Reviewed by: Keith Nixon
Genre: YA / Dystopian / Thriller
Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words
Availability
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Author:
Mark Wilson
is a biology teacher in Fife, Scotland. He is also the author of four novels,
his most recent being dEaDINBURGH. In addition Mark formed an independent
publishing company in 2013 to publicise Scottish authors. The author lives in
Edinburgh with his family.
You can
learn more about the author at his website.
Description:
Edinburgh
1645, the time of the bubonic plague. The victims are locked underground in
catacombs. 2015 and these same catacombs are opened, the plague attacks the
Scottish population. 2050 and Edinburgh is quarantined off. There are rumours
of a cure, but finding the source is believed to be certain death at the hands
of the zombies. Joey MacLeod is a trainee 'priest' part of a church that
worships the zombies. But he escapes and with the help of Alys Shepherd learns
about his past and the real source of the zombies..
Appraisal:
Now I don't
usually read dystopian or zombie novels. With a very few exceptions I don't get
on with either genre particularly well. If there's a zombie TV programme, such
as The Waking Dead, I usually switch
off eventually. I also very rarely read YA either. However, I have previously
greatly enjoyed Mark Wilson's writing - so I gave dEaDINBURGH a try, and I'm glad I did. This is one of those
aforementioned rare exceptions.
Phew!
So, the
premise is a disease has created zombies, but there are still a few humans
clinging onto life. There are several interdependent communities and we receive
protagonists from each to drive the story forward. There's a group of zombie
worshippers, literally religious nuts - Joey is a youth reluctantly waiting to
be ordained to serve the zombies for the rest of his life. But there's
something mysterious about his past, he's an orphan and doesn't know who his
parents are. Padre Jock is one of the order, but he's not like the rest, he
seems to know something about Joey. Then there's a community of women, no men
are allowed - Alys is a born fighter, but questions why they have to be
separated from the rest. Then there's Bracha, a vicious survivalist who'll do
anything to stay alive.
Okay, so
far so good. I was intrigued, caught by the characters, interested to see what
happened next when the pair, Joey and Alys, 'escape' their respective
confinements and go into the wider world accompanied by Jock. The kids are
naive but learn quickly, and brutally. Then Wilson delivers several twists and
surprises which elevates dEaDINBURGH
beyond a straightforward zombie novel. I won't reveal what they are as you
should find these out for yourself, but they're to do with Joey's past and the
zombies themselves. The conclusion sets us up for book two very neatly.
Edinburgh
and its surrounding countryside is a great backdrop, the author uses the
scenery well. The characters are strong and the story drives along at pace. The
zombies aren't really the major part of the story, there are touching
inter-relationships that develop, taut situations the characters must develop.
All in all an interesting, intriguing book. I'll be reading the follow up for
sure.
FYI:
Despite the
zombies, nothing of note, which as it's YA, that's good.
Format/Typo Issues:
No issues.
Rating: ***** Five Stars
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