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Where the Tide Leaves its Dead
By night, the sea returns the dead.
By day, the jungle eats the living.
Casey Jones has to survive both.
On a remote Pacific island, the ocean drags its dead ashore—sailors, fishermen, pirates—reanimated as soulless hunters for an ancient sea god. Armed with scavenged weapons and his hell pig, Puaka, Casey fights to stay alive.
But the island offers no refuge. Beyond the beaches lie cannibal caves, volcanic badlands, and desperate survivors praying to carved gods. When Casey and his friend Izzy are drawn to a coastal settlement promising safety, they discover something far worse than the dead.
As the tide rises, so does the army of the dead, and Casey must decide whether to continue his fight for survival by night...or risk everything to challenge the oceans god.
WHERE THE TIDE LEAVES ITS DEAD is a savage, tiki-soaked tale of survival horror packed with mythology and monsters. Dive in—before the tide turns.
By day, the jungle eats the living.
Casey Jones has to survive both.
On a remote Pacific island, the ocean drags its dead ashore—sailors, fishermen, pirates—reanimated as soulless hunters for an ancient sea god. Armed with scavenged weapons and his hell pig, Puaka, Casey fights to stay alive.
But the island offers no refuge. Beyond the beaches lie cannibal caves, volcanic badlands, and desperate survivors praying to carved gods. When Casey and his friend Izzy are drawn to a coastal settlement promising safety, they discover something far worse than the dead.
As the tide rises, so does the army of the dead, and Casey must decide whether to continue his fight for survival by night...or risk everything to challenge the oceans god.
WHERE THE TIDE LEAVES ITS DEAD is a savage, tiki-soaked tale of survival horror packed with mythology and monsters. Dive in—before the tide turns.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2026
About the author
Bray Mattheson
2 books14 followersBray is a poet, surfer, chef, English teacher, and writer of horror and bizarro fiction.
He began writing during his early years in a band, crafting song lyrics before moving into poetry. From there, his work expanded into food writing for blogs and online publications, eventually leading him to short stories and long-form fiction.
Bray grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia, and is a graduate of The Writers’ Studio, a program known for launching many acclaimed Australian novelists and screenwriters.
His life and work have taken him across the globe: fishing for piranha in the alligator-filled waterways of the Pantanal, searching for rare carnivorous plants in the jungles of Borneo, diving for pearls in the Tuamotus, and learning to cook alongside matriarchs in rural Cambodia. He also crossed the Pacific by sail, island-hopping through Polynesia—an experience that continues to shape both his worldview and his writing.
Now based in a salt-lashed fishing village beneath the misty hills of northern Spain, Bray divides his time between teaching, cooking, surfing, and writing. His short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies, while his food writing has been featured in online outlets and independent zines in Australia.
Where the Tide Leaves Its Dead is his debut novel. He is currently editing two more works, with plans to publish them in the coming year.
He began writing during his early years in a band, crafting song lyrics before moving into poetry. From there, his work expanded into food writing for blogs and online publications, eventually leading him to short stories and long-form fiction.
Bray grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia, and is a graduate of The Writers’ Studio, a program known for launching many acclaimed Australian novelists and screenwriters.
His life and work have taken him across the globe: fishing for piranha in the alligator-filled waterways of the Pantanal, searching for rare carnivorous plants in the jungles of Borneo, diving for pearls in the Tuamotus, and learning to cook alongside matriarchs in rural Cambodia. He also crossed the Pacific by sail, island-hopping through Polynesia—an experience that continues to shape both his worldview and his writing.
Now based in a salt-lashed fishing village beneath the misty hills of northern Spain, Bray divides his time between teaching, cooking, surfing, and writing. His short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies, while his food writing has been featured in online outlets and independent zines in Australia.
