What do you think?
Rate this book
Lonesome Ridge #1
Massacre at Lonesome Ridge
Connor McClane is used to hard times. As sheriff of Lonesome Ridge, he's fought his fair share of bad guys. But when creatures that should be impossible threaten his town, he'll face the hardest challenge he's ever known.
Charity Banks, the once-debutante from New York City, has a hunger for human flesh and a zombie horde to do her bidding. Can Connor defend Lonesome Ridge from her undead army?
Charity Banks, the once-debutante from New York City, has a hunger for human flesh and a zombie horde to do her bidding. Can Connor defend Lonesome Ridge from her undead army?
316 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2014
4 people are currently reading
560 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Warren
46 books94 followersSamantha Warren is a fantasy and science fiction author who spends her days immersed in dragons, spaceships, and vampires.
In the name of research, she enlisted the help of her pet dragon Anethesis and together they built a Noah’s Ark-like spaceship. Three trips through a hole in the time-space continuum allowed the pair to explore the universe decades into the past and eons into the future. They discovered how life would be without Earth and were forced to run from alien law enforcement when their spaceship was deemed unspaceworthy. In the long run, the constant demands of space travel and repairs cut into Samantha’s sock fetish fund, so she was forced to sell her ark for half-price to a slimy creature that made Jabba the Hutt look like Brad Pitt.
After her years of traveling, she returned to her roots. When she isn’t writing or reading, she is collecting zombie gnomes, plotting to take over the world, or watching any show featuring Gordon Ramsay. Anethesis remains by her side, sleeping away the day and hunting evil cat-eating coyotes by night.
In the name of research, she enlisted the help of her pet dragon Anethesis and together they built a Noah’s Ark-like spaceship. Three trips through a hole in the time-space continuum allowed the pair to explore the universe decades into the past and eons into the future. They discovered how life would be without Earth and were forced to run from alien law enforcement when their spaceship was deemed unspaceworthy. In the long run, the constant demands of space travel and repairs cut into Samantha’s sock fetish fund, so she was forced to sell her ark for half-price to a slimy creature that made Jabba the Hutt look like Brad Pitt.
After her years of traveling, she returned to her roots. When she isn’t writing or reading, she is collecting zombie gnomes, plotting to take over the world, or watching any show featuring Gordon Ramsay. Anethesis remains by her side, sleeping away the day and hunting evil cat-eating coyotes by night.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 23, 2014
Perfect blend of the Zombie horror and Western genres. I really enjoyed reading this one! The author does a great job of bringing an old west town alive. She offers readers a fresh take on the typical "zombie" story, which kept me turning the pages. I definitely recommend Massacre at Lonesome Ridge and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
March 26, 2014
The pacing in this book was just phenomenal, it flowed wonderfully. I cared about the characters quite a bit and got immersed in the little nuances of their lives that made them 3-dimensional. I wanted it to be a little harder for them to figure out how to kill the zombies/how the zombie "infection" spread, but then again, anyone who reads zombie books or watches horror movies on a regular basis knows that already, so dwelling on it can get boring, so it was dealt with gracefully while getting on to the more interesting points of the book. The depictions of life in the wild west seemed well-researched, and I liked the use of a mix of standard character archetypes of that genre with the little twists that made them "not just another western novel." All-in-all, great read!
August 9, 2014
I absolutely love this book. I usually read before I go to bed to help calm the mind. I actually couldn't put it down. It is a different zombie experience. Nothing like I would have expected. Without giving anything away, it is so intense and keeps you wanting to read more. I can't wait for the next book :)
February 22, 2014
A new twist on the Undead and a cast of very vibrant characters set in a time that begs you to don a feather boa! Wonderfully descriptive, and yet easy to get caught up in, this book is very hard to put down.
Once again, Ms. Warren keeps me up well past bedtime!
Once again, Ms. Warren keeps me up well past bedtime!
September 22, 2014
A massacre at a small native american village leads to the survivors invoking a dark spirit, who turns them into zombies so that they may seek vengeance against the white men that slaughtered their families.
The story opens with Little Bear, the village shaman's grandson and heir, out on a romantic walk with his fiancee, Summer Rain. But when they return, they find their village under attack by white men. Little Bear and Summer Rain barely escape with their lives. Little Bear is then called on to summon the spirits to aid them. A capricious spirit responds to his cry for help by turning him into a flesh-eating zombie. Things quickly get out of hand as the curse spreads beyond Little Bear's control with the introduction of a new member to their group, Charity Banks, a power-hungry socialite with designs on becoming the queen of a land of the dead.
The story is told from various perspectives, with Sheriff Connor Maclane as the main protagonist, supported by a number of other characters, including Charity Banks herself, Summer Rain, Jeremiah (an outlaw) and his brothers, and a number of other soon to be victims, that give the book a kind of Walking Dead vibe.
The story is set in the railroad days of the wild west, mostly in and around the town of Lonesome Ridge. The setting provides a welcome relief from the now standard zombie apocalypse. Warren also introduces a number of intelligent zombies, such as Little Bear, Summer Rain and Charity Banks, creating the opening for a power struggle for control of the shuffling horde.
Warren doesn't shy away from the gruesome, and handles dialogue and characterisation well, even if the characters are a little two-dimensional, but sets a decent pace for the action and story-telling. This could have been a very different book if Little Bear and Summer Rain had been the central protagonists, but Warren chooses a more well-worn approach by casting Sheriff Maclane as the leading man. A little more character depth would have gone a long way to making the Sheriff more likable, perhaps some back-story for him, with vignettes about his early years growing up with his sister Cora, and details of how his wife died, would have fleshed this out. Instead, Warren chose to focus on the back story of Charity Banks, which is understandable as she is a far more interesting prospect than the Sheriff.
Overall, this is an interesting entry to the zombie horror sub-genre, and will hold your interest for its length, with the inevitable loose-ends that suggest a sequel is in development.
The story opens with Little Bear, the village shaman's grandson and heir, out on a romantic walk with his fiancee, Summer Rain. But when they return, they find their village under attack by white men. Little Bear and Summer Rain barely escape with their lives. Little Bear is then called on to summon the spirits to aid them. A capricious spirit responds to his cry for help by turning him into a flesh-eating zombie. Things quickly get out of hand as the curse spreads beyond Little Bear's control with the introduction of a new member to their group, Charity Banks, a power-hungry socialite with designs on becoming the queen of a land of the dead.
The story is told from various perspectives, with Sheriff Connor Maclane as the main protagonist, supported by a number of other characters, including Charity Banks herself, Summer Rain, Jeremiah (an outlaw) and his brothers, and a number of other soon to be victims, that give the book a kind of Walking Dead vibe.
The story is set in the railroad days of the wild west, mostly in and around the town of Lonesome Ridge. The setting provides a welcome relief from the now standard zombie apocalypse. Warren also introduces a number of intelligent zombies, such as Little Bear, Summer Rain and Charity Banks, creating the opening for a power struggle for control of the shuffling horde.
Warren doesn't shy away from the gruesome, and handles dialogue and characterisation well, even if the characters are a little two-dimensional, but sets a decent pace for the action and story-telling. This could have been a very different book if Little Bear and Summer Rain had been the central protagonists, but Warren chooses a more well-worn approach by casting Sheriff Maclane as the leading man. A little more character depth would have gone a long way to making the Sheriff more likable, perhaps some back-story for him, with vignettes about his early years growing up with his sister Cora, and details of how his wife died, would have fleshed this out. Instead, Warren chose to focus on the back story of Charity Banks, which is understandable as she is a far more interesting prospect than the Sheriff.
Overall, this is an interesting entry to the zombie horror sub-genre, and will hold your interest for its length, with the inevitable loose-ends that suggest a sequel is in development.
April 28, 2014
This is a western meets zombie horror. This is a stand alone book and the ending is perfect. I usually do not like horror books, but I was surprised. I would recommend this to 15 and up due to some of the bloody parts... some details even made me cringe. A great read for zombie lovers. I was intrigued the whole book. This book had a couple main characters but the chapters are very detailed so you are never lost, and the characters all work together. I had a love/hate relationship with Charity.
She turned out so different than what I pictured in the beginning. Yes this book leads you so many ways you never know what to expect.
This is the story about Lonesome Ridge, it is a small town fixing to deal with a big problem... Zombies, and they are hungry. But they have a great sheriff Conner Mcclane, whom will do anything to protect them. He will even go to extremes and make life changing decisions, some he would prefer not to deal with. Charity Banks, a girl whom married into money, is one of the few turned zombie whom kept some of her smarts which she uses to her advantage. She takes over the zombie tribe, and has them do her bidding. She is determined to take over Lonesome Ridge with her Zombie army. Can Conner keep his people alive? Will the Zombie army prevail? Only time will tell.
favorite passages:
"Summer Rain plucked a daisy from the edge of the worn path and tucked it into one of her braids."
"He gripped her so tight that the skin on her arms went white around his fingers."
"He heard her light footsteps disappear into the woods behind him, taking his heart with her."
"Charity barely stopped herself from growling out loud at the woman who had treated her like dirt since they first met."
"No, Catherine could have her moment now. Charity would wait patiently."
"David is stupid. He is a darling boy, but he is several eggs short of a full dozen."
"No need for frilly bull**** (some might find the author's word choice offending) an' whatnot when I can get all I need elsewhere."
"Jed turned around and smacked him in the back of the head,......."
"It was big and bold and beautiful, just like she was."
"Go up to her, ya idjit. Maybe she's deaf."
"They send their minions to do it for them."
"Life doesn't stop for us, no matter how much we want it to." <3
She turned out so different than what I pictured in the beginning. Yes this book leads you so many ways you never know what to expect.
This is the story about Lonesome Ridge, it is a small town fixing to deal with a big problem... Zombies, and they are hungry. But they have a great sheriff Conner Mcclane, whom will do anything to protect them. He will even go to extremes and make life changing decisions, some he would prefer not to deal with. Charity Banks, a girl whom married into money, is one of the few turned zombie whom kept some of her smarts which she uses to her advantage. She takes over the zombie tribe, and has them do her bidding. She is determined to take over Lonesome Ridge with her Zombie army. Can Conner keep his people alive? Will the Zombie army prevail? Only time will tell.
favorite passages:
"Summer Rain plucked a daisy from the edge of the worn path and tucked it into one of her braids."
"He gripped her so tight that the skin on her arms went white around his fingers."
"He heard her light footsteps disappear into the woods behind him, taking his heart with her."
"Charity barely stopped herself from growling out loud at the woman who had treated her like dirt since they first met."
"No, Catherine could have her moment now. Charity would wait patiently."
"David is stupid. He is a darling boy, but he is several eggs short of a full dozen."
"No need for frilly bull**** (some might find the author's word choice offending) an' whatnot when I can get all I need elsewhere."
"Jed turned around and smacked him in the back of the head,......."
"It was big and bold and beautiful, just like she was."
"Go up to her, ya idjit. Maybe she's deaf."
"They send their minions to do it for them."
"Life doesn't stop for us, no matter how much we want it to." <3
July 30, 2014
It’s difficult to pinpoint the protagonist of this story. Readers need to know who to trust/distrust/love/hate/whatever but it can’t be left as an open question. Even though the story starts with Little Bear, Charity is the more dynamic character with higher emotional potential (even if it’s negative) however that isn’t made clear until almost half-way through the book (when she challenges Little Bear’s passivity).
Realistic dialogue is challenging and when you’re dealing with specific eras, locations, races, etc. it can get even more complicated. Writing telling dialogue specific to an education level or emotional maturity is a tightrope which can easily turn a character into a caricature which is a death sentence to a good story. There are a lot of phrases used here that post-date the era or add unnecessary camp. There are a few I was unsure of but others which would not have been used during the Civil War era.
There are a few minor but prevalent editing issues (extra or missing punctuation, etc.) so a good scrub by someone with editing skills would be worth the investment. Passive verbs are rampant which isn’t a story killer, but there’s opportunity for growth there.
The plot seemed obvious until around Chapter 15 when Little Bear tells Charity their powers are only meant to avenge the massacre of his people and not meant to be used on innocent people. That’s great but there are too many examples, her included, where that doesn’t hold true. If avenging their deaths isn’t the plot (the whole reason he sold his soul and became a “zombie”) then I don’t know the purpose or objective of the story.
It’s a fantastic plot, rich with opportunity but it can’t be resolved so fast and behind the scenes. I only knew they got revenge because Little Bear said they did not because there’s anything shown through the story.
There’s a lot of opportunity here and with a more developed understanding of the technical aspects of writing and strong editorial support, has the opportunity for large scale success.
Realistic dialogue is challenging and when you’re dealing with specific eras, locations, races, etc. it can get even more complicated. Writing telling dialogue specific to an education level or emotional maturity is a tightrope which can easily turn a character into a caricature which is a death sentence to a good story. There are a lot of phrases used here that post-date the era or add unnecessary camp. There are a few I was unsure of but others which would not have been used during the Civil War era.
There are a few minor but prevalent editing issues (extra or missing punctuation, etc.) so a good scrub by someone with editing skills would be worth the investment. Passive verbs are rampant which isn’t a story killer, but there’s opportunity for growth there.
The plot seemed obvious until around Chapter 15 when Little Bear tells Charity their powers are only meant to avenge the massacre of his people and not meant to be used on innocent people. That’s great but there are too many examples, her included, where that doesn’t hold true. If avenging their deaths isn’t the plot (the whole reason he sold his soul and became a “zombie”) then I don’t know the purpose or objective of the story.
It’s a fantastic plot, rich with opportunity but it can’t be resolved so fast and behind the scenes. I only knew they got revenge because Little Bear said they did not because there’s anything shown through the story.
There’s a lot of opportunity here and with a more developed understanding of the technical aspects of writing and strong editorial support, has the opportunity for large scale success.
June 6, 2016
This is a zombie story with bite. I watch The Walking Dead but some of the descriptions of the killings in this book made me wince. It's definitely not for the squeamish.
Set in the old Wild West, it has a good plot which moved along at a fair pace and kept my interest, although I wasn't keen on some of the characters .
I will definitely read the sequel and it deserves a solid 3.5 out of 5.
Set in the old Wild West, it has a good plot which moved along at a fair pace and kept my interest, although I wasn't keen on some of the characters .
I will definitely read the sequel and it deserves a solid 3.5 out of 5.
October 13, 2014
This is a fun read. I think blending westerns and zombies is about the last genre for this and Samantha does a great job with it. The characters are well fleshed out (pun intended, lol) and the action is fast paced. There were not any slow spots at all for me with Massacre at Lonesome Ridge and I would read more of her work in a heartbeat.
Highly recommended for zombie fans and even for those who aren't or have tired of the genre. Try it, you'll like it.
Highly recommended for zombie fans and even for those who aren't or have tired of the genre. Try it, you'll like it.
September 13, 2016
This was a very different zombie story which was great. It kept me turning the pages to see what new developments the author would work into the story. I loved the setting and the characters. Will definitely read more from this author. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2019
I liked this book far more than I anticipated. I was taken of it in more than a few places by the technical inaccuracies but overall I found it to be a rather original telling of a genre that I dearly love. Combining a western and a zombpoc was great fun and it has me looking for more combinations like that. What I wouldn't give for a good sword and sorcery zombpoc. I found the characters to be engaging and the flow of the story very well held together by the author. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.
September 3, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
Zombies are one of those things that are used quite a lot in fiction, whether horror or otherwise. (Teen paranormal romance is starting to use zombies, I've noticed...) Therefore, I imagine it's probably very difficult to come up with a different, unique spin on the zombie genre.
I felt that this author did a good job of creating a new spin on the zombie genre. Instead of the zombies just coming out of nowhere, or reading their origin but not actually seeing it happen, it was good to see an explanation of the cause... plus, I felt that the origin of the zombies was quite an interesting one. I would have liked a few more details about it, though.
I actually quite liked Little Bear as a character at first. I empathised with both him and Summer Rain after the first scene of the story. Of course, I lost a lot of my sympathy for them as the story went on... but I appreciated the glimpses into their thoughts and feelings and how their minds worked.
I wasn't really sure what to make of Charity. By the end of the book, I didn't really like her... but then again, it wasn't clear how much of her mind was the same and how much had changed.
I thought it was interesting that there were the two types of zombies; the ones who were more like animals and the ones who had a bit more intelligence. Again, that's something I would have liked to learn a few more details about. There didn't seem to be any reason as to why some of them remembered their history/personality and others didn't.
At first, I did get a bit confused with the different characters, but eventually, I was able to relate to them. I liked Jasper quite a lot, but I was very surprised by the fact that Jeremiah grew in my estimation by the end of the book.
The book itself was really well-written and I could see a lot of the scenes happening in my mind. I would definitely be interested in reading the sequel to this book at some point in the future.
(This review may contain spoilers).
Zombies are one of those things that are used quite a lot in fiction, whether horror or otherwise. (Teen paranormal romance is starting to use zombies, I've noticed...) Therefore, I imagine it's probably very difficult to come up with a different, unique spin on the zombie genre.
I felt that this author did a good job of creating a new spin on the zombie genre. Instead of the zombies just coming out of nowhere, or reading their origin but not actually seeing it happen, it was good to see an explanation of the cause... plus, I felt that the origin of the zombies was quite an interesting one. I would have liked a few more details about it, though.
I actually quite liked Little Bear as a character at first. I empathised with both him and Summer Rain after the first scene of the story. Of course, I lost a lot of my sympathy for them as the story went on... but I appreciated the glimpses into their thoughts and feelings and how their minds worked.
I wasn't really sure what to make of Charity. By the end of the book, I didn't really like her... but then again, it wasn't clear how much of her mind was the same and how much had changed.
I thought it was interesting that there were the two types of zombies; the ones who were more like animals and the ones who had a bit more intelligence. Again, that's something I would have liked to learn a few more details about. There didn't seem to be any reason as to why some of them remembered their history/personality and others didn't.
At first, I did get a bit confused with the different characters, but eventually, I was able to relate to them. I liked Jasper quite a lot, but I was very surprised by the fact that Jeremiah grew in my estimation by the end of the book.
The book itself was really well-written and I could see a lot of the scenes happening in my mind. I would definitely be interested in reading the sequel to this book at some point in the future.
February 23, 2016
Massacre at Lonesome Ridge was an enjoyable read. While many zombie novels don't acknowledge the origin of the zombie virus, Warren goes out of her way to not only create a unique cause, but to also blend it into the landscape and lives of her characters.
The main characters are well rounded, and I enjoyed getting to know them. However, most of the secondary characters need development. This novel is well-paced, and I like that it is a full story, all the way to the satisfying ending.
My biggest regret is that this novel wasn't better edited. I marked a good number of grammatical errors, incorrect capitalization, and missing punctuation. It also had some inconsistencies that need to be corrected. These issues came together to be quite distracting. With a developmental editor, this novel has great potential.
The main characters are well rounded, and I enjoyed getting to know them. However, most of the secondary characters need development. This novel is well-paced, and I like that it is a full story, all the way to the satisfying ending.
My biggest regret is that this novel wasn't better edited. I marked a good number of grammatical errors, incorrect capitalization, and missing punctuation. It also had some inconsistencies that need to be corrected. These issues came together to be quite distracting. With a developmental editor, this novel has great potential.
October 22, 2014
I received a copy of this book Free from the Good-Reads First-Reads program. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. All of them had different personalities but, I especially liked Charity Banks' character the most. This book was definitely different from any other zombie book that I have read especially since a lot of it takes place in the old west. the way that Samantha Warren describes when the zombies taste flesh is very vivid, almost like you are experiencing every gory second for yourself. I loved it! I would recommend this book for anyone who likes horror, zombies, or just wants to read something different altogether. This book does not disappoint!
April 16, 2015
Let me say at the outset that I don't like zombies. They are so not my thing. That being said. I loved this book. I will definitely need to read the next one. Zombies with a thinking ability, what a cool idea. But kinda scary too. I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment. I think this could be the next great zombie tv show. I'd watch this one, unlike the others on tv. It had a underlying sense of humor. I was really pleased with this read. Well written and well thought out. Zombies in the old west. Cool!
February 18, 2016
Massacre at Lonesome Ridge: A ZOMBIE WESTERN
For ZOMBIE FANS this is going to be a real treat. This THRILLING WESTERN is a first for me in the zombie genre. It has the action, horror and suspense have come to expect , plus the added bonus of the early WESTERNERS , SHAMANS, INDIAN CEREMONIES and GUNFIGHTS. YOU WILL LOVE IT! I RECOMMEND
For ZOMBIE FANS this is going to be a real treat. This THRILLING WESTERN is a first for me in the zombie genre. It has the action, horror and suspense have come to expect , plus the added bonus of the early WESTERNERS , SHAMANS, INDIAN CEREMONIES and GUNFIGHTS. YOU WILL LOVE IT! I RECOMMEND
March 30, 2015
I found this book to be a refreshing twist on the zombie genre. It was well thought out and very descriptive. I am looking forward to reading more by Samantha Warren. I received this book for free from Librarything in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2016
I enjoy a good zombie western. This set in late 1800's and besides a few typos it was a very entertaining book! I am actually getting ready to read the next book!
October 23, 2016
A fun little zombie western. Good characters, good plot. Just a light little romp through the west and crowds of zombies.
November 8, 2015
Sadly mediocre.
April 12, 2017
A refreshing take on zombie stories, and not just because it's set in Ye Olde West. Obviously the first book of a series, but it stands alone well.
Well done.
Well done.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews