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Undead on Arrival: A Zombie Apocalypse Thriller
Detective Winston Green has three murders to solve.
One of them is his own.
Thirty years after the zombie apocalypse, the last of humanity leads a life of quiet desperation behind the walls of New London. When two missing university students are found dead in an abandoned field, it could be a chance for Winston to finally make his name as a detective.
But when a stray zombie at the crime scene bites Winston on the hand, he must race to find out who did this—and why—before the parasites in his blood turn him into just another monster.
One of them is his own.
Thirty years after the zombie apocalypse, the last of humanity leads a life of quiet desperation behind the walls of New London. When two missing university students are found dead in an abandoned field, it could be a chance for Winston to finally make his name as a detective.
But when a stray zombie at the crime scene bites Winston on the hand, he must race to find out who did this—and why—before the parasites in his blood turn him into just another monster.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 23, 2024
I’ve read a lot of zombie fiction, graphic novels, seen plenty of zombie movies and TV shows… but this was the first zombie ANYTHING that made me want to bite someone.
I’m dieting… it’s probably just the calorie deficit, right?
I loved the book. Police procedural, zombies, something of a gritty noir feel. Fast paced — I’ve been distracted by life lately and have been slow to finish books but I went through this one in two days. Definitely a “staying up too late because you want to keep going” story!
I’m dieting… it’s probably just the calorie deficit, right?
I loved the book. Police procedural, zombies, something of a gritty noir feel. Fast paced — I’ve been distracted by life lately and have been slow to finish books but I went through this one in two days. Definitely a “staying up too late because you want to keep going” story!
April 26, 2024
Full disclosure: I am a friend of the author and critiqued an earlier version of this book. I then read the current version and wrote this review. This is a story about a policeman who wishes he was more brutal. He sees the merciless gestapo of his post-apocalyptic city state and thinks "if I only was cool enough to join the Blood Guard." Then he gets bitten by a zombie. This book is about the trade-off between justice and mercy. I wish it dug deeper, but it gets us far enough.
November 6, 2025
An unusual read. Undead on Arrival is the clever and twisting tale of a disillusioned police detective in New London, thirty years after the zombie virus devastated the country. With most of the population left dead or infected, the survivors eke out a miserable existence within the city walls. Crime is rife, and fear of the Infected stalks society.
Winston Green is the protagonist, and I was impressed by the author’s choice of name. I imagine Winston is a nod to Winston Smith, the antihero from George Orwell’s 1984. I even wondered if Green was a reference to the 1973 dystopian police procedure film Soylent Green. Either way, his name is a reflection on wars past and future and gives the reader a sense of the despair in his soul.
The book’s premise is that Winston Green has three murders to solve. One of them being his own. It’s a clever hook, one that promises and delivers an intense and twisting story as Winston dives deep into the underbelly of New London. Life and death walk side by side along its grimy, dark streets, and Winston no longer knows who to trust.
The ending took me by surprise. Was it the ending I wanted? Perhaps not, but it was more realistic for that. For readers who enjoy a gritty and sophisticated take on the overdone zombie trope, this book is an intense standalone that ticks all the right boxes.
Winston Green is the protagonist, and I was impressed by the author’s choice of name. I imagine Winston is a nod to Winston Smith, the antihero from George Orwell’s 1984. I even wondered if Green was a reference to the 1973 dystopian police procedure film Soylent Green. Either way, his name is a reflection on wars past and future and gives the reader a sense of the despair in his soul.
The book’s premise is that Winston Green has three murders to solve. One of them being his own. It’s a clever hook, one that promises and delivers an intense and twisting story as Winston dives deep into the underbelly of New London. Life and death walk side by side along its grimy, dark streets, and Winston no longer knows who to trust.
The ending took me by surprise. Was it the ending I wanted? Perhaps not, but it was more realistic for that. For readers who enjoy a gritty and sophisticated take on the overdone zombie trope, this book is an intense standalone that ticks all the right boxes.
February 29, 2024
Review: Undead On Arrival, by Trilby Black
I can easily give this book a five-star rating, because I do not like zombie books. I sort of accidentally ended up as an ARC reader, but the story and the characters grabbed me from the very beginning. Good writing pulls you into another world, making you feel what it’s like to live in that place, in that time. Black does this with masterful ease. She also makes the main character, though he is a self-professed “arsehole,” someone who you want to root for. At times you want to hate him, and yet you still care about him. You want him to turn around, to make it. I found myself thinking about it during the day, wanting to go back to see what happened next, and it’s been a while since I felt like that about a book. Black’s writing is very smooth, enough so that you forget that you’re sitting and drinking a cup of tea while zombies are chowing down on a corpse. If she can make me give her five stars, the zombie lovers out there will give her ten.
I can easily give this book a five-star rating, because I do not like zombie books. I sort of accidentally ended up as an ARC reader, but the story and the characters grabbed me from the very beginning. Good writing pulls you into another world, making you feel what it’s like to live in that place, in that time. Black does this with masterful ease. She also makes the main character, though he is a self-professed “arsehole,” someone who you want to root for. At times you want to hate him, and yet you still care about him. You want him to turn around, to make it. I found myself thinking about it during the day, wanting to go back to see what happened next, and it’s been a while since I felt like that about a book. Black’s writing is very smooth, enough so that you forget that you’re sitting and drinking a cup of tea while zombies are chowing down on a corpse. If she can make me give her five stars, the zombie lovers out there will give her ten.
February 16, 2024
I will start out by saying I loved the book and raced through it in a couple of sittings. I found the book's world building to be intriguing and inventive, I particularly loved the reimagining of New London and Camden town and the resourceful use to which a stately home has been put to use. I found the main character to be engaging and I rooted for Winston throughout his final case to find and rescue his nephew while the odds are increasingly stacked against him.
I'd be happy to recommend Dead on Arrival to people who enjoy an unusual police procedural full of zombies and action. I hope it's the first of a series of books set in this dystopian world, as we've met several characters whose stories have yet to be told.
I'd be happy to recommend Dead on Arrival to people who enjoy an unusual police procedural full of zombies and action. I hope it's the first of a series of books set in this dystopian world, as we've met several characters whose stories have yet to be told.
October 4, 2025
After picking this up at Nor-Con and chatting with the author, it sounded like the ideal way to start October and the season of darker reads.
I was gripped instantly, the narrative having me in a chokehold, refusing to let go until the book was done.
I found this a unique take on zombies; the outbreak and a cause is alluded to but not detailed, and I didn't find myself missing this information. I was content with the current setting, 30 years after the world ended.
The conflict and tension builds extremely well as the MC's beliefs and way of life are chipped away at by events outside his control, challenging his entire worldview.
The worldbuilding is great and has some nice touches to make it distinctive. I enjoyed seeing the different groups of people, making various sacrifices and compromises just to survive, and how these created conflict.
The ending was SO SATISFYING 🤌🏻 the twists and reveals were divine, leaving enough open for more without the ending teetering on a cliffhanger.
I was gripped instantly, the narrative having me in a chokehold, refusing to let go until the book was done.
I found this a unique take on zombies; the outbreak and a cause is alluded to but not detailed, and I didn't find myself missing this information. I was content with the current setting, 30 years after the world ended.
The conflict and tension builds extremely well as the MC's beliefs and way of life are chipped away at by events outside his control, challenging his entire worldview.
The worldbuilding is great and has some nice touches to make it distinctive. I enjoyed seeing the different groups of people, making various sacrifices and compromises just to survive, and how these created conflict.
The ending was SO SATISFYING 🤌🏻 the twists and reveals were divine, leaving enough open for more without the ending teetering on a cliffhanger.
June 2, 2024
I loved this book! The author managed to come up with a fresh take on both the dystopian and zombie genres! The main character was relatable and well written. The book managed to surprise me a few times which is hard to do. I enjoyed the twists, turns and internal turmoil our main character deals with. Just when I thought I had this story figured out, boom, another surprise!
I think this book would have done well as a series and if there is ever a sequel (or prequel) I will be putting it on my TBR immediately.
Bonus,
It is available on KU!
I think this book would have done well as a series and if there is ever a sequel (or prequel) I will be putting it on my TBR immediately.
Bonus,
It is available on KU!
October 23, 2024
Not your parents Zombies
Combining noir and zombie horror, Undead on Arrival presents a thoroughly new brand of adventure. With a well thought out dystopian world that we haven’t seen before, the action kept flying by and the twists and turns kept coming. Loved the characters in this Sam Spade meets Walking Dead Season 11, but it’s so much more than that. Would love to see a sequel, although I don’t see…no, the rest of this sentence would be a spoiler and I’m sure Trilby Black has got it covered. Highly recommended.
Combining noir and zombie horror, Undead on Arrival presents a thoroughly new brand of adventure. With a well thought out dystopian world that we haven’t seen before, the action kept flying by and the twists and turns kept coming. Loved the characters in this Sam Spade meets Walking Dead Season 11, but it’s so much more than that. Would love to see a sequel, although I don’t see…no, the rest of this sentence would be a spoiler and I’m sure Trilby Black has got it covered. Highly recommended.
March 13, 2024
Smart and riveting, this story weaves together a murder mystery while turning the zombie trope on its head in a way that’s fresh and relevant. Set in a near-future London, detectives investigate a murder as the city’s residents struggle to stay alive. It’s a must-read for zombie fiction fans and anyone looking for an engaging murder mystery. With layered characters, a plot that keeps moving and great story-telling, I recommend it.
October 13, 2024
Not a bad story really...
I just wish that a proofreader had gone over it first! Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors aside, what really got to me were the wrong character names being used during one chapter - really sloppy editing!
It could have been made a little tighter in places but I did find myself wanting to see more of the main character and hope the tale gets to continue with a part 2
I just wish that a proofreader had gone over it first! Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors aside, what really got to me were the wrong character names being used during one chapter - really sloppy editing!
It could have been made a little tighter in places but I did find myself wanting to see more of the main character and hope the tale gets to continue with a part 2
October 19, 2024
Wow, I have absolutely devoured this book. I have neglected everyone in my family to finish this in one go. I could not put it down!
This truly is a fresh take on the zombie genre and I am so pleased I picked it up! I’ve never read anything like it.
A cross between the walking dead and the last of us
I just wish there was more!
This truly is a fresh take on the zombie genre and I am so pleased I picked it up! I’ve never read anything like it.
A cross between the walking dead and the last of us
I just wish there was more!
September 29, 2025
Pretty good effort - certainly gains a lot by pushing the zombie envelope in a different direction. Still all that said I started to lose interest about half way through with a feeling that this was really a crime story dressed up as a zombie tale and Im not a big fan of crime stories. Dont think Ill buy the next book unless I'm desperate.
March 4, 2024
Fun, exciting with just enough "brains" to satisfy an excellent zombie apocalypse! The characters are relatable, imperfect, and human (even if they aren't alive). Definitely an enjoyable and creepy read. Highly recommend!
May 28, 2024
This was an interesting view on the zombie apocalypse. A crime thriller zombie book. 30 years after the apocalypse and the old and new worlds collide. Great character development and world building. Hopefully, there is more to come. I would love to see this as a series.
October 3, 2024
Part post apocalypse survival tale, part detective noir, all trilling race to find who is behind the deads university students in the walled city of New London in what used to be England. Highly recommend this fun read.
March 11, 2025
I loved this book! This was my second read by Black and I am a true fan. The way the author writes made me believe that a zombie apocalypse is possible. I loved the twists and turns and the ending held a surprise I didn’t see coming. I cannot wait for part 2!
October 5, 2025
Unusual zombie read
Totally enjoyed this one. Different and fresh. And an unusual twist at the end. No spoilers though! Looking forward to the next book which I'm off to get right now. Enjoy, folks.
Totally enjoyed this one. Different and fresh. And an unusual twist at the end. No spoilers though! Looking forward to the next book which I'm off to get right now. Enjoy, folks.
February 21, 2024
Talk about your flawed characters, this thriller takes the reader on a wild ride and a twist you will not see coming.
March 11, 2024
What an utterly delicious read!!
Excellent world building, multilayered characters and a plotline that grips you from being and only grips tighter as you read on.
Highly recommend.
Excellent world building, multilayered characters and a plotline that grips you from being and only grips tighter as you read on.
Highly recommend.
November 10, 2024
I love a good Zombie novel, and this did not disappoint. In fact, it may be in my top 5.
Has a different take on infection and creative ways to live alongside them. Great ending, too.
Has a different take on infection and creative ways to live alongside them. Great ending, too.
October 16, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. Great characters and plenty of momentum. If you're into the broad pandemic/zombie genre you're bound to.enjoy this.
October 23, 2025
i really enjoyed this book. nice twists and well written.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews