Review: The Loving Dead by Amelia Beamer

Title: The Loving Dead
Author: Amelia Beamer
Genre: Zombie, horror, adult
Publication: 2010
Source: Library

Well, I hate having to do this, but this will be a (mostly) bad review. I was expecting so much from this book, because I really love zombies, and this seemed to be a unique twist on the zombie tale, but it was not executed well at all.

So, Kate and Michael are two 20-something roommates and coworkers at Trader Joe's. During a house party of theirs, there is an outbreak of zombie-ism, that soon spreads throughout the area. Separately, they fight to stay alive and meet up where they believe they will be safeguarded from the zombies: Alcatraz.

First off, in this story, zombie-ism is spread like an STD, through sexual contact. Okay, whatever, kind of weird, but that's fine. However, this didn't seem consistent. I read about people randomly turning into zombies left and right without explanation half the time.

A lot of this story was just plain ridiculous. When Kate and Michael first discover that their friends have turned into zombies, they lock them up upstairs, and head downstairs where they put on a zombie movie and fondle each other under a blanket. Ummm.... okay then. Who would be watching a zombie movie while there are zombies upstairs? Wouldn't you be running away or trying to do something? Apparently not.

Also, the zombies obey commands if you swish a whip in the air... OR, as Kate discovers, if you download an Indiana Jones app to your iPhone that makes a whip sound. They also respond to that. Well... okay... if you say so.

Listen, I for one, am ready for the zombie apocalypse. And guess what I WOULDN'T be doing right in the middle of it? Watching The Night of the Living Dead/caressing my roommate while zombies are upstairs, or downloading apps to my phone and swishing whips all about the place.

Not only was the story absurd and underdeveloped, the writing was quite amateur as well. I can understand that though, as this was the author's debut novel. I felt this story could have been improved by some better editing.

I will say there were a couple of positive things about this book. I believe that no book is ever completely bad, so I will say that the idea was unique, and she could have gone far with it if she hadn't made much of the rest of the story just plain absurd. I was interested enough to keep reading and find out what would happen to everyone in the end. I also thought the epilogue was quite intriguing, and very, very unique. So, if you decide to read this book, be sure and read the epilogue!

So, I can't really recommend this one, unless you are a hardcore zombie fan and don't mind absurdities as described above, but don't say I didn't warn you. :P

My Rating: 2/5