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The Infection #2
The Killing Floor
The mystery virus struck down millions. Three days later, its victims awoke with a single violent purpose: spread the Infection. As the world lurched toward the apocalypse, some of the Infected continued to change, transforming into horrific monsters.
America's far-flung military has returned home to wage a horrific war against its own country, engaged in a fierce battle to retake Washington, DC. Two hundred miles away, Ray Young, survivor of a fight to save a refugee camp from hordes of Infected fleeing the burning ruins of Pittsburgh, awakes from a coma to learn he has also survived Infection.
But this is no miracle. Ray is not immune. Instead, he has been transformed into a superweapon that could end the world ... or save it.
In THE KILLING FLOOR, Craig DiLouie's chilling apocalyptic vision portrayed in THE INFECTION continues, presenting a nightmarish struggle for survival like no other.
America's far-flung military has returned home to wage a horrific war against its own country, engaged in a fierce battle to retake Washington, DC. Two hundred miles away, Ray Young, survivor of a fight to save a refugee camp from hordes of Infected fleeing the burning ruins of Pittsburgh, awakes from a coma to learn he has also survived Infection.
But this is no miracle. Ray is not immune. Instead, he has been transformed into a superweapon that could end the world ... or save it.
In THE KILLING FLOOR, Craig DiLouie's chilling apocalyptic vision portrayed in THE INFECTION continues, presenting a nightmarish struggle for survival like no other.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2012
129 people are currently reading
1296 people want to read
About the author
Craig DiLouie
62 books1,528 followersCraig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 11, 2022
Craig DiLouie's 'The Killing Floor' - Book two of The Infection trilogy - continues the excitement and suspense right out of the gate. At long last, there may actually be a glimmer of hope for salvation from the hordes of flesh eaters - when it appears that one of the survivors (Ray Young) has survived the death sentence conversion of the infection. Yet, he is also not in the clear. Rather,"he has been transformed into a super-weapon that could end the world...or save it." What transpires is nothing less than edge-of-year-seat suspense and horror. We endure lots of sad losses of selfless characters as well as learn some surprising dark-sides of others. None of that is as important as the decision Ray Young makes (at the end) as to whether to help save or end the world with his new-found powers. When his ultimate decision is made and executed, the survivors must decide whether to obey orders by returning to D.C. ASAP or go rogue in a last ditch effort to find a cure. Talk about a cliffhanger ending - just phenomenal. Looking forward with great anticipation to soon starting 'The Final Cut', and conclusion to Mr. DiLouie's super-charged trilogy.
Kudos to narrator Garrett Michael Brown who has provided yet another head-spinning and fun-filled listening experience.
Kudos to narrator Garrett Michael Brown who has provided yet another head-spinning and fun-filled listening experience.
October 6, 2012
The astonishing sequel to THE INFECTION picks up right where the first book left off, and delivers a non-stop brutal ride through post-apocalyptic America. The Infection, we are happy to learn, is not done with the characters we grew to admire and like in the first book. It is fast paced and violent, savage and unrelenting all the way to the end.
Craig DiLouie's skill and great talent as an author lies in his vivid imagery. One can imagine oneself being there while the guns are firing, hearing the shells land and feeling the concussion of the blast. One can also imagine the terror that the survivors of the Screaming face day after day as the Infection spreads...
The book follows myriad characters, new and old, through several weeks of life and horrifying death as the Infection consumes everything around it. Characters are fleshed out in great detail, and reading them is both a pleasure and an uncomfortable mirror of ourselves, should we find ourselves in their places. The choices they have had to make are hard, but the world of the Infection demands such things. Do not think that the book is all gore and violence. It uses the violence of the Infection as backdrop to the characters learning about themselves and the world they find themselves lost in.
This is NOT a traditional zombie tale, by any means. Much more is going on here, slowly revealed through the text. There are layers of meaning and many thought provoking passages in the book, and the grisly is interwoven with the thought-provoking so well that one can virtually hear the ripping of flesh while pondering the eons-long plan of the Brood. To call this a zombie book is a disservice. It is more a book of horrific ecological invasion, a character driven epic of vast potential.
This was the best book I have read this year, and I suggest that if you like Horror you would do well to read THE KILLING FLOOR. I look forward to more.
Craig DiLouie's skill and great talent as an author lies in his vivid imagery. One can imagine oneself being there while the guns are firing, hearing the shells land and feeling the concussion of the blast. One can also imagine the terror that the survivors of the Screaming face day after day as the Infection spreads...
The book follows myriad characters, new and old, through several weeks of life and horrifying death as the Infection consumes everything around it. Characters are fleshed out in great detail, and reading them is both a pleasure and an uncomfortable mirror of ourselves, should we find ourselves in their places. The choices they have had to make are hard, but the world of the Infection demands such things. Do not think that the book is all gore and violence. It uses the violence of the Infection as backdrop to the characters learning about themselves and the world they find themselves lost in.
This is NOT a traditional zombie tale, by any means. Much more is going on here, slowly revealed through the text. There are layers of meaning and many thought provoking passages in the book, and the grisly is interwoven with the thought-provoking so well that one can virtually hear the ripping of flesh while pondering the eons-long plan of the Brood. To call this a zombie book is a disservice. It is more a book of horrific ecological invasion, a character driven epic of vast potential.
This was the best book I have read this year, and I suggest that if you like Horror you would do well to read THE KILLING FLOOR. I look forward to more.
April 15, 2023
I suffered from character overload a bit in this second book in the series. I still loved "the Survivors" but there were several new characters added and this started to confuse me. That being said. I am looking forward to the third and final book in this series.
January 21, 2014
First paragraphs:On the second floor of the West Wing of the White House, the meeting adjourned for lunch early because the machine gun was too loud.
Dr. Travis Price, assistant director with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, stared out the window into the smoky haze that had settled onto the city.
Outside, the Marines were still shooting the Infected off the fence.
I read this book in two days, and I didn't want it to end. DiLouie has become one of my favorite authors for horror - his in-your-face writing style, his vivid imagery, the sheer horror of the scope of the world that he creates.
I tell myself, like some of the characters in this novel, that 'the earth abides.' And then I want to find my kitty cat and snuggle her.
Dr. Travis Price, assistant director with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, stared out the window into the smoky haze that had settled onto the city.
Outside, the Marines were still shooting the Infected off the fence.
I read this book in two days, and I didn't want it to end. DiLouie has become one of my favorite authors for horror - his in-your-face writing style, his vivid imagery, the sheer horror of the scope of the world that he creates.
I tell myself, like some of the characters in this novel, that 'the earth abides.' And then I want to find my kitty cat and snuggle her.
December 26, 2021
I bought both books at the same time. Book 1 started off great and fell apart, this book picks up at the fallen apart stage and goes nowhere. 🤮
May 2, 2023
Bleh.
June 16, 2012
Craig DiLouie took the traditional infected/zombie tale and expanded upon it (and turned it on its ear) with his release of The Infection. The Killing Floor, the second book in this series, carries on where the last book left off, with surviving characters trying to comprehend the costly victory they had at the bridge, where they prevented a flood of infected from crossing the Ohio River and tearing through the refugee camp in nearby Defiance, where over 100,000 survivors live. Ray, one of the survivors from the battle, has been infected but has yet to turn. He is given a mercy by Anne, who allows him to crawl off to die on his own instead of getting a bullet in the head. But Ray doesn't become your typical infected, instead turning something like a Typhoid Mary, or a carrier of the infection, instead. This is the centerpiece of this book, with Ray trying to understand what his purpose is as the military and the militia, led by Anne, race to find him with the hope that his blood may hold the cure or to kill him, even as his new found capabilities make him even more dangerous than even the monsters or the infected.
We are introduced to two main new characters: Dr. Price, who is one of the only scientists that believes the infection is not manmade. He manages to escape the White House and is hidden in an underground bunker, but as the story unfolds is given the opportunity to go after Ray and perhaps find a vaccine or cure for infection. Rod, the other new character, is a soldier in the field working to clear out Washington D.C. of the infected when he and his men are assigned the task of bringing Ray in, dead or alive. Along with the remaining cast from the first book, we are given an impressive slew of characters whose stories intersect and come together for the exciting conclusion.
As the second book in what is likely a trilogy, the actual novelty of the infected are has worn off a bit, meaning we get to delve even deeper into the characters here and focus less on the different creatures that have come about with the advent of this plague. Even with some of the secondary characters there is plenty to sink your teeth into, as most of them do not come off as hollow cannon fodder, but real people. The author also does an excellent job of making the military aspects of this story believable without overdoing the jargon and technical areas of the story. The writing is crisp, sharp, and the story itself is intriguing-it does not rely on the unique nature of the infection (with its wide array of different life forms that appear to have the goal of not just running amok but its apparent lust to wipe out all other life forms) to carry the story forward, but the characters who give the tale its terrific depth.
The Killing Floor is a well-crafted follow up to The Infection and has me anxiously awaiting the third chapter in this saga.
We are introduced to two main new characters: Dr. Price, who is one of the only scientists that believes the infection is not manmade. He manages to escape the White House and is hidden in an underground bunker, but as the story unfolds is given the opportunity to go after Ray and perhaps find a vaccine or cure for infection. Rod, the other new character, is a soldier in the field working to clear out Washington D.C. of the infected when he and his men are assigned the task of bringing Ray in, dead or alive. Along with the remaining cast from the first book, we are given an impressive slew of characters whose stories intersect and come together for the exciting conclusion.
As the second book in what is likely a trilogy, the actual novelty of the infected are has worn off a bit, meaning we get to delve even deeper into the characters here and focus less on the different creatures that have come about with the advent of this plague. Even with some of the secondary characters there is plenty to sink your teeth into, as most of them do not come off as hollow cannon fodder, but real people. The author also does an excellent job of making the military aspects of this story believable without overdoing the jargon and technical areas of the story. The writing is crisp, sharp, and the story itself is intriguing-it does not rely on the unique nature of the infection (with its wide array of different life forms that appear to have the goal of not just running amok but its apparent lust to wipe out all other life forms) to carry the story forward, but the characters who give the tale its terrific depth.
The Killing Floor is a well-crafted follow up to The Infection and has me anxiously awaiting the third chapter in this saga.
May 4, 2012
In my review of “The Infection” I stated it was one of those rare novels that “happens to you” rather than you reading it. This sequel uses the same present tense non-flinching style and DiLouie’s onslaught on the reader’s senses and emotions continues in this equally excellent sequel.
One disturbing aspect of the first novel was the lack of any knowledge of the Infection’s origin. In the sequel, the world has learned a bit more of how it works, but there are endless mutations and still no cure. The twist that moves the plot forward this time around is the character of Ray Young, a survivor of a fight to save a refugee camp at the end of “The Infection” who awakes from a coma and slowly realizes he has changed in a horrific way.
Meanwhile, America’s military is waging a bloody civil war in hopes of replacing the President who is too eager to explore nuclear options. They also find out about Ray and send a unit to capture him alive to use as a guinea pig in looking for a cure to the Infection they name Wildfire.
These elements lead to a thrilling climax. The plot is well crafted, but as with the first novel, the real power of the novel comes from the characters, returning and new. DiLouie is an expert at shifting points of view in the present tense, a technique that places the reader in the eyes and other senses of the characters.
Another element of the first novel that continues here are the highly imaginative mutant monsters created by Wildfire. The Infected have their own original biology and threats—they are not just garden variety George Romero zombies—and these other non-human creatures provide a highly original version of a plague evolving out of control.
The only reason I felt slightly less impacted by the style this time was I knew what to expect. I highly recommend this novel and would not recommend starting here—you must read “The Infection” first to get the full impact of this harrowing saga of a horrifying yet believable apocalypse.
One disturbing aspect of the first novel was the lack of any knowledge of the Infection’s origin. In the sequel, the world has learned a bit more of how it works, but there are endless mutations and still no cure. The twist that moves the plot forward this time around is the character of Ray Young, a survivor of a fight to save a refugee camp at the end of “The Infection” who awakes from a coma and slowly realizes he has changed in a horrific way.
Meanwhile, America’s military is waging a bloody civil war in hopes of replacing the President who is too eager to explore nuclear options. They also find out about Ray and send a unit to capture him alive to use as a guinea pig in looking for a cure to the Infection they name Wildfire.
These elements lead to a thrilling climax. The plot is well crafted, but as with the first novel, the real power of the novel comes from the characters, returning and new. DiLouie is an expert at shifting points of view in the present tense, a technique that places the reader in the eyes and other senses of the characters.
Another element of the first novel that continues here are the highly imaginative mutant monsters created by Wildfire. The Infected have their own original biology and threats—they are not just garden variety George Romero zombies—and these other non-human creatures provide a highly original version of a plague evolving out of control.
The only reason I felt slightly less impacted by the style this time was I knew what to expect. I highly recommend this novel and would not recommend starting here—you must read “The Infection” first to get the full impact of this harrowing saga of a horrifying yet believable apocalypse.
May 25, 2012
October 2011, I was introduced to Craig DiLouie's The Infection and I greatly enjoyed the story of a group of survivors making their way to a government camp in an attempt to reclaim a portion of the world they knew and maybe even a bit of their humanity.
The Killing Floor picks up where The Infection left off. We following those who survived as they make decisions about how they will continue their lives. The tale switches from character to character as the story progresses. While this tends to not be a favorite style of writing for me to read I do get where it comes in handy, as this time many of the characters are not together. We are introduced to some new and interesting characters and DiLouie continues to impress this reader with his ability to develop characters that are believable and continually able to keep the reader on their toes with highly intense scenes in which his characters must react.
I do still stick by my dislike of mutations in my zombies, but, as I mentioned in my review of The Infection, I am aware that this is a matter of taste, so do not let my opinion on this factor sway your opinion. There is a unique quality to the author's mutated undead that does add an additional element of foreboding.
The Killing Floor, as I mentioned does focus on the characters and the dilemmas they must deal with in regards to themselves, those around them and a variety of other issues that continue to pop up. But this book, also, contains a lot of action and suspense. It seems like around every corner something was needing maimed or mutilated. DiLouie definitely uses his writing skills to create a vivid picture of the events happening.
Again, a definite thumbs up from this reviewer for The Killing Floor by Craig DiLouie.
The Killing Floor picks up where The Infection left off. We following those who survived as they make decisions about how they will continue their lives. The tale switches from character to character as the story progresses. While this tends to not be a favorite style of writing for me to read I do get where it comes in handy, as this time many of the characters are not together. We are introduced to some new and interesting characters and DiLouie continues to impress this reader with his ability to develop characters that are believable and continually able to keep the reader on their toes with highly intense scenes in which his characters must react.
I do still stick by my dislike of mutations in my zombies, but, as I mentioned in my review of The Infection, I am aware that this is a matter of taste, so do not let my opinion on this factor sway your opinion. There is a unique quality to the author's mutated undead that does add an additional element of foreboding.
The Killing Floor, as I mentioned does focus on the characters and the dilemmas they must deal with in regards to themselves, those around them and a variety of other issues that continue to pop up. But this book, also, contains a lot of action and suspense. It seems like around every corner something was needing maimed or mutilated. DiLouie definitely uses his writing skills to create a vivid picture of the events happening.
Again, a definite thumbs up from this reviewer for The Killing Floor by Craig DiLouie.
December 8, 2012
Slightly better than Infection. But still not very detailed as far as how and why the Apocalypse occurred. I was really hoping for more details, and there were some but just not enough to suit me. I thought it was fairly well written, and if you're a fan of this genre then you will probably like it, but I have never seemed able to develop an emotional connection with any of his characters. It might just be me, but it all comes off a little flat. I didn't mention this in my review of the first book but why did he put monsters in this book? I don't get it, especially if he is not going to explain why and how they are here. It seems like he says to himself, "Monster's are pretty awesome, I'm going to put them in my zombie book!" This and the previous book would have been much more believable if there were no monsters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2020
First book I've ever written a negative review. I honestly had really high hopes for this book with its apocalyptic themes. But I started it 8 months ago and am still fighting to finish it. Usually I could finish a book this size in 1-2 days easily. But injust found it so dry and boring and not at all original. Sometimes all the new perspectives get confusing. Some details aren't as deep where they should be and others were unnecessary. I can honestly say I'm not even sure I'll ever get to finishing this book.
July 19, 2012
Killing Floor starts right up where The Infection stopped. But there are also some new folks introduced so we go back in time a little too. I did find the beginning of the novel a bit slow and a bit hard to follow some of the military scenes. However once it finally got rolling I was really pleased with how the story developed. It does end with more story to tell so I do hope another book in the series comes out because I will definitely pick it up.
July 9, 2013
While I liked the first book, this one felt too rushed & like they just tried to wrap everything up because they got writer's block or got tired of trying to come up with a good ending & was on a deadline. I didn't like the conclusion at all.
March 6, 2013
Great book. I enjoyed every creepy bit of it. Seems like this is part 2 of a trilogy??
September 22, 2022
Great part two. Setting us up for the finale
December 30, 2012
Really enjoyed this, even better than 'The Infection'.
December 7, 2016
The sequel to the extremely impressive The Infection from military-horror writer Craig DiLouie is, on paper at least, more of the same of what made that original so engaging: There is infected people, and desperate attempts to survive, and a decent cast of characters, and monsters that go beyond the typical infected hosts trying to infect everyone else.
But The Killing Floor never elicits anything approaching the same sense of wonder as the first book did. Its action scenes are also more chaste, and never got this reader's heart pumping in the same fashion. Perhaps this is because the surviving characters from The Infection are dispersed into smaller groups, and the new characters which are introduced are just not as engaging. It might also be because the pace of this one is slower, with things only occasionally ramping up before the inevitable confluence of plot threads.
Whatever it is, The Killing Floor only manages to be a middling sequel to a fantastic original book. It ends with the possibility of another book in the series, so here's hoping that any such tale again elevates to the level of The Infection.
3 Carriers Going About Their Business for The Killing Floor.
But The Killing Floor never elicits anything approaching the same sense of wonder as the first book did. Its action scenes are also more chaste, and never got this reader's heart pumping in the same fashion. Perhaps this is because the surviving characters from The Infection are dispersed into smaller groups, and the new characters which are introduced are just not as engaging. It might also be because the pace of this one is slower, with things only occasionally ramping up before the inevitable confluence of plot threads.
Whatever it is, The Killing Floor only manages to be a middling sequel to a fantastic original book. It ends with the possibility of another book in the series, so here's hoping that any such tale again elevates to the level of The Infection.
3 Carriers Going About Their Business for The Killing Floor.
November 5, 2023
Most of the cliches and cringey dialogue are gone from the first book. This book is less “preachy” and instead asks you questions without hammering the author’s opinion into your skull.
Who is the REAL monster: Ray or Ann?
Eliminate the threat or hope for a cure?
Could you sacrifice an innocent life for self-preservation? Maybe because you believe you could help save the world?
Is one life more valuable than another and, if so, what criteria do you need to measure?
Ray is the antihero that this story needed. The first book was all about survival and it was a fun ride but it didn’t have much depth. This one is deeper and much more satisfying.
Also, it seems that Mr. DiLouie figured out a more authentic way of representing the military. No more “Don’t call me sir! I work for a living” and instead the book is filled with dialogue and situations that make me smile. As a Veteran, I fondly remember trading off items of my MRE in hopes of getting the ingredients needed to make the legendary “Ranger Pudding”. “Who has coffee? I’ll trade my enchiladas for it!” Just like in the book - nobody wants MRE enchiladas…
Who is the REAL monster: Ray or Ann?
Eliminate the threat or hope for a cure?
Could you sacrifice an innocent life for self-preservation? Maybe because you believe you could help save the world?
Is one life more valuable than another and, if so, what criteria do you need to measure?
Ray is the antihero that this story needed. The first book was all about survival and it was a fun ride but it didn’t have much depth. This one is deeper and much more satisfying.
Also, it seems that Mr. DiLouie figured out a more authentic way of representing the military. No more “Don’t call me sir! I work for a living” and instead the book is filled with dialogue and situations that make me smile. As a Veteran, I fondly remember trading off items of my MRE in hopes of getting the ingredients needed to make the legendary “Ranger Pudding”. “Who has coffee? I’ll trade my enchiladas for it!” Just like in the book - nobody wants MRE enchiladas…
May 5, 2023
Le tome 2 de infection est meilleur que le premier tome selon moi. (Bien-sûr ce n'est que mon propre avis)
Ici on distingue beaucoup mieux l'évolution des personnages du premier Livres, les quelques nouveaux personnages sont tout aussi génial que les précédent, toujours autant d'action, l'histoire et toujours aussi stressante que la première, on a le droit à une petite touche d'humour, et une bonne dose de drame.
Infection 2 a également réussi à me faire versé ma larme.
Bref si vous avais lu le Tome 1 et que vous n'avais pas plus aimer que sa essayer tout de même le 2eme qui et meilleurs !
Seul bémol ? Une fin qui nous laisse sur notre faim ! Je veux un tome 3 !
Ici on distingue beaucoup mieux l'évolution des personnages du premier Livres, les quelques nouveaux personnages sont tout aussi génial que les précédent, toujours autant d'action, l'histoire et toujours aussi stressante que la première, on a le droit à une petite touche d'humour, et une bonne dose de drame.
Infection 2 a également réussi à me faire versé ma larme.
Bref si vous avais lu le Tome 1 et que vous n'avais pas plus aimer que sa essayer tout de même le 2eme qui et meilleurs !
Seul bémol ? Une fin qui nous laisse sur notre faim ! Je veux un tome 3 !
January 1, 2026
ZOMBIES! Honestly, you can't go wrong with a good zombie book and this one delivers on all fronts. If you want to sit back and read something in a tried and tested genre crafted by a tried and tested author, then put yourself in Craig DiLouie's hands. I wouldn't call it fine literature, but that's not what it's pretending to be. It's much more like hopping on a rickety rollercoaster than strolling through an art gallery, but sometimes that's exactly what I'm looking for in a book!
I highly recommend it!
I highly recommend it!
September 10, 2018
How ever did I guess there would be room for a book three? The actions was in some ways too fast paced. But I guess in a post apocalyptic world with zombies and monsters turning, infecting, killing and eating the slim population that's left, every second would be a fight for life. Even to the end I was left to wonder how much of what Ray did was his personal dysfunction and how much was the infection.
February 11, 2021
This is another dystopian book post pandemic level earth infection threatens humanity. The point do view is rather one dimensional and there's a predictability in the action sequences. It's enjoyable.
September 18, 2022
A mediocre Zombie book. It has been a awhile since I have been in the genre. I picked this one up on a whim and will read through the entire series of 3. I will hold off final judgement until I have read the third book
September 27, 2024
Starts out much weaker than the first. Becomes hard to care for all these new characters, but by the time the last act rolled around, I'm once again reinvested and feelings of triumph and loss resonate
November 20, 2018
Du n'importe quoi mais ça se laisse lire. Il était intéressant de partager le point de vue d'un infecté. On sent qu'il manque quelque chose, laa fin laisse un goût d'inachevé.
December 6, 2018
3.5 stars!
This is definitely a solid zombie novel for those enjoy the genre but want something a little bit different.
This is definitely a solid zombie novel for those enjoy the genre but want something a little bit different.
April 15, 2019
Basic zombie book with some wierd mutation biz in it. Slow start but it builds to an acceptable pseudo ending
May 11, 2020
Amazing and heartbreaking.
February 14, 2024
Just as good as the first one!! ❤️
July 2, 2024
Lame. Won’t be finishing the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews