What do you think?
Rate this book
The Collapse #1
Beginning
Amy and Justin sit down to eat breakfast on a Monday morning when they hear radio reports of a massacre at a nearby mall. Their concern turns to horror once they turn on the news and see a live coverage of people eating dead bodies.
When the chaos spreads to their street, they and a few neighbors barricade themselves in Justin’s apartment. They are trapped inside, tempers are rising, and food is running out. To survive, they must venture outside. But not all will make it.
When the chaos spreads to their street, they and a few neighbors barricade themselves in Justin’s apartment. They are trapped inside, tempers are rising, and food is running out. To survive, they must venture outside. But not all will make it.
72 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2013
77 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 3, 2025
It was generally ok.
I would have liked for the "dog in an apartment where there's no doggy pad and no possibility of going for a walk" part of things to be addressed in some kind of way because the idea of being trapped with a dog in an apartment where you don't have the supplies for it to do its business would get unpleasant quickly, but it was never addressed. I feel like the author tried to lean int the claustrophobic aspect of the first few days but it was very tell instead of showing so it sort of fell flat for me.
The characters were forgettable or they were really annoying.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
I would have liked for the "dog in an apartment where there's no doggy pad and no possibility of going for a walk" part of things to be addressed in some kind of way because the idea of being trapped with a dog in an apartment where you don't have the supplies for it to do its business would get unpleasant quickly, but it was never addressed. I feel like the author tried to lean int the claustrophobic aspect of the first few days but it was very tell instead of showing so it sort of fell flat for me.
The characters were forgettable or they were really annoying.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.
October 22, 2019
The story was just okay, but the characters were just annoying. The old lady was just a burden and i kept rolling my eyes whenever she complained about everything. When she finally died, I did a little cheer because she was just a pain in the neck.
All in all, read this only if you get it for free and have nothing else to read.
All in all, read this only if you get it for free and have nothing else to read.
December 1, 2021
This book gives me the same feeling as I get when watching speedrunners, except without the awe and glory. Everything feels rushed, everybody accepts their fate and just move along.
The tell not show aspect of the storytelling disconnects me from everything going on, there’s no sense of emotion cause the pacing doesn’t have time for character development. Dialog seems filled with acceptance and not conflict, but there needed to be some villains except for the zombies so lazy guy and old woman was inserted as a conflict by the looks of it.
Praise where praise is deserved, a zombie story where people are trapped in an apartment building when the outbreak occurs who decide to build paths to connect balconies is good. I just wish it didn’t read as cardboard cutouts following a path in 10x speed while spurting out lines of dialog here and there.
And also, why not say “he said” instead of things like “he said with conviction”? Show his/her emotion, don’t tell. This along with the fact that there’s no drive in anyone then the last guy in the apartment building we meet who wants to save his daughter. The main character (I think Amy is the main character, but I can’t always tell for sure) thought about her mom twice, apparently she has no friends to worry about except her ex who she was visiting. The ex has no drive. The married couple are there. Young boy is... there. There’s 8 people and a dog and only one who has a slight need to check up on someone. (I don’t look at the one phonecall to grandma as anything when grandma is left to her own and forgotten immediately after. Rich grandma with the longer background story btw.)
I decided to not use audiobooks on my reading challenge this year, and now I’ve changed my mind.
The tell not show aspect of the storytelling disconnects me from everything going on, there’s no sense of emotion cause the pacing doesn’t have time for character development. Dialog seems filled with acceptance and not conflict, but there needed to be some villains except for the zombies so lazy guy and old woman was inserted as a conflict by the looks of it.
Praise where praise is deserved, a zombie story where people are trapped in an apartment building when the outbreak occurs who decide to build paths to connect balconies is good. I just wish it didn’t read as cardboard cutouts following a path in 10x speed while spurting out lines of dialog here and there.
And also, why not say “he said” instead of things like “he said with conviction”? Show his/her emotion, don’t tell. This along with the fact that there’s no drive in anyone then the last guy in the apartment building we meet who wants to save his daughter. The main character (I think Amy is the main character, but I can’t always tell for sure) thought about her mom twice, apparently she has no friends to worry about except her ex who she was visiting. The ex has no drive. The married couple are there. Young boy is... there. There’s 8 people and a dog and only one who has a slight need to check up on someone. (I don’t look at the one phonecall to grandma as anything when grandma is left to her own and forgotten immediately after. Rich grandma with the longer background story btw.)
I decided to not use audiobooks on my reading challenge this year, and now I’ve changed my mind.
December 15, 2020
Wow! Just... WOW!
I honestly rarely will purchase books since there are so many free books to be had, but after reading The Collapse (Part One: Beginning) I immediately purchased the remaining four in the series! What a wild ride this is to read! Lots of great and we'll developed characters to both love and hate, plenty of gore for the horror lovers and a fantastic story that keeps you guessing (usually wrong) about what's going to happen next... Just buy it because you won't be disappointed!
I honestly rarely will purchase books since there are so many free books to be had, but after reading The Collapse (Part One: Beginning) I immediately purchased the remaining four in the series! What a wild ride this is to read! Lots of great and we'll developed characters to both love and hate, plenty of gore for the horror lovers and a fantastic story that keeps you guessing (usually wrong) about what's going to happen next... Just buy it because you won't be disappointed!
December 26, 2020
Read : December 26, 2020
Rating : 2,5 Stars
This is very short, shorter even than most serials that I've read.
For how short it is, I found it a bit lackluster in pulling me in.
There's a lot of telling, not showing going on as well and that made it feel like not much happened except bickering between the characters.
The scenes that should be thrilling, the grocery run and the escape from the building, aren't very thrilling and left me disappointed.
I won't be continuing this serial.
Rating : 2,5 Stars
This is very short, shorter even than most serials that I've read.
For how short it is, I found it a bit lackluster in pulling me in.
There's a lot of telling, not showing going on as well and that made it feel like not much happened except bickering between the characters.
The scenes that should be thrilling, the grocery run and the escape from the building, aren't very thrilling and left me disappointed.
I won't be continuing this serial.
December 8, 2020
Short good story
Ok first it's short, part of a series. Yes another zombie story. With that said, this has a good assortment of characters. Some characters you'll like others not so much. If you like zombies and action give it a try.
Ok first it's short, part of a series. Yes another zombie story. With that said, this has a good assortment of characters. Some characters you'll like others not so much. If you like zombies and action give it a try.
May 23, 2017
Wow! A great quick afternoon read!
Got this as a free kindle book and I'm glad I did. Things happen fast and leave you wanting more!
Got this as a free kindle book and I'm glad I did. Things happen fast and leave you wanting more!
March 31, 2018
Great
Thanks for the good read. I have read the book two times.wlll read again I love the characters. Thanks again for this opportunity to read your work
Thanks for the good read. I have read the book two times.wlll read again I love the characters. Thanks again for this opportunity to read your work
July 21, 2018
This is a good book, lots of action for a short story.
March 18, 2020
Free book in Google Books but extremely short and next in the series is already pay-to-read.
May 7, 2023
Good EOTWAWKI story. Purchase the series of 5 books for $3.99.
December 22, 2023
Biological zombie
A first chapter of a biological zombie apocalypse. The misfits an apartment complex survive in spite of themselves. Internal divisions are a problem.
A first chapter of a biological zombie apocalypse. The misfits an apartment complex survive in spite of themselves. Internal divisions are a problem.
October 6, 2024
A bit slow and uninspiring language
June 8, 2025
Short story
Rage zombies
Characters stuck in apartment block during outbreak.
Listened on YouTube to AI narrator but still worked. Shall continue with the series.
Rage zombies
Characters stuck in apartment block during outbreak.
Listened on YouTube to AI narrator but still worked. Shall continue with the series.
January 8, 2026
Not bad
There is a good mix of characters. Afew issues with the story so far but I would read more. Worth a read!
There is a good mix of characters. Afew issues with the story so far but I would read more. Worth a read!
Read
December 29, 2015Wow!
It starts scary and it's scary all the way through. The author has a way of dragging you, kicking and screaming, into the story and not letting you go. I was almost glad it wasn't really long and it is broken into parts. Lol. Guess I am a wuss. :)
It starts scary and it's scary all the way through. The author has a way of dragging you, kicking and screaming, into the story and not letting you go. I was almost glad it wasn't really long and it is broken into parts. Lol. Guess I am a wuss. :)
January 22, 2017
Happens quickly
Story starts with sudden disaster, as a mall down the street is turned into panicked turmoil, as attacks begin one after another from normal people turning cannibal in a matter of seconds.
Story starts with sudden disaster, as a mall down the street is turned into panicked turmoil, as attacks begin one after another from normal people turning cannibal in a matter of seconds.
July 29, 2016
Kind of short but still a great read ,can't wait to read the next book and see what happens.
September 13, 2015
Whew! Two thumbs up
I really enjoyed this first installment. Character development was good and I was really on the edge of my seat. Can't wait to read book 2!
I really enjoyed this first installment. Character development was good and I was really on the edge of my seat. Can't wait to read book 2!
September 10, 2016
One afternoon read.
Enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting. Nice to have a story about someone with brains enough to believe what is going on Is real.
Enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting. Nice to have a story about someone with brains enough to believe what is going on Is real.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews