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Dead South #1
Dead South
The dead can't bury the truth...
Three years after an incurable virus spread and turned a majority of the population into mindless and cannibalistic creatures, the world is a barren place. Society is broken, and most who remain have banded together in small camps and communities.
Jon South is not like most other survivors.
After losing his wife and son nearly two years into the pandemic, Jon now wanders the country roads and woods of rural Tennessee, a vigilante taking his revenge out on the undead monsters that took his family from him. He lives in solitary, and with nothing more to live for, he plans to die alone, sooner rather than later.
But after coming to the aid of a pair of strangers out in the woods being attacked by men, Jon learns that he might have been fighting the wrong monsters the entire time.
Three years after an incurable virus spread and turned a majority of the population into mindless and cannibalistic creatures, the world is a barren place. Society is broken, and most who remain have banded together in small camps and communities.
Jon South is not like most other survivors.
After losing his wife and son nearly two years into the pandemic, Jon now wanders the country roads and woods of rural Tennessee, a vigilante taking his revenge out on the undead monsters that took his family from him. He lives in solitary, and with nothing more to live for, he plans to die alone, sooner rather than later.
But after coming to the aid of a pair of strangers out in the woods being attacked by men, Jon learns that he might have been fighting the wrong monsters the entire time.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2020
754 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Zach Bohannon
83 books121 followersZach Bohannon is a horror and science fiction author. His books include the Amazon #1 bestsellers, Dead South, and Empty Bodies. He loves heavy metal, video games, hockey, reading, and he doesn’t trust a beer he can see through. He’s a retired drummer, and has had a beard since 2003—long before it was cool. He lives in Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 10, 2024
This wasn't a bad story, it just didn't have the level of emotion I've come to expect in a post-apocalyptic tale. It's set three years after a devastating virus has turned most of the population into mindless, cannibalistic creatures.
Jon South is a lone vigilante, wandering the roads of Tennessee, consumed by his quest for revenge against the undead that killed his wife and son.
The writing style is straightforward, and the world building minimal. The bad guys were predictable, and Jon made terrible decisions that felt uncharacteristic. Maybe he was just done with everything and didn't care anymore.
I did appreciate how much Jon still loved his deceased wife. There are flashbacks to their happy marriage, and the slow degrade of her mental health as the world collapsed. I'm not quite sure where the author is going with the whole "pendulum" deal.
Overall, the story lacks the emotional weight I enjoy while immersing myself in a world like this. I don't need non-stop action, that's a given in this kind of story, I like to understand the internal struggles as well.
Jon South is a lone vigilante, wandering the roads of Tennessee, consumed by his quest for revenge against the undead that killed his wife and son.
The writing style is straightforward, and the world building minimal. The bad guys were predictable, and Jon made terrible decisions that felt uncharacteristic. Maybe he was just done with everything and didn't care anymore.
I did appreciate how much Jon still loved his deceased wife. There are flashbacks to their happy marriage, and the slow degrade of her mental health as the world collapsed. I'm not quite sure where the author is going with the whole "pendulum" deal.
Overall, the story lacks the emotional weight I enjoy while immersing myself in a world like this. I don't need non-stop action, that's a given in this kind of story, I like to understand the internal struggles as well.
March 1, 2021
Everytime I read a new speculative/dystopian/apocalypse book I can't help asking myself, what's wrong with people in these stories?! Then I think about the reality we're currently in and I'm actually not at all that shocked at how low humanity can get.
These 'Vultures' or cult, whatever... are truly horrid beings. I hope Jon and co kick their arse in this series!
These 'Vultures' or cult, whatever... are truly horrid beings. I hope Jon and co kick their arse in this series!
November 18, 2025
This is your typical zombie novel. A virus takes out most of humanity, a lone survivor who lost a family member or 3, now the survivor is solo and super cranky towards anyone new. Along comes the bad guys and everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Nothing new to see here. This took forever to get through. I was waiting for something significant to happen. It never did. I won't be continuing with the series.
May 22, 2024
Short easy book
Story kept me hooked so definitely gonna read the next one
Some really intense parts which I love to see in a zombie book
3.7
Story kept me hooked so definitely gonna read the next one
Some really intense parts which I love to see in a zombie book
3.7
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2022
Honestly one of the lowest ratings I have given a zombie book. Very little thrill and the writing style just wasn't for me. Don't think I will be continuing this series.
August 18, 2023
I love zombies. And I bring this up first because it’s important for me to tell you that this book made me love them less.
I was excited to read this, even though the premise was incredibly cliche. However, by the second sentence it was very obvious that this is a male power-fantasy. Part of the reason I love zombies so much is that, by themselves, they do not present a problem for the average person. And you might not think much of Zach Bohannon’s MC being notably several inches taller than the first zombie the reader sees him kill. But our introduction to Jon South is in a situation where he is visibly and in every way possible at an advantage against his enemy. This continues throughout the entire book. There are zero scenarios where the MC is truly in danger, and all characters grant him either unearned worship or startling unfounded fear of him.
Jon South is also supposed to be a man haunted by his past, which mostly consists of dreams and flashbacks of his dead wife and son. These musings amount to nothing-- there is no emotional tension. The book essentially boils down his emotional struggle to ‘I miss my wife! She masturbated me in a public pool once!’ :( The reader has to sit through several flashbacks depicting his life with a perfect wife and a too-young-for-his-age son. I say that last because, despite being 12 years old, Jon’s son Spencer acts like a toddler in those flashbacks.
Eventually, the flashbacks show some “conflict” between Jon and his wife. Bohannon couldn’t be bothered to give Carrie any actual personality, and his fond memories of her revolve around her beauty and sexuality. So when they fought, the author had to give her a hobby (as a replacement for any actual personality trait, positive or negative) which irks Jon, our perfectly rational man’s man. Carrie may as well have a magic 8-ball that she confides in and the MC fights with her about that. That is all Carrie is. You can’t be bothered with her and their son’s deaths because they barely register as people in the book. And this is just the beginning of the sexist undertones of the book.
MC specifically states in a flashback that he doesn’t “allow” his wife to hunt with him. She isn’t allowed to leave the cabin they holed up in without him. She has no agency and does not help the family survive. And then there’s Brooke.
One day, Jon is wandering the woods and saves a girl who got captured by some thugs. He walks away, cause men stuff, and she follows him to his house. She leaves after giving Jon the worst NPC call to action dialogue I have ever read, and the next day Jon crashes his motorcycle. Even though it felt “as though every bone in his body was broken,” the reader will shortly find that he actually didn’t get hurt at all. Once again, she appears and takes the “injured” Jon to her community (it’s called ‘Hope’s Dawn’ and I almost gagged) and *begs* him to stay again. He refuses, cause he’s a man, and leaves to go back home. On his way there, while still supposedly injured, he takes on a horde by himself and finds people raiding his home. He finds one guard by himself, so of course we get a small stealth sequence. However the human enemies in this book are so stupid (and that is acknowledged in the book) that he gets on Jon’s broken bike and makes “vroom vroom” noises. How lucky. Jon then takes them all out (minus one guy) even though he’s injured and they are armed with grenades. Brooke appears for a fourth time and takes him to their camp again.
And why would a pretty blonde woman approach a man in the apocalypse again and again and again and again? In a plot development that had zero impact on Jon’s life (despite the fact that he lives 10 minutes away from Hope’s Dawn), Negan--I mean Judah-- is forcing Brooke’s community to give half of everything they have to a group called the Saviors-- I mean the Vultures, and she wants to fight back. That, and she’s already in love with him. For no reason. Again, no emotional development or payoff, that’s just what the story is now. Wouldn’t want any men reading the book to think they might go through the apocalypse without the prospect of getting laid, or having to work for it. Character motivation is an absolute mystery throughout.
The Vultures burn down Jon’s house, supposedly because he killed the man attacking Brooke. However, that is not enough motivation for this to make sense. Brooke begging Jon to join her cause makes even less sense. He’s a stranger in the woods, and even though he saved her, she has no reason to think that he’s the key to ending their service relationship with the Vultures. But she worships him and his “skills” from the get-go. Then the leader of Hope’s Dawn shows he has zero stakes in the matter at all, and no personality to speak of. Brooke gets emotional during a meeting and leaves, so when the leader asks Jon (again, for no reason) to join their community, Jon, naturally, says no. To which the leader responds with “That’s fair.” If this guy had any stakes in the matter, he should have been persuading or guilting Jon. If Jon was really so important, he should have tried. But the leader was a man and we have to get back to the only woman in the story if Jon has any chance of getting lucky with her.
Speaking of luck, in one paragraph, we are told that Jon doesn’t believe in luck. Then he says he’s lucky to be alive. Then he says luck is bullshit. All in the same paragraph. There are many inconsistencies like this throughout. Brooke claims to be a “slave” to the Vultures, yet their camp willingly offers Jon gasoline, because they have plenty to give. They are not in want of anything, and the camp has no indication that they’re under the foot of a tyrant. Jon’s bike is supposedly so loud that it woke Brooke’s son, who was sleeping several houses away, yet not so loud that it attracts zombies he’s actively trying to distract and he has to whistle at them while riding the bike instead.
The book and the characters are predictable to a fault. Judah tortures Jon (whose injuries will not matter as soon as the action starts) then offers him a place with him and the Vultures. Once again, he’s hailed for his skills when he really isn’t impressive enough to garner the main antagonist’s attention.
Now, I read with my bookmark sliding down so as to not read ahead. I knew when the offer was made to Jon he’d say “fuck you.” I was only slightly off, Jon actually said “go fuck yourself.” The level of predictability that our MC reached before even 200 pages past is absurd and boring. Almost as boring as the action. Even worse than being boring is that the action is nonsensical. There’s one scene where Jon hits a zombie on the nose (just the nose, as intended) with a baseball bat. The zombie’s head tilts backwards and touches the tree behind it and then explodes. This may as well have been a Michael Bay movie.
The action offers zero dramatic stakes. Neither Jon or his love interest ever sustain an injury that slows them down, even if they are pushed off roofs or feel like they broke every bone in their bodies. Everyone acts at all times like every moment is the climax, yet the protagonists make it out so easily and with no consequences. DNC
I was excited to read this, even though the premise was incredibly cliche. However, by the second sentence it was very obvious that this is a male power-fantasy. Part of the reason I love zombies so much is that, by themselves, they do not present a problem for the average person. And you might not think much of Zach Bohannon’s MC being notably several inches taller than the first zombie the reader sees him kill. But our introduction to Jon South is in a situation where he is visibly and in every way possible at an advantage against his enemy. This continues throughout the entire book. There are zero scenarios where the MC is truly in danger, and all characters grant him either unearned worship or startling unfounded fear of him.
Jon South is also supposed to be a man haunted by his past, which mostly consists of dreams and flashbacks of his dead wife and son. These musings amount to nothing-- there is no emotional tension. The book essentially boils down his emotional struggle to ‘I miss my wife! She masturbated me in a public pool once!’ :( The reader has to sit through several flashbacks depicting his life with a perfect wife and a too-young-for-his-age son. I say that last because, despite being 12 years old, Jon’s son Spencer acts like a toddler in those flashbacks.
Eventually, the flashbacks show some “conflict” between Jon and his wife. Bohannon couldn’t be bothered to give Carrie any actual personality, and his fond memories of her revolve around her beauty and sexuality. So when they fought, the author had to give her a hobby (as a replacement for any actual personality trait, positive or negative) which irks Jon, our perfectly rational man’s man. Carrie may as well have a magic 8-ball that she confides in and the MC fights with her about that. That is all Carrie is. You can’t be bothered with her and their son’s deaths because they barely register as people in the book. And this is just the beginning of the sexist undertones of the book.
MC specifically states in a flashback that he doesn’t “allow” his wife to hunt with him. She isn’t allowed to leave the cabin they holed up in without him. She has no agency and does not help the family survive. And then there’s Brooke.
One day, Jon is wandering the woods and saves a girl who got captured by some thugs. He walks away, cause men stuff, and she follows him to his house. She leaves after giving Jon the worst NPC call to action dialogue I have ever read, and the next day Jon crashes his motorcycle. Even though it felt “as though every bone in his body was broken,” the reader will shortly find that he actually didn’t get hurt at all. Once again, she appears and takes the “injured” Jon to her community (it’s called ‘Hope’s Dawn’ and I almost gagged) and *begs* him to stay again. He refuses, cause he’s a man, and leaves to go back home. On his way there, while still supposedly injured, he takes on a horde by himself and finds people raiding his home. He finds one guard by himself, so of course we get a small stealth sequence. However the human enemies in this book are so stupid (and that is acknowledged in the book) that he gets on Jon’s broken bike and makes “vroom vroom” noises. How lucky. Jon then takes them all out (minus one guy) even though he’s injured and they are armed with grenades. Brooke appears for a fourth time and takes him to their camp again.
And why would a pretty blonde woman approach a man in the apocalypse again and again and again and again? In a plot development that had zero impact on Jon’s life (despite the fact that he lives 10 minutes away from Hope’s Dawn), Negan--I mean Judah-- is forcing Brooke’s community to give half of everything they have to a group called the Saviors-- I mean the Vultures, and she wants to fight back. That, and she’s already in love with him. For no reason. Again, no emotional development or payoff, that’s just what the story is now. Wouldn’t want any men reading the book to think they might go through the apocalypse without the prospect of getting laid, or having to work for it. Character motivation is an absolute mystery throughout.
The Vultures burn down Jon’s house, supposedly because he killed the man attacking Brooke. However, that is not enough motivation for this to make sense. Brooke begging Jon to join her cause makes even less sense. He’s a stranger in the woods, and even though he saved her, she has no reason to think that he’s the key to ending their service relationship with the Vultures. But she worships him and his “skills” from the get-go. Then the leader of Hope’s Dawn shows he has zero stakes in the matter at all, and no personality to speak of. Brooke gets emotional during a meeting and leaves, so when the leader asks Jon (again, for no reason) to join their community, Jon, naturally, says no. To which the leader responds with “That’s fair.” If this guy had any stakes in the matter, he should have been persuading or guilting Jon. If Jon was really so important, he should have tried. But the leader was a man and we have to get back to the only woman in the story if Jon has any chance of getting lucky with her.
Speaking of luck, in one paragraph, we are told that Jon doesn’t believe in luck. Then he says he’s lucky to be alive. Then he says luck is bullshit. All in the same paragraph. There are many inconsistencies like this throughout. Brooke claims to be a “slave” to the Vultures, yet their camp willingly offers Jon gasoline, because they have plenty to give. They are not in want of anything, and the camp has no indication that they’re under the foot of a tyrant. Jon’s bike is supposedly so loud that it woke Brooke’s son, who was sleeping several houses away, yet not so loud that it attracts zombies he’s actively trying to distract and he has to whistle at them while riding the bike instead.
The book and the characters are predictable to a fault. Judah tortures Jon (whose injuries will not matter as soon as the action starts) then offers him a place with him and the Vultures. Once again, he’s hailed for his skills when he really isn’t impressive enough to garner the main antagonist’s attention.
Now, I read with my bookmark sliding down so as to not read ahead. I knew when the offer was made to Jon he’d say “fuck you.” I was only slightly off, Jon actually said “go fuck yourself.” The level of predictability that our MC reached before even 200 pages past is absurd and boring. Almost as boring as the action. Even worse than being boring is that the action is nonsensical. There’s one scene where Jon hits a zombie on the nose (just the nose, as intended) with a baseball bat. The zombie’s head tilts backwards and touches the tree behind it and then explodes. This may as well have been a Michael Bay movie.
The action offers zero dramatic stakes. Neither Jon or his love interest ever sustain an injury that slows them down, even if they are pushed off roofs or feel like they broke every bone in their bodies. Everyone acts at all times like every moment is the climax, yet the protagonists make it out so easily and with no consequences. DNC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2020
Interesting and well written
Jon South is a hard man since he lost his wife and son during the apocalypse. He takes his anger out on the undead by brutally killing each one he comes into contact with.
Jon South is a hard man since he lost his wife and son during the apocalypse. He takes his anger out on the undead by brutally killing each one he comes into contact with.
March 10, 2025
Loved it! Excellent characters and exciting storyline.
July 20, 2020
This story is well written and fast paced, but I couldn't help but feel like I was reading the novelized version of a TV movie of the week. Familiar twists and much used plotting tropes keep the story from earning another star. The protagonist's big decision near the end seems out of character, too. And then to go from severely beaten and barely able to lift his head to standing and fighting is a bigger leap of faith than the zombie apocalypse itself. Too bad, I was really starting to like the character in the first half.
June 28, 2022
This book could have easily been a DNF, but I’m cheap, so I pressed through. So many things about this read made this such a frustrating experience. The pacing is terrible, and don’t even get me started on the plot armor. You will find yourself throwing your hands up in the air and saying,”Wait, what?”, more times than you can count. I did however enjoy the concept, and really thought this was going to be a good series to delve into. But sadly, I will stop at book one.
August 11, 2021
The concept was fine, but characters were shallow and not real.
Couldn't empathise or connect with them.
Couldn't empathise or connect with them.
March 14, 2024
This story has kept me entertained in just the way of ‘how much have they pulled from The Walking Dead’. Really the first few books in this series is Jon (a Daryl/Rick clash) fighting what is essentially the Saviors. Jon is the perfect man, the woman are either useless or super useful and just one of the guys. Brooke and Lucas are basically just better replacements for his dead wife and son. He has apparently learned to let the women in his life have their own lives and agency after his wife died but we don’t really get to see that development so it just kinda happened even though Jon doesn’t really have a reason to learn that before he meets Brooke.
Generally zombie apoc books tend to veer into the supernatural when it comes to injuries and near fatal situations, but there is a few points in these books when Jon shouldn’t be able to move or do normal things (like ride a motorcycle or fight zombies or even shoot guns with a good accuracy) and he’s just able to do them. I’m on book 5 in the midst of this review and just came through a chapter where the last sentence was Brooke feeling true fear when she walks into a room, leaving on that cliffhanger to switch between Jon and Peter’s POV and then the next chapter we’re back to her and she’s totally fine. No explanation for that, just got her head shaved and put in an ugly dress.
The whole ‘Peter is Brooke’s supposedly dead ex and comes back’ was seen a mile away and of course he’s upset that his wife moved on with another guy after 3 years of thinking he’s dead and at the point I am, of course he’s going to leave Brooke no choice when he finds her and is getting her back when they were already having marital problems before he disappeared. I’m continuing reading just to see if he realizes he’s an ass or not.
Overall hasn’t been a bad series and may update my review when I complete it. If you like the ‘perfect man gets through the apocalypse’ trope, this series is for you. I wanted to get a review down before I completed the series because of the inconsistencies and lack of originality and I don’t think my rating will get better or worse from here.
Update: I’m DNFing at Book 7 Dead Wrong. Surprise not surprise, they shot Peter but he miraculously survives a gunshot to the chest and arm and 0 professional surgery. Thinking about these books, I feel like I’ve read them all before and usually I don’t mind it but these just don’t have the same umph the originals might have had. It just drags on and on. If you don’t mind common plots and the macho plot armor of all the men, and you don’t mind a lot of minorities dying and the three white main characters always pulling through miraculously, then you’ll love this series smh.
Generally zombie apoc books tend to veer into the supernatural when it comes to injuries and near fatal situations, but there is a few points in these books when Jon shouldn’t be able to move or do normal things (like ride a motorcycle or fight zombies or even shoot guns with a good accuracy) and he’s just able to do them. I’m on book 5 in the midst of this review and just came through a chapter where the last sentence was Brooke feeling true fear when she walks into a room, leaving on that cliffhanger to switch between Jon and Peter’s POV and then the next chapter we’re back to her and she’s totally fine. No explanation for that, just got her head shaved and put in an ugly dress.
The whole ‘Peter is Brooke’s supposedly dead ex and comes back’ was seen a mile away and of course he’s upset that his wife moved on with another guy after 3 years of thinking he’s dead and at the point I am, of course he’s going to leave Brooke no choice when he finds her and is getting her back when they were already having marital problems before he disappeared. I’m continuing reading just to see if he realizes he’s an ass or not.
Overall hasn’t been a bad series and may update my review when I complete it. If you like the ‘perfect man gets through the apocalypse’ trope, this series is for you. I wanted to get a review down before I completed the series because of the inconsistencies and lack of originality and I don’t think my rating will get better or worse from here.
Update: I’m DNFing at Book 7 Dead Wrong. Surprise not surprise, they shot Peter but he miraculously survives a gunshot to the chest and arm and 0 professional surgery. Thinking about these books, I feel like I’ve read them all before and usually I don’t mind it but these just don’t have the same umph the originals might have had. It just drags on and on. If you don’t mind common plots and the macho plot armor of all the men, and you don’t mind a lot of minorities dying and the three white main characters always pulling through miraculously, then you’ll love this series smh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2020
Zach is back to the world of zombies, after concluding his Empty Bodies hexalogy and one side story, he returns with a vengeance. The zombies are different this time around but no less threatening. In the afterword, Zach gives some insight into where this story came from, with a main character inspired by The Punisher and a world inspired by the Biker/zombie video game Days Gone. Jon South doesn't go full Punisher (or Deacon St John), but it's clear where the character came from mixed with Zach's own characterizations. The book is a quick read, beginning with South smashing in zombies with a baseball bat (that he refuses to name in another fun wink at zombie culture) and it's basically pedal to the medal, while South meets and refuses the invitation of a seemingly friendly community, while also trying to handle a surely not-so-friendly community, he keeps on smashin those heads until the book ends with the promise of more. There are short breathers in the form of flashbacks but the impending doom makes even those moments tense. Jon South is a brand new character that I am looking forward to following on his journey. He's not out to cure the virus and save the world. He just wants vengeance, and he's going to smash a lot of heads to get it.
June 19, 2020
Impossible to Put Down
I could not stop reading this book until the last page! Loved this new character and story! Jon South is a man full of rage at the zombies who he believes have taken his family and is determined to hunt and kill as many as he can. This story shows a tormented man who slowly recovers his humanity and learns to live again. Jon also discovers some humans are more horrendous than the soul less zombies he had hunted. He meets Brooke and her camp of survivors who together learn freedom is worth fighting and even dying for. I enjoyed the characters and am definitely looking forward to more!
I could not stop reading this book until the last page! Loved this new character and story! Jon South is a man full of rage at the zombies who he believes have taken his family and is determined to hunt and kill as many as he can. This story shows a tormented man who slowly recovers his humanity and learns to live again. Jon also discovers some humans are more horrendous than the soul less zombies he had hunted. He meets Brooke and her camp of survivors who together learn freedom is worth fighting and even dying for. I enjoyed the characters and am definitely looking forward to more!
April 2, 2021
My first zombie book and it did not disappoint.
I loved this book! Finishing a book in a couple days is not easy for a woman with three homeschooled kids, two dogs, three cats and husband. But I found the time and I’m so glad I did. Jon South worked his way into my heart so fast. Brook was also an amazing and strong character who I hope we get to see more of in the next book! I wasn’t super surprised by the story itself but it was so much fun I didn’t care. I just wanted more. And lately an easy story that sucks me in and distracts me from the bullshit of the world is more and more what I want and need in a book. Can’t wait to grab the second one.
I loved this book! Finishing a book in a couple days is not easy for a woman with three homeschooled kids, two dogs, three cats and husband. But I found the time and I’m so glad I did. Jon South worked his way into my heart so fast. Brook was also an amazing and strong character who I hope we get to see more of in the next book! I wasn’t super surprised by the story itself but it was so much fun I didn’t care. I just wanted more. And lately an easy story that sucks me in and distracts me from the bullshit of the world is more and more what I want and need in a book. Can’t wait to grab the second one.
September 18, 2022
Yes, another zombie series !
I've got tell you that I usually don't read zombie fiction. I'm more of a sci-fi or adventure type of guy. However, I've been bedridden for over nine years more or less. There comes a time when you are sick to death of TV and find yourself looking to find something that will keep your gray matter from leaking out of your ears. On a whim I picked up a zombie book and although it wasn't very well written and had a lot to be desired in the story development I found myself saying that this is something I can get into. I told you this so that I could tell you this ...this book is a keeper. Read on dear reader and enjoy yourself.
I've got tell you that I usually don't read zombie fiction. I'm more of a sci-fi or adventure type of guy. However, I've been bedridden for over nine years more or less. There comes a time when you are sick to death of TV and find yourself looking to find something that will keep your gray matter from leaking out of your ears. On a whim I picked up a zombie book and although it wasn't very well written and had a lot to be desired in the story development I found myself saying that this is something I can get into. I told you this so that I could tell you this ...this book is a keeper. Read on dear reader and enjoy yourself.
June 8, 2020
Life goes on.
For me there can never be too many zombies or too many apocalypse based novels. Dead South was all I look for, plenty of survival and not, zombies all over the place and lots of action. Jon is a stunning characterisation. He’s pretty much the ultimate hero with a death wish. And the bad guys are exactly that with greed and pettiness, bullies that believe the world owes them. Good versus evil with a little kick or two right before the end. Darn great writing!
For me there can never be too many zombies or too many apocalypse based novels. Dead South was all I look for, plenty of survival and not, zombies all over the place and lots of action. Jon is a stunning characterisation. He’s pretty much the ultimate hero with a death wish. And the bad guys are exactly that with greed and pettiness, bullies that believe the world owes them. Good versus evil with a little kick or two right before the end. Darn great writing!
June 16, 2020
Jon South...
After the virus has destroyed almost everyone, one must fight for revenge.
He saved his family. But the cabin in Tennessee couldn't. Lack of food, lack of
contentment, lack of purpose becomes their doom.
Jon Snow is a broken man. Dedicating himself by killing zombies as possible. He needs nobody else, until trouble comes knocking at his door.
Great characters & a good storyline. Lots of action. A nice read...😀
After the virus has destroyed almost everyone, one must fight for revenge.
He saved his family. But the cabin in Tennessee couldn't. Lack of food, lack of
contentment, lack of purpose becomes their doom.
Jon Snow is a broken man. Dedicating himself by killing zombies as possible. He needs nobody else, until trouble comes knocking at his door.
Great characters & a good storyline. Lots of action. A nice read...😀
August 2, 2020
A SLOW READ
Way too much emotion, wringing of hands and indecision by the main characters. The book was written by a woman, right?!
Unimpressed by the lack of character delineation. The characters were weak.
The relationships between the characters was underdeveloped. No real romance here. No real antagonism between between the cult leader and hero (?).
Would not recommend this author. Sorry
Way too much emotion, wringing of hands and indecision by the main characters. The book was written by a woman, right?!
Unimpressed by the lack of character delineation. The characters were weak.
The relationships between the characters was underdeveloped. No real romance here. No real antagonism between between the cult leader and hero (?).
Would not recommend this author. Sorry
September 23, 2020
Same old same old
The author goes to great lengths to tell us exactly where he "borrows" his ideas from for this, and even using some good shows for the ideas, it's still 'meh'. Not exciting enough to be gripping, annoying characters, (Brooke in particular, there is no way she would make it there years through zompoc) I won't be reading any of the rest of the series. It's a shame because the (ripped off) basic premier of Jon could have been really good. It just isn't.
The author goes to great lengths to tell us exactly where he "borrows" his ideas from for this, and even using some good shows for the ideas, it's still 'meh'. Not exciting enough to be gripping, annoying characters, (Brooke in particular, there is no way she would make it there years through zompoc) I won't be reading any of the rest of the series. It's a shame because the (ripped off) basic premier of Jon could have been really good. It just isn't.
July 21, 2023
This was a short and fun read, only about two hundred pages. Death South is a straightforward tough-guy-meets-zombies post-apocalypse story. The author acknowledges his influences—The Punisher + The Walking Dead + Days Gone. If that’s your bag, then you will probably like this. The writing is clean, and the story is fast-paced and violent, so it kept my attention, but I felt the story was well-trod territory in the zombie genre.
February 3, 2024
A fast passed action that keeps you interested on the next home run blow to any zombie that comes too close to the MC. This is a little different than the typical undead read. It’s not about beating the virus. Finding a cure or resolution. It’s straight retribution. A man that loses those he loves and all he seeks is complete annihilation of what caused him his pain and anguish. A quick short read worth the shelf space. Bravo!
August 14, 2022
Punisher in a Zombie land
While reading this story I did get the impression of The Punisher being in zombie apocalypse. While it didn't do anything to reinvent the wheel, it still told a compelling story of a man coping with the dead world around him, and finding a new reason to live. I look forward to continuing this series.
While reading this story I did get the impression of The Punisher being in zombie apocalypse. While it didn't do anything to reinvent the wheel, it still told a compelling story of a man coping with the dead world around him, and finding a new reason to live. I look forward to continuing this series.
March 23, 2024
Zombie Breaker
There is some good descriptive zombie kills, which is something I need in a zombie novel to keep me interested. The main character is believable and not overly annoying. The way other characters are introduced is good and there is a mystery at the end to make you wish to read another book about 'the Savage'. Overall good zombie series beginning.
There is some good descriptive zombie kills, which is something I need in a zombie novel to keep me interested. The main character is believable and not overly annoying. The way other characters are introduced is good and there is a mystery at the end to make you wish to read another book about 'the Savage'. Overall good zombie series beginning.
January 7, 2025
This book is really good. As a person who watched the punisher show, and loved it. And also is a big walking dead fan, this book felt perfect to combine to two. I wish I played the game ‘days gone’ to better see the foundations of Jon.
None the less. This book tells a great zombie story, and brings to light another great character. Can’t wait to see the future with these great characters.
None the less. This book tells a great zombie story, and brings to light another great character. Can’t wait to see the future with these great characters.
June 24, 2020
Dead South
There wasn't enough story here for me. I was waiting to see where this was going and we ended up nowhere. It's another man against humanity type story where you hope the zombies come along and bring the action. I'm not even nterested in another book in this series.
There wasn't enough story here for me. I was waiting to see where this was going and we ended up nowhere. It's another man against humanity type story where you hope the zombies come along and bring the action. I'm not even nterested in another book in this series.
July 3, 2020
Great Book
This book was so good you have to read it and you won't be disappointed. There was never a dull moment. It had a great storyline filled with lots of action and zombie killing. I definitely recommend it.
This book was so good you have to read it and you won't be disappointed. There was never a dull moment. It had a great storyline filled with lots of action and zombie killing. I definitely recommend it.
July 11, 2020
I'm going to start with I enjoyed this book. Parts of it just felt forced though. Maybe it's because it reminds me of alot of zombie books and movies. The people being terrorised by another camp. The whole thing with Brooke. I could have done without that it just didnt connect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2020
Zach Bohannon is usually a favorite of mine.
This one wasn't so much zombie book as it was a post apocalyptic book with zombies. A few fast paced scenes. A protagonist suffering the loss of his wife and son gone rogue... Cliched villains.
3.5 stars
This one wasn't so much zombie book as it was a post apocalyptic book with zombies. A few fast paced scenes. A protagonist suffering the loss of his wife and son gone rogue... Cliched villains.
3.5 stars
January 10, 2021
Awesome
Love the character Jon South, the backstory the way it played out pieces has the story evolves, Brilliant ' I was hooked couldn't put book down I had finish Can't wait for next book
Love the character Jon South, the backstory the way it played out pieces has the story evolves, Brilliant ' I was hooked couldn't put book down I had finish Can't wait for next book
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