Book Review: They're Coming to Get You, Barbara! by J.D. Allen
The Night of the Living Dead franchise is what introduced me to horror. When I was a little tot, my dad often worked two to three jobs at a time, often the second shift or overnight. The only time I really got to see him was on Sunday when we'd have a home-cooked lunch at the kitchen table as a family. My parents kept a small 12" TV at one end of the table. Did they make TVs that small? Compared to the gargantuan TVs we have today, I feel like they did. Since I had no siblings, it worked. One particularly non-sunny Sunday, my parents had AMC (American Movie Classics) on, and Night of the Living Dead was playing.
I found my first moment of fear in a zombie.
The full realization of what atmosphere and music can do for suspense and dread almost sent me running from the table.
A horror fiend was born.
When I heard that a novel had been written as both an alternate point of view and a continuation of that story, I was excited!
They're Coming to Get You, Barbara is available on Amazon for $3.99 as an ebook, $9.99 as a paperback, and is on Kindle Unlimited.
Think back to the opening scene of Night of the Living Dead. Barbara and Johnny are visiting their father's grave when they are accosted by a rather angry old man. He overpowers Johnny, and in true 50's fashion, the majority of the scuffle takes place off camera. Barbara makes a frantic and exaggerated dash for the car and attempts an escape.
But what happened to Johnny?
Now, we know!
Johnny is every bit (get it...a little zombie humor...bwhahaha) the oblivious bystander you'll find in every other zombie story. You'll know what's wrong with the little girl. You'll know why you shouldn't stick your hand in with Grandma. The story makes the reader an active participant in this regard. You'll find yourself pulling harder for Johnny's survival than he does. This is where horror fans will have the upper hand in the apocalypse. We'll have a clue what's going on and why everyone is attempting to eat each other's faces.
Despite his naivety, he's surprisingly resourceful. A great deal of the story has the familiarity of the original with a few twists thrown in, and it's during these twists that we find out whether Johnny is made of something stout or something feeble.
I did not find much in the way of true character development, but I don't think there needed to be in this particular story. The only person Johnny has any extended interaction with is George, a friendly samaritan who helps him escape from one of the many tangles he finds himself in. However, George isn't much of a cook, and the beasts outside are ravenous.
Don't eat the stew.
Imagine my surprise when the story ends up at the old fairgrounds about ten miles from the cemetery. Up till that point, I had been cheering poor Johnny on with all the gusto of a fan-fiction favorite. I rooted for him for the sheer joy of childhood nostalgia. And, at the same time, I hoped he met a very grisly demise.
But when he found the mirror funhouse, I sat up in rapt attention. I was waiting for some bulbous, fetid clown to come shambling in, going feral in a fevered pitch of rage at Johnny's reflection. That doesn't happen, but it would have been fun!
The moral of the story, fast food kills!
If you're looking for a quick, fun zombie read, you often find yourself giggling at horror stories, and you love the Night of the Living Dead franchise in all its vintage gory glory, this one's for you! As always, click the book cover above to purchase your copy now!
