Outbreak

The Black, Book 3

By: Paul E Cooley

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

When a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) quarantine fails at Ben Taub Hospital, a Houston SWAT Team is sent to secure the facility. What they find is destruction and death....

Trapped in the hospital and cut off from the world, a mysterious voice on the radio is all they have to guide them. They're no longer on a mission to quarantine the remaining inhabitants. Instead, they have to destroy a multiplying menace that could infect the world before the Federal Government enacts a final solution.

Outbreak is a stand-alone parallel story to both the 2015 Parsec Award-winning novel The Black and The Black: Arrival. A mashup of action and horror, Outbreak is a suspenseful thriller that will keep you guessing what's around the next corner.

©2023 Shadowpublications.com; 2nd edition (P)2023 Fireside Audio

Great story!

Another great book in this parallel storyline. I enjoyed the suspense in this story. You're always wondering what will happen next. The narrator does a great Job telling the story. The story moves along at the pace of The Black. I think that's a nice touch.

The Conclusion?

This is the first series I've read/listened to by Paul E Cooley. Again, this is not my normal trope to read. I really wanted more of the story after book one and book two answered that request...mostly. I should have seen that we would receive the hospital's story next. Duh. It was as full of action as book two, with books two and three being similar in it's execution of the storyline. The author leaves it open for a book four with returning characters. I hope it happens. I'm still wondering about the survivors from book one!

Joe Hempel is an excellent narrator. His performance for both male and female voices is well done! So few have that talent. His performance had the audiobook rolling like a movie in my head.

#FiresideAudio
#TheFlockonTour

Outstanding!

The absolute best of the three stories!! I can't wait for the movies...job well done 👏

intense

This gripping, intense, being from the depths of the ocean wreaks havoc when brought to the surface.
Now in the hands of the CDC , more danger in the hospital trying too contain it.
It dark, gruesome,intensely dangerous, riveting on the edge of my seat gory action.
Joe Hempel narration brings the intensity, emotions to this sci fi story, like watching a movie.
very well done
#the flock on tour

Outbreak

well this book was pretty good, talk about keeping you at the edge of your seat. but it was very interesting. the narrator did a good job bringing the book to life.

Book 3 of the best action/horror trilogy ever!

I was blown away by the whole experience of this action/horror trilogy, especially this final tour-de-force epic showdown in a quarantined hospital. The author Paul E. Cooley and the narrator Joe Hempel together are masters at completely immersing the listener in this terrifying and exciting story. It seems so real. It is a well-organized maelstrom of fear, dread, death, and heart-pounding action with a great ending. The author perfectly sets up the story with detailed geography of the hospital building and accurate scientific and SWAT team details. The author evokes all of the senses as the reader is caught up in the action. I highly recommend this trilogy to all fans of action horror or monster/contagion horror. The story includes death, blood, some gore, and some four-letter words. If you can watch the movie “Alien”, you can definitely read and enjoy The Black.

This third book is at least half told from the perspective of Lieutenant CelieAnne, the female African-American leader of the Houston SWAT team. This team is trapped in the hospital with a deadly and smart blob monster that digests almost anything to add to its own mass. CeliAnne is a war veteran and very skilled at her job. I quickly grew to love her and her team. Three likeable CDC doctors also had a bunch of chapters from their perspectives. I also appreciate how none of the monster’s victims are faceless; the author makes them into real, distinctive people before they get added to the body count. A bunch of characters whom we get to know do survive, thankfully.

Joe Hempel delivers another amazing, perfect performance. He is extremely gifted at action scenes and evoking a rollercoaster of emotions in the listener. He realistically sounds like dozens of different characters. I am thoroughly impressed, and I will look for more of his work. Joe Hempel elevates the incredible book to a whole new level! This audiobook deserves to win many awards.

I requested and received a free audio copy via the publisher, and I voluntarily wrote this honest review. #TheFlockVIPReviewTeam #FiresideAudio

You Know It’s a Good Story When….

You can’t take your eyes off that suddenly sinister looking can of 10W-30 that’s been lurking on a shelf in your garage… watching… waiting… hungry? {{shudder}}.