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Life Among the Dead #1
Life Among the Dead
There are over a million people in the city of Waterloo. Today, most of them have died, and now they are hungry. Corporal Dan Williamson is caught in the middle of the outbreak. He is desperately trying to reach his wife who is somewhere amid the urban decay. There are other souls out there, other tales of survival among the horror. Dan will soon learn that the living may prove to be an even bigger threat than the dead.
598 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2011
46 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Cotton
17 books20 followersOffering an assortment of subjects, Daniel Cotton taps into pains from his past as well as the current joys in his life, blending them into tales that are both dark and touching. He delves into his own life experiences; his factory jobs, his time working on a psychiatric ward, his time in the Navy, all of the places he has lived and people he’s known to make the worlds he creates seem more real. When you read one of his works, you are actually reading a piece of him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 4, 2013
Amazon did me a great favor when allowing Kindle authors to offer "free" downloads of their work. This gave me an opportunity to sample books in other genres that I don't usually read...with nothing to lose. During the last year, I've become fascinated with "Zombie" stories, finishing quite a few books with more on my TBR list. I found "Life Among the Dead" to be one of the more unique books in this genre. It has a host of likeable characters and many side stories within the main story line, keeping the reader interested and anxious. Dan, an AWOL Army soldier, is the main character in this story - readers join him in a quest to find his wife and newborn child. En-route, he encounters survivors - both good and bad - some join up with him and others must be killed, soldiers from his former unit, killer zombies and a litany of obstacles that stand in his way. The author also introduces a couple of new "facts" as related to zombies: first, they are exceptionally slow in freezing weather and their bodies can be shattered with a well placed hit from a baseball bat or a rock, and second, readers learn that human brains continue to function for the first few moments after becoming an animated zombie. There is no control, but the sense of smell, taste and vision remain until the brain eventually dies from the lack of oxygen.
I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to purchasing book 2 in the series. I would have given "Life Among the Dead" five stars if not for the many editing errors encountered during the read...spell check will not catch these and it would be wise to make the corrections and republish. Great job otherwise and recommended!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to purchasing book 2 in the series. I would have given "Life Among the Dead" five stars if not for the many editing errors encountered during the read...spell check will not catch these and it would be wise to make the corrections and republish. Great job otherwise and recommended!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
July 3, 2022
Pretty good, very addicting I would give it five stars if it were not for the dragged out scenes and the occasional unessecary erotica-ish scenes that took us away from the book entirely. It would be better if it went with the book instead of taking us away from the action. None the less I will be reading the next one :)
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January 22, 2021Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2021/01...
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2021/01...
March 17, 2014
Daniel Cotton's, Life Among The Dead, is an entertaining novel that interweaves several stories of survivors that are connected along the way. The novel almost reads like a collection of short stories that at times come together to intersect, then branch off into separate stories, before connecting again. It makes for an interesting narrative, though I almost would have preferred if this was a collection of short stories, allowing the author to take up different perspectives.
Daniel Cotton can clearly write and has a way with describing imagery and action. The characters develop nicely, especially in the second half in the novel. While I found it a little tough to get through the first few pages, the majority of the characters became more intriguing as the story went on. Some of their stories somewhat fall by the wayside, which the story attempts to remedy in the final chapters, however the ending comes up a little flat as a result. That aside, I really felt the novel was quite ambitious and imaginative, and very worthy of a four star rating.
The writing in the novel almost screams for the author to try out a first person narrator. While many of the characters, such as Bruce, develop very well in the third person. At other times, the perspective seems to be exclusively in Dan's head, getting very few thoughts of the surrounding characters. It might have been better told through Dan's voice, and I would really love to see the story Daniel Cotton can write in the first person.
The novel takes some interesting side journeys, revealing a world that is riddled with cannibal road warriors and religious zealots, but it fortunately doesn't dwell on these stories too long. It is enough to give a picture of the post-apocalyptic vision of the author, without being waylaid into an overused storyline. These stories were also why the structure seemed to beg for a short story collection type of format.
For hardcore zombie fans, this is a worthwhile read that will keep you engaged throughout and build interest along the way. It's got a decent mix of gore, action, and character development that makes for a well-balanced zombie diet.
Daniel Cotton can clearly write and has a way with describing imagery and action. The characters develop nicely, especially in the second half in the novel. While I found it a little tough to get through the first few pages, the majority of the characters became more intriguing as the story went on. Some of their stories somewhat fall by the wayside, which the story attempts to remedy in the final chapters, however the ending comes up a little flat as a result. That aside, I really felt the novel was quite ambitious and imaginative, and very worthy of a four star rating.
The writing in the novel almost screams for the author to try out a first person narrator. While many of the characters, such as Bruce, develop very well in the third person. At other times, the perspective seems to be exclusively in Dan's head, getting very few thoughts of the surrounding characters. It might have been better told through Dan's voice, and I would really love to see the story Daniel Cotton can write in the first person.
The novel takes some interesting side journeys, revealing a world that is riddled with cannibal road warriors and religious zealots, but it fortunately doesn't dwell on these stories too long. It is enough to give a picture of the post-apocalyptic vision of the author, without being waylaid into an overused storyline. These stories were also why the structure seemed to beg for a short story collection type of format.
For hardcore zombie fans, this is a worthwhile read that will keep you engaged throughout and build interest along the way. It's got a decent mix of gore, action, and character development that makes for a well-balanced zombie diet.
April 10, 2013
This book is well written and while the story does meander (as mentioned by another reviewer) it gives you vignettes of life after the zombie apocalypse. These vignettes eventually tie together, showing perfectly the cause and effect of the actions that different characters have on events throughout the story. For me, I enjoyed that it was written from the viewpoint of someone observing these events who somehow also had the ability to get into the minds of the characters. And while my imagination regarding the subject of horror has taken me to some strange places all on my own, there were many moments in this book when I realized that I hadn't yet crossed a certain line where this book (beautifully &) horrifically described. (IE - the description of the 'survivor or sorts' who came to the hospital that morning for open heart surgery and laid spliced open on the table, under sedation, kept alive by machines, unknowing of the events around him as one by one the entire hospital turned zombie and began to approach him.) There were moments I laughed out loud and moments that made my eyes open wide or my mouth drop open. This is a strange, meandering trip but it's well worth the ride.
January 11, 2013
I really liked this book. It's probably one of the best zombie books I've read. It meanders, a LOT, but I didn't mind it. There are constantly new characters being introduced and old ones leaving, sometimes temporarily and sometimes permanently. There is a great mix of danger from both zombies and other live people which I think is necessary for a good zombie story. There is also some really great character progression. I even found myself choking up a few times, which is pretty rare for me. I was able to get this for free during a promotion but I would have gladly paid retail value for it. Not nearly as many grammatical/spelling errors as in your average free zombie book.
December 28, 2013
This is one of the best zombie books I have read and I have read quite a few. Highly recommended! What really makes a great zombie book is the lives and actions of the survivors and how their story is told.
What I really liked are the little side stories that get triggered all throughout this book. The main character may drive past someone hiding in a house and as he drives off into the distance, not even having noticed them, a quick little side story is given on how that person got to where they were and what happens to them, be it good or ill. This nicely breaks up the story and really makes you feel part of it.
A worthy five stars
What I really liked are the little side stories that get triggered all throughout this book. The main character may drive past someone hiding in a house and as he drives off into the distance, not even having noticed them, a quick little side story is given on how that person got to where they were and what happens to them, be it good or ill. This nicely breaks up the story and really makes you feel part of it.
A worthy five stars
November 18, 2014
When I first started reading this I thought it was going to be boring because of the way it was written, like a first time writer would write, but I was drawn into it very quickly. I've read a lot of zombie books, but only a few keeps me upset and disturbed because they are that good. I tried reading into the morning hours because I didn't want to stop, but my eyes were feeling too gritty and tired. The story had me breathless and eager for more all the way to the end, and I would definitely recommend this to everyone who likes zombie books!
May 17, 2014
I downloaded this book for free. Life Among the Dead is not a book it is a saga. While the story goes on and on there is really good character development, interesting happenings, and plenty action to keep the reader from getting bored.Of particular interest is the first person look at turning into a zombie - great element. Life Among the Dead is certainly one of the better Zombie books out there.
May 9, 2014
Wow...this is by far one of the best survival stories I have read, not to mention the zombies. It has humor, as well as sadness in it that really makes you feel for the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone! Fabulous!
June 2, 2014
Zombies again!!
this book was a very good zombie book, but I do wish a sequel will follow. IT actually has a pretty good ending though for a zombie book. I do recommend this to all.
this book was a very good zombie book, but I do wish a sequel will follow. IT actually has a pretty good ending though for a zombie book. I do recommend this to all.
March 9, 2012
Surprisingly fun zombie apocalypse book. I thoroughly enjoyed the pure escapism and edge of your seat moments.
May 17, 2012
One of the best zombie/post apocalypse stories I have read. I ended up missing a whole nights of sleep to finish this book, i literally couldn't put it down.
January 10, 2013
Love, love, love, this book... Couldn't put this book down, I so can't wait for the second one to come out!
May 12, 2014
Oh well. It was free.
May 16, 2014
What a great read! Keeps you on your toes throughout. Fast action and great story lead. Can't wait for the next one!!
May 18, 2014
Enjoyed this very much.
May 30, 2014
This was great! Just enough horror, adventure and humor, all in the right proportions. The Audible add-on was well worth the additional cost. Great work.
November 3, 2022
Pretty good stat to a zombie series, tho I don’t think I’ll move on to book 2. Uncle Bruce ended up being my favorite character. Loved his sense of humor.
February 4, 2024
It got weird at points, and there were some characters and scenarios that didn't add to the story. I kept reading and finished the book because I had to know how it ended.
June 6, 2014
My full Life Among the Dead audiobook review can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Life Among the Dead starts off really well with a walk through of a few survivors experience in the first hours of the zompocolypse. Daniel Cotton does a nice job of introducing characters at a comprehensible pace so the listener has a chance to identify with them. We start with Dan the reservist who just wants to find his pregnant wife. I really liked the down to earth attitude he had about the whole situation. Then there is Becca the closet nerd, who is a cheerleader. She is the ideal girl, smart, beautiful, and funny, until she does something so horrible that I actually was shocked by this twist. They link up with an elderly couple across the street, which is where the adventure really takes off.
The group heads off to the urban sprawl of downtown, to the hospital where Dan’s wife has a huge “little” surprise. At the hospital the initial group meets more survivors, some good, others not so much. This is the one problem I had with the book; I feel it could have been split up so there wasn’t this always evolving cast of characters. After they leave the hospital to make their way to Dan’s uncles farm when they get separated. Dan stumbles into a crazy possessed as a messiah, who wants to kill him. After he escapes, he continues his mission to reunite with his wife where all sorts of interesting things happen along the way.
After he makes his way to the farm, where he meets up with his wife, son, and the original group from the hospital, they start making long term plans to survive. They wall off the neighboring town and farms. They get a real community started. After the winter Bruce (Dan’s uncle) sets out with a military officer named Rash to find Dan’s parents. Things go wrong along the way. Thankfully for a group of children and a couple of adults (from the hospital of course) found his journal with directions back to New Castle. Like I mentioned would have better split up but all in all it was a great book. Well thought out and well written, I will be checking out book two.
Audiobook purchased by reviewer.
Life Among the Dead starts off really well with a walk through of a few survivors experience in the first hours of the zompocolypse. Daniel Cotton does a nice job of introducing characters at a comprehensible pace so the listener has a chance to identify with them. We start with Dan the reservist who just wants to find his pregnant wife. I really liked the down to earth attitude he had about the whole situation. Then there is Becca the closet nerd, who is a cheerleader. She is the ideal girl, smart, beautiful, and funny, until she does something so horrible that I actually was shocked by this twist. They link up with an elderly couple across the street, which is where the adventure really takes off.
The group heads off to the urban sprawl of downtown, to the hospital where Dan’s wife has a huge “little” surprise. At the hospital the initial group meets more survivors, some good, others not so much. This is the one problem I had with the book; I feel it could have been split up so there wasn’t this always evolving cast of characters. After they leave the hospital to make their way to Dan’s uncles farm when they get separated. Dan stumbles into a crazy possessed as a messiah, who wants to kill him. After he escapes, he continues his mission to reunite with his wife where all sorts of interesting things happen along the way.
After he makes his way to the farm, where he meets up with his wife, son, and the original group from the hospital, they start making long term plans to survive. They wall off the neighboring town and farms. They get a real community started. After the winter Bruce (Dan’s uncle) sets out with a military officer named Rash to find Dan’s parents. Things go wrong along the way. Thankfully for a group of children and a couple of adults (from the hospital of course) found his journal with directions back to New Castle. Like I mentioned would have better split up but all in all it was a great book. Well thought out and well written, I will be checking out book two.
Audiobook purchased by reviewer.
September 3, 2021
The first and last 1/3 of Life Among the Dead is entertaining if not overly original. It wastes no time with build up and starts as the tide of the zombie outbreak overwhelms the unprepared authorities. A few characters stand out while others fall prey to the various pitfalls of the end of the world. The main character is a National Guard Soldier whose unit is routed sending him running from the growing zombie hoard. With a few exceptions, the secondary characters are mostly one dimensional and fall quickly as their plot purposes are completed. The situations stumble and rise in their creativity. Some are interesting, like the hospital fighting and house to house sprints, while others seem right out of a bad 1970s TV show. A town with a Cultish preacher followed by an encounter with a cannibalistic biker gang (right out of central casting) for example are distractions from the story and seem to be there just to add filler. Once this is out of the way the story gets back on track and the last bit picks up the pace again. Worth a read if you enjoy the zombie genre. Kudos to Parkinson who does a good job with the narration.
*PS - somebody tell the writers club that the Army hasn't driven Jeeps in 30 years. All services switched to Humvees before the first Persian Gulf War. I keep reading about modern troops riding in Jeeps and unless they raided a museum it really blows the sodb.
*PS - somebody tell the writers club that the Army hasn't driven Jeeps in 30 years. All services switched to Humvees before the first Persian Gulf War. I keep reading about modern troops riding in Jeeps and unless they raided a museum it really blows the sodb.
October 14, 2014
Pretty good book... I have gotten so many books through BookBub.com that I cannot remember if this book was free or .99 cents.
Either way for whatever price or free... its worth to take time to read it.
Poor Dan ... Im amazed that he didnt have a nervous breakdown with so much bad luck that just came his way ... no more did he get out of one situation... when right around the corner it was " WHAM" right back and really
deep in it he was.
Wish that the author didnt kill off so many of the wonderful characters in the book... Bruce, Rash(ida), Dan's father ( who we never really got to meet)
And omg .. really.. Carla ( I think thats her name) the young girl who worked in a strip club stripping.
she hated it ( but only did it to support herself and her brother)
She is also the sheriff of New Castle walking around dressed like she still works in that strip club she disliked so much.
Good book either way ..... so read it :P
Either way for whatever price or free... its worth to take time to read it.
Poor Dan ... Im amazed that he didnt have a nervous breakdown with so much bad luck that just came his way ... no more did he get out of one situation... when right around the corner it was " WHAM" right back and really
deep in it he was.
Wish that the author didnt kill off so many of the wonderful characters in the book... Bruce, Rash(ida), Dan's father ( who we never really got to meet)
And omg .. really.. Carla ( I think thats her name) the young girl who worked in a strip club stripping.
she hated it ( but only did it to support herself and her brother)
She is also the sheriff of New Castle walking around dressed like she still works in that strip club she disliked so much.
Good book either way ..... so read it :P
March 29, 2015
Book one chronicles our soldier, Corporal Dan, as he makes his way to find his wife after the outbreak. The varied circumstances he finds himself in run the gamut from funny to downright scary. As usual we find there are other survivors that are worse than the zombies. Corporal Dan has his run in with them too, as do other fellow travelers. The tale starts out a bit on the slow side, but picks up. An unexpected passenger livens up the dialog and provides a laugh or two. Dan makes it to his Uncle Bruce's ranch and is reunited with his family. Bruce assumes the journal as he departs on a scouting trip. The next entertaining surprise was a female soldier/survivor named Rash. She and Uncle Bruce hit it off and the repartee was lively and funny. Unfortunately, not all tales have a happy ending.
October 26, 2014
I seem to be one of the very few that didn't care for this book. Didn't like the tense - felt like I was playing in a roleplaying game rather than reading a book. Didn't like the incessant plays on all of the little kid's names. i.e. Jackrabbit, Jackhammer. Didn't like that the two main heroes both seemed to me to be misogynistic jerks but were somehow loved by all. Didn't like that almost everyone the main heroes met up with had a theory on how the whole thing happened. And didn't like that it felt to me that the author made himself the main hero (I only think this as the main hero has the same name as the author). I know my things are nitpicky. I did finish the book and it wasn't poorly written but I just didn't care for it.
October 17, 2014
I loved this book. There were times when it did drag out a little, but overall, had a good flow. This book had many stories that intertwined with the main story and was beautifully handled. You didn't get bored with it, didn't have to try and remember what sorry line they were a part of, meshed together very well, and you actually care for the characters!
There were some unique view points I have never read or seen before and it brought up some good discussion between me and my non-reading husband (which always gets points).
I felt connected to even the minute characters that I choked up a little at some of the deaths. Recommend this highly!
There were some unique view points I have never read or seen before and it brought up some good discussion between me and my non-reading husband (which always gets points).
I felt connected to even the minute characters that I choked up a little at some of the deaths. Recommend this highly!
May 6, 2012
Another zombie book down!
I liked the characters and felt that they did grow throughout the book. I was so frustrated by how one of them ended up dieing simply because it shouldn't have happened that way but I think that's why it DID happen that way. Because it was just so frustrating!
I also wasn't to fond of the whole "King" deal. I don't know how it even came about but it was just frustrating.
I liked the characters and felt that they did grow throughout the book. I was so frustrated by how one of them ended up dieing simply because it shouldn't have happened that way but I think that's why it DID happen that way. Because it was just so frustrating!
I also wasn't to fond of the whole "King" deal. I don't know how it even came about but it was just frustrating.
July 11, 2014
a yarn that's as good as it gets.
I like books that end making you feel satisfied having taken the time to read it. the zombies are the basic kind, the heroes are young and old which is as it should be. a soldier tries to get to his family while trying to keep survivors he has come across alive. a tough job for him. the book has several side stories that help the story along. a really good read.
I like books that end making you feel satisfied having taken the time to read it. the zombies are the basic kind, the heroes are young and old which is as it should be. a soldier tries to get to his family while trying to keep survivors he has come across alive. a tough job for him. the book has several side stories that help the story along. a really good read.
March 2, 2016
Started this book and did not finish it. I couldn't. I have read some pretty terrible zombie novels but I couldn't even finish this. NO ONE would react the way that some of these characters acted. NO ONE. [spoiler] After the second boy fell through the hole in the ceiling trying to get his pants off to have sex with the girl that was only doing it because he was a virgin - I was done. D-O-N-E.
I do not recommend this book to anyone.
I do not recommend this book to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2014
Not bad
I am a rabid reader of the zombie genre, I've read some pretty horrid stuff and the not so bad stuff, I'd say this falls in the not so bad, it had some flaws and some good points, the flaws weren't really detrimental to the story so that's always a plus, but it didn't suck by any means, I have read better however, but I'd recommend it to a fan of the genre.
I am a rabid reader of the zombie genre, I've read some pretty horrid stuff and the not so bad stuff, I'd say this falls in the not so bad, it had some flaws and some good points, the flaws weren't really detrimental to the story so that's always a plus, but it didn't suck by any means, I have read better however, but I'd recommend it to a fan of the genre.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews