Maybe I'm just "off my read" but I stopped reading about 1/3 of the way through. While I've known and liked the characters, in this book they seem wooden and the topic (zombies or zombiis) didn't quite grab me. I love the authors individually but maybe they should take a break from the more macabre.

I have read all of Fairstein's fiction and am a big fan. However, I returned this one without having finished it. I really didn't care who done what. I found it wandered and didn't hold my interest. Maybe I'm getting old . . . (nah!)

I read a recent review of this book in the Stamford Advocate and was prompted to look it over for my grandchildren. The review said it was for ages 8 - 12. I'm 74 and I absolutely loved it. However, I really don't think a child in that age group would get too much out of it. There are some wonderful plays on words with proper names such as Mr. M. Balm or the book editor, Paige Turner, a detective, Frank N. Beans and our young hero, Seymour Hope. I'm really not sure children would fully appreciate all of the nuances. Further, the whole book is written as a series of letters among Mr. Grumply, an author of books for children who has had writer's block for 20 years, our young hero, a real estate agent, Anita Sale, an attorney (E. Gadd) and the ghost who haunts the house. I'm not sure the average child would have the patience to follow it. Better check it out yourself first. And, if you're as adult as I am or in your second childhood, it's a hoot.

Another great read from Child. A page-turner, as they say. Good reading either preceding or following Blood and Ice.

Once I got past the first 100 pages (which I didn't find terribly compelling) the story took hold and I had trouble putting the book down -- all 495 pages of it. While it blends history and science fiction, it is done extremely well. The writing is competent and the characters alive and believable.

It would be a wonderful beach read as the weather warms. I recommend it highly. It also helps to refresh your memory by first reading "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", which is a pleasure in any event.