreak. There are so many more different characters to name that you will build connections with, even loving to hate, that you will never forget. The details give you enough to vividly see the scenario play out in your head as you read. The Hungry mixes up a madness of gore, sexiness, action, violence and humor that is laid out perfectly within the pages to keep you hooked- reeling you in until the end and giving you one hell of a cliff to hang on to as you wait to start the next book in the series.
Okay, so I admit that this is the first book about a zombie apocalypse that really hooked me in by the side of my mouth and made me drool on almost every page- leaving me Hungry for more. I mean, who doesn’t want to see a top notch strong female character with a nasty mouth in a white wedding dress? Penny Miller is my new Lara Croft. I would love to see how far this goes- it is already a six book series with a side story, Blood Desert, coming out towards the end of 2017. Miller actually reminds me of Uma Thurman in Kill Bill; yes, Black Mamba in a wedding dress with the attitude of the minds that put Miller together, Steven Booth and Harry Shannon. Booth and Shannon then takes the story and invites the world of Sons of Anarchy into this alternate universe, making it a great read from start to finish with some truly unforgettable phrases. Hopefully, one day we will see this as a television series or the next cult classic zombie film as this series has more going for it then Resident Evil- yes I said it and it’s true, Miller is a much more believable and stronger character than Alice.
I bow and clap my hands together to honor the design and layout of every character within created by Steven Booth and Harry Shannon; they are both very talented and have perfected their skills to allow them to present the outcomes surrounding Sheriff Miller. Almost as if they had gotten together to come up with an idea for a movie and just decided to say ‘You know what? Let’s make a book series instead and let the readers beg for a movie later.’ They are passionate about what they do, as you can see from the book, and will become legends in the zombie world if they haven’t already made it there. It was a great privilege to read this non-stop page turner through until the end of this chapter- which reminds me, I need to move on from here and see what happens in the second book, The Hungry 2: The Wrath of God. I am proud to say that I will read anything that comes from Booth and Shannon, and I say that if anyone who does not stop for a moment to read this will regret it, because here sits a truly fascinating story that you have been waiting for in the undead realm.
September 27, 2012
Zombies, man. Yeah.
A year or so ago I read a short story called "Jailbreak" by Booth and Shannon. It was about a hot female sheriff in a town full of zombies. I wasn't blown away by the book, but I did think the main character, Sheriff Penny Miller, was a treat to read and welcomed the idea of a novel with her in the lead. Well, that novel became a reality and it's called The Hungry.
As far as zombie novels go, this book is not out to reinvent the wheel. There's a horde of zombies and there's pretty lady with an itchy trigger finger--aaand action!
The story starts out with a brief look as to how the outbreak begins, then it jumps right into Penny's shoes as her tiny town of Flat Rock, Nevada is besieged by the undead. She might have an easier time of it, but she has her hands full with a cagey criminal named Scratch. It doesn't take long for her and her deputy to get trapped in the jailhouse along with Scratch and another prisoner. Things turn ugly and they have to band together to fight their way out, only with Penny and Scratch as the only two left in town still standing. Scratch goes his way, Penny begrudgingly goes hers when it's clear she can't keep him in custody while the town goes to Hell. That right there is basically how "Jailbreak" played out, and what ensues is a roller coaster of one insane twist after the other.
If there's any chemistry between the comely sheriff and the biker with bedroom eyes, it doesn't play out very well. Of course, it's kind of difficult for romantic entanglements when the undead are shambling after you from every direction. And Penny's reunion with her ex-husband, Terril Lee, goes from amusing to annoying in no-time flat. In fact, it's kind of amazing these characters can coexist for as long as they do, because they're so incredibly ill-suited for one another, I kept expecting them to turn on each other like feral dogs.
Distracting from the interplay between characters is the onslaught of plot twists. It is a ceaseless deluge of road blocks, both literal and figurative, thrown in front of Penny and whoever is in her company at any one time. Zombie hordes, murderous bikers, maniacal soldiers, covert agents, and even more zombie hordes are flung in Penny's path with such rapidity, it's astonishing to think this all happens in the run of a day and inside a dust bowl of a county.
I've read better zombie novels, but I don't think I've ever read one with such a frenetic pace. If you're a fan of the undead and high-octane action and violence, you'll want to check it out. In the mean time, I just might have to check out the sequel, which could hold some really interesting twists all its own considering the revelations that occur at the end of this novel.
A year or so ago I read a short story called "Jailbreak" by Booth and Shannon. It was about a hot female sheriff in a town full of zombies. I wasn't blown away by the book, but I did think the main character, Sheriff Penny Miller, was a treat to read and welcomed the idea of a novel with her in the lead. Well, that novel became a reality and it's called The Hungry.
As far as zombie novels go, this book is not out to reinvent the wheel. There's a horde of zombies and there's pretty lady with an itchy trigger finger--aaand action!
The story starts out with a brief look as to how the outbreak begins, then it jumps right into Penny's shoes as her tiny town of Flat Rock, Nevada is besieged by the undead. She might have an easier time of it, but she has her hands full with a cagey criminal named Scratch. It doesn't take long for her and her deputy to get trapped in the jailhouse along with Scratch and another prisoner. Things turn ugly and they have to band together to fight their way out, only with Penny and Scratch as the only two left in town still standing. Scratch goes his way, Penny begrudgingly goes hers when it's clear she can't keep him in custody while the town goes to Hell. That right there is basically how "Jailbreak" played out, and what ensues is a roller coaster of one insane twist after the other.
If there's any chemistry between the comely sheriff and the biker with bedroom eyes, it doesn't play out very well. Of course, it's kind of difficult for romantic entanglements when the undead are shambling after you from every direction. And Penny's reunion with her ex-husband, Terril Lee, goes from amusing to annoying in no-time flat. In fact, it's kind of amazing these characters can coexist for as long as they do, because they're so incredibly ill-suited for one another, I kept expecting them to turn on each other like feral dogs.
Distracting from the interplay between characters is the onslaught of plot twists. It is a ceaseless deluge of road blocks, both literal and figurative, thrown in front of Penny and whoever is in her company at any one time. Zombie hordes, murderous bikers, maniacal soldiers, covert agents, and even more zombie hordes are flung in Penny's path with such rapidity, it's astonishing to think this all happens in the run of a day and inside a dust bowl of a county.
I've read better zombie novels, but I don't think I've ever read one with such a frenetic pace. If you're a fan of the undead and high-octane action and violence, you'll want to check it out. In the mean time, I just might have to check out the sequel, which could hold some really interesting twists all its own considering the revelations that occur at the end of this novel.
December 31, 2011
In the Acknowledgements at the end of the book, Harry Shannon thanks his co-writer, Steven W. Booth, for "sticking Penny Miller in that damn wedding dress". Yeah, I'd have to agree with that. There are a lot of Zombie books out there these days and to stand out it's got to be more than just humans blowing the brains out of the zombies. After just reading The Prologue, I knew I was in for a treat and I hadn't even met Sheriff Penny Miller yet. The writers' dialog is fresh, colorful and fun, and Penny shares a favorite saying with me, "F___ a duck". I can't say it here, but you get the idea. On the down side I was a little thrown by the way Sheriff Miller "checks out" each of the new male characters in the middle of a Zombie Apocalypse. Really. Seems something a guy might do. Ladies, let me know if I'm wrong. All in all, this one's a winner, fast paced and fun. A must read for any Zombie enthusiast and anyone with a hankerin' for a mighty fine tale.
January 10, 2012
I have been on a zombie kick lately and had hoped for another book similar to "The First Days: As the World Dies" by Rhiannon Frater. Unfortunately, I had no such luck with this one.
Sheriff Penny Miller gets caught up in a zombie attack and barely makes it to her ex-husband's home. The two of them take off together in search of safety, but nothing seems to go well for them. They first meet up with some angry bikers, and then later with soldiers trying to contain the outbreak.
I didn't really believe Penny's overly tough attitude, nor did I care about her or the other survivors. The Hungry was also too juvenile for my taste. Here are some examples of the ridiculous things that came out of Penny's mouth:
F*** a duck
Sh** on a shingle
Turds on wheat toast
Jesus on a slice of wheat toast
Poop on a Popsicle
Many of these are repeated NUMEROUS times. Enough already!
This book is fast paced...I'll give the authors that. But it's just not very good, and I cannot recommend it.
Sheriff Penny Miller gets caught up in a zombie attack and barely makes it to her ex-husband's home. The two of them take off together in search of safety, but nothing seems to go well for them. They first meet up with some angry bikers, and then later with soldiers trying to contain the outbreak.
I didn't really believe Penny's overly tough attitude, nor did I care about her or the other survivors. The Hungry was also too juvenile for my taste. Here are some examples of the ridiculous things that came out of Penny's mouth:
F*** a duck
Sh** on a shingle
Turds on wheat toast
Jesus on a slice of wheat toast
Poop on a Popsicle
Many of these are repeated NUMEROUS times. Enough already!
This book is fast paced...I'll give the authors that. But it's just not very good, and I cannot recommend it.
June 30, 2012
REVIEWED: The Hungry
WRITTEN BY: Steven W. Booth and Harry Shannon
PUBLISHED: October, 2011
This was a fun-filled zombie apocalypse adventure... "Fun-filled?" you ask. It is when the plot revolves around an array of quirky characters who each have their own snarky voice and love to shoot sarcasm as much as they love to shoot guns. Exciting, gory, funny, this book has a little something for everyone. The lead character, Sheriff Penny Miller, portrays the ultimate in strong female leads - she's a divorced powerhouse, stuck battling zombies in the wedding dress that reminds her of happier days. The characters are robust, the action is non-stop, and it's funny - just funny the whole way through.
Five out of Five stars
WRITTEN BY: Steven W. Booth and Harry Shannon
PUBLISHED: October, 2011
This was a fun-filled zombie apocalypse adventure... "Fun-filled?" you ask. It is when the plot revolves around an array of quirky characters who each have their own snarky voice and love to shoot sarcasm as much as they love to shoot guns. Exciting, gory, funny, this book has a little something for everyone. The lead character, Sheriff Penny Miller, portrays the ultimate in strong female leads - she's a divorced powerhouse, stuck battling zombies in the wedding dress that reminds her of happier days. The characters are robust, the action is non-stop, and it's funny - just funny the whole way through.
Five out of Five stars
March 23, 2012
Ok. I really liked this book. Not because it was a masterpiece but because Penny is just so damn cool. I will say that she reminds me a lot of Celia Graves from Cats Adams Blood Song series. They are both kick ass supernatural female leads and they both utter the phrase "fuck a duck" more than necessary. That being said it doesn't take away from the non stop action of this zombie story. When I say non stop I mean non stop. From first to last page they are fighting for thier lives. There were plenty of other quirky characters abound and some interesting plot twists. I hope for a follow up to see what happens to our dear Penny.
November 14, 2011
Wow, what a ride. Great story, I got swept away in the non stop action. Penny Miller reminds me of Ripley in Aliens, kicking ass, taking names all while having a heart. This story is about people and that is what makes it great. Sure there is the faceless horde of zombies to deal with but I was more concerned with Scratch and Terril Lee's fate than the rest of humanity. Great story! Rated R for language.
October 3, 2011
Its happened. The zombies are here and they are HUNGRY! As a small band of people make their getaway from the walking dead they realise the zombies aren't they only thing they have to worry about. Harry and Steven combine action and humor to make a great book!
March 31, 2012
Penny Miller rocks. Period.
Want some zombie-killin', head-shootin', gore-soaked fun?
This is it.
Excellent.
Nuff said!
Want some zombie-killin', head-shootin', gore-soaked fun?
This is it.
Excellent.
Nuff said!
July 14, 2012
Excellent zombie novel - I'm starting the sequel tomorrow and will review both soon at Horror Drive-In.
August 7, 2012
As a woman, I absolutely love reading about and seeing strong female characters. Alice from Res Evil, Michonne and Andrea from TWD, Buffy and Faith from BtVS. These ladies stand up and fight. They’re not afraid to get bloody and dirty to get the job done. They protect what’s theirs and God help you if you try to mess with them or the ones they love. I admire that. I see no reason that a woman should stand by like a shrinking violet when it’s time to bust some heads.
See that hot redhead on the cover? That’s Sheriff Penny Miller, the main protagonist in The Hungry, a novel by Harry Shannon and Steven Booth. Sheriff Penny is that bad-ass female that gets the job done, no matter what the cost. She’s got it all: smarts, sex appeal, and wit that just won’t quit. Not to mention her balls of solid steel; I have a girl-crush on her that you wouldn’t believe! How can you not love a girl who spends 90% of the novel fighting zombies in her (increasingly tattered and blood-spattered) wedding dress?
The thing about The Hungry is that Sheriff Penny isn’t the only character in the novel that you care about. Even though you’re probably not supposed to, I found myself really cheering for Scratch, the murderous, yet oddly lovable biker. He’s not a good guy, not really. But you know me – I have a soft spot for a scoundrel. I even like the ex-husband, though it’s clearly apparent why he and Penny are divorced.
This novel isn’t just “another zombie book.” It is balls-to-the-wall intense with a nice smattering of humor and gore to break things up. The interaction between the characters is witty and fast-paced. Booth and Shannon have real skill in storytelling – I couldn’t put the book down!
The best news for you, dear reader, is that you won’t have to wait for the second installment in the series. The Hungry 2: The Wrath of God is now available in Kindle and paperback editions. Do yourself a favor – go to Amazon and pick up both novels RIGHT NOW! You can thank me later!
See that hot redhead on the cover? That’s Sheriff Penny Miller, the main protagonist in The Hungry, a novel by Harry Shannon and Steven Booth. Sheriff Penny is that bad-ass female that gets the job done, no matter what the cost. She’s got it all: smarts, sex appeal, and wit that just won’t quit. Not to mention her balls of solid steel; I have a girl-crush on her that you wouldn’t believe! How can you not love a girl who spends 90% of the novel fighting zombies in her (increasingly tattered and blood-spattered) wedding dress?
The thing about The Hungry is that Sheriff Penny isn’t the only character in the novel that you care about. Even though you’re probably not supposed to, I found myself really cheering for Scratch, the murderous, yet oddly lovable biker. He’s not a good guy, not really. But you know me – I have a soft spot for a scoundrel. I even like the ex-husband, though it’s clearly apparent why he and Penny are divorced.
This novel isn’t just “another zombie book.” It is balls-to-the-wall intense with a nice smattering of humor and gore to break things up. The interaction between the characters is witty and fast-paced. Booth and Shannon have real skill in storytelling – I couldn’t put the book down!
The best news for you, dear reader, is that you won’t have to wait for the second installment in the series. The Hungry 2: The Wrath of God is now available in Kindle and paperback editions. Do yourself a favor – go to Amazon and pick up both novels RIGHT NOW! You can thank me later!
September 22, 2013
THE HUNGRY so needs to be an action flick. Truly. This is the stuff great B-movies are made of!
In some respects THE HUNGRY is a typical zomb book. The undead pop up because of a bad military researcher, and out of no where the previously fairly amazing kick ass chick, becomes super amazing.
But in this book it's nice that the change occurs gradually, and it's fun that the secondary characters are so well fleshed out. In fact, that may be the greatest strength of this book; that not only Sheriff Penny, but the rest of her acquaintances --good and bad-- are so well done.
