Patient Zero

The Joe Ledger Novels, Book 1

By: Jonathan Maberry

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

From multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author Jonathan Maberry comes a major new thriller that combines the best of the New York Times best-selling books World War Z by Max Brooks and James Rollins’ Sigma Force Series to kick off the start of a new series featuring Joe Ledger and the Department of Military Sciences.

When you have to kill the same terrorist twice in one week there’s either something wrong with your world or something wrong with your skills - and there’s nothing wrong with Joe Ledger’s skills. And that’s both a good and a bad thing. It’s good because he’s a Baltimore detective who has just been secretly recruited by the government to lead a new task force created to deal with the problems that Homeland Security can’t handle. This rapid-response group is called the Department of Military Sciences, or the DMS for short. It’s bad because his first mission is to help stop a group of terrorists from releasing a dreadful bioweapon that can turn ordinary people into zombies. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Jonathan Maberry is the New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker Award–winning author of Ghost Road Blues, the first of a trilogy of thrillers with a supernatural bite. A professional writer and writing teacher, he has sold more than 1.000 articles, 17 nonfiction books, six novels, and two plays.

©2009 Jonathan Maberry (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Brilliant, shocking, horrifying, it puts the terror back in terrorist.” (James Rollins, New York Times best-selling author)

“Plenty of man-to-zombie combat, a team traitor and a doomsday scenario add up to a fast and furious read.” ( Publishers Weekly)

"Jonathan Maberry has found a delightful voice for this adventure of Joe Ledger and his crew: while the action is heated, violent, and furious, the writing remains cool, steady, and low-key, framing all the wildness and exuberance in a calm rationality (given an almost comic edge) that renders it as palatable as your favorite flavor of ice cream." (Peter Straub)

Amazed

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this one to a friend who finds the science interesting.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. I don't usually get into the zombie books, bit this one is more a thriller which happens to have zombies.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to Ray Porter performances before, but love his style. I have already downloaded the second book in the series in large part due to his performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it took me about 4 but only because I had to go to work at some point!

Not a book reader!!! But loved this

I hate reading but a buddy of mine turned me to this book and wow. This book was so engaging and had me glued to. I drive 6 hours out of the day and it felt like nothing listening to this. The narrator was phenomenal and the author did a fantastic job. I’ve already begun purchasing the rest of the series.

Slow to start, then you're hooked!

What made the experience of listening to Patient Zero the most enjoyable?

The basis of the story

What was one of the most memorable moments of Patient Zero?

The fact that the story was local to me (Baltimore, Delaware, Philadelphia)

Which scene was your favorite?

The crab plant scene.

Joe Ledger

Gripping drama. Ray Porter makes all of the characters come alive. Start with the first book in the series for optimal enjoyment.

Entertaining and corny

Entertaining story though rather corny and juvenile at times. The narration is excellent. Fast paced action with quite a bit of violence -what else can you expect when dealing with terrorists and zombies?

Riveting!

Fantastic story!! The narrator did a phenomenal job. I couldn't stop listening! Already downloading the next book in the series. If you like James Rollins, you will also like Jonathan Maberry. Loved loved loved it! I felt like I was right in the middle of the action!

loved it

love this book. the series is great and a wonderful read. Joe ledger is both funny and fierce.

It was just plain fun...

I'm not into Zombie/Monster books...This book never really felt like one. It was a fun listen. The character development was excellent. Ray Porter did a very nice job with character voices.

Zombies meet Modern Military Intelligence

What did you love best about Patient Zero?

I loved that it showed more than just Joe Ledger. The character development was great and you really got into the story with all the action.

What did you like best about this story?

With other military type novels - I usually get really bored because it's not something that interests me. But with this story I couldn't stop listening! There was something new around every chapter.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not but I am now going to look at the others because this was by far the best narrator that I have come across yet.

If you could rename Patient Zero, what would you call it?

I wouldn't. I think that it's the perfect name.

Any additional comments?

I cannot say enough about the narrator! He was brilliant with his delivery of every single character and I hope to see him making more in the future!

I will always remember this novel

this was one of the most exciting books I have read in a long time, it was interesting, intriguing, and flat out awesome at times. the only downside to this book that I found was the character development of the bad guys team. when it talks about the enemies I began to lose interest in that side of the story, but overall this book is a five-star book, and I encourage everyone that is into thriller suspense horror action books or movies to pick this one up and give it a read.