What do you think?
Rate this book
Infection Z #1
Infection Z
Something terrible is happening on the streets of Smileston...
Hayden McCall is clueless. A jobless layabout in his mid-twenties, his only worry is whether he'll be able to contact his parents quickly enough to help pay his long-due rent installment.
But when his landlord finally does come knocking soaked in blood, Hayden fast realises that something is not right. People are butchering one another in the streets. Internet and television signals are down. And the police are non-existent.
With his parents at the other side of town, Hayden must step up for the first time in his adult life on a treacherous adventure through a crumbling world. As he meets new friends and encounters dangerous foes, Hayden is forced out of the comfort of his bedsit and onto an unpredictable journey of survival and self-discovery.
And the infected are never far behind...
Hayden McCall is clueless. A jobless layabout in his mid-twenties, his only worry is whether he'll be able to contact his parents quickly enough to help pay his long-due rent installment.
But when his landlord finally does come knocking soaked in blood, Hayden fast realises that something is not right. People are butchering one another in the streets. Internet and television signals are down. And the police are non-existent.
With his parents at the other side of town, Hayden must step up for the first time in his adult life on a treacherous adventure through a crumbling world. As he meets new friends and encounters dangerous foes, Hayden is forced out of the comfort of his bedsit and onto an unpredictable journey of survival and self-discovery.
And the infected are never far behind...
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2015
170 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Casey
163 books181 followersRyan Casey is the author of over a dozen novels and a highly successful serial. He writes gritty post-apocalyptic fiction, throwing normal people into devastating situations and exploring how they react and adapt. He has also written several detective mysteries and thrillers. Across all genres, Casey's work is renowned for its rapid pacing, unforgettably complex characters, and knockout twists.
Casey lives in the United Kingdom. He has a BA degree in English with Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham, and has been writing stories for as long as he can remember. In his spare time, he can be spotted walking his West Highland White Terrier, has a passion for cinema and television, and probably spends a little bit too much time in the pub.
For more information on Ryan's books, visit http://ryancaseybooks.com/
Want to be notified about new releases? Sign up for the new release mailing list & get free books and other goodies!
http://ryancaseybooks.com/fanclub
Casey lives in the United Kingdom. He has a BA degree in English with Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham, and has been writing stories for as long as he can remember. In his spare time, he can be spotted walking his West Highland White Terrier, has a passion for cinema and television, and probably spends a little bit too much time in the pub.
For more information on Ryan's books, visit http://ryancaseybooks.com/
Want to be notified about new releases? Sign up for the new release mailing list & get free books and other goodies!
http://ryancaseybooks.com/fanclub
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 2, 2023
Infection Z #1 is the first in a series of zombie novels written by Ryan Casey. The main character, Hayden McCall, is a couch potato / societal drain / non-hero, who must rise to the occasion in a zombie apocalypse. He is forced to leave his sanctuary when his zombified landlord breaks into his home with a band of zombies. Within the first few chapters, he is rescued several times by others, and repeatedly waits for things to happen before he reacts. What a boringly passive main character? When he begins to act heroically, it almost seems out of character. By then, I had already lost interest, and felt it would be a waste of my time, but I completed my reading of the novel. I didn’t like this story, but mostly it’s because the main character was such a waste. The attraction that people have for zombie narratives depends on the concept of self-reliance. We fancy ourselves capable of weathering the trials and tribulations of complete independence from everything except our loved ones. And those we would protect avidly.
May 25, 2015
I'll admit, this is one I'm on the fence about. Due to the development of the main character, I struggled with making a connection early on. Hayden, the MC, begins the outbreak knee deep in self-doubt and an almost invisible sense of self-worth. Circumstances in life, mainly the sudden loss of his sister, have stunted his coping skills and he's an impetuous man.
Additionally, he lacked even the minimum of common sense.
That being said, there is a definitive moment in the book where his outlook is altered, and character progression really becomes evident. By the end of the book, he's a better man...and though he's had to endure, and take part in, some emotionally and physically taxing events.
I wish this progression had taken place a bit earlier in the book so it could have made more of an impact. However, I'm left wanting more, and intend on reading further into Hayden's journey and the downfall of the world as he knows it.
There's nothing new and inventive about the story itself, but as an avid zombie fan that's something I come to expect and look forward to in a Z story. I enjoy seeing how an author can manipulate the norm to make it their own.
Additionally, he lacked even the minimum of common sense.
That being said, there is a definitive moment in the book where his outlook is altered, and character progression really becomes evident. By the end of the book, he's a better man...and though he's had to endure, and take part in, some emotionally and physically taxing events.
I wish this progression had taken place a bit earlier in the book so it could have made more of an impact. However, I'm left wanting more, and intend on reading further into Hayden's journey and the downfall of the world as he knows it.
There's nothing new and inventive about the story itself, but as an avid zombie fan that's something I come to expect and look forward to in a Z story. I enjoy seeing how an author can manipulate the norm to make it their own.
April 11, 2018
Actual rating - 3.5
March 1, 2018
Excellent story and very believable characters!
What a great story! Plenty of zombie gut munching action, along with excellent characters. I found myself pulling for them all to survive, and make it to someplace safe before the end of the story. Now I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
What a great story! Plenty of zombie gut munching action, along with excellent characters. I found myself pulling for them all to survive, and make it to someplace safe before the end of the story. Now I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
August 25, 2017
I enjoyed the book and I'm glad Hayden was starting to take responsibility for himself but at the end it seemed to go to his head. He put his friends in danger a couple of times because of his selfishness.
February 23, 2023
Gripping
New to this author but what a great read.
Love a book that transports you to a different place and you lose urself! Well worth the read if u like zombies! Can't read to read book 2
New to this author but what a great read.
Love a book that transports you to a different place and you lose urself! Well worth the read if u like zombies! Can't read to read book 2
August 18, 2017
A good read.
August 3, 2018
Different
Wasn’t sure if I would like this. Slow at the start but the main character will surprise you in the end. It’s all about family.
Wasn’t sure if I would like this. Slow at the start but the main character will surprise you in the end. It’s all about family.
July 10, 2020
Great
Amazing book. Hooks you from the very beginning and makes you want to keep reading. Can't wait to start in on book 2.
Amazing book. Hooks you from the very beginning and makes you want to keep reading. Can't wait to start in on book 2.
March 18, 2017
Good beginning
Waking up one day and realising your favourite game on your games console has become reality can be a hard truth to face up to, especially if mum and dad are no longer around to help.
Good storyline, well delivered and believable characters.
Enjoyed this opening book, hope the rest of the series lives up to it.
Waking up one day and realising your favourite game on your games console has become reality can be a hard truth to face up to, especially if mum and dad are no longer around to help.
Good storyline, well delivered and believable characters.
Enjoyed this opening book, hope the rest of the series lives up to it.
April 18, 2015
More good stuff from Casey
Ryan Casey, author of the stellar ZA series Dead Days, is back with another take on the zombie apocalypse.
A lot of ZA authors go wide and give the story through the point of view of a large cast of characters. Casey goes the other way, focusing the story on one main character and a few of the people around him. And what a main character he has in Infection Z's Hayden McCall.
Dead Days told the story of Riley Jamison, a regular guy, a real everyman. Hayden is a no man- an unemployed wretch who lives on the dole and the help of his parents and whose idea of a grand evening is a bottle of booze and a game console. There might not be a person alive worse equipped for life with the undead.
Hayden's first response is denial. He refuses to accept what he is seeing with his own eyes. Once he can no longer deny it comes the waterworks- the man pretty much cries from one end of the book to the other.
The strength of Casey's characters is that they are layered like an onion. Events force Hayden to peel back the layers, one at a time. From his first tentative attempts to fight back against the zombies, to seeing the military destroy his hometown (and try to kill him in the bargain) to his struggles to get home to his family, and finally the events of the pivotal scene at the end, the reader follows Hayden's trip of self discovery. Not to mean he finds out he's a zombie killing machine at heart- he's still a blubbering crybaby- but he finds there is more to him than what he knew.
Casey's books aren't gore fests. People get bit and people get killed but there aren't buckets of blood flowing off the pages. Some of the best passages in the book are when he describes the undead.
The book packs a few surprises and the narrative races along without seeming forced. His characters aren't super heroes or military geniuses. Best of all his books aren't gun porn.
The only thing keeping this from being a five star book is how unlikable I found Hayden to be. Yeah, he finds he is more than he knew by the end of the book, but nobody wants to spend time with a guy on a three day crying jag.
Ryan Casey, author of the stellar ZA series Dead Days, is back with another take on the zombie apocalypse.
A lot of ZA authors go wide and give the story through the point of view of a large cast of characters. Casey goes the other way, focusing the story on one main character and a few of the people around him. And what a main character he has in Infection Z's Hayden McCall.
Dead Days told the story of Riley Jamison, a regular guy, a real everyman. Hayden is a no man- an unemployed wretch who lives on the dole and the help of his parents and whose idea of a grand evening is a bottle of booze and a game console. There might not be a person alive worse equipped for life with the undead.
Hayden's first response is denial. He refuses to accept what he is seeing with his own eyes. Once he can no longer deny it comes the waterworks- the man pretty much cries from one end of the book to the other.
The strength of Casey's characters is that they are layered like an onion. Events force Hayden to peel back the layers, one at a time. From his first tentative attempts to fight back against the zombies, to seeing the military destroy his hometown (and try to kill him in the bargain) to his struggles to get home to his family, and finally the events of the pivotal scene at the end, the reader follows Hayden's trip of self discovery. Not to mean he finds out he's a zombie killing machine at heart- he's still a blubbering crybaby- but he finds there is more to him than what he knew.
Casey's books aren't gore fests. People get bit and people get killed but there aren't buckets of blood flowing off the pages. Some of the best passages in the book are when he describes the undead.
The book packs a few surprises and the narrative races along without seeming forced. His characters aren't super heroes or military geniuses. Best of all his books aren't gun porn.
The only thing keeping this from being a five star book is how unlikable I found Hayden to be. Yeah, he finds he is more than he knew by the end of the book, but nobody wants to spend time with a guy on a three day crying jag.
June 23, 2015
Ryan Casey took a new approach on zombies, and it was interesting. Head shots do nothing and, if your praying for the slow moving zombies.... well this book is not for you. There is no government to help, no police a phone call away. You are on your own.
You follow one main charter in this book who meets others along the way. As the reader, you will see the new world from his eyes and hear the tales from others through his ears.
Hayden comes off as lazy and a freeloader getting what he wants out of life with his parents hard earned money. His first reaction is one, I feel many people could relate to. Denial, He refuses to take in what's going on in front of him.
As the book progresses you see him become the man he needs to be in this new world of the dead eating the living. You can see Hayden fighting everything he use to know and slowly work his mind to be a better fit for this cruel world he woke up in. Some events make Hayden grow faster then im sure he would like.
Towards the end of the book I actually started to respect Hayden for refusing to give up and try to go about things on his own.
The writing in this book is smooth and flows nicely. Too much analyzing and reliving the past in head for me, and I could of used just a tad more gore, but the main reason I gave this book 4 stars is because it ends with a cliff hanger.....
Can't wait to read the next one.
~*Luna*~
You follow one main charter in this book who meets others along the way. As the reader, you will see the new world from his eyes and hear the tales from others through his ears.
Hayden comes off as lazy and a freeloader getting what he wants out of life with his parents hard earned money. His first reaction is one, I feel many people could relate to. Denial, He refuses to take in what's going on in front of him.
As the book progresses you see him become the man he needs to be in this new world of the dead eating the living. You can see Hayden fighting everything he use to know and slowly work his mind to be a better fit for this cruel world he woke up in. Some events make Hayden grow faster then im sure he would like.
Towards the end of the book I actually started to respect Hayden for refusing to give up and try to go about things on his own.
The writing in this book is smooth and flows nicely. Too much analyzing and reliving the past in head for me, and I could of used just a tad more gore, but the main reason I gave this book 4 stars is because it ends with a cliff hanger.....
Can't wait to read the next one.
~*Luna*~
April 1, 2016
I do love post apocalyptic books, and Ryan Casey's certainly gets you into the groove from the very first chapter. The main character, Hayden McCall, is a 25 year old, unemployed, depressed, "loser", who stays at home all the time playing video games. He lives alone (of course) and drinks too much. He has been collecting unemployment (or jobseekers benefit allowance, as they apparently call it in England) for some time now, and when he runs out of that money, he has his parents bail him out with a loan. He feels little remorse for doing that, even though his whole family has gone through the tragic loss of his sister when she committed suicide 11 years ago by hanging herself in her room of the family home. Each coped with that loss in different ways, and maybe that's why Hayden has very little motivation to do anything substantial in his life. He is awoken one hungover Saturday morning by knocks at his door and has no doubt that it is his landlord, who is surely wanting to collect his late rent. It's at this moment that his life would change forever, and not in a good way. Within a short 24 hours, he will come to realize that the people in this new world will no longer care who you are, or what you've done previously, only that you are, and that existence may be cut short at any time. Hayden will, for the first time in a long time, have to rise above all of his failures and become a leader, if his family is to survive.
This is Book #1 in a 4 part series.
This is Book #1 in a 4 part series.
October 16, 2015
4/5 Solid Stars
WOW! What a zombie/end of the world book! I definitely liked this a lot more than I thought I was going to.
So it's been a number of months since I've actually read anything that contained zombies/violence/end of the world genre and a strong urge to do exactly that. To read something that contained good old zombies. I wanted the fear, the horror, the disbelief that something so horrible to comprehend that is actually was happening to read about. Call me strange whatever, but I have always had a fascination to this sort of thing. If the world was going to end and was going to end with Zombies, then what would happen, why would it happen, what would the zombies be like e.t.c Every author of course will have their own take on these sort of things, and what I particularly enjoyed reading about with this book, was that the concept of having someone, that someone a male, have his POV read about and that his type of character wouldn't logically last in this type of situation. However this particular male character does! Which is what intrigued me to read it.
Overall, a well written plotline with an ending that made me choke up with near tears. I now just need to move onto the second book and find out what happens next!
WOW! What a zombie/end of the world book! I definitely liked this a lot more than I thought I was going to.
So it's been a number of months since I've actually read anything that contained zombies/violence/end of the world genre and a strong urge to do exactly that. To read something that contained good old zombies. I wanted the fear, the horror, the disbelief that something so horrible to comprehend that is actually was happening to read about. Call me strange whatever, but I have always had a fascination to this sort of thing. If the world was going to end and was going to end with Zombies, then what would happen, why would it happen, what would the zombies be like e.t.c Every author of course will have their own take on these sort of things, and what I particularly enjoyed reading about with this book, was that the concept of having someone, that someone a male, have his POV read about and that his type of character wouldn't logically last in this type of situation. However this particular male character does! Which is what intrigued me to read it.
Overall, a well written plotline with an ending that made me choke up with near tears. I now just need to move onto the second book and find out what happens next!
March 18, 2016
I wanted to like this. I adore zombie stories, and this one seemed to be advertising fast zombies and an atypical situation with the armed forces/police. Unfortunately, I hated the protagonist to completely that I wasn't able to force myself to finish it, even though many readers seem to suggest it eventually gets better.
Hayden is annoying.
Okay. Additional point. There's really not a single character I could identify with or care about. Sometimes if the supporting cast is strong enough, a weak main character is tolerable. That was not the case here.
For anyone who thinks I didn't give the book a fair shake before giving up - I made it about 60% of the way through the book before I gave up, but life is just too short to waste on something I'm not enjoying...
Hayden is annoying.
Okay. Additional point. There's really not a single character I could identify with or care about. Sometimes if the supporting cast is strong enough, a weak main character is tolerable. That was not the case here.
For anyone who thinks I didn't give the book a fair shake before giving up - I made it about 60% of the way through the book before I gave up, but life is just too short to waste on something I'm not enjoying...
May 18, 2015
Hmm...
I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. It was typical post-apocalyptic zombie fare. Nothing originally. From what I've read of the author, suspense is his calling card. If you ask me, it's overused. The end of each chapter felt like the literary equivalent of Ryan Seacrest going to commercial instead of just telling the audience who was about to be eliminated. This is the 1st in a series so perhaps I should reserve judgment until at least finishing the 2nd book. Right now I'll just assume that the 1st book felt underdeveloped because it was the first of the series.
I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. It was typical post-apocalyptic zombie fare. Nothing originally. From what I've read of the author, suspense is his calling card. If you ask me, it's overused. The end of each chapter felt like the literary equivalent of Ryan Seacrest going to commercial instead of just telling the audience who was about to be eliminated. This is the 1st in a series so perhaps I should reserve judgment until at least finishing the 2nd book. Right now I'll just assume that the 1st book felt underdeveloped because it was the first of the series.
January 16, 2019
A very well written book about one mans dedication to his families survival. Hayden is a free-loader, a good for nothing mooch of a human. In 98% of the zombie and horror fiction out there, this is the first person to go. They lack the confidence, resilience, and dedication to be of much use trying to save themselves.
This is my second time through the book and couldn't put it down.
This is my second time through the book and couldn't put it down.
May 11, 2015
Okay, quick pace
Decent zombie story striving to be a little different. Not so sure it hits the mark, but an okay escape, good KU selection. I might check out some more of Casey's work.
Decent zombie story striving to be a little different. Not so sure it hits the mark, but an okay escape, good KU selection. I might check out some more of Casey's work.
May 13, 2015
Really enjoyed this. The main character has a lot of growing up to do, facing responsibilities, learning to take charge however unwillingly. His loyalty to his family is never doubted, and the journey to find them had enough nail-biting to satisfy me!!
August 12, 2015
It turned out so much better
I started this book and I'll be honest didn't really care for Hayden but as I progressed I was thrilled about the change in him it's almost a coming of age zombie book on to 2 excited
I started this book and I'll be honest didn't really care for Hayden but as I progressed I was thrilled about the change in him it's almost a coming of age zombie book on to 2 excited
July 1, 2018
Excellent story
Fast paced and thrilling. The change in Hayden was remarkable but necessary. Only two errors in editing. One was a sentence fragment and not a complete sentence. The other he used floor instead of ground, the person was outside. I can't wait to read the sequel.
Fast paced and thrilling. The change in Hayden was remarkable but necessary. Only two errors in editing. One was a sentence fragment and not a complete sentence. The other he used floor instead of ground, the person was outside. I can't wait to read the sequel.
June 8, 2015
2.3 stars. It was okay. Dragged at times, had trouble caring about the characters. Okay action, but...
June 13, 2015
Good book
THIS book is very intense keeps you turning the pages even when you need to stop or do important things but you need to know what happens to these interesting characters.
THIS book is very intense keeps you turning the pages even when you need to stop or do important things but you need to know what happens to these interesting characters.
June 28, 2015
yes ..good story ..really liked it ..but i did want to slap Hayden ..
July 4, 2015
Sadly this was mediocre at best. A bit too many grammatical errors for my taste. The story really got bogged down with too many details about insignificant characters.
June 25, 2015
I can't believe I forgot to mark this book as read and to write a review.
I don't remember everything as a year passed or so, but I know I enjoyed it.
I don't remember everything as a year passed or so, but I know I enjoyed it.
August 17, 2015
Excellent
Started a bit slow but picked up and now I am hooked. I am getting the next book right now.
Started a bit slow but picked up and now I am hooked. I am getting the next book right now.
October 17, 2015
Ok
Picked this up as I had thoroughly enjoyed 'Dying Eyes', the first Brian McDone novel. Didn't enjoy this book as much, but that could be because of the different genre.
Picked this up as I had thoroughly enjoyed 'Dying Eyes', the first Brian McDone novel. Didn't enjoy this book as much, but that could be because of the different genre.
September 4, 2016
Great easy fun
Fun suspenseful read easy to get through and kept you always interested and wanting more. Probably going to read the series to see what happens with Hayden!
Fun suspenseful read easy to get through and kept you always interested and wanting more. Probably going to read the series to see what happens with Hayden!
July 24, 2015
Ok-ish book but the main character was such a whinging self pitying idiot
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews