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The Dead Years #1
Threshold
The End of the World was Only the BeginningMason Thomas wasn't prepared when the devastation began that morning. No one was.
Six days ago reports of a mysterious illness began surfacing around the globe. The infection took hold quickly and destroyed everything in its path. The infected were seen attacking and actually devouring their victims. Those unfortunate enough to be caught out in the open were the first to fall. Millions perished every hour.
The world was told not to panic, that there wasn't anything to worry about, that these were isolated events. This morning, as he fought to return to his family, Mason Thomas quickly realized that nothing was what it seemed, the world had been forever changed.
The Dead Years follows Mason Thomas, a separated husband and father of one, as he and a small group of survivors fight to stay alive at the end of the world.
THRESHOLD is their story.
Six days ago reports of a mysterious illness began surfacing around the globe. The infection took hold quickly and destroyed everything in its path. The infected were seen attacking and actually devouring their victims. Those unfortunate enough to be caught out in the open were the first to fall. Millions perished every hour.
The world was told not to panic, that there wasn't anything to worry about, that these were isolated events. This morning, as he fought to return to his family, Mason Thomas quickly realized that nothing was what it seemed, the world had been forever changed.
The Dead Years follows Mason Thomas, a separated husband and father of one, as he and a small group of survivors fight to stay alive at the end of the world.
THRESHOLD is their story.
184 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2013
290 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Olah
37 books47 followersJeff Olah is the author and creator of the best-selling series The Dead Years, The Last Outbreak, and The Next World. He writes for all those readers who love good post-apocalyptic, supernatural horror, and dystopian/science fiction.
His thirst for detailed story lines and shocking plot twists has been fueled over the years by stories from Cormac McCarthy, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King. He also has a difficult time tearing himself away from character driven dramas like The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, and LOST.
Jeff is addicted to reading, writing, and lifting weights. He lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter, and ten-year-old Chihuahua.
Connect with Jeff:
JeffOlah.com
Facebook.com/JeffOlah
JeffOlah.com/Newsletter
His thirst for detailed story lines and shocking plot twists has been fueled over the years by stories from Cormac McCarthy, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King. He also has a difficult time tearing himself away from character driven dramas like The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, and LOST.
Jeff is addicted to reading, writing, and lifting weights. He lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter, and ten-year-old Chihuahua.
Connect with Jeff:
JeffOlah.com
Facebook.com/JeffOlah
JeffOlah.com/Newsletter
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 6, 2013
The Dead Years is a post-apocalyptic thriller broken down into several volumes. The cover is creepy and the content is freaky. Early on in this book the terror begins. Mason is the main character who just recently separated from his wife. He is avoiding her phone calls because he just knows she wants to give him hell about something he must have done to piss her off. While he is working out at the gym, he notices everyone is gathered around the tv watching seniors attacking each other.
Mason doesn’t have a clue what is going on but all the sudden everyone decides to up and leave the gym. They all head out and he is left alone in the gym. He decides to finish up and head out himself. This begins the struggle to escape the crazed people in the parking lot. But they aren’t human anymore, they seem to be animals. Ripping the flesh of people trying to escape leaving nothing but a fleshy, bloody mess behind.
This book really got my heart racing. It literally engaged my fear for the characters. Each scene is descriptive and gruesome. The writing is clear and easy to follow. But this book is not for those who are easily scared. Personally, I love thrillers and love the gore. I have never read an apocalyptic title so this is a first. I was entertained, freaked out and left wanting more. Good thing volume 2 and 3 are ready!
I give Jeff mad praise for his work! I really, really loved this book and encourage everyone to put it on their one-click list. Get your fingers ready because Jeff is pumping out the volumes. I am hoping for at least 10. Join me as I follow Mason, his wife and son while they try to escape the Feeders.
Mason doesn’t have a clue what is going on but all the sudden everyone decides to up and leave the gym. They all head out and he is left alone in the gym. He decides to finish up and head out himself. This begins the struggle to escape the crazed people in the parking lot. But they aren’t human anymore, they seem to be animals. Ripping the flesh of people trying to escape leaving nothing but a fleshy, bloody mess behind.
This book really got my heart racing. It literally engaged my fear for the characters. Each scene is descriptive and gruesome. The writing is clear and easy to follow. But this book is not for those who are easily scared. Personally, I love thrillers and love the gore. I have never read an apocalyptic title so this is a first. I was entertained, freaked out and left wanting more. Good thing volume 2 and 3 are ready!
I give Jeff mad praise for his work! I really, really loved this book and encourage everyone to put it on their one-click list. Get your fingers ready because Jeff is pumping out the volumes. I am hoping for at least 10. Join me as I follow Mason, his wife and son while they try to escape the Feeders.
August 25, 2017
Reading this prequel had me rooting for the zombies and that is never a good sign in a short story. I didn't like a single character that appeared in this and would happily have seen them all eaten.
Jason is a psycho who uses the excuse of the apocalypse to rob then murder his aunt and uncle while his pathetic family Lance and Savannah stand around being all outraged by what he does yet do nothing to stop him. Savannah in particular does nothing but whine. Randy struts around like The Big I Am revelling in the excitement as zombies appear because he has seen this before-but the author decides not to tell us anything about that, and has the character acting all arrogant and superior instead. William is so under the thumb that he wanders out into danger to check on his wife's parents and his wife hardly seems bothered that he could die out there on a fool's errand.
What a lovely bunch of people! I hope they all die but I won't be reading on in the series to witness it.
Jason is a psycho who uses the excuse of the apocalypse to rob then murder his aunt and uncle while his pathetic family Lance and Savannah stand around being all outraged by what he does yet do nothing to stop him. Savannah in particular does nothing but whine. Randy struts around like The Big I Am revelling in the excitement as zombies appear because he has seen this before-but the author decides not to tell us anything about that, and has the character acting all arrogant and superior instead. William is so under the thumb that he wanders out into danger to check on his wife's parents and his wife hardly seems bothered that he could die out there on a fool's errand.
What a lovely bunch of people! I hope they all die but I won't be reading on in the series to witness it.
September 9, 2013
This reveiw is for the omnibus edition on Kindle which comprised of the first 3 volumes and I was so absorbed by these books that I went and immediatley bought the 4th volume and I am eagerly awaiting further volumes.
Jeff Olah has joined my list of fantastic authors.
Jeff Olah has joined my list of fantastic authors.
June 1, 2013
It is the end of the world as we know it and it is not fine. There has been an incident that has caused people to attack & eat other people. When those people are left for dead, some of them rise from the dead as zombies and hunt the living. No one knows where or how it started, but everyone wants out. Now.
Jeff Olah has written a serial story about people going through a horrific tragedy with very low odds of surviving. He puts them in situations that are real, with emotions that are real and believable. While reading about the people in this serial, I questioned myself about the things that I would do in their situation. I was in agreement 100% with the lengths that I would go to and the obstacles that I would overcome to get me and my family to safety. Jeff has promised that this is not just another zombie series and that each serial will be out every month or so. I was lucky that I got a copy of the first and 2nd serial from the author so I didn’t have to wait in between volumes. But, after reading 1 & 2, I now have to wait. I hope that he does not keep me waiting too long!
Jeff Olah has written a serial story about people going through a horrific tragedy with very low odds of surviving. He puts them in situations that are real, with emotions that are real and believable. While reading about the people in this serial, I questioned myself about the things that I would do in their situation. I was in agreement 100% with the lengths that I would go to and the obstacles that I would overcome to get me and my family to safety. Jeff has promised that this is not just another zombie series and that each serial will be out every month or so. I was lucky that I got a copy of the first and 2nd serial from the author so I didn’t have to wait in between volumes. But, after reading 1 & 2, I now have to wait. I hope that he does not keep me waiting too long!
July 3, 2013
Jeff Olah's first part of the Dead Year's series is interesting and fast paced. This volumes are definitely a quick read and include everything a zombie lover would want. I am excited to read the next one to see what happens to the family as they wait for the sun to rise on the next day.
Check out this book, it's got zombies, kettlebells as a weapon, and roof jumping. It's action packed and is full of zombies who currently, their cause is unknown! :)
Check out this book, it's got zombies, kettlebells as a weapon, and roof jumping. It's action packed and is full of zombies who currently, their cause is unknown! :)
November 11, 2014
So good, Jeff Olay knows how to keep you reading, he's so good you'll feel like the zombies are coming to get you!
September 10, 2018
The dead years-threshold-book 1 by Jeff Olah didn’t meet my expectations.
The writing style was less than average.
At chapter 14 the writing style turned from ok to bad. It was like a grocery list, distant and not nearly like reading a book as it should be.
Mason did this,
Justin did that,
then they told that,
then they went there, ...
It was horrible to read.
I previously read the series Safe Haven by Christopher Artinian and the Alpha Plague by Michael Robertson. And there are oceans, more like worlds between the writing style of those series and this one .
The reactions and dialogues of the characters, are short, superficial and more often than not unnecessary, as well as weird and odd. Humour where it isn’t funny. Compassion where it is not needed. Stupidity at times, I don’t want to find in a zombie apocalypse, especially not from the main characters.
It is irritating that a 14 year old boy calls his mum and dad by their first names at times.
Same goes with the shortness of the chapters, you can’t even be in the story with the characters, because you get confronted with another chapter and another POV before you even turned the page.
The whole first “book” is not even worth reading, as nothing really happens, to be considered a whole plot. It is merely a plot threat.
Scenes, I could have lived without. Of course the clumsy female runs and stumbles, ending up spraining her ankle. Being overly dramatic. The male character the wanna be hero and leader. And it just so happens, when he gets on the internet, types in a search engine, and puff, we have a winner.
Popping up In the first few results, is the possible origin of the virus, he hits the jackpot in one go. A Simple side on the internet. Not in the darknet, not shut down by the government/ military, all there for the taking, infos from the past till now. Not really believable.
I stopped reading this series and am not interested in going further. I scrolled through the last part, in hope it would improve. It was a good start, but needs much more improvement in my opinion. In the writing style, the personalities and characterisation of the characters, the focus on what is important to write and what not, especially with writing normal dialogues between people and not those short and facile sentences we got. Much the writer listed like a shopping list, could have been done through dialogues, which wouldn’t have interrupted and ruined the flow of the story.
The new covers on amazon are a really good improvement for starters, compared to the ones you find on GR.
The writing style was less than average.
At chapter 14 the writing style turned from ok to bad. It was like a grocery list, distant and not nearly like reading a book as it should be.
Mason did this,
Justin did that,
then they told that,
then they went there, ...
It was horrible to read.
I previously read the series Safe Haven by Christopher Artinian and the Alpha Plague by Michael Robertson. And there are oceans, more like worlds between the writing style of those series and this one .
The reactions and dialogues of the characters, are short, superficial and more often than not unnecessary, as well as weird and odd. Humour where it isn’t funny. Compassion where it is not needed. Stupidity at times, I don’t want to find in a zombie apocalypse, especially not from the main characters.
It is irritating that a 14 year old boy calls his mum and dad by their first names at times.
Same goes with the shortness of the chapters, you can’t even be in the story with the characters, because you get confronted with another chapter and another POV before you even turned the page.
The whole first “book” is not even worth reading, as nothing really happens, to be considered a whole plot. It is merely a plot threat.
Scenes, I could have lived without. Of course the clumsy female runs and stumbles, ending up spraining her ankle. Being overly dramatic. The male character the wanna be hero and leader. And it just so happens, when he gets on the internet, types in a search engine, and puff, we have a winner.
Popping up In the first few results, is the possible origin of the virus, he hits the jackpot in one go. A Simple side on the internet. Not in the darknet, not shut down by the government/ military, all there for the taking, infos from the past till now. Not really believable.
I stopped reading this series and am not interested in going further. I scrolled through the last part, in hope it would improve. It was a good start, but needs much more improvement in my opinion. In the writing style, the personalities and characterisation of the characters, the focus on what is important to write and what not, especially with writing normal dialogues between people and not those short and facile sentences we got. Much the writer listed like a shopping list, could have been done through dialogues, which wouldn’t have interrupted and ruined the flow of the story.
The new covers on amazon are a really good improvement for starters, compared to the ones you find on GR.
April 12, 2018
Good series start
I really like the story and characters in this book and look forward to moving forward with the rest of the series. My only criticisms would be the need for proofing (although not nearly as bad on typos as some other stories I’ve read); more important, it’s the dialogue that holds this back - in fact, I almost rated it 3 stars because of the stilted dialogue and, at times, story narrative in general. I believe a good technical and substantive editor could elevate this to an excellent rating.
I really like the story and characters in this book and look forward to moving forward with the rest of the series. My only criticisms would be the need for proofing (although not nearly as bad on typos as some other stories I’ve read); more important, it’s the dialogue that holds this back - in fact, I almost rated it 3 stars because of the stilted dialogue and, at times, story narrative in general. I believe a good technical and substantive editor could elevate this to an excellent rating.
January 16, 2020
This is the kind of zombie story I like best! It is not about the zombies, it's about the people, and some can be more deadly than the zombies.
I was happy to meet Mason who has a tragic backstory. Yet he is still out there leading a group of people, hoping to find safety for more than a few days.
Ava is a young woman I hope to see more of. I get glimpses of what could be a badass.
This story has characters you will care about and it leaves us wanting more, wanting to know what comes next and who will survive. Just the kind of story I like!
I was happy to meet Mason who has a tragic backstory. Yet he is still out there leading a group of people, hoping to find safety for more than a few days.
Ava is a young woman I hope to see more of. I get glimpses of what could be a badass.
This story has characters you will care about and it leaves us wanting more, wanting to know what comes next and who will survive. Just the kind of story I like!
April 1, 2019
Excellent! Well Crafted, Reads Fast!
I tend to devour books like a zombie at a freshly caged buffet... Currently I'm rampaging through zom-poc novels and series. Olah is someone I consider to be at the top of the genre. Most of his series are companions in that you don't have to read the other series to enjoy. But in each series, start with book one... And now, on to the next book!!!
I tend to devour books like a zombie at a freshly caged buffet... Currently I'm rampaging through zom-poc novels and series. Olah is someone I consider to be at the top of the genre. Most of his series are companions in that you don't have to read the other series to enjoy. But in each series, start with book one... And now, on to the next book!!!
July 18, 2022
Read : July 18, 2022
Rating : 2 Stars
This started out okay but soon gave me the idea that the start had been edited but the editor had given up after that.
The zombies are largely grossed over for the drama of some sicko dude and his whiney siblings and G. I. Joe the macho and his gym worker buddy(and his dumbass little family).
Rating : 2 Stars
This started out okay but soon gave me the idea that the start had been edited but the editor had given up after that.
The zombies are largely grossed over for the drama of some sicko dude and his whiney siblings and G. I. Joe the macho and his gym worker buddy(and his dumbass little family).
January 12, 2018
An amazing read
I've read this series before and it's an amazing read. It was like 2 years and several hundred books ago, I m enjoying it as much this time as I did the first time!
I've read this series before and it's an amazing read. It was like 2 years and several hundred books ago, I m enjoying it as much this time as I did the first time!
June 27, 2018
Action filled survival story about a world turned crazy. There is a cliffhanger ending but the book is so exciting that I hope to read more!
July 3, 2018
Great read
Not a dull moment as the survivors battle against the odds that are stacked against them. On the edge of my seat with anticipation.
Not a dull moment as the survivors battle against the odds that are stacked against them. On the edge of my seat with anticipation.
August 15, 2018
I enjoyed it so far
I’m big into zombie apocalypse books because the movies they are making arnt scratching the itch anymore but anyway love it ready for book 2
I’m big into zombie apocalypse books because the movies they are making arnt scratching the itch anymore but anyway love it ready for book 2
November 28, 2018
A good read. Fast-paced, but short. It left me wanting more-I cannot complain about that! I look forward to the next installment.
February 15, 2019
Very good read
Enjoyed reading this book and thought the characters were very believable. This author cannot help but write a good story
Enjoyed reading this book and thought the characters were very believable. This author cannot help but write a good story
October 18, 2019
I love me some post apocalyptic books, but this book was disappointing. I’ll look past typos/grammatical errors....The book had a very generic plot, wooden characters, and writing felt very dry. I finished it hoping it’ll get better. Even started reading the second book but gave up 25% through.
March 21, 2020
Good read
Good characters and a fast pace. Overall a very good book that I really enjoyed. Now on to book two.
Good characters and a fast pace. Overall a very good book that I really enjoyed. Now on to book two.
April 28, 2023
unbelievably good
It was nonstop action from the first page throughout the whole story. I recommend it to anyone interested in adventure.
It was nonstop action from the first page throughout the whole story. I recommend it to anyone interested in adventure.
August 17, 2018
I liked the book but it was too short.
September 25, 2023
good reading
Good character development
Good action
Left me wanting to see what happens next. You will not be disappointed with this book.
Good character development
Good action
Left me wanting to see what happens next. You will not be disappointed with this book.
December 6, 2019
Exciting, fast-moving, action packed story 3 family groups of strangers struggling to survive escaping a city of "feeders!!!
Excellent read, a quality peace of work as I have come to learn too expect from this author!!!
I really enjoy this author's characters and his writing. This book is a real page turner keeping you on edge of your seat with the trouble Mason, his wife and son runs into just trying to escape and survive the endless plague of infected now infesting their city and world.
Excellent read, a quality peace of work as I have come to learn too expect from this author!!!
I really enjoy this author's characters and his writing. This book is a real page turner keeping you on edge of your seat with the trouble Mason, his wife and son runs into just trying to escape and survive the endless plague of infected now infesting their city and world.
February 26, 2017
First line:
No one knew how or where it all began. There were only rumors at first, spreading from one city to another.
"The Dead Years - Volume One" is the first in a series long set of novellas that follow Mason, his wife, and teenaged son as they try to survive and find refuge from the devastation that is the zombie apocalypse. I enjoyed the author's preface about his inspiration for this book much more than the actual story itself - I felt the author's voice was much more authentic then. The zombie story itself is not bad, but it is standard fare and nothing new is delivered in a particularly clever or inspired way. Volume One could be summarized as First Day Hell - let's get home from work and school and figure out what to do next. Bash a few zombie heads, make all the right moves, make plans with a new partner who's sure to appear in Volume Two. There's lots of zombie killing in this first volume and not a whole lot of character development, despite the author's statement that it's the characters who drive the plot. Of course, this is only the first novella - we need action to get sucked in! In addition, there were grammatical and syntax errors that could have been caught with a good read through.
No one knew how or where it all began. There were only rumors at first, spreading from one city to another.
"The Dead Years - Volume One" is the first in a series long set of novellas that follow Mason, his wife, and teenaged son as they try to survive and find refuge from the devastation that is the zombie apocalypse. I enjoyed the author's preface about his inspiration for this book much more than the actual story itself - I felt the author's voice was much more authentic then. The zombie story itself is not bad, but it is standard fare and nothing new is delivered in a particularly clever or inspired way. Volume One could be summarized as First Day Hell - let's get home from work and school and figure out what to do next. Bash a few zombie heads, make all the right moves, make plans with a new partner who's sure to appear in Volume Two. There's lots of zombie killing in this first volume and not a whole lot of character development, despite the author's statement that it's the characters who drive the plot. Of course, this is only the first novella - we need action to get sucked in! In addition, there were grammatical and syntax errors that could have been caught with a good read through.
February 6, 2017
There are sections where the author spells something out to the reader, then goes back and shows it through the narrative–seriously, just show us through the narrative. That’s more efficient and more effective. There’s one chunk early on where he narrates a whole bunch of things that happen. While that can work with some details, it is used to excess here. I was thinking, you know, a lot of this could be condensed into some dialogue… until I reached the dialogue, which was extremely stilted and not-natural-feeling.
Why the hell are these called “Feeders”? What’s the deal lately with no one ever wanting to use the Z-word? Are your characters that sheltered? Or is their world missing all zombie fiction, in which case, what else is different? (I’m only being half-sarcastic with that last question.)
This has not just a little cliffhanger, but a BIG cliffhanger. I hate that sort of cliffhanger, and do not continue reading most series that use them.
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/07/r...
Why the hell are these called “Feeders”? What’s the deal lately with no one ever wanting to use the Z-word? Are your characters that sheltered? Or is their world missing all zombie fiction, in which case, what else is different? (I’m only being half-sarcastic with that last question.)
This has not just a little cliffhanger, but a BIG cliffhanger. I hate that sort of cliffhanger, and do not continue reading most series that use them.
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/07/r...
October 30, 2016
Zombies Again
I have to give this book only two and a half stars, the story just drags on with nothing that draws the reader into the story. I have the narrated story and the tone of the narrator may be why I could not get into the story. I will read it again later without the narration and see how I feel about the story.
I have to give this book only two and a half stars, the story just drags on with nothing that draws the reader into the story. I have the narrated story and the tone of the narrator may be why I could not get into the story. I will read it again later without the narration and see how I feel about the story.
February 17, 2016
Wow third on down
This book never started out slow just grabs and keeps u going one the edge of ur seat the authors writing takes u right into the story u become apart of the group cheer them on as they survive
This book never started out slow just grabs and keeps u going one the edge of ur seat the authors writing takes u right into the story u become apart of the group cheer them on as they survive
August 21, 2016
Poor writing
It seems as if a student (maybe a college freshman) wrote this. I was surprised to see such obvious errors like "your" instead of "you're." Interesting story but poor writing. He made simple conversations go on forever but was brief with some of the action scenes.
It seems as if a student (maybe a college freshman) wrote this. I was surprised to see such obvious errors like "your" instead of "you're." Interesting story but poor writing. He made simple conversations go on forever but was brief with some of the action scenes.
April 1, 2014
I like this clean reads about zombie apocalypse. Keep writing Mr. Olah.
March 19, 2014
This book had me intrigued from the start. It's not your average, everyday zombie story. Pick up a copy and read it for yourself
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews