End of the Line

End of the Line #1

by Lara Frater

Ten months ago a worldwide flu epidemic decimated the world's population-but some won't stay dead. A group of survivors have been hiding in a warehouse store in Long Island to avoid the zombies have now decided to see if any hope of civilization has survived. Six very different people narrate End of the Rachel a depressed nurse with a deadly secret. Jim, an optimist and gay man who believes his husband may still be alive, Tanya, a former thug, adjusting to being a leader, Ashley, an elderly woman who knows she only has so long to find her children and grandchildren, Dave who thinks that the military will eventually rescue them and Princess, a cold hearted woman, who can shoot any target with deadly accuracy. End of the Line is not only a story about zombies, but also a story about starting over.

Genres: Zombies, Apocalyptic

291 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2012

About the author

Look upon my squid hat! Look upon it!

I’m your atypical fat gamer girl who loves to write: Horror, non-fiction, poems, paranormal suspense, non-fiction, and sci-fi.

Although I prefer to write fiction, my first book was the non-fiction Fat Chicks Rule! A guidebook on being a big girl in a thin world and included information on how to find fat positive books, movies, and TV, where to find fashion, comfortable seating, and how to deal with fat hatred. Writing this book changed my life and perspective on dieting and fat bodies. I also wrote the essay "Fat Heroines in Chick Lit" for the Fat Studies Reader. (This essay from mentioned in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, so woohoo!)

But my first love was fiction, which I returned to with the End of the Line series. Three zombie novels that take place in a world almost dead of the flu and having to deal with the zombies who rose from the ashes. End of the Line was followed by Stuck in the Middle and Full Circle (Coming 2024). And maybe more books to come.

Changing gears I moved on to a more lighthearted paranormal suspense/ horror series Paranormal Pest Control. Where exterminators and paranormal investigators fight demonic bugs. The first book is out. The second book “Dark Thing in the Cemetery” is expected April 2024.

I have also appeared in Tales from the Canyon of the Damned and Necrotic Tissues, and have essays about library science (my fun day job).

I'm heavily influenced by Joe R. Lansdale, Stephen King, Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler and Richard Matheson.

I live in New York City, married to fellow author Jon Frater and have lots of animals and people in my house. I’m in need of an exterminator or an obedient Dalek.

Reviews

[Shinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't overly horrific but had enough action to keep you interested.

End of the line was written from the perspective of at least 5 different characters, what they went through when the plague hit, how they coped with the loss of their families. What made it really interesting was some of the main group decided to go looking for their family to see if they survived, which is where the zombie action really started.

Overall, it was a good read, it set up the scene for the next book. it will be interesting to see how the characters that will be trying to rebuild after the zombie infestation.

Only complaint (and a minor one at that) is the editing, there are a few errors that were easy to notice throughout. <\spoiler>

I would recommend this book.

[Apocalyptic Thoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this book gong into it as the first bit was in need of some editing and made me extremely frustrated with hectic character and plot intros. However, the book picked up steam after this and was thoroughly enjoyable. I liked the way the author wrote the scenes where it didn't scream at you but instead meandered amongst the ruins of life with a casualness that felt normal and how a real person might experience it. With some editing this book ould easily be up there with the five star books. I will be reading its sequal when it comes out later this year.
Full Review at my website Apocalyptic Thoughts

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and well written story of a group of people living and working together to survive in the zombie apocalypse.
The tale is told through various members points of view. The author does this extremely well, expanding knowledge of events with each characters narrative of the happenings.
This is how an apocalypse event would most likely play out in real life, there are good and bad people, heartbreaking choices to be made, and hope and despair are felt sometimes simultaneously.

[Lara Frater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love my own book. Zombies Zombies zombies!

[John Podlaski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lara Frater tells this story of survival during the zombie apocalypse as seen through the eyes of six different characters in the same group. They, and others, have lived together for months inside a major shopping warehouse; the group size is limited to only 20 people - when replacements are needed, new survivors are screened and chosen by committee - acceptance is based upon the individuals' talent and current needs of the small group. The warehouse is a fortress and filled with enough supplies to last them for years. Everyone has a specialty (plumber, carpenter, sharpshooter, nurse, cook and teacher, farmer, et al), all working long hours to support the small community. The group has established rules to live by and elected a single leader to call the shots and manage their small democratic world.

Each of these six segments are written in the first person POV, keeping the story moving and offering readers an insight into their thoughts and background. They learn that small groups and individuals continue to survive on the outside among the zombies, and most everyone in the warehouse is longing to know the status of loved ones who were separated at the beginning of the flu pandemic - are they alive, dead, or roaming the streets as zombies. Without vehicles or other modes of transportation, travelling by foot is suicide and closure may never come to individuals with the group. Their only view of the outside world will continue to be from the roof of their building.

As luck would have it, one of the new replacements is a young college kid with a background in biotechnology. He successfully converts the semi trucks to run on vegetable oil - something they have tons of in inventory - and makes it possible for a team to finally go out and search for answers and ammunition. This is where the real story begins...

The mission is somewhat successful...they do find loved ones and know the whereabouts of others. However, on their return to the warehouse with the news, the truck quits and leaves them stranded twenty-five miles from home. The team also learns that something evil is coming and threatens to exterminate them all. Is there a way to escape? Where to go? Who will survive?

"End of the Line" kept me interested and anxious to see how it turns out, but I am frustrated with the amount of disrupting errors in this tome. My favorite is the use of "passed" instead of "past" and a ton of others. If the author was to invest in a professional line editor or proofreader, I would have given the work five stars. Please consider this for your next two sequels.

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a copy of this book from the author for a review.
I really enjoyed this book; it isn’t as much about the zombies as it is the survivors dealing with them and each other. There was a lot of in depth character description, and a wide variety of personalities in the survivors. It shows that things are not all butterflies and roses in the post-apocalyptic world by pointing out some of the nitty gritty things people have gone through. I would like to read more from this author.

[Helena Sheibler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm impressed because despite the lack of an editor this book kept me engaged. I also love the limo driver scene. <3

[Tammy L Gaylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequel.

[Trace Hagemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always optimistic

End of the Line is a wonderful book about how the human spirit can overcome even the worst of times, and sometimes it can't. If you like zombie stories this one is for you. But its more, its a book about survival and overcoming not only the end of the world but overcoming your own Idea of a world that no longer exists.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!
Good amount of description with enough open for imagination.
It's a good book for sure!!
Highly recommend it.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book with great characters!!! So good!!!