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The Death Doll
Didi was once the darling of the porn industry, baring it all for the world on the silver screen.
Then came the zombie apocalypse.
Two years later, she’s killing every flesh-eating corpse in her path to protect a group of unlikely survivors in northwest Iowa. Unfortunately, she hides a terrifying secret that threatens every life she defends. For nothing left on Earth that creeps or crawls is as lethal as The Death Doll.
Let the dead bury the dead.
Then came the zombie apocalypse.
Two years later, she’s killing every flesh-eating corpse in her path to protect a group of unlikely survivors in northwest Iowa. Unfortunately, she hides a terrifying secret that threatens every life she defends. For nothing left on Earth that creeps or crawls is as lethal as The Death Doll.
Let the dead bury the dead.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2016
13 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Brian P. White
2 books13 followersAfter retiring from the United States Army, this Southern California native now serves his wife and their six children, but that doesn't stop him from writing all the crazy things that come to mind. Lovers, haters, healers, killers, helpers, and monsters ... it's all there, and soon it'll all be here for you, too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 14, 2019
These aren't the droids you're looking for.
More specifically, they aren't the zombies I'm looking for. But they may very well work for you. In the interests of remembering and for other future readers, I'll elaborate.
It starts off with a farm couple hiding in their cornfield (such a good place to hide) as their house has been overrun by zombies. They were apparently doing reasonably well until they welcomed a pair of travelers into their house. The farmwife, Paula, is seething. Just as they're surrounded, they are saved by a trio of people in their truck. They jump in back and are offered a spot in the couple's compound, if they are willing to do their share--and once they pass quarantine. Quarantine does exactly what you think it will: gives the small group a chance to pick at each other and nurse grudges. Once they enter into the compound, they are given some insight into how things are run. And this is a well-furnished compound. There are lavish descriptions of the dishes they eat--I believe éclairs make an appearance at some point, but not at their more modest welcoming dinner-- "The teens served each person what looked like a quiche, raspberries on Melba toast, and platters with sliced meats and cheeses." These seemingly come from "crops growing on almost every roof on the compound."
These are not the survivalists you are looking for.
Viewpoint is third person limited and shifts around from Paula, the farmwife; Didi, the leader of the group and enforcer who has serious secrets; Issac, the hostile, streetwise black man; Pepe, the college kid who was at the farm when it was overrun; Rachelle, a teenager who idolizes Didi; and a number of others. It made it hard to really connect with any particular character. Didi is perhaps the most likable, although we're aware she has secrets.
The plot is all about the people. Shortly after Paula & Co. are out of quarantine, Didi and some folks go on a "supply run" and run into two hostile men, one of whom accepts the sanctuary offer. Since we get his point of view, we realize he's trouble. Things spiral from there, both externally and internally. Secrets--of course--get revealed. People argue and are petty and generally suck. The book description opens with "Didi was once the darling of the porn industry," so I was very leery about potential voyeurism and sexism. Somewhat pleasantly, it wasn't used as I expected. I thought pacing was a little slow at the beginning, but then ramped up with some intrigue followed by sustained action sequences.
The writing does indeed feel like it needs further development, mostly in the conversational markers. Paula, for instance, is portrayed as uptight and very traditional family-oriented, but then when she eats her omelet, she "moaned with delight." It's a phenomenon I note with newer writers, or PNR and YA books, where writers seem to be so afraid of using, "said," that they choose a medley of other inappropriate words. Personal peeve I guess.
These are not the words I was looking for.
I didn't read all the words in this one, as it really wasn't the story I was looking for. This isn't about how to survive, nor is it about creating a community from the dregs of surviving humanity. It's pretty much conflict in a small isolated community, and how it is handled.
These are not the zombies you are looking for.
Still, thank you to the author for offering me a copy to read.
More specifically, they aren't the zombies I'm looking for. But they may very well work for you. In the interests of remembering and for other future readers, I'll elaborate.
It starts off with a farm couple hiding in their cornfield (such a good place to hide) as their house has been overrun by zombies. They were apparently doing reasonably well until they welcomed a pair of travelers into their house. The farmwife, Paula, is seething. Just as they're surrounded, they are saved by a trio of people in their truck. They jump in back and are offered a spot in the couple's compound, if they are willing to do their share--and once they pass quarantine. Quarantine does exactly what you think it will: gives the small group a chance to pick at each other and nurse grudges. Once they enter into the compound, they are given some insight into how things are run. And this is a well-furnished compound. There are lavish descriptions of the dishes they eat--I believe éclairs make an appearance at some point, but not at their more modest welcoming dinner-- "The teens served each person what looked like a quiche, raspberries on Melba toast, and platters with sliced meats and cheeses." These seemingly come from "crops growing on almost every roof on the compound."
These are not the survivalists you are looking for.
Viewpoint is third person limited and shifts around from Paula, the farmwife; Didi, the leader of the group and enforcer who has serious secrets; Issac, the hostile, streetwise black man; Pepe, the college kid who was at the farm when it was overrun; Rachelle, a teenager who idolizes Didi; and a number of others. It made it hard to really connect with any particular character. Didi is perhaps the most likable, although we're aware she has secrets.
The plot is all about the people. Shortly after Paula & Co. are out of quarantine, Didi and some folks go on a "supply run" and run into two hostile men, one of whom accepts the sanctuary offer. Since we get his point of view, we realize he's trouble. Things spiral from there, both externally and internally. Secrets--of course--get revealed. People argue and are petty and generally suck. The book description opens with "Didi was once the darling of the porn industry," so I was very leery about potential voyeurism and sexism. Somewhat pleasantly, it wasn't used as I expected. I thought pacing was a little slow at the beginning, but then ramped up with some intrigue followed by sustained action sequences.
The writing does indeed feel like it needs further development, mostly in the conversational markers. Paula, for instance, is portrayed as uptight and very traditional family-oriented, but then when she eats her omelet, she "moaned with delight." It's a phenomenon I note with newer writers, or PNR and YA books, where writers seem to be so afraid of using, "said," that they choose a medley of other inappropriate words. Personal peeve I guess.
These are not the words I was looking for.
I didn't read all the words in this one, as it really wasn't the story I was looking for. This isn't about how to survive, nor is it about creating a community from the dregs of surviving humanity. It's pretty much conflict in a small isolated community, and how it is handled.
These are not the zombies you are looking for.
Still, thank you to the author for offering me a copy to read.
April 17, 2019
The Death Doll is a good start to a zombie series with a unique twist.
The author has chosen to make this book more about people and less about zombies. There are plenty of zombies, no worries there. It is just that the plot and the characters are what make this book tick along. And the zombies are like a backdrop to all that's happening; they are influential in the sense that their presence sets the context for the story and plot points. This is the sort of writing that makes a story based around the walking dead actually interesting (*cough* Resident Evil movies *cough*)
The characters, their conflicts and their struggle to survive in the wasteland are easily the strong points of the book.
But, there are some rough patches too.
The author should have reduced the use of some standard zombie tropes in the story. The other thing that the author could have done is to make some of the interactions a bit more realistic - sometimes, I felt that the lead character DD was not behaving in 'character' and was being a lot more forgiving in situations that she would not have been. It would also have been great to get more backstory about DD than what was offered.
Overall, I think the positives outweigh the negatives. The Death Doll never bored me and I was reasonably into the story. I will read the next book in the series.
The author has chosen to make this book more about people and less about zombies. There are plenty of zombies, no worries there. It is just that the plot and the characters are what make this book tick along. And the zombies are like a backdrop to all that's happening; they are influential in the sense that their presence sets the context for the story and plot points. This is the sort of writing that makes a story based around the walking dead actually interesting (*cough* Resident Evil movies *cough*)
The characters, their conflicts and their struggle to survive in the wasteland are easily the strong points of the book.
But, there are some rough patches too.
The author should have reduced the use of some standard zombie tropes in the story. The other thing that the author could have done is to make some of the interactions a bit more realistic - sometimes, I felt that the lead character DD was not behaving in 'character' and was being a lot more forgiving in situations that she would not have been. It would also have been great to get more backstory about DD than what was offered.
Overall, I think the positives outweigh the negatives. The Death Doll never bored me and I was reasonably into the story. I will read the next book in the series.
books-i-gave-up-on
April 13, 2019DNF @ 39%
Unfortunately, this one is just not working for me. The characters have been driving me crazy since the beginning of the book. I thought that if I listened a bit longer they might grow on me a bit but that hasn't been the case. I do like the work of the narrator. I think that I am just not the right reader for this book.
Book Source: Author
Unfortunately, this one is just not working for me. The characters have been driving me crazy since the beginning of the book. I thought that if I listened a bit longer they might grow on me a bit but that hasn't been the case. I do like the work of the narrator. I think that I am just not the right reader for this book.
Book Source: Author
August 14, 2017
****4.25 Mega Zombie Stars****
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I went through a fad where I read zombie book after zombie book until I found not one more book that I thought I would enjoy. I thought I wiped out all the books in the genre. Well, that is until Mr. White approached me to read and review The Death Doll.
I have to be honest and didn't think I was going to like this book at first but wow...was I wrong. I instantly was hooked and couldn't put this down until I got to the very end.
A very different concept from other zombie apocalypse books which I think is a breath of fresh air when you feel that you have read the same story over and over again.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to readers of this genre!
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I went through a fad where I read zombie book after zombie book until I found not one more book that I thought I would enjoy. I thought I wiped out all the books in the genre. Well, that is until Mr. White approached me to read and review The Death Doll.
I have to be honest and didn't think I was going to like this book at first but wow...was I wrong. I instantly was hooked and couldn't put this down until I got to the very end.
A very different concept from other zombie apocalypse books which I think is a breath of fresh air when you feel that you have read the same story over and over again.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to readers of this genre!
December 2, 2017
The Death Doll takes place two years after the zombie apocalypse went down. Now, bands of survivors struggle to survive the desolation.
One band is lead by Didi. In her previous life she was a porn star and looks the part. Statuesque and voluptuous, don’t let her looks deceive you. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Her mission. Provide for the community and keep everyone alive, at all costs. And the costs are high. The zombies aren’t the only thing they have to worry about. Other survivors want what they have. And the Death Doll stalks the unwitting.
I love Didi. She never shies away from danger. In fact, she steps right up to it. And her steadfast efforts to keep her band of survivors safe is incredible. Especially when there’s grumbling in the ranks and many aren’t so sure about their leader. And maybe they have reason to worry.
Right from the beginning you know Didi has secrets. The author peels them away slowly, surprising you in ways you never suspected. As the group learns her secrets, things go sideways and this is the part I loved the most. Group dynamics are fascinating. Put a bunch of people together, scare them, and you discover who steps up and who throws the monkey wrench in the works.
There’s plenty of action and intrigue to keep the story rolling in The Death Doll. And a lot of surprises await you. A fast read for me and one I’m glad I read.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
One band is lead by Didi. In her previous life she was a porn star and looks the part. Statuesque and voluptuous, don’t let her looks deceive you. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Her mission. Provide for the community and keep everyone alive, at all costs. And the costs are high. The zombies aren’t the only thing they have to worry about. Other survivors want what they have. And the Death Doll stalks the unwitting.
I love Didi. She never shies away from danger. In fact, she steps right up to it. And her steadfast efforts to keep her band of survivors safe is incredible. Especially when there’s grumbling in the ranks and many aren’t so sure about their leader. And maybe they have reason to worry.
Right from the beginning you know Didi has secrets. The author peels them away slowly, surprising you in ways you never suspected. As the group learns her secrets, things go sideways and this is the part I loved the most. Group dynamics are fascinating. Put a bunch of people together, scare them, and you discover who steps up and who throws the monkey wrench in the works.
There’s plenty of action and intrigue to keep the story rolling in The Death Doll. And a lot of surprises await you. A fast read for me and one I’m glad I read.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
May 21, 2017
Not another zombie apocalypse book, right? This one is worth your time! I am always glad to find books that do things differently and this book does it for me. Didi was very different and I think that made to books more fun to read. If you like zombie apocalypse books, you have to check this one out! * I received this book from the author---this is my honest review*
November 29, 2017
My original The Death Doll audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
The Death Doll is an exquisite story that brings new heights the world of flesh-eating zombies and the apocalypse! Didi was a beautiful Adult Movie Entertainer and she made quite an impression! She was very well known! Now she is known as Death Doll and is feared by many because of her ability to coldly dispatch humans and zombies alike. But her career as an Adult Porn Entertainer is not her only secret … there is one much deadlier and scarier. This is an action-packed thrilling zombie tale that will leave you wanting more!
The characters are all well developed and realistic. I enjoyed the storyline and while it had some of the typical trappings of an apocalyptic story, Brian White made it unique enough to make it difficult to stop listening!
Becci Martin, the narrator, performed an excellent reading of the book. Her voice was smooth, she had the right tone for snarkiness and nailed Didi perfectly! She brought … life to Didi. I enjoyed listening to Martin, she was the right narrator for the book.
Perfect for zombie enthusiasts!
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
The Death Doll is an exquisite story that brings new heights the world of flesh-eating zombies and the apocalypse! Didi was a beautiful Adult Movie Entertainer and she made quite an impression! She was very well known! Now she is known as Death Doll and is feared by many because of her ability to coldly dispatch humans and zombies alike. But her career as an Adult Porn Entertainer is not her only secret … there is one much deadlier and scarier. This is an action-packed thrilling zombie tale that will leave you wanting more!
The characters are all well developed and realistic. I enjoyed the storyline and while it had some of the typical trappings of an apocalyptic story, Brian White made it unique enough to make it difficult to stop listening!
Becci Martin, the narrator, performed an excellent reading of the book. Her voice was smooth, she had the right tone for snarkiness and nailed Didi perfectly! She brought … life to Didi. I enjoyed listening to Martin, she was the right narrator for the book.
Perfect for zombie enthusiasts!
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
October 29, 2019
The Death Doll by Brian P White is a horror survival thriller, tackling the subject of zombies. Being a “zombie” is fairly vague as sometimes it’s a disease, other times it’s the literal dead being brought back requiring a strange “double kill” from the survivors, lest they become part of the horde. For this one it appears to be caused by disease, but the crisis isn’t nearly as important as the life of the survivors. We join the story almost in a sense of “in progress” as a group of survivors that are fighting the face-munchers and are coming perilously close to losing everything they have. Just in the nick of time, the foes are cut down by a curiously sexy (if not creepy) badass warrior of a woman wielding an absolute peacemaker of a sword. The newly rescued group feel secure as they’re escorted to shelter by the strange woman and her armed associates. After all, with the blood curdling stories of the “Death Doll” possibly being somewhere in this area, no one is going to be taking any risks. Before the group can feel safe, guns are drawn as they are forced into an “isolation” by this surprisingly sophisticated band of survivors for the next three days. Saved or endangered, staying in this community is going to be quite the adventure.
For all the memorable characters, of which there are several, the aforementioned sword wielding woman known as Didi is going to be the one to truly sell the story. The community of Plaza de Vida will live or die by Didi’s direction, and sometimes it’s hard to tell which fate she’d be likely to prefer. Didi is a fascinating character, stemming from her pre-plague career as one of America’s most famous hardcore pornstars. Not to worry, there’s no graphic depictions of her former life (sexual ones anyway) but her character serves as an illustration of starting over, and how wildly both perceptions and career paths can change during a crisis.
Crisis comes in many forms, and the world of The Death Doll has naturally brought out the worst in humanity. With the community of survivalists living in relative luxury with power, food, and clean water, those who wish to take it are sure to be a constant threat. The novel’s primary antagonists come in the form of a white supremacy group, which helps to illustrate the terror of the proceedings through a relatable lens (shitty as that reality may be). With healthy doses of hateful language and intimidating moments, a hardened spirit may be a requirement for some readers. With endless twists and turns, the moments of terror and heroism are appropriately combined with the futility of living in such a fucked up post-history hell on earth.
Verdict: The Death Doll by Brian P White is an engaging zombie thriller filled with non stop adrenaline encrusted action from cover to cover. The content will pull no punches, served with plenty of violence and hatred in its purest form, just so you know what you’re getting into. Top notch character work with multiple jaw dropping moments will satisfy readers of all thriller sub-genres. Didi, her fascinating post-plague city and those that wish to destroy it from the inside and out will keep you guessing all the way through to the thrilling conclusion. I’ve never been a fan of zombie movies or television shows, but thanks to the ideas in this novel, I'm thinking that maybe I’ve got some catching up to do.
Special thanks to Brian P White for providing a review copy of The Death Doll to TehBen.com. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For all the memorable characters, of which there are several, the aforementioned sword wielding woman known as Didi is going to be the one to truly sell the story. The community of Plaza de Vida will live or die by Didi’s direction, and sometimes it’s hard to tell which fate she’d be likely to prefer. Didi is a fascinating character, stemming from her pre-plague career as one of America’s most famous hardcore pornstars. Not to worry, there’s no graphic depictions of her former life (sexual ones anyway) but her character serves as an illustration of starting over, and how wildly both perceptions and career paths can change during a crisis.
Crisis comes in many forms, and the world of The Death Doll has naturally brought out the worst in humanity. With the community of survivalists living in relative luxury with power, food, and clean water, those who wish to take it are sure to be a constant threat. The novel’s primary antagonists come in the form of a white supremacy group, which helps to illustrate the terror of the proceedings through a relatable lens (shitty as that reality may be). With healthy doses of hateful language and intimidating moments, a hardened spirit may be a requirement for some readers. With endless twists and turns, the moments of terror and heroism are appropriately combined with the futility of living in such a fucked up post-history hell on earth.
Verdict: The Death Doll by Brian P White is an engaging zombie thriller filled with non stop adrenaline encrusted action from cover to cover. The content will pull no punches, served with plenty of violence and hatred in its purest form, just so you know what you’re getting into. Top notch character work with multiple jaw dropping moments will satisfy readers of all thriller sub-genres. Didi, her fascinating post-plague city and those that wish to destroy it from the inside and out will keep you guessing all the way through to the thrilling conclusion. I’ve never been a fan of zombie movies or television shows, but thanks to the ideas in this novel, I'm thinking that maybe I’ve got some catching up to do.
Special thanks to Brian P White for providing a review copy of The Death Doll to TehBen.com. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 18, 2020
Not the usual blood sucking, gore, neck biting zombie story.
Brilliantly written.
Death Doll is an exciting read, I must say. Though what I actually expected (the usual zombie apocalypse story) wasn't exactly what the author portrayed. There was more.
At first I thought, 'where are the zombies?'
The story begins with Paula's life two years after the apocalypse. Her point of view gradually spiralled interestingly with the introduction of the side characters and then the protagonist Didi. I had no idea Didi will be a main character to be reckoned with. She will indeed remain etched in my memory. Her back story is quite intriguing and it spiced up the story to a whole new level.
Bit by bit the author exposed each character's tale still maintaining the after apocalypse world settings.
Just like the book description promised, Didi was once the darling of the porn industry, baring it all for the world on the screen until she decided enough - taking a deathly decision even after life is over she hopes the repercussions doesn't haunt her.
I personally loved the chapter titles and the Bible verses inscribed at some points in the story. What a rare way to entwine one's faith with a contradicting zombie apocalypse story. Nice work!
As a writer, there is room to explore any genre to your advantage. Brian took that opportunity and created Death Doll - an action packed thrilling story. The settings and plot are well developed, the characters are realistic and relatable. Death Doll will leave you turning the pages for more.
A free copy of Death Doll was provided by the author.
January 28, 2019
If you are tired of the cliche zombie books, this is the book you want to pick up! No seriously.
Didi is amazing. She is kick ass and I really enjoyed reading about her. This book is fast paced and kept moving right along. It's not your typical zombie book. The writing style, the character development it's all really good. I like how things were thought out, you can tell that White actually thought about things and didn't just regurgitate what so many other zombie apocalypse books have done - copy Hollywood. NO!!!
What's worse than zombies? Other survivors that don't have the same rules your group has. At least you know what to expect from the zombies, from other humans - it's a crapshoot. Yet Didi keeps her tribe of people alive. She hangs onto humanity with her teeth, she is determined to keep them alive.
Didi is amazing. She is kick ass and I really enjoyed reading about her. This book is fast paced and kept moving right along. It's not your typical zombie book. The writing style, the character development it's all really good. I like how things were thought out, you can tell that White actually thought about things and didn't just regurgitate what so many other zombie apocalypse books have done - copy Hollywood. NO!!!
What's worse than zombies? Other survivors that don't have the same rules your group has. At least you know what to expect from the zombies, from other humans - it's a crapshoot. Yet Didi keeps her tribe of people alive. She hangs onto humanity with her teeth, she is determined to keep them alive.
June 6, 2020
Death Doll is a 245 page zombie thriller by Brian P. White. The main characters Didi, Paula, Isaac, Sean, Pepe and Rachelle are memorable. Through each page, you can see how they cope with their circumstances and the world and protect each other from the ongoing zombie apocalypse.
While most zombie books are nothing but fight the zombies and survive, this book offers more. It shows you the inner thoughts and inner personal relationships between the characters as they cope and share and hide secrets. After all, Didi has a big one, and as the story unfolds, we learn more about the Death Doll and Didi’s life before and after the apocalypse.
Death Doll is guaranteed to not leave you wondering where the action is or the character development. This book contains both and is well worth the read.
While most zombie books are nothing but fight the zombies and survive, this book offers more. It shows you the inner thoughts and inner personal relationships between the characters as they cope and share and hide secrets. After all, Didi has a big one, and as the story unfolds, we learn more about the Death Doll and Didi’s life before and after the apocalypse.
Death Doll is guaranteed to not leave you wondering where the action is or the character development. This book contains both and is well worth the read.
January 19, 2021
'The Death Doll' by Brian White is post-zombie-apocalypse story, but oddly, the zombies aren't the main antagonist. I'll let you read and find out who is.
The first chapter irritated me because none of the characters seemed to be acting rationally. True, they were in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, running for their lives, but still they were over the top. Or so I thought.
I've learned to have patience. Over the next few chapters, the author showed me each person's point of view and their motivations and their irrationality made sense, after a while. Mr. White has given the reader some excellent characters--good, bad, and ugly ones.
If you're a lover of zombie books, dystopian books, and action-adventure books, this one is for you.
I received a copy of this book to review, but that did not affect my opinion of it.
The first chapter irritated me because none of the characters seemed to be acting rationally. True, they were in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, running for their lives, but still they were over the top. Or so I thought.
I've learned to have patience. Over the next few chapters, the author showed me each person's point of view and their motivations and their irrationality made sense, after a while. Mr. White has given the reader some excellent characters--good, bad, and ugly ones.
If you're a lover of zombie books, dystopian books, and action-adventure books, this one is for you.
I received a copy of this book to review, but that did not affect my opinion of it.
April 23, 2019
If you are a fan of the zombie horror genre and like your stories with a bit of an edge and on the mysterious side, I think you will find listening to “The Death Doll” worth your time and credit. The book in many ways is similar to others I have listened too in the zombie category, yet the author weaves in some new and different concepts making the book feel fresh and different. This book reminded me of another we have reviewed titled “The Last Zombie Ocean” by Michael John Grist. It appears that this work is Brian P. White’s premiere release on Audible; at the time of this review. Let me say up front, based on his author’s page details, he should not have had time to write a book with all his family duties. Brian, thank you for your service to our country here in the United States by serving in the Army. The audiobook edition is narrated by Becci Martin who appears to be a newer narrator to Audible with only three books listed under her name. Even with a less mature combination of author and narrator, the book resonated with me and I found myself at polar extremes on the emotion scale. There was plenty of surprise, horror, friendship, and even romance all wrapped up in this title.
As with most books in this category, here was are also introduced to your stereotypical characters that fit well into the four classes of brains, brawn, beauty and bad guys. These should not be a surprise to people who frequent the horror or zombie genre. However, this story does add a few twists making the usual band of people come together when it is needed. The book’s characters must come face-to-face with many social issues we experience daily. There are problems with racism, sexism, and alienation because of one’s differences. This band of misfits needs to come together and ignore their differences to fight a bigger issue and ultimately survive. I liked that the author included both some light romance and the importance of friendships no matter one’s circumstances. We are also shown that decisions have consequences that not only affect the individual, but the group as well.
Along with bits of humor such as seeing zombies chase pigs to generate electricity, the author also adds some emotional turns that keep the listener wondering what will happen. We are given a number of action scenes as well as seeing the growth of this band of people as they banter between one another. Is there a traitor in their mists? This is part of the mystery the listener needs to uncover. Although I’m not a seasoned zombie aficionado, I liked some of the different zombie lore the author used to educate us on the subject.
What would I have changed? I felt the character development was overall well done and most of the characters felt dimensional. I would have liked to have had more detailed scenes or locations as the author mainly focused in on the immediate surroundings. I wanted to know more about the place they were living in, more about how things got the way they did, etc. A bit more color and background would have gone a longer way to make the book even better. Secondly, the book had more of a young adult feel to its writing style. Like with the scenes, I wanted a bit more depth and complexity to the writing structure. Knowing this was the author’s premiere Audible work, I look forward to future works as he continues to improve upon his writing skill.
Let me turn my attention to the book’s audio narration. I was not sure what to expect knowing that Becci Martin was a newcomer to Audible’s audiobook narration scene. While listening to the book, I felt the narrator was performed by a seasoned veteran rather than a person relatively new to narration. Her reading pace was consistent, I do not recall any issue around audio artifacts (swallows, page turns, background noise, etc.) while listening and volume level were maintained. I felt her voicing of the numerous characters was dependable and the accents did not bleed over to other characters (no zombie pun intended). If I had one suggestion relating to the book’s audio narration, I would say that her performance was more a literal reading of the text with little expression or emotion given to the words themselves. Narration can often enhance the story, and although it was not monotone, I would have like to have heard more expression in the narration.
For parents and younger readers, be aware this book contains a fair amount of vulgar language. In addition, there is quite a bit of mature and sexual topics covered both during general interactions and during periods of joking. I can say for a zombie book, there was less graphic violence than I would have suspected, yet there is some that may not be appropriate for less mature listeners. I would also say that the book contained a few anti-religious statements along with some poor theology, yet this is not the place one should be learning theology from in the first place.
In summary, the book was well thought out and its characters felt real to the story. The narration was good, but I would have liked the book to have been read with a bit more feeling or emotion, but this is a preference of the reviewer. There are many social areas the book addresses and it portrays the importance of friendship in times of hardship. If you can get past some of mature topics and language, there is a decent and enjoyable story to listen too. I’m sure we will see more released by this author.
Disclaimer: This book was provided to the reviewer by the author, publisher, or narrator at no charge in exchange for an honest review.
As with most books in this category, here was are also introduced to your stereotypical characters that fit well into the four classes of brains, brawn, beauty and bad guys. These should not be a surprise to people who frequent the horror or zombie genre. However, this story does add a few twists making the usual band of people come together when it is needed. The book’s characters must come face-to-face with many social issues we experience daily. There are problems with racism, sexism, and alienation because of one’s differences. This band of misfits needs to come together and ignore their differences to fight a bigger issue and ultimately survive. I liked that the author included both some light romance and the importance of friendships no matter one’s circumstances. We are also shown that decisions have consequences that not only affect the individual, but the group as well.
Along with bits of humor such as seeing zombies chase pigs to generate electricity, the author also adds some emotional turns that keep the listener wondering what will happen. We are given a number of action scenes as well as seeing the growth of this band of people as they banter between one another. Is there a traitor in their mists? This is part of the mystery the listener needs to uncover. Although I’m not a seasoned zombie aficionado, I liked some of the different zombie lore the author used to educate us on the subject.
What would I have changed? I felt the character development was overall well done and most of the characters felt dimensional. I would have liked to have had more detailed scenes or locations as the author mainly focused in on the immediate surroundings. I wanted to know more about the place they were living in, more about how things got the way they did, etc. A bit more color and background would have gone a longer way to make the book even better. Secondly, the book had more of a young adult feel to its writing style. Like with the scenes, I wanted a bit more depth and complexity to the writing structure. Knowing this was the author’s premiere Audible work, I look forward to future works as he continues to improve upon his writing skill.
Let me turn my attention to the book’s audio narration. I was not sure what to expect knowing that Becci Martin was a newcomer to Audible’s audiobook narration scene. While listening to the book, I felt the narrator was performed by a seasoned veteran rather than a person relatively new to narration. Her reading pace was consistent, I do not recall any issue around audio artifacts (swallows, page turns, background noise, etc.) while listening and volume level were maintained. I felt her voicing of the numerous characters was dependable and the accents did not bleed over to other characters (no zombie pun intended). If I had one suggestion relating to the book’s audio narration, I would say that her performance was more a literal reading of the text with little expression or emotion given to the words themselves. Narration can often enhance the story, and although it was not monotone, I would have like to have heard more expression in the narration.
For parents and younger readers, be aware this book contains a fair amount of vulgar language. In addition, there is quite a bit of mature and sexual topics covered both during general interactions and during periods of joking. I can say for a zombie book, there was less graphic violence than I would have suspected, yet there is some that may not be appropriate for less mature listeners. I would also say that the book contained a few anti-religious statements along with some poor theology, yet this is not the place one should be learning theology from in the first place.
In summary, the book was well thought out and its characters felt real to the story. The narration was good, but I would have liked the book to have been read with a bit more feeling or emotion, but this is a preference of the reviewer. There are many social areas the book addresses and it portrays the importance of friendship in times of hardship. If you can get past some of mature topics and language, there is a decent and enjoyable story to listen too. I’m sure we will see more released by this author.
Disclaimer: This book was provided to the reviewer by the author, publisher, or narrator at no charge in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2020
A copy of this book was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
Death Dolls is a unique novel about zombie apocalypse. Most zombie novels are mostly "concentrated" on the zombies itself than the characters. I love how the author talks about the characters back story- their hopes and fears creating well balanced characters that had life before the apocalypse and they didn't just stumble upon it. I'm not really a fan of zombie apocalyptic books because it's mostly about gore and blood and guns but this is an exception. I love brain work novels and this delivered it to me. If you love plot twist zombie novels and not totally interested in gore and guns, then this is for you.
Death Dolls is a unique novel about zombie apocalypse. Most zombie novels are mostly "concentrated" on the zombies itself than the characters. I love how the author talks about the characters back story- their hopes and fears creating well balanced characters that had life before the apocalypse and they didn't just stumble upon it. I'm not really a fan of zombie apocalyptic books because it's mostly about gore and blood and guns but this is an exception. I love brain work novels and this delivered it to me. If you love plot twist zombie novels and not totally interested in gore and guns, then this is for you.
April 16, 2019
I’m not a fan of the ‘Walking Dead,’ nor am I a fan of what could be classified as, the ‘Horror’ Genre. Imagine my surprise, when I found myself enjoying, “The Death Doll.” In fact, I couldn’t wait until I was able to pick up the book and continue reading. I laughed, I cried, and at times, I had to remind myself to breathe. If you are looking for a book that isn’t your normal “zombie,” read, I highly recommend reading, “The Death Doll.” You won’t be disappointed; in fact, you’ll be anxiously waiting for the next book to come out.
January 22, 2018
A group of survivors get help from a mystery woman called Didi during the zombie apocalypse but they soon discover they have bigger things to worry about. There was a diverse cast and some memorable characters it did take me a while to get to grips with the large cast, but it was a worthwhile read. I would recommend it.
September 15, 2019
Okay, Death Doll. I loved it!
Didi is special. Special enough to lead a band of survivors in an apocalyptic world infested with flesh eating zombies.
This book is a well written tale of adventure with a slight twist of horror and a deep underlining root of faith. I found this book a joy to read. It was interesting and full of twists.
This is no normal zombie book – I highly recommend it!
Didi is special. Special enough to lead a band of survivors in an apocalyptic world infested with flesh eating zombies.
This book is a well written tale of adventure with a slight twist of horror and a deep underlining root of faith. I found this book a joy to read. It was interesting and full of twists.
This is no normal zombie book – I highly recommend it!
September 26, 2019
Death Doll is a whole new approach to the zombie apocalypse. Who knew a zombie could be a good guy, well, woman, who wanted to save survivors? And the apocalypse didn’t always bring out the best in the survivors. This book was packed with plenty of surprises, and was a study in what is really important in life.
September 30, 2019
This book has a unique twist on the normal zombie characters, along with wonderfully written dialog among the characters that made this book very enjoyable. This is a book that fans of zombies/apocalyptic tales need to check out, especially if looking for a newer aspect of a zombie character. The book has mystery, some action, and plenty of banter between the characters that keep the pages moving.
For an in depth review, visit my page at : https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...
For an in depth review, visit my page at : https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...
July 16, 2020
I had the pleasure of reading the book Deathdoll . I am not ones for zombies but this had my interest . The writer Brian White gives you a seen from the other side . The fight within us .our faith,trust and love other. I recommend this one for your next read.
November 17, 2020
Brian P. White has successfully written a unique perspective about the zombie apocalypse. The story is full of adventure as the characters must learn how to survive, have faith, and trust each other despite their differences.
February 9, 2021
Dead... Good or not?
Didi is protecting her little town from zombies. Brian P. White has taken the zombie story to whole new heights. Excitement abounds in this action packed tale.
Didi is protecting her little town from zombies. Brian P. White has taken the zombie story to whole new heights. Excitement abounds in this action packed tale.
Currently reading
April 26, 2019Book is amazing really makes you imagination take off very different than other zombie books I've read, my daughter read it loved it I'm on chapter 8 can't wait for the sequal
September 6, 2019
And they say nothing interesting happens in Iowa. It does. Great read!
September 30, 2019
This is an edge-of-your-seat zombie apocalypse book, but with a heck of a plot twist. Gear up for the a fighting for survival literally and otherwise. This book shows a cast of characters from all walks of like who clash terribly, and the reader is left wondering if the worst enemy are the zombies or those left alive. It's a great read if you are looking for high conflict, and high character development.
March 6, 2018
I enjoyed this book and I don't even like zombie books.
October 8, 2019
Post-Apocalyptic Survival
Is there any room left for faith when the world as you know it has come to an end? As a huge fan of The Walking Dead, I was excited to read a new take on this genre. What I encountered was a well-written story about survival and one woman’s unusual plight to preserve humanity at all costs; to her own detriment. Gritty, desperate, and lovable characters pull you deep into the action and somewhere along the journey, God and their determination to survive—collide. You'll want to be on the right side of the action in this story because the version of The Death Doll you meet depends entirely on you! This was a fun read that kept me guessing until the end.
Is there any room left for faith when the world as you know it has come to an end? As a huge fan of The Walking Dead, I was excited to read a new take on this genre. What I encountered was a well-written story about survival and one woman’s unusual plight to preserve humanity at all costs; to her own detriment. Gritty, desperate, and lovable characters pull you deep into the action and somewhere along the journey, God and their determination to survive—collide. You'll want to be on the right side of the action in this story because the version of The Death Doll you meet depends entirely on you! This was a fun read that kept me guessing until the end.
September 5, 2019
The Death Doll by Brian White (4 Stars) is an entertaining story. Very unique character and a very good and different story than the typical zombie stories I had read previously. It was well written, good character development, good plot development and not once did I have to scratch my head trying to figure out what was happening to this person or that person or what was happening here or there. Very clear. Good and easy to follow. Good interesting character particularly Didi who I feel is a force to be reckoned with. The story is also action packed and not once did I ever feel like when is the action going to start? It never drags on. It keeps you up and interested and the suspense was also indeed one of the better parts of the story (along with the characters). Again well written.
March 7, 2022
Dropped at pg 51
If you're looking for a great zombie book... Sorry, keep searching because this isn't it.
I know I dropped it hella early, this might be the first time I dropped something so quickly but if I'm honest, I wanted to drop in during chapter one.
From the very start this book starts with hatred and we are supposed to just follow along? It seems to start like we are supposed to already know EVERY character and care about them... but let me say, I've hated every character from page one until I dropped it.
I mean I guess when you have your second page talking about zombie rotted genitals... it's a clear sign for readers to not expect much and not even a few pages later your savior has pants that hug her legs and holster that hugs her waist.
----why are we supposed to care about this? Why does this matter in ANY WAY? I feel like all that was missing was the typical "voluptuous tits" ---but wait, later it's stated she doesn't have much in the breast area. of course, of course... because when zombies attack, boy oh boy, measurements matter.
Really though, I feel a lot of the cavemen-beat-on-chest-love-boobs-I-tough-man moments could have been dropped and had some great moments... like..... zombies.
Anyway, moving on because how can we not talk about the race baiting?
{This is actually where I had to step away from writing this review to eat away my aggression LOL!}
But really though, there is so much I want to touch on here and I can't because I'm almost sure my review would get flagged. But I'm so tired of POC being written the same way. "Ebonics and hood" along with the cornbread-fed white folks. Lets throw in a Hispanic person and Native American just based on looks as well. Lol Because that couldn't possibly be wrong in any way. smh
I felt nothing for any character. A hoard of zombies could have eaten everyone by chapter 3 and I would have just said "oh thank gah. Now everyone will shut up bitching"
Because in the 50+ pages I read, that is all ANYONE did. Bitched. Get saved from zombies? Bitch at them. Take them somewhere safe? Bitch at them. Give them food. Bitch more. Everything is safe, fine, people are nice? BITCH AT THEMMMMMM!!!!!!(I would have fed the newbies to the zombies outside of the pigpen just to shut them up. for legal reasons, that's a joke.)
It was annoying as fuck and speaking of the food.... how? Steaks? Huge breakfasts? Delicious fancy foods? I'm all for fiction but holy hell, come on.
I really didn't like anything about this book. I'm sorry.
And I guess I expected to much from it. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it.
If you're looking for a great zombie book... Sorry, keep searching because this isn't it.
I know I dropped it hella early, this might be the first time I dropped something so quickly but if I'm honest, I wanted to drop in during chapter one.
From the very start this book starts with hatred and we are supposed to just follow along? It seems to start like we are supposed to already know EVERY character and care about them... but let me say, I've hated every character from page one until I dropped it.
I mean I guess when you have your second page talking about zombie rotted genitals... it's a clear sign for readers to not expect much and not even a few pages later your savior has pants that hug her legs and holster that hugs her waist.
----why are we supposed to care about this? Why does this matter in ANY WAY? I feel like all that was missing was the typical "voluptuous tits" ---but wait, later it's stated she doesn't have much in the breast area. of course, of course... because when zombies attack, boy oh boy, measurements matter.
Really though, I feel a lot of the cavemen-beat-on-chest-love-boobs-I-tough-man moments could have been dropped and had some great moments... like..... zombies.
Anyway, moving on because how can we not talk about the race baiting?
{This is actually where I had to step away from writing this review to eat away my aggression LOL!}
But really though, there is so much I want to touch on here and I can't because I'm almost sure my review would get flagged. But I'm so tired of POC being written the same way. "Ebonics and hood" along with the cornbread-fed white folks. Lets throw in a Hispanic person and Native American just based on looks as well. Lol Because that couldn't possibly be wrong in any way. smh
I felt nothing for any character. A hoard of zombies could have eaten everyone by chapter 3 and I would have just said "oh thank gah. Now everyone will shut up bitching"
Because in the 50+ pages I read, that is all ANYONE did. Bitched. Get saved from zombies? Bitch at them. Take them somewhere safe? Bitch at them. Give them food. Bitch more. Everything is safe, fine, people are nice? BITCH AT THEMMMMMM!!!!!!
It was annoying as fuck and speaking of the food.... how? Steaks? Huge breakfasts? Delicious fancy foods? I'm all for fiction but holy hell, come on.
I really didn't like anything about this book. I'm sorry.
And I guess I expected to much from it. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it.
October 21, 2017
This was an awesome story, packed with action and a fresh twist on the zombie genre. A kick-ass heroine who's technically dead, but dedicated to protecting the living? Genius. I loved how she clung to her remaining humanity for dear life, yet was perfectly honest with herself about the struggle her unique position presented her with. She wasn't a martyr to her circumstance, she owned it. If the story had been solely focused on her, I think it would've been a total home run. To me, she was the one character who was truly fleshed out. The others lacked the same depth, and frankly I think there were too many secondary characters to keep track of. I frequently found myself having to stop reading to think back about who we were talking about and what their position/backstory was. All in all, killer zombie story!
**I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily offered a honest review**
**I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily offered a honest review**
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