Vacation

Oct 05, 2011 Melissa rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: notworthit, apocalyptastic

On the back of this book, Bentley Little says this has "soon to be a major motion picture written all over it." This is clearly meant as some kind of compliment, even though it represents everything that's wrong here. Books can be works, they can be expressions of a craft, their words can be well thought-out. They can be pieces of literature that represent the creative output of the writer. They can make you think a dfferent way about the world, or about sentence structure. The characters within...more

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Nov 03, 2012 11811 (Eleven) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Most of the reviews here refer to this as a zombie novel, labeling the antagonists as zombies. It boggles my mind because there are no zombies in this book. Perhaps people have trouble imagining a post-apocalyptic story that doesn't include zombies.

What we have here are Can-Heads. Living humans who have resorted to cannibalism as a result of a global food storage. Please note the difference between the living and the undead.

I enjoyed this short story of the same title in The Best of Cemetery Dan ...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Vacation is a "zombie" novel in the sense that a segment of the population has gone mad and turned cannibal, or "Can Heads" as the normal humans call them. Every safe zone is surrounded by electric fences, motion detectors, and cameras, but people are still afraid to leave their houses. The world food supply has suffered greatly under a mysterious blight, and that combined with the drought and the Can Heads (who also came about without explanation) has decimated the population. Jack, the hero, i...more Vacation is a "zombie" novel in the sense that a segment of the population has gone mad and turned cannibal, or "Can Heads" as the normal humans call them. Every safe zone is surrounded by electric fences, motion detectors, and cameras, but people are still afraid to leave their houses. The world food supply has suffered greatly under a mysterious blight, and that combined with the drought and the Can Heads (who also came about without explanation) has decimated the population. Jack, the hero, is an NYPD cop who patrols what's left of the safe zones in Brooklyn, and a horrible episode in Red Hook leaves him badly injured and basically forced into a vacation by his captain.

I had a few problems with this book. Jack believes he is paranoid, but to me he just seems smart. Why wouldn't you go everywhere armed when you've seen first hand how quickly things can go bad in this new world? His wife Christie is insistent on travelling north to a camp in the Adirondacks that is purported to be safe, a paradise with extreme security to keep out the Can Heads and their own garden to grow real food. It becomes clear pretty quickly that this place is uber-creepy and also not so safe, but Jack and Christie stay with their two children because Christie really wants the kids to experience fun in the sun. Are you crazy? Lunatics want to eat your children and you think experiencing a beach and video games is more important? Jack, naturally suspicious of the weirdos running the camp, snoops around and discovers a twist that I didn't really understand. I mean I understood it, but not in the greater context of the world-building.

Also, the Can Heads are supposed to have a minimal ability to think, but they seemed pretty damn smart to me. I'm not sure I could figure out how to set a trap for armed cops, or how to disable and get over an electric fence.

My last complaint is with the voice. Costello uses short, staccato sentences, which are great for raising the tension, and which I thought was a great voice for the always-on-edge Jack. However, this voice doesn't change when the POV changes. It isn't so strange for Christie, but it is for 11 year old Simon.

This is a quick read (tons of white space on the page), and I did enjoy it, even if I didn't really get the ending. I think I know what Costello was going for, but I'm not sure. There is a sequel that I will definitely read in the hopes that some of these questions will be answered.(less)

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Feb 27, 2012 Paul rated it 3 of 5 stars

There was a clear and sharp arc in the "graph" of my reaction to this book. It started pretty low, where I couldn't help but think, "oh, this is going to be another one of THOSE silly zombie books" (I knew it had some aspect of that to it, but because the word "zombie" is never actually used, not in the reviews or metadata tags, I didn't realize it was going to be an all-out "zombie book" in most senses of that label—so, fair warning, this is basically another "zombie book").
But very quickly, my...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

First 50 Pages: Addicting. There isn’t much more to describe it. Vacation jumps right into the action and the gore. The first fifty gives the reader a good background of the world of Vacation while combining a good bit of action. This is textual action entertainment at its finest.

Characters: As with every story, there is the good and the bad, the hero and the jerk. On the hero side, we have the cop that is in desperate need of a va...more See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy....

First 50 Pages: Addicting. There isn’t much more to describe it. Vacation jumps right into the action and the gore. The first fifty gives the reader a good background of the world of Vacation while combining a good bit of action. This is textual action entertainment at its finest.

Characters: As with every story, there is the good and the bad, the hero and the jerk. On the hero side, we have the cop that is in desperate need of a vacation, and his wife and kids, whom he so dearly needs to protect. There is a lot more affection between this little family than what the book shows, but the reader doesn’t really see it until the end.

Jack is the typical bad ass good cop. He has his wits about him. The cop never leaves. He notices things others don’t. And he is good with a gun. He suspects something fishy about their resort almost right away. It’s just something about Ed and Shana that he can’t place. But that is the typical good cop. His listens to his gut because it is usually right.

Jack’s wife, Christie, is the typical good cop wife. Being the wife of a cop is rough. Jack is married to his work. His constant paranoia and wits come in between his family. Christie understands this is typical for any cop’s wife to feel, but she still doesn’t like it. She understands and knows Jack as well as his shadow. She knows when to argue, how to make her point, and when to leave things alone. But that still doesn’t make being the wife of a cop easy.

Then there is Ed and his little sidekick, Shana. I won’t give too much away about them. Ed runs the camp. Shana ensures everything runs smoothly. I really didn’t like them as characters. Every way the author describes them, even with the smirks and smiles, made me distrust and hate them more as a reader.

Plotline: Vacation has a good story to it. It’s action packed and engaging. There is never a dull moment. Even during the quieter moments there is something interesting going on. The story line isn’t new and original. I’ve read and watched other things that are sort of similar. Mr. Costello does add his own little twists to it though. The plotline is still a fun little ride. The story only peaks right at the very end leaving a heck of a climax and very little drop. Personally, I think maybe another ten more pages to really take in the ending would have been nice, maybe a little more description after the climax to really set the mood and help the reader unwind a little from the excitement. But none the less, bravo Mr. Costello.

Review: I’ve covered a good chunk of what I wanted to write already. Vacation is a pure entertainment read. There is no life lesson or heart dripping moments. It’s a pure, action packed, gripping, and entertaining novel. I would love to see this turned into a movie with modern day effects, but at the same time I would be worried Hollywood would butcher everything so badly like they have done with so many other good books.

I mentioned that Vacation was nothing entirely new as far as plotline goes. And I hold firm by my opinion. I’ve seen this kind of story done before, just perhaps not in the same settings. Mr. Costello adds his own nice little twists to it though which helps breathe some fresh air into the plotline.

What really makes this book is his style of writing. It’s so personal, descriptive, and well done. I almost get the sense that once the pen hit the paper the words started flowing naturally from Costello’s head through his hands and placed themselves neatly on the paper like a well-organized play. The writing style is simplistic in nature, and somewhat broken up in the wording. It conveys the ideas, thoughts, actions, and emotions of the characters so perfectly though. Rarely can I read in rhythm and motion as I would see the action and movements drawn out in my head. Fluff words are dropped all together and replaced by simple white space, or hyphens, which perfectly emphasize the sudden change in mood or the characters thoughts fumbling to accurately describe the moment. Half a page may go on with simple one paragraph sentences, or half sentences playing out a conversation or the thought process while on another page may be one endless paragraph pulling the reader into the action that just doesn’t stop.

Final Thoughts: I loved the book. I read the entire thing in one day. That usually doesn’t happen for me. My schedule is so tight that reading is usually only a luxury spent for an hour or two a day. I read on my lunch break at work or while my wife is in her college classes and I wait patiently in the parking lot. Vacation I just couldn’t put down. It’s a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish. (less)

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Oct 23, 2012 Dystopian rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book is a mess.

SPOILERS

After a ten year "Great Drought" food is scarce, and this has inexplicably resulted in "Can Heads," which are crazed cannibal people. Everyone lives behind tall electrified fences, which often fail. So, in the midst of all this, a family decides to go on vacation. Yep.

They get to the camp in the Adirondacks, and it's one creepy thing after another. (There is a burned village complete with corpses that is never explained.) While creeping around because he's suspiciou...more

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Jun 23, 2012 MB rated it 4 of 5 stars

Maybe a 4.5.

Could NOT put it down. Read it mostly in one sitting. Reads like you're watching a film. You're in the world, you're with the character, you move through the story and you're done.

