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How I discovered this book: I've read the rest of the series, so this one appeared to me on Amazon!
In a Nutshell: Prequel to the 5 book Mountain Man series - the outbreak
I was so pleased to discover this - the first Mountain Man book starts a while into the zombie apocalypse, so it was great to find out how Gus got to where he is in Book #1. Also - and I am sure I am not alone here - I always find the most exciting part of any post apoc series to be the very start, when people think 'something is happening, but maybe it'll be okay' - then come to the slow realisation that it's the very opposite, and life as they know it was breaking down even as they were kidding themselves.
In this prequel we see Gus in his pre-zombie days as a painter (of the decorating sort), on an emergency job during what will be his last normal evening of his life. We see the night turn to shit as he is stranded in a shopping mall with a couple of work friends and a bunch of random people, wanting only to get back to the woman he loves.
The main characters (Gus and his friend Toby, mostly) are well-rounded and realistic, and the dialogue is great. During the first half of the book I felt certain parts could have been edited down a bit, or just given a bit more spit and polish, but as Gus's plight gains momentum in the second half of the book I no longer cared; the last thirty per cent, in particular, is riveting.
I still think Books #1 - #3 are the best of this series, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one, too. If you love zombie series, or any post apoc, I can't recommend this series too highly. Definitely going to have a crack at some of Mr Blackmore's horror books, too :).
Okay, I'll bite with this one and try the Prequel, to see if I like it. Your recommendation means a lot.
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