Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

"I Am Automaton" by Edward P. Cardillo is the story of two brothers, Carl and Peter Birdsall, both eager to serve their country despite how their country serves them. Our story begins with a high action scene. Ten highly trained military men led by Command Sergeant Major Peter Birdsall are in Tijuana, Mexico. US Special Forces had recently trained the Navajas so that they could assist the Mexican government in fighting the drug cartel. Some of the Navajas became the drug cartel. Someone had tipped off the Navajas; they knew the elite team was coming. Several members of Birdsall’s team were quickly picked off by a sniper. After being taken captive, Birdsall was saved by an unlikely character. Upon his return to the US he was informed of a new assignment but all he wanted was another chance at the Navajas. His next assignment would be the ID Program (Insidious Drone Program.) He had no idea the nightmare he was walking into.

Edward P. Cardillo offers readers a great read filled with action, thrills, danger, fear, horror and a touch of romance. The pace is fast and the action tight. This reader was horrified at the torture of the Navajas and even more horrified at the monsters in the ID unit. Cardillo managed to create a nightmare that I won’t soon forget; I am not easily frightened but Cardillo left me checking in the closets and under the bed. I can easily imagine a government using such a biological weapon as the ID Project. I liked Carl and Peter; they are the central characters, courageous, quick thinking, intelligent and loyal. Zombies has become a very popular subject matter in our culture almost to the point of needing its own genre. Cardillo has a unique style of incorporating them into his tale. Well done!