From the Bookshelf of Permuted Press Authors…

Dead Inside

Gareth Wood

Why we're reading this: For the heck of it.
[close] For the heck of it.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Mar 24, 2014 Shana Festa rated it really liked it

Shelves: zombies

Robyn Cartwright was an astrophysics student when in May of 2004, the dead rose. Her group maintained their safe haven for a year before the dead breached their walls. Now nine years later, Robyn has found work as salvaging for Mission Safe Zone. Mission is led by council, and a new society has formed. With the zombie problem kept in check, a new situation arises. Five women have gone missing, and some now believe a serial killer has emerged. To add insult to injury, the virus, or whatever it is Robyn Cartwright was an astrophysics student when in May of 2004, the dead rose. Her group maintained their safe haven for a year before the dead breached their walls. Now nine years later, Robyn has found work as salvaging for Mission Safe Zone. Mission is led by council, and a new society has formed. With the zombie problem kept in check, a new situation arises. Five women have gone missing, and some now believe a serial killer has emerged. To add insult to injury, the virus, or whatever it is, is mutating.

Fans of the Rise series will remember Amanda from the previous books, a background character in the first two books, her face scarred by burns obtained when a burning car exploded. Amanda is the only returning character from the previous book, making Dead Inside from Permuted Press readable as both a standalone book or part of the series.

The narration of Dead inside is a mix between third person singular with limited first person narrative told from Amanda's perspective. Discounting one small bump in the road at about the 30% mark, the transition of narration is successful and the benefit of providing Amanda her own voice pays off.

Having read and enjoyed both Rise and Age of the Dead, I was ecstatic to receive Wood's submission of Dead Inside and am happy to report that it was a welcome addition to the series. The struggle of the ongoing zombie battle and fight for survival in a dystopian world along with the secondary crusade of capturing a serial killer creates a well contrasted juxtaposition in a clash of old vs. new world order.

The journey is over, and Gareth Wood leaves readers with an afterword letting readers know this is his last book in the Rise universe. The ending to Dead Inside, and subsequently the Rise series altogether, was emotional and will leave readers satisfied, but still wanting more. Someday I hope Wood will revisit the series, I'd like to know more about the infection and it's origin. I also think there could be something special in a continuation of the mutation arc and would love to see where he takes it.

Interesting tidbit: Gemalte Leiche, Amanda's favorite band, was made up by Gareth and you'll find references to them in all three books. He's even given them a Facebook page! Go show your love for The Rise series & heavy metal by liking them on Facebook! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 21, 2014 Permuted Press rated it it was amazing

Mar 17, 2016 Suzanne Robb rated it liked it

Group Home Bookshelf Discussions

Photos Videos

Send invite Members Polls