A quick summary of this novel is that a woman who has barricaded herself in her apartment during a zombie and vampire apocalypse for 187 days emerges to find a world in chaos.
I’ve read another novel by author Jodi Jenson in a different genre and enjoyed it. I was looking forward to reading this book. 187 Days has all the familiar beats of a novel in this genre. The mixture of vampires and zombies was new, and it enlivened the story, giving it something extra most novels don’t have. Usually, people turn on each other in zombie stories, so it was nice to see a reason why (i.e. vampires replace people who screw over other people) instead of the “survival brings out the worst in us” trope. The tension in the novel ratches up when another human appears. Is this other being a friendly vampire, an evil vampire, or a human?
The main character, Holly, grew throughout the story from someone who is clueless about how to survive to someone who understands the world and takes charge. She’s a cafeteria worker in a high school, a great idea for the central hero. Holly’s an underdog from the start so rooting for her comes naturally.
The novel is presented in three parts, and part one and two moves along at a quick pace. The flow keeps the reader engaged. Part Three starts off well until the second half. The novel ends abruptly—I’m unsure if there will be a sequel—and could really have used a Part Four. Key characters are in peril and a large plot element is dropped that could change everything. Even if the fourth part was shorter than the rest, this reviewer would’ve welcomed bringing about a conclusion to this well-executed story.
Exciting, taut, and filled with creepy scenes, 187 Days should satisfy your monster apocalypse appetite.