Red Hill: A Novel

Written by Jamie McGuire

Narrated by Emma Galvin, January LaVoy and Zachary Webber

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Disaster—soon to be a major motion picture!

When the world ends, can love survive?

For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone means fighting for tomorrow is an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.

When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?

Red Hill grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until its stunning conclusion. This is #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire at her unforgettable best.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781442368811

Jamie McGuire

Jamie McGuire nació en Tulsa. Vivió con su madre en Blackwell, donde se graduó de secundaria en 1997. Asistió al Northern Oklahoma College, la Universidad Central de Oklahoma, y al Autry Technology Center, donde se graduó en Radiografía. Jamie vive ahora en Enid con sus tres hijos y su esposo Jeff. Es la autora de la serie «Beautiful», que hasta la fecha se compone de Maravilloso desastre, Inevitabledesastre y Un desastre es para siempre y de la serie «Los hermanos Maddox», que se inicia con Maravilloso error, todos ellos publicados por Suma.

Reviews for Red Hill

[verkruissen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pretty good for a zombie apocalypse themed story. I liked Scarlet's character and that she got her survival skills by watching zombie movies with her kids. The story's main focus seemed to center more on the relationship between all of the people who ended up gathering at the remote home of Scarlet's employer than the actual apocalypse. So for those of you who are all about the Walking Dead this may be a little tame. There's also some romance which for me just distracts from the story line but it didn't deter me from the story. Overall a good book, not sure if it's part of a series but as a stand alone it works.

[Sarah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book so much. The way the characters and events intertwine. McGuire is such an amazing author

[gigisiriereads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Red Hill reads like a very terrifying movie but at the pace of a well written book. I liked how the progression of the story was paced with care and restraint. I was anxious reading it, knowing that the proverbial shit could hit the fan at any moment and was a bit creeped out by just the build up of the story. When things did hit the fan, I felt the intensity of the moment and the terror that the characters might be feeling. The scary aspect of the story was very well timed and detailed.

Great world building and character development, liked the different POV's from the three significant characters. They grew as the story progressed, I liked that they rose to the situation and were kick ass Zombie hunters. I say Zombie because I don't want to give away the names of the walking dead the characters came up with in the book. I think all the names fit, I especially liked Zoe's. Speaking of Zoe, I thought that little girl was the fiercest of all the characters. She was not whiny and very mature, it shows how resilient children are.

It really was interesting to see all these characters with six degrees of separation ultimately converge in one place basically strangers coming together for a common goal; survival.

The saddest part was experiencing Scarlet's desire of wanting to see her girls again. It was so sad, it had me thinking as a mother; would I give up or keep hanging on to the possibly unrealistic hope that my child/children is alive and will find me? I also liked that the romances made sense to what they were all going through and it wasn't just there for show.

Red Hill was scary, sad, action packed, had intensity, believe it or not a little funny and an overall great story about a bunch of people trying to find their way in a new scary world. It is a wonderfully terrifying journey with characters to root for.

[myckyee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sad, scary and just a bit hopeful. Can't say I realized what this book was about before I started reading it - I liked it for its cover and the promise of suspense in the blurb on the back. But I did not think of all the possibilities of the word 'outbreak' could mean. In any case I don't think I will be reading another novel in this genre anytime soon.

[Christina burkey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Little bit of spoilers


Ok..... so ... this book is worth 5 stars she did a fantastic job on it ??‍♀️ that being said my enjoyment of it was a 1 ? I keep saying to myself I'm going to stop listening.... I listen while at work ... I had to tell myself 3 times don't get teary eyed ? I have 4 kids 6 and under and I get that in a zombie apocalypse there odds are low but listening and knowing kids are going to die ? made my heart hurt and I just kept visualizing my babies ?.. and I get alot of people wont make it so when she killed off certain people I understood that also ... witch is why even though I will never !!!! Ever want to read this book again it is an amazing book she did a good job with being honest even the horrible parts of what would legitimately happen
Just readers beware ?

[Amy Kristin Young · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely fantastic! Wasn't sure how I would like the whole end of the world type story/zombies. I love paranormal though....so I gave it a try. It was great! Highly recommend. Some romance in there too.

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Yes, they’re zombies! No, this is not a horror novel. It is an apocalyptic story that narrates the story of a group of people that were acquainted with each other that ended up in the same place. New relationships were created. Old relationships were tested. Love and new beginnings in unexpected circumstances were formed. Some parts were wordy but the suspense and story-line would have you at the edge of your seat and fill you with emotions

[Eni-sun · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Are you looking for a book that doesn't paint happy endings, told from different perspectives, apocalyptic? Well... I've got it for you, RED HILL, is a raw, devastating story and the end of the world as we know it cannot promise good scenarios. Despair, anger, and helplessness play a leading role in this story, each of the characters is wonderful, the plot surprised me, not cliché at all, a gem of a book, you must read it, a lot of emotions, mostly distressing, the producers of The Walking Dead should have taken notes, this is how a story is written and projected at the end of the world or the beginning of a new one, filled with zombies.

Reminding us that we should not only be wary of the living dead. (Translated from Spanish)

[JannyLuJatzon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a horror book, but it's more of a romantic book that also has a mix of feelings and is full of emotions.

Well, I actually think I'm not explaining myself well because besides having reader's block, I think I also have writer's block for reviews.

What I want to say is that our story starts with a zombie virus that suddenly unleashes the apocalypse; we will see the entire development from the perspective of three characters: Sacarlet, Miranda, and Nathan.

The beginning of the book was somewhat shocking for me; I had never read anything about zombies and the idea of dead people eating living people really disturbed me. But the truth is that as the book progresses, what matters least are the zombies; as I said, it's a story full of emotions where we mainly see the reactions of human beings in the face of chaos and the Apocalypse. It has a very fast pace, something is always happening, it's exciting, and it brings you to tears occasionally. The characters are well developed, although of course, some you like better than others, and I must say that we know some have to die and we might not like the author's choices; I have to admit that it made me want to hit her at the end of the book, but... I must say that despite this, I really liked the book, especially because it was kind to my poor overloaded brain. Highly recommended. (Translated from Spanish)

[MaiteGil · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is another one of those books that, despite wanting to read it, remained in my to-read pile, and it came out thanks to a group reading. Opinion from January 2018.

No one pays attention to the rumors of a plague coming from Europe, and when they realize it, the epidemic has spread throughout the United States. People get sick, become violent, and attack others who do the same. People must find safety before they themselves are attacked. In this story, we will discover the struggle for survival of various groups of people, some of whom will intersect during their escape.

The book is narrated in the first person from the perspectives of three characters, and within the same chapter, there can be different narrators, which speeds up the reading and allows you to know various viewpoints of the same event, without being repetitive. You never get lost because everything is properly indicated. Our narrators will be Scarlett, Nathan, and Miranda.

Scarlett is a radiology nurse who leaves her two daughters with her ex-husband to spend the weekend with him. She goes to work on the Friday when everything erupts and will make us participants in the chaos experienced in the initial moments at the hospital where she works. When she realizes what is happening, she tries to find her daughters to take refuge with them in a place she considers safe, the Red Hill ranch owned by a doctor from her hospital.

When the first signs of danger appear, Nathan picks up his daughter from school. Together, they head to a relative's house of his wife to seek refuge together.

On the other hand, we have Miranda, an 18-year-old girl who, along with her older sister and both of their boyfriends, is traveling to Red Hill where she plans to spend the weekend with her father and his partner. The journey will become more complicated and dangerous than they anticipated when they started.

The author has spared us tedious explanations of how the plague developed, and although she recounts it briefly, she goes straight to telling us about the experiences of different survivors. We will get an in-depth understanding of how they feel about the situation, their anguish and desperation, and we will witness their struggle for survival, as well as their hope that a future may exist for them.

We are faced with a zombie novel, so it is logical to expect blood, attacks, and dead bodies, and we will find that, although perhaps to a lesser extent than some would wish. What prevails is the story of how the various characters confront what is happening, their desperation, and their fear. We will discover their priorities and see how sometimes some risk themselves to help their loved ones, while others only help themselves. Unfortunately, we will also discover the ugly side of life, with characters who take advantage of others' misfortunes for their own benefit, and when chaos erupts, such people have an easier time. Despite all the horrible things that happen during the story, there will also be space for love in this book, even if the people involved were not looking for a romance.

The author's narrative style ensures you are never bored, as at the beginning, the stories told by the three narrators follow different rhythms, although you eventually realize that everything is interconnected in some way. The book alternates action with slightly more reflective moments, but the twists in the story keep you interested in discovering what will happen next.

I had my doubts about this book since I had read very varied opinions, but I can tell you that I loved it. I found a novel that hooked me from the first page, kept me on edge, and made me return to reading whenever I had a moment. Despite having little time to read and that I could only read at home since it was in paper format, it lasted me only three days. I hadn’t read the author’s other books because their plots didn't appeal to me, but I had been told that she writes very well. After reading this book, I agree, and I would love to read more of her books, preferably in this style. (Translated from Spanish)

[Pamela Murphy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book has become my favorite of the year so far. When I started reading it, I had no idea I would find such an incredible, entertaining, and well-developed story. I have to confess that I had my doubts about this book since it was written by the same author of the best seller "Beautiful Disaster," a book I read years ago and have terrible memories of. But what a surprise I found with Red Hill; the author's maturity in writing is evident, and she shows a great ability to immerse herself in a new genre. There was nothing I didn't like about Red Hill; I enjoyed the story from beginning to end. One thing I loved and always look for in these types of books is a believable explanation for the beginning of the zombie epidemic, and Red Hill has it. I praise the writer's imagination for explaining the onset of the disease in such a modern and credible way. Above all, what I loved most about this story is the numerous plot twists it has; you never know what will happen, as the author skillfully employs twists, even at the very end, you never quite know what will happen, keeping you in suspense until the very last moment of the story. I sincerely hope you give this book a read; it deserves to be more recognized by horror genre lovers. That's my opinion, but as I always say, read the book and judge for yourselves. (Translated from Spanish)

[ye gomez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My chosen one for Halloween. It's a reread, and although it's a genre that I HATE, it's a book that I loved. I absolutely fell in love with Cooper. I cried oceans with this book, I got very angry, and I yelled at the characters. I know that suspense and other things are of interest to fans of the genre, which the book has, but for this romantic reader, this is the best horror book I've read. It's full of relationships, love triangles, and heartbreak. ❤ (Translated from Spanish)

[Valery777 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's the first book about a zombie apocalypse that I read and it was somewhat disappointing. It's told from various points of view, which makes the reading very light; however, I found the plot somewhat trivial. The main characters are varied and have well-constructed personal stories, yet the focus is not given in the important moments. Some events are very well narrated, others somewhat trivial, and others very unbelievable. (Translated from Spanish)

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found Red Hill by Jamie McGuire to be a mediocre zombie apocalypse novel. The zombie action was satisfying enough and the characters were assorted and well drawn, but the author relied on too many far fetched coincidences that took any suggestion of reality from the story. Also, there was too much stress on “falling in love while the world crumbles around us”.

The first part of the book, as various people are trying to escape the city during a viral outbreak was exciting, but once all the various groups came together at Red Hill Farm, the author didn’t seem able to sustain the story. I think the secret to a good zombie story is to keep up a high level of action so that the reader doesn’t have time to think about any plot holes. Unfortunately once the action in this story levelled off it became monotonous. The author then turned to a rather weak love story to provide interest which didn’t really work for me. I did finish the book but this certainly isn’t a zombie story that I would recommend.

[itsbookishme · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Red Hill reads like a very terrifying movie but at the pace of a well written book. I liked how the progression of the story was paced with care and restraint. I was anxious reading it, knowing that the proverbial shit could hit the fan at any moment and was a bit creeped out by just the build up of the story. When things did hit the fan, I felt the intensity of the moment and the terror that the characters might be feeling. The scary aspect of the story was very well timed and detailed.

Great world building and character development, liked the different POV's from the three significant characters. They grew as the story progressed, I liked that they rose to the situation and were kick ass Zombie hunters. I say Zombie because I don't want to give away the names of the walking dead the characters came up with in the book. I think all the names fit, I especially liked Zoe's. Speaking of Zoe, I thought that little girl was the fiercest of all the characters. She was not whiny and very mature, it shows how resilient children are.

It really was interesting to see all these characters with six degrees of separation ultimately converge in one place basically strangers coming together for a common goal; survival.

The saddest part was experiencing Scarlet's desire of wanting to see her girls again. It was so sad, it had me thinking as a mother; would I give up or keep hanging on to the possibly unrealistic hope that my child/children is alive and will find me? I also liked that the romances made sense to what they were all going through and it wasn't just there for show.

Red Hill was scary, sad, action packed, had intensity, believe it or not a little funny and an overall great story about a bunch of people trying to find their way in a new scary world. It is a wonderfully terrifying journey with characters to root for.

[bookishthings · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’m so happy that Red Hill was the first Jamie McGuire book I’ve read. I absolutely loved it. I’m not one for super romancey books, and this one was right up my ally. The perfect balance of gore and love.

I have to say, I think I connected with this book so much because I am a mom. This is a very strong point in Red Hill, as one of the main characters, Scarlet, is a mother also. She’s a strong woman that loves her children to the moon and back. All of the main characters were exceptional. Even the secondary characters have a place in my heart. The way the characters interacted with each other was great. Everything wasn’t all hey lets outrun the living dead. The characters fought, cried, and loved each other. There were some really strong bonds built within the story.

I also loved the setting. I know it takes place in our time and world, but it was so realistic. McGuire didn’t go into deep detail about the zombies feeding, but the glimpses we got were terrifying. I don’t know what I would do if I were in the situations these people were in, and I think that helps make the book easier to relate with. I would have liked a clear answer about how the epidemic came to be. The explanation was kind of vague.

I loved this book, and I now want to read more of Jamie McGuire’s work.

[robert.zimmermann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’m torn about my feelings for this book. It’s one of the few times (maybe even the first) when I’ve read a book that was a definite 5 star read, one that would be a contender for top book of the year, but then the ending changes that reaction drastically.

For me, Red Hill is a great book. The characters that McGuire writes are very well written and complex. There’s no lack of detail in the setting either. There’s a lot of action when there needs to be and some slower scenes to build up suspense. As I said, about 95% of the book was one of the best I’ve read in awhile, especially in the zombie genre.

It wasn’t until the end that I had a change of attitude. I don’t like picking at a book for a small part of it, but the ending of Red Hill just doesn’t sit right with me. For one thing, it was predictable, especially given the genre, but that can be overlooked if not for a few other factors. Another thing is that it basically turned many of the main characters into secondary characters. It’s not that they were forgotten, instead they were pushed aside to make way for (even though I considered these characters the underlying main attraction) a few to become the major players. Overall, it felt too rushed. The book was very well written and thought out, and then there was a rush to end the book, almost.

Lastly, and I’ll keep this brief, I felt the epilogue didn’t even belong in this book. I can see it as a way to set up an avenue for a sequel…though I feel it’ll be a very different book than this one and much less believable (if we allow room for some “realism” in the zombie genre). It added an interesting concept, but it was out of place for what I’d just read.

Despite the fact that the ending left me not so comfortable calling this one of my favorite books, a majority of it was great. Spectacular even. I can understand why there’s a great buzz around Red Hill. Just be ready for a possible change of heart come the ending, or not, depends on the reader, I guess.

[groundedforlife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. As zombie books go it is not as much about the zombies than it is a love story. There are a few problems with the timeline within the story as well as the characters themselves. Several times I thought why would they do that. But, in the end I was caught up and invested with most of the characters that it didn't matter. I hope for a second book to continue the story.

[buckroegirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good read! The times when I was not busy and had time to pick the book up to read I did not want to put it down. I really liked the characters in the book (Scarlett, Nathan, Zoe, Skeeter) to name a few. I normally would not pick up this type of a book to read about zombies or about apocalypses but, this one was really good and I enjoyed it! There was sadness, hope and most of all love intertwined all in thi book!

[violetthedwarf · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I kind of finished it out of spite. I do a lot of things out of spite.

My main problem with this book is that it was emotionally muted. I was told, over and over again, that people were distressed or broken hearted or whatever, but no-one behaved that way. Everyone came to terms with their circumstances far too quickly.

Despite being an apocalyptic story, the stakes seemed really low. There was little actual conflict, and everything seemed really easy. There was no real sense of threat facing the characters..

I also had an issue with how one of the characters was treated. It seemed like her death was a literary punishment for falling for someone else, even though the writers preferred relationship came across as unhealthy and controlling to me.

3 stars because there were good bits and the ending section did actually work quite well.

[mommy.reads.what · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not even sure where to begin.

This was my first Zombie book and if others are anything like this then I need them now! I liked the different POV's from our three main characters. I like how it helped show us how their paths crossed.

Scarlet is a x-ray tech working at the hospital when the news of the outbreak begins. Frantic she leaves to find her daughters, fearing that the last time she will ever see them had been that morning when she dropped them off at school. All she knows is that she has to find them and make it to Red Hill Ranch and they will be safe. This begins her journey.

Nathan was waiting to pick up his daughter Zoe from school when the radio broadcasted the news. Hw got Zoe and fled for safety not sure where he was going, but knowing he had to do something fast, anything to keep his daughter alive and safe.

Miranda, her sister and their boyfriends were all headed to their dad's ranch for the weekend when it begun. Miranda stayed level headed while trying to get them all safe and reunited with her dad where she knew everything would be okay..

All three with the same goal- stay alive. All crossing paths at some point during the chaos, all leading to the same place where they have to learn to trust one another.

This is a story of fighting for your life, never giving up. New and old relationships tested and formed. Kill or be killed. Red Hill was an amazing read, with just enough romance to make it work..

There are certain parts that I wasn't happy with, but everything worked out in the end and it all came together the way it was supposed too.

[hoosgracie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Due to what seems to be Influenza vaccine gone awry, people are dying and coming back. The book is told from three alternating first person points of view - Nathaniel, Miranda, and Scarlett - as they struggle to survive and make it to Red Hill Ranch for sanctuary. Overall, this was quite derivative and there were certain aspects that were not believable (I know, like zombies are believable).

[cinderh_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book. I found it hard to put it down :) The characters were all interesting enough and the story flowed very nicely. Only one thing I didn't like was Scarlet in the last chapter. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that I thought she a bit unfeeling. Otherwise, it was a great read. If you enjoy The Walking Dead be sure to pick this one up!

[jo3jo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am not usually a big fan of young adult fiction, but I did listen to Beautiful Disaster by McGuire and found it enjoyable. When I requested this book I think the summary roped me in with Scarlet's story-fighting for life and freedom for her and her daughters. Had I known this would be a zombie apocalypse novel, I probably wouldn't have requested it. But boy, am I glad I did, because this book turned out to be more than that!

The story is told from basically three different perspectives, Nathan, Miranda, and Scarlet. There is a different narrator for each of these characters and I think all of the narrators did a wonderful job of interpreting their personalities. Each of our main characters come from different walks of life, but through their journey they find a common destination.

Nathan is a married man who notices things going awry throughout the day. He quickly goes to his young daughter's school, pulling her out of class so they can seek safety. When they arrive safely at home he is greeted by a letter from his wife, indicating she has had enough of this life with him and will not be returning. So now it is just him who must protect young Zoe against the unknown forces.

Scarlet works in the medical field at a local hospital and she becomes concerned when patients are suddenly being admitted with odd symptoms. When she sees a girl that was healthy just a couple of days ago suddenly facing her unexpected death, she knows things are not right. She hears news updates throughout the day about a fatal outbreak overseas, but they have been assured it is not taking place in the United States. Fearing for the safety of her girls she leaves the hospital right after her shift, finding only chaos in the outside world. Her daughters are with her ex-husband so she must find a way to get to them.

Miranda is a college student and she and her sister are on their way home for a visit. All they have to protect them on their journey is the outer shell of the VW bug when things get out of control. Their boyfriends are with them but even they cannot protect the girls from the creatures, that were once humans, when they are ready to attack.

As you can see, all of these characters come from different walks of life but they all have one thing in common. The will and desire to survive. They all have an inner drive that sets them on a path that will unexpectedly send them all to the same destination. Red Hill. They can only hope that Red Hill will be the place that will keep them safe until the chaos is over.

This book was an unexpected but welcome surprise for me. Although I don't usually enjoy this type of novel I found myself looking forward to the next time I would be able to listen to it. With themes of survival, endurance, love, and loss, you may enjoy this book too. Although I don't think the ladies in my book club would have appreciated this one, I'm sure it would be a good fit for others. I don't hesitate in recommending the audio version of this novel, especially for those that enjoy a plot laced with zombies.

[lorihopkins · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this to be a quick, easy read. At times it was almost a cookie cutter in its premise, but nonetheless a good book. Would recommend this to any zombie fan!

[undermyappletree · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a fast-paced, action-filled story beginning with the outbreak of a mysterious, previously unknown disease which is spreading fast. Soon the three main characters, each in a different location, realize they need to get out of the city and find a safe place to hide out. The point of view alternated between the main characters, but there were also a lot of other characters to keep track of, and after a while it got a little confusing. Unfortunately I couldn’t connect with any of them, but I was interested enough to keep listening; I had to know if anyone survived or if the world was truly going to end.

The love story was very subtle, even by my standards (which is, I don’t like romances unless they are in the background), and I didn’t feel a great attraction between Nathan and Scarlet. The horror story was the typical dead bodies with a taste for human flesh. I like horror, ala Stephen King, but zombies aren’t my favorite and that could have been my problem. I was hoping for a new twist on the zombie genre, but didn’t find one. The writing is good, and a lot of people loved this book, so if zombies are your thing, give it a try.

Audio production: Narrated by Emma Galvin, Zachary Webber, January LaVoy. I had no problem listening, the voices and performance of the narrators were good. The only caution for the audio is the need to pay attention to the changing points of view. The use of different voices does make that easier for the listener.

[sensory-376444 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sad, scary and just a bit hopeful. Can't say I realized what this book was about before I started reading it - I liked it for its cover and the promise of suspense in the blurb on the back. But I did not think of all the possibilities of the word 'outbreak' could mean. In any case I don't think I will be reading another novel in this genre anytime soon.

[busyreadin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I usually like Dystopian stories, but zombies just aren't my thing. This was a quick read and did have some interesting characters.

[asgwilli · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 Stars (originally 5, but upon writing the review decided that there were more cons than pros)

I've read a few zombie/apocalyptic books, but more of the mushy teen ones.. but never one like this. A bit about me, I cannot do extremely scary or suspenseful books because I can't handle it. Red Hill definitely had it's moments, but none worse than watching an episode of The Walking Dead. A couple of times, I had to calm my heart rate down then continue reading.. the thing, though, is that I read it all in one sitting. It was addicting. Really, what would happen to you if the world became infested with Zombies?

This book had three separate POV's all written in the third person narrative. It followed Scarlet, a single mom working as a nurse whose children were with their father the day the disaster strikes. She is desperate to find them. Nathan, a newly single father who is trying to find safe place for his young daughter. Lastly Miranda, a college student and her friends are heading to her father's estate to seek refuge after the outbreak. All are headed to Red Hill Ranch, but even if they can survive the trip will they be able to make it for the long hall.

The characters run into several others along the way, each banding together against the infected/shufflers/undead. I can't say that I liked any of the females in this book other than the children. Scarlet was kinda like a badass zombie killer, but was totally reckless. Often endangering others for her common goal. Miranda was totally great in the beginning of the book, but towards the end.. grrr! Her sister was a total whiny prep. I loved Nathan and his brother-in-law.

There were some intense scenes leading up to Red Hill Ranch, ones that you could place yourself in the peoples shoes, and have to imagine the horrible choices the would have to make. It's not hard to imagine the kind of death that you'd encounter in this book. But I find myself thinking back to the story and kind of upset at some of the death that took place. G.R.R.M. anyone?!

McGuire is a good writer, and I loved Beautiful Disaster but her other books fell a bit flat for me. This did, only on an entirely different level. If you want to write a zombie book, then make it a zombie book, if you then are going to introduce a romantic aspect, then focus on that. But it seemed that the romance was rushed, granted they can't go out someplace nice for dinner, but one day they are shooting the balls off of someone, then next in love. The the love triangle introduction for one of the characters, just pissed me off. Anyway..

Overall, it was a fast paced, well written, addicting Zombie novel. Though, you could get the same effect as watching TWD, in my opinion. There is a romantic element to the book that is sweet and steamy one moment, and frustrating the next. I wish she could've focused on one persons story at a time in Novella form, then took off as a whole when they reach the ranch for the novel. If you think about it, there's just too much to include about the outbreak, survival, travel, etc.. then you include several characters and then add romance on top of that. I think McGuire just bit off a little more than she could chew with this one. But seriously, read it, there's some heart-pumping, zombie bashing that is definitely worth the read.

ARC provided in exchange for honest review

[arielfl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I can best sum up this book as Walking Dead fan fiction. It follows all of the same zombie rules as the popular television show with the exception of some minor plot point about flu shots. All of the characters in this story could be existing while Rick Grimes and gang are battling it out at the prison. I love Walking Dead so I thought the story was pretty good if somewhat predictable. You know how it is in the zombie apocalypse, as soon as you start getting the warm and fuzzies for someone they are usually offed in some self sacrificing gesture. Yawn. So there wasn't too much new here. Everyday folks just trying to find somewhere safe to ride out the devastation, in this case a ranch called Red Hill. The author used a gimicky plot device where the characters coincidentally bump into each other throughout the story before they meet properly and know each other at Red Hill. There's a lot of oh hey was that you that I saw at so and so. There are a few more flaws with the book but if you are a fan of Walking Dead and just want more of that type of drama then this will fit the bill as long as you don't think too hard about it.