The other thing that sets this book apart is that it's got an over-the-top humor. It's like the authors had just come down off a Gomer Pyle tv watching binge. And these 'Southernisms' on steroids made for an interesting reading when combined with the snappy one-liners and f-bombs.
Did I mention the 'language'? Well, I don't believe they left any of the main ones out. So if cursing isn't your thing, pass this one by.
Otherwise, a fun b-grade, action filled read.
Slight SPOILER Quote:
An angry woman in a filthy wedding dress ordering everyone around. What had the world come to now?
This is a REAL SPOILER PERTAINING TO WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE AT THE END.
In some respects THE HUNGRY is a typical zomb book. The undead pop up because of a bad military researcher, and out of no where the previously fairly amazing kick ass chick, becomes super amazing.
But in this book it's nice that the change occurs gradually, and it's fun that the secondary characters are so well fleshed out. In fact, that may be the greatest strength of this book; that not only Sheriff Penny, but the rest of her acquaintances --good and bad-- are so well done.
The other thing that sets this book apart is that it's got an over-the-top humor. It's like the authors had just come down off a Gomer Pyle tv watching binge. And these 'Southernisms' on steroids made for an interesting reading when combined with the snappy one-liners and f-bombs.
Did I mention the 'language'? Well, I don't believe they left any of the main ones out. So if cursing isn't your thing, pass this one by.
Otherwise, a fun b-grade, action filled read.
Slight SPOILER Quote:
An angry woman in a filthy wedding dress ordering everyone around. What had the world come to now?
This is a REAL SPOILER PERTAINING TO WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE AT THE END.
June 5, 2013
I give this book 4 stars because it has humor. Thats about it though. Its generally your run of the mill zombie book, the sheriff hooks up with some unlikely zombie apocalypse companions. Then they all struggle to survive not only the zombies but the other humans as well. Mind you while i was giggling over some parts of this book...some parts had me cringing ;like some of the terms are just cheesy. For example "the blood riders" and nicknames like "needles" and "top notch" are just ridicules . Also it irked the hell out of me that she wouldnt take off that damn wedding dress! So in my own mind, she wore different clothing. In all not my fave book for many reasons....main one is, i dont care if the lead character dies,besides her colorful and inspiring vocabulary (and her badass guns)...shes not that memorable to me..not "real" enough for me i suppose.Her biker buddy i want to live. And the wimpy-selfish-two faced-sulky ex hubby...id shoot him myself; So I will not be continuing this series . But for a quick zombie action filled read. Its a good one. Id recommend it without hesitation as it dose grab you and dosent let go till the end.
September 20, 2014
What do you do when you're the first female sheriff of your town and the zombie apocalypse occurs?
If you're Penny Miller, you fight, even when your only allies are a grizzled biker you had originally arrested and your wimp of an ex-husband!
I am one of those who experienced The Hungry for the first time, sent to me by Malena PR for an honest review.
I don't like most zombie novels. With the exception of Stephen Kozeniewski's Braineater Jones and Darren Shan's Zom-B series, most authors take it way too far. There's a certain stopping point that most whiz by going at about 120mph. Mr. Booth and Mr. Shannon, however, knew where the line between horror and "disgusting" was and hit it perfectly!
This book has its gross moments, but what it really has its this unsettling aura that will settle over the reader and make them peer out the window, because it seems so real.
Penny is a true bad-ass. She's a cop, she's confident and she's beautiful. She kicks butt in her wedding dress and takes zero crap from anyone. Every girl reading this will have a new heroine, probably the only truly tough female lead since Sailor Moon in the '90s!
Great read for all genders!
5/5--awesome!
If you're Penny Miller, you fight, even when your only allies are a grizzled biker you had originally arrested and your wimp of an ex-husband!
I am one of those who experienced The Hungry for the first time, sent to me by Malena PR for an honest review.
I don't like most zombie novels. With the exception of Stephen Kozeniewski's Braineater Jones and Darren Shan's Zom-B series, most authors take it way too far. There's a certain stopping point that most whiz by going at about 120mph. Mr. Booth and Mr. Shannon, however, knew where the line between horror and "disgusting" was and hit it perfectly!
This book has its gross moments, but what it really has its this unsettling aura that will settle over the reader and make them peer out the window, because it seems so real.
Penny is a true bad-ass. She's a cop, she's confident and she's beautiful. She kicks butt in her wedding dress and takes zero crap from anyone. Every girl reading this will have a new heroine, probably the only truly tough female lead since Sailor Moon in the '90s!
Great read for all genders!
5/5--awesome!
February 7, 2012
As other reviews have already mentioned, The Hungry is a fast-paced good time zombie story. If you know you like zombie stories then you'll probably like this one. Simple, but true. I’m not the biggest zombie girl in the world and I still liked it. The characters are funny and interesting, enough so that you’re rooting for them (well, most of them) instead of the zombies, which is something you can’t always say. The scenarios rang true, human nature being what it is I can see a lot of this happening in times of extreme distress.
My chief complaint was that Penny's country fried vernacular became grating to me very quickly. Not to say I wouldn't be cussing a blue streak if I found myself in the middle of a zombie outbreak, I'm positive I would be. It's just that reading it page after page got to be too much.
A warning, if cliffhangers make you want to throw your book across the room in a rage, then you aren’t going to be happy at the ending. Me? I’m looking forward to the next installment. But, please, please, someone find something else for poor Penny to wear!
My chief complaint was that Penny's country fried vernacular became grating to me very quickly. Not to say I wouldn't be cussing a blue streak if I found myself in the middle of a zombie outbreak, I'm positive I would be. It's just that reading it page after page got to be too much.
A warning, if cliffhangers make you want to throw your book across the room in a rage, then you aren’t going to be happy at the ending. Me? I’m looking forward to the next installment. But, please, please, someone find something else for poor Penny to wear!
July 17, 2013
***Review From Chell For The Nerd Girl Page ***
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.**
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book was thrilling and incredibly amusing. Sheriff Penny Miller is smart, funny, tough and most certainly a smart ass, therefore making her my kind of woman. The entire book was full of wit and sarcastic humor, but is also full of action. Haven’t we all imagined what we’ll do if the zombie apocalypse breaks out? I could see myself doing some of the things Sheriff Penny Miller did. Though, she is much more take charge than I am.
Reading this book was thrilling. Trying to figure out how they would not only escape the zombies, but how they would rid themselves of them for good. If you’re looking for romance, you’re not going to find it here. But if you’re looking for action, guns and fighting in the zombie apocalypse, this book is for you.
***Review has been written in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official***
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our fansite at: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.**
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book was thrilling and incredibly amusing. Sheriff Penny Miller is smart, funny, tough and most certainly a smart ass, therefore making her my kind of woman. The entire book was full of wit and sarcastic humor, but is also full of action. Haven’t we all imagined what we’ll do if the zombie apocalypse breaks out? I could see myself doing some of the things Sheriff Penny Miller did. Though, she is much more take charge than I am.
Reading this book was thrilling. Trying to figure out how they would not only escape the zombies, but how they would rid themselves of them for good. If you’re looking for romance, you’re not going to find it here. But if you’re looking for action, guns and fighting in the zombie apocalypse, this book is for you.
***Review has been written in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official***
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our fansite at: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng
October 21, 2017
Fun, different look at the zombie genre
CORRECTION: This review should read outlaw biker gang rather than outlaw banker gang in the second paragraph. Oops...
Sheriff Penny Miller is a rootin', tootin' pistol packing lawman from Flat Rock, Nevada. And then the hordes of zombies start to appear and to attack.
When a military experiment goes bad, she finds herself in the middle of shambling zombies, an outlaw banker gang with a leader she has mixed feelings about, an ex-husband, the National Guard, the Army - and more zombies of all shapes, ages, and conditions.
She's not afraid to take on all bad guys, even wearing her old wedding dress (a story in itself) commando style.
The story is light on science but full of all kinds of gore and mayhem. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series to find out how Sheriff Penny handles her new reality - because things JUST aren't the same for her. Read the story and find out why.
I'm off to read THE HUNGRY 2: WRATH OF GOD.
I received this book from Genius Book Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review.q
CORRECTION: This review should read outlaw biker gang rather than outlaw banker gang in the second paragraph. Oops...
Sheriff Penny Miller is a rootin', tootin' pistol packing lawman from Flat Rock, Nevada. And then the hordes of zombies start to appear and to attack.
When a military experiment goes bad, she finds herself in the middle of shambling zombies, an outlaw banker gang with a leader she has mixed feelings about, an ex-husband, the National Guard, the Army - and more zombies of all shapes, ages, and conditions.
She's not afraid to take on all bad guys, even wearing her old wedding dress (a story in itself) commando style.
The story is light on science but full of all kinds of gore and mayhem. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series to find out how Sheriff Penny handles her new reality - because things JUST aren't the same for her. Read the story and find out why.
I'm off to read THE HUNGRY 2: WRATH OF GOD.
I received this book from Genius Book Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review.q
March 26, 2012
This book was good, dont get me wrong. However it felt an awful lot like Hollowland by Amanda Hocking, and that turned me off a bit. I liked Hollowland so obviously I liked this book. There were pleanty of differences, and that made it interresting and exciting. I really liked the main character. She is one tough, bad ass chick.
The whole time I am reading this book I am screaming in my head for her to change out of the fucking wedding dress already! I mean come on, she could have wore a pair of sweats and a shirt of her ex husbands from the very beginning. I have no idea why, but this really bugged the hell out of me.
Will I recommend this bood? Yes
Will I read it again? Doubt it
Will I read the next book in the series? Absolutly
Overall it was a really good book with a lot of action. It is exciting and the characters are likable. A good quick read.
The whole time I am reading this book I am screaming in my head for her to change out of the fucking wedding dress already! I mean come on, she could have wore a pair of sweats and a shirt of her ex husbands from the very beginning. I have no idea why, but this really bugged the hell out of me.
Will I recommend this bood? Yes
Will I read it again? Doubt it
Will I read the next book in the series? Absolutly
Overall it was a really good book with a lot of action. It is exciting and the characters are likable. A good quick read.
March 7, 2014
Eh...not my favorite book, characters, or writing but not bad either. I am not a fan of Scratch one of the main interests in this story and the ex-husband is no better. And if I had to count the number of times sheriff Penny compares men have d**k measuring contests I would have almost half the book. The one bearable love interest character in the book turns out to be someone who isn't an option for Penny and, as stated before, the other two make my skin crawl thinking about having to pick one. All in all, not a horrible read, bearable and once started there is no reason not to finish it, but I don't want to rush right out an pick up the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th installments. I would much rather just have a synopsis of what happens and the final outcomes/events at the conclusion of the series.
July 19, 2012
Great read. Fast moving, action packed with fun, entertaining characters. The Hungry had me locked in after the first few pages and only work and sleep kept me from finishing it in one day. I'm looking forward to reading The Hungry 2 to see what crazy unpredictable ride Sheriff Penny and her group of cast offs will take us on next as they fight to survive the zombie apocalypse.
December 5, 2013
Zombies, yay!! It was a little confusing at the start but ended up a rollicking ride with a kickass and feisty heroine. Great idea to stick Penny in a wedding dress and I loved that as soon as she joined forces with male characters she didn't hand over control of the action to them. I do hope somebody makes a movie of this.
March 4, 2013
Action-packed zombie fun from beginning to end. It's funny, it's crass and frequently gross, there's no denying it's 'leave-your-brain-at-the-door' (no pun intended) reading, and yet the writing is still quality.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Looking forward to the next installment.
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