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Slow Burn #10
Firestorm
Fourteen years have passed since the virus ripped through the global population, crushing the modern world and leaving the cities crawling with the infected.
The immune who survived the violence of the collapse fled to remote havens like Balmorhea, a tiny town in the desert of far West Texas. There, a few hundred normals made a go of it, building walls, farming the dry dirt, and learning to thrive together.
With them, Zed and Murphy, survivors of the infection are different but still human. Distrusted and despised because of what they are, they're still the first to fight when the hordes maraud out of the wastes.
Now, a new menace is lurking beyond the horizon, threatening to destroy everything they've built. Will they survive the savage violence sweeping across the desert, or will they be consumed by the FIRESTORM?
The immune who survived the violence of the collapse fled to remote havens like Balmorhea, a tiny town in the desert of far West Texas. There, a few hundred normals made a go of it, building walls, farming the dry dirt, and learning to thrive together.
With them, Zed and Murphy, survivors of the infection are different but still human. Distrusted and despised because of what they are, they're still the first to fight when the hordes maraud out of the wastes.
Now, a new menace is lurking beyond the horizon, threatening to destroy everything they've built. Will they survive the savage violence sweeping across the desert, or will they be consumed by the FIRESTORM?
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2021
217 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Bobby Adair
71 books699 followersA bio is a weird thing to write.
Just trying to imagine presenting the highlights of ME sets off alarm bells in my head. Why would anybody want to know anything about me? What about me is remarkable enough to tell?
When I think about these questions, I recall lying on my bed back in high school, headphones muffed over my ears, heavy metal blasting through my head. As with most teens, music’s power seduced me, and as I listened, I found myself admiring the albums' cover art (yeah, I’m old enough that I used to by LP’s) and I found myself reading about the singers and guitar players and drummers in the liner notes. Why? Because those musicians had created something that was deeply personal, passionate, and wonderfully emotional, and they’d shared it with the world. They’d shared it with me.
It made me want to know them through more than just their music. So, I read.
Through the years, I found myself reading about writers I’d enjoyed, historical figures I’d admired, politicians who weren’t dipshits, and business leaders who’d built great companies. Again, why? Who the hell knows? We’re all just people. I think we find each other interesting. We like to feel connected.
And that was my answer, at least as to the WHY.
On the WHAT I can say about me, for those who feel moved by my work: I’ll give it a quick go.
I was born an Air Force brat and lived in a dozen states before I graduated high school. I’ve worked my way through a wide variety of jobs, left most on a whim, owned businesses, lived through times when I had more money than I knew what to do with, and worried my way through times when I wondered how I’d pay the rent.
Life has been boring at times, and it’s been plenty exciting, too. So far.
I’ve traveled to India, stood atop the tallest mountains around, swam with sharks, smarted-off to cops, and been arrested. I’ve tried beer and weed, but never made a thing of either one. I’ve been brushed too close by death a few times. Thankfully, doctors, EMT’s, and nurses were kind enough to put all the pieces together again. I've ridden my bike so deep into the mountains it felt like I was alone on the edge of heaven, and I've watched the red sun sinking on an evening so clear it looked like it was falling off the edge of the world.
I’ve always had a hard time being where I am, wherever that is. My daydreams forever call from just over the horizon.
I’ve been asked by a dozen bosses where I see myself in five years, and I've lied every time, always telling them what they wanted to hear. Because the only thing I knew for sure, was that I wanted to be anywhere but there.
Find out more:
http://www.bobbyadair.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BobbyAdairAu...
Just trying to imagine presenting the highlights of ME sets off alarm bells in my head. Why would anybody want to know anything about me? What about me is remarkable enough to tell?
When I think about these questions, I recall lying on my bed back in high school, headphones muffed over my ears, heavy metal blasting through my head. As with most teens, music’s power seduced me, and as I listened, I found myself admiring the albums' cover art (yeah, I’m old enough that I used to by LP’s) and I found myself reading about the singers and guitar players and drummers in the liner notes. Why? Because those musicians had created something that was deeply personal, passionate, and wonderfully emotional, and they’d shared it with the world. They’d shared it with me.
It made me want to know them through more than just their music. So, I read.
Through the years, I found myself reading about writers I’d enjoyed, historical figures I’d admired, politicians who weren’t dipshits, and business leaders who’d built great companies. Again, why? Who the hell knows? We’re all just people. I think we find each other interesting. We like to feel connected.
And that was my answer, at least as to the WHY.
On the WHAT I can say about me, for those who feel moved by my work: I’ll give it a quick go.
I was born an Air Force brat and lived in a dozen states before I graduated high school. I’ve worked my way through a wide variety of jobs, left most on a whim, owned businesses, lived through times when I had more money than I knew what to do with, and worried my way through times when I wondered how I’d pay the rent.
Life has been boring at times, and it’s been plenty exciting, too. So far.
I’ve traveled to India, stood atop the tallest mountains around, swam with sharks, smarted-off to cops, and been arrested. I’ve tried beer and weed, but never made a thing of either one. I’ve been brushed too close by death a few times. Thankfully, doctors, EMT’s, and nurses were kind enough to put all the pieces together again. I've ridden my bike so deep into the mountains it felt like I was alone on the edge of heaven, and I've watched the red sun sinking on an evening so clear it looked like it was falling off the edge of the world.
