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Dead Inside
For nine years the Mission Safe Zone has survived the zombie apocalypse that has consumed the world. But now people are going missing, vanishing without trace, and Sheriff Jim Reilly believes a serial killer is loose inside the walls. For salvagers Robyn Cartwright and Amanda Martin, a serial killer is the least they have to worry about. Something is going on with the undead outside the wall---something that could have deadly repercussions for the Safe Zone, and every living thing within it.
- GenresZombies
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Gareth Wood
13 books24 followersFound as a baby inside the smoldering husk of a meteorite that fell to Earth somewhere in the south of England, Gareth Wood grew to a facsimile of adulthood in western Canada.
His interest in apocalyptic fiction began early on, when as a child he read The Hobbit. The Battle of Five Armies was a world changer for young Gareth, leading him into fantasy, SF, horror and post-apocalypse fiction.
In 2004 Gareth sat down at his computer pondering writing a novella. Despite his better judgement, he did just that and then kept on going.
One day Gareth will sing the song that ends the world, but that day is not today.
His interest in apocalyptic fiction began early on, when as a child he read The Hobbit. The Battle of Five Armies was a world changer for young Gareth, leading him into fantasy, SF, horror and post-apocalypse fiction.
In 2004 Gareth sat down at his computer pondering writing a novella. Despite his better judgement, he did just that and then kept on going.
One day Gareth will sing the song that ends the world, but that day is not today.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 22, 2014
YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!! Another editing project is now a published book! A serial killer in a post-zombie-apocalypse world. Um, yes, thanks!
March 24, 2014
Robyn Cartwright was an astrophysics student when in May of 2004, the dead rose. Her group maintained their safe haven for a year before the dead breached their walls. Now nine years later, Robyn has found work as salvaging for Mission Safe Zone. Mission is led by council, and a new society has formed. With the zombie problem kept in check, a new situation arises. Five women have gone missing, and some now believe a serial killer has emerged. To add insult to injury, the virus, or whatever it is, is mutating.
Fans of the Rise series will remember Amanda from the previous books, a background character in the first two books, her face scarred by burns obtained when a burning car exploded. Amanda is the only returning character from the previous book, making Dead Inside from Permuted Press readable as both a standalone book or part of the series.
The narration of Dead inside is a mix between third person singular with limited first person narrative told from Amanda's perspective. Discounting one small bump in the road at about the 30% mark, the transition of narration is successful and the benefit of providing Amanda her own voice pays off.
Having read and enjoyed both Rise and Age of the Dead, I was ecstatic to receive Wood's submission of Dead Inside and am happy to report that it was a welcome addition to the series. The struggle of the ongoing zombie battle and fight for survival in a dystopian world along with the secondary crusade of capturing a serial killer creates a well contrasted juxtaposition in a clash of old vs. new world order.
The journey is over, and Gareth Wood leaves readers with an afterword letting readers know this is his last book in the Rise universe. The ending to Dead Inside, and subsequently the Rise series altogether, was emotional and will leave readers satisfied, but still wanting more. Someday I hope Wood will revisit the series, I'd like to know more about the infection and it's origin. I also think there could be something special in a continuation of the mutation arc and would love to see where he takes it.
Interesting tidbit: Gemalte Leiche, Amanda's favorite band, was made up by Gareth and you'll find references to them in all three books. He's even given them a Facebook page! Go show your love for The Rise series & heavy metal by liking them on Facebook!
Fans of the Rise series will remember Amanda from the previous books, a background character in the first two books, her face scarred by burns obtained when a burning car exploded. Amanda is the only returning character from the previous book, making Dead Inside from Permuted Press readable as both a standalone book or part of the series.
The narration of Dead inside is a mix between third person singular with limited first person narrative told from Amanda's perspective. Discounting one small bump in the road at about the 30% mark, the transition of narration is successful and the benefit of providing Amanda her own voice pays off.
Having read and enjoyed both Rise and Age of the Dead, I was ecstatic to receive Wood's submission of Dead Inside and am happy to report that it was a welcome addition to the series. The struggle of the ongoing zombie battle and fight for survival in a dystopian world along with the secondary crusade of capturing a serial killer creates a well contrasted juxtaposition in a clash of old vs. new world order.
The journey is over, and Gareth Wood leaves readers with an afterword letting readers know this is his last book in the Rise universe. The ending to Dead Inside, and subsequently the Rise series altogether, was emotional and will leave readers satisfied, but still wanting more. Someday I hope Wood will revisit the series, I'd like to know more about the infection and it's origin. I also think there could be something special in a continuation of the mutation arc and would love to see where he takes it.
Interesting tidbit: Gemalte Leiche, Amanda's favorite band, was made up by Gareth and you'll find references to them in all three books. He's even given them a Facebook page! Go show your love for The Rise series & heavy metal by liking them on Facebook!
June 10, 2014
The nearly endless undead prowling the world after the zombies Rise are bad. But sometimes the remaining humans are worse.
The lighter, detail-filled chapters on what passes for civilization are interesting, as is the author's obvious love of the recurve bow as a weapon, but don't let their apparent pastoral recreation of society lull you into a sense of familiarity. The real story in Gareth Wood's Dead Inside is what kinds of people can survive and thrive in such an apocalyptic world.
It is when it explores the relationships between the survivors that this book has its most engrossing moments. The meat of the book, if you will. The bones are provided by the main story that spans a spare eight days, with a crime mystery that will catch hold of you and not let go until you finally release the breath you didn't know you were holding on the last page.
Dead Inside weaves back and forth between a week in September 2013 and nine years earlier, when the zombies reanimate and the characters first face the undead. How they survived those early years scars their psyches and sometimes their bodies, all of which lead to more complex characters and some surprising dialogue. My favorites were the discussion about whether there is still reason for justice and empathy in a zombie world, and on the lighter side, the conversation between the two salvagers who'd had a little too much rum. The latter will keep me grinning for a long time.
This is a more emotionally complex book than Gareth's earlier works set in this world, Rise and Age of the Dead, with a wider range of characters. Just don't get too emotionally attached to them. In the harsh apocalyptic world, the most dangerous beings can be the Dead Inside.
The lighter, detail-filled chapters on what passes for civilization are interesting, as is the author's obvious love of the recurve bow as a weapon, but don't let their apparent pastoral recreation of society lull you into a sense of familiarity. The real story in Gareth Wood's Dead Inside is what kinds of people can survive and thrive in such an apocalyptic world.
It is when it explores the relationships between the survivors that this book has its most engrossing moments. The meat of the book, if you will. The bones are provided by the main story that spans a spare eight days, with a crime mystery that will catch hold of you and not let go until you finally release the breath you didn't know you were holding on the last page.
Dead Inside weaves back and forth between a week in September 2013 and nine years earlier, when the zombies reanimate and the characters first face the undead. How they survived those early years scars their psyches and sometimes their bodies, all of which lead to more complex characters and some surprising dialogue. My favorites were the discussion about whether there is still reason for justice and empathy in a zombie world, and on the lighter side, the conversation between the two salvagers who'd had a little too much rum. The latter will keep me grinning for a long time.
This is a more emotionally complex book than Gareth's earlier works set in this world, Rise and Age of the Dead, with a wider range of characters. Just don't get too emotionally attached to them. In the harsh apocalyptic world, the most dangerous beings can be the Dead Inside.
May 26, 2016
With his first two books in the series, Rise and Age of the Dead, Wood was pretty consistent with his style. The first book was done as a log book or diary, but still flowed as a story. The second book continued with a flowing story. Both books had one main character and the story is told from his point of view. Sadly, with Dead Inside, Wood has fallen victim to what is becoming an epidemic: multi-viewpoint story telling. We are presented with new characters several years after the close of book 2. The new protagonist, voiced from the first person was a relatively minor character from the first two books. Wood switches from first person to third so often, that is can be a bit confusing. More so for me since I was "reading" it as an audio book. To add insult to injury, the narrator Erin Moon, has the most annoying vocal-fry voice. At first I thought it was because of the character, but it continued, no matter which perspective.
This is one of those series that should have stopped with number two.
This is one of those series that should have stopped with number two.
September 11, 2014
A really interesting mix of zombie apocalypse and murder mystery. I like the latter genre more, and this was a refreshing change. The author has really found his voice and style with this book -- you don't have to have read the previous two books as this can stand alone.
September 11, 2015
Excellent
Excellent
another great read by Gareth!
I am sad that this is the last book.
Murder mystery and the zombie apocalypse, what more could you ask for.
Excellent
another great read by Gareth!
I am sad that this is the last book.
Murder mystery and the zombie apocalypse, what more could you ask for.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews