The world has gone to hell - and that story starts here.

Philip Blake's life has been turned upside down. In less than seventy-two hours, an inexplicable event has resulted in people everywhere . . . turning. Now the walking dead roam the streets, massacring the living, and it seems that nowhere is safe. Escaping his small town, Philip has just one focus in life - to protect his young daughter Penny. And he'll do whatever it takes to ensure she survives.

With his two old high-school friends and his brother Brian, Philip decides to aim for Atlanta. It's said refugee centres are being set up there. But between them and safety stand the walking dead - and they must, somehow, pass through them to reach salvation.

The Walking Dead novels are based on the award-winning graphic novels created by Robert Kirkman, which also inspired the TV series. This is fast-paced, action-packed storytelling about the lengths some people will go to survive.

This book features new characters, new storylines and the same in-depth character-based plotting that has made the long-running television series such an success.