Kinda of "meh". What started out as a promising and imaginative novel about alternate universes and zombies fizzled and stumbled to a rather mediocre ending. Coldbrook is a facility deep in the Appalachian Mountains designed to discover portals into alternate Earths. When a zombie from an alternate Earth suddenly stumbles through the portal, all hell breaks loose and the expected Zombie Apocalypse begins. The key to stopping it may lie on the other side of the portal and it's up to a brave scientist to take that step into another Earth to try and save her world.
Unfortunately, the book didn't deliver after this promising start. The characters are underdeveloped and some action is difficult to follow. There is one character in particular who plays a lead role in the book, but for this reader, it is hard to root for.
It's not a terrible book but there are better ones to check out in this genre. ( )

I finished this last night while on vacation. The best review I can give it is that I had to get up early this morning but I refused to go to bed until I was done. This is without a doubt one of my favorite takes on the zombie novel that I have read. Right up there with World War Z. There is a lot of action and suspense. Plenty of horror. Most importantly a lot of characters I really cared about. Plus, as an added bonus a twist to the zombie novel that I can't talk about at all. You will just have to read it and find out for yourself. Great story by a great writer. ( )

Interesting concept. Dragged all the way, though. ( )

The author bio in the back mentions that the author has been lately working on screenplays for TV and film. It shows. Coldbrook seems like it was written to be adapted into a blockbuster film.

Lebbon used to write original stories with complex character psychology and emotional depth. What we have here is just another zombie novel. Bringing quantum physics into it (barely) and calling them "furies" doesn't make it different.

I wish him success with his current endeavors but I miss the old Tim. ( )

Coldbrook by Tim Lebbon was one of the most unusual zombie stories that I have read. It reminded me somewhat of The Passage by Justin Cronin in that it’s setting included a remote government sponsored lab, and also by it’s intricate plotting that allowed the story to unfold from many viewpoints.

When scientists located in a remote laboratory establish a gateway to a new world they are careful not to allow any living thing pass through, but, of course, they didn’t allow for a walking dead creature that carried a horrifying disease. Instead of a great scientific discovery, they unleashed a horrifying zombie outbreak that wiped billions from the earth. The only hope for mankind is the possibility of a cure that is generated by a genetic immunity, one young woman appears to have this genetic immunity but they need to locate and transport her to a safe location.

The author has blended horror and science fiction to create a unique and distinctive zombie story. He has veered away from the usual story of an experimental virus that goes wrong. His version is of scientists that have opened a portal to an alternative universe without fully considering the implications. At over 500 pages, I did find Coldbrook a little long and I freely admit that there were times that I was quite confused with the idea of an alternative earth set in a different time but the author kept the story moving at a good pace and took the time to develop his characters. I suspect Coldbrook will be book that I continue to mull over for some time. ( )