Review -- The Girl With No Past

The Girl With No Past by Kathryn Croft

**Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

Leah Mills lives a life of a fugitive – kept on the run by one terrible day from her past. It is a lonely life, without a social life or friends until – longing for a connection – she meets Julian. For the first time she dares to believe she can live a normal life. Then, on the fourteenth anniversary of that day, she receives a card. Someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won’t stop until they've destroyed the life Leah has created. 

As a fan of psychological thrillers, I was immediately drawn to the official blurb and the cover of this book. Having not read anything by Kathryn Croft before (how could this possibly be?), it was therefore with high hopes and great anticipation that I started reading The Girl With No Past around midnight last Thursday. Alas, this proved to be a fatal mistake since it kept me up all night and cost me my beauty sleep!

I will get it out of the way immediately and tell you that this is one of the best thrillers I have read this year and it is fully deserving of my 5-star rating. Despite the late night exhaustion, I was captivated from start to finish (and what a finish!) by the excellent plot and writing. The narrative cleverly alternates between Leah's teenage years and the present, where she is in her early thirties, thereby slowly progressing towards the-day-when-something-bad-happened and building up tension chapter by chapter.

Once I had reached the-day-when-something-bad-happened and discovered what actually made Leah live such a reclusive life, I foolishly thought that there were no more surprises in store... that is until the shock ending which I did not see coming at all. For me, this was just the icing on a scrumptious cake! 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

I finished reading this book 24 hours ago and I am already experiencing the first withdrawal symptoms. This leaves me with no choice but to immediately buy Croft's other novels.

Review -- Sentencing Sapphire: A Sapphire Dubois Mystery

Sentencing Sapphire by Mia Thompson

**Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

Sentencing Sapphire is the third novel from the Sapphire Dubois Mystery series written by Swedish-born Mia Thompson. (Note that I have not read the first two books at the time of writing this review.) 

Twenty-something Sapphire is not your typical gal: not only is she a Beverly Hills heiress, but she is also a serial catcher, i.e. she hunts serial killers as a hobby (I prefer reading myself) before handing them over to the local police force. In this third instalment, we follow Sapphire as she has fled to Paris after her latest adventures, where she has shed her rich persona and lives as the infamous "Serial Catcher." When Beverly Hills police detective Aston Ridder tracks her down, Sapphire returns to the US to find her home town in chaos: a new vigilante has taken over her old job and will stop at nothing to get her predecessor out of the way. 


I must admit that I was expecting a cotton candy chick-lit after reading the official blurb for this book. However, I could not have been more wrong! Despite the fact that the series would indeed be targeted towards a female audience, the adventures of Sapphire Dubois are so much more than chick lit and pink fluffy romance.

Yes, there is romance between the two main characters, Sapphire and Aston, but it is subtle enough that it is not constantly thrown in your face and does not take over the narrative. More than that, there is a real gripping plot with gruesome murders, serial killers carrying syringes filled with nasty things and a villain vigilante trying to get rid of the heroine. This alone should satisfy fans of crime fiction.

But what really clinched it for me was the exaggerated portraits of spoilt, super-rich Beverly Hills people and the omnipresent humour: airhead socialite Chrissy Kraft fires employees faster than her own shadow (even when they are not her own employees) and is totally deluded about the world she lives in. Likewise, there is great banter between the two leading men, detective Aston Ridder and officer Barry Harry, which is reminiscent of that between Jake Peralta and Charles Boyle in the American TV series "Brooklyn Nine Nine."

What of Sapphire Dubois herself, you might ask. Well, her thirst for hunting serial killers is motivated by her inner demons and personal history (which I will not divulge here). I cannot speak for how she is portrayed in the two previous books in the series but, in this latest instalment, she is racked with guilt and doubt, unsure who she really is, thereby making her a more believable character than the MMA fighter/serial catcher/Beverly Hills heiress she is.
  
The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆
All in all, a very good surprise for me. I actually bought the first two books on Amazon as soon as the words "The End" appeared on my Kindle. Definitely an author to watch for me!

