I have always had a love for books. I get it from my late grandmother. As much as I enjoy sitting down and watching a good film, nothing quite compares to time spent reading a well-written book.
A novel that is written well, I believe, should allow the reader to develop cinematic images in their head while reading. Dead City is a fantastically written book. The story vividly developed in my head as if it were projected on a movie screen.
Joe McKinney captures the true essence of what makes a truly good zombie story. I found it quite entertaining and difficult to put this one down; each page pulling me further into the story.
You have all of the usual elements of a zombie tale: plenty of gore, the apocalyptic world, hords of relentless blood-thirsty zombies, and one or more main characters fighting to survive. What makes this book stand out from the flood of zombie novels that have sprung up over the last few years is the depth to which McKinney develops the main character, Eddie Hudson, and his journey throughout the novel.
Just an average, regular guy working as a police officer during the late-night shift, he soon finds himself in a fight for survival as he struggles to make it back to his wife and son. We are introduced to several minor characters during his journey and easily grow to like Eddie and root for him as we read further.
We learn that the Texas Gulf Coast has been battered by five cataclysmic hurricanes in a few short weeks. Thousands are dead or dying. Amid the wreckage, a deadly virus is spreading. The dead are coming back to life with an insatiable hunger for human flesh and within hours the entire state of Texas is at its mercy. Police Officer Eddie Hudson witnesses the destruction of his city as it is overrun by an army of living dead. Along with a small group of survivors, he is determined to fight the undead to make it back to his family. Eddie knows the odds don't look good. He knows he has to find a way to destroy these zombies, to stop the virus...but what price will he have to pay?
McKinney has a talent for spinning an interesting tale and character development. I look forward to reading more from this author.
"When the man I had just beanbagged stood up, turned, and faced me again, I felt my heart sink down into my stomach. People just don't do that." - pg. 21
No comments:
Post a Comment