Survivor Song

Paul Tremblay has been one of the fastest rising stars of horror fiction over the last few years, and this new book will do his reputation no harm at all. The action takes place over just a few hours in the midst of an outbreak of a mutated rabies strain that is bad news for all concerned. It is fast and focused, with attention laser-tight on the two women at the heart of the story. There's huge jeopardy and a gruelling climax, supporting characters who are brave and fearless, and others who are misguided and wrong (but not just broad brush evil bad guys), and that relentless pace, as the clock ticks down on [SPOILER], but the absolute core of the book is the relationship between Rams and Natalie. Between the action, Tremblay sketches in the history of their friendship, and it is one you will believe in utterly. Of course, that just raises the stakes even higher as we breathlessly career towards the ending scenes, which are, uh, intense.

This is a juggernaut of a book, highly recommended. And look! I got through this whole review without mentioning any real world pandemics that might have been going on while I was reading it!