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Waves of Undead
When a tsunami and a zombie outbreak strike simultaneously, what lengths must one go to in order to survive? Twins Paul and Ana Zuessen fight for their lives when they encounter people who are violent and cannibalistic… The undead.
At the end of the road along the 49th parallel sits the remote town of Tofino, a surfers’ paradise in the Pacific Northwest. Ana travels to this idyllic beach town hoping to rekindle a romantic relationship, when horror and disaster strike.
Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometres away in Ladner, a suburban farm town near Vancouver, Paul learns his sister is on Vancouver Island where civilians are being warned of an encroaching tsunami. Will Paul find a way to get his sister to safety despite the impending apocalypse?
At the end of the road along the 49th parallel sits the remote town of Tofino, a surfers’ paradise in the Pacific Northwest. Ana travels to this idyllic beach town hoping to rekindle a romantic relationship, when horror and disaster strike.
Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometres away in Ladner, a suburban farm town near Vancouver, Paul learns his sister is on Vancouver Island where civilians are being warned of an encroaching tsunami. Will Paul find a way to get his sister to safety despite the impending apocalypse?
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2025
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 27, 2025
I’m a BC local and was so excited when I met the author at a local market and found out about this book!
I feel like I need a trip to the Island asap!
My biggest regret was not starting the book earlier in the day so I could finish it in one sitting!
Don’t want to give any spoilers but I gasped out loud multiple times with people asking if I was ok. Lol
Wish we could give half ratings on good reads!
Looking forward to the next book in the series!!
I feel like I need a trip to the Island asap!
My biggest regret was not starting the book earlier in the day so I could finish it in one sitting!
Don’t want to give any spoilers but I gasped out loud multiple times with people asking if I was ok. Lol
Wish we could give half ratings on good reads!
Looking forward to the next book in the series!!
October 26, 2025
This is a great book with a little bit of everything: love, family, mystery, tragedy, grief and horror with a beautiful landscape behind it all. I couldn't put it down! Hope I don't have to wait too long for book 2.
October 9, 2025
3.5 stars ... The novel starts slowly, but it is worth persevering as it becomes increasingly engaging. My initial reservations about the frequent shifts in perspective among the many characters were alleviated by the author's skillful storytelling, which maintained my interest in their storylines. The characters' journeys were well-developed and easy to follow. While the author's debut novel shows promise, areas for improvement include avoiding repetitive descriptors and pacing issues. Despite these minor flaws, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. I am eager to read the second installment. Thank you for the signed copy.
🩷🧟♀️🩷🧟🩷🧟♂️🩷
P.S. Kat's self-centered nature was somewhat off-putting, but maybe she'll get a personality transplant. 🤞🏻😂
🩷🧟♀️🩷🧟🩷🧟♂️🩷
P.S. Kat's self-centered nature was somewhat off-putting, but maybe she'll get a personality transplant. 🤞🏻😂
July 9, 2025
4.5 🌟
Honestly, that was fantastic 👏 I don't like giving out 5 stars, but I will admit, Waves of Undead has me questioning that rule!
The concept is simple yet new feeling at the same time. What happens if you combine a natural disaster (a tsunami) with a zombie apocalypse.
The world is well fleshed out, you can tell the author knows the area like the back of her hand and writes it with all the familiarity of someone who's walked the streets many times. The characters are well written and believable, I assume in parts they were based on real people, thats how alive they feel.
The story has some good twists that I won't spoil, but there were a handful of occasions that made me mentally clap for the choices the characters made that go against "the norm" in zombie media.
Overall, it's a crime that more people don't know about Waves of Undead! I'll be reading more in the series for sure!
Honestly, that was fantastic 👏 I don't like giving out 5 stars, but I will admit, Waves of Undead has me questioning that rule!
The concept is simple yet new feeling at the same time. What happens if you combine a natural disaster (a tsunami) with a zombie apocalypse.
The world is well fleshed out, you can tell the author knows the area like the back of her hand and writes it with all the familiarity of someone who's walked the streets many times. The characters are well written and believable, I assume in parts they were based on real people, thats how alive they feel.
The story has some good twists that I won't spoil, but there were a handful of occasions that made me mentally clap for the choices the characters made that go against "the norm" in zombie media.
Overall, it's a crime that more people don't know about Waves of Undead! I'll be reading more in the series for sure!
August 6, 2025
Imagine you've watched 28 Days Later, The Day After Tomorrow and Jurassic Park in one night... And then you think, "what would you get if these mixed together?"
You'd probably get this book. Zombies, a life threatening event, and some lonesome location vibes (hence the Jurassic Park mention)
This was fun! The first chapter is a really fantastic opening! It deffo wants to make you keep reading. After that it's more of a slow burn, but in the right way to build it all up. Plenty of character development, lots of tense moments, zombies (genuinely terrifying!), and some funny comments here and there too. Overall, an entertaining ride and an excellent debut from this author!
Recommend this to horror and thriller lovers, especially those with a favour for zombies / apocalypse stories!
You'd probably get this book. Zombies, a life threatening event, and some lonesome location vibes (hence the Jurassic Park mention)
This was fun! The first chapter is a really fantastic opening! It deffo wants to make you keep reading. After that it's more of a slow burn, but in the right way to build it all up. Plenty of character development, lots of tense moments, zombies (genuinely terrifying!), and some funny comments here and there too. Overall, an entertaining ride and an excellent debut from this author!
Recommend this to horror and thriller lovers, especially those with a favour for zombies / apocalypse stories!
August 10, 2025
Wonderful read... picked it up and literally could not put it down. Having lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island and now living in Tsawwassen, I could readily put myself in the shoes of each of the characters (non Zombie of course!).
Descriptive, vivid, enthralling; what else could you ask from an apocalyptic novel!
As all good books identifying as "Book One", the author leaves you on a cliff hanger ending wanting more.
Well done; will look forward to the next chapter.
Descriptive, vivid, enthralling; what else could you ask from an apocalyptic novel!
As all good books identifying as "Book One", the author leaves you on a cliff hanger ending wanting more.
Well done; will look forward to the next chapter.
July 6, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book, loved the multiple point of views. I should not have started it on a weekday because I could not stop reading it and had work the next day.
If you like zombies I recommend this book!
If you live or have visited the Lower Mainland, I recommend this book even more because that just made it extra spooky.
Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Thank you!!
If you like zombies I recommend this book!
If you live or have visited the Lower Mainland, I recommend this book even more because that just made it extra spooky.
Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Thank you!!
July 18, 2025
I am always on the hunt for new zombie stories, so when I found this lovely author through the Zombie Book Club podcast, we connected and did a book trade. I LOVE this story.
Ana was such a complex character and I loved her immediately. Each character had their own realistic and unique personalities; each has something to bring to the table, which makes for a well-rounded cast of characters.
The story itself got RIGHT to the action, which I always love. We have two dilemmas; a tsunami and a zombie outbreak! what could be worse? Me, I enjoyed the entire ride. What a recipe for an engaging and wild plot.
I am very curious about Ana and Paul's past and involvement with their parents and the mysterious goo! And how they're immune! AH gotta know more.
Can't wait for book 2! why do I have to wait 'til 2026?!
Ana was such a complex character and I loved her immediately. Each character had their own realistic and unique personalities; each has something to bring to the table, which makes for a well-rounded cast of characters.
The story itself got RIGHT to the action, which I always love. We have two dilemmas; a tsunami and a zombie outbreak! what could be worse? Me, I enjoyed the entire ride. What a recipe for an engaging and wild plot.
I am very curious about Ana and Paul's past and involvement with their parents and the mysterious goo! And how they're immune! AH gotta know more.
Can't wait for book 2! why do I have to wait 'til 2026?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
Phew! that was a well written and brutal zombie book 🎉
Loved the Canadian setting, and the story felt very grounded. many of the settings I felt like I was there with the characters (for better for worse as they got chomped or fought their way through the hordes haha)
The author really knows the genre well, and it felt like reading The Walking Dead but without the cheesy stuff the show got into.
Definitely didn't hold back haha, a few times I said "eewww gross!' but being that it's a zombie book, it's a good thing (and I'm a horror wuss). but even still, I felt like it was the appropriate amount of violence, nothing meaningless and all served a point.
If you like to see multi POV surviving a sudden wave of zombies, this is a great book!
Loved the Canadian setting, and the story felt very grounded. many of the settings I felt like I was there with the characters (for better for worse as they got chomped or fought their way through the hordes haha)
The author really knows the genre well, and it felt like reading The Walking Dead but without the cheesy stuff the show got into.
Definitely didn't hold back haha, a few times I said "eewww gross!' but being that it's a zombie book, it's a good thing (and I'm a horror wuss). but even still, I felt like it was the appropriate amount of violence, nothing meaningless and all served a point.
If you like to see multi POV surviving a sudden wave of zombies, this is a great book!
October 21, 2025
Having visited, and living in the same province as the setting in this story, I was eager to read this book.
I was excited about the tsunami and the undead. I do wish there had been more tsunami to start with. I love disaster stories, but it definitely took a back seat to the undead pretty quickly. Not a big fan of any of the characters at the moment, the main focus is Ana, and while sometimes I am sympathetic to her plight, she doesn't strike me as someone that I would like to be friends with. I guess like real people, nobody is perfect. Loads of action, a variety of characters and great location are the big attractions in this book, and I would like to read more to find out what happens.
I was excited about the tsunami and the undead. I do wish there had been more tsunami to start with. I love disaster stories, but it definitely took a back seat to the undead pretty quickly. Not a big fan of any of the characters at the moment, the main focus is Ana, and while sometimes I am sympathetic to her plight, she doesn't strike me as someone that I would like to be friends with. I guess like real people, nobody is perfect. Loads of action, a variety of characters and great location are the big attractions in this book, and I would like to read more to find out what happens.
November 12, 2025
What a wild ride. So much to process after blowing through this one in a few hours.
The main protagonists of the story are twins Paul and Ana but the story has a whole slew of other storylines intertwined. You're introduced to so many new characters but it's a real Russian roulette if they're going to live or die. No one is spared. Even the young children and pregnant moms get torn apart.
Now that I'm done, I eagerly await the next book because I need to know about the twins' parents and how they're involved in all this.
The main protagonists of the story are twins Paul and Ana but the story has a whole slew of other storylines intertwined. You're introduced to so many new characters but it's a real Russian roulette if they're going to live or die. No one is spared. Even the young children and pregnant moms get torn apart.
Now that I'm done, I eagerly await the next book because I need to know about the twins' parents and how they're involved in all this.
November 17, 2025
My wife bought this for me at an East Van Halloween market, direct from the author. I started the book just prior to our first trip to Tofino, which made it even more fun to read! Great horror imagery, character development and even humour (zombies falling through broken stairs over and over). I can’t wait for the next installment!!
December 24, 2025
Bought while visiting Tofino this summer. I loved the references to all the local areas and felt like I was there living the story. For it being a first book, it wasn’t terrible but I do think there is room for improvement. It seemed like things happened a little out of the blue and the story took a few random turns but overall it tied together in the end.
June 27, 2025
I had the honor of reading an early copy of this book and it's AMAZING!!!!!! a fresh take on the zombie genre, gritty and gripping with its character driven plot, and absolutely terrifying!!!
A zombie novel that doesn't play it safe and will leave your heart thrashed, I highly recommend!
A zombie novel that doesn't play it safe and will leave your heart thrashed, I highly recommend!
July 9, 2025
I love a good zombie tale, and this was a well-written pleasure to read. It's often difficult to keep the reader engaged with a story line that has many different character viewpoints, but Cuthbertson has accomplished it here. I look forward to more - this was too brief!
July 21, 2025
A fine first effort. Short snappy chapters allow for the kind of easy read one might be looking for during a lazy summer. Enjoyed the local setting quite a bit. Fair odds I’ll check out the new book to see where the plot goes.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews