My Rating: ★★★★★

Author: Jonathan Maberry

Narrator: Ray Parker

Length: 14 hrs 45 mins

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Story: This was one of those audiobooks that I had been eagerly anticipating. I had been going through an “undead” marathon recently and “Patient Zero” seemed right up my alley. So as I got started with this book I felt like I was in the right mindset and the standard zombie expectations were ready and willing to be met.

Fortunately the old tried and true zombie story lines were left in the dust.  Patient Zero is fast paced, hard hitting and intense zombie terrorist fun. The main character, Joe Ledger, is part Jack Bauer and part Chuck Norris. Basically he is one BAMF.

Life as he knew it ended the day he was recruited for the Department of Military Sciences and was immediately thrust into a top secret “behind the scenes” world. A world where the impossible was not only possible but you were likely going to have to kick it’s ass.

There are so many “Oh Shit!” moments in this book that I completely lost count. Not many books have put me on edge the way Patient Zero did. The action scenes where the DMS are squaring off against hordes of zombies are so well written that they really pull the listener into the story.

Basically I was completely hooked from start to finish.

Audio Production: Ray Porter’s portrayal of the cocky and confident Joe Ledger perfectly set the tone of this action packed novel. I had listened to two other audiobooks that were narrated by Mr. Porter. Those books are Hell House by Richard Matheson and The 4 Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss. I didn’t really care for his narration of Hell House but I thought he was perfect in The 4 Hour Workweek. I’m thinking that if the book requires a certain amount of cockiness then Ray Porter is the man for the job.

Joe Ledger was totally brought to life by Porter’s narration. Ray Porter is Joe Ledger… simple as that.

Overall: This review is way overdue. I actually got hung up writing this review because I just couldn’t come up with enough good things to say about it. I still feel like I haven’t given it the praise that it truly deserves. All I can say is that I really enjoyed this book. It exceeded all of my expectations and I hope you give it a chance. You won’t regret it!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this audiobook for review from the publisher.

Read another review of Patient Zero at Guildedearlobe’s blog: Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

— Get your copy of Patient Zero here —