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Killing the Dead #23
Come The End
Ryan has returned home to his family, unsure what to expect but feeling a need to be with the woman he loves and their two children. The outside world has not forgotten him, though, and the repercussions for his actions against the raiders will test the community in ways like no other. A time of chaos and death, of loss and despair, as Ryan and Lily find that everything has an ending, no matter how hard they fight, or the choices they make.
- GenresZombies
Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2021
4 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Richard Murray
81 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 15, 2021
Ryan Makes Himself At Home
What I love about the Killing the Dead series is that it is not just a story about a group of people or an individual surviving during a zombie apocalypse. It is a story focused on the developing relationship between two very different and unique individuals…the growing love story between an angelic lady and a psychopathic serial killer.
Come the End is the latest installment in this action-packed adventure and outlines the events following Ryan and Lily’s reunion after a long time spent apart. If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, you might want to read all 22 previous books first beginning with the first book in the series, Killing the Dead.
The opening conflict is Ryan’s fear of rejection. Because he has been absent from Lily’s life for several years, he assumes she must have moved on. He is hanging on in the hope that he will at least get the opportunity to spend some time with his children and not be forced out into the “cold” on his own.
Ryan is such a wonderfully unique character. As an unrepentant mass-murderer, he shouldn’t be likeable. Yet somehow he is. Partly this is because of his innocence. He actually cannot comprehend why some of the things that he does are wrong. This is demonstrated clearly in the opening chapter in his interaction with Cass.
In this novel, I didn’t like Lily as much as I did in previous books. This is mainly because her actions become somewhat selfish, as you will see. She knows that certain choices should be made for the good of everyone, yet she refuses to make those choices for purely personal reasons. However, she is still the woman who wishes to keep the light of civilization blazing while the rest of the world falls down around their little community.
I adore Ryan and Lily’s kids, Angelina and Gabriel. Great names for two children who are seen as something touching upon holy by a large segment of the survivors in this group. Angelina is my favorite character in this novel. I hope that Ryan can guide her towards understanding the importance of Gabriel in her life.
As with many of the preceding novels, the main focus of this installment is an impending conflict with another group of survivors. Lily is determined to continue reaching out to other groups in peace in the hope of restarting society in a civilized way. Ryan is more pragmatic, but Lily is holding him back.
When the odds start to turn against the good guys, what will Lily decide to do? Will she let Ryan off the leash, or will she keep him close and watch Rome burn around her undefended?
I especially liked the scene involving some “black ops” soldiers and Ryan with his kids. Angelina comes to life as this little drama unfolds.
The climactic scene and resolution to this story are very satisfying. They also provide a strong hook leading into the next book in this series. I shall be watching out for it with bated breath.
The village and now stronghold of Mostyn was fully described in the previous books. However, there is enough information repeated in this book to remind the reader what the settlement is like. These setting details are fed into the narrative in a natural way and don’t feel telling.
The first-person narrative is full of character. Both Ryan and Lily have strong voices, and this story is successfully shown rather than told. However, the prose does suffer from some simply typos and would benefit from a little more proofreading.
For example, in chapter 15: “If you use this knife for anything other than protecting yourself on (or) your family,” and “she found beauty if (in) the crimsons patterns made”. Chapter 19: “Else you will be alert them…”
I enjoyed reading this story very much, just like the preceding 22 books. While reading, I quickly became immersed in Lily and Ryan’s world and wanted very much for Lily to achieve her dreams and Ryan to find peace by her side. In my opinion, this book easily deserves 5 out of 5.
What I love about the Killing the Dead series is that it is not just a story about a group of people or an individual surviving during a zombie apocalypse. It is a story focused on the developing relationship between two very different and unique individuals…the growing love story between an angelic lady and a psychopathic serial killer.
Come the End is the latest installment in this action-packed adventure and outlines the events following Ryan and Lily’s reunion after a long time spent apart. If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, you might want to read all 22 previous books first beginning with the first book in the series, Killing the Dead.
The opening conflict is Ryan’s fear of rejection. Because he has been absent from Lily’s life for several years, he assumes she must have moved on. He is hanging on in the hope that he will at least get the opportunity to spend some time with his children and not be forced out into the “cold” on his own.
Ryan is such a wonderfully unique character. As an unrepentant mass-murderer, he shouldn’t be likeable. Yet somehow he is. Partly this is because of his innocence. He actually cannot comprehend why some of the things that he does are wrong. This is demonstrated clearly in the opening chapter in his interaction with Cass.
In this novel, I didn’t like Lily as much as I did in previous books. This is mainly because her actions become somewhat selfish, as you will see. She knows that certain choices should be made for the good of everyone, yet she refuses to make those choices for purely personal reasons. However, she is still the woman who wishes to keep the light of civilization blazing while the rest of the world falls down around their little community.
I adore Ryan and Lily’s kids, Angelina and Gabriel. Great names for two children who are seen as something touching upon holy by a large segment of the survivors in this group. Angelina is my favorite character in this novel. I hope that Ryan can guide her towards understanding the importance of Gabriel in her life.
As with many of the preceding novels, the main focus of this installment is an impending conflict with another group of survivors. Lily is determined to continue reaching out to other groups in peace in the hope of restarting society in a civilized way. Ryan is more pragmatic, but Lily is holding him back.
When the odds start to turn against the good guys, what will Lily decide to do? Will she let Ryan off the leash, or will she keep him close and watch Rome burn around her undefended?
I especially liked the scene involving some “black ops” soldiers and Ryan with his kids. Angelina comes to life as this little drama unfolds.
The climactic scene and resolution to this story are very satisfying. They also provide a strong hook leading into the next book in this series. I shall be watching out for it with bated breath.
The village and now stronghold of Mostyn was fully described in the previous books. However, there is enough information repeated in this book to remind the reader what the settlement is like. These setting details are fed into the narrative in a natural way and don’t feel telling.
The first-person narrative is full of character. Both Ryan and Lily have strong voices, and this story is successfully shown rather than told. However, the prose does suffer from some simply typos and would benefit from a little more proofreading.
For example, in chapter 15: “If you use this knife for anything other than protecting yourself on (or) your family,” and “she found beauty if (in) the crimsons patterns made”. Chapter 19: “Else you will be alert them…”
I enjoyed reading this story very much, just like the preceding 22 books. While reading, I quickly became immersed in Lily and Ryan’s world and wanted very much for Lily to achieve her dreams and Ryan to find peace by her side. In my opinion, this book easily deserves 5 out of 5.
August 7, 2021
My absolute favorite series!!
Over the years, I've had many "favorites"... And I have many authors that I absolutely love... But no matter how many I have... I always reread this entire series!! Ryan is, without doubt, my favorite character of all time!! I have no doubt that I'll read this series many more times! And enjoy it each and every time!! Thank you, Richard Murray for coming up with this character and this series!!!
Over the years, I've had many "favorites"... And I have many authors that I absolutely love... But no matter how many I have... I always reread this entire series!! Ryan is, without doubt, my favorite character of all time!! I have no doubt that I'll read this series many more times! And enjoy it each and every time!! Thank you, Richard Murray for coming up with this character and this series!!!
March 29, 2022
Not my favorite
I found this book a little repetitive..how many times can we hear that "chills down her spine" line? And of course Lily wallowing in her self pity? Give up the leader tole already! IDK i just did not enjoy this book in the series. It just seemed like the author was just trying to fill the pages..like you are in high school and tasked to write 200 word essay....so you write..very very very good just to make it to 200
I found this book a little repetitive..how many times can we hear that "chills down her spine" line? And of course Lily wallowing in her self pity? Give up the leader tole already! IDK i just did not enjoy this book in the series. It just seemed like the author was just trying to fill the pages..like you are in high school and tasked to write 200 word essay....so you write..very very very good just to make it to 200
March 30, 2022
There has been so much praise for this series there isnt much to add. Many talented authors write in this genre and Richard Murray is up there with the very best. Hoping for many more books to follow, highly recommended. 👍👍👍👍👍
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews