Zurvival Saturday (68) Audiobook Review: A Plague Upon Your Family (Zombie Fallout #2) by Mark Tufo

This week I will be reviewing A Plague Upon Your Family by Mark Tufo which if you didn't know is the 2nd installment in his Zombie Fallout series. I actually listened to this Audiobook back in June but at the time didn't review it. Since I just picked up #3 in the series I went back and had a re-listen as a refresher since I  was a little hazy on a few things that happened. Anyway enough of my rambling. Let's get on with the review,shall we!

Author: Mark Tufo
Series: Zombie Fallout #2
Genre: Horror, Post Apocalyptic, Zombies
Publisher: Tantor Media
Format: Audiobook
Publication Date: March 30, 2012



This story picks up exactly where book one left off. The Talbot family is evacuating their home amidst a zombie apocalypse. Mankind is on the edge of extinction as a new dominant, mindless opponent scours the landscape in search of food, which just so happens to be non-infected humans. In these pages, are the journal entries of Michael Talbot, his wife Tracy, their three kids Nicole, Justin and Travis. With them are Brendon, Nicole's fiance and Tommy previously a Wal-Mart door greeter who may be more than he seems. Together they struggle against a ruthless, relentless enemy that has singled them out above all others.

The Talbots have escaped Little Turtle but to what end, on the run they find themselves encountering a far vaster evil than the one that has already beset them. As they travel across the war-torn country side they soon learn that there are more than just zombies to be fearful of, with law and order a long distant memory some humans have decided to take any and all matters into their own hands. Can the Talbots come through unscathed or will they suffer the fate of so many countless millions before them. It's not just brains versus brain-eaters anymore. And the stakes may be higher than merely life and death with eternal souls on the line.



Review
A plague Upon Your Family picks up right where the first book in the series ends. The Talbot Family and their small band of survivors have escaped the battle of Little Turtle with their lives. On the run from the Zombie menace plaguing them they take shelter wherever possible in the hopes they can make it to the safety of Tracy's mothers farm in North Dakota.

As with the first book, I really enjoyed the Narrator of this series. I think he gets the sarcasm of Mike and is able to translate that well to me as a listener. I also really like that he doesn't just read the parts he actually acts them out. I can hear the inflection in his voice when a character is scared, happy, sad etc... and that to me makes all the difference when it comes to listening to a book as opposed to reading it.

What I really liked about the second book in the series is the way the story moved. The first book had the characters situated primarily in Little Turtle. A Plague Upon Your Family has the group moving across the country losing and gaining survivors along the way. It did make me wonder why they chose Tracy's mothers farm though. The group knows Eliza is after them and that she is relentless in her pursuit yet off they go bringing all that shit to this poor woman with no proof she is even alive. I also think it's sort of selfish of Tracy to want to check out her mother and just be like Oh Mike your family is good as dead. Who knows they might be alive as well.

I also really liked how the story handled Tommy in the second book. It is clear he has a higher purpose then just being the mentally challenged sidekick of the story. Although again I wondered why he never shared any of the food he found. I'm starting to think he's infected with the Zombie virus and eating is his way from stopping himself from turning. That to me is the only way to explain why he's always munching down on stuff but not sharing with the others. Least I really hope I'm right. I'd hate to think of Tommy as just being a selfish prick instead.

Now while I really did enjoy the second book in the series, I did have a few problems with it that I feel need addressed. First off, Even though we learn more about Eliza and her motivations in this book I'm still not really seeing why she has such a hardon for Mike and his family. We get it he wronged her in some way but my god girl get over it already.  Which brings me to the second point being Justin. I'm going to rant a bit here so I do apologize in advance. Mike knows his son has been tainted by Eliza, he also knows he is her direct link to him and his family. Mike knows that killing him will save not only himself but the other survivors with them but yet....he let's him live. I get it he's your child but the good of the many surely outweigh the life of one. Tommy knows he's evil and has told you this how many times? This is the kid with a cosmic link to pretty much everything surely he'd be worth listening to. At the very least Mike could tie him up and leave him somewhere but oh no that would make sense. It's infuriating that time and time again they discuss plans near him. Hello, he's just going to tell Eliza where you are duh people!! That whole plot point in the book seriously kills me and is the main reason why I cannot in good faith give this book or series as it's shaping up 5 Stars. [End Rant]

You know writing this review you'd think I'd rate this book lower than I have but despite its many faults I still really love this series and this crazy world Mark Tufo has created. While A Plague Upon Your Family isn't perfect it was still a great listen and left me itching to start the next Audiobook in the series. I do hope that the Eliza conflict wraps up soon but I have a nagging suspicion that it will be dragged out the entire length of the series. I also hope the next book has less toilet humor. It seemed like the second book was filled with about double that the first had.  It just became a bit much overall. Would I still recommend this book? Yes! Definitely give the Audiobook a shot if your looking for something suspenseful and creepy to listen to. With that being said, I'll be rating A Plague Upon Your Family by Mark Tufo ★★★★.

If you'd like to read my review of the first book in this series, Click Here!

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Out of curiosity, Have you heard of this book? 
If you have, What do you think of the Eliza situation?
How would you handle the Justin Character?

 Leave me your answers in the comments below or feel free to tweet me them @Hermyoni  

Well that about wraps up this weeks Zurvival Saturday. Like what you see? Please share! I thank you if you do.  Want to check out past Zurvival Saturday's? Click Here

Comments

  1. I have never heard of this book before! I really like the sound of the sequel. The narrator sounds really good and it seems like you could get all the emotions through his narrating. Also I like the sound of the characters :) I'm a bit lost among the characters here but I should read the first book first :D Great review :)

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    1. Yeah this narrator is really good playing both the male and female characters in the story.

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  2. I've never heard of this book but it sounds like a good read.

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  3. I have heard of this book and have read all six of the series. I love these books. Guess it is not fair for me to answer the Justin question but Eliza is one scary chick with a very interesting history. Have to say that I love Mark Tufo's writing and he has several other very good books besides his zombie series.

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    Replies
    1. Ah now you have me curious!! Have you read his Indian Hill series? I own the first book but haven't read it yet. Timothy looks good as well.

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  4. This is on my audio wishlist. :) I had to skim your review since I haven't listened to the first one yet, but I'm glad to see you are recommending the sequel. I need to go ahead and place a hold on the first one with my library because it is always checked out.

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