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Nations collapsed. The undead rose. Not everyone died.
There is a safe haven, so they are told, in a small village on the Irish coast. But before they can go there, Bill and Kim must travel back into London to rescue Annette and Daisy. Then they will have to battle their way through an infected England to a rendezvous in Wales. But even if they can get the children to safety, Bill’s journey won’t be over. When he is told of the sanctuary awaiting them, he also discovers that the scientist who created the virus escaped from New York.
In order for the survivors to truly be safe, Bill will travel to Northumberland to confront the threat, discover the truth behind the conspiracy and finally choose between his old family and his new one.
This is the third volume of his journal. (78,000 words) Please Note: This novel features characters who first appeared in the short story Zombies vs The Living Dead.
Surviving the Evacuation: 1: London. 2: Wasteland. 3: Family. 4: Unsafe Haven. 5: Reunion. Book 6: Harvest. Book 7: Home. & Here We Stand: Infected.
Other novels: Strike a Match 1: Serious Crimes, 2: Counterfeit Conspiracy. & Work, Rest, Repeat - A post-apocalyptic detective novel.
There is a safe haven, so they are told, in a small village on the Irish coast. But before they can go there, Bill and Kim must travel back into London to rescue Annette and Daisy. Then they will have to battle their way through an infected England to a rendezvous in Wales. But even if they can get the children to safety, Bill’s journey won’t be over. When he is told of the sanctuary awaiting them, he also discovers that the scientist who created the virus escaped from New York.
In order for the survivors to truly be safe, Bill will travel to Northumberland to confront the threat, discover the truth behind the conspiracy and finally choose between his old family and his new one.
This is the third volume of his journal. (78,000 words) Please Note: This novel features characters who first appeared in the short story Zombies vs The Living Dead.
Surviving the Evacuation: 1: London. 2: Wasteland. 3: Family. 4: Unsafe Haven. 5: Reunion. Book 6: Harvest. Book 7: Home. & Here We Stand: Infected.
Other novels: Strike a Match 1: Serious Crimes, 2: Counterfeit Conspiracy. & Work, Rest, Repeat - A post-apocalyptic detective novel.
276 pages, ebook
First published June 5, 2014
684 people are currently reading
1068 people want to read
About the author
Frank Tayell
55 books486 followersAuthor of post-apocalyptic and near-future science fiction, with a focus on democracies struggling against dystopia.
For more information, or to join the mailing list, please visit; www.FrankTayell.com, facebook.com/FrankTayell, or facebook.com/TheEvacuation
For more information, or to join the mailing list, please visit; www.FrankTayell.com, facebook.com/FrankTayell, or facebook.com/TheEvacuation
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
September 3, 2018
It would be years before I would connect an Extra Special Vacation Episode of Happy Days with the phenomenon known as 'jumping the shark.'
Actual video of this is viewable on my blog at https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2018/...
Alas; for me, the shark was well and truly jumped in book three of the 'Surviving the Evacuation' series. Book one was about Bill coming to terms with the changes in the world and working out how he could survive. Book two was about discovering other people, throwing in a political wrinkle about how zombies came about. In this, book three, Bill and his tiny band of survivors head toward the coast, following rumors of a large group surviving on an island. They eventually reach a half-way house and discover far more about international apocalypse politics than anyone wanted to know.
The plot continues to be filled with odd plot points--thank you very much; I'm aware I'm talking about a zombie book--that result in deux ex machina solutions. In the midst of plain ol' survival issues, Bill decides discovering if he is a 'carrier' of the virus is an important issue. Oh, and maybe we can create a vaccine out of his immune status if he isn't. As if mere survival wasn't enough, the undead have started to gather into hordes, like wildebeest in the savannah. The discover that competition over nuclear submarines is still a thing. But helpfully, Sholto, Bill's brother, appears to have been trained by Jason Bourne. There's more, of course, but these are the kind of plot points that move an apocalypse book past the exploration of what survival means into a bizarre kind of war movie. Can you even have international politics when we don't know if other nations survived?
Everything that inspired curiosity and appreciation in Book One was well and truly gone by the end of this one. Perhaps I am wrong, and perhaps Bill is essentially the same person from book one, trusting in his childhood friend and responding with remarkable naivete to his situations, hoping for the best. But now having survived in the wider world with months of the zombie apocalypse under his belt, he displays no further planning, analysis, or, as it's euphemistically called, 'situational awareness.' Far from the Girl Scout mentality he first displayed, he waits until he's in a fight before realizing his knife is ineffective: "The weight was too much, the balance wrong. Without the two fingers from my left hand I couldn’t handle the weapon properly." This was the same person that made his own spear, practicing with it until it became relatively safe. But somehow, Bill pretends he's learned his lesson, if only it wasn't repeated ad nauseum 75% of the way into the story:
"What I said next was cruel, but it was necessary. I was starting to get a measure of this place, and it was dawning on me that I’d made a big mistake going there so unprepared."
I found myself outlining passages, marking a 'TSTL' more than once. I ended up setting the book down for some time and might have left it for good if it weren't for that annoyingly completionist drive I sometimes have.
The first book in the series was fabulous, an 'I Am Legend' type story that captures all the complexities end-of-the-world stories are capable of exploring. The last two books, however, have been steadily sinking. Still, I'd recommend the first book, with the caveat of stopping after. Yes, I know it's hard. Yes, I know there are more stories/episodes/seasons. Yes, Happy Days continued. Just Don't Do It. Save yourself the shark experience, and treasure a perfect memory instead.
One-and-a-half sharks, rounding up because I finished.
Actual video of this is viewable on my blog at https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2018/...
Alas; for me, the shark was well and truly jumped in book three of the 'Surviving the Evacuation' series. Book one was about Bill coming to terms with the changes in the world and working out how he could survive. Book two was about discovering other people, throwing in a political wrinkle about how zombies came about. In this, book three, Bill and his tiny band of survivors head toward the coast, following rumors of a large group surviving on an island. They eventually reach a half-way house and discover far more about international apocalypse politics than anyone wanted to know.
The plot continues to be filled with odd plot points--thank you very much; I'm aware I'm talking about a zombie book--that result in deux ex machina solutions. In the midst of plain ol' survival issues, Bill decides discovering if he is a 'carrier' of the virus is an important issue. Oh, and maybe we can create a vaccine out of his immune status if he isn't. As if mere survival wasn't enough, the undead have started to gather into hordes, like wildebeest in the savannah. The discover that competition over nuclear submarines is still a thing. But helpfully, Sholto, Bill's brother, appears to have been trained by Jason Bourne. There's more, of course, but these are the kind of plot points that move an apocalypse book past the exploration of what survival means into a bizarre kind of war movie. Can you even have international politics when we don't know if other nations survived?
Everything that inspired curiosity and appreciation in Book One was well and truly gone by the end of this one. Perhaps I am wrong, and perhaps Bill is essentially the same person from book one, trusting in his childhood friend and responding with remarkable naivete to his situations, hoping for the best. But now having survived in the wider world with months of the zombie apocalypse under his belt, he displays no further planning, analysis, or, as it's euphemistically called, 'situational awareness.' Far from the Girl Scout mentality he first displayed, he waits until he's in a fight before realizing his knife is ineffective: "The weight was too much, the balance wrong. Without the two fingers from my left hand I couldn’t handle the weapon properly." This was the same person that made his own spear, practicing with it until it became relatively safe. But somehow, Bill pretends he's learned his lesson, if only it wasn't repeated ad nauseum 75% of the way into the story:
"What I said next was cruel, but it was necessary. I was starting to get a measure of this place, and it was dawning on me that I’d made a big mistake going there so unprepared."
I found myself outlining passages, marking a 'TSTL' more than once. I ended up setting the book down for some time and might have left it for good if it weren't for that annoyingly completionist drive I sometimes have.
The first book in the series was fabulous, an 'I Am Legend' type story that captures all the complexities end-of-the-world stories are capable of exploring. The last two books, however, have been steadily sinking. Still, I'd recommend the first book, with the caveat of stopping after. Yes, I know it's hard. Yes, I know there are more stories/episodes/seasons. Yes, Happy Days continued. Just Don't Do It. Save yourself the shark experience, and treasure a perfect memory instead.
One-and-a-half sharks, rounding up because I finished.
February 8, 2019
I liked this a bit better than the second book but less than the first. Three and a half stars because of the things I didn’t like. One of the things I did like was Kim, she had a bit more character development and her motives became more clear. Of course she was missing from the final third of the book. I also loved George, that conniving wily old man and I wish there was more of him. I loved the short story Zombies vs. The living dead and I was really happy to see him again.
I found that a lot of the plot still hinged on coincidence, the rescue of Annette and Daisy seemed illogical. I really doubt that they would have ever really found them. Also Quigley was clearly deranged. He was the villain definitely but the setup at Caulfield smelled and I thought Jennifer was incredibly stupid not to see that. I was glad to finally have a reason for the whole mess, even though the reasons Quigley did what he did were selfish and short sighted.
The truth is you are better off rebuilding society with farmers, teachers, medical professionals and skilled tradesmen than you are with politicians and their spin doctors and the wealthy elites.
I thought this book suffered from some of the problems that The Walking Dead suffers from. It looks at ways to create drama, the big bad if you will to create drama in ways that don’t make sense. The fact is that if you don’t find a way to start growing crops, creating food eventually you will run out things to scavenge and you will starve to death. Without access to vaccines, and antibiotics you will die of infections that don’t kill us now. Of course antibiotics don’t work as well as they used to either. Unfortunately a book or a tv series about really re-creating a society from the ruins of the old one isn’t as exciting, although I like to think it is more realistic. Although mankind’s ability to destroy himself and everything around him can’t be underestimated.
I found that a lot of the plot still hinged on coincidence, the rescue of Annette and Daisy seemed illogical. I really doubt that they would have ever really found them. Also Quigley was clearly deranged. He was the villain definitely but the setup at Caulfield smelled and I thought Jennifer was incredibly stupid not to see that. I was glad to finally have a reason for the whole mess, even though the reasons Quigley did what he did were selfish and short sighted.
The truth is you are better off rebuilding society with farmers, teachers, medical professionals and skilled tradesmen than you are with politicians and their spin doctors and the wealthy elites.
I thought this book suffered from some of the problems that The Walking Dead suffers from. It looks at ways to create drama, the big bad if you will to create drama in ways that don’t make sense. The fact is that if you don’t find a way to start growing crops, creating food eventually you will run out things to scavenge and you will starve to death. Without access to vaccines, and antibiotics you will die of infections that don’t kill us now. Of course antibiotics don’t work as well as they used to either. Unfortunately a book or a tv series about really re-creating a society from the ruins of the old one isn’t as exciting, although I like to think it is more realistic. Although mankind’s ability to destroy himself and everything around him can’t be underestimated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2023
This book wraps up Bill's storyline in the 20 book series and this is where my journey ends with the series. It wasn't bad but it wasn't interesting enough for me to continue the series.
I wasn't too surprised with the Jen and Quigley storylines. They got mentioned too often in the first three books not to have some part. Having said that when we do meet up with them it felt way too rushed when they resolved that storyline.
It was a nice touch though having George from the prequel make an appearance in this story.
I wasn't too surprised with the Jen and Quigley storylines. They got mentioned too often in the first three books not to have some part. Having said that when we do meet up with them it felt way too rushed when they resolved that storyline.
It was a nice touch though having George from the prequel make an appearance in this story.
January 26, 2026
June 2022
September 2025
Family concludes the original trilogy, although the series continues from other characters perspectives. This is one of the best post-apocalyptic series that I have read and it was a lot of fun. I'm excited to continue the series and see what else is in store.
September 2025
Family concludes the original trilogy, although the series continues from other characters perspectives. This is one of the best post-apocalyptic series that I have read and it was a lot of fun. I'm excited to continue the series and see what else is in store.
May 12, 2025
One to mark off my "Books Languishing The Longest On My Kindle" Goals list.
May 8, 2015
.... and so it continues. Episode three sees the removal of those who had double-crossed Bill and Kim, and the reunion with those for whom they'd been searching, together with the journey to the beach in Wales where Sholto is sure lies the beginning of their rescue.
This was a mixed one for me. I read the free short story, in which we are introduced to George Tull, the (relatively) young and sprightly resident of an old peoples' home. This story takes place just as the outbreak starts, and is very, very good - go read it! Some of the conspiracy uncovering and resolving stuff I found a little bit too outlandish, coincidental and not in keeping with the realism of the rest of it (if talking about realism when referring to a zombie apocalypse novel doesn't seem too daft), and also a little information-heavy; George didn't seem to bear much relation to the old chap I'd met in the short story. There was too much long conversation which was all there just to impart the background and subsequent cover-ups to the reader, it wasn't that interesting to read.
However! There were also some splendid bits. There's a truly shocking episode around the middle, when the group have come through a fairly zombie-free few miles, only to look over a hill into the abyss - literally millions of them, all on a shambling march to nowhere. I won't say how they hide from them because it'll spoil it if you read it, but the descriptions of this, their escape and how the horde of moving undead turn the countryside into something like the face of the moon were so good I read it twice. There's also a balloon ride that I read twice, too, and I loved some of Bill's thoughts about the world and the situation they were in.
To sum up - some bits were a bit tedious, but I still really liked it, and am still going to start book 4.... now!
This was a mixed one for me. I read the free short story, in which we are introduced to George Tull, the (relatively) young and sprightly resident of an old peoples' home. This story takes place just as the outbreak starts, and is very, very good - go read it! Some of the conspiracy uncovering and resolving stuff I found a little bit too outlandish, coincidental and not in keeping with the realism of the rest of it (if talking about realism when referring to a zombie apocalypse novel doesn't seem too daft), and also a little information-heavy; George didn't seem to bear much relation to the old chap I'd met in the short story. There was too much long conversation which was all there just to impart the background and subsequent cover-ups to the reader, it wasn't that interesting to read.
However! There were also some splendid bits. There's a truly shocking episode around the middle, when the group have come through a fairly zombie-free few miles, only to look over a hill into the abyss - literally millions of them, all on a shambling march to nowhere. I won't say how they hide from them because it'll spoil it if you read it, but the descriptions of this, their escape and how the horde of moving undead turn the countryside into something like the face of the moon were so good I read it twice. There's also a balloon ride that I read twice, too, and I loved some of Bill's thoughts about the world and the situation they were in.
To sum up - some bits were a bit tedious, but I still really liked it, and am still going to start book 4.... now!
September 20, 2021
This is book 3 of a series that's up to 18 now! I'm not a big zombie fan, but I really enjoyed book one and do not hesitate to say Frank Tayell can write. Book two was also good, but a plot line involving kidnapped children, another thing I generally avoid, started and has continued into this third book. For those two reasons, I don't intend to continue the series. It's just not what I want to read about.
Someone who enjoys high tension, well written zombie stories will love this series!
I would happily read something else from Tayell if it didn't involve zombies. He has two other series, both with end of the world scenarios. I have the first book of an AI takes over scenario and the other is a new series that looks far too much like real life just now.
Anyway, Tayell's writing is full of originality, suspense, well-written tension and surprises. If you want to read about survival in very trying circumstances, he should be at the top of your reading list.
Someone who enjoys high tension, well written zombie stories will love this series!
I would happily read something else from Tayell if it didn't involve zombies. He has two other series, both with end of the world scenarios. I have the first book of an AI takes over scenario and the other is a new series that looks far too much like real life just now.
Anyway, Tayell's writing is full of originality, suspense, well-written tension and surprises. If you want to read about survival in very trying circumstances, he should be at the top of your reading list.
July 17, 2022
I got through it!
Man was it tedious at times. The first hundred pages were boring and I almost DNF but I hung on, on my wife's incentives.
She was right for the story improved at last and finally offers a real ending to those three books that're Bill's journal.
That closure is most welcome and is a good way for me to part from this series I won't read further.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Man was it tedious at times. The first hundred pages were boring and I almost DNF but I hung on, on my wife's incentives.
She was right for the story improved at last and finally offers a real ending to those three books that're Bill's journal.
That closure is most welcome and is a good way for me to part from this series I won't read further.
3.5 stars rounded up.
February 17, 2022
The third book of the Surviving The Evacuation series concludes Bill's story, as he and Kim search for the kidnapped girls and seek safe harbour, while Bill also looks for closure on the political front. There's a lot of good zombie action in this one, even if some of the character's choices are a little absurd. The journaling format continues, though, to hold the reader at arm's length. And I realized what was bothering me in another way. The characters never speak to each other unless it's to exchange important information. Making a plan, telling what happened when they were apart, arguing about a decision. It's a bit better in this one because filling in the backstories almost feels like legit dialogue.
Apparently the next story in the series features new characters. I'm hoping it ditches the journal format as well.
Apparently the next story in the series features new characters. I'm hoping it ditches the journal format as well.
March 20, 2022
Ohhh this one was genuinely scary at parts! It's all well and good when a zombie comes out you alone, or just a few. It's all well and good if there's a few lurking in a house or the woods, but what if there are millions congregated together, swarming the land? how do you avoid certain death then?
I actually really liked the ending, and the wrap up of the political elements as well. I might leave this series for a while though as it does move on to other characters and I'm still a bit stuck on Bill. I think he was a great protagonist, and this story was definitely a little different and interesting. Four stars.
I actually really liked the ending, and the wrap up of the political elements as well. I might leave this series for a while though as it does move on to other characters and I'm still a bit stuck on Bill. I think he was a great protagonist, and this story was definitely a little different and interesting. Four stars.
December 5, 2018
This one was a waste of money. In a post apocalyptic zombie filled world, survivor groups of men and women are fighting and KILLING eachother for the right to bring up someone else’s constantly crying baby. Right. Very realistic. Lol.
July 25, 2014
This series did not disappoint. I stayed up until 3:30 am to finish this book. This is book 3 in the series. The main character, Bill, has been through hell and back. But so has his companions. The burning question in Bill's mind is ,WHY? He goes to great lengths to answer that. Will that answer be enough to allow him to settle down and know he's safe? Would you after 5 months of life and death survival? I wish there were another book. I would love to have seen an epilogue. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes Zombies, Post Apocalyptic and new beginnings.
July 17, 2022
Really cool series. I've read all the books in the series, including the two Here We Stand books. I'm currently on book 11, Search And Rescue and am bummed that there's only book 12 left before I'm done.
I love the writer's style of writing. Story line(s) are hard to predict. Recommend anyone who loves a good zombie/dystopian read. Note: Most challenging part is keeping track of the many characters so if you like that, this book series is for you.
I love the writer's style of writing. Story line(s) are hard to predict. Recommend anyone who loves a good zombie/dystopian read. Note: Most challenging part is keeping track of the many characters so if you like that, this book series is for you.
April 6, 2018
My review of Family can also be found here: Review of Family by Frank Tayell
I definitely think this is my favorite out of the series so far! There was so much happening in this book! We got lots of action, both in dealing with the undead and the living alike. We also got to see some interesting story twists and shocking new information. One thing I really liked that was that like Kim in book two, Annette now wants to make sure her story is written down in Bill's journal as well. It's so neat seeing them all want their stories written down in case something were to happen.
So I was incredibly happy Bill, Kim & Sholto went after Daisy and Annette! I have to say, Annette was really crafty in leaving clues for the trio to follow to find them. Leaving a pamphlet to where Barrett was taking them, Daisy's hat at a place they stopped, the subtle towel on the side of the building to signal them they were in there. For a 13 year old girl, she is incredibly smart! We even see just how well she's observed others. She knew how to subtlety get rid of supplies in a way Barrett and her group wouldn't notice. Annette knew they weren't paying serious attention to their supplies and used it to her advantage to get them to stop and bail from the boat. In the end, her sabotage, clues and signals really helped in getting them found and saved by Bill, Kim & Sholto. And I really don't feel bad for what happened to Barrett and her slimy little group. From what Annette told everyone when they were rescued, they had planned a lot more of the sleazy actions we saw then realized. I had a bad feeling about them in the last book and it was proven right in this one.
I was surprised by the horde they encountered while escaping the one they helped form saving Annette and Daisy. But it wasn't just a horde like we've seen, a few hundred here, a few thousand there. No, this horde had hundreds of thousands if not millions of undead. It was as if a majority of Britain's population was a part of this horde. It destroyed literally everything in its path, only leaving destruction and barren land behind. The group came across it and had to find some serious shelter to hide from it or they wouldn't have made it. I have to admit, I still wouldn't have had as quick of thinking as Bill did with finding a place strong enough to hold up to the horde. I guess it was good his job took him all over Britain or else he wouldn't know about some of these places to hide out in. You have to wonder if there's more of those huge hordes though.
I have mixed feelings about how the characters in the last third of the book acted. There was so much deceit and lies going around. The first being how the old man got Bill to go up to the other group of survivors, which just happened to have the last few members of government, including Jen. He lied about where the village of survivors on the Irish coast was actually located, how many people were actually there and then got Bill to do his dirty work to protect the place. I really felt had the old man just been honest with Bill, he still would have done it because he wanted to protect the place he was sending Kim and the girls, but also because he would have wanted to see Jen again. There was absolutely no need for the lies. But I also couldn't hate him since he helped set up some safe-houses. Remember the house with the flags Annette saw in book 2? Yeah, that was one.
Bill does get to Jen's family hall where they built their safe area. He finds Quigley, who he knows was part of causing the outbreak to happen, surrounded by people he brainwashed. The amount of lies he had going and how many people believed them. I was amazed. From claiming terrorists caused the outbreak to claiming he has a new queen for the country and everything in between. Every word out of this mans mouth was a lie. It was also amusing how they claimed they'd rebuild the government and the country, but didn't even venture out far from the hall see what was really going on in the world. These people had no idea some survivors could be immune! I have to say, with how smart Jen was made out to be, she seemed to be pretty easily won over by Quigley's lies. I also thought if/when Bill and Jen got a reunion it would have been much bigger and meaningful than it actually was.
I have to say, I think it was so sweet how Bill really started to look at Kim and the girls like they were his family in this new world. He cared so much about making sure they were ok even if it meant them possibly having to leave him behind at times. I can't wait to pick Bill's story back up in book 8!
I definitely think this is my favorite out of the series so far! There was so much happening in this book! We got lots of action, both in dealing with the undead and the living alike. We also got to see some interesting story twists and shocking new information. One thing I really liked that was that like Kim in book two, Annette now wants to make sure her story is written down in Bill's journal as well. It's so neat seeing them all want their stories written down in case something were to happen.
So I was incredibly happy Bill, Kim & Sholto went after Daisy and Annette! I have to say, Annette was really crafty in leaving clues for the trio to follow to find them. Leaving a pamphlet to where Barrett was taking them, Daisy's hat at a place they stopped, the subtle towel on the side of the building to signal them they were in there. For a 13 year old girl, she is incredibly smart! We even see just how well she's observed others. She knew how to subtlety get rid of supplies in a way Barrett and her group wouldn't notice. Annette knew they weren't paying serious attention to their supplies and used it to her advantage to get them to stop and bail from the boat. In the end, her sabotage, clues and signals really helped in getting them found and saved by Bill, Kim & Sholto. And I really don't feel bad for what happened to Barrett and her slimy little group. From what Annette told everyone when they were rescued, they had planned a lot more of the sleazy actions we saw then realized. I had a bad feeling about them in the last book and it was proven right in this one.
I was surprised by the horde they encountered while escaping the one they helped form saving Annette and Daisy. But it wasn't just a horde like we've seen, a few hundred here, a few thousand there. No, this horde had hundreds of thousands if not millions of undead. It was as if a majority of Britain's population was a part of this horde. It destroyed literally everything in its path, only leaving destruction and barren land behind. The group came across it and had to find some serious shelter to hide from it or they wouldn't have made it. I have to admit, I still wouldn't have had as quick of thinking as Bill did with finding a place strong enough to hold up to the horde. I guess it was good his job took him all over Britain or else he wouldn't know about some of these places to hide out in. You have to wonder if there's more of those huge hordes though.
I have mixed feelings about how the characters in the last third of the book acted. There was so much deceit and lies going around. The first being how the old man got Bill to go up to the other group of survivors, which just happened to have the last few members of government, including Jen. He lied about where the village of survivors on the Irish coast was actually located, how many people were actually there and then got Bill to do his dirty work to protect the place. I really felt had the old man just been honest with Bill, he still would have done it because he wanted to protect the place he was sending Kim and the girls, but also because he would have wanted to see Jen again. There was absolutely no need for the lies. But I also couldn't hate him since he helped set up some safe-houses. Remember the house with the flags Annette saw in book 2? Yeah, that was one.
Bill does get to Jen's family hall where they built their safe area. He finds Quigley, who he knows was part of causing the outbreak to happen, surrounded by people he brainwashed. The amount of lies he had going and how many people believed them. I was amazed. From claiming terrorists caused the outbreak to claiming he has a new queen for the country and everything in between. Every word out of this mans mouth was a lie. It was also amusing how they claimed they'd rebuild the government and the country, but didn't even venture out far from the hall see what was really going on in the world. These people had no idea some survivors could be immune! I have to say, with how smart Jen was made out to be, she seemed to be pretty easily won over by Quigley's lies. I also thought if/when Bill and Jen got a reunion it would have been much bigger and meaningful than it actually was.
I have to say, I think it was so sweet how Bill really started to look at Kim and the girls like they were his family in this new world. He cared so much about making sure they were ok even if it meant them possibly having to leave him behind at times. I can't wait to pick Bill's story back up in book 8!
July 8, 2018
Kirja jatkaa edelleen Billin päiväkirjamuodossa. Kolmannessa osassa Bill ja Kim jatkavat etsintää pitkin Thamesia ja Lontoon hylättyjä katuja. Etsintä tuntuu epätoivoiselta mutta kun mahdollisuus löytää tytöt ilmenee he tekevät kipeitä päätöksiä ja aloittavat vaarallisen suunnitelman.
Bill saa selville että jossain on turvapaikka, jossa heilläkin olisi mahdollisuus aloittaa uusi elämä tai ainakin tarjota tytöille prempi elämä tässä rikkonaisessa maailmassa. Bill ei kuitenkaan saa rauhaa menneisyydeltä vaan haluaa vastauksia. Hänen omat tekonsa aiheuttavat hänelle syyllisyyttä ja se kaivertaa hänen ja Kimin välejä.
Matka turvapaikkaan on pelottava ja ahdistava, koko tuhon laajuus selviää kun he törmäävät jättimäiseen zombie-laumaan. Löytyykö turvaa mistään ja onko pohjoisessa todella odottamassa laivue joka veisi heidät turvapaikkaan vai onko kaikki vain valetta jonka eräs henkilö heille on syöttänyt. Totuus selviää lopulta ja Bill saa vastauksia kysymyksiinsä. Ei ehkä selllaisia kun hän odotti mutta lopulta hän saa jonkinmoisen rauhan.
Bill saa selville että jossain on turvapaikka, jossa heilläkin olisi mahdollisuus aloittaa uusi elämä tai ainakin tarjota tytöille prempi elämä tässä rikkonaisessa maailmassa. Bill ei kuitenkaan saa rauhaa menneisyydeltä vaan haluaa vastauksia. Hänen omat tekonsa aiheuttavat hänelle syyllisyyttä ja se kaivertaa hänen ja Kimin välejä.
Matka turvapaikkaan on pelottava ja ahdistava, koko tuhon laajuus selviää kun he törmäävät jättimäiseen zombie-laumaan. Löytyykö turvaa mistään ja onko pohjoisessa todella odottamassa laivue joka veisi heidät turvapaikkaan vai onko kaikki vain valetta jonka eräs henkilö heille on syöttänyt. Totuus selviää lopulta ja Bill saa vastauksia kysymyksiinsä. Ei ehkä selllaisia kun hän odotti mutta lopulta hän saa jonkinmoisen rauhan.
September 12, 2020
This was fantastic, the entire first 3 books of the Surviving The Evacuation series as one story are great. I was uncertain how it would continue after this since it wraps up the protagonists story arc nicely and took a look at the description apparently the next book starts a new characters story. While that sounds exciting I'm uncertain how it will work with the journal format which from book 2 on wasn't exactly perfect, so I'm uncertain about believe-ability if another survivor just happens to be journaling in the same format. Though honestly I'm not sure what format the next book takes. The series is good so far so I'm torn between the desire to continue and the satisfaction of this story arc ending. I guess if I was really concerned about believe-ability I wouldn't be reading zombie books (one can only hope). Anyways this story has lots of hints at the larger character story and a larger global plot and the way it's worked out is fantastic. All I can really say is books one through three are worth a read.
February 9, 2023
Synopsis:
In Part III of "Surviving the Evacuation", Bill Wright, his newly-found brother Sholto and the woman he previously rescued, Kim, go on quest to find the kidnapped children Annette and Daisy, while trying to avoid the hordes of zombies roaming the countryside. Things change when they find new survivors that know something about the whereabouts of Bill's childhood friend and politician, Jennifer Masterton.
Even after reading Part III, I still haven't changed my mind on the series: it's a solid, average or slightly above-average zombie book (or books). Here, particularly, we find out that kids truly are the future, that being elderly doesn't have to be a disadvantage when you have the right strategy and that good intentions don't always lead to good results. I am not going to spoil the plot though, you have to read the book for yourself. I'd recommend this/these book(s) for anyone that's a die-hard zombie apocalypse fan.
In Part III of "Surviving the Evacuation", Bill Wright, his newly-found brother Sholto and the woman he previously rescued, Kim, go on quest to find the kidnapped children Annette and Daisy, while trying to avoid the hordes of zombies roaming the countryside. Things change when they find new survivors that know something about the whereabouts of Bill's childhood friend and politician, Jennifer Masterton.
Even after reading Part III, I still haven't changed my mind on the series: it's a solid, average or slightly above-average zombie book (or books). Here, particularly, we find out that kids truly are the future, that being elderly doesn't have to be a disadvantage when you have the right strategy and that good intentions don't always lead to good results. I am not going to spoil the plot though, you have to read the book for yourself. I'd recommend this/these book(s) for anyone that's a die-hard zombie apocalypse fan.
September 11, 2017
This is the final book of Bill's journals. I had the feeling it was a bit rushed. A lot happend very quickly and I felt a bit lost sometimes with all the twists and lies.
I have read book 0.5 with George Tull beforehand and I don't know if it helped or in contrast, got me more confused about his character. As mentioned, the end of the story comes too quickly, after four months of traveling through a wasteland England many things seemed too constructed to fit.
But all in all, I loved these books but I will take a break from it now. Whenever I'll feel the urge for a good apocalyptic zombie story I definitely will pick up the other books
I have read book 0.5 with George Tull beforehand and I don't know if it helped or in contrast, got me more confused about his character. As mentioned, the end of the story comes too quickly, after four months of traveling through a wasteland England many things seemed too constructed to fit.
But all in all, I loved these books but I will take a break from it now. Whenever I'll feel the urge for a good apocalyptic zombie story I definitely will pick up the other books
April 14, 2020
Standard fare
As this trilogy has expanded it frustratingly became more “American”, which is a shame. I really enjoyed the first book. It’s unique take on the post apocalyptic zombie invasion was refreshing (injured sole survivor, no gun-totting ex US marines etc.)
By this third entry there are more guns than people and the story lurches back to the trope of this genre, guns, guns and more guns.
This is not all bad, the author does it well but one cant but be disappointed that the story falls back to ex army, special forces type people saying the day.
If you want a simple, direct, easy zombie read then this book works well. It neatly stitches together the loose treads of the previous two books. The ending is satisfying though too easily predicted.
As this trilogy has expanded it frustratingly became more “American”, which is a shame. I really enjoyed the first book. It’s unique take on the post apocalyptic zombie invasion was refreshing (injured sole survivor, no gun-totting ex US marines etc.)
By this third entry there are more guns than people and the story lurches back to the trope of this genre, guns, guns and more guns.
This is not all bad, the author does it well but one cant but be disappointed that the story falls back to ex army, special forces type people saying the day.
If you want a simple, direct, easy zombie read then this book works well. It neatly stitches together the loose treads of the previous two books. The ending is satisfying though too easily predicted.
May 17, 2020
Awesome...just awesome
Frank thank you for sharing the first 3 books and the scary reality of the secrets of government experiments...as I believe covid 19 is....among many others...but sadly I can't afford books wish could read the other14+ books in the series....these 3 were damn good zombie appocolypse/survival/triumph of the human spirit as well as our darksides novels...maybe someday I will get the chance to read the rest of the stories...for now i have you other 2 starters that branch off from the main series to enjoy....and enjoy them I know I will...again my sincerest thanks for the first 3
Frank thank you for sharing the first 3 books and the scary reality of the secrets of government experiments...as I believe covid 19 is....among many others...but sadly I can't afford books wish could read the other14+ books in the series....these 3 were damn good zombie appocolypse/survival/triumph of the human spirit as well as our darksides novels...maybe someday I will get the chance to read the rest of the stories...for now i have you other 2 starters that branch off from the main series to enjoy....and enjoy them I know I will...again my sincerest thanks for the first 3
July 31, 2022
Absolutely loved it! 🧟♀️
I’ve really enjoyed the Surviving The Evacuation series. Consistently great writing by Frank Tayell and an excellent range of characters and brilliant locations which I can relate to!
Family is a knockout step forwards in the series. It’s an exciting road trip of a post-apocalyptic zombie tale, and I like that there is real hope in this Book 3. I love the twists and turns as things speed up towards the exciting end to this chapter in the series and key pieces of the bigger story are revealed.
Time to buy the next one I reckon. So If you’re a true zombie fan, get stuck in, you will not be disappointed! Enjoy!!!
I’ve really enjoyed the Surviving The Evacuation series. Consistently great writing by Frank Tayell and an excellent range of characters and brilliant locations which I can relate to!
Family is a knockout step forwards in the series. It’s an exciting road trip of a post-apocalyptic zombie tale, and I like that there is real hope in this Book 3. I love the twists and turns as things speed up towards the exciting end to this chapter in the series and key pieces of the bigger story are revealed.
Time to buy the next one I reckon. So If you’re a true zombie fan, get stuck in, you will not be disappointed! Enjoy!!!
April 16, 2019
This book series is wonderful, thank you FB for advertising it and to Frank Tayell for writing them all.. it kept appearing book 1 free to download and eventually I did, no going back I purchased books through to 12 and didn’t put my kindle down. Now just read book 15 which has just been released and reading them all again for the 4th time.
I am 44, my son is 13 but also totally enthralled, zombies are not my thing but this series is so much more than blood and gore, I feel lost when I finish the set and wait patiently for the next book to be released.
Long may they continue
Thank you
I am 44, my son is 13 but also totally enthralled, zombies are not my thing but this series is so much more than blood and gore, I feel lost when I finish the set and wait patiently for the next book to be released.
Long may they continue
Thank you
October 13, 2021
If ever I could write a zombie novel, it would be like this!
I've read oh so many a zombie book, I've been disappointed in a few and entertained by most, but this series is something a bit more special.. a bit more, composed.
There has only been one other book written, where zombies were part of the scenery, that had me thoroughly engrossed by the story but also the pure grace of the words weaved. Tayell has a genuine gift and he shows it very impressively here in his series. I highly recommend this series.
I've read oh so many a zombie book, I've been disappointed in a few and entertained by most, but this series is something a bit more special.. a bit more, composed.
There has only been one other book written, where zombies were part of the scenery, that had me thoroughly engrossed by the story but also the pure grace of the words weaved. Tayell has a genuine gift and he shows it very impressively here in his series. I highly recommend this series.
July 29, 2022
A fitting end to the opening trilogy of this much longer series. It is engaging and intriguing, with plenty to keep the reader guessing. We do, finally, get some answers, but nothing is ever as clear cut as all that. People are only human, and as such, fallible. I've enjoyed reading these three free books well enough that I'm going to go ahead and buy the next one, which is unusual, as I only ever really read free e-books as a way to discover new (to me) authors. This time it has really paid off and I've found a writer I enjoy a great deal.
December 21, 2023
This is book three of the Evacuation series, and the first three books are free to download.
This is such a compelling and easy to read book, the first two were just the same. Bill is alone at the start, and in the second, he meets Kim. Together, they find thirteen year old Annette, who had rescued baby Daisy. Lastly, they pick up Bill’s brother and they become the family of the title. On their journey they meet other survivors, hatch plans, and meet and kill zombies.
Overall, it’s a well written zombie book. Entertaining with some great characters.
This is such a compelling and easy to read book, the first two were just the same. Bill is alone at the start, and in the second, he meets Kim. Together, they find thirteen year old Annette, who had rescued baby Daisy. Lastly, they pick up Bill’s brother and they become the family of the title. On their journey they meet other survivors, hatch plans, and meet and kill zombies.
Overall, it’s a well written zombie book. Entertaining with some great characters.
March 6, 2017
This series started slow for me but has turned into a great story and now I cannot wait for the next installment. I have read all of the books in the series and admit that the first three books that cover Bill's story were not nearly as interesting to me as books 4-8 which focus on Nilda and her son. However, all of the stories are related and I like bits and pieces of the entire series are weaved together.
December 30, 2018
Disappointing finish to what had been a good series. It felt like the author lost interest. Plenty of proofreading mistakes, which is sad because the first two were so well edited. Weird change of format (skipping the diary entries to just tell a story firsthand) and it might just be me, but I felt like I was missing big chunks of information.
Undecided on whether to continue with the second part of the books. :(
Undecided on whether to continue with the second part of the books. :(
October 16, 2019
So this book in the series... well its a slow like the other but with the new character introduced who is some kind of SUPER hitman, fiker, hacker, solider, mastermind and so on. This book has lost the down to earth part I liked about it. It is still a good book but not as good as the others and I find that after reading this one I will try an other book before returning the series and hopefully the next book in the series is better.
May 2, 2020
Another great book in this series. Continue to love the English setting, and the character development.
Perhaps not as good as the first two, and I agree with some other reviewers, some of the story arches wrapped up too quickly, especially compared to the more steady but still tense pace of the rest of the books.
My biggest gripe is that this appears to be the end of theses characters story lines, and I want more, I don't have closure!
Perhaps not as good as the first two, and I agree with some other reviewers, some of the story arches wrapped up too quickly, especially compared to the more steady but still tense pace of the rest of the books.
My biggest gripe is that this appears to be the end of theses characters story lines, and I want more, I don't have closure!
June 16, 2024
The end of the first trilogy wraps things up, but still leaves a door open for a sequel
This one had a satisfying ending. I read the first 3 books of this series back-to-back, and overall, I think they do a pretty good job of really fleshing out (no pun intended) the downfall of a country, a people, an empire through the eyes of one man with some knowledge of what is happening. Its way different than The Walking Dead but just as compelling.
This one had a satisfying ending. I read the first 3 books of this series back-to-back, and overall, I think they do a pretty good job of really fleshing out (no pun intended) the downfall of a country, a people, an empire through the eyes of one man with some knowledge of what is happening. Its way different than The Walking Dead but just as compelling.
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