The Walking Dead: Search and Destroy (a review)

No apologies. I love zombie stories. And nobody writes 'em better than Jay Bonansinga. If F. Scott Fitzgerald is to writing what Mozart is to music, then Bonansinga is Kurt Cobain. It's OK to like both – or all four, depending on how you're keeping score. If you limit variety during your life, guess what? You don't get to go back and do it over when you're done.

If you happen to be into audio books, you get the bonus of a literary/narration match made in reader's heaven. I have little doubt that when Fred Berman was born his first words were, "Hurry up and teach me to read so I can narrate the Walking Dead series!" If you have never heard Berman read Bonansinga's prose, do yourself a favor and check it out. Right now. Here's a link to the first audio-novel inspired by Robert Kirkman's graphic novels and television series. Listen to the sample taken from the first chapter: http://preview.tinyurl.com/jjcxxw5.

If you are an inspiring novelist and want a lesson on how to write vivid scenes, I can think of no finer examples than any of Bonansinga's Dead novels. The man's writing forces you – albeit unknowingly – to engage all five senses.

I gave this edition of the Walking Dead saga a 4 on GoodReads but only because they don't allow half-star ratings. If they did, I would have given it a 4.5. And the only reason it's not a 5 is because some of the other books in the series are even better. The writing and performance are total joys.

For more reviews, profiles, and interesting tidbits on writing, check out www.billfurney.com.