Public Enemy Zero [Kindle Edition]

Andrew Mayne (Author)

Book Description

TOP FIVE HIGH-TECH AMAZON BEST SELLER

“What I found was a gem of a book for only .99 cents. A fast paced thriller that I literally couldn't put down. I will definitely be checking out the other Andrew Mayne titles on Kindle.” - Robert Gemienhardt

“I think it's the mark of great sci-fi that despite the imagined elements that drive the plot, the characters and the situations feel real. Public Enemy Zero accomplishes this beautifully.” - Jeremy Lusk

The world is out to kill Mitchell Roberts. The helpless girl who needs help changing her tire. His petty ex-girlfriend and her new mate. An entire mall full of unassuming shoppers. They all want to murder Mitch in a blind rage when he's in their presence.

As Mitch attempts to unravel the mystery around his situation, he learns quickly that rabid strangers and friends aren’t his only predators. Police attempt to hunt him down by any means necessary and his every move is tracked by a shadowy government official with a secret to protect.

He'll need to use every resource he has, from the advice of a paranoid late night radio host, to his Twitter account and find out why he's become Public Enemy Zero.

A full-length 90,000 word novel.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Like my other books I wanted to take a twist on a concept and look at it from a different point of view. 

What would you do if everyone really was out to kill you? This was the starting point for this story. Instead of a post-apocalyptic setting, I wanted to explore how someone would try to survive the most hostile situation imaginable and still maintain something of his moral compass.

Mitch isn't a conventional action hero. He has a conscience and really doesn't want to cause anybody harm, even when they're trying to rip his throat out. He knows the people trying to kill him are sick and not acting out of their own free will. This puts him into a situation where he has to be far more clever and inventive than the typical protagonist.

The mechanism behind the condition that's making people go crazy is more sinister than an escaped pathogen or a secret experiment. It's also more plausible than we'd care to realize. I spoke with a well-known neuroscientst about the biology behind the mechanism in order to give it an extra layer of reality.

Product Details

• File Size: 498 KB
• Print Length: 279 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0052ZUXPA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,974 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 88 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Readable Thriller that Could Have Been a 5 June 23, 2011

By Danny Norbury

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Since I bought my Kindle, I have dabbled in several self published authors with mixed results. It is always a crap shoot but at a $.99 and a handful of good reviews, I am willing to broaden my horizons to these uncharted isles.

And I am so glad to have discovered Andrew Mayne.

With Public Enemy Zero Mayne expertly handles a very original take on the whole X-Factor Zombie type of scenario. He begins by creating a very likable, morally centered everyman. Mitch is an aspiring broadcaster working the long nights at the wrong end of the radio dial. His girlfriend just broke up with him, he has under a grand in his checking account, and...oh yeah, he just found out that anyone he comes in contact with becomes snarling animals hellbent on ripping him apart.

From there, Mr. Mayne spins a fast paced thriller that reads better than most summer blockbusters. By placing his character in the very real dangers of being captured by police as a terroist suspect, being ripped apart by anyone he meets, or being captured by a shadowy government agency, we get a thrilling ride that you will rip through in a single sitting.

Unfortunately, there are a few items that keeps Public Enemy Zero from full marks. There is a rather unnecessary and rather silly use of an LSD Wild Man who communes with Mother Nature in a plot to destroy the world. While it is an interesting piece of theater, this charcter and the handful of scenes he has (including, unfortunately the opening one) serve no purpose to the story and takes away from the realism of the situation.

There are two police detective characters that are strongly portrayed who begin unraveling the mystery who are ommitted in the second half of the book. And finally, there are huge glaring editorial errors in the last third of the book; sentences have repeating words, the wrong word choice is used, multiple pronouns appear side by side. Mr. Mayne states in his Acknowledgements that the book was edited with social networking volunteers. He would be better served paying someone to fill this role.

The last concern I have for the book is that it is so timely that I wonder how it will stand the test of time. Not only are there multiple references to YouTube, Skype, i-Pads, etc. but they and Facebook/Twitter play a central role to the plot. I found this to be very clever and applaud its use, however, future readers or current readers unfamiliar with these technologies might be less impressed.

I will read everything that Mr. Mayne has out for the Kindle. But with a few edits, omissions, etc. I would probably find him published in my bookstore or even on the silver screen as well.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, great read. July 7, 2011

By Stuart

Format:Kindle Edition

Andrew Mayne really is a surprisingly good writer. The story is well thought out and executed, this is definitely not your average cookie cutter 'rage virus scenario'! I certainly want to read more tales from this particular universe. Andrew's writing style is developing and lacks the 'cheap' feeling that a lot of self published authors have. Another couple of books and it will be indistinguishable from career author.

Personally, I would have liked to have engaged with the main character a bit more, felt a bit more of his anguish at the unfairness and the desperate nature of his situation, but I feel that the suspense and action sequences more than made up for this. That sort of navel gazing may well have slowed the book down, but it would have fleshed the extremely capable Mitch out a bit.

I can quite easily see this as a movie. I'm hoping it gets optioned so that there is a chance to see this someday.

In short, well worth the time it takes to read and worth considerably more than the asking price.

Ever considered a collection of Weird Things Scenarios as short stories, Andrew?

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting plot, poor literary quality March 15, 2012

By Boris

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found the basic plot and outline of the book to be intriguing. There were a number of interesting escape concepts. However, the grammar, syntax and overall literary quality needed a great deal of improvement. One example:

"The windshield was cracked from when the impact sent the cars in the carrier into the air, bouncing into the ceiling."

Ouch.

More About the Author

Known for his creative and visual style of magic, Andrew has made ghosts appear on the screens of borrowed iPhones, shrunk himself to one foot tall and even made a town think they were besieged by UFOs. With over 45 published books, DVDs and effects, Andrew is considered one of the most creative magicians of his generation. His creative repertoire stretches from both intimate close-up magic to grand illusion.

He's the publisher of WeirdThings.com, iTricks.com - magic's number one daily magic news site, co-host of Weird Things the podcast and co-founder of Jaras/Mayne productions and has produced content for the Cartoon Channel and the G4 network.