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Rafe Duncan has been working his family’s compound for years in the event of a global catastrophe-- and doomsday has finally arrived.

Both he and Charlie Brewer work at a facility where secret government experiments are carried out, experiments that are classified even to them. Then the plague breaks loose, and hell arrives on earth.

Rafe and Charlie must band together to stay alive in a world where flesh-eating zombies hunt humankind. But the plague victims aren’t the worst Rafe and Charlie have to worry about. Government radicals are devoted to silencing the last witness to the cause of the plague by killing everyone who worked in that facility-- including Rafe and Charlie.

Rafe must do everything he can to keep Charlie hidden. But the chances of them surviving in the wild alone are slim… especially while being tracked down by American mercenaries.

Only the strong will remain. To outlast the plague, they must stay ALIVE.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2018

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About the author

Courtney Konstantin

16 books260 followers
As a child, Courtney always had aspirations of being a writer. She participated in journalism in school. At home, she wrote short stories, poetry and filled diary pages. Somewhere along the line becoming an adult took priority over her writing and she went to work in business operations.

Now as a mother to three beautiful children, she tells them all the time to follow their dreams, be whatever they want. Those lessons reminded her how much she loved writing. She finally opened the door to making writing a real priority in her life.

Living outside of Portland, Oregon she loves the green and beauty Oregon offers. When she’s not matching wits with her children, her crazy Siberian Husky or her bi-polar cats, she enjoys binge reading, hikes and touring wineries. Courtney and her husband, the love of her life, enjoy traveling the world whenever they can get a free moment. And cruises….she loves cruising. She’s especially fond of life, laughter and sarcasm – and she’s excited to share all of that and more with her readers!

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5 stars
632 (61%)
4 stars
291 (28%)
3 stars
96 (9%)
2 stars
8 (<1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Profile Image for Erica Hernandez.
245 reviews5 followers
July 30, 2019
Compelling read

Great characters with integrity and planning. The story pulls you in from the start, keeping your interest to the end. The only hang ups are editing glitches that weren’t discovered before publishing, some of which make the characters sound less intelligent.
Profile Image for Adam.
381 reviews58 followers
April 25, 2023
Every book in the Sundown series by Courtney Konstantin is highly rated (some of them are over 4.5 stars on Goodreads), most of the reviews are stellar ("Best series ever!" etc), but like... honestly? They're pretty awful. Alive is no different. We see extremely basic zombie apocalypse tropes in every book; this time we follow Rafe's story as he witnesses Patient Zero and the ensuing mess. Perhaps the weakest plot point in this book is the romance, which occurs at roughly the 95% mark. Because of course people will end up together in the apocalypse despite never showing any sexual interest in one another prior to this point! Ugh.

What particularly bothers me about this series is how poorly they're written, and the absolutely appalling editing. When you can't go a page without seeing messed up participles or missing commas - that's a problem.

Two examples of poor grammar/writing in this book:
1. From early in the book:
"He's gonna to be dinner, not a friend," Rafe said. That only caused Charlie to laugh again and clutch her stomach. Her laughter was infectious and Rafe even had to smile along with her.

2. From the acknowledgments (istg this is real):
Thank goodness for a fantastic editor that keeps my comma mess to a minimum!. [continues on thanking this person]

So, why am I reading this series? Well, there's no thinking required; it's non-stop action; and I want to read about zombies, damn it. I really don't recommend it but I'm still going to finish the series, so take that as you will.
Profile Image for XR.
1,901 reviews101 followers
December 19, 2020
Fcuk yeah, Storm's the best! It's about time we were introduced to a good doggo in the Sundown series. Plus, Rafe and Charlie are just so cute together... and adding Aiden! This is so good.
Profile Image for Bobbi Wagner.
4,468 reviews46 followers
December 4, 2018
This is a post-apocalyptic suspense thriller that left me sitting on the edge of my seat. I will be checking out other books by this author. This is a story about survival, zombies, and has a science fiction feel to it. It is a story that is easy flowing and the action just kept coming. Rafe and Charlie work in at a facility where Government experiments are done but now someone is out to silence anyone working there. I highly recommend reading this book to see who survives
Profile Image for Shellie Brewer.
193 reviews15 followers
December 10, 2018
Increfible

I read this so slow because I did not want it to end. I believed it was the last book but with a ending like that there has to be more books. I love reading about this family. I loved the individual books on each one but love the story of them together. Incredible writing and story telling and now one of my favorite authors.
Profile Image for Mary Mitchell.
759 reviews5 followers
March 31, 2024
Amazing

This book in the series was amazing. I absolutely loved getting to read Rafe’s story and the origin story of the virus. This was a great book in this incredible series.
Profile Image for Pam Shelton-Anderson.
1,843 reviews61 followers
November 29, 2019
This book was a decent story of the start of the virus and we learn a lot more about the people who engineered this. Surely there is a better way to dominate the country. The common usage of the military as the bad guys kind of gets old. There also seemed to be more writing errors in this book that a good editor could have managed. I have also come to dislike Max who is shrill, rude and entitled. If you don't have good people skills, just be quiet, Max. I will likely keep going to the next book in the hope of seeing the Suit get what is coming to him.
Profile Image for Marcie Pfeifer.
117 reviews2 followers
April 12, 2019
I loved it

I'm super sad I've reached the end of the series and have to wait for more (I hope more are coming out!)! Please clean up the grammar, spelling, and punctuation though. There were way too many errors.
Profile Image for Angela.
6,460 reviews86 followers
December 4, 2018
5 Stars

Alive is the third thrilling instalment in the Sundown Series by Courtney Konstantin. This is a brilliant zombie, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic story with heart pounding action, drama, danger, government experiments, a plague, and a fight for survival. I am not kidding when I say I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of this story. The book is intense- and Ms. Konstantin took me on an adventure I won’t soon forget. There are a LOT of Zombie/apocalyptic stories that have made the rounds over the past few years, but this one is an original take on Zombie lore- easily pulling me in and keeping so totally engrossed that I lost all sense of time and place. I was in a page-flipping frenzy, desperately needing to know what was on the next page, and in store for the characters. Completely absorbed by the story, I finished it in one sitting. I am still thinking about it several hours later! Now that’s a sign of a great story and a superb author!
Ms. Konstantin has a vividly descriptive style that brought every scene to life. I was right there, in amongst the action, fighting for survival! The story is so gripping, gruesome, and disturbing- but at the same time there is a depth to the story and the multi-dimensional characters, that really sets this book apart from others in the same genre.
This is my first read from Ms. Konstantin- and even though this could be read as a standalone, it is abundantly clear that there is so much more to know, and that has made me even more intrigued by this fantastic story/series. I will definitely be going back to read the first two books, as well!
Honestly, if you love a thrilling read, Zombie/apocalyptic/survival stories with a gripping, well-written plot, and incredibly interesting characters- then this book should on your TBR! It’s a definite ‘must read’!
Addictive reading! Can’t wait for more!

Thank you, Ms. Konstantin!
Profile Image for Laura Furuta.
2,047 reviews28 followers
December 4, 2018
Alive (Sundown Series Book 3)
By: Courtney Konstantin
5 out of 5 stars

The story Alive (Sundown Series Book 3) by Courtney Konstantin is a thrilling book that I loved reading. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world where those who become infected with a plague turn into flesh-eating zombies. This story had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. It is suspenseful and at times I had to remind myself to breathe. I loved reading about the characters of Rafe and Charlie. They both work at a facility where secret experiments are being conducted. A plague has started to turn anyone it infects and they find themselves in a world that has been turned upside-down and in chaos. They also find themselves pursued by mercenaries. Will Rafe and Charlie be able to survive both the zombies and those who are hunting them down? Read this book to find out. This story does an amazing job in making you feel like you are right there with the characters and experiencing what they do. I could feel the fear that they have when facing those who are infected. Charlie is a beautiful, smart, and strong woman. She is driven to prove that she can be an equal partner to Rafe, not just a responsibility. Rafe is a man that is determined to keep alive and also protect Charlie. He is someone who is caring and will defend himself and others. There are other additional characters that are introduced in the story and I enjoyed reading about the part that they play and their interactions with Charlie and Rafe. I absolutely love post-apocalyptic tales of survival and this book is an example of why. It is well-written and you won’t want to put it down until you read the last page. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Jenni Bishop.
4,851 reviews52 followers
January 4, 2019
Alive (Sundown Series Book 3) by Courtney Konstantin is a thrilling sci fi, post apocalyptic, suspense story that had me on the edge of my seat, all the way through. I am not normally a zombie lover, but this story is unique and different in it’s telling and the plot and whilst it has walking dead, it’s focus is on how it came about and the people and their fight for survival.

This tale is definitely intense and will have your heart pumping and your fight or flight instincts kicking in and I had to remind myself to breathe, as I traversed my way around the action and danger, drama and twists and turns. Courtney’s story is an original twist and is so engrossing. Her vivid writing style, is so descriptive that it truly feels like you are the one fighting and trying to survive. I had to read it all in one go, I had to keep turning the pages because I had to know, I needed to know, I had to witness it first hand. Trust me when I say you will continue to think about it long after you have turned the last page and long after darkness has set, when you are looking in the shadows.

Rafe and Charlie have gone from normal to chaos and fighting to survive, but it’s not just the walking dead they have to worry about. Will they be able to survive the true evil that is after them?

I have not read anything by Courtney before, now I have to go back and read the first two books and scout around to see what else she has written because her word smithing is superb. This is definitely my favourite read so far for the new year.

If you love a thrilling, gory tale that is gruesome, is disturbing, is disgusting and intensely gripping, then this is one that should be on your reading list.
Profile Image for Krystal Gregory.
253 reviews4 followers
January 5, 2019
Alive, Book 3 in the Sundown Series by Courtney Konstantin
4 out of 5 stars

This book hits all the right notes that a book should. This book is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the end of the world is not brought on by mother nature, but by the meddling of mankind. When a virus runs rampant through humanity, causing those who are infected to turn into flesh eating zombies, it turns into a race against the clock for survival. Our main characters, Rafe, (bad A** and one overall tough dude) and Charle, (whip smart, hot chick lab scientist) are on the run from those who are infected. Rafe is determined to get to his sisters and keep Charlie alive in the process. Charlie is strong, smart and is determined to prove to Rafe that she is his equal and can help him, and is not a liability.

Things change as they are venturing on when Rafe and Charlie discover they are being hunted, not only by zombies, but by mercenaries. Will they survive? You will have to read this book and the first two in this series. This book is amazing. Incredibly detailed and the plot is beyond fantastic. Konstantin has proven herself to be an incredible author and I cannot wait to read more novels by her,
Profile Image for E.A..
951 reviews27 followers
January 6, 2019
Alive (Sundown Series Book 3) by Courtney Konstantin was a spine tingling, post-apocalyptic thriller that had me on the edge on my seat.

My first read by this author, I was pulled in by not only the cover but by the raving reviews. This book is part of a series, but you can read this one as a standalone. But I do wish I read the other books first because I believe I missed some character development and background info. But I will be going back and checking them out, because I love the world that this author has created.

I was pulled in right away, and for someone that is picking about their zombie books, I have to say I was impressed and loved every minute of this heart pounding read. I loved the attention to detail and how the author managed to instill fear into me. The suspense was thick and the situations were terrifying. I love the constant surprises and the raw emotions that the characters portrayed as the zombies closed in.

Overall this book will probably give me nightmares, so it gets my super high recommendation and of course, my stamp of approval.

Happy Reading

-E.A. Walsh
413 reviews
December 4, 2018
Alive (Sundown Series Book 3)
By Courtney Konstantin

Alive is the last book in the Sundown Series by Courtney Konstantin. This is not my usual genre of reads but I have to say after the first chapter this book did hold my interest and for the most part had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was or wasn’t going to happen. I also think I need to go get books one and two, so I know the whole story. What plans do you make when doomsday has arrived? Rafe and Charlie must now make these plans and hope they survive. The world as the humans now know it must fight against flesh eating zombies, where only the strongest would survive. Rafe and Charlie however not only had the flesh-eating zombies to worry about but also the Government radicals to take into account. The Government Radicals were after everyone who worked at Rafes family’s facility and that included Charlie and Rafe. Will Rafe and Charlie survive both the Zombies and the Radicals? Grab the book and find out, you won’t be disappointed it really is worth the read.
Profile Image for Erica Fish.
992 reviews2 followers
December 5, 2018
Alive is the first book that I have read by Courtney Konstantin and it will not be my last. She is an artist when it comes from her background scenery to her detail organization of her characters. I was so enthralled with this story that I found it very difficult to put it down. This is a sci-fi, zombie, a post-apocalyptic thrill that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I will admit when I was reading the jacket of this book that I was leery because of the zombie angle, but I was wrong as this zombie book is different than all the other books out there. The main characters are Rafe Duncan and Charlie Brewer. They work in a secret government facility. The plague breaks out in the facility and Rafe and Charlie has bigger problems. The zombies are hungry, the plague is killing everyone, and there is a group of government radicals who are on a mission to have everyone dead who worked in the secret facility. Will Rafe and Charlie be able to remain alive or will the zombies or government radicals find them first?
352 reviews1 follower
January 1, 2019
A great read about events unravelling. Rafe Duncan works for security in a government science facility. When he helps doctor Charlie off the road, and she is burgled she stays at his house with reluctance. But when events unravel at work ,suddenly they have to stick together for survival. Can they make it?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns. Well developed characters like Charlie standing up for herself but kind underneath or Rafae as strong and silent but kind underneath.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel like with the natural imagery of the snow in the dawn light or the forest and mountains as a something beautiful and calming with the cows. And also the use of the senses in particular to sounds with unnerving silences and horror filled pops and cracks later on.
I loved the mix of realism with the doctors and sci fi with the apoclapyse combining together to perfection Fast paced action with high stakes made for a captivating read. Overall, a great read and I would give it five stars.
Profile Image for Lisa.
3,433 reviews16 followers
January 10, 2019
Alive (Sundown Series Book 3)
By Courtney Konstantin
Rated 5 stars!!!!

Wow! Wow! Wow! I loved this story for so many reasons! This book is written so well. It’s smooth and has such a nice flow to it. The story is action packed and highly addictive! It held me captivated and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Many times while reading I find myself saying or thinking “No! Don’t go back to town!” Or “Stay away from there!” But sadly they didn’t listen to me. Each of the characters has a nice quality about them. Whether it be the main one, a secondary or even the dog. They were all well thought out and beautifully done. Even the relationships between the characters is done superbly.

You know the saying “ I love it when a story comes together”? This one is all that! From the writing, to the characters, to the story they all blend so nicely for a great finished product. This is a first time author for me. I will gladly check out her other books and I will be reading the first two in this series! I am now interested in the girls stories and wondering where the author will take this story next. I highly recommend this book.

PS Great cover!
Profile Image for Emily Goodman.
1,070 reviews37 followers
September 10, 2021
The Duncan brother finally gets his storyline after his two sisters. By now Konstantin really has upped her storytelling game. While we have ventured through the apocalypse with his sisters, we are now seeing what happened in small town Montana near the compound. Surprisingly enough, this is where it all starts.
Rafe has been working security for a laboratory where Charlie, a scientist/doctor, has been working on pathogens. When both begin to doubt their company's best practices, they somehow end up on the run together through not only infected, but enemy territory.

Rafe's story is adrenaline filled as he keeps Charlie safe. Montana as safe as it should be seems a little more jumpy, a little more frightening than the sisters could have realized. Konstantin does a great job of bringing the Duncan siblings full circle, while holding true to the previous timelines and storylines of each character. As the Sundown Series continues, Konstantin reveals more and more of her new world to engage readers.
2,799 reviews25 followers
December 4, 2018
Alive by Courtney Konstantin is the third book in the Sundown Series. This book can be read as a stand-alone.
Everything about this book intrigued me from the moment I read the blurb. It sounded exactly like the kind of book I enjoy and I have to say it certainly did not disappoint in entertaining.
This book is fast paced, intense and was so enthralling it had me on the edge of my seat. There were times when I could feel my heart beating so hard that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I absolutely had to know what was going to happen next.
It really felt like you were there with the characters, fighting alongside them every step of the way.
While this book can be read as a stand-alone - it is the first book I have read by this author - I can see how it would be beneficial to read the previous books in this series. I know I will be going straight back to read them! This was a brilliant book and one I can say I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Pam Nelson.
3,651 reviews113 followers
July 25, 2022
Yay we got Rafe's book.

I was so glad we did, I like that he just knew even without talking to his sisters they were coming. The way they grew up it was a bond. And something like the end of the world happening he just knew they were going to come.

When Charlie comes into his life at the time I wasn't sure how this was going to work. I mean the fact that she knew something was right before it all started. And was already trying to do her part to make sure others knew what was going on.
Who knew there were people out there who just want power the way The Major and this Suit fella.

When Charlie and Rafe have no other option but to run, and when they find the little guy man I wasn't sure. Like what made this author think each one needs kids at a time like this. Ha ha..

But it works and I LOVED when the sisters were like no we need to go find Rafe.
SO much happens in this book.

Another great performance by this narrator.
Profile Image for Katie.
2,260 reviews15 followers
January 4, 2019
Alive (Sundown Series Book 3)
By Courtney Konstantin
4 stars

Ok so being totally honest I was not sure about this book at all – it is completely out of my comfort zone for reading, I’m more of a romance kind of girl but I had seen a few friends say how good it was so I thought I would give it a go. I am so glad I gave it go, have I been converted to post-apocalyptic, zombie stories, probably not but I cannot fault the authors writing at all. The story was exciting, full of action and I found myself wanting to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen. At times it almost felt like I was reading about a movie, the authors descriptive language was great and the story rich in detail. I really felt like I was right there with Rafe and Charlie as they tried to survive.
An exciting 4 star read that I would definitely recommend.
1,888 reviews15 followers
January 6, 2019
5Star
Alive (Sundown Series Book3)by Courtney Konstantin is the third book in the Sundown Series . This story will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what is going to happen next. While this book is set in a post Apocalyptic world, if you get infected with the plague you will turn into a flesh-eating zombie. Charlie and Rafe both work at a place where secret experiments are being conducted. What will happen when the plague breaks out and everyone who is infected finds themselves in a world that’s been turned upside? What will Charlie and Rafe do,can they survive the zombies and their hunters?
Find out what happens next with these two and the other characters. I highly recommend reading this thrilling and suspenseful book.Im definitely going to be reading more by this Author.

Profile Image for Michelle Austin.
2,786 reviews41 followers
January 6, 2019
Alive was a thrilling 4 star read and book three in the Sundown series.
This isn’t my usual type of read however, I was pulled in right from the beginning, this is a zombie, post-apocalyptic themed story that has lots of danger, action and so much more.

Rafe and Charlie work at a facility that does top secret testing. After a plague breaks out in the facility they find themselves fighting for their lives from several entities. Both characters are strong in their own ways. There are several twists and turns.

Will these two be able to find safety before it's too late?

Courtney Konstantin does a great job with her detail in the story, I felt like I was right there with the characters. This is my first read from her and it was great. I look forward to reading more. If you like post-apocalyptic zombie stories you will like this book.
Profile Image for Pamellia.
228 reviews
June 20, 2021
A favorite?

Maybe its just because Rafe is a male with an angelic name. I mean really, I think Rafe could fight right along with the angels and kick Satan's butt right back to hell. I like all the siblings actually. Callahan and The Suit are a bit corney, almost cartoonist. But I am dealing with it. And what about the dog, Storm? Old man Duncan reincarnated? This dog understands all commands from everyone. I gotta think that dog is toting their dad's spirit one way or the other. I am going to be really angry with the author is that dog dies. So far Storm us my favorite character. Not sure I will be able to finish this whole series, but the books are short. I enjoyed this book, but rarely give a zombie book more than three stars. I would recommend this series to someone who enjoys zombie books.
Profile Image for Candida Hopper.
773 reviews11 followers
December 5, 2018
Alive (Sundown Series Book 3)
By Courtney Konstantin

Omg this book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!!! There was danger and action throughout the entire story. I could not put this book down until I found out what happened. The author did an amazing job making me feel like I was right along for the ride. I became completely invested in the main characters Rafe and Charlie. I haven't read the first two books in this series and I was able to follow along with it any trouble, but now that I have read this book I am absolutely going to go read the first two. This is the first book I have read by this author and I am so glad I did because I can't say enough great things about this book, it was riveting and the attention to detail was awesome. I highly recommend this book.
562 reviews26 followers
December 25, 2018
All together...

I like the way this series has played out so far. I can understand the character better. It shows their strengths & weakness and the things most important to them. It shows a strong family unit & lessons learned will make all the difference in their survival.
Lots of action with some unruly evil men. They want Charlie ( Rafe's) new friend...a doctor who might know more about this virus than she realizes.
Enjoy the battles..maybe not militarily correct, but hey, this is fiction. Too many military explanations are boring! I like the author's version, her story, her military...right?
I'm really looking forward to the next book. They are all together now, want to see which direction Courtney is taking us...😊









Profile Image for Sheri.
865 reviews4 followers
January 6, 2019
Alive by Courtney Konstantin is the third book in the Sundown Series. This can be read as a standalone. Rafe Duncan and Charlie Brewer are the main characters and work in a secret government facility. There is a virus and when humans become exposed become flesh eating zombies. Rafe and Charlie are fighting to survive against the zombies as well as mercenaries who are after them.
This is the first book I have read in the series and was blown away. I was taken into a strange existence and kept in suspene the whole book. The descriptions and characters are great. I really enjoyed the entire book and will be grabbing the first two books in the series. If you like a book with suspense, drama, and a great story you will enjoy this book.
14 reviews
December 17, 2018
Waiting for this

Omg!! I have been waiting for this book when I stumbled upon this series about 6 mos ago. I read the 1st two back to back and fell in love quickly. This apocalyptic world and break down of our world is so real minus the zombies-maybe? The crumbling of society and how bad things get so fast is sadly true. However I love this zombie plague and government conspiracy twist. Totally believable! Lol. We finally get to see how this started and if Rafe really did have anything to do with it. We catch up with Alex and Max and the other survivors. It's fighting for survival and zombies! What's not to love. I want more plz!!!
Profile Image for Abigail Hammond.
Author 3 books26 followers
June 5, 2024
My new life goal is to become Alex Duncan.

Anyway, this book was great. I was sucked in immediately just like the first two. Once again, I’m really impressed with the author’s skill at creating distinct female characters. Charlie’s personality was different from both Alex and Max, and I absolutely loved her just like the other two. Rafe was a solid lead and I liked how his personality made him a good balancer for the rest of the group.

I am absolutely terrified of the emotional damage I know is coming in the next three books but I’m too invested to quit now 😤

Also, Max and Alex bickering is freaking hilarious and I love them.

ON TO BOOK FOUR. 🫡

PS: WHY, TAMMY? WHY??
Profile Image for Shannon.
816 reviews3 followers
December 5, 2018
What a great story! If you like end of the world, rotten government, zombie type stories then this book is one you should go one click right away. Even though it says book 3, know that these books do not have to be read in order to be understood or enjoyed.

Rafe and Charlie just want to survive. No-one needs survival more than these characters!

Alive is the first book I have read by Konstantin but will not be the last. She had me on the edge of my seat starting on the first page. I look forward to reading the other books in this series and suggest you go one click today.
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