Dead World books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Dead World series?"

"There are nine books in the Dead World series, published between 2006 and 2014."

Q: "What is the first book in the Dead World series?"

"The first book in the Dead World series is Dead City, published in 2006."

Q: "Is the Dead World series connected or can books be read standalone?"

"The Dead World series has internal connections and recurring themes, but McKinney wrote some books as standalone entries within the same world. Dead City is the clear starting point, and reading in order gives the best picture of how the outbreak spreads and the world changes."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Dead City	2006	Joe McKinney	Buy
2	Red	2008	Joe McKinney	N/A
3	Scarlet	2009	Joe McKinney	N/A
4	Apocalypse of the Dead	2010	Joe McKinney	Buy
5	Crimson	2009	Joe McKinney	N/A
6	Flesh Eaters	2011	Joe McKinney	Buy
7	The Crossing	2011	Joe McKinney	N/A
8	Mutated	2012	Joe McKinney	Buy
9	Dead World Resurrection	2014	Joe McKinney	N/A

Dead City, published in 2006, put Joe McKinney on the horror map. The novel follows a San Antonio police officer caught in the middle of a sudden zombie outbreak, and its procedural detail – drawn from McKinney’s own police experience – gave it a different texture than most horror fiction of the time. The series grew from there, expanding the geography of the outbreak and introducing new survivors.

The nine-book series spans books with titles like Apocalypse of the Dead, Flesh Eaters, and Mutated, tracking how society fractures and what people become when the dead keep walking. McKinney focuses on communities under siege, the logistics of survival, and the moral costs that pile up over time. The books don’t flinch from showing that other people can be just as dangerous as the undead.

By the time Dead World Resurrection closed out the series in 2014, McKinney had built one of the more sustained zombie fiction canons in American horror. Readers who want something grittier and more grounded than typical splatter fare will find the series worth working through from the beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Dead World series?

There are nine books in the Dead World series, published between 2006 and 2014.

What is the first book in the Dead World series?

The first book in the Dead World series is Dead City, published in 2006.

Is the Dead World series connected or can books be read standalone?

The Dead World series has internal connections and recurring themes, but McKinney wrote some books as standalone entries within the same world. Dead City is the clear starting point, and reading in order gives the best picture of how the outbreak spreads and the world changes.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order