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Deadfall
"Kill them or convert them – either way we win."
A team of mercenaries race to an abandoned mining village to rescue two children held hostage by rogue ex-soldiers. But the kidnappers are a ruse, the real threat more terrifying than any of them could imagine.
Aided by a couple of unsuspecting eco-warriors, mercenary team leader Amber Redgrave must fight to survive against foes that don’t sleep and don’t feel pain.
Now as the body count rises, so do the stakes, and when the dead won’t stay dead, there’s going to be hell to pay.
A team of mercenaries race to an abandoned mining village to rescue two children held hostage by rogue ex-soldiers. But the kidnappers are a ruse, the real threat more terrifying than any of them could imagine.
Aided by a couple of unsuspecting eco-warriors, mercenary team leader Amber Redgrave must fight to survive against foes that don’t sleep and don’t feel pain.
Now as the body count rises, so do the stakes, and when the dead won’t stay dead, there’s going to be hell to pay.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2010
3 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Jeffrey
26 books182 followersShaun Jeffrey was brought up in a house in a cemetery, so it was only natural for his prose to stray towards the dark side when he started writing. He has had five novels published, The Kult, Killers, Evilution, Fangtooth and Deadfall, and one collection of short stories, Voyeurs of Death. He has also had over 40 short stories published in places such as Dark Discoveries and Cemetery Dance. His novel The Kult was optioned for film.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 2, 2010
Action, adventure, horror, mercenaries, and zombies. What more do you want?
October 31, 2013
A good, fast paced zombie book. Well written with decent plot and characters that leaves you wanting more. I can highly recommend this title.
Well done Mr Jeffrey you truly are Shaun of The Dead!
Well done Mr Jeffrey you truly are Shaun of The Dead!
May 15, 2010
Deadfall is the third book by Shaun Jeffrey that I've read, following the fun Evilution a good few years ago and one of my must reads of 2009, The Kult. Jeffrey now takes his pen to the zombie genre. From my experience, zombie novels can be as trite and plodding as their subject matter, or do something truly remarkable with their undead cast. Expectations are high.
Amber Redgrave is a mercenary (or security consultant as she prefers), and we meet her on one of her assignments: being a bodyguard for a rich, old lady, standing in for ex SAS and ex partner, John. Following an unexpected turn of events, Amber speaks to John about the assignment, and via an accidental phonecall, learns of a bigger mission. John is due to join a team of top flight mercenaries to recover a couple of children from a band of kidnappers. The team is a man short, so Amber volunteers her services.
And this is the first 22 pages!
Before you can say Land of the Dead sucks, we're following Amber and her team (involving old flame John and sexist arsehole Eddie among others) into a mining village in the middle of nowhere in the search for the missing children.
Already, this says something about the pace. The opening chapter is chock full of action, and literally the slight drop in pace to squeeze in the required set up is the only part without wall to wall action. Once Amber and her crew land at the village, the action never lets up. I mean NEVER, right until the last line. Even the subplot of two environmentalists quickly gets going. The couple infiltrate a laboratory in which they believe animal tests are being carried out. They stumble onto a lot more than spraying perfume in dogs' eyes! These two provide some of the most suspenseful moments of the book.
I don't play many video games, but this book reads like an amalgamation of several successful titles. The scenes with the 100% suited and booted commandos are Call of Duty, with bullets, grenades, rockets and mines flying. Then we have the more intimate Resident Evil scenes, taking out zombies with a handgun in farmhouses and mine tunnels. Finally (and my favourite parts of the book) we have early Metal Gear Solid action, with the environmentalists avoiding guards and security cameras, hiding in bathrooms, manholes, etc. As a reader, I was holding my breath with the characters as they go through several close calls!
The flaw with the book for me was the characterisation. Only the enviromentalists Lofty and Jill stood out as different. The mercenaries were all pretty much the same and were interchangeable, apart from the in your face attitude of Crazy Eddie. There was the opportunity of some real quirky characters to accompany Amber and John into the fray. The book did not spend enough time with the uncaring mastermind behind the zombie plague to really make the reader hate him. But then with a pace as blistering as Deadfall's would this gave slowed down the read?
Jeffrey does some interesting things with the zombies in the last few chapters and throws in a bit of technical jargon that sat right with me. It was both believable and interesting and a good touch. And also, let's get this out of the way, Jeffrey does NOT play it safe with the gore. Zombies are going to be messy, and this book doesn't disappoint. Jeffrey takes particular detail in the difference between a fresh zombie and a well fermented zombie! A scene in the minds with the oldest and most damaged of the dead was a stand out for me, both disgusting and bizarre. Good stuff!
In summary, while the deeper and more literary readers might turn up their noses, Deadfall has a lightning pace and zombies, zombies, zombies! Zombie fans will adore it. Horror and action fans will not be disappointed.
Amber Redgrave is a mercenary (or security consultant as she prefers), and we meet her on one of her assignments: being a bodyguard for a rich, old lady, standing in for ex SAS and ex partner, John. Following an unexpected turn of events, Amber speaks to John about the assignment, and via an accidental phonecall, learns of a bigger mission. John is due to join a team of top flight mercenaries to recover a couple of children from a band of kidnappers. The team is a man short, so Amber volunteers her services.
And this is the first 22 pages!
Before you can say Land of the Dead sucks, we're following Amber and her team (involving old flame John and sexist arsehole Eddie among others) into a mining village in the middle of nowhere in the search for the missing children.
Already, this says something about the pace. The opening chapter is chock full of action, and literally the slight drop in pace to squeeze in the required set up is the only part without wall to wall action. Once Amber and her crew land at the village, the action never lets up. I mean NEVER, right until the last line. Even the subplot of two environmentalists quickly gets going. The couple infiltrate a laboratory in which they believe animal tests are being carried out. They stumble onto a lot more than spraying perfume in dogs' eyes! These two provide some of the most suspenseful moments of the book.
I don't play many video games, but this book reads like an amalgamation of several successful titles. The scenes with the 100% suited and booted commandos are Call of Duty, with bullets, grenades, rockets and mines flying. Then we have the more intimate Resident Evil scenes, taking out zombies with a handgun in farmhouses and mine tunnels. Finally (and my favourite parts of the book) we have early Metal Gear Solid action, with the environmentalists avoiding guards and security cameras, hiding in bathrooms, manholes, etc. As a reader, I was holding my breath with the characters as they go through several close calls!
The flaw with the book for me was the characterisation. Only the enviromentalists Lofty and Jill stood out as different. The mercenaries were all pretty much the same and were interchangeable, apart from the in your face attitude of Crazy Eddie. There was the opportunity of some real quirky characters to accompany Amber and John into the fray. The book did not spend enough time with the uncaring mastermind behind the zombie plague to really make the reader hate him. But then with a pace as blistering as Deadfall's would this gave slowed down the read?
Jeffrey does some interesting things with the zombies in the last few chapters and throws in a bit of technical jargon that sat right with me. It was both believable and interesting and a good touch. And also, let's get this out of the way, Jeffrey does NOT play it safe with the gore. Zombies are going to be messy, and this book doesn't disappoint. Jeffrey takes particular detail in the difference between a fresh zombie and a well fermented zombie! A scene in the minds with the oldest and most damaged of the dead was a stand out for me, both disgusting and bizarre. Good stuff!
In summary, while the deeper and more literary readers might turn up their noses, Deadfall has a lightning pace and zombies, zombies, zombies! Zombie fans will adore it. Horror and action fans will not be disappointed.
June 2, 2012
Zombies, and lots of them. What's not to like, eh?
Amber Redgrave is a security consultant -- that's bodyguard to you and me -- who, after a disastrous assignment jumps at the opportunity of redeeming herself when a chance phone call offers her a place on a covert operation to rescue two child hostages. The plan is to helicopter into a remote wooded area where the hostages are being held in a disused mining village, release the children, and then get the hell out of there, all before sunrise. What ensues, however, is carnage in the form of reanimated corpses intent on only one thing: killing the mercenaries and eating their flesh.
Shaun Jeffrey has taken an oft-used plot of people trapped by overwhelming numbers of zombies and breathed life into it -– proving that life can reside in the undead. The "virus" that brings these zombies back from the grave is a refreshing alternative to the usual methods of contamination, and serves as a positive means to push the story along while providing an important subplot.
This novel is certainly not short of pace, as it zips along at breakneck speed with barely a chance to pause for breath between chapters. Amber is instantly likeable, and not just because she's a determined heroine who gives as good as she gets, but because we are allowed to see her vulnerable side in the form of failed relationships with her former lover and suicidal brother. Her constant battle for acceptance with Eddie, one of the mercenaries in the team, is what really pulls her character development along, and the way their relationship changes as the book hurtles towards its climax is a nice touch by the author.
But the characters in Deadfall are, unfortunately, one area where the novel could have done with a bit more fleshing out (and there's already plenty of flesh in this book, both zombie flesh being shredded by bullets and human flesh being torn and consumed by the ravenous undead). Apart from Amber and Eddie -- and perhaps Lofty and his girlfriend Jill in that subplot that proves vital to the novel -- the other characters dropped into this precarious situation of fending off those monsters that cannot die seem to have as little life in them as the zombies themselves. Do they live or die? Who cares, it all adds to the body count. Maybe that's harsh, and it's not intended to be so, because at the end of it all Deadfall races along at such a pace, and is filled with so much splatter and gunfire and mutilation and an incredible plot twist that comes straight out of left field to slap you in the face with more force than a decomposing hand, that frankly all I cared about was Amber and her fight with Eddie and the zombies.
When the dust settles and the gun smoke clears and all you're left with is the sweet stench of cordite and decaying flesh, you have to ask yourself what the ingredients are to make a good zombie novel become a great one. The answer is simple:
1. Gore.
2. An armory load of bullets and bombs.
3. A high body count.
Deadfall, by Shaun Jeffrey, ticks all these boxes and the result is one hell of a high octane, blood thirsty, seat-of-your-pants, wild ride.
Amber Redgrave is a security consultant -- that's bodyguard to you and me -- who, after a disastrous assignment jumps at the opportunity of redeeming herself when a chance phone call offers her a place on a covert operation to rescue two child hostages. The plan is to helicopter into a remote wooded area where the hostages are being held in a disused mining village, release the children, and then get the hell out of there, all before sunrise. What ensues, however, is carnage in the form of reanimated corpses intent on only one thing: killing the mercenaries and eating their flesh.
Shaun Jeffrey has taken an oft-used plot of people trapped by overwhelming numbers of zombies and breathed life into it -– proving that life can reside in the undead. The "virus" that brings these zombies back from the grave is a refreshing alternative to the usual methods of contamination, and serves as a positive means to push the story along while providing an important subplot.
This novel is certainly not short of pace, as it zips along at breakneck speed with barely a chance to pause for breath between chapters. Amber is instantly likeable, and not just because she's a determined heroine who gives as good as she gets, but because we are allowed to see her vulnerable side in the form of failed relationships with her former lover and suicidal brother. Her constant battle for acceptance with Eddie, one of the mercenaries in the team, is what really pulls her character development along, and the way their relationship changes as the book hurtles towards its climax is a nice touch by the author.
But the characters in Deadfall are, unfortunately, one area where the novel could have done with a bit more fleshing out (and there's already plenty of flesh in this book, both zombie flesh being shredded by bullets and human flesh being torn and consumed by the ravenous undead). Apart from Amber and Eddie -- and perhaps Lofty and his girlfriend Jill in that subplot that proves vital to the novel -- the other characters dropped into this precarious situation of fending off those monsters that cannot die seem to have as little life in them as the zombies themselves. Do they live or die? Who cares, it all adds to the body count. Maybe that's harsh, and it's not intended to be so, because at the end of it all Deadfall races along at such a pace, and is filled with so much splatter and gunfire and mutilation and an incredible plot twist that comes straight out of left field to slap you in the face with more force than a decomposing hand, that frankly all I cared about was Amber and her fight with Eddie and the zombies.
When the dust settles and the gun smoke clears and all you're left with is the sweet stench of cordite and decaying flesh, you have to ask yourself what the ingredients are to make a good zombie novel become a great one. The answer is simple:
1. Gore.
2. An armory load of bullets and bombs.
3. A high body count.
Deadfall, by Shaun Jeffrey, ticks all these boxes and the result is one hell of a high octane, blood thirsty, seat-of-your-pants, wild ride.
December 17, 2011
Full review on my blog: http://theaussiezombie.blogspot.com
This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve ever written. When I first started reading Deadfall I had to push myself to keep reading. I nearly abandoned it several times, but something kept drawing me back – Mr. Jeffrey’s writing skills. The first half of the book was action-packed but also a little bit too ‘military ops’ for my taste.
I liked the main character, Amber, from the beginning. Tough, relentless, no-holds-barred chick with a ‘tude – but for me Deadfall had a slow start, a little like treading water. I had a feeling the action was coming, but I was starting to get impatient. Amber’s interactions with her ‘partner’ Eddie screamed sexism but had me sniggering with their tit-for-tat encounters.
The zombies (and yes, I bought this book because it featured zombies!) took a little bit too long to arrive, and then just as background. But at the halfway mark Deadfall kicked up the action a full two stars. The zombies emerged from the darkness, Amber developed into an amazing character, and the seemingly secondary characters of Lofty and Jill occupied top billing.
As the story kicks into top gear, I was hooked – the characters develop their third dimensions, the writing becomes enthralling and spine-tingling, and the climax left me guessing, and cheering for Amber, Lofty and Eddie.
The added bonus of the alternative ending leaves Deadfall wide open for a sequel….is this another cliffhanger?
(Loved the alternative ending too!)
This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve ever written. When I first started reading Deadfall I had to push myself to keep reading. I nearly abandoned it several times, but something kept drawing me back – Mr. Jeffrey’s writing skills. The first half of the book was action-packed but also a little bit too ‘military ops’ for my taste.
I liked the main character, Amber, from the beginning. Tough, relentless, no-holds-barred chick with a ‘tude – but for me Deadfall had a slow start, a little like treading water. I had a feeling the action was coming, but I was starting to get impatient. Amber’s interactions with her ‘partner’ Eddie screamed sexism but had me sniggering with their tit-for-tat encounters.
The zombies (and yes, I bought this book because it featured zombies!) took a little bit too long to arrive, and then just as background. But at the halfway mark Deadfall kicked up the action a full two stars. The zombies emerged from the darkness, Amber developed into an amazing character, and the seemingly secondary characters of Lofty and Jill occupied top billing.
As the story kicks into top gear, I was hooked – the characters develop their third dimensions, the writing becomes enthralling and spine-tingling, and the climax left me guessing, and cheering for Amber, Lofty and Eddie.
The added bonus of the alternative ending leaves Deadfall wide open for a sequel….is this another cliffhanger?
(Loved the alternative ending too!)
June 11, 2011
Have you ever read a book that felt like you're in the middle of an action movie? If not, I've got some real sweet recommendations for you - books by Shaun Jeffery.
This one in particular is about zombies, yes zombies, and while not everyone might like them, or the horror genre in general, you'll be in for a real treat if this is just your thing. In case you're not really into dead people trying to eat those who are still alive, maybe the feisty heroine Amber and her team of mercenaries will persuade you to give it a try after all. Fast paced, full of action, and really well written, I honestly couldn't put the book down. His description of characters and settings literally made the book come to live while reading.
Last but not least I loved that the author added a different ending, the director's cut, so to say. Both are great, though I kinda prefer the one that made it.
In short: A gripping book that makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action - great movie potential and obviously a fantastic read!
This one in particular is about zombies, yes zombies, and while not everyone might like them, or the horror genre in general, you'll be in for a real treat if this is just your thing. In case you're not really into dead people trying to eat those who are still alive, maybe the feisty heroine Amber and her team of mercenaries will persuade you to give it a try after all. Fast paced, full of action, and really well written, I honestly couldn't put the book down. His description of characters and settings literally made the book come to live while reading.
Last but not least I loved that the author added a different ending, the director's cut, so to say. Both are great, though I kinda prefer the one that made it.
In short: A gripping book that makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the action - great movie potential and obviously a fantastic read!
May 24, 2010
"The usual principles of combat seemed useless when fighting an impervious enemy, an enemy that didn’t need sleep and that functioned on the compulsion to kill, and she knew if they were to get out alive she had to adapt." – Amber Redgrave
If someone had told weapons specialist and ex-military member Amber “Big Red” Redgrave that a security assignment gone bad resulting in two deaths was going to be the best part of her day, she’d probably have stayed in bed. Fortunately for readers of author Shaun Jeffrey’s newest book, Deadfall, she didn’t.
Following the ill-fated security assignment that starts Deadfall off with a bang, Amber returns to the office for debriefing by agency owner and ex-SAS man, John Richmond. Though a lucrative and time sensitive matter has arisen, given the morning’s events he doesn’t want Amber involved and insists that she take some time to decompress.
Amber, however, wants to get right back into things, so when she takes a call from the client indicating that they need an additional team member she talks herself onto the mission team… without Richmond’s knowledge. Understandably, he is not pleased to see Amber later that day at the mission rendezvous point. It being too late to replace her, he begrudgingly accepts her presence.
The eight man team is informed that their mission is to rescue the client’s two children, who have been kidnapped. Though the wealthy client is willing to pay the ransom, he’s not convinced the kidnappers will actually release the kids even if he does. Therefore, having learned that the kidnappers are hiding out in a remote, abandoned mining village he wants the team to go in and get the kids back before the 24 hour ransom deadline expires. A classic insertion and rescue mission, right?
Not quite. Instead of finding the kidnappers and missing kids in the village, they find it eerily quiet and seemingly quite empty. That is until hundreds of people start pouring out of the abandoned mine shaft and begin attacking the team. As they try to repel the assault they notice that the people are not slowing down, let alone dying, despite being shot… unless it’s a head shot. Impossible as it seems, the team quickly realizes that they aren’t dealing with living people, but with the undead. And we’re not talking Night of the Living Dead shuffling, slow moving zombies. No, these are the 28 Days Later chase you down speedy kind of zombies, and the resulting fight by the team to stay alive and get back to civilization is a white-knuckled ride with gore aplenty.
But there’s more going on in Deadfall than just a good zombie romp. In addition to having to deal with scores of the undead, there’s the question of exactly who their client really is and why they were set up, as well as the realization that not all the team members are who they seem to be. Further, Jeffrey has given a unique twist to the origin of the zombies in Deadfall, one that is both believable and allows for an ending that manages to simultaneously wrap things up and leave them open, in equally satisfying measures.
First with The Kult and now with Deadfall, Shaun Jeffrey is quickly establishing himself as the ‘go to’ guy for high-intensity action. Having already demonstrated that he can write both traditional crime fiction and horror with equal skill, I can’t wait to see what Jeffrey serves up next!
If someone had told weapons specialist and ex-military member Amber “Big Red” Redgrave that a security assignment gone bad resulting in two deaths was going to be the best part of her day, she’d probably have stayed in bed. Fortunately for readers of author Shaun Jeffrey’s newest book, Deadfall, she didn’t.
Following the ill-fated security assignment that starts Deadfall off with a bang, Amber returns to the office for debriefing by agency owner and ex-SAS man, John Richmond. Though a lucrative and time sensitive matter has arisen, given the morning’s events he doesn’t want Amber involved and insists that she take some time to decompress.
Amber, however, wants to get right back into things, so when she takes a call from the client indicating that they need an additional team member she talks herself onto the mission team… without Richmond’s knowledge. Understandably, he is not pleased to see Amber later that day at the mission rendezvous point. It being too late to replace her, he begrudgingly accepts her presence.
The eight man team is informed that their mission is to rescue the client’s two children, who have been kidnapped. Though the wealthy client is willing to pay the ransom, he’s not convinced the kidnappers will actually release the kids even if he does. Therefore, having learned that the kidnappers are hiding out in a remote, abandoned mining village he wants the team to go in and get the kids back before the 24 hour ransom deadline expires. A classic insertion and rescue mission, right?
Not quite. Instead of finding the kidnappers and missing kids in the village, they find it eerily quiet and seemingly quite empty. That is until hundreds of people start pouring out of the abandoned mine shaft and begin attacking the team. As they try to repel the assault they notice that the people are not slowing down, let alone dying, despite being shot… unless it’s a head shot. Impossible as it seems, the team quickly realizes that they aren’t dealing with living people, but with the undead. And we’re not talking Night of the Living Dead shuffling, slow moving zombies. No, these are the 28 Days Later chase you down speedy kind of zombies, and the resulting fight by the team to stay alive and get back to civilization is a white-knuckled ride with gore aplenty.
But there’s more going on in Deadfall than just a good zombie romp. In addition to having to deal with scores of the undead, there’s the question of exactly who their client really is and why they were set up, as well as the realization that not all the team members are who they seem to be. Further, Jeffrey has given a unique twist to the origin of the zombies in Deadfall, one that is both believable and allows for an ending that manages to simultaneously wrap things up and leave them open, in equally satisfying measures.
First with The Kult and now with Deadfall, Shaun Jeffrey is quickly establishing himself as the ‘go to’ guy for high-intensity action. Having already demonstrated that he can write both traditional crime fiction and horror with equal skill, I can’t wait to see what Jeffrey serves up next!
October 4, 2011
Wowzers.
Just from seeing the cover, I just knew this was a book for me. It just freaks me out. Yet I was still curious, bit like when you're watching a horror movie and you've got your hands in front of your eyes but you're still peeping between your fingers, that kind of feeling. So that's why I decided this book would be next in line after reading The Kult and acquiring all of Shaun's other Ebooks.
This is definitely one of those "can't put it down" books. I just had to know what was happening next.
The plot is extremely fast-paced. The whole story covers just over 24 hours, and is packed with action and suspense. There isn't a single "dead moment", and the reader gets drawn into the story right from the start. But what I thought made this book totally awesome, is how it was a totally different experience to watching zombie movies (zombie book virgin I was until I read this one). It's a complete experience for the reader. One that involves all the senses. Sight and hearing obviously. But also touch, taste, smell, through the cleverly written descriptions. The reader is a witness to the scenes, but also feels like the characters. Nothing is left to imagination, every single detail is included. Well apart from what actually rotting zombie flesh smells like, but still, I just guess it's pretty close to chicken that's gone off if not worse.
As usual, you can expect the unexpected twist when you expect it the least. And expect to not have any idea about the end. Because it won't end the way you're thinking it will. Or maybe it will, but that's after you've thought about every single exit scenario. Gosh Shaun's books totally mess up with your brain...
A smashing read. Loved it. Gore galore, a plot that is not actually that far-fetched for a zombie story, and manages to distance itself from the usual "experiment gone wrong" kind of story, and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Warning: not to be read at bedtime !
Just from seeing the cover, I just knew this was a book for me. It just freaks me out. Yet I was still curious, bit like when you're watching a horror movie and you've got your hands in front of your eyes but you're still peeping between your fingers, that kind of feeling. So that's why I decided this book would be next in line after reading The Kult and acquiring all of Shaun's other Ebooks.
This is definitely one of those "can't put it down" books. I just had to know what was happening next.
The plot is extremely fast-paced. The whole story covers just over 24 hours, and is packed with action and suspense. There isn't a single "dead moment", and the reader gets drawn into the story right from the start. But what I thought made this book totally awesome, is how it was a totally different experience to watching zombie movies (zombie book virgin I was until I read this one). It's a complete experience for the reader. One that involves all the senses. Sight and hearing obviously. But also touch, taste, smell, through the cleverly written descriptions. The reader is a witness to the scenes, but also feels like the characters. Nothing is left to imagination, every single detail is included. Well apart from what actually rotting zombie flesh smells like, but still, I just guess it's pretty close to chicken that's gone off if not worse.
As usual, you can expect the unexpected twist when you expect it the least. And expect to not have any idea about the end. Because it won't end the way you're thinking it will. Or maybe it will, but that's after you've thought about every single exit scenario. Gosh Shaun's books totally mess up with your brain...
A smashing read. Loved it. Gore galore, a plot that is not actually that far-fetched for a zombie story, and manages to distance itself from the usual "experiment gone wrong" kind of story, and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Warning: not to be read at bedtime !
August 31, 2010
Security consultant Amber Redgrave is having a bad day. Her latest client was killed on her watch, and she’s been told by her “boss”, John Richmond, that she should take a break from her job. This doesn’t set well with her, however, so when an emergency call comes in about the rescue mission Richmond is getting ready to go on, she talks herself up and onto the rescue team without his knowledge. Needless to say, once Richmond shows up at the meet-up point and realizes Redgrave is there, he is not happy, but it is too late to find anyone else at that point. The team is briefed on their mission, rescuing two children held hostage at an abandoned mining village, and then are on their way. Once at their destination, the team doesn’t find what they are expecting, however. Instead, all seems quiet… until the undead start coming out to attack!
Putting a fresh new spin on the zombie sub-genre, Shaun Jeffrey has created a new species of zombies. Jeffrey’s zombies don’t shamble about slowly and stiffly. They move fast and will hunt you down! And that’s not the ONLY thing special about these zombies, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Following up his previous release, The Kult, Jeffrey has managed to come up with yet another story that will leave readers flipping the pages frantically to see what will happen next. For both zombie fans and those who aren’t, this is a thriller novel that you don’t want to miss. Shaun Jeffrey is an author to be remembered in the horror industry as his novels keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult language, Violence, Mild Gore
Review by Rhonda Wilson
Putting a fresh new spin on the zombie sub-genre, Shaun Jeffrey has created a new species of zombies. Jeffrey’s zombies don’t shamble about slowly and stiffly. They move fast and will hunt you down! And that’s not the ONLY thing special about these zombies, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Following up his previous release, The Kult, Jeffrey has managed to come up with yet another story that will leave readers flipping the pages frantically to see what will happen next. For both zombie fans and those who aren’t, this is a thriller novel that you don’t want to miss. Shaun Jeffrey is an author to be remembered in the horror industry as his novels keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult language, Violence, Mild Gore
Review by Rhonda Wilson
May 1, 2011
What a story! I have wanted to find a good Zombie horror and I have to say that I have found it in Shaun Jeffrey's, "Deadfall." This story really threw me for a loop in a good way! There was action from the very first page and the entire ride had me on the edge of my seat. Usually I find it hard to imagine some of the creatures in the stories I read but not this one. Shaun Jeffrey's imaginative descriptions were so real it leaves you no choice but to be pulled unmercifully into his world.
The plot was well thought out and you find yourself cheering for some of the main characters while hoping the zombies win out over the others. The greatest part is the twist close to the end that you never see coming, you're so far off you simply can't believe it. With my copy there was an alternate ending which was pretty good, but I must say this to Mr. Jeffrey, Don't Change It! I loved the first ending the best! There are not many authors out there that take chances with their characters, chances of which could cause a reader to either love you or hate you. But you did that and I love you for it! I fully intend to read more!
The plot was well thought out and you find yourself cheering for some of the main characters while hoping the zombies win out over the others. The greatest part is the twist close to the end that you never see coming, you're so far off you simply can't believe it. With my copy there was an alternate ending which was pretty good, but I must say this to Mr. Jeffrey, Don't Change It! I loved the first ending the best! There are not many authors out there that take chances with their characters, chances of which could cause a reader to either love you or hate you. But you did that and I love you for it! I fully intend to read more!
February 25, 2014
There are no surprises to be found with Deadfall. It is not high art masquerading as generic zombie fiction. It is not a contemplative reflection on the transient state of the human condition, or even a thought-provoking examination of death and the related meaning of life. Instead, it is exactly what it purports to be: A fun, fast-paced action-horror that never thinks too highly of itself while aiming to always entertain.
Sure, the twists are telegraphed, the zombies never-ending, and the characters mostly just zombie-fodder. But Shaun Jeffrey runs such a tight ship, you just go with it, delighting in the next creative description of what bullets can do to a mobile, decomposing corpse while waiting for the next character to fall. The alternate ending was a nice touch, particularly as it and the original ending both seemed to occur very abruptly.
Recommended for those who like a bit of action mixed in with their zombie mayhem.
3.5 rounding up to 4 Through and Throughs for Deadfall.
Sure, the twists are telegraphed, the zombies never-ending, and the characters mostly just zombie-fodder. But Shaun Jeffrey runs such a tight ship, you just go with it, delighting in the next creative description of what bullets can do to a mobile, decomposing corpse while waiting for the next character to fall. The alternate ending was a nice touch, particularly as it and the original ending both seemed to occur very abruptly.
Recommended for those who like a bit of action mixed in with their zombie mayhem.
3.5 rounding up to 4 Through and Throughs for Deadfall.
September 8, 2010
Great British action horror in the tradition of Shaun Hutson, Guy N. Smith & Garry Charles. The characters are neatly and concisely sketched so that there is as little delay as possible in getting stuck into the action. The zombies keep on coming and keep on dying in a variety of satisfyingly visceral descriptions. You will keep turning those pages - or in my case, flipping along on the Kindle - until you reach an ending that is a great capstone on a monstrousity that you'll want to unearth again just to get that adrenalin going. Better than hard drugs.
May 27, 2010
I enjoyed Deadfall, as a fan both Zombie and Military stories this was a great combination. It held my interest throughout and if it wasn’t for work and general life I could have sat and read it straight through. I will never get tired of reading new and interesting ways authors describe their Zombies and with Deadfall, Shaun Jeffrey has put an original twist on the genre.
When the economy allows I plan on reading more of his work.
When the economy allows I plan on reading more of his work.
November 4, 2010
This is the first book I've read from this author and I look forward to reading more.
Spoiler:
I really liked his unique (it's really hard to be unique in the Zombie genre)take on what animates his zombies in this book and how they are controlled. This was a fast paced, very enjoyable read.
My only complaint is that while his lead female character is physically strong, she was rather weak in her relationships and attitude.
Spoiler:
I really liked his unique (it's really hard to be unique in the Zombie genre)take on what animates his zombies in this book and how they are controlled. This was a fast paced, very enjoyable read.
My only complaint is that while his lead female character is physically strong, she was rather weak in her relationships and attitude.
May 4, 2010
Fast-paced, special-ops, zombie-fest - really enjoyed it!
May 23, 2011
Excellent take on the zombie trend going on now. Really enjoyed it. Review to come at Rise Reviews this week.
August 13, 2011
Security consultant Amber Redgrave is having a bad day. Her latest client was killed on her watch, and she’s been told by her “boss”, John Richmond, that she should take a break from her job. This doesn’t set well with her, however, so when an emergency call comes in about the rescue mission Richmond is getting ready to go on, she talks herself up and onto the rescue team without his knowledge. Needless to say, once Richmond shows up at the meet-up point and realizes Redgrave is there, he is not happy, but it is too late to find anyone else at that point. The team is briefed on their mission, rescuing two children held hostage at an abandoned mining village, and then are on their way. Once at their destination, the team doesn’t find what they are expecting, however. Instead, all seems quiet… until the undead start coming out to attack!
Putting a fresh new spin on the zombie sub-genre, Shaun Jeffrey has created a new species of zombies. Jeffrey’s zombies don’t shamble about slowly and stiffly. They move fast and will hunt you down! And that’s not the ONLY thing special about these zombies, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Following up his previous release, The Kult, Jeffrey has managed to come up with yet another story that will leave readers flipping the pages frantically to see what will happen next. For both zombie fans and those who aren’t, this is a thriller novel that you don’t want to miss. Shaun Jeffrey is an author to be remembered in the horror industry as his novels keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult language, Violence, Mild Gore
Review also posted at www.monsterlibrarian.com
Putting a fresh new spin on the zombie sub-genre, Shaun Jeffrey has created a new species of zombies. Jeffrey’s zombies don’t shamble about slowly and stiffly. They move fast and will hunt you down! And that’s not the ONLY thing special about these zombies, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Following up his previous release, The Kult, Jeffrey has managed to come up with yet another story that will leave readers flipping the pages frantically to see what will happen next. For both zombie fans and those who aren’t, this is a thriller novel that you don’t want to miss. Shaun Jeffrey is an author to be remembered in the horror industry as his novels keep you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult language, Violence, Mild Gore
Review also posted at www.monsterlibrarian.com
February 6, 2017
A group of mercenaries are hired to rescue two children who are being held hostage in a mining village. The back cover reveals that this is pretty obviously not the whole story though, and soon the undead are causing a few problems. In a parallel storyline, two animal rights activists break into a laboratory to try to gather evidence on the testing that is supposedly going on.
The main story is fairly action packed and not badly written. Some of the characters are a bit stereotypical and a few of their actions are a bit unlikely, but on the whole it's not bad. I found the secondary storyline a bit tedious and only weakly linked to the main source of action. The secondary element does provide a bit of background and explain what has happened at the mine, but a lot of that could have been cut and few people would care. I also found that the story got increasingly daft as it progressed.
So, quite entertaining and at least it wasn't a carbon copy of every other zombie novel, but some of the story was a bit weak in my opinion.
The main story is fairly action packed and not badly written. Some of the characters are a bit stereotypical and a few of their actions are a bit unlikely, but on the whole it's not bad. I found the secondary storyline a bit tedious and only weakly linked to the main source of action. The secondary element does provide a bit of background and explain what has happened at the mine, but a lot of that could have been cut and few people would care. I also found that the story got increasingly daft as it progressed.
So, quite entertaining and at least it wasn't a carbon copy of every other zombie novel, but some of the story was a bit weak in my opinion.
January 2, 2023
Wow, what a disappointment!
I actually liked “The Kult” by this same author so was surprised to see how much I disliked this book… Especially because I’m a big fan of zombie stories!
It felt like this book was written by a six-year-old. There are so many pointless action scenes revolving around characters I don’t care for. 90% of the novel is just characters attacking zombies without giving the readers any reason to care about any of the characters. The story is also boring to follow.
The character “Eddie” is intolerable. He seems like a parody character and his gimmick was overdone way too much. Lofty or whatever the Hell his name was had a boring story arch which consumed way too many chapters.
Also, the author kept repeating the words “peer/peering/peered” every two pages and it got incredibly annoying.
One of the worst books I read. Booooo don’t do the genre so dirty like this!!!
I actually liked “The Kult” by this same author so was surprised to see how much I disliked this book… Especially because I’m a big fan of zombie stories!
It felt like this book was written by a six-year-old. There are so many pointless action scenes revolving around characters I don’t care for. 90% of the novel is just characters attacking zombies without giving the readers any reason to care about any of the characters. The story is also boring to follow.
The character “Eddie” is intolerable. He seems like a parody character and his gimmick was overdone way too much. Lofty or whatever the Hell his name was had a boring story arch which consumed way too many chapters.
Also, the author kept repeating the words “peer/peering/peered” every two pages and it got incredibly annoying.
One of the worst books I read. Booooo don’t do the genre so dirty like this!!!
November 3, 2014
This is the first book by Shaun Jeffrey that I've read and I was not disappointed. He combines good ol' fashioned zombie gore with modern technology and the constant drive by the military to find more and more inventive approaches to warfare. The story starts off innocuous enough with a group of mercenaries brought together for a simple rescue mission, yet things quickly take a turn for the worse as the mercenaries discover that all is not quite as it seems. Jeffrey has written a fast paced exciting story with good characters with some good twists and turns, some of which you see coming, some of which you don't. The finale of the story is superbly done and leaves the story, and the reader, on a knife edge.
June 9, 2010
Interesting and at times riveting read. This is not my normal genre of reading, and that being said, I liked it. The characters are part of what make the story, especially Amber's, as she is the main character. The second storyline going on didn't seem to relate much at first, but added to the overall plot, especially towards the end. Not the happiest book in the world, but when you are dealing with zombies, who really expects it?
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads giveaway.
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads giveaway.
August 2, 2011
This was my first ever zombie book. Amber Redgrave and a small group of mercenaries are sent on a mission to save a pair of kidnapped children, but children is not what they find when they reach their location.
At first I found the story to be pretty predictable. It is, after all, a zombie zombie story. You have the standard "Well, he is going to die." However, the end still surprised me. This book was a nice and easy read, perfect for the summer. No need to think, just have fun. Don't read it if you're looking for something more... heavy and deep.
At first I found the story to be pretty predictable. It is, after all, a zombie zombie story. You have the standard "Well, he is going to die." However, the end still surprised me. This book was a nice and easy read, perfect for the summer. No need to think, just have fun. Don't read it if you're looking for something more... heavy and deep.
April 19, 2011
I love zombie stories and the concept of creating a zombie army made for an interesting story. I can really see it as a zombie movie and/or video game. The only thing that slowed down my reading was translating some of the British English into American English.
August 16, 2013
I didn't like it and given the good reviews here it was a huge disappointment. The author's writing style is repetitive ("did i just read this couple pages earlier?") and therefore quite numbing. Also this book offers nothing new to the vast array of zombie books.
November 28, 2010
Nice pace and action packed. Would've got an extra star had I not read THE KULT first.
March 25, 2014
Really liked Amber (Big Red) and the eco-terrorists who weren't too terrifying after all.
December 16, 2014
I liked it. Wasn't great, didn't suck. Few characters had much development past a few lines. Still not sure who a few of them were, other than zombie fodder.
May 21, 2019
It's okay. First half is boring and some of the characters are bland. I liked the end though.
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