Review -- Blood in the Streets

Blood in the Streets by William Esmont

**Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

A routine trip to China turns disastrous for intelligence agent Kurt Vetter when a deadly series of attacks on civilian targets plunges the country into anarchy. Trapped in a disintegrating nation, Kurt and his team take to the war-torn streets of Beijing to locate a Chinese double agent who may know the truth behind the source of the violence. 

As you know, I am always on the lookout for new authors and this is my very first book by William Esmont. First off, you need to be aware that Blood in the Streets is actually the third and latest book in The Reluctant Hero series. Having said that, I was not aware of this when I started reading the book and did not feel like I was missing out on something as the author has done a good job at providing background information for the reader. Therefore, this book can still be read as a standalone if you do not have access to the two previous works.

Again, even though this is not the final book in the series, it does not end on a "to-be-continued" style cliffhanger, and all your questions have actually been resolved by the time you reach the words "The End", leaving you with a feeling of satisfaction and completeness. However, this will not prevent me from reading the first two books in the series (The Patriot Paradox and Pressed) nor the upcoming one.

I am not usually into spy books (psychological thrillers and police procedurals being my first choice), but I have to admit that Blood in the Streets captivated me from the very first pages and continued to grip my attention until the end. The fast pace of the narrative, which is packed with action and tense moments, suited me perfectly and there was no real idle moment in the story.

The characters are well researched and developed in my opinion, at least from what I gleaned in this book. I particularly appreciated the fact that Kurt Vetter is flawed, scared and more of an anti-hero (or rather a reluctant one as per the title of the series) than your usual spy and that Victoria was more intrepid and fearless despite being his subordinate.  

The narrative alternates between different settings and characters, the main ones being Beijing with spies Kurt/Amanda and the White House with Dominic/the president of the United States. I found the White House setting to be brilliant as it gave me a decent glimpse into the interactions between the president of the USA and his aides ("Give me options!") as well as an interesting foray into geopolitics.

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆
A very good read. If the other books in the series are anything like Blood in the Streets, we are onto a good one.

Review -- The Errant Flock

The Errant Flock by Jana Petken

I stumbled upon this book by chance after seeing it advertised on Twitter and, boy, am I glad I did! 

To start with, I was immediately drawn to the amazing cover and the fact that the story is set during the Spanish Inquisition under Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. 

Furthermore, I had never read any book by this author before, which was a definite bonus for me as I am always on the lookout for new writers to discover.

What to say? If you are an aficionado of historical fiction and especially this time period, then you are in for a real treat.

Petken's writing is impeccable and it is apparent that the story has been well researched, with extreme attention to detail. The quality of the language used and the descriptions really bring authenticity to these historical events. As a result, I was entirely captivated by the narrative and felt like I had travelled back in time to 1491 Spain.

The main characters themselves (David Sanz, the militiaman; Luis Peráto, the Duke of Sagrat; Sergio Garcia, the Lord Treasurer; and Gaspar de Amo, the Inquisitor) are equally well researched and developed by the author. They are consumed by their own demons, racked with guilt or facing moral dilemmas. Petken has managed to portray them with all their flaws, thereby adding another layer of authenticity to the story. For instance, the main character of David Sanz is not your typical squeaky clean hero: he is rather walking a fine line between good and evil. 

Politics, religion and greed take centre stage here and make this a fantastic tale, which has left me wanting for more. I hope that a sequel is in the works, especially since there are open questions about the fate of some of the secondary characters. 

Highly recommended. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Currently reading...

The Errant Flock by Jana Petken

Finally, some belated news...

So, I haven't updated this blog for the past couple of weeks due to good ol' procrastination mainly and, secondarily, taking care of two small kiddies at home. But, fear not my friends, I have been very productive on the reading front. Below are the books that I have read since my latest post.

Rewiring Our Morality by Daniel Reisel

What goes on in the mind of a murderer? In this compassionate and insightful book, neuroscientist Reisel describes how empathy evolves in every child’s brain, and how early traumatic experiences can distort its development. Understanding this, Reisel argues that we must shift to a restorative form of justice — one that allows both victim and perpetrator a chance to heal, instead of the current punitive system that only perpetuates a cycle of crime. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Extremely interesting and informative read. Written in plain English, no shenanigans. I believe that the concept of restorative justice should not only be implemented as part of our judicial system but also within the education sector.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

In this extraordinary book, Dr. Oliver Sacks recounts the stories of patients struggling to adapt to often bizarre worlds of neurological disorder. Here are people who can no longer recognize everyday objects or those they love; who are stricken with violent tics or shout involuntary obscenities; who have been dismissed as autistic or retarded, yet are gifted with uncanny artistic or mathematical talents. If inconceivably strange, these brilliant tales illuminate what it means to be human.  

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆

I have to admit that I used this book as some kind of psychiatric porn. I enjoyed reading about the different neurological conditions and the story of the corresponding protagonists but I am afraid to see that I skip the most scientific bits.

Dark Tides by Chris Ewan

When Claire Cooper was eight, her mother disappeared during Hop-tu-naa, the Manx Halloween. When Claire was eighteen, she and her friends took part in a Hop-tu-naa dare that went terribly wrong. Now in her early twenties and a police officer, what happened that Hop-tu-naa night has come back to haunt them all, and Claire must confront her deepest fears in order to stop a killer from striking again.

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆

All in all, a decent read. I enjoyed discovering more about the Isle of Man and its Celtic culture. The only issue is that I guessed the plot quite early on and it spoiled it a bit for me.

An Impossible Dilemma by Netta Newbound

Local vets Victoria and Jonathan Lyons seem to have everything—a perfect marriage, a beautiful five-year-old daughter, Emily, and a successful business. Until they discover Emily has a rare and fatal illness. When Jonathan is suddenly killed in a farming accident, Victoria turns to her sick father-in-law, Frank, for help. A series of events present Victoria and Frank with a situation that, although illegal, could help save Emily. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

I haven't read, or heard of, any other similar story before and I thought that the plot was quite original. I suppose that this book resonated even more with me since I am a mother myself and, like Victoria, I would do anything for my children. Even the darkest deeds.

After Anna by Alex Lake

A girl is missing. Five years old, taken from outside her school. She has vanished, traceless. The police are at a loss; her parents are beyond grief. Their daughter is lost forever, perhaps dead, perhaps enslaved. But the biggest mystery is yet to come: one week after she was abducted, their daughter is returned.

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

Another five stars read here. Again, the plot was quite original and I never saw the twist coming. The story was well written and the characters well developed. I will definitely check out this author's other books.

In A Dark Place by Ed & Lorraine Warren

The story of the most terrifying case of demonic possession in the United States. It became the basis for the hit film “The Haunting in Connecticut”. Shortly after moving into their new home, the Snedeker family is assaulted by a sinister presence that preys one-by-one on their family. Exhausting all other resources, they call up the world-renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren—who have never encountered a case as frightening as this…

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆
Even though I am a great fan of supernatural and poltergeist movies, this is my very first read of the genre. It has apparently been claimed after publication that the whole story was a hoax and not one of those "truer than true" stories. Hoax or not, I really enjoyed this book even if the ending was a bit rushed in my opinion.

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall

Meet Vish Puri, India's most private investigator. Portly, persistent and unmistakably Punjabi, he cuts a determined swathe through modern India's swindlers, cheats and murderers. When an honest public litigator is accused of murdering his maidservant, it takes all of Puri's resources to investigate. How will he trace the fate of the girl, known only as Mary, in a population of more than one billion? Who is taking pot shots at him and his prize chilli plants? And why is his widowed 'Mummy-ji' attempting to play sleuth when everyone knows Mummies are not detectives?

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆
What a little gem! Being a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, I tremendously enjoyed meeting Vish Puri, India's number 1 sleuth. The foreign setting and the (extremely well researched and developed) characters of  Puri and Mummy-ji gave me a real thirst for travelling to Delhi and Jaipur. I will definitely read the other books in the series.  

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by David P. Perlmutter

I would like to say that yes I made a number of mistakes during the events that took place and I hold my hands up. I look back at what happen everyday and wish I could turn back the clock but you can't. The following story is based on true events about my trip to Marbella, Spain, where having lost everything, which was all self inflicted, including my job, apartment and self respect, I leave memories of a London police cell behind me and head for Spain with its promise of adventure and fun. Little do I know that I'm about to be thrust into the most terrifying time of my life. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆

- First observation right off the bat: The title is inaccurate in my opinion as we are not dealing here with chance events but the mere result of voluntary actions -- but, then again, I am no publisher -- so what do I know? 
- Second: The author has claimed that he is no writer. Actually, it did not bother me at all and I believe that Perlmutter has solid descriptive skills. In fact, what killed it for me were the unfortunate typos which should have been caught during the proofreading. 
- Third: I gave three stars to this book because I liked it overall. It is indeed a compelling story but I found that the life mistakes in question were just too much for my liking.  
- Fourth: Let it be said that the author saved two lives during his time in Spain. This should not be forgotten.

Review -- Down Among the Dead Men

Down Among the Dead Men

Official blurb

Jason Green's life is changed for good after he is saved from a mugging by crime boss, Harry Irwell. He is then drawn into Manchester's notorious underworld, where smash and grab is as normal as making a cup of tea. But Jason isn't a casual thug. He has a life plan that doesn't involve blowing his money on the usual trappings. That is until a woman walks into his life offering the one thing that money can't buy - salvation.

As you can see on my Goodreads profile, I have read all books by Kerry Wilkinson and have consistently rated them four or five stars for the most, my favourite series being the Jessica Daniel one.

Therefore, it was with high expectations that I sat down with a cup of tea and a couple of biccies to read my review copy of Down Among the Dead Men, Wilkinson's latest stand-alone novel.  

  

First, I need to commend the author for his ability to play around with different styles of writing and settings. While the Jessica Daniel series is largely based around good old banter and sarcasm in its tone, this latest effort is a darker thriller that reminded me of Donnie Brasco in parts: I was dragged into that underworld atmosphere where everyone is threading carefully and constantly watching their own back.    

I also particularly liked the use of flashbacks, which broke the rhythm of the narrative in an interesting manner and provided more context as to the events that shaped Jason Green's personality and now motivate his current actions.   

This might be controversial, but I found that Jason was somehow a likeable chap: Yes, he could be viewed as a violent thug but, at the same time, he seems to have principles and morals which he is not willing to compromise. And, in fairness, he hasn't been dealt with the best cards in life either.

Now, I was left wanting for more when I reached the end of the story. Even though I was quite surprised at the final twist which I admit I never saw coming, I was still slightly disappointed as to the many questions that are left open. One of those being a small thing in particular that keeps happening to Jason and gets a lot of focus throughout the narrative, but which is still left unexplained at the end. I guess I am one of those people that need everything spelled out for them at the end of a book. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Bibliovore by name, Bibliovore by nature...

I am not lying or exaggerating when I say that I am a bibliovore: books are my life and I spend every waking minute reading.

Want proof?

Fact #1

My Kindle Paperwhite is the only thing that I would want on a desert island. I love the thing so much that it goes everywhere with me, even to the cinema, shops, restaurant, bathroom (oops, TMI). At this stage, it is nearly physically grafted to my right hand.

Not enough for you?

Fact #2

As of today, I have read 104 books since the beginning of 2015. I had initially set myself the challenge to read 52 books in 2015 via Goodreads, but I slightly exceeded that amount thanks to Mother Insomnia and a long maternity leave for which I am very grateful.

Fact #3

My husband has threatened me with divorce at least a dozen times because of the enormous amounts of money I spend daily on Amazon.

Money being tight for everyone these days, I had to find a viable solution to manage my book addiction (after all, I have two kids and I need to be able to buy them shoes when needed):

Here comes Kindle Unlimited, which I have discovered and joined a couple of months ago: for a tenner (7.99 GBP) per month, I can now read an unlimited amount of books from the Amazon selection (which is fairly decent actually). 

Sweeet!

Obviously, I still spend money on books that are not part of the Kindle Unlimited selection, hence my imminent divorce ;o)

What can a girl do? 

Since I was fortunate enough to receive an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) for this book, I am currently reading Down among the Dead Men by Kerry Wilkinson, one of my favourite authors. The book is due out on 22 October 2015.

Review to follow shortly...

In the meantime, I would invite you all to check his other book series below. I have myself devoured the whole Jessica Daniel series and consistently rated them 5 stars.

• Jessica Daniel series here
• Andrew Hunter novel here
• Silver Blackthorn trilogy here

Review -- Dark Place to Hide

Dark Place to Hide

Official blurb
About to break the news to his wife, Diane, that he’s infertile, criminology expert, Harper Penn, gets a call to say she’s been rushed to hospital with a miscarriage. Five days later, when Diane fails to return from the village shop, police think she must have taken off with a secret lover, but Harper is convinced the online messages are not from her. In the same Hampshire village, plucky seven-year-old Clara has retreated into a make-believe world after an accident. Then she, too, goes missing. 

I have just finished reading this psychological thriller by A.J. Waines and here are my first impressions: 

Pretty good read.

The story is told from the POV of Harper, the main character, in the first person and is interspersed with chapters written in the third person from the POV of the second character, Diane (a.k.a the missus). The narration by Harper provides us with an insight into his desperate state of mind during the time his wife is missing, which adds a great depth to his character.

The characters are well researched and developed in my opinion. Harper is a great character mainly because he is not too perfect. He has his own problems with anger and abandonment issues, which adds to the richness of his personality. 

Clara is a good character too and it is evident that Waine's background as a psychotherapist has helped shape the personality of this little girl obsessed with fairy tales. 

The secondary characters (Diane, Marion, Tara, Alexa) are all equally well developed and credible throughout the story.

The plot in itself starts dramatically from the very first pages and is well woven together, with a second layer forming an excellent sub-plot. I sure did not see that one coming!

As a result, Dark Place to Hide immediately sucks the reader into a dramatic and intriguing story, and keeps us interested with great character development and even greater twists.

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆

I am currently reading "Dark Place to Hide" by A.J. Waines.

Review coming soon...

Also, sitting proudly in my To-Be-Read pile:

• Evil Games -- Angela Marsons
• Silent Scream -- Angela Marsons
• Rewiring our Morality -- Daniel Reisel 
• The Bad Things -- Mary-Jane Riley
• A Bachelor Establishment -- Isabelle Barclay
• The Case of the Missing Servant -- Tarquin Hall
• No Other Darkness -- Sarah Hilary
• Someone Else's Skin -- Sarah Hilary
• Someone Out There -- Catherine Hunt
• Ticket -- Peter Dudgeon
• Chance -- Peter Dudgeon
• The Ballroom Cafe -- Ann O'Loughlin
• The Letter -- Kathryn Hughes
• Wrong Place -- M.A. Comley
• The Lie -- C.L. Taylor
• Dark Places -- Gillian Flynn
• The Pocket Wife -- Susan Crawford
• The Ballymara Road -- Nadine Dorries
• The Voices Beyond -- Johan Theorin
• Hercule Poirot Complete Stories -- Agatha Christie
• Maigret Complete Stories -- George Simenon

And loads more...

So many books, so little time...

Review -- Tressa - The 12-Year-Old Mum: My True Story

Tressa - The 12-Year-Old Mum: My True Story

Spurred on by my successful venture into what I call Real-Tough-Life-Stories thanks to "She's A Boy" (review below), I opted to read this book based on its title only. 

I still faintly remember when Tressa Middleton made UK history as she became Britain’s youngest mum in 2006 aged just 12 years. Her case provoked shock and outrage, but the truth behind the headlines was far sadder than anyone could ever have imagined.

Once again, I was not to be disappointed with this book. I simply could not put it down and read it overnight (it is amazing what insomnia can do for your reading). What an incredible and heartbreaking story this was. Child neglect, poverty, alcohol/drugs and rape form the background to this narrative. It made uncomfortable reading at times to know that someone so young had to endure so many traumas from an early age.

It is testament to Tressa's strength that she managed to turn her life around, and it is ultimately a story of love and redemption. Yes, she freely admits to some failings in the book, such as her ongoing battle with drugs and alcohol. However, it is her sheer determination and bravery that saved her in the end. Dealt with the same cards in life, numerous are those who would have failed to make something better of their existence (me included).

Katy Weitz's writing is simple and honest, perfectly capturing Tressa's state of mind and mannerisms. 

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆
Never judge a book by its cover. When Tressa's story initially came out, she was vilified for being a girl with loose morals. Now the truth is out there for all to read.

Review -- The Attic Room: A psychological thriller

The Attic Room: A psychological thriller

Blurb from Amazon:

A father’s secret... a mother’s lie... a family mystery. An unexpected phone call – and Nina’s life takes a disturbing twist. Who is John Moore? And how does he know her name? Nina travels south to see the house she inherited, but sinister letters arrive and she finds herself in the middle of a police investigation. With her identity called into question, Nina uncovers a shocking crime. But what, exactly, happened in the attic room, all those years ago? The answer could lie close to home. The arrival of her ten-year-old daughter compounds Nina’s problems, but her tormentor strikes before she can react. Searching for the truth about the Moore family puts both Nina and her child into grave danger. 

This book by Linda Huber should have been right down my alley and I believe that the Amazon blurb did a decent job at creating interest. But, alas, it did not live up to my expectations and I was quite disappointed that this read was another failure in my quest to find a great psychological thriller.

Maybe I should have been wary of any book that has "A psychological thriller" or "An edge of your seat serial killer thriller" appended to their title. I am not too sure why authors (or publishers) feel the need to do this but, in my experience, it usually means too much hype and little substance. 

The family mystery in itself was quite interesting, and the disturbing twist and shocking crime advertised above were OK, if nothing else. What really let the book down in my opinion is the sloppy romance. Two days after meeting her father's solicitor, the main character (Nina) is already musing about her strong feelings for the guy, thinking that he might be "The One" and wondering whether she should maintain a professional relationship with him or let her heart sing? 

I do not know if this is what women want (I am a woman by the way) but, honestly, who falls in love with someone after seeing them for a couple of hours while they are supposed to be grieving for a family member? The rest of the book was peppered with should-I-make-the-first-step, but-he-is-my-fathers-solicitor-i-cannot, etc. type of thoughts which totally ruined the real story here.    

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆ 
This could have been a good psychological thriller as opposed to a pseudo love story had the narrative been less focused on unbelievable characters and their even-less-believable feelings for each other. Then again, it might just be me as this book seems to garner lots of positive reviews on Amazon.

Review -- The Undead. The First Seven Days.

The Undead. The First Seven Days.

Well, I am a fan of The Walking Dead (or rather was since I have not even seen the last two seasons) so it made sense for me to see what this series was about. After all, it has been hailed as "the UK novel version competitor for The Walking Dead graphic novels." How bad can it be? 

As it turns out, not bad at all. 

The narrative starts pretty much the same as any Zombie book or film, i.e. a deadly infection has spread throughout Europe (or anywhere else) and you'd better avoid being bitten by anyone. There is a lot zombie-bashing, blood and guts spilled, all kinds of weapons fashioned from kitchen utensils, etc. In a nutshell, you will find all the usual elements of the zombie genre in this series.  

However, what made me want to keep on reading from the very start were the characters: Howie is a night-shift Tesco manager and a reluctant hero who is looking for his family. Dave, another Tesco employee, is the silent side-kick who gets the (zombie) job done. Howie and Dave's relationship formed the real story for me here, with the zombie action being relegated to background drama. Dave's dry demeanour mixed with Howie's witty humour made for some really laughable moments.

The Bibliovore's verdict ⋆⋆⋆⋆

R.R. Haywood's The Undead (First Seven Days) has proven to be a very interesting and enjoyable read. Zombies, gore, action galore, interesting characters and lots of humour = a successful formula. Will I read the rest of the series then? I am not too sure. There is only so much zombies one can take.