Dead River

by Brian J. Smith

THE DEAD HAVE RISEN!

Colin McCoy coasts through southeastern Ohio on his pontoon boat named ALICIA to avoid the walking dead. He’s not just looking for a way out of a danger zone but he’s carrying a tremendous weight on his shoulders that he could never shake off. To pay the price for his guilt, he will remain a shadow of his former self.
When he bumps into a teenage girl named Stacey, her little brother Jason and her baby sister Rosie in an abandoned restaurant, they ask him for safe passage out of Ohio and into a safe zone inside the heart of Texas. After he is left stranded, he must lead the stranded kids along with a local cop, a cook and a gangster’s girlfriend across a dead and empty city where the stakes have never been higher.


"Dead River is red meat for zombie enthusiasts. The cruel realities of an apocalyptic future test Collin McCoy's resourcefulness, sanity, and his sense of decency. It's hard to be a good guy in a world full of rot."
-Donna J. W. Munro, author of the Poppet Cycle Series.


"A frightening, gory, and full speed ahead zombie novel. This book doesn't give you a chance to rest as the dangers are around every corner. Each page feels like it could be the last for the characters as the threats lob in from the living and the undead alike. A blood soaked, rampaging, and non-stop thrill ride that will leave you breathless."

Dave from Horror Reads

"Brian J. Smith fully immerses the reader in the zombie apocalypse with his latest novel, Dead River. Every gritty detail is laid out in this dog-eat-dog universe. Fear, gore, and constant threats from the living and the dead keep Collin McCoy on his toes (and sometimes on his a--). With real people fighting to survive, Smith holds nothing back to keep the stakes high and the tension palpable. Be ready to get slapped in the face by the sights, sounds (and smells) woven into Smith’s graphic narrative in Dead River."
Dacia Arnold, author of Sunday School Crossing




Can he brush away the guilt that eats away at him and save these people or will they become another victim of his past?

418 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2023

About the author

Brian J. Smith has been featured in numerous anthologies, e-zines, and magazines in both the mystery and horror genres. His novellas Dark Avenues (the novella featured in the short story collection of the same name) The Tuckers, and Three O’Clock are still available on Amazon for Kindle. He lives in southeastern Ohio where he eats more than enough spicy food that no human being should ever consume, already has too many books and buys more and doesn’t drink enough coffee to suit his palate and cheers on The Ohio State Buckeyes.
His book, Dark Avenues, is available on Amazon for both Kindle and paperback this December.

Reviews

[DA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hordes of zombies, a story of redemption, survival and betrayal, Dead River will enthrall you and take your breath away. The characters leap off the pages and steal your heart. A motley group of survivors band together to reach safety, but all is not what it seems. You'll get no reprieve from the fight for survival of the characters, it's a pure adrenaline rush that will cause white knuckled tension throughout your body. I kept hoping the author would give the characters a break, but it was full throttle action. The author did a stellar job of bringing me into the story, from the atrocious smells, terrifying sounds and the oppressive heat. 

I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Colin's past, it made me more empathetic to his struggle to do what's right. 

A definite must read for fans of zombie books. 

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am new to Brian J. Smith and am happy with my first read of his. Dead River takes place in Ohio, (my home state!) and follows Colin as he sails through the river on his pontoon to keep away from the dead. He meets some wild characters along the way who are also needing help and he assists them while all along fighting to stay alive.
Colin has an internal struggle with a secret and is dealing with guilt.

The way Smith describes the settings are so great that you can almost smell them. And I hope I never have to! I can’t imagine actually being in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and Smith has done a wonderful job of making me feel like I was actually in one.

[H. Everend · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Brian Smith - and it did not disappoint. It deals with the undead and the means to survive. We go on this survival journey with Colin, who is harboring a secret that causes him to feel immense guilt over. Tie that in with dodging the undead and the living that are out to kill him (or take his supplies - whichever). It's quite the journey as Smith does an impeccable job with utilizing the five senses to the max - it will feel like you're right there with Colin and the crew of people he meets up with as they make their way to their destination...but can they do it alive? Trust me - this is one zombie novel you do not want to miss out!

[Dacia Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian J. Smith fully immerses the reader in the zombie apocalypse with his latest novel, Dead River. Every gritty detail is laid out in this dog-eat-dog universe. Fear, gore, and constant threats from the living and the dead keep Collin McCoy on his toes (and sometimes on his a--). With real people fighting to survive, Smith holds nothing back to keep the stakes high and the tension palpable.

Be ready to get slapped in the face by the sights, sounds (and smells) woven into Smith’s graphic narrative in Dead River.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun zombie romp that doesn't quite do everything it needs to to hit the notes of a spectacular book, but is still a solid, by the numbers zombie story. Not enough river for it to have this title, though.