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Tomes of The Dead #1-1.5
The Complete Double Dead
A VAMPIRE IN ZOMBIELAND
You wouldn’t like Coburn. People don’t, as a rule. And that’s okay, because he doesn’t like people much either. People are food.
Five years ago, Coburn went to sleep – wasn’t exactly planned – and he’s just woken up to find most everybody in the world dead. Not dead like him; he looks human, drinks blood. He’s smart. They’re... none of those things. They outnumber him by about a million to one, and their clotted blood cannot sustain him.
Now he’s starving, and on the run. He has to find blood, soon, and – like it or not – he’s gonna have to keep an eye on the frail flesh-bags he finds it in. Time for the wolf to turn shepherd.
No, Coburn doesn’t like people. But he’ll have to learn to.
You wouldn’t like Coburn. People don’t, as a rule. And that’s okay, because he doesn’t like people much either. People are food.
Five years ago, Coburn went to sleep – wasn’t exactly planned – and he’s just woken up to find most everybody in the world dead. Not dead like him; he looks human, drinks blood. He’s smart. They’re... none of those things. They outnumber him by about a million to one, and their clotted blood cannot sustain him.
Now he’s starving, and on the run. He has to find blood, soon, and – like it or not – he’s gonna have to keep an eye on the frail flesh-bags he finds it in. Time for the wolf to turn shepherd.
No, Coburn doesn’t like people. But he’ll have to learn to.
432 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2016
44 people are currently reading
706 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Wendig
182 books7,222 followersChuck Wendig is a novelist, a screenwriter, and a freelance penmonkey.
He has contributed over two million words to the roleplaying game industry, and was the developer of the popular Hunter: The Vigil game line (White Wolf Game Studios / CCP).
He, along with writing partner Lance Weiler, is a fellow of the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriter's Lab (2010). Their short film, Pandemic, will show at the Sundance Film Festival 2011, and their feature film HiM is in development with producer Ted Hope.
Chuck's novel Double Dead will be out in November, 2011.
He's written too much. He should probably stop. Give him a wide berth, as he might be drunk and untrustworthy. He currently lives in the wilds of Pennsyltucky with a wonderful wife and two very stupid dogs. He is represented by Stacia Decker of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
You can find him at his website, terribleminds.com.
He has contributed over two million words to the roleplaying game industry, and was the developer of the popular Hunter: The Vigil game line (White Wolf Game Studios / CCP).
He, along with writing partner Lance Weiler, is a fellow of the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriter's Lab (2010). Their short film, Pandemic, will show at the Sundance Film Festival 2011, and their feature film HiM is in development with producer Ted Hope.
Chuck's novel Double Dead will be out in November, 2011.
He's written too much. He should probably stop. Give him a wide berth, as he might be drunk and untrustworthy. He currently lives in the wilds of Pennsyltucky with a wonderful wife and two very stupid dogs. He is represented by Stacia Decker of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
You can find him at his website, terribleminds.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 24, 2025
This audiobook had a fuck bucket of zombies, gothy ghetto clown pimps, zombie/vampire hybrids, and apocalyptic orphans! 3.45 🌟
September 26, 2022
Vampire wakes up to a zombie apocalypse. His source of food has disappeared and he on the hunt for a blood source in a world lack of it. It has it really funny parts but towards the end it dragged a little for me.
January 23, 2021
This was different a vampire dealing a zombie apocalypse. There were a few time times the story seems to shift into a new story and it’s a bit jarring. But over all tis a new take on the end of the world and worth a read.
March 13, 2024
3.5 stars.
The Complete Double Dead was a solid vampire vs zombies apocalypse novel.
As I was reading this I kept feeling like this was Wendig's first attempt and writing such a huge epic like his awesome Wanderers duology (which is one of my favorite stories of all time). There were so many aspects of this that had a very similar flavor to Wanderers but just didn't quite feel as *perfect* as what was offered by the time Wendig got to the Wanderers duology. All that being said though if you are a fan of the apocalypse epic and you want more with a similar vibe to The Stand, Swan Song or Wanderers and Wayward then this will be a fun read and though not quite at the caliber as those books, still worth the time spent in this world.
The Complete Double Dead was a solid vampire vs zombies apocalypse novel.
As I was reading this I kept feeling like this was Wendig's first attempt and writing such a huge epic like his awesome Wanderers duology (which is one of my favorite stories of all time). There were so many aspects of this that had a very similar flavor to Wanderers but just didn't quite feel as *perfect* as what was offered by the time Wendig got to the Wanderers duology. All that being said though if you are a fan of the apocalypse epic and you want more with a similar vibe to The Stand, Swan Song or Wanderers and Wayward then this will be a fun read and though not quite at the caliber as those books, still worth the time spent in this world.
March 5, 2016
A Vampire in Zombieland
Our main character, Coburn, is a vampire who wakes up from a five-year "nap" and finds himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. While he's not exactly mourning the loss of humanity, he is very much upset about the loss of humans, seeing as zombies are about as tasty as they look.
Coburn's character was great. He was selfish, sarcastic and just a gigantic asshole with a capital "A".
The crossbow bolt hit the man in the eye. His arms pinwheeled as he fell backward, dead. The woman - Sue - stared at him, wide-eyed and full of fear.
"What...what are you?" she asked.
"I'm Batman."
Her eyes went wider: full moons, each.
"Just kidding," he said, then twisted her neck until it broke.
I found him to be the perfect mix of
this:
this:
aaaaaand this:
The other characters didn't appeal to me as a much as he did. They felt a little shallow and I found myself skimming their chapters until I got back to Coburn's. I also disliked how Kayla made him so soft - I preferred him as a self-centered jackass. :(
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Wending managed to capture the horrors of the apocalypse but never let go of the humour, which makes this book one of a kind to me.
"I suspect that's how you deal with the rotters."
"Rotters? You mean the boogies?"
"The boogies."
"Boogiemen, yeah. Fence keeps 'em out, mostly. But we got dudes along the fence too. Take 'em out with some M-16s. We send out hunting parties too. Chop them bitches up and fuck the corpses." Loco paused, his voice got kind of quiet. "We don't really fuck the corpses, though."
"That's real good to know."
I'd like to thank the wonderful people at Rebellion Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Complete Double Dead!
Our main character, Coburn, is a vampire who wakes up from a five-year "nap" and finds himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. While he's not exactly mourning the loss of humanity, he is very much upset about the loss of humans, seeing as zombies are about as tasty as they look.
Coburn's character was great. He was selfish, sarcastic and just a gigantic asshole with a capital "A".
The crossbow bolt hit the man in the eye. His arms pinwheeled as he fell backward, dead. The woman - Sue - stared at him, wide-eyed and full of fear.
"What...what are you?" she asked.
"I'm Batman."
Her eyes went wider: full moons, each.
"Just kidding," he said, then twisted her neck until it broke.
I found him to be the perfect mix of
this:
this:
aaaaaand this:
The other characters didn't appeal to me as a much as he did. They felt a little shallow and I found myself skimming their chapters until I got back to Coburn's. I also disliked how Kayla made him so soft - I preferred him as a self-centered jackass. :(
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Wending managed to capture the horrors of the apocalypse but never let go of the humour, which makes this book one of a kind to me.
"I suspect that's how you deal with the rotters."
"Rotters? You mean the boogies?"
"The boogies."
"Boogiemen, yeah. Fence keeps 'em out, mostly. But we got dudes along the fence too. Take 'em out with some M-16s. We send out hunting parties too. Chop them bitches up and fuck the corpses." Loco paused, his voice got kind of quiet. "We don't really fuck the corpses, though."
"That's real good to know."
I'd like to thank the wonderful people at Rebellion Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Complete Double Dead!
July 31, 2016
Wendig continues to amaze me with his prose. And his story's good too. But, man. He really stretches the language of writing and makes it work so well, all I can do is go, "Damn, I wish I'd written that."
I normally avoid zombie and vampire stores like the, ahem, plague. But I tried this out after liking Zeros and I was thrilled by how easily Wendig reeled me in and kept me reading. Double damn kudos, and fangs for the great read.
I normally avoid zombie and vampire stores like the, ahem, plague. But I tried this out after liking Zeros and I was thrilled by how easily Wendig reeled me in and kept me reading. Double damn kudos, and fangs for the great read.
October 21, 2024
You know it never crossed my mind what happens to vampires during zombie apocalypses... now we know.
Loved this. Mr Wendig is just incredible for pulling you, keeping you there, making you laugh, etc. 👌
Loved this. Mr Wendig is just incredible for pulling you, keeping you there, making you laugh, etc. 👌
October 15, 2025
4.5 Stars
A really good debut novel with some content I’m pleased to see is no longer in Wendigs writing
A really good debut novel with some content I’m pleased to see is no longer in Wendigs writing
February 4, 2016
The Complete Double Dead The Complete Double Dead is a compilation of Chuck Wendig's book Double Dead, and the novella Bad Blood.
Coburn wakes from a "nap", not of his own choosing mind you, only to find that the world outside has gone to hell in a handbasket. See, Coburn is a vampire, and vampires need blood of the living to survive. All that he sees outside are zombies, which make no meal at all. So how's a vampire to live out there?
Coburn has to follow his nose, literally. He scents some people, alive people, and knows he needs to track them down to continue his undeath. And he realizes that he has to be the shepherd to his new flock, his walking Capri Sun. And that's not as easy as it sounds either. Especially when your cows attempt to abandon or kill you. Or both.
Coburn and his flock try to get across the country, because they've been told that's where there is a lab working on curing the zombie problem. On their journey they encounter the shuffling zombies, the cannibals, the Juggalos who own the midwest, and the new zombies. Faster, stronger, smarter than any other zombie. Ones created accidentally by Coburn when he gets distracted and can't move fast enough to evade the bites of the shuffling hordes. They are the hunters, fearsome predators who are the only real challenge to Coburn, aside from himself.
Coburn is an ego driven force, one who constantly reminds his snack pack that the only reason they're still alive is because he allows it. He's not very likable for most of the story, but he does begin to grow on you, and in the novella, you are given his backstory. You learn about him, and begin to understand why he is the way he is. Most of Double Dead focuses on the trek across America, while Bad Blood focuses on San Francisco, and the challenges presented there.
I really enjoyed having both pieces together in one place, it felt a bit more complete and answered some of the questions you were left with at the end of Double Dead. While you *could* read either as a standalone, you're much better off reading them together.
Wendig is a great author, combining tongue in cheek humour with horror, and making the humour scary and the horror funny. This was a fun read, and I definitely recommend it to fans of horror, to fans of irreverent humour, fans of the absurd, and anyone who likes a good old vampire vs zombie tale. As long as they like some oddball twists in their reading. I give it four stars, it's written in a style that is all Wendig. The cadence of the book cries to be read outloud, and I had a hard time not reading some of the sillier bits verbatim to my furry overlords. They were not as amused by the phrasing as I was, much to my dismay.
Anyway. Read this book. You'll laugh, you'll chuckle, you'll wrinkle your nose in reaction to the vivid descriptions of things better left said by Chuck via Coburn. Trust me, it's worth the nose wrinkling and the laughs.
I was given a copy of the book by the publisher to review, in return for an honest review.
Coburn wakes from a "nap", not of his own choosing mind you, only to find that the world outside has gone to hell in a handbasket. See, Coburn is a vampire, and vampires need blood of the living to survive. All that he sees outside are zombies, which make no meal at all. So how's a vampire to live out there?
Coburn has to follow his nose, literally. He scents some people, alive people, and knows he needs to track them down to continue his undeath. And he realizes that he has to be the shepherd to his new flock, his walking Capri Sun. And that's not as easy as it sounds either. Especially when your cows attempt to abandon or kill you. Or both.
Coburn and his flock try to get across the country, because they've been told that's where there is a lab working on curing the zombie problem. On their journey they encounter the shuffling zombies, the cannibals, the Juggalos who own the midwest, and the new zombies. Faster, stronger, smarter than any other zombie. Ones created accidentally by Coburn when he gets distracted and can't move fast enough to evade the bites of the shuffling hordes. They are the hunters, fearsome predators who are the only real challenge to Coburn, aside from himself.
Coburn is an ego driven force, one who constantly reminds his snack pack that the only reason they're still alive is because he allows it. He's not very likable for most of the story, but he does begin to grow on you, and in the novella, you are given his backstory. You learn about him, and begin to understand why he is the way he is. Most of Double Dead focuses on the trek across America, while Bad Blood focuses on San Francisco, and the challenges presented there.
I really enjoyed having both pieces together in one place, it felt a bit more complete and answered some of the questions you were left with at the end of Double Dead. While you *could* read either as a standalone, you're much better off reading them together.
Wendig is a great author, combining tongue in cheek humour with horror, and making the humour scary and the horror funny. This was a fun read, and I definitely recommend it to fans of horror, to fans of irreverent humour, fans of the absurd, and anyone who likes a good old vampire vs zombie tale. As long as they like some oddball twists in their reading. I give it four stars, it's written in a style that is all Wendig. The cadence of the book cries to be read outloud, and I had a hard time not reading some of the sillier bits verbatim to my furry overlords. They were not as amused by the phrasing as I was, much to my dismay.
Anyway. Read this book. You'll laugh, you'll chuckle, you'll wrinkle your nose in reaction to the vivid descriptions of things better left said by Chuck via Coburn. Trust me, it's worth the nose wrinkling and the laughs.
I was given a copy of the book by the publisher to review, in return for an honest review.
September 29, 2025
This book is so good and surprisingly hilarious. I guess the whole premise is funny; vampire wakes up after being asleep a very long time to a zombie apocalypse. So now food is hard to come by. He finds a group of people going west and makes a deal with them; I'll be you shepherd and you all will be my flock. Coburn (the vampire) is so sarcastic and the shit he says had me cracking up.
September 3, 2025
Really enjoyed this book, and glad I chose the audiobook. The narrator was great and really did amazing with capturing so many different character voices. I found myself on edge, wondering what was next, then laughing.
December 1, 2018
A vampire trying to thrive in a zombie apocalypse. Grindhouse feel with lots of gross, and great adventures with assorted characters built up enough to care about. And Wendig builds the world with enough plausibility and science to satisfy this nerd reader. Lots of fun.
December 1, 2023
It's like waking up from a coma and realizing there's nothing to eat.
April 9, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up.
July 21, 2025
gyat dayum.
October 27, 2025
4.1*
Una feroç barreja de terror postapocalíptic i enginy negre que capgira els mites del vampir. El protagonista, Coburn, és un vampir que es desperta en un món dominat per zombis, on la sang viva és un luxe i la supervivència es converteix en una ironia sagnant. Obligat a aliarse amb un grup d'humans, el seu viatge és una odissea violenta i sarcàstica, plena de reflexions àcides sobre la naturalesa de la monstrositat.
Wendig construeix el relat amb un estil brut i cinematogràfic, amb diàlegs punyents, un ritme accelerat i una energia gairebé punk. Més enllà del caos i l'acció, la novel·la s'endinsa en temes com la redempció i la necessitat de pertànyer fins i tot quan el món s’ha acabat. Una sàtira tan intel·ligent com salvatge, i sorprenentment emotiva, on el terror i la tragèdia conviuen amb un humor tan fosc com addictiu.
Una feroç barreja de terror postapocalíptic i enginy negre que capgira els mites del vampir. El protagonista, Coburn, és un vampir que es desperta en un món dominat per zombis, on la sang viva és un luxe i la supervivència es converteix en una ironia sagnant. Obligat a aliarse amb un grup d'humans, el seu viatge és una odissea violenta i sarcàstica, plena de reflexions àcides sobre la naturalesa de la monstrositat.
Wendig construeix el relat amb un estil brut i cinematogràfic, amb diàlegs punyents, un ritme accelerat i una energia gairebé punk. Més enllà del caos i l'acció, la novel·la s'endinsa en temes com la redempció i la necessitat de pertànyer fins i tot quan el món s’ha acabat. Una sàtira tan intel·ligent com salvatge, i sorprenentment emotiva, on el terror i la tragèdia conviuen amb un humor tan fosc com addictiu.
November 7, 2025
So. Good.
Another great and unique flavour of zombie apocalypse.
Another great and unique flavour of zombie apocalypse.
February 21, 2016
The book The Complete Double Dead is in reality an omnibus edition of the Double Dead series, Double Dead and the short story “Bad Blood” released by Abaddon Books in 2016. Double Dead was originally published by Abaddon Books in 2011 and was included in their multi-author series “Tomes of the Dead.” “Bad Blood” was a short story also published by Abaddon Books and was released as an e-book in 2012. Both stories are about the vampire, Coburn, and his survival in a world now engulfed in a zombie apocalypse. “Bad Blood” continues the story that ended with Double Dead.
Now I consider myself a bit of a zombie coinsure. I have read more than my fair share of zombie literature, and unlike many of these “Johnny-come-lately” Walking Dead zombie fans, I have been a dedicated reader/viewer for years. And in all my years I have never read a “zombie” novel quite like this one, and that is something pretty amazing! Chuck Wendig has created a unique novel, not because of environment in which the novel takes place. This is your typical zombie apocalypse. It’s not unique because of the plot. I have read any number of zombie books where the characters are taking a _____ (person, canister of blood, chemical, disc of notes, fill in the blank with the appropriate plot device) across the country to end the zombie apocalypse. No, the thing that made Double Dead one of the most interesting zombie novels I have read in a few years, was the main character, Coburn, a vampire that wakes right in the middle of a full-fledged zombie apocalypse after being “accidently” entombed.
I recently read The Death of Grass by John Christopher and so I had a greater appreciation for the serious predicament in which Coburn woke to find himself. And in the beginning that is all Coburn saw when he finds group of survivors and decides to make them his “flock.” In this case flock is like literal sheep, not in the biblical or Christian sense. The thing is eventually the survivors do look to Coburn as a leader and a protector…..so maybe not so literal after all.
Coburn is your quintessential anti-hero. He reveled in his wickedness, and in the evil of his previous deeds. But like all anti-hero’s, this is just a shallow cover for pain and loss. Being a vampire over 50 years old, Coburn’s pains were maybe just a tad deeper and bigger than the average anti-hero.
This novel was not perfect. I was not impressed with the plot string of Coburn and Brickert and the Sons of Man. I found it to be a bit shallow and sort of petered out in the end. But that was more than made up for by Coburn and the Housefrau. This is just another example of a plot twist that moved this novel from just another zombie book to one that rises above.
My final word, this was better than your average zombie book and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something just a little bit different. (This novel was given to the reviewer by the publisher for a fair and honest review.)
4 of 5 stars.
Now I consider myself a bit of a zombie coinsure. I have read more than my fair share of zombie literature, and unlike many of these “Johnny-come-lately” Walking Dead zombie fans, I have been a dedicated reader/viewer for years. And in all my years I have never read a “zombie” novel quite like this one, and that is something pretty amazing! Chuck Wendig has created a unique novel, not because of environment in which the novel takes place. This is your typical zombie apocalypse. It’s not unique because of the plot. I have read any number of zombie books where the characters are taking a _____ (person, canister of blood, chemical, disc of notes, fill in the blank with the appropriate plot device) across the country to end the zombie apocalypse. No, the thing that made Double Dead one of the most interesting zombie novels I have read in a few years, was the main character, Coburn, a vampire that wakes right in the middle of a full-fledged zombie apocalypse after being “accidently” entombed.
I recently read The Death of Grass by John Christopher and so I had a greater appreciation for the serious predicament in which Coburn woke to find himself. And in the beginning that is all Coburn saw when he finds group of survivors and decides to make them his “flock.” In this case flock is like literal sheep, not in the biblical or Christian sense. The thing is eventually the survivors do look to Coburn as a leader and a protector…..so maybe not so literal after all.
Coburn is your quintessential anti-hero. He reveled in his wickedness, and in the evil of his previous deeds. But like all anti-hero’s, this is just a shallow cover for pain and loss. Being a vampire over 50 years old, Coburn’s pains were maybe just a tad deeper and bigger than the average anti-hero.
This novel was not perfect. I was not impressed with the plot string of Coburn and Brickert and the Sons of Man. I found it to be a bit shallow and sort of petered out in the end. But that was more than made up for by Coburn and the Housefrau. This is just another example of a plot twist that moved this novel from just another zombie book to one that rises above.
My final word, this was better than your average zombie book and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something just a little bit different. (This novel was given to the reviewer by the publisher for a fair and honest review.)
4 of 5 stars.
July 29, 2021
3.5 stars.
Narrator T. Ryder Smith just blows this story right out of the water, turning in a performance that dials this already high-energy story right up to 11. By the time the first chapter is done, he's snapped the knob off and thrown it right out the window.
Smith's narration is tremendous, one of the best I've listened to. He dives into the character of Coburn as if Smith himself was an arrogant asshole vampire. He's not one bit intimidated by Coburn. Smith's performance slides effortlessly from dark anger to quiet introspection, from manic to despair, from sarcasm to genuine humour. He was equally successful with the soft-spoken Kayla, finding and conveying her steely inner core, not to mention the warmth she felt for Coburn.
Then there was the rest of the cast (some more longer term than others, as these things go, in a world populated by zombies, super-zombies, and vampires) but that didn't stop Smith from creating full characters for all of them. I particularly liked the voices he gave .
I really can't say enough good things about Smith's narration. Without a doubt, treat yourself to the audio version if you can.
This was just icing on an already tasty cake as I thought it was a terrific story on its own merits. Wendig starts out with a really interesting scenario: how does a vampire survive in a world turned mostly to zombies, where the human food supply is - well, in very short supply? Right from the off you're invested, wondering how Wendig is going to play it out. Then Wendig pulls you in further with a cast of compelling characters with strong, emotional relationships. He manages to balance the story out among them all without letting Coburn, our perpetually hungry vampire, just take over. Coburn is a hugely forceful personality and I can believe it if Wendig had to make the effort to keep Coburn on a leash sometimes.
But I think the arc Coburn experiences in the story helps a lot with that. It's the familiar
I was genuinely disappointed when it all came to an end (as every story must, alas). I don't know if Wendig has any plans to revisit this particular story, although the ending certainly leaves that possibility open. I definitely hope he does. I'd love to find out what happens next.
Narrator T. Ryder Smith just blows this story right out of the water, turning in a performance that dials this already high-energy story right up to 11. By the time the first chapter is done, he's snapped the knob off and thrown it right out the window.
Smith's narration is tremendous, one of the best I've listened to. He dives into the character of Coburn as if Smith himself was an arrogant asshole vampire. He's not one bit intimidated by Coburn. Smith's performance slides effortlessly from dark anger to quiet introspection, from manic to despair, from sarcasm to genuine humour. He was equally successful with the soft-spoken Kayla, finding and conveying her steely inner core, not to mention the warmth she felt for Coburn.
Then there was the rest of the cast (some more longer term than others, as these things go, in a world populated by zombies, super-zombies, and vampires) but that didn't stop Smith from creating full characters for all of them. I particularly liked the voices he gave .
I really can't say enough good things about Smith's narration. Without a doubt, treat yourself to the audio version if you can.
This was just icing on an already tasty cake as I thought it was a terrific story on its own merits. Wendig starts out with a really interesting scenario: how does a vampire survive in a world turned mostly to zombies, where the human food supply is - well, in very short supply? Right from the off you're invested, wondering how Wendig is going to play it out. Then Wendig pulls you in further with a cast of compelling characters with strong, emotional relationships. He manages to balance the story out among them all without letting Coburn, our perpetually hungry vampire, just take over. Coburn is a hugely forceful personality and I can believe it if Wendig had to make the effort to keep Coburn on a leash sometimes.
But I think the arc Coburn experiences in the story helps a lot with that. It's the familiar
I was genuinely disappointed when it all came to an end (as every story must, alas). I don't know if Wendig has any plans to revisit this particular story, although the ending certainly leaves that possibility open. I definitely hope he does. I'd love to find out what happens next.
January 18, 2020
I listened to the audiobook of Double Dead. The story itself is fun and Coburn is delightfully awful but narrator T. Ryder Smith is the star of this show. His performance is a master class. His voice of Ambrosia the cannibal queen has no right to be as good as it is.
Double Dead is the story of the zombie apocalypse as told by Coburn, the vampire. Very early in the book, Coburn agrees to protect a small group of survivors in exchange for regular feedings. This book is like the walking dead tv show but Darryl is a vampire. The group faces trials and tribulations on their journey west. There's the aforementioned cannibal queen, a town run by face painted juggalos, and various other outrageous characters. This is a totally ridiculous book that's a stupid amount of fun to read and listen to.
Double Dead is the story of the zombie apocalypse as told by Coburn, the vampire. Very early in the book, Coburn agrees to protect a small group of survivors in exchange for regular feedings. This book is like the walking dead tv show but Darryl is a vampire. The group faces trials and tribulations on their journey west. There's the aforementioned cannibal queen, a town run by face painted juggalos, and various other outrageous characters. This is a totally ridiculous book that's a stupid amount of fun to read and listen to.
October 6, 2021
Muchísima acción. Bastante gore. El protagonista es un antihéroe, que es algo que a veces cansa (en este caso concreto y a mí, no) y la historia está entretenida. Se incluye una novela corta que continúa la historia de la novela principal y la cierra de forma bastante correcta.
December 25, 2021
I really liked the premise but the main character was super annoying. I listened to the audio book so I know some of the fault lies in the way the narrator read Coburn but I was so bored of him.
October 25, 2024
That was disgustingly fun.
March 6, 2025
3.75⭐️
February 19, 2016
http://lynns-books.com/2016/02/19/the...
Chuck Wendig is fast becoming one of those authors that I must read. I’ve certainly not read all of his books but the ones I have read I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and The Complete Double Dead is no exception.
At the start of the tale we make the acquaintance of Coburn who has been lying entombed in a derelict building for close on five years. He’s a little dried out to say the least until by some random occurrence he finds himself the lucky recipient of a good dose of blood. Coburn is a vampire. An egotistical, no nonsense, killing machine with super strength and the ability to self regenerate from just about any injury – short of losing his head of course.
Coburn was right at the top of the food chain until he was awoken by blood’s sweet kiss and found the zombie apocalypse shambling around outside. His walking snacks have turned into walking maggot farms and his miraculous revival turns out to be rather ill timed.
Instead of preying on unsuspecting victims by night Coburn instead finds himself shepherding a bunch of humans across the country. He has to keep his food source alive and so, firstly, he must learn to snack rather than guzzle and, secondly, he and his sheep must make it to the other side of the country where a cure to the zombie disease is rumoured to be a possibility. So, Coburn and his crew set off. The route is going to be tough, on top of cannibals, would be military establishments and fanatical religious cults he’s going to need to keep his wits about him to survive his own pack of humans and if that isn’t enough it seems there’s a whole new ‘super’ zombie stalking Coburn.
To be fair, I don’t suppose The Complete Double Dead brings anything startlingly new to either the zombie or vampire legends, and perhaps that’s why I like it – it feels like something old and familiar. Coburn seeks blood, he hides from the sun and he has the ability to ‘persuade’ his victims to behave. The zombies – well, they pretty much want to eat living flesh and they don’t care what extremes they have to go to in order to do so. What I found really original was the twist in the tale that turned the predator into the prey. A little twist that almost brought Coburn to an unlikely end due to his over confidence in his vampire acquired abilities and the fact that he’s never been on the receiving end of a threat before.
On top of this, well, we have Chuck Wendig’s unique style of writing. Here we have a book with horror, blood, guts, drama and action. It has the potential to become too brutal, too horrific and too much to swallow but instead Wendig manages to inject humour in the places you least expect. He turns Coburn into an almost redeemable character (although not completely) and he makes this a gripping read right to the end. There are a number of twists, particularly in relation to one of the characters who seems to bring out the best in Coburn and there are some spectacular scenes of outrageous bloodiness – really, I can’t even go there.
Now, for information, I understand that this book is a combination of two novels – Double Dead and Bad Blood. Also, this is a bloody and sometimes violent book. Wendig pulls no punches so if this doesn’t work for you then step away now!
I really enjoyed The Complete Double Dead. If you’re looking for a little horror, a swathe of zombies, the odd grisly blood bath, some moments of genuine humour and a hero where you didn’t expect then this could be the book you’re waiting for.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Chuck Wendig is fast becoming one of those authors that I must read. I’ve certainly not read all of his books but the ones I have read I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and The Complete Double Dead is no exception.
At the start of the tale we make the acquaintance of Coburn who has been lying entombed in a derelict building for close on five years. He’s a little dried out to say the least until by some random occurrence he finds himself the lucky recipient of a good dose of blood. Coburn is a vampire. An egotistical, no nonsense, killing machine with super strength and the ability to self regenerate from just about any injury – short of losing his head of course.
Coburn was right at the top of the food chain until he was awoken by blood’s sweet kiss and found the zombie apocalypse shambling around outside. His walking snacks have turned into walking maggot farms and his miraculous revival turns out to be rather ill timed.
Instead of preying on unsuspecting victims by night Coburn instead finds himself shepherding a bunch of humans across the country. He has to keep his food source alive and so, firstly, he must learn to snack rather than guzzle and, secondly, he and his sheep must make it to the other side of the country where a cure to the zombie disease is rumoured to be a possibility. So, Coburn and his crew set off. The route is going to be tough, on top of cannibals, would be military establishments and fanatical religious cults he’s going to need to keep his wits about him to survive his own pack of humans and if that isn’t enough it seems there’s a whole new ‘super’ zombie stalking Coburn.
To be fair, I don’t suppose The Complete Double Dead brings anything startlingly new to either the zombie or vampire legends, and perhaps that’s why I like it – it feels like something old and familiar. Coburn seeks blood, he hides from the sun and he has the ability to ‘persuade’ his victims to behave. The zombies – well, they pretty much want to eat living flesh and they don’t care what extremes they have to go to in order to do so. What I found really original was the twist in the tale that turned the predator into the prey. A little twist that almost brought Coburn to an unlikely end due to his over confidence in his vampire acquired abilities and the fact that he’s never been on the receiving end of a threat before.
On top of this, well, we have Chuck Wendig’s unique style of writing. Here we have a book with horror, blood, guts, drama and action. It has the potential to become too brutal, too horrific and too much to swallow but instead Wendig manages to inject humour in the places you least expect. He turns Coburn into an almost redeemable character (although not completely) and he makes this a gripping read right to the end. There are a number of twists, particularly in relation to one of the characters who seems to bring out the best in Coburn and there are some spectacular scenes of outrageous bloodiness – really, I can’t even go there.
Now, for information, I understand that this book is a combination of two novels – Double Dead and Bad Blood. Also, this is a bloody and sometimes violent book. Wendig pulls no punches so if this doesn’t work for you then step away now!
I really enjoyed The Complete Double Dead. If you’re looking for a little horror, a swathe of zombies, the odd grisly blood bath, some moments of genuine humour and a hero where you didn’t expect then this could be the book you’re waiting for.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
March 10, 2016
Author: Chuck Wendig
Publisher: Abaddon Books
Page Count: 384pp
Release date: 9th Feb 2016
Release Date: Reviewer Theresa Derwin
I will start with these words; Chuck Wendig is a God - a god of literature that is. From his informative blog terribleminds.com to his writerly advice in Kick-Ass Writer, the astounding Miriam Black series and now, The Complete Double Dead, Chuck is a master of the art of storytelling.
I first came across his work in 2012 with the Tomes of the Dead, Double Dead, and now, re-reading it, it blew me away just as it did four years ago.
Colborn is a bit of an arsehole and a vampire. He doesn't like people and people don't
like him. Five years ago he went to sleep buried under a movie theatre, now he wakes up to the smell and taste of blood, and the stench of rot. The world has gone to hell. It's a godamned zombie apocalypse. The 'double dead' roam and rule. Doesn't leave much hope for Coborn's continuing survival with no humans to snack on. Well, Coborn isn't timid, so he leaves the theatre, and far in the distance he smells blood; human blood.
For Carl, the apocalypse is working out quite well; doesn't like cats, doesn't like dogs (apart from as dinner) doesn't like people. Interrupting Carl's dinner, Coborn has his own dinner at Carl's expense, then 'rescues' the little dog in a cage, which he promptly names Creampuff; his delicious snack for later. Or so he tells himself, as he travels the dusty roads looking for humans to feed upon. At last he finds an occupied RV, but Coborn's known world is about to go tits up when he meets a young girl - a frail, pretty bird-like girl, who will bring meaning to his new existence. Layla could be the very answer humanity is looking for; a walking, talking cure.
Coborn is sardonic, sarcastic and downright mean to the 'sheeples' he has agreed to protect, but he's damn funny with it. Wendig has a way with words, and a way of building tension without losing his sense of humour. The bit with 'the Queen' is particularly amusing though I won't spoil it for you.
This is pure apocalypse gold - imagine The Road with attitude, 'directed' by Tarantino.
Coborn and his weird entourage travel the dusty, desolate roads of America, like Mad Max with fangs and guns. And on a level of crazy, it's up there with the best - Jeff Strand, Shane McKenzie and Adam Millard.
Part bizarro, part batshit crazy (think Z Nation) part journey through life, the Complete Double Dead has it all. And there is no shortage of monsters, from the rather inept Thuglow to the 'Bitch Beast' who is an amalgam of all sorts of creatures. This puts the fear and the blood back into cutie-fief genres. It is simply Awe-Zom.
Publisher: Abaddon Books
Page Count: 384pp
Release date: 9th Feb 2016
Release Date: Reviewer Theresa Derwin
I will start with these words; Chuck Wendig is a God - a god of literature that is. From his informative blog terribleminds.com to his writerly advice in Kick-Ass Writer, the astounding Miriam Black series and now, The Complete Double Dead, Chuck is a master of the art of storytelling.
I first came across his work in 2012 with the Tomes of the Dead, Double Dead, and now, re-reading it, it blew me away just as it did four years ago.
Colborn is a bit of an arsehole and a vampire. He doesn't like people and people don't
like him. Five years ago he went to sleep buried under a movie theatre, now he wakes up to the smell and taste of blood, and the stench of rot. The world has gone to hell. It's a godamned zombie apocalypse. The 'double dead' roam and rule. Doesn't leave much hope for Coborn's continuing survival with no humans to snack on. Well, Coborn isn't timid, so he leaves the theatre, and far in the distance he smells blood; human blood.
For Carl, the apocalypse is working out quite well; doesn't like cats, doesn't like dogs (apart from as dinner) doesn't like people. Interrupting Carl's dinner, Coborn has his own dinner at Carl's expense, then 'rescues' the little dog in a cage, which he promptly names Creampuff; his delicious snack for later. Or so he tells himself, as he travels the dusty roads looking for humans to feed upon. At last he finds an occupied RV, but Coborn's known world is about to go tits up when he meets a young girl - a frail, pretty bird-like girl, who will bring meaning to his new existence. Layla could be the very answer humanity is looking for; a walking, talking cure.
Coborn is sardonic, sarcastic and downright mean to the 'sheeples' he has agreed to protect, but he's damn funny with it. Wendig has a way with words, and a way of building tension without losing his sense of humour. The bit with 'the Queen' is particularly amusing though I won't spoil it for you.
This is pure apocalypse gold - imagine The Road with attitude, 'directed' by Tarantino.
Coborn and his weird entourage travel the dusty, desolate roads of America, like Mad Max with fangs and guns. And on a level of crazy, it's up there with the best - Jeff Strand, Shane McKenzie and Adam Millard.
Part bizarro, part batshit crazy (think Z Nation) part journey through life, the Complete Double Dead has it all. And there is no shortage of monsters, from the rather inept Thuglow to the 'Bitch Beast' who is an amalgam of all sorts of creatures. This puts the fear and the blood back into cutie-fief genres. It is simply Awe-Zom.
September 22, 2025
This one started off promising, but didn’t deliver. Vampire in a zombie apocalypse, funny and interesting MMC. It just got a bit wandery and too many POVs. Better as an audiobook, but I still listened on x2 speed through the last quarter. If there are any more books to this series, I won’t be reading them.
February 26, 2016
this is more like a 3.75 star rating, because by golly, can wendig write. he knows how to kick things into high gear and keep it there, he knows how to make the characters really stick in your mind as vivid creatures, defined by the handful of characteristics he bestows upon each of them. i had a lot of fun reading this! coburn became someone to genuinely like, and the story itself, the genesis of the zombie apocalypse, was so absorbing, i kept wanting more and more and more. this book doesn't get a higher rating because a) i did not feel changed by this book, as the bonafide gems do, and b) there was a whole lot of collateral in the story i wasn't comfortable with. i mean, fair's fair. within the context of the story, the various deaths made sense. and it's the kind of story that's more about plot, so. in any case, i liked this book, would def recommend to anyone who likes good, fast paced writing, especially in the zombie genre.
February 10, 2016
I enjoyed this collection of Double Dead stories. I was intrigued by the premise of a vampire waking up to find his food source essentially gone because the world has been overrun with zombies. What happens after that is a series of twists and turns that kept me fully engrossed in the story. The characters were diverse and well developed and I was constantly on edge wondering what would happen to them next. I'm not normally a big fan of zombie tales, but this take on it was different enough that it didn't seem like a typical zombie story. If you enjoy horror, I definitely recommend The Complete Double Dead.
Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2016
This re-release of Double Dead comes with novella Bad Blood.
Coburn the vampire wakes up to find that the world he remembered--full of abundant humans for food--is gone. There are few uninfected humans left, so Coburn does the smart thing; he makes sure his only food source stays alive and uninfected by the zombie hordes.
Meanwhile, it seems some of these dead running around have a little bit too much in common with Coburn...
This was originally the first book I read from Chuck Wendig, and it's one of my favorites. The dark humor and snappy dialogue makes it a great read.
Coburn the vampire wakes up to find that the world he remembered--full of abundant humans for food--is gone. There are few uninfected humans left, so Coburn does the smart thing; he makes sure his only food source stays alive and uninfected by the zombie hordes.
Meanwhile, it seems some of these dead running around have a little bit too much in common with Coburn...
This was originally the first book I read from Chuck Wendig, and it's one of my favorites. The dark humor and snappy dialogue makes it a great read.
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