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Hellborn #1
Tell Me When I'm Dead
This is an alternate cover edition for B00ESNCNG4
Thanks to Holly, a beautiful, strong-willed woman, recovering alcoholic Dave Pulaski is getting his life back. Then, a plague decimates the town, turning its victims into shrieking flesh-eaters who hunt the living. Now Dave, Holly, and a band of soldiers must kill the living and the dead to survive. But Dave is this close to drinking again. A woman he cheated with—and no longer human—is after him. The hordes of undead are growing, and the beleaguered security forces are far outnumbered. Hell has arrived in Tres Marias.
Tell Me When I’m Dead (Book One of TELL ME WHEN I’M DEAD) is the story of an antihero who must come to terms with all the mistakes of his life. Facing the most terrifying situation imaginable, Dave must decide whether to die drunk or stay alive and fight for those he cares about most. And strength alone won’t be enough—he’ll need faith.
Thanks to Holly, a beautiful, strong-willed woman, recovering alcoholic Dave Pulaski is getting his life back. Then, a plague decimates the town, turning its victims into shrieking flesh-eaters who hunt the living. Now Dave, Holly, and a band of soldiers must kill the living and the dead to survive. But Dave is this close to drinking again. A woman he cheated with—and no longer human—is after him. The hordes of undead are growing, and the beleaguered security forces are far outnumbered. Hell has arrived in Tres Marias.
Tell Me When I’m Dead (Book One of TELL ME WHEN I’M DEAD) is the story of an antihero who must come to terms with all the mistakes of his life. Facing the most terrifying situation imaginable, Dave must decide whether to die drunk or stay alive and fight for those he cares about most. And strength alone won’t be enough—he’ll need faith.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2013
218 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Steven Ramirez
14 books178 followersSteven Ramirez is the award-winning American author of thriller, supernatural, and literary fiction. A former screenwriter, he’s written about man-made plagues and idyllic towns infested with ghosts and demons. His latest novel is Let’s Get Lost, a modern fairy tale. Steven lives in Los Angeles.
You can connect with Steven on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bystevenram....
You can connect with Steven on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bystevenram....
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 27, 2020
This is a 4.5 star read.
August 8, 2014
Revenge of the zombie ex-girlfriend - an instant cult classic
Steven Ramirez brings on a hard-hitting splattergore zombie thriller, told by the ultimate anti-hero, Dave. Dave's not brave, he's not honorable, he's not a muscle-bound MMA fighter or an ex-military sniper. He's a recovering alcoholic, with a past that just won't quit.
The one thing you learn about Dave, he's good with an axe.
Dave had it all going for him, Holly - the perfect wife, a good job at Staples, clean and sober, dumped his loser drinking buddy Jim. Two years without a relapse, and he had built a real life for himself. But Jim won't leave him alone. Jim doesn't know when the party ends.
Then Jim got the jimmies, and now he's a flesh-eating zombie.
And like many men who live with alcoholism and instant gratification, Dave couldn't settle for his perfect life with Holly, he had to get a little on the side with Missy. The zombie apocalypse comes home in a personal way for Dave, first with Jim and then Missy.
It's the zombie ex-girlfriend straight from hell. Missy doesn't just want revenge, she wants to eat him alive, starting with the soft, mushy underbelly, where all those yummy guts are found.
Every zombie knows it's the belly that's the most delicate part of the body.
Guts and gore and death galore.
This Zombie apocalypse is set in a home town environment, where you personally know each of the 'draggers' who are dying to eat your guts.
And if the draggers don't kill you, the militant, survivalist whackos will. Pandemonium and martial law equals survival of the fittest. No one can escape the quarantine zone and the widespread madness overtaking the survivors.
"People talk about survival. What they mean is killing the other guy."
And that is precisely what it takes to survive in Dave's hometown of Tres Marias. Don't hesitate to dive into this novel for your dose of splattergore-thriller-horror, and perhaps you'll learn a few things about human strength and frailty under duress.
Steven Ramirez brings on a hard-hitting splattergore zombie thriller, told by the ultimate anti-hero, Dave. Dave's not brave, he's not honorable, he's not a muscle-bound MMA fighter or an ex-military sniper. He's a recovering alcoholic, with a past that just won't quit.
The one thing you learn about Dave, he's good with an axe.
Dave had it all going for him, Holly - the perfect wife, a good job at Staples, clean and sober, dumped his loser drinking buddy Jim. Two years without a relapse, and he had built a real life for himself. But Jim won't leave him alone. Jim doesn't know when the party ends.
Then Jim got the jimmies, and now he's a flesh-eating zombie.
And like many men who live with alcoholism and instant gratification, Dave couldn't settle for his perfect life with Holly, he had to get a little on the side with Missy. The zombie apocalypse comes home in a personal way for Dave, first with Jim and then Missy.
It's the zombie ex-girlfriend straight from hell. Missy doesn't just want revenge, she wants to eat him alive, starting with the soft, mushy underbelly, where all those yummy guts are found.
Every zombie knows it's the belly that's the most delicate part of the body.
Guts and gore and death galore.
This Zombie apocalypse is set in a home town environment, where you personally know each of the 'draggers' who are dying to eat your guts.
And if the draggers don't kill you, the militant, survivalist whackos will. Pandemonium and martial law equals survival of the fittest. No one can escape the quarantine zone and the widespread madness overtaking the survivors.
"People talk about survival. What they mean is killing the other guy."
And that is precisely what it takes to survive in Dave's hometown of Tres Marias. Don't hesitate to dive into this novel for your dose of splattergore-thriller-horror, and perhaps you'll learn a few things about human strength and frailty under duress.
September 6, 2013
Tell Me When I'm Dead should not be read while eating a plate of spaghetti. Steven Ramirez has hit the nailheads on the head, preferably with an axe in full swing. Those aren't the guys you should be scared of, it's the draggers who have their cake and eat it, usually with a liberal helping of Kensington Gore.
Dave Pulaski has been a loser all his young life until he meets Holly. She cleans up his act, gets him to give up alcohol and that means his best friend Jim too. But Jim is like a lost puppy without Dave and won't go away. Dave replaces his addiction to booze with meaningless sex with Missy, but Missy wants so much more, more than Dave can ever give her. Now she is real pissed at Dave and so is Jim for being dumped. Along comes the jimmies, a contagious infection transmitted by a bite.
To Dave's horror Jim becomes a dragger, the walking dead and Jim is upset at Dave and wants his dindins. And so Dave's life escalates into madness and mayhem as first Jim, then Missy go gutmunching crazy for Dave's innards. Then his wife leaves him. Can things get worse for our hapless hero? They certainly do.
Dave has to rescue the woman who hates him, save his town from zombies and crazed militia not to mention gun-toting private contractors with hidden agendas. So fasten your seatbelts and take a wild slay ride into hell in North California where if you are lucky dinner will not be served on a splatter.
A FIVE STAR gorefest and a must read for all zombie fans looking for something fresh and still warm.
Dave Pulaski has been a loser all his young life until he meets Holly. She cleans up his act, gets him to give up alcohol and that means his best friend Jim too. But Jim is like a lost puppy without Dave and won't go away. Dave replaces his addiction to booze with meaningless sex with Missy, but Missy wants so much more, more than Dave can ever give her. Now she is real pissed at Dave and so is Jim for being dumped. Along comes the jimmies, a contagious infection transmitted by a bite.
To Dave's horror Jim becomes a dragger, the walking dead and Jim is upset at Dave and wants his dindins. And so Dave's life escalates into madness and mayhem as first Jim, then Missy go gutmunching crazy for Dave's innards. Then his wife leaves him. Can things get worse for our hapless hero? They certainly do.
Dave has to rescue the woman who hates him, save his town from zombies and crazed militia not to mention gun-toting private contractors with hidden agendas. So fasten your seatbelts and take a wild slay ride into hell in North California where if you are lucky dinner will not be served on a splatter.
A FIVE STAR gorefest and a must read for all zombie fans looking for something fresh and still warm.
May 8, 2018
-I received this book from Reader's Favorites. Below is my honest review.
Tell Me When I’m Dead: Book One, by Steven Ramirez, is a horror thriller about a normal man who risked his life to save his loved ones, all the while learning what it means to be alive.
Dave had met the woman of his dreams, and was now in the process of getting his life together. But when an old friend goes missing, Dave is plucked out of his comfortable life and attempts to deal with the unwanted interruption. Things spiral further out of control when a woman by the name of Missy shows up, demanding that he leave his wife for her. As Dave’s slowly starts to unravel, and the body count continues to grow higher through the help of an unknown virus, he is left with a gruesome choice; either to wallow in his sorrows, or say alive. In this thrilling novel, Ramirez details an anti-hero’s struggles for family and love, and to find beauty in a world ruled by the dead.
Ramirez seemed like a weak willed man at first. Although he attempted to turn his life around for Holly, it seemed he was only going through the motions of life. He was so desperately trying to fit into Holly’s perfect little future that he even wound up alienating Jim, a good friend for so many years ago. What’s more, he’d even fooled around with Missy, even though he knew it was wrong. As each of the people he knew turned into the undead, I can’t help but feel like that he woke up in a sense, as he started to protect the people he cared about. It was an interesting inversion, the fact that he’d never been more alive at the end of the book, even though the rest of the nation, and presumably the world, had to die.
This very development showed that, despite the world was falling apart, people will still try to cling to what it means to be alive. For instance, although Aaron was a kid, he tried to save a girl who had clearly been turned, simply because he was blinded by his own morals. His father, Ben, was even less willing. They sharply contrasted to Dave, who managed to become a survivor in the brief amount of time he was given, and has tried to do whatever to took to make it back to Holly. The development of groups such as the Red Militia was also something to consider, since society had essentially descended into chaos. No one was taking anyone’s orders, and it was the end of the world. Despite all the rules that Dave had thrown out, somehow, he managed to bring with him morals, and the basic beliefs of love and family. It goes to show that these things are truly timeless, whatever horror may come. While this concept had been explored in a variety of zombie novels, it’s still a wonderful idea to explore, even if it is a little cliche.
The detail was absolutely stunning. I could practically see the undead in front of me, the blood and gore and worms just crawling out of their bodies. The action scene was crisp, and the emotions were turbulent, so much so I found myself painfully reading word after word, just waiting for something to happen.
The book was a good read. Ramirez’s take on the anti-hero was rather intriguing, a sort of double edged sword that led him to a better life than the one he had now. The details were beautiful, and the concepts of thriving and timelessness was also wonderful. As such, I would give this book a 4.2 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend this book to those who love apocalyptic books in general.
Tell Me When I’m Dead: Book One, by Steven Ramirez, is a horror thriller about a normal man who risked his life to save his loved ones, all the while learning what it means to be alive.
Dave had met the woman of his dreams, and was now in the process of getting his life together. But when an old friend goes missing, Dave is plucked out of his comfortable life and attempts to deal with the unwanted interruption. Things spiral further out of control when a woman by the name of Missy shows up, demanding that he leave his wife for her. As Dave’s slowly starts to unravel, and the body count continues to grow higher through the help of an unknown virus, he is left with a gruesome choice; either to wallow in his sorrows, or say alive. In this thrilling novel, Ramirez details an anti-hero’s struggles for family and love, and to find beauty in a world ruled by the dead.
Ramirez seemed like a weak willed man at first. Although he attempted to turn his life around for Holly, it seemed he was only going through the motions of life. He was so desperately trying to fit into Holly’s perfect little future that he even wound up alienating Jim, a good friend for so many years ago. What’s more, he’d even fooled around with Missy, even though he knew it was wrong. As each of the people he knew turned into the undead, I can’t help but feel like that he woke up in a sense, as he started to protect the people he cared about. It was an interesting inversion, the fact that he’d never been more alive at the end of the book, even though the rest of the nation, and presumably the world, had to die.
This very development showed that, despite the world was falling apart, people will still try to cling to what it means to be alive. For instance, although Aaron was a kid, he tried to save a girl who had clearly been turned, simply because he was blinded by his own morals. His father, Ben, was even less willing. They sharply contrasted to Dave, who managed to become a survivor in the brief amount of time he was given, and has tried to do whatever to took to make it back to Holly. The development of groups such as the Red Militia was also something to consider, since society had essentially descended into chaos. No one was taking anyone’s orders, and it was the end of the world. Despite all the rules that Dave had thrown out, somehow, he managed to bring with him morals, and the basic beliefs of love and family. It goes to show that these things are truly timeless, whatever horror may come. While this concept had been explored in a variety of zombie novels, it’s still a wonderful idea to explore, even if it is a little cliche.
The detail was absolutely stunning. I could practically see the undead in front of me, the blood and gore and worms just crawling out of their bodies. The action scene was crisp, and the emotions were turbulent, so much so I found myself painfully reading word after word, just waiting for something to happen.
The book was a good read. Ramirez’s take on the anti-hero was rather intriguing, a sort of double edged sword that led him to a better life than the one he had now. The details were beautiful, and the concepts of thriving and timelessness was also wonderful. As such, I would give this book a 4.2 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend this book to those who love apocalyptic books in general.
September 9, 2013
"Tell Me When I'm Dead" by Steven Ramirez was recommended to me by a friend and although I don't often read Zombie stories I took his advice and downloaded the book. I was not disappointed.
Right from the first page the powerful prose and action packed story pulled me into this excellently written book. The opening is an excellent preview of the gore, action and fast paced action to come. First however we learn more about our hero, David, a regular guy and dry alcoholic who just recently rebuilt his life and married an amazing wife, Holly, but things are complicated.
Set in a sleepy Californian town, which is just a "passing point to better places," Jim and David have a car accident and Jim goes missing, leaving an injured David and a clueless police. Soon after the accident animals and humans are found dead near Jim's house and we dive into a classic Zombie-virus story.
What makes "Tell Me When I'm Dead" so special is the unlikely heroes, the great setting and the very tight writing. I hate to use the phrase in reviews, but I could hardly put the book down.
This is a well presented story and an excellent read. Highly recommended for fans of the genre or those willing to step out of their comfort zone. If all Zombie stories were as good as this I would definitely read more of them.
Right from the first page the powerful prose and action packed story pulled me into this excellently written book. The opening is an excellent preview of the gore, action and fast paced action to come. First however we learn more about our hero, David, a regular guy and dry alcoholic who just recently rebuilt his life and married an amazing wife, Holly, but things are complicated.
Set in a sleepy Californian town, which is just a "passing point to better places," Jim and David have a car accident and Jim goes missing, leaving an injured David and a clueless police. Soon after the accident animals and humans are found dead near Jim's house and we dive into a classic Zombie-virus story.
What makes "Tell Me When I'm Dead" so special is the unlikely heroes, the great setting and the very tight writing. I hate to use the phrase in reviews, but I could hardly put the book down.
This is a well presented story and an excellent read. Highly recommended for fans of the genre or those willing to step out of their comfort zone. If all Zombie stories were as good as this I would definitely read more of them.
September 15, 2013
A wonderful and exciting book. This is my first Zombie read and I am so thrilled that I went outside my comfort level to read this book. The characters are strong and so real to me. They were for the most part everyday people who met the challenge. I know the story was fiction but it was so believable that I think it could happen. I hated putting the book down. I hope that others will take the chance to read "Tell Me When I'm Dead". I am ready to find another Stephen Ramirez book and start reading!
September 9, 2013
ZOMBTASTIC!!! Action packed and an exciting page turner. Wonderful characters! I'm looking forward to reading more of Mr. Ramirez's other books. EXCELLENT!
October 26, 2019
“You’re a real prick, you know that?”
Yes, David Pulaski knows he's a prick. He's not a prick for being a recovering alcoholic and needing his strong, new wife to dry him out and shape him up. He's not a prick for cheating on her with a chesty yet vicious girl named Missy.
Nope, Dave's a prick for crashing his car and leaving his former best friend, the drunken Leon, flung headfirst out the front windshield glass and leaving him missing in the forest while he goes home for a shower and a screw with the wife.
He's a prick for locking out his psychotic, ex-girlfriend Missy from the cabin when she's being chased by a zombie and about to become spam.
So when Dave slowly morphs into Vincent Lecavalier, the undead killer, I wasn't that impressed. I get that he's an antihero. I love the bad guys - Darth Vader, the Joker, Rorschach, Loki. But Dave is just kind of scummy, and I believe it will take more than one book for him to be redeemed in my eyes.
The book itself was decent. It was long, too, almost too many events and too many characters to keep track of. And many of them towards the middle of the book died, so you almost had to stop paying attention and caring for them (I'm referencing Ram here).
Interesting words of note: the plague is called the jimmies, and zombies are called draggers.
Yes, David Pulaski knows he's a prick. He's not a prick for being a recovering alcoholic and needing his strong, new wife to dry him out and shape him up. He's not a prick for cheating on her with a chesty yet vicious girl named Missy.
Nope, Dave's a prick for crashing his car and leaving his former best friend, the drunken Leon, flung headfirst out the front windshield glass and leaving him missing in the forest while he goes home for a shower and a screw with the wife.
He's a prick for locking out his psychotic, ex-girlfriend Missy from the cabin when she's being chased by a zombie and about to become spam.
So when Dave slowly morphs into Vincent Lecavalier, the undead killer, I wasn't that impressed. I get that he's an antihero. I love the bad guys - Darth Vader, the Joker, Rorschach, Loki. But Dave is just kind of scummy, and I believe it will take more than one book for him to be redeemed in my eyes.
The book itself was decent. It was long, too, almost too many events and too many characters to keep track of. And many of them towards the middle of the book died, so you almost had to stop paying attention and caring for them (I'm referencing Ram here).
Interesting words of note: the plague is called the jimmies, and zombies are called draggers.
August 17, 2025
A totally different and even more hideous type of zombie!
An unknown infection causing strange behavior in and out of town starts this thriller. A man and his wife discover things about each other they never wished to know. I loved this author’s easy style of writing which kept me in thrall for the whole weekend. Although there is plenty of gore to spread around, it was told in a manner that adequately described yet did not gross me out. That’s a plus for me. I will read more of this author’s writing.
An unknown infection causing strange behavior in and out of town starts this thriller. A man and his wife discover things about each other they never wished to know. I loved this author’s easy style of writing which kept me in thrall for the whole weekend. Although there is plenty of gore to spread around, it was told in a manner that adequately described yet did not gross me out. That’s a plus for me. I will read more of this author’s writing.
August 19, 2018
Not your typical zombie story.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm all about zombies and this book was totally different from the norm. The characters were very well developed and the entire story flowed flawlessly. There was humor, gore, freakiness and definitely some heart stopping moments.
If you enjoy a good zombie book but are sick of the same old, same old then you should definitely give this book serious consideration! Well worth it!
I really enjoyed this book. I'm all about zombies and this book was totally different from the norm. The characters were very well developed and the entire story flowed flawlessly. There was humor, gore, freakiness and definitely some heart stopping moments.
If you enjoy a good zombie book but are sick of the same old, same old then you should definitely give this book serious consideration! Well worth it!
December 31, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine if your personal life was in shambles AND you had a zombie apocalypse to worry about. In Tell Me When I'm Dead, that's exactly the situation our main character, Dave, finds himself in. He's a man with what he believes to be a happy life. He's stopped drinking, has a beautiful wife who wants to start a family with him, and plans to go to community college. Dave used to drink all the time with his former friend, Jim, and anytime Jim comes around, Holly is afraid Dave will go back to his old ways. I soon found out Dave's life isn't as great as I first thought.
After the night Jim shows up at Dave and Holly's door completely drunk, things begin to go terribly wrong. Mutilated animals are found in the woods along with a jogger's body. People are beginning to act strangely, too, and one TV anchor calls it the "jimmies." Slowly people begin to realize their loved ones are dying and coming back as the living dead!
It took a while for the contagion to spread - it didn't happen overnight. The pacing of the story was realistic to me and made things even creepier. At first, people change into zombies slowly over a couple of weeks. They're walking around a bit stilted, but life goes on as usual around them. Eventually turning only takes a few hours, and that's when things get really scary.
I liked knowing the characters' back stories before we really get into the meat of the apocalypse (pun intended). These zombies aren't your typical zombies, either. They're 'roid raging, hell bent on revenge, and somewhat able to communicate with each other. Dave found this out the hard way when one zombie in particular was gunning for him. I thought that was fresh and original. And funny at times.
The messes Dave gets himself into are comical but sad at the same time. He's the kind of guy that you're rooting for, but you're also like a bit disgusted with, like dude why did you mess things up so badly??? It seemed like he didn't really want to be married even though he kept insisting he does. Even when he met up with Missy, he still had to reign in his attraction for her.
But Dave undergoes a transformation over the course of the book. While in the beginning I labeled him as a jerk for cheating on his wife and saving only himself from zombies, he begins to help others and takes huge risks to do so. He actually becomes heroic and brave. He still isn't perfect, but that's what makes his character realistic and believable. He runs into good luck; he runs into bad luck.
There's plenty of gore. I'm not squeamish at all, but if you are, I just want to warn you ahead of time. You can easily skip over those parts if that's the only thing keeping you from giving Tell Me When I'm Dead a try. Personally, I can't imagine a zombie novel where there aren't any violent scenes - it just wouldn't be an apocalypse without zombies splattering.
The frustrating part for me is that there are wackos that seem to come out of the woodwork in an apocalypse as if trying to fight zombies isn't bad enough. Just band together people! But people attacking each other over supplies is realistic. I can see humans behaving that way - look at all the looting that happens in natural disasters in real life.
There's a difference between reading a book and watching a movie. I can get scared with either, but there are scenes in books that I can picture vividly for a long long time afterward, and this book has plenty of those. Tell Me When I'm Dead will be a book that I'll always remember just by looking at the cover or reading the title.
Imagine if your personal life was in shambles AND you had a zombie apocalypse to worry about. In Tell Me When I'm Dead, that's exactly the situation our main character, Dave, finds himself in. He's a man with what he believes to be a happy life. He's stopped drinking, has a beautiful wife who wants to start a family with him, and plans to go to community college. Dave used to drink all the time with his former friend, Jim, and anytime Jim comes around, Holly is afraid Dave will go back to his old ways. I soon found out Dave's life isn't as great as I first thought.
After the night Jim shows up at Dave and Holly's door completely drunk, things begin to go terribly wrong. Mutilated animals are found in the woods along with a jogger's body. People are beginning to act strangely, too, and one TV anchor calls it the "jimmies." Slowly people begin to realize their loved ones are dying and coming back as the living dead!
It took a while for the contagion to spread - it didn't happen overnight. The pacing of the story was realistic to me and made things even creepier. At first, people change into zombies slowly over a couple of weeks. They're walking around a bit stilted, but life goes on as usual around them. Eventually turning only takes a few hours, and that's when things get really scary.
I liked knowing the characters' back stories before we really get into the meat of the apocalypse (pun intended). These zombies aren't your typical zombies, either. They're 'roid raging, hell bent on revenge, and somewhat able to communicate with each other. Dave found this out the hard way when one zombie in particular was gunning for him. I thought that was fresh and original. And funny at times.
The messes Dave gets himself into are comical but sad at the same time. He's the kind of guy that you're rooting for, but you're also like a bit disgusted with, like dude why did you mess things up so badly??? It seemed like he didn't really want to be married even though he kept insisting he does. Even when he met up with Missy, he still had to reign in his attraction for her.
But Dave undergoes a transformation over the course of the book. While in the beginning I labeled him as a jerk for cheating on his wife and saving only himself from zombies, he begins to help others and takes huge risks to do so. He actually becomes heroic and brave. He still isn't perfect, but that's what makes his character realistic and believable. He runs into good luck; he runs into bad luck.
There's plenty of gore. I'm not squeamish at all, but if you are, I just want to warn you ahead of time. You can easily skip over those parts if that's the only thing keeping you from giving Tell Me When I'm Dead a try. Personally, I can't imagine a zombie novel where there aren't any violent scenes - it just wouldn't be an apocalypse without zombies splattering.
The frustrating part for me is that there are wackos that seem to come out of the woodwork in an apocalypse as if trying to fight zombies isn't bad enough. Just band together people! But people attacking each other over supplies is realistic. I can see humans behaving that way - look at all the looting that happens in natural disasters in real life.
There's a difference between reading a book and watching a movie. I can get scared with either, but there are scenes in books that I can picture vividly for a long long time afterward, and this book has plenty of those. Tell Me When I'm Dead will be a book that I'll always remember just by looking at the cover or reading the title.
December 5, 2013
I will start by saying the book is competently written. The zombie outbreak and how it works is all well-reasoned and the books pacing is solid. Following the main character David through the various hurdles he faces in living in this world and keeping his family together is totally liner and not hard to follow. I liked the addition of the military contractor akin to Black Water and the local opposition to them. The one problem with zombie fiction is it tends to become a one track people against zombie type of story, so the b plot of people fighting over resources is a nice break from time to time. I did find the story to be a bit formulaic and I felt like I had read it before. While following the zombie fiction play book so closely ensures the story will be readable and fun, it also removes any sense of uniqueness or surprise. Because this was so much like other zombie books I was ahead of the story every step of the way.
While most of the characters are very throw away and forgettable, so much so that it didn’t bother me how he cycled supporting characters several times, the main character is more well-rounded then you normally get. The problem comes in how is well rounded. For most of the story he is a fairly unlikable guy and for the entire book he makes one monumentally bad choice after another. It is not that he is inept; it’s that he just always makes the opposite choice the hero of this type of book would normally make. While that may seem interesting on paper it can be pretty frustrating to read.
http://homeofreading.com/tell-me-when-im-dead/
While most of the characters are very throw away and forgettable, so much so that it didn’t bother me how he cycled supporting characters several times, the main character is more well-rounded then you normally get. The problem comes in how is well rounded. For most of the story he is a fairly unlikable guy and for the entire book he makes one monumentally bad choice after another. It is not that he is inept; it’s that he just always makes the opposite choice the hero of this type of book would normally make. While that may seem interesting on paper it can be pretty frustrating to read.
http://homeofreading.com/tell-me-when-im-dead/
September 25, 2013
Let me start with I have never been a huge zombie fan. I could take it or leave it pretty much, although I do have to admit I liked Shawn of the Dead because of the humor. As far as Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead...eh. Before this book, I have only read one other zombie style book. I found I liked this book from the start. It starts with Dave Pulaski, beaten to a pulp and stuck in a walk-in fridge full of kegs of beer, thinking about how his life went to Hell real quick. Dave is a simple guy with a beautiful wife, Holly, who tries to make his life better. One of his downfalls is his friend, Jim, who she does not like because he is still a 'party boy.' Holly is ready to start a family. Little does she know, Dave had an affair with crazy Missy.
Strange things start going on around town. Jim winds up missing after a car accident, people are acting bazaar, a woman is missing, and animals are found butchered. Missy refuses to leave Dave alone so he tells Holly about the affair. People are catching a virus from being bitten by others with the 'jimmies.' Everything goes downhill and crazy after that.
There is a promise for lots of gore and excitement in this fast-paced novel. It is a great novel for those that love zombies and for those who haven't delved into the realm of the undead. From how the book ended, is there hopes of a continuation? Hmmm....
Strange things start going on around town. Jim winds up missing after a car accident, people are acting bazaar, a woman is missing, and animals are found butchered. Missy refuses to leave Dave alone so he tells Holly about the affair. People are catching a virus from being bitten by others with the 'jimmies.' Everything goes downhill and crazy after that.
There is a promise for lots of gore and excitement in this fast-paced novel. It is a great novel for those that love zombies and for those who haven't delved into the realm of the undead. From how the book ended, is there hopes of a continuation? Hmmm....
October 19, 2013
I saw other reviews on goodreads regarding this book and they all said how good it was so I was ecstatic when the author agreed to send me an arc to review! With this being the month of October and Halloween coming around the corner...I was definitely in the mood for a good zombie story and this one hit the mark!!
The book throws you right into the zombie infested world in the first chapter. It takes you to a scene where Dave wasnt sure if he was dead or alive or if he would survive.
I will say that I didnt like the whole "cheating" section of the book. It just kinda threw me from the story for a bit. I wanted to focus more on the survival aspect of the story instead of being mad about the affair. I liked Dave's wife Holly and her role in the story. I felt like she was a survivor and more of a realistic character.
Dave's friend Jim was just plain wierd and when he turned..I was like...FINALLY...ha! He was a perfect example of a zombie!
This book was full of intense survival scenes, drama, and a some romance as well....I really enjoyed the book and hope there will be a sequel. I would like to know where the rest of this story is headed. I feel like the story had just begun to get awesome when it seemed to end....So anyone who is a fan of horror and zombie scenes then this is definitely for you!!!
The book throws you right into the zombie infested world in the first chapter. It takes you to a scene where Dave wasnt sure if he was dead or alive or if he would survive.
I will say that I didnt like the whole "cheating" section of the book. It just kinda threw me from the story for a bit. I wanted to focus more on the survival aspect of the story instead of being mad about the affair. I liked Dave's wife Holly and her role in the story. I felt like she was a survivor and more of a realistic character.
Dave's friend Jim was just plain wierd and when he turned..I was like...FINALLY...ha! He was a perfect example of a zombie!
This book was full of intense survival scenes, drama, and a some romance as well....I really enjoyed the book and hope there will be a sequel. I would like to know where the rest of this story is headed. I feel like the story had just begun to get awesome when it seemed to end....So anyone who is a fan of horror and zombie scenes then this is definitely for you!!!
September 9, 2013
I typically do not like zombie books. I figured I would try this one. I'm so glad I did. This book was a great read. I love the story line. It kept me wanting to read more. I had a hard time putting it down. I love the characters. They were all great. With so many interesting characters, it's hard to say who my favorite was. Well written. A definite must read. Recommended.
February 7, 2018
Captivating and fast paced!
I enjoyed this book a lot. The main character is far from your typical “hero” type, and that’s probably what makes you root for him. I liked the different scenario where the zombies have some sort of memory of who they once were, it was a refreshing take on my favorite type of book.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The main character is far from your typical “hero” type, and that’s probably what makes you root for him. I liked the different scenario where the zombies have some sort of memory of who they once were, it was a refreshing take on my favorite type of book.
September 3, 2013
Steven Ramirez hit a home run with “Tell Me When I’m Dead”!!!
Fast paced, fun read, well thought out characters and plot!
Zombies, guns, rogue government contractors, militia’s and let’s not forget the crazy chick you had an affair with and now wants you dead………… sounds like my life……….
Fast paced, fun read, well thought out characters and plot!
Zombies, guns, rogue government contractors, militia’s and let’s not forget the crazy chick you had an affair with and now wants you dead………… sounds like my life……….
October 17, 2013
Excellent. A real page-turner. Well written throughout, the story grips you right from the beginning and doesn't let go. Unputdownable.
Will be keeping an eye out for more of Steven's work in the future.
Will be keeping an eye out for more of Steven's work in the future.
March 27, 2016
Review m
I loved your book.I am a walking dead fan and so many of these books are boring but yours was awesome I loved every page.I can't wait to read book two. You are a very talented author. Hope to enjoy more of your books.
I loved your book.I am a walking dead fan and so many of these books are boring but yours was awesome I loved every page.I can't wait to read book two. You are a very talented author. Hope to enjoy more of your books.
August 29, 2020
3 stars. Not great. Not bad. Really I have to say I got what I wanted which was a basic zombie novel that I could put down whenever I needed to do something else.
Like I said, there's really nothing either surprising nor original about "Tell Me". It's written almost like a diary from the perspective on one guy and one guy only. Alcoholic, trying to get life back together, hot wife, crazy mistress, dead parents. Yeah, ok. Very linear, often clip-edited to the point of surprising brevity and we never hear the thoughts of any of the other players. Just this dude either thinking to himself or describing things for us.
But really at this point, I've read so many of these and it's been so long since any of them have been even slightly original - though the ice rink scene was pretty cool (no pun intended) - that I'm just happy this one wasn't one of those that's riddled with clichés, bad grammar and spelling mistakes. So... yay? Oh gotta say it: the Bible quotes. Not a fan. Let's hope we stay away from those from now on. No problem with anyone's religion, it's just not something that's on my list of 'interesting things to include in a zombie story', even if you have in the past made bad jokes about Easter...
I really don't know what else to say. If you read or follow my reviews (is there anybody .... out there?), you know that's not like me. I'm going ahead and trying book 2 because these are offered via Kindle Unlimited and from the brief bit I read of the preview, I'm thinking yeah sure. Honestly, I'm still not ready to really use my brain for much more for a few days because August has been a tough year (sic). I mean, looking at the on-going series: we know by now who has probably survived, who is probably responsible and yes, Holly is pregnant. So why not?
Like I said, there's really nothing either surprising nor original about "Tell Me". It's written almost like a diary from the perspective on one guy and one guy only. Alcoholic, trying to get life back together, hot wife, crazy mistress, dead parents. Yeah, ok. Very linear, often clip-edited to the point of surprising brevity and we never hear the thoughts of any of the other players. Just this dude either thinking to himself or describing things for us.
But really at this point, I've read so many of these and it's been so long since any of them have been even slightly original - though the ice rink scene was pretty cool (no pun intended) - that I'm just happy this one wasn't one of those that's riddled with clichés, bad grammar and spelling mistakes. So... yay? Oh gotta say it: the Bible quotes. Not a fan. Let's hope we stay away from those from now on. No problem with anyone's religion, it's just not something that's on my list of 'interesting things to include in a zombie story', even if you have in the past made bad jokes about Easter...
I really don't know what else to say. If you read or follow my reviews (is there anybody .... out there?), you know that's not like me. I'm going ahead and trying book 2 because these are offered via Kindle Unlimited and from the brief bit I read of the preview, I'm thinking yeah sure. Honestly, I'm still not ready to really use my brain for much more for a few days because August has been a tough year (sic). I mean, looking at the on-going series: we know by now who has probably survived, who is probably responsible and yes, Holly is pregnant. So why not?
May 31, 2018
Tell Me When I’m Dead by Steven Ramirez August 2013 Zombie fiction 2.49/5
This is a book about a zombie apocalypse centered on one town in northern California. It follows an unreliable main character who is fighting alcoholism and marriage problems all while zombies are slowly appearing. This book is kind of an odd duck. There are very few grammatical mistakes, which I appreciate.
It opens on a scene where the MC is in a situation that seems hopeless and flashes back to the beginning of the plague and the events leading up to this penultimate scene. It doesn’t flow well. Seems like the author wrote the story and figured he would vary the format by starting with an action scene to give the book a hook. It doesn’t add anything and is confusing to the reader. There are too many names and events referenced in the opening that need exposition to work.
There’s also an odd religious aspect that I couldn’t quite figure out. These sections seemed as though they were added later for flavor. The motivations of the characters seem suspect and don’t reflect the actions presented. There are a couple of minor plot points that fizzle out and some foreshadowing that fails to materialize.
This book was ok. Not great but not too bad. I will not be following this up with the next one in the series if there is one.
This is a book about a zombie apocalypse centered on one town in northern California. It follows an unreliable main character who is fighting alcoholism and marriage problems all while zombies are slowly appearing. This book is kind of an odd duck. There are very few grammatical mistakes, which I appreciate.
It opens on a scene where the MC is in a situation that seems hopeless and flashes back to the beginning of the plague and the events leading up to this penultimate scene. It doesn’t flow well. Seems like the author wrote the story and figured he would vary the format by starting with an action scene to give the book a hook. It doesn’t add anything and is confusing to the reader. There are too many names and events referenced in the opening that need exposition to work.
There’s also an odd religious aspect that I couldn’t quite figure out. These sections seemed as though they were added later for flavor. The motivations of the characters seem suspect and don’t reflect the actions presented. There are a couple of minor plot points that fizzle out and some foreshadowing that fails to materialize.
This book was ok. Not great but not too bad. I will not be following this up with the next one in the series if there is one.
November 28, 2021
From the get-go, we are pretty much diving into the story that will have you wanting to find out what will happen next. Dave is a recovering alcoholic who probably wishes he just stayed drunk. What the heck is going on in this town Dave lives in because it is no longer normal. His best friend Jim is acting really weird, and there are dead animals all around his home. Yet, Dave doesn't expect his town to turn into the place where the zombies are, and even though the military comes to help, are they really? What can they do when you have hordes of zombies that seem to find you. It seems these zombies are not entirely normal, and we see this with Dave's ex-girlfriend. I thought that was a neat twist. Dave will have to team up with other survivors to try and make it. Nothing will be the same; they will have to deal with those that are just crazy. Deal with those who want to take matters into their own hands and fight with the military and those who go against them. I think the author did a great job with the storyline and it was just the right amount of gore. The ending had me pissed off because what kind of ending was that!
December 12, 2017
A nice change
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the "hero". Unlike many books in this genre, the lead character was wonderfully flawed. It gave a nice touch of "reality" to the story. He was human with all the faults and failings. Not some super hero battling the undead, he could very well be your neighbor.
The book did get a little preachy towards the end with the bible references here n there, but really not anything that distracted from the storyline. I do wish however, that it was a complete novel. The ending was left pretty open for the next book in the series. I prefer a complete novel over a serial read, but that's just a personal preference. All in all, a good read!!
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the "hero". Unlike many books in this genre, the lead character was wonderfully flawed. It gave a nice touch of "reality" to the story. He was human with all the faults and failings. Not some super hero battling the undead, he could very well be your neighbor.
The book did get a little preachy towards the end with the bible references here n there, but really not anything that distracted from the storyline. I do wish however, that it was a complete novel. The ending was left pretty open for the next book in the series. I prefer a complete novel over a serial read, but that's just a personal preference. All in all, a good read!!
April 6, 2021
I thought this would be just another zombie apocalypse cliche kind of book but I was very wrong. It had plot twists that I didn’t see happening, great characters and a really good protagonist named Dave. I got attached to some of the characters and would worry about what happens next to them which kept me engaged and wanting to read more quickly.
I really enjoyed this book and would pick up more books from this author!
I really enjoyed this book and would pick up more books from this author!
October 6, 2017
Outstanding writer!
Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. The characters are well written and are portrayed as being believable without having gone overboard, which other authors have done to theirs. Thanks for a great first book in the series, I hope the second is as amazing as this one was.
Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. The characters are well written and are portrayed as being believable without having gone overboard, which other authors have done to theirs. Thanks for a great first book in the series, I hope the second is as amazing as this one was.
September 3, 2018
I really and truly wanted to enjoy this novel. I love the genre. I am not even sure that I can pinpoint why it just didn't rate 3 plus stars. For some reason, I just stopped caring about the characters. Were I a survivor, I would NOT want to run across this group. I would be more confident on my own.
December 24, 2020
Good and gory!
Flawlessly-paced and very well-written, this is an exciting, gripping and action-packed zombie thriller.
That's why I gave it 3-Stars.
I would have rated it higher except that I felt cheated that we never find out the cause of the "virus".
I will not be reading the next in the series.
Unless it's for free.
Flawlessly-paced and very well-written, this is an exciting, gripping and action-packed zombie thriller.
That's why I gave it 3-Stars.
I would have rated it higher except that I felt cheated that we never find out the cause of the "virus".
I will not be reading the next in the series.
Unless it's for free.
March 22, 2018
Tell me...A1 zombie book
This is one very well written zombie apocalypse story. I stayed glued to my Kindle, not wanting to put it down. Can't wait to get to parts 2 and 3.
If you are a zombie freak like me, what are you waiting for? Get it now.
This is one very well written zombie apocalypse story. I stayed glued to my Kindle, not wanting to put it down. Can't wait to get to parts 2 and 3.
If you are a zombie freak like me, what are you waiting for? Get it now.
January 17, 2021
Fresh take on the zompoc
What a refreshing view of how the zompoc starts. Very well written, with a cast of characters you really care for. I can’t wait to see how Dave finds out the cause of the virus and what becomes of our core group.
What a refreshing view of how the zompoc starts. Very well written, with a cast of characters you really care for. I can’t wait to see how Dave finds out the cause of the virus and what becomes of our core group.
June 17, 2021
Good read and believable story
I really enjoyed this book and am already ready for the next in series. The characters are believable and the way in which the virus spreads is also. I like that could be considered real world if something like this did happen. Definitely recommend
I really enjoyed this book and am already ready for the next in series. The characters are believable and the way in which the virus spreads is also. I like that could be considered real world if something like this did happen. Definitely recommend
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