What do you think?
Rate this book
Fall for Now
Ed and Jean Jackson survived the early days of the apocalypse with the help of their close friends, Chief Barnes and Kathy McGinley. Over the years since the infection began, they chose to step back from the battle against the infected dead and remain within the safety of the shelter hidden in Green Cavern. Now, they have embarked on a perilous mission of their own to attempt the rescue of a group of survivors who are clinging to life near Niagara Falls and the Finger Lakes of New York.
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2025
About the author
Bob Howard
16 books69 followersMeet the Charleston, South Carolina Author
The author Bob Howard (1951-) was born in New Jersey to parents who met in Germany during WW II. His father was from Ohio and his ancestors were from the UK. His mother was born in Romania. He grew up as an Army dependent, and lived overseas in Germany and Okinawa for most of his childhood.
Bob is a veteran of both the Navy and the Air Force and was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. He fell in love with the city and made it his home. As a graduate of the College of Charleston (1978) with a degree in Psychology, he has worked in the field of social services. Bob has lived and worked in Charleston, South Carolina for 25 years then moved to Columbia, South Carolina because of a promotion with his job for the last ten years. Bob will retire soon and will live in Charleston, South Carolina to be near his children.
Bob and his wife Dawn (College of Charleston 1979) have been married 31 years and raised a son and a daughter both born in Charleston, SC. Bob has finally reached a time when he can enjoy writing, and the zombie apocalypse is his favorite genre.
Bob Howard's passion has always been writing. Bob's book, Alive for Now (http://www.realbobhoward.com/), is his first installment to the science fiction post apocalyptic genre, and he wants nothing more than to know that his readers enjoy his work.
The author Bob Howard (1951-) was born in New Jersey to parents who met in Germany during WW II. His father was from Ohio and his ancestors were from the UK. His mother was born in Romania. He grew up as an Army dependent, and lived overseas in Germany and Okinawa for most of his childhood.
Bob is a veteran of both the Navy and the Air Force and was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. He fell in love with the city and made it his home. As a graduate of the College of Charleston (1978) with a degree in Psychology, he has worked in the field of social services. Bob has lived and worked in Charleston, South Carolina for 25 years then moved to Columbia, South Carolina because of a promotion with his job for the last ten years. Bob will retire soon and will live in Charleston, South Carolina to be near his children.
Bob and his wife Dawn (College of Charleston 1979) have been married 31 years and raised a son and a daughter both born in Charleston, SC. Bob has finally reached a time when he can enjoy writing, and the zombie apocalypse is his favorite genre.
Bob Howard's passion has always been writing. Bob's book, Alive for Now (http://www.realbobhoward.com/), is his first installment to the science fiction post apocalyptic genre, and he wants nothing more than to know that his readers enjoy his work.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 14, 2026
I'm not someone who seeks out zombie books....ever....but I've enjoyed this series. This is #13 in the Infected Dead series and they have all been completely immersive and entertaining. I'm always on the edge of seat. It has become one of my favorite dystopian series and it just so happens to have zombies.
I like the core characters, their moral compass, their relationships, and the predicamets they find themselves in. The living antogonists are truly evil, and it's rather satisfying when Karma makes its appearance.
Now I'll add that every now and then, the story relies on convenient coincidences and stupid people to keep things moving. It's never my favorite, but the positives far outweigh those minor annoyances. Overall, I liked this one, so 4 stars.
I like the core characters, their moral compass, their relationships, and the predicamets they find themselves in. The living antogonists are truly evil, and it's rather satisfying when Karma makes its appearance.
Now I'll add that every now and then, the story relies on convenient coincidences and stupid people to keep things moving. It's never my favorite, but the positives far outweigh those minor annoyances. Overall, I liked this one, so 4 stars.
June 15, 2025
Another Great Addition To An Amazing Series
This series has had a chokehold on me since book 1, but despite my years of daily reading teaching me to be wary of series that run too long (they begin to get stale, repetitive, or giving ghost writer vibes) The Infected Dead series has never let me down. Loved this and the new survivors. My only hang up is with the lack of accountability Jacob is seeming to face after not just one instance of endangering everyone's lives, but again AND AGAIN. I think he shouldn't be allowed into any of the shelter, but maybe be forced to live a top in one of the village/decoys first to prove himself for a few years as a repercussion & for the safety of everyone else as well. Otherwise, perfect symmetry of survivors meeting surviviors while the enemies (living and non!) getting a satisfactory end.
This series has had a chokehold on me since book 1, but despite my years of daily reading teaching me to be wary of series that run too long (they begin to get stale, repetitive, or giving ghost writer vibes) The Infected Dead series has never let me down. Loved this and the new survivors. My only hang up is with the lack of accountability Jacob is seeming to face after not just one instance of endangering everyone's lives, but again AND AGAIN. I think he shouldn't be allowed into any of the shelter, but maybe be forced to live a top in one of the village/decoys first to prove himself for a few years as a repercussion & for the safety of everyone else as well. Otherwise, perfect symmetry of survivors meeting surviviors while the enemies (living and non!) getting a satisfactory end.
May 18, 2026
"Fall for Now" Book 13 by Bob Howard
Book 13 is the latest of a zombie apocalypse series, The Infected Dead.
Book 1, "Alive for Now", hooked me about 7 years ago. The last several books have come out a year apart and with each one I've been skeptical that it'll still hold my attention. Surprisingly I have enjoyed each one!
What keeps this series fresh, you ask?😉
1. The characters! Book 1 starts out with a single main character, Ed Jackson, on the coast of South Carolina and ends with a few more survivors getting brought into the fold. Each book builds on the group of survivors with a few more getting added along the way. The author has made each character distinct enough for readers to get to know them and care about them. They are a good group of people intent on taking care of each other, becoming like a family and looking for other people who need help in surviving. They come to be known as the Mud Island Family.
2. The places! The stories take readers all over the country on rescue operations. One book even introduces two survivors stuck on the International Space Station and another involves a trip to the UK. I like the dedication of the characters, so intent on helping other people, despite how difficult travel and survival is for them.
3. Of course, no apocalyptic book would be complete without the characters fighting to stay alive whether it's against a horde of zombies or against the more dangerous, alive humans who have become a law unto themselves. The author is good at showing the action sequences; while those scenes are not my favorite, they're not boring and in no way a deal breaker for me.
4. As if surviving two-legged enemies isn't enough, the infection that has turned humans into deadly creatures has affected other creatures, as well. Why not take creatures that are already creepy (spiders as an example) and make them evolve into creepier beings that do gross and disgusting things?!😆
5. There has been nothing that has made me uncomfortable while reading. No spice. No over-the-top cussing.
6. I have listened to this series in audiobook format. Graham Halstead is the narrator for all of these books and he does a great job.
"Fall for Now" Book 13 takes place 8 years after the infection started. We are back with Ed Jackson who now has a wife, Jean, and a son. The new characters in this book are a group of survivors whose shelter has become compromised...Ed and Jean set out to help them. The catch here is that this couple, having married and then having a child, chose to shelter down for a few years and keep the home fires burning for the rest of their group, rather than go on missions. They intercept the desperate sounding communication for help from a teen-age boy; because most of the group is out doing what they do, Ed and Jean feel it urgent to go out on their own rescue mission. The difficulty is that they go out without support and backup...
and they have now become a bit rusty on tactics.🫣😬
Book 13 is the latest of a zombie apocalypse series, The Infected Dead.
Book 1, "Alive for Now", hooked me about 7 years ago. The last several books have come out a year apart and with each one I've been skeptical that it'll still hold my attention. Surprisingly I have enjoyed each one!
What keeps this series fresh, you ask?😉
1. The characters! Book 1 starts out with a single main character, Ed Jackson, on the coast of South Carolina and ends with a few more survivors getting brought into the fold. Each book builds on the group of survivors with a few more getting added along the way. The author has made each character distinct enough for readers to get to know them and care about them. They are a good group of people intent on taking care of each other, becoming like a family and looking for other people who need help in surviving. They come to be known as the Mud Island Family.
2. The places! The stories take readers all over the country on rescue operations. One book even introduces two survivors stuck on the International Space Station and another involves a trip to the UK. I like the dedication of the characters, so intent on helping other people, despite how difficult travel and survival is for them.
3. Of course, no apocalyptic book would be complete without the characters fighting to stay alive whether it's against a horde of zombies or against the more dangerous, alive humans who have become a law unto themselves. The author is good at showing the action sequences; while those scenes are not my favorite, they're not boring and in no way a deal breaker for me.
4. As if surviving two-legged enemies isn't enough, the infection that has turned humans into deadly creatures has affected other creatures, as well. Why not take creatures that are already creepy (spiders as an example) and make them evolve into creepier beings that do gross and disgusting things?!😆
5. There has been nothing that has made me uncomfortable while reading. No spice. No over-the-top cussing.
6. I have listened to this series in audiobook format. Graham Halstead is the narrator for all of these books and he does a great job.
"Fall for Now" Book 13 takes place 8 years after the infection started. We are back with Ed Jackson who now has a wife, Jean, and a son. The new characters in this book are a group of survivors whose shelter has become compromised...Ed and Jean set out to help them. The catch here is that this couple, having married and then having a child, chose to shelter down for a few years and keep the home fires burning for the rest of their group, rather than go on missions. They intercept the desperate sounding communication for help from a teen-age boy; because most of the group is out doing what they do, Ed and Jean feel it urgent to go out on their own rescue mission. The difficulty is that they go out without support and backup...
and they have now become a bit rusty on tactics.🫣😬
October 31, 2025
Praying for number14
I was so excited to see Jean and Eddie going to help the group in the salt mines. I milked every chapter not wanting it to end
When the gang showed up like commandos and put an end to Branch and his gang I was cheering! I grew up in that area so I could imagine the surrounding areas you described
Thank you for another adventure!
Holding out for number 14!!
I was so excited to see Jean and Eddie going to help the group in the salt mines. I milked every chapter not wanting it to end
When the gang showed up like commandos and put an end to Branch and his gang I was cheering! I grew up in that area so I could imagine the surrounding areas you described
Thank you for another adventure!
Holding out for number 14!!
July 18, 2025
LOVE this series!!!
I've read this series multiple times it's that good!! I loved the story in Fall For Now!! It was great to see Ed and Jean out in an adventure of their own. Can't wait for the next one!!!
I've read this series multiple times it's that good!! I loved the story in Fall For Now!! It was great to see Ed and Jean out in an adventure of their own. Can't wait for the next one!!!
June 17, 2025
Bob hits another one out of the park. There is no better post-apocalyptic author.
March 28, 2026
loving this series. they are going all over to help others. each book you find out how a different group survives and the Mud island family shows up to help
April 25, 2026
Love the whole series!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews