Tooth and Nail By Craig DiLouie

28 Days Later was one of those moves that really helped push the zombie back to the forefront.  Only…zombie purists will tell you, “It’s not a zombie movie.”  In many ways, Tooth and Nail by Craig DiLouie is much the same.  In fact, this book could be seen as the Americanized version.  And I mean this in a good way.

While Lieutenant Todd Bowman is named on the back jacket, there are a number of characters in this fast-paced tale.  Some might complain about the number of characters—a criticism I never quite understood—but each one is three-dimensional.  What I mean is that each is given enough depth for you to care about their fate.  DiLouie doesn’t simply fill his story with cannon fodder and mow them down.  He brings you into the heads and lets you look through their eyes.

There is a lot of military jargon here, but he doesn’t overwhelm the reader.  There is a real feeling of authenticity here.  At times, you can get sucked in and feel the emotions swirling as the soldiers talk during the lulls in the action.  DiLouie uses dialog to a supreme effect in this regard.

The military and medical aspects of this story all felt plausible and real.  It was a rich addition without making you feel like you were reading a medical journal.  It was how the “Lyssa” virus worked that really gave this story its 28 Days Later feel.  And for the most part instead of the regular citizens, there was a different level of tension than what you find in many stories of this genre.  Gone are the obligatory headshots and the sometimes awkward ways in which the protagonists must “discover” how to bring down the monsters.  But rest assured, there will be astronomical body counts by the time you reach the last page.

As always, there are a few critiques to go with the praise.  I wasn’t fond of the tense in which DiLouie told the story.  At times it jumbled the scene.  And, of course, you will find a typo or two.  However, Tooth and Nail is a clean read for a small press.

I very strongly recommend Tooth and Nail by Craig DiLouie.  It is fast-paced and rich with characters that are brought to life in your mind as the story draws you deeper and deeper into the chaos.  This story will pluck you from your comfy chair and have you pacing the room as you get to the last dozen pages where the climax becomes all too real.