Reviews

When the Dead by Michelle Kilmer

gorybmovie's review

4.0

Originally posted on Books are Delicious!

Kilmer is honest and unflinching in her exploration of ordinary people forced to rely on one another to survive.

The tenants of Willow Brook are not Brad Pitt with the flowing hair and the perfect family. They are desperate and at times ugly but then who wouldn’t be in this situation? For some, the struggle to retain one’s humanity is greater than the struggle to survive.

Tom Vaughn, for one, is a misogynistic drunk, but there were many points in the novel where I rooted for him, laughed at his dark humor, or found his sporadic and unexpected compassion endearing.

When the Dead delivers chilling horror and leaves readers asking themselves if they have what it takes to survive the apocalypse, and if so, at what cost?

One of the more realistic and gritty zombie survival stories I have read. A must-read for horror fans.

To see more of my reviews, visit my blog Books are Delicious!

shelflife's review

3.0

An ambitious zombie tale about several residents in an apartment building who barely know each other, find themselves trapped in their building when the zombie apocalypse hits. Rather than take their chances leaving, they decide to see if they can create their own little community within the building itself.

You have folks in many stages of their lives with a multitude of personalities within. I, personally had trouble getting past the fact that these were people I never got to care about deep enough to care if they died, turned or died again. Sadly I think The Walking Dead has just ruined me with regards to the survivors aspect of this particular genre.

It is a good effort for a budding author, but I think she will need more practice in unspooling a story as I found this one to be bouncy and inconsistent in many parts. The characters were not terribly developed. We stayed in current situation never knowing these people before made it hard to see where they really began and how they diminished. Also, some people make choices based on who they are, which is something we never really get know either.

Example, Tom Vaughn. A horrible human being to begin with. Someone who can kill efficiently, hates women and only uses them for one thing, is cruel, seems to have had a family at one time however thats all you get. What made this man this way? Was he always like that? Why was he sometimes helpful and other times just horrid? A complex character that went no where. This is just one example

Overall, it was a fast, entertaining read. But I'm sure there are better zombie books.