Post-zombie-apocalypse. Different enough to be interesting. Since biting doesn't turn one into a zombie, it's more of a famine + cannibalism causation. It doesn't really matter, because you are so deeply into the main character. You know what he knows, and he obviously can't no every tiny detail about his...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Karin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, post-apocalyptic, 2011-reads, zombies

Jack Murphy is a policeman in New York and has seen the world quickly deteriorate to where there are very few “safe” places left. The areas that are safe are surrounded by tall fences meant to keep out the Can Heads.

During a particularly bad night at a Can Head siting, Jack watches as his partner walks into a trap and gets eaten alive. Jack himself suffered terrible injuries forcing him to take time off the job and endure many painful weeks of exercise and physical therapy.

After being told by hi...more Jack Murphy is a policeman in New York and has seen the world quickly deteriorate to where there are very few “safe” places left. The areas that are safe are surrounded by tall fences meant to keep out the Can Heads.

During a particularly bad night at a Can Head siting, Jack watches as his partner walks into a trap and gets eaten alive. Jack himself suffered terrible injuries forcing him to take time off the job and endure many painful weeks of exercise and physical therapy.

After being told by his superiors that he won’t be allowed back to work until he takes some vacation time, he reluctantly agrees to go away with his wife and kids to Paterville Family Camp – a fortress-like compound in the mountains, where families can relax and do things people used to do on vacations like hike, swim, and take boats out on the water.

Everything is great at Paterville. The kids get in the water everyday, his wife lays on the beach in the sun, and they even meet a nice couple they chit chat with at dinner every night. Another perk to being at Paterville is the food. There is plenty of it and it isn’t the synthetic food they are used to at home. At first Jack finds it hard to relax – always on alert for danger, but he eventually sees how much his family is enjoying their time at the Camp and decides to give relaxation a try.

The picture perfect vacation is ruined when Can Heads breach the Camp’s extensive security. With Jack’s help, the guards are able to fight off the attack and put things back in order. Life is back to normal the next morning with people having fun in the lake like always. Jack never lets his guard down again though and he starts to see strange things that alert his policeman senses to possible sinister goings on at the Camp.

Jack decides he and his family need to leave – no matter what!

VACATION is a fast-paced story that hooks the reader on page one and doesn’t let go until the end. I label it as a YA Crossover book because while there is quiet a bit of blood and gore and some language, it isn’t anything that older teens can’t handle. This is perfect for your older horror fans.(less)

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Dec 27, 2011 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-and-early-reviews

VACATION by Matthew Costello is a horror story, which, at my age, just seems silly. But surprise: its horror eventually becomes thrilling. I couldn’t put the book down until I fell asleep and it dropped. And it was Christmas.

The story opens at a police station on a night that began quiet but becomes busy as two of the few remaining policemen in New York city arm themselves for another confrontation with Can Heads. Yes, “Can Heads.” That name confirmed for me that this would be silly.

No explanati...more VACATION by Matthew Costello is a horror story, which, at my age, just seems silly. But surprise: its horror eventually becomes thrilling. I couldn’t put the book down until I fell asleep and it dropped. And it was Christmas.

The story opens at a police station on a night that began quiet but becomes busy as two of the few remaining policemen in New York city arm themselves for another confrontation with Can Heads. Yes, “Can Heads.” That name confirmed for me that this would be silly.

No explanation is given for what Can Heads are or where they came from other than a couple vague statements about possibilities; no explanation of the reason so few policemen remain; no explanation for citizens’ unwillingness to leave their homes. And why the heck is the government unable to protect the citizens? Isn’t that the reason government exists? No explanation there, either.

All this lack of explanation bugged the heck out of me. But I decided to read 50 pages before I threw the book against the wall.

Apparently, there had been a “Great Drought” (the book’s capitalization, not mine). Water became less plentiful and very expensive “like gold.” That affected the food supply, and many people were starving. Then, for some unknown reason (other than “a switch was thrown”), Can Heads showed up and began to terrorize everyone, make them afraid to leave their homes. The Can Heads just rose from the ground and had very sharp teeth.

So what, exactly, are Can Heads? At first Costello gives no explanation. But, as the story continues, the reader can gather that Can Heads look and act like crazed animals, but they think like crazed humans. They are “human animals.” They are hungry, and they eat people. So I guess “can” is short for “cannibal.”

Anyhow, back to the policemen. Their confrontation with the Can Heads left one policeman partly devoured before another policeman, Jack, shoots him to put him out of his misery. Jack then shoots and kills the Can Heads, too, but not before one of them eats a chunk from his leg. Jack lives, but he goes on vacation.

Up to this point, VACATION seems to be nothing more than a silly story with monsters, like a child’s nightmare. But now comes the vacation in VACATION.

I have in my hands the very brochure that Jack is considering for his vacation, a great marketing idea for this book. It’s a brochure advertising a safe vacation spot with lots of good food, the rest and relaxation that Jack and his family (wife and two kids) need.

In spite of VACATION’s faults, this vacation does become a thriller. No kidding. It’s anything but R&R, especially for Jack. This beautiful vacation spot surprises with even more horror.

VACATION isn’t for everyone. But even I, all set to dismiss it as nothing but silliness, became caught up in this story that turned out to be a thriller.(less)

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Oct 28, 2011 PopcornReads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, giveaway, horror, mysteries-thrillers, science-fiction, cannibals, matthew-costello

Once I saw the book cover for Vacation by Matthew Costello and read the publisher’s blurb, I knew I had to request an advance reader’s copy (ARC). Luckily I scored a hard copy for one lucky reader to win in a giveaway – thank you St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books! They even included a brochure for the Paterville Family Camp. I cracked up when I saw the brochure. Their marketing team obviously has a great sense of humor. Although this book definitely qualifies as scifi/horror, it crosses genr...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sometimes I like to try something outside of my normal type of book. And since I fear/am fascinated with zombies, I thought I would try this. Certainly not a great work of literature. I could see all the plot twists coming a mile away, but he does do a nice job of setting a very creepy atmosphere, with lots of bad stuff looming on the horizon. It's also a simple, speedy read. Character development is almost nil, and it's written in that very masculine style where the protagonist is so busy with...more

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May 07, 2013 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When NYPD cop Jack Murphy is wounded by "Can Heads", cannibal people who feed off other humans, he along with the rest of his family decide to take a holiday at Paterville Family Camp. Although once there, all is not what it seems at the camp.

I bought this book based on the strength of Matthew Costello's Doom 3 and Rage novels which I thoroughly enjoyed. With Vacation I'm happy to report I was not disappointed. My only gripes with the story would be that some plot elements are never tied up or f...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Jen added it

Shelves: didn-t-finish

I think I need to add another shelf, "skimmed thru", because not all "DNF" books are bad. Many I just skimmed thru for one of various reasons. The reason for this one being skimmed thru is because I'm chicken poo and can't really handle scary, suspense or zombies.
Not a bad book, but I feel that more background, like what the heck happened to cause the Can-heads to go bonkers, why the military can't handle it, what happened to the food, etc. Too much is left unexplained.
Also, Murphy's boss neve...more

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May 13, 2013 Scottsdale Public Library added it

Shelves: adult, fiction, horror, sci-fi-fantasy

Fans of "The Walking Dead" will gobble up this sci-fi/horror story. It's the future, and something has caused the extinction of plants and animals and triggered certain people to become cannibals or "Can Heads" who turn on other humans for food. After surviving an attack while on duty, Detective Jack Murphy and his family retreat to a safe zone to join other families for a little rest and relaxation. But are they really out of danger, or just a Can Head picnic away from a gruesome end? If you're...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Ashley Fontainne rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book on a recommendation from a friend. I will admit I was skeptical at first, since this genre is not something I normally read. Once I started, I was hooked.

The clipped writing style was a perfect touch to the story. The Murphy family, headed by the NYPD father, Jack, live in a post-apocalyptic world. Zombies, or rather, Can Heads as they are known, are the new enemy. Human beings driven by animal instincts and the never ending quest for human flesh. Jack deals with patrolling the...more I read this book on a recommendation from a friend. I will admit I was skeptical at first, since this genre is not something I normally read. Once I started, I was hooked.

The clipped writing style was a perfect touch to the story. The Murphy family, headed by the NYPD father, Jack, live in a post-apocalyptic world. Zombies, or rather, Can Heads as they are known, are the new enemy. Human beings driven by animal instincts and the never ending quest for human flesh. Jack deals with patrolling the devastated streets daily in hopes of keeping the flesh eaters at bay. All the characters deal with constant stress, the fear of being the next meal or losing a family member at the forefront of their daily thoughts.

There is no such thing as 'normal' anymore. Children and families hide inside their homes, afraid to even venture out. Real food is gone, replaced with man made synthetic substitutes. Living has become simply surviving. But when Jack suffers an extremely close brush with the Can Heads, his wife convinces him that he needs, as well as the family, some time away from the craziness to regroup their faculties. Her suggestion? A vacation to one of the few remaining places in the country that offers a safe place to be a family once again.

Begrudgingly, Jack agrees. The lure of sun, water, tranquility and real food are more than he can fight. Plus, it will offer him a chance to reconnect with his wife and children in a way they have never really experienced. It is a dangerous trip, for Jack knows they must leave the relative safety of the reinforced city to travel.

And then, their horrific adventure begins.

Mr. Costello's writing style is taunt and tense, giving the reader a great sense of the trepidation that each character feels. I also enjoyed the fact that this book doesn't delve into great detail about how the zombies came to be, but rather, that they simply are. The climactic ending will leave you breathless.

If you enjoy tension filled, nail biting thrillers within the zombie genre, you will love this book.(less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Theresa Bolen rated it 4 of 5 stars

*SPOILER DISCLAIMER - the end contains A SPOILER*
I found myself thinking about this book every morning before I crawled out of bed and it was the last thing that ran through my head each night as I drifted off to sleep. Costello did an amazing job at pulling me into the story and keeping my attention. I intentionally took my time with it because it felt like a journey. The thing that really intrigued me was the concept of the vacation, which is not unlike what many people do now. We travel off t...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Paterville Camp, where you and your family can relax -- or not.

A vacation is just what the doctor ordered after NYPD officer Jack Murphy barely survives an attack. His partner was killed by a group of Can Heads, roving bands of cannibals that have become an increasing threat since the water dried up and blight attacked the crops. But Jack isn't the kind of person who relaxes easily and something about Paterville has him worried. Sure it's surrounded by a massive electric fence and heavily armed...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Leslee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: zombies-like-more-than-brains, the-horror-the-horror

Three stars. The fact that I finished this book in just under 3 hours is a testament to its key strength. This is airport fiction at its best - light, fun, non stop action, lets you read something without really have to absorb anything heavy, and when it's done you can put it down and forget about it.

I admittedly expected something a little more atypical and original. Sucked in by a well designed book cover again, so kudos to the cover artist for this one, you won me over! This was your very ty...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: zombies, families

(Re-posted from http://theturnedbrain.blogspot.com/)

It's never a good sign when you sit down to review a book you finished only a few days ago and realise that you can’t actually remember any of the character’s names. In my head they’ve become ‘the cop dad’ or ‘the teenage daughter,’ which would tell me, if I didn’t already know, that the characters in 'Vacation' lack any kind of depth. They come across like stand ins. As though when the author was sitting down to sketch out his story plan he s...more (Re-posted from http://theturnedbrain.blogspot.com/)

It's never a good sign when you sit down to review a book you finished only a few days ago and realise that you can’t actually remember any of the character’s names. In my head they’ve become ‘the cop dad’ or ‘the teenage daughter,’ which would tell me, if I didn’t already know, that the characters in 'Vacation' lack any kind of depth. They come across like stand ins. As though when the author was sitting down to sketch out his story plan he said ‘ok, so there’s a dad, and he’s a cop,’ and then forgot to go any deeper.

But I know some people are able to enjoy books with flat characters, and so I suspect there are people out there who will enjoy 'Vacation.' It’s an action packed little books, one that you finish really fast even if you weren’t intending to. A cop gets injured on the job and decides to take his family on a holiday, except when they get to the holiday park things are not what they seem.

Oh, and there’s zombies.

‘Vacation’ takes what I couldn’t help but think of as the ‘Feed’ approach to zombies. The story is not about them. They’re an established part of the world, shambling about in the background while the main storyline plays out.

Which is not a criticism. I actually really like this approach. The first few desperate hours following a zombie apocalypse can be thrilling, but I also enjoy reading about societies that have adapted to co-exist with with their new shambling neighbors. This is probably ‘Vacation’s’ strongest point. The zombies have only been around for a decade or so, and while people are holding on you get the impression that things are still getting worse and worse. Fresh food is a real luxury, with most people living off perfectly healthy but unappetizing genetically modified food. I liked the way that the youngest son tends to fixate upon food, as he has never known a world where it was not scarce.

I say that this was the book’s strongest point. A less charitable part of me wants to say it was the books only strong point. The plot is unpredictable only in its predictableness. You think to you self, ‘no, that’s not going to happen it’s way too obvious’ and then it’s a small surprise when the obvious thing actually happens. Again and again.

I think maybe the book should have been longer. They get to the camp and instead of slowly jacking up the feelings of ‘not rightness’ for a few days, let the characters and the reader grow increasingly uneasy, things happen way, way too quickly. The reader isn’t given a chance to get attached to Officer whats-his-name and his family before their lives are in danger, which lowers the suspense considerably (and is another side effect of replacing real characters with cardboard cutouts).

Plus, ok, here is my biggest grievance against this book. I almost didn’t say anything because it verges on nitpicky, but it really spoiled the book for me. Mistakes in the continuity. Glaring ones! In an early chapter the cop refers to his wife as a really light sleeper and she always wakes up when he comes to bed. Then, in a later chapter, he thinks about how he’ll have no trouble sneaking out because his wife is such a heavy sleeper. The one thing this book has going for it is that it barrels along and you get caught up in it, but errors like that bring the whole thing to a screeching halt. I have to go flicking back through the pages to see if I read it wrong, which obviously yanks you right out of the story. And it’s not like that was the only example. At one point the cop thinks that his kid’s screaming is going to get them all killed, then only a few paragraphs later, mere paragraphs for crying out loud, he’s thinking about how proud he was that his kid never made a sound. I mean come on!

But like I said, it’s a quick read. And even though it’s all very obvious what is going to happen and it could have used a more thorough edit, I can’t say that I was ever bored. I would recommend this book to people who don’t care about characters as much as I do, or people who really like zombies in all their forms.(less)

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Nov 17, 2011 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, arc, for-review

I love zombies, but I’ll admit, lately, I’ve been kind of on a kick, and I’m almost to the point where I’m zombie’d out. This was good news for Vacation, though. I’m a fan of Matthew Costello from way back, so when Vacation was brought to my attention, I was quite excited to dive into it. Vacation has “zombies” of a sort, called Can Heads (cannibals, see?), and they’re driven by an unknown virus, possibly brought on by the terrible world conditions. Drought, famine, and economic collapse are a p...more I love zombies, but I’ll admit, lately, I’ve been kind of on a kick, and I’m almost to the point where I’m zombie’d out. This was good news for Vacation, though. I’m a fan of Matthew Costello from way back, so when Vacation was brought to my attention, I was quite excited to dive into it. Vacation has “zombies” of a sort, called Can Heads (cannibals, see?), and they’re driven by an unknown virus, possibly brought on by the terrible world conditions. Drought, famine, and economic collapse are a part of Jack Murphy’s life, and as one of the few remaining NYPD cops, he works hard to keep the streets safe for the people scraping by in this dangerous new world. He and his family live in relative, if tenuous, comfort, in a walled off section of the city and rarely venture outside. ‘Cause, baby, it’s nasty outside the walls, and increasingly clever Can Heads are finding their way inside the walls with alarming frequency. After an incident that leaves Jack’s partner dead, and Jack himself clinging to life, his boss urges him to take a vacation, suggesting the Paterville Family Camp, high in the Adirondacks, as as a getaway option. So Jack packs up his wife, Christie, and their son and daughter, and they hit the road.

The opening scenes in Vacation were exciting in their visceral, violent action, but really, it’s when the Murphy family hits the highway for the drive to Paterville that really brings the creep. Papers had to be filed and fees paid in order to pave the way through the official checkpoints and Jack is fighting increasing stress, while his family is eager to get out of the confines of the walls they’ve lived behind day in and day out for years. Jack just can’t put the cop away and relax, but trust me, this turns out to be a good thing. A nasty incident at a deserted rest stop doesn’t help to allay Jack’s fears, but he puts aside these feelings, hoping that Paterville will offer his family a little bit of freedom and happiness, if only for a short while. They manage to arrive at Paterville without further incident, but among the lake swims, fireworks, and admittedly good food served in the dining hall, there’s always a sense of “wrongness”, and the author does a great job at building dread. What I really appreciated about these characters, is when the proverbial “sh*t” finally hits the fan, and the nasty (really, really nasty) truth about Paterville comes to light, Jack’s wife, Christie, doesn’t question her spouse. She trusts him implicitly and shows an amazing resilience and toughness in the midst of a terrible situation. Too many times, in novels and movies, spouses (men and women both) show disbelief and hesitation when confronted with a situation that requires swift action. Christie is no slouch in the courage department, and she’ll do anything to protect her kids, and she never questions Jack’s devotion to his family. And make no mistake, he’s devoted. This is a horror story, to be sure, but at the forefront is Jack’s love for his family, and his determination to do anything possible to keep them safe. Vacation was unputdownable, and I read it in one evening. Never too gruesome, leaving just enough to the imagination, it will raise the little hairs on the back of your neck and keep you glued to the pages until the shocking end. Fans of zombies, creeping horror, and just plain good writing will eat this one up (pun totally intended.)(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

I found Vacation interesting in that it wasn’t about an initial infestation of zombies, but how people were dealing with them years later. The humans who survived were struggling to maintain some sense of normalcy. After suffering a serious injury fighting the Can Heads, NYPD cop Jack Murphy takes his family on a vacation up north where it is still safe to be in the woods and swim in the lake. I didn’t want to put this book down, but in the end I was disappointed. I knew what was strange about C...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Alisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thrillers, end-of-the-world

Okay, I really wavered between three and four stars for this one. I really disliked the writing style - the author takes short, choppy sentences to the extreme, but the plot was so intense than I read it in one sitting, even though I knew early on where it was going, and what the end was going to be. It would make a great movie. Really, though? You had to call your zombies "Can Heads"? Worst name for zombies ever.

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Apr 26, 2012 Michelle Morrell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian-fiction, x-read-2012, zombies

Set after a series of devastating droughts, which were followed by an unknown catastrophic event that killed much of the world's vegetation while leaving swaths of people as sudden mindless cannibals, this follows a NY policeman and his family as they go on vacation to a stronghold in the mountains. Let's just say they don't get much rest. Quick read, took me a day.

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Mar 19, 2012 Claudia rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would have given this 4 stars, but the ending sort of went into wild territory and got a little disjointed for me. Also, I didn't like how it started with one narrator and ended with another.

This was a fast, intriguing read, sort of the sci fi arena that I like, near future apocalyptic horror. The author has a quick, engaging, simple style. I read it in one day.

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Aug 20, 2012 Rick Fisher rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

Very well written. Moves along very quickly. And, while there were some wonderful plot points, I felt like I was reading a zombified Stepford Wives story. A very predictable outcome. Also, there were a few open ended sub-plots that I would love to have been answered. To many who, what, where and whens. Loved all four of the main family characters. Def. can tell this was fleshed out from a short story, though, and has screen play written all over it.
I did enjoy this and would watch the movie v...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very good apocalypse novel with a story line of what a man will do for his family and for a sense of normalcy in life. There is a desperation of wanting to find some feeling/experience that you had before the world went to hell and have your children feel it too. For me, it was a quick read because I could not put it down.

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Dec 01, 2011 Dana * rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, future, horror, zombies

The Zombie survival story of one family. I like the setting, a 'safe' camp where people can go to relax, out in the country, and be safe from zombies.

I like the story, I could kind of predict where it was going, but in the end I was a little let down because, while it met my expectations, it left me without any explanation of 'why' would this be happening.

However, I did like the story, I like the ending, and I think it was another good take on the live zombies vs. the dead zombies. Will the surv...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars

For some reason I've read a fair share of zombie books recently, and no matter how good the writing and/or story ends up being, the over all feel of the books is one of hopelessness. This one was pretty well-written, with a pretty disturbing twist, but the end still left me feeling bleak. No more zombies.

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Apr 24, 2012 Jennie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, horror

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 27, 2012 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good storyline and premise butthe males are almost all 3D and the females are nearly wholly 2D caricatures.

Also, there is this line that I found problematic: 'With her mix of Italian and Latin blood, she could get steamed pretty fast.' Yikes.

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title link	preview: Vacation
avg rating	preview: Vacation Goodreads rating: 3.27 (254 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10803014-vacation?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317794081l/10803014.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10803014-vacation?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Vacation by Matthew J. Costello[/url]

Vacation

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