This book told the story of 3 people and even though I sometimes find it difficult to concentrate on more than 2 character's stories with this I found I was able to read it comfortably. It is very well written and won't be the last book I read by this author.

"They’re calling it “The Stalker Disease” because of how the infected hunt: they hone in on their prey, watch and wait, then strike from a hidden location."

This was an okay zombie book for me but it just fell a bit flat. I'm not entirely sure why. It might be because I really didn't like the main characters - but I've read other books with protagonists I didn't like but still liked the overall book.

The plot was a bit scrambled, darting here and there when I think I would have enjoyed a more linear plotline.

All in all, it was just missing that makes a good or excellent book for me. Others have read it, though, and enjoyed it a lot. I guess that's why there's so many authors and so many books - catering to everyone's specific reading wants and needs.

The story takes the reader, along within main character Brian Jameson from Kansas clear across the country. He's joined by others along the way all fighting off the dreaded Stalkers.

Readable but not a book I'll ever re-read.

I received this book from Nine Star Press through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

I’ve always enjoyed reading books about survival in the wild so I enjoyed this quite abit. It was interesting to read about the skills Max taught to Brian and it was nice to see how they made full use of those skills to survive amidst the apocalypse.

This isn’t your usual zombie flick, though it may seem like it at first glance. In this book, the infected are termed as “Stalkers”, and they display a penchant for violence and cannibalism, all the while doing so with a perpetual grin plastered over their faces. Like zombies, the Stalkers have little to no sense of humanity, but they do however possess a level of intelligence, allowing them to cooperate and hunt for prey together. They also mutilate their own kind but it was not made known under what circumstances.

Another thing that puts them apart from zombies is that the Stalkers actually are vulnerable to weather conditions like the normal human. This makes a lot of sense, as I don’t see why zombies should suddenly be immune to the cold when they have turned, contrary to popular media.

This puts a whole new light on the book, as these Stalkers can actually be annihilated either by extreme weather or killing their own kind. Though this fact was not emphasised in the book, I felt that it made the story more realistic. Only reading this did I realise that the popular media depiction of zombies is really quite absurd, how can there be so many zombies around?

The next thing I like about this book is the romance between Louis and Brian. The relationship build up was just so sweet and real. I find myself rooting for them every single time. Go away Eva, go away Cecilia! My heart sank when Brian had to leave in the end. That twist... was really unpredictable. Louis was a little warped, sure. But to go to that extend to secure Brian? He must really not just be borderline. Sounds more like a psycho to me.

Overall, the book was a great read. It was a pleasantly slight deviation from your usual zombie book and therefore I find it refreshing. There were a few things that don’t quite make sense; travelling on cows, etc. Ain’t it the worst way to travel? They are slow and hard to train, it just doesn’t make sense.

To make this book a better read, I suggest adding different species of Stalkers. Maybe there can be a special infected? I don’t know... This book was a great read though, and I definitely would pick up the second book given the chance. So four stars for this one.

I really thought this book was going to be about STALKERS! Turns out it is not quite that. Apocalyptic, zombies and crazy people running rampant.
Brian day starts out normal, until he hears a gunshot and then all hell breaks loose. His mom is attacked and no one knows who or why. That's just the beginning.
From family to friends, no one is safe.
Part survival - part love story.

I loved this book! Horror novels have been my guilty little secret for decades, so I've had the chilling pleasure of getting to know dark writers, young and old, well-published and newbies. Imagine my surprise to read something that was just a tweak different from anything else I'd ever read. Hasbrouck does a wonderful job of making the whole tale especially creepy (literally and figuratively!), and I loved every minute of it. Highly recommended.

** I thank the publisher and/or author for allowing me to read this novel as an ARC, without recompense, in exchange for my honest review. **

There are not many stories that as I am writing the review, I am thinking of changing my star rating, but this was one of them as I am still thinking about the story a day after I finished the book.
Brian Jameson is disturbed by a gunshot, an intruder has broken into his house and scratched his mom. Being at the epicentre of the pandemic, Brian is forced to learn how to survive. Escaping with his grandfather, he joins up with old friends, twins Louis and Eva and they start their journey to a better life, but with the Stalkers and ruthless gangs hindering them, will they make it to the island of their dreams.
Brian was a quiet 19-year old, not knowing what he wanted to do with his life, he was going with the flow. Having lived a sheltered life, he was forced to grow up when his mom became ill and the virus began to spread, but even when he was danger, he always tried to show compassion. His friend Louis was the complete opposite, confident, a bit of a bad boy, he had a nasty streak and at times acted like a child having a strop, but together they were good for each other.
Whilst there are some similarities between Stalkers and Zombies, ie the virus was passed by fluid, they craved raw flesh: Stalkers felt more sinister. The virus changed the people whilst they were alive, they moved at speed and they planned their move. Creeping in the shadows they had an evil laugh which would make your skin crawl.
The variety of characters they come across were well described. Whether they were the cutthroat gang that took over a derelict fairground or the dynamic D whose only friend was a cat, they all had their own tales of survival. As you read you are following Brian on a journey of discovery, whether it was learning how to hunt or finding the real meaning of love. The love between Brian and Louis started off slowly and as the journey intensified so did their relationship.
Following 3 young people as they are travelling through a dangerous America was addictive and I had to force myself to put the book down to do real-life tasks. However, before I knew it I had finished the story. What can I say about the ending wow I didn’t see most of it coming.
This is the 1st story I have read by this author and it won’t be the last.

Stalker/s Kindle Edition
by L.J. Hasbrouck (Author)
I received a review copy via NetGalley and am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.

Hasbrouck has given us the love child of King's The Stand and Brooks's World War Z.

A fast past, tension filled (in more ways than one) exploration of the end of the world and the only things that can survive it, love.

Just before Brian is set to start applying to colleges, his mother is attacked by a stranger with a creepy smile, horrible stench and a hunger for flesh. This kicks of a pandemic of a zombie-like infection, where people lose their empathy and conscience to exchange it for a homicidal tendency and a hunger for blood. Brian holes who with his grandparents to learn basic survival skills before he is forced into a journey across the Bible Belt. During the trip, he meets up with is childhood friends, the twins Eva and Louis, who join him as they try to find a safe place in a world that may not longer have one. All the while, Brian and Louis must fight the growing tension between them.

Along the way the encounter madmen with masked gangs, people who have gone insane from loneliness or fear and what appears to be a pacifist cult based on a new religion that blends a lot of voodoo with more Catholicism (yes, I know voodoo is a mix of African religions and Catholicism)

I don't want to give any spoilers, but let me say, the fade to black at the Plantation and in the boat, were frustrating. If you can describe the splattering of brains, over and over, you certainly can show a little skin on skin action.

The end was an atomic blast of a twist that while I suspected some of it was coming, I was left breathless!

4 stars out of 5

https://www.amazon.com/Stalker-s-L-J-Hasbrouck-ebook/dp/B07MFW5XF1

Zips along at a fair pace (bit like the zombies if they catch you in their sights) and an undemanding read if you like the genre. Brian seemed a bit ‘flat’ in character, although this aspect picked up when he met Louis. I couldn’t shake the feeling a slightly better book was trying to come out, however, it lacked a bit of emotional engagement with the characters.

I have mixed feelings about this book. In the beginning I thought I would never like it, the journal entries for example really didn't suit my taste at all. But once the story got started I couldn't stop reading anymore, the tension is great. Also the idea of the truned to be like creepy Stalkers was amazing.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Brian and Lou only really started to take place after 3/4 of the book had already been over - I would have liked a bit more in that area.
As for the end? I love that there was again some twist! I hoped that there was more to the "deaths" of the other two and I was happy when there actually was! But I wish they would have gone together.

This review is based on an ARC.

I will start by saying I'm not a big fan of zombies, so I won't touch on that aspect of the book even though it is a big part. The writing was good and the pacing as well. However, I had an issue with the ending. If it's setting up for a sequel I suppose I can kind of see it, but I personally wouldn't read a sequel. The ending was frustrating as it made most of the story seem pointless to me. If it had happened a bit earlier and then resolved, maybe. As is it just left me exasperated.

First Netgalley of the year. I usually avoid zombies and apocalypse stories. This one I liked. A road trip filled with death, betrayal, friends and enemies. What stood out for me was the twins. No smut but hints of m/m. Favourite character was D, the brightest character. Glad I read it.