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White Flag of the Dead #5
Dead Surge
White Flag Of The Dead Book 5 It's been seven years since the Upheaval. Seven years of fighting the hordes of the undead. John Talon and his family are hoping to finally settle down and start their lives over again. But in the grasslands of Iowa, a new danger has emerged. A new form of the Enillo Virus, unlike any seen before, threatens to unravel the fragile new country. John, Charlie, Duncan, and Tommy will find their skills put to the test as they face off against the worst of the virus.
222 pages, Paperback
Published June 10, 2012
53 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 12, 2023
Didn't really like this one but still cgoing to finish the series. Hopefully picks up
February 25, 2017
While still an enjoyable read, Dead Surge is easily the weakest of this series so far.
After the events of the last novel, I had high hopes that for this one we would start to see America rebuild itself and the efforts of John as President to get rid of the zombies. However, instead we get a 5-year jump and John, now an ex-president, has been called in to help with a new crisis.
While I admit part of my disappointment is from high expectations, I am also confident to say that this book just felt weaker than the others. The story is a little thin, lacking the pacing that I normally expect with these novels, as well as the structure. John and co just go from incident to incident, never really making much progress to advance the overarching plot.
Then the book just ends. I would say it is a cliffhanger ending, but it felt more like the book just stopped. I was genuinely surprised that it was the end of the book and if I didn't already have the next book waiting I would be quite frustrated.
It's a shame as up to now this has been a solid 4-star series. I only hope the next book picks up the pace a little and gets back into the swing of things.
After the events of the last novel, I had high hopes that for this one we would start to see America rebuild itself and the efforts of John as President to get rid of the zombies. However, instead we get a 5-year jump and John, now an ex-president, has been called in to help with a new crisis.
While I admit part of my disappointment is from high expectations, I am also confident to say that this book just felt weaker than the others. The story is a little thin, lacking the pacing that I normally expect with these novels, as well as the structure. John and co just go from incident to incident, never really making much progress to advance the overarching plot.
Then the book just ends. I would say it is a cliffhanger ending, but it felt more like the book just stopped. I was genuinely surprised that it was the end of the book and if I didn't already have the next book waiting I would be quite frustrated.
It's a shame as up to now this has been a solid 4-star series. I only hope the next book picks up the pace a little and gets back into the swing of things.
November 4, 2012
Just finished the series that I read one after another, last book only four star not five but it left me want book 6!!! Excellent Zombie series, I'm a fan!!!
4 stars - great book but it lacked something, something, can't put my finger on it but.... something
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!!!
4 stars - great book but it lacked something, something, can't put my finger on it but.... something
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!!!
June 16, 2022
While John Talon's hubris becomes increasingly irritating, the supporting cast is likeable and easy to root for. The zombie virus immunity twist is a nice touch, too. Throughout the series, the author has shown his improved creativity in worldbuilding.
December 18, 2022
I should have made the review sooner, but from what I can remember, it was more of the same. decent story telling, but nothing ground breaking. If you've heard the previous titles, you'll know what is like.
May 31, 2022
take note authors, don’t write main characters like this.
First of all let me say I am giving this three stars not because of the story which is well done and interesting but because of the MC and his crew. Why would you enter a hideout for the night and leave your weapons in the car? Why would you stop a Z incursion and give your weapons to your wife? If the author had beta readers when he wrote this the beta readers should’ve been shaking their heads and telling him no that’s not the way. I understand that something‘s are done in a book for dramatic license but bonehead decisions just make the main character and his people seem stupid. I wonder why they’re still alive? For you authors who may look at this review don’t make these mistakes. Still a good story.
First of all let me say I am giving this three stars not because of the story which is well done and interesting but because of the MC and his crew. Why would you enter a hideout for the night and leave your weapons in the car? Why would you stop a Z incursion and give your weapons to your wife? If the author had beta readers when he wrote this the beta readers should’ve been shaking their heads and telling him no that’s not the way. I understand that something‘s are done in a book for dramatic license but bonehead decisions just make the main character and his people seem stupid. I wonder why they’re still alive? For you authors who may look at this review don’t make these mistakes. Still a good story.
March 8, 2024
Weakest book of the series
I enjoy this series but this is definitely the weakest of the series, most of the book is descriptions of which roads the characters are taking or at least that's how it feels not to mention it seems stupid that none of the main characters realised the zombies *spoiler* were travelling via a railroad since they've used railroads themselves, if this was a TV show this book would feel like 2 mainly unnecessary filler episodes, to be honest I was bored long before the end of it and it doesn't help if you've not read the zombie wars series that's set in between this and the last book, poor
I enjoy this series but this is definitely the weakest of the series, most of the book is descriptions of which roads the characters are taking or at least that's how it feels not to mention it seems stupid that none of the main characters realised the zombies *spoiler* were travelling via a railroad since they've used railroads themselves, if this was a TV show this book would feel like 2 mainly unnecessary filler episodes, to be honest I was bored long before the end of it and it doesn't help if you've not read the zombie wars series that's set in between this and the last book, poor
April 17, 2022
Amazing as always. I love this series. I feel a little disappointed missing all the big wars and John as president. The kid zombies have always terrified me, I love that the virus is changing and they are the main threat now!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2020
Well worth reading
I really am enjoying this series! I am so attached to the characters. This is a series i know i will read again!
I really am enjoying this series! I am so attached to the characters. This is a series i know i will read again!
June 27, 2020
Wowsie!
This one freaked me out! The little zombies are enough to make you hide under the covers! I am scared for our survivors especially Charlie!
This one freaked me out! The little zombies are enough to make you hide under the covers! I am scared for our survivors especially Charlie!
May 24, 2021
Good book in the series...
September 24, 2023
Predictable and lame Lazarus twist.
April 20, 2024
Not let me down again these books are just amazing!
September 30, 2022
Update: Zombie Wars (#7-#9) fills in the missing gaps between 4 & 5, looks like this book is the last one of the series.
Not bad. I went with the Goodreads book order but could tell there was a gap for the Zombie Wars so I’ll try & remember to come back & edit my review on if you should go straight to #7 & treat it like a 4.5 before getting to this one or if it’s a mix of before + current.
Not bad. I went with the Goodreads book order but could tell there was a gap for the Zombie Wars so I’ll try & remember to come back & edit my review on if you should go straight to #7 & treat it like a 4.5 before getting to this one or if it’s a mix of before + current.
August 30, 2019
This book is very great.
September 10, 2013
More of the same... An apparently invincible protagonist and pals chopping, blasting, and smashing tons of zombies... This should have been a trilogy, not six separate books. None of the odd numbered books in the series actually ended. They all felt like they were just cut off at the end of a chapter.
I felt that this was the weakest of the three stories. People have been steadily rebuilding civilization for the past 6 years, only to be faced with a new outbreak of more intelligent, faster moving zombies. This zombie evolution had been hinted at all the way from the first book, so I didn't feel like the foe was a surprise or anything, but bringing John Talon and Company out of retirement for 'one last job' was a totally cliche plot device. But as the group headed off to find out the cause of the new outbreak they made stupid mistake after stupid mistake. Given that the hordes of little zombies had already easily wiped out three contingents of 11 seasoned veterans it was nothing short of a miracle that Talon & Co. survived even their first encounter. It took them forever to figure out what was going on, and even after they did get a good idea why they didn't hightail it out of there to find a way to communicate back to the capitol is beyond me. A dumber protagonist and smarter antagonist doesn't seem to be a good move, but somehow Talon & Co survive.
Anyway, I'm not sure I'm going to spend $5 on the final book. I wouldn't have read this one if I hadn't received it as a birthday gift. $5 for a digital copy seems very excessive when it can't even be proofread by an editor. As with the other books the typos, grammatical errors, and mistakes are horrible. It's like the book was run through a spell check and that's it. Even MS Word's grammar check would have caught most of the issues. If this ever comes down to $2 or less I'll pick it up just to say I finished the series, but it's not worth my money to pay anything more than that. In fact I wish I hadn't wasted money on anything more than the first two books. Oh well...
I felt that this was the weakest of the three stories. People have been steadily rebuilding civilization for the past 6 years, only to be faced with a new outbreak of more intelligent, faster moving zombies. This zombie evolution had been hinted at all the way from the first book, so I didn't feel like the foe was a surprise or anything, but bringing John Talon and Company out of retirement for 'one last job' was a totally cliche plot device. But as the group headed off to find out the cause of the new outbreak they made stupid mistake after stupid mistake. Given that the hordes of little zombies had already easily wiped out three contingents of 11 seasoned veterans it was nothing short of a miracle that Talon & Co. survived even their first encounter. It took them forever to figure out what was going on, and even after they did get a good idea why they didn't hightail it out of there to find a way to communicate back to the capitol is beyond me. A dumber protagonist and smarter antagonist doesn't seem to be a good move, but somehow Talon & Co survive.
Anyway, I'm not sure I'm going to spend $5 on the final book. I wouldn't have read this one if I hadn't received it as a birthday gift. $5 for a digital copy seems very excessive when it can't even be proofread by an editor. As with the other books the typos, grammatical errors, and mistakes are horrible. It's like the book was run through a spell check and that's it. Even MS Word's grammar check would have caught most of the issues. If this ever comes down to $2 or less I'll pick it up just to say I finished the series, but it's not worth my money to pay anything more than that. In fact I wish I hadn't wasted money on anything more than the first two books. Oh well...
May 22, 2015
In the fifth book of the series time has moved on seven years but, to be honest, very little else has.
What occurred in those seven years gets mentioned during this one, and actually sounds like it would have made a decent book in itself, not least just how our some self-centred, and increasingly arrogant hero John Tallen, would have coped as president. (Probably by killing everyone).
Anyway, it's back to the style of the previous books, as a crisis arises that only John can deal with, so off he goes with his regular crew, although oddly they actually take their wives with them this time, just leaving all their kids behind.
This time we're chasing a bunch of super zombies, who just happen to be "Little" kids, although apparently "little" can mean right up to teenagers, and we know what John thinks about teenagers, so that's not going to end well.
Not that it ends at all, as the plot carries over to the sixth book, with no ending in this one, and presumably no start in book six, making me wonder if, as with the previous two, these are basically one one long novel chopped up.
If you've read the previous books then you know what to expect. Trouble arises, John goes off, gets there just in time to save everyone / kill zombies for a chapter or two. Then they sit around planning what to do until another crisis turns up and they can go off again.
Actually there's somewhat more of an overall story arc in this one that previous, and as before the fighting scenes are really well done, just as soon as the author gets over describing in detail what guns everyone has.
Characters, other than the leads, come and go, but you won't care about them, as none stick around too long. In fact, other than John and his crew, no one stays around, which might say something about John's attitude to people, who he seems to like only slightly better than zombies.
Oh well, onto the next book.
What occurred in those seven years gets mentioned during this one, and actually sounds like it would have made a decent book in itself, not least just how our some self-centred, and increasingly arrogant hero John Tallen, would have coped as president. (Probably by killing everyone).
Anyway, it's back to the style of the previous books, as a crisis arises that only John can deal with, so off he goes with his regular crew, although oddly they actually take their wives with them this time, just leaving all their kids behind.
This time we're chasing a bunch of super zombies, who just happen to be "Little" kids, although apparently "little" can mean right up to teenagers, and we know what John thinks about teenagers, so that's not going to end well.
Not that it ends at all, as the plot carries over to the sixth book, with no ending in this one, and presumably no start in book six, making me wonder if, as with the previous two, these are basically one one long novel chopped up.
If you've read the previous books then you know what to expect. Trouble arises, John goes off, gets there just in time to save everyone / kill zombies for a chapter or two. Then they sit around planning what to do until another crisis turns up and they can go off again.
Actually there's somewhat more of an overall story arc in this one that previous, and as before the fighting scenes are really well done, just as soon as the author gets over describing in detail what guns everyone has.
Characters, other than the leads, come and go, but you won't care about them, as none stick around too long. In fact, other than John and his crew, no one stays around, which might say something about John's attitude to people, who he seems to like only slightly better than zombies.
Oh well, onto the next book.
April 10, 2017
So, the 'White Flag of the Dead' series was a series I stumbled upon when I first got my Kindle years and years ago. I have read a number of zombie books, but the White Flag of the Dead series was the only one that held my interest. I finished the "first part", I guess, of the series a while back, so I was a bit rusty when I picked up this one.
We find our heroes settled into a comfortable routine, six years or so after the events of the last book, and civilization is slowly on the rebound after the Upheaval (read: global zombie outbreak). Of course, for our plucky crew of zombie killers, peace was too good to last, and they are called upon to investigate why towns are going dark.
While this book is good, I think the series might be starting to lose steam for me. I think that the main character group might have crossed the line into a bit too good at fighting zombies at this point, especially with the reveal of . A lot the suspense is gone and I never really believed that the characters were in danger, which takes the wind out of the sail when the stakes are supposed to keep getting higher.
All told, I did like the book (it's a short, quick read), but I don't know if I am going to continue the series.
We find our heroes settled into a comfortable routine, six years or so after the events of the last book, and civilization is slowly on the rebound after the Upheaval (read: global zombie outbreak). Of course, for our plucky crew of zombie killers, peace was too good to last, and they are called upon to investigate why towns are going dark.
While this book is good, I think the series might be starting to lose steam for me. I think that the main character group might have crossed the line into a bit too good at fighting zombies at this point, especially with the reveal of . A lot the suspense is gone and I never really believed that the characters were in danger, which takes the wind out of the sail when the stakes are supposed to keep getting higher.
All told, I did like the book (it's a short, quick read), but I don't know if I am going to continue the series.
January 4, 2015
I gave this a four, but it could've been a three. I found the whole plot very weak, and I have no idea why I need to know whenever the characters have sex. However, this book managed to creep me out. The tension never left me. I have to admit that I had called the railways a long time ago and it bothered me a lot that they took so long to figure that out. All that said, it was a solid book. Its flaws are there and very clear, yes, but no book is perfect and I'll gladly keep following the series.
June 28, 2014
This is Book 5 in the series. As a whole the series is ok, not a great Zombie series as it is full of contradictions and brings thing's up that are never answered. It also misrepresents many facts. I don't know if this is due to the Author's not knowing them, or he just want's to write his version of things. I might look for book #6, just to see if he clear's up somethings... or I might skip as a waste of time.
July 15, 2016
After years of fighting the zombies and coping with the virus, John Talon and crew are hoping it's time for a break and a well deserved rest. Not. Instead of a rest the virus evolves again and produces a new strain of zombies, quicker and possibly more dangerous than the previous batch. Once again Talon's community of survivors must make plans to defeat this new threat while trying tomake the best of a terrible situation.
May 24, 2012
I love this series of books and look forward to the sixth one to come out. John Talon the main character takes you for a ride from book one till the end of book 5. Joseph Talluto's interaction with the characters and story make you feel so involved. I read this series all in one week and cant wait for the next. Does anyone know when Book 6 comes out?
July 22, 2012
It was good. What I expect from this series. Not strong on character development ans was not sure on the sudden development of possibe immunity?!?!?
But it was good enough that'll read the next one.
But it was good enough that'll read the next one.
May 12, 2015
Our hero is getting older...his family is very much on his mind. I can feel it winding down with this book. Kept asking myself if I had skipped a book throughout this journey. Somehow we missed out on 6 years of zombie wars. What the what??
August 10, 2012
Another excellent addition to the series - can't wait for book six to see what happens now that they have crossed the river.
February 21, 2013
John talon is no longer president but the president of the USA has asked him to Investigate an outbreak in Iowa it's a race against time all action zombie horror! You'll love it!
March 1, 2013
loved it!!
January 26, 2020
More of the same. If you've read the others you know what to expect here.
Read
June 17, 2014yea
September 6, 2016
This one was a good read - it looks like the series is picking up speeds for sure! Am reading the next one all ready.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews