Before the Fall

by Ellis Grayson

Before the Fall is the gripping first book in The Fall Series, showing the final days before society collapsed. As panic spreads and the dead begin to rise, Derek, Jennifer, and their friends fight to protect each other while the world they knew unravels around them. Survival starts here.

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2025

About the author

Hi I'm Ellis Grayson a fresh voice in post-apocalyptic fiction, driven by a lifelong love for the zombie apocalypse genre. With no formal background in writing, I've stepped into the world of storytelling purely out of passion.

I am based in the UK, I spend my free time thinking up ideas and plots for my next book and mapping out the next nightmare for his growing cast of characters.

I write for readers who love high-stakes tension, flawed but fearless survivors, and stories that explore what it really means to endure not just the end of the world, but everything that comes after.

Reviews

[Suki J · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

A fast-paced, apocalyptic novella following a few people as they navigate a rising pandemic, lockdowns and societal collapse.
I enjoyed how the story gets going straight away, and the first half was a tense and all too relatable account of our characters coping with the rapidly progressing consequences of a deadly virus.
The second half took a turn, and it didn't work quite as well for me. I also found the characters were not particularly distinguishable from each other so I occasionally lost track of which group we were following.
Look forward to picking up book two soon.

[Sarnai Briar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot! I don’t read horror often (despite having wanted to for literal years). It was nice to finally do that. Zombie stories are just especially fun in my opinion. There’s something inherently scarier to me when compared to vampires or werewolves. With either of those, there’s this idea of a limit. If you survive the night, you’re fine. With zombies, there’s no dangerous timeframe or safe one. There is just the apocalypse and it’s called that for a good reason. This is highlighted very well in this story. The dramatic irony is strong with you knowing what’s coming, but it never feels like you know too much. As the reader, you know zombies are on the way, but you still want to see how they will be in this world and how the characters will react. (They did not disappoint) The writing style of this story was a lot of fun to me in particular. The prologue reads like a script to a movie, moving through character intros as though the camera is panning over them to show you who’s going to be in the film. There was also really nice usage of the word “yet” to help build that ominous tone.

This leads me to the main reason we’re here: The zombies! Like I mentioned, I don’t really read horror. The only experience I have with it is Dracula, but I’ve seen plenty of zombie movies. I was curious how the ones here would be. If you’re familiar with any Kdramas or Korean horror movies, these remind me of those in the best way. They aren’t the slow zombies that walk around like they’ve got all the time in the world. These monsters are highly aware of their surroundings, terrifyingly fast, and extremely hungry. I won’t say exactly how the first scene with a zombie goes, but I felt so bad for the characters and could practically feel their terror. Speaking of the characters, it’s really neat to see the different ways that people respond. Some are in denial, certain that everything’s going to be fine even if there’s no proof of this; some are thinking about the children; and some are just trying to survive. My biggest complaint with most horror movies is how foolish the characters are, but this group is smart. They are instantly thinking about the long-term and how to improve their chances to live and thrive in this new world. It made me root for them since I could see that they cared too.

This isn’t really an issue, more so something that I imagine will be expanded upon. I feel like some of the characterizations could be a bit stronger, but this is a rather short story and part of a series. At the moment, I don’t feel like I have a great grasp on the characters. Callum, Derek’s friend, would probably be my favorite, though. I’m excited to see what happens in parts 2 and 3 and how everybody grows and changes to show us what they have to offer.
Overall, I thought this was fun and a very nice start to a zombie trilogy! It makes me want to see what these characters choose to do and how the world will keep deteriorating around them until they’re forced to make impossible decisions. I definitely recommend this for anybody who likes zombies or is interested in horror fiction. I also think this could be good for those who don’t normally read the genre (although I am notoriously difficult to scare with stories, so just take that with a grain of salt if you’re a squeamish reader).

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the Fall pulls you in fast and doesn’t let go. It captures the terrifying moments right before everything collapses the panic the confusion and the desperate hope that survival is still possible. Derek Jennifer and their friends feel real and relatable making every choice hit harder as the dead rise and the world unravels. Bold tense and emotionally charged this is a powerful start to The Fall Series and a must read for fans of character driven apocalyptic stories.

[Gemma Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

another brilliant book by Ellis grayson it's set before afterwards the fall so u can read about everyone and see what happens before the zombie apocalypse 😀 x

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant read
Meet the characters from their daily mundane lives
Feel their worries about family and friends to running from quick zombies and finding help
Read it in one day so engrossed

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a bit repetitive and the main characters don’t have much depth to them.

Kindle Unlimited

[Laura Bradley-Twinning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Ellis Grayson for sharing Before the Fall with me via TikTok — I appreciate the chance to read it.

For me, the biggest gap was in the world‑building. Edinburgh never came alive on the page — the streets felt generic, which made it hard to immerse myself in the setting. I kept picturing Shaun of the Dead instead, which made the atmosphere feel flat. The constant shifts between character groups also left me a little lost, and the style read more like a TV script than a novel.

That said, the pacing was quick, which makes it accessible if you’re looking for a fast read. Fans of zombie apocalypse stories might enjoy the familiar Walking Dead vibe, though personally I wanted more atmosphere and depth — and without the comedy, it felt like Shaun of the Dead stripped bare.

Overall, it wasn’t my favorite, but I’m glad I gave it a try. For me, it’s a 2‑star read.

[Ellen Guerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series will hook in everyone because most of us will have a sense of familiarity with it 😷 You must read to understand

❤️ What I loved
- The start hooking me in and not letting go
- The characters
- The suspense
- The unknown
- Found Family
- Twists and turns
- Fun villian that worries you

❌️ What I didn't love
To be honest, nothing really. Slow at times but that's part of the world building which was quite good.

The ending of book 3 still had me wanting more. I have become one of the members of New Haven, apart of this found family.

[J Nutbeam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this tale of survival. The characters are interesting where they have gone from their mundane lives to survivors. If your a fan of zombies and survival i would give this a go. On to book 2

[Jourdan Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the first page of Before the Fall I was completely absorbed. Ellis, you’ve crafted a gripping and emotionally deep look at the moment when everything changed the world teetering, people scrambling, hope and fear colliding. What a powerful premise.

The characters felt real and vulnerable the kind of folks you root for even when the odds are against them. And the setting (the collapsing world, the rising dead, the tension in every decision) is described so vividly I could almost feel the panic and heartbreak.

Your writing doesn’t just show a world ending it shows the cost of it. How survival almost becomes a curse, how relationships strain and hope flickers in the darkest hour. That emotional truth is what lingers after the last page.

Thank you for creating such an unforgettable entry into The Fall series. I’ll be recommending this one to anyone who loves survival, heart, and high-stakes storytelling and I’m already excited to see where the next book takes us.

[Nicolle Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this. It was a nice short introduction to Ellis Grayson's work and I enjoyed the story.

The viral apocalyptic feel and the start of humanity trying to survive was interesting to read. It almost gave me Covid pandemic x The walking dead vibes, dangerous and drastic but also potentially very possible.

I like the characters, although I did feel like it would benefit from a little more character descriptions in places. The writing style is slightly different to what I am used to but this isn't a bad thing and I actually really enjoyed the writing style. This was a good read for me and I am looking forward to reading After the Fall next.

I would definitely recommend this, especially if you like apocalyptic scenarios and zombies/survival. The short chapters in this also make it easy to read.

[Sahar Sharjeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating, heart-rendering Descent: The prequel that glorifies the origional.
Set in Scotland, the book is a rare prequel that works as a standalone, terrifying account of societal collapse. It dives deep into characters introduced in the first book while the Zombie threat itself feels fresh. The battle for survival begins here, making this book the beating heart of the entire narrative. What I loved about this book is the gradual breakdown of society's norms in the face of eminent disaster. To the fans of the first book, it is an absolute necessity.
I would recommend this book to those readers who love survival stories with emotional depth.

[J Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of dystopian / post-apocalyptic books and one of my favorite elements of the genre is getting to watch "the big thing that happens" actually take place and see how people become aware that things are going wrong and learn to deal with fundamental changes in the way the world works. In Before the Fall, Grayson gives us an entire book dedicated to this dynamic. Through the eyes of his characters, we get to see the accelerating decline and the tipping point that becomes "The Fall".
I enjoyed the slow build and the acceleration as the book moved forward and I'm excited to see where these characters go in "After the Fall".

[Jazz's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zombie Land meets The Walking Dead.

I actually read After The Fall first, some of the interactions between the characters along with some of the scenes, they just didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. But now I have read Before The Fall, a lot of it made a lot more sense. I really enjoyed seeing how some of the character meet and come together in such a difficult time. I can also see hints of how some of the characters will act together in book two.
Overall I really enjoyed the story of this and the set up for the rest of the series, and I can’t wait to read the 3rd book Beneath The Silence.

[Lexa K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story's take on the beginning of a zombie outbreak. I liked the Scottish setting and after covid and the lockdowns, this resonated with me on a level that I could understand. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed reading about the different families and dynamics.
Yes there could be some more editing, but as a quick and entertaining read - I had a good time.

[Misty Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this down! My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer. The tension definitley increased throughout the book. If you enjoy the lead up to a zombie apocalypse, then this one is for you.

[Lukka Mawne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! the first book I have ever read in a single sitting! could not put it down!