Joe McKinney Reviews

Added October 4, 2007

Dead City

Author: Joe McKinney
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: November 2006
Genre: Horror
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Price: $6.99
ISBN-10: 0786017813
ISBN-13: 9780786017812
Reviewer: Phillip Tomasso III

Joe McKinney's first novel, Dead City, is a gripping tale that takes readers into the familiar realm of zombies. It is a fast and perfect read for any horror fan, especially with the upcoming release of the latest Resident Evil film.

On the heels of endless hurricanes slamming into the gulf coast, everyone assumed the worst was now behind them. What no one saw coming was the deadly fury left in the wake of the relentless storms.

Officer Eddie Hudson has juggled his shift and beat in order to spend more time with his wife and six month old son. Although admirable, he now finds himself enduring one of the worst nights of his life. Calls from dispatch radio for officers to investigate riots in a rough part of town. When he and his partner Chris respond, they are not ready for the horror awaiting them.

Forced to use their weapons, the two find themselves shooting at humans that refuse to go down. Headshots become the only option to put a stop to the constant oncoming attacks. Certain they will be in trouble for using excessive force, they soon realize that nothing is right, and nothing is as it seems.

Reports come in that similar riots are taking place up and down the coast from Texas to Florida. And though beyond rational belief, the only logical explanation is that the rioters are not angry. They're dead, or dying. They are zombies. Seemingly as numerous as drops of water in the ocean, an onslaught is at hand.

Being bitten, or scratched by one of the creatures is enough to turn a normal human into a zombie, that is if one can manage to get away before being torn to shreds and eaten as an appetizer-as the appetite of the zombies is insatiable.

Although sworn to uphold the law and bring peace to the neighborhoods, Eddie is more concerned with his personal quest-to find and save his wife and son. His daunting search through debris and corpse filled streets leads Eddie down a journey no man should ever have to endure.

The zombies seem to appear out of thin air. More and more of these things come out from every nook and cranny. Constantly surrounded, Eddie's hope of finding his family alive and unharmed is fleeting. Desperate, Eddie will do what ever it takes … but will that be enough?

Tight writing, great characters, with a splash of philosophy here and there is what makes Dead City seem frighteningly possible. I hope we have not heard the last from Joe McKinney-I like to have chills race up and down my spine, and I like to have to look over my shoulder to make sure I'm safe, and his writing had me feeling this way the entire time I was reading … and even after I'd finished the book!

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