Zombie, Illinois

Starred review from October 15, 2012
Political reporter Ben Bennington, troubled inner-city pastor Leopold Mack and defiant punk-rocker Maria Ramirez take on marauding zombies and crooked Chicago politicians in this wickedly satirical page-turner by Kenemore (Zombie, Ohio). Knowing where the bodies are buried is integral to the power struggle that ensues after a resurgent Al Capone devours the mayor on television, an effectively gory scene that hints at Chicago's buried past coming back to light. Ramirez's father is next in line to be mayor , but amid the zombie chaos, some conspire to usurp his power. In the ensuing melee, Kenemore steers our sympathies: "...zombies are more a force of nature than a sentient, evil entity.... The humans are the ones with murder in their souls." Nevertheless, both are lethal, and Kenemore creates an authentic sense of place and character in ravaged Chicago as well as wittily sustained tension throughout. Pastor Mack's statement that they "start by taking care of each other" invokes atypically hopeful sentiments for a zombie-genre offering: the self-reliance of the poor may set the stage for a renaissance of city spirit. This blend of idealism and wry political commentary infuses new meaning into the zombie ravages portrayed so graphically here.

October 15, 2012

A zombie outbreak in Chicago brings together three very different people--Ben, an ambitious newspaper reporter; Mack, the pastor of a congregation located on the city's troubled South Side; and Maria, the drummer of an all-women punk band--who form an alliance based on staying alive and helping others do the same. When the death of the mayor in a zombie attack hits the news, the city's aldermen make plans to fill his position. Some of them see the zombies as a convenient smokescreen to cover up their unscrupulous ambitions. When Ben and his two companions discover what is happening, they realize that they may be the only ones able to save the city. Kenemore's sequel to Zombie, Ohio raises the bar for zombie fiction, combining the standard blood and gore of zombie battles with shady politics to tell a story of human resilience and the triumph of community solidarity. VERDICT The author of the mock self-help "Zen of Zombie" series continues his saga of zombie warfare with a strong, compelling story that should appeal to genre fans.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.