Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry
Publishing Information: Paperback; 369 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 25 October 2011
ISBN 10: 031255219X
ISBN 13: 978-0312552190
Standalone
Copy: Provided by Publisher
Reviewer: Tyson
Synopsis: "A prison doctor injects a condemned serial killer with a formula designed to keep his consciousness awake while his body rots in the grave. But all drugs have unforeseen side-effects. Before he could be buried, the killer wakes up. Hungry. Infected. Contagious. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang…but a bite."
As I write this review strange things are going on in Florida. Some are calling it "Zombie Summer" so, perhaps the things that take place in this novel will occur in reality as well.
Dead of Night is the latest zombie novel from the mind of Jonathan Maberry, it is a more "realistic" approach to how the infected terrorize the Earth. While the set up works, it isn't as entertaining as it could have been.
Dead of Night takes place in a sleepy little hallow that could be Anywhere, USA. When a murder is reported, the local sheriff's department comes out to investigate. Finding a grisly death, they begin to canvas the area and call in for back up. As the reinforcements arrive, the body disappears. That is all it takes to begin.
Over the coυrse of the book we meet many different characters, all are somewhat believable. The main character is not yoυr gυng-ho, gυn totting sυperman, bυt rather a strong-willed female character, which I enjoyed as a change of pace. Althoυgh Dez Fox can kick bυtt and take names when necessary, she is also someone yoυ can relate to becaυse she is damaged from her υpbringing and her toυr of dυty in the Middle East. Her partner, JT, is also someone yoυ can identify with. He was probably my favorite character as the story progressed. The real disappointing character is Fox's on again/off again boyfriend Billy Troυt. He is obvioυsly an impressive reporter, bυt he seems lost when it comes to actυally doing things of `ny worth. He was a real weak-link in the story.
The setting of the story takes place in Nowheresville. Combine that with a storm of the century scenario, and you have a slow zombie outbreak that is able to be "contained." While I realize you need something to slow down the disaster that is boiling over, the storm did not really help things as it made the story seem somewhat cliche.
I am a fan of Maberry's work. His Joe Ledger series is one of my favorites. That said, Dead of Night is not the best example of his work. He is a great storyteller, unfortunately, this is not one of his best. While a decent zombie novel, it is far from perfect. I cannot recommend the novel, nor can I tell you to avoid it. I am neutral on this one. It just did not have me staying up all night reading.
Plot 6/10
Characters 6/10
Style 6/10
Overall 6/10
