Plague of the Dead

The Morningstar Strain, Book 1

By: Z. A. Recht

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

The end begins with a viral outbreak unlike anything mankind has ever encountered before. The infected are subject to delirium, fever, a dramatic increase in violent behavior, and a one-hundred percent mortality rate. Death. But it doesn't end there. The victims return from death to walk the earth.

When a massive military operation fails to contain the plague of the living dead it escalates into a global pandemic. In one fell swoop, the necessities of life become much more basic. Gone are petty everyday concerns. Gone are the amenities of civilized life. Yet a single law of nature remains: Live, or die. Kill, or be killed. On one side of the world, a battle-hardened General surveys the remnants of his command: a young medic, a veteran photographer, a brash Private, and dozens of refugees, all are his responsibility-all thousands of miles from home. Back in the United States, an Army Colonel discovers the darker side of Morningstar virus and begins to collaborate with a well-known journalist to leak the information to the public...The Morningstar Saga has begun.

©2006 Z.A. Recht (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

So relevant in today’s Covid-19

Although this is more than a decade old, the way in which spreads is clearly relevant. ESP the first news conference is eerily similar to what we had in January.
Prophetic where the author says that in a pandemic the toilet paper is what is sold out first.

The narration is awesome!!

Oliver Wyman does such a great job with the voices I couldn't stop listening. I can't wait to start the next book. I listen on my way to work and back and it is so good that I don't care if traffic backs up! Great book all around!

Great take out zombies

Love the multiple types of zombies. The pacing of the book was really well done also. There was a character who was a nice homage to Bill Paxton's Aliens character. The character Sawyer was a bit much. Just a little too unrealistic.

A Well Written Zombie Novel

What about Oliver Wyman’s performance did you like?

His tones and pacing were well done.

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

I was always looking forward to seeing what was coming next.

Any additional comments?

As with any zombie novel you kind of know what is coming but the delivery of it was well done.

Disappointment - superficial Zombie book

Would you try another book from Z. A. Recht and/or Oliver Wyman?

If you are looking for an excellent zombie book, this is not it. The author spends more time developing superficial characters rather than concentrating on a decent plot. I could not finish the book

What could Z. A. Recht have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Develop a real plot that one really cares about

Would you be willing to try another one of Oliver Wyman’s performances?

No

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Plague of the Dead?

Most of the character development

Any additional comments?

No

Much better than most

Early outbreak is my favorite part of zombie stories and this one is pretty good. Boring NSA storyline but everything else moves along well. The best part is the narrator who sounds like Casey Kasems younger brother.

Fantastic Zombie Story!

What did you love best about Plague of the Dead?

I liked the combination of infected humans and the undead. Sort of a cross between "28 Days Later" and the "Dead" movies. It made for a great flow in the storyline.

What did you like best about this story?

The human aspect and the fight for survival, how they coped, is what I liked best about this story.

Which character – as performed by Oliver Wyman – was your favorite?

Hard one.....I'd say between Sherman, Stiles and Trevor.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

Books 2 & 3 are just as great!

Expecting More, But Not Terrible

Perhaps I've been spoiled by Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger series, and a few other solid authors writing about this subject, but I found Plague of the Dead a painful book at times.

The book read like a Hollywood B movie, with a predictable story and character actions. The writing style was "young" and I flinched every time a cliche presented itself (and there were many). I found it difficult to be swept into the story given the blatant unrealistic aspects (i.e. copying tonnes of data to a CD taking the merest of moments).

The saving grace were a few of the characters (certainly not the idiot General Sherman, whom I am given pause to wonder how he managed to obtain that rank in the military).

I was hopeful when the book began, but the story devolved quickly, tainted by predictable situations and unrealistic actions.

I'm sorry to say that although I am curious about what happens in the rest of the books, I can't justify spending money or time on the other books.

If, on the other hand, you enjoy B movie style cliche-riddled books, this one's for you.

PS: I'm not trying to be an asshat here, but I found this book difficult to be positive about.

Solid Zombies...

OK, I have to admit I rad a lot of zombie stuff, anyway,and this was overall a ver respectable effort. I don't know why exactly this gets such soaring reviews, but I did enjoy it. I liked it enough to get the second one which was not very zombie-filled, but I digress. Not gore laden, which I'm fine with, pretty decent characters (I don't ask too much from zombie books in this department, but still need something), nice mix of manly men, and yet, some pretty tough babes-who don;t even have to be someone's love interest. Nice plot line, overall I do think it is worth the read, indeed.

WOW! Great start to a series.

Great narration. Story is a fast pace action filled thriller. You'll be sucked into the story almost immediately and won't be able to stop.