new zombie books

20 Of The Best Zombie Novels

Zombie novels – and the zombie fiction genre more broadly has shambled its way into the hearts and nightmares of audiences worldwide, offering a captivating blend of horror, survival, and social commentary. Stemming from the rich tapestry of folklore and cultural fears surrounding the undead, zombie fiction has evolved from its humble origins to encompass a diverse array of narratives, from apocalyptic epics to intimate character studies.

At its core, zombie fiction serves as a mirror to society, reflecting our deepest anxieties about mortality, societal collapse, and the fragility of human civilization. Through tales of desperate survival, moral ambiguity, and the resilience of the human spirit, the genre explores themes of identity, community, and the struggle to retain one’s humanity in the face of overwhelming darkness. Whether serving as a source of visceral thrills or provoking introspection, zombie fiction continues to endure, infecting new generations of readers and viewers with its potent blend of terror and fascination.

Here are twenty zombie novels that will raise the hairs on your neck:

“The Day of the Triffids” by John Wyndham, 1951

Kicking off a list of zombie novels with a book about killer plants may seem an odd choice, but The Day of the Triffids is included as the triffids behave like the undead and evokie the same response from the living. A bizarre cosmic event blinds most of humanity, leaving them vulnerable to the deadly attacks of Triffids—venomous, mobile plants capable of killing and consuming humans. As society crumbles, a small group of survivors must navigate a world overrun by both the blind and the menacing Triffids. Wyndham’s narrative is a chilling exploration of humanity’s fragility and the unpredictable nature of biological threats, offering a cautionary tale about the consequences of tampering with nature.

“I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson, 1954

In this classic tale, Robert Neville appears to be the last living human in a world overrun by vampiric creatures. Neville spends his days scavenging for supplies and fortifying his home against the relentless hordes. As he grapples with loneliness and despair, Neville becomes a legend, both feared and revered by the new inhabitants of the world. Matheson’s exploration of isolation and survival in a post-apocalyptic landscape remains a cornerstone of the zombie genre, blending horror with profound philosophical themes.

“The Rising” by Brian Keene, 2003

When a government-created virus reanimates the dead, bringing about a zombie apocalypse, Jim Thurmond embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue his son from the clutches of the undead. Along the way, Jim encounters various survivors, both friend and foe, as he battles not only the zombies but also his own inner demons. Keene’s novel is a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled ride through a world turned upside down, filled with visceral horror and heart-pounding action.

“The Zombie Survival Guide” by Max Brooks, 2003

Presented as a comprehensive guide to surviving a zombie apocalypse, Max Brooks offers detailed strategies for everything from fortifying your home to navigating urban environments. Filled with practical advice and theoretical scenarios, this book serves as both an entertaining read and a practical handbook for those preparing for the undead uprising.

“Handling the Undead” by John Ajvide Lindqvist, 2005

Following a mysterious electrical surge in Stockholm, the deceased begin to reanimate, returning to their loved ones in a bizarre state of existence. As society grapples with the implications of the undead’s return, families must confront difficult choices about how to care for their resurrected relatives. Lindqvist’s novel delves into themes of grief, love, and the blurred lines between life and death, offering a thought-provoking exploration of human nature in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

“World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War” by Max Brooks, 2006

Through a series of interviews, Brooks paints a global picture of a world ravaged by a zombie pandemic. From the initial outbreak to the desperate attempts at containment and eventual resurgence, the narrative spans continents and cultures, offering diverse perspectives on survival and loss. Brooks’s meticulous attention to detail and his innovative storytelling approach make “World War Z” a gripping and immersive read, blending horror with social commentary to create a compelling examination of human resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.

“The First Days” by Rhiannon Frater, 2008

In the chaotic aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, Jenni and Katie form an unlikely alliance as they navigate the perilous streets of Texas in search of safety. As they encounter other survivors, face off against hordes of the undead, and grapple with their own fears and traumas, Jenni and Katie must rely on each other to survive. Frater’s novel is a thrilling and emotional journey of friendship, resilience, and hope amidst the ruins of civilization.

“The Forest of Hands and Teeth” by Carrie Ryan, 2009

In a world surrounded by a forest filled with ravenous undead, Mary has grown up within the safety of her village’s walls, dreaming of the ocean beyond. But when the barrier is breached, Mary and a small group of survivors must navigate the treacherous forest in search of sanctuary. Ryan’s novel is a captivating blend of horror and coming-of-age drama, exploring themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the pursuit of hope in a world overrun by darkness.

“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” by Seth Grahame-Smith, 2009

A reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic novel, this book infuses the story of the Bennet sisters with a zombie apocalypse. As the sisters navigate the complexities of courtship and society, they also contend with the undead menace lurking in the English countryside. Grahame-Smith’s blend of Regency romance and zombie horror offers a fresh and entertaining take on a beloved literary classic.

“Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament” by S.G. Browne, 2009

In a world where zombies are struggling for acceptance and rights, Andy Warner finds himself navigating the challenges of unlife, from prejudice to dating. As Andy forms connections with other undead individuals, he begins to question society’s perceptions of what it means to be alive. Browne’s novel offers a humorous and thought-provoking exploration of identity and belonging in a world where the lines between life and death are blurred.

“Patient Zero” by Jonathan Maberry, 2009

When a terrorist group unleashes a bioengineered virus that turns its victims into homicidal maniacs, Joe Ledger, a Baltimore detective, is recruited into a covert government agency to combat the threat. As Ledger races against time to stop the spread of the virus, he uncovers a conspiracy that could lead to global devastation. Maberry’s novel is a pulse-pounding thriller that combines elements of horror, science fiction, and espionage, offering a compelling exploration of the human capacity for both heroism and villainy in the face of an existential threat.

“The Passage” by Justin Cronin, 2010

In a post-apocalyptic America, a government experiment gone wrong unleashes a viral outbreak that turns humans into vampiric creatures known as “virals.” As the world collapses, a young girl named Amy becomes humanity’s last hope for survival. Spanning centuries and multiple perspectives, Cronin’s epic novel blends elements of horror, science fiction, and fantasy to create a gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope in the face of extinction.

“Zombie Fallout” by Mark Tufo, 2010

When a zombie outbreak sweeps across America, ex-Marine Michael Talbot must lead his family and a ragtag group of survivors in a desperate bid for survival. As they navigate a world overrun by the undead, facing both human and zombie threats, Talbot must confront his own fears and flaws to protect those he loves. Tufo’s novel blends dark humour with intense action, delivering a gripping tale of resilience and camaraderie in the face of apocalyptic horror.

“The Dead” by Charlie Higson, 2010

Set in a world where a mysterious illness has turned adults into flesh-craving monsters, a group of children must fend for themselves in the ruins of London. As they struggle to survive amidst the chaos and violence, they uncover dark secrets about the origins of the outbreak and the sinister forces at play. Higson’s novel masterfully blends horror with elements of adventure and coming-of-age, offering a thrilling and often harrowing tale of resilience and friendship in the face of unimaginable horror.

“Warm Bodies” by Isaac Marion, 2010

In a world overrun by zombies, R is a young corpse who experiences an unexpected spark of life when he encounters Julie, a living human. As their unlikely relationship blossoms, R begins to regain his humanity, leading him on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. Marion’s novel offers a fresh twist on the zombie genre, blending romance with dark comedy and existential themes to create a poignant exploration of love, identity, and the power of connection in a world gone mad.

“The Reapers are the Angels” by Alden Bell, 2010

In a world overrun by the living dead, a young girl named Temple wanders the American South, seeking refuge and purpose amidst the chaos. As she navigates abandoned cities and treacherous landscapes, Temple confronts both the undead and the remnants of human cruelty. Bell’s lyrical prose and haunting imagery elevate this tale beyond typical zombie fiction, offering a poignant meditation on survival, redemption, and the enduring power of hope in a world consumed by darkness.

“The Dead-Tossed Waves” by Carrie Ryan, 2010

Set in the same world as “The Forest of Hands and Teeth,” this novel follows Gabry, a girl living in a seaside town surrounded by the Forest of Hands and Teeth, where the undead roam. When Gabry’s world is shattered by a breach in the town’s barriers, she must venture into the forest on a dangerous journey to save the ones she loves. Ryan’s haunting prose and vivid world-building make this a compelling addition to the zombie genre, exploring themes of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.

“The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor” by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga, 2011

Delving into the backstory of one of the most iconic villains from “The Walking Dead” series, this novel follows the rise of Philip Blake as he transforms from a grieving father into the ruthless Governor. As society crumbles in the wake of the zombie apocalypse, Philip navigates a world filled with danger and despair, driven by a singular desire for power and control. Kirkman and Bonansinga deliver a compelling exploration of morality and the descent into darkness in a world where survival comes at a brutal cost.

“Zone One” by Colson Whitehead, 2011

Set in the aftermath of a devastating zombie apocalypse, “Zone One” follows Mark Spitz, a survivor tasked with clearing the undead from lower Manhattan. As he navigates the desolate streets, haunted by memories of loss and trauma, Mark grapples with the existential question of what it means to rebuild in a world teetering on the brink of collapse. Whitehead’s prose is both poetic and visceral, crafting a narrative that transcends the confines of the zombie genre to explore themes of identity, community, and the resilience of the human spirit.

“The Girl with All the Gifts” by M.R. Carey, 2014

In a dystopian future, humanity is on the brink of extinction due to a fungal infection that turns people into flesh-eating “hungries.” Among them is Melanie, a young girl with a remarkable intellect and a craving for human flesh. When the military base where she’s kept falls under siege, Melanie, along with a small group of survivors, embarks on a perilous journey to find safety and answers. Carey’s gripping narrative delves into themes of humanity, sacrifice, and the moral complexities of survival, delivering a thought-provoking twist on the traditional zombie narrative.

And that’s our list of the twenty best zombie novels. What’s your take on these – any surprises, or any zombie fiction not on this list that you feel should make the list?

15 Best Zombie Books To Keep You In Suspense

Last Updated on January 22, 2024 by Louisa

When it comes to horror books, my favorite sub-genre is zombies. Zombie books take me into a world of paranormal, apocalyptic drama – they keep me on the edge of my seat and desperate to know how it ends.

Books about zombies have become increasingly popular over the past decade, with the rise of video games and TV series focusing their storylines on beating a zombie apocalypse.

But there’s something so much more thrilling about reading a book. It would be best to use your imagination, which can be both exhilarating and terrifying.

You’ve come to the right page if you’re in the mood for a great zombie book. In this guide, I’ve listed my best zombie books that will keep you hooked to the last word…

Affiliate Disclosure : This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through any of these links.

What Can You Expect From Zombie Books?

Zombie books are filled with suspense, horror, and adventure. Most stories revolve around a zombie apocalypse where some kind of virus or infection has transformed the dead into bloodthirsty creatures who want to feast on human flesh.

Readers can expect to find characters struggling to survive against hordes of zombies, searching for a safe haven, and looking out for one another in a desperate attempt to make it against all odds.

The protagonists have to find ways to create weapons and protective shields so that they can fight against the relentless onslaught of the undead.

Along with this adrenaline-filled action, there are often moments of sadness as characters come face to face with their own mortality and grapple with heartbreaking losses.

As readers get deeper into such stories, they can also expect to learn about societal issues such as morality, ethics, and group dynamics in a darkly fascinating way.

Best Zombie Books

Are you ready to add some zombie books to your to-read list? Below are my top picks for exciting zombie novels.

1. Slow Burn: Zero Day – Bobby Adair

Slow Burn: Zero Day by Bobby Adair is the first book in the Slow Burn series. It’s a short novella, but it’s currently free to read on Kindle Unlimited, so if you’re looking for a quick read, as this to the top-recommend zombie books that fans can’t get enough of.

A new flu strain is taking over the world, and the footage on the news is horrifying. People everywhere are preparing for the outbreak that’s turning people into zombies.

Everyone is scared except for Zed Zane.

Zed doesn’t have the slightest clue that anything is going on. All he knows is that rent is due, and he doesn’t have the money. He plans to drink a bottle of tequila and go to his mother’s house to beg for money.

When he arrives, his stepdad attacks him in a zombie-like state. To get free, Zed stabs him multiple times.

Now, he’s infected and heading to jail for murder. But this is only the beginning of Zed’s story, as he must continue fighting for his life.

I enjoyed this book because it has a more plausible storyline (well, not that I’d want it to happen!) and is not just another zombie apocalypse book designed to frighten the reader. There is real depth to the plot and the characters are convincing and relatable.

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2. The Rising: The Newsflesh Trilogy – Mira Grant

The Rising features all 3 of Mira Grant’s The Newflesh collections in one book. The story that takes place in the series is so intense that it needed three novels to complete.

This does mean this is a massive 1,000-page brick of a read, but trust me, you’re going to want to power through this.

It starts back in 2014, when it seemed like scientists made a breakthrough when they found cures for cancer and the common cold. With new medical discoveries came something horrible.

A widespread outbreak that turned people into flesh-eating zombies.

Twenty years later, Georgia and Shaun Mason are determined to find out the truth about what caused the outbreak. They will do anything to get answers, even if it means putting their lives on the line.

This is another zombie book I liked for its plausible storyline. I mean, it does start with a pandemic…

Despite being a massive read the storyline is quite fast-paced, and has a good amount of suspense and mystery. If you like virology-based zombie books, then add this to your TBR list.

Related reading: Apocalypse romance books

3. This Is Not A Test – Courtney Summers

One of the best zombie books to keep you on the edge of your seat is This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers.

It follows a group of teenagers as they navigate their way through a zombie apocalypse, focusing more on their psychological struggles and how they manage the threat on an intellectual level, rather than just running away and smashing things.

It’s set at the start of a zombie apocalypse, leaving no safe places to reside. Sloane and five others find shelter inside Cortege High. However, the dead could barricade through the doors at any moment, killing them all with one bite.

Sloane was prepared to die. But her time inside Cortege High inspires a new will to fight to survive.

But, as the group spends more time together, they realize being inside could be more dangerous than leaving.

If you’ve watched The Last of Us on HBO then you might find similar vibes in this novel – it’s less about the infected and more about the character development.

4. Cell – Stephen King

I will be honest, Cell is not my favorite Stephen King novel, and any fans of his works will probably want to debate their favs in the comments. After all, Stephen King is the master of horror books!

In this book, the action begins within the first 7 pages and doesn’t stop until the end. Each page is as gripping and as action-packed as the last. It adds a new definition to the word “page-turner.”

It all begins on a beautiful Autumn day in Boston, and everything appears normal. Clay didn’t think anything was out of the ordinary.

Until regular people fell victim to an outbreak that came out of nowhere that unleashed an animalistic instinct and hunger for humans.

And how it starts is even more bizarre. Every time someone answers their cell phone, they turn into crazed maniacs.

What I found most thrilling about Cell was how quickly things escalated. And if you think about how people are glued to their phones in today’s society…the idea of this happening is chilling.

This is just the beginning of the apocalypse zombie book. Like most King books, readers can expect thrills and chills from the start to the end.

**This book contains scenes of violence against women and animals that may upset some readers**

5. The Forest Of Hands and Teeth – Carrie Ryan

Are you in the mood for a suspenseful zombie dystopian book that takes place after a zombie apocalypse? If so, I suggest grabbing a copy of The Forest Of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

Mary is a part of the sisterhood. They live in a protected village that protects them from the forest of hands and teeth. A zombie apocalypse has taken out most of the population.

As far as the sisterhood and the Guardians know, the people in their village are the only people in the world that aren’t infected.

Trouble arises when Mary discovers that the sisterhood hasn’t been honest with her. She begins to question things and what could be outside.

When the safety of the fence that keeps the gate protected is compromised, Mary questions if she should risk escaping.

This is an interesting take on the events after an apocalypse, when society should be rebuilding and coming together, others are being advantageous and cunning.

Again, I like this book for its plausibility. Admittedly, it takes a bit of time to get into it. I almost gave up but then persevered and the story picked up after about 50 pages in.

If you want something to suck you in from the beginning, this isn’t going to be the book for you, but if you’re looking for a series that will have you pondering, questioning reality, and investing in its plot – then you may enjoy this book.

Related Reading: The Best Dystopian Romance Books

6. Dread Nation – Justina Ireland

Dread Nation is not just a zombie book, it’s a zombie book about female empowerment. It’s set in the post-Civil War era and features a black female protagonist fighting zombies – something we can all agree is not seen enough in literature!!

I think the best way to describe this book is it’s like a historical fantasy zombie fest meets Pride and Prejudice.

The story follows Jane, who was born only two days before the zombie apocalypse started. Now, she’s nearly completed her education at Miss Preston’s School Of Combat in Baltimore.

This is an institute where select students are chosen for training to take out zombies.

Despite her skills, being a zombie hunter wasn’t on Jane’s list of life goals. Upon graduation, she plans to travel back to her Kentucky home. However, Jane is in a conspiracy as people begin missing in Baltimore.

I was heavily invested in this book because of how much I enjoyed the character of Jane. She was brave, courageous, and endearing, but not in a perfect way, which made her more relatable.

7. Generation Dead – Daniel Waters

Are you in the mood for a YA zombie book? Generation Dead by Daniel Waters is a refreshing take on your typical zombie novel, offering something uniquely different from the rest.

It starts when a strange outbreak occurs that causes teenagers to die, only they aren’t staying dead. They are resurrected as zombies, creating a new clique of zombie teens who are just trying to fit in with society.

Oakvale High tries to create a welcoming environment for these undead kids, but the living kids aren’t comfortable with it.

Everyone except for Pheobe that is.

Phoebe has genuine feelings for Tommy, the leader of the undead kids.

As citizens who don’t want the undead to stay around are finding ways to get rid of them, Phoebe is doing anything to keep Tommy safe.

Generation Dead is a funny, romantic, and thought-provoking read. It’s a coming-of-age novel about teenagers finding their place in society with a zombie twist.

The friendships and human (and non-human) interactions are what sets this novel apart. It’s definitely one of the more unique storylines on this list.

8. 100 Days In Deadland – Rachel Aukes

100 Days in Deadland (Deadland Saga Book 1)

100 Days In Deadland by Rachel Aukes is a creatively written story that begins on the first day after the world ends.

Told through the POV of the protagonist, Cash, a strong female office worker turned survivalist due to an apocalypse, the story quickly unfolds without ever wavering or slowing down.

It starts after a zombie infestation took over the world in one day, leaving a trail of monsters with an insatiable hunger for the living – and there’s no stopping them.

Cash is one of the few survivors. She ends up meeting Clutch, an army veteran, and since Cash doesn’t have the skills to survive, she could use all the help she can get.

The two flee the city to find safety but enter the nine circles of hell. Danger surrounds them everywhere, and the living is just as dangerous as the dead.

I would say as far as zombie books go, the storyline isn’t anything new, however it’s done exceptionally well. The characters were well-developed, the dialogue feels realistic, and there wasn’t a moment that felt like it dragged.

Anyone who loves zombie books may enjoy this action-packed read.

9. Clementine, Book 1 – Tillie Walden

Are you in the mood for a graphic novel? Then you may enjoy Clementine by Tillie Walden.

This book takes place in the world of Robert Kirkman’s, The Walking Dead , so if you’ve ever played the game you may see similar elements of the plot in this book.

Clementine is on the road and ready to forget her past. She teams up with Amos, another teenager. They head to Vermont, where they plan to stay at a settlement with other teenagers for the winter season.

Zombies and the cold aren’t the only dangers these kids face. As Clementine spends more time with these teens, she realizes they could be her most significant threats.

10. The Darkest Winter – Lindsey Pogue

The Darkest Winter (Savage North Chronicles)

The Darkest Winter by Lindsey Pogue is a superhero meets The Walking Dead type zombie novel. If you’re after a book with a happily-ever-after, then this might be up your alley.

After the virus spread, the world, as people knew it ended. Zombies have taken over, and finding sanctuary is the most important thing.

Elle was an ordinary teenage girl that woke up in The Fever. When she woke up, she had superhuman powers. This had her worried that she was one of them.

Jackson is drinking away his worries as the world destroys. If he’s going to go out, he doesn’t want to be sober enough to know what’s going on. When he wakes up from a blackout with a gun in his face, he knows he must fight for his survival.

Ellie and Jackson are an unlikely pairing, but together they will navigate this dangerous post-apocalyptic world.

Lindsey Pogue has brilliantly described real emotion in this book. The way she captures grief, conflict, and loneliness is both poignant and relatable. Because of this, the characters are really the highlight of this read.

The storyline is well-rounded and there’s plenty of twists to keep you hooked to the end!

11. Survivor Song – Paul Tremblay

If you’re looking for an intense zombie book, Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay might be a good one for you.

Although it’s defined as a zombie book, it’s similar to Cell in a way as it’s more like a virus that has mutated and turned people into crazy people – same thing, right?

A virus quickly spreads through Massachusetts, turning ordinary people into zombies with an infectious bite. This virus spreads within the hour, leaving no one safe.

Natalie is 8 months pregnant. Her husband was killed by an affected neighbor who also bit her. Knowing her limited time, she makes an emergency call to her pediatrician friend Rams.

The women face horrifying challenges as they fight for survival and to save Natalie’s life.

This book is not about literary jump scares or frightening monsters. The horror elements come from the intellectual fragility of the characters and human behavior. For that reason, I was absolutely hooked.

If pandemic reads are not too close to home, then this is sure to have you hooked from start to finish.

12. Zone One – Colson Whitehead

Another zombie novel that focuses on the societal reaction to a zombie apocalypse is Zone One, which is all about survival after the apocalypse.

A plague that turned affected people into zombies wiped out half of the nation. The living and the undead separated people. The plague is over, and civilization is beginning to rebuild again.

A civilian team is working to rebuild Manhatten.

However, they soon discover things aren’t as safe as they seem. Things take a deadly turn over 3 days.

This novel doesn’t have a storyline that’s anything new, and I did find that the beginning started off slow, but from the middle, it takes a surprising and unexpected turn that was quite refreshing.

13. Alice In Zombieland – Gena Showalter

We’ve taken a trip to Wonderland with Alice before, but have you ever imagined taking an adventure in Zombieland? This is a fun take on the classic tale, featuring a zombie-fighting Alice.

Monsters are real, and this is something Alice knows all too well. Zombies took her family from her, and now she wants revenge.

To do this, she will team up with notorious bad boy Cole to fight the undead.

However, Alice soon discovers that her zombie-fighting partners are hiding secrets that could endanger them.

This is an original, fast-paced paranormal romance book that I found very hard to put down.

14. Pride And Prejudice And Zombies – Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

We all know the classic tale of Pride and Prejudice, but what about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ?

This is a refreshing take on the zombie genre, featuring elements of classic literature, paired with humor, swordfights, and zombies with a hunger for the living.

Zombies have taken over the village of Meryton.

Elizabeth Bennett is back for another book, but the classic character is fighting off deadly zombies this time.

But, when the arrogant Mr. Darcy arrives in town, our beloved heroine is distracted.

This is a far-fetched, over-the-top, and sometimes absurd book. If you loved the classic, you might find the historical inaccuracies annoying.

However, I found it to be quite funny in places, and I also enjoyed the illustrations. It’s not for everyone, but it is for those with a sense of humor.

It was also turned into a movie in 2016 starring Lily James as Elizabeth and Sam Riley as Mr. Darcy.

15. Year Zero – Benjamin Percy and Ramon Rosanas

Last on the list of the best zombie books is Year Zero by Benjamin Percy and Ramon Rosanas. This is another zombie graphic novel series that is packed full of action and suspense.

The story takes place during a global zombie apocalypse, where five strangers with unique skills band together to fight the undead.

It follows multiple storylines and POVs from characters around the world, from a boy in Mexico City to a hitman from Tokyo hitman to a survivalist in Minnesota, and a woman from Afghanistan.

The author switches back and forth between each character and the events happening in their countries at the same time, which keeps you constantly invested in the story.

It’s all about the moral dilemmas these characters face as they fight for their lives during the pandemic.

It’s a short read, so if you’re looking for something quick to read to satisfy your fantasy urges, this is a good option.

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Final Words On Best Zombie Books

So there you have it; those are the most exciting zombie books that I think you’ll enjoy.

When it comes to zombie-themed novels, there are so many excellent choices, but these offer the best storylines, action, and suspense.

Of course, if you think I missed your favorite zombie book or you have another one to recommend, let me know about it in the comments below.

About Louisa Smith

Editor/Founder - Epic Book Society

Louisa is the Founder, Editor, and Head Honcho of Epic Book Society. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom and graduated from the University for the Creative Arts with a degree in Journalism. Louisa began her writing career at the age of 7 when her poetry was published in an anthology of poems to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. Upon graduating university, she spent several years working as a journalist writing about books before transitioning to become a Primary School Teacher. Louisa loves all genres of books, but her favorites are Sci-Fi, Romance, Fantasy, and Young Adult Fiction. Read more Louisa's story here .

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25 of the Best Zombie Books [2022]

The best zombie books are those that take place in a post-apocalyptic world, where humanity has been wiped out by zombies. The survivors must band together to survive and find ways to fight back against the undead hordes.

Zombie fiction is one of the most popular genres in fiction today. It’s also one of the most controversial. Some people think it’s just too scary for children, while others love reading about how humans can overcome any obstacle.

Here are 25 of the best zombie books you should read:

1. World War Z by Max Brooks

No doubt you’ve seen or heard of the film World War Z that hit theaters a few years back, but the book it’s based on is completely different. Not just different, it’s arguably a much better story too.

World War Z by Max Brooks follows the story of the outbreak of the Solanum virus in China that sweeps over the world bringing back the dead and and near-apocalyptic downfall of the entire planet. Humanity has finally beaten back the undead and the book follows the journey one man takes across the globe, interviewing survivors about their experiences and tracing events back to the earliest days of the outbreak. It’s unconfirmed but very likely that this canonically leads to the creation of The Zombie Survival Guide.

2. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

The original comic series was written by Kirkman and artist Tony Moore, with art by Charlie Adlard. This version of the story would go on to spawn two television shows, four video games, and numerous spinoff comics. In short: there’s no shortage of Walking Dead content out there.

But while the TV show and comics may be popular, Kirkman’s first effort at telling the tale of Rick Grimes and his small band of survivors is still considered the best way to experience the apocalypse. With its stark black and white art style and realistic depiction of post-apocalyptic life, The Walking Dead is a timeless classic.

3. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Generation Dead is another novel that deals with the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. While the setting is similar to that of The Walking Dead, Generation Dead focuses on the lives of three teens as they struggle to deal with the new reality.

In Generation Dead, the world has collapsed into chaos after a mysterious flu spreads through the population. As the disease progresses, people begin to turn violent, attacking each other in packs. People start dying off, leaving behind only those who can’t fight anymore.

4. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies is a young adult novel set in a post-zombie apocalypse world. Starring a high school student named Nick (who gets bitten during a party) and classmate Cassie (a cheerleader), the pair soon fall in love and embark on a road trip together. Along the way, however, they discover that not everyone else shares their enthusiasm for living forever.

5. Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S.G. Browne

Breathers tells the story of Andy Warner, a human-turned-zombie who wakes up undead after a car accident kills his wife and leaves him with amnesia. When Andy begins to remember things, he realizes that he’s being hunted down by a group of humans who believe that all zombies should be destroyed.

6. Love & The Zombie Apocalypse by Chelsea Luna

Love and The Zombie Apocalypse by chelsea luna

Love & The Zombie Apocalypse is a trilogy of zombie apocalypse books that follow the story of Rachel Cole and her sister Morgan who goes off to science camp. The biological terror attack that causes the dead to reanimate and attack the living just so happens to strike the nation. Now, follow Rachel as her and her group of friends fight across the country to rescue Morgan.

7. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

This is Not a Test is a young adult zombie book where the main character, Sloane Price, must learn how to survive when society collapses around her in the ensuing zombie infection. She and a group of other damaged teens fight for survival both in the apocalypse and as well their slowly collapsing mental stability.

8. The Rising by Brian Keene

A particle accelerator experiment goes horribly wrong, ripping open a hole to another dimension that lets demons posses the dead. Follow Jim Thurmond, a construction contractor in West Virginia hiding away in a bomb shelter as the apocalypse ensues. In an attempt to find his son in New Jersey, Jim exits the shelter to find that the dead are able to think, drive, use weapons, and set traps for humans…

9. Monster Island by David Wellington

Monster Island follows the story of a former UN peacekeeper who’s daughter is being held by a warlord in Africa. In exchange for his daughter’s freedom, the protagonist Dekalb enters a zombie-infested island to retrieve critical AIDS medication for the warlord.

10. The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

The Reapers Are the Angels takes place in a near future America where a plague has turned most of the population into ravenous cannibals. Those who remain become slaves to brutal gangs called “Reapers”. One day, a 14 year old girl named Juno runs away from home to join the ranks of the Reapers. There she meets the charismatic yet dark leader known only as Reaper Pope.

11. Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo

Zombie Fallout is a book series (it’s huge, like 18 books) about a governmental rushed-vaccine against H1N1 pushed out to the populace that ends up accidentally causing the dead to become, uh…undead. It’s honestly a straight forward zombie-survival series that dives right into the outbreak without much fanfare. It’s got raving reviews by avid zombie readers and always makes for a clean break for a zombie-fuelled experience. It’s pulp-zombie to the T.

12. Clickers vs Zombies by JF Gonzalez and Brian Keene

After a devastating tsunami, masses of Clickers swarmed onto California’s coast, destroying everything in their path. As the creatures begin attacking other worlds, humanity fights back, not knowing that a second foe is lurking behind them, an alien race of beings called the Siqqusim who have the ability to take possession of and animate the dead. Now, Earth faces two invasions: the mindless, hungry Clicker invaders and the evil, and just as ravenous zombie invaders. Both groups have only the same goal in mind: the complete eradication of humans.

But what happens when they meet?

13. Braineater Jones by Stephen Kozeniewski

Braineater Jones is a Zombie-Noire book that follows Braineater Jones as he wakes up dead and with no memory of how he died. So he and his comical smart-aleck partner, a severed talking head, dive into the undead ghetto to solve his own murder. Jones needs to solve is murder while also fighting his own growing addiction to human flesh.

14. Southern Devils by Brent Abell

During an alternate history of the American Civil War, the Southern rebel army is fighting the Union in Brother versus Brother warfare. But the Confederates had just lost their imposing general Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson along with their hopes of winning the war. Until the South starts to rise again…this time as undead hordes of zombies ready to eat their way north.

15. Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

Joe Ledger, a Baltimore investigator, is recruited into the Department of Military Sciences, a specialist arm of the US government that reports exclusively to the President, to foil a terrorist conspiracy against the United States. El Mujahid and his accomplices invent a prion disease that causes victims to die and then re-animate with only rudimentary brain function, allowing them to locate, assault, and infect other individuals with “Seif al Din.” Before El Mujahid can unleash his newer and more potent strain of the disease on Philadelphia, Joe Ledger and the Department of Military Sciences must intervene.

16. Day by Day Armageddon by JL Bourne

Day by Day Armageddon is another World War Z style book that follows the journal of a survivor in the zombie apocalypse. The book is read as if you were a survivor coming across the journal and reading into the life of this person and their experience facing the end of the world.

17. As the World Dies: The First Days by Rhiannon Frater

Katie is getting ready for court the morning the world ends, while housewife Jenni is taking care of her family. They’re running for their life from a zombie horde less than two hours later. Jenni and Katie are thrown together by fate and become a deadly zombie-killing team, mowing down zombies while rescuing Jenni’s stepson, Jason, from an infected campsite. They seek refuge in a small, poorly protected Texas hamlet. Jenni and Katie discover that they are drawn to Travis, the survivor’s leader; and the refugees are forced to slay individuals they know who have returned in zombie form.

18. Zone One by Colson Whitehead

A virus has wiped off civilization, turning affected people into flesh-eating, dangerously infectious zombies. However, the situation has calmed, and the reconstruction effort has begun. Over the course of three days, “Mark Spitz” and his fellow “sweepers”—other apocalypse survivors—patrol parts of New York Metropolis, killing zombies as part of a mission to make the city habitable once more. The story is peppered with flashbacks that explain how Mark Spitz has survived the apocalypse thus far and how he obtained his moniker.

19. Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Sisterhood and the Guardians rule over Mary’s town. The town is encircled by walls, with only woodland beyond. There are only three routes through the fence: gates that open on paths that are also surrounded by fencing, allowing sick people to escape. Nobody knows where the two pathways will go, because the Sisterhood claims the hamlet is the last human settlement on the planet. Mary grew up hearing stories of life before the zombie apocalypse from her great-great-great-grandmother. She is enthralled by the water and feels that if she could just go to it, she will be set free.

20. Feed by Mira Grant aka Seanan McGuire

Feed is place many decades after the Rising, a zombie apocalypse. Kellis-Amberlee is a virus that swiftly infects all mammalian life by combining two man-made viruses (a cancer treatment and a common cold cure). The Kellis-Amberlee virus is usually harmless, but it may “go live” or “amplify,” turning any host animal above 40 pounds (18 kg) into a zombie. Amplification occurs in three ways: the death of the host, interaction with a living specimen (such as being bitten by a zombie), and spontaneous conversion. Those who haven’t had their infection amplified stay awake until the virus has had chance to propagate throughout the body. Following lucidity, there comes a lack of pain sensitivity, memory loss, and eventually conversion.

21. Cell by Stephen King

Clayton Riddell, a struggling Maine artist, had just scored a graphic novel contract in Boston when “The Pulse,” a signal broadcast across the global mobile phone network, transforms all cell phone users into mindless murderers. When the Pulse goes off, Clay is standing in Boston Common, causing havoc to erupt all around him. As the “phoners” attack each other and anybody in sight, civilization falls.

It’s one of Stephen King’s sillier novels, to be fair.

22. Devil’s Wake by Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due

Terry and Kendra are trapped in the northern United States as winter approaches, and they have no option but to trek a thousand miles of no-man’s-land in a dilapidated school bus, fighting voracious hordes, human raiders, and their own anxieties. They discover something no one could have predicted in the middle of the catastrophe… love.

23. City of the Dead by Brian Keene

As the novel begins, Jim discovers Danny alive, but the living dead quickly descend on their position. When Frankie and Martin arrive to the house, they find themselves locked in the attic. The zombies set fire to the home after seeing Danny’s neighbor in his panic room across the street. Everyone but Frankie makes it between the two houses using a ladder; unfortunately, Frankie suffers a two-story fall into a swimming pool below. Meanwhile, Don, Martin, Jim, and Danny reassemble and flee in Don’s Ford Explorer. They discover Frankie fighting zombies in the front yard after leaving the garage, seriously damaged from the fall and shot multiple times. They come to her aid as she is in shock.

24. Husk: A Novel by Corey Redekop

This hilarious tale follows Sheldon Funk, a poor actor who dies in a bus lavatory only to resurrect and fight the coroner during his examination. Sheldon finds he’s now a zombie as he flees into the winter streets of Toronto, as if he didn’t have enough on his plate already.

25. Plague of the Dead by Z.A. Recht

When a great military effort fails to suppress the undead, a worldwide epidemic ensues. The requirements of existence become much more fundamental in one fell stroke. Petty daily problems are no longer an issue. The comforts of modern existence have vanished. Even yet, there is one natural law that remains: It’s either live or die. It’s either kill or be killed. A battle-hardened general assesses the remnants of his command on the other side of the globe: a young doctor, a seasoned photographer, a boisterous Private, and scores of refugees, all under his authority thousands of miles from home.

Zombie & the Post-Apocalypse

Zombies are a popular reason for an apocalyptic setting. There are many reasons why an apocalypse might happen, but the most common is nuclear war. Zombies are probably the most popular after nukes. Zombies are the perfect sci fi element for a dreadful apocalypse that actively plays with the psychology of the lone survivors trying to stay ahead of the undead.

Subscribe to Dystopio today and get notified when new sci fi dystopian books and novels are released!

Best Zombie Books

Survive the apocalypse through the pages of the best zombie books that have gripped readers, standing out in a crowded field of undead tales..

Jon Cronshaw

Weaving Shadows. Crafting Light. Best-Selling Fantasy & Speculative Fiction.

1. World War Z by Max Brooks

This is an oral history of the global war against zombies and stands as the War and Peace of zombie fiction.

Max Brooks gives us a compelling geopolitical drama, rife with social commentaries, and yes, brain-eating zombies.

2. The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

From the same author as ‘ World War Z ,’ this book combines dark humour with practical advice.

It’s the SAS Survival Handbook for the zombie apocalypse, complete with illustrations and how-tos for decapitating your newly undead neighbours.

3. Cell by Stephen King

In King’s world, it’s not a virus but a mobile phone pulse that turns people into zombies.

More psychological and suspenseful than gory, ‘Cell’ is a modern, techno-twist on the traditional zombie tale.

4. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Set in a post-apocalyptic world surrounded by forests filled with zombies, known as “Unconsecrated,” this young adult novel explores love, loss, and survival.

It’s a bit like ‘The Walking Dead’ meets ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’

5. Zone One by Colson Whitehead

This Pulitzer Prize-winning author takes us through a post-apocalyptic New York City overrun by zombies.

The narrative is less about the undead and more about the humans trying to rebuild society, offering a fresh take on the genre.

6. Feed by Mira Grant

Set in a world where zombies are a part of daily life and society has adapted to coexist with the undead, this novel blends traditional zombie horror with political intrigue and conspiracy theories.

7. The Passage by Justin Cronin

Though not a traditional zombie novel, the creatures in ‘The Passage’ bear many zombie-like traits.

The book masterfully mixes elements of thriller, drama, and horror, offering a new perspective on the apocalypse.

8. The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

A coming-of-age tale set in a zombie-infested world, this book offers a poetic, almost dreamlike, take on the genre.

It’s Southern Gothic meets zombie apocalypse, and it’s brilliant.

9. Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne

Written in a diary format, this novel takes you through the day-to-day survival of a naval officer in a world overrun by zombies.

It’s survivalist fiction at its best.

10. Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist

This Swedish novel explores the emotional and social repercussions when the dead come back to life in Stockholm.

It’s less about gore and more about the emotional toll of dealing with a returned loved one.

There you have it—a list of zombie novels that run the gamut from hardcore survivalist narratives to emotional dramas set against the backdrop of a crumbling world.

If your zombie fandom is yearning for more than just a two-hour gore-fest, these novels will keep you up at night, turning pages and double-checking the locks on your doors.

What are your favourites? Which ones have I missed? Let me know in the comments.

Happy reading!

Note: This post includes affiliate links.

Author: joncronshawauthor

Best-selling author of fantasy and speculative fiction brimming with adventure, escapism, and an exploration of life's big questions. View all posts by joncronshawauthor

2023 Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Books

Don't even think about sharing this article.

Looking to expand your TBR (“To Be Read”) list for 2023? Here are some upcoming post-apocalyptic or dystopian novels coming out in the new year!

Below are the synopses and release dates for these titles (in alphabetical order). This isn’t a definitive list, as most publishers only have the first few months of 2023 on their websites at the moment, but it’s a great start! There is a huge variety of sub-genres, from eco-fiction to horror to LBGTQ to literary fiction to romance to thriller! Which of these are you the most interested in?

By Mary Baader Kaley

New Adult – Dystopian

Releasing January 10, 2023, from Angry Robot

In the far-future aftermath of a genetic plague that separated human society into two different groups – sickly yet super-intelligent Subterraneans and healthy but weak-minded Omniterraneans – a brilliant Subter girl is tasked with fixing the broken genetic code to reunite the two groups in the next generation.

But when a newer plague turns fatal for the surface-dwelling Omnits, the only group able to reproduce (giving birth to both Subter and Omnit children), Zuzan must find a cure or humanity won’t simply remain divided, it will become extinct.

But there’s more conflict at hand than a broken genetic code. The fragile connection between Subters and Omnits has frayed to the point of breaking – to the point of war – and it will take more than genius to repair; it will take heart.

Pre-Order here .

by Michelle Min Sterling

Climate Disaster – Thriller

Releasing April 4, 2023, from Atria Books

In the far north of Canada sits Camp Zero, an American building project hiding many secrets.

Desperate to help her climate-displaced Korean immigrant mother, Rose agrees to travel to Camp Zero and spy on its architect in exchange for housing. She arrives at the same time as another newcomer, a college professor named Grant who is determined to flee his wealthy family’s dark legacy. Gradually, they realize that there is more to the architect than previously thought, and a disturbing mystery lurks beneath the surface of the camp. At the same time, rumors abound of an elite group of women soldiers living and working at a nearby Cold War-era climate research station. What are they doing there? And who is leading them?

An electrifying page-turner where nothing is as it seems, Camp Zero cleverly explores how the intersection of gender, class, and migration will impact who and what will survive in a warming world.

Pre-Order here .

Five Years After (A John Matherson Novel (Volume 4)

by William R. Forstchen

Post-Apocalyptic Thriller

Releasing Aug 22, 2023, from MacMillan

Five years after the EMP strike that fractured the United States, in the New York Times bestselling novel One Second After , John Matherson is teaching at Montreat, attempting to lead a quiet life when he receives the news that President Bob Scales has mysteriously died. The Republic of New America has all but collapsed into regional powers, and the world at large is struggling to remain stable as regional conflicts ravage the post EMP landscape.

Suspecting assassination, John is pulled back into the fray as he joins the struggle to hold the tottering Republic together, while facing threats on multiple fronts. When another EMP is set off over the Eastern states, years of progress are put in peril. With so much of his work undone, John must find the strength within to start over, so that he can save the country and the people that he holds dear from even greater calamity.

Pre-order here .

Frontier

by Grace Curtis

LGBTQ+ Western Romance

Release Feb 14, 2023, from Solaris Press

What passes for justice is presided over by the High Sheriff, and carried out by his cruel and ruthless Deputy.

Then a ship falls from the sky, bringing the planet’s first visitor in three hundred years. This Stranger is a crewmember on the first ship in centuries to attempt a return to Earth and save what’s left. But her escape pod crashes hundreds of miles away from the rest of the wreckage.

The Stranger finds herself adrift in a ravaged, unwelcoming landscape, full of people who hate and fear her space-born existence. Scared, alone, and armed, she embarks on a journey across the wasteland to return to her ship, her mission, and the woman she loves.

Fusing the fire and brimstone of the American Old West with sprawling post-apocalyptic science fiction, FRONTIER is a heartfelt queer romance in a high noon standoff set against the backdrop of our planet’s uncertain future.

by E.A. Field

Paranormal Thriller – Zombies

Releasing July 14, 2023, from Rising Action

Nora Grace Moon thought her toughest challenge this semester would be managing her OCD, but when her deceased roommate turns up as a reanimated corpse, her world starts to collapse.

When her uncle sends her a cryptic message, Nora realizes it must be a call for help. She reaches out to fellow gamer Wesley for advice, a US Marshal with real-life skills for tactical survival not just in-game. They venture out into a world that is growing more and more deadly by the moment—not only are the undead spreading, but other humans are taking advantage of the societal breakdown. And unknown to Nora and Wesley, they have been targeted by an ancient archeological society who will stop at nothing until they have what Nora has: an artifact that will unleash a new world order of the undead.

IRL is a paranormal thriller about leaving the online world and dealing with things “In Real Life.”

Add it on Goodreads.

The Light at the End of the World

by Siddhartha Deb

Literary Fiction (with an apocalyptic element)

Releasing May 30, 2023, from Soho Press

Delhi, the near future: a former journalist goes in search of answers after she finds herself stripped of identity and citizenship and thrust into a vast conspiracy involving secret detention centers, government-sanctioned murders, online rage, nationalist violence, and a figure of shifting identifies known as the “New Delhi Monkey Man.”

Bhopal, 1984: an assassin hunts a whistleblower through a central Indian city that will shortly be the site of the worst industrial disaster in the world’s history.

Calcutta, 1947: a veterinary student’s life and work connect him to an ancient Vedic aircraft.

And in 1859, a detachment of British soldiers rides towards the Himalayas in search of the last surviving leader of an anti-colonial rebellion.

These timelines interweave to form a kaleidoscopic, epic novel in which each section is a pursuit, centered around a character who must find or recover crucial but hidden truths in their respective time. The Light at the End of the World , Siddhartha Deb’s first novel in fifteen years, is a magisterial work of shifting forms, reminiscent of Cloud Atlas and Underworld .

The Marigold

by Andrew F. Sullivan

Releasing April 18, 2023, from ECW Press

The Marigold, a gleaming Toronto condo tower, sits a half-empty promise: a stack of scuffed rental suites and undelivered amenities that crumbles around its residents as a mysterious sludge spreads slowly through it. Public health inspector Cathy Jin investigates this toxic mold as it infests the city’s infrastructure, rotting it from within, while Sam “Soda” Dalipagic stumbles onto a dangerous cache of data while cruising the streets in his Camry, waiting for his next rideshare alert. On the outskirts of downtown, 13-year-old Henrietta Brakes chases a friend deep underground after he’s snatched into a sinkhole by a creature from below.

All the while, construction of the city’s newest luxury tower, Marigold II, has stalled. Stanley Marigold, the struggling son of the legendary developer behind this project, decides he must tap into a hidden reserve of old power to make his dream a reality — one with a human cost.

Weaving together disparate storylines and tapping into the realms of body horror, urban dystopia, and ecofiction, The Marigold explores the precarity of community and the fragile designs that bind us together.

Moths

by Jane Hennigan

Dystopian thriller

Originally self-published, now releasing March 14, 2023, from Angry Robot

But humanity, as it does, adapted and moved on. Now a matriarchal society reigns and men are kept in specially treated dust-free facilities for their safety, never able to return to the outside.

Mary has settled herself into the new world, taking care of the male residents at her facility. But she is one of the few people who remembers what life was like before the change, and she is haunted daily by her memories. Of her family. Of her joy. Of him …

Now the world is quiet again, but only because secrets are kept safe in whispers. And the biggest secret of all? No one wants to live inside a cage…

Nothing but the Rain

by Naomi Salman

Cli-Fi Novella

Releasing March 14, 2023, from Tor Dot Com

The rain in Aloisville is never-ending, and no one can remember when it started. There’s not much they can remember. With every drop that hits their skin, a bit of memory is washed away. Stay too long in the wet, and you’ll lose everything you used to be.

By the time Laverne begins keeping a journal, the small town she calls home has been irreparably changed. Every drop of water is dangerous, from leaky faucets to the near-constant rainfall, and a careless trip outside can mean a life down the drain. With mysterious forces preventing escape, calls for rebellion seem to be on every resident’s lips. But Laverne has no interest in fighting. She has no interest in rebellion. She just wants to survive.

Pre-order here .

The Scriptures – End of Days

by DRGN

Christian Apocalypse

Releasing April 4, 2023, from Penguin Random House

Sister Maiden Monster

by Lucy A. Snyder

Post-Apocalyptic Horror

Releasing Feb 21, 2023, by Tor Nightfire

To survive they must evolve.

A virus tears across the globe, transforming its victims in nightmarish ways. As the world collapses, dark forces pull a small group of women together.

Erin, once quiet and closeted, acquires an appetite for a woman and her brain. Why does forbidden fruit taste so good?

Savannah, a professional BDSM switch, discovers a new turn-on: committing brutal murders for her eldritch masters.

Mareva, plagued with chronic tumors, is too horrified to acknowledge her divine role in the coming apocalypse, and as her growths multiply, so too does her desperation.

Inspired by her Bram Stoker Award-winning story “Magdala Amygdala,” Lucy A. Snyder delivers a cosmic tale about the planet’s disastrous transformation … and what we become after.

Through the Aftermath

Edited by Shawn Shuster

Short Stories

Releasing December (2022)

Each story in this 85,000-word anthology is a unique tale of the end times. The topics range quite a bit from anthropomorphic bounty hunters in space to dystopian mind resellers to giant mechs to the most disturbing Thanksgiving story you may ever read.

All the stories are post-apocalyptic with sub-genres covering horror, thriller, drama, suspense, comedy, dystopian sci-fi, and anything else you can imagine!

Purchase it here !

World Running Down

By Alex Hess

LGBTQ+ Dystopia

Releasing Feb 14, 2023, from Angry Robot

Valentine Weis is a salvager in the future wastelands of Utah. Wrestling with body dysphoria, he dreams of earning enough money to afford citizenship in Salt Lake City – a utopia where the testosterone and surgery he needs to transition is free, the food is plentiful, and folk are much less likely to be shot full of arrows by salt pirates. But earning that kind of money is a pipe dream, until he meets the exceptionally handsome Osric.

Once a powerful AI in Salt Lake City, Osric has been forced into an android body against his will and sent into the wasteland to offer Valentine a job on behalf of his new employer – an escort service seeking to retrieve their stolen androids. The reward is a visa into the city, and a chance at the life Valentine’s always dreamed of. But as they attempt to recover the “merchandise”, they encounter a problem: the android ladies are becoming self-aware, and have no interest in returning to their old lives.

The prize is tempting, but carrying out the job would go against everything Valentine stands for, and would threaten the fragile found family that’s kept him alive so far. He’ll need to decide whether to risk his own dream in order to give the AI a chance to live theirs.

Tina S. Beier

T. S. Beier is obsessed with science fiction, the ruins of industry, and Fallout. She is the author of What Branches Grow, a post-apocalyptic novel (which was a Top 5 Finalist in the 2020 Kindle Book Awards and a semi-finalist in the 2021 Self-Published Science Fiction Competition) and the Burnt Ship Trilogy (space opera). She is a book reviewer, editor, and freelance writer. She currently lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, two feral children, and a Shepherd-Mastiff.

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Mmmm, Brains...Satisfy Your Cravings with the 20 Best Zombie Audiobooks Ever

A great zombie audiobook combines visceral action, the distress of watching the dead rise, and the inexorability of the human will to survive. Here's just a few of our favorites.

Zombies have been a potent cultural force for decades. Something about the concept of a ragtag crew of survivors facing off against endless masses of shuffling brain-munchers really seems to speak to people! There are hundreds, if not thousands, of zombie-themed stories out there. But which ones are the very best? And which zombie audiobooks will have you double-checking the locks and sleeping with a baseball bat next to your bed?

Never fear! We’ve combed through the hordes to find the best postapocalyptic zombie listens. They go above and beyond the usual decimated wastelands and battles with the undead. Unforgettable character arcs, high-stakes plots, and the occasional dash of humor make each of these series special. And even if you’ve already read the books, the audiobooks are well worth seeking out specifically for the listening experience. Top-notch narration adds a captivating new dimension to these spellbinding stories, allowing you to discover (er, devour?) them in a whole new way. So, grab your earbuds and keep that baseball bat close at hand.

Dread Nation

In the middle of the American Civil War, zombies rise to walk the earth. The Union and the Confederacy are forced to put their battles on hold to combat this new menace—and desperately need more fighters. The zombie invasion provides an unprecedented opportunity for young Black girls like Jane McKeene. Thanks to laws like the Native and Negro Education Act, Jane is sent to combat schools and trained in the fine art of zombie hunting. Jane wants more from life than fighting and bloodshed but fighting and bloodshed have a habit of finding her wherever she goes. Whether searching for missing families or unlocking the secrets of a supposedly safe town, Jane does not lack chances to use her training—no matter how much she wishes she could just get away from it all. Narrated by Hall of Famer Bahni Turpin , Dread Nation will keep you feeling and rooting for its brave and fierce heroine.

World War Z: The Complete Edition

This Audie Award winner is a special, star-studded edition of one of the most acclaimed zombie stories in recent memory. The new content and talented voice cast—including show-stopping talent like Mark Hamill, Rob Reiner, Simon Pegg, and Martin Scorsese—enliven the already unforgettable story, in which survivors give firsthand accounts of the Zombie War that nearly wiped out humanity. The audiobook conveys the survivors’ harrowing stories in a frighteningly realistic documentary style, with author Max Brooks acting as the interviewer. From an astronaut safely isolated in space to everyday suburban families in the thick of the outbreak, each character’s story provides a fresh perspective on the pandemonium and heartbreak of society’s collapse. Imbued with tension and mystery, the emotive performances by the cast are gripping from start to finish.

Rot & Ruin

Zombie hunting has always sounded pretty boring to 15-year-old Benny Imura. But he needs a job, and since zombie hunting is the only job available at the moment, he begins training. All the while, he hopes to escape his troubled family and build a better life. On his path, he makes some friends with similar ambitions and finds his long-lost brother. Together, they embark on a treacherous quest for safety from the zombie plague—and maybe even a cure. Along the way, they learn that zombies are nowhere near the top of the list of scary creatures that want them dead ... and there's more to being human than just not being a zombie. When it comes to zombie series, you can't beat Jonathan Maberry's saga for sweeping excitement, and you can't beat the audio experience—featuring the likes of Benny Hutchison and Ray Porter—for immersing yourself in Benny Imura's world.

The Girl with All the Gifts

Critics and listeners won’t say much about the plot of this unique title—except that it’s surprising, moving, and, overall, great. We can’t say much more here either, as the twists are too good to risk spoiling. But what we can say is this is a story about a special young girl named Melanie, zombies, and being human. The thrilling plot is carried by deep, multi-faceted characters, and though listeners may think they know where this story is headed, author M. R. Carey will surprise them at every turn. Narrator Finty Williams is at the top of her game as she tells Melanie’s mysterious story; the voices she gives each dynamic character are at once distinctive enough to identify and cohesive as a listening experience. Made all the more pause-resistant by Williams’s melodic English accent, The Girl with All the Gifts is an excellent candidate for your next listen.

My Life as a White Trash Zombie

Angel Crawford feels like her life is more or less set—she’s a high school dropout living in the swamps of southern Louisiana with neglectful parents, a drug habit, and a criminal record. When she gets into a car crash and becomes a zombie, though, her drug addictions disappear, and she finds herself craving a different matter entirely. This Audie Award-nominated audiobook eloquently tackles the difficult issues that plagued Angel’s human life while also satisfying listeners’ desire for classic zombie themes like brains, guts, and gory adventure. Narrator Allison McLemore is so talented, wielding a wide range of genuine Southern drawls, but what we love most about her performance is how well she seems to understand the intricacies of Diana Rowland's scrappy heroine.

Genesis: Arisen, Book 0.5

When the zombie apocalypse breaks out, the entire world falls with alarming speed. Only Great Britain closes its borders fast enough to escape widespread infection. As the zombie plague creeps ever closer to London, a few scattered special ops teams are humanity's only hope for survival. They travel the world, fending off massive surges of zombie attackers—and occasionally, their fellow humans—as they race to develop a vaccine before humanity is lost forever. The stakes and the odds are sky high, and not everyone will live to see the fruits of their heroic labors. At the end of the day, a handful of brave humans are pitted against billions of ravenous undead. Arisen is a sprawling, well-developed epic, with 20 titles currently available. And R.C. Bray, who’s been pegged by listeners as “one of the best narrators around,” performs it all, masterfully.

Raising Stony Mayhall

After a mysterious zombie outbreak, Wanda Mayhall discovers a dead young mother cradling her apparently deceased baby. But she soon realizes that, like so many of the changed humans shuffling outside, the child is both dead and alive. With the help of Mayhall and her daughters, the baby, who they name Stony, grows up cared for and hidden from authorities. When they’re eventually exposed, Stony is forced to run. What follows is a journey of self-discovery and a testament to the strength of familial love. From the first minute of this audiobook, it’s clear that award-winning author Daryl Gregory had fun crafting this zombie story, and narrator David Marantz captures that lightness without losing the story’s careful balance between humor and drama.

Feed is the first of a trilogy that focuses as much on political intrigue as it does on zombie-driven action. Cures for both cancer and the common cold lead to a viral outbreak that turns those infected into zombies. It persists, and 20 years after the initial outbreak, uninfected people and monstrous zombies live in side-by-side territories dominated by paranoia and fear. Enter Shaun and Georgia Mason, a brother and sister team of bloggers working on a presidential campaign. As they gradually uncover a potential conspiracy behind the Rising, this audiobook begins to feel like listening to a journalist’s personal recordings, heightening the tension in a way that drives home the intense fear permeating the world Mira Grant has created. Feed isn’t just a thrilling zombie joyride—it’s also a smart, snappy, and timely political thriller.

Day By Day Armageddon

J. L. Bourne has crafted a zombie survival story that is so engrossing it makes real life feel a bit scarier too. Listeners meet Bourne’s main character, a Navy pilot stationed in Texas, through his personal diary as the horrifying reality of his situation slowly unfolds over several entries. From there, listeners are all in, following our hero's attempts to make contact with and protect other survivors, outlast the undead surrounding him, and find reasons to maintain hope. The gaps left in the narrative whenever the pilot is under attack are maddening, and that tension, coupled with narrator Jay Snyder’s intense, emotive performance, can make it incredibly difficult to resist listening to Day by Day Armageddon in one sitting.

Zombie Fallout: Zero

Amidst the turmoil and uncertainty of the zombie apocalypse, one family struggles for more than survival. The Talbots are led by Michael, the family patriarch, and joined by Tommy, a strange young man whose shocking secret will either save or doom them all. Refusing to give up their fight for safety and sanity, they are willing to die for their ultimate goal: victory over the ravenous zombies. This makes them targets of several groups who want humanity extinguished, or who simply want the Talbots out of the way. Undead hordes, a zombie queen, and angry vampires all stalk Michael and his rebel band. Will they stop him from saving his family—and the world? There are currently 15 books in the series, all performed by the talented Sean Runnette, who ably embodies Michael's sardonic outlook.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Jane Austen’s sharp, satirical Pride and Prejudice is already whip smart, and Seth Grahame-Smith’s additions capitalize on the source in unexpectedly creative ways. Practical Elizabeth Bennett, one of five daughters to a steadfast father and charmingly ridiculous mother, meets and eventually marries the taciturn Fitzwilliam Darcy. Then, naturally, she has to deal with the most inconvenient zombie invasion, which fits into the work so seamlessly it feels like it was always intended to be there. Grahame-Smith gives the aspects of Elizabeth’s character fans most admire—her quick thinking and strong will—a new stage on which to shine. Acclaimed narrator Katherine Kellgren is a force to be reckoned with as she effortlessly articulates Austen and Grahame-Smith’s combined fast-paced dialogue at a rollicking clip. Her delivery of every character is adept, but it’s her tremulous, dramatic Mrs. Bennett that'll draw in listeners right from the start.

No horror list of any kind would be complete without a Stephen King selection, and for zombie action, Cell is our pick. King plays on our fear of technology going too far in this thriller when he introduces a virus that is transmitted to millions through devices we constantly keep on hand: cell phones. Narrated by the experienced Campbell Scott—who’s more than proven his mettle by narrating tales like The Shining and Oryx and Crake — Cell is a well-paced, well-acted listen. Scott knows when to pull back and when to dial up the dramatics, making for narration that’s neither overacted nor underplayed. In short, it’s a balanced performance that brings to immersive life yet another of King’s frighteningly plausible works, filled with equal parts gory zombie annihilation and existential questions about our relationship with technology.

Warm Bodies

Warm Bodies puts listeners directly into the fuller-than-expected head of a zombie, R, as he roams around looking for brains to eat and thinking about the nature of his mostly empty existence. In a flash, his purpose shifts from brains to romance, when he experiences the memories of his latest meal’s girlfriend and discovers he still has the capacity to love. His choice to pursue Julie—and defy his zombie nature—has implications not just for him but for all of his reanimated kind. This blend of teenage rom-com and zombie thriller is a surprisingly sweet listen, and narrator Kevin Kenerly elevates its quirkiness with his performance as R. The contemplative, hushed tone with which he delivers R’s introspection on what it means to be a human when you’re mostly dead lends a further tenderness to this strange love story.

Patient Zero

Expert narrator Ray Porter lends his deep, smooth voice to leading man Joe Ledger in this dark audiobook about a top-secret government initiative to contain a potential zombie virus outbreak. Ledger is a hardened Baltimore detective with a sharp wit, cynical outlook, and impeccable career history when he’s recruited to the Department of Military Sciences for a rapid-response mission with national security on the line. Porter plays his journey from bravado to disbelieving horror with deftness and subtlety. Because this selection is focused on a mission to prevent a zombie outbreak, the story comes with a built-in countdown clock that raises the stakes to a nerve-wracking level, turning a casual listen into a heart-pounding thriller. At turns funny and stomach-churning, Patient Zero is a must-listen for zombie fans.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead’s Zone One is a cutting-edge take on a familiar monster story. Set in a world ravaged by a plague that transformed much of the population into living dead creatures, this literary novel examines life after the apocalypse, focusing on how to rebuild when all seems lost. The provisional government sets out with an ambitious goal—to retake and resettle the island of Manhattan. But the civilian teams who migrate to New York aren't alone. Among the dangerous infected wandering the city streets are the eerie, empty stragglers, catatonic husks left behind to ponder their former lives. This listen is also a standout for its construction of a clever narrative that homes in on both societal ills and human strengths and pitfalls.

Married with Zombies

Like your zombies with a side of romance? We have the listen for you! Recognized for her endlessly versatile voice, Hall of Fame narrator Cassandra Campbell switches seamlessly between wife Sarah and husband David in this zombie horror and romance crossover. She brings a flair to each character and capably carries the dry wit of author Jesse Peterson’s story about a struggling couple who realize, on their way to marriage counseling, that they may have to work out their issues on the way through unexpected zombie carnage. Married with Zombies is a gem that combines the tropes we love from romance with the tropes we love from zombie horror, perfectly balancing the seemingly opposed genres. How Sarah and David learn to live with each other and the undead is genuinely funny, shocking, and heartwarming.

The Zombie Survival Guide

Our second Max Brooks selection isn’t a story about a zombie apocalypse—it’s a how-to guide to survive one. It can be difficult to tell if Brooks is joking or not at points in this audiobook, and that’s much of the work’s charm. Narrator Marc Cashman’s matter-of-fact performance perfectly encapsulates the deadpan, dry humor Brooks infuses into The Zombie Survival Guide . When he describes the biology and physiology of the zombie, ideal weapons for taking down zombies, and exit strategies from infested areas, it’s done with the sarcastic edge of an expert zombie writer who knows the threat isn’t real ... yet. On the flip side, the more serious moments of Cashman’s performance encourage listeners to pay close attention to Brooks’s solid survivalist advice—in case the worst should happen.

Joe Hempel is no stranger to horror audiobooks, having narrated a number of them over the course of his prolific career thus far, and his expertise is evident as he guides listeners through this twisted, dark story. Devoted father Jim Thurmond searches for his son across a ravaged country, beset by hordes of zombies that are fully sentient and controlled by an external evil. These undead legions can think and plan with bone-chilling intent, so Jim must act with near perfection to get past them—but even if he does, listeners can’t be sure his son will be on the other side. Jim’s driving force to find his son translates into an insatiable need to keep listening. In this updated version with Hempel at the mic, there’s space (literally, at times, with expertly placed silences) to feel the sinister, desolate atmosphere of The Rising more acutely than ever.

Gideon the Ninth

Moira Quirk's narration breathes life into the bold, action-packed fantasy world author Tamsyn Muir creates in her Locked Tomb series, opening with Gideon the Ninth . In need of skilled and fearless necromancers, the Emperor announces a competition, open to each of his Houses, to prove who is the best necromancer of all. The reward for victory? Immortality. The penalty for failure? Death. This all sounds great to Gideon, a swordswoman whose talent has long outstripped her status as an indentured servant. She signs up to fight alongside Harrow, a bone witch and heir to the Ninth House. Harrow and Gideon make an excellent team, racking up victory after victory, even after the competition. But the more foes they vanquish, the more they have reason to wonder if the prize is really worth the battle—and if the world would be better off without people like them.

Plague of the Dead

Two United States military commanders on opposite sides of the world deal with the same world-ending calamity—a fatal viral outbreak that reanimates those who die. One struggles to keep those depending on him alive, while the other contemplates whether to leak the cause of the viral outbreak to the public. Audie Award winner Oliver Wyman’s crisp, clipped diction mirrors the military focus of this title, and the recitation of zombie-related horrors in his precise tone adds a chill to the daunting survival decisions the two commanders must make. With a laser focus on strategy as much as human emotion, Plague of the Dead raises a serious question: Do we have what it takes to survive the end of the world?

Eileen Gonzalez is a freelance writer from Connecticut. She has a Master's degree in communications and years of experience writing about pop culture. She contributes to Book Riot and Foreword Reviews.

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15 of the Best Zombie Books and Novels Ever Written (Based on Popular Opinion)

by Brandon Cornett | June 16, 2022

Creating a ‘Master List’ of Undead Fiction

To identify the 15 works listed below , I reviewed more than two-dozen lists of the best zombie apocalypse novels ever written. These included articles and rankings created by: Audible, Book Riot, Bustle, Epic Reads, Goodreads, LitReactor, and several bookseller and library websites.

I also visited community discussion sites like Reddit to see which zombie books people were recommending most frequently.

(Yes, I spent a lot of time on this project. And no, I didn’t have anything better to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon.)

But enough of this administrative minutiae. Let’s put the appetizers away and sink our teeth into the meat. I now present to you, the ultimate list of best zombie apocalypse novels based on popular opinion.

15 Zombie Books Worth a Look (Alphabetically)

I’ve only read four of the zombie books listed below, so I can’t offer a personal review for each one. Instead, I’ve provided a one-sentence summary for all 15 of them.

Carnage Road , by Gregory Lamberson. This novella tells the story of two bikers who travel across the country after their gang is wiped out during a nationwide zombie crisis.
Clickers vs Zombies , by J.F. Gonzalez and Brian Keene. This book is a crossover between J.F. Gonzalez’s Clickers series and Brian Keene’s The Rising (also featured on this list).
Day by Day Armageddon , by J.L. Bourne. A journal-style zombie book that chronicles the daily struggles of a former military guy living in a world overrun by the undead.
Feed , by Mira Grant. The first in a series, Feed tells the story of two bloggers who unravel a political conspiracy involving the undead.
The First Days , by Rhiannon Frater. The first in a multi-book series, it tells the story of two women (Jenni and Katie) who travel across Texas during a zombie apocalypse to rescue Jenni’s son.
Monster Island , by David Wellington. First published online in serial format, this 2006 novel tells the tale of a zombie who has retained his human intelligence.
Plague of the Dead , by Z.A. Recht. The dreadful Morningstar virus causes a whole slew of unpleasant symptoms before killing its victims — only to bring them back again.
The Reapers Are the Angels , by Alden Bell. I was glad to find this one on so many lists of the best zombie novels, because we need more literary southern gothic style books about the undead.
The Rising , by Brian Keene. It’s another “parent must save child” zombie apocalypse novel, with a preacher, a scientist, and a former prostitute along for the ride.
Rot & Ruin , by Jonathan Maberry. From Publishers Weekly: “The delineation between man and monster, survivor and victim is fiercely debated in Maberry’s thoughtful, postapocalyptic coming-of-age tale.”
Slow Burn: Zero Day , by Bobby Adair. After being bitten by his infected stepfather, Zed Zane must fight for his life among the zombies as well as the normal people who now fear him.
The Splits , by M.V. Clark. A journalistic take on the zombie genre , M.V. Clark’s The Splits offers what some readers have called a “grown-up” and intelligent contribution to the genre.
This is Not a Test , by Courtney Summers. The story of a traumatized teenage girl who, along with five other students, must shelter inside their high school during the start of a zombie apocalypse.
Warm Bodies , by Isaac Marion. The book that inspired the movie , Warm Bodies tells the dark, heartwarming and often comedic tale of “R,” a zombie who falls for a human girl.
World War Z , by Max Brooks. Though it’s not for everyone, World War Z is one of the best zombie books of all time for the way it chronicles humanity’s (often flawed) response to the apocalypse.

These works are very different from one another, so you’ll have to do some research to find out which ones appeal to you. But they all have one thing in common. All 15 of these works have appeared on more than one list of the best zombie apocalypse books of all time. So, who knows .. your new favorite read might be somewhere on this list.

The Three Best Zombie Apocalypse Novels Ever?

Let’s take a closer look at three of these books in particular. Across all of the lists I reviewed, the three works featured below appeared time and time again. So I guess you could call these three of the best zombie apocalypse books ever written, according to “the masses.”

Feed , by Mira Grant

Feed is the first novel in Mira Grant’s “Newsflesh” series, which also includes the books Deadline , Blackout and Feedback . This well-written novel offers a fresh spin on the zombie genre, and therefore appears on several lists of the best zombie books of all time.

Regarding the series as whole, The New York Times wrote :

“Mira Grant’s hit Newsflesh trilogy was an astonishing take on the tired zombie apocalypse subgenre — precisely because it was barely about the zombie apocalypse at all. It wore other hats: epidemiology thriller, genre-savvy black comedy and a fascinating exploration of the future of (not so) new media.”

My advice: If you like the premise of this book, give it a chance. It starts a bit slow, especially when compared to some of the other zombie novels on this list. But it turned out to be an engaging read, in my opinion.

I’m not sure if I would put Feed on my own list of best zombie books, but apparently a lot of folks feel it deserves that kind of ranking.

Rot and Ruin , by Jonathan Maberry

Jonathan Maberry’s Rot and Ruin also appears on numerous lists featuring the “best zombie novels” of all time. It’s part of a multi-book series that also includes Dust and Decay , Flesh and Bone , and Fire and Ash

Rot and Ruin tells the story of Benny Imura, a teenage boy who grows up in a post-apocalyptic world where zombie hunting is a way of life.

This coming-of-age tale delivers some philosophical depth you don’t often find in zombie fiction. But don’t let that deter you — this book still has all the thrills and chills you would expect from the genre.

Booklist reviewer Daniel Kraus described Rot and Ruin as “an impressive mix of meaning and mayhem.”

World War Z , by Max Brooks

World War Z is not your typical zombie novel. In fact, it’s not a novel at all. It’s a collection of fictional, first-person accounts from The Zombie War (borrowing a format used by Studs Terkel in his Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II history, The Good War ).

If you’re serious about the zombie genre, you’ll want to put World War Z on your reading list. It appears on many lists and rankings of the best zombie books ever, and with good reason.

Brooks took the undead genre in a totally new direction, providing first-hand (fictional) accounts from a variety of voices that span the globe.

Throughout this book, we get to watch the zombie apocalypse unfold one stage at a time. We read about the initial outbreak of the so-called “African Rabies,” the “Great Panic” that occurs when people begin to realize the truth, and the all-out military efforts launched against the zombie hordes.

This book is more of a thinker than a thriller, though it does have some gripping scenes spread throughout. It’s a thoughtful, contemplative exploration of what might really happen to the world if a zombie outbreak occurred.

And while it was written long before COVID, it resonates more deeply in the wake of that pandemic.

The Reapers Are the Angels: A Personal Favorite

In closing, I’d like to recommend one of my all-time favorite zombie novels, The Reapers Are the Angels . Written by Alden Bell (pseudonym for Joshua Gaylord), this book follows the life-or-death struggles of a fifteen-year-old female protagonist named Temple.

For me, it was the quality of writing that set this book apart from so many others in the genre. Reapers has a literary quality to it, in addition to the typical brutality found within zombie novels.

As many others have pointed out , this book has a kind of Southern Gothic vibe to it. And that’s not surprising, since the author cites William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor as two of his favorite authors.

But it was the protagonist’s world view that captured my attention. From the very first pages, we know we’re dealing with a complex and philosophical fifteen-year-old girl.

Here’s a quote from the first page that illustrates the unique (for zombie fiction) writing style used in this book. Here, young Temple is reflecting on the beauty of some bioluminescent fish she saw swimming around her ankles:

And you could say the world has gone to black damnation, and you could say the children of Cain are holding sway over the good and the righteous—but here’s what Temple knows: she knows that whatever hell the world went to, and whatever evil she’s perpetrated her own self, and whatever series of cursed misfortunes brought her down here to this island to be harbored away from the order of mankind, well, all those things are what put her there that night to stand amid the Daylight Moon and the Miracle of the Fish—which she wouldn’t of got to see otherwise.

This kind of writing either appeals to you or it doesn’t. If it does appeal to you — and if you’re also a fan of zombie fiction — you should put this novel on your reading list ASAP.

My best zombie book ever is : dead city by Joe McKinney. A true page turner

Find out how it all ends

28 apr 2024

Book 7 in Cadaver is live on Amazon in both Kindle and print.

This is the final chapter of the thrilling zombie series!

Cadaver 6 is live

16 march 2024

Book 6 in Cadaver is live on Amazon in both Kindle and print.

Dive into the next chapter of my popular zombie series now!

