☣️ Apocalyptic

Puppeteer of the Dead: Book 1 Living Dead

✍️ Troy McCombs
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$11.00
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A military horror novel about resurrected soldiers and a hidden malign force.

The narrative centers on Maynard Dunn, an ex-marine leading a group from the East Coast. They face a crisis originating from air trays containing deceased American soldiers over the Atlantic. The dead return to life, creating a situation with no known name or solution. McCombs structures the plot around the effort to dispose of these undead and identify the puppeteer behind them. The story emphasizes the rage against this control rather than academic study of the phenomenon.

Key Themes
resurrected soldiers military aircraft sinister force
Literary Context

This work sits within the contemporary horror genre, specifically focusing on military fiction elements. It utilizes the setting of modern air travel and the Atlantic Ocean to ground its supernatural events in a recognizable, realistic framework for American readers.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Max Brooks · Steve Alten · John Ringo
☣️
Apocalyptic
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2018 📖 190 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781722431679

📝 Description: Puppeteer of the Dead: Book 1 Living Dead

Troy McCombs presents a military horror narrative in Puppeteer of the Dead: Book 1 Living Dead. The story begins with a terrifying incident aboard a military aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean. Air trays holding the bodies of deceased American soldiers become the source of a strange phenomenon where the dead return to life. This event marks the start of a global crisis that spreads rapidly to neighboring regions without explanation or solution. Maynard Dunn, an ex-marine and family man, takes charge of a small group on the East Coast. He guides them toward safety while they confront the sinister force controlling the rising dead. The plot focuses on survival against a malign power rather than traditional zombie lore. McCombs draws on military traditions to ground the supernatural elements in realistic settings. The narrative structure follows this core team as they attempt to find answers and dispose of the undead properly. This book suits readers who enjoy action-driven horror with a focus on military tactics and survival. It may not appeal to those seeking slow-burn gothic atmosphere or pure supernatural mystery without combat. The text relies on the immediate threat of resurrection and the struggle for control. McCombs uses the backdrop of modern warfare to explore the chaos of an unexplained epidemic.

💎 Our verdict on Puppeteer of the Dead: Book 1 Living Dead

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
McCombs delivers a tense military horror narrative that prioritizes survival and tactical response over traditional genre conventions. The story effectively grounds supernatural elements in realistic, modern warfare settings, creating a palpable sense of urgency. By focusing on the effort to dispose of the undead and identify their controller, the plot maintains high stakes through action rather than exposition. This approach suits readers seeking immediate thrills and combat-driven sequences. It may disappoint those looking for deep atmospheric dread or complex mystery, but it succeeds as a gritty exploration of chaos and resilience against an unexplained global crisis.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave action-driven horror with a focus on military tactics and survival will find this book particularly engaging. It appeals to those interested in the chaos of an unexplained epidemic grounded in realistic settings rather than traditional zombie lore. The narrative offers a fresh perspective by emphasizing rage against control and the struggle for dominance over a malign power. It is ideal for fans who prefer immediate threats and combat-oriented plots over slow-burn atmospheres or purely academic supernatural mysteries.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

McCombs delivers a tense military horror narrative that prioritizes survival and tactical response over traditional genre conventions. The story effectively grounds supernatural elements in realistic, modern warfare settings, creating a palpable sense of urgency. By focusing on the effort to dispose of the undead and identify their controller, the plot maintains high stakes through action rather than exposition. This approach suits readers seeking immediate thrills and combat-driven sequences. It may disappoint those looking for deep atmospheric dread or complex mystery, but it succeeds as a gritty exploration of chaos and resilience against an unexplained global crisis.

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