Where the Tide Leaves Its Dead is his debut novel. He is currently editing two more works, with plans to publish them in the coming year.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 26, 2026
Woah, hard to believe this is a debut novel - action-heavy and wildly original, occasionally a bit too chatty and wordy, yet filled with riveting details and horrifying stories about the most improbable of situations: how to kill magic-fuelled zombies coming in droves straight out of the ocean, attacking, scratching and biting anyone, as long as their rotting bodies can stay wet and moist (so, during the night or in heavy rainfall)! The whole affair takes place in a Pacific island, figuring the Texan Casey and his huge pig (yes, you read that right), trying to stay alive after the zombie apocalypse.
The story starts as survival horror, but soon develops into military dark fantasy, the savageries multiplying as Casey joins groups of warriors set on ridding the island of the resurrected dead. This is easier said than done, however, because on the way Casey and his allies have to deal with ruthless tribes of cannibals and evil mythic entities, cross ancient labyrinthine caves and witness sinister bloody rituals, watch out for dangerous jungles - not to mention the survivors themselves, who prove less than trustworthy!
The book is densely plotted, quite fast-paced, and unapologetically violent: animals die, people get eaten, you know the drill. No gratuitous violence, however: every tiny detail has its place in the plot, and serves the story by propelling the narrative forward. Admittedly, there were fewer women involved than I would have liked, and I wouldn't have minded watching them contributing to the battles. And there are so many twists, harrowing situations and unexpected complications, at some point I felt I was reading the zombie version of The Hobbit on speed! Indeed, though the book's setting is limited to an island, the scale of the story is EPIC!
That said, don't expect major character development or a full list of explanations. The book thrives on action and displays of human perseverance, with a dash of the occult and the mythical. If that's something you'd enjoy, make haste and pick up a copy! Recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story starts as survival horror, but soon develops into military dark fantasy, the savageries multiplying as Casey joins groups of warriors set on ridding the island of the resurrected dead. This is easier said than done, however, because on the way Casey and his allies have to deal with ruthless tribes of cannibals and evil mythic entities, cross ancient labyrinthine caves and witness sinister bloody rituals, watch out for dangerous jungles - not to mention the survivors themselves, who prove less than trustworthy!
The book is densely plotted, quite fast-paced, and unapologetically violent: animals die, people get eaten, you know the drill. No gratuitous violence, however: every tiny detail has its place in the plot, and serves the story by propelling the narrative forward. Admittedly, there were fewer women involved than I would have liked, and I wouldn't have minded watching them contributing to the battles. And there are so many twists, harrowing situations and unexpected complications, at some point I felt I was reading the zombie version of The Hobbit on speed! Indeed, though the book's setting is limited to an island, the scale of the story is EPIC!
That said, don't expect major character development or a full list of explanations. The book thrives on action and displays of human perseverance, with a dash of the occult and the mythical. If that's something you'd enjoy, make haste and pick up a copy! Recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 9, 2026
Mattheson’s debut doesn’t just hook you, it drags you under and holds you there.
Set on a brutal, unforgiving island where the ocean quite literally gives back its dead, this is survival horror at its most savage. By night, the shoreline becomes a nightmare - reanimated bodies crawling from the sea. By day, the jungle is just as deadly, packed with cannibal caves, hostile survivors, and something ancient watching from the shadows.
This book is relentless. There’s no real sense of safety at any point - just constant tension, danger, and the feeling that something worse is always coming. The tropical setting mixed with dark mythology gives it such a unique edge, and the whole thing feels gritty, chaotic, and completely unhinged in the best way.
And Casey? The man is just trying to survive against EVERYTHING - dead things, living things, and whatever sits in between. Add in Puaka the hell pig, and you’ve got a duo I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
The writing is tight, punchy, and dripping with atmosphere. It’s vivid without being bloated, brutal without losing its pace, and honestly just impossible to put down.
Set on a brutal, unforgiving island where the ocean quite literally gives back its dead, this is survival horror at its most savage. By night, the shoreline becomes a nightmare - reanimated bodies crawling from the sea. By day, the jungle is just as deadly, packed with cannibal caves, hostile survivors, and something ancient watching from the shadows.
This book is relentless. There’s no real sense of safety at any point - just constant tension, danger, and the feeling that something worse is always coming. The tropical setting mixed with dark mythology gives it such a unique edge, and the whole thing feels gritty, chaotic, and completely unhinged in the best way.
And Casey? The man is just trying to survive against EVERYTHING - dead things, living things, and whatever sits in between. Add in Puaka the hell pig, and you’ve got a duo I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
The writing is tight, punchy, and dripping with atmosphere. It’s vivid without being bloated, brutal without losing its pace, and honestly just impossible to put down.
April 22, 2026
I've had zombies on the brain lately, having written a short story to submit for KJK Publishing's new Zombies anthology that just released this week. At the same time, I was also reading "Where The Tide Leaves Its Dead" by Bray Mattheson which, coincidentally, also revolves around zombies.
"Where The Tide Leaves Its Dead" is a mix of dark humor, horror, and survivalism, set against the tropical backdrop of a south Pacific island in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Not just any zombie apocalypse, however. The undead in this story come out of the sea, armed, aggressive, and relentless in their pursuit of the living, including the beleaguered hero Casey Jones. Casey is a transplant from Texas who now earns a dangerous living dispatching "sea corpses" and hacking off their lower jaws--or "jowls," used as currency--to cash in for supplies. As the story opens, his only companion is Puaka, his loyal "hell pig," that fights alongside him, but he quickly amasses new friends as he treks across the island in search of a fabled "war club," a last vestige of human survivors who are said to share strength in numbers against the undead. Through a series of harrowing misadventures, Casey soon learns that not all of his new allies are trustworthy, and the salvation in the "war club" may not be as promising as it first appears.
This is a wildly imaginative story with breakneck pacing and a colorful cast of characters. The exotic setting serves as a stark contrast to the bleak circumstances in which the island's ragtag human populace is forced to survive. The sea corpses, and in particular, their malevolent leader, Vaekoro, are menacing and terrifying, and the abuses Casey endures leading up to his final confrontation with Vaekoro are truly brutal. "Where The Tide Leaves Its Dead" reads like a movie adaptation, and it's easy to imagine this playing out on the big screen as you're reading. It's a great debut novel and a hell of a lot of fun, making Mattheson an author I'll be keeping an eye on for sure.
"Where The Tide Leaves Its Dead" is a mix of dark humor, horror, and survivalism, set against the tropical backdrop of a south Pacific island in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Not just any zombie apocalypse, however. The undead in this story come out of the sea, armed, aggressive, and relentless in their pursuit of the living, including the beleaguered hero Casey Jones. Casey is a transplant from Texas who now earns a dangerous living dispatching "sea corpses" and hacking off their lower jaws--or "jowls," used as currency--to cash in for supplies. As the story opens, his only companion is Puaka, his loyal "hell pig," that fights alongside him, but he quickly amasses new friends as he treks across the island in search of a fabled "war club," a last vestige of human survivors who are said to share strength in numbers against the undead. Through a series of harrowing misadventures, Casey soon learns that not all of his new allies are trustworthy, and the salvation in the "war club" may not be as promising as it first appears.
This is a wildly imaginative story with breakneck pacing and a colorful cast of characters. The exotic setting serves as a stark contrast to the bleak circumstances in which the island's ragtag human populace is forced to survive. The sea corpses, and in particular, their malevolent leader, Vaekoro, are menacing and terrifying, and the abuses Casey endures leading up to his final confrontation with Vaekoro are truly brutal. "Where The Tide Leaves Its Dead" reads like a movie adaptation, and it's easy to imagine this playing out on the big screen as you're reading. It's a great debut novel and a hell of a lot of fun, making Mattheson an author I'll be keeping an eye on for sure.
May 15, 2026
Where The Tide Leaves It's Dead by Bray Mattheson is an emotional and intense horror story that keeps raising the stakes. The sea is no longer safe, and the dead are coming to collect souls, leaving everyone on the island in danger. Casey and his friends fight to survive and protect their home, but as the story unfolds, the danger becomes much bigger than expected. From military involvement to a brutal battle arena, every new layer adds more tension and emotion. This was such a fun read and great debut
May 20, 2026
I got Where The Tide Leaves Its Dead from Booksirens a few weeks back and it's awesome.
An evil sea god, known as the destroyer of souls, has raised all those who died in the ocean's arms and commanded their shambling corpses to walk the land once more, searching for living beings to kill and drag back to his dark domain. They have a few weaknesses, but like any zombie story, they're relentless.
Our main hero is an American named Casey Davies who got stranded on a populated south pacific island. He has an adopted wild pig as his traveling companion and they're basically zombie killers, ending the sea zombies, taking their jawbones, and using them for currency.
Obviously he picks up friends and enemies along the way leading up to a badass final battle with the dark sea god that kept me glued to my Kindle.
This is GOOD; not like instant classic good, but author Bray Mattheson hits all the right notes as he leads readers along Casey's merry adventure. Our hero is resourceful, thrown into a world that makes no sense, but with a drive to survive for no other reason than f*** those zombies. They're not going to get him or his friends if he can help it. But boy do they try, and when the zombies aren't threatening Casey and crew, there are plenty of misguided and/or evil living people happy to make their lives more miserable.
I've never read a zombie book. I've watched plenty of zombie movies. I liked this because Mattheson gives enough visual description that a lot of the scenes played out against pictures in my head of what was going on and he paced the action beautifully.
In the end, despite how good it is, I must give it a 4.5, though I always round up on sites that don't do half stars. While this is a sterling example of its genre, a five is reserved for a book that helps define its genre or really moves the genre forward and sets a new bar. This book will not change your life or your way of seeing things, but it's a grand adventure with zombies, blood, guts, evisceration, dismemberment, murder, and fine threads of absurdity, humor, island flavor, and hope laced throughout that made it my best read of the year so far.
Do yourself a favor and read it.
An evil sea god, known as the destroyer of souls, has raised all those who died in the ocean's arms and commanded their shambling corpses to walk the land once more, searching for living beings to kill and drag back to his dark domain. They have a few weaknesses, but like any zombie story, they're relentless.
Our main hero is an American named Casey Davies who got stranded on a populated south pacific island. He has an adopted wild pig as his traveling companion and they're basically zombie killers, ending the sea zombies, taking their jawbones, and using them for currency.
Obviously he picks up friends and enemies along the way leading up to a badass final battle with the dark sea god that kept me glued to my Kindle.
This is GOOD; not like instant classic good, but author Bray Mattheson hits all the right notes as he leads readers along Casey's merry adventure. Our hero is resourceful, thrown into a world that makes no sense, but with a drive to survive for no other reason than f*** those zombies. They're not going to get him or his friends if he can help it. But boy do they try, and when the zombies aren't threatening Casey and crew, there are plenty of misguided and/or evil living people happy to make their lives more miserable.
I've never read a zombie book. I've watched plenty of zombie movies. I liked this because Mattheson gives enough visual description that a lot of the scenes played out against pictures in my head of what was going on and he paced the action beautifully.
In the end, despite how good it is, I must give it a 4.5, though I always round up on sites that don't do half stars. While this is a sterling example of its genre, a five is reserved for a book that helps define its genre or really moves the genre forward and sets a new bar. This book will not change your life or your way of seeing things, but it's a grand adventure with zombies, blood, guts, evisceration, dismemberment, murder, and fine threads of absurdity, humor, island flavor, and hope laced throughout that made it my best read of the year so far.
Do yourself a favor and read it.
May 21, 2026
Ahoy Brave Bookworms!
This is what happens when paradise starts eating people. It's pure coconuts and carnage!
"Where the Tide Leaves its Dead" is a mix bag of horror, dark humour and survival. It's set on a tropical island with unforgiving terrain, a treacherous ocean - especially when night falls, and all in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The undead come from the sea once night approaches and they are aggressive and relentless in their hunt for human flesh. However, it's not just the sea that's terrifying, the land houses deadly cannibals, hostile survivors and an ancient mystical witch doctor watching from the jungle.
We immediately meet our protagonist Casey and his lovable, fierce and trusted boar Puaka. Casey is a transplant from Texas who is rough around the edges, earns his currency by hunting and killing sea corpses for their lower jaws or "jowls". Puaka fights along side him to collect his currency, but also for protection. But we soon see that his charismatic personality begins to attract new friends as he treks across the island seeking the War Club - a place where other survivors are coming together to fight against the waterlogged undead in larger numbers. Casey's journey is harrowing and grueling, and he quickly learns that not all rumours or allies are trustworthy.
This novel is fantastical, action-packed, fast-paced and full of some intriguing characters. At no point in this do you feel that the characters, especially Casey, are safe. But instead you feel pure chaos and tension the whole way through.
There is a beautiful swirl of horror with dark fantasy as well, incorporating an ancient sea God - Vaekoro (the leader of the sea corpses) and mystical witch doctor named Manu. It's a great amalgamation of old world and new. And to be frank, Manu is by far my favourite character in the entire novel and needed more page time if I'm honest. She was quirky, mysterious and oddly charming. Puaka comes in second next to her. Yes, you definitely read that right, the little warrior pig was a gem and a wonderfully written companion.
The story finally comes to a head though; after Casey endures some cruel abuses, only to lead up to the final confrontation with Vaekoro and the sea corpse army. To say the ending was terrifying, intense and heart-wrenching is understatement. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and frankly, I couldn't get enough!
It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel because this one is slashing through paradise. Completely recommend throwing this on your TBR and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Bray Mattheson's work in the future!
Hope you enjoyed the review
This is what happens when paradise starts eating people. It's pure coconuts and carnage!
"Where the Tide Leaves its Dead" is a mix bag of horror, dark humour and survival. It's set on a tropical island with unforgiving terrain, a treacherous ocean - especially when night falls, and all in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The undead come from the sea once night approaches and they are aggressive and relentless in their hunt for human flesh. However, it's not just the sea that's terrifying, the land houses deadly cannibals, hostile survivors and an ancient mystical witch doctor watching from the jungle.
We immediately meet our protagonist Casey and his lovable, fierce and trusted boar Puaka. Casey is a transplant from Texas who is rough around the edges, earns his currency by hunting and killing sea corpses for their lower jaws or "jowls". Puaka fights along side him to collect his currency, but also for protection. But we soon see that his charismatic personality begins to attract new friends as he treks across the island seeking the War Club - a place where other survivors are coming together to fight against the waterlogged undead in larger numbers. Casey's journey is harrowing and grueling, and he quickly learns that not all rumours or allies are trustworthy.
This novel is fantastical, action-packed, fast-paced and full of some intriguing characters. At no point in this do you feel that the characters, especially Casey, are safe. But instead you feel pure chaos and tension the whole way through.
There is a beautiful swirl of horror with dark fantasy as well, incorporating an ancient sea God - Vaekoro (the leader of the sea corpses) and mystical witch doctor named Manu. It's a great amalgamation of old world and new. And to be frank, Manu is by far my favourite character in the entire novel and needed more page time if I'm honest. She was quirky, mysterious and oddly charming. Puaka comes in second next to her. Yes, you definitely read that right, the little warrior pig was a gem and a wonderfully written companion.
The story finally comes to a head though; after Casey endures some cruel abuses, only to lead up to the final confrontation with Vaekoro and the sea corpse army. To say the ending was terrifying, intense and heart-wrenching is understatement. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and frankly, I couldn't get enough!
It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel because this one is slashing through paradise. Completely recommend throwing this on your TBR and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Bray Mattheson's work in the future!
Hope you enjoyed the review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2026
This one is a bit of a mixed bag.
“Where the Tide Leaves its Dead” starts off so strong with a creepy take on zombies where the living dead crawl out do the sea dragging those who stumbled too close to their demise. As an isolated island Casey’s only real companion is his pet pig that can chew through bone and scare the monsters long enough for him to survive but as the locals descend into cult like groups leaning towards violence and old god worship he finds himself stuck between monsters and man.
I really loved the start of this the idea of something like this crawling with gnashing teeth out of the ocean is so creepy and using natural elements to go further inland was so fascinating but the further we got the more lost I became. It expanded into more local lore which was cool but it felt sort of mad max like in parts which I understand makes sense as society falls apart man will fall back towards violence but when it became tied together with the actual enemy is where I found myself losing interest.
Casey is a nomad who feels like he doesn’t deserve to seek out his only remaining family member but his strength and resilience leads him to collect strays and build a name for himself but he still feels expendable. He is an interesting complex character but the same can’t be said for the rest.
An interesting idea and one that is going to sit with me but not sure how I feel about the book as a whole.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“Where the Tide Leaves its Dead” starts off so strong with a creepy take on zombies where the living dead crawl out do the sea dragging those who stumbled too close to their demise. As an isolated island Casey’s only real companion is his pet pig that can chew through bone and scare the monsters long enough for him to survive but as the locals descend into cult like groups leaning towards violence and old god worship he finds himself stuck between monsters and man.
I really loved the start of this the idea of something like this crawling with gnashing teeth out of the ocean is so creepy and using natural elements to go further inland was so fascinating but the further we got the more lost I became. It expanded into more local lore which was cool but it felt sort of mad max like in parts which I understand makes sense as society falls apart man will fall back towards violence but when it became tied together with the actual enemy is where I found myself losing interest.
Casey is a nomad who feels like he doesn’t deserve to seek out his only remaining family member but his strength and resilience leads him to collect strays and build a name for himself but he still feels expendable. He is an interesting complex character but the same can’t be said for the rest.
An interesting idea and one that is going to sit with me but not sure how I feel about the book as a whole.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
May 7, 2026
Thanks to Next Chapter and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
This is a fun take on the zombie genre that feels ripped straight out of a horror action flick from the 80.
Its got loads of action and a cast you root for. The imagery is lush and you feel like you are in a hot post apocalyptic Island community with the dead not so far off your door.
Its bloody and has elements that will please both genre fans of horror, but also action fans.
It feels like temple of doom or mad max and would be a great match for fans of either.
I feel like I do need to mention it is a bit of a white savior narrative for better or for worse that again lends its self to the 80’s feel.
I have to say the animal side kick character, usually a trope I dislike is very seamlessly executed here and helped raise the stakes.
This is a fun take on the zombie genre that feels ripped straight out of a horror action flick from the 80.
Its got loads of action and a cast you root for. The imagery is lush and you feel like you are in a hot post apocalyptic Island community with the dead not so far off your door.
Its bloody and has elements that will please both genre fans of horror, but also action fans.
It feels like temple of doom or mad max and would be a great match for fans of either.
I feel like I do need to mention it is a bit of a white savior narrative for better or for worse that again lends its self to the 80’s feel.
I have to say the animal side kick character, usually a trope I dislike is very seamlessly executed here and helped raise the stakes.
May 16, 2026
I was given an ARC by Bray Matheson and really enjoyed this book. I liked the tropical, beachy part of it which was a totally different twist for horror books I normally real. Set in the islands, a fast paced horror story about survival and fighting and eliminating sea corpses, the zombies in the story. The main characters, Casey, Puaka and Izzy were really interesting and the story moved at a good pace. There were some really great events in the story as it progressed and the characters traveled through the different areas. Overall, a really fun and fast moving story!
May 17, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Soo, I've liked zombies before they were cool & this is nice new kinda spin on an oldie but goodie story, I feel. The biggest thing I find hard to believe is that this is the guy's debut novel! What?! I see he has another out. An anthology but whatever his next book is, I'm going to check it out no matter how stupid the cover looks. 0_o
I give 5stars. I was like, I'm not giving 5stars cuz I'm going to b critical but, I digress. I am a happy customer over here.
Soo, I've liked zombies before they were cool & this is nice new kinda spin on an oldie but goodie story, I feel. The biggest thing I find hard to believe is that this is the guy's debut novel! What?! I see he has another out. An anthology but whatever his next book is, I'm going to check it out no matter how stupid the cover looks. 0_o
I give 5stars. I was like, I'm not giving 5stars cuz I'm going to b critical but, I digress. I am a happy customer over here.
May 21, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC.
This book was actually unhinged in the best possible way.
Zombie sea corpses?? Tropical island survival horror?? Constant violence, chaos, and me getting weirdly attached to a pig?? Incredible.
I absolutely inhaled this. Every time I thought maybe we’d get a second to breathe, the book basically laughed in my face.
Fast, brutal, weird, bloody, and just stupidly fun. Exactly the kind of horror chaos I eat up!
Easy 5 stars from me ✨
This book was actually unhinged in the best possible way.
Zombie sea corpses?? Tropical island survival horror?? Constant violence, chaos, and me getting weirdly attached to a pig?? Incredible.
I absolutely inhaled this. Every time I thought maybe we’d get a second to breathe, the book basically laughed in my face.
Fast, brutal, weird, bloody, and just stupidly fun. Exactly the kind of horror chaos I eat up!
Easy 5 stars from me ✨
April 24, 2026
This was a fun romp.
Interesting and different zombies. God monsters (which are cool!). Cannibals. A war pig. New friends.
If you want a fun story of fighting to save the world, this is it.
It didn't have the character depth and emotion I like, so not quite for me, but creepy monsters are cool.
Interesting and different zombies. God monsters (which are cool!). Cannibals. A war pig. New friends.
If you want a fun story of fighting to save the world, this is it.
It didn't have the character depth and emotion I like, so not quite for me, but creepy monsters are cool.
May 4, 2026
If you are looking for some action packed sea-zombie shenanigans, look no further.
This is a blistering couple of hundred pages, with a unique take on the living dead.
A fascinating journey packed with heartache and deceit, as well as some magnificent gladiator action, this is a fun read that doesn’t let up for a minute.
This is a blistering couple of hundred pages, with a unique take on the living dead.
A fascinating journey packed with heartache and deceit, as well as some magnificent gladiator action, this is a fun read that doesn’t let up for a minute.
April 13, 2026
I did really enjoy this horror adventure, I liked the two main characters & felt for their plight. It was well written & easy to read, so I finished in no time at all! A mix of zombie & the game of thrones to some extent, but overall it was a good fun read!
May 3, 2026
NO SPOILERS.
where the tide leaves its dead by Bray Mattheson (released March 2026) is a strong ★★★★☆ read. The writing carries a quiet, lingering tension that kept me hooked throughout the novel, Even when the pacing slows at times.
The 2 main characters I really liked I found them both very well written and easy to connect with. This was such a good read thankyou.
where the tide leaves its dead by Bray Mattheson (released March 2026) is a strong ★★★★☆ read. The writing carries a quiet, lingering tension that kept me hooked throughout the novel, Even when the pacing slows at times.
The 2 main characters I really liked I found them both very well written and easy to connect with. This was such a good read thankyou.
May 15, 2026
A debut novel with gusto!
Mattheson manages to blend zombie tropes, militant violence, cultural difference and even gladiatoral spectacle in an unlikely tale of camaraderie and survival.
There is not one second where you believe the protagonist is safe, and that tension seeps through the pages and keeps readers guessing at what comes next.
Mattheson manages to blend zombie tropes, militant violence, cultural difference and even gladiatoral spectacle in an unlikely tale of camaraderie and survival.
There is not one second where you believe the protagonist is safe, and that tension seeps through the pages and keeps readers guessing at what comes next.
April 8, 2026
Literally such a great book! I cannot believe this is Matheson’s debut novel, looking forward to more of his work.
April 22, 2026
Where The Tide Leaves the Dead by Bray Mattheson
Received as an arc.
Casey and his Hell-pig Puaka are beachcombers in a dystopia future where Casey has to fend off the dead who return from the sea.
After a bar fight he and his adversary were caged. A mass attack from the sea dead kill the others and Casey and Izzy break free to safe themselves.
The 3 of them head out on an adventure to get inland.
They meet many other feats to overcome. Things more horrid than the dead from the sea.
A fun, fast paced, violent adventure
5⭐️
Received as an arc.
Casey and his Hell-pig Puaka are beachcombers in a dystopia future where Casey has to fend off the dead who return from the sea.
After a bar fight he and his adversary were caged. A mass attack from the sea dead kill the others and Casey and Izzy break free to safe themselves.
The 3 of them head out on an adventure to get inland.
They meet many other feats to overcome. Things more horrid than the dead from the sea.
A fun, fast paced, violent adventure
5⭐️
Read
April 27, 2026Night of the Living Sea Corpses
Review at MonsterBookClub
Review at MonsterBookClub
April 15, 2026
Dang if this book doesn't immediately suck you in. No build up, no gentle hand-holding walk into an island apocalyptic nightmare. Nope, straight to hell-pigs and zombies.
Great novel overall! The characters were flawed and entertaining. The world building distrubing. And the zombies were unique! Which is a difficult task given all the zombie stories out there.
It's not a novel for anyone squeamish. The author managed to hit just about every apocalyptic horror trope, and he did it well. Well enough you feel like you're sitting next to the cannibals when they start chewing through the side characters.
Page one until The End is jam packed with action, horror, and just the right amount of dark humor that you'll love it.
Great novel overall! The characters were flawed and entertaining. The world building distrubing. And the zombies were unique! Which is a difficult task given all the zombie stories out there.
It's not a novel for anyone squeamish. The author managed to hit just about every apocalyptic horror trope, and he did it well. Well enough you feel like you're sitting next to the cannibals when they start chewing through the side characters.
Page one until The End is jam packed with action, horror, and just the right amount of dark humor that you'll love it.
April 22, 2026
Where the Tide Leaves its Dead is the debut novel from Bray Mattheson. The story follows the flawed, but likeable Casey Davies as he navigates through a remote Pacific Island overrun by the dead. Mattheson's take on zombies is unique and works well with the story. His character development of Casey is full and rich with a great hero arc attached to him. The relationships that Mattheson describes felt layered and earned. There is plenty of action and at times, I couldn't put the book down. There were spots were the emotion didn't quite fit with what was happening, but it didn't detract from the overall story. I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a unique take on zombies and fast, brutal action. I look forward to reading more by Mattheson.
May 9, 2026
Walked into this one without expectations and really enjoyed this ride. It starts off with Casey and his hell-pig, Puaka and follows a twisty tale of action, adventure, found family and an epic battle for humanity. Lots of pacific island references along the way, and vengeful horrors from the murky depths of the ocean and across time. Thank-you, Next Chapter via Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Bray Mattheson, for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
April 5, 2026
Mattheson's debut novel grabs the reader with the very first sentence and doesn't let go. The pages unfold with a perfect blend of horror, a tropical setting, and tiki mythology. The plot is well-crafted, and the narrative tension ever present. Dripping with vivid imagery and written in tight and punchy prose, What the Tide Leaves Behind is a visceral read that never misses a beat. Highly recommended.
April 8, 2026
Just when you thought you’d read all the best that zombie fiction has to offer, along comes a jewel! I adored this book. The descriptions are phenomenal and horrific, plenty of jump scares, and it feels like a World War Z meets Fallout meets Castaway. I knew from the first page this was gonna be a winner, and I was right! Also, I would like a pet pig now. If you’re looking for something gory and fun, and a refreshing look at the zombie genre, I highly recommend this book.
May 19, 2026
"They lay talking about better times and when they used to be happy. At that moment, Casey felt contentment, but the happiness would stop, Casey knew, because it always did."
I felt like being inside a wonderful mix of Moana, Pirates of the Caribbean and Zombieland. Definetly a must read!!
I felt like being inside a wonderful mix of Moana, Pirates of the Caribbean and Zombieland. Definetly a must read!!
April 6, 2026
I felt like I was on a holiday in the pacific whilst reading this!
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