Deadlands: Book Two

THE DEAD WON'T DIE by Joe McKinney is the second book in the Deadlands series. The survivors from Arabella have arrived in Temple, only to be treated as criminals and mocked for their Code. While the first installment is a zombie horror novel, this book is a sci-fi crime drama, and the undead are just about the only thing the two stories have in common, aside from the three main characters. The writing style has changed so much, I wouldn't believe this to be a McKinney novel, if his name wasn't on the front cover.

I appreciate reminders of what happened in the previous book, but the author references the events in PLAGUE OF THE UNDEAD so often throughout this sequel, the pace of the story drags like the broken leg of a zombie. I'm also disappointed by how little takes place. There is a lot of action, but not much progress is made by the characters, and the ending is abrupt. I'm also shocked at how bad the editing is...more than once, a section of dialogue seems to be missing from a conversation.

I'm kind of sick of the characters at this point, as well. Jake keeps flashing back to having teenage sex with Kelly, Kelly barely shows any personality, and Chelsea is always screaming and crying. How in the hell they've managed to stay alive with all the noise they make is a mystery to me. Even for fiction, it's just ridiculous.

I hope McKinney returns to the style of writing he uses in the first book, otherwise, I don't see myself recommending this series. If you're expecting this to be anything like his Dead World series, you're going to be disappointed.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Deadlands: Book One

PLAGUE OF THE UNDEAD by Joe McKinney describes a post-apocalyptic world 30 years after a man-made plague with zombies. The town of Arbella can barely contain the population of ten-thousand people, offspring of the First Generation to survive the initial outbreak. A group has set out to see if it is possible to safely expand their borders; however, their decades of isolation has left them unprepared for First Contact.

The people of Arbella live by a strict Code, which has helped them survive and thrive, but a betrayal of trust will jeopardize the expedition. There is also the mystery of the exotic airships, which appear to be able to herd the undead hordes.

McKinney basically brought together science fiction and horror to create what I believe is one of his best stories. He ties in the cause of the plague to the reason there are still zombies three decades later, and provides one hell of an explanation for the movement of the hordes.

Last, but not least, McKinney includes four short stories that are extremely entertaining. They include a type of survivor called a Faker, which is devastatingly haunting.

You don't have to be a zombie fan to appreciate the sci-fi horror between these pages.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Savage Suspense

THE SAVAGE DEAD by Joe McKinney is more of a crime thriller than a zombie horror novel. The infected are just a small detail in a story about an assassination plot to take out a Senator who has been fighting against Mexican cartels. One cartel in particular attempts to use a biological weapon on a cruise ship to take out their target.

I really enjoyed all of the characters, as well as the mix of action and moments of introspection. Details about their personal issues adds extra suspense to every scene, wondering how their pasts will affect their decision-making and not knowing what each is willing to do to survive.

I'm satisfied with the ending, if this is a stand-alone, but I wouldn't mind a sequel with Ramon being hunted down.

As always,
AstraDaemon