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Undead Dawn: A Zombie Apocalypse Thriller
Cooper Kane is the last guy you’d bet on to survive the zombie apocalypse.
When the bombs fell, Kane’s carefree life of fast cars, fast women, and even faster getaways came to a screeching halt.
Now, Phoenix has transformed into a nightmare where the dead don't stay dead, and Kane’s only concern is saving his mother from the heart of this hellscape.
But the road out of the city is paved with the living dead. With the help of his tougher-than-she-looks mother, a crotchety old sniper, a foul-mouthed mentor, and a blonde bombshell with secrets of her own, Kane fights to get out of Phoenix.
As they battle through hordes of zombies and face unimaginable horrors in the wilds of Northern Arizona, survival becomes more than just staying alive—it’s holding on to what makes them human. Fans of The Walking Dead, World War Z, and Mad Max will feel right at home in this adrenaline-fueled wasteland.
If you’re ready for a wild, blood-soaked ride through the apocalypse, grab your copy of Undead Dawn and see if Kane has what it takes to survive when the world ends.
When the bombs fell, Kane’s carefree life of fast cars, fast women, and even faster getaways came to a screeching halt.
Now, Phoenix has transformed into a nightmare where the dead don't stay dead, and Kane’s only concern is saving his mother from the heart of this hellscape.
But the road out of the city is paved with the living dead. With the help of his tougher-than-she-looks mother, a crotchety old sniper, a foul-mouthed mentor, and a blonde bombshell with secrets of her own, Kane fights to get out of Phoenix.
As they battle through hordes of zombies and face unimaginable horrors in the wilds of Northern Arizona, survival becomes more than just staying alive—it’s holding on to what makes them human. Fans of The Walking Dead, World War Z, and Mad Max will feel right at home in this adrenaline-fueled wasteland.
If you’re ready for a wild, blood-soaked ride through the apocalypse, grab your copy of Undead Dawn and see if Kane has what it takes to survive when the world ends.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2024
509 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Doggett
58 books44 followersMatthew Doggett is an American author and freelance writer. He writes mostly in the horror, thriller, and crime genres.
He pens weekly stories for the Dr. NoSleep horror podcast and the SCP Experience horror podcast.
Chances are, you've read some of his nonfiction ghostwriting work, which covers many topics and appears under many names.
He's currently living on an island off the east coast of Mexico, spending too much time indoors, hard at work on his next novel.
Check him out on Facebook under Matthew Doggett Author!
He pens weekly stories for the Dr. NoSleep horror podcast and the SCP Experience horror podcast.
Chances are, you've read some of his nonfiction ghostwriting work, which covers many topics and appears under many names.
He's currently living on an island off the east coast of Mexico, spending too much time indoors, hard at work on his next novel.
Check him out on Facebook under Matthew Doggett Author!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 27, 2025
3.5 stars
Took me awhile to get used to the writing style. The constant change from first name to surname was jarring. I also don't know if it knew what tone it was aiming for, for the first 50% of the book.
However, the last 50% I enjoyed and I have become attached to the characters and I would definitely like to continue the series.
Leroy you are a legend.
Took me awhile to get used to the writing style. The constant change from first name to surname was jarring. I also don't know if it knew what tone it was aiming for, for the first 50% of the book.
However, the last 50% I enjoyed and I have become attached to the characters and I would definitely like to continue the series.
Leroy you are a legend.
September 12, 2024
This was a really great zombie story! Everything you could want, a good well thought out main character, a great plot, good levels of action & tension, a really great adventure! I thought it was great & I do recommend for all lovers of zombies!
June 23, 2025
I love me a good zombie, post-apocalyptic story!! I was pleasantly surprised by this book. This is my first book by Matthew Doggett, so I went in with zero expectations. This is not a slow burn. You are immediately dumped into the sh*t show and taken along for the ride. I think that this series really has some potential, and there were some things I liked and some things I wasn't a huge fan of. I enjoyed the comedic moments, even though they are brief. It was just a nice tension breaker here and there. I mean, it is the end of the world, and the characters are trying to survive, but you can still find things to laugh about, right? I liked that the author didn't shy away from describing some of the gruesome scenes in detail. I also enjoyed the fast pace of the book; however, I think this also worked against the book. I ended up feeling like I wanted (needed) to know more about the characters. The only character I really got enough info on to connect with is the main protagonist, Cooper Kane, and...I didn't find him all that likable. A majority of the book is from his perspective, and some of the things he said/did/thought were weird to me. I will say that he grew on me, though!
Things I didn't like: the overly detailed descriptions of where they were driving. I'm not from Phoenix, so I really don't need that much detail about the route they take. It made my eyes glaze over a lot during the escape scenes. I found it annoying how the author doesn't just call a gun a gun. He always called it by its actual name. Even when someone was speaking, they would say, "Hand me that 30-06. I'll take him out". Who does that? lol My other annoyance is that the author refers to the main character sometimes by their first name, other times by their last name. This makes it confusing when there are multiple characters in the story. Just pick a name and stick with it. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I plan on checking the next one out. I really hope that there's some more fleshing out on the twins and the reason behind the zombie invasion.
Feel free to check out my full review of the book here: https://deviantangelreads.com/2025/06...
Things I didn't like: the overly detailed descriptions of where they were driving. I'm not from Phoenix, so I really don't need that much detail about the route they take. It made my eyes glaze over a lot during the escape scenes. I found it annoying how the author doesn't just call a gun a gun. He always called it by its actual name. Even when someone was speaking, they would say, "Hand me that 30-06. I'll take him out". Who does that? lol My other annoyance is that the author refers to the main character sometimes by their first name, other times by their last name. This makes it confusing when there are multiple characters in the story. Just pick a name and stick with it. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I plan on checking the next one out. I really hope that there's some more fleshing out on the twins and the reason behind the zombie invasion.
Feel free to check out my full review of the book here: https://deviantangelreads.com/2025/06...
February 26, 2025
I’m a sucker for zombie books and this one is a keeper! I really enjoyed the thrills and chills!
And, it has a new kind of zombie I really dig. I have not read or seen anything like this type of zombie before.
Not to mention the amount of times I laughed out loud from all the shenanigans and comments the main characters offered up. I may have giggled a lot, too.
I bet Matt Doggett had a blast writing this story. As a reader, I think we get a sense of his dark humor and I’m here for it! Yeah, I know zombies are so overly saturated in the horror genre, but I am telling you, this isn’t quite like the typical zombie stories you’ve read. It’s fast. It’s brutal. It’s hilarious. It’s gory. And it ends too quickly.
Matthew Crow did a phenomenal job reading the story for us. He hit all the bits of angst and fear perfectly and all the sarcasm and wittiness of the characters are spot on. You can’t ask for a better narrator for this story!
I’m definitely a new fan of Matthew Doggett. I can not wait to jump into the next in the series. I’m hooked!
And, it has a new kind of zombie I really dig. I have not read or seen anything like this type of zombie before.
Not to mention the amount of times I laughed out loud from all the shenanigans and comments the main characters offered up. I may have giggled a lot, too.
I bet Matt Doggett had a blast writing this story. As a reader, I think we get a sense of his dark humor and I’m here for it! Yeah, I know zombies are so overly saturated in the horror genre, but I am telling you, this isn’t quite like the typical zombie stories you’ve read. It’s fast. It’s brutal. It’s hilarious. It’s gory. And it ends too quickly.
Matthew Crow did a phenomenal job reading the story for us. He hit all the bits of angst and fear perfectly and all the sarcasm and wittiness of the characters are spot on. You can’t ask for a better narrator for this story!
I’m definitely a new fan of Matthew Doggett. I can not wait to jump into the next in the series. I’m hooked!
June 3, 2025
Mentally I DNF’d this at 49% but physically I did carry on to the end.
In my opinion it’s a good read, HOWEVER being completely honest as this is marketed as a horror and a thriller, which admittedly it is due to the gore and zombies, it does miss it’s mark by a mile with the way the characters and situation are written. The only way I can explain what reading this book is like is 'imagine if Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland had decided to write a book with the main character full naming himself like Denny Crane in Boston Legal, combined with a side dish of gore, religious undertones, and a plethora of background characters that didn't get enough time to develop'.
It is also part of an ongoing series (so I imagine the 'background characters' may have time to develop in the remaining series) but they are free on KU so if you're ever in the market for a gore-filled free zombie book, then this is definitely your gal right here.
TLDR: I enjoyed reading it as a satirical horror book but due to this I struggled to take anything written seriously.
In my opinion it’s a good read, HOWEVER being completely honest as this is marketed as a horror and a thriller, which admittedly it is due to the gore and zombies, it does miss it’s mark by a mile with the way the characters and situation are written. The only way I can explain what reading this book is like is 'imagine if Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland had decided to write a book with the main character full naming himself like Denny Crane in Boston Legal, combined with a side dish of gore, religious undertones, and a plethora of background characters that didn't get enough time to develop'.
It is also part of an ongoing series (so I imagine the 'background characters' may have time to develop in the remaining series) but they are free on KU so if you're ever in the market for a gore-filled free zombie book, then this is definitely your gal right here.
TLDR: I enjoyed reading it as a satirical horror book but due to this I struggled to take anything written seriously.
February 21, 2025
Undead Dawn” is a great zombie book having all the things I like in a zombie story: the undead, surviving in the world, and the eventual and inevitable conflicts with other survivors.
Cooper Kane is a guy who is out for only one person: himself. All that changes when a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Pheonix, AZ. Now he must find a way to survive. He finds a few people who want to survive with him – along with his mother and her love, Leroy.
Once they get out into rural Arizona, things fall apart. One man is on a hunt for the team because they had to kill his teen son. Then they stumble across some religious nuts beholden to their charismatic and insane leader.
The whole story packs several punches of action and suspense amidst a world ending zombie scenario. Matthew Doggett is becoming my favorite Indie Horror Author – next to me. I can’t wait for his next one.
Cooper Kane is a guy who is out for only one person: himself. All that changes when a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Pheonix, AZ. Now he must find a way to survive. He finds a few people who want to survive with him – along with his mother and her love, Leroy.
Once they get out into rural Arizona, things fall apart. One man is on a hunt for the team because they had to kill his teen son. Then they stumble across some religious nuts beholden to their charismatic and insane leader.
The whole story packs several punches of action and suspense amidst a world ending zombie scenario. Matthew Doggett is becoming my favorite Indie Horror Author – next to me. I can’t wait for his next one.
March 7, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this novel as although I enjoyed the plot, characters and descriptions, I also expected a bit more based on the opening, but I’m willing to continue the series as it was a good zombie story nonetheless.
I had a nice time listening to this audiobook, thanks to Matthew Crow’s narration which made for a good experience. I was taken straight away by the book opening and I expected the story to go in a different direction than it actually did.
This is not negative per se, but I would have loved something more different. Having said that, I actually enjoyed the characters and the plot, with lots of action and surprises here and there and a new type of zombie, which I hope we’ll know more about in the rest of the series. It did remind me a lot of The Walking Dead, so this might entice you to read it.
What I particularly liked was the detailed description of other characters (I’d call them NPC in the original meaning) and their relation to the main characters, that made this story more believable in a way for me.
All in all, I had fun with this story, following Kane’s ineptitude and a vein of humour throughout, and I hope to delve deeper into some of the story background and characters in the next books.
Thanks to the author for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.
I had a nice time listening to this audiobook, thanks to Matthew Crow’s narration which made for a good experience. I was taken straight away by the book opening and I expected the story to go in a different direction than it actually did.
This is not negative per se, but I would have loved something more different. Having said that, I actually enjoyed the characters and the plot, with lots of action and surprises here and there and a new type of zombie, which I hope we’ll know more about in the rest of the series. It did remind me a lot of The Walking Dead, so this might entice you to read it.
What I particularly liked was the detailed description of other characters (I’d call them NPC in the original meaning) and their relation to the main characters, that made this story more believable in a way for me.
All in all, I had fun with this story, following Kane’s ineptitude and a vein of humour throughout, and I hope to delve deeper into some of the story background and characters in the next books.
Thanks to the author for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.
March 17, 2025
I enjoy reading books in the zompoc genre and I'm always looking for new ones, especially those in a series. I think I have found my next favorite!
Cooper Kane is a typical twenty-something young man, confident, arrogant and full of himself. And, anybody with a name like that deserves to be a hero, right? But, then, the zombies arrive! The book is full of plenty of zombie action, a bit of humor and a religious cult! Don't forget the mushroom clouds and a pair of evil twins out to rule the world! What's not to love? There are also a few middle-aged characters that know how to kick ass, a geriatric man who might be a retired spy, and a father out for revenge. The characters are great and I enjoyed getting to know them.
The narrator did a great job and added a lot to my enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for their next zombie fix!
Cooper Kane is a typical twenty-something young man, confident, arrogant and full of himself. And, anybody with a name like that deserves to be a hero, right? But, then, the zombies arrive! The book is full of plenty of zombie action, a bit of humor and a religious cult! Don't forget the mushroom clouds and a pair of evil twins out to rule the world! What's not to love? There are also a few middle-aged characters that know how to kick ass, a geriatric man who might be a retired spy, and a father out for revenge. The characters are great and I enjoyed getting to know them.
The narrator did a great job and added a lot to my enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for their next zombie fix!
January 7, 2025
Keeps you interested: a good zombie story
A super good zombie story with gore and details enough to keep you interested. I liked how scientific the story started off and am hoping that we get to learn more about our twin antagonists in the second book.
One thing I did not like was how undeveloped our main characters seem to be. There were touching moments between the characters, but I wish there was a much more developed personality for them all. (Which we actually see a lot of for one of our antagonists, (named Mercer) and not so much our main characters)
I also loveddd that this book includes zombie variants, we don’t see that often.
A super good zombie story with gore and details enough to keep you interested. I liked how scientific the story started off and am hoping that we get to learn more about our twin antagonists in the second book.
One thing I did not like was how undeveloped our main characters seem to be. There were touching moments between the characters, but I wish there was a much more developed personality for them all. (Which we actually see a lot of for one of our antagonists, (named Mercer) and not so much our main characters)
I also loveddd that this book includes zombie variants, we don’t see that often.
January 13, 2025
For Zombie fans, this is a book you don't want to miss! I started the book and just couldn't pull myself away! The storyline is good, with a couple of psychos starting a zombie apocalypse. But the main characters are awesome. They are witty, unexpected heroes who battle to survive bombs, undead, and even religious fanatics in Arizona. Cooper Kane is adorable, loves his mom, and surprises himself with his own quick thinking. The characters, good and evil, are so well-written. There is a bit of world-building here, which was good but could be further developed. I hope to see more of that in the second book. All in all, I loved it and think most other zombie fans will love it, too!
February 3, 2025
I’m not in this genre very much. The story line seems limited and hard to maintain the development of characters. They keep getting eaten. This story follows the expected path of continuing escapes from an ever growing threat. The story’s ending contains a twist that moves into the second volume of the trilogy that could change my opinion.
This book is well written and the characters are good. The main character is strong enough to carry a trilogy. Maybe I’ll continue
This book is well written and the characters are good. The main character is strong enough to carry a trilogy. Maybe I’ll continue
February 14, 2025
Wow. This story is really good. The humor that Matthew puts into the story line along with all the tense scary moments. In my point of view makes this book better than any Zombie movie I have ever seen. And the way the apocalypse started and the uniqueness of the types of zombies is captivating. If you are a zombie lover, this book is for you. It's a must read. I was on the edge of my seat one minute and cracking up the next. I highly recommend this book.
March 17, 2025
Excellent Zombie Read!
Love the unique twist on the Zombies. That’s always fun. I like setting an author mix it up in zombie-dom. I’m going to read the whole series, which is what it takes to get a five star or top rating from me. Good, relatable characters, logical thinking with surprises scattered around, and an ending that leaves you wanting more. Probably should mention I love sarcastic humor, and found it here. Read on, my friends, and as always -
Enjoy!
Love the unique twist on the Zombies. That’s always fun. I like setting an author mix it up in zombie-dom. I’m going to read the whole series, which is what it takes to get a five star or top rating from me. Good, relatable characters, logical thinking with surprises scattered around, and an ending that leaves you wanting more. Probably should mention I love sarcastic humor, and found it here. Read on, my friends, and as always -
Enjoy!
September 20, 2024
I enjoy reading this action-packed thriller of good and bad individuals fighting each other for survival while dealing with a sudden zombie outbreak. The author did a great job combining humor with the subject matter. If you like reading zombie books, this one is for you. The open ending will leave you wanting more in the upcoming book 2.
January 16, 2025
Great read
fast paced non stop drama which I expect is how an apocalypse would go down , the crazy climbed out from under their rocks early on in this one and the group have to adapt quickly to survive .
The humour is great and Leroys one liners gave me a good chuckle looking forward to seeing what disasters they walk into in book 2
fast paced non stop drama which I expect is how an apocalypse would go down , the crazy climbed out from under their rocks early on in this one and the group have to adapt quickly to survive .
The humour is great and Leroys one liners gave me a good chuckle looking forward to seeing what disasters they walk into in book 2
January 1, 2025
Handy mouths!
It was surprisingly fun, and very well written. Right from the start you can see it's not your average end of the world zombie infestation. There are alot of surprises and some heartache You'll enjoy the characters I can promise you that!
It was surprisingly fun, and very well written. Right from the start you can see it's not your average end of the world zombie infestation. There are alot of surprises and some heartache You'll enjoy the characters I can promise you that!
January 8, 2025
Good zombie book, fast read
Book flows really nicely and at a good clip. Couple of interesting twists on the start of the zombies and on the zombies themselves. Will be interesting to find out the cause and reasoning for the various types of zombies.
Book flows really nicely and at a good clip. Couple of interesting twists on the start of the zombies and on the zombies themselves. Will be interesting to find out the cause and reasoning for the various types of zombies.
February 1, 2025
Did someone order even evil zombies?
Matthew Doggett puts his own spin on zombies. Good story with characters you want to root for and against. I'll be waiting for book II of Undead Apocolypse.
Matthew Doggett puts his own spin on zombies. Good story with characters you want to root for and against. I'll be waiting for book II of Undead Apocolypse.
February 9, 2025
Couldn't put it down!
What a great start to this series from start to end. Loved the main characters and the take on the different types of zombies. Definitely spooked me. I highly recommend giving this a read!
What a great start to this series from start to end. Loved the main characters and the take on the different types of zombies. Definitely spooked me. I highly recommend giving this a read!
February 19, 2025
This story gives you a unique and different approach to the undead. There is fast-paced action and suspense throughout the story. If you have read any of Matthew Doggett's books, you will find great details in his writing that make you feel like you are really in the story.
March 14, 2025
This book was pretty entertaining. Seemed like a nice start to the series. I was bummed when after binge listening to the first book the second wasn't available on Audible. Guess I'll just have to be patient.
August 24, 2024
This was a disturbing, but excellent book
October 16, 2024
Very interesting read. Great story-telling from the start. Looking forward to the next book of scary, but exciting things that happen..
January 5, 2025
Good Read
A really good read. Good story and likeable characters. I am Looking forward to reading the next book in this . .
A really good read. Good story and likeable characters. I am Looking forward to reading the next book in this . .
January 7, 2025
Ok I guess
A little humour, a little horror, zombies and a conspiracy theory. If that's what your looking for I guess you'll find it in this book.
A little humour, a little horror, zombies and a conspiracy theory. If that's what your looking for I guess you'll find it in this book.
January 21, 2025
Good first book in a series. Sets it up nicely for more to come.
I enjoyed this book. It took a few chapters to get into but I slowly began to enjoy the different characters and I liked the way the story was told. I wasn't keen on the hands twist but otherwise I really enjoyed it.
I enjoyed this book. It took a few chapters to get into but I slowly began to enjoy the different characters and I liked the way the story was told. I wasn't keen on the hands twist but otherwise I really enjoyed it.
February 23, 2025
good read
Nice start to a zombie series with a plausible start to the zombie plague and compelling characters you’d like to follow in additional books
Nice start to a zombie series with a plausible start to the zombie plague and compelling characters you’d like to follow in additional books
March 20, 2025
Loved the fast tempo of this book, so much so that I finished it in one sitting. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
May 30, 2025
Brilliant read,well written and I even chuckled in places.
June 19, 2025
Good open book of the series
Some good relatable characters and set ups for the characters
Looking forward to see where they go and end up
Some good relatable characters and set ups for the characters
Looking forward to see where they go and end up
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews