The Undead: Part 3

By: R R Haywood

Narrated by: Dan Morgan

Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

A deadly infection spreads across Europe. The Undead series: a terrifying account of one man desperately struggling to survive this harrowing event day by day.

At Tower Bridge, Howie, Dave, and their group of survivors take stock of the previous day's battle. After an initial confrontation between Howie and the turned Darren, Howie and his group beat a hasty retreat to Fort Spitbank on the south coast, where they prepare for the invasion of Darren and his army of undead. In a blistering finale to the first week of the Undead, Howie and his group fight their biggest battle yet.

©2012 R. R. Haywood (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

WOW!

What an exciting, intense episode! This one was not lacking for anything... Humor, mystery, love, loss, and some righteous retribution, via a thrilling gore-fest of insane zombie slaughtering!

Thank you R R Haywood! What an amazing series!

Excellent narration, Mr. Morgan. . . Kept me on the edge of my seat. . . start to finish!

9 people found this helpful

Can't wait for the next one!

Another great installment in this unique series. Haywood does a very good job mixing the gravity of the story with some light-hearted humor. I especially like the "hive-mind" persona of the infection. It gives a fresh spin on the zombie genre and sets it apart from other series.

5 people found this helpful

Great zombie book

Well worth finishing each book in the series over a weekend was a delight. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good zombie series.

4 people found this helpful

funny and entertaining

very entertaining book. it actually makes my sometimes hour long commute enjoyable. I was super bummed when I finished the book in the middle of my drive and hadn't yet downloaded book 4.

2 people found this helpful

On the edge of my seat....

What did you love best about The Undead: Part 3?

I've listened to the first 2 books and they were good, without a doubt. However, I like this book for different reasons. Book 3 is more about the battle within oneself. Howie is battling with what's right and what's wrong. What feels right and what ...I guess, feels wrong.

By the end of this book, he finds his strength. The true strength that powers one even when he's on his last breath.

Any additional comments?

If you've started the series, keep going. It can only get better .....I think...

2 people found this helpful

Howie of the Dead III

Any additional comments?

I've enjoyed this series and that Haywood keeps upping the skills of the zombies to keep things interesting. In the second and (this) third installment however it seems that it loses its way. One thing about zombies is that they are impersonal killers and here Haywood takes the easy route and makes it personal. This creates a reason for them to pursue and launch mass attacks on Howie and his survivors. This takes away from the randomness that is part of the horror of the situation. Those old enough will remember Jaws II involved a Shark seeking revenge for the death of the Shark in Jaws I. This is sort of the same thing and hard to buy into. Also, the main characters repeatedly engage in unnecessary hand to hand combat with the zombies (oh theres a group of Zeds, lets stop our armored caravan and fight them mano a mano). Overall a good series with just these few gripes.

2 people found this helpful

Great Series

What made the experience of listening to The Undead the most enjoyable?

The material is a great new twist on the zombie genre which is overplayed right now. Dan Morgan's voice work is great and is a huge part of what makes this work so well.

What did you like best about this story?

The infection, Mr Howie's drive and love for his sister, seeing Dave become more of a truly fleshed out character and one of my favorites in the entire series

What about Dan Morgan’s performance did you like?

How natural he makes it all sound. He has a "matter of fact" delivery on an entirely crazy subject matter while keeping it grounded in humanity as much as possible.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The infection is alive!

Any additional comments?

A great audiobook and if you love the zombie genre then this book is a nice refreshing change to it. It's a truly fun experience listening to this on my ride to and from work but the sign of a great audiobook is if I end up listening to it after my ride which for this one I ended up doing quite a bit.

2 people found this helpful

I love Dave!!!

I love Dave!!! Need I say more? He is officially my favorite character in this series. I can't wait for the next book.

2 people found this helpful

Think I've Had Enough

I never thought I would say that about a zombie apocalypse story. But this third book in the series, for me, was pretty terrible. I really enjoyed the first two, so I eagerly bought and listened to this one.

So many elements not to like: The cardboard manly men with their "fear the homosexual" banter. I mean here they are, fighting off hated zombies and the worst thing they could say to one another is that they are gay. I did not find that endearing or funny, no matter how realistic it might be for manly military men to engage in. But they blush at the slightest provocation, those being close proximity to a woman or a compliment. And they sure do love one another anyway. I mean, they'll lay down their lives for one another, but god forbid they are gay!

The constant, never-ending blowing up of zombies. I know there are hoards, but how many ways and times can one describe heads and brains blowing up? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy zombie gore, but this was so repetitive as to be numbing.

And the whole thing with Howie talking to his angry inner self and then yelling the lord's prayer at the zombie hoard. Sigh.

And TMI about all that weaponry. I got it. They have guns. They have explosives. Do we really need descriptions of how they work? Again and again?

And don't get me started on the infection scenario.

A big disappointment and the series stops here for me. I hope Howie and Dave win, but not sure I care.

8 people found this helpful

More same.

Yeah just another of the same thing. Hip hip hurrah for the zombie fighters. Still didn't do anything but another battle an lost more hero's. I'm finished with this day by day thing. I need another Mike Talbot or zombie rules series.

1 person found this helpful

First review after listening to nearly 200 books!

What made the experience of listening to The Undead the most enjoyable?

Finally a Zombie book based in the UK that we can relate to.

What other book might you compare The Undead to, and why?

I've read lots of Zombie books but I suppose the nearest thing to it for me is Keith C. Blackmore Mountain Man series. But the major difference is that its based in the UK and not the US for a change.

What does Dan Morgan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Clear and concise narrating. I tend to listen to audio books whilst driving.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All of it. I have listened and enjoyed the first two books in the series but this book gripped me right from the start. I love the way a Night Shift Supermarket manager can transform into a fighting zombie warrior who leads thousands.

Any additional comments?

This is a brilliant read and I'd recommend it to any Zombie Apocalypse lovers!

7 people found this helpful

Absolutely brilliant

I've listened to the first 3 parts of this book, I'm completely hooked! I've even abandoned watching Friends on telly so I can listen to it!!! The narration is excellent, Dan Morgan's voice draws you into the story. When they fight, you fight with them, when they're empowered, you feel empowered, you feel the emotion with the characters, you suffer their losses and rejoice in their victories.

I 100% recommend this audio book

6 people found this helpful

brilliant story

listing to this story has made me laugh so much its enthraling and a gripping story

4 people found this helpful

Powerful stuff.

The best one yet. Powerful emotions. Scary battles and some much needed humor and budding romance. Much of the book is about preparing for an epic siege battle with the Darren lead zombie army. Very well and interestingly told by R R Haywood. From the leaving for the fort, this book was VERY hard to put down

Great narration as usual from Dan Morgan.

1 person found this helpful

Outstanding delivery and narration.

Loved it, was prepared for it to get jaded or strange. But it kept up the relentless pace, authentic banter and brilliant character development. Could not turn it off.

1 person found this helpful

Loved it, a great follow up.

It’s been over a year since I listened to book 2 - mainly because I was reluctant to use a credit for a relatively short listen (I tend to aim for 12 hours plus).
That said I don’t regret it at all! The story followed on directly from book 2 with no loss of connection from the narrator. I do allot of driving and actually found myself driving slower on the motorway than usual so I could finish as I was so tuned in! Worked wonders for my MPG :-). It has everything from tension to laughs, you feel empathy for the characters and can’t beat the banter. Overall a great listen.

1 person found this helpful

Really enjoyed this one

The characters are starting to develop really well and the story telling is very good. I can see how the writer developed his skills which led to extracted which is sublimely written.

Can't wait to start the next one

1 person found this helpful

A fantastic climax to week one!

To begin with - like I do with all of the Undead books - I'm giving a lot of kudos to Dan Morgan, he's brilliantly captured the characters and does a fantastic job bringing these books to life.

Part 3 is really focused around build-up and delivery of Howie's biggest battle thus far; and it does not fail to deliver. This part is well-written, dramatic and goes someway to evolving out protagonist into the new zombie-battle-hardened version of himself. I will say that some of this part has to be taken with a pinch of salt as some of the themes are explored in later books (such as the religious tie-in that seems to draw some criticism). However I will note that some of the writing centred around Howie taking of leadership of the fort seemed a little bit forced.

Overall though, this is another enjoyable excerpt into The Undead series, and one that I'm sure will keep you hooked for part 4...

I love it

this just gets better and better I found myself now leaving everything Hayward has written

Mildly entertaining until it gets religious

Minor Spoiler Alert. Dan Morgan performs this book excellently. Clear speach and discernable characters. Well done.

Book three in the series was entertaining enough. Not as good as the first two, though it kept me interested. Dave demonstrating house to house searches for example.

Then almost at the end, overt Christian religion raised its ugly head as a source of strength in battle. Bummer. I almost turned off the recording and am unlikely to buy anymore.

The interaction between Howie and Dave continues a strength of the earlier books. There is a long tradition of "Daves" who provide skills the main character lacks. Haywood does this pair well.

The schoolboy macho banter of the army's recruits is credible as is their attachment to Howie. Initially through their mistaken belief that only a special forces officer could have a batman like Dave with his tactical and killing skills. Again this is written well.

The zombie fights are just that. Bloody and well written action scenes.

I am less comfortable with Chris. Ex special forces who organised a two thousand strong safety zone with a cadre of lieutenants. When zombies over-run the commune he teams with Howie to organise a convoy to a south coast fort. More mature and experienced Chris plays be second fiddle and this did not ring true.

The author keeps telling us Howie is very charismatic. But I didn't believe it. He just doesn't come across that way. A small group leader by accident. Yes. But someone deferred today by top class soldiers?

Outside of the main group we are in the realm of non-player characters. Some people don't even have names. They are just a chorus and background.

When the convoy arrives at the fort they meet up with the police from book one who have organised, with some help, six thousand refugees. Kitchens, toilets, infirmary, food and weapons.

Howie, Chris and the team just turn up and take over the defence. No explanation except by fait accompli. No protests. They just do it and none of the non-player characters seems to have a role to be consulted. Worse they just cheer Howie and his team who seem to be legends. This just felt silly.

In the previous books the organisation of small group tactics felt real. Not so the fort. It did not work with eight thousand people. An example, when a man complains about being exhausted he is abused into submission by Howie and Dave. Yet organising rest and shifts to fight an enemy of indeterminate numbers whose arrival time is not known, is a priority.

Howie and Chris agree not to share tactics without everyone for the fear of leaks to Zombie Command. They then proceed to order the occupants of the camp around, but don't make an effort to explain their reasons. Some written confrontational could have been avoided with one sentence. But presumably there author is wanted these scenes.

Finally, there seemed to be no consultation with the experienced soldiers and historian on how to defend a walled fort. Howie had some of great ideas and carried them through. Then there were some silly things. So at one point we get the gang charging out through the high walls rather than use the walls for their purpose.

I hope Howie and the gang get back on their own again.