ahh, we all love a good horror book, right? and, what’s more, horrible than zombies?
There are many zombie books now that are not all the same, and many of them bring unique ideas and concepts to the genre. It all started with Richard Matheson’s classic I Am Legend in the 1950s, and the zombie genre has exploded ever since.
You are reading: Best books about zombies
now seemingly everything has a zombie theme: books, movies, TV shows, and especially video games. however, we’re okay with that, since we’re also obsessed with zombie stuff.
Below, you’ll find 11 of our absolute favorite zombie books (some series). You should probably note that we don’t include any zombie comedies (although there are quite a few that could make this list). instead, we chose horror-focused books.
‘the reapers are the angels’ by alden bell
although the reapers are the angels of alden bell focuses on a 15-year-old boy, that does not mean that it is a book for adults. in fact, it’s quite the opposite, so don’t let the protagonist, called the temple, fool you.
This is not your everyday zombie novel, and its unique take on the loneliness aspect of a zombie apocalypse from a young perspective is our reason for listing it among the best. Temple’s story takes place in the near future, 25 years after zombies first appeared, a perfect setting to explore a society caught between what once was and a brutal new world. If you can get over the fact that the zombies in the book are actually called “slugs,” not walkers, zeds, zs, or anything more common, then we suggest you don’t pass up this amazing story.
‘world war z’ by max brooks
Sure, you could fool around and just watch the world war z movie, but the book was better in every way imaginable. world war z (the novel) manages to scare readers with its plausibility as it sounds like a zombie apocalypse could actually happen. Brooks’s gritty zombie novel shows what would happen in a post-war culture when zombies are involved, and the relentless brutality of it all hits close.
‘simmering: day zero (book 1)’ by bobby adair
Simmering: Zero Day (Book 1) is a fairly typical story from a zombie movie or book, but the way it’s told is worth noting. revolves around protagonist Zed Zane finding his dead mother on the living room floor where his zombified stepfather watches with wild eyes and a raging bloodlust. the events that follow make for a great thriller. the series is well written, and this first book gets the action going right away and keeps up the pace throughout – it’s hard to put it down.
‘monster island’ by david wellington
David Wellington’s Monster Island takes place just one month after the zombie apocalypse begins, where only a few pockets of humanity remain. his brutality and ruthless nature, pitting humanity against seemingly impossible odds, are an ode to I Am Legend (the novel, not the movie, though that was good too). The story teams a military man with an army of schoolgirls in an effort to find medical supplies in a zombie-infested New York City. monster island is energetic and even frantic paced at times, and is a must read for zombie lovers.
‘the uprising’ by brian keine
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How about a zombie book that has been beloved by the masses, translated into over a dozen languages, and is one of the best-selling zombie books of all time? Check out The Rising of Brian Keine, a story revolving around a father (and some new friends) making their way through zombie-infested post-apocalyptic lands in search of his young son.
the rising is a story of perseverance when faced with impossible odds, and delves into what a man would do to find his missing son. on this list, it’s the hardest hitting and most resonant zombie book to read.
if you read the uprising, we also recommend that you watch its sequel, city of the dead, which is just as good, if not better, than its predecessor.
mira grant’s current affairs trilogy
The first novel in mira grant’s current affairs trilogy, feed, is the best of the series, and has an interesting premise in which cancer has been cured…but replaced by a bloodthirsty hunger for those that have healed. 20 years after the outbreak, a pair of journalists try to uncover the dark conspiracy at the root of the disease. Book 2, Deadline, and Book 3, Blackout, are also fantastic (and highly rated) reads.
the idea is that feed, deadline and blackout are supposed to have (and have) parallels to the real world we live in now, and that’s part of what makes them electrifying.
‘the girl with all the gifts’ by m.r. tortoiseshell
Honestly, I hadn’t heard of the girl with all the gifts until the movie came out in 2017. Somehow, it slipped under the radar. but I’m so glad I re-read it because it’s even more powerful than the movie.
The story follows a unique zombie plague (unique in that it is fungal, not viral or bacterial). and the book takes place 20 years after the initial outbreak and unfortunately I can’t tell you much more for fear of spoiling it.
The book has well-written female leads who don’t feel rushed or just thrown around just being there. is an exceptionally honest zombie book that you won’t be able to put down.
‘the forest of hands and teeth’ by carrie ryan
basically all you really need to know about carrie ryan’s forest of hands and teeth is that she’s like m. night shyamalan is the town, except what’s beyond the fence is actually charge inducer.
you guessed it: zombies roam beyond the fence. The story follows Mary, who lives within the town walls until, one day, the breach is unconsecrated.
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ryan’s zombie series not only brings horror, but also beauty and romance. it’s elegantly written and set in a unique post-apocalyptic setting.
Also, if you take a look at our list of upcoming zombie movies, you’ll notice there’s a tooth-and-hand forest movie in the works, with Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams set to star.
‘the devil’s wake’ by steven barnes
Steven Barnes’s Devil’s Wake is more than just a brilliantly wacky premise. In the wake of the devil, an alien race attempts to bring Earth’s civilization to its knees using a plague of zombies.
The story follows a group who must adventure a thousand miles in an old school bus while battling hordes of zombies, muggers, and each other.
Yeah, admittedly the premise is a bit over the top, but I think that’s part of what makes Devil’s Wake so enjoyable. is a book that knows exactly what it has to be: funny and scary.
‘this is not a test’ by courtney summers
A common theme about zombie apocalypses is that zombies can become the least of your worries when other humans are involved. in this it is not a test, that topic is the most prominent.
The book is set at the height of a zombie outbreak and follows six students who go to the local high school in search of shelter. As the hungry undead pound on windows and doors to gain entry, the six individuals struggle to survive within the school’s walls.
is a book that delves into the desperation of a person’s own survival and how far people will go when forced to find a way.
‘autumn’ by david moody
what’s most unique about david moody’s fall series is that it accomplishes so much without ever leaving out the z-word. The plague that creates the zed problem of this novel is the fastest moving diseases we have seen so far, with 99% of the world’s population being wiped out in just 24 hours. Gradually after their initial kills, these zombies begin to regain their basic senses. Essentially, that means they start out like night of the walking dead zombies, but then end up more like world war z zombies.
follows a small group of survivors who find themselves battling the never-ending wave of the undead. it’s full of action and suspense, without ever going overboard with its gore.
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