Review: Colonial era zombie madness
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 3, 2011
Doesn't matter what year it is, but dangit zombie books are just so much fun.  To my great surprise, this book manages to pull off a well-constructed zombie book set in pre-revolutionary war era Massachusetts without falling into schtick or cheeziness  There's actually some decent, scary scenes in this book, as well as an interesting mysticism and bit of Native American folklore/superstition.The book is unique in it makes full use of the tension of the time period between the rebel/patriotic uprising vs the loyalists who still believe America should be under British rule. So when a few zombies start killing off the town, the loyalists actually first blame the militia, and vice versa.  It takes almost 3/4 of the book before everyone is on board, but by then the blood and dead bodies are piling up.Another nod has to go towards the character of Major William Pomfrey, a British military leader who actually is  trying to go AWOL and just wants a tall pint of ale when he stumbles into this zombie-infested town.  He ironically becomes the leader despite this town being the hot bed for patriotism.  Pomfrey does provide some of the best lines and humor, but he also can take action (and he wins the pretty girl, ha ha).Though the book does a pretty good job wrapping up the story, I was just the slightest bit irked by some extra details which the author threw in for reasons unknown. The Native American superstition and the relationship between one of the town families with the neighboring Indian tribe is actually a major theme, and yet it gets about one half chapter told in flashback. I was even questioning  the parentage of Thomas Chase and wondering if it really mattered as much as the book tried to make it.  And also, his deafness- was it really necessary?But I really am being picky.  I liked the book and was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly it was written, with a good blend of humor with bloody gore.I received a complementary copy of this book to review.