Hater

Author David Moody puts a new spin on the zombie genre with this horror story, which sees everyday people losing their minds almost instantaneously to become a new breed of killer deemed a "Hater." Society is falling to pieces, and panic ensues as the Haters take control, leaving Danny McCoyne to take matters into his own hands to protect his family. British narrator Gerard Doyle's reading makes the story sound so nightmarish and real that it's deeply disturbing. Doyle's voice is steeped in panic and desperation, forcing the listener to adopt his cause no matter how high the stakes. Doyle's expert portrayal reminds us how transcendent audiobooks can be. L.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Starred review from December 15, 2008
Originally self-published, Moody's nail-biter of a debut plausibly creates a nightmare world. Danny McCoyne, an employee of the Parking Fine Processing office in an unnamed, possibly British city, barely manages to support his wife and children. Things get a lot worse after incidents of random violence escalate to a condition that threatens the social fabric of the country. Those afflicted with the violent impulse are dubbed Haters. The rapid onset of the disorder, exacerbated by the frighteningly inadequate government response, leaves Danny and his family virtual prisoners in their own home. While the major twist and the final payoff aren't particularly surprising, the sections building up to them perfectly evoke the quiet desperation of an ordinary life. Moody might have been better off explaining less, but this intelligent, well-written chiller heralds a significant new talent. Guillermo Del Toro has bought film rights.