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)

left me wanting more!!

fantastic story. keep me on my toes the entire time. the ending was pretty damn good. I know this author has a ton of books.. camt wait to read another

Great listen.

I'm not really a fan of zombie books but wow this was a great non-stop action thriller. I picked it up based on other readers reviews and was not sorry. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
This story is really hard to find a stopping place so beware you may have a sleepless night ahead when you start it!

Great take on rage zombies.

Who was the most memorable character of Patient Zero and why?

Church is such a great straight man for the humor that he is involved in.

Totally loved it!

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

It was just another zombie book until I really starting to enjoy the main character and his attitude. I am a fan of Mark Tufo and this had almost the feel (not as much humor) as some of his books.

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

Yes, it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't remember a boring section in the entire book.

What about Ray Porter’s performance did you like?

His tone and inflection carried the main character well.

This book and its narrator is incredible

This book is amazing, throughout the entire story I had trouble pausing this audiobook. Very few books can be as enticing as this one from the very first page and maintain that level of excitement through the entire book. And with that said very few narrators can bring a story such as this to life but I can say with absolute certainty that Ray Porter can, I don't know what else he narrated but I will look into it and I recommend you do too. Ray Porter portrays the emotions and feelings of not just the main character which any narrator can do but with his inflections and the tone of his voice he portrays the situations not just the people but the places that's the mark of a great narrator. I highly recommend this book in case I haven't yet made that clear.

A bit to long

If you could sum up Patient Zero in three words, what would they be?

Good but long

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ray Porter did a good job with all the voices. I could always tell who was talking. Even with the female voices.

Any additional comments?

I think if I would have choosen the abridged version, I could have given this 5 stars for story.

I am just not that interested in foreign terrorism.
Again Porter did very well with all the accents.

Keeps your interest, and kicks butt.

Would you listen to Patient Zero again? Why?

Yes, I like the story lines of good verses evil and all that goes with it. This book keeps your interest and there is constant action. And is read very well.

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

they way he brings each character to life with there own identity, and personality.

If you could take any character from Patient Zero out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Bunny. I think he would have a great personality.

Do not be scared off by the cover art

What a blast! This is probably the fastest paced book I have listened to. Think Jack Reacher on steroids. The action is nonstop and exciting. The walkers - you will find out what they are - are creepy, believable (more so than run of the mill zombies). But they are not as the book cover depicts; they are more developed and real.
The hero, Joe Ledger, is just a tiny bit too superman, indestructible and unkillable, but oh, does it add so much to the story. I would not change a thing. He is badass and his men know it, trust him and are willing to die for him. The females in the story are not as well developed, but that is a minor gripe.

The science, conspiracy and terrorist thread is right out of the FBI files and when you hear the credits Maberry lavishes at the end, you feel better for saying the story is believable!

As always, Ray Porter is flawless. He does military, middle East, British very well with a couple tiny bleedovers between characters, but still outstanding and entertaining!

Do yourself a favor and download it now!

I came close to bypassing this book.

I thought the whole zombie thing is over used. The television show with its mindless gore and constant preachiness really turned me off. Not so with this book.

It actually has a good plot with well formed characters. The hero has the sarcastic way about him but when it comes time to get down to business he is all business.

Interesting science and technology discussions. Some of it is based upon facts. Which at the same time is great and horrible.

I look forward to the other books in the series. Well done!

fast paced action and humor

from the very first wise crack from Joe ledger to the last, this book has been an awesome ride. I really couldn't stop putting this book down. I will definitely look into more stories featuring Joe ledger and the DMS TASK FORCE.