Handling the Undead

By: John Ajvide Lindqvist

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

In his new novel, John Ajvide Lindqvist does for zombies what his previous novel, Let the Right One In, did for vampires.

Across Stockholm the power grid has gone crazy. In the morgue and in cemeteries, the recently deceased are waking up. One grandfather is alight with hope that his grandson will be returned, but one husband is aghast at what his adored wife has become.

A horror novel that transcends its genre by showing what the return of the dead might really mean to those who loved them.

©2005 John Ajvide Lindqvist; Translation copyright 2009 by Ebba Segerberg (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“A unique and humanistic take on the undead that has a place alongside thoughtful horror novels like World War Z.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

“The first fresh take on the zombie since [Dawn of the Dead].” —Chud.com

“Sophisticated horror that takes the genre to new and exciting levels.” —Suspense Magazine

Wanted more, got it, but not what I hoped for.

I had to try this after I read "Let Me In". This story doesn't glitter the way the other did, but it's satisfying, still. It's unique in its concept, and delivers interesting perspectives. What happens to family relationships if the dead stay around? Naturally, families are different. I think some people with enjoy this a lot more than others. It's thought provoking.

Ok, but doesn’t deliver anything new

I found this story too simple and overly sentimental. It takes a long time to get to the action, and fails to wrap up multiple storylines. Perhaps the writer plans to address these in future books, but based on the soap opera pacing of this one, I’m unlikely to seek them out. Steven Pacey, however, delivers his usual 5 star performance. Pacey narrates Joe Abercrombie’s novels, and imo is one of the best readers alive today.

Great writing, disappointing ending

Lindquvist is one of my favorite writers and the narration is really great, but I felt very let down by the ending.

Brilliant! (and very very different)

First of all, please know that if you are looking for the usual Romero style flesh eating zombie mayhem, you will be waiting a long time for it in this story. This novel is a very different thing. It has been said of Stephen King that his stories arent about the haunted house, but about the people that own that house. That same idea is very true about this book. This is the tale of how the presence of the zombies affects the lives of the people who knew them when they were alive. It is also a tale of people and institutions trying to manage a situation for which there is no precedent in the best way that can think to do so, and how that leads to what is both a simultaneously tragic and heartbreaking yet beautiful and hopeful conclusion. Rest assured that for the patient horror-hound the expected zombie horror (that beyond the gross-out descriptions of the undead) does eventually appear, it does so at its natural place in this story, very near the climax, and only happens because of the course of events in the book. This isnt to say that the majority of the book isnt frightening; it is, very much so, but it is the horror of the cold chill and the creepy variety that comes from ideas and implications, instead of the "fight or flight" scares that comes from violent and unnatural events. So if you are only looking for the sort of zombie apocalypse found on the silver screen, you'll be very disappointed, but if youre looking for something deeper, something that asks what it might really be like, youre in for an engaging treat. 5 stars across the board.

Great Horror Read

The characters are interesting and well developed. The suspense is gripping with and interesting Stockholm twist.