Scan barcode
A review by brennanlafaro
Where the Dead Go to Die by Aaron Dries, Mark Allan Gunnells
4.0
Tired of zombie stories? They’re all the same and no one has anything new to say in that particular sub-genre? I get it. I’ve read two books in recent memory that had something new to say and didn’t just involve hordes of mindless brain-munchers overwhelming a gritty group of survivors. One of those books was River of Souls by T.L.Bodine. and this is the other - the brainchild of authors Mark Allan Gunnells and Aaron Dries.
What really separates Where the Dead Go to Die from other zombie lit is that it’s not really about the zombies. It’s a story that takes place post-apocalypse and sure, zombies are involved, but the main focus is on the people. Especially those working in the care ward where, well, I guess where the dead go to die. A type of hospice care to help future zombies transition from infected to undead with dignity and love.
Dries and Gunnells craft a world where zealots gather outside the hospice, protesting and resisting empathy, not trying to hide the resemblance to pro-lifers gathered outside a family planning clinic. In this bleak world - I mean it’s the zombie apocalypse, and this is the best thing you have to do? - the story focuses on the people who pass the protestors every day to bring a bit of humanity to the newly infected and doomed people living there.
The story focuses on Emily, a new nurse on the ward and a transplant from warmer climes, but for me, and seemingly blatant by the authors, it’s Robby we immediately invest in. The back cover doesn’t tell you why, so I won’t go into it either, but suffice it to say if you become emotionally invested in your horror when children are involved, this one knows precisely which buttons to push.
To my great shame, I haven’t read enough Gunnells to know how much of his style makes its way into this book, but Dries is certainly on display here. Situations and plot themes that are far from surface level, as well as shocking gore when might least expect it point an accusatory finger at the Aussie author. Despite my lack of expertise of Gunnells’ style, there are no points in the story where changes of voice or style are jarring. Rather the story flows seamlessly all the way through.
Emotionally charged with depth and a lot to say, Where the Dead Go to Die is a poignant piece of holiday horror that doesn’t need to be read in December. I’m putting it here to keep myself honest, I’ll be checking out more of Mark Allan Gunnells’ work.
What really separates Where the Dead Go to Die from other zombie lit is that it’s not really about the zombies. It’s a story that takes place post-apocalypse and sure, zombies are involved, but the main focus is on the people. Especially those working in the care ward where, well, I guess where the dead go to die. A type of hospice care to help future zombies transition from infected to undead with dignity and love.
Dries and Gunnells craft a world where zealots gather outside the hospice, protesting and resisting empathy, not trying to hide the resemblance to pro-lifers gathered outside a family planning clinic. In this bleak world - I mean it’s the zombie apocalypse, and this is the best thing you have to do? - the story focuses on the people who pass the protestors every day to bring a bit of humanity to the newly infected and doomed people living there.
The story focuses on Emily, a new nurse on the ward and a transplant from warmer climes, but for me, and seemingly blatant by the authors, it’s Robby we immediately invest in. The back cover doesn’t tell you why, so I won’t go into it either, but suffice it to say if you become emotionally invested in your horror when children are involved, this one knows precisely which buttons to push.
To my great shame, I haven’t read enough Gunnells to know how much of his style makes its way into this book, but Dries is certainly on display here. Situations and plot themes that are far from surface level, as well as shocking gore when might least expect it point an accusatory finger at the Aussie author. Despite my lack of expertise of Gunnells’ style, there are no points in the story where changes of voice or style are jarring. Rather the story flows seamlessly all the way through.
Emotionally charged with depth and a lot to say, Where the Dead Go to Die is a poignant piece of holiday horror that doesn’t need to be read in December. I’m putting it here to keep myself honest, I’ll be checking out more of Mark Allan Gunnells’ work.