Patient Zero (Joe Ledger Series #1)

Must read

Joe Ledger is good, really good, usually when he puts someone down, they stay down, but like the story starts "When you have to kill the same terrorist twice in one week there's either something wrong with your world or something wrong with your skills... and there's nothing wrong with Joe Ledger's skills."


In that first paragraph I was "all in". Patient Zero grabbed hold and never let go. Maberry is relentless, he latches on to your greatest fears, shows you people you might know, people you may even love, then shows you the worst things you can imagine, and some you couldn't.



From a literary perspective this book was fascinating, as the story is told both in first person (From the perspective of Joe Ledger) and also in third person when it is necessary to see things from another perspective. I'll be honest, I haven't seen this done much and never this well. There was a moment in the very beginning of the when my mind wanted to shout POV violation, but once i saw what had happened I realized just how well it worked.

This is, bar none, one of the best books I've read in a couple of years, and THE best zombie book I've read. Don't let the whole Zombie thing keep you from reading this. It's not really about the zombies, it's about the people. Jonathan Maberry doesn't create characters, the PEOPLE in this book feel as real as you and me.

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Generic, cliché, zombie-action movie

I enjoyed the start of this novel, though it quickly became very cliché. Think Predator, starring the Governator and Ventura and all the macho-posing it contained, replete with one-liners and snappy dialogue. The more I read, the more the protagonist, Joe Ledger, became a caricature of every action-movie star ever invented. Additionally, though it may seem absurd to question plausibility in a novel about the living dead, I was bothered by some of the more absurd plot elements, such as major pharmaceutical companies being fronts for terrorist groups, terrorists individually outsmarting every U.S. intelligence agency in existence, plus their complete ability to encrypt cell phones so they could communicate at will without fear of eavesdroppers, and their ability to produce scientific technology in their remote bases decades ahead of U.S. capabilities. If you aren't bothered by movies with plot holes, but principally want lots of violence, an invincible main character, arterial spray, and zombies, you'll likely enjoy the book as it provides all this and then some. I was asked to suspend my disbelief too many times in this novel and couldn't stop myself from picking it apart as I read. I don't plan to read more by the author.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

An average Joe living in a not-so-average world

I think Jonathon Maberry had the right idea when he opens with a quote of Part One:

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'm not sure if Emerson is die-hard Team Zombie, but in this instance, he certainly captures the essence of Joe Ledger. Furthermore, I don't know if Emerson elaborates, but I am fairly certain that five minutes can definitely change a person. I mean, wouldn't it be safe to say that after these five precious minutes, a hero is no longer an ordinary man? He has seen something different, and that will affect the rest of his life. Ledger has killed a terrorist twice in one week - a terrorist who tried to literally rip his throat off - and that has prepared him to be the nation's #1 zombie slayer.

What really motivated me to read the book was not the plot (though it was very well done if you like the political suspense/thriller genre), but the character of Joe Ledger. He was very badass and sarcastic and didn't care if you had issues with him. He knew how to survive and how to keep you alive as long as possible (unless you deliberately don't want to stay alive).

I just found Joe really endearing, even though he definitely would punch me in the gut for saying so. But I understand if no one else shares my opinion. It took a few pages or so before Joe really grew on me and I just had to keep reading to see what nonsense he had to mess with.

So, there were funny bits throughout, but not much. Which makes sense since I don't think Patient Zero was going for funniest zombie book of the year. Like I mentioned earlier, it came across more of a political thriller. The actual plot was okay. If I was more into the genre, I think I would have been blown away. I think what deterred me was how the story sometimes detoured into the other characters' perspectives. It would have worked, I think, if there was no first-person narration of Joe Ledger. However, going from first-person to third-person of another character just did not work well for me. I did not care what the brains behind the terrorist operation were doing at the moment or their suspicions of being betrayed by each other. Patient Zero did not quite capture my interest beyond Joe's character, sad to say, though I really wished it swept me off my feet like World War Z.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Zombie Terrorists!

I hadn't realized that there were many zombie novels out there. Except for graphic novels and comic books, I was a zombie virgin. I loved the original "Dawn of the Dead" movie from the 80s, but now have found that reading "Patient Zero" has brought out the inner zombie in me. Jonathan Maberry has written a suburb novel that had me captivated by each chapter. The story is set in a post 9/11 world where terrorists create zombies to terrorize America. This gripping and creepy thriller is a must read. Whether it is greed or religious beliefs that motivate the villains, nobody would want zombies roaming the streets of our world.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

BLAH

Man after seeing the reviews I feel kind of bad putting mine.. I must say after reading Rot & Ruin and Dusty & Decay by this author I was EXCITIED to read some of his other work.. I started this book with HIGH hopes and was sadly let down.. After about 30 some odd chapters I had to put the book down.. I try very hard to get into it before putting a book down but I just couldnt go on.. It did not hold my attention and I did not have the NEED to read it when I was away from the book and I didnt think about the book when I wasnt reading it .. I am just over all BLAH about it..

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

New twist on the zombie genre

Loved it. Being from the area in the book (oc md) it really touched home.
I admire JM going out on limb with the new twist on zombies (new to me anyways).

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Brains and Boom-Boom!

REVIEWS OF UNUSUAL SIZE -


Re: A zombie book by the new modern master of the undead. Jonathan Maberry has written a few books on zombies now, including a "nonfiction" examination of them, this military style thriller and a young adult novel. He must like the staggering suckers, and he does a great job writing about them.

Outstanding: Last time I reviewed Patient Zero, about a year ago, I praised it for its lighting pace and the twist on zombies. Re reading it, I also found myself really liking the characters themselves, especially Joe's buddy, Rudy.

Unacceptable: Not much to dislike here. I'm not big on drawn out descriptions of weapons and military specs, but Maberry adds just enough to keep it legit without feeling bogged down. The first time around, I found myself mildly annoyed with two of the villains, Gault and Toys, and assumed it would be the same this time, but even they were more enjoyable this read through.

Summary: An entertaining, well-written novel. I do have to say though, it's more of a thriller than a horror novel. Great for the zombie lover that also digs a good shootout, but if you're looking for a creepy book to read in the shadows, try his Pine Deep trilogy instead.

5/5

r-o-u-s.blogspot

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not a true Zombie novel..

well for me the book was ok I mean it just wasnt as advertised..For instence there isnt that much action or really zombies..its ok all in all but just lacked in the zombie department like maybe 300 hundred zoms in the whole book and 200 in one chapter and that is midway in the book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good

A good and a little different riff on the zombie genre maberry is king of his craft. Not to be missed.

good fun

Interesting characters with bond-esque heavies and a tortured protagonist, mixed up with plenty of action. If anything the character building and soul searching slows up the plot a little, but it makes sense for the first of a series. I'll be interested to see where this goes from here - it will be hard to follow the zombie menace.

I thought this book was great. It kept me entertained from start

I thought this book was great. It kept me entertained from start to finish. I really did enjoy this version of traditional zombies with a twist. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Amazing

One of the best writen books ive had the pleasure to read. From start to finish it never failed to entertain

Exciting, Thrilling, Non-stop fun!

This book was like the Chuck Norris of zombie novels: filled with action packed, super-spy, zombie butt-kicking fun! I can't wait to read about Joe Ledger's other adventures! This book just melted in my brain and waited for me to dream about it. Great plot, great characters, great villains, and best of all: great zombies! There should be a movie for all the non-readers to watch. Mayberry is just great!

Excellent read!

No text was provided for this review.

Great

If you are a zombie or action/adventure reader you will love this book. My only wish was that this series was more of a continuation. The joe ledger series are stand alone novels, so if your looking for a long continuing series look elsewhere. For this first installment though i can tell you it was perfect. The series as a whole is more like x files meets bourne identity without the amnesia.

A New Kind of Zombie Book

Two of my favorite genres, Zombies and Military Black Ops, together at last. Found a copy of this left by another soldier in my office in Afghanistan in 2009, and loved it. After getting a nook for this deployment, I bought this and the rest of the Joe Ledger Series and read them all over a few days. This series breathes new life into a series about walking dead, and the oddities seen in this book are only the beginning.

great read

took a while to get into, but once i did i couldn't put it down til it was done! whew!! highly recommend!

Fun read

This book wasn't what I expected, but I did really enjoy it. I loved the scientific explinations and how realistic it felt. My only complaint was the main character was so quick, smart and intuitive, but missed some parts so obvious the reader caught them a mile away. But overall would recommend.

Excellent

Excellent, fast paced read. Good character development and the plot kept me guessing. Plenty of action and drama.

Excellant book. a lot of action!

Great book. I could not put it down.