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Keeping Molly
Alan and Molly are young, in love and expecting. The last thing on their minds is a disease that ravages the nervous system and turns its victims into feral, flesh-eating beasts. As the world nose dives into the apocalypse and the government takes action in rounding up the infected, Molly rapidly develops symptoms. Believing that love can conquer all, Alan secrets his wife away, hiding her from the world. If he can just wait it out, Alan thinks, all will be well. But Molly is very, very hungry.
120 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2014
About the author
David C. Hayes
88 books67 followersWelcome to the Goodreads profile of David C. Hayes. David writes stuff and teaches people to write stuff.
"Hayes is fast establishing himself as the new top-drawer of hardcore horror!" - Edward Lee
"Hayes is fast establishing himself as the new top-drawer of hardcore horror!" - Edward Lee
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 30, 2022
“I’m sorry,” Molly said quietly.
“I didn’t lose you, we’ll get through this.”
Molly managed a weak smile. She closed her eyes. “I didn’t lose you either.”
Fucking LEON!!! I hate him so much!!!! Ugh!!
I never thought I’d feel all the feels while reading a zombie apocalypse book…. But I sure did!!
Allan and Molly are just a hopeful couple who go through a serious trauma/loss, oh and Molly gets turned into a zombie to boot!
It’s a sad tale, and the ending made me depressed and full of rage at the same time.
“I didn’t lose you, we’ll get through this.”
Molly managed a weak smile. She closed her eyes. “I didn’t lose you either.”
Fucking LEON!!! I hate him so much!!!! Ugh!!
I never thought I’d feel all the feels while reading a zombie apocalypse book…. But I sure did!!
Allan and Molly are just a hopeful couple who go through a serious trauma/loss, oh and Molly gets turned into a zombie to boot!
It’s a sad tale, and the ending made me depressed and full of rage at the same time.
August 23, 2014
Keeping Molly, by David Hayes and Kevin Moyers, gives us a longer view from the perspective of a healthy person dealing with an infected loved one. Alan and his wife, Molly, suffer a great loss and in the process, she becomes infected with a new virus. Alan does all the right things in trying to get her some help but it's too late. Now he must deal with her increasing infection...and appetite.
This is not a typical zombie story. Yes, an infection spreads through humanity and it causes an increase in the infected's appetite. But in this story we find out what it is, how it started, symptoms, and eventually, what can be done about it. I loved that they came up with a scientific explanation and it wasn't just a bunch of doctors and talking heads wringing their hands and wailing their laments about the unknowns. Even the infection itself allows for moments of lucidity for the victims and they're not complete shambling undead creatures.
As I read it, I completely identified with Alan. I probably would have done everything he did if my husband got sick like Molly. I cried several times and at the end (I won't spoil it for you) I was so freakin' mad I ALMOST shouted at my iPad. That's what you want in a story - it needs to draw you in emotionally so you can become fully invested in the characters and story.
The few complaints I have are probably more from a writer's perspective. There was a bit of jumping around between character POVs, some within the same paragraph. That and the verb tenses switching between present and past were distracting. I had to go back and re-read a few sections because I got confused as to which character was doing what and when. Seems like a few typos and extra words got missed in the editing process, too. The characters of Molly's parents and the neighbor felt incomplete, like they were written just to give us someone to hate or to irritate us.
Overall it's a great story and worth the read! (I actually want to give it 3.5 but no 1/2 stars are allowed, I guess!)
This is not a typical zombie story. Yes, an infection spreads through humanity and it causes an increase in the infected's appetite. But in this story we find out what it is, how it started, symptoms, and eventually, what can be done about it. I loved that they came up with a scientific explanation and it wasn't just a bunch of doctors and talking heads wringing their hands and wailing their laments about the unknowns. Even the infection itself allows for moments of lucidity for the victims and they're not complete shambling undead creatures.
As I read it, I completely identified with Alan. I probably would have done everything he did if my husband got sick like Molly. I cried several times and at the end (I won't spoil it for you) I was so freakin' mad I ALMOST shouted at my iPad. That's what you want in a story - it needs to draw you in emotionally so you can become fully invested in the characters and story.
The few complaints I have are probably more from a writer's perspective. There was a bit of jumping around between character POVs, some within the same paragraph. That and the verb tenses switching between present and past were distracting. I had to go back and re-read a few sections because I got confused as to which character was doing what and when. Seems like a few typos and extra words got missed in the editing process, too. The characters of Molly's parents and the neighbor felt incomplete, like they were written just to give us someone to hate or to irritate us.
Overall it's a great story and worth the read! (I actually want to give it 3.5 but no 1/2 stars are allowed, I guess!)
December 22, 2014
Keeping Molly is one of those rare books which features a zombie plague but does not sink to mindless gore. Sure, there is plenty of gore for those who are looking for it, but there is also an emotional touchstone which is rare in fiction featuring the undead.
The story starts with Alan and Molly, an adorable suburban couple, who are anticipating the birth of their first child. When something happens and Molly has to be rushed to the hospital, their quiet life is torn apart. The couple's loss helps explain Alan's attachment to his wife, even as she goes through a horrible transformation. Despite her resulting actions, Alan is determined to remain with Molly, right to the bitter end.
The authors provide a number of incidental characters, each of whom is fleshed out enough that we are hoping that they will be the next victim. The reader is teased as one repellent character looks as if he is going to be the next course on the menu, only to escape.
My only complaint is that the manuscript could have used another pass by the editor to catch typos and tense mismatches. Excepting these, Keeping Molly is a taut, suspenseful, and emotionally exhausting read.
The story starts with Alan and Molly, an adorable suburban couple, who are anticipating the birth of their first child. When something happens and Molly has to be rushed to the hospital, their quiet life is torn apart. The couple's loss helps explain Alan's attachment to his wife, even as she goes through a horrible transformation. Despite her resulting actions, Alan is determined to remain with Molly, right to the bitter end.
The authors provide a number of incidental characters, each of whom is fleshed out enough that we are hoping that they will be the next victim. The reader is teased as one repellent character looks as if he is going to be the next course on the menu, only to escape.
My only complaint is that the manuscript could have used another pass by the editor to catch typos and tense mismatches. Excepting these, Keeping Molly is a taut, suspenseful, and emotionally exhausting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews