Dead Daughters

by Russ Melrose

This apocalyptic slice (short story) is a dark, humorous tale about a family impacted by a zombie apocalypse. Harold and Alice's fragile marriage is floundering on the rocks and the only thing holding it together is their daughter, Bailey. But when the apocalypse hits, Bailey is infected (or is she?) and Harold worries that his wife might leave him. Harold still loves his wife and he's willing to do virtually anything to save their marriage, and he'll have to if he wants their marriage to survive.

Genres: Zombies

25 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 29, 2014

About the author

Russ Melrose's path to becoming a writer has been anything but conventional. Over the years, he's done a bit of everything--a jack of all trades you might say. He spent time in the military, the ASA (Army Security Agency, and yes, it's related to the NSA), worked in business (accounting, assistant buyer, management), taught at a secretarial college, spent time as a letter carrier for the post office, and he even mesmerized a few clients here and there as a hypnotherapist. He also spent time in the blue collar sector (building floors for mobile homes, a job retrofitting military vehicles for the army, etc.). Along the way, he also found time to get degrees (B.A. and M.A.) in English from the University of Utah and Utah State University respectively. And eventually he became a writer.

Writers who've influenced him the most are Dostoevsky, Hemingway, Raymond Chandler, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Daughters

I'm not much into sci fi or zombie apocalyptic novels but I really did enjoy this Kindle short story by Russ Melrose. I can see Mr. Melrose becoming a really big author. I'm now ready to read everything he has written and I can't wait to see what he writes in the future.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid short fictional piece about a family man whose marriage is on the rocks, when the z-a breaks out. There were some elements of this book that really struck home with me (the separation, the young daughter), despite the author's description of the story as 'humorous.' Maybe it's the bleak, dark humor type.

The scenes of devastation at the elementary school where Harold goes to rescue his daughter were spot on and horrific. The ending bite was justice.

[❤ArtfullySinful❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing short story. Not too fast paced, yet at the same time just tantalizingly slow enough to live out the details and keep you interested. All in all, a five star review. Beautifully written, with a tap of humor at the very end!

Written around the revolving world of f father, Harold, a man struggling to satisfy his slowly disappearing wife, while at the same Tim's keeping a relationship with his young daughter, t fuel for a breaking apart marriage. Bailey, a young girl who had become a daddy's girl, leaving Alice furiously and shifting the blame to her husband. Turning a blind eye, she was oblivious to what was going on, leading out hope on a fairytale ending to a nightmare.

[Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would not recommend this to most people as I don't think they have that kind of funny bone in their body. Fortunately for me, I'm pretty morbid and found this story funny and entertaining. The end scene had me laughing out loud and then wondering if there was something wrong with me.

The conclusion? HELL NO there's nothing wrong with me! This story was as hilarious as it was disturbing! And I like both of those things, especially when interwoven so well.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little zombie sho4t.

[Randy Harmelink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short story about the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. I felt so sorry for the main character, Harold. If I were him, I'd either leap into the horde, or toss the wife into the horde. No way I'd want to live in hiding with her.