By Paula Limbaugh
Once in a while, you read a book that blows you away. A storyline so strong that you know it will stay with you emotionally for a long time. These books are those rare gems that make you wonder how much effort the author put into the story, what price did they pay to express such raw emotion?
Aaron Dries and Mark Allan Gunnells wrote a story like this: Resting Place for the Dead There’s more to this story than meets the eye, and as you start reading you realize, hey… this story could be about me, my grandmother, my neighbors, my children, anyone I’ve ever loved and lost.
The author has created a story of aftermath using a zombie infection as the premise. The infection is now carefully controlled. The infected are allowed to live in a hospice setting until the changes occur and are then spared before they can do any harm. Of course, as in any situation, there are those who object to this care of the infected and protest daily outside hospices across the country.
Emily, who lives in Chicago with her daughter, works at one such facility. Day after day, Emily walks among the infected, tending to their needs until the Ministry arrives to end their suffering. The government argues that this is a more humane way to stop the spread of the infection, rather than simply killing the infected on sight. There is an age-old question here about terminal illnesses, is this really the best way out? Knowing that you will never be cured, living through all the torture that your body must go through until you are discharged, just so that others can hold on to the reality they once knew a little longer. It seems cruel to say this, and yet, aren’t we all guilty of this? The finality of death is a burden too great to bear.
The job was just that, a job for Emily, until one day a 12-year-old boy named Robbie was sent to the hospice, his family having abandoned him because they could not accept his fate. Emily developed a connection with Robbie and allowed her 10-year-old daughter Lucette to develop a friendship with him. Lucette had grown up in this age of the Infected and knew the rules, there was no cure for the Infected, only comfort. But alas, as time went by, complacency began to creep in until that fateful morning…
You could remove the word infection and replace it with words like dementia, AIDS, advanced cancer, etc. and the result would be the same. The feelings of despair and loss are strong, but even knowing this we still fear release and closure. Prepare to be emotionally drained, this book is one to treasure! Make sure to read this book, you can get your copy here! Available in both eBook and paperback formats.
Before I wrap up, I should thank Ben Baldwin and author Aaron Dries for the beautiful cover art that includes some of the interior art in the book. Oh, and did I mention that when you finish reading this book, you’ll get to fold an origami crane? Japanese legend says that folding 1,000 cranes will grant a wish, and today, the crane has become a symbol of hope and peace. But… for me, looking at my not-so-perfect little crane was probably the saddest part of the whole story. When you finish reading this book, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Read this book again, you won’t be disappointed! Click here to get it!
5/5 