Blind Evil is out now

27 june 2023

Book 8 in Under the Breaking Sky is available in Kindle and print.

This concludes the series! Find out how it all ends.

New collection!

02 june 2023

I just released a box set containing 29 horror stories.

Grab it now for only $0.99

Dead Meat Audio

27 january 2023

The complete Dead Meat audio box set containing Day 1-9 is out!

Get it for one credit on Audible now.

Hi, I'm Nick

I write stories about monsters and the apocalypse so that I don't need to work a real job. I grew up reading Stephen King and still haven't fully recovered.

I married my public-school sweetheart and we have a son and a daughter ...

10 Best Zombie Books

If orange is the new black, then zombies are the new orange.

Seriously, there’s been a huge explosion of zombie love since around the early 2000’s. Science fiction books certainly aren’t new to us, but the focus on the living dead has definitely increased the past decade and we’re soooo excited that it has.

Whether you’re new to the zombie world or a big fan of all the latest titles and authors, we’ll highlight our list of the best zombie books for you below.

Before You Select

You could pick up any old zombie book and start reading. Perhaps your favorite authors haven’t got anything new lined up and you’re ready for the next adventure.

The problem is that mixed in with all of the great zombie books, there are also a lot of not-so-great ones. Hey, every new publication has to start somewhere and every book needs that person that gives it a chance. That’s how great authors are discovered!

We want to offer you a few tips that will help you understand what to look for when approaching a new zombie book so you can avoid wasting your time on the duds:

Quality Writing. This may be a bit of a no brainer, but we wanted to say it anyways: keep your standards high when it comes to the quality of the writing.

It should flow

Ask Your Zombie Loving Friends. Book discussions are always fun and engaging, so if you have some friends out there who are knowledgeable about the books, find out which title and authors they like.

Die-hard fans will be able to tell you about the latest and greatest breakthrough authors in the genre, so use your resources to help you find a good title.

Top 10 Zombie Books Table

Our favorite authors.

Some of you may like reading books by the same author since you enjoy their style of writing so much. We know, because we do this ourselves.

Here are some of our favorite authors:

Jonathan Maberry. This guy has a massive amount of writing experience and he is one of the most well established writers on our list. His book Rot & Ruin just happens to be our top choice below, so be sure to pick it up and read if you haven’t already. Definitely our favorite author.
Max Brooks. Some of you might remember a certain Mel Brooks (actor, comedian, filmmaker, songwriter). No? Maybe from his film Young Frankenstein? Anyways, this is his son. He has been writing zombie novels since 2003. He’s HUGE in the zombie world, so naturally, we love him for it.
Mira Grant. Mira Grant is actually her pseudonym. Her real name is Seanan McGuire but however she is called, we really enjoy her style of writing. She’s witty, creative, loves horror films, her cats and is a smart businesswoman. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook for a more comical view of her daily happenings.
L. Bourne. He brings a unique, realistic vibe to his stories. How many military men do you know that are also wildly successful zombie book writers? He’s also pretty interactive on social media with his readers. A very straightforward guy.

We’d drink a beer with him and swap zombie stories.

Top 5 Best Zombie Books Reviews

1. rot & ruin.

We’re not going to give you a summary of the book because you can read that for yourself. We’re just here to tell you that it is an excellent zombie book and that you need to read it.

The story is centered around a young teen named Benny, so if you were wondering if this would be an appropriate book for a teenager, we’d definitely say that it is. It’s not a raunchy, steamy zombie book. It has a great storyline that is fast-paced yet intelligent. He puts a new perspective on the zombies that really speaks to the reader.

Already read it 10 times and need some other suggestions? Scroll on down to the next books on our list.

2. Diary of a Minecraft Zombie

The love of the zombie world has to begin somewhere, and thanks to books like this, it gives younger readers the opportunity to get a head start on their zombie fetish.

Here two worlds come together: that of Minecraft and that of zombies. Kids who love playing the Minecraft game will love having an inside look at the mind of a 12-year-old Minecraft zombie.

The book is told from the point of view of a child who just happens to be a zombie. He has the same problems that human children face in the pre-teen years: annoying parents who always boss him around and order him to do this and do that. The fact that the voice is that of a zombie makes it quite comical for younger kids to read.

If you have a little Minecraft fan in the family, then they’ll really enjoy reading this book. Oh, who are we kidding, it’s a good read at any age!

3. The Reapers Are the Angels

Like Riot or Ruin , this is a coming of age story but features a heroine rather than a male lead. The books grabs you and pulls you in and makes you feel a million different emotions: sad, excited, shocked, angered…

It has an interesting twist that will peak your interest but not all zombie book fans are a fan of this one. It’s a pretty powerful book and rather violent, so it may not be the best choice for younger readers.

If you read and liked The Passage or The Forest of Hands and Teeth , then this is another one to check out.

In early summer 2016, Mira Grant (er, Seanan McGuire) published a complete collection of her coveted Newsflesh Collection. That’s all eight short stories together PLUS two new ones! Drool.

Diehard fans may already know about this, but if you’re new to the zombie world, then make sure you read the first three in the trilogy ( Feed , Deadline, and Blackout ) before you read Rise . They’re all in this book, but since Rise contains spoilers, you’ll want to save it for the very end.

The stories are highly satisfying to read, especially once you get some of the answers you had from the first three stories in Rise .

Definitely one of the best zombie books on our list from an author who has been wowing us with her writing for the past decade.

5. The Last Bastion of the Living

We had mixed feelings about this book after reading it, but ultimately, it made the cut.

It was interesting to see how romance and zombies were intertwined and the heroine of the story is a mixture of a badass and a real person.

We felt that the book was lacking in the quality department in terms of grammar and structure (we noticed a few inconsistencies). Quality, as we mentioned above, is something important to take into consideration before choosing a book.

Somehow, after all of that, we still ended up liking the book and think that it’s worth a read for those of you looking for a new perspective on zombie storylines. If you are picky about zombie books you read, then this might not be the right one, however, some absolutely love it.

We all have different expectations!

10 books you should read in June, including Questlove's hip-hop memoir, a reality TV history by a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a new romance from Brynne Weaver

10 books you should read in june, including questlove's hip-hop memoir, a reality tv history by a pulitzer prize winner, and a new romance from brynne weaver, beach weather is just around the corner, so here are a few books to take with you while you're soaking up the sun.

Clockwise from top left: Hip-Hop Is History (AUWA), Cue The Sun! (Random House), Middle Of The Night (Dutton), Horror Move: A Novel (William Morrow), Leather & Lark (Zando), Margo’s Got Money Troubles (William Morrow)

Regular A.V. Club readers may have noticed that our book coverage has dropped off significantly in the last few years. There were reasons for that, but those reasons no longer have a say in what we write about, so we’re cautiously venturing back into the realm of books because hey, why not? We figured bringing back our monthly preview of new releases, which we stopped doing regularly in 2022, would be a good place to start.

With all that out of the way, let’s take a look at some new books coming out this June. We’ve selected a wide range of titles that should appeal to readers of every sort. You’ll find nonfiction, literary fiction, humor, horror, science-fiction, and romance here. Whether you’re looking for something to take with you on vacation or you want a page-turner to relax with at home, we’ve got you covered, from cover to cover.

The Future Was Color by Patrick Nathan

Image for article titled 10 books you should read in June, including Questlove's hip-hop memoir, a reality TV history by a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a new romance from Brynne Weaver

Release date: June 4, 2024

Publisher: Counterpoint

Why not kick off Pride month with a book with a protagonist who reclaims his identity as a queer Jewish immigrant in 1950s Hollywood? As a Hungarian immigrant working as a studio hack writing monster movies in 1950s Hollywood, George Curtis (born György) must navigate the McCarthy-era studio system filled with possible communists and spies, the life of closeted men along Sunset Boulevard, and the inability of the era to cleave love from persecution and guilt. But when a famous actress offers George a writing residency at her estate in Malibu to work on the political writing he cares most deeply about, his world is blown open. Soon she’s carrying George like an ornament into a class of postwar L.A. society ordinarily hidden from men like him. If you enjoyed the Showtime series Fellow Travelers and are looking for more queer stories that blend the personal with the political, The Future Was Color should fit the bill nicely.

Birds Aren’t Real: The True Story Of Mass Avian Murder And The Largest Surveillance Campaign In US History by Peter McIndoe, Connor Gaydos

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

If you haven’t heard of the “Birds Aren’t Real” movement, what have you been doing with your life? What do you think all those birds sitting on the powerlines are doing all day? Charging their batteries, of course. Because, like all birds, they’re actually surveillance drones in disguise sent by the Deep State to keep tabs on us private citizens. Sure, there may be scoffers who would have you believe this is all just a fake conspiracy created by pranksters to poke fun at actual conspiracy theorists and their stubborn resistance to facts and logic. But isn’t that a conspiracy theory in itself? “Bird Truthers” Peter McIndoe and Connor Gaydos include evidence to support their very real and super normal beliefs in this new manifesto, which contains charts, illustrations, activities, and leaked government documents. Whether or not you’re one of the faithful, it promises to be a fun read at least.

Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver

Publisher: Zando

The second book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy , after last year’s Butcher & Blackbird , features a brand new dark romance to dig into. Told in the same dual narrative style, Leather & Lark is the story of Lachlan, a leather worker who’s secretly a contract killer (and the older brother of Butcher & Blackbird ’s Rowan), and Lark, a singer-songwriter with some pretty big secrets of her own. This one’s got lots of juicy romance tropes, including fake marriage, enemies to lovers, and the ever-popular grumpy/sunshine dynamic. If you haven’t read the first book, don’t worry about being lost with this one. Although the books take place in a single interconnected world, each volume in the series features a stand-alone love story. Weaver writes her killer characters hot and heavy, and doesn’t hold back on the blood and gore, so be aware this series is not for the faint of heart.

Horror Movie: A Novel by Paul Tremblay

Release date: June 11, 2024

Publisher: William Morrow

Paul Tremblay’s award-winning book The Cabin At The End Of The World was the basis for last year’s Knock At The Cabin , so he knows a thing or two about the horror movie genre (not that his books weren’t already proof enough). His latest psychological thriller, Horror Movie: A Novel , has been described as a twist on the “cursed film” genre. When a Hollywood studio sets out to make a big-budget reboot of a notorious 1990s slasher the one surviving cast member gets caught up in the hype and way in over his head. As the dangerous secrets of the original production start to come to light, he finds himself losing touch with reality and slipping back into the past. But he’s determined to make the new film a success, no matter the cost. It sounds like this one will really mess with your head, in the best kind of way.

Hip-Hop Is History by Questlove with Ben Greenman

Publisher: AUWA

Part memoir, part historical narrative, this book chronicles the first half-century of hip-hop from the point of view of one of its most accomplished figures and biggest fans: Questlove. The co-founder of the Roots traces the history of the musical genre through his own personal journey, from growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia to becoming a Grammy-winning musician and an Oscar-winning filmmaker, as well as a successful author, producer, and entrepreneur. In Hip-Hop Is History , he highlights both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits—and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. Written by a fan for fans, this would make a good addition to any music-focused library.

Moonbound: A Novel by Robin Sloan

Publisher: MCD

Robin Sloan, the author of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore and Sourdough , has a new book out this month that takes place 11,000 years in the future yet, according to the publisher, still somehow exists within the Penumbraverse. You’ll have to read it to find out exactly how. Sloan is fond of sending his characters off on epic quests, and this time is no different. His protagonist Ariel is called to explore a world full of unimaginable glories and challenges: unknown enemies, a mission to save the world, a girl. Narrated by a sentient artificial intelligence responsible for keeping records of the entirety of human history, the novel is an enticing cocktail of fantasy, science-fiction, and action-adventure. Sloan hasn’t yet attempted anything on this kind of scale before, but he knows how to tell a complex story that keeps you turning pages, so it feels like it’s easily within his skill set.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

This book isn’t even out yet and the rights have already been acquired by A24 , with plans to turn it into an Apple TV+ series executive produced by David E. Kelley and starring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman. That’s a pretty solid recommendation already. But what’s it about, you ask? It’s about Margo Millet, the daughter of a Hooters waitress and a former pro wrestler, who has an affair with a college professor that ends with her pregnant and broke. As an unemployed single mom, her options are limited, but when her estranged father comes back into her life she hatches a scheme to make money on OnlyFans by sharing his wrestling-based writing advice with her followers. It sounds like a plot created by Mad Libs, but we can’t say we aren’t intrigued.

Middle Of The Night by Riley Sager

Release date: June 18, 2024

Publisher: Dutton

This highly anticipated new mystery thriller is loaded with the kinds of twists and turns and complex storytelling fans have come to expect from the author of Final Girls and The Only One Left . It begins with Ethan, who is haunted by the abduction of his best friend Billy while they were camping out in a tent on his front lawn as kids. After 30 years, Ethan returns to his childhood home and starts to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround the neighborhood. The closer he gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe. Sager has been associated with the relatively new marketing term “summer suspense,” and it’s not hard to see why. His novels breezily reel you in and before you know it, you’re hooked.

Bear by Julia Phillips

Release date: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Hogarth

Julia Phillips captivated readers with her debut novel Disappearing Earth , a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction. That’s a tough act to follow, but Phillips has proven she’s up to the task. Her latest book, Bear , is about two sisters who live together with their ailing mother in a rundown house on a resort island off the Pacific Northwest coast. They’re both stuck in minimum-wage jobs serving the wealthy tourists who visit the island, but they have plans to sell the house and leave once their mother dies. Those plans are upended when a large bear appears near their home, and their very different reactions to it cause a rift between the sisters. Loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fable Snow White And Rose Red , the book is somehow grounded and highly symbolic at the same time.

Cue The Sun! The Invention Of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum

Publisher: Random House

Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Emily Nussbaum dives deep into the history of reality TV in this extensively reported book, from its humble game-show beginnings to the pop-culture force of nature it eventually became. Through interviews with creators and insiders, Nussbaum takes you through seven decades of television history via four paths of reality innovation—game shows, prank shows, soap operas, and clip shows—that united in the Survivor format, sparking a tumultuous Hollywood gold rush. A must-read for fans of the genre, it casts an affectionate yet critical eye on the shows that made it what it is today.

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Books We Love

20 new books hitting shelves this summer that our critics can't wait to read.

Meghan Collins Sullivan

Illustration of a person lying down and reading in the grass.

June is around the corner, meaning summer is almost here! As we look forward to travel and staycations, plane rides and trips to the beach, we've asked our book critics for some advice: What upcoming fiction and nonfiction are they most looking forward to reading?

Their picks range from memoirs to sci-fi and fantasy to translations, love stories and everything in between. Here's a look:

Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope

I was hooked when I first saw the gorgeous cover for Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope. But the novel's premise put it at the top of my summer reading list. Penelope is known for unforgettable characters, world-building, beautiful writing and robust storytelling. Her latest work, inspired by actual events — the drowned Black towns of the American South — promises a magical, mythical and powerful tale of a young woman's quest to save her town. A historical fantasy must-read. (June 4) — Denny Bryce

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The Future Was Color by Patrick Nathan

The Future Was Color by Patrick Nathan has everything I look for in a book: a unique and startling voice, a queer protagonist and a deep understanding of a particular time and place. George — once György — is a gay Hungarian immigrant working as a screenwriter in McCarthy-era Hollywood, occasionally fantasizing about his officemate, Jack. When a once-famous actress named Madeline invites George to stay and write at her spacious Malibu house, she won't take no for an answer — and so George finds himself in a hedonistic milieu where pleasure, politics and strong personalities intermingle. (June 4) — Ilana Masad

Mirrored Heavens: Between Earth & Sky, Book 3 by Rebecca Roanhorse

Rebecca Roanhorse is one of my auto-read authors — and one major reason is because of her fire Between Earth and Sky series. That trilogy comes to a stunning, fevered conclusion with Mirrored Heavens . All of the characters you love, hate and love to hate will converge on the city of Tova. Get ready for an epic battle between ancient gods, their human avatars and the mortals caught in between. (June 4) — Alex Brown

Sing Like Fish: How Sound Rules Life Under Water by Amorina Kingdon

You may know about 52 Blue , whose vocalizations likely go unheard by some other whales; it captured worldwide sympathy and became a pop-culture metaphor. But did you know all whale song is critically disrupted by ships? If that gets you wondering, keep an eye out for Sing Like Fish , which promises to illuminate the fragile symphony of the deep. (June 4) — Genevieve Valentine

Consent: A Memoir by Jill Ciment

I look forward to reading Jill Ciment's Consent and to the discussions it's sure to provoke. In this follow-up memoir to Half a Life, Ciment reconsiders what she wrote 25 years ago about her teenage affair and marriage to her art teacher, 30 years her senior. Half a Life was written before the #MeToo movement, and before her husband died at the age of 93 after 45 years of marriage. Consent promises a fuller picture. (June 11) — Heller McAlpin

Do What Godmother Says by L.S. Stratton

As we continue to experience the frenzy of Harlem Renaissance celebrations, commemorations and historical resonance, Do What Godmother Says by L.S. Stratton is the perfect addition to the litany of works set in this artistic period this year. It examines the intense and frequently degenerating relationship between patrons and artists during this intellectual and cultural movement. In this dual-timeline gothic thriller, a modern writer discovers a family heirloom painting by a Harlem Renaissance artist, which connects her family to a mysterious past. This historical novel is one I'm eager to read because it deftly exposes the layers of creative ownership, especially when race and wealth are involved. (June 11) — Keishel Williams

Horror Movie: A Novel by Paul Tremblay

Paul Tremblay is one of the most entertaining and innovative voices in contemporary fiction regardless of genre. Horror Movie , a story about a cursed movie that never came out and is about to get a remake, is a love letter to horror novels and horror movies, as well as a tense narrative that will redefine the cursed film subgenre. Tremblay is one of the modern masters of horror, and this new novel promises to be packed with the author's distinctive voice, knack for ambiguity and intrigue, and superb atmosphere. (June 11) — Gabino Iglesias

Cue The Sun! The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum

Every so often there's a nonfiction title I covet like it's the next installment in my favorite mystery series. This summer it's Cue the Sun! Based on in-depth interviews with more than 300 sources from every aspect of the production process, this book is a cultural history of the genre that ate American entertainment, from New Yorker critic Emily Nussbaum. It combines the appeal of a page-turning thriller and the heft of serious scholarship. Juicy and thoughtful, it's a must-read for anyone interested in television or popular culture. (June 25) — Carole V. Bell

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen

In this return to the delightfully wacky world established in one of my personal top-five romance novels of all time, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy , Megan Bannen takes on the friends to lovers trope with a combination of madcap joie de vivre and the exhausted practicality of a mom who's had enough. Also, there are dragons! (July 2) — Caitlyn Paxson

The Anthropologists by Ayşegül Savaş

I am eagerly awaiting Ayşegül Savaş' The Anthropologists . Born in Istanbul, Savaş has lived in England, Denmark and the U.S. also and now resides in France; in this novel she takes up themes of cultural migration through focus on a young couple seeking an apartment in a foreign city. I'm intrigued to discover how Savaş gifts her characters with an anthropological lens of exploration. (July 9) — Barbara J. King

Elevator in Saigon by Thuân, translated by Nguyen An Lý

Elevator in Saigon is a literal and structural exquisite corpse , capturing Vietnam's eventful period from 1954 to 2004. Mimicking an elevator's movement, the novel heightens our yearning for romance and mystery, while unflinchingly exposing such narrative shaft. Channeling Marguerite Duras and Patrick Modiano, the book also offers a dead-on tour of a society cunningly leaping from one ideological mode to the next. As if challenging Rick's parting words to Ilsa in Casablanca , Thuận's sophomore novel in English implies that geopolitical debacles might have been mitigated if personal relations were held in more elevated regard than "a hill of beans." (July 9) — Thúy Đinh

Goodnight Tokyo by Atsuhiro Yoshida, translated by Haydn Trowell

Atsuhiro Yoshida's Goodnight Tokyo begins with a film company procurer who's tasked with finding fresh kumquats for a production. From there, interlinked tales of Tokyo residents unspool in unpredictable directions. Characters range from a cabdriver to a star of a detective TV series who might be an actual detective. Readers will be reminded of Jim Jarmusch's 1991 movie Night on Earth , which also takes place in the wee hours of the morning and threads together the stories of strangers. (July 9) — Leland Cheuk

Navola: A novel by Paolo Bacigalupi

I love when a beloved author — especially one known mostly for a certain type of book — throws us a daring curveball. Navola is exactly such a pitch. Paolo Bacigalupi, who has won pretty much every major award in the science-fiction field with his climate-conscious dystopianism, is veering hard left with his new novel. It doesn't take place in the future, and it isn't a cautionary tale. Instead, it's a hefty tome of high fantasy set in a dreamed-up world akin to Renaissance Florence. Only with, you guessed it, dragons. But also high finance, political intrigue, and de' Medici-esque opulence. Bacigalupi is one of today's most gripping spinners of speculative fiction, and I can't wait to dive into this surprising magical foray. (July 9) — Jason Heller

The Lucky Ones: A Memoir by Zara Chowdhary

In 2002, two train carriages were set on fire in Gujarat, India. Within three weeks, more than 2,000 Muslims were murdered in response by Hindu mobs. By the end of the year, more than 50,000 Muslims became refugees in their own country. The Lucky Ones is a unique memoir in English of this largest-ever massacre in independent India . It is also about a communal crisis bringing a fractured family together. A must-read in our warring world today. (July 16) — Jenny Bhatt

Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist by Jasmin Graham

Author Jasmin Graham is a marine biologist specializing in smalltooth sawfish and hammerhead sharks. Who are the real sharks in this story? Graham had to face the sharp-teethed truths of academia, while creating a world of curiosity and discovery around the complex lives of sharks. To combat the racism she encountered in academia, Graham created an "ocean of her own" to become an independent scientist and a champion of social justice, a journey she unspools in this new memoir. (July 16) — Martha Ann Toll

Liars by Sarah Manguso

I have long been a fan of Sarah Manguso's crystalline prose, from her fragmented illness memoir The Two Kinds of Decay to her tightly constrained 2022 novel Very Cold People . Her second novel , Liars , marries restraint with rage — in it, Manguso traces the full arc of a 15-year relationship between Jane, a successful writer, and John, a dilettante artist-cum-techie, in aphoristic vignettes. The result is a furious, propulsive meditation on wifehood, motherhood and artistic ambition. (July 23) — Kristen Martin

The Horse: A Novel by Willy Vlautin

Musician and Lean on Pete author Willy Vlautin captures the American West like few other writers. His prose is always excellent, his characters always beautifully drawn, and that promises to be the case with his next novel, about an isolated Nevada man in his 60s who is visited by a blind horse that refuses to leave. (July 30) — Michael Schaub

Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down the Rabbit Hole and Came Up With the Universe by Ken Krimstein

Art and science collide in Ken Krimstein's new graphic biography . In this book, the author of the brilliant and whimsical The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt similarly translates careful research into scenic, emotive comics — in this case tracking the potential effects of an adventitious meeting in Prague between two geniuses on the cusp of world-changing discoveries. (Aug. 20) — Tahneer Oksman

Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde by Alexis Pauline Gumbs

I'd probably be interested in a new biography of Audre Lorde if it focused on the eating habits of the brilliant thinker, poet, feminist and activist. But biographer Alexis Pauline Gumbs promises to more than exceed that bar. An award-winning poet, writer, feminist and activist in her own right, Gumbs is among the first researchers to delve into Lorde's manuscript archives. The resulting book highlights the late author's commitment to interrogating what it means to survive on this planet — and how Lorde's radical understanding of ecology can guide us today. (Aug. 20) — Ericka Taylor

Et Cetera: An Illustrated Guide to Latin Phrases by Maia Lee-Chin, illustrated by Marta Bertello

To those claiming Latin is dead, I say res ipsa loquitur — the thing speaks for itself — in children's cartoons , Hollywood cartoons and enduring epics . As a fan of both Mr. Peabody and the Muses, the idea of combining Maia Lee-Chin's thoughtful scholarship and Marta Bertello's dynamic artistry is captivating. Their new book reimagines the world of Latin's invention and tops my summer reading list. (Aug. 27) — Marcela Davison Avilés

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4 New Horror Books to Read, Including Stephen King’s Latest Collection

Our columnist reviews May’s most chilling releases.

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This illustration features an assortment of scary objects — a mouth with spiky sharp teeth, a clown’s face, bat silhouettes and moths — but rendered in bright colors that belie their menace.

By Gabino Iglesias

Gabino Iglesias is a writer, editor, literary critic and professor. He is the Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson award-winning author of “The Devil Takes You Home.”

YOU LIKE IT DARKER: Stories (Scribner, 502 pp., $30) is an outstanding collection from Stephen King, the master of horror, that features 12 eerie tales full of darkness, loss, danger, resilience and even aliens.

There are no throwaways here, but some stories merit individual attention. The first story,“Two Talented Bastids,” opens the book brilliantly. It’s a tale about an aging author and an old friend who was a famous painter that begins normally enough and then delves into the dark secret of how both creatives got their skills. Its gradual slide into terror perfectly sets the tone for the entire collection. “The Fifth Step,” about a man who opens up to a stranger in a park, is a literary shanking — it’s fast and violent in equal measure. “On Slide Inn Road,” about a family that encounters two murderers while stuck on a country road, is a master class in tension and is full of King’s dark humor. “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” the crown jewel of the collection, is a 150-page crime novella about a man dealing with the aftermath of a strange dream and the obsessed detective with arithmomania hellbent on pinning a crime on him.

This book will please any horror reader, but loyal King fans will find these stories particularly rewarding, especially because of the callbacks to his previous works.

“You like it darker? Fine. So do I,” King states in his afterword. He knows what we like, and he delivers. This collection proves King is still king.

Layla Martínez’s debut novel, WOODWORM (Two Lines Press, 149 pp., $21.95), is a wonderfully bizarre and ceaselessly creepy novel about women trapped in a haunted house where shadows devour people.

The story, which is translated from the Spanish by Sophie Hughes and Annie McDermott, follows an unnamed woman and her grandmother. They live in a house built by the family’s patriarch, a criminal who trapped women in a stable and exploited them. “This house is a curse, a curse my father put on us when he condemned us to live out the rest of our years between its walls,” the woman thinks.

The father’s body is still in the house. The women pray to saints for protection and see angels, but the house is full of dangerous shadows and ghostly voices. The women are scorned by their neighbors, who think they’re strange, so when a boy goes missing, they become suspects in the disappearance. Together, they join forces with the spirits to try to prove their innocence and get something akin to justice.

This is an exceptionally gloomy tale of anger and isolation, filled with strangeness, and delivered with sharp and fast prose. Through it all, Martínez explores larger topics of class resentment and the lingering effects of evil. Intergenerational trauma and monsters share the spotlight in this terrific debut.

While Martínez makes hauntings dreadful, Christina Henry’s THE HOUSE THAT HORROR BUILT (Berkley, 315 pp., paperback, $18) makes them fun.

Harry Adams, a struggling single mother, is a horror movie aficionado, and she is a fan of the director Javier Castillo’s work, a fact she strategically does not mention when she takes a job cleaning at his Chicago mansion, Bright Horses. Harry knows that Castillo treasures his privacy; he had moved to Chicago to escape media scrutiny after a family tragedy.

The job turns out to be easy, which is good because Harry needs the gig, especially after the new owner of the building where she lives with her son tells her that he is selling the place and that they need to move. But maintaining the job grows to be difficult when, first, Harry keeps hearing strange noises while cleaning and then a possessed costume attacks her.

This book is a celebration of horror films, but what will stick with readers is the relationship between Harry and her son, Daniel. A lumbering costume is fun to read about, but Harry’s past and her precarious finances are the real monsters here. Henry’s spooky tale has a scary face, but it has a heart of gold.

’Pemi Aguda’s GHOSTROOTS: Stories (Norton, 208 pp., $26.99) is a collection of 12 unsettling tales that explore both the depths of humanity and the mores of Nigerian society.

The story “Manifest” follows a young woman who appears to be morphing into her dead grandmother. After moments of panic and a few violent outbursts, the imagined transition becomes reality. This story uses second-person narration for maximum effect: “In the mirror, you do not recognize yourself. And it’s because there is no you there.” Another standout is “Breastmilk,” the story of a woman struggling to breastfeed while also trying to keep her relationship afloat after her husband cheats on her. In “The Hollow,” an architect works on a vengeful house with a dark past that can’t be measured or understood.

These tales, set in an alternate version of Lagos, Nigeria, in which supernatural phenomena make the impossible commonplace, unflinchingly explore complicated human emotions. Wildly inventive and odd, but written with surgeonlike precision, these stories herald the arrival of a major voice in speculative fiction.

The 39 Must-Read Books of Summer 2024

Buzzy novels, compulsively readable non-fiction, and a few deliciously guilty pleasures.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

This season, you have no excuse for being without something good to read. Offerings include explosive novels, revealing memoirs, brilliant biographies, and everything in between. No matter what kinds of books you like, there's a title coming out this summer that's sure to be just what you're looking for.

women When Women Ran Fifth Avenue

The Other Olympians

With the 2024 Paris Olympics on everyone's mind, we're in the mood to look back on the games' forgotten legends. Author Michael Waters covers nearly a century, revisiting the stories of Zdeněk Koubek, one of the fastest sprinters in European women's sports who declared that he was living as a man, and field athlete Mark Weston, also a trans man. After their transitions, the two became global celebrities but eventually faded in relevance. Waters cinematically paints the true story of the two and other trans athletes, while exploring how the Olympic Committee ignored the Nazi atrocities for the Berlin Games. Today, the conversation about trans athletes has taken center stage, and Water's subjects feel more relevant than ever.

Anne Frank, Sylvia Plath, John Updike, Julia Child… what did they all have in common? The brilliant editor Judith Jones, who catapulted their literary careers and turned them into household names. A new biography, using interviews and never-before-seen papers, charts Jones’s 50-plus years in the industry, which all began when, as a 25-year-old secretary tasked with drudging through manuscripts, she came upon the draft for what would become Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl and convinced her boss to publish it. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Friday Afternoon Club

Griffin Dunne might be best known as an actor, producer, and director ( Practical Magic , anyone?) but in this funny, revealing, and fascinating memoir, he makes a strong case for himself as his storied family's latest brilliant writer. Here, Dunne recalls growing up in Hollywood with well known parents (and an arguably, frustratingly, better known aunt and uncle) and recounts the ups and downs of life among American royalty. But despite the charm of his relationship with Carrie Fisher or making movies with Scorsese, the heart of Dunne's story is his family, including his late sister Dominique, whose murder (and the subsequent trial for it) is explored with tenderness and heart.

I Want You More

If last summer's hit The Guest taught us anything, it's that nothing in the Hamptons is quite what it seems. That's an understatement when it comes to Zara Pines's summer in East Hampton, where she's gone to ghost write a cookbook for a celebrity chef and escape the troubles of her real life at home. But, much like food made for TV, not everything is as good as it looks on screen, and Zara finds herself pulled into a strange and unusual relationship with her new boss that changes everything. Bring some extra sunscreen, this one is going to be a scorcher.

Gabriel Smith's debut novel weaves together ideas about grief, growing up, and ghosts to create a smart, scary, and altogether unforgettable tale. In it, a young man also named Gabriel moves into his late parents' house to prepare it for sale, but in his time there discovers family secrets that aren't quite ready to be put to rest. It's a book about loss and the anxiety of the modern age, tinged with humor and deep insight that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

Peter Marino: Ten Modern Houses

He's worked with Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co. You'd know him if you saw him: leather, leather, leather. Peter Marino is one of the most prolific architects of today, and this book chronicles his numerous commercial and residential projects. Author Sam Lubell profiles 10 individual residences, from New York to Aspen, Turks & Caicos, and more. What makes Marino so in demand? Now, you can see for yourself.

I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself

There's plenty of reading to do if you're looking to get into a Parisian state of mind, but this new memoir from T&C contributor Glynnis MacNicol should go to the top of the pile. After months of lockdown in 2020 New York City, MacNicol jumped at the chance to sublet a friend's place in Paris, and her book charts the fearless and fascinating adventures she made sure to have while she was there. And while there's plenty of wine, dancing, and international romance in these pages, there's also a bigger picture to consider—what would happen if you decided to free yourself of society's expectations and truly indulge? The results could be delicious.

Who among us hasn't spent some time wondering what if ? Jenny Green certainly has, and with her life in disarray and a milestone college reunion coming up, the thoughts about how things might have been different seem louder and more urgent than ever. But while life famously comes without a handbook, when Jenny arrives on campus she's pulled into an expected situation and given an actual memo on how to find all the success of which she ever dreamed. But is finding a shortcut actually the answer? In this smart, funny, and impossible to put down novel from T&C contributors Rachel Dodes and Lauren Mechling, we're forced to ask ourselves whether reaching the destination is worth foregoing the journey.

JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography

Much has been written and said about John F. Kennedy, Jr., though not all of it by people who actually knew him. In this new oral biography from RoseMarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil, JFK Jr.'s closest friends open up about who he was outside of the spotlight and what made him such a compelling figure that we're still besotted even 25 years after his untimely death.

Same As It Ever Was

Julia Ames has never really been at home in her own skin, but in her late 50s, she might be as close as she's ever going to get. That is, until her comfortable life—the one, it sometimes seems, for which she's just going through the motions—is upset by a family member's surprise announcement as well as the bubbling up of an old secret. Lombardo's charming, well-built, and engrossing story follows Julia through an incredibly difficult season and plumbs the depths of her unhappiness, reminding us all that what lurks beneath the serene facades of our friends and neighbors is always much more complicated than we can know.

Do Something

T&C contributor Guy Trebay might be best known for writing about the lives of others, but in this memoir, the writer shares his own story—and we should all be paying attention. Trebay writes beautifully about his childhood (both before and after his entrepreneur father struck it rich) and takes readers deep into the world where he escaped it, an exciting, dangerous, overwhelming 1970s New York where he spent time with some of the era's most celebrated characters and ultimately discovered himself.

Loving Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath is best remembered as a genius poet and novelist, but her legacy comes with an asterisk. That's due in part to her death by suicide at 30 years old, but also to the way that her story has been told. In this book, the scholar Emily Van Duyne takes a deeper look at Plath and does away with the trappings of her sad-girl persona—perpetuated, in many ways, by Plath's husband, the writer Ted Hughes—to focus on her accomplishments and the enduring power of her work. This book is part celebration and part repossession, looking at the writer on her own terms instead of through the lens for her that others have created.

The Imagination Muscle

For those of us who grew up in a world before tablets and smart phones, it wasn't uncommon to be instructed to alleviate boredom by using our imaginations. In Albert Read's new book, he argues that imagination itself is a muscle that needs to be trained and used regularly, and that doing so can result in a fuller, more creative life. Read delves into the history of great imaginations from around the world and offers practical advice for expanding our own—the results could be, well, unimaginable.

Catherine de' Medici: The Life and Times of the Serpent Queen

What does it take to lead a dynasty? For Catherine de Medici, it started with a bit of scandal. Don't get it wrong though: she was a patron of arts, often supporting poets and artists. She revived ruined buildings and made them lavish again. She entertained frequently and hosted tournaments that added to the splendor and rituals of the courts. But, she, the most powerful woman in the 16th century, was able to do this by using other women as bait to seduce courtiers for political ends, dabbling in the dark arts, and being the epitome of a scheming monarch. Author Mary Hollingsworth's biography gives us a juicy look into the life of one of the most powerful woman in history.

Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

It is practically the birthright of every American to have a fascination with the Kennedys—and the infamous Kennedy curse. Maureen Callahan does us one better, stripping away the veneer of Camelot to present a searing, no holds barred account of scandal by zeroing in on the numerous destructions wrought by generations of Kennedy men against the women in their orbit. There are revelations about Jackie Kennedy, Rosemary Kennedy, and Carolyn Bessette, of course, but also about the various crimes committed against women outside the family too, including famous figures, like Marilyn Monroe, and lesser known individuals, like Martha Moxley.

Random House Long Island Compromise

The Fletcher family seems to have everything that anyone could want. There are sprawling houses, well-educated children, and a sterling reputation among friends and neighbors. But, of course, there's a dark spot: the long-ago kidnapping (and eventual, mostly safe return) of patriarch Carl has cast a shadow over the family for generations. In this smart, sprawling, darkly comic novel, the author of Fleishman Is In Trouble tells the tale of the Fletchers across the years, giving readers an intricate, unforgettable story of family, money, and faith, and how all three can wreak havoc even when it's least expected.

Anyone's Ghost

August Thompson's debut novel follows David, a New Hampshire teenager working at a convenience store, as he meets Jake, a cool, slightly older coworker, and his world is expanded. The friendship the two form is complicated and life-changing, and Thompson's touching, unforgettable story follows the two across the years as their relationship changes, but their shared history continues to hold them together.

We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay

Hiccups in air travel are never enjoyable. But, is there a way to turn a bad situation around? Gary Janetti's new book suggests that the answer is yes. In We are Experiencing a Slight Delay, Janetti takes his audiences around the world, recounting some of his own most memorable travel moments. There's the unexpectedly transformative stay at an Italian spa; a ride on the Orient Express to Venice; and a dinner with the actress Maggie Smith. It's not all just fun and games, however. Janetti meditates on the wonders of dining alone, and the fruitful experience of traveling to destinations that are diverse and unfamiliar. If the stories aren't enough for you, he also offers practical advice such as packing and how to get upgrades throughout your stay. Going somewhere? Don't forget to take this book with you.

Women in the Valley of the Kings

When one thinks of an Egyptologist, the idea that comes to mind might be of an Indiana Jones type academic, sprung from the classroom to dig for artifacts. In Kathleen Sheppard's fascinating new book, however, the world of women who helped uncover the secrets of Ancient Egypt is explored. Using travelogues, diaries, and maps, the rarely told stories of the women who helped create our understanding of the history of the world are brought to the forefront here, both correcting a lacking historical record and also sharing thrilling tales of adventure and discovery.

Adam Rathe is Town & Country 's Deputy Features Director, covering arts and culture and a range of other subjects.

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The 25 must-read books of summer 2024

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Picture this: The sun is high in the sky and you’re on your way to the beach with your friends with the latest Chappell Roan song blasting on the radio. You’re all slathered in SPF and have your folding chairs and coolers at the ready. It’s summertime, finally, and the only thing that’s missing is the perfect book to read while you burn to a red hot crisp by the side of the ocean.

Not sure what to bring with you? Good news! There are a ton of books coming out between the months of June and August that are worth checking out. There’s a clever reimagining of the story of Lady Macbeth, celebrated children’s author M.T. Anderson’s adult debut, the follow up to 2022’s hottest romantic fantasy, and a truly surprising number of heist novels. Which is all to say that there are plenty of options for you to choose from.

Below you’ll find 25 of the most romantic, fantastical, and action packed books coming out this summer that we can’t wait to kick back and read.

Cover art for Mae Bennett’s Barely Even Friends, showing a woman on a ladder as a man holds a paint can next to her

Barely Even Friends by Mae Bennett

If you’re in the mood to read a steamy, contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast , look no further than Mae Bennett’s debut romance novel, Barely Even Friends .

A contractor by trade and expert in all things to do with home renovation, Bellamy Price is determined to get a leg up and prove herself in a typically male-dominated field. Luckily, the perfect opportunity presents itself when she’s offered a job working on the palatial and mysterious Killington Estate. Expecting the house to be empty upon her arrival, Bellamy is shocked to discover it’s occupied by none other than Oliver Killington, recluse and heir to the vast Killington empire, who happens to have a very convenient thing for suspenders. Though frustratingly obstinate at first, it quickly becomes clear that there’s more to Oliver than meets the eye, and a common enemy quickly brings him and Bellamy closer together than either are expecting.

$19 at Bookshop.org

An android holds a teapot in their hand while looking at a green desolated wasteland in the cover for Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Service Model

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

From the author of Elder Race and Children of Time comes a new, surprisingly funny and deeply philosophical sci-fi novel about a murderous robot valet by the name of Charles that’s perfect for fans of I, Robot and Jeeves .

When Charles, a robot valet meticulously designed to be at the right hand of any modern human, gets the idea to murder their master — and subsequently does — they’re forced to go on the run, something they never thought they’d be able to do. Charles quickly discovers that the world is much larger than the home they worked in, and that they’re not the only robot discovering their independence.

$27 at Bookshop.org

Cover image for Yume Kitasei’s The Stardust Grail, showing what looks like an octopus in space, hidden behind what looks like red space nebula

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei

It’s hard not to be incredibly excited about The Stardust Grail , a book that’s pitched as an anti-colonial space heist with a protagonist who returns stolen artifacts to the alien civilizations they belong to rather than keeping them for herself or putting them behind glass in a museum.

Set ten years after a job goes horribly wrong, Maya Hoshimoto — once considered to be the galaxy’s best art thief — is approached by an old friend with an offer she can’t refuse: track down an powerful alien artifact. The catch? The artifact in question might not actually exist, and if it does, its discovery could lead to the end of human civilization as we know it.

Cover art for Robin Sloan’s Moonbound, featuring an image of a world with a tear through the red sky

Moonbound by Robin Sloan

If you, like me, read Robin Sloan’s delightful novel, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore , and thought to yourself, “That was strange,” then you might want to hold onto your hat.

Set 13,000 years in the future, Moonbound tells the story of Ariel, a boy who lives in a town under the control of a wizard. When Ariel accidentally stumbles across an important piece of record-keeping technology from the past, he finds himself called to adventure and a mission to save the world.

Cover art for Alicia Thompson’s The Art of Catching Feelings, drawn in the style of a baseball card, with a woman embracing a baseball player on a baseball field

The Art Of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

What better time to read a romance novel about baseball than during the height of summer?

In Alicia Thompson’s novel, The Art of Catching Feelings , a professional baseball player and his number one heckler navigate a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance. When Daphne Brink takes her taunting a little too far, driving Chris Kepler to literal tears during the middle of a game, she reaches out over social media to apologize. When Chris messages her back, it quickly becomes clear that he doesn’t know who Daphne is, and their relationship begins to grow into more than a few sweet DMs. But as the season progresses and their feelings for one another become undeniable, Daphne realizes she might not be able to keep her true identity from Chris forever.

$18 at Bookshop.org

Cover image for Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Anguish and Anarchy, featuring a Black woman wearing a gold veil with silver hair streaming down her back

Children of Anguish and Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

It’s (almost) here! The final installment of Tomi Adeyemi’s Lady of Orïsha series finally hits shelves in late June.

As the blood moon grows ever closer, Zélie faces the king who has been hunting her heart. But there is little she can do to prepare herself while she is trapped on a foreign ship bound for distant lands, warriors with iron skulls, and unfamiliar allies.

$23 at Bookshop.org

A slumped over figure crawls along a pile of bodies in a red cover for Christopher Buehlman’s The Daughters’ War.

The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman

I have been counting down the days until the release of The Daughters’ War since I first caught wind that Christopher Buehlman would be writing a prequel to his fantastic fantasy novel, The Blacktongue Thief . Rather than return to the lush world that he’s crafted with a sequel (we’ll see Kinch again eventually), Buehlman is taking readers back in time with a tale about Galva as she rides into battle against goblins on the back of her war-corvid.

Cover image for Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods, a water-color style image of trees with a pink drop oozing down the middle

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Set in the Adirondack Mountains during the late summer of 1975, The God of the Woods tells the story of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar, who vanishes from her bunk overnight while at summer camp. Barbara isn’t just any camper though, and this isn’t the first time a Van Laar has gone missing. Sixteen years ago, Barbara’s older brother also vanished too, never to be seen again.

This is a gorgeously written and tragic tale with a non-linear plot that jumps through time from the 1950s to the 1970s as Moore transports her readers, weaving a rich and complicated tapestry.

$28 at Bookshop.org

Cover image for Megan Bannen’s The Undermining of Twyla and Frank, featuring two figures incased in a heart surrounded by dragon wings and TNT

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen

Hot off the heels of her first heartwarming romance novel, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy , Megan Bannen returns to the magical world of Tanria with its friends-to-lovers sequel, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank .

It’s fair to say the entire town of Eternity was shocked when Twyla Banneker, middle-aged and a widow, joined her best friend, Frank Ellis, to be a Tanrian marshal. But, eight years later, Twyla is still at it (and very good at her job, to boot). Her life takes a sudden and exciting turn when she and Frank discover the dead body of one of their fellow marshals covered in — of all things — glitter. As Twyla and Frank are drawn further into the mystery afoot, it becomes increasingly clear that the two are much more than just work partners.

Cover art for Fernanda Trías’ Pink Slime, an abstract red and pink image

Pink Slime by Fernanda Trías

Set in a not-to-distant future in which the world has been utterly devastated by a plague, Pink Slime by Fernanda Trías is a deeply distressing but compulsively readable work of climate fiction.

When a mysterious algae bloom poisons the air blowing inland from the ocean, a nameless corporation develops a vile pink food substance — think Pepto Bismol crossed with Soylent Green — for everyone to eat. As the end of the world grows ever closer and society continues to collapse, one woman in particular — the narrator of this story — refuses to leave the family and friends she loves behind, clinging to the life she once knew.

$22 at Bookshop.org

Cover image for Anton Hur’s Toward Eternity, an alien image filled with plantlife on a distant planet

Toward Eternity by Anton Hur

Already a force to be reckoned with in the world of literary translation, Anton Hur’s upcoming novel, Toward Eternity , is a brilliant and thought provoking examination of what it means to be human.

Told in the form of journal entries that connect characters across centuries, Toward Eternity is set in a world where cancerous cells can be replaced by nanites — robotic cells — effectively eradicating the disease. It’s nothing short of a miracle. At the same time, a literary researcher and the doctor who holds the patent to nano-technology join forces to place an AI program into a physical, robotic form, effectively giving it bodily autonomy and bringing mortality and humanity into question in the process.

$25 at Bookshop.org

Cover image for Paolo Bacigalupi’s Navola, featuring a red eye surrounded by a white background

Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi

Fans of Windup Girl , The Water Knife , and Shipbreaker , rejoice! An exciting new science fiction title from Paolo Bacigalupi is hitting shelves in July.

Set in an Italian Renaissance-inspired world, Navolo is a mashup of literary scifi/fantasy and historical fiction that tells the story of Davico di Regulai, a young lord set to take over his family’s vast empire. The di Regulai family are wealthy beyond belief and have influenced the rise and fall of politicians and great cities alike, but not everything in the city of Navola is as it seems. When Davico discovers the existence of a fossilized dragon eye — a symbol of raw power that is pictured on Navola’s excellent cover — he finds that there are few he can trust, including members of his own family.

The sky looks on fire in the cover image for Jenn Lyons’ The Sky on Fire, as a dragon soars by a castle built into a mountain.

The Sky On Fire by Jenn Lyons

Billed as Dragonriders of Pern but for modern readers, The Sky on Fire promises to be exactly what fans of Temeraire , Fourth Wing , and even Patricia C. Wrede’s beloved Dealing With Dragons are craving.

After being saved from a local warlord by a group of unlikely adventuring misfits — picture an average D&D party — Anahrod realizes that her new companions are determined to reach the cloud cities and the immense dragon’s hoard located there. The only problem with this plan is that the hoard belongs to Neveranimas, and Neveranimas wants nothing more than to see Anahrod dead.

Cover image for M.T. Anderson’s Nicked, showing someone picking up a skull by the eye socket against a black background

Nicked by M.T. Anderson

If there’s one thing about M.T. Anderson, it’s that he’s going to write a book with a plot that’s as delightful and captivating as it is downright strange. His adult debut Nicked is no exception.

In the year 1801, the Italian port city of Bari is wracked by a plague, and a monk by the name of Brother Nicephorus is visited by Saint Nicholas in his dreams. His superiors don’t believe him, but Tyun, a treasure hunter, does and the two soon hit the road to collect Saint Nicholas’s bones and the mysterious liquid they rest in, which is rumored to heal the sick. What follows is a heist that is complex and action packed enough to make even the likes of Steven Soderbergh jealous.

$26 at Bookshop.org

Cover image for Sarah Rees Brennan’s Long Live Evil, featuring a woman with a bloody dress splayed across a throne

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan

Sarah Rees Brennan’s adult debut, Long Live Evil , proves that sometimes it feels good to be a little bad.

Rae is dying, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. As her world comes crumbling down around her, she makes a last ditch magical bargain that transports her to the court of her favorite fictional character, the Once and Forever Emperor. The catch? Rae isn’t the hero of this story. Quite the opposite, in fact. As the emperor becomes increasingly violent, Rae assembles an unlikely team of villainous allies who deserve a much better ending than the one originally written for them.

A vast sci-fi fantasy scape, with long jagged cliffs stretching into the sky, on the cover for James S.A. Corey’s The Mercy of Gods.

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey

James S.A. Corey, the dynamic duo behind the phenomenal series, The Expanse , is back once again for a brand new, utterly epic sci-fi adventure.

For generations, the Carryx — a combination of an empire and a hive — have waged wars and enslaved alien species across the galaxy. They are a force to be reckoned with to say the least, but when they finally meet their match, it becomes clear that the best and brightest humans living on the planet Anjiin are the only ones who can save them. The result is a gripping tale of survival, rebellion, and hope.

Cover image for Matthew Erman and Sma Beck’s Loving, Ohio, featuring a person covering their face, as they are enveloped by a ghostly image of another version of theirself.

Loving, Ohio by Matthew Erman and illustrated by Sam Beck

It’s safe to say that Loving, Ohio — written by Matthew Erman and gorgeously illustrated by Sam Beck — is my favorite horror graphic novel that I’ve read since Emily Carroll’s In The Woods . It’s a perfectly balanced mix of punk rock, small town coming-of-age, and bone chilling, nightmare fueling dread.

After the shocking suicide of their friend, four teens are grief stricken, unmoored, and counting down the days until high school comes to an end. There’s not much for them in Loving anyways, besides the mysterious new age cult known as the Chorus that has taken root there. When tragedy strikes again, the group can’t help but wonder if the Chorus is somehow behind it, and one in particular, Sloane, is hell-bent on finding out the truth, no matter the coast.

Cover image for T. Kingfisher’s A Sorceress Comes to Call, with gold trees against a starry black background

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher has outdone herself once again, proving to sci-fi and fantasy readers alike why she’s one of the best in the biz. A retelling inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairytale Goose Girl , A Sorceress Comes to Call is a bewitching and wildly entertaining adventure.

Cordelia has not had an easy life. Raised by a domineering, emotionally manipulative and downright abusive mother in a house without any doors, and with only a beautiful white horse for a friend, Cordelia craves a freedom she’s certain she’ll never have. When a death in town forces the two women to go on the run in the middle of the night, they find themselves seeking shelter with a wealthy man, his unwed sister, Hester, and a squire. When Hester recognizes the pain and torment that Cordelia has suffered, and that Cordelia’s mother isn’t the woman she pretends to be, she becomes determined to save everyone she cares for before it’s too late.

Cover image for Beth Revis’s Full Speed to a Crash Landing, featuring two large silhouettes looming over a crashed spacecraft

Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis

Having dabbled in the literary side of Star Wars for some time, Beth Revis is no stranger to science fiction, outer space, impossible heists, or romantic tension. Her new novella, Full Speed to a Crash Landing (the first in a trilogy) has all that going for it and more.

When readers first meet Ada Lamarr, she’s running out of time. And oxygen. But help soon arrives in the form of a government sanctioned salvage crew. They’re less than thrilled to have her on board as they head to their destination, a secret mission helmed by the delightfully handsome Agent Rian White, but Ada promises to stay out of their hair and out of their business. This, of course, is a lie. But as Ada and Rian spend more time together and their attraction to one another continues to grow, it becomes increasingly unclear who is playing who.

$21 at Bookshop.org

Cover image for Matthew Lyons’ A Mask of Flies, featuring a dead-looking girl without a face, covered with flies

A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons

If you’re in the mood to read a dynamic and brutal horror novel that will have you on the edge of your seat from cover-to-cover, look no further than A Mask of Flies by Matthew Lyons.

After a bank heist goes horribly awry, Anne Heller is forced to hole up in her family’s old cabin with Jessup, her badly wounded partner-in-crime, and Dutch, the police officer they’ve taken hostage. Jessup, unfortunately, doesn’t make it. Anne and Dutch decide to bury his body, only for something that is-but-isn’t Jessup to rise from his grave and try to get back into the cabin.

Lady Macbeth wears a veil and is framed by an oval frame in Ava Reid’s Lady Macbeth cover art

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

When it comes to complicated, multi-faceted female characters, Ava Reid reigns supreme, and her upcoming novel, Lady Macbeth , reimagines the story of one of Shakespeare’s most ruthless, unforgiving, power-hungry women.

The Lady knows what her fate holds in store for her. She knows that she is destined to marry a brutish Scot and to drive men to madness. The Lady also knows that sometimes it takes a little witchcraft to get by. What she doesn’t know is that her husband has secrets of his own, including his own ties to the occult.

Cover image for Nalo Hopkinson’s Blackheart Man, featuring a long-haired man’s face framed by mirrored images of a woman’s face and an alligator’s

Blackheart Man by Nalo Hopkinson

Inspired by Caribbean culture, folklore, and history that deftly blurs the lines between reality and fiction, Blackheart Man by Nalo Hopkinson is a gripping tale of a magical island and the man who will do whatever he can to protect it.

Veycosi, a scholar on the island of Cynchin, wants nothing more in the world than the chance to get his hands on the Alamat Book of Light, a tome that contains knowledge that would ensure his place on his island’s Colloquium. His plans go abruptly sideways when fifteen galleons from a neighboring land arrive, forcing the island and its inhabitants into a trade agreement that proves to be much more dangerous than anticipated.

Cover image for Kerstin Hall’s Asunder, featuring a woman surrounded by sparks and fog

Asunder by Kerstin Hall

If you play Dungeons & Dragons and love the Warlock class and their pacts with mysterious, often otherworldly beings, then Asunder by Kerstin Hall is the perfect book for you.

In a world where magic users are allowed to choose their gods, Karys Eska is bound to an eldritch creature with three faces and hundreds of wings who has gifted her the ability to communicate with the dead. Karys uses her powers to help investigate strange deaths in the city where she lives, knowing that, one day, she’ll be forced permanently to the real where her benefactor exists. Her life takes an unexpected turn, however, when she meets a dying man who she inadvertently binds to her shadow.

Cover image for Frances White’s Voyage of the Damned, featuring a long fish bone and a boat under water against a light blue background

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

Now being published in North America for the first time, Voyage of the Damned by Frances White has a little bit of everything. Part And Then There Were None , part fantasy novel, queer as hell, and surprisingly, delightfully romantic, it’s sure to scratch the Pirates of the Caribbean and Our Flag Means Death itch for a lot of readers.

The land of Concordia has maintained peace throughout its many provinces for thousands of years. It’s an incredible feat, and to celebrate, the emperor is sending the twelve heirs of the provinces of Concordia, including Ganymedes Piscero (a notorious screw up and general disappointment to his family) on a twelve-day trip. When one of the other heirs turns up dead, Gamymedes knows his only choice is to find out who killed them before he ends up dead as well.

Cover art for Alexis Hall’s Confounding Oaths, featuring two well-dressed regency era men embracing under vines and birds

Confounding Oaths by Alexis Hall

Alexis Hall, author of Boyfriend Material , has done it again! Confounding Oaths is a heartwarming regency romance that will be the perfect book to read while sitting on a beach or by the pool in the late August sun.

The year is 1815 and John Caesar is determined to host an incredible coming-out for his younger sister, Mary. Despite his best efforts, John is thwarted in just about every way imaginable; ragtag soldiers, a military cult, and a fairy godmother with ill intention all stand in his way. When Mary is cursed by fairy folk, John is forced to enlist the dashing, handsome, and unfortunately working class Captain James to rescue her.

The 2024 summer entertainment preview

The most anticipated TV shows of summer 2024
WWE is rebooting – is it working?
Tom Bombadil, cut from Lord of the Rings movies, to step out in Rings of Power
The must-watch anime to look out for in summer 2024
The 5 best Korean dramas to watch on Netflix this summer
The most anticipated movies of summer 2024
Cuckoo’s director hopes young people sneak into his movie and blow their minds
Thelma is a geri-action movie that doesn’t miss a step
Emma Roberts’ NASA rom-com is the Legally Blonde of astronaut movies
Robot Dreams’ director founded an animation studio just to adapt a graphic novel he loved
Kill is the brutal thriller that action die-hards can’t miss this summer
Your first look at Critical Role’s Caduceus Clay in his new Dark Horse comic
Let Keanu Reeves punch and shoot his way onto your summer reading list
The Expanse’s James S.A. Corey returns with The Mercy of Gods — and you can read the first chapter
This summer Batman: Year One, the best Batman comic, gets even better
Can Lev Grossman do for King Arthur what he did for Harry Potter?
The Nice House by the Sea is a dream vacation at the end of the world with the worst people you know

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The Best Books of 2024 (So Far)

This list is updated monthly with new “best of the year” worthy titles.

The year may not be even halfway through, but 2024 has already brought a treasure trove of surprising new books. Multiple celebrated first-time authors have returned with highly anticipated, ambitious follow-up novels . Memoir and reportage are skillfully blended together for a collection of essays on the climate crises. A former Village Voice journalist delivers a vibrant oral history of the beloved alternative weekly. And we’d be remiss not to mention a brilliant debut novel that deftly brings humanity and humor to existential dread. Here are the titles that we already can’t stop thinking about.

Titles are listed by U.S. release date, with the newest books up top.

Wait , by Gabriella Burnham

After the success of her debut novel, It Is Wood, It Is Stone , Gabriella Burnham returns with an emotionally grounded political novel. When out dancing with friends, Elise learns from her younger sister that their mother has disappeared. Elise returns home to Nantucket Island, where she soon discovers that her mother was arrested and deported to São Paulo, after more than two decades away from Brazil. As Elise struggles to bring her mother back, she falls in with her wealthy best friend, who has recently inherited her grandfather’s mansion. No matter how close the two friends may have been, there remains an unbridgeable class divide. Burnham is a skilled observer of the hypocrisies coursing beneath our desire to do good and be good. This is especially clear when she writes about wealth. Wait is an empathetic and clear-eyed exploration of the everyday injustices that slowly erode friendships, families, and lives in America. — Isle McElroy

All Fours , by Miranda July

An artist of niche celebrity plans to celebrate her 45th birthday by driving alone across the country, from L.A., where she lives with her husband and child, to New York. But when it comes time to hit the road, she finds herself stopping in a nearby suburb, meeting a younger man who works for Hertz, and spending the entirety of her vacation in a motel, which she renovates to Paris-inspired perfection for the cool sum of $20,000. It’s not just that Miranda July’s latest novel is so propulsive you might have to cancel plans or set aside PTO just to scarf it down. It’s that her dazzlingly horny intelligence wrestles with marriage, queerness, and desire by turns sweet and hilarious, making even the smallest pangs of desire sizzle. — Jasmine Vojdani

➽ Read Christine Smallwood’s review of All Fours .

Ghostroots , ’Pemi Aguda

The 12 stories in ’Pemi Aguda’s mesmerizing and unsettling debut collection, Ghostroots , revolve around life in Lagos, the author’s home city. Aguda is a precise and exciting prose stylist, and her stories offer vivid insights into tradition, family, and trauma. Throughout the collection, the past invades the present, in the form of unwanted lineages and regretted decisions. A woman who cannot produce milk for her newborn blames herself for this ailment. The child was conceived the evening she forgave her husband for having an affair — she believes she’s being punished for being so forgiving. In “Manifest,” a young woman who resembles her grandmother — an evil woman, she is told — begins to adopt her grandmother’s most terrible traits, leading to an act of violence she cannot take back. The horror in Aguda’s stories are borne out of a sense of inevitability. Her characters, unable to change the past, are forced to confront futures they find terrifying and dangerous. This is a smart, playful, and compassionate collection worthy of repeated reads. — I.M.

The Husbands , by Holly Gramazio

Holly Gramazio’s debut novel has a killer hook: What if you had a magic attic supplying you with an endless cycle of husbands? It’s the best kind of high-concept question, one that opens up plenty of space for a writer to play in. And Gramazio (whose background is in game design), has lots of fun exploring every corner of her husband-filled world. The protagonist, Lauren — single and loving it, until she comes home to find a husband she doesn’t remember, who keeps turning into a different spouse whenever he goes into the attic — has the unique opportunity to examine the little ways we all soften at the edges to fit the people in our lives. Lauren, it turns out, learns a lot more about herself and what she values (or doesn’t!) than she does about any individual husband. — Emily Heller

Headshot , by Rita Bullwinkel

In a shabby gym in Reno, Nevada, teenage girls face off in a youth boxing tournament under a shifting ray of daylight that “fills the whole space with a dull, dusty brightness” and surrounded by a sparse crowd of mostly uninterested coaches and parents. The novel enters deep into the girls’ minds as they assess one another’s weaknesses and coax themselves through the rounds, which are described in brutal, bloody detail. Each fighter has her own source of competitive energy, but they’re all realistically ambivalent, too — unsure about why, exactly, they’re drawn to a sport that gives them so little for their trouble. Rita Bullwinkel’s debut novel is as tense and disciplined as its characters, and she has a gift for capturing the way their minds wander far from the ring and back again: One girl counts off the digits of pi, while another obsesses over a death she witnessed as a lifeguard. There’s a mesmerizing sense of limitlessness to the narrative, which roams far into the future of these fighters even as they’re absorbing hits in the ring. — Emma Alpern

Lessons for Survival , by Emily Raboteau

Raboteau emerged on the scene some two decades ago as a writer of sharp, incisive fiction that mapped the contours of identity and race. In recent years, she has become a literary voice of consciousness about the ongoing climate crisis. Across a series of essays, book reviews, and conversations, Raboteau has charted the progression of the crisis, our shared culpability, and our responsibility to develop practical solutions. Lessons for Survival is, in many ways, a culmination and continuation of this work. Raboteau travels locally and abroad to capture stories about the impact of the environmental crisis, and the resilience of communities that find themselves on the front lines. She also writes authentically — her prose seamlessly melds slang and heightened language — about her own experiences as a Black mother, whose identity has shaped her understanding of these issues. This is scintillating work, an essential primer for our times. — Tope Folarin

Solidarity: The Past, Present and Future of a World-Changing Idea, by Leah Hunt-Hendrix, Astra Taylor

The grand irony of this juncture in history is that at the very moment when the problems we’re facing — climate change, economic inequality, cross-border violence — require global solutions, our societies have become more atomized than ever. This is the case both within various societies, in which individual concerns increasingly trump collective interests, and between societies, whereby individual countries pursue their objectives at the expense of global cooperation. In their new book, Solidarity: The Past, Present and Future of a World-Changing Idea , Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor offer an essential antidote: a renewed commitment to solidarity. Their book is ambitious and comprehensive. It traces the evolving meaning of solidarity from ancient Rome through the Black Lives Matter movement and identifies different kinds of solidarity, how they arise, and how effective they are in forming and maintaining social bonds. They persuasively argue that in order to create a more “egalitarian world,” we must learn to cultivate and practice the kind of solidarity that “chang[es] the social order toward one that is both freer and more just.” — T.F.

Help Wanted , by Adelle Waldman

Set at a big-box store in upstate New York, Help Wanted recalls Mike White’s Enlightene d in its textured portrayal of how small humiliations and injustices at work inevitably boil over into righteous rage. It’s a novel that lingers in the imagination, by which I mean, after you read it you’ll think of it every time you shop at Target, forever. — Emily Gould

➽ Read Emily Gould’s interview with Help Wanted author Adelle Waldman on The Cut .

Stranger , by Emily Hunt

Emily Hunt’s second book of poems considers real intimacy mediated by apps. In “Company,” a long poem originally published as a chapbook, the speaker works for a flower delivery startup, gently pulling roots from soil, culling, clipping, and handing off arrangements. These moments are sensorily rich, slotted into 15-minute assembly-line shifts, and short lines. In “Emily,” Hunt uses messages from Tinder as her source material, not to mock (or not only to mock) the senders or the stilted situation of meeting online, but to construct a self in relief, as seen and spoken to by strangers. A funny and surprising interaction with dailiness, including our phones — the hardware and the relationships maintained through them — and whatever else is still tactile. — Maddie Crum

Dead Weight: Essays on Hunger and Harm, by Emmeline Clein

Emmeline Clein’s Dead Weight seems destined to fundamentally reshape how we think and write about the subject of eating disorders. What separates Clein’s book from others on the topic is her commitment to treating the sufferers of eating disorders with the kind of dignity that clinicians tend to withhold. She writes as an insider, telling both her personal story and sharing the stories of her “sisters,” which range from Tumblr accounts to clinical studies co-authored by their subjects. Throughout, she refrains from including the graphic details that have historically plagued books about the subject. “Too many people I love have misread a memoir as a manual,” she writes. The book she writes instead confronts the complicated entanglement between eating disorders, race, capitalism, and the ongoing erosion of social safety nets. Stereotypes about eating disorders commonly portray the illness as one rooted in control. Dead Weight not only exposes how little control patients have had over their own narratives and bodies, it returns the narrative to those who have suffered from the disease. This is a moving, brilliant, and important book. — Isle McElroy

The Freaks Came Out to Write , by Tricia Romano

If you were reading The Village Voice in the 1990s, as I was, it wasn’t as good as it used to be. That was also true ten years later, and 20 years before, and frankly it was probably what people started saying upon reading issue No. 2 in 1955. What the Voice was, inarguably, was shaggy, sometimes under-edited, alternately vigorous and undisciplined and brilliant and exhausting and fun. The infighting in its pages and in its newsroom was relentless, amped up by the very aggressiveness that made its reporters and editors able to do what they did. You’ll encounter more than one office fistfight in The Freaks Came Out to Write , this oral history by Tricia Romano, who worked there at the very end of its life. She got a huge number of Voice survivors to talk, including almost every living person who played a major role in this beloved, irritating paper’s life, and good archival interviews fill in the gaps. If you read the Voice in its glory days (whenever those were!) you’ll miss it terribly by the end of this book; if you weren’t there, you will be amazed that such a thing not only existed but, for a while, flourished. — Christopher Bonanos

Wandering Stars , by Tommy Orange

Orange’s Pulitzer-finalist debut, 2018’s There There , is a tightly constructed, polyphonic book that ends with a gunshot at a powwow. His follow-up, which shares the first one’s perspective-hopping structure (and several of its characters), is a different beast, an introspective novel about addiction and adolescence. The story begins in the 1860s, when a young Cheyenne man becomes an early subject in the U.S. government’s attempts to assimilate Native Americans. The consequences of this flurry of violence and imprisonment will reverberate through generations of his family, eventually landing in present-day Oakland, California, where three young brothers live with their grandmother and her sister. The oldest brother, Orvil, was shot at There There ’s powwow, and even though he survived, the heaviness of that day is weighing on him and his family. Prescribed opioids for the pain, he finds that — like several of his ancestors, though he has no way of knowing that — he likes the sense of removal they give him. Orange’s novel is unusually curious and gentle in its treatment of addiction; he lets his characters puzzle out why they’re drawn to intoxication, managing to balance a lack of judgment with an understanding of the danger they’re in. — E.A.

➽ Read Emma Alpern’s full review of Wandering Stars .

Come and Get It , by Kiley Reid

In Come and Get It , the second novel from the breakout author of Such a Fun Age , the University of Arkansas serves as the backdrop for Kylie Reid’s assessment of race, class, and social hierarchy on a college campus. Over the course of a semester that shifts between the perspectives of Millie, a meek yet dutiful R.A., Kennedy, a shy transfer student with a traumatic secret, and Agatha, a visiting professor out of her depths, the primary characters are forced to grapple with the heady concepts of desire, privilege, and the rules of social conduct in an environment where the the game is rigged and fairness is reserved for a select few. Light on plot and heavy on character development and social commentary, Come and Get It is the kind of book you put down and immediately want to discuss . But fair warning: If you ever lived in a college dorm in the U.S., this book might inflict a non-negligible amount of PTSD. — Anusha Praturu

Martyr! , by Kaveh Akbar

In Poet Kaveh Akbar’s debut novel, Cyrus Shams is a nexus of dissonant identities: He’s a 20-something Iranian-American, a straight-passing queer, a recovering addict, a depressive insomniac, and a writer who’s recently gotten some unflattering feedback. He’s also grieving his parents, who he considers to have died meaninglessly, his mother on a passenger flight out of Tehran that was accidentally shot down by the U.S. military (a real event that occurred in 1988), his father “anonymous[ly] after spending decades cleaning chicken shit on some corporate farm.” Martyr! traces Cyrus’s obsession with the idea of dying with a purpose, disrupting linear time and moving miraculously between worlds and perspectives. Sometimes, the dead speak for themselves; we hear from Cyrus’s mother and his uncle, who recounts his life as a soldier in the Iran-Iraq war. The book also shines with humor, including an imagined conversation between Cyrus’s mother and Lisa Simpson. Akbar’s prose courses with lyrical intelligence and offers an interrogation of whose pain matters — and what it means to live and die meaningfully — that is as politically urgent as it is deeply alive. — J.V.

The Rebel’s Clinic , by Adam Shatz

In these chaotic times, Franz Fanon’s work is constantly and enthusiastically referenced. A new generation of activists — as many before them — has repurposed Fanon’s words to describe our current travails, and to propose how we might move forward. Fanon persists in the activist imagination as a kind of radical soothsayer, an intellectual who can speak authoritatively about our moment because of his identity as a Black man and colonial subject who personally experienced the barbarity of a colonizing power. In The Rebel’s Clinic , Adam Shatz complicates our understanding of Fanon’s life and work, and persuasively conjures the human being who wrote the words that have inspired so many. Among Shatz’s most important interventions is to highlight Fanon’s vocation as a doctor who “treated the torturers by day and the tortured at night.” Shatz’s book is a chronicle of a man who, because of his identity and gifts, was obliged to constantly reconcile opposing ideas and ways of being. — T.F.

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20 Of The Best Zombie Novels

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15 Best Zombie Books To Keep You In Suspense

What Can You Expect From Zombie Books?

Best Zombie Books

1. Slow Burn: Zero Day – Bobby Adair

2. The Rising: The Newsflesh Trilogy – Mira Grant

3. This Is Not A Test – Courtney Summers

4. Cell – Stephen King

5. The Forest Of Hands and Teeth – Carrie Ryan

6. Dread Nation – Justina Ireland

7. Generation Dead – Daniel Waters

8. 100 Days In Deadland – Rachel Aukes

9. Clementine, Book 1 – Tillie Walden

10. The Darkest Winter – Lindsey Pogue

11. Survivor Song – Paul Tremblay

12. Zone One – Colson Whitehead

13. Alice In Zombieland – Gena Showalter

14. Pride And Prejudice And Zombies – Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

15. Year Zero – Benjamin Percy and Ramon Rosanas

Final Words On Best Zombie Books

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25 of the Best Zombie Books [2022]

1. World War Z by Max Brooks

2. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

3. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

4. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

5. Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S.G. Browne

6. Love & The Zombie Apocalypse by Chelsea Luna

7. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

8. The Rising by Brian Keene

9. Monster Island by David Wellington

10. The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

11. Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo

12. Clickers vs Zombies by JF Gonzalez and Brian Keene

13. Braineater Jones by Stephen Kozeniewski

14. Southern Devils by Brent Abell

15. Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

16. Day by Day Armageddon by JL Bourne

17. As the World Dies: The First Days by Rhiannon Frater

18. Zone One by Colson Whitehead

19. Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

20. Feed by Mira Grant aka Seanan McGuire

21. Cell by Stephen King

22. Devil’s Wake by Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due

23. City of the Dead by Brian Keene

24. Husk: A Novel by Corey Redekop

25. Plague of the Dead by Z.A. Recht

Zombie & the Post-Apocalypse

Best Zombie Books

Top 10 Zombie Books to Read in 2024: The Ultimate Undead Reading List

1. World War Z by Max Brooks

2. The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

3. Cell by Stephen King

4. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

5. Zone One by Colson Whitehead

6. Feed by Mira Grant

7. The Passage by Justin Cronin

8. The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

9. Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne

10. Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist

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2023 Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Books

Five Years After (A John Matherson Novel (Volume 4)

Frontier

The Light at the End of the World

The Marigold

Moths

Nothing but the Rain

The Scriptures – End of Days

Sister Maiden Monster

Through the Aftermath

World Running Down

Tina S. Beier

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