Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

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Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

458 pages

Gateway Nominee 2012/13

This is quite honestly the best zombie book I have ever read. I wish that I had read even one more zombie book so that that would mean more...but if I had read 100 books, I am sure this would still be my favorite.

Benny Imura's first memory was his brother, Tom, carrying him away at 18 months old. His father was already a zom, and Tom did not stay to save their mother. Now, society has gone back to normal. Normal considering they live in Mountainside, completely surrounded by a fence that separates them from the Ruin, where the undead roam, searching for the flesh they crave of the living. The town practically worships Tom as a hero, for being the big bad zom hunter. But how can he be so tough if he did nothing to save their mom. At fifteen Benny must find a job, or risk his rations being cut. He ends up as Tom's apprentice, in the family business of zombie killing. But there is more to it than what he ever thought, and Benny is beginning to wonder if the monsters are the zoms, or the people he call neighbor.

This was such a well written book. In the midst of decaying flesh, bounty hunters, and crazies living on their own in the Ruin, Benny and Tom tells their story, pulling in characters so well developed you know the good, the bad, and the ugly alike. Will definitely be looking more into the zombie writing.