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The Hospital: The First Mountain Man Story
by Keith C. Blackmore
Narrated by R.C. Bray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you’re looking to get your heart pumping, your stomach churning, and your imagination overloaded, The Hospital fulfills that adrenaline rush by being as short, thrilling, and potentially nauseating as a roller coaster ride. It is a zombie-filled world with seemingly no living people, save one – Augustus Berry. This lone ranger is strapped with precaution as he scavenges towns for resources, struggling to survive every day while the dead squeeze out what’s left of the living. Augustus is cautious, armored as a turtle and moving as fast as a hare. A single mistake could cost him his life.
Blackmore does an excellent job growing suspense. Even though you’re reading (or listening to an audio book, as was my case) the feeling of a scenario going too smoothly is ominous as the danger hangs in the air. You don’t know what’s coming, but you can feel the tension in Augustus as the silence surrounding him is too quiet to be serene. The details from Blackmore are as vivid as a photo in mind. This book is not for the feint of heart. But it will definitely satisfy the blood lust of horror fans. The Hospital is a great beginning to the Mountain Man series, introducing new fans to a world that almost makes us appreciate the one we currently live in.
Narration
How a story is told can have great affect on a book’s appeal. I found R.C. Bray to have a gritty voice, perfect for the setting, and enjoyed his shift in key as his voice rose for a diabolical female voice. It isn’t easy shifting gender voices, but I thought Bray did this well. He didn’t over-act, which can be annoying, he simply switched tone accordingly and appropriately, which definitely aided in dimming the already darkening tone of the piece.
Overall, the production was well worth my time. I’m grateful to have had an opportunity to squeeze in this hour and a half, gut-clenching performance. A perfect prequel to wet readers appetites and invite curiosity to venture into more of Augustus’ adventures.
What do YOU think of prequels?
Do you enjoy learning about your favorite characters’ past? Would you be curious in something like The Hospital? Give me your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Well, I’m sold! I believe I”ll make this my first audio to the collection I want to have. And I have no doubt my husband will enjoy this too. Actually, he may prefer the book. We are both into the zombie worlds, so this seems just perfect! 🙂
Awesome! There’s nothing better than writing something that others find helpful. I highly recommend Blackmore if this is your kind of genre.