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Christopher Cole
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Outbreak (Dark Days) Paperback – January 24, 2019

by Christopher Cole (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 286 ratings
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Cities are bombed out ruins and wilderness is humanity's new home. The undead roam the earth, and the new world order is about the struggle to survive. Sonny Daniels begins an emotional and physical journey of personal survival and protecting those he loves.

While survival is a constant struggle, Sonny's most desperate fight is the struggle preserve some semblance of a compassionate soul. Sonny and his parents are caught in the zombie outbreak in upstate New York. After the passage of the first year, their base is attacked by bandits and their safety has again been compromised. Fearing for their loved ones, Sonny's parents send him and his orphaned childhood friends, Ashley and Carrie, to Fort Denver Colorado on a military plane.

When Fort Denver is overrun with zombies, the three are alone in a zombie infested wasteland without the army's protection, forced to rely upon one another and a handful of equally desperate survivors they encounter along the journey. Sonny is determined to do whatever it takes to protect Ashley and Carrie while finding a safe place to call home, but survival can force you to make dark decisions.

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Dark Days Series
  2. Print length
    278 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Kingston Publishing Company
  5. Publication date
    January 24, 2019
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.58 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1645330168
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1645330165
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The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

★★★★★"I love the plot of Outbreak: Dark Days," - Literary Titan

★★★★★"A must-read for SCIFI Fans!" - Artisan Book Reviews

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kingston Publishing Company (January 24, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1645330168
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1645330165
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.58 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 286 ratings

About the author

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Christopher Cole

Christopher Cole

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I was born in Seattle but raised in North Carolina since I was eight. I started work on my first novel when I was nineteen while living in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The novel developed into a series as I continued to develop the plotlines and characters. When not writing, I work as a welder in the Raleigh, NC area. I'm a welder and a writer because I love working with my hands and creating a story. Writing is a lost art that I enjoy. The ideas I come up with are found when I found myself enjoying the beauty of this world like long walks on the beach or watching the sunset. I care deeply about the plot and characters which I believe are what makes a story great.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
286 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging with plenty of action and wonderful adventures filled with twists. They appreciate the well-developed characters, particularly noting the down-to-earth protagonist Sonny, and one customer describes it as an emotional journey for a young man. The writing style receives mixed feedback - while some find it well-written, others point out grammatical errors on virtually every page.

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45 customers mention "Story quality"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story engaging and filled with plenty of action, describing it as a wonderful adventure full of twists.

"Interesting take on the zombie genre with the focus on a young boy. The action and pacing kept the story going strong" Read more

"...It kept me engaged, but ultimately, it was just an okay read for me. 3.5 stars." Read more

"...But I'll save that for later. The point is that Cole is well-versed in the zombie genre, which has been around now for decades!..." Read more

"Okay. I loved the story. It's a zombie apocalypse adventure, full of all the elements of the genre...." Read more

27 customers mention "Readability"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and fun to read, with one customer noting it's suitable for all ages and another describing it as a real page-turner.

"...It kept me engaged, but ultimately, it was just an okay read for me. 3.5 stars." Read more

"...Buy it. read it. Support an independent writer. It's enjoyable and overcomes any grammatical obstacles you may encounter." Read more

"...Not in the action side, but pacing. Overall, it's a good book, and if you like zombies 🧟‍♂️ it should satisfy your desire for the undead...." Read more

"I’m not much of a fan of zombie, apocalypse novels, but I enjoyed reading Outbreak. It’s fast paced with lots of action, and kept my interest...." Read more

11 customers mention "Character development"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting that the protagonist Sonny is down to earth, and one customer mentions the willingness to kill important supporting characters.

"...One unique element is that the protagonist is a preteen, and the story is told from his perspective in first-person past tense...." Read more

"...for any aspiring real writers out there, is to engage your reader with compelling characters and that's what Cole does best. No doubt." Read more

"...struggle with little time for reflection and a willingness to kill important supporting characters...." Read more

"...the story drags a little, but it works mostly due to the excellent characters...." Read more

8 customers mention "Heartfelt story"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the heartfelt story, with one review highlighting how the dialogue and emotion bring the narrative to life, while another notes the emotional journey of the young protagonist.

"This is an epic zombie thriller. The dialogue and emotion brings it to life...." Read more

"...He’s only nine at the beginning and twelve by the end. He is brave, quick thinking and defends his two friends, two young girls...." Read more

"...He’s easy to root for, being a good, moral kid with courage. It’s interesting to see him overcome trials that no kid should have to go through...." Read more

"...Overall, I found the story relatively fast-moving with a strong, but predictable plot-line...." Read more

6 customers mention "Development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the development of the book, with one noting it has a solid look and another describing the protagonist as a strong and good man.

"...Sonny, the main character, is well-developed and engaging. The two girls, his friends, are also fairly well-developed...." Read more

"...But he becomes a strong and good man, albeit way too soon. I immediately bought the 2nd book in the series...." Read more

"...Not perfect, but a solid look at what a zombie apocalypse would look like from preteen perspective." Read more

"...the main character, Sonny, an 11 year-old boy who is likeable and well developed. The rest of the characters are mostly bland and not memorable...." Read more

21 customers mention "Writing style"10 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some finding it well written while others point out numerous grammatical errors on virtually every page.

"...It's told from the point of view (POV) of a pre-teen, which I found unusual. All in all a fun read. But there are some issues...." Read more

"...However, this narrative style didn’t quite work for me...." Read more

"...This is a fun, not overly taxing, take on the zombie genre. Told in first person, it shows the disaster from the standpoint of a child and, in..." Read more

"...the simple dialog sped things up as I found the single space narrative through the 212 pages slow. Not in the action side, but pacing...." Read more

So. Many. Zombies!
4 out of 5 stars
So. Many. Zombies!
In the opening pages of Outbreak (The Dark Days Series Book 1) main character Sonny Daniels is perhaps a little more babied by his parents than the average nine-year-old. A sudden global pandemic outbreak changes their lives forever and, as Sonny frequently says, “Sometimes when bad things happen you have to grow up faster.” As the story progresses, Sonny matures as he grows closer to his core group of survivors, even considering some of them as family members. Due to their dependence on his new skills and abilities, he makes selfless choices to protect those he loves. His group seems to be always on the run as they search for a location where they are safe from both human invaders and zombies. The gore and language in Outbreak make it unsuitable for children and young teens. The tense shift in narration is confusing; also I would recommend another round of editing. But if you are a fan of high action/adventure featuring flesh-eating zombies, you will enjoy this book! Fans of World War Z will love it.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Vince
    5.0 out of 5 stars Human in the face of zombies
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting take on the zombie genre with the focus on a young boy. The action and pacing kept the story going strong
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  • Avid Reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes when bad things happen, you have to grow up fast.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    If you enjoy zombie apocalypses where a family is on the run, encountering both danger and new allies along the way, Outbreak might be for you.

    The story centers on a family of survivors navigating through military conflicts and encounters with bandits, making it difficult to know who can be trusted.

    Characters come and go, with some betraying the group while others tragically meet their end in battles. I thought the plot of separating the children from their parents flawed after the Dad vows to stick together then changed his mind

    But the kids manage to stick together, finding strength in unity with other survivors.

    The action is fast-paced, with plenty of guns, explosions, and chaos. Though it's not as graphic or gory as some might expect, the story leaves much of the horror to the reader's imagination.

    One unique element is that the protagonist is a preteen, and the story is told from his perspective in first-person past tense.

    However, this narrative style didn’t quite work for me. The use of profanity, including the F-word, makes the book feel more mature, even though it has elements that could appeal to younger readers.

    The book could benefit from another round of edits—there were inconsistencies with the chapter titles, and the Table of Contents was repeated at the end, which felt like an oversight.

    If you're a fan of The Walking Dead, you may enjoy Outbreak despite its flaws. While I had mixed feelings about the main character’s age and some of the writing choices, I was still invested enough to see how the story ended. It kept me engaged, but ultimately, it was just an okay read for me. 3.5 stars.
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  • Henry Chamberlain
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read in the spirit of Richard Matheson
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I totally support Christopher Cole's novel, one in an upcoming series, and in the spirit of the great writer Richard Matheson. For those who know the name, well, enough said. I fear a lot of people may not be aware of the name and there only reference to zombies is The Walking Dead. That's because so many people do not read. What's so funny to me is that these same people, who do not read, want to write their own books and even review the work of real writers! Ah, the tales I could tell. But I'll save that for later. The point is that Cole is well-versed in the zombie genre, which has been around now for decades! For any non-readers, that's similar to the time loop genre we've been seeing in movies. I sort of digress but I'm basically still on point. Cole understands that there are certain tropes to follow and certain methods to follow to entertain the reader and advance the story. He knows this and he does a hell of a good job with it. So, bravo to Cole. The number one thing, for any aspiring real writers out there, is to engage your reader with compelling characters and that's what Cole does best. No doubt.
    One person found this helpful
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  • GWC
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great story. Reads like a blockbuster movie.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Okay. I loved the story. It's a zombie apocalypse adventure, full of all the elements of the genre.

    It's told from the point of view (POV) of a pre-teen, which I found unusual. All in all a fun read.

    But there are some issues.

    I want to hire this guy a really good proofreader! There are grammatical errors on virtually every page. There is a major problem with the lack of the use of the past-perfect tense that sometimes required reading a passage over more than once to make sure it wasn't a previous recollection, but rather current with the time of the narrative, which is mostly in past tense, but occasionally jumps into present tense.

    There was a jarring jump in the POV at one point. I see why it was necessary--we needed to understand a character's motivations. But that was the only POV jump, so it stood out and was very disconcerting. I started reading the subsequent sections carefully, trying to establish POV before I got too far, so that I wouldn't be tripped up by another sudden switch. I think the protagonist and the secondary character could probably find a chance for a conversation to divulge the information the reader needs.

    Then, the narrator (the pre-teen boy) seems incredibly well versed in name brands of everything from sports wear to guns, rifles and knives. He can recognize a SOG or Cold Steel knife, and can tell you the caliber of a weapon a bad guy sticks in his face! Since he seemed never to have handled a gun before the events of the book, I found this a little much.

    If the protagonist were recollecting this story from a decade hence, maybe he could have inserted adult wisdom in hindsight--but with the the issues in tenses, I doubt it would have been easy.

    BUT...I still read the book through and enjoyed it very much.

    I mentioned earlier it read like a screen play. It definitely does, and I am thinking that may be on purpose. There is a sequel to this book...and maybe movie right are up for grabs?

    Buy it. read it. Support an independent writer. It's enjoyable and overcomes any grammatical obstacles you may encounter.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Daft Boots
    5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Outbreak (The Dark Days Series Book 1)
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Outbreak (The Dark Days Series Book 1) is a compelling coming-of-age novel set in a dystopian world filled with zombies. It follows a young boy who bravely battles zombies to protect his friends. The story thoughtfully examines the essence of being human and reinforces the importance of empathy and humanity.
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  • KA Varvel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great zombie thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2024
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    This is an epic zombie thriller. The dialogue and emotion brings it to life. I do wish there was more description, but that didn't detract from the book.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Francesco
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in Italy on December 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A gripping zombie apocalypse adventure with all the classic elements of the genre, told from the unique perspective of a pre-teen. While the story is engaging and fun to read, the frequent grammatical errors and inconsistent tense usage can be distracting. A skilled proofreader could elevate this book significantly. Despite these issues, it's an enjoyable read for fans of the genre.
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  • Books Chharming
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining read
    Reviewed in India on March 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Outbreak is the first book in the Dark Days series written by Christopher Cole. Based on the zombie apocalypse, this book will hook you from start to end. The story is fast-paced, with many characters; some had to make tough decisions to survive, while some were reckless enough to put everyone at risk. With foul language, violence, and gruesome acts, this book is also about friendship and portrays mortals' demeanor. I'm so eager to read the next installment asap. I recommend this book to adults only.
    Customer image
    Books Chharming
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Entertaining read

    Reviewed in India on March 22, 2022
    Outbreak is the first book in the Dark Days series written by Christopher Cole. Based on the zombie apocalypse, this book will hook you from start to end. The story is fast-paced, with many characters; some had to make tough decisions to survive, while some were reckless enough to put everyone at risk. With foul language, violence, and gruesome acts, this book is also about friendship and portrays mortals' demeanor. I'm so eager to read the next installment asap. I recommend this book to adults only.
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  • Plot Lines
    4.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I thought for svp-if fans this was a great book. The characters evolve in the story as it progresses. It's a coming of age story of a group of people doing more than just surviving, but trying to hold onto their humanity. This story tries to show what it means to be human and to care for others.
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  • Angela V.
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Zombie Thriller
    Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Sonny is a ten year old boy who wakes up ready to enjoy the summer holidays with his mom and dad. On the way to the movies, he and his family discover a mysterious pandemic is causing havoc.

    Soon they learn the disease is turning people into zombies. Although the theme of blood thirsty zombies isn't exactly original, what was refreshing was the story beingbtold from the viewpoint of a very young, precocious boy.

    More editing of this book would have been advisable since there were point of view switches without warning, as well as spelling and grammatical issues.
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  • Emily
    1.0 out of 5 stars Typos, Poor writing, Bland basic zombie story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Writing is poor, unnecessary details added and typos included. Overly descriptive of what people are wearing, doing and "probably" thinking. The main character is supposed to be a child but analyses and thinks like an adult. Story is a generic zombie story with the same plot points. Its a poor read and is glaringly self published. The typos and errors make it seem like it wasnt proof read even once.
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