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The Pandora Strain: Zombie Road #1
Three Days in Undead Shoes
One woman
One Great Dane
And a zombie above the rest.
Jane Finch wishes her problems ended with a bad commute and no coffee. But when she and her beloved Great Dane, Schrodinger, emerge from a locked room they discover a city changed for the undead.
Zombies are everywhere. Some are endlessly cycling through their last actions, others have turned feral—and hungry. Jane and Schroddie’s best chance for survival? Reaching her parents’ bunker on the city’s north shore.
Not an easy commute on foot—when surrounded by zombies.
Dodging stray bullets and feral zombies is one thing. But soon Jane realizes one of the zombies is following her. Built like a tank, silent as the grave, his attention never waivers. Wherever she goes, he’s there. If she hides, he finds her. There’s no fighting him, no escape.
He’s not like the others—and he might be Jane’s only hope for survival.
One Great Dane
And a zombie above the rest.
Jane Finch wishes her problems ended with a bad commute and no coffee. But when she and her beloved Great Dane, Schrodinger, emerge from a locked room they discover a city changed for the undead.
Zombies are everywhere. Some are endlessly cycling through their last actions, others have turned feral—and hungry. Jane and Schroddie’s best chance for survival? Reaching her parents’ bunker on the city’s north shore.
Not an easy commute on foot—when surrounded by zombies.
Dodging stray bullets and feral zombies is one thing. But soon Jane realizes one of the zombies is following her. Built like a tank, silent as the grave, his attention never waivers. Wherever she goes, he’s there. If she hides, he finds her. There’s no fighting him, no escape.
He’s not like the others—and he might be Jane’s only hope for survival.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2021
225 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
About the author
Dee J. Holmes
36 books97 followersThe characters I care about aren't content with the status quo. They don’t sit in some narrow, boilerplate box and do what they’re told—they break the laws of their worlds, defying everything for what's right and for true love. Whether battling fantastical odds, facing science fiction dilemmas or nursing a supernatural heartache, they challenge expectations and change their worlds.
I love complex worlds and even more complex characters. Fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, romance and geekery abound—and they're holding hands with opinions. Sometimes created while appreciating a fine rye. Probably NSFW.
I’m not only an author, I’m a visual artist. Decades of creating imagery in multiple mediums and the desire to see my characters brought to life led me to create book covers. I might have started with my own, but now I craft carefully branded, personalized covers for many authors.
Aside from authoring and drawing, I live with my husband and our Great Dane, Fable (aka Mistress of Menace, Duchess of Oof, the Terror Beast) in beautiful Vancouver. When I’m not creating, I’m enjoying a long walk with my giant doggo, or shooting some monsters in a co-op video game with my husband.
Above all, I love crafting exciting tales that pull at your heartstrings—and maybe your pant-strings—stories which excite and sweep readers into new worlds and leave them wanting more.
I love complex worlds and even more complex characters. Fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, romance and geekery abound—and they're holding hands with opinions. Sometimes created while appreciating a fine rye. Probably NSFW.
I’m not only an author, I’m a visual artist. Decades of creating imagery in multiple mediums and the desire to see my characters brought to life led me to create book covers. I might have started with my own, but now I craft carefully branded, personalized covers for many authors.
Aside from authoring and drawing, I live with my husband and our Great Dane, Fable (aka Mistress of Menace, Duchess of Oof, the Terror Beast) in beautiful Vancouver. When I’m not creating, I’m enjoying a long walk with my giant doggo, or shooting some monsters in a co-op video game with my husband.
Above all, I love crafting exciting tales that pull at your heartstrings—and maybe your pant-strings—stories which excite and sweep readers into new worlds and leave them wanting more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
September 26, 2024
An excellent read.
A very good book without a dull moment. Jane and her Great Dane Schrodinger are trying to reach safety, and they find help from a very unexpected source. I will definitely read more from this author at a later date. I do recommend this book.
A very good book without a dull moment. Jane and her Great Dane Schrodinger are trying to reach safety, and they find help from a very unexpected source. I will definitely read more from this author at a later date. I do recommend this book.
October 3, 2024
This was mostly ok. It could've used another pass through editing to minimize the repetitiveness.
The absolute worst thing about this book is the audio narrator doing sound effects for the dog and the zombies. The entire time I was thinking, "please MAKE IT STOP!!"
The absolute worst thing about this book is the audio narrator doing sound effects for the dog and the zombies. The entire time I was thinking, "please MAKE IT STOP!!"
March 17, 2024
Tropes:
~dystopian (zombie apocalypse)
~slow burn (zero romance in this first book)
~"road" trip (but she's on foot)
~pet sidekick
The first few chapters of this sucked me in immediately, and I was excited at the prospect of finding a new series to binge. Unfortunately, it lost me in the second half and I doubt I'll continue on with book 2. The zombies in this were fascinating and I was really curious to learn more about them, as there seemed to be 2 types (one that was stuck in the repetitive action loop of whatever they were doing when they died and a second type that is fast af and kinda terrifying). However, the writing got super repetitive after a while and I quickly lost momentum, even though the book is only 250 pages long.
I also found the constant "talking" from the dog to eventually become irritating. I tried listening to part of this on audio and the narrator frequently having to make bark, growl, ruff, etc noises made me quickly go back to the eBook. The final nail in the coffin was not one, but two, mentions of how the main character (who is a dog trainer) doesn't like cats. At this point, anyone (fictional or otherwise) who has a vendetta against cats is a walking red flag. And as a cat lover myself (who was ironically getting a bit tired of the dog noise moments) I decided I didn't care if she finds love with the hunky zombie enough to risk more anti-cat statements and overdone barking in the rest of the series.
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"I think I've seen this film before
And I didn't like the ending"
~dystopian (zombie apocalypse)
~slow burn (zero romance in this first book)
~"road" trip (but she's on foot)
~pet sidekick
The first few chapters of this sucked me in immediately, and I was excited at the prospect of finding a new series to binge. Unfortunately, it lost me in the second half and I doubt I'll continue on with book 2. The zombies in this were fascinating and I was really curious to learn more about them, as there seemed to be 2 types (one that was stuck in the repetitive action loop of whatever they were doing when they died and a second type that is fast af and kinda terrifying). However, the writing got super repetitive after a while and I quickly lost momentum, even though the book is only 250 pages long.
I also found the constant "talking" from the dog to eventually become irritating. I tried listening to part of this on audio and the narrator frequently having to make bark, growl, ruff, etc noises made me quickly go back to the eBook. The final nail in the coffin was not one, but two, mentions of how the main character (who is a dog trainer) doesn't like cats. At this point, anyone (fictional or otherwise) who has a vendetta against cats is a walking red flag. And as a cat lover myself (who was ironically getting a bit tired of the dog noise moments) I decided I didn't care if she finds love with the hunky zombie enough to risk more anti-cat statements and overdone barking in the rest of the series.
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"I think I've seen this film before
And I didn't like the ending"
March 31, 2022
Read : March 31, 2022
Rating : 3,5 Stars
This was pretty cool and I hope the sequel will be along in not too much time.
The story feels pretty short since a lot of it is just Jane talking to her dog, her environment or herself.
The action moments were cool, the zombie-esque creatures were and are still a bit of a mystery, same for "Grey" the friendly (possibly?) neighbourhood zom creature.
I need more of Grey, and definitely in the next book I'd expect more from his view and perhaps some much needed back story.
I wish this was a bit longer and had a little more action since Jane her inner ramblings weren't the most fascinating.
The dog is, like most animals in books, a plus, and a very good boy indeed.
His name is sorta funny since he's a scientist's dog.
-- I wouldn't rate this as a romance (not even slow burn at this point) since nothing even close to romantic happens in this one, its got more mystery vibes. --
Rating : 3,5 Stars
This was pretty cool and I hope the sequel will be along in not too much time.
The story feels pretty short since a lot of it is just Jane talking to her dog, her environment or herself.
The action moments were cool, the zombie-esque creatures were and are still a bit of a mystery, same for "Grey" the friendly (possibly?) neighbourhood zom creature.
I need more of Grey, and definitely in the next book I'd expect more from his view and perhaps some much needed back story.
I wish this was a bit longer and had a little more action since Jane her inner ramblings weren't the most fascinating.
The dog is, like most animals in books, a plus, and a very good boy indeed.
His name is sorta funny since he's a scientist's dog.
-- I wouldn't rate this as a romance (not even slow burn at this point) since nothing even close to romantic happens in this one, its got more mystery vibes. --
March 20, 2025
This was a fun, fast-paced zombie apocalypse book about a girl and her dog. Oh, yeah, and they have a zombie-stalker.
This is the book of my dreams. (Well, in my head it would be me and my cat, but no diss to dogs; they'd be better in a zombie outbreak, I admit it. But without my cat I'd throw myself at the undead and give up.)
What I loved was that the story starts BEFORE the outbreak. My favorite dystopian is the kind where the apocalypse event initially occurs and you get to see society break down from the beginning. However...there's no explanation (at least in this volume of the four-part story) as to why the main character is literally the only person in town who is not a zombie. Also...she figures out that a zombie outbreak has occurred way too fast, with almost no information. The world actually looks more like a rapture scenario: people have all seemingly disappeared, but they have left their cell phones, coats, and bags behind. Our heroine, Jane, finds one corps on a swing set being eaten by a crow and from that alone determines (correctly, somehow) that a zombie outbreak has occurred.
I had fun following Jane as she tries to escape the city to get to her paranoid military-dad's home bunker. At least, when action was occurring. She broke into homes and stores to outfit and prep herself for the trek. But I did feel like the author spent WAY too much time describing the streets of Vancouver and planning how Jane would get to Larkspur from Hampton, then when plans go awry, how she'll alter them to debate with herself whether she should take Gold Street or Fourth Avenue?
Those aren't the real names of the streets, but I'm just trying to give you an example of how tedious the journey gets when she's literally plotting her course through specific sections of town. If you're not a native of Vancouver, you're not gonna get it and it adds nothing to the story to list all those streets ad nauseum. I had a hard time visualizing a lot of Jane's trek through town because it got bogged down by pointless details like that, when it was way more fun when she cut through the park, tackled zombies in a construction site, and was nearly dragged under a bridge by the ravenous undead.
There are at least three different types of zombies, too, so there's some interesting variety. I believe you have to read the prequel novel (for which there doesn't appear to be an audiobook, boo!) to find out HOW the outbreak occurred, though, so no idea about that as of right now. I am definitely interested reading the rest of the series, of course. I did occasionally zone out with some of the useless details but the action was fantastic.
I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator. I saw people on Audible complaining about how she makes all the barking sounds for the dog, but I gotta say, they sounded realistic enough to me that they integrated really well into the story. She also did fine with the zombie sounds. The groaning of the "normal" zombies (which I think you only hear once) was the BEST. It's just like on TV. lol The most active, quick-moving of the zombies were described as making hyena sounds, and she was accurate to that, too. No, it was not a pleasant sound, and it occurred a little too frequently for my ears, but still...she did what she was supposed to do. I think it was a top-notch narration, myself. But if you're someone who can't handle women using deeper voices to portray male characters, maybe you won't be able to handle this, either. I'm someone who easily buys into the illusion so maybe I'm just easy to please. lol
Content warning: It's a zombie apocalypse and yes, the dog does get injured by the zombies a couple of times. Don't worry; he's fine. He's the star of the book, after all. This woman would die for her dog so I am confident he will make it through the series with his life even if no one else does.
This is the book of my dreams. (Well, in my head it would be me and my cat, but no diss to dogs; they'd be better in a zombie outbreak, I admit it. But without my cat I'd throw myself at the undead and give up.)
What I loved was that the story starts BEFORE the outbreak. My favorite dystopian is the kind where the apocalypse event initially occurs and you get to see society break down from the beginning. However...there's no explanation (at least in this volume of the four-part story) as to why the main character is literally the only person in town who is not a zombie. Also...she figures out that a zombie outbreak has occurred way too fast, with almost no information. The world actually looks more like a rapture scenario: people have all seemingly disappeared, but they have left their cell phones, coats, and bags behind. Our heroine, Jane, finds one corps on a swing set being eaten by a crow and from that alone determines (correctly, somehow) that a zombie outbreak has occurred.
I had fun following Jane as she tries to escape the city to get to her paranoid military-dad's home bunker. At least, when action was occurring. She broke into homes and stores to outfit and prep herself for the trek. But I did feel like the author spent WAY too much time describing the streets of Vancouver and planning how Jane would get to Larkspur from Hampton, then when plans go awry, how she'll alter them to debate with herself whether she should take Gold Street or Fourth Avenue?
Those aren't the real names of the streets, but I'm just trying to give you an example of how tedious the journey gets when she's literally plotting her course through specific sections of town. If you're not a native of Vancouver, you're not gonna get it and it adds nothing to the story to list all those streets ad nauseum. I had a hard time visualizing a lot of Jane's trek through town because it got bogged down by pointless details like that, when it was way more fun when she cut through the park, tackled zombies in a construction site, and was nearly dragged under a bridge by the ravenous undead.
There are at least three different types of zombies, too, so there's some interesting variety. I believe you have to read the prequel novel (for which there doesn't appear to be an audiobook, boo!) to find out HOW the outbreak occurred, though, so no idea about that as of right now. I am definitely interested reading the rest of the series, of course. I did occasionally zone out with some of the useless details but the action was fantastic.
I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator. I saw people on Audible complaining about how she makes all the barking sounds for the dog, but I gotta say, they sounded realistic enough to me that they integrated really well into the story. She also did fine with the zombie sounds. The groaning of the "normal" zombies (which I think you only hear once) was the BEST. It's just like on TV. lol The most active, quick-moving of the zombies were described as making hyena sounds, and she was accurate to that, too. No, it was not a pleasant sound, and it occurred a little too frequently for my ears, but still...she did what she was supposed to do. I think it was a top-notch narration, myself. But if you're someone who can't handle women using deeper voices to portray male characters, maybe you won't be able to handle this, either. I'm someone who easily buys into the illusion so maybe I'm just easy to please. lol
Content warning: It's a zombie apocalypse and yes, the dog does get injured by the zombies a couple of times. Don't worry; he's fine. He's the star of the book, after all. This woman would die for her dog so I am confident he will make it through the series with his life even if no one else does.
February 17, 2025
Ooh, I enjoyed this - perhaps a bit too much... A few typos and inconsistencies but who cares?! Would like to read more, particularly to find out what the deal with Grey is 😄
June 30, 2022
5 Solid Stars!
What an adrenaline RUSH!!!
One chapter in and I knew I wouldn't be able to put this shining gem down. My heart is beating from the thrill ride, and I can't wait to hop on board for more.
Jane is a dog trainer living in Vancouver, British Columbia. On the day she goes to adopt her Great Dane, the lovely and adorable Schrodinger, an apocalyptic event hits the city. Jane and the dog emerge from a windowless University research facility to a complete unknown, and must navigate a strange, deadly, and eerie new reality to reach the safety of her father's shelter.
Holmes' take on the zombie apocalypse genre is so refreshing! It's set in a time post-pandemic, but the pandemic is only mentioned in reference to Jane's coping skills resulting from her personal experience of navigating isolation. Because...well...running from zombies is a pretty solitary experience. And you definitely want to stay at least 6 feet away from something that wants to kill you.
Don't go into reading this thinking that Three Days in Undead Shoes is all about brain eating zombies. These undead (or were they ever dead in the first place?) creatures will put icy chills down your spine.
The author ups the creep factor from 1 to 100 in this fast paced and suspenseful read. The unnatural state of the transformed citizens of Vancouver is a terrifying mystery to contemplate. The author brilliantly writes them as a thought provoking mystery to be solved. Just when it seems Jane is one step ahead of understanding their behaviour, something new and frightening happens to alter her perceptions.
Jane's experience with the changed citizens is downright spooky. Until her first very deadly encounter. And then it becomes terrifying.
While traversing the changed landscape of Vancouver, Jane and Schrodinger find themselves shadowed by one of the creatures. An ultra-creepy, unwaveringly attentive, broody bad-boy-vibe person/zombie that Schrodinger doesn't indicate is a threat, so Jane reluctantly lets tag along until more of the mystery is wonderfully revealed.
And even then we don't get all the answers. I guarantee you, that while the zombies creep you out, her brooding shadow guy is an entirely different kind of delicious and intriguing puzzle. I can't wait to read more about him in the next book.
The element of mystery is a HUGE plus in enjoying reading any apocalyptic novel. I don't always want the answers given to me upfront. I find the best thrilling survival stories work when the characters themselves are in the dark in their search for answers, so that the focus of the story falls on their evolution through survival.
I enjoyed that the setting was a Canadian city after reading a majority of stories in this genre set in the US. I lived in Vancouver for several years, so every street Jane traversed was familiar to me. That made it a thoroughly fun read for me. However, I know I'd find the same joy in reading this novel no matter where it takes place.
Bravo to the author for intelligent and thought provoking writing! I can't praise this new take on the zombie/undead genre enough! I am eager to read more about Jane, Schrodinger, and their intriguing shadow.
What an adrenaline RUSH!!!
One chapter in and I knew I wouldn't be able to put this shining gem down. My heart is beating from the thrill ride, and I can't wait to hop on board for more.
Jane is a dog trainer living in Vancouver, British Columbia. On the day she goes to adopt her Great Dane, the lovely and adorable Schrodinger, an apocalyptic event hits the city. Jane and the dog emerge from a windowless University research facility to a complete unknown, and must navigate a strange, deadly, and eerie new reality to reach the safety of her father's shelter.
Holmes' take on the zombie apocalypse genre is so refreshing! It's set in a time post-pandemic, but the pandemic is only mentioned in reference to Jane's coping skills resulting from her personal experience of navigating isolation. Because...well...running from zombies is a pretty solitary experience. And you definitely want to stay at least 6 feet away from something that wants to kill you.
Don't go into reading this thinking that Three Days in Undead Shoes is all about brain eating zombies. These undead (or were they ever dead in the first place?) creatures will put icy chills down your spine.
The author ups the creep factor from 1 to 100 in this fast paced and suspenseful read. The unnatural state of the transformed citizens of Vancouver is a terrifying mystery to contemplate. The author brilliantly writes them as a thought provoking mystery to be solved. Just when it seems Jane is one step ahead of understanding their behaviour, something new and frightening happens to alter her perceptions.
Jane's experience with the changed citizens is downright spooky. Until her first very deadly encounter. And then it becomes terrifying.
While traversing the changed landscape of Vancouver, Jane and Schrodinger find themselves shadowed by one of the creatures. An ultra-creepy, unwaveringly attentive, broody bad-boy-vibe person/zombie that Schrodinger doesn't indicate is a threat, so Jane reluctantly lets tag along until more of the mystery is wonderfully revealed.
And even then we don't get all the answers. I guarantee you, that while the zombies creep you out, her brooding shadow guy is an entirely different kind of delicious and intriguing puzzle. I can't wait to read more about him in the next book.
The element of mystery is a HUGE plus in enjoying reading any apocalyptic novel. I don't always want the answers given to me upfront. I find the best thrilling survival stories work when the characters themselves are in the dark in their search for answers, so that the focus of the story falls on their evolution through survival.
I enjoyed that the setting was a Canadian city after reading a majority of stories in this genre set in the US. I lived in Vancouver for several years, so every street Jane traversed was familiar to me. That made it a thoroughly fun read for me. However, I know I'd find the same joy in reading this novel no matter where it takes place.
Bravo to the author for intelligent and thought provoking writing! I can't praise this new take on the zombie/undead genre enough! I am eager to read more about Jane, Schrodinger, and their intriguing shadow.
September 12, 2023
I love Great Danes, and I love zombie fiction, even when it's cheesy. Based on the description, I hoped this book would be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It's not a terrible book. I believe the author loves her subject matter, and I think she was passionate about writing this book. It just doesn't work for me, for a lot of reasons.
In high school, many students hated our A.P. Composition teacher because he wouldn't accept anything less than our best effort. School was easy for most of us, and we weren't used to a teacher returning our papers covered in red ink. But as painful as his criticism was, it made us better writers.
To me, this book is a rough draft. Not a bad one. But it needs a relentless editor like my A.P. Comp teacher. The Kindle version is riddled with punctuation errors and typos. Apostrophes are misused constantly, making words possessive when they should be plural and vice versa. It's also full of run-on sentences. Commas are often used where there should be a period or a semicolon.
Much of the book takes place inside the protagonist's head, and her thoughts are extremely repetitive. The story would move more quickly if we weren't trapped listening to the heroine dither around reiterating the same thoughts to herself. The author could also improve her word choices at times. At one point, she uses the words "happy" and "happily" in the same sentence, then uses "happy" again two sentences later. A bit of creativity would improve the flow of the story.
I think Ms. Holmes has the talent to write a much better book than this one. I would love to see her develop her own voice. Limit the pop culture references, cliches, and colloquialisms, and challenge herself to paint a picture in her own words. I think she has the potential to write great books. But for me, this one fell short. I don’t see myself reading any more of this series, but I hope that the adorable dog with the terrible name finds the couch of all couches and a steady supply of tasty treats.
In high school, many students hated our A.P. Composition teacher because he wouldn't accept anything less than our best effort. School was easy for most of us, and we weren't used to a teacher returning our papers covered in red ink. But as painful as his criticism was, it made us better writers.
To me, this book is a rough draft. Not a bad one. But it needs a relentless editor like my A.P. Comp teacher. The Kindle version is riddled with punctuation errors and typos. Apostrophes are misused constantly, making words possessive when they should be plural and vice versa. It's also full of run-on sentences. Commas are often used where there should be a period or a semicolon.
Much of the book takes place inside the protagonist's head, and her thoughts are extremely repetitive. The story would move more quickly if we weren't trapped listening to the heroine dither around reiterating the same thoughts to herself. The author could also improve her word choices at times. At one point, she uses the words "happy" and "happily" in the same sentence, then uses "happy" again two sentences later. A bit of creativity would improve the flow of the story.
I think Ms. Holmes has the talent to write a much better book than this one. I would love to see her develop her own voice. Limit the pop culture references, cliches, and colloquialisms, and challenge herself to paint a picture in her own words. I think she has the potential to write great books. But for me, this one fell short. I don’t see myself reading any more of this series, but I hope that the adorable dog with the terrible name finds the couch of all couches and a steady supply of tasty treats.
March 25, 2022
This is why you shouldn't read books about not book related topics that you are passionate about.
The dog training elements gave me way too much of the ick for me to continue. Animals in books are very hit or miss for me and lines like "she knew the importance of correcting bad behavior as soon as she saw it" (which started as early as chapter one) tells me way too much about what kind of relationship this heroine has with her dogs.
I did like that the heroine valued her animals as living beings instead of objects - it was just the actual training jargon that was extremely outdated and sounded like something pulled out of a quick google search (and not a recent one by any means).
I wanted to love it but couldn't. Nothing negative to say about the authors writing or the book itself but this just wasn't the book for me.
DNF around 30-40%
The dog training elements gave me way too much of the ick for me to continue. Animals in books are very hit or miss for me and lines like "she knew the importance of correcting bad behavior as soon as she saw it" (which started as early as chapter one) tells me way too much about what kind of relationship this heroine has with her dogs.
I did like that the heroine valued her animals as living beings instead of objects - it was just the actual training jargon that was extremely outdated and sounded like something pulled out of a quick google search (and not a recent one by any means).
I wanted to love it but couldn't. Nothing negative to say about the authors writing or the book itself but this just wasn't the book for me.
DNF around 30-40%
December 31, 2023
This is absolutely brilliant! Everything I love in a zombie end of the world story! A great start to this well written, interesting series! I love that there is a dog as one of the main characters, good ideas, well developed plot, good levels of pace & action, a truly great read! I do recommend!
May 3, 2022
Really?
Okay book. Some weird plot issues. But worst of all, racist. Way to hate on Americans. We aren't stupid nor murderous. Geez.
Okay book. Some weird plot issues. But worst of all, racist. Way to hate on Americans. We aren't stupid nor murderous. Geez.
June 20, 2025
Thank you Amazon @amazonbooks (Stuff Your Kindle Day 2023), and Dee J Holmes @dee_j_holmes for this free ebook.
“Three Days in Undead Shoes” (Pandora Strain: Zombie Road #1) by Dee J Holmes⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Zombie Romance. Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Time: Post Covid pandemic.
THE SERIES: When Jane Finch and beloved 180 lb Great Dane Schrodinger (Schroddie) emerge from a locked room in a university science lab, they discover a changed, undead city. Zombies are everywhere. Some she names Repeater Zombies-endlessly cycling through their last actions. Others she names Feral Zombies-turned feral hunters, and they’re hungry.
THIS BOOK: Following lessons she was taught by her military dad, Jane and Schroddie head across Vancouver for her parents’ secret, doomsday-fortified bunker on the city’s north shore while dodging stray bullets and feral zombies. And a zombie is following them. Built like a tank, silent as the grave, wherever she goes, he’s there. There’s no fighting him, no escape. But he’s not like the others ("Something sparked in those vein-ridden orbs“) He might be Jane’s only hope for survival. She names him Grey.
Author Holmes has written a series that’s a fresh take on zombie novels. This 1st book is pure zombie apocalypse. Her characters are easy to like, especially floppy, soulful Schrödinger! Holmes takes her characters across Vancouver from the university to the north shore British Colonies neighborhood. It’s a long, dangerous walk-you can follow her journey on a map. It’s apocalyptic, and ends with a cliff-hanger, and it’s 4 stars from me👩🏼🦳 #stuffyourkindleday #deejholmes #zombies #threedaysinundeadshoes
“Three Days in Undead Shoes” (Pandora Strain: Zombie Road #1) by Dee J Holmes⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Zombie Romance. Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Time: Post Covid pandemic.
THE SERIES: When Jane Finch and beloved 180 lb Great Dane Schrodinger (Schroddie) emerge from a locked room in a university science lab, they discover a changed, undead city. Zombies are everywhere. Some she names Repeater Zombies-endlessly cycling through their last actions. Others she names Feral Zombies-turned feral hunters, and they’re hungry.
THIS BOOK: Following lessons she was taught by her military dad, Jane and Schroddie head across Vancouver for her parents’ secret, doomsday-fortified bunker on the city’s north shore while dodging stray bullets and feral zombies. And a zombie is following them. Built like a tank, silent as the grave, wherever she goes, he’s there. There’s no fighting him, no escape. But he’s not like the others ("Something sparked in those vein-ridden orbs“) He might be Jane’s only hope for survival. She names him Grey.
Author Holmes has written a series that’s a fresh take on zombie novels. This 1st book is pure zombie apocalypse. Her characters are easy to like, especially floppy, soulful Schrödinger! Holmes takes her characters across Vancouver from the university to the north shore British Colonies neighborhood. It’s a long, dangerous walk-you can follow her journey on a map. It’s apocalyptic, and ends with a cliff-hanger, and it’s 4 stars from me👩🏼🦳 #stuffyourkindleday #deejholmes #zombies #threedaysinundeadshoes
November 18, 2025
There is a good story being told here. However, it could use a bit of editing. There are some incorrect words, a few grammar errors and quite a bit of repetition. I loved hearing about Schrodinger (Scrode, Schrodie, Monster Paws), what a fantastic dog. But I didn't need commands repeated to the Great Dane on the same page. We understand you have called him to you, I don't need to keep reading it. Also while hearing about where she was travelling in Vancouver, getting extra street names and the repetition of what is behind and ahead of the characters felt a bit unnecessary.
"Leave us alone, or I swear to God I'm going to channel the holy ghost of Harley Quinn and paint the street with your brains."
As for the story itself, we see the apocalypse happen. Jane enters for her training session with Schrodinger after having his owner change his mind about letting her buy him. Only while she is in there, all hell breaks loose outside. What has actually happened nobody knows but now there are zombies. Jane needs to trek across the city with her trusty dog to get to her dad's safety bunker. There are some good action scenes, a bunch of running, and well an adorable dog!
"Stop it.
You cannot fall apart in the middle of zombie-kelp"
I will get the next one if I see the author at another book event. She did a great job selling me on this one and I'm curious enough to continue! I do hope we get some explanations for what caused the zombies and why Jane wasn't effected. Also the epilogue from Grey was intriguing so I would like more from his pov.
"Leave us alone, or I swear to God I'm going to channel the holy ghost of Harley Quinn and paint the street with your brains."
As for the story itself, we see the apocalypse happen. Jane enters for her training session with Schrodinger after having his owner change his mind about letting her buy him. Only while she is in there, all hell breaks loose outside. What has actually happened nobody knows but now there are zombies. Jane needs to trek across the city with her trusty dog to get to her dad's safety bunker. There are some good action scenes, a bunch of running, and well an adorable dog!
"Stop it.
You cannot fall apart in the middle of zombie-kelp"
I will get the next one if I see the author at another book event. She did a great job selling me on this one and I'm curious enough to continue! I do hope we get some explanations for what caused the zombies and why Jane wasn't effected. Also the epilogue from Grey was intriguing so I would like more from his pov.
April 9, 2024
Well, I thought this one was pretty cute, but I like a cheesy zombie book and I'm a huge dog lover so it's like the book was made for me. The writing isn't poetic or anything, and there were some grammar issues here and there that showed a lack of editing, but the story flowed nicely with a lot of action that kept me reading even when I planned to stop for the night. The main character is action-hero goofy. She'll mutter something funny in a situation where a person in real life would be panicking and too busy trying to survive to come up with a good quip. There's also dumb things like her dad just happens to be some military bigwig and just so happens to be prepared for a situation like a zombie apocalypse, complete with a bunker in his backyard. Regardless of this kind of action movie silliness, the story was fun and I enjoyed it. I do wish it had resolved more in the end instead of leading you on for the next book in the series. I worry the next book might get too romance-y for me, but this one was the right amount of cheesiness for me.
December 30, 2024
Damn this was a quick read. Heroine Jane heads to a lab where she plans to pick up her new pet (horse aka Great Dane) and shit hits the fan while they’re bonding. Luckily this saves Jane from the initial change in society and it becomes her mission to head to her family’s cabin which has a fully loaded bunker for an occasion just like this. Along with her sidekick the two traverse the city finding dead of all kinds everywhere she goes. Things take a turn when she realizes one of the zombies is literally stalking her and she does her damndest to shake him off but he’s determined. Determined but not trying to eat her which is a nice change. Super quick read and audios were well done. My only complaint is the use of 2nd person, everything is she said, she thought, she did and it gets a little old.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2021
fun
When a dog trainer and her great Dane encounter what seems to be a zombie outbreak can they make it across the city to a safe bunker. What could have happened to make people feral? Will they find help?
When a dog trainer and her great Dane encounter what seems to be a zombie outbreak can they make it across the city to a safe bunker. What could have happened to make people feral? Will they find help?
February 13, 2024
Stars 3.5 / 4 Stars
***HOOPLA Audio***
MC: Jane
Pretty good Zombie story. Right now Jane is in escape mode....trying to get to her dad's bunker for safety, reassessing the situtaiton....and hoping to get rescued. In the meantime "Grey" is following her and assisting her....he's not human anymore, and yet not a full fledge zombie. We as the reader don't know yet what he is and what he's all about.....
***HOOPLA Audio***
MC: Jane
Pretty good Zombie story. Right now Jane is in escape mode....trying to get to her dad's bunker for safety, reassessing the situtaiton....and hoping to get rescued. In the meantime "Grey" is following her and assisting her....he's not human anymore, and yet not a full fledge zombie. We as the reader don't know yet what he is and what he's all about.....
January 22, 2025
Three Days in Undead Shoes by Holmes is a fun, fast read that kept me hooked. It follows a woman and her dog as they try to make it to a bunker while dealing with an array of zombies along the way. The story moves quickly and it's a great mix of action and heart. I am planning to read the next book in the series.
July 30, 2020
Ok what I have read are the first 5 chapters. That is it! What I have read i really enjoyed but to read the rest I have to do it on the authors website. I did attempt to buy the book cos i was originally listening to it rather than physically reading it. I gave 4 stars due to the fact that the story is really good for what I have read so far. Hoping I can actually purchase the book sometime in the future and I'll update my review.
February 6, 2024
I downloaded this as part of the romance stuff your Kindle day. Romance is a bit of a stretch, I wouldn't even call this a slow burn.
The premise has potential but it becomes very repetitive as the FMC seems to not learn anything new, just talk to her dog, liken zombies to animals and mention she is a dog behaviouralist. I get that it's part of the plot but if I had to read "with me" one more time...
The premise has potential but it becomes very repetitive as the FMC seems to not learn anything new, just talk to her dog, liken zombies to animals and mention she is a dog behaviouralist. I get that it's part of the plot but if I had to read "with me" one more time...
October 23, 2023
At times a bit cringey. Some of the decisions she made didn't even make sense. Mainly her decision not to take ANY car. It's cold. But I guess with a car we would not have a plot. I'm reading the second book because I still enjoyed the quick read and the ninja zombie.
Read
November 22, 2023Dnf @ 49%
Sis talked too much & her thoughts were v v exhausting.
Sis talked too much & her thoughts were v v exhausting.
February 10, 2024
DNF. Only had 40 pages left but I’m so not into this that I just need to move on.
March 1, 2024
Had to force myself to finish reading it
February 1, 2024
Hold on to your seats, because this book is a wild and captivating ride from the very first page. Jane, a seasoned dog trainer in the bustling city of Vancouver, unknowingly adopts a fearless Great Dane just before an apocalyptic event strikes. Suddenly, she must navigate a treacherous new world with her steadfast companion by her side in order to reach safety at her father's shelter.
Holmes' approach to the popular zombie apocalypse genre is refreshingly unique. Set after a devastating pandemic, it delves into Jane's resilience and adaptability as she fights for survival amidst isolation and constant danger from the undead. These flesh-eating creatures will send shivers down your spine, and the author expertly builds tension throughout the story. The transformed citizens of Vancouver are a terrifying enigma that keeps Jane on edge.
Jane's encounters with the altered citizens are spine-chilling and leave her constantly looking over her shoulder. While traversing the chaotic and unpredictable streets of Vancouver, she and Schrodinger are relentlessly pursued by a mysterious figure - perhaps another survivor or a devious zombie? As they uncover more clues about this shadowy being, the mystery only deepens, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already gripping plot. The element of mystery adds depth to any apocalyptic novel, allowing for character development through their struggle for survival.
Holmes' intelligent and thought-provoking writing deserves high praise for their imaginative take on the zombie/undead trope. I eagerly anticipate reading more about Jane, Schrodinger, and their mysterious shadow in future installments of this thrilling series.
Holmes' approach to the popular zombie apocalypse genre is refreshingly unique. Set after a devastating pandemic, it delves into Jane's resilience and adaptability as she fights for survival amidst isolation and constant danger from the undead. These flesh-eating creatures will send shivers down your spine, and the author expertly builds tension throughout the story. The transformed citizens of Vancouver are a terrifying enigma that keeps Jane on edge.
Jane's encounters with the altered citizens are spine-chilling and leave her constantly looking over her shoulder. While traversing the chaotic and unpredictable streets of Vancouver, she and Schrodinger are relentlessly pursued by a mysterious figure - perhaps another survivor or a devious zombie? As they uncover more clues about this shadowy being, the mystery only deepens, adding an extra layer of excitement to the already gripping plot. The element of mystery adds depth to any apocalyptic novel, allowing for character development through their struggle for survival.
Holmes' intelligent and thought-provoking writing deserves high praise for their imaginative take on the zombie/undead trope. I eagerly anticipate reading more about Jane, Schrodinger, and their mysterious shadow in future installments of this thrilling series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💀 (4/5)
🌶️ 0/0 there is none
A fun, fast-paced undead romp with bite & bark.
If you’re tired of zombie books that claim to be horror but secretly just want to be love stories with a few groans thrown in, 3 Days in Undead Shoes is a refreshing change. It delivers actual zombie action (thank you!), a lovable & capable main character, & a very good doggo sidekick who steals scenes like he’s chasing squirrels.
Jane, our heroine, is smart, likable, and fiercely loyal—especially to her four-legged companion. It’s rare to find a female lead in the genre who isn’t either helpless or a caricature of “strong,” but Jane strikes the right balance. She’s a survivor with a heart, which made rooting for her feel natural.
& let’s not forget the broody male zombie. He’s mysterious, intriguing, and adds just enough tension to keep you turning pages and wondering what secrets lie beneath the surface. I only wish that chemistry had a little more room to sizzle…
Which brings me to my one major gripe: the romance/smut side of things is very toned down in this first book. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but with such promising tension between the characters, a little more balance between the emotional stakes & the action would’ve taken this to the next level. Hopefully future books by the author can include more.
Still, this is a must-read if you’re craving action with undead chaos, strong female leads, & animal companions that aren’t disposable plot points. Just don’t go in expecting heavy romance.
🌶️ 0/0 there is none
A fun, fast-paced undead romp with bite & bark.
If you’re tired of zombie books that claim to be horror but secretly just want to be love stories with a few groans thrown in, 3 Days in Undead Shoes is a refreshing change. It delivers actual zombie action (thank you!), a lovable & capable main character, & a very good doggo sidekick who steals scenes like he’s chasing squirrels.
Jane, our heroine, is smart, likable, and fiercely loyal—especially to her four-legged companion. It’s rare to find a female lead in the genre who isn’t either helpless or a caricature of “strong,” but Jane strikes the right balance. She’s a survivor with a heart, which made rooting for her feel natural.
& let’s not forget the broody male zombie. He’s mysterious, intriguing, and adds just enough tension to keep you turning pages and wondering what secrets lie beneath the surface. I only wish that chemistry had a little more room to sizzle…
Which brings me to my one major gripe: the romance/smut side of things is very toned down in this first book. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but with such promising tension between the characters, a little more balance between the emotional stakes & the action would’ve taken this to the next level. Hopefully future books by the author can include more.
Still, this is a must-read if you’re craving action with undead chaos, strong female leads, & animal companions that aren’t disposable plot points. Just don’t go in expecting heavy romance.
December 2, 2023
So, this isn't a slow burn. I read up to the second installment and it is insta. The MMC can't even talk or recognize himself, but she falls for him anyway, later on.
Also, the monologues. I skimmed so much because of them. And again, there was not enough show and too much telling. I do not recommend this story is you are looking for something deep or well put. I liked the setting and the fact that the FMC was resourceful. But when I thought things were kind of meh and I decided to go for the third installment anyway, the author threw us the most OBVIOUS plot twist I've read in recent times. So obvious, I didn't think it was going to be used.
But anyway, happy reading.
Don't read If you don't want to get spoiled!!!!! This is known at the end of book 2.
Also, the monologues. I skimmed so much because of them. And again, there was not enough show and too much telling. I do not recommend this story is you are looking for something deep or well put. I liked the setting and the fact that the FMC was resourceful. But when I thought things were kind of meh and I decided to go for the third installment anyway, the author threw us the most OBVIOUS plot twist I've read in recent times. So obvious, I didn't think it was going to be used.
But anyway, happy reading.
Don't read If you don't want to get spoiled!!!!! This is known at the end of book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2024
I felt like something somewhat scary, hence the zombies, tis the season since it halloween. Purchased the audiobooks for this one and glad I did. The narrator was great except for the dog, that got annoying real quick. I always love a dog sidekick... Anyways overall I liked this series, not as scary as I would have liked but definitely tense, lots of action and an unexpected paranormal aspect to the romance which I did enjoy. The hero, 🥰🥵 wish there was more spice actually but that wasn't what the book was about. There is ow drama but it wasn't bad and turns out to not be what you think it is. It actually added to the drama and I didn't mind. I liked the main characters although the fmc sounds like she was a bit of a frump at times and she really made some questionable choices but all in all, she was not annoying like some fmc could be. In the end, I will relisten to it in the future. Not my first time with a zombie type story but the first time I finished all the books in a series because I liked the characters and the plot and I was happy with it. Since one of my favorite shows of all times is the walking dead, I'm always on the look out for a good books series in the same vein and while this is far from it, I still enjoyed it. Especially how it took place in my old home town and I could really picture it in my mind.
December 27, 2023
Reviewing this as a romance novel first: Slower than slow burn, as the romance appears to be between the FMC and a zombie, ala Warm Bodies. This doesn't really work for me as a standalone, because by the time you get to the end, you realize that you have to read the other 2 books to get to the romance part of this romance book. I mean, I wasn't expecting a lot, just maybe to know the MMC's name or have him say one single word to FMC by the end of the novel? Nope, lol. Wishlisting the other 2 books, but not in a big hurry to read them.
Reviewing this book as a novel: There is a lot to like about this book. The prose is good, the MC is competent and likeable, and the creepiness of the world and the zombies is very effective in setting the scenes. You don't get a cookie for guessing what kind of dog the author has IRL, because it's mentioned like 1000 times... and FMC dislikes cats, which is honestly the most offensive thing I can imagine and made me want to smack her upside the head. (Hah.) At least I can put my cat in a backpack when I need to start running from zombies, instead of getting trapped on a construction lift in the rain with a 160-lb terrified pupper reticent to climb on!
Reviewing this book as a novel: There is a lot to like about this book. The prose is good, the MC is competent and likeable, and the creepiness of the world and the zombies is very effective in setting the scenes. You don't get a cookie for guessing what kind of dog the author has IRL, because it's mentioned like 1000 times... and FMC dislikes cats, which is honestly the most offensive thing I can imagine and made me want to smack her upside the head. (Hah.) At least I can put my cat in a backpack when I need to start running from zombies, instead of getting trapped on a construction lift in the rain with a 160-lb terrified pupper reticent to climb on!
July 25, 2024
I cannot believe I waited so long to read this book! I’ve had it in my library for months, maybe more, and I finally got around to reading it. Holy crap! This book was amazing and a great start to a three book trilogy! I cannot wait to read books 2 and 3. I love how Jane talks to herself and to Schroddie. Most people talk to their pets like they are humans anyway so it was entirely relatable. I also loved her “conversations” with Grey and how they changed over the course of the book. Jane is terrified most of the time but she’s strong willed and doesn’t give into the panic (mostly) as she finds herself in uncharted waters. I did appreciate the descriptions she gave the zombies of Ferals and Repeaters to help differentiate between the different types of zombies. I also found that I like the sporadic technology in this book. Most of the time all technology is gone. Just wiped out in an instance and here, at times, Jane and her family were able to send and receive text messages which helped move the story because you become invested in whether the entire family will survive. And the ending - LOVED HOW IT ENDED!
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