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A Quiet Apocalypse
A Quiet Apocalypse
The end is hear...
A mutant strain of meningitis has wiped out most of mankind. The few who have survived the fever are now deaf.
Bitter with loss and terrified to leave the city known as Cathedral, the inhabitants rely on The Samaritans, search teams sent out into the surrounding countryside. Their purpose, to hunt down and enslave the greatest commodity on Earth, an even smaller group of people immune to the virus, people who can still hear.
People like me.
My name is Chris.
This is my story.
A mutant strain of meningitis has wiped out most of mankind. The few who have survived the fever are now deaf.
Bitter with loss and terrified to leave the city known as Cathedral, the inhabitants rely on The Samaritans, search teams sent out into the surrounding countryside. Their purpose, to hunt down and enslave the greatest commodity on Earth, an even smaller group of people immune to the virus, people who can still hear.
People like me.
My name is Chris.
This is my story.
- GenresHorrorPost Apocalyptic
163 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2019
9 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Dave Jeffery
75 books147 followers"Jeffery has a connoisseur's eye for the grotesque and mind-bending."—STEPHEN VOLK, writer of GHOSTWATCH and AFTERLIFE,
Dave Jeffery is a British Fantasy Award and The Bridport Prize Finalist. He is author of 19 novels, two collections, and numerous short stories. His Necropolis Rising series and yeti adventure Frostbite have both featured on the Amazon #1 bestseller list, while the A Quiet Apocalypse series continues to garner critical acclaim. His YA work includes the Beatrice Beecham supernatural mystery series and Finding Jericho. His screenwriting credits include award winning short films Ascension and Derelict.
Before retiring to write full-time, Jeffery worked in the NHS for 35 years specialising in the field of mental health nursing and risk management. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Studies and a Master of Science Degree in Health Studies. His novel Finding Jericho is an amalgamation of his experiences of working with service users who have experienced stigma and social exclusion due to their mental illness. As a novel, Finding Jericho (Demain Publishing) has featured on both the BBC Health and Independent Schools Entrance Examination Board's ‘Recommended Reading’ lists
Jeffery is a member of the Society of Authors, British Fantasy Society (also as a regular book reviewer), and actively involved in the Horror Writers Association where he is a mentor on the HWA Mentorship Scheme and recipient of the HWA Mentor of the Year Award, 2022. He was also co-chair of the HWA Wellness Committee for a three-year tenure.
Jeffery is married with two children and lives in Worcestershire, UK.
Forthcoming Releases:
SEPTEMBER 2025
False Prophet: A Novel (Eerie River Publishing)
This Way Lies Madness Anthology (co-edited with Lee Murray, Flame Tree Press)
MAY 2026
Screams & Whispers Collection (Horrorsmith Publishing)
Dave Jeffery is a British Fantasy Award and The Bridport Prize Finalist. He is author of 19 novels, two collections, and numerous short stories. His Necropolis Rising series and yeti adventure Frostbite have both featured on the Amazon #1 bestseller list, while the A Quiet Apocalypse series continues to garner critical acclaim. His YA work includes the Beatrice Beecham supernatural mystery series and Finding Jericho. His screenwriting credits include award winning short films Ascension and Derelict.
Before retiring to write full-time, Jeffery worked in the NHS for 35 years specialising in the field of mental health nursing and risk management. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Studies and a Master of Science Degree in Health Studies. His novel Finding Jericho is an amalgamation of his experiences of working with service users who have experienced stigma and social exclusion due to their mental illness. As a novel, Finding Jericho (Demain Publishing) has featured on both the BBC Health and Independent Schools Entrance Examination Board's ‘Recommended Reading’ lists
Jeffery is a member of the Society of Authors, British Fantasy Society (also as a regular book reviewer), and actively involved in the Horror Writers Association where he is a mentor on the HWA Mentorship Scheme and recipient of the HWA Mentor of the Year Award, 2022. He was also co-chair of the HWA Wellness Committee for a three-year tenure.
Jeffery is married with two children and lives in Worcestershire, UK.
Forthcoming Releases:
SEPTEMBER 2025
False Prophet: A Novel (Eerie River Publishing)
This Way Lies Madness Anthology (co-edited with Lee Murray, Flame Tree Press)
MAY 2026
Screams & Whispers Collection (Horrorsmith Publishing)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 1, 2019
Certainly not just another post-apocalyptic tale brought on by a disease. Oh sure, there’s a disease that has changed the world but no slobbering, blood thirsty zombies are wailing in the night, although there are monsters and twisted survivors trying to control the world.
Told from one man’s point of view, this dark tale turns the tables on misconceptions, what we consider handicaps and really is a bit of an eye opener. Imagine a world that can no longer hear, now imagine being one of the few who still can. What would be the greatest use the non-hearing could have for you? How far would they go to possess you, to use you? Would you be revered or would you become a tool with little human value?
A QUIET APOCALYPSE by Dave Jeffery is a brittle look at a world where “normal” people are the minority, and those without hearing become the captors and use their numbers and determination to rise to the top of the heap with full control.
I was mesmerized by Dave Jeffery’s tale, it is brilliantly fresh, darkly sinister and a sad commentary on how low humanity can go if given the chance. Thought-provoking and well-written, this tale of survival is a highly recommended read!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Demain Publishing. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Demain Publishing; 1 edition (September 23, 2019)
Publication Date: September 23, 2019
Genre: Dystopian
Print Length: 163 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Told from one man’s point of view, this dark tale turns the tables on misconceptions, what we consider handicaps and really is a bit of an eye opener. Imagine a world that can no longer hear, now imagine being one of the few who still can. What would be the greatest use the non-hearing could have for you? How far would they go to possess you, to use you? Would you be revered or would you become a tool with little human value?
A QUIET APOCALYPSE by Dave Jeffery is a brittle look at a world where “normal” people are the minority, and those without hearing become the captors and use their numbers and determination to rise to the top of the heap with full control.
I was mesmerized by Dave Jeffery’s tale, it is brilliantly fresh, darkly sinister and a sad commentary on how low humanity can go if given the chance. Thought-provoking and well-written, this tale of survival is a highly recommended read!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Demain Publishing. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Demain Publishing; 1 edition (September 23, 2019)
Publication Date: September 23, 2019
Genre: Dystopian
Print Length: 163 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 9, 2022
4.5⭐'s
November 20, 2024
“Someone once said that the world would end, not with a bang, but a whimper. Yet when the time came, the world could have died screaming until its lungs bled, and most would not have been able to hear anything at all.”
A pandemic kills and maims the human population. Those who survive are rendered deaf; they hunt for the immune who can still hear, and kill the “harbingers” (those who were deaf before the plague). This story follows one man’s tale of survival.
While interesting, I wanted more from this shorter tale. More meat and action throughout the plot. The ending left me feeling conflicted. More POVs and different perspectives would certainly enrich things. Thankfully there’s a series continuing on, as well as an anthology set in this world to read.
A pandemic kills and maims the human population. Those who survive are rendered deaf; they hunt for the immune who can still hear, and kill the “harbingers” (those who were deaf before the plague). This story follows one man’s tale of survival.
While interesting, I wanted more from this shorter tale. More meat and action throughout the plot. The ending left me feeling conflicted. More POVs and different perspectives would certainly enrich things. Thankfully there’s a series continuing on, as well as an anthology set in this world to read.
May 7, 2020
I loved this book. It's set in a fallen-Birmingham in the midst of a pandemic of mutated-meningitis. 'A Quiet Apocalypse' charts the experience of downtrodden (but virus-immune) 'Chris' as he searches for the respite of The Refuge. The meningitis strain, MNG-U, has ravaged most communities and Jeffrey brings a lot of under-represented topics and groups (notably the hard-of-hearing community) to the forefront, and does so with dignity and panache. Dave Jeffery offers us an eerily prescient and beautifully-realised novella - action-packed and emotional without being preachy or insincere. This is bleak horror with a heart (who thought that was even possible). Highly recommended.
January 10, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
‘A Quiet Apocalypse’ arrives to take its place amongst the ever-growing list of “sensory” based post-apocalyptic stories. While this may turn some folks away – I really do wish to stress that this piece carves its own place and stands on its own two feet – no piggybacking here, folks.
The story starts off describing the ‘downfall’ of humanity – a meningitis-type disease that has wiped out most of mankind, leaving the survivors deaf.
From there we get introduced to Chris, a damaged man who is trying to break free from his captivity.
Like most post-apocalyptic stories, we follow our main character as they attempt to go from point A to point B, along the way running into obstacles and enemies.
What I really loved here was that there was no unseen monsters or creatures attacking people, no this was purely a story set in country, where the biggest fear was running into another living person.
I found there were some lulls in the story, parts that felt a bit slow, but in a book like this – that can sometimes be expected.
One thing I really enjoyed, that Jeffrey worked really well, was the use of the countryside as a character all on its own. You would know when things were ramping up based on some descriptions of where the characters were at any given time and I found it to add another layer or dynamic to what the characters were having to endure.
Overall, I really did enjoy this. It’s great to see Sign Language placed into the forefront of a story like this and it was used to great effect. I think this is a very worthy addition to the post-apocalyptic “sensory” based world and one that horror fans should add to their TBR ASAP.
‘A Quiet Apocalypse’ arrives to take its place amongst the ever-growing list of “sensory” based post-apocalyptic stories. While this may turn some folks away – I really do wish to stress that this piece carves its own place and stands on its own two feet – no piggybacking here, folks.
The story starts off describing the ‘downfall’ of humanity – a meningitis-type disease that has wiped out most of mankind, leaving the survivors deaf.
From there we get introduced to Chris, a damaged man who is trying to break free from his captivity.
Like most post-apocalyptic stories, we follow our main character as they attempt to go from point A to point B, along the way running into obstacles and enemies.
What I really loved here was that there was no unseen monsters or creatures attacking people, no this was purely a story set in country, where the biggest fear was running into another living person.
I found there were some lulls in the story, parts that felt a bit slow, but in a book like this – that can sometimes be expected.
One thing I really enjoyed, that Jeffrey worked really well, was the use of the countryside as a character all on its own. You would know when things were ramping up based on some descriptions of where the characters were at any given time and I found it to add another layer or dynamic to what the characters were having to endure.
Overall, I really did enjoy this. It’s great to see Sign Language placed into the forefront of a story like this and it was used to great effect. I think this is a very worthy addition to the post-apocalyptic “sensory” based world and one that horror fans should add to their TBR ASAP.
January 3, 2023
“… the smile that my master cannot see is as powerful as any fist or boot or rifle.”
Can you imagine a post-apocalyptic world where the vast majority are newly deaf? This concept may plant dread in your heart and plague your mind for months to come.
Chris, a teacher in his former life, is forced into slavery because he’s one of the few hearing people left worldwide. He finds hope when a new person comes into his life. But hope is dangerous, and hearts are easily deceived…
With great empathy, Jeffery presents a blood-chilling yet plausible vision of society, where being different is mortally dangerous. His masterful exploration of human emotions at all levels of the hearing spectrum will take you on a journey you wouldn’t want to end.
Can you imagine a post-apocalyptic world where the vast majority are newly deaf? This concept may plant dread in your heart and plague your mind for months to come.
Chris, a teacher in his former life, is forced into slavery because he’s one of the few hearing people left worldwide. He finds hope when a new person comes into his life. But hope is dangerous, and hearts are easily deceived…
With great empathy, Jeffery presents a blood-chilling yet plausible vision of society, where being different is mortally dangerous. His masterful exploration of human emotions at all levels of the hearing spectrum will take you on a journey you wouldn’t want to end.
October 22, 2020
You'd think that currently living in a pandemic would preclude you from reading an apocalyptic story - ha! Ever since I read the blurb for this novella, I've been waiting eagerly to read it - and I'm very happy to say that it has very much lived up to my expectations.
From the blurb, and its very English setting, you'd quite rightly think of this has a John Wyndham-esque cosy catastrophe, but one look at the agonising front cover painting and it is more akin to that of Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Jeffrey has taken these two authors and fused them together superbly: despite the large font-size (paperback version), this is still a sleight novella yet the scope of disaster in the story is brilliantly portrayed. The reader is dropped immediately into the life of Chris, a rarity in this new world of deafness - he can hear, and also sign - and held captive by the vicious Crowley, who is deaf.
For the first couple of chapters, it is very introspective - focussing on Chris' life and thoughts - until he escapes from Crowley's clutches...
On the road, he meets Paul - also a hearing survivor - and together they evade the Samaritans: a group of the deaf who capture those who hear for their own ends.
Slight spoiler: there is no happy ending to this rather brilliant book, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
From the blurb, and its very English setting, you'd quite rightly think of this has a John Wyndham-esque cosy catastrophe, but one look at the agonising front cover painting and it is more akin to that of Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Jeffrey has taken these two authors and fused them together superbly: despite the large font-size (paperback version), this is still a sleight novella yet the scope of disaster in the story is brilliantly portrayed. The reader is dropped immediately into the life of Chris, a rarity in this new world of deafness - he can hear, and also sign - and held captive by the vicious Crowley, who is deaf.
For the first couple of chapters, it is very introspective - focussing on Chris' life and thoughts - until he escapes from Crowley's clutches...
On the road, he meets Paul - also a hearing survivor - and together they evade the Samaritans: a group of the deaf who capture those who hear for their own ends.
Slight spoiler: there is no happy ending to this rather brilliant book, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
December 24, 2021
Short n sweet
Simple but great premise, works through all the "what if's" that bounce around when you're reading. First book by Jeffery but I'll definitely check out more
Simple but great premise, works through all the "what if's" that bounce around when you're reading. First book by Jeffery but I'll definitely check out more
September 25, 2019
The book opens with a succinct description of a world ravaged by a terrible disease, the narrator, Chris, relaying how it has both destroyed the world at large, and his own personal world as well. Jeffery delivers an apocalyptic story, but puts his own spin on the well-trodden sub-genre. As is mentioned in the synopsis, the disease responsible is a mutant strain of bacterial meningitis, more commonly referred to as MNG-U, which burned through the global population. Those who contract the disease either die an excruciating and bloody death, or lose their hearing. It makes for a very unique twist on the typical apocalypse story, bringing deaf characters to the forefront, as well as exploring the prejudices and preconceptions surrounding the hearing-impaired.
Chris is one of the lucky few who is immune to MNG-U, but we quickly learn that, as with any apocalypse, nobody escapes unscathed. Not only has he suffered great tragedy and personal loss but, as someone who doesn’t have to rely upon a “Tell-Pad” (a digital display worn on the chest that displays text typed into a small, personal keyboard) to communicate, he is swiftly enslaved by a man named Crowley who takes extreme measures to make sure Chris cannot escape. It would be naïve of us to suggest that such a thing could never happen in our wonderful world. Man’s inhumanity to man is ever-present and all too visible in the daily news. Readers should set any expectations for a hopeful story to a minimum; the bleak tone continues throughout.
This is not intended as a negative criticism; some of the best stories are bleak, especially those regarding the apocalypse. McCarthy’s The Road and Matheson’s I Am Legend instantly come to mind when reading this story. While it isn’t quite as brutal as the former, it doesn’t shy away from the wickedness that resides in the human heart, especially in times of trouble. And, much like the latter, there is an element of legend and myth to Chris as a hearing survivor. He may not be the last human in a world of vampiric monsters, but he is one of a very small minority who can make the lives of those affected by MNG-U easier. And for this he is almost revered, just as Robert Neville was in the finale of Matheson’s masterpiece.
Those stricken by the disease have set up a new city called Cathedral, built where Birmingham once stood, and send out search parties known as Samaritans to round up hearing survivors to serve as slaves. It paints a damning picture of humanity, and the horrific depths to which we would fall if we allowed fear to consume us and mob mentality to rule. Unfortunately, it isn’t so difficult to imagine the real world slipping into this barbaric way of thinking given the crises we face every day and the inability and often, unwillingness, of those in power to do anything about it. To the citizens of Cathedral, the true villains are those who were already deaf prior to the outbreak. These people are referred to as “Harbingers” and are dealt with in the most brutal way. They serve as more than a simple plot device; Jeffery takes full advantage of the opportunity to educate the reader by drawing comparisons to prejudices faced by the hearing-impaired in everyday life. It is clearly a subject about which he feels very passionate, but he never gets preachy. On the contrary, it is enlightening and serves as an effective break from the action scenes.
The action really ramps up when Chris first discovers a two-way radio in a nearby field and then, after hearing word of a safe haven known as The Refuge, meets another survivor called Paul. Together they decide to make a break for The Refuge, braving the big, bad world and the roving gangs of Samaritans and whatever unknown dangers lie in wait. Although Chris never fully recovers from his own personal tragedy – how could he? – we do experience his personal growth as he encounters more frightening and frightened characters on the road. Will they manage to avoid the terrible Samaritans and whatever awaits them in Cathedral? Will they overcome all odds and make it all the way to The Refuge?
Naturally, for a novella, the action is relentless. No sooner has Chris escaped one precarious situation, than he finds himself in even more danger. The subtraction of a sense that most of us take for granted makes for more than a plotline, giving us something to consider with both mind and heart, as it not only explores the physical ramifications, but the emotional and socio-political as well. The book is an exploration of fear and grief, and what it can do to the human spirit, for better or worse. In Chris we have a compassionate and relatable narrator and, in the Samaritans, we have an all-too-familiar and, therefore chilling, threat. Jeffery hasn’t reinvented the apocalyptic sub-genre. Rather, he has given us something fresh, exciting, and intriguing, that not only entertains from the first page to the last, but also forces us to open our hearts and minds to the plight of a minority. It is truly a stroke of genius, and proof that Jeffery continues to innovate with each new release.
Chris is one of the lucky few who is immune to MNG-U, but we quickly learn that, as with any apocalypse, nobody escapes unscathed. Not only has he suffered great tragedy and personal loss but, as someone who doesn’t have to rely upon a “Tell-Pad” (a digital display worn on the chest that displays text typed into a small, personal keyboard) to communicate, he is swiftly enslaved by a man named Crowley who takes extreme measures to make sure Chris cannot escape. It would be naïve of us to suggest that such a thing could never happen in our wonderful world. Man’s inhumanity to man is ever-present and all too visible in the daily news. Readers should set any expectations for a hopeful story to a minimum; the bleak tone continues throughout.
This is not intended as a negative criticism; some of the best stories are bleak, especially those regarding the apocalypse. McCarthy’s The Road and Matheson’s I Am Legend instantly come to mind when reading this story. While it isn’t quite as brutal as the former, it doesn’t shy away from the wickedness that resides in the human heart, especially in times of trouble. And, much like the latter, there is an element of legend and myth to Chris as a hearing survivor. He may not be the last human in a world of vampiric monsters, but he is one of a very small minority who can make the lives of those affected by MNG-U easier. And for this he is almost revered, just as Robert Neville was in the finale of Matheson’s masterpiece.
Those stricken by the disease have set up a new city called Cathedral, built where Birmingham once stood, and send out search parties known as Samaritans to round up hearing survivors to serve as slaves. It paints a damning picture of humanity, and the horrific depths to which we would fall if we allowed fear to consume us and mob mentality to rule. Unfortunately, it isn’t so difficult to imagine the real world slipping into this barbaric way of thinking given the crises we face every day and the inability and often, unwillingness, of those in power to do anything about it. To the citizens of Cathedral, the true villains are those who were already deaf prior to the outbreak. These people are referred to as “Harbingers” and are dealt with in the most brutal way. They serve as more than a simple plot device; Jeffery takes full advantage of the opportunity to educate the reader by drawing comparisons to prejudices faced by the hearing-impaired in everyday life. It is clearly a subject about which he feels very passionate, but he never gets preachy. On the contrary, it is enlightening and serves as an effective break from the action scenes.
The action really ramps up when Chris first discovers a two-way radio in a nearby field and then, after hearing word of a safe haven known as The Refuge, meets another survivor called Paul. Together they decide to make a break for The Refuge, braving the big, bad world and the roving gangs of Samaritans and whatever unknown dangers lie in wait. Although Chris never fully recovers from his own personal tragedy – how could he? – we do experience his personal growth as he encounters more frightening and frightened characters on the road. Will they manage to avoid the terrible Samaritans and whatever awaits them in Cathedral? Will they overcome all odds and make it all the way to The Refuge?
Naturally, for a novella, the action is relentless. No sooner has Chris escaped one precarious situation, than he finds himself in even more danger. The subtraction of a sense that most of us take for granted makes for more than a plotline, giving us something to consider with both mind and heart, as it not only explores the physical ramifications, but the emotional and socio-political as well. The book is an exploration of fear and grief, and what it can do to the human spirit, for better or worse. In Chris we have a compassionate and relatable narrator and, in the Samaritans, we have an all-too-familiar and, therefore chilling, threat. Jeffery hasn’t reinvented the apocalyptic sub-genre. Rather, he has given us something fresh, exciting, and intriguing, that not only entertains from the first page to the last, but also forces us to open our hearts and minds to the plight of a minority. It is truly a stroke of genius, and proof that Jeffery continues to innovate with each new release.
June 29, 2022
My introduction to Dave Jeffery's work was reading A Silent Dystopia which is a collection of short stories (by an array of talented writers) all set in the world mapped out in the book that I'm about to review. Make sense? No? Well that's my fault for reading things out of sequence! The point is that I was so taken by the dystopian world Jeffrey had created out of thin air that I couldn't wait to read more about it's origins. A Quiet Apocalypse did not disappoint on any level. The clever part is the simplicity of the initial concept which you immediately believe to be a horrifically plausible near future, and so it really gets its hooks into you. By simple I mean extremely smart in a "why didn't I think of that" kind of way. From there the author feeds us details and layers to really flesh out the dread and paranoia of this new society. This is done in such expert fashion that not only do you fully immerse yourself in the experience but you get a little bit addicted to it too. I flew through this book at record speed as I followed a terrific plot through the nightmarish lands and now I have to immediately worship book 2, aptly named Cathedral.
January 3, 2020
Escaping silence..
I am pretty sure this is this first book by this author that I’ve read, won’t be the last. A virus sweeps through humanity leaving survivors either deaf or hearing because they were immune to the disease. The deaf survivors out way the hearing individuals who are then enslaved to provide information to them of the outside, dangerous world they cannot hear. No spoilers as it’s to easy for novellas but Chris needs to navigate a word he doesn’t understand and innocence makes him vulnerable to the evils that lurk out there in the new world. You feel his pain of loss, hope for the future and agony of maybe not seeing any of it. It’s too easy to compare this story with others that you will think of while reading this story, don’t do it. This story is heartbreaking, breathtaking and wholly original! Movie please! Highly recommended!
I am pretty sure this is this first book by this author that I’ve read, won’t be the last. A virus sweeps through humanity leaving survivors either deaf or hearing because they were immune to the disease. The deaf survivors out way the hearing individuals who are then enslaved to provide information to them of the outside, dangerous world they cannot hear. No spoilers as it’s to easy for novellas but Chris needs to navigate a word he doesn’t understand and innocence makes him vulnerable to the evils that lurk out there in the new world. You feel his pain of loss, hope for the future and agony of maybe not seeing any of it. It’s too easy to compare this story with others that you will think of while reading this story, don’t do it. This story is heartbreaking, breathtaking and wholly original! Movie please! Highly recommended!
October 23, 2019
I will be reviewing this for Trevor Kennedy's Phantasmagoria Magazine but will put that review here in due course.
Briefly: it's a well written and thought-provoking book that strays away from the conventional horrors of a post-apocalyptic scenario. Definitely worth the read.
Briefly: it's a well written and thought-provoking book that strays away from the conventional horrors of a post-apocalyptic scenario. Definitely worth the read.
January 20, 2021
I steer clear of apocalyptic scenarios in my reading because usually, I find it quite a narrow theme. However, this book was highly recommended to me and didn't disappoint. It's a unique take on the apocalypse, made all the more impactful by the current pandemic. Really enjoyed reading this one.
May 15, 2021
A Quiet Apocalypse Review
By: Dave Jeffery
Pages: 184
Genre: Horror, Dystopian
Publisher: Demain Publishing; 1st edition (23 Sept. 2019)
Cover by Adrian Baldwin; original artwork by Roberto Segate
The end is hear...
A mutant strain of meningitis has wiped out most of mankind. The few who have survived the fever are now deaf.
Bitter with loss and terrified to leave the city known as Cathedral, the inhabitants rely on The Samaritans, search teams sent out into the surrounding countryside. Their purpose, to hunt down and enslave the greatest commodity on Earth, an even smaller group of people immune to the virus, people who can still hear.
People like me.
My name is Chris.
This is my story.
“A Quiet Apocalypse is told from the perspective of ex-school teacher Chris, a hearing survivor. He has lost everything, including his freedom, and through his eyes, we learn of what it is like to live as a slave in this terrible new world of fear and loss. I was keen to write a piece that preyed upon people’s traditional misconceptions of deafness as an illness, and the imposition of ‘hearing’ norms. It is a story that has poignancy in any understanding of the struggles of minority groups.” – Author, Dave Jeffery
This is not your typical post-Apocalypse story; this is so much more. Now, as you all know, it takes a lot for me to focus on a book. But after seeing the cover art for this beastie and hearing the author's reputation in question, I caved. The book is all done in the first person, and this is something I tend to struggle with writing, but Dave made it so seamless. Chris was a character I instantly latched on to; the loss tormented him due to the virus, and he was still experiencing that torture as a captive in the beginning. The detail with the scenery and where he was being held was almost a 3D experience, and I followed Chris along as if I was walking alongside him. The character designs were flawless; actually, I was not too fond of Crowley from the get-go. But I also had to try and see things from his point of view as he was also a human being that lost his hearing and a lot more. But the need for survival almost made him sadistic, treating Chris as if he was nothing but his property. The story flowed beautifully, and the introduction of Paul made me excited. The new character has a blunt outlook but still holds a sense of humour that almost mimicked my own dads. So yes, sorry Dave, but Paul (who ironically is my dad’s name) became my father visually.
The bleak outlook of the world just added to the atmosphere of the whole book, and I couldn't put it down as I travelled with Chris on his journey to find sanctuary. Whilst also being exposed to the cruel nature of humans when faced with fear or something that they don't completely understand.
The fascinating history of how people born deaf have faced adversity over the years was a fascinating insight into a world I had minimal knowledge of. This was an Apocalypse I never even considered, the way people became more concerned with acquiring a person as a commodity rather than general needs you'd expect. The Samaritan’s were ruthless in their pursuit, and every time the roar of engines was described, I started fearing the two would get caught. Hearing in this desolate landscape may seem like a raw deal, having to dodge being captured or killed by wild animals. But if you're someone born with no hearing, the Samaritans will offer you a far more cruel fate.
This book had me gripping the table, screaming at the characters to run and hide. I think I terrified my boyfriend at one point with my outbursts. This makes you look into human nature so much more profoundly and the lengths some people are willing to go to survive.
The pop up of some of the places I know was a nice touch, giving people an insight into the local area.
Plus, I always wondered how sites like Birmingham would cope with an apocalyptic event of this magnitude. I know, right? Get me using such big words. Which instantly grabbed me as I was able to relate to the areas visually. But oh Dave, you sent me on a whirlwind adventure with this book; I nearly choked on my Dairy Milk muffin when I read the sneaky twist! He has a habit of pulling the rug right from under you without you least expecting it, and it was bloody brilliant.
At no point did I go, ‘is it over yet?’, it was more like ‘WHY IS THERE NO MORE BOOK!’.
It also made me rewatch ‘The Road’ with the yummy Viggo Mortensen in. This film had a very similar atmosphere and solemn tone to A Quiet Apocalypse. Plus, you know Aragorn, woof.
Ok, I'm back, basically, guys; if you love being immersed in a dark and detailed post-Apocalypse novel, this is the book I recommend. Also, if you end up feeling stressed and want more as I did, DON'T PANIC. Because Mr Jeffery did a continuation novel called Cathedral that carries on the story, YAYAY, both excellent books are available on Amazon for purchase. As always, I'll drop in the link.
Don't forget critters, load your shotgun and remember to pack Bacon when you're on the run from the Samaritans.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XYC1R4...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08SFG6X1...
By: Dave Jeffery
Pages: 184
Genre: Horror, Dystopian
Publisher: Demain Publishing; 1st edition (23 Sept. 2019)
Cover by Adrian Baldwin; original artwork by Roberto Segate
The end is hear...
A mutant strain of meningitis has wiped out most of mankind. The few who have survived the fever are now deaf.
Bitter with loss and terrified to leave the city known as Cathedral, the inhabitants rely on The Samaritans, search teams sent out into the surrounding countryside. Their purpose, to hunt down and enslave the greatest commodity on Earth, an even smaller group of people immune to the virus, people who can still hear.
People like me.
My name is Chris.
This is my story.
“A Quiet Apocalypse is told from the perspective of ex-school teacher Chris, a hearing survivor. He has lost everything, including his freedom, and through his eyes, we learn of what it is like to live as a slave in this terrible new world of fear and loss. I was keen to write a piece that preyed upon people’s traditional misconceptions of deafness as an illness, and the imposition of ‘hearing’ norms. It is a story that has poignancy in any understanding of the struggles of minority groups.” – Author, Dave Jeffery
This is not your typical post-Apocalypse story; this is so much more. Now, as you all know, it takes a lot for me to focus on a book. But after seeing the cover art for this beastie and hearing the author's reputation in question, I caved. The book is all done in the first person, and this is something I tend to struggle with writing, but Dave made it so seamless. Chris was a character I instantly latched on to; the loss tormented him due to the virus, and he was still experiencing that torture as a captive in the beginning. The detail with the scenery and where he was being held was almost a 3D experience, and I followed Chris along as if I was walking alongside him. The character designs were flawless; actually, I was not too fond of Crowley from the get-go. But I also had to try and see things from his point of view as he was also a human being that lost his hearing and a lot more. But the need for survival almost made him sadistic, treating Chris as if he was nothing but his property. The story flowed beautifully, and the introduction of Paul made me excited. The new character has a blunt outlook but still holds a sense of humour that almost mimicked my own dads. So yes, sorry Dave, but Paul (who ironically is my dad’s name) became my father visually.
The bleak outlook of the world just added to the atmosphere of the whole book, and I couldn't put it down as I travelled with Chris on his journey to find sanctuary. Whilst also being exposed to the cruel nature of humans when faced with fear or something that they don't completely understand.
The fascinating history of how people born deaf have faced adversity over the years was a fascinating insight into a world I had minimal knowledge of. This was an Apocalypse I never even considered, the way people became more concerned with acquiring a person as a commodity rather than general needs you'd expect. The Samaritan’s were ruthless in their pursuit, and every time the roar of engines was described, I started fearing the two would get caught. Hearing in this desolate landscape may seem like a raw deal, having to dodge being captured or killed by wild animals. But if you're someone born with no hearing, the Samaritans will offer you a far more cruel fate.
This book had me gripping the table, screaming at the characters to run and hide. I think I terrified my boyfriend at one point with my outbursts. This makes you look into human nature so much more profoundly and the lengths some people are willing to go to survive.
The pop up of some of the places I know was a nice touch, giving people an insight into the local area.
Plus, I always wondered how sites like Birmingham would cope with an apocalyptic event of this magnitude. I know, right? Get me using such big words. Which instantly grabbed me as I was able to relate to the areas visually. But oh Dave, you sent me on a whirlwind adventure with this book; I nearly choked on my Dairy Milk muffin when I read the sneaky twist! He has a habit of pulling the rug right from under you without you least expecting it, and it was bloody brilliant.
At no point did I go, ‘is it over yet?’, it was more like ‘WHY IS THERE NO MORE BOOK!’.
It also made me rewatch ‘The Road’ with the yummy Viggo Mortensen in. This film had a very similar atmosphere and solemn tone to A Quiet Apocalypse. Plus, you know Aragorn, woof.
Ok, I'm back, basically, guys; if you love being immersed in a dark and detailed post-Apocalypse novel, this is the book I recommend. Also, if you end up feeling stressed and want more as I did, DON'T PANIC. Because Mr Jeffery did a continuation novel called Cathedral that carries on the story, YAYAY, both excellent books are available on Amazon for purchase. As always, I'll drop in the link.
Don't forget critters, load your shotgun and remember to pack Bacon when you're on the run from the Samaritans.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XYC1R4...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08SFG6X1...
September 15, 2023
A short dystopian read, weird vision of a world transformed by a virus that leaves survivors deaf, novel idea.
April 14, 2021
“A Quiet Apocalypse” shatters all expectations of the stereotypical end of days novels. I’ve read hundreds of them, that being my “thing” and all, not sure why but I digress. This story was unlike anything that I have ever read before and it opened up a whole new thought process behind what the end of days might actually look like. Gone are the theatrics of zombies chasing you; what do you do when the shit actually hits the fan? What might it truly look like? Dave Jeffrey has created a world so startingly plausible that the sheer terror of a reality like this one is enough to leave you awake night after night. Perhaps that fact that we are in the midst of an actual global pandemic helped to drive this one home a bit more, even though it was published a full year before Covid hit.
A virus, MNJ-U, or Meningitis Unspecified has hit the globe, killing most of the population and rendering the rest deaf. There are new classifications in the world now, and they are not rich, poor and middle class. You now have HARKS, which are the survivors of MNG-U, that can still hear, the HARBINGERS, which are those people that were naturally born deaf, and the Samaritans from nearby CaTHEDRAL, a faction of the newly-deaf that hunt for HARKS and HARBINGERS.
If found, HARKS are enslaved and used to help protect the newly-deaf survivors while HARBINGERS are beaten, tortured and punished for bringing MNG-U into the world, which is now a baseless but widespread belief.
Chris, is a HARK, being enslaved by a newly-deaf survivor named Crowley on his private farm. Crowley has maimed Chris in an effort to prevent any escape attempts and Chris can only hobble with a bad limp, while he does the farmwork and other tasks that Crowley sets before him. As if the daily chores were not enough, there is a never-ending battle to avoid detection by the Samaritans who would kill Crowley in an effort to capture Chris. They exist in a twisted sort of codependency, with neither able to trust the other.
While walking the perimeter around the farm boundary one morning with Crowley, in an effort to create a false trail for the Samaritan’s dogs, they come across a tent and campfire and a HARK named Paul, who quickly kills Crowley and begrudgingly befriends Chris. Not willing to stay behind in Crowley’s farm, Chris quickly asks to go with Paul, who is headed to a place called “The Refuge” that Chris has been hearing about broadcasted on an old radio he had found while during rounds.
“A Quiet Apocalypse” follows the journey of the two men as they head towards ‘The Refuge,’ discussing some of their past lives along the way, while avoiding capture and conflicts with the Samaritans. It’s an emotional and shocking story that will leave you wanting more and will leave you wide awake at night, imagining the possibilities and the atrocities that Dave Jeffrey puts before us.
A virus, MNJ-U, or Meningitis Unspecified has hit the globe, killing most of the population and rendering the rest deaf. There are new classifications in the world now, and they are not rich, poor and middle class. You now have HARKS, which are the survivors of MNG-U, that can still hear, the HARBINGERS, which are those people that were naturally born deaf, and the Samaritans from nearby CaTHEDRAL, a faction of the newly-deaf that hunt for HARKS and HARBINGERS.
If found, HARKS are enslaved and used to help protect the newly-deaf survivors while HARBINGERS are beaten, tortured and punished for bringing MNG-U into the world, which is now a baseless but widespread belief.
Chris, is a HARK, being enslaved by a newly-deaf survivor named Crowley on his private farm. Crowley has maimed Chris in an effort to prevent any escape attempts and Chris can only hobble with a bad limp, while he does the farmwork and other tasks that Crowley sets before him. As if the daily chores were not enough, there is a never-ending battle to avoid detection by the Samaritans who would kill Crowley in an effort to capture Chris. They exist in a twisted sort of codependency, with neither able to trust the other.
While walking the perimeter around the farm boundary one morning with Crowley, in an effort to create a false trail for the Samaritan’s dogs, they come across a tent and campfire and a HARK named Paul, who quickly kills Crowley and begrudgingly befriends Chris. Not willing to stay behind in Crowley’s farm, Chris quickly asks to go with Paul, who is headed to a place called “The Refuge” that Chris has been hearing about broadcasted on an old radio he had found while during rounds.
“A Quiet Apocalypse” follows the journey of the two men as they head towards ‘The Refuge,’ discussing some of their past lives along the way, while avoiding capture and conflicts with the Samaritans. It’s an emotional and shocking story that will leave you wanting more and will leave you wide awake at night, imagining the possibilities and the atrocities that Dave Jeffrey puts before us.
January 3, 2020
A very real.Apocalypse
Chilling, brilliantly written...this is an Apocalypse that could really happen. No alien invasion, no zombies but the brutal horrors of a familiar, cosy world ripped apart. Writing a story using a first person narrative is very difficult to get right. Dave Jeffery absolutely nails it, giving a razor sharp insight into his narrator's anguish and fears. Every character is believable and full realised. How do you retain your humanity in a familiar world turned increasingly cruel and lawless? A tour de force from this versatile author . Total cliche but I couldn't put it down.
Chilling, brilliantly written...this is an Apocalypse that could really happen. No alien invasion, no zombies but the brutal horrors of a familiar, cosy world ripped apart. Writing a story using a first person narrative is very difficult to get right. Dave Jeffery absolutely nails it, giving a razor sharp insight into his narrator's anguish and fears. Every character is believable and full realised. How do you retain your humanity in a familiar world turned increasingly cruel and lawless? A tour de force from this versatile author . Total cliche but I couldn't put it down.
April 19, 2020
A disturbing and timely story
I was turned on to this book by comparisons made to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, a favorite of mine, and A Quiet Apocalypse did not disappoint. Without giving much away, reading a survival story set in the aftermath of a viral pandemic hits pretty close to home. It’s relatable and grounded in reality offering a bleak view into the human psyche and herd mentality. Humans are innovative by nature in order to survive - a strong theme in this book - but to what end?
I was turned on to this book by comparisons made to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, a favorite of mine, and A Quiet Apocalypse did not disappoint. Without giving much away, reading a survival story set in the aftermath of a viral pandemic hits pretty close to home. It’s relatable and grounded in reality offering a bleak view into the human psyche and herd mentality. Humans are innovative by nature in order to survive - a strong theme in this book - but to what end?
March 7, 2021
A work of dystopian fiction which should be up there with the very masters of the genre. Expertly fusing despair with heart and (perhaps forlorn) hope throughout, we are introduced to a world that is both a nightmare and something that (after the current pandemic's effects) feels plausible and relatable.
A Quiet Apocalypse is filled with characters who feel real and whose plight we cannot help but sympathise with.
There are several moments in this book where the emotional blow is absolutely crushing.
A must read.
A Quiet Apocalypse is filled with characters who feel real and whose plight we cannot help but sympathise with.
There are several moments in this book where the emotional blow is absolutely crushing.
A must read.
May 2, 2022
Deepest Humanity in a Dire World
As I read the start of this remarkable series, I'm reminded of the soulful humanity of Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD. Part allegory, part hero's journey and thriller, part philosophical unraveling, a great heart beats at the centre of this tale. The synchronicity of its publication alongside an emerging pandemic makes it a truly cathartic exorcism. Do not miss it.
As I read the start of this remarkable series, I'm reminded of the soulful humanity of Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD. Part allegory, part hero's journey and thriller, part philosophical unraveling, a great heart beats at the centre of this tale. The synchronicity of its publication alongside an emerging pandemic makes it a truly cathartic exorcism. Do not miss it.
August 18, 2020
A Quiet Apocalypse is dark and scary. Thought provoking and sad. It gives you hope and then smashes it to smithereens with a sledge hammer. A genuine emotional rollercoaster of a book that takes tired clichés, rips them to shreds and replaces them with creativity and excitement.
Full review at -
https://www.gbhbl.com/horror-book-rev...
Full review at -
https://www.gbhbl.com/horror-book-rev...
May 9, 2021
I'm all for a post-apocalyptic zombie book. But I wasn't expecting this. While Jeffery definitely sets us up for a story reliant on the normal zombie tropes, he hits it out of the park with something much more sinister, much more focused on human depravity. Love it! Can't wait to read the sequel.
November 9, 2020
*Review coming soon*
December 1, 2019
The world ends not with a bang, but with silence
There are few UK horror authors as versatile and inventive as Dave Jeffery who effortlessly shimmies from Himalayan killer yetis (Frost Bite) to marauding werewolves (Tooth and Claw) via an entertaining dose of Beatrice Beecham with his welcome forays into YA fiction. This latest novella, A Quiet Apocalypse, may well be his darkest work yet; the tongue in cheek humour of his trashy werewolf and yeti romps is entirely absent in this excursion into the well-trodden world of post-apocalyptic fiction. It might be a familiar path, but Jeffery’s take is refreshingly original and entirely non-sensational, taking in disability as a major thread in his apocalyptic vision. It is ever so slightly reminiscent of Richard Farren-Barber’s excellent Perfect Darkness, Perfect Silence, which also featured a very ‘quiet’ type of character-driven apocalypse. Do not expect any post-apocalyptic Mad Max stereotypes in either of these gritty novellas which have tight microcosm focuses of the disaster as hand.
The story is set sometime after a mutant strain of meningitis (MNG-U) has wiped out most of mankind, the majority died horribly with symptoms which began with pneumonia before developing into bacterial meningitis and eventual death with catastrophic brain damage. The few who survived the epidemic were left deaf, an even smaller percentage retained their hearing and the focus of the book concerns the horrible relationship which develops between those with hearing and those deprived of it. A Quiet Apocalypse opens with a downbeat paragraph which perfectly sets the tone for the brutality for what lies ahead:
“Someone once said that the world would end, not with a bang, but a whimper. Yet when the time came, the world could have died screaming until its lungs bled, and most would not have been able to hear anything at all. That was the nature of the virus that silenced mankind.”
It is worth pointing out that A Quiet Apocalypse is an incredibly bleak book and I did wonder about the extremes those who were left deaf went to in order to enslave those who still had the ability to hear. Sure, I appreciate it is a story, but if mankind sinks this low and if this is a true reflection of what lies ahead we are truly finished. However, if we look at the current state of the planet, and the politicians calling the shots, then it is no wonder Jeffery’s vision is so dark and offering little, or no hope.
The novel is told, in the first person, by ex-schoolteacher Chris, who has been enslaved by a deaf man called Crowley who uses Chris to be his ears and part of his early-warning-system, as unknown and unheard threats may come suddenly and without warning. Crowley uses a ‘Tell-Pad’ computer to communicate with Chris on which they exchange abbreviated messages similar to texts in which Chris informs him of any sounds and disturbances. A while earlier Chris had tried to escape and Crowley smashed his knee beyond repair who now walks in great pain, with a very rudimentary leg brace to help him hirple along.
I did wonder how the story would have played out if it had been told in the third person. The first-person narrative restricts us to the point of view of Chris and although it does fill in some of the blanks from what went before the disaster, a narrative from one of the deaf characters might have expanded the story into other directions and perhaps from a novella into a longer work. Crowley’s main fear is losing his number one commodity, Chris, to a large and powerful gang called the ‘Samaritans’ who hunt for the last remaining people who can hear and take them back to their base ‘Cathedral’ which we are told is the remnants of the major English city Birmingham. Chris is an even more important ‘find’ as he is able to understand sign language from his previous job in education.
Before long the Samaritans appear, but before their arrival Chris plays around with an old beat-up radio, listening to the static, hoping to pick up a signal or voice which might signify there is a base of other survivors who can still hear and the possibility of escaping there. The story picks up legs when Chris eventually meets another guy who can hear called Paul, but can he trust him? In this world everyone is either a wolf, a wolf in sheep’s clothing or a victim (the proverbial lamb).
The novella easily had enough material to be expanded into a full novel, particularly if the points of view were expanded, and I would have like to have seen ‘Cathedral’ for example, instead the entire story is played out in the surrounding rural areas. The flashbacks helped flesh out the story, although do not reveal every detail of which went on before, including the death of his daughter Poppy and wife Evie. Interestingly, the story suggests that deaf people who had no hearing before the outbreak carried MNG-U and were seen as scapegoats and were blamed. Although A Quiet Apocalypse never comes across as preachy or worthy it also has a lot of say about the struggle of minority groups such as the deaf.
The drama picks up intensity as it heads into the second half spiralling towards an incredibly dark and uncompromising ending which will have you wincing. A Quiet Apocalypse was entertaining company for a couple of hours and if you’ve never read Dave Jeffery before this is good place to start. But if you fancy something lighter Tooth and Nail or Frost Bite are also fine selections.
There are few UK horror authors as versatile and inventive as Dave Jeffery who effortlessly shimmies from Himalayan killer yetis (Frost Bite) to marauding werewolves (Tooth and Claw) via an entertaining dose of Beatrice Beecham with his welcome forays into YA fiction. This latest novella, A Quiet Apocalypse, may well be his darkest work yet; the tongue in cheek humour of his trashy werewolf and yeti romps is entirely absent in this excursion into the well-trodden world of post-apocalyptic fiction. It might be a familiar path, but Jeffery’s take is refreshingly original and entirely non-sensational, taking in disability as a major thread in his apocalyptic vision. It is ever so slightly reminiscent of Richard Farren-Barber’s excellent Perfect Darkness, Perfect Silence, which also featured a very ‘quiet’ type of character-driven apocalypse. Do not expect any post-apocalyptic Mad Max stereotypes in either of these gritty novellas which have tight microcosm focuses of the disaster as hand.
The story is set sometime after a mutant strain of meningitis (MNG-U) has wiped out most of mankind, the majority died horribly with symptoms which began with pneumonia before developing into bacterial meningitis and eventual death with catastrophic brain damage. The few who survived the epidemic were left deaf, an even smaller percentage retained their hearing and the focus of the book concerns the horrible relationship which develops between those with hearing and those deprived of it. A Quiet Apocalypse opens with a downbeat paragraph which perfectly sets the tone for the brutality for what lies ahead:
“Someone once said that the world would end, not with a bang, but a whimper. Yet when the time came, the world could have died screaming until its lungs bled, and most would not have been able to hear anything at all. That was the nature of the virus that silenced mankind.”
It is worth pointing out that A Quiet Apocalypse is an incredibly bleak book and I did wonder about the extremes those who were left deaf went to in order to enslave those who still had the ability to hear. Sure, I appreciate it is a story, but if mankind sinks this low and if this is a true reflection of what lies ahead we are truly finished. However, if we look at the current state of the planet, and the politicians calling the shots, then it is no wonder Jeffery’s vision is so dark and offering little, or no hope.
The novel is told, in the first person, by ex-schoolteacher Chris, who has been enslaved by a deaf man called Crowley who uses Chris to be his ears and part of his early-warning-system, as unknown and unheard threats may come suddenly and without warning. Crowley uses a ‘Tell-Pad’ computer to communicate with Chris on which they exchange abbreviated messages similar to texts in which Chris informs him of any sounds and disturbances. A while earlier Chris had tried to escape and Crowley smashed his knee beyond repair who now walks in great pain, with a very rudimentary leg brace to help him hirple along.
I did wonder how the story would have played out if it had been told in the third person. The first-person narrative restricts us to the point of view of Chris and although it does fill in some of the blanks from what went before the disaster, a narrative from one of the deaf characters might have expanded the story into other directions and perhaps from a novella into a longer work. Crowley’s main fear is losing his number one commodity, Chris, to a large and powerful gang called the ‘Samaritans’ who hunt for the last remaining people who can hear and take them back to their base ‘Cathedral’ which we are told is the remnants of the major English city Birmingham. Chris is an even more important ‘find’ as he is able to understand sign language from his previous job in education.
Before long the Samaritans appear, but before their arrival Chris plays around with an old beat-up radio, listening to the static, hoping to pick up a signal or voice which might signify there is a base of other survivors who can still hear and the possibility of escaping there. The story picks up legs when Chris eventually meets another guy who can hear called Paul, but can he trust him? In this world everyone is either a wolf, a wolf in sheep’s clothing or a victim (the proverbial lamb).
The novella easily had enough material to be expanded into a full novel, particularly if the points of view were expanded, and I would have like to have seen ‘Cathedral’ for example, instead the entire story is played out in the surrounding rural areas. The flashbacks helped flesh out the story, although do not reveal every detail of which went on before, including the death of his daughter Poppy and wife Evie. Interestingly, the story suggests that deaf people who had no hearing before the outbreak carried MNG-U and were seen as scapegoats and were blamed. Although A Quiet Apocalypse never comes across as preachy or worthy it also has a lot of say about the struggle of minority groups such as the deaf.
The drama picks up intensity as it heads into the second half spiralling towards an incredibly dark and uncompromising ending which will have you wincing. A Quiet Apocalypse was entertaining company for a couple of hours and if you’ve never read Dave Jeffery before this is good place to start. But if you fancy something lighter Tooth and Nail or Frost Bite are also fine selections.
March 2, 2020
I suppose if you were to judge this book by its title you may imagine a world free of humans where peace reigns and the people-plague is no longer a scourge on the earth.
Well, if you check out the awesome cover then surely you’ll realise that this tale is nothing of the sort. If I had to pigeonhole it I’d say Post Apocalyptic Horror, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. This sub-genre is thriving with tales of zombies and the like, but here, Dave Jeffery has crafted a tale that is perhaps even more desolate than your favourite zombie survival adventure.
In this world a disease has indeed swept through Britain. Many died but many survived. There are no flesh-hungry, entrails-wielding undead walking the streets, though, instead there is a more fearful enemy; human beings.
The survivors of this disease are left without their hearing, but not all of them. A certain few manage to survive the plague with their sense of hearing left well in tact. Suddenly these ‘lucky’ ones are seen as a precious commodity by the deaf.
Chris is one such survivor. His life is as depressing and meaningless as you could imagine. In fact his only purpose for existing is to remember his wife and daughter. His brief memories are showcased with alarming attention, dramatically increasing the tension when Chris is forced back into reality.
The ex-teacher is held captive by one of the newly-deaf. I should point out that those without hearing before the apocalypse are now seen as the lowest of the low. So low that they are murdered for their afflictions.
Chris’ captor can only communicate with an iPad type device, and he spends every day fearful that Chris may leave him. So leaving his slave with a destroyed knee, and constantly at the end of a gun barrel is probably a good way of preventing him running away. And it works.
But as the story develops Chris does indeed find a way to be rid of this life. But can anyone be truly free in a world such as this?
This book offers a social commentary on disability, on how people who are different are treated differently, but turns this right on its head. The affliction has become the norm, and those with a ‘gift’ are persecuted for it.
I could go on more about this, but the book just delivers an awesome horror story without anything being too preachy. It’s well worth your time if you are a fan of post-apocalyptic stories, but if you’re not a massive fan of this genre you will still get great satisfaction out of this.
The writing was solid, realistic, and really painted a vivid picture of ‘life’ and its perpetual nothingness.
I had a blast with this, even though the subject and setting was full-on depressing. Chris is a guy I was really rooting for, although it always seemed my hope was misplaced. The interactions between him and fellow hearers was refreshing and not your typical everyone-in-a-post-apocalyptic-story-is-a-baddie-and-will-shoot-you-as-soon-as-look-at-you trope, which was nice.
There was even a twist at the end, which you don’t usually find in P-A stories. Although it’s a little obvious what’s going down, the actual details are more harrowing than I’d thought.
I’m really recommending this book, and would also strongly advise reading in absolute silence!
Well, if you check out the awesome cover then surely you’ll realise that this tale is nothing of the sort. If I had to pigeonhole it I’d say Post Apocalyptic Horror, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. This sub-genre is thriving with tales of zombies and the like, but here, Dave Jeffery has crafted a tale that is perhaps even more desolate than your favourite zombie survival adventure.
In this world a disease has indeed swept through Britain. Many died but many survived. There are no flesh-hungry, entrails-wielding undead walking the streets, though, instead there is a more fearful enemy; human beings.
The survivors of this disease are left without their hearing, but not all of them. A certain few manage to survive the plague with their sense of hearing left well in tact. Suddenly these ‘lucky’ ones are seen as a precious commodity by the deaf.
Chris is one such survivor. His life is as depressing and meaningless as you could imagine. In fact his only purpose for existing is to remember his wife and daughter. His brief memories are showcased with alarming attention, dramatically increasing the tension when Chris is forced back into reality.
The ex-teacher is held captive by one of the newly-deaf. I should point out that those without hearing before the apocalypse are now seen as the lowest of the low. So low that they are murdered for their afflictions.
Chris’ captor can only communicate with an iPad type device, and he spends every day fearful that Chris may leave him. So leaving his slave with a destroyed knee, and constantly at the end of a gun barrel is probably a good way of preventing him running away. And it works.
But as the story develops Chris does indeed find a way to be rid of this life. But can anyone be truly free in a world such as this?
This book offers a social commentary on disability, on how people who are different are treated differently, but turns this right on its head. The affliction has become the norm, and those with a ‘gift’ are persecuted for it.
I could go on more about this, but the book just delivers an awesome horror story without anything being too preachy. It’s well worth your time if you are a fan of post-apocalyptic stories, but if you’re not a massive fan of this genre you will still get great satisfaction out of this.
The writing was solid, realistic, and really painted a vivid picture of ‘life’ and its perpetual nothingness.
I had a blast with this, even though the subject and setting was full-on depressing. Chris is a guy I was really rooting for, although it always seemed my hope was misplaced. The interactions between him and fellow hearers was refreshing and not your typical everyone-in-a-post-apocalyptic-story-is-a-baddie-and-will-shoot-you-as-soon-as-look-at-you trope, which was nice.
There was even a twist at the end, which you don’t usually find in P-A stories. Although it’s a little obvious what’s going down, the actual details are more harrowing than I’d thought.
I’m really recommending this book, and would also strongly advise reading in absolute silence!
September 25, 2021
l knew l was in for a treat with this post-apocalypse story right from the start. Having watched Nat Whiston's review on her youtube channel and listening to her reaction, l instantly wanted to find out what on earth had happened! l was extremely intrigued that A Quiet Apocalypse was set in my home city of Birmingham, which has been re-christened and known as Cathedral. Set in a terrifying world where there is an outbreak of a disease called bacterial meningitis, referred to as MNG-U. Any survivors are now left deaf or those few that are found to still have their hearing are hunted down by a group called The Samaritains. The Samaritains perform cruel and unpleasant practices to remove people's hearing, even though there is no proof that deaf people carried MNG-U. These people are known as Harbringers and are considered to be the real villians. From reading the premise of this story l decided l wanted to wear my earplugs, to block out any sound and to fully immerse myself in a world where deafness has become the norm, and hearing the un-norm. This concept turns everything on it's head and creates a new reality, looking at the restraints and problematic difficulties that minority groups are faced with everyday. This is where we meet Chris an ex-school teacher who still has his hearing and we are given an insight into his life as a survivor. We discover Chris is Mr Crowely's captor, who at first seems harsh with his ways but he is simply trying to protect Chris. Chris later meets Paul another hearing survivor, and together they go on a trip of salvation to seek out a place known as the refuge, the promise land. Though the reality is nothing like what Chris could have envisioned.
l loved how l could clearly visualise locations and buildings that l am familiar with, and that once existed. There is a very grim and opressive feeling throughout the story, a sense of impending doom. It made me feel cut off, as if the walls were quickly closing in on me. The journey is incredibly fast-paced with lots of action and heart pounding moments that kept me on my toes. I found this world very unsettling, intensely absorbing and engrossing all at the same time! l cannot believe l read this book in a day and completely lost track of my Saturday! l instantly picked up Cathedral, A Quiet Apocalypse book 2 the next day.
Do not hesitate to read about an original take on a minority group, one that makes you stop to think and consider how you might retain your own humanity!
l loved how l could clearly visualise locations and buildings that l am familiar with, and that once existed. There is a very grim and opressive feeling throughout the story, a sense of impending doom. It made me feel cut off, as if the walls were quickly closing in on me. The journey is incredibly fast-paced with lots of action and heart pounding moments that kept me on my toes. I found this world very unsettling, intensely absorbing and engrossing all at the same time! l cannot believe l read this book in a day and completely lost track of my Saturday! l instantly picked up Cathedral, A Quiet Apocalypse book 2 the next day.
Do not hesitate to read about an original take on a minority group, one that makes you stop to think and consider how you might retain your own humanity!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2021
“A Quiet Apocalypse” stands full square in the tradition of the genre. By its very definition, such literature requires that the population becomes somehow depleted or wiped out, triggering a reptilian-brained imperative amongst the remnant to establish control. New hierarchies. Only the fittest survive, the most ruthless, the most brutal; its main characters having to dig deep to unearth the savagery required to endure.
Its ‘heroes’ are generally progressive thinkers, unequipped for the new status-quo; unable to adjust, perpetually heartbroken at the betrayals of which humankind is capable, flatlining their responses to keep under the radar. Through their lenses, they question the very nature of human motivation; what lies at our core once stripped of the structures that have nurtured us; they question how those very same structures might have brought the disaster to pass in the first place.
Survival at any cost?
Chris, the central character of “A Quiet Apocalypse” is already a survivor. He has escaped the scourge that has come upon the world and, because of it, is now a valuable commodity. He is needed because others believe they cannot survive without his kind (a misconception?) and in this nightmare world – made so poignantly domestic within its Birmingham/Cathedral setting – he is hunted, brutalised, imprisoned.
And betrayed.
So he finds a way to adapt. And it’s shocking and heartbreaking, because we are personally involved with the man and his story. And that comes down to the quality of the writing.
In one sense, this story is a road well travelled by Orwell, Atwood, O’Brien, MacArthy and countless others. But that’s okay, because Dave Jeffrey walks with them, adds to the canon with a unique premise: another writerly star in our firmament.
It’s also a bloody good read.
Its ‘heroes’ are generally progressive thinkers, unequipped for the new status-quo; unable to adjust, perpetually heartbroken at the betrayals of which humankind is capable, flatlining their responses to keep under the radar. Through their lenses, they question the very nature of human motivation; what lies at our core once stripped of the structures that have nurtured us; they question how those very same structures might have brought the disaster to pass in the first place.
Survival at any cost?
Chris, the central character of “A Quiet Apocalypse” is already a survivor. He has escaped the scourge that has come upon the world and, because of it, is now a valuable commodity. He is needed because others believe they cannot survive without his kind (a misconception?) and in this nightmare world – made so poignantly domestic within its Birmingham/Cathedral setting – he is hunted, brutalised, imprisoned.
And betrayed.
So he finds a way to adapt. And it’s shocking and heartbreaking, because we are personally involved with the man and his story. And that comes down to the quality of the writing.
In one sense, this story is a road well travelled by Orwell, Atwood, O’Brien, MacArthy and countless others. But that’s okay, because Dave Jeffrey walks with them, adds to the canon with a unique premise: another writerly star in our firmament.
It’s also a bloody good read.
April 29, 2022
"A Quiet Apocalypse" by Dave Jeffery is the opening story in a series set in a very different dystopia indeed. This is not a world ravaged by nuclear war or zombie plague. No alien or asteroid has wiped out civilisation as we know it, no, this cataclysm is horribly ordinary and plausible, and all the more unsettling because of it.
Although the impression is that this is a global catastrophe, "A Quiet Apocalypse" is a quintessentially English science fiction story, its roots firmly planted in the same soil as John Wyndham's "The Day of the Triffids". English or not, there is no "Midsummer Murders" cosiness about this book. Dave Jeffery strips the human condition bare. Survival negates the need for mercy. No one can be trusted. One segment of society are in dire need, the other are a commodity to be acquired, enslaved and worked to death.
A compelling, page-turner yes, but also thought-provoking and bleakly moving, that's "A Quiet Apocalypse". This series opener deftly sets up Jeffery's unnervingly realistic new world, a world we have subsequently glimpsed for ourselves in all its locked-down horror. NOTE: The link here is for the Kindle version, the book is also available as a paperback.
Although the impression is that this is a global catastrophe, "A Quiet Apocalypse" is a quintessentially English science fiction story, its roots firmly planted in the same soil as John Wyndham's "The Day of the Triffids". English or not, there is no "Midsummer Murders" cosiness about this book. Dave Jeffery strips the human condition bare. Survival negates the need for mercy. No one can be trusted. One segment of society are in dire need, the other are a commodity to be acquired, enslaved and worked to death.
A compelling, page-turner yes, but also thought-provoking and bleakly moving, that's "A Quiet Apocalypse". This series opener deftly sets up Jeffery's unnervingly realistic new world, a world we have subsequently glimpsed for ourselves in all its locked-down horror. NOTE: The link here is for the Kindle version, the book is also available as a paperback.
March 31, 2021
With an unusual premise, A Quiet Apocalypse takes us on a post-apocalyptic journey thrust on mankind by a pandemic that leaves most survivors with a complete loss of hearing. Mr. Jeffery uses this concept to shine a light on disabilities in general and on the peculiar kind of slavery that comes about when the few who can still hear become a target for the government. Are the hearing now considered disabled in a twist on human reaction to being “different” or do certain factions see them as less worthy than the deaf?
Chris is a very sympathetic character while his vicious captor, Crowley, decidedly is not and here again the author makes much of the opportunity to focus our attention on humanity’s ability to build hatred and intolerance towards those who don’t fit a preconceived mold. Yes, the story is dark and, in its way, horrific but certainly reflects much of what is going on in our world today and is well worth everyone’s attention.
Chris is a very sympathetic character while his vicious captor, Crowley, decidedly is not and here again the author makes much of the opportunity to focus our attention on humanity’s ability to build hatred and intolerance towards those who don’t fit a preconceived mold. Yes, the story is dark and, in its way, horrific but certainly reflects much of what is going on in our world today and is well worth everyone’s attention.
October 15, 2023
This was so good! So many things to like! I enjoyed the story very much and was eager to know where it was going, but there was something with the main characters that made me love it even more. Something very special about this book is that it is horror, but it is beautiful and emotional at the same time. I was really surprised by it. Even the description of the setting in certain scenes is scary and breathtaking at the same time. I'm so happy it's only the first one in a series! The second one is already on my kindle :)
PS found this book and author thanks to Happy Goat Horror
PS found this book and author thanks to Happy Goat Horror
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