Rot and Ruin

Living in America isn't what it used to be. Zombies have taken over the country until all that is left is a small band of survivors trapped in a small walled town. To step outside the walls is to risk a zombie bite - a fate worse than death as you turn into one of the living dead.

Benny Imura is less worried about a zombie bite than getting a job. If he doesn't get a job before he turns 15, his rations will be cut in half. Finally, in desperation he agrees to become an apprentice zombie hunter to Tom, his older brother. Tom is not a "cool" zombie hunter like Benny's heros "Pink-eye Charlie" or Marion "Motor City Hammer". Benny has grown up hanging onto the words of Charlie and Marion's wild stories of killing zoms while Benny thinks Tom is just a coward.

But when someone tries to murder the brothers and succeeds in kidnapping Benny's best friend, Nix, Tom and Benny must venture into Rot and Ruin to rescue her. What Benny finds there changes his view of everything.

I'm not a fan of zombie stories, but I really liked Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. There is plenty of action and the characters are interesting, especially Tom. I liked watching how Benny's perceptions of his brother changes as he learns more about "First Night".

The second book, Dust and Decay comes out in August.