Tag: Terry Tyler

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Two Graves by Terry Tyler – Book 3 in the Revenge series – #novella

Published on by dgkaye59 Comments

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. I couldn’t wait to sink my eyes into Terry Tyler’s latest book in her Revenge series trilogy. Revenge can be sweet, but you may be taking yourself along for the ride – hence, Two Graves.

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Blurb:

When you plan revenge, be sure to dig two graves

Two novellas. Two lives changed forever by the need for retribution.

The Torment of Frances Cullen

Frances loves married life. Her husband, her daughters and her beloved home, which she has made so many sacrifices to keep. She socialises with the wives-and-girlfriends mafia of the upmarket Edgehill Gated Community, even though she despises them. It’s what husband Jarvis requires of her.
Sadly, nothing she can do will stop the walls crumbling around her.
When the collapse begins, reason vanishes.

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The Content Creator

Jennifer was a journalist, back in the day. Twenty years ago, she presented a local TV show. Now she’s happily single, loving her work as a script editor, her busy social life and her daughter. She’s even friends with ex-husband Tony’s new girlfriend.
Then Tony switches partners yet again. The new lady on the block embodies everything Jennifer detests about new media.
Soon, her resentment of Sook Lee will become an obsession…

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My 5 Star Review:

This third book in Tyler’s Revenge series will keep you hooked in these two stories.

Revenge can be a deadly thing – sometimes with intent, sometimes it’s that last straw that hits on a mountain of other hurt – and sometimes, revenge may hit more than the intended target – I think they call that karma.

The Torment of Frances Cullen – Fran and Jarvis get married. Jarvis lives by the ‘plan’ – make money, build a business, and eventually move to the big times – the Edgehill gated community where the plastic housewives reside – not much different to all the Housewives series on TV. Except, Fran doesn’t fit in, despite doing everything Jarvis tells her to do – almost like a Stepford wife. The other housewives gossip behind her back about her awkwardness, while Jarvis keeps her in line – with his plans. But Jarvis is somewhat of a narcissist who makes sure his life is cushy at home while gallivanting with another woman, because he’s important now.

Fran only wants to love her husband and her daughters, she’s tired of being left out of her husband’s life, and when she learns of his evil plan to exile her, Fran has no choice but to retaliate – and retaliate she does! With an ending so unexpected, but appropriate. And sometimes when letting karma pay a visit, it just may take everyone with it.

In Content Creator – Jennifer is a longtime script editor married to TV exec, Tony. But Tony has other plans for his life, and that no longer includes Jennifer as he cements a new live-in relationship with the much younger, Youtube health guru, Sook.

As Jen’s life begins to unravel and her job is taken away, along with her teen daughter Lydia it seems, who is caught up in the awesomeness of the Youtuber health advisor, Sook. Jen feels she’s vying for her own daughter’s attention. Lydia is happier spending time with her dad and his girlfriend because she’s so cool. And when something major happens to Lydia and she doesn’t even bother telling her mother, but confides in Sook for advice instead, the arena of vengeance opens up with Jennifer.

Lydia confides something very personal about Sook to her mom, swearing her to secrecy – only, we all know stuff hits the fan eventually and gets out. Betraying her daughter by trying to whistle blow on Sook, opens up a whole Pandora’s box of who said what, and where karma eventually lands.

Two Graves is a great read, two stories about wounds in familial relationships and how the human condition processes the wounds and provokes retaliation.

©DGKaye2026

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – So Shall Ye Reap – Book 2 in Terry Tyler’s Revenge series

Published on by dgkaye72 Comments

Welcome back to my Sunday Book Review 2026. I’m kicking this year off with the second book in Terry Tyler’s delicious revenge series – So Shall Ye Reap. Payback can be a bitch.

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Blurb:

“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”
-Galations 6:7

Call it karma, call it poetic justice – two novellas that explore the cunning way life can exact its own revenge, in a way that no amount of foresight can ever fully predict.

Ordinary Joe

A phone call on a cold November morning summons Joe Carter from Vienna to Brazil, to meet up with his old travelling buddy, Ziggy. But Ziggy’s changed. He has a new crowd, different values, and a clever way of reeling Joe in.

Soon, Ziggy will make an offer Joe could refuse, if he really wanted to. When he agrees, he has no idea of the dark path he will travel down.

Some roads don’t let you turn back.


King of the Playground

The path between love and hate is narrow indeed.

At six years old Jerry and Mikkel become inseparable, the brothers each other never had. Mikkel is generous, funny, adventurous, the leader of the gang, the king of the playground. Jerry feels honoured to be his second-in-command, but over the years his resentment grows. Why can’t he be the king? Why does Mikkel always turn up smelling of roses?

As they become men, Jerry acknowledges that this choke hold of emotions that intensifies as the years pass, has consumed him.

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My 5 Star Review:

I was looking forward to the next two novellas in this story, and as always, Terry Tyler never disappoints.

In the first story – Ordinary Joe, Joe is invited by his old pal Ziggy, to join him in Brazil. The two men have been friends, bar buddies, and always looking for a fast buck to be made together. Now Ziggy has a new proposition for Joe to help make some quick cash – just one time. We all have choices to make, and this time Joe makes a decision that lands him into a scary situation. But it isn’t until his new friend Eroica alerts Joe to the real circumstance that got him landed in jail. And guess who was behind it all? Then years later, after Joe is set free again, he once again meets up with Ziggy, now knowing what Joe knows, what could go wrong?

In King of the Playground, two best friends since childhood, Mikkel and Jerry, will find themselves at a crossroads when all is said and done.

As Mikkel and Jerry grow into their early thirties, their livelihoods and women take them in two different directions – Mikkel follows his desires and ends up in Greece for a while, doing some geological digging, while Jerry is an intent growing, real estate entrepeneur. Their worlds converge again when Mikkel comes back to Shipden with his Bohemian lifestyle wife, Lark.

Jerry has always felt secondary to his friend Mikkel, but nonetheless their friendship remained. Both are nice guys in different ways, and soon, Mikkel’s new venture of opening up a surf shop keeps him busy back at home, while Jerry and Lark become new friends. No spoilers!

Two cautionary tales of manipulation and betrayal among friendships. Human nature.

Terry always writes great characters and the rich details have a propensity to keep us glued.

©DGKaye2026

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Served Cold by Terry Tyler #newrelease – Novella, First book in the ‘Revenge’ Series

Published on by dgkaye60 Comments

My Sunday Book Review is for Terry Tyler’s new release – Served Cold. I’m admittedly addicted to Terry’s books so I couldn’t wait to dive into this two-story novella about ‘just desserts’.

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Blurb:

Revenge is a dish best served cold

Two novellas in which vengeance is planned long after emotions have cooled … these are calculated, deliberate acts of retribution. Justice designed for catastrophic effect.

The Steal

Jodie Tarrant has it all – her own small business, a husband she adores, lots of friends, a house she loves in a cosy English village.
She can see her and Kirk’s future all mapped out, with the children she longs for – until the arrival of an enigmatic stranger becomes a threat to everything Jodie holds dear.

Lucky Star

Abduction! Imagine waking up in a strange room, in a strange building, with no recollection of how you got there.
This is what happens to Stevie Warren. Worst of all, she soon discovers that she can’t leave. But who put her there, and why? Deep down, she has her suspicions…

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My 5 Star Review:

I jumped on this book when I heard it came out. Terry Tyler never disappoints with characters who get under our skin and always has readers keeping turning the pages.

Two novellas in one book, and just desserts Served Cold. Two stories about karma catching up long after those who committed sins may have forgotten.

The book is written in three parts for the first story – The Steal. And what a theft it was. Jodie’s life is swimming along, until the new girl, Alana, comes to town, and turns Jodie’s life in a tailspin. Jodie thought her life was perfect, the only thing missing, was having children, because her husband Kirk could never commit as to when that time would come. Until an old vendetta rears its head and turns her life upside down in Part 1. In Part 2, we’ll learn just who this ‘Alana’ person really is. Is her name really Alana? Nina? Zoe? Even Kate? We’ll learn ALL about Alana and her vengeful plan, and why she’s come to town. In Part 3, Jodie gets a rude awakening when her past comes back to haunt her.

In Lucky Star, ten people appear to have been abducted and have no idea what they must do to get out of the nightmare game. These people all have a certain past and they are all captive to the ‘game’ now with no escape until the very end. But even the end isn’t enough for one contestant, Stevie. The past is never far away.

Once again, Terry’s book is a hard one to put down. Both stories will keep you guessing what’s about to happen next. The second story is a tad dark, just to mention, but the storyline kept me turning the pages to try and figure out what the diabolical game being played in Lucky Star, was leading up to. Just as it did with the characters in The Steal revealing more of themselves as the story continued.

If you read the author’s note at the end of the book, Terry tells us there will be three more books of two-story novellas to this delicious series, all based on variations of how revenge plays out. I can’t wait for the next book!

Note to Terry, thanks for the mention 🧡

©DGKaye2025

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Round and Round by Terry Tyler #Womensfiction

Published on by dgkaye61 Comments

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Terry Tyler’s book – Round and Round. A story about the choices we make in life about relationships.

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Blurb:

Four Valentine cards – from four different men!

Sophie Heron’s fortieth birthday is looming, and she is fed up with her job, her relationship, her whole life – not to mention her boyfriend’s new ‘hobby’, in which she definitely doesn’t want to get involved…

Back in 1998 she had the choice of four men, and now she can’t help wondering how her life might have turned out if she’d chosen differently.

The person to whom Sophie had always been closest was her beloved Auntie Flick, her second mother, friend and advisor. Before her death in 2001, Flick said, “when I’m up there having a cuppa with St Peter, I’ll have a word with him about making me your guardian angel, shall I?”

As Sophie’s fortieth birthday draws near, she visits her aunt’s special place: a tree by a river, hidden from the world. Here she calls on Auntie Flick to show her the way forward – and help her look back into the past so she can see what might have been…

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My 5 Star Review:

What if? How many of us look back at the choices we made that led up to the life we’re living and wonder how life would be different if we just made that other choice? And how about, if we really paid attention to our partner’s real loyalty?

As Sophie’s fortieth birthday approaches she finds herself re-evaluating her life and the choices she made back when in 1998 – fifteen years ago. What if Sophie had chosen a different partner when she was younger from the four men who’d sent her Valentine cards?

In 1998 Sophie’s life was taking on good shape. She’d lost the weight she’d hoped to, got a new marketing job offer, and a part in a local play. She was living with Chris – and Seb, while she was working out of town. She soon meets Neil and Kieran too.

As we get into Sophie’s busy social life and happy days back in the late 90s and all the men in her life, she’s living with Chris and decides to stay with him through the years to current 2013. Now, Sophie has finally realized their relationship has gone stale long ago and as her 40th birthday is fast approaching, Sophie reminisces on the past men who entered her life, and the what ifs she thinks would have happened had she chose to be with any of the others.

Now, their sex life is boring or non-existent, and Chris developed a new interest in something kinky, which Sophie has no interest in.

Sophie looks to her guardian angel, her deceased Aunty Flick for advice, at her favorite Angel tree by the river as she shares about her unhappy relationship with Chris. Guardian angels have a way of looking back and showing Sophie how her life would have been different if she’d chosen one of the other three men, making us wonder if life would have been better on the other side of the fence.

A relatable and enjoyable read. I think many of us have wondered at some point how our lives would be different if we’d made other choices. This is a story about choices.

©DGKaye2025

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Best Seller by Terry Tyler

Published on by dgkaye72 Comments

My Sunday Book Review is for a book that seemed to have fallen down in my Kindle until I noticed Terry Tyler putting the book on sale and immediately pushed it back up the reader. Best Seller is a book about three different authors and how their lives entwined – not in a good way.

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Blurb:

Three women, one dream: to become a successful author.

Eden Taylor has made it—big time. A twenty-three year old with model girl looks and a book deal with a major publisher, she’s outselling the established names in her field and is fast becoming the darling of the media.

Becky Hunter has money problems. Can she earn enough from her light-hearted romance novels to counteract boyfriend Alex’s extravagant spending habits, before their rocky world collapses?

Hard up factory worker Jan Chilver sees writing as an escape from her troubled, lonely life. She is offered a lifeline—but fails to read the small print…

In the competitive world of publishing, success can be merely a matter of who you know—and how ruthless you are prepared to be to get to the top.

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My 5 Star Review:

Tyler never disappoints. Her well drawn characters and storylines always keep me turning the pages. And this book was no different. A story about three different authors, and how their worlds became entwined.

Becky, Jan, and Eden all belong to a writers group – North Norfolk Novelists. They are independent authors. Jan is very aloof, works hard, can’t get ahead in life, but has great talent as a writer. Becky befriends Jan and becomes a huge part in Jan’s life, while Becky’s own romance books drown on the Amazon lists. Becky, full of compassion for others, has a serious lack of self-esteem, demonstrated by her being a doormat for her boyfriend Alex. Eden reminds me of a Barbie with her model looks, and is daddy’s girl to a very mean, successful, scumbag father whose heritage relates to a London crime family. Eden has no great gift for writing, yet, Eden gathers all the fame for her hot trilogy promoted to the max by her father, and snatched up by a big publisher.

I’m having a difficult time explaining the plot because it would spoil the read. Suffice it to say, circumstances occur which thread these three women into the plot. Becky lives with her boyfriend Alex, to me, a very unlikeable character, who seems to enjoy spending money – Becky’s money. Jan has come from foster homes and has never had a break in her life, and something terrible happens to her that sets her off the edge. But the story really heats up after a tragedy happens that Becky has been pulled into, and makes it her mission to unravel it all publicly. And still, another huge twist comes after Becky herself gets put in the hot seat.

This book kept me turning the pages and I finished reading in two sittings. The storyline encompasses a fine line between friendships and relationships, and touches on issues of betrayal, blackmail, body-shaming, and depression. It also gives a good glimpse into what writers must put up within the publishing industry.

©DGKaye 2025

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Safe Zone by Terry Tyler #dystopian

Published on by dgkaye69 Comments

My Sunday Book Review today is for Terry Tyler’s exciting read – Safe Zone. This book is a standalone but a great summation of ten years after the SFV-I virus has taken over the U.K. with characters who’ve survived that we’ve come to know through the original series, as well as some new characters we’ll meet in the – safe zone.

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Blurb:

Ten years after the SFV-1 rage virus devastated the world, the population of the UK is confined to one corner of the South East. The newly recognised state of the UK Safe Zone is protected by a vast wall around the entire landmass, and by patrol boats around the coast.

Within, the creation of a new, functioning society is a work in progress, hindered by the fact that not everyone has arrived of their own free will, and some have been irrevocably damaged by the trials of the past decade.

Then there’s the dark cloud on the horizon – news of a greater threat in Europe, that’s heading their way…

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My 5 Star Review:

Ten years after the SFV-1 virus devasted the UK, and undoubtedly, much of the world, survivors have been moved to southeast England to the Safe Zone, locked in by walls and patrol guards and boats to protect what’s left of the population from being bitten and infected by the blood zombies. One bite from another who’s been bitten, and in no time, a human becomes a blood-sucking zombie.

The original trilogy, SFV-1, left us with some of our favorite characters who’ve survived the zombie apocalypse by using their wits and forming groups of survivors, learning how to kill a zombie to save their own lives, and learning how to collect supplies and hideout from the ‘bloods’ that roam.

Norah is alive and living in the Safe Zone for ten months, abiding government rules, and praying daily that her boyfriend Brian makes his way to the safe zone from their former hideout with the Beserkers, some 400 miles away.

Brian has been leading a group of survivors for months with an old map and observations, in hopes of getting to the Safe Zone unharmed. The trek has them encountering many observations and dangers along the way. Those in the Safe Zone are hearing rumors, which can’t yet be verified until someone from the outside comes into the Safe Zone with news. The Safe Zone is heavily guarded and anyone trying to enter must be tested for bites and fevers before they are permitted in, or shot on sight.

But Brian has seen some terrifying things as he witnessed an old boat, loaded with French passengers trying to reach the UK, and noted that those bitten are ‘turning’ much quicker now than the hours it used to take to go from human to blood zombie. Brian knows, this is no rumor, for he has witnessed the horrors before him.

Brian finally reaches the Safe Zone. There he meets up once again with his love, Norah, and together they come up with a new Plan B in case what Brian witnessed is coming to the UK. Will the Safe Zone remain safe after they discover what else is coming their way?

This whole series, as well as Safe Zone have been an addictive read. This may be a dystopian story, but it’s filled with interesting characters, life and death decisions, some compassionate people, (besides the evil ones), and a gripping storyline. I like the way Tyler ended the book, but once again, I can’t help but feel that there’s another whole story awaiting us after Norah and Brian and a very few of the gang leave the Safe Zone, deciding not to wait to see what else is heading their way, but get out of the now, questionable Safe Zone with their plan to find a boat and head for North America. The possibility of that happening has me curious to learn what will happen to Brian and Norah on this most dangerous mission. I think we need another book Terry Tyler!

©DGKaye2024

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Reset, Book 3 in Terry Tyler’s SFV-1 #dystopian series

Published on by dgkaye71 Comments

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. This week I’m reviewing Book 3 in Terry Tyler’s riveting thriller – Reset – SFV-1. Admittedly, my go-to genre is not dystopian, but I love Terry’s writing, and I was tempted to read book 1 and then I was hooked. Perhaps I’m starting to feel that dystopia is closer to the world I feel I’m living in, this series could be real one day politically, but hopefully not with the Zombie Blood killers like in this post-apocalyptic thriller.

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Blurb:

Blurb:

‘If one person goes out there and gets bitten, the whole place could collapse within hours.’

Danger, deception and devastating decisions set the stage in this final part of the UK post-apocalyptic SFV-1 trilogy.

The rage virus pandemic marches on, though Norah and her friends are behind safe walls at last. Within The Moors community there is peace to be found, but how long can this happy state of affairs continue?

In a secret bunker in Surrey, Larry Farnsworth’s great Reset consortium is fast-tracking the plan to reclaim the country, with Julian Sweet a key player. In the North, Flint and his Berserkers are determined to stay independent of any restrictive new laws for as long as possible.‘It’s a luxurious prison that we walked into of our own accord. Everything you could possibly need within walking distance. All you need if you’re a robot, anyway.’

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My 5 Star Review:

Book 3, concluding this series of a zombie apocalypse, begins with a great summation and wrap-up by the author of the previous two books to refresh the mind of the very many goings ons. We will learn about how this evil virus continues to rage on and how incredibly, those who haven’t been bitten manage to survive.

A few years have now past and the characters who remain have all managed to survive in their little built up communities, knowing well how to go out armed when scavenging for food or supplies. There’s only one way to kill ‘the bloods’, the term used for those bitten and can only thrive by killing humans for their own consumption. A knife to the head is the only way to end them.

The so-called army has begun knocking on doors calling for people to come join the government led community rebuild project, where they will all be given lodgings and provisions until the country can set itself straight. A barricaded system of avenues has been sectioned off in parts of the country to create new living conditions and be protected from the many zombies that still roam the country. But they are no army, but part of a bigger more sinister plan all in the name of power. But who is behind this ‘new army’ – Julian Sweet. Sweet was a Youtuber influencer before dystopia hit the country, now second in command to re-settle the country, handing him power on who gets to live on what level of the ‘avenues’. When everyone is allotted to their new home destinations, not all are happy, especially the ones in Zone D.

Zone D is the lowest level of living with the most menial of jobs and artist Norah is stuck there because she fought this hostage-like new living by being unagreeable to the interrogation. But some escape, like her old love Brian, and her recent love Todd. Eventually, Norah makes her escape through the woods and encounters a new group of people – The Berserkers, who stand their own ground and won’t be bullied into being taken to the ‘avenues’. From there, she finds a new community working to build their own community, while building barricades and always having someone on watch for the ‘bloods’. They stay hidden from the ‘armies’too. And while life is reaching somewhat of a breathing point there, chaos is ensuing on the ‘avenues’ and there are many sightings by the Berserkers of people and bloods heading toward the south of the country. Will Norah and the Berserkers remain safe through the massive exodus? You’re going to have to read to find out!

This was a riveting series from Tyler. The series was sewn up thrillingly. And despite there being many characters in this story, I found it exciting to follow them all without getting lost. And the end, well, it’s typical Tyler. It left me to wonder and imagine what next? Is there going to be more after the southern exodus? Maybe. I feel like Terry Tyler might be writing a book 4?

Note: Right after I finished drafting this review post, Sally Cronin posted a review for Terry’s latest book, Safe Zone, which is a standalone. That answered my own question. Sally says:

“…Although a stand-alone novel, Tyler manages to link back to past events and characters to ensure you don’t spend half the book wondering who these people are who are fighting for their lives. There are plenty of great characters, many of whom have gone through several transformations over the ten years since the first bite. Some who have gone from young teenagers to key members of the pockets of humanity who have survived, and others who have continued to be manipulative, power grabbing, self-serving individuals...”

I’ve already got my copy.

Note:

©DGKaye2024

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – SFV-1 – Darkness, Book 2 in the #dystopian Trilogy by Terry Tyler

Published on by dgkaye65 Comments

My Sunday Book Review today is for book 2 in Terry Tyler’s exciting dystopian series – SFV-1 Darkness. Admittedly, dystopian isn’t my go-to genre to read, yet, I’m always captivated by Terry Tyler’s books, and after reading book 1 – Infected in this series, I looked forward to reading the rest of the series (something else I don’t typically read, series). And as always, Tyler had me gripped.

Blurb:

‘This isn’t all our lives are going to be. It’s the darkness before the dawn, that’s all.’

The SFV-1 virus leaves its victims with no instinct other than the need to kill – and eat.

Nine months after this strange new disease scorched a path across the world, Norah and her friends are doing their best to survive in rural Cumbria – but another, larger group is on a mission to ‘redistribute the wealth’ by whatever means they deem necessary.

Meanwhile, new arrivals on the Scottish island of John’s Drift seem friendly enough, but Cat’s group hears warning bells from the start…

‘People react to fear in all sorts of ways; a weak individual falls in with the wrong people, and hey presto: basic human decency loses the battle against that dark side you never knew was hiding inside your head.’

Darkness is the second book in the SFV-1 series.

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My 5 Star Review:

This post-apocalyptic series is addictive reading! In this book 2, Darkness, it picks up with the main characters all in their respective hiding places as the mutating SFV-I virus is sweeping the U.K.- except, the action begins at some friends of Norah’s hideaway house when it’s attacked by rogue looters in search of food and life sustaining supplies. Erin and Martin are grilled as to where they are getting their supplies from, and with their lives threatened to tell all, the rogues devised a plan to transport them to Norah’s house where the looters have it on good authority the house is a fully stocked arsenal of food and weapons.

In Book 1, Infected, the people feared being bitten by those who were already bitten and looking for human blood. In this book, the fear remains real, the country is in darkness with no communication within or with the outside world, bitten humans are a threat to all exisiting humans, and with the added fear of the organized looters who are out to steal whatever they can to survive, there is nowhere safe for anyone, and trust has become a rare commodity. Book 1 brings on the killer virus, Book 2 is all about the fallout and survival, human instincts, all since nine months into the dystopian world of Darkness.

Ratt is the one looter gang leader who has secured a hotel hideout where he permits his looting recruits to stay – if they behave and take his orders on their looting jaunts under Ratt’s command. In their looting attacks, they look for people hiding out from the dreaded killer zombies, and demand they share their wealth of whatever they have for survival. They have no choice as it is sheer robbery and if they don’t give up the goods they will be killed.

Meanwhile it’s danger for anyone who goes out, especially to loot for survival, as the zombies are plentiful and one never knows where one may be hiding. One bite from an infected and your fate is sealed. After being bitten, the virus sets in making a person mad with hunger for human flesh, sending them in search of any human. There is no remedy for a bite, for once you’ve been bitten, there is only guarantee zombiedom, and ultimately, death.

Although the author recaps Infected, the first book in this series, I highly urge readers to read the trilogy in order. Book 1 sets the story and characters, which makes the whole series an addictive ride. Anything I’ve read by Tyler makes it a difficult book to put down. I look forward to reading Reset, the final book in this trilogy, in anticipation of how the author finds the way to the end of this apocalyptic nightmare .

©DGKaye2024