A small New Zealand town is surrounded by an impenetrable field; almost everyone inside dies, with the exception of a few people who came into the town just before the barrier went up. They struggle to adapt and survive; this isn’t Lord of the Flies or even Under the Dome, but they have interacting weaknesses—and the force that locked them inside has plans for them. Decently done, but not a standout for me. ( )

Wow - this book was different than I was expecting. I picked this one up after reading an article about how Whitcoulls had confused this novel with another YA novel that Elizabeth Knox had released last year - the story was so real-life funny that I thought it deserved a purchase just on that basis!

The story starts with Theresa - a cop going to investigate a helicopter crash - in the small town of Kahukura in Tasman Bay NZ. When she arrives in the town she finds widespread mayhem instead of a sleepy tourist town. I think the whole scene is perfectly summed up by a couple who appear to be kissing by the roadside - oblivious to Theresa and anyone else. On second glance they're not kissing, they're biting each others faces - locked together in a mad embrace.

Almost all the residents of the small town kill each other in horrific ways - there's a scene set in a preschool which has indelibly imprinted in my mind - but even those still alive die inexplicably after an hour or two.

This leaves fourteen survivors - people who arrived after the madness descended - to discover they're now locked off from the mainland by a force-field that renders them unconscious if they try to leave the town.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was unexpected, unsettling, and has an emotional impact that will linger long after I've turned the last page. My only complaint - and I wish I could do 4.5 stars as it may be more to do with me than the book - is that I found it hard to keep track of fourteen people. I mixed them up or completely forgot the characters and then had to try to work out who the hell they were when they appeared.

I do have problems with names so this may be me-specific; I have to keep track of characters by actions rather than labels and when the characters are doing similar things I find it difficult to track.

The writing is very compact - Elizabeth Knox has a lovely light touch with words - and the content delivers a satisfying emotional connection to the situation and the characters. Even at my slow reading pace I never had trouble picking the book up at night and instantly re-connecting with the story.

As mentioned above there are probably parts of this that will linger on in my memory for a long time - something to dwell on and send chills of fear through me on sleepless nights.

A truly engaging and enjoyable read - I highly recommend it. This woman could teach Stephen King a thing or two! ( )

http://tamaranth.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/201427-wake-elizabeth-knox.html ( )