Exist for Now Audiobook – The Infected Dead, Book 4

There’s something oddly meditative about listening to a zombie apocalypse story while gardening on a drizzly Portland afternoon—the world feels damp and uncertain, and so does the future of Jake Weber and his ragtag group in Bob Howard’s Exist for Now. As someone who gravitates toward character-driven narratives, I was immediately drawn into this fourth installment of the Infected Dead series—not just for its thrilling escapades but for those quieter, almost tender moments that reminded me why I love survival stories.

What makes Exist for Now stand out isn’t merely the relentless tension (though believe me, there’s plenty of it: gunfights, desperate scrambles through ruined Charleston streets, even that heart-pounding sense you get when you know danger is lurking one wrong step away). Instead, it’s Howard’s instinct to hit pause now and then. There’s a scene where the survivors stumble upon an abandoned dog—Howard lets us linger in their moral dilemma long enough to remember these are people clinging to compassion as fiercely as they cling to life. It took me back to my own college days volunteering at an animal shelter—how care for another living creature could anchor you amidst chaos.

Jake Weber emerges here as a leader in every sense—a man forced into decisions he never wanted but growing from them all the same. His relationship with Annabelle deepens; their bond felt genuine without veering into melodrama or cliché. Then there’s Marcus—a newcomer whose prickly presence shakes up old dynamics—and watching him integrate (or not) had me reflecting on times I’ve welcomed new faces into tight-knit communities: that uneasy blend of suspicion and hope.

Graham Halstead narrates with just the right mix of urgency and empathy. He doesn’t overplay things—even during action scenes he maintains clarity without sacrificing emotion. The differentiation between characters’ voices is subtle but effective; I rarely found myself confused about who was speaking (a must in any ensemble-cast audiobook!). Halstead also seems attuned to Howard’s writing style—the prose is sturdy yet evocative, full of sensory detail that conjures sun-bleached rooftops or ocean-salt breezes even if you’re really just raking leaves.

If I had one small quibble, it might be pacing near the middle third—I craved just a touch more exploration of some secondary characters before plunging back into nonstop peril. Still, this minor wish didn’t detract much from my overall enjoyment; rather it speaks to how invested I’d become in everyone surviving another day.

While diehard horror fans will devour Exist for Now thanks to its pulse-pounding set pieces (and yes: zombies galore!), what lingers after are those flashes of humanity—small kindnesses exchanged amid carnage—that feel achingly real. It reminds me why dystopian fiction can be strangely comforting: we survive together by looking after each other.

All told, whether you’re binging your way through The Infected Dead series or jumping in anew, this audiobook is gripping yet thoughtful—a rare find among apocalyptic tales—and left me already reaching for Book 5.