I think what I loved most about the book is M. R. Carey’s artistry of the slow-reveal. At the start, you aren’t fully informed of what Melanie’s ‘gifts’ really are, leaving you guessing. In addition, most characters are multi-faceted with well-written dialogue between people. The book also pivots between a sense of hope and hopelessness, engendering tension throughout. The Splits, by M.V. Clark. A journalistic take on the zombie genre, M.V. Clark’s The Splits offers what some readers have called a “grown-up” and intelligent contribution to the genre. Recently adapted into a movie, The Girl With All The Gifts revolves around Melanie – a young student with an incredible aptitude for learning. Monster Islandputs a lot of really unlikely elements together, and yet somehow it works. Picture this: a group of Somali school girls turned soldiers, a former United Nations weapons inspector, an undead man named Gary who seems much smarter than the average zombie, ancient mummies…the list goes on. How do all of these elements fit together in a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested world? You’ll have to read to find out. This book is the first in a series, like many of the books on this list. this is not a test by courtney summers

Speaking of humorous slants on the zombie book genre, here’s another one that fits the bill. In Husk,Sheldon Funk is a struggling actor turned zombie who’s trying hard to make his desire for human flesh work with all of his other real life responsibilities. Can Sheldon launch his acting career, handle his mother’s dementia, and hold on to his hot-but-vapid boyfriend, all while decomposing? Huskis a hilarious satire that isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions. For instance, do zombies poop? Don’t act like you haven’t wondered. the rising by brian keene Fast forward a decade later and Rhiannon is now an accomplished author being published by Tor Books. Many of her horror titles have also earned critical acclaim. Among her most celebrated releases is the As The World Dies zombie apocalypse trilogy, beginning with The First Days. This book is more of a thinker than a thriller, though it does have some gripping scenes spread throughout. It’s a thoughtful, contemplative exploration of what might really happen to the world if a zombie outbreak occurred. Yes, I spent a lot of time on this project. And no, I didn’t have anything better to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon.) Slow Burn: Zero Day, by Bobby Adair. After being bitten by his infected stepfather, Zed Zane must fight for his life among the zombies as well as the normal people who now fear him.The Rising, by Brian Keene. It’s another “parent must save child” zombie apocalypse novel, with a preacher, a scientist, and a former prostitute along for the ride.

And while it was written long before COVID, it resonates more deeply in the wake of that pandemic. The Reapers Are the Angels: A Personal Favorite Overall, I find Patient Zero to be one of best zombie books in recent years, told in a fast-moving military style. No horror list is complete without at least one Stephen King novel. So here’s the King novel for you, zombie fans. You’ve probably heard that cell phone can give you cancer, but did you know that they can also turn you into a zombie? That’s the premise of King’s book. Mobile phones become the harbinger of technological warfare, wiping users’ brains and leaving them with nothing but aggression and desire for destruction. You know that one aunt you have that’s still so smug about not owning a cell phone? She’s going to love this book. plague of the dead by z.a. recht This book is the beginning of a series with serious political leanings. Joe Ledger is a Baltimore detective who has just been recruited by the government for a secret mission. He will be leading a rapid response group tasked with stopping a terrorist organization from releasing a dreadful bio-weapon that can turn ordinary people into zombies. At this point, there are several books in the Joe Ledger series, so if you enjoy this character, you can follow his many other cases. wanted: dead or undead by angela scott

So, instead of creating my own list, I devised a kind of “master list” of best zombie novels based on popular opinion. Here’s how I went about it… Creating a ‘Master List’ of Undead Fiction

You might have thought it was cool when Westworldmashed up two of your favorite genres: Western and Science Fiction. Well, in her Zombie West series, Angela Scott mashes together Western and (you guessed it) zombies. When a redheaded cowgirl called “Red” saunters into a saloon, Trace knows that he has to join her in her zombie-killing adventure. All he knows about the cowgirl is that she’s the sharpest shooter he’s ever seen. What he doesn’t know about “Red” is a much longer list, including secrets Trace is not prepared for. married with zombies by jesse peterson Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. By signing up you agree to our terms of use feed by mira grant The First Days, by Rhiannon Frater. The first in a multi-book series, it tells the story of two women (Jenni and Katie) who travel across Texas during a zombie apocalypse to rescue Jenni’s son. This survival series starts off with Katie – a woman getting ready for her day in court – and Jenni, a housewife taking care of her family. However, hours later, both these women are flung together by a harrowing circumstance — namely, the apocalyptic rise of the undead. The two of them soon become a powerful zombie-slaying duo, journeying out to rescue Jenni’s stepson. Carnage Road, by Gregory Lamberson. This novella tells the story of two bikers who travel across the country after their gang is wiped out during a nationwide zombie crisis.Admittedly, the first book is a little oddly paced in some spots. There are also moments where political views seem to be oddly thrown into the dialogue. These works are very different from one another, so you’ll have to do some research to find out which ones appeal to you. But they all have one thing in common. All 15 of these works have appeared on more than one list of the best zombie apocalypse books of all time. So, who knows .. your new favorite read might be somewhere on this list. The Three Best Zombie Apocalypse Novels Ever? If Finding Nemowas about people rather than fish, and zombies were what stood in the father’s way rather than human beings, well then you would have this book. Does that sound like a stretch? Hear me out. Jim Thurmand is one of the few humans left alive in a world ridden by zombies. But Jim can’t just hide and wait for the zombie uprising to end because his young son is in danger several miles away. So along with an unlikely group of companions, Jim travels across the country to rescue his son. See the connection? This book is the first in a zombie book series. the reapers are the angels by alden bell Speaking of romance and zombies, I give you Warm Bodies, a zombie book that gives a not-so-subtle nod to Romeo & Julietwith the romantic leads being named R and Julie. See what they did there? Unlike some of the more serious romance-y horror books on this list, this is another book I would put in that zom-rom-com category that is definitely a thing. Equal parts funny and sweet, this novel tells the story of a zombie man who falls in love with a human woman. Together, they discover the transformative powers of love. If you’ve already read Warm Bodiesand enjoyed it, the sequel The Burning Worldwas just released last year. warmth by sumiko saulson But enough of this administrative minutiae. Let’s put the appetizers away and sink our teeth into the meat. I now present to you, the ultimate list of best zombie apocalypse novels based on popular opinion. 15 Zombie Books Worth a Look (Alphabetically)