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Adrift Among the Dead: A Zombie Apocalypse Thriller
The dead aren’t just rising. They’re evolving and humanity is running out of time.
As the world continues to unravel, Zoe, Oliver, and the small group of survivors who have become family make the bold and risky decision to push west toward the one place that might still offer hope. Cheyenne Mountain, a Cold War fortress carved deep into the Colorado Rockies. Zoe has her own reason for pushing west. A fragile lead suggests her best friend Alexis may still be alive and in danger.
Zoe isn’t the only one trying to reach the mountain. President Ona Freeman has been fighting to hold the government together since the first hours of the outbreak but the road from Washington has cost her dearly. Each safe house falls, each evacuation fails, and the circle of people she trusts grows smaller with every stop.
Meanwhile, across the heartland, the infected are changing. They are no longer wandering. They are gathering. Forming grotesque amalgamations of flesh and bone, drawn toward something no one yet understands. By the time Zoe and the others reach Cheyenne Mountain, one truth will be impossible to
The parasites have a plan.
Will humanity’s last stronghold be the salvation Zoe and the others desperately need? Or will they arrive only to find hope is already lost, and salvation is nothing more than a deep tomb?
Adrift Among the Dead is the fourth book in the Wrack and Ruin series, Otto Schafer’s answer to fans around the world asking for zombie fiction that feels fresh, terrifyingly plausible, and impossible to put down.
As the world continues to unravel, Zoe, Oliver, and the small group of survivors who have become family make the bold and risky decision to push west toward the one place that might still offer hope. Cheyenne Mountain, a Cold War fortress carved deep into the Colorado Rockies. Zoe has her own reason for pushing west. A fragile lead suggests her best friend Alexis may still be alive and in danger.
Zoe isn’t the only one trying to reach the mountain. President Ona Freeman has been fighting to hold the government together since the first hours of the outbreak but the road from Washington has cost her dearly. Each safe house falls, each evacuation fails, and the circle of people she trusts grows smaller with every stop.
Meanwhile, across the heartland, the infected are changing. They are no longer wandering. They are gathering. Forming grotesque amalgamations of flesh and bone, drawn toward something no one yet understands. By the time Zoe and the others reach Cheyenne Mountain, one truth will be impossible to
The parasites have a plan.
Will humanity’s last stronghold be the salvation Zoe and the others desperately need? Or will they arrive only to find hope is already lost, and salvation is nothing more than a deep tomb?
Adrift Among the Dead is the fourth book in the Wrack and Ruin series, Otto Schafer’s answer to fans around the world asking for zombie fiction that feels fresh, terrifyingly plausible, and impossible to put down.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2026
About the author
Otto Schafer
29 books172 followersOtto Schafer grew up exploring the small historic town in central Illinois featured in his first work of fiction, The Secret Journal. If you visit Petersburg, Illinois you may find locations familiar from the book. You may even discover, as Otto did, that history has left behind cleverly hidden traces of magic, whispered secrets, and untold treasures.
Otto is currently working on the fifth book in the Wrack and Ruin series, set to release in early 2027.
He and his loving wife reside in a quiet log cabin tucked away in the woods. You can often find him sitting out back by the koi pond, whittling words into stories for his readers.
Otto is currently working on the fifth book in the Wrack and Ruin series, set to release in early 2027.
He and his loving wife reside in a quiet log cabin tucked away in the woods. You can often find him sitting out back by the koi pond, whittling words into stories for his readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 16, 2026
WOW!! BEST BOOK OF THE SERIES YET!!
I’ve loved this series from the get-go and I was so excited to read book four, and it was ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY AMAZING!!
Watching the characters grow, love, fight and lose people has been such a personal experience. I’m so attached to these characters, especially Oliver, Zoe, Jurnee, Louie, Aaron (love him), Adam and Melissa!! I enjoyed Callie in this one too, she’s a cool character! I suffer when these characters suffer, I love when they love and I panic when they fight!! I am so wrapped up in this group of found family they have become. Although I HAVE TO SAY, why haven’t people learned to listen and trust Oliver?! I mean they do trust him, until Zoe has a different opinion and then no one listens to Oliver…will they ever learn?!!
Anyway, this book was packed FULL of action, fighting and barely surviving. There’s no filler in this book, it’s filled with something new and crazy constantly going on! There some chapters by voices we haven’t heard from, like Jurnee (hers are adorable) and then some new people, including the Country’s President and some very arrogant and crazy doctor. I love hearing things through other’s voices, but my favorite was Jurnee’s!
Highly recommend this series if you enjoy Post Apocalyptic Survival Zombie stories, with found family. I’m so excited for book five!!
I’ve loved this series from the get-go and I was so excited to read book four, and it was ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY AMAZING!!
Watching the characters grow, love, fight and lose people has been such a personal experience. I’m so attached to these characters, especially Oliver, Zoe, Jurnee, Louie, Aaron (love him), Adam and Melissa!! I enjoyed Callie in this one too, she’s a cool character! I suffer when these characters suffer, I love when they love and I panic when they fight!! I am so wrapped up in this group of found family they have become. Although I HAVE TO SAY, why haven’t people learned to listen and trust Oliver?! I mean they do trust him, until Zoe has a different opinion and then no one listens to Oliver…will they ever learn?!!
Anyway, this book was packed FULL of action, fighting and barely surviving. There’s no filler in this book, it’s filled with something new and crazy constantly going on! There some chapters by voices we haven’t heard from, like Jurnee (hers are adorable) and then some new people, including the Country’s President and some very arrogant and crazy doctor. I love hearing things through other’s voices, but my favorite was Jurnee’s!
Highly recommend this series if you enjoy Post Apocalyptic Survival Zombie stories, with found family. I’m so excited for book five!!
March 29, 2026
ZOMBIES!!!
Otto did it again with another installment in this series! I really enjoyed the added POVs and the new characters. Brought a new perspective into the story. Jurnee is definitely the best character with her innocence! Constant action and suspense. Kind of sad that it ended so soon, but it’s a good set up for the next book!
Otto did it again with another installment in this series! I really enjoyed the added POVs and the new characters. Brought a new perspective into the story. Jurnee is definitely the best character with her innocence! Constant action and suspense. Kind of sad that it ended so soon, but it’s a good set up for the next book!
June 14, 2026
Best in the Series
Tons of action! This series just keeps getting better and book 4 may be the best so far. Can’t wait to see where this series takes the main characters and story next.
Tons of action! This series just keeps getting better and book 4 may be the best so far. Can’t wait to see where this series takes the main characters and story next.
April 4, 2026
Blown away...
Characters:
The main characters in this book are spectacular, they all add something new and different every book, they are all just ordinary people, and you relate to them, you route for them, and you worry about them as if you do know them personally. The addition of the new group of characters from the White House was incredibly good, and added a completely new dynamic to the book. The "baddies" in this book are so complex and exciting, not to mention incredibly nerve-racking. I would not change any character as they make you feel every emotion possible.
Storyline:
I was on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter, and I never really got a chance to take a breath reading this. The book started with the new band of characters who added an entirely new layer to the series. It showed that even those in a higher position didn't have the answers, and still had to run just like everybody else. Our usual gang are making their way to Cheyenne mountain and come across multiple groups throughout their journey, which is where we get our new regular characters, and know that the danger is becoming more serious with every chapter. The book didn't pull any punches, nobody was safe, and I again would not change a thing.
Pacing/Writing:
Just perfect.
Ending:
The ending was FANTASTIC. The way that it leaves the story open to go so many ways whilst at the same time answer a lot of questions. I was also crying in the last few chapters (no spoilers) and felt shock, anger, and excitement.
Emotional impact:
This book made me cry, made me laugh, had me feeling nervous, angry, feeling hatred towards characters, and not once did I feel like I didn't care, or as if something was put there just for shock value. It was just perfect.
10/10.
Characters:
The main characters in this book are spectacular, they all add something new and different every book, they are all just ordinary people, and you relate to them, you route for them, and you worry about them as if you do know them personally. The addition of the new group of characters from the White House was incredibly good, and added a completely new dynamic to the book. The "baddies" in this book are so complex and exciting, not to mention incredibly nerve-racking. I would not change any character as they make you feel every emotion possible.
Storyline:
I was on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter, and I never really got a chance to take a breath reading this. The book started with the new band of characters who added an entirely new layer to the series. It showed that even those in a higher position didn't have the answers, and still had to run just like everybody else. Our usual gang are making their way to Cheyenne mountain and come across multiple groups throughout their journey, which is where we get our new regular characters, and know that the danger is becoming more serious with every chapter. The book didn't pull any punches, nobody was safe, and I again would not change a thing.
Pacing/Writing:
Just perfect.
Ending:
The ending was FANTASTIC. The way that it leaves the story open to go so many ways whilst at the same time answer a lot of questions. I was also crying in the last few chapters (no spoilers) and felt shock, anger, and excitement.
Emotional impact:
This book made me cry, made me laugh, had me feeling nervous, angry, feeling hatred towards characters, and not once did I feel like I didn't care, or as if something was put there just for shock value. It was just perfect.
10/10.
March 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adrift Among the Dead absolutely blew me away. Otto Schafer has done it again with this fourth installment—each book just keeps getting stronger, darker, and more gripping. The atmosphere was haunting, the tension never let up, and the storytelling pulled me in from the very first page.
What I loved most was how layered everything felt—the characters, the mystery, the emotional depth. It’s one of those books where you think you know what’s coming, and then you’re completely thrown in the best way possible. I couldn’t stop thinking about it even after I finished.
Huge thank you to Otto Schafer for allowing me to ARC read this incredible book—such an honor! If you’ve been following this series, this one is an absolute must-read. And if you haven’t started yet… trust me, you’re going to want to.
#BookReview #FiveStars #ARCReader #ThrillerReads #MustRead
Adrift Among the Dead absolutely blew me away. Otto Schafer has done it again with this fourth installment—each book just keeps getting stronger, darker, and more gripping. The atmosphere was haunting, the tension never let up, and the storytelling pulled me in from the very first page.
What I loved most was how layered everything felt—the characters, the mystery, the emotional depth. It’s one of those books where you think you know what’s coming, and then you’re completely thrown in the best way possible. I couldn’t stop thinking about it even after I finished.
Huge thank you to Otto Schafer for allowing me to ARC read this incredible book—such an honor! If you’ve been following this series, this one is an absolute must-read. And if you haven’t started yet… trust me, you’re going to want to.
#BookReview #FiveStars #ARCReader #ThrillerReads #MustRead
June 16, 2026
I have loved this series with every book. It brings realistic characters, engaging storylines, and a believable story arc throughout the series.
We find Zoe, Oliver, and their small group of survivors leaving a place they believed to be safe in order to find Zoe’s childhood friend, who left her a note asking her to meet somewhere safe.
Along the way, we discover something troubling; all is not as it seems, and the zombies are evolving. A small group of zombies has found a way to dull their senses and their need to feed. Creating one more obstacle on the way to Cheyenne Mountain, a government base housing the president of the United States.
While the overall storyline was less eventful than the others in the series earlier in its plot, the ending is what paid off for the story.
We find Zoe, Oliver, and their small group of survivors leaving a place they believed to be safe in order to find Zoe’s childhood friend, who left her a note asking her to meet somewhere safe.
Along the way, we discover something troubling; all is not as it seems, and the zombies are evolving. A small group of zombies has found a way to dull their senses and their need to feed. Creating one more obstacle on the way to Cheyenne Mountain, a government base housing the president of the United States.
While the overall storyline was less eventful than the others in the series earlier in its plot, the ending is what paid off for the story.
April 8, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! I’ve been reading them as they come out and it was certainly worth the wait. The action had me cheering and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat. The mix of hope and tragedy was well balanced for an apocalypse story. There are lots of things happening that make you stop and wonder “hmm, is this a real thing or could this really happen” and I quite enjoyed that aspect. I also loved the introduction of new characters in this book, as well as more information being given about the way the zombies work. I need to know what happens next, so I’m patiently-impatiently waiting for the next instalment!
May 27, 2026
A lot of dumb oversights
While I do enjoy Aaron as a character him being a savant for samurai swordsmanship is some real self insert bs from the author. Also why would Zoe, an extremely smart character overlook giving Alexis the same drugs she gave Oliver to make sure they both weren't infected. And she had a bottle of water filled with alcohol anyone can smell that on your breath or even every time she would open the water bottle. This book is an improvement on the last book but definitely still not written as well as the first two books in the series. I do enjoy this series though and hope the author continues to improve as a writer and story teller.
While I do enjoy Aaron as a character him being a savant for samurai swordsmanship is some real self insert bs from the author. Also why would Zoe, an extremely smart character overlook giving Alexis the same drugs she gave Oliver to make sure they both weren't infected. And she had a bottle of water filled with alcohol anyone can smell that on your breath or even every time she would open the water bottle. This book is an improvement on the last book but definitely still not written as well as the first two books in the series. I do enjoy this series though and hope the author continues to improve as a writer and story teller.
March 25, 2026
The fourth installment in this series is FANTASTIC! Schaffer has outdone himself in keeping the original group of characters true and exciting while also introducing a new set of survivors whose plight is just as intriguing and heart-pounding. The descriptive writing is thrilling and beautiful, and the amount of research done is staggering, yet it is explained so well to the reader as not to overwhelm but to engage. An absolute five-star read!!!
April 16, 2026
Every time I think that this series can’t get any better Otto just has to prove me wrong! WOW. This book was incredible. The story telling and world building is incredible and I just looooove the characters (even the ones we love to hate). I am so devastated by some of the character losses in this book but I suppose that’s the way the cookie crumbles in a zombie apocalypse! I’m going to be eagerly awaiting Book 5. Incredible work from Mr Schafer once again!
May 2, 2026
I’ve loved this series so far, but this entry in particular felt like a huge leap forward both for the story and for Otto as an author. One of the books where I was wishing it would’ve been a 20 hour listen.
Speaking of listening, I also feel like this was AJ Carters best performance as a narrator. I’d highly suggest the audio version of these books if you only read them. I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.
Speaking of listening, I also feel like this was AJ Carters best performance as a narrator. I’d highly suggest the audio version of these books if you only read them. I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.
May 30, 2026
‘Adrift Among the Dead’ is a thrill ride for readers. The action propels the story forward and before you know it, you are asking why did it end? The characters have developed and the zombies are evolving, scarily so. The Wrack and Ruin series is my favorite zombie series. I can’t wait to pass this book along. I recommend you read when you can sit and read it through, you are not going to want to put the book down.
June 13, 2026
Adrift Among the Dead had me anxious the ENTIRE time in the best possible way. Every time I thought things might finally turn around… absolutely not. Nothing went right, the tension never let up, and somehow Otto Schafer kept raising the stakes over and over again. I was stressed, invested, and completely unable to look away. This series continues to surprise me and I loved every second of this chaotic ride. Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for Book 5.
March 29, 2026
Couldn’t put it down
I have read all of the series and have loved every bit of it, this book is no exception. Thrilling, heart pumping, edge of my seat type reading. Best apocalyptic book I’ve ever read. The characters and their development are great. I can’t wait for the next book, it just keeps getting better!
I have read all of the series and have loved every bit of it, this book is no exception. Thrilling, heart pumping, edge of my seat type reading. Best apocalyptic book I’ve ever read. The characters and their development are great. I can’t wait for the next book, it just keeps getting better!
March 29, 2026
Whoa! what a hell of a ride. This author has never disappointed me, this book had kept me on the edge of my seat. Not reading it, was definitely thinking about it. This series is going to be rent free in my mind forever. I do hope that there will at least one more book.
April 3, 2026
More, please!!! Wow, what a crazy ride! I can't get enough of this apocalyptic world.
Sci-fi meets horror, in every good way.
Likeable and relatable characters.
Heart wrenching. Tear perking. Scary.
Hopeful.
Sci-fi meets horror, in every good way.
Likeable and relatable characters.
Heart wrenching. Tear perking. Scary.
Hopeful.
April 4, 2026
Book 4 is just as good as the first 3. Characters were killed and more Characters were introduced including the President. The parasitic zombies are becoming smarter and using unexpected friends. Can't wait for book 5.
April 20, 2026
I love everything about this book and series. Unique way they turn into zombies to the different characters. It really pulls at the heart strings while reading it. I even have a character I hate and would love to see ended.
April 27, 2026
Another great read! I’m very interested into finding out what the final stages are, and if they will be able to defeat them. From the disclosure, I was expecting more deaths but I’m sure that will be left for the final book. Excited for book #5 and hoping to see what the after apocalypse is like!
May 5, 2026
I absolutely loved this series. Otto’s take on zombies are new and disturbing. I don’t where he comes up with these ideas but I’m glad he did. I highly recommend that all zombie apocalypse fans read this series
May 16, 2026
Well well well Otto done went and done it again. The only series I can sit and finish a book in a day or two no matter how busy I am. HOOKED. Foaming at the mouth for the next one. 10 out of 10 recommend.
May 22, 2026
Otto hasn’t missed with this entire series. If you’re into zombie, blood & gore, fantastic story lines, and a series you can’t put down; do yourself a favor and start this series! & Otto is very active and responds on TikTok, pretty cool of a best selling author!
March 24, 2026
absolutely loved book 4. if you want a good zombie series, check out this!!!
March 26, 2026
Love, love, love this series! I appreciate all the diversity and representation of the characters. This is a non stop thrill ride that will be read in 1 sitting. I can't wait for the next one.
April 5, 2026
He did it again! This whole series has been amazing, chilling, and heartbreaking. I can not wait for more!
April 7, 2026
Omg! Soooo good! I already can't wait for the next book. Loved it!!!
April 7, 2026
Just like the three before this one this is Absolutely brilliant.
April 14, 2026
Okay so who's turning this series into a TV show? I need it now.
Another incredible entry to a fantastic series!
Another incredible entry to a fantastic series!
April 14, 2026
Another epic adventure devoured in less than a day.
can't wait for the next book! there better be a next book!!!!
can't wait for the next book! there better be a next book!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2026
Devoured this book like the undead devour the flesh. Excellent!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews