What do you think?
Rate this book
The Tox Shot: The 'Z' Word
What was meant to heal the world destroyed it instead.
A miracle drug promised to end addiction, depression, and homelessness. Governments rushed it into the hands of millions, convinced they had found the cure of the century.
Then the screaming started.
They called it The Tox Shot.
Within days, civilization begins to collapse. The infected are fast, violent, and driven by an insatiable hunger. The virus spreads through bodily fluids. Cities fall. Families are torn apart. Trust becomes as valuable as food and ammunition.
Recently discharged Navy sailor Joel Bierdman expected to return home and rebuild his life after a painful divorce. Instead, he finds himself trapped in a secluded mountain cabin as the outbreak explodes around him. Alone, snowed in, and surrounded by death, survival seems impossible until he meets Terry, a fearless survivor with deadly aim and a determination to keep fighting.
Together they battle across a collapsing East Tennessee, searching for Joel's family while discovering a terrifying truth. The infected are changing. They are becoming smarter, more dangerous, and far deadlier than anyone ever imagined.
As supplies disappear and society falls apart, desperate survivors prove to be just as deadly as the infected. Every decision matters. Every mistake costs lives. Every mile forward must be earned.
The end began with a single shot.
Survival begins with a choice.
Perfect for fans of Slow Burn by Bobby Adair, They Come at Night by Nick Clausen, Adrian's Undead Diary by Chris Philbrook, and Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo, The Tox Shot delivers relentless action, unforgettable characters, military survival, dark humor, evolving infected, and nonstop suspense.
Start the series readers are bingeing today. Five books are available, and the fight for survival is only getting started.
A miracle drug promised to end addiction, depression, and homelessness. Governments rushed it into the hands of millions, convinced they had found the cure of the century.
Then the screaming started.
They called it The Tox Shot.
Within days, civilization begins to collapse. The infected are fast, violent, and driven by an insatiable hunger. The virus spreads through bodily fluids. Cities fall. Families are torn apart. Trust becomes as valuable as food and ammunition.
Recently discharged Navy sailor Joel Bierdman expected to return home and rebuild his life after a painful divorce. Instead, he finds himself trapped in a secluded mountain cabin as the outbreak explodes around him. Alone, snowed in, and surrounded by death, survival seems impossible until he meets Terry, a fearless survivor with deadly aim and a determination to keep fighting.
Together they battle across a collapsing East Tennessee, searching for Joel's family while discovering a terrifying truth. The infected are changing. They are becoming smarter, more dangerous, and far deadlier than anyone ever imagined.
As supplies disappear and society falls apart, desperate survivors prove to be just as deadly as the infected. Every decision matters. Every mistake costs lives. Every mile forward must be earned.
The end began with a single shot.
Survival begins with a choice.
Perfect for fans of Slow Burn by Bobby Adair, They Come at Night by Nick Clausen, Adrian's Undead Diary by Chris Philbrook, and Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo, The Tox Shot delivers relentless action, unforgettable characters, military survival, dark humor, evolving infected, and nonstop suspense.
Start the series readers are bingeing today. Five books are available, and the fight for survival is only getting started.
- GenresZombies
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2025
About the author
R.S. Merritt
71 books488 followersLiving in a lighthouse as a child led me early to a love of reading. Despite what you may have been told the life of a lighthouse keeper's son is not all Glamour and Parties. There's a lot of time when there really isn't much to do besides wonder if the fog horn has finally made you deaf or watch your dad pull fishing lures out of different parts of people's bodies. (You'd be amazed!)
Two of my favorite houses growing up!
I read. I read a lot. We had a 'reading caterpillar' around the room at my school where every time you read a book you put your name on your color paper and hung it up. The teacher had to give me two colors because it was looking more like a worm than a caterpillar. I devoured CS Lewis before moving on to Tolkien. Reading has continued to be a big part of my life. I've moved into Alternative Realities by guys like Stirling and my guilty pleasure is Zombie novels. I can't seem to get enough of them!
I like reading about the extremes people will go to to survive. The ones who can rise above the rest and keep their sense of right and wrong. When humanity crumbles around them these flawed heroes stand tall and try to make their way. They go from struggling to pay the phone bill to struggling to keep themselves and others alive. I like to see how this either hardens or breaks them. I think these stories speak at a very primal level. I enjoy the journey greatly as I get to tag along seeing how the survivors manage and how the experience forges them into something more than they were.
I look forward to sharing the journey with you all!
Sincerely,
R S Merritt
Two of my favorite houses growing up!
I read. I read a lot. We had a 'reading caterpillar' around the room at my school where every time you read a book you put your name on your color paper and hung it up. The teacher had to give me two colors because it was looking more like a worm than a caterpillar. I devoured CS Lewis before moving on to Tolkien. Reading has continued to be a big part of my life. I've moved into Alternative Realities by guys like Stirling and my guilty pleasure is Zombie novels. I can't seem to get enough of them!
I like reading about the extremes people will go to to survive. The ones who can rise above the rest and keep their sense of right and wrong. When humanity crumbles around them these flawed heroes stand tall and try to make their way. They go from struggling to pay the phone bill to struggling to keep themselves and others alive. I like to see how this either hardens or breaks them. I think these stories speak at a very primal level. I enjoy the journey greatly as I get to tag along seeing how the survivors manage and how the experience forges them into something more than they were.
I look forward to sharing the journey with you all!
Sincerely,
R S Merritt
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 7, 2026
I judged the book by its cover
Okay, I admit it. I passed on this book several times because of the cover—which felt cartoonish. I fell into a book hole after finishing my last series, so decided to give this one a shot. I'm glad I did. It's not Tolstoy, but it avoids the storytelling traps that turn me off. Other than a few areas of confused pronouns and a section where Terry and Lisa's names get switched, the book is well-written and well-edited.
Plot-wise, it doesn't add much new to the genre, and the characters aren't fully developed yet. But again, they're deep enough that you like them to keep reading.
No spoilers. Just a pleasant read—if death and dismemberment is what helps you wind down the day.
Okay, I admit it. I passed on this book several times because of the cover—which felt cartoonish. I fell into a book hole after finishing my last series, so decided to give this one a shot. I'm glad I did. It's not Tolstoy, but it avoids the storytelling traps that turn me off. Other than a few areas of confused pronouns and a section where Terry and Lisa's names get switched, the book is well-written and well-edited.
Plot-wise, it doesn't add much new to the genre, and the characters aren't fully developed yet. But again, they're deep enough that you like them to keep reading.
No spoilers. Just a pleasant read—if death and dismemberment is what helps you wind down the day.
June 26, 2025
Fun read! I do love R S Merritt series and worlds and interested in seeing where this one will go.
September 13, 2025
Love this book
This pulse-pounding page-turner is like a literary roller coaster, packed with more twists and turns than a politician's campaign promise. The characters aren't just cardboard cutouts, but living, breathing personalities with backstories so juicy they'd make a soap opera writer blush. Their witty banter and dramatic transformations will have you glued to the pages, laughing, gasping, and desperately swiping to see what happens next.
This pulse-pounding page-turner is like a literary roller coaster, packed with more twists and turns than a politician's campaign promise. The characters aren't just cardboard cutouts, but living, breathing personalities with backstories so juicy they'd make a soap opera writer blush. Their witty banter and dramatic transformations will have you glued to the pages, laughing, gasping, and desperately swiping to see what happens next.
November 13, 2025
Great story
Lot of humor, interesting plot points. Needs a good editor as the author's irregular use of punctuation could be distracting.
Lot of humor, interesting plot points. Needs a good editor as the author's irregular use of punctuation could be distracting.
July 22, 2026
Loved it
I’ve read another zombie series by this author and I was wondering what would set this apart. There are different types of zombies that increase the energy of the book!!!
I’ve read another zombie series by this author and I was wondering what would set this apart. There are different types of zombies that increase the energy of the book!!!
April 15, 2026
I really enjoyed the story, actually gives you back story and not just drops you in the middle of a apocalypse, with no answers to the how, were, and why's? But I don't like how dumb they make Joel seem, I know he's young but he was in the military, granted its the navy, but that should count for something, this book does have the action, and close calls that you would expect, but I don't care who you are if you sleep in the snow you are going to freeze, and not pop up like a daisy in the spring. And the stupid way they end up at the camp, I'm just saying fuck the view board that place up. That being said I would still recommend it.
July 29, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the next in the series. The characters were well developed-so much so that it stinks that one of them didn’t make it-and the plot was good. The action was a good speed to keep the hook moving. I think the book was very well written.
March 20, 2026
Exciting zombie apocalypse thriller!
The Tox Shot is a well written apocalyptic nightmare! The main characters are easy to empathize with and I must say some of them go through some horrible and horrifying situations. I actually wish I could rate it 4.5 stars but, Amazon doesn’t want to give us the ability. So, I rounded up. I plan to get book 2 immediately, enjoy!
Kindle Unlimited
The Tox Shot is a well written apocalyptic nightmare! The main characters are easy to empathize with and I must say some of them go through some horrible and horrifying situations. I actually wish I could rate it 4.5 stars but, Amazon doesn’t want to give us the ability. So, I rounded up. I plan to get book 2 immediately, enjoy!
Kindle Unlimited
June 26, 2025
Apocalypse
Good book, enjoyed the story and the description of the outbreak.Love the characters though I'm not sure if my ex wife turned up in the zombie apocalypse I would open the door ,but when you need more bodies The more normal Zeds worry me and I suspect they're going to be a growing priblel. I do hope the island is ok,they need a break .So read the book its great
Good book, enjoyed the story and the description of the outbreak.Love the characters though I'm not sure if my ex wife turned up in the zombie apocalypse I would open the door ,but when you need more bodies The more normal Zeds worry me and I suspect they're going to be a growing priblel. I do hope the island is ok,they need a break .So read the book its great
May 3, 2026
Liked the series, Joe was kind of annoying lol.
Out of all the characters surprisingly I liked the Nancy guy least because he so incompetent as times. He did grow granted but how many times do you have to be attacked by zombies before you keep your guard up? Seriously lol. Excited by the next book.
Out of all the characters surprisingly I liked the Nancy guy least because he so incompetent as times. He did grow granted but how many times do you have to be attacked by zombies before you keep your guard up? Seriously lol. Excited by the next book.
December 28, 2025
Love a good zombie story
I enjoyed this book, what with the the tox shot being a panacea to man's problems. The characters are well fleshed out, and do not shy from the more taboo ideas. Looking forward. to book 2. Enjoy my friends.
I enjoyed this book, what with the the tox shot being a panacea to man's problems. The characters are well fleshed out, and do not shy from the more taboo ideas. Looking forward. to book 2. Enjoy my friends.
November 16, 2025
Zombbbbies
I did like the origin of this one, a shot for addicts that turned them into zombies. This book was ok. Not my fave but not the worst. 2 stars.
I did like the origin of this one, a shot for addicts that turned them into zombies. This book was ok. Not my fave but not the worst. 2 stars.
November 18, 2025
Good So Far
It sounds corny from the title but its not. The origin of the infection is possible. Nobody ever has a solution before a problem gets out of hand. So far, I'm liking the main characters. They understand the assignment. Luckily for them they all know how to use weapons. I'm surprised Deborah reached Joel's parents house. Now they need to find a safe place if they can survive. I'm Into the story and need to see what's next for the group.
It sounds corny from the title but its not. The origin of the infection is possible. Nobody ever has a solution before a problem gets out of hand. So far, I'm liking the main characters. They understand the assignment. Luckily for them they all know how to use weapons. I'm surprised Deborah reached Joel's parents house. Now they need to find a safe place if they can survive. I'm Into the story and need to see what's next for the group.
Read
April 14, 2026This book was an ok read, I love audiobook and the AI narrator was disappointed, no feelings just boring
July 17, 2026
Nope.
I really tried to like this book, but it has no depth. The characters are flat and it just isn't enough to keep my interest.
I really tried to like this book, but it has no depth. The characters are flat and it just isn't enough to keep my interest.
September 23, 2026
AI COVER
September 4, 2025
Looking forward to the next one!!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews