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Jack Murphy #1
Vacation
In the near future after a global crisis causes crops to fail and species to disappear . . . something even more deadly happens. Groups of humans around the world suddenly become predators, feeding off their own kind. These “Can Heads” grow to such a threat that fences, gated compounds, and SWAT-style police protection become absolutely necessary in order to live.
After one Can Head attack leaves NYPD cop Jack Murphy wounded, Jack takes his wife and kids on a much-needed vacation. Far up north, to a camp where families can still swim and take boats out on a lake, and pretend that the world isn’t going to hell.
But the Can Heads are never far away, and nothing is quite what it seems in Paterville. . . .
After one Can Head attack leaves NYPD cop Jack Murphy wounded, Jack takes his wife and kids on a much-needed vacation. Far up north, to a camp where families can still swim and take boats out on a lake, and pretend that the world isn’t going to hell.
But the Can Heads are never far away, and nothing is quite what it seems in Paterville. . . .
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2011
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August 14, 2017This hardcover book is copy 36 of 550 printed and is signed by Matthew J. Costello
October 5, 2011
On the back of this book, Bentley Little says this has "soon to be a major motion picture written all over it." This is clearly meant as some kind of compliment, even though it represents everything that's wrong here. Books can be works, they can be expressions of a craft, their words can be well thought-out. They can be pieces of literature that represent the creative output of the writer. They can make you think a dfferent way about the world, or about sentence structure. The characters within can come to life in your mind and stay with you after you've finished reading. Other times, though, a book can just be words on pieces of paper, put together in a slapdash fashion, used to justify the existance of a novelization that's based on a screenplay that's based on a short story. The characters can be so vague and useless that even the author and the editor forget who's who; many times a person leaves the scene, only to have the next words spoken come out of their mouth. Books can be arranged stylistically by hitting Enter after each period, in an attempt to copy the written appearance of other, better writers. And when these things happen, and you try to read books of this nature, it leaves a really foul taste in your mouth. Don't waste your time on this one.
January 15, 2012
(Re-posted from http://theturnedbrain.blogspot.com/)
It's never a good sign when you sit down to review a book you finished only a few days ago and realise that you can’t actually remember any of the character’s names. In my head they’ve become ‘the cop dad’ or ‘the teenage daughter,’ which would tell me, if I didn’t already know, that the characters in 'Vacation' lack any kind of depth. They come across like stand ins. As though when the author was sitting down to sketch out his story plan he said ‘ok, so there’s a dad, and he’s a cop,’ and then forgot to go any deeper.
But I know some people are able to enjoy books with flat characters, and so I suspect there are people out there who will enjoy 'Vacation.' It’s an action packed little books, one that you finish really fast even if you weren’t intending to. A cop gets injured on the job and decides to take his family on a holiday, except when they get to the holiday park things are not what they seem.
Oh, and there’s zombies.
‘Vacation’ takes what I couldn’t help but think of as the ‘Feed’ approach to zombies. The story is not about them. They’re an established part of the world, shambling about in the background while the main storyline plays out.
Which is not a criticism. I actually really like this approach. The first few desperate hours following a zombie apocalypse can be thrilling, but I also enjoy reading about societies that have adapted to co-exist with with their new shambling neighbors. This is probably ‘Vacation’s’ strongest point. The zombies have only been around for a decade or so, and while people are holding on you get the impression that things are still getting worse and worse. Fresh food is a real luxury, with most people living off perfectly healthy but unappetizing genetically modified food. I liked the way that the youngest son tends to fixate upon food, as he has never known a world where it was not scarce.
I say that this was the book’s strongest point. A less charitable part of me wants to say it was the books only strong point. The plot is unpredictable only in its predictableness. You think to you self, ‘no, that’s not going to happen it’s way too obvious’ and then it’s a small surprise when the obvious thing actually happens. Again and again.
I think maybe the book should have been longer. They get to the camp and instead of slowly jacking up the feelings of ‘not rightness’ for a few days, let the characters and the reader grow increasingly uneasy, things happen way, way too quickly. The reader isn’t given a chance to get attached to Officer whats-his-name and his family before their lives are in danger, which lowers the suspense considerably (and is another side effect of replacing real characters with cardboard cutouts).
Plus, ok, here is my biggest grievance against this book. I almost didn’t say anything because it verges on nitpicky, but it really spoiled the book for me. Mistakes in the continuity. Glaring ones! In an early chapter the cop refers to his wife as a really light sleeper and she always wakes up when he comes to bed. Then, in a later chapter, he thinks about how he’ll have no trouble sneaking out because his wife is such a heavy sleeper. The one thing this book has going for it is that it barrels along and you get caught up in it, but errors like that bring the whole thing to a screeching halt. I have to go flicking back through the pages to see if I read it wrong, which obviously yanks you right out of the story. And it’s not like that was the only example. At one point the cop thinks that his kid’s screaming is going to get them all killed, then only a few paragraphs later, mere paragraphs for crying out loud, he’s thinking about how proud he was that his kid never made a sound. I mean come on!
But like I said, it’s a quick read. And even though it’s all very obvious what is going to happen and it could have used a more thorough edit, I can’t say that I was ever bored. I would recommend this book to people who don’t care about characters as much as I do, or people who really like zombies in all their forms.
It's never a good sign when you sit down to review a book you finished only a few days ago and realise that you can’t actually remember any of the character’s names. In my head they’ve become ‘the cop dad’ or ‘the teenage daughter,’ which would tell me, if I didn’t already know, that the characters in 'Vacation' lack any kind of depth. They come across like stand ins. As though when the author was sitting down to sketch out his story plan he said ‘ok, so there’s a dad, and he’s a cop,’ and then forgot to go any deeper.
But I know some people are able to enjoy books with flat characters, and so I suspect there are people out there who will enjoy 'Vacation.' It’s an action packed little books, one that you finish really fast even if you weren’t intending to. A cop gets injured on the job and decides to take his family on a holiday, except when they get to the holiday park things are not what they seem.
Oh, and there’s zombies.
‘Vacation’ takes what I couldn’t help but think of as the ‘Feed’ approach to zombies. The story is not about them. They’re an established part of the world, shambling about in the background while the main storyline plays out.
Which is not a criticism. I actually really like this approach. The first few desperate hours following a zombie apocalypse can be thrilling, but I also enjoy reading about societies that have adapted to co-exist with with their new shambling neighbors. This is probably ‘Vacation’s’ strongest point. The zombies have only been around for a decade or so, and while people are holding on you get the impression that things are still getting worse and worse. Fresh food is a real luxury, with most people living off perfectly healthy but unappetizing genetically modified food. I liked the way that the youngest son tends to fixate upon food, as he has never known a world where it was not scarce.
I say that this was the book’s strongest point. A less charitable part of me wants to say it was the books only strong point. The plot is unpredictable only in its predictableness. You think to you self, ‘no, that’s not going to happen it’s way too obvious’ and then it’s a small surprise when the obvious thing actually happens. Again and again.
I think maybe the book should have been longer. They get to the camp and instead of slowly jacking up the feelings of ‘not rightness’ for a few days, let the characters and the reader grow increasingly uneasy, things happen way, way too quickly. The reader isn’t given a chance to get attached to Officer whats-his-name and his family before their lives are in danger, which lowers the suspense considerably (and is another side effect of replacing real characters with cardboard cutouts).
Plus, ok, here is my biggest grievance against this book. I almost didn’t say anything because it verges on nitpicky, but it really spoiled the book for me. Mistakes in the continuity. Glaring ones! In an early chapter the cop refers to his wife as a really light sleeper and she always wakes up when he comes to bed. Then, in a later chapter, he thinks about how he’ll have no trouble sneaking out because his wife is such a heavy sleeper. The one thing this book has going for it is that it barrels along and you get caught up in it, but errors like that bring the whole thing to a screeching halt. I have to go flicking back through the pages to see if I read it wrong, which obviously yanks you right out of the story. And it’s not like that was the only example. At one point the cop thinks that his kid’s screaming is going to get them all killed, then only a few paragraphs later, mere paragraphs for crying out loud, he’s thinking about how proud he was that his kid never made a sound. I mean come on!
But like I said, it’s a quick read. And even though it’s all very obvious what is going to happen and it could have used a more thorough edit, I can’t say that I was ever bored. I would recommend this book to people who don’t care about characters as much as I do, or people who really like zombies in all their forms.
June 18, 2019
A zombie outbreak novel that isn't really about zombies,(think Stephen King's "Cell"), nor does it explain how the outbreak happened.Well there is some talk of a drought and blight, but no details ...Jack Murphy works for the NYPD, and during a call at a routine "hotspot" he and his partner are ambushed by a pack of "zombies", leaving his partner dead and himself severely wounded. While recovering from his wounds Officer Murphy and his family take a holiday at a gated resort where people can relax and have fun, while staying completely safe. Plus they advertise "REAL FOOD"..The Murphys quickly realize that this camp isn't all it's cracked up to be....I would've rated this book a lot higher but I found it to be extremely predictable.
October 28, 2022
Nach knapp der Hälfte habe ich die Zombie-Apocalypse abgebrochen. Zu platt und unansprechend finde ich Costellos Schreibstil, der sich hier wie ein Entwurf liest. Es gibt keine Details, die mir als Leser die Hauptfigur und ihre Familie auch nur in geringster Weise nahe bringen, im Gegenteil ist mir der Protagonist schlicht unsympathisch in seiner kantigen Einfachheit. Da auch die Handlung vorhersehbar ist, habe ich vom Grundrecht des Lesers Gebrauch gemacht und das Buch beiseite gelegt.
Enttäuschend vor allem, weil das Hardcover wertig aufgemacht und signiert ist und CEMETERY DANCE ein Verlag ist, denn ich schätze. Aber VACATION ist bei mir an den falschen Leser geraten.
Enttäuschend vor allem, weil das Hardcover wertig aufgemacht und signiert ist und CEMETERY DANCE ein Verlag ist, denn ich schätze. Aber VACATION ist bei mir an den falschen Leser geraten.
July 29, 2018
In this near-future apocalyptic world, crops and livestock are mysteriously dying off. Something (a disease?) is also turning people into mindless, feral cannibals ("can heads") who kill and eat those not living in fenced-off protected zones.
Jack Murphy is a NYPD cop whose job is to rescue people from those attacks. After being injured in a particularly brutal attack, he is told to take time off to recuperate. Learning about a high-security family resort in the Adirondacks, Jack takes his family there to rest. At first, Paterville Family Camp seems ideal. But is this place everything it seems to be?
This is a very fast-paced story that held my attention. It's actually the first book in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone book. It is very gory, but those who like zombie fiction may be interested in it.
Jack Murphy is a NYPD cop whose job is to rescue people from those attacks. After being injured in a particularly brutal attack, he is told to take time off to recuperate. Learning about a high-security family resort in the Adirondacks, Jack takes his family there to rest. At first, Paterville Family Camp seems ideal. But is this place everything it seems to be?
This is a very fast-paced story that held my attention. It's actually the first book in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone book. It is very gory, but those who like zombie fiction may be interested in it.
November 17, 2011
I love zombies, but I’ll admit, lately, I’ve been kind of on a kick, and I’m almost to the point where I’m zombie’d out. This was good news for Vacation, though. I’m a fan of Matthew Costello from way back, so when Vacation was brought to my attention, I was quite excited to dive into it. Vacation has “zombies” of a sort, called Can Heads (cannibals, see?), and they’re driven by an unknown virus, possibly brought on by the terrible world conditions. Drought, famine, and economic collapse are a part of Jack Murphy’s life, and as one of the few remaining NYPD cops, he works hard to keep the streets safe for the people scraping by in this dangerous new world. He and his family live in relative, if tenuous, comfort, in a walled off section of the city and rarely venture outside. ‘Cause, baby, it’s nasty outside the walls, and increasingly clever Can Heads are finding their way inside the walls with alarming frequency. After an incident that leaves Jack’s partner dead, and Jack himself clinging to life, his boss urges him to take a vacation, suggesting the Paterville Family Camp, high in the Adirondacks, as as a getaway option. So Jack packs up his wife, Christie, and their son and daughter, and they hit the road.
The opening scenes in Vacation were exciting in their visceral, violent action, but really, it’s when the Murphy family hits the highway for the drive to Paterville that really brings the creep. Papers had to be filed and fees paid in order to pave the way through the official checkpoints and Jack is fighting increasing stress, while his family is eager to get out of the confines of the walls they’ve lived behind day in and day out for years. Jack just can’t put the cop away and relax, but trust me, this turns out to be a good thing. A nasty incident at a deserted rest stop doesn’t help to allay Jack’s fears, but he puts aside these feelings, hoping that Paterville will offer his family a little bit of freedom and happiness, if only for a short while. They manage to arrive at Paterville without further incident, but among the lake swims, fireworks, and admittedly good food served in the dining hall, there’s always a sense of “wrongness”, and the author does a great job at building dread. What I really appreciated about these characters, is when the proverbial “sh*t” finally hits the fan, and the nasty (really, really nasty) truth about Paterville comes to light, Jack’s wife, Christie, doesn’t question her spouse. She trusts him implicitly and shows an amazing resilience and toughness in the midst of a terrible situation. Too many times, in novels and movies, spouses (men and women both) show disbelief and hesitation when confronted with a situation that requires swift action. Christie is no slouch in the courage department, and she’ll do anything to protect her kids, and she never questions Jack’s devotion to his family. And make no mistake, he’s devoted. This is a horror story, to be sure, but at the forefront is Jack’s love for his family, and his determination to do anything possible to keep them safe. Vacation was unputdownable, and I read it in one evening. Never too gruesome, leaving just enough to the imagination, it will raise the little hairs on the back of your neck and keep you glued to the pages until the shocking end. Fans of zombies, creeping horror, and just plain good writing will eat this one up (pun totally intended.)
The opening scenes in Vacation were exciting in their visceral, violent action, but really, it’s when the Murphy family hits the highway for the drive to Paterville that really brings the creep. Papers had to be filed and fees paid in order to pave the way through the official checkpoints and Jack is fighting increasing stress, while his family is eager to get out of the confines of the walls they’ve lived behind day in and day out for years. Jack just can’t put the cop away and relax, but trust me, this turns out to be a good thing. A nasty incident at a deserted rest stop doesn’t help to allay Jack’s fears, but he puts aside these feelings, hoping that Paterville will offer his family a little bit of freedom and happiness, if only for a short while. They manage to arrive at Paterville without further incident, but among the lake swims, fireworks, and admittedly good food served in the dining hall, there’s always a sense of “wrongness”, and the author does a great job at building dread. What I really appreciated about these characters, is when the proverbial “sh*t” finally hits the fan, and the nasty (really, really nasty) truth about Paterville comes to light, Jack’s wife, Christie, doesn’t question her spouse. She trusts him implicitly and shows an amazing resilience and toughness in the midst of a terrible situation. Too many times, in novels and movies, spouses (men and women both) show disbelief and hesitation when confronted with a situation that requires swift action. Christie is no slouch in the courage department, and she’ll do anything to protect her kids, and she never questions Jack’s devotion to his family. And make no mistake, he’s devoted. This is a horror story, to be sure, but at the forefront is Jack’s love for his family, and his determination to do anything possible to keep them safe. Vacation was unputdownable, and I read it in one evening. Never too gruesome, leaving just enough to the imagination, it will raise the little hairs on the back of your neck and keep you glued to the pages until the shocking end. Fans of zombies, creeping horror, and just plain good writing will eat this one up (pun totally intended.)
May 5, 2017
This was pretty bad, though it did have some early promise, with people just going about their everyday lives in the midst of what is basically a zombie apocalypse. Never once did Costello or his characters explain the genesis of "Can Head," the moniker given to these mindless, cannibalistic individuals who roam the countryside and have made inroads into various neighborhoods of New York City. The idea of going away for a family vacation along heavily-fortified and fenced-in interstates was also a good one, but Costello really doesn't do anything with it. And the eventual "secret" of the Paterville Camp was groan-worthy. I knew going in that this wasn't great literature, yet I stuck it out, hoping for some glimpse of the same writer who was behind the little-known Wurm and other horror-thrillers from the 80s and 90s, but this isn't it.
April 25, 2012
I think "meh" sums this book up. It was an awkward read - it honestly read like a screen play for a movie in the works.
What did the burnt out homes on the other side of the lake have to do with anything? I guess I missed that.. or it was just something thrown in to pad out the story I don't know, or care.
By the end of the book I didn't really care who died, just let it be over! ;)
What did the burnt out homes on the other side of the lake have to do with anything? I guess I missed that.. or it was just something thrown in to pad out the story I don't know, or care.
By the end of the book I didn't really care who died, just let it be over! ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2011
Once I saw the book cover for Vacation by Matthew Costello and read the publisher’s blurb, I knew I had to request an advance reader’s copy (ARC). Luckily I scored a hard copy for one lucky reader to win in a giveaway – thank you St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books! They even included a brochure for the Paterville Family Camp. I cracked up when I saw the brochure. Their marketing team obviously has a great sense of humor. Although this book definitely qualifies as scifi/horror, it crosses genre boundaries into thriller as well, and it is one funhouse roller coaster ride for those who are not faint hearted. Don’t plan to get any sleep once you start this one because you will have to read through the night. Read the rest of my review & enter our giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=2133
March 4, 2024
Vacation is a novel about zombified things that were once human. It is about a cop experiencing burnout. It is about a family going on a vacation to get away from the city. It is about a father bonding with his wife and children. All of these pieces fit together into a harrowing, suspenseful narrative full of hell.
Jack Murphy is a cop in the not-too-distant future. Much like other futures, this one is afflicted with droughts and famines (solved to a degree with fake/GMO foods) Instead of dealing with thieves and petty criminals, he is part of a squad who deal with Can Heads (this story's equivalent of cannibals/zombies, a bit more sentient than the standard zombies) that are hungry and on the attack. He and his partner go on a call, only to fall into a trap set by Can Heads. Jack's partner dies and he is wounded, blacking out from the pain. He wakes up in the hospital and is greeted by his wife (Christie) and kids (Simon and Kate). He realizes this whole existence is taking its toll on his family and himself. He is presented with a brochure about a resort (called Paterville) where families can escape the chaos of the city and breathe fresh air and eat real food. Jack slowly comes around to the idea and off they go. As they venture toward their destination, it becomes apparent that danger lurks in every corner and in the most unexpected of places. They make it to the camp and settle in for their stay. Little do they know that hell followed them there. And there are other kinds of dangers in the gates of the camp.
Matthew Costello has kick-started what could be a trilogy of thrilling contender in the zombie subgenre of horror books. This one is a little more conservative on gore, which actually works to set it apart from the likes of The Walking Dead or George A. Romero's Dead movies. It relies more on tension and ending chapters with moments that make you want to keep reading (even if you're reading on borrowed time at work). He makes Paterville feel foreboding and trap-like, making the grounds an antagonistic force all on its own. He creates characters we care about (whether they are the family we grow to love or the fellow campers we grow to fear and despise).
This is a trilogy that includes Home and Family. Before Vacation and Home, however, there are two stories:
"Day One" takes place before Vacation and focuses on Jack's first day on the force.
"Blackout" takes place before Home.
Both of these are collected together in Siege, a double-feature prologue collection. These two stories will be reviewed separately in the write-up for Siege.
I'm giving this one a well-deserved ☠️x5.
I read "Day One" and just finished this one. I will be kicking straight into "Blackout" before Home.
Jack Murphy is a cop in the not-too-distant future. Much like other futures, this one is afflicted with droughts and famines (solved to a degree with fake/GMO foods) Instead of dealing with thieves and petty criminals, he is part of a squad who deal with Can Heads (this story's equivalent of cannibals/zombies, a bit more sentient than the standard zombies) that are hungry and on the attack. He and his partner go on a call, only to fall into a trap set by Can Heads. Jack's partner dies and he is wounded, blacking out from the pain. He wakes up in the hospital and is greeted by his wife (Christie) and kids (Simon and Kate). He realizes this whole existence is taking its toll on his family and himself. He is presented with a brochure about a resort (called Paterville) where families can escape the chaos of the city and breathe fresh air and eat real food. Jack slowly comes around to the idea and off they go. As they venture toward their destination, it becomes apparent that danger lurks in every corner and in the most unexpected of places. They make it to the camp and settle in for their stay. Little do they know that hell followed them there. And there are other kinds of dangers in the gates of the camp.
Matthew Costello has kick-started what could be a trilogy of thrilling contender in the zombie subgenre of horror books. This one is a little more conservative on gore, which actually works to set it apart from the likes of The Walking Dead or George A. Romero's Dead movies. It relies more on tension and ending chapters with moments that make you want to keep reading (even if you're reading on borrowed time at work). He makes Paterville feel foreboding and trap-like, making the grounds an antagonistic force all on its own. He creates characters we care about (whether they are the family we grow to love or the fellow campers we grow to fear and despise).
This is a trilogy that includes Home and Family. Before Vacation and Home, however, there are two stories:
"Day One" takes place before Vacation and focuses on Jack's first day on the force.
"Blackout" takes place before Home.
Both of these are collected together in Siege, a double-feature prologue collection. These two stories will be reviewed separately in the write-up for Siege.
I'm giving this one a well-deserved ☠️x5.
I read "Day One" and just finished this one. I will be kicking straight into "Blackout" before Home.
November 3, 2014
Paterville Camp, where you and your family can relax -- or not.
A vacation is just what the doctor ordered after NYPD officer Jack Murphy barely survives an attack. His partner was killed by a group of Can Heads, roving bands of cannibals that have become an increasing threat since the water dried up and blight attacked the crops. But Jack isn't the kind of person who relaxes easily and something about Paterville has him worried. Sure it's surrounded by a massive electric fence and heavily armed guards walk the perimeter every night, but why does Jack still feel unsafe? It won't take long for him to discover Paterville's secret. But will he and his family survive this vacation?
What did I love about this book? It's fun! Plain and simple. It's dark and dirty fun in a semi post apocalyptic setting. The only thing that would have made this a more perfect read would be if I'd read it in a cabin in the woods!
Seriously, it's a pretty simple story and a really quick read but Costello's setting is fantastic in its simplicity. Then there's the added bonus of wondering what caused the Can Heads and the blight that's killed the crops.
Jack and his family are totally believable and I was rooting for the cop all the way. And Paterville's eeriness is not too blatant or overt, just barely more than implied and presented in a way that scratch at the back of your brain along with Jack's worries.
Based on the acknowledgements in the book, it sounds as though there's a screenplay for this floating around somewhere. I would actually love to see this become a feature length film. I think it would be a great one to watch!
Vacation does have a bit of a cliffhanger ending but no worries, readers, the sequel, Home, hits shelves on October 30 and I have it on good authority that it stands on its own as well as being a follow up.
A vacation is just what the doctor ordered after NYPD officer Jack Murphy barely survives an attack. His partner was killed by a group of Can Heads, roving bands of cannibals that have become an increasing threat since the water dried up and blight attacked the crops. But Jack isn't the kind of person who relaxes easily and something about Paterville has him worried. Sure it's surrounded by a massive electric fence and heavily armed guards walk the perimeter every night, but why does Jack still feel unsafe? It won't take long for him to discover Paterville's secret. But will he and his family survive this vacation?
What did I love about this book? It's fun! Plain and simple. It's dark and dirty fun in a semi post apocalyptic setting. The only thing that would have made this a more perfect read would be if I'd read it in a cabin in the woods!
Seriously, it's a pretty simple story and a really quick read but Costello's setting is fantastic in its simplicity. Then there's the added bonus of wondering what caused the Can Heads and the blight that's killed the crops.
Jack and his family are totally believable and I was rooting for the cop all the way. And Paterville's eeriness is not too blatant or overt, just barely more than implied and presented in a way that scratch at the back of your brain along with Jack's worries.
Based on the acknowledgements in the book, it sounds as though there's a screenplay for this floating around somewhere. I would actually love to see this become a feature length film. I think it would be a great one to watch!
Vacation does have a bit of a cliffhanger ending but no worries, readers, the sequel, Home, hits shelves on October 30 and I have it on good authority that it stands on its own as well as being a follow up.
July 15, 2015
I went into this book with no expectations…the synopsis sounded good and I was in the mood for something different. The book was great and I really enjoyed it. This is the type of book that reads like a movie…the sentences are very clipped and short and there is a lot of dialogue….this made it a very quick read.
The Good: There are no extremely gory scenes…things are described so that the reader can imagine what is happening but there aren’t a lot of graphic details. I can be a bit squeamish when things get too graphic so I was thankful for this. The vacation setting was a fun twist on a common storyline…I love settings in the wilderness or leisurely places. The story had steady pacing, there were no places where I felt the story lagged.
What I didn’t Like: The world in this story was very interesting but there were a lot of things that were left unexplained….I wanted to know why the can heads did what they did and more about the world. (This is the first book in a duology so it’s possible that things will become clearer in the second book). I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters as well as I would have liked.
The Good: There are no extremely gory scenes…things are described so that the reader can imagine what is happening but there aren’t a lot of graphic details. I can be a bit squeamish when things get too graphic so I was thankful for this. The vacation setting was a fun twist on a common storyline…I love settings in the wilderness or leisurely places. The story had steady pacing, there were no places where I felt the story lagged.
What I didn’t Like: The world in this story was very interesting but there were a lot of things that were left unexplained….I wanted to know why the can heads did what they did and more about the world. (This is the first book in a duology so it’s possible that things will become clearer in the second book). I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters as well as I would have liked.
November 3, 2012
Most of the reviews here refer to this as a zombie novel, labeling the antagonists as zombies. It boggles my mind because there are no zombies in this book. Perhaps people have trouble imagining a post-apocalyptic story that doesn't include zombies.
What we have here are Can-Heads. Living humans who have resorted to cannibalism as a result of a global food storage. Please note the difference between the living and the undead.
I enjoyed this short story of the same title in The Best of Cemetery Dance Vol. II and recently found out it had been extended to novel length. The short story was excellent. The novel, while still enjoyable, deviated from the original version and by comparison was a bit disappointing. The ending in the short story was part of what made it awesome and that was totally changed in the novel version.
My two main thoughts on the novel:
1) Longer does not mean better. It just means longer.
2) Don't fuck with a great ending.
What we have here are Can-Heads. Living humans who have resorted to cannibalism as a result of a global food storage. Please note the difference between the living and the undead.
I enjoyed this short story of the same title in The Best of Cemetery Dance Vol. II and recently found out it had been extended to novel length. The short story was excellent. The novel, while still enjoyable, deviated from the original version and by comparison was a bit disappointing. The ending in the short story was part of what made it awesome and that was totally changed in the novel version.
My two main thoughts on the novel:
1) Longer does not mean better. It just means longer.
2) Don't fuck with a great ending.
May 23, 2019
WOW.
it's hard to write this review because im not sure what i liked the most. I didn't see the cannibalism coming. I figured they were eating can heads, but never thought they were taking people from their own camp and serving them to others! I also wanted to know why they thought Jack would stay and be a part of their weird freak show camp, especially after dealing with everything he dealt with at home.
Jack was an incredible lead character and his family was strong. I can't wait to find out what happens next. The ending was intense and now i'm like drooling to know where jack is!!
I am looking forward to reading the next couple books in Costello's Jack Murphy series.
it's hard to write this review because im not sure what i liked the most. I didn't see the cannibalism coming. I figured they were eating can heads, but never thought they were taking people from their own camp and serving them to others! I also wanted to know why they thought Jack would stay and be a part of their weird freak show camp, especially after dealing with everything he dealt with at home.
Jack was an incredible lead character and his family was strong. I can't wait to find out what happens next. The ending was intense and now i'm like drooling to know where jack is!!
I am looking forward to reading the next couple books in Costello's Jack Murphy series.
September 15, 2011
Jack Murphy is a policeman in New York and has seen the world quickly deteriorate to where there are very few “safe” places left. The areas that are safe are surrounded by tall fences meant to keep out the Can Heads.
During a particularly bad night at a Can Head siting, Jack watches as his partner walks into a trap and gets eaten alive. Jack himself suffered terrible injuries forcing him to take time off the job and endure many painful weeks of exercise and physical therapy.
After being told by his superiors that he won’t be allowed back to work until he takes some vacation time, he reluctantly agrees to go away with his wife and kids to Paterville Family Camp – a fortress-like compound in the mountains, where families can relax and do things people used to do on vacations like hike, swim, and take boats out on the water.
Everything is great at Paterville. The kids get in the water everyday, his wife lays on the beach in the sun, and they even meet a nice couple they chit chat with at dinner every night. Another perk to being at Paterville is the food. There is plenty of it and it isn’t the synthetic food they are used to at home. At first Jack finds it hard to relax – always on alert for danger, but he eventually sees how much his family is enjoying their time at the Camp and decides to give relaxation a try.
The picture perfect vacation is ruined when Can Heads breach the Camp’s extensive security. With Jack’s help, the guards are able to fight off the attack and put things back in order. Life is back to normal the next morning with people having fun in the lake like always. Jack never lets his guard down again though and he starts to see strange things that alert his policeman senses to possible sinister goings on at the Camp.
Jack decides he and his family need to leave – no matter what!
VACATION is a fast-paced story that hooks the reader on page one and doesn’t let go until the end. I label it as a YA Crossover book because while there is quiet a bit of blood and gore and some language, it isn’t anything that older teens can’t handle. This is perfect for your older horror fans.
During a particularly bad night at a Can Head siting, Jack watches as his partner walks into a trap and gets eaten alive. Jack himself suffered terrible injuries forcing him to take time off the job and endure many painful weeks of exercise and physical therapy.
After being told by his superiors that he won’t be allowed back to work until he takes some vacation time, he reluctantly agrees to go away with his wife and kids to Paterville Family Camp – a fortress-like compound in the mountains, where families can relax and do things people used to do on vacations like hike, swim, and take boats out on the water.
Everything is great at Paterville. The kids get in the water everyday, his wife lays on the beach in the sun, and they even meet a nice couple they chit chat with at dinner every night. Another perk to being at Paterville is the food. There is plenty of it and it isn’t the synthetic food they are used to at home. At first Jack finds it hard to relax – always on alert for danger, but he eventually sees how much his family is enjoying their time at the Camp and decides to give relaxation a try.
The picture perfect vacation is ruined when Can Heads breach the Camp’s extensive security. With Jack’s help, the guards are able to fight off the attack and put things back in order. Life is back to normal the next morning with people having fun in the lake like always. Jack never lets his guard down again though and he starts to see strange things that alert his policeman senses to possible sinister goings on at the Camp.
Jack decides he and his family need to leave – no matter what!
VACATION is a fast-paced story that hooks the reader on page one and doesn’t let go until the end. I label it as a YA Crossover book because while there is quiet a bit of blood and gore and some language, it isn’t anything that older teens can’t handle. This is perfect for your older horror fans.
April 12, 2013
I read this book on a recommendation from a friend. I will admit I was skeptical at first, since this genre is not something I normally read. Once I started, I was hooked.
The clipped writing style was a perfect touch to the story. The Murphy family, headed by the NYPD father, Jack, live in a post-apocalyptic world. Zombies, or rather, Can Heads as they are known, are the new enemy. Human beings driven by animal instincts and the never ending quest for human flesh. Jack deals with patrolling the devastated streets daily in hopes of keeping the flesh eaters at bay. All the characters deal with constant stress, the fear of being the next meal or losing a family member at the forefront of their daily thoughts.
There is no such thing as 'normal' anymore. Children and families hide inside their homes, afraid to even venture out. Real food is gone, replaced with man made synthetic substitutes. Living has become simply surviving. But when Jack suffers an extremely close brush with the Can Heads, his wife convinces him that he needs, as well as the family, some time away from the craziness to regroup their faculties. Her suggestion? A vacation to one of the few remaining places in the country that offers a safe place to be a family once again.
Begrudgingly, Jack agrees. The lure of sun, water, tranquility and real food are more than he can fight. Plus, it will offer him a chance to reconnect with his wife and children in a way they have never really experienced. It is a dangerous trip, for Jack knows they must leave the relative safety of the reinforced city to travel.
And then, their horrific adventure begins.
Mr. Costello's writing style is taunt and tense, giving the reader a great sense of the trepidation that each character feels. I also enjoyed the fact that this book doesn't delve into great detail about how the zombies came to be, but rather, that they simply are. The climactic ending will leave you breathless.
If you enjoy tension filled, nail biting thrillers within the zombie genre, you will love this book.
The clipped writing style was a perfect touch to the story. The Murphy family, headed by the NYPD father, Jack, live in a post-apocalyptic world. Zombies, or rather, Can Heads as they are known, are the new enemy. Human beings driven by animal instincts and the never ending quest for human flesh. Jack deals with patrolling the devastated streets daily in hopes of keeping the flesh eaters at bay. All the characters deal with constant stress, the fear of being the next meal or losing a family member at the forefront of their daily thoughts.
There is no such thing as 'normal' anymore. Children and families hide inside their homes, afraid to even venture out. Real food is gone, replaced with man made synthetic substitutes. Living has become simply surviving. But when Jack suffers an extremely close brush with the Can Heads, his wife convinces him that he needs, as well as the family, some time away from the craziness to regroup their faculties. Her suggestion? A vacation to one of the few remaining places in the country that offers a safe place to be a family once again.
Begrudgingly, Jack agrees. The lure of sun, water, tranquility and real food are more than he can fight. Plus, it will offer him a chance to reconnect with his wife and children in a way they have never really experienced. It is a dangerous trip, for Jack knows they must leave the relative safety of the reinforced city to travel.
And then, their horrific adventure begins.
Mr. Costello's writing style is taunt and tense, giving the reader a great sense of the trepidation that each character feels. I also enjoyed the fact that this book doesn't delve into great detail about how the zombies came to be, but rather, that they simply are. The climactic ending will leave you breathless.
If you enjoy tension filled, nail biting thrillers within the zombie genre, you will love this book.
November 13, 2015
I picked up Vacation at the library thinking both the cover and the premise looked cool. Then after reading some reviews, and seeing some of the low ratings, I grew confused, but also more interested. How can a book with a pretty cool premise go wrong? Well, it's fairly easy apparently.
I agree with a lot of the other reviewers who claim that the book reads more like a screenplay for a movie, and less like an actual book. The pacing of the sentences; the lack of paragraphs; the monotone dialogue; the very frequent misspelled word; the constant use of the word "Fuck" in all it's forms (fucking, fucked, etc..). I am in no way against using the word; however, use it when appropriate. Don't over use it in sentence after sentence, for no fucking reason other than to have it. It really took away from the book a lot.
I've read two of Matthew Costello's other books, yet I don't remember him writing in such a lazy style as he does in this book. Sentences that should be combined and built into a paragraph, aren't. One theory I have is maybe he's trying to space out his book, giving the appearance that it's longer, when it should be half the length if done properly.
I think the idea for the book is a great idea. If every books were being remade (I know it's an impossibility), this story would definitely benefit from one.
The only reason it get's 2 stars above 1 is that I do love the idea for the book. I love it a lot.
I agree with a lot of the other reviewers who claim that the book reads more like a screenplay for a movie, and less like an actual book. The pacing of the sentences; the lack of paragraphs; the monotone dialogue; the very frequent misspelled word; the constant use of the word "Fuck" in all it's forms (fucking, fucked, etc..). I am in no way against using the word; however, use it when appropriate. Don't over use it in sentence after sentence, for no fucking reason other than to have it. It really took away from the book a lot.
I've read two of Matthew Costello's other books, yet I don't remember him writing in such a lazy style as he does in this book. Sentences that should be combined and built into a paragraph, aren't. One theory I have is maybe he's trying to space out his book, giving the appearance that it's longer, when it should be half the length if done properly.
I think the idea for the book is a great idea. If every books were being remade (I know it's an impossibility), this story would definitely benefit from one.
The only reason it get's 2 stars above 1 is that I do love the idea for the book. I love it a lot.
October 14, 2017
This will be one of the books I look back on and struggle to remember anything about it, to the point I'm not sure I ever read it at all.
While the premise of this book was interesting and was a different take on the whole "zombies", I found it fell incredibly short of my expectations.
The writing itself was so-so from the get-go, but I was willing to power through it for the story. The book started off promising with the main character (who I found very forgettable), having to go out on a call and face the Can Heads. The encounter ends with him having to mercy kill his partner and his leg severely damaged for life. The story just sort of flatlined after that.
I never found myself actually afraid or threatened by the Can Heads. The underlying unease and feeling like something was "not right" of Paterville was very minimal and unconvincing. I didn't care at all about any of the characters to the point that when Jack dies, I literally felt nothing. The fact that his family escaped was also anti-climactic and unmoving.
I just didn't care. The best thing about this book is that it was a fairly quick read.
While the premise of this book was interesting and was a different take on the whole "zombies", I found it fell incredibly short of my expectations.
The writing itself was so-so from the get-go, but I was willing to power through it for the story. The book started off promising with the main character (who I found very forgettable), having to go out on a call and face the Can Heads. The encounter ends with him having to mercy kill his partner and his leg severely damaged for life. The story just sort of flatlined after that.
I never found myself actually afraid or threatened by the Can Heads. The underlying unease and feeling like something was "not right" of Paterville was very minimal and unconvincing. I didn't care at all about any of the characters to the point that when Jack dies, I literally felt nothing. The fact that his family escaped was also anti-climactic and unmoving.
I just didn't care. The best thing about this book is that it was a fairly quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2012
I found Vacation interesting in that it wasn’t about an initial infestation of zombies, but how people were dealing with them years later. The humans who survived were struggling to maintain some sense of normalcy. After suffering a serious injury fighting the Can Heads, NYPD cop Jack Murphy takes his family on a vacation up north where it is still safe to be in the woods and swim in the lake. I didn’t want to put this book down, but in the end I was disappointed. I knew what was strange about Camp Paterville after the family’s first day there, so the plot didn’t surprise me much. I also wish the characters had been developed more; I didn’t become emotionally attached to any of them. I agree with other reviewers that the ending was rushed and disappointing. I wanted so much more from Jack Murphy and his family! There are also several mistakes that I was surprised to find in regard to editing…you won’t even have to read close to find them.
July 6, 2016
Good concept, easy-to-read prose, poor execution. Characters are pretty cookie-cutter minus the main 'Jack' and even then he's just got added sprinkles to him. Why call a Can Head what is really a 'zombie' or 'cannibal' ? -no explanation why they need a special designation, just the author trying to be hip. Build up to the big reveal is pretty decent, but kind of a letdown once you get to it. Not sure if I'll read the sequel.
November 14, 2011
Vacation by Matthew Costello starts out as a futuristic zombie tale with some pretty intense twists. Jack a NYPD cop who works the rough streets has decided to go on Vacation to an amazing summer spot in upstate New York with his wife and children. Little did they know what awaits at this wonderful place. Fast paced and an unexpected turn of events will keep the reader guessing.
November 7, 2014
Entertaining, fast-paced read that succeeds in presenting something other than the traditional zombie (which I find boring). I can't say I really cared about any of the characters (other than for the children), but for the most part it works.
Included in the copy of the book I own is the 1994 short story that inspired this novel--which I enjoyed more.
Included in the copy of the book I own is the 1994 short story that inspired this novel--which I enjoyed more.
August 23, 2020
Not my favorite, but still action packed and fun. Zombie stuff is a little over done for me- I was hoping this would have more of a Mad Max, post-apocalyptic vibe because of the cannibal description. I didn’t realize that this book was part of a series when I got it. Maybe more of that can be seen in the other books?
This book read really quickly, although it took a long time for me to really get it started. I thought it came across choppy at times, description was lacking. It was all quick dialogue and action sequences. Not bad, but it did make the story feel clunky. The ending, because it was total action, was super smooth and flowed well! Characters were a little flat, but it was fine. I can absolutely see how the author was a video game writer/creator!
I would recommend this to those looking for a fast-paced, no frills action story. It’s not really so much “horror”, don’t let the cover fool you!
This book read really quickly, although it took a long time for me to really get it started. I thought it came across choppy at times, description was lacking. It was all quick dialogue and action sequences. Not bad, but it did make the story feel clunky. The ending, because it was total action, was super smooth and flowed well! Characters were a little flat, but it was fine. I can absolutely see how the author was a video game writer/creator!
I would recommend this to those looking for a fast-paced, no frills action story. It’s not really so much “horror”, don’t let the cover fool you!
September 19, 2019
Book Review: Vacation by Matthew Costello
4/5 stars
44/50
A global crisis causes crops to fail and the earth to plummet into famine. A percentage of humans are effected, roaming the land to cannibalize others. Jack Murphy, an NYPD officer, takes his family to one of the last “safe” places for a vacation - Camp Praterville. After a few idyllic days however, it becomes evident that things at Camp Praterville are not as peaceful as they seem...
I tore through this one in 24 hours. It’s my second apocalyptic-themed book this month and it was very different from Wanderers. The premise was less fleshed out but enjoyable nonetheless. Suspenseful, smart, and gory, Vacation was a compelling quick read.
4/5 stars
44/50
A global crisis causes crops to fail and the earth to plummet into famine. A percentage of humans are effected, roaming the land to cannibalize others. Jack Murphy, an NYPD officer, takes his family to one of the last “safe” places for a vacation - Camp Praterville. After a few idyllic days however, it becomes evident that things at Camp Praterville are not as peaceful as they seem...
I tore through this one in 24 hours. It’s my second apocalyptic-themed book this month and it was very different from Wanderers. The premise was less fleshed out but enjoyable nonetheless. Suspenseful, smart, and gory, Vacation was a compelling quick read.
November 30, 2024
So let me start by saying i love all things zombie. This book had such great character development that I was so invested that i actually cared what happened to them. IT was non-stop action from start to finish. A nice little swerve on the regular zombie genre. I hate Matthew Costello only cause it took him soooooooo long for the final book (#3). If you love heart pounding action and nail biting, edge of your seat reading, you cant go wrong with this one. Loved it sooo much i purchased a signed hard copy.
May 18, 2017
Vacation was not the book I expected. Unfortunately, it also wasn't quite what I wanted. There were some decent scenes here and there and I liked the story of the cannibal-ridden world as a whole. That said, the ending and "twist" simply didn't do it for me. In fact, I came up with what my friends and I consider an incredible finisher, which made Mister Costello's ending all the more of a let-down.
October 22, 2023
Neither a good horror or cop pulp fiction book. It straddles the line awkwardly and without purpose and cares little for the world the story resides in. What the hell is a Can Head? Bad guys. The Blight? Bad thing and no food. Why are the chapters 4 pages long? I don’t know. It was entertaining to read but not because it was fun. Or interesting. Or particularly good. But because it was weird to see it flip flop around trying to get that movie treatment.
Pass.
Pass.
March 31, 2018
A really good, fast moving horror story about a world gone bad after the Great Famine, and Can Heads, or mad killers, are taking over. So a cop from Brooklyn, who survived an attack from these mad creatures takes his family on a vacation...or so they all think. Strong characters, quick pace and tight writing makes this a truely good read.
June 28, 2023
Stumbled upon this book and read it through very quickly. Very interesting apocalyptic tale of family and survival. Family vacation goes awry, but not necessarily in the way that the reader might expect. Easy beach/poolside read.
Would have given it 3.5 stars, but Goodreads, to my knowledge, doesn't allow .5 stars.
Would have given it 3.5 stars, but Goodreads, to my knowledge, doesn't allow .5 stars.
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