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Restless In Peaceville
Welcome to Peaceville, population 2067 and rising...from the grave...
Luke Chester has had enough. He’s the school geek, the girls laugh at him, he’s lost his dead-end job at the pizza place, and in the midst of the world’s messiest divorce his parents don’t even know he exists. An overdose of his mom’s tranquilizers and a stomach full of whiskey should solve all his problems...
But they don’t. Instead, Luke finds himself booted out of the afterlife for not dying a natural death, with nowhere to go but back to his recently vacated corpse and reality. How the hell is he going to pass for one of the living without someone trying to blow his brains out for being one of the undead?
And it just gets worse. He’s got to fight his own desperate craving to consume the living, evade the weird supernatural hunter who’s having a field day with the new undeads rising, and there’s this creepy black shadow following him around. Add to that the distraction of female fellow undead Annabelle burning to avenge her own murder, and clearly there’s no rest for the wicked. Jeez, all he wanted to do was R.I.P.
Luke Chester has had enough. He’s the school geek, the girls laugh at him, he’s lost his dead-end job at the pizza place, and in the midst of the world’s messiest divorce his parents don’t even know he exists. An overdose of his mom’s tranquilizers and a stomach full of whiskey should solve all his problems...
But they don’t. Instead, Luke finds himself booted out of the afterlife for not dying a natural death, with nowhere to go but back to his recently vacated corpse and reality. How the hell is he going to pass for one of the living without someone trying to blow his brains out for being one of the undead?
And it just gets worse. He’s got to fight his own desperate craving to consume the living, evade the weird supernatural hunter who’s having a field day with the new undeads rising, and there’s this creepy black shadow following him around. Add to that the distraction of female fellow undead Annabelle burning to avenge her own murder, and clearly there’s no rest for the wicked. Jeez, all he wanted to do was R.I.P.
Paperback
First published August 20, 2014
328 people want to read
About the author
Pippa Jay
21 books209 followersPreviously an Analytical Chemist & stay-at-home mum, Pippa Jay is now a Science Technician who writes scifi and supernatural stories to engage the emotions. Somewhere along the way a touch of romance crept into her work and refused to leave. In between torturing her plethora of characters, she spends the odd free moment looking after her chickens, creating cosplay for humans and dolls alike, and studying the Dark Side of the Force. Although happily settled in the historical town of Colchester in the UK with her husband of 30 years and three not-so-little monsters, she continues to roam the rest of the Universe in her head.
Pippa Jay occasionally blogs at Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitude of subgenres from scifi to the paranormal, often with romance, and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a quadruple SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), the 2015 EPIC eBook awards, the 2015 RWA LERA Rebecca (2nd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).
You can stalk her at her website, or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.
****Please do not send me review requests, event invites or recommendations****
Pippa Jay occasionally blogs at Adventures in Scifi, and Romancing the Genres. Her works include YA and adult stories crossing a multitude of subgenres from scifi to the paranormal, often with romance, and she’s one of eight authors included in a science fiction romance anthology—Tales from the SFR Brigade. She’s also a quadruple SFR Galaxy Award winner, been a finalist in the Heart of Denver RWA Aspen Gold Contest (3rd place), the 2015 EPIC eBook awards, the 2015 RWA LERA Rebecca (2nd place), and the GCC RWA Silken Sands Star Awards (2nd place).
You can stalk her at her website, or at her blog, but without doubt her favorite place to hang around and chat is on Twitter as @pippajaygreen.
****Please do not send me review requests, event invites or recommendations****
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 15, 2016
If you're looking for a zombie story that claws around in your mind and makes you think about the choices you make in your very alive state, look no further than this!
Restless In Peaceville is a novel that revolves around the undead life of Luke Chester. After he took his own life, which is made evident in the first chapter, he is denied into heaven. Instead, he has to choose which door to enter and see what his future holds. He picks the right door and comes back as a zombie. Luke wakes up next to Annabelle Stelly, a murder victim, and together they attempt to redeem themselves in the chance that they might get into heaven.
The depth to these characters were astounding, and I found myself relating to Luke Chester. As a victim of bullying and pain, which is ignored by his parents who have their own 'problems', Chester thinks the only way out is suicide. Pippa Jay writes in such stark realism that made me shudder at times at what was going through this boy's head, and nearly made me shed a tear when he realised all he was missing out on now that he was a zombie. Each character had flaws and traits that were realistic and at times, chilling.
While I enjoyed the Southern United States twang these characters spoke in, I found the sudden French words to be rather jilting and threw me off. These teenagers never came across as people who would be able to throw French phrases around.
Sadly, the plot seemed to be lacking ever so slightly. From the sudden realisation of love that seemed slightly forced, to some of the character's deaths, the plot started to become slightly cliche. However, what saved it for me was the end, which I won't spoil for anyone here. Let's just say that I love it when the good guys go bad!
Altogether, I highly recommend this story for anyone who is reading a zombie novel for the first time! It's easy to read, and if you enjoy a bit of French here and there, you can have fun translating it to yourself!
Restless In Peaceville is a novel that revolves around the undead life of Luke Chester. After he took his own life, which is made evident in the first chapter, he is denied into heaven. Instead, he has to choose which door to enter and see what his future holds. He picks the right door and comes back as a zombie. Luke wakes up next to Annabelle Stelly, a murder victim, and together they attempt to redeem themselves in the chance that they might get into heaven.
The depth to these characters were astounding, and I found myself relating to Luke Chester. As a victim of bullying and pain, which is ignored by his parents who have their own 'problems', Chester thinks the only way out is suicide. Pippa Jay writes in such stark realism that made me shudder at times at what was going through this boy's head, and nearly made me shed a tear when he realised all he was missing out on now that he was a zombie. Each character had flaws and traits that were realistic and at times, chilling.
While I enjoyed the Southern United States twang these characters spoke in, I found the sudden French words to be rather jilting and threw me off. These teenagers never came across as people who would be able to throw French phrases around.
Sadly, the plot seemed to be lacking ever so slightly. From the sudden realisation of love that seemed slightly forced, to some of the character's deaths, the plot started to become slightly cliche. However, what saved it for me was the end, which I won't spoil for anyone here. Let's just say that I love it when the good guys go bad!
Altogether, I highly recommend this story for anyone who is reading a zombie novel for the first time! It's easy to read, and if you enjoy a bit of French here and there, you can have fun translating it to yourself!
September 29, 2014
I cannot tell you on how many levels I love this book. The title. The first-person self-deprecating quips. The attention to detail (which is anything but boring). Fabulous stuff. Here's a brief extract to illustrate my point:
"For now, I can probably pass for just being sick, if I can get my coordination together and get out of here.
With that objective in mind, I lurch to my feet and fall flat on my face, luckily with one arm preventing my nose from getting smashed. Not that it hurts, but I really don’t need to make myself look any worse. I push back onto my hands and knees, grab the edge of the table beside me, and then pull myself up slow and easy. At least I’m standing, even if I am swaying like I’m still getting hit by the alcohol."
Restless in Peaceville is nothing like Jay's previous offerings - all of which, it should be noted, have been in the SFR genre - in terms of quality. It's better. WAY better. The other novels and novellas got five stars from me... perhaps I should go and revise them all down to four, because I can't give this one more than five stars - much as I'd dearly love to.
For me, Jay just matured as a writer. Up till now there was only one author who I'd turn to as an example of how to write in the first person. Now I have two.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
**I should note that zombies are not my preferred subject choice. Scenes at the end of the book got a little too gory and graphic for me.
"For now, I can probably pass for just being sick, if I can get my coordination together and get out of here.
With that objective in mind, I lurch to my feet and fall flat on my face, luckily with one arm preventing my nose from getting smashed. Not that it hurts, but I really don’t need to make myself look any worse. I push back onto my hands and knees, grab the edge of the table beside me, and then pull myself up slow and easy. At least I’m standing, even if I am swaying like I’m still getting hit by the alcohol."
Restless in Peaceville is nothing like Jay's previous offerings - all of which, it should be noted, have been in the SFR genre - in terms of quality. It's better. WAY better. The other novels and novellas got five stars from me... perhaps I should go and revise them all down to four, because I can't give this one more than five stars - much as I'd dearly love to.
For me, Jay just matured as a writer. Up till now there was only one author who I'd turn to as an example of how to write in the first person. Now I have two.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
**I should note that zombies are not my preferred subject choice. Scenes at the end of the book got a little too gory and graphic for me.
March 31, 2015
Zombies. Right after teen dystopian tales, I can't tell you how many zombie stories I've read, especially since The Walking Dead got popular. By rights, zombies are murderous undead who have no coherent thoughts except for "Brains...". Right? Wrong. Not in Restless In Peaceville.
You start the book in the afterlife itself, with Luke being told that, because he committed suicide, he couldn't go to Heaven or Hell. Very Catholic reasoning there. So he gets sent back to his dead body. He's coherent, and very frightened. What makes it worse, there's another newly risen girl, too!
The book escalates from there, taking the reader on an emotional journey, detailing both of the teens' difficult lives. But it's not all feels. There are vampires, witches, revenge plots and hunters...and not the Winchester brothers type!
In 45k words, we're given an undead thrill ride perfect for teens and adults alike. You get a little of everything, even romance, and it all meshes together easily for a quick, fun read you'll want to keep rereading.
You start the book in the afterlife itself, with Luke being told that, because he committed suicide, he couldn't go to Heaven or Hell. Very Catholic reasoning there. So he gets sent back to his dead body. He's coherent, and very frightened. What makes it worse, there's another newly risen girl, too!
The book escalates from there, taking the reader on an emotional journey, detailing both of the teens' difficult lives. But it's not all feels. There are vampires, witches, revenge plots and hunters...and not the Winchester brothers type!
In 45k words, we're given an undead thrill ride perfect for teens and adults alike. You get a little of everything, even romance, and it all meshes together easily for a quick, fun read you'll want to keep rereading.
September 13, 2014
WOW! I was delightfully surprised by this not so average zombie tale! Pippa Jay takes what we know about zombies and flips it around! This intriguing tale is told from the perspective of, well...a zombie! It's a brilliant plot that allows the reader to engage in more than guts and brains, and endless violence. Luke is the main character, and the story is told from his POV. Annabelle, another zombie, is his sidekick, and she is adorable! Their inner turmoil of what they've become really moves the story along.
Together, they find themselves back in the world of the living where they encounter several other fantastical creatures of legend. A witch, a vampire, and even face off against a paranormal hunter called the Peacemaker!!
I can't say anything else without giving it all away, but if you love zombies, and all those things that go bump in the night, you need to read this book. Definite 5 STARS, no contest.
Together, they find themselves back in the world of the living where they encounter several other fantastical creatures of legend. A witch, a vampire, and even face off against a paranormal hunter called the Peacemaker!!
I can't say anything else without giving it all away, but if you love zombies, and all those things that go bump in the night, you need to read this book. Definite 5 STARS, no contest.
April 26, 2016
Pros: This was a wonderful story, with a unique spin on zombies. I got engrossed in the characters and suspense and couldn't put it down.
Cons: I happen to love paranormal fiction, so I'm happy with supernatural characters of all kinds. If you're strictly into zombies, though, then you might not like the additional kinds of paranormal beings in this book.
Cons: I happen to love paranormal fiction, so I'm happy with supernatural characters of all kinds. If you're strictly into zombies, though, then you might not like the additional kinds of paranormal beings in this book.
November 4, 2014
wonderful! left me wanting more
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews