☣️ Apocalyptic

Death in a Northern Town 3: Dead Man Walking

✍️ Peter McKeirnon
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$8.90
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A journal-style comedy horror novel set in zombie-infested Runcorn

John Diant documents his struggle to survive the apocalypse in Runcorn. His missing daughter and chaotic companions define his experience. The narrative relies on his voice to recount events. Allies like Dave provide comic relief amidst the dread. The brother’s exaggerated toughness contrasts with the grim reality. McKeirnon uses this format to ground the absurdity of the situation. The story focuses on daily survival rather than grand heroics. Readers encounter a world where humor is a coping mechanism. The tone remains consistent throughout the journal entries.

Key Themes
zombie apocalypse survival northern UK humor journal narrative structure
Literary Context

The book sits within the British comedy horror tradition, specifically drawing on northern English cultural references. It utilizes the setting of Runcorn and incorporates eighty-eighties music nostalgia as a key element of character identity and local flavor.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Max Brooks · Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child · John Scalzi
☣️
Apocalyptic
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2015 📖 206 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781517084875

📝 Description: Death in a Northern Town 3: Dead Man Walking

Peter McKeirnon presents the third installment of his comedy horror trilogy with Dead Man Walking. The narrative follows John Diant, a father whose teenage daughter has vanished during the outbreak. His survival depends on allies including an eighty-eighties music enthusiast named Dave and a brother described as a local version of Chuck Norris, albeit with less hair and a poorer beard. The story unfolds in Runcorn, a town transformed into a dead zone by the zombie apocalypse. The text is structured as John’s personal journal, offering a first-person perspective on the chaos. Characters such as Butty and Emily join the group as they attempt to endure the threats posed by both the undead and living survivors. McKeirnon draws on the tradition of British northern humor, blending grim survival scenarios with irreverent dialogue. The setting remains fixed within the infected streets of Runcorn, emphasizing the isolation of the protagonists. This book suits readers who enjoy dark comedy mixed with supernatural horror elements. It appeals to those interested in character-driven narratives set against apocalyptic backdrops. Fans of straightforward journal-style storytelling may find the format engaging. Those seeking serious, high-stakes literary fiction or traditional gothic atmospheres might prefer other titles. The work does not aim for solemnity but rather offers a gritty, humorous take on survival.

💎 Our verdict on Death in a Northern Town 3: Dead Man Walking

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
McKeirnon effectively utilizes the journal format to ground the absurdity of a zombie-infested Runcorn. The consistent tone allows humor to function as a vital coping mechanism for both protagonist and reader. By focusing on daily survival rather than grand heroics, the narrative remains intimate and character-driven. The use of British northern humor adds a unique flavor to the standard apocalyptic trope. While it lacks the solemnity of traditional horror, its strength lies in its irreverent dialogue and relatable struggle. It is best suited for readers who appreciate dark comedy mixed with supernatural elements and do not require high literary ambition or gothic atmosphere.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy dark comedy mixed with supernatural horror elements will find this book engaging. It appeals to those interested in character-driven narratives set against apocalyptic backdrops, particularly fans of straightforward journal-style storytelling. The narrative relies on John Diant’s voice to recount events, using humor as a coping mechanism amidst the dread. Allies like Dave provide comic relief, while the brother’s exaggerated toughness contrasts with grim reality. Those seeking serious, high-stakes literary fiction or traditional gothic atmospheres might prefer other titles, as this work does not aim for solemnity but rather offers a gritty, humorous take on survival in a dead zone.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

McKeirnon effectively utilizes the journal format to ground the absurdity of a zombie-infested Runcorn. The consistent tone allows humor to function as a vital coping mechanism for both protagonist and reader. By focusing on daily survival rather than grand heroics, the narrative remains intimate and character-driven. The use of British northern humor adds a unique flavor to the standard apocalyptic trope. While it lacks the solemnity of traditional horror, its strength lies in its irreverent dialogue and relatable struggle. It is best suited for readers who appreciate dark comedy mixed with supernatural elements and do not require high literary ambition or gothic atmosphere.

📖 From the series “Death in a Northern Town”

Death in a Northern Town
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town
$10.00
86
Read →
Death in a Northern Town 2: No Rest for the Living
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town 2: No Rest for the Living
$10.00
78
Read →
Death in a Northern Town 4: Only The Dead Die Twice
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town 4: Only The Dead Die Twice
$7.59
78
Read →

✍️ More books by this author Peter McKeirnon

Death in a Northern Town 4: Only The Dead Die Twice
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town 4: Only The Dead Die Twice
$7.59
78
Read →
Dead Town Series 1: The Scripts
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Peter McKeirnon
Dead Town Series 1: The Scripts
$6.00
78
Read →
Death in a Northern Town 2: No Rest for the Living
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town 2: No Rest for the Living
$10.00
78
Read →
Death in a Northern Town
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town
$10.00
86
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Memento Mori
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.3
Paul Holbrook
Memento Mori
$13.94
69
Read →
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Quinton Veal
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
$12.00
78
Read →
The Manitou
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jessie Cox
The Manitou
$10.50
78
Read →
The Phantom of the Opera
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Alexander Teixeira De Mattos
The Phantom of the Opera
$17.00
81
Read →
The Trial
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wyllie
The Trial
$10.25
81
Read →
Prey Until Dawn
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Daryn Guarino
Prey Until Dawn
$50.00
81
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Death in a Northern Town ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town
$10.00
86
Read →
Death in a Northern Town 2: No Rest for the Living ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town 2: No Rest for the Living
$10.00
78
Read →
An Occurrence Owl Creek Bridge: (Ambrose Bierce Classics Collection) ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Ambrose Bierce
An Occurrence Owl Creek Bridge: (Ambrose Bierce Classics Collection)
$6.99
92
Read →
The Willows ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Algernon Blackwood
The Willows
$6.12
92
Read →
Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus
$16.20
92
Read →
Psychobilly Bruja and Other Spooky Tales ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Morgana Von Ghoul
Psychobilly Bruja and Other Spooky Tales
$9.75
86
Read →
Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist