5.0 out of 5 stars
They just keep getting better, so much humanity and what we've all come to know and love from Dirk Patton
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2016
Dirk Patton never disappoints. He just keeps getting better. The infected keep getting scarier. I don't want to say anything that gives anything away to those who haven't read it yet, but there's a line in this book about what may be coming that really will make the hairs on your neck stand up. The females have turned into some crazy black widow kind of creatures and it's just really horrifying. We've seen this coming for quite a while but to see it truly happening is something that's hard to wrap your mind around. Rachel makes the comment, so when you read it, you'll know exactly what I mean.
Something I truly love about this book is you can tell that John is still in mourning over his wife. He's really devastated over losing her and his emotions are so raw and real. Katie was the love of his life. While there's certainly something that could develop with Rachel, his heart was always Katie's and it's so hard to see him this way. The last book left me in tears, like for an hour, just sobbing. We're starting to see him begin to function, because he has to in order to survive, but the pain is still very much there. What I find especially beautiful is that Rachel is the same as she always has been. She knows that Katie is the woman John loves. She's not pushing herself on him, just like always. She's there supporting him, doing her best to comfort him, but staying on her side of that line. Whether or not the relationship between them ever grows into the kind of relationship John and Katie had, time will tell. But we all know the foundation is there and the mutual respect and admiration and support, exactly like what Rachel is offering now is why it will work, if it does happen. There's always been open communication between them and that accounts for everything. They're taking it day by day, which is all you really can do in life, and I would imagine especially in a life where you're just trying to get through the next hour, the next minute, sometimes the next few seconds, like these two are. Dirk did an amazing job and I'm so glad these two characters are still who they've always been and didn't rush into anything just because Katie was lost to the infection.
I also love that our old friends aren't forgotten. Like when John thinks about Martinez. It was harder for me to lose her than it has been anyone else, I just loved her. And the little bits where he remembers her make me smile, even if it is sad. She's still a part of our journey and it's nice to know she's not forgotten. All the people we've lost on this journey are still around in John's thoughts, and they still come up. It's like life, and how it should be. It makes it so relatable. We don't forget people, or stop thinking about them just because they've passed on. We carry them in our hearts and in our thoughts and while we're sad about it, sometimes for a really long time, their memories live on through us.
These books have become more than a fight against infected, but a true journey of the human race, and a beautiful example of the perseverance and strength that makes us human. The things that light our souls, and sometimes drop us to our knees. It's an extremely difficult thing to show, and even more difficult to show well.
That said, there's nothing lacking in the action, adventure, and edge-of-your-seat department that you've come to expect from Mr. Patton's books. We aren't sacrificing the adventure and thrill for the human emotions and depth. There's one scene where I "dam" near had a panic attack. There's another that's so horrific in it's cruelty that I just wanted to look away. This book is a beautiful balance of both the action and emotion and I really am just more and more impressed with each book that comes out in this series.
There are some new characters we meet along the way in this book, and there's one especially that I hope we get to keep around for a while. She's really fabulous and reminds me a bit of Martinez in a way, minus the attitude. I can really see how she's a boon to the team and was fascinated with some of the things she came up with. She has a lot of potential! Only time will tell what will happen to her, but my hope is that she becomes a part of the team.
I'm so, so thrilled with this book, and am now going to be anxiously awaiting whatever comes next for our amazing team, and the rest of the world that is hanging on by the tips of their fingers.
Well done, Mr. Patton, I daresay this is your best yet. Enjoy a few tequilas, some ball with Dog, and some extra special time with your wife (maybe not necessarily in that order) and then please, please, get back to it. The wait is always too long for the next one!
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