Flu

Flu Series, Book 1

By: Wayne Simmons

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

There's a nasty flu going round. An epidemic, they call it. The posters say to cover your mouth when you sneeze, and throw away the tissue. But such simple measures won't stop this flu. Because when you catch this flu, armed police come and lock you in your house to die alone. When you catch this flu, it kills you in days. And when you catch this flu, two hours after it's killed you, your eyelids snap open again....

Flu is a pacey, terrifying, frighteningly real zombie horror story.

©2012 Wayne Simmons (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Simmons writes like the grotesque love child of George A. Romero and Charles Dickens." ( Physical Graffiti)

Sick with Flu to Zombie, it could happen

Well, I can hope all I want and not get what I want. Flu: Flu Series, Book 1 is definitely of the psychological zombie thriller variety. While this may not be what I was expecting I was able, after about 3 1/2 hours to get into the storyline. I have found that most zombie stories are the same virus infection, wide spread panic, complete anarchy, survivors trying to survive, the military up to something. But what is different between then all are the details of how the author tries to make their story different enough to stand on its own. The one major difference I found with this audiobook was that one doesn’t have to be bitten by a zombie or die, bit one can just become a zombie spontaneously. Sure not a lot happened in Flu: Flu Series, Book 1, as stated by other reviews, but it seems to me that Simmons is setting up for an even better second book and/or series and I will definitely be on board and not be bored.

Michael Kramer I found is one of the deep voiced, super polished voice-over narrators that I wrote about in my previous review of Timothy. One thing that bothered about Kramer’s narration was that the story takes place in Ireland and usually, in my experience of listening to many audiobooks, the narrator will narrate with at least an accent, good or bad, of the people that live in the area. Kramer chose not to do this and the only time he used an accent was with the dialog of the characters that ended up mostly sounding the same. Kramer all read almost entirely at one speed no matter what was happening within the story and this, to me, can detract from the overall encapsulation of the audiobook experience.

It’s OK

Everything about this was OK. Not great. Not terrible. Sometimes it was hard to keep my attention on it. Try to buy it when they have a sale.

Easy to follow

Good story not overly gory. Kept my interest but allowed me to multitask. Looking forward to reading the series.

Long and Boring

Such a slow story line. Lots of standing around and talking but no action in this book...

Don't waste your time

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

No one this book is slow and boring.

What was most disappointing about Wayne Simmons’s story?

The characters are boring and I can't even keep track of them due to this.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment.

Any additional comments?

I am so bored with this book. I have tried to storm thru it since I used a credit on it but will have to chalk this up as a credit wasted!!! The book doesn't even dive into the zombies and I am on chapter 28. This book is a waste of time so don't waste yours!!!!!