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Wicked Awake #1
Wicked Awake
Merrill David’s novel “Wicked Awake,” features a military veteran turned police officer facing the beginning of a zombie outbreak, one that forces him to take lives and sees him wrongly convicted of murder. As he fights to prove his innocence, the world outside the prison descends into the chaos of a zombie plague, and he ends up on a journey both exciting and horrific.
395 pages
First published March 26, 2020
63 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Merrill David
30 books60 followersMerrill David is a brain tumor survivor who now resides in East Texas with his wife and their Chiweenie dog Vinny. Merrill's list of works includes his Wicked Awake zombie novel series, a splatterpunk sci-fi novel called Fester, a paranormal amusement park novel called Season Pass, a horror / mafia crime novella called Lasagna, a collection of eight disgusting stories called Appendage, and extreme horror anthologies Head Blown and Head Blown Too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 27, 2020
Book lovers, horror lovers, zombie lovers, conspiracy lovers, you need this book in your life! I haven't been this engaged in a writer's storytelling in a long time. It was a breath of fresh air to the average "zombie story".
After orienting myself to the writing style of the flashback/memory sequences in the first 10 to 15 pages, I strapped myself in for one wild ride! I routed for our "hero" Jake right from the beginning, there was something just so sympathetic about him. There is a villian, Camacho, who you just knew was going to be trouble right from his introduction. A writer should illicit those feelings about the protagonist/antagonist, and he did for me. There is a great supporting cast of characters that really helped push this story forward as well.
As I got into the story more there was conspiracies, zombies, betrayal, gore, friends, enemies, and even a love story there to discover. Everything that I could want in a story that kept me reading and wanting to read it after I put it down. I lost myself in this world, and I hated having to leave it. The storyline was engaging and the characters all felt real and relatable.
I can confidently recommend picking up this book and discovering this world.
After orienting myself to the writing style of the flashback/memory sequences in the first 10 to 15 pages, I strapped myself in for one wild ride! I routed for our "hero" Jake right from the beginning, there was something just so sympathetic about him. There is a villian, Camacho, who you just knew was going to be trouble right from his introduction. A writer should illicit those feelings about the protagonist/antagonist, and he did for me. There is a great supporting cast of characters that really helped push this story forward as well.
As I got into the story more there was conspiracies, zombies, betrayal, gore, friends, enemies, and even a love story there to discover. Everything that I could want in a story that kept me reading and wanting to read it after I put it down. I lost myself in this world, and I hated having to leave it. The storyline was engaging and the characters all felt real and relatable.
I can confidently recommend picking up this book and discovering this world.
April 12, 2020
I didn’t really expect much from the book, considering the beginning portion of it. Sometimes the book would go into tangents in efforts to explain the storyline- making it a bit tedious to read. But once you get into it, the book gets considerably better. There are a number of plot twists and character development that make you want to keep reading more and more of it. The plot thickens and provokes it’s readers to be encapsulated into David’s world that he writes about. In other words, his writing makes it seem like you’re with Jake or Mak witnessing the events first hand. I actually really enjoyed this book and i particularly liked the amount of gore, action, and romance that it provided. This novel was like a jack of all trades in a way. I would totally recommend this book, if you’re one to want an unexpectedly interesting read or want an action novel regarding zombies.
April 12, 2020
What a great book. There is always something going on in this book. The characters are interesting and unique. The story line is excellent. The author really knows how to make his story come to life. Yes, it is a zombie book.....but, it is a little different from your average book. I liked how the author went into some detail on technical things, it made it easier to understand. This author has a bright future ahead and I can’t wait to read more books.
Amy
Amy
April 22, 2020
I am not in to zombie books but this book got me hooked. I loved it. The author did a fantastic job explaining how the virus took place and made you wanted to jump into the story and wanting to read more. There was humor, romance, action, drama and bloodshed. It has it all. A must read for sure!
September 14, 2020
This author is truly comfortable in his writing style. It is clean, lean, mean, and fast moving, just what is needed to help the reader look forward to his future stories. If there is a series to follow, his books will be gobbled up. I couldn't stop till the end!
Waiting for the next books...
Waiting for the next books...
August 26, 2020
Great book for first time author
Merrill David really hit it over the green monster with his first book in the zombie genre. Good character development with a solid storyline. Can’t wait for book two, keep on writing.
Merrill David really hit it over the green monster with his first book in the zombie genre. Good character development with a solid storyline. Can’t wait for book two, keep on writing.
May 16, 2021
Really enjoyed this one. Nice variety of characters with an engaging storyline. Merrill David certainly knows how to pack a punch. Great book.
May 6, 2021
Wicked Awake by David Merrill
@1merrilldavid
4.5 ⭐
This is a great modern zombie tale! It is action-packed from start to finish, and the characters move around a lot throughout the story, so its not just one location/setting. You get to read about some pretty iconic locations in the book, and for this New England boy (Masshole) that was a nice little bonus. Sure, I may be a little biased being from Massachusetts (which is one of the locations in the book - Boston / Fenway Park) and also growing up listening to the music referenced in the story hit home for me. But outside of my personal connection to those things, it was still a great story, and would not have changed my rating at all if they were not part of it. I found the story to be interesting, the characters to be very well developed, and it broke away from the same old zombie trope - so for me the originality is really what sets this apart.
My only critique would be that the character dialog didn't always feel natural. You get all of the info that the author wants to convey to you, but a lot of times I felt like thats not how people actually talk to each other - and that is why I went with 4.5 stars in lieu of 5. That certainly was not enough to turn me off from this fantastic story, and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, Wide Awake Too - Slaughter before Slumber. I recommend this book to anybody that enjoys a bloody zombie romp / survival story that is not your typical "zombie tale" thats been done a hundred times already. One might even go as far as to call this a conspiracy novel? ... you be the judge. Go grab a copy and see for yourself.
@1merrilldavid
4.5 ⭐
This is a great modern zombie tale! It is action-packed from start to finish, and the characters move around a lot throughout the story, so its not just one location/setting. You get to read about some pretty iconic locations in the book, and for this New England boy (Masshole) that was a nice little bonus. Sure, I may be a little biased being from Massachusetts (which is one of the locations in the book - Boston / Fenway Park) and also growing up listening to the music referenced in the story hit home for me. But outside of my personal connection to those things, it was still a great story, and would not have changed my rating at all if they were not part of it. I found the story to be interesting, the characters to be very well developed, and it broke away from the same old zombie trope - so for me the originality is really what sets this apart.
My only critique would be that the character dialog didn't always feel natural. You get all of the info that the author wants to convey to you, but a lot of times I felt like thats not how people actually talk to each other - and that is why I went with 4.5 stars in lieu of 5. That certainly was not enough to turn me off from this fantastic story, and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, Wide Awake Too - Slaughter before Slumber. I recommend this book to anybody that enjoys a bloody zombie romp / survival story that is not your typical "zombie tale" thats been done a hundred times already. One might even go as far as to call this a conspiracy novel? ... you be the judge. Go grab a copy and see for yourself.
March 20, 2021
Dear Zombie horror fiction sub genre, I've really missed you. I know you had your high and lows through the years but lately, mainly your lows.
Please meet your lord and savior Mr. Merrill David and his Zombie gospel 'Wicked Awake'.
S*it really hits the fan for military veteran Jake Hathaway. Amidst a zombie virus outbreak he finds himself accused and wrongly convinced for murder. Not only that, but is he also one of the key ingredients in an Armageddon horror cocktail of a situation?
Jake decides to take the horrific situation in his hands with the help of his friends and a four legged sidekick. While the world descends into a total mess of a nightmare, this team will have to overcome the hordes of the undead to achieve its task.
The result is a fast paced, action packed horror ride that will leave you clenching your stomach at times both from the terror and laughter. This thrilling ride of a book will have you both scared and pissing your pants laughing as it has it all: gore, horror, plot twists, bullet fast plot, well written characters that you love or hate accordingly, conspiracies, super fun times and lots, lots, lots of Zombies.
This is so good that at times you cannot help but think of 'Braiaiaiaiaiaiains'.
Highly recommended for a mindless good old fun time.
You can now fall in love with Zombies again.
(And again as the second book 'Wicked Awake Too' is out now)
Get it at:
https://www.amazon.com/WICKED-AWAKE-M...
Please meet your lord and savior Mr. Merrill David and his Zombie gospel 'Wicked Awake'.
S*it really hits the fan for military veteran Jake Hathaway. Amidst a zombie virus outbreak he finds himself accused and wrongly convinced for murder. Not only that, but is he also one of the key ingredients in an Armageddon horror cocktail of a situation?
Jake decides to take the horrific situation in his hands with the help of his friends and a four legged sidekick. While the world descends into a total mess of a nightmare, this team will have to overcome the hordes of the undead to achieve its task.
The result is a fast paced, action packed horror ride that will leave you clenching your stomach at times both from the terror and laughter. This thrilling ride of a book will have you both scared and pissing your pants laughing as it has it all: gore, horror, plot twists, bullet fast plot, well written characters that you love or hate accordingly, conspiracies, super fun times and lots, lots, lots of Zombies.
This is so good that at times you cannot help but think of 'Braiaiaiaiaiaiains'.
Highly recommended for a mindless good old fun time.
You can now fall in love with Zombies again.
(And again as the second book 'Wicked Awake Too' is out now)
Get it at:
https://www.amazon.com/WICKED-AWAKE-M...
February 5, 2021
Excellent Zombie Read!
The cover and book title are what grabbed my attention, but the writing is what drew me in. The story is interesting from the very beginning. There is so much character development right from the start that you feel heavily invested in Jake's past, present and future. All of the characters were well developed and full of depth. There is such great detail written into every scene that you feel immersed in the story as if you're right there with the characters on their journey. There are so many twists and turns that you never know where the story is going to go next which made for a very exciting read. I enjoyed learned about the origins of the virus; it was creative and well done. There's a lot of action, some outstanding character arcs, and an ending that you have to read to believe. Without giving anything away, there was a big lead up to the detailed, explosive ending rather than a few pages to wrap up the book. It left me wanting more. I can't wait to read what happens next with Jake in the second book.
The cover and book title are what grabbed my attention, but the writing is what drew me in. The story is interesting from the very beginning. There is so much character development right from the start that you feel heavily invested in Jake's past, present and future. All of the characters were well developed and full of depth. There is such great detail written into every scene that you feel immersed in the story as if you're right there with the characters on their journey. There are so many twists and turns that you never know where the story is going to go next which made for a very exciting read. I enjoyed learned about the origins of the virus; it was creative and well done. There's a lot of action, some outstanding character arcs, and an ending that you have to read to believe. Without giving anything away, there was a big lead up to the detailed, explosive ending rather than a few pages to wrap up the book. It left me wanting more. I can't wait to read what happens next with Jake in the second book.
April 24, 2021
This book took me a while to get into but one I did wow was this good. Gory, intriguing & funny. Definitely a must read if you like horror and zombies!!!
May 1, 2021
GET IT!! READ IT!! ENJOY IT!!
I just finished reading this wickedly enjoyable offering by this author! This was the first book I read by him and it will not be the last! Merrill takes the reader on a journey and gives you a horrific view of the zombie apocalypse! I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and watched things unfold through the eyes of the MC. Not giving any spoilers, but I strongly suggest you read this book! On my way to read his sequel...see you then!
I just finished reading this wickedly enjoyable offering by this author! This was the first book I read by him and it will not be the last! Merrill takes the reader on a journey and gives you a horrific view of the zombie apocalypse! I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and watched things unfold through the eyes of the MC. Not giving any spoilers, but I strongly suggest you read this book! On my way to read his sequel...see you then!
December 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It was scary, intense and it also made me laugh. There's a little something for everyone in it, not just zombie fans. I like the author's detailed descriptions to help us understand what was taking place in the story line. I honestly could not put down the book near the end, and I am waiting anxiously for a sequel!
May 1, 2021
Excellent start to a series!
I got this book because the author did a great job with his cover and ad on Facebook. So I knew I needed to read. I finally had some spare time to read and boy am I glad I did. This is NOT your average zombie read. Plenty of action and suspense makes this a fun read. I look forward to reading the second book! Well done!
I got this book because the author did a great job with his cover and ad on Facebook. So I knew I needed to read. I finally had some spare time to read and boy am I glad I did. This is NOT your average zombie read. Plenty of action and suspense makes this a fun read. I look forward to reading the second book! Well done!
March 21, 2021
Zombies!
Great zombie read! Fantastic if you're looking for something fun, and funny. A lot of gore. The author did a lot of research and it shows with the informative bits throughout. Overall, a good time if you're looking for something less serious to get away for a while.
Great zombie read! Fantastic if you're looking for something fun, and funny. A lot of gore. The author did a lot of research and it shows with the informative bits throughout. Overall, a good time if you're looking for something less serious to get away for a while.
March 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It had a great storyline with strong characters and plenty of action and horror. Looking forward to more of Jake's story in the next book.
September 16, 2021
"And so, the decadence and decomposition of man begins..."
I know that the horror genre isn't for everyone. I know this cover may be icky to look at; but I also know that great writing and storytelling isn't limited to a genre. Case in point, Dracula and Frankenstein are classics for a reason. Stephen King is an iconic bestselling author for a reason. The reason is simply a good story is good story when in the hands of a creative writer.
Wicked Awake by debut author Merrill David is the epitome of creative storytelling. There are so many surprises and twists that I need to be careful in my summary to not give any spoilers away but still convey what a fun twisty ride this zombie apocalypse thriller is to experience.
Jake is ex military and now a police officer with the most loyal police dog, Roscoe, as a partner. The story opens with Jake on trial for murdering his brother and sister-in-law. That is all I can say except that you will be treated to tense courtroom scenes, a wild escape, a rescue of Roscoe that will make you love Jake's friends, a very satisfying look back on how Jake met loyal girlfriend Amanda and a jaw dropping reason for the Zombie outbreak and Jake's connection to it.
I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead and all its spinoffs. The zombie gore is ingenious on the shows and worthy of creative emmys. But I have never missed an episode because of the characters and how well they are written and portrayed by the actors. Narrator @c.j.grey is equally as talented when portraying these characters. The accents and voice changes are phenomenal and I was shocked there was only one performer on this audiobook.
Wicked Awake is book 1 of a 6 part series. The next two books Wicked Awake Too: Slaughter Before Slumber and Wicked Awake: Liquor When She's Dead are already available. In case you didn't notice this writer has a wicked sense of humor too.
I received a free copy if this audiobook from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
I know that the horror genre isn't for everyone. I know this cover may be icky to look at; but I also know that great writing and storytelling isn't limited to a genre. Case in point, Dracula and Frankenstein are classics for a reason. Stephen King is an iconic bestselling author for a reason. The reason is simply a good story is good story when in the hands of a creative writer.
Wicked Awake by debut author Merrill David is the epitome of creative storytelling. There are so many surprises and twists that I need to be careful in my summary to not give any spoilers away but still convey what a fun twisty ride this zombie apocalypse thriller is to experience.
Jake is ex military and now a police officer with the most loyal police dog, Roscoe, as a partner. The story opens with Jake on trial for murdering his brother and sister-in-law. That is all I can say except that you will be treated to tense courtroom scenes, a wild escape, a rescue of Roscoe that will make you love Jake's friends, a very satisfying look back on how Jake met loyal girlfriend Amanda and a jaw dropping reason for the Zombie outbreak and Jake's connection to it.
I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead and all its spinoffs. The zombie gore is ingenious on the shows and worthy of creative emmys. But I have never missed an episode because of the characters and how well they are written and portrayed by the actors. Narrator @c.j.grey is equally as talented when portraying these characters. The accents and voice changes are phenomenal and I was shocked there was only one performer on this audiobook.
Wicked Awake is book 1 of a 6 part series. The next two books Wicked Awake Too: Slaughter Before Slumber and Wicked Awake: Liquor When She's Dead are already available. In case you didn't notice this writer has a wicked sense of humor too.
I received a free copy if this audiobook from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 22, 2021
I enjoyed this book. Cool characters and story
August 18, 2021
Wicked good!
Great characters are called for in character driven storylines and there are many great characters here! Jake Hathaway, Duy Tran, Mack, even Meghan and Amanda strongly played their roles as the screws tightened around the "Hero?" Jake slowly slips away from his friends as the animal takes over his mind WICKEDly! The storyline twists and turns around the heroes and anti-heroes alike, giving breath here, stealing it away there, always coming back stronger. Wicked great story! I hope Wicked Awake Too is as good!
Could use a bit of editing here and there. Taught me some new vocabulary too.
Great characters are called for in character driven storylines and there are many great characters here! Jake Hathaway, Duy Tran, Mack, even Meghan and Amanda strongly played their roles as the screws tightened around the "Hero?" Jake slowly slips away from his friends as the animal takes over his mind WICKEDly! The storyline twists and turns around the heroes and anti-heroes alike, giving breath here, stealing it away there, always coming back stronger. Wicked great story! I hope Wicked Awake Too is as good!
Could use a bit of editing here and there. Taught me some new vocabulary too.
May 22, 2021
This is a great concept
First hundred pages.... It's a murder mystery right?
Next Hundred pages.... Oh so it is a Zompoc book?
Final several chapters..... Nope it's a superhero book?
It's actually all three rolled into one! Not a typical genre book in any of those catagories, instead it's an insane hybrid of all of them and makes for a great read! Check it out!
First hundred pages.... It's a murder mystery right?
Next Hundred pages.... Oh so it is a Zompoc book?
Final several chapters..... Nope it's a superhero book?
It's actually all three rolled into one! Not a typical genre book in any of those catagories, instead it's an insane hybrid of all of them and makes for a great read! Check it out!
October 25, 2021
Those who know me well, know that I LOVE Zombies.
To everyone who says Zombies are dying or are "out of season" I beg to differ.
One of my favourite things about a good Zombie story is the people. People are absolutely terrifying in an apocalyptic setting and they will stop at nothing to protect those they love.
That is where a true Zombie story lies, with those still alive.
Zombies are a dangerous hazard, something you have to constantly look over your shoulder for, watching yourself and your whereabouts but the people fighting to survive are the true monsters.
I really enjoyed Wicked Awake. The evil of humans and awesome corruption started right away. People so eager for power and control that it leads to the end of the world.
This story was packed full of entertainment and splashed with some excitement. Although it became a slow burn at some points this was much needed to help build the world around these intriguing characters, Merrill David has created.
Merrill also snuck in some great humour throughout that had me chuckling, not sure if this was by design or if it was just my fun dry humour coming out to play, either way it was enjoyable.
I look forward to being able to dive back into this world and seeing just where Merrill takes it! The world Zombies bring along with them is terrifying and Zombies will never get old!
Thanks for reading
Dark
To everyone who says Zombies are dying or are "out of season" I beg to differ.
One of my favourite things about a good Zombie story is the people. People are absolutely terrifying in an apocalyptic setting and they will stop at nothing to protect those they love.
That is where a true Zombie story lies, with those still alive.
Zombies are a dangerous hazard, something you have to constantly look over your shoulder for, watching yourself and your whereabouts but the people fighting to survive are the true monsters.
I really enjoyed Wicked Awake. The evil of humans and awesome corruption started right away. People so eager for power and control that it leads to the end of the world.
This story was packed full of entertainment and splashed with some excitement. Although it became a slow burn at some points this was much needed to help build the world around these intriguing characters, Merrill David has created.
Merrill also snuck in some great humour throughout that had me chuckling, not sure if this was by design or if it was just my fun dry humour coming out to play, either way it was enjoyable.
I look forward to being able to dive back into this world and seeing just where Merrill takes it! The world Zombies bring along with them is terrifying and Zombies will never get old!
Thanks for reading
Dark
November 30, 2021
Ugh. Where to begin. Okay, well, the author writes a competent sentence and paragraph, and probably has a pretty good story idea here. However, his skills -- particularly around structure -- are not up to telling it in a coherent, compelling way.
For instance, he begins with about 60 pages of what would normally be the backstory of the main characters, which, in an adroitly-handled novel, would be parcelled out here and there as the main story moves forward. Not here. We get it all front-loaded in prolonged detail as numbing as it is pointless: the protagonist's youth, family, Catholic education, adolescent sweetheart, a friend's tragic death, his favorite sports and teams, his military service, and his career as a police officer. (Several other characters get similar treatment.) You'd think you were starting a coming-of-age story.
We know almost immediately that he's on trial but the facts of the trial are presented by the prosecutor in his summation to the jury, and it's a long, dull slog, broken occasionally by dialog so contrived it sounds as though it were written by a Trump cultist ("... and then this bad white cop...").
So, somewhere around page 75 it's finally foreshadowed that the killing of zombies are behind his legal problems but by then I just didn't care and returned the digital book for a refund.
For instance, he begins with about 60 pages of what would normally be the backstory of the main characters, which, in an adroitly-handled novel, would be parcelled out here and there as the main story moves forward. Not here. We get it all front-loaded in prolonged detail as numbing as it is pointless: the protagonist's youth, family, Catholic education, adolescent sweetheart, a friend's tragic death, his favorite sports and teams, his military service, and his career as a police officer. (Several other characters get similar treatment.) You'd think you were starting a coming-of-age story.
We know almost immediately that he's on trial but the facts of the trial are presented by the prosecutor in his summation to the jury, and it's a long, dull slog, broken occasionally by dialog so contrived it sounds as though it were written by a Trump cultist ("... and then this bad white cop...").
So, somewhere around page 75 it's finally foreshadowed that the killing of zombies are behind his legal problems but by then I just didn't care and returned the digital book for a refund.
November 28, 2021
Good idea - bad product!
I think there was a very interesting premise here but it was crushed under endless, tedious, amateurish detail! Page after page of pointless dialogue! What a waste of a good idea!
I think there was a very interesting premise here but it was crushed under endless, tedious, amateurish detail! Page after page of pointless dialogue! What a waste of a good idea!
May 10, 2021
This book was amazingly written!! Perfect zombie apocalypse book! I loved it and can't wait to read wicked Awake too. I really hope to see more by Merrill David!!! Great horror read!!
August 14, 2022
I couldn’t finish. The author made plot changes from one paragraph to the next, contradicting information just given.
November 27, 2021
So, when I’m bombarded with all of my library holds, everything I’ve purchased or have been lent gets set aside. That’s more problematic for things I’ve been lent, because I hate not to return books and to be disrespectful of my generous friends. However, it’s also a struggle if I’ve already begun a book and must remember what’s happened thus far.
This was the case with Wicked Awake. I’d already jumped into it, when my friend Libby (my favorite of library apps) bombarded me. The last two nights, I played some crazy catchup with some solid insomnia. This zombie novel would have kept me up all night anyway!
Luckily, I’d previously been reading backstory. Our hero Jack is thoroughly realized, youth to where the zombie storyline begins at the worst first birthday party ever. One of my favorite things about author David Merrill’s writing is that he’s a thorough and accurate researcher (he definitely nailed the complaints of women police officers, everywhere). I was fascinated by the military details and all the historical references about Texas. Both a great sense of character and place were established.
What starts out initially as a government coverup explodes into a nationwide epidemic of hungry undead. Jack finds himself, unwittingly, a part of the epicenter of the outbreak, as well as horribly framed and convicted for the murder of two family members who had turned and attacked him. The former marine and wrongly convicted police sergeant uses his skills and wits to survive, after a fortuitous escape from incarceration. And he needs every single scrap of them, because it’s far worse out there than anyone knows.
Gruesome, action packed, proper pronouns for zombies, great supporting characters (Anthony and his trustee drill is my favorite) through a cross country journey of survival and to find the source of the government involved outbreak make this a fast-paced read. Also, makes me really want to go to Vegas’s Venitean!!
..
..
This was the case with Wicked Awake. I’d already jumped into it, when my friend Libby (my favorite of library apps) bombarded me. The last two nights, I played some crazy catchup with some solid insomnia. This zombie novel would have kept me up all night anyway!
Luckily, I’d previously been reading backstory. Our hero Jack is thoroughly realized, youth to where the zombie storyline begins at the worst first birthday party ever. One of my favorite things about author David Merrill’s writing is that he’s a thorough and accurate researcher (he definitely nailed the complaints of women police officers, everywhere). I was fascinated by the military details and all the historical references about Texas. Both a great sense of character and place were established.
What starts out initially as a government coverup explodes into a nationwide epidemic of hungry undead. Jack finds himself, unwittingly, a part of the epicenter of the outbreak, as well as horribly framed and convicted for the murder of two family members who had turned and attacked him. The former marine and wrongly convicted police sergeant uses his skills and wits to survive, after a fortuitous escape from incarceration. And he needs every single scrap of them, because it’s far worse out there than anyone knows.
Gruesome, action packed, proper pronouns for zombies, great supporting characters (Anthony and his trustee drill is my favorite) through a cross country journey of survival and to find the source of the government involved outbreak make this a fast-paced read. Also, makes me really want to go to Vegas’s Venitean!!
..
..
December 22, 2022
Wicked Awake is the first book in a four book series, and let me say book one truly exceeded my expectations.
Jake Hatahway ex-military turned Dallas PD Sergeant is on trial for the murder of his brother and sister-in-law. Jake is adamant that they were not his family but creatures that attacked him and his K-9 partner Roscoe, and their murder was in self-defense. What we soon learn is that this is the early onset of a zombie Armageddon and Jake is an unfortunate scapegoat in a conspiracy that sets the tone and the action of this great book.
The horror in this book has so many layers. From the horror of expecting a day of celebration with your family, turning into a life-threatening nightmare; to the horror of deducing creatures have taken the lives of your loved ones; to the horror of being on trial in a kangaroo court when you have been nothing but an upstanding duty-bound man for your country and your community.
Merrill is a skilled writer taking you straight into the meat of the story from every angle. He did a great job getting you to understand who Jake was so when everything went against him, you felt a great sense of injustice for Jake. And when his best friend and fellow Officer Mack decided to find out what really happened you were right there with him yelling, “F**k yeah!”
Merrill is a brilliant visual story-teller and through his great descriptive writing you’re easily transported to every town, and you knew exactly what each character looked like, and sounded like. He wasn’t shy with the gross, putrid smells and gory details of every zombie attack.
If you love horror, zombie apocalypse, Armageddon, military conspiracies and gore with great back story this is your series!
Five Stars easy!
Jake Hatahway ex-military turned Dallas PD Sergeant is on trial for the murder of his brother and sister-in-law. Jake is adamant that they were not his family but creatures that attacked him and his K-9 partner Roscoe, and their murder was in self-defense. What we soon learn is that this is the early onset of a zombie Armageddon and Jake is an unfortunate scapegoat in a conspiracy that sets the tone and the action of this great book.
The horror in this book has so many layers. From the horror of expecting a day of celebration with your family, turning into a life-threatening nightmare; to the horror of deducing creatures have taken the lives of your loved ones; to the horror of being on trial in a kangaroo court when you have been nothing but an upstanding duty-bound man for your country and your community.
Merrill is a skilled writer taking you straight into the meat of the story from every angle. He did a great job getting you to understand who Jake was so when everything went against him, you felt a great sense of injustice for Jake. And when his best friend and fellow Officer Mack decided to find out what really happened you were right there with him yelling, “F**k yeah!”
Merrill is a brilliant visual story-teller and through his great descriptive writing you’re easily transported to every town, and you knew exactly what each character looked like, and sounded like. He wasn’t shy with the gross, putrid smells and gory details of every zombie attack.
If you love horror, zombie apocalypse, Armageddon, military conspiracies and gore with great back story this is your series!
Five Stars easy!
March 19, 2022
Looking for some gory zombie fun? This is for you!
This was a fun read, I thoroughly enjoyed the zombie kills, makeshift weapons, and struggle for survival. While characters struggle to come to terms with their changing world, our Protagonist Jack tries to understand both his past and the changes happening inside him. The blood and gore is exactly what I had hoped for.
A few things stop me from being able to give this 5 stars, I have to be honest: I had some difficulty following the beginning as it moved through a series of flashbacks and present day shifts to give us the background info need for later in the story, and there were spots where some of the writing felt a little rough, some moments of dialogue in particular. But that’s it, other than those few spots I really enjoyed this book!
All in all, this was a great read and a fun zombie tale. I can’t wait to read the rest!
This was a fun read, I thoroughly enjoyed the zombie kills, makeshift weapons, and struggle for survival. While characters struggle to come to terms with their changing world, our Protagonist Jack tries to understand both his past and the changes happening inside him. The blood and gore is exactly what I had hoped for.
A few things stop me from being able to give this 5 stars, I have to be honest: I had some difficulty following the beginning as it moved through a series of flashbacks and present day shifts to give us the background info need for later in the story, and there were spots where some of the writing felt a little rough, some moments of dialogue in particular. But that’s it, other than those few spots I really enjoyed this book!
All in all, this was a great read and a fun zombie tale. I can’t wait to read the rest!
July 12, 2022
I loved this book from start to finish.
At first it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a zombie/apocalypse story although the cover alone tells you it is….
BUT!!
It wasn’t long until I got it.
The way it all comes together.
Very clever, very clever.
As the story goes on it just becomes more engaging.
I couldn’t put it down.
I won’t go into details.
I’m not a spoiler person.
This is the second novel I’ve read by Merrill David, the first one being FESTER (great!).
I’m looking forward to the next in his WICKED series and then the ones that follow….
Green Monster- is my favorite chapter.
All of the New England references are spot on 🥰
I’m listening to the audio book now (because why not?).
The narrator CJ Grey does an amazing job with the characters accents, personalities, emotions and so much more…the whole story telling all together.
I’m enjoying listening as much as I did reading.
At first it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a zombie/apocalypse story although the cover alone tells you it is….
BUT!!
It wasn’t long until I got it.
The way it all comes together.
Very clever, very clever.
As the story goes on it just becomes more engaging.
I couldn’t put it down.
I won’t go into details.
I’m not a spoiler person.
This is the second novel I’ve read by Merrill David, the first one being FESTER (great!).
I’m looking forward to the next in his WICKED series and then the ones that follow….
Green Monster- is my favorite chapter.
All of the New England references are spot on 🥰
I’m listening to the audio book now (because why not?).
The narrator CJ Grey does an amazing job with the characters accents, personalities, emotions and so much more…the whole story telling all together.
I’m enjoying listening as much as I did reading.
September 24, 2021
This is a great read. I loved it and can’t wait for book 2 on audio.
The characters are well written, smart and capable.
I want to know about how things spread… we get a bit of education on that but I feel several other characters would have been infected though sex. So I’m eager to see how that plays out. Oh and the baby…… need to know what he will become. Also why were the kids left with Jakes girlfriend and not an actual family member?
I will say the way the zombie plague plays out time line wise it a lot different than 99% of the zombie books you’ll read. 9 months in half the country is still acting like nothing has happened and are having hay rides.
Narration by CJ Grey was amazing.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The characters are well written, smart and capable.
I want to know about how things spread… we get a bit of education on that but I feel several other characters would have been infected though sex. So I’m eager to see how that plays out. Oh and the baby…… need to know what he will become. Also why were the kids left with Jakes girlfriend and not an actual family member?
I will say the way the zombie plague plays out time line wise it a lot different than 99% of the zombie books you’ll read. 9 months in half the country is still acting like nothing has happened and are having hay rides.
Narration by CJ Grey was amazing.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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