Cadaver 7: A Zombie Apocalypse Thriller

Cadaver #7

by Nick Clausen

Two teenagers find a frozen corpse in the middle of the woods and decide to bring it back to town. They have no idea they just sparked the zombie apocalypse. In the morgue below the hospital, the dead begin waking up and attacking the living. The infection spreads rapidly, turning the place into a slaughterhouse as those inside fight to survive against the undead. As the situation escalates, authorities are forced to seal off the building in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus. But it may already be too late...

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Audiobook, Fiction, Apocalyptic

186 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2024

About the author

I write stories about the apocalypse so that I don't need to work a real job. I grew up reading Stephen King and still haven't fully recovered. I'm currently ending the world in my new series Under the Breaking Sky.

Join my reader club to be kept in the loop -> nick-clausen.com

Reviews

[Deb]

Great ending!

A very original.twist for a zombie series. I have to say the author was quite imaginative. The ending was smooth and conclusion.
I highly recommended this zombie series.
I gave it a four as a lot of grammar mistakes. Hopefully in his upcoming series it is corrected.

[Linda Mae]

I really got sucked into this series. Very creative take on the zombie apocalypse with some Norse mythology! I was always on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next. I enjoyed all of the characters, I can't believe I was even rooting for a cannibal for a bit there. They were all just very interesting, even the bad ones.

[Kaye Nutman]

what an ending.

I really admire the way the author pulled all those threads together at the end and his unique take on the end on the world, so different to each of his other series, and poles apart from many of the other zombie apocalypse books. Nick Clausen is an amazing writer and I sincerely hope he can find more stories to weave his magic on. I’d certainly buy them!

[Veronik Durocher]

Botched proofreading

Story was as good as the others, so it should have been 4 stars but, sadly, the proofreading seems to have been done so fast that it's like there weren't any! The more we get near the end, the more botched it was! So many typos it was painful to read, sometimes...

That's why I gave only 3 stars, it shouldn’t have been out, clearly not ready, yet.

[Marley Irene]

This was my least favorite of the books. It felt like some stretches were made to connect everything together. I still enjoyed the series overall.

[Connie Sulbaran]

Desgraciadamente este ha sido el libro que menos disfruté de todos. Pero no por ello ha sido malo, en absoluto. Solo que sí hubo cosas que no fueron de mi agrado.

Los primeros capítulos a mi ver hubieron varias cositas innecesarias, escenas innecesariamente largas, raras, sin sentido o directamente fuera de lugar y asquerosas (ejem, como por ejemplo cuando Belinda y Aksel mantienen sexo con consentimiento dudoso, CASI VÓMITO) entre otras cositas.

Me gustaría repetir que no fue un mal libro porque de verdad lo disfrute y fue genial. Es solo que al haber sido el inicio así, y entre medias haber pasado cosas que nuevamente me parecieron bastante meh, me causo tanta decepción que hasta sé me fue la ilusión que sentía por terminar YA la saga y ver qué pasaba. Quizá también fue error mío porque tenía las expectativas demasiado altas, pero lo positivo es que los últimos capítulos son tan increíbles, épicos y perfectos que nuevamente, me devolvieron mi profundo amor por esta saga. La cuál espero en un futuro próximo poder comprar en físico para disfrutar nuevamente como se merece. 💜✨

Pd: Se que esto JAMÁS lo verá el autor pero no me importa. Mil gracias Nick por darles ese final a Kjeel y a Marit. Ya me tenían hartita, necesitaba que sufrieran 🥹 Y POR FAVOR, ver al mismísimo Ragnar colaborando con todos para sacar a Ella me pareció tan AHHHHHH

[Anya Reed]

awesome

I love a complete ending. I enjoyed this series very much. I would even read this again. I am never disappointed in any of Nick’s writings. I look forward to more stories. Thank you.

[Cg]

Great zombie tale

Having read many Zombie stories, I can say I usually lose interest in ones with multiple books. Not this time!!! This story holds your interest book to book. I enjoyed the characters and how they interact. Thank you for the Zombie ride!!

[Carl Tabor]

Fantastic series

Loved it. Great set of books, really enjoyed reading these highly recommend them.
Keeps you reading from the first chapter

[Jill James]

Excellent series. Unique twist on the zombie apocalypse. Loved it!!

[Matthew Cole]

Really liked this series. Decent amount of characters that had a pretty good characteristics, and you never knew who was next to die. But man this last book was rough to get through. All the people I began reading about just seemed slightly off, to a point I didn’t care about them anymore. I was just reading the book to get to the end. Hate that feeling and hate it for the author. Feel like he was kinda burnt out because even the ending was just goofy imo. It just didn’t feel like that type of ending belonged to what was going on, but it is what it is. Fun series until the end.

[Crystal Marcela]

Book 7 finally brings everyone together and wraps up the entire outbreak. Unfortunately, after really enjoying the beginning of this series, I thought the ending was pretty weak.

Ella is finally reunited with Anne and the rest of the group, and there also seems to be something developing between Ella and Kristoffer. They piece together what Kristoffer has learned about the draug and realize this was never really a zombie virus. The draug is an ancient guardian connected to a Viking burial site, placed there to protect a woman and her treasure. Basically, it gave me The Mummy vibes: somebody disturbed an ancient tomb they should have left the hell alone, unleashed a curse, and now everybody is paying for it. 😂

Ella and her father are immune because of their connection to the draug, while Anne isn't. Despite that, Ella, Anne, and her father return to the cave to investigate.

And because apparently we haven't suffered enough, Kjell comes back. He needs treasure to pay someone to fly him to Russia, so he shows up at the cave looking for gold. He kills Anne and Ella gives him a golden goblet. Ridiculous

Anne dying REALLY annoyed me. We spent basically the entire series waiting for her and Ella to find each other, they finally reunite, and then she's killed almost immediately.

Kjell escapes with the treasure, but Ragnar eventually catches up with him looking for revenge. The draug is also searching for its stolen treasure and ultimately finds Kjell and brutally kills him. I wasn't even satisfied by his death because this entire situation could have been avoided. These people knew exactly how dangerous Kjell was. Take his weapons. Disable his vehicle. Take the keys. Slash the tires. SOMETHING. Rule number one: don't leave unfinished business during a zombie apocalypse!

Then Marit comes back, for reasons I still don't understand. I thought we were done with her. She breaks into the home where Oliver is staying with his grandparents, kills his grandfather, and nearly gets Oliver and his grandmother killed before Oliver finally shoots her. It felt like another unnecessary storyline thrown into a finale that already had enough going on.

I also hated Aksel and Belinda getting together. Aksel was supposedly deeply in love with Freya, and this entire apocalypse has only been happening for DAYS. Sir, your girlfriend was just eaten. You still have running water, cell phones and internet. This isn't The Walking Dead season six. You do not need to immediately repopulate the earth. 😂 Even Rosa commenting that she'd be interested in Aksel if she were ten years older was weird and completely unnecessary.

Eventually Ella faces the draug herself and realizes it isn't simply an evil monster. It's a guardian that has been bound to its duty for centuries. Instead of defeating it in some huge battle, Ella releases it from its obligation. The curse ends, the infected immediately die, and the zombie apocalypse is basically over.

I actually really liked the mythology behind the outbreak. Making the zombies the result of an ancient curse rather than another unexplained virus was probably the most original part of the series. We got an actual explanation for where the zombies came from, why Ella was immune, and how the outbreak could end. The story had a real beginning, middle, and conclusion, and I finished the series without wondering what caused everything.

Unfortunately, I think the series started much stronger than it ended. The later books dragged, there was too much revenge and human-vs-human drama for my taste, and characters repeatedly made stupid decisions that created problems that didn't need to happen.

There were definitely things I enjoyed, especially Ella, the unusual zombies, and the mythology behind the draug. I just wish the series had stayed focused on those things instead of stretching the story out with so much unnecessary drama.

Strong beginning. Interesting concept. Weak ending.

[JMN]

Llegamos al fin del apocalipsis zombie nórdico de Nick! Sensaciones agridulces.

Si tengo que valorar la historia, le doy 4 estrellas. Nick ha construido una buena historia en formato episódico que funciona muy bien. Libros cortos, intensos, con multitud de personajes cuyas historias se van entretejiendo de manera entretenida e interesante. El final está bien y es algo original s lo que uno espera de una historia de zombies.

Si tengo que valorar el resto de los libros, le doy 1 estrella.

Es una lástima Nick. pero creo sinceramente que las traducciones que te estan haciendo de los libros desmerecen totalmente tu trabajo.

El único libro que tiene una traducción "pasable" es el 2, el resto, especialmente el 7 y el 1, son más terribles que la mordedura de un zombie! Más allá de los errores de traducción, transmite una dejadez y falta de detalle total!

Dejo por aquí algunas cosas que he ido detectando:

En el libro 1, el último capítulo no está bien editado y aparece tras un punto y seguido del anterior.

Hay cambios de nombres, el niño Oliver de repente se llama Lukas. El "draug" a veces es "draugr".

Cambios de género de masculino a femenino.

Hay faltas ortográficas y frases construidas gramaticalmente imposibles en español o castellano.


En general, es muy difícil creer que estos libros los ha traducido una persona que habla español, o cuida un mínimo el trabajo que está haciendo.

CAMBIA DE TRADUCTORA NICK! Tienes un gran talento que se está echando a perder!

[David Taylor]

Sometimes the end is much more than a bang!

Nick Clausen does an excellent job bringing the Cadaver series to a conclusion with Cadaver 7. Along with tying up loose ends from the six previous books, he once again introduces revelations that were unexpected to say the least. I’m not sure what I was expecting the end would be like, but it wasn’t anything like what I experienced as I listened to Cadaver 7. What Nick and Spencer provided was way more than I could have anticipated. In a few cases heroes were revealed, sniveling cowards and the deceitful even had their day. Speaking of heroes, those you least expect to step-up seem the most authentic and in this story this holds true. Ne of tee days I’m going to binge listen to this series. Once again Spencer Dillehay does an excellent job of bringing the story and characters to life. Over the previous six books I thought I had heard Spencer’s full range of storytelling, but in this book, he surprised me by painting such a vivid picture of a series of scenes I truly felt like I was accompanying the character on their quest.
On one hand I’m glad to see the series conclude, but it is bittersweet having gotten very invested in these characters over the seven books. I could only wish another apocalypse could befall them so I could travel along with them as they fight to survive.

[Agus]

Valoración global de la saga: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3,75/5)

​Qué rabia da cuando una saga que te ha tenido enganchado se da una hostia en la línea de meta. Siete tomos acumulando adrenalina, tensión sin pausa y giros de supervivencia para terminar con un desenlace descafeinado que deja bastante mal sabor de boca.
​
Para empezar, en este último tramo le dan el protagonismo a un componente sobrenatural alrededor que no encaja ni con calzador con la atmósfera cruda de la historia. Por otro lado, aunque la guerra entre los militares se resuelve, no lo hace como uno esperaría. Y lo peor de todo es la resolución de la infección: tenían sobre la mesa un plan coherente que venían construyendo desde el libro anterior y al final deciden tirarlo por la borda para tirar por otra vía que convence tirando a poco.
​
El viaje en conjunto ha sido un vicio y la experiencia completa se queda en un aprobado holgado porque ha cumplido su función de entretener sin aburrir un solo segundo. Pero este cierre se siente flojo y mal rematado, quitándole bastante brillo al resultado final.
​
Una saga muy disfrutona si la pillas de oferta como un único volumen de consumo rápido, pero con una traca final que no está a la altura de toda la leña que ha ido metiendo por el camino.

[Naei]

Insatisfactorio.

Siento odio y no logro calmarlo.

Para mí hay cosas que me hacen decir ¿Cuál era la necesidad? Y no sé qué hacer con el la insatisfacción que siento.

Primero : esperé 5 libros para que Anna supiera que su hija estaba viva y 6 para que estuvieran juntas para que me hagas esta cochinada en este libro.

Y segundo la pe**a de Marit, cuál era la necesidad del capítulo 30. No estoy de acuerdo y tampoco estoy de acuerdo con ese final para ella, fue impactante porque lo hizo Oliver pero fue muy meeh para todo lo malo que ella hizo.

Me gustó que ella se juntara con Kris. Que inútil el donante de Anna, de verdad sabía que no iba a hacer nada ese tipo (no recuerdo el nombre) pero se paso a lo feo.

Me gustó que le dió un buen final a la relación familiar de Askel. Mi niño merece felicidad.

Que buen final tuvo kjell después de lo hizo, eso sí fue satisfactorio no cómo lo de Marit.

Y estuvo buena la historia del draug, ella creí en ti desde que te conocí.

[Gareth]

I really enjoyed this series. It was a great take on the zombie genre and unlike other books, Nick Clausen was able to keep them dangerous. There was no "I'll just run around the slow ones" type dialogue, they always posed a threat to the characters.

The story is based on Norse mythology and the outcome of disturbing a burial site which contained a Draug. Long story short, the Draug cursed someone and it spread. I will definitely be reading Nick Clausens other zombie series as I was very impressed with this.

My only gripe. I want to read an apocalyptic book where humanity loses! But that isn't his fault, obviously.

If you're a fan of zombie books, this series is definitely worth reading.

[Helen Broadbent]

Wow. What a read. Great series. Couldn’t put the books down. You would never know that English is the author’s second language these books are so well written.
So glad the baddies got their comeuppance but such a shame they took out some great characters beforehand.
I wanted more! An epilogue! Just to find out how the main characters lives panned out.
I only found 3 continuity errors in the whole series which for a series of 7 books is amazing (I’m a picky so and so when it comes to continuity errors 😂).
Thoroughly recommend Nick Clausen if you like this genre.
Incidentally when I went out to feed the hedgehogs and it was pitch black in the garden and I heard them snuffling all I could think about was zombies in the bushes 😂.

[Laura]

Audiobook: I found book seven to be as thrilling as the first six books in the series. I was entertained by this story. I thought the whole series was amazing, but I was sad also as my imagination won't be drawn into this fictional world any longer. I liked all the surprising twists and almost unceasing action which kept this story in constant flux. I admired Spencer Dillehay's narration throughout the series as his performance always kept me entertained. I was gifted a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to leave a review which expressed my honest opinions about the story.

[Tom Withers]

ZoMbIeS! Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiinnnnnnns!

This book does what it says on the tin. It's a zombie book written by a great author. Every once in a while you'll get a petty little Norwegian side-swipe at American culture (I feel sorry for him, really) that sort of takes you out of the action and reveals a little too much of the author for my taste.

Still, these are genuinely good books with a genuinely interesting premise.

Clausen delivers. Good characters. Lots of death and gore. Dead darlings all over the place. Hey, it's a zombie book - what more can I say? I will keep coming back to this well until I'm an old man. I just LOVE the genre.

[Shelley Barr]

This is gonna be a quick review. Over all the series was pretty good. It started off amazing then slowly slipped all the way down to meh.
This last book in particular was rushed and sloppy. Between the editing mistakes to the missing characters. What exactly happened to Ella’s dad? There’s no mention of him leaving. He’s just gone. And Merit, well she got off easy, she’s up there with my list of hated characters I’ve ever read.
There was just too many loose ends left to this story, in my opinion.
Like I said this last book felt rushed.

[Holly Borah]

Well, unfortunately all good things come to an end!

This series certainly isn't the first I've read of Nick's and it definitely won't be the last, especially since I'm patiently waiting for the next installation of Invaders lol. This was such a a fantastic series, just like Dead Meat. Yes, it's another zombie series but so different was the cause. And that's why this series was fantastic. Please take my word for it. Purchase or borrow, whichever you choose, you will be entertained! Thank you very much Nick, again, for the delightfully wicked read!

[Darling Suárez]

“A veces, para ver la verdad, es necesario que todo lo demás desaparezca” y así sucede en este gran cierre de la historia, en el cual el autor mezcla emotividad, terror y lo que más le gustó es la parte mitológica del origen de la infección, creo que es muy original y un recurso poco utilizado en la ficción de zombis.

Los personajes no han decepcionado en esta conclusión, amando a unos y odiando a otros, lo que quiere decir que están bien construidos.

Otra gran serie de muertos vivientes!

[Robin Perryman]

The End

I was wondering halfway through if this was the finale. It is. This was a good series. I was always waiting for the next book to come out. I would've likes a bit more at the end. Plus I wanted to know what became of Maritz. I wanted her to get what she had coming, She was selfish throughout the entire story. This is my only issue, not knowing. Otherwise, good series.

[Alan Villafana]

A kind of happy ending to a zombie apocalypse?! Interesting. It's a first for me. The narrator, Spencer Dillehay, did a fantastic job with all these characters and bringing them to life. I enjoyed the mythology of the drug and was hoping for a huge battle, but I was ok with the ending and will check out the other series Clausen has.

[Rissa Woodruff]

Good series

The book was really nice. Still kinda butthurt they killed the only two black in the entire country. But it was nice some things felt rushed but overall very engaging, and the characters you love are enduring. I like the ending and the visualizations without being oversaturated in detail.

[Anket]

Fue un buen final. Me hubiera gustado ver un poco más, tal vez un epílogo sobre como llevaban el post apocalipsis, un año después o algo. Pero ajá.

Solo quiero acotar que no me da ninguna pena lo que sucedió con Marit. O Kjell.
Lo que si, esperaba que le sucediera algo a Ragnar; Pero dude, simplemente fue como si se les olvidara que cometió c*nib*lismo. 😖

[B loves books]

This is now officially a full series! And i really enjoyed reading it. A zombie series that is in my „favorites“ list.

I liked the ending, and most of all i liked that there is one 🤭🤭🤭 after binging the walking dead and never finishing it, this felt like a solace.

[Gina Pytleski]

This series was great! I enjoyed it immensely. I didn't notice it in the first 6 books, but this one had so many grammatical errors - it was as if it hadn't been edited at all. So 4 stars for the last book due to that...

[AGilden]

Highly enjoyable series with relatable characters. I'll continue to live in this fictional world, luckily only in my head, for the next few days. Book 7 pulls together all the strands from the last six books in a way that is original, complete, and satisfying.