Former LA police officer and recovering alcoholic, Danny Etter, has been working hard to redeem himself. His marriage is barely hanging on by a string, and he knows if he slips up again, it could mean saying goodbye to Anna and the kids. He is making progress staying on the straight and narrow by working an honest job as a community officer for a local college and avoiding temptation. He believes things are starting to look up; Maria may even be coming around, and he hopes with his continued therapy and AA meetings, he is on the road to redemption.
When Maria and the kids take off to Lake Tahoe for a vacation, Danny expects life to be pretty uneventful as he stays back in Orange County to work. But nothing could be further from the truth. After a friend of the family’s son, who is ordinarily a docile young man turns aggressive and hysterical, Danny knows something is up. Strange things begin to happen; people in the community are becoming unhinged—acting like deranged lunatics; dismembering each other’s bodies, and revealing sinister smiles with rotten teeth. Before Danny knows it, he is in the epicenter of a massive pandemic. Joined by his co-worker and friend, Eric, they realize they must flee the city and make their way north so Danny can be with his family. But everywhere they turn, these crazed individuals are ready to attack. Danny knows he must get to his family, but he is going to have to run for his life.
While I have never been particularly drawn to post-apocalyptic stories or movies, REM by J.D. Valentine has turned me into a fan. The book is told in the third-person perspective and follows Danny Etter as he embarks on the battle of a lifetime—both physically and emotionally. Not only must he fight off these relentlessly crazy swarms of infected people, but he must keep his personal demons at bay and focus on his sobriety during one of the darkest times in his life.
Like I stated earlier, it is rare for me to pick up a book that contains graphic scenes of brutality between humans and zombies. Still, the book held my attention, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. These “crazies” came in swarms, could contort their bodies in grotesque ways, and could literally scale the walls. J.D. Valentine was able to successfully create scenes that were both quietly terrifying and adrenaline-inducing, making for a truly immersive read.
Hands down, my favorite aspect of the book was the character development. The author did a fantastic job of reeling me into Danny’s life from the get-go, providing an adequate backstory. Readers are given a glimpse into the life of a recovering alcoholic who is trying to make amends with his wife after putting his family through immense turmoil. Addiction to alcohol is not just about the drink, and often, it is about being strong enough to face the reasons for picking up a drink in the first place. Throughout Danny’s journey, readers see him grapple with despair, isolation, and the psychological effects of life during a pandemic. I was never in the dark about how Danny felt because it was clearly depicted through his actions and inner dialogue.
Another thing that I thoroughly enjoyed was the brotherhood between Danny and Eric. They shared a deep connection due to their struggles with alcohol and used humor and sarcasm to get through the hard times when they were knee-deep in severed heads and dismembered body parts. I especially loved how they took turns lifting each other’s spirits when the gravity of the situation left them wanting to surrender.
REM was impeccably written; I can wholeheartedly vouch for the fact that it is both professionally edited and worthy of praise. With that being said, I chose to give the book a rating of four out of four stars.
Due to the majority of the book being infused with blood splatter, various f-bombs, and the throwing of severed heads, I would dissuade young readers from picking up REM. On the other hand, if you love post-apocalyptic thrillers with gruesome fight scenes and you find yourself rooting for the underdog, this book is for you!
