☣️ Apocalyptic

Death in a Northern Town

✍️ Peter McKeirnon
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$10.00
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A journal-based zombie comedy set in Northern England.

McKeirnon uses the format of personal journals to track the collapse of society in Runcorn. John Diant documents his desperate quest to find his daughter. His companion, Dave, brings a distinct retro vibe to the survival effort. The narrative avoids distant exposition. It places the reader directly inside the chaos through Diant’s eyes. The blend of gore and humor creates a unique reading experience. The story has gained attention from horror podcasts and scene reviewers. It is also expanding into visual media as a web series.

Key Themes
zombie outbreak father daughter bond northern english setting
Literary Context

The book is set in the small Northern English town of Runcorn. It draws on retro eighties culture through the character of Dave. The narrative style uses journal entries to ground the supernatural events. The story has connections to a horror comedy web series called Dead Town.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Max Brooks · Simon Clark · Joe Hill
☣️
Apocalyptic
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2013 📖 224 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781490935263

📝 Description: Death in a Northern Town

Peter McKeirnon presents a zombie narrative set in the small Northern English town of Runcorn. The story unfolds through journal entries written by survivor John Diant. He searches for his missing daughter while accompanied by his best friend, an eighty-something chain-smoking man named Dave. This structure offers a personal perspective on the apocalypse as it happens. The book blends horror with comedy, creating a tone that balances fear and humor. McKeirnon draws on retro eighties culture to shape the character of Dave. The narrative follows the progression of the outbreak in real time. Readers experience the events through Diant’s eyes rather than an omniscient narrator. This approach grounds the supernatural elements in immediate human concern. The work appeals to those who enjoy horror comedy and character-driven apocalyptic fiction. It suits readers looking for a story with heart amidst the gore. Those preferring traditional, serious zombie literature might find the comedic elements jarring. The book has been noted for making readers laugh and cringe in equal measure. A UK Horror Scene reviewer called it a modern classic with real heart. A Dead Little Podcast labeled it a must buy. The story is also being developed into a web series titled Dead Town.

💎 Our verdict on Death in a Northern Town

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
McKeirnon delivers a distinctive entry in the zombie subgenre by utilizing a journal-based structure to track the outbreak in real time. This approach grounds supernatural elements in immediate human concern, specifically through John Diant’s desperate search for his daughter. The narrative avoids distant exposition, placing readers directly inside the chaos alongside an eighty-something companion that brings a distinct retro vibe. The tone successfully balances horror and comedy, creating a reading experience that is both terrifying and amusing. While traditional zombie literature fans might find the comedic elements jarring, this book suits those looking for heart amidst the gore. It stands out for its character-driven focus and unique British cultural setting.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate horror that does not take itself too seriously will find this book particularly engaging. It offers a unique blend of gore and humor, allowing audiences to laugh and cringe simultaneously without losing emotional investment in the characters. The journal format provides an immediate, intimate perspective on societal collapse, making the stakes feel personal rather than abstract. Those seeking character-driven apocalyptic fiction with heart amidst the chaos will find this compelling. It is ideal for fans of zombie narratives who want a story that balances fear with comedy. The inclusion of retro eighties culture adds a layer of nostalgia and charm, appealing to those who enjoy specific cultural references woven into their horror. It serves as a refreshing alternative to traditional, serious zombie literature.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

McKeirnon delivers a distinctive entry in the zombie subgenre by utilizing a journal-based structure to track the outbreak in real time. This approach grounds supernatural elements in immediate human concern, specifically through John Diant’s desperate search for his daughter. The narrative avoids distant exposition, placing readers directly inside the chaos alongside an eighty-something companion that brings a distinct retro vibe. The tone successfully balances horror and comedy, creating a reading experience that is both terrifying and amusing. While traditional zombie literature fans might find the comedic elements jarring, this book suits those looking for heart amidst the gore. It stands out for its character-driven focus and unique British cultural setting.

📖 From the series “Death in a Northern Town”

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 3: Dead Man Walking
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town 3: Dead Man Walking
$8.90
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 3: Dead Man Walking
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town 3: Dead Man Walking
$8.90
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 →

🏛 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 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 →
Death in a Northern Town 3: Dead Man Walking ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Peter McKeirnon
Death in a Northern Town 3: Dead Man Walking
$8.90
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 →
The Death Doll (5x8) ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Angelique Rosenbrock Shelley
The Death Doll (5x8)
$9.99
86
Read →
Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist