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Bleeders: Book 1, the Red Death
If it doesn't kill you, someone infected with it will.
All the news channels can talk about is the Red Flu, a nasty strain that came out of nowhere to wreak havoc on the population. There's also something the government isn't telling the public about the Red Flu- both the secret of its true effects, and exactly how it spreads.
Brody Tate doesn't care. He's a young smart-ass living in New York City, locked in a dead-end job. His only concern is telling his boss where he can shove it. Besides, the news only exists to scare people, right?
But something is wrong. There's blood in his boss's office. A woman is dead on the floor.
His boss is eating the cleaning lady.
He kills the man in self-defense- not that the cops believe him- and gets carted away for murder. As if his day wasn't bad enough, his boss managed to bite him during the struggle. With the Red Flu tearing up his insides, Brody finds himself in a self-destructing New York, lost in the horrors of a crumbling city while fighting to stay alive.
The question now is, if the Red Flu doesn't kill him, and someone with it doesn't, what will be left of him? What will he become?
All the news channels can talk about is the Red Flu, a nasty strain that came out of nowhere to wreak havoc on the population. There's also something the government isn't telling the public about the Red Flu- both the secret of its true effects, and exactly how it spreads.
Brody Tate doesn't care. He's a young smart-ass living in New York City, locked in a dead-end job. His only concern is telling his boss where he can shove it. Besides, the news only exists to scare people, right?
But something is wrong. There's blood in his boss's office. A woman is dead on the floor.
His boss is eating the cleaning lady.
He kills the man in self-defense- not that the cops believe him- and gets carted away for murder. As if his day wasn't bad enough, his boss managed to bite him during the struggle. With the Red Flu tearing up his insides, Brody finds himself in a self-destructing New York, lost in the horrors of a crumbling city while fighting to stay alive.
The question now is, if the Red Flu doesn't kill him, and someone with it doesn't, what will be left of him? What will he become?
- GenresZombies
212 pages, Paperback
Published September 2, 2018
38 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Brian Martinez
43 books108 followersBrian Martinez is a science fiction and horror writer. He studied Film at Long Island University, and has been known to watch a John Carpenter flick on repeat until people grow concerned. He lives in New York with his wife Natalia and their pack of dogs.
Martinez is known for numerous apocalyptic works, including A Chemical Fire, The Mountain and The City, and the Bleeders series. He also writes and produces The Vessel, a Space Horror podcast on all major platforms. You can find him on Substack for exclusive stories and serials. https://bloodstreamcity.substack.com/
Martinez is known for numerous apocalyptic works, including A Chemical Fire, The Mountain and The City, and the Bleeders series. He also writes and produces The Vessel, a Space Horror podcast on all major platforms. You can find him on Substack for exclusive stories and serials. https://bloodstreamcity.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 27, 2025
Brody is a little bit of a douche canoe, I liked him immediately, (yes, I have terrible tastes in men). His sense of humor and his little comments made the pages fly by for most of the book. I liked Martinez's spin on the zombie genre and the fact that the secondary characters did really seem like they had their own agency instead of just being a support cast to Tate (yep that's our main dude's last name apparently). Things fell apart for me when the group got way bigger and a lot of characters I couldn't have cared less about were introduced, they cramped the pacing if you ask me, but it looked like it was heading in the right direction at the end so I might yet come back for the next installment.
3.5 rounded up.
3.5 rounded up.
September 2, 2016
I really enjoyed the first half of this book - the sarcastic and asshole-ish voice of the main character was an added bonus to the bloody zombie carnage that began to surround him. However, the book seemed to bog down towards the middle, and I had to really push myself to see it through. Didn't like the character of Alison at all.
November 3, 2016
3.5 stars!
As a big fan of post-apocalypse and zombie novels, I was naturally drawn to Bleeders. Like most books within the genre, the story opens right before the outbreak happens so the reader can experience all the horror, panic and confusion that ensues. Inevitably, a group of characters team up in an effort to survive and avoid becoming infected. While Bleeders follows this standard progression for the most part, there are a few interesting twists that help set it apart from standard zombie novels while also adding a bit of complexity to the plot.
More than anything, I became interested in this book because of the wisecracking main character Brody Tate, a millennial slacker in New York City whose cynicism about the burgeoning “Red Flu” epidemic is thrown out the window when he discovers his boss eating the company cleaning lady. Brody pinballs from one near death experience to another as he fights to stay alive in a metropolis that’s quickly being overtaken by panic, violence and fear. The author does an exceptional job of capturing an authenticity to Brody’s inner dialogue that helps the reader empathize with his dilemma and explain his actions.
All that said...(full review on the blog: http://www.knockinbooks.com/reviews/b...)
As a big fan of post-apocalypse and zombie novels, I was naturally drawn to Bleeders. Like most books within the genre, the story opens right before the outbreak happens so the reader can experience all the horror, panic and confusion that ensues. Inevitably, a group of characters team up in an effort to survive and avoid becoming infected. While Bleeders follows this standard progression for the most part, there are a few interesting twists that help set it apart from standard zombie novels while also adding a bit of complexity to the plot.
More than anything, I became interested in this book because of the wisecracking main character Brody Tate, a millennial slacker in New York City whose cynicism about the burgeoning “Red Flu” epidemic is thrown out the window when he discovers his boss eating the company cleaning lady. Brody pinballs from one near death experience to another as he fights to stay alive in a metropolis that’s quickly being overtaken by panic, violence and fear. The author does an exceptional job of capturing an authenticity to Brody’s inner dialogue that helps the reader empathize with his dilemma and explain his actions.
All that said...(full review on the blog: http://www.knockinbooks.com/reviews/b...)
September 9, 2020
Great story of plot, the characters you can really get to know them and the main character is a very sarcastic and funny fellow. There's a lot of Gore,a a lot of action and a lot of sarcastic remarks that will have you laughing. what you have in this book is survivors, zombies but very aggressive zombies and immune people that have been changed.
June 2, 2024
Humor Saves It
A generic pre-pandemic zombie novel. No unique scenes, poorly researched, poorly planned action set pieces, predictable, mostly paper-thin side characters.
But its quite humorous. Not laugh out loud funny, but amusing throughout. The grounded humor of a sardonic main character rather than tension ruining slapstick.
I will read more books by this author.
A generic pre-pandemic zombie novel. No unique scenes, poorly researched, poorly planned action set pieces, predictable, mostly paper-thin side characters.
But its quite humorous. Not laugh out loud funny, but amusing throughout. The grounded humor of a sardonic main character rather than tension ruining slapstick.
I will read more books by this author.
March 19, 2019
Slow Burn Spinoff?
While this was a good time I felt like I had already read it and wondered if it is part of the SLOW BURN world. If you like apocalypse or EOTWAWKI books, this is a book worth checking out. It is well written and kept me reading. I'm starting the next one now.
While this was a good time I felt like I had already read it and wondered if it is part of the SLOW BURN world. If you like apocalypse or EOTWAWKI books, this is a book worth checking out. It is well written and kept me reading. I'm starting the next one now.
November 3, 2018
Great book!
Fast paced, great humor and Gore galore! A fast fun read! You won't be disappointed! I liked it a lot!
Fast paced, great humor and Gore galore! A fast fun read! You won't be disappointed! I liked it a lot!
December 7, 2018
Loved It!
I really enjoyed this book! There are a few grammar errors but nothing major. I definitely recommend this book to all post apocalyptic fans out there 😋
I really enjoyed this book! There are a few grammar errors but nothing major. I definitely recommend this book to all post apocalyptic fans out there 😋
February 4, 2019
I LIKE it!
I read ALOT of Zombie stories but I really LIKED this one.
I love when humor is included and women can be strong AND feminine!!!
I read ALOT of Zombie stories but I really LIKED this one.
I love when humor is included and women can be strong AND feminine!!!
December 4, 2018
This books was kindly emailed to me by the author upon my request to join the ARC groups of his readers.
.
Bleeders the Red Death
By
Brian Martinez
.
.
A typical Monday with a worker heading to work and arriving late.
Not in the mood for his boss and his comments he stays put in his cubicle up until lunch break where the news is this virus (Red Flu) starting from North Korea / Asia is spreading.
.
.
Heading to his boss’ office he knocks and pushes himself to cross boundaries and simply enter. He doesn’t see his boss clearly instead hears noises and finds his boss behind the desk with the cleaning lady...*no more spoilers* !
.
.
An unexpected surprise from his boss Brody switches to full self defense mode, is later framed for a crime and tries to flee. Little did he know the world outside of the office is a mess, the red virus is taking up New York City and the Bleeders are everywhere. A crazy morning ends up being a crazy chase and hunt along with meeting unexpected people along the way and trying to survive.
.
.
The book was action packed and detailed. What I did not understand was the point of having bleeders take up the city, without knowing who really is behind them. I had the vibe of the good guys running but from who I did not really know other than (the crazy monsters is bleeders).
Also since I’m challenging myself to read other genres this was one of them. I don’t usually go for such books but it was interesting to try something new.
I’ll be starting the second book to see how Brody’s escape on the boat goes. This book is definitely one for those who enjoy video games and actions movies because it felt like watching one!
.
It felt like a part of the story was missing or maybe I’m just a very curious reader.
The book is 539 pages but it was a quick read that I’ve managed to finish within two days.
.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
.
Bleeders the Red Death
By
Brian Martinez
.
.
A typical Monday with a worker heading to work and arriving late.
Not in the mood for his boss and his comments he stays put in his cubicle up until lunch break where the news is this virus (Red Flu) starting from North Korea / Asia is spreading.
.
.
Heading to his boss’ office he knocks and pushes himself to cross boundaries and simply enter. He doesn’t see his boss clearly instead hears noises and finds his boss behind the desk with the cleaning lady...*no more spoilers* !
.
.
An unexpected surprise from his boss Brody switches to full self defense mode, is later framed for a crime and tries to flee. Little did he know the world outside of the office is a mess, the red virus is taking up New York City and the Bleeders are everywhere. A crazy morning ends up being a crazy chase and hunt along with meeting unexpected people along the way and trying to survive.
.
.
The book was action packed and detailed. What I did not understand was the point of having bleeders take up the city, without knowing who really is behind them. I had the vibe of the good guys running but from who I did not really know other than (the crazy monsters is bleeders).
Also since I’m challenging myself to read other genres this was one of them. I don’t usually go for such books but it was interesting to try something new.
I’ll be starting the second book to see how Brody’s escape on the boat goes. This book is definitely one for those who enjoy video games and actions movies because it felt like watching one!
.
It felt like a part of the story was missing or maybe I’m just a very curious reader.
The book is 539 pages but it was a quick read that I’ve managed to finish within two days.
.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
September 2, 2016
well written
I'm bummed that I apparently can't pre order the next in the series on a gift card. Otherwise I'd already have it. Brody is a cynical guy with an office job he can't stand when the red flu hits. Shortly thereafter, he's arrested , he meets a big homeless vet and then they're taken to a quarantine facility. Yankee stadium , where he meets a Dr who was doing research on the bleeders. All the other researchers are dead and New York gets shut down by the military. They're trying to survive while the city gets more and more dangerous. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
I'm bummed that I apparently can't pre order the next in the series on a gift card. Otherwise I'd already have it. Brody is a cynical guy with an office job he can't stand when the red flu hits. Shortly thereafter, he's arrested , he meets a big homeless vet and then they're taken to a quarantine facility. Yankee stadium , where he meets a Dr who was doing research on the bleeders. All the other researchers are dead and New York gets shut down by the military. They're trying to survive while the city gets more and more dangerous. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
December 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. The personality of the MC was unique and refreshing compared to the normal zombie (Bleeder) books. The plot was also fast-moving and kept me very entertained (Although, a bit surprised by Allison's actions). Look forward to reading the second one!
July 3, 2019
A pandemic virus hit on a global range. And the adventure begins and evolves into many things and reasons. A great story line. Brilliant Writing skills by Author Brian Martinez. I loved it!
May 1, 2017
Good
A delightful read. I recommend this author whose style and prose is interesting and engaging. I'm looking forward to reading more.
A delightful read. I recommend this author whose style and prose is interesting and engaging. I'm looking forward to reading more.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews