Red Hill

by Jamie McGuire

[violetpeanut]

I love zombies. I read almost anything involving zombies so I was excited to read this but, I admit, I was a little bit apprehensive since Ms. McGuire's previous books were all heavy on the romance. I wasn't sure how that would fit into the zombie apocalypse theme but was pleased to find that, for the most part, the romantic aspects of the story were plausible and woven into the overall storyline well. I liked the characters and was happy to see that they and their relationships were not cookie cutter or stereotypical.

The pacing was fantastic. The book starts of quickly and pulls the reader into the panic that the characters feel. It keeps up the pace through most of the book, only slowing down when they all reach their destination and then we start to feel the same despair but ultimate sense of perseverance that the characters feel.

The general plotline was good. This book doesn't add anything new to the zombie mythos but it certainly offers the gruesome picture we've all come to know. There's quite a bit of gore and a whole lot of death. There was a lot of excitement, some truly heartbreaking scenes, and some really joyful moments. The general storyline didn't hold any surprises for me, but I was surprised by some of the deaths. I love it when an author can surprise me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. This book doesn't offer anything new about the zombie apocalypse, but it's certainly entertaining and heartwrenching and Jamie McGuire has a way with words that just makes you have to keep reading. I was a little bit disappointed in the end, but not so much that it ruined the whole book for me.