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Zombie Crusade #4
Eastern Front
In this fourth installment of the Zombie Crusade series, Jack Smith's Indiana settlement has become a target for General Matthew Barnes and his vast army of ever-evolving "hunters." Jack and the other leaders of the resistance decide to go on the offensive, first by travelling south to destroy bridges along the Ohio River. With full support from the confederation in Utah, as well as valuable new allies, Jack's forces devise a nearly-suicidal plan to eliminate Barnes' main army of monsters by luring the mad general to a decisive battle at historic Vicksburg. As the fighting escalates, David is torn about the need to divulge an explosive family secret that could change the lives of Jack and Luke forever when forever might not last much longer than twenty-four hours. Back in the Midwest, Father O'Brien scours parts of the Great Lakes for potential hideaways in case Barnes can't be stopped, and he begins to befriend a group of wary Canadians on an island in Lake Huron. Meanwhile, Doc Redders makes a startling discovery about the virus that turns ordinary people into flesh-eating monsters.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2014
10 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
J.W. Vohs
12 books28 followersI grew up in a small town in Indiana, but instead of living on the wrong side of the tracks it was the wrong side of the river. I went right into the Army after graduation, and spent almost four years in the 25th Infantry Division as an Intelligence Analyst.
I came home to a factory job, a place where if you watched the workers walk through the doors in the morning you would understand the scenes from “Shaun of the Dead,” where he went through his daily routine without realizing that the people around him had become zombies. A few years of that inspired me to start taking college classes; my passion for reading and my obsession with history led me to become a high school social studies and English teacher.
I then discovered that what had been a hobby, studying history, was now a professional obligation that I embraced with almost fanatical enthusiasm. Eventually, I felt ready to pick up the pen and write, which led to “Tours.” What I learned about medieval warfare during my research for that novel contributed greatly to the fights and battles that take place in “Zombie Crusade.”
I have wanted to be an author since I read, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway, whose philosophy has been summed up by one analyst as, “We owe the gods a death, but at least we can face the rendezvous like men!” One of my inspirations to actually sit down and start writing novels was John Eldridge’s book “Wild at Heart.” That book explores the hearts of men, arguing that deep inside our hearts we all long for a righteous battle to fight. You will find the philosophies of both of these men in everything I write, from historical fiction to stories of a zombie apocalypse.
My ultimate goal is to both entertain and educate. The primary message of every story I publish is that freedom is a good thing–something we should be willing to fight for with all of our hearts, minds, and blood. We humans constantly struggle against someone or something trying to take away our natural right to live free, and we also struggle with the responsibilities inherent in exercising that freedom. Whether it be an autocratic militant seeking our enslavement or ravenous zombies trying to eat us, these threats to the physical and spiritual autonomy of mankind are the inspiration for my novels.
Finally, like many of you, something in my soul believes that the modern way of life is ultimately unsustainable, and a horrific time of reckoning is looming on the horizon. I am a prepper, not even close to the best of them, but I am trying to prepare my family for an eventual collapse of our culture and society. I hope I am wrong, and that I will dotter around as an elderly man hearing, “I told you so” from every person I’ve ever warned to get ready. Still, an underlying theme in my stories is that people must always be ready to ultimately be responsible for their own safety and survival and not rely on any government agency.
I wish peace unto all of you, but as a Machiavellian, I also urge you to prepare for war!
I came home to a factory job, a place where if you watched the workers walk through the doors in the morning you would understand the scenes from “Shaun of the Dead,” where he went through his daily routine without realizing that the people around him had become zombies. A few years of that inspired me to start taking college classes; my passion for reading and my obsession with history led me to become a high school social studies and English teacher.
I then discovered that what had been a hobby, studying history, was now a professional obligation that I embraced with almost fanatical enthusiasm. Eventually, I felt ready to pick up the pen and write, which led to “Tours.” What I learned about medieval warfare during my research for that novel contributed greatly to the fights and battles that take place in “Zombie Crusade.”
I have wanted to be an author since I read, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway, whose philosophy has been summed up by one analyst as, “We owe the gods a death, but at least we can face the rendezvous like men!” One of my inspirations to actually sit down and start writing novels was John Eldridge’s book “Wild at Heart.” That book explores the hearts of men, arguing that deep inside our hearts we all long for a righteous battle to fight. You will find the philosophies of both of these men in everything I write, from historical fiction to stories of a zombie apocalypse.
My ultimate goal is to both entertain and educate. The primary message of every story I publish is that freedom is a good thing–something we should be willing to fight for with all of our hearts, minds, and blood. We humans constantly struggle against someone or something trying to take away our natural right to live free, and we also struggle with the responsibilities inherent in exercising that freedom. Whether it be an autocratic militant seeking our enslavement or ravenous zombies trying to eat us, these threats to the physical and spiritual autonomy of mankind are the inspiration for my novels.
Finally, like many of you, something in my soul believes that the modern way of life is ultimately unsustainable, and a horrific time of reckoning is looming on the horizon. I am a prepper, not even close to the best of them, but I am trying to prepare my family for an eventual collapse of our culture and society. I hope I am wrong, and that I will dotter around as an elderly man hearing, “I told you so” from every person I’ve ever warned to get ready. Still, an underlying theme in my stories is that people must always be ready to ultimately be responsible for their own safety and survival and not rely on any government agency.
I wish peace unto all of you, but as a Machiavellian, I also urge you to prepare for war!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 10, 2016
Say it ain't so!
This series has been amazing so far! I've read it multiple times and each time when new book comes out, to refresh my memory!
The next book wasn't as in depth as I would have liked and revealed some things like it Wasn't brand new, when in fact it really was, and I really didn't care for that but I'm hoping the New book, once it comes out will explain some things that were just left flapping in the wind.
This series has been amazing so far! I've read it multiple times and each time when new book comes out, to refresh my memory!
The next book wasn't as in depth as I would have liked and revealed some things like it Wasn't brand new, when in fact it really was, and I really didn't care for that but I'm hoping the New book, once it comes out will explain some things that were just left flapping in the wind.
October 19, 2015
Yet an other fantastic scary episode in the Zombie Crusade saga. Great to catch up with the characters and read their exploits. I do hope there will be book 5, because number 4 ended with a shocking event which I need to know what the out come is. I suggest you buy all the books in the Zombie Crusade series and read back to back.
January 4, 2019
Non stop action
One of the best zombie series i have read, believable characters, and I love that most of it happens in Kentucky and Indiana. Can't wait to read the rest
One of the best zombie series i have read, believable characters, and I love that most of it happens in Kentucky and Indiana. Can't wait to read the rest
June 19, 2016
This book displays a much improved writing style compared to its predecessors. The characters are better developed and fleshed out while the dialogue is less stilted and more natural.
There is also no shortage of action. In fact, the action is nearly nonstop throughout the book. However, at times, the battle scenes seem heavy in terms of describing battle strategy as opposed to the frantic, swirling, maddening, slow motion and bloody rush of hand to hand combat from the eyes of the combatant. This might be due to the author's desires to use battle scenes to convey the need for humans to continuously adapt to an adapting enemy- an overall theme within the books.
There is also now an antagonist within the story who appears to be the typical megalomaniacal archvillian bent on world domination, or at least what's left of the world. However, his character remains, as of yet, undeveloped because the reader views him only through radio transmissions containing mostly threats and bravado laced banter. This reader looks forward to more of him.
A couple other things. The surprise ending was certainly..... a surprise....and this reader is eager to see what develops-and my guess is that it is not as it seems. Further, it is obvious that the author has a good grasp of medieval warfare history and the landscape of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Fans of either subjects will enjoy references made to these topics.
Finally, two last things. First: this reader is intrigued and/or frustrated by the fact that the main characters rarely ever seem to show emotions outside of utter calm when in combat, even when placed in hand-to-hand combat with tens of thousands of facing chomping zombie hunters. I would think someone would freak out at least once. Second: has the author considered writing from the viewpoint of a developing zombie Hunter????
Thank you for the enjoyable and fun read and I already have the next in hand!!!
There is also no shortage of action. In fact, the action is nearly nonstop throughout the book. However, at times, the battle scenes seem heavy in terms of describing battle strategy as opposed to the frantic, swirling, maddening, slow motion and bloody rush of hand to hand combat from the eyes of the combatant. This might be due to the author's desires to use battle scenes to convey the need for humans to continuously adapt to an adapting enemy- an overall theme within the books.
There is also now an antagonist within the story who appears to be the typical megalomaniacal archvillian bent on world domination, or at least what's left of the world. However, his character remains, as of yet, undeveloped because the reader views him only through radio transmissions containing mostly threats and bravado laced banter. This reader looks forward to more of him.
A couple other things. The surprise ending was certainly..... a surprise....and this reader is eager to see what develops-and my guess is that it is not as it seems. Further, it is obvious that the author has a good grasp of medieval warfare history and the landscape of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Fans of either subjects will enjoy references made to these topics.
Finally, two last things. First: this reader is intrigued and/or frustrated by the fact that the main characters rarely ever seem to show emotions outside of utter calm when in combat, even when placed in hand-to-hand combat with tens of thousands of facing chomping zombie hunters. I would think someone would freak out at least once. Second: has the author considered writing from the viewpoint of a developing zombie Hunter????
Thank you for the enjoyable and fun read and I already have the next in hand!!!
April 13, 2014
Another awesome kick ass hit!
I been hooked on this series since day one and never been disappointed. Every book gets more chaotic, wild, and excited. I love each and every character that has been introduced and how much they have grown and adapted to their new world environment. I seriously had my jaw drop toward the end! Can't give any spoilers out but I did take a week to read this just to keep me in suspense but Mr Vohs manages to do that anyways. Can't wait to the next one, please say it won't be too too long. Less than 5 months preferred lol. But bring on the next adventure!!
I been hooked on this series since day one and never been disappointed. Every book gets more chaotic, wild, and excited. I love each and every character that has been introduced and how much they have grown and adapted to their new world environment. I seriously had my jaw drop toward the end! Can't give any spoilers out but I did take a week to read this just to keep me in suspense but Mr Vohs manages to do that anyways. Can't wait to the next one, please say it won't be too too long. Less than 5 months preferred lol. But bring on the next adventure!!
October 23, 2016
Great series
A great next chapter in the series. I love the character development and how the story unfolds. I can't wait to start the next one!
A great next chapter in the series. I love the character development and how the story unfolds. I can't wait to start the next one!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews