Review: Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen (Living with the Dead #1)

Married with Zombies (Living with the Dead #1)
Jesse Petersen
Published: 2010 (Orbit)
Purchase at: Book Depository, B&N or Amazon

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

I never thought I would describe any portion of a zombie book as cute, but well Married with Zombies is just that. As the tale progresses it takes on a heavier tone, but always juxtaposes the darkness accompanying a zombie infestation with heavy doses of laugh-out-loud humor.

Sarah and David have been attending marriage counseling for six months, and it hasn’t been doing any good. Even the little things – like David taking all six slots in the CD player – are enough to invoke vitriol from both sides. They show up to their most recent appointment, both on the verge of calling it quits, to find their therapist eating the couple before them. She turns, blood and black sludge pouring from her mouth, and tries to eat Sarah and David.

This is their first encounter with the zombie problem. Through the course of the book, the two are forced to work together to save themselves and in the process finally start to take some of their dead/undead therapist’s advice. They talk, they work together, they even laugh. Yes, the zombie apocalypse saves their marriage.

The journey has plenty of sad moments, but nothing beats arguments over the ill-fated doctor’s advice that includes lines like: “Just because she tried to eat us doesn’t mean she was wrong.”

While the core relationship aspect lightens the mood – as does some of the laugh-inducing dialogue – this is still a story of survival. Expect gore, expect the main characters to become accustomed to braining zombies with the butt of a shotgun and expect that not everything will go to plan.

Married with Zombies is a quick read sure to provide laughs and a few thoughtful moments. The premise is creative, and if you’re looking for something new (or a less heavy zombie book) it’s a good call.

Sexual content: References to sex