Slow Burn: Bleed, Book 6

It's a cliché, to be sure, that the enemy is us, but Adair handles it deftly. This is a good addition and a fairly fitting end to the series. I found this installment more tense than the previous five. Right from the start the danger is there, humming loudly, and it doesn't really stop at all until the very, very end (literally the last five pages or so). That was a distinct change. Pacing was more varied in the previous installments, giving you a chance to breathe. I prefer that sort of thing, but I guess Adair wanted to pull out all the stops for the final installment.(SPOILERS) Adair explains in the end notes that he intends to continue with Slow Burn, but not exactly in the same way. Zed and Murphy will stay in the Austin area and appear in the next installment, whereas the rest of the group moves off west as they'd planned. I think this is a bad idea, as it's always the group development that is most interesting, not the shoot-em-up business. I think Adair is really missing a chance to send the whole group out west to see how they try to create a life. The sound of a military helicopter in the distance at the very end is a reminder (finally) that other shreds of organized society still exist. As the infected die off and the infected/non-infected ratio improves (as presumably it will, since most survivors seem to be immune), there are thousands of interesting questions about government, institutions, law, property, etc. I mean, that was really what installment 6 was all about: Who rules? Who decides? What's the pecking order? How do you lock someone up? How do you decide guilt? Who dishes out punishment? Who gets to take what? And Adair seems to be chucking away his chance to continue down that path.Mind you, who knows? Maybe Murphy and Zed will still face these questions. I just thought we were already well into it with the existing group - why split it up? Interesting to see what happens in the future if the infected can and do give birth to children.Anyway, a good, solid installment, but a few notes:If you're going to bring back Freitag, we have to know what ultimately happens to her! I slapped my hand to my forehead when Freitag made her return to the novel, especially as she shows up just pages after another extremely fortuitous encounter. But give Adair credit - he used her quite well to bring out more of Zed, and she ultimately becomes fifth business - not a central character, but absolutely key at a certain moment. She still seems a bit of a mystery to me, and I would've appreciated at least knowing what happens to her. Presumably, she went west. By my count, she was in that group. But who knows for sure?At least there's a small amount of talk about radios. It amazes me that Dalhover isn't interested, though. He's a military guy through and through, and the military runs on logistics and communications. He should've been all over the radio angle.I can't entirely disagree with Amy. Zed means well, but that's not always enough. He's highly dangerous to all around him in his pursuit of what's right. Amazing that he was just a massively-underachieving slacker barista pre-infection.What about Zed's eyesight? His inability to aim a gun was set up so often, you expected some sort of payoff sooner or later. Never came.At least we didn't have to do the hunt for evil ROTC Mark, but Adair hints he's saving that for the next Zed/Murphy adventure. Funny - Adair seems very much to want those two in fire fights and adventures, but it's the group dynamic that is much more intriguing. To each his own, of course. It was a fun ride.

I read all 9 books in the series in about 3 weeks, and yes, I am an adult. Also, although I enjoy a zombie movie now and then, I am not a hardcore zombie fan, but I couldn’t put these books down. Here’s why:First of all, it is a testament to the author’s skill that he is able to write these books in the first person point of view. As I read the first few paragraphs I considered stopping right there because first person is severely limiting and is not done well nearly as often as it is attempted. But by the time I read a few more paragraphs, I was hooked. I read the nine books essentially non-stop.Second, the main character is relatable, not so much because of his personal history pre-zombie times but because of how he thinks of himself, generally speaking. He’s a guy with a few emotional scars and a few strengths, and he’s just trying to find a place in the world. Now that the world has been zombie-fied, things get a bit more dramatic than before.Third, the whole “slow burn” concept is a great twist on the whole zombie setting, one that I can’t recall being used in any other zombie story, ever.Fourth, the author’s inventiveness surfaces over and over again, in clever and surprising ways. I don’t think there was a cliché or even a slightly tired scene in any of the 9 books. I won’t give anything away here, but you’ll see what I mean when he figures out how to refuel a piece of farm equipment.Fifth, the author knows a few things about animal behavior, which he applies to the zombies. Clue: various groups of zombies exhibit radically different behaviors.Sixth, the pacing is great. Something is either happening or about to happen, and nowhere in the books does the author bore you with useless exposition.Seventh, the dialogue is done well. Different characters sound like different people, and even in quiet scenes they talk like people exhausted and stressed in a world gone wacky, not like characters in a soap opera or half-baked sitcom. Oh, and there are some rather funny lines throughout the books.Lastly, there are human interactions and emotions and growth that just happen to take place in the middle of some very wild zombie craziness. Long after you read these books, you WILL remember the main characters.So, all in all, the Slow Burn series is VERY nicely done. I’ve told a bunch of people about these books, and only when I do that do I give a book 5 stars.

You can count on betrayal, murders and mayhem as our two heroes survive when their loved ones do not. These episodes would do well on the big screen.

I've read, and re-read this series I can't even count how many times. I'll read other ones, but will ALSO come back and read this series again.The characters are so relateable...you are either Zed or Murphy in some way, or have a friend EXACTLY like one of them.This story BECOMES your story!Each book might be shorter than you expect/hope for, but I promise will be worth it to read.Take notes, consider your own faults/deamons, and from this series you can learn to be a better person, just like Zed.Do what's right!Tell it like it is (even if it hurts someone's feelings, cause no one else will)Keep in being true to yourself even though every one might call you an @$$hole for it.Sometimes being YOU and telling it AS IT IS is considered a D¡©K move, but truth is better than bandaid lies. And MOST people will be better off for it.Philosophical or not, it's still an awesome zombie series that ANYONE who is a fan of the genre should read at least once

This is a great series. Easy to read and main characters are easy to root for.

Great story line reading at lunch not enough had to start reading before bed. Author is very, very, very good.

As I knew I was approaching the end of what was to be the final book I found myself getting slower turning the page. I didn't want this to be the end of Zed and Murphy, I didn't want this and wasn't ready to say goodbye to either.As I read the last words I said a silent thank you to these characters that had so delighted me for so long.I understand the emotional stress that writing about Zed could have on any author and I thank this author for allowing me to share in what can only be described as an amazing journey.Then I read the really good news, Zed and Murphy will be back, I will eagerly await their return.Don't pass up the chance to read this series, it isn't any old zombie tale, it has heart and passion with incredible characters that you will love as much as I do.Thank you Mr Adair.

I just want to start by saying I LOVE THESE BOOKS! I am a huge fan of zombie apocalypse books, I've read loads of them by different authors & these stand out way ahead of the crowd. The author makes you really care about the characters & you laugh, cry, get angry and feel fear right along side them. I downloaded them one by one & then read them all back to back. Needless to say I haven't got much else done for a while....my hubby is NOT happy!ha. All I can say is if you're a fan of this type of novel you won't be disappointed. Now I'm off to read number 7, City Of Stin, the hoovering can wait! Keep up the good work Mr Adair😊

I have just read all the books in the series and, as I could not put them down, didn't pause to leave reviews, but I will be going back to leave reviews for each book.Simply put each book is exactly what I look for when I want to immerse myself in a great story! Characters that are believable - some extremely likeable heroes, baddies that show the worse side of human nature; well written storylines; edge of your seat kapow-type action and a vividly drawn image of how society would degrade in the face of apocalyptic tragedy! Five star zombielicious action! Brilliant set of books!

I didn't want to finish this book as I couldn't bear to read the end of Zed and Murphy, so I was overjoyed to find that it's only a break.The poor guys are dogged at every turn, but not just by the infected. There is joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, along with the ever present blood and guts.You can tell when an author puts their heart and soul into a book or series and it really shows in Slow Burn. I absolutely adore these books, the characters are so real and the descriptions transport you into the story.

From the beginning of the first book I was hooked on this series. I've read them all back to back and really enjoyed following the characters through their journey. Zed and Murphy are so real in my head! Their characters are very well written, as were Dalhover and Steph. I loved that there was a slight twist on the usual zombie format. The whole slow burn idea is great, it gives the series an edge and makes things just that little more exciting and unpredictable.Thanks Bobby Adair for a very entertaining series of books!