Title: Devolution
Author: Max Brooks
Publisher: Cornerstone Digital
Release Date: 16th June 2020
Source: Own Copy
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As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier's eruption swirled and finally settled, the story of the Greenloop massacre has passed unnoticed, unexamined . . . until now.
But the journals of resident Kate Holland, recovered from the town's bloody wreckage, capture a tale too harrowing - and too earth-shattering in its implications - to be forgotten.
In these pages, Max Brooks brings Kate's extraordinary account to light for the first time, faithfully reproducing her words alongside his own extensive investigations into the massacre and the beasts behind it, once thought legendary but now known to be terrifyingly real.
Kate's is a tale of unexpected strength and resilience, of humanity's defiance in the face of a terrible predator's gaze, and inevitably, of savagery and death.
Yet it is also far more than that.
Because if what Kate Holland saw in those days is real, then we must accept the impossible. We must accept that the creature known as Bigfoot walks among us - and that it is a beast of terrible strength and ferocity.
Part survival narrative, part bloody horror tale, part scientific journey into the boundaries between truth and fiction, this is a Bigfoot story as only Max Brooks could chronicle it - and like none you've ever read before.

Before I read this book I didn’t find the thought of Big Foot remotely scary, you see I grew during the time of Harry and the Hendersons. Their Bigfoot was soft and fluffy but apparently they lucked out, they are not all like that.
Greenloop is the perfect eco settlement, it has it all from the obligatory solar planets to drones bringing in that must have book from Amazon. It is remote and is its beautiful, surrounded by the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with the snow caps of Mount Rainier framing the horizon. It is truly idyllic with only half a dozen houses surrounding a central gathering place.
Newcomer Kate Holland moves in with her husband Dan, the community welcomes them with open arms and they quickly settle in but their joy in country living is short lived when Mount Rainier erupts creating a swathe of devastation and cutting off their only route to safety.
The community is geared up to be self sufficient and Kate along with Dan and the guidance of her neighbour Mostar quickly start planning for the long haul, who knows when they’ll be rescued. It also quickly becomes apparent that the others in the community are not overly fond of sharing but as the ash from the volcano starts to cover the ground and the news on the radio becomes bleaker and bleaker a new threat emerges from the forest.
Kate sees it, though she is sure her eye are deceiving her when she first encounters it, seven to eight foot tall, a monster, the stuff of nightmares and it looks like its not alone. Slowly these monster edge their way closer to Greenloop until the night when Kate discovers one on her door step.
The one thing I have neglected to mention is this is written in the formal of a journal that is mainly from the POV of Kate and it does a decent job of documenting her journey from frightened wife to survival guru. I really didn’t expect it to be as scary as it was, the atmosphere as the monsters worked their way closed and closer to the camp was truly frightening and when the blood starts to be shed it keeps you gripped to see if anyone makes it out alive.
A truly excellent read that might stop you from venturing to far off the beaten track for a while.
A truly excellent read that might stop you from venturing to far off the beaten track for a while.
I was wondering about this one! I love the sound of Bigfoots wreaking havoc :)
ReplyDeleteIt was creepier than I thought!
DeleteThis sounds so good! I'll have to read it when I have less review books on my plate😁
ReplyDeleteI snuck in a read between some review books, glad I did!
DeleteIt's the first time you feature a book I know I won't read. But your review is excellent!
ReplyDeleteHope you are enjoying your week Heather.
Elza Reads
If we all liked the same books life would be boring!
DeleteI've got my review scheduled for some time in October (closer to Halloween), but I really enjoyed this too! Great review!
ReplyDeleteThank you, glad to hear you enjoyed it too!
DeleteI read this book earlier this spring and totally loved it!!! :D
ReplyDeleteIt was really good, better than I expected!
DeleteHoo boy, this might be too scary for me. But you make it sound so good!
ReplyDelete