Reeling from the loss of loved ones, surrounded by infected and with old enemies still on the hunt, there’s no respite for BD, Deano and the remaining survivors.
Now a fresh wrinkle threatens to tear their fragile world apart.
They’re up against the clock like never before as they try to escape the labyrinthine city. But not all in their ranks are who they seem and a single act of madness plunges the scrapyard refugees into a life and death struggle for survival.
The road to freedom is just over the horizon, but for some it will be a journey beyond reach.
Christopher Artinian was born and raised in Leeds, England, but now lives on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. He published his debut novel, Safe Haven: Rise of the Rams, in February 2017 and currently has fifty-three horror and science fiction titles to his name, including international best sellers such as Relentless, Night of the Demons, The Devil’s Face, Neverland, The End of Everything and his new hit series, Unsafe.
Madhouse was released in October 2024 and Tantor Media bought the global rights for the audiobook in 2025. He's recently signed a shopping contract which paves the way for a possible movie deal.
The group faces their biggest challenges since the apocalypse began in this fifth edition of the Unsafe series.
After the deplorable and secretive behavior of a fellow group member is discovered, vigilante justice is meted out with extreme prejudice.
When there is no law, you literally do have to take it into your own hands. Either that, or accept the consequences.
In addition, there are several groups of thugs who thrive on torture and running havoc over innocents.
And this time BD, Deano and their fellow survivors are in their sights.
How sad that even in a zombie apocalypse humans are still the most savage predators.
Looking forward to book six. I have a feeling there may be some major losses, and so want to be proven wrong. Now to wait for its release on audible. Sigh.
This book is a great continuation of the Unsafe series. I am continually amazed at the author's ability to bring characters to life and make me feel like I know them. One thing that sets Mr. Artinian's books apart for me is that they are so much more than "just" a zombie book.
In this book, he touches on mental illness/childhood trauma, family dynamics/secrets, grief and personal growth. And, even during a zombie apocalypse, you still have crimes like murder and pedophilia! Just because zombies are attacking doesn't mean that criminals aren't still committing crimes! The way that the pedo was dealt with was truly gruesome (but I think most of us secretly would like to do the same in real life if we are being honest!).
"Vendettas are a luxury of the past", states one character. But, Riley O'Dell doesn't seem to believe this! She is one of the worst villains I have encountered in a book and it's nice that not all the bad guys are men! Goes to show that women can be horrible people, too.
Along with killing zombies and trying to escape the rising floodwaters in the city, you also have wonderful moments of wisdom and humor from one of my favorite characters, Derek. His insightful comments and humor break up the drama nicely.
Once again, the narrator, Kim Bretton, continues to amaze me with her performance. How she manages to keep all the character's voices straight and move the story along at a fast pace is truly a work of art. Listening to the book is almost like watching a movie!
I can't wait for the next installment of this series and highly recommend any of Mr. Artinian's books to other fans of the zombie genre.
Not my favourite in the series but it still couldn't stop myself from reading through it in the space of a day.
It starts instantly where it left off and it doesn't really pull any punches until the epilogue. The smaller characters from the last book make more of an appearance and add an extra layer of intrigue to the storyline.
The parts that stuck with me are when Bruce died after killing a paedophile, and then Deano and Garo dealing with another in a brutal and horrific fashion. It was unexpected but added a darker edge to an already dark series.
The new antagonists in the series are both dangerous in their own right and I can't wait to see how it will all come to head. I am worried though because deep down I know something bad is going to happen to one of the main characters (I pray I'm wrong).
Solid entry into the series, excited for the next part.
8/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
TOTALLY INVESTED Yet another great instalment of this fabulous story, loving Deano, BJ and the group, some hair raising moments and also a little laughter. My favourite author has done it again and kept me gripped, where do the scrapyard lot go next or do they defend where they are at first? Hmmmm can’t wait till the next book but will be onto Safe Haven book first……. You all must read, End of everything, Safe Haven and Unsafe, and if you prefer a good horror then Madhouse is one of the craziest horrifying books I have read.
Chris has created some of my favourite characters in fiction, and we meet some new ones here that I think are going to be very compelling. I love the mix of zombies attacking while also fighting the elements—it really gives you a strong sense of the world ending. Kim’s narration never ceases to amaze me; the way she keeps track of such a large cast while making each character distinct is incredible. Anything Chris puts out gets my highest recommendation—5stars.
If I was asked to choose between Unsafe, The end of everything and Safe haven, which is my favourite, I don't think I could decide, I can't seem to stop reading this series, it's none stop for the survivors and they just can't catch their breath. Running from the O'Dells and the RAMS, all while trying to get out of the City, this is a fantastic series of books. Derek is still my favourite and does make me laugh.
BD, Deano and the rest of the group's survivors just can't catch a break. They need to move before the streets in the city flood but then one of the survivors in a moment of madness dooms more of them. The upcoming journey needs to happen sooner than later and will they all survive the journey? Another great character driven, emotionally charged tale by Artinian.
There is a great deal of tension in this episode of the story. The group from the scrap yard need to find a way out of town and to stay out of sight of the gang hunting them. There are internal dangers hiding within the group as well. I can't wait for the story to continue.
Well book five is finished and book six will be downloaded in a few. There were some despicable things in this story, book five, but it’s only a book. It’s the end of the world and things need taking care of, it’s a hard book to read but also a pleasure to be part of this group. Enjoy
Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhh . They’re everywhere, got to get out of the city. Brilliantly written, watch out you’ll get so engrossed one will jump out and scare you. Roll on book 6
As usual another page turner from Christopher, great and diverse characters. A safe haven of the south. Talking of which I would like to know when we will see more of EoE and safe haven?
Unsafe Book 5 is once again outstanding. There are tears, sorrow, horror and also laughter along the way. Mr Artinian continues to captivate us with his stories and eagerly await the next book