I’ve always had a hard time being where I am, wherever that is. My daydreams forever call from just over the horizon.
I’ve been asked by a dozen bosses where I see myself in five years, and I've lied every time, always telling them what they wanted to hear. Because the only thing I knew for sure, was that I wanted to be anywhere but there.
Find out more:
http://www.bobbyadair.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BobbyAdairAu...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
May 26, 2021
Worth the wait
Fantastic. It’s all I got. I have loved every moment of every one of Zed and Murphy’s adventures. The Slow Burn series is one of the best post-apocalyptic out there.
I didn’t realize, though, how much I was missing Null Spot the Destroyer until he returned.
Fantastic. It’s all I got. I have loved every moment of every one of Zed and Murphy’s adventures. The Slow Burn series is one of the best post-apocalyptic out there.
I didn’t realize, though, how much I was missing Null Spot the Destroyer until he returned.
March 11, 2023
Edit: Forgot to add TW: rape/gang rape
I don't know about this... sigh... I wish Adair would have left the series alone. I didn't really care for the storyline in this one, but since it was about the characters I've enjoyed reading about, I'll go with a rating in the middle.
I don't know about this... sigh... I wish Adair would have left the series alone. I didn't really care for the storyline in this one, but since it was about the characters I've enjoyed reading about, I'll go with a rating in the middle.
May 29, 2021
Awesome book Bobby! I’m waiting for book 11!
June 28, 2021
Let me begin this review by stating that I am not a huge fan of the zombie apocalypse genre, nor am I a huge fan of smart-alec, wise-cracking buddy humor...this series has both. BUT...if I may, as zombie apocalypse books go, this one is definitely a cut above in that it adds a new dimension to the stories by having degrees of infection, leaving some immune to complete devastation, and keeping their minds intact. I found that rather interesting, especially as this series of books evolved. Next, our hero, Zed, and his friend Murphy DO tend to wise-crack and mouth off to one another, but not in the type of teenage, toilet humor, fart joke way. Personally, I could not sit through the entire "Deadpool" movie with that type of moronic humor bandied about like confetti. Slow Burn is, in my opinion, a very good zombie apocalypse saga with adult humor thrown in here and there, enough to keep one smiling through the devastation.
May 28, 2021
I didn't know I needed
I didn't know I needed more Murphy and Zed , but you know what? I think this series could live on as long as Zed and I would never tire. You did it again Bobby and I thank you for engulfing me in your fascinating story. During some of the testing I think to myself, shit would I be a Hugh level yellow even now?😀
I didn't know I needed more Murphy and Zed , but you know what? I think this series could live on as long as Zed and I would never tire. You did it again Bobby and I thank you for engulfing me in your fascinating story. During some of the testing I think to myself, shit would I be a Hugh level yellow even now?😀
June 9, 2024
**I'm just thinking of this one as an alternate ending**
Review/Rant.
I want to give this book 5-stars. In fact, I DID give it 5-stars. I mean it's so damn fantastic as most of the others have been in this series. The pace. The tension. The gore. The violence. The action. The emotional element. The CHARACTERS. It was all there. But I'm gonna go ahead and take away one star, albeit begrudgingly. Because there were things going on in this entry that, while being so gritty and thrilling and amazingly well-written, should NOT have happened. There were several directions this series coulda gone based purely on what the series itself introduced, but instead it ended up doing the same as it's always done.
Allow me to elaborate.
Upon completing this thing, I clung hard to the conclusion that I really and truly legit did NOT need this book. I'd have been just fine, just frickin' FINE with the way the series ended. Why? Because book 9 had a nice, happy, victorious ending to a series that spent most of its time punching my face and heart (Murphy style) for its entire run. It was an ending that granted its characters, as well as me the reader, some much needed relief, complete with its wonderful surprise of a lifetime when it revealed that Steph was still alive when we all thought she was dead. They've all made it to a haven, all reunited and finally had some semblance of peace. Even after the Null Spot Novella, that happy ending remained. I LIKED the happy ending.
But now here we've got a tenth entry to the thing. Coincidentally, I had finished the entire series the same year of book ten's release. I didn't even know there was a tenth book, not until I was done with all the previous books and saw it advertised. Once I discovered it, I was both excited and nervous at the same time. Because a new book would mean MORE of Zed and Murphy antics but would also inevitably endanger characters I've grown to LOVE, and the happy ending I've come to embrace. I didn't want to let that ending go. I was legit fearful of what more was to befall everyone. Even now, after having finished the book, I wanna pretend it doesn't exist just because I'm still too in love with the ending I already knew it to have.
Wellp, looks like my fears were justified. Because this entry does its absolute BEST to resume pummeling my heart yet again into oblivion. It picks up 14 years after the last book, where everyone is well-established in their haven and have even come to build some semblance of a small community with hundreds of people. Seemed so great on the surface, until it all gets shot to hell, of course. What in the world author Bobby Adair had against his character Steph I will NEVER know. But the fact that he once again decided to throw her in some traumatic, painful, and heart-wrenching situations was deeply upsetting to me. I feel like she got the brunt of all the badness that this series had, and I just wanted to tug my hair out as I mentally shouted "Ugh, whyyyyy?"
I mean think about it. Locked and tied down in the hospital offering herself to be infected. Bitten in the neck at the mansion. Abducted and threatened at gunpoint. Overwhelmed and bitten by Whites to the point of making Zed think she'd been eaten alive. Then she developed allergic reactions to scorpion stings to the point of near-death. And now? She's been given cancer. And that's not all! She's THEN being experimented on. I mean WHAT. Why does Bobby Adair hate Steph so much? It's bad enough we're in an apocalypse, but was cancer REALLY something we had to throw in here too? It was just so mind-numbingly sad when I didn't need nor want it to be.
I loved this book, but I can't ignore what tainted my appreciation for it. I was more interested in exploring factors that were mentioned in this very series, particularly in Zed's novella about Whites capable of reproducing and laughing. Even in THIS entry, we also NOW discover that the Infected have the potential to live very long lives in addition to the ability to regenerate severed limbs. I would have loved to see any of these factors explored in this entry instead of more of the same mayhem mixed with newfound disturbing darkness. But none of these things were really embellished or focused on in this story.
Could the Whites evolve into their own "species" of humanity, now that they were capable of having children? Can something in Zed's blood help with Steph's cancer? Can ANYTHING be discovered that can help the recovered infected continue to have babies too? It was something that SEEMINGLY was going to be a major plot point in this story, what with Steph wanting to solve the dilemma. I was even hoping, and admittedly expecting, that she'd be pregnant and THAT would be the mission of the story: how to have both mom and baby live. Sadly, these were all reduced to "filler" in this series, never properly explored when I wanted them to be.
Anyway, this book was still one damn good read. I refuse to say that it wasn't. I still loved it, despite how upset it made me. Killing off Dalhover and Steph were major no-no's, not to mention Murphy's sister Rachel. I definitely cried yet again. And needless to say, I very much still prefer the series to conclude with book 9 and will thus resort to considering this 10th entry an "alternate ending" to the series. It's the best I can do to make it more acceptable because honestly, this book was absolutely not needed and added nothing beneficial to the series at all.
Click here to follow my highlights and commentary.
Review/Rant.
I want to give this book 5-stars. In fact, I DID give it 5-stars. I mean it's so damn fantastic as most of the others have been in this series. The pace. The tension. The gore. The violence. The action. The emotional element. The CHARACTERS. It was all there. But I'm gonna go ahead and take away one star, albeit begrudgingly. Because there were things going on in this entry that, while being so gritty and thrilling and amazingly well-written, should NOT have happened. There were several directions this series coulda gone based purely on what the series itself introduced, but instead it ended up doing the same as it's always done.
Allow me to elaborate.
Upon completing this thing, I clung hard to the conclusion that I really and truly legit did NOT need this book. I'd have been just fine, just frickin' FINE with the way the series ended. Why? Because book 9 had a nice, happy, victorious ending to a series that spent most of its time punching my face and heart (Murphy style) for its entire run. It was an ending that granted its characters, as well as me the reader, some much needed relief, complete with its wonderful surprise of a lifetime when it revealed that Steph was still alive when we all thought she was dead. They've all made it to a haven, all reunited and finally had some semblance of peace. Even after the Null Spot Novella, that happy ending remained. I LIKED the happy ending.
But now here we've got a tenth entry to the thing. Coincidentally, I had finished the entire series the same year of book ten's release. I didn't even know there was a tenth book, not until I was done with all the previous books and saw it advertised. Once I discovered it, I was both excited and nervous at the same time. Because a new book would mean MORE of Zed and Murphy antics but would also inevitably endanger characters I've grown to LOVE, and the happy ending I've come to embrace. I didn't want to let that ending go. I was legit fearful of what more was to befall everyone. Even now, after having finished the book, I wanna pretend it doesn't exist just because I'm still too in love with the ending I already knew it to have.
Wellp, looks like my fears were justified. Because this entry does its absolute BEST to resume pummeling my heart yet again into oblivion. It picks up 14 years after the last book, where everyone is well-established in their haven and have even come to build some semblance of a small community with hundreds of people. Seemed so great on the surface, until it all gets shot to hell, of course. What in the world author Bobby Adair had against his character Steph I will NEVER know. But the fact that he once again decided to throw her in some traumatic, painful, and heart-wrenching situations was deeply upsetting to me. I feel like she got the brunt of all the badness that this series had, and I just wanted to tug my hair out as I mentally shouted "Ugh, whyyyyy?"
I mean think about it. Locked and tied down in the hospital offering herself to be infected. Bitten in the neck at the mansion. Abducted and threatened at gunpoint. Overwhelmed and bitten by Whites to the point of making Zed think she'd been eaten alive. Then she developed allergic reactions to scorpion stings to the point of near-death. And now? She's been given cancer. And that's not all! She's THEN being experimented on. I mean WHAT. Why does Bobby Adair hate Steph so much? It's bad enough we're in an apocalypse, but was cancer REALLY something we had to throw in here too? It was just so mind-numbingly sad when I didn't need nor want it to be.
I loved this book, but I can't ignore what tainted my appreciation for it. I was more interested in exploring factors that were mentioned in this very series, particularly in Zed's novella about Whites capable of reproducing and laughing. Even in THIS entry, we also NOW discover that the Infected have the potential to live very long lives in addition to the ability to regenerate severed limbs. I would have loved to see any of these factors explored in this entry instead of more of the same mayhem mixed with newfound disturbing darkness. But none of these things were really embellished or focused on in this story.
Could the Whites evolve into their own "species" of humanity, now that they were capable of having children? Can something in Zed's blood help with Steph's cancer? Can ANYTHING be discovered that can help the recovered infected continue to have babies too? It was something that SEEMINGLY was going to be a major plot point in this story, what with Steph wanting to solve the dilemma. I was even hoping, and admittedly expecting, that she'd be pregnant and THAT would be the mission of the story: how to have both mom and baby live. Sadly, these were all reduced to "filler" in this series, never properly explored when I wanted them to be.
Anyway, this book was still one damn good read. I refuse to say that it wasn't. I still loved it, despite how upset it made me. Killing off Dalhover and Steph were major no-no's, not to mention Murphy's sister Rachel. I definitely cried yet again. And needless to say, I very much still prefer the series to conclude with book 9 and will thus resort to considering this 10th entry an "alternate ending" to the series. It's the best I can do to make it more acceptable because honestly, this book was absolutely not needed and added nothing beneficial to the series at all.
Click here to follow my highlights and commentary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2021
Just.....AWESOME!!!!!!
I really didn't believe there was ever going to be a Book 10. It was to much of a good thing to wish for and those kinds of wishes rarely come true. Well, I'm so happy that, this time, I was wrong! This Book 10 absolutely continued the story and complimented book 1 - 9 PERFECTLY!!! My 2 favorite Slow Burns were back true to form as were their immediate "family". To say that I loved Book 10 would be an understatement and to hope for yet a Book 11 would be maybe too much of a hope, though I would surely love for it to happen. This is one of those truly loved series where you get totally engrossed with the story and especially the characters involved. I feel as if they're real, as if I know them personally And that is what makes a book (series) great. I will miss them and always wonder what happened next, but they will now and forever always be with me. I never want a series this good to end. Read it, live it, love it. :)
I really didn't believe there was ever going to be a Book 10. It was to much of a good thing to wish for and those kinds of wishes rarely come true. Well, I'm so happy that, this time, I was wrong! This Book 10 absolutely continued the story and complimented book 1 - 9 PERFECTLY!!! My 2 favorite Slow Burns were back true to form as were their immediate "family". To say that I loved Book 10 would be an understatement and to hope for yet a Book 11 would be maybe too much of a hope, though I would surely love for it to happen. This is one of those truly loved series where you get totally engrossed with the story and especially the characters involved. I feel as if they're real, as if I know them personally And that is what makes a book (series) great. I will miss them and always wonder what happened next, but they will now and forever always be with me. I never want a series this good to end. Read it, live it, love it. :)
October 7, 2021
Best book of the series. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 24, 2023
Zed and Murphy return in this new adventure in Adair's post apocalypse world. As with the entire slow burn series, this one is well written, exciting, fast paced and has something for everyone; action, danger, romance, sadness and triumph. Adair has a great thing going with these characters and I'm glad he responded to the public demand for more of their exploits. I'm pretty sure he intended book 9 to be the last and was afraid that book 10 might just be a rehash to cash in on the popularity. Its not! Its a great, entertaining and stand alone story. If you like zompoc, this series is a must read.
August 1, 2021
When I heard this book was set 14 years after the events of the 9 book boxset I groaned, I thought there'd be a tonne of plot holes and a lot of time gone to waste but NO, this book was cool, it switched up the perspective on what we think we know about the Slow Burns, it throws these cool antagonists out in droves, it is a nice continuation all in all, I really hope Bobby Adair makes another book after this continuing this story, it has the potential to be even cooler going forward than the first 9 books...
August 5, 2021
This book takes the saga in an entirely new direction, and I'm not sure how to feel about it.
I both like and dislike this book. It takes the Murphy /Zed saga in a much different direction than previous books. Basically the first 9 books were based on "reality". Obviously there's no infected in reality, but other than that, it was very close to reality.
This takes on a more Sci Fi approach that I'm not sure I like very much. It was still fun to catch up with Murphy and Zed, but it's like the author had another series idea in mind, but still wanted to use Murphy and Zed. I'm not entirely opposed to the idea, but it IS jarring.
Book 9 of Slow Burn is the end of this series. Book 10 is the beginning of something else. A fun something, but different.
I both like and dislike this book. It takes the Murphy /Zed saga in a much different direction than previous books. Basically the first 9 books were based on "reality". Obviously there's no infected in reality, but other than that, it was very close to reality.
This takes on a more Sci Fi approach that I'm not sure I like very much. It was still fun to catch up with Murphy and Zed, but it's like the author had another series idea in mind, but still wanted to use Murphy and Zed. I'm not entirely opposed to the idea, but it IS jarring.
Book 9 of Slow Burn is the end of this series. Book 10 is the beginning of something else. A fun something, but different.
September 2, 2023
Glad I didn't have to wait 5 years!
I have about 6 apocalyptic genre books that I discarded within a couple of chapters. I downloaded Slow Burn 1 thru 9 as a set. I laughed, cried, and covered my eyes. Such a satisfying read. Book 10 joined seamsley into the stories. Nothing is predictable. Zed and Murphy are a perfect pair. I really hope Mr. Adair writes more.
I have about 6 apocalyptic genre books that I discarded within a couple of chapters. I downloaded Slow Burn 1 thru 9 as a set. I laughed, cried, and covered my eyes. Such a satisfying read. Book 10 joined seamsley into the stories. Nothing is predictable. Zed and Murphy are a perfect pair. I really hope Mr. Adair writes more.
November 14, 2021
Zed "Null Spot" Zane and faithful companion Murphy ride again
After a long wait, the adventures of Zed and Murphy continue. Fourteen years after the virus turned most of the human population of the world into mindless shambling shells of insatiable hunger for flesh and blood. A few were naturally immune to the virus and even fewer were able to survive the virus with their minds relatively intact. Still afflicted with outward signs of the virus - dead white skin - these "slow burns" could mingle with the infected as long as they acted "zombie" like. Zed and Murphy were slow burns.
In a little town named Balmorhea which even before the virus was a dying town eight hours from everywhere in the remote desert of West Texas. That remoteness and the miles of desert surrounding it made Balmorhea a refuge for a few hundred 'normals' (immunes) and a dozen or so slow burns. They had made every effort to make their little haven as comfortable as possible in this post-collapse world. Thanks to a huge gushing spring just outside of town. Scavenged solar panels and wind turbines created enough electricity to light the town and run pre-apocalypse appliances like refrigerators, heat and air conditioning. Surrounding the town they had raised a huge berm topped with a ten foot fence topped with walkways and guard posts which discouraged any infected that had survived the miles of desert to reach the town and any normals that wanted to "share" their amenities. They had a good thing in Balmorhea. Vegetable gardens, cattle and horses, and they traded for gasoline and other items they couldn't make themselves. Life wasn't bad. Not bad at all. Until it wasn't. That all began with sighting a drone in the sky.
Characters we know, backgrounds we're familiar with. Like putting on old comfortable shoes, bringing these characters back into our lives was comfortable and fun! But it didn't take long for the other shoe to drop. It was a big shoe and it dropped right in the middle of town. And Null Spot was on it. I won't tell you anything else except - this is a great read! I would love to read more of my favorite slow burns, but this book took five years to appear. I'd love to see book 11 soon! Hope never dies! (Unless hope is Hope and she likes Zed. That never works out!)
After a long wait, the adventures of Zed and Murphy continue. Fourteen years after the virus turned most of the human population of the world into mindless shambling shells of insatiable hunger for flesh and blood. A few were naturally immune to the virus and even fewer were able to survive the virus with their minds relatively intact. Still afflicted with outward signs of the virus - dead white skin - these "slow burns" could mingle with the infected as long as they acted "zombie" like. Zed and Murphy were slow burns.
In a little town named Balmorhea which even before the virus was a dying town eight hours from everywhere in the remote desert of West Texas. That remoteness and the miles of desert surrounding it made Balmorhea a refuge for a few hundred 'normals' (immunes) and a dozen or so slow burns. They had made every effort to make their little haven as comfortable as possible in this post-collapse world. Thanks to a huge gushing spring just outside of town. Scavenged solar panels and wind turbines created enough electricity to light the town and run pre-apocalypse appliances like refrigerators, heat and air conditioning. Surrounding the town they had raised a huge berm topped with a ten foot fence topped with walkways and guard posts which discouraged any infected that had survived the miles of desert to reach the town and any normals that wanted to "share" their amenities. They had a good thing in Balmorhea. Vegetable gardens, cattle and horses, and they traded for gasoline and other items they couldn't make themselves. Life wasn't bad. Not bad at all. Until it wasn't. That all began with sighting a drone in the sky.
Characters we know, backgrounds we're familiar with. Like putting on old comfortable shoes, bringing these characters back into our lives was comfortable and fun! But it didn't take long for the other shoe to drop. It was a big shoe and it dropped right in the middle of town. And Null Spot was on it. I won't tell you anything else except - this is a great read! I would love to read more of my favorite slow burns, but this book took five years to appear. I'd love to see book 11 soon! Hope never dies! (Unless hope is Hope and she likes Zed. That never works out!)
July 12, 2023
Zombie/Apocalypse stories have been more than a bit overdone--agree? They're still kinda fun anyway, so I decided to try to read the 9-book collection. The story line is full of new things and surprises, and I had a hard time putting the stories down. The story is electric with action, and a myriad of life and death struggles, and extraordinary insights garnered from Zed and Murphy as they deal with the new, very dangerous world.
I found that I admired and liked the two main action figures, Zed and Murphy. Their friendship and mutual admiration is beautifully drawn, and their dialogue is full of insights and touching love they have for their friendship as well as their women. They are consummate warriors of the apocalypse and the myriad battles were riveting with suspense and excitement.
Adair created these two with extraordinary battle prowess and love for the handful of survivors with whom they joined while overcoming hideous battle field action, mayhem, and death. Their analysis of how people and society fare in this apocalypse is full of intelligence and exciting insight. Book 10 had me on the edge of my seat for the most part, and I was compelled to read right through to the finish.
Adair also navigated the technology of modern medicine and bio-technology, and his grasp of the life sciences was impressive indeed for an author who is neither a biologist, physician, or career soldier.
By the end of the ten books, I found myself really loving Zed, Murphy and Steff, and pulling very hard for their survival!!
I found that I admired and liked the two main action figures, Zed and Murphy. Their friendship and mutual admiration is beautifully drawn, and their dialogue is full of insights and touching love they have for their friendship as well as their women. They are consummate warriors of the apocalypse and the myriad battles were riveting with suspense and excitement.
Adair created these two with extraordinary battle prowess and love for the handful of survivors with whom they joined while overcoming hideous battle field action, mayhem, and death. Their analysis of how people and society fare in this apocalypse is full of intelligence and exciting insight. Book 10 had me on the edge of my seat for the most part, and I was compelled to read right through to the finish.
Adair also navigated the technology of modern medicine and bio-technology, and his grasp of the life sciences was impressive indeed for an author who is neither a biologist, physician, or career soldier.
By the end of the ten books, I found myself really loving Zed, Murphy and Steff, and pulling very hard for their survival!!
May 18, 2023
It is fantastic. The Slow Burn series is one of the best I've ever read (heard, in my case, since I've listened to the Audiobook). The narrator does a fantastic job of portraying Zed and the various characters (Dale Hoover, Murphy, etc.). One of the great things about this book is that the main Slow Burn series ended with Book 9. I would have said the series didn't need to be continued, but Bobby Adair knew how to do it. This book is great, and the entire series received a second wind that made it fresh and new.
Firestorm is a book heavily inspired by the horrors of communist utopias. I want to give more information about it, but I would spoil it if I were to give you such information.
My recommendation to anybody reading this is for you to go through the entire Slow Burn series and consider Firestorm. I haven't read any of Bobby Adair's other works, but I can safely state that 'Slow Burn' and 'Firestorm' is the best Zed-Apocalypse sagas I've seen. And this is coming from an old Z-apocalypse fan (before it became cool with the Walking Dead series and the like).
Firestorm is a book heavily inspired by the horrors of communist utopias. I want to give more information about it, but I would spoil it if I were to give you such information.
My recommendation to anybody reading this is for you to go through the entire Slow Burn series and consider Firestorm. I haven't read any of Bobby Adair's other works, but I can safely state that 'Slow Burn' and 'Firestorm' is the best Zed-Apocalypse sagas I've seen. And this is coming from an old Z-apocalypse fan (before it became cool with the Walking Dead series and the like).
December 21, 2023
Part of me feels like this book didn't need to happen. Sounds like Adair went back and forth on whether to write as well, according to his note at the end of the book. Hard not to say more without going into spoilers, but suffice to say this just seemed like it fell into "later Walking Dead" territory for me. Where it was WAY less about the zombies and way more about the politics and people issues. The infected are still involved, but in a more subdued manner that kinda took away their spice.
Despite that, some good gore, action sequences, and a neat post-apocalyptic story.
Oh, and Zed is the worst. I've had some main characters that I've kind of been annoyed with but I don't think I'd despised any as much as him. No clue why he has friends at all. He's an immature dick. Part of me even though that they should have killed him off 3-4 books ago and mad Murphy the main guy.
Despite that, some good gore, action sequences, and a neat post-apocalyptic story.
Oh, and Zed is the worst. I've had some main characters that I've kind of been annoyed with but I don't think I'd despised any as much as him. No clue why he has friends at all. He's an immature dick. Part of me even though that they should have killed him off 3-4 books ago and mad Murphy the main guy.
July 19, 2021
Worth the wait for this gem
I began reading the Slow Burn series around the time book 9 came out. I bought the complete set and began reading. I was shocked at how quickly I devoured all 9 books.
Then. That was it. Bobby Adair said he felt the story concluded satisfactorily in book 9. However, I had a feeling the saga would continue. Year after year passed and I kept checking.
Then it finally happened. An announcement book 10 would be released. I got it on day one and just let it sit in my Kindle. I knew once I started reading I would finish it way too quickly. Well, I was right.
The story is very well told, as usual, with a perfect amount of humor, fire and tragedy. I understand that all stories must end at some point, but hopefully Bobby Adair can see his way to make the story as immortal as Zed and Murphy seem to be.
I began reading the Slow Burn series around the time book 9 came out. I bought the complete set and began reading. I was shocked at how quickly I devoured all 9 books.
Then. That was it. Bobby Adair said he felt the story concluded satisfactorily in book 9. However, I had a feeling the saga would continue. Year after year passed and I kept checking.
Then it finally happened. An announcement book 10 would be released. I got it on day one and just let it sit in my Kindle. I knew once I started reading I would finish it way too quickly. Well, I was right.
The story is very well told, as usual, with a perfect amount of humor, fire and tragedy. I understand that all stories must end at some point, but hopefully Bobby Adair can see his way to make the story as immortal as Zed and Murphy seem to be.
August 22, 2021
Amazing!!
I read the first 9 books 5 years ago but when Firestorm came out I have to re-read them from the beginning. Let me tell you it was the best series I've ever read. Firestorm went a totally different direction than I thought it would. I think this was the most action suspenseful and sorrowful book to me. I'm not going to say much more because I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it yet so all I will say is read it! Read the whole series! You won't regret it. And Bobby, I hope you continue with another new series for Zed and the gang. I'd love to know where they end up next. Its just one of those books you don't want to ever end. Thank you Bobby Adair!
I read the first 9 books 5 years ago but when Firestorm came out I have to re-read them from the beginning. Let me tell you it was the best series I've ever read. Firestorm went a totally different direction than I thought it would. I think this was the most action suspenseful and sorrowful book to me. I'm not going to say much more because I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it yet so all I will say is read it! Read the whole series! You won't regret it. And Bobby, I hope you continue with another new series for Zed and the gang. I'd love to know where they end up next. Its just one of those books you don't want to ever end. Thank you Bobby Adair!
February 4, 2023
I never thought that a ZOMBIE Book could have a HEA, well as happy as it could be! I truly enjoyed this whole series. I am not a zombie book reader, in fact, THIS Series is my First!! I'm afraid that if I read others, they will be sorely lacking because this series elicited SO many emotions, But I truly enjoyed the relationship between the 2 main characters, it was SO real! I could hang with these guys! They NEVER gave up on each other despite the fact that they met in jail! Read this series in order, you'll laugh, cry, want to slap the spit out of some of the characters, and root for people who endure to the end. "Hey, you still alive?" I'll have to get the audiobook version to listen to now!
Thank you Mr. Adair for a truly engaging and entertaining series!
Thank you Mr. Adair for a truly engaging and entertaining series!
June 5, 2023
An excellent pick up 14 years after the last book in the series. It seemed like no time has passed in terms of relationships. The author did a great job with that. This particular storyline was very intriguing. My guess is that we will encounter them again in the future. We need to find out why the doctor told Zed to hightail it out if there asap. We definitely haven’t uncovered the horrors lurking under the nice looking towns.
I felt the end was a bit rushed but maybe the author didn’t want to dwell on the sad things. It can get annoying when Zed is in a super-funk so perhaps that’s why the storyline was more like an overview.
I listened to the audiobook and it’s narrated by one of the best!
I felt the end was a bit rushed but maybe the author didn’t want to dwell on the sad things. It can get annoying when Zed is in a super-funk so perhaps that’s why the storyline was more like an overview.
I listened to the audiobook and it’s narrated by one of the best!
December 25, 2025
14 years of safety, 14 years of comfort but things never last forever. Except for the whites and human contempt for those who are different.
Fantastic novel, I'm both glad and saddened that there is a new novel in the series.
Glad since I can join up with Zed and Murphy again, sad because some character/s that I like is/are going to die (I still miss Russell).
Nonstop action and thriller throughout.
New villlains that you can't decide are evil or just morally gray, is Zed finally loosing his mind, probably. But he'll never lose his attitude and hate for authority.
I hope the Adair will continue the series as it has become one of my favourites.
In the meantime I'll be checking on his other works.
Fantastic novel, I'm both glad and saddened that there is a new novel in the series.
Glad since I can join up with Zed and Murphy again, sad because some character/s that I like is/are going to die (I still miss Russell).
Nonstop action and thriller throughout.
New villlains that you can't decide are evil or just morally gray, is Zed finally loosing his mind, probably. But he'll never lose his attitude and hate for authority.
I hope the Adair will continue the series as it has become one of my favourites.
In the meantime I'll be checking on his other works.
June 28, 2021
Firestorm: A Must Read
Thank you, Bobby for creating another addition to the Slow Burn series. I decided to re-read the entire series . It felt like there wasn't a five year gap in your writing and it seemed as if book 10 was planned all along. Kudos to you for keeping the same tone and character personalities of the previous books. Firestorm was exciting and unpredictable. I loved the entire book. Slow Burn has always been a series I recommend to people. Now I can tell them they have to read Firestorm too. I really enjoyed every minute of it. I can't wait for book 11. I hope you will continue to write more books in this series. You are one of my most favorite authors.
Thank you, Bobby for creating another addition to the Slow Burn series. I decided to re-read the entire series . It felt like there wasn't a five year gap in your writing and it seemed as if book 10 was planned all along. Kudos to you for keeping the same tone and character personalities of the previous books. Firestorm was exciting and unpredictable. I loved the entire book. Slow Burn has always been a series I recommend to people. Now I can tell them they have to read Firestorm too. I really enjoyed every minute of it. I can't wait for book 11. I hope you will continue to write more books in this series. You are one of my most favorite authors.
July 4, 2021
Wow, it’s been 5 years since the last book. I honestly thought that was it. I’m so glad it wasn’t. Reading about Zed & Murphy again was slipping on an old pair of shoes. They fit perfectly. This book was a roller coaster from beginning to end, and there’s no way this is over, there’s too many lose ends to do that. Hopefully we don’t have to wait as long this time to see where Zed, Murphy and the other survivors end up. Great story, I’ve never been disappointed by Bobby Adair’s work. I would strongly recommend this book, however you have to read the first 9 before you do lol ( if you haven’t already)
June 1, 2023
Best of the series.
I’ve enjoyed every book in this series. The characters have depth and although they differ in characters, the likeable ones are extremely likeable and the bad ones are complex and distasteful.
The plot isn’t your average zombie horror story, it’s well thought out, thought provoking, believable, and in this book particularly it is full of twists and new ideas.
Bobby Adair is on a par with the best selling authors that I read and better than some of the best sellers that you’ll regularly see on bookshop shelves. I look forward to trying a different series of his.
I’ve enjoyed every book in this series. The characters have depth and although they differ in characters, the likeable ones are extremely likeable and the bad ones are complex and distasteful.
The plot isn’t your average zombie horror story, it’s well thought out, thought provoking, believable, and in this book particularly it is full of twists and new ideas.
Bobby Adair is on a par with the best selling authors that I read and better than some of the best sellers that you’ll regularly see on bookshop shelves. I look forward to trying a different series of his.
April 19, 2024
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW AMAZING!
Since discovering this author with book one of this series years ago now, I’ve finally come to the end of the series. I love it. The raw emotion of their feelings and the ability to survive.
However, is it true? Are they now immortal? It’s a great concept.
Murphy and Zed are seriously favourite characters.
If you’ve read the previous 9 books you’re not reading the reviews to see if it’s worth reading - it’s book 10 written by Bobby Adair about Murphy and Zed - you’re gonna get this book.
I bought the audio narration - get that too, absolutely totally worth it.
Since discovering this author with book one of this series years ago now, I’ve finally come to the end of the series. I love it. The raw emotion of their feelings and the ability to survive.
However, is it true? Are they now immortal? It’s a great concept.
Murphy and Zed are seriously favourite characters.
If you’ve read the previous 9 books you’re not reading the reviews to see if it’s worth reading - it’s book 10 written by Bobby Adair about Murphy and Zed - you’re gonna get this book.
I bought the audio narration - get that too, absolutely totally worth it.
March 30, 2025
Great ending to a great series
One of the best and most believable apocalyptic series I've ever read. What always bothered me about walking dead zombies is that somehow their muscles kept contracting without any blood flow to bring in sugar and oxygen needed to produce ATP. We have to suspend reality when reading horror novels but walking dead is just too much. Bobby Adair's virus effects make sense and the whole idea of a virus affecting people in different ways is novel and refreshing. I've actually read the whole series several times and enjoyed it every time. One of the best and most imaginative series I've ever read. I highly highly recommend it.
One of the best and most believable apocalyptic series I've ever read. What always bothered me about walking dead zombies is that somehow their muscles kept contracting without any blood flow to bring in sugar and oxygen needed to produce ATP. We have to suspend reality when reading horror novels but walking dead is just too much. Bobby Adair's virus effects make sense and the whole idea of a virus affecting people in different ways is novel and refreshing. I've actually read the whole series several times and enjoyed it every time. One of the best and most imaginative series I've ever read. I highly highly recommend it.
July 27, 2025
This review is for the entire series overall. It has taken me 2 1/2 years to read this series from start to finish. Not that the story was bad or boring or poorly written. But I was just extremely busy with not much leisure time. That I always went back to these books, goes to show how this author really knows how to hook you in. I love the back-and-forth between Zed and Murphy. They had such a good dynamic between them. By the time I got to this final book, I started to feel really sad knowing it would be over soon. I haven’t been this into a series for a long, long time. I would like to thank the author for making something so awesome.
June 1, 2021
Absolutely worth the wait. The first page brings us right back into step with the indomitable Zed & Murphy. Bobby Adair writes a great tale, builds a crazy, apocalyptic world on the back of humankind's worst impulses. His undead are not your typical Zombies and most times the threat from the 'normals' is far greater than that from his wildest 'Whites'. Zed & Murphy's wise cracking friendship continues as they support each other through wilder and wilder situations. This is book 10 in a brilliant series, most definitely read the first 9 to get the most from this one.
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June 21, 2021YEP
I gave this story five stars because it was that good.
I really didn't know what to expect from book 10 of the Slow Burn series. The world is surely screwed up. So what's next for our intrepid foursome. One thing always seems certain, there's going to be plenty of action.
However, it worries and concerns me greatly, that mankind has the propensity for such utter evil and cruelty. The question is, WHY?
This is clearly highlighted in this Slow Burn series. But is undeniably with us in our lives even now.
I gave this story five stars because it was that good.
I really didn't know what to expect from book 10 of the Slow Burn series. The world is surely screwed up. So what's next for our intrepid foursome. One thing always seems certain, there's going to be plenty of action.
However, it worries and concerns me greatly, that mankind has the propensity for such utter evil and cruelty. The question is, WHY?
This is clearly highlighted in this Slow Burn series. But is undeniably with us in our lives even now.
July 20, 2021
Worth the wait
I honestly wasn't expecting this book to be as great as it was. The Slow-burn books 1-9 were already perfect and I couldn't imagine it being any better. I'm glad I was proven wrong. I've missed Zed and Murphy's shenanigans. Not to mention this book had the ability to make me physically nauseous at times with just the way things happened in the story, and the way it was described. I just want to say thank you Bobby Adair, and I hope and pray you continue the crazy story of Zed & Murphy & the rest of the gang.
I honestly wasn't expecting this book to be as great as it was. The Slow-burn books 1-9 were already perfect and I couldn't imagine it being any better. I'm glad I was proven wrong. I've missed Zed and Murphy's shenanigans. Not to mention this book had the ability to make me physically nauseous at times with just the way things happened in the story, and the way it was described. I just want to say thank you Bobby Adair, and I hope and pray you continue the crazy story of Zed & Murphy & the rest of the gang.
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