I selected this book becasue I wanted to read something that would always make me turn the page. I wanted to read a mysterious thriller with a lot of twists and turns in the plot. One of my friends recommended this book to me a while back so I decided to read this book next. This book is a teen thriller with tons of twists, heart racing action scenes and keeps the readers on the edge of their seat until the last page. This book takes place in Lychcombe where the two brothers find closure on their sister's rape and murder. The time period that this book takes place in is in modern days.
The Road of the Dead is about two brothers who learn about their sister's rape and murder. Cole and Ruben travel to Lychcombe in search of their sister's, Rachel, body. What they thought was a simple task of bringing her body home turned out to be a journey of revenge when they find out that they have to find the killer before they can take Rachel's body home. The unhelpful poilce will only release Rachel's body from the morgue and buried in peace after the case is closed. Ruben and Cole didn't realize that that the status surrounding her murder is a lot more complicated than what they thought. As the arrived to Lychcombe, they are met with a friendly married couple who are obviously hiding something, police that will do everything they can not to find the killer and town thugs who are trying to get in the way of Ruben and Cole's investigation of their sister's death. Although the brothers are still determined to catch the killer.
One of the main characters in the story is Ruben. He is a fourteen year old boy who is the younger brother of Cole and Rachel. He is quiet, comtemplative and very keen. He has the ability to feel whatever his brother or other people are feeling. Ruben is a person who dislikes violence but despite his brother's violent side, he trusts Cole with a great amount of respect. I chose Ruben because I can relate more to him. I'm not really into violence although I still respect and trust people despite their violence. The ability to feel what others feel is what interested me because it's like he looks more beyond the basic. He looks at different perpectives and tries to study what other people are feeling to try and find what he and his brother were looking for.
I enjoyed reading this book because it kept me turning the pages to see what happens next on the quest to find Rachel's killer. It was pretty interesting because it showed different perspectives of what was going on in the plot. The only thing that I was concerned about was that the story ended too fast because Cole found a key evidence to their investigation but Ruben questions him "Does it matter?" It didn't really inform me about anything but I think the main point that the story was trying to convey was to never give up. Even though there are obstacles that will try and stop you, keep on going. I would recommend this book because I enjoyed reading it and it wasn't the type of book that leaves you hanging. Although it is a bit graphical in the sense that it can be a bit disturbing and there are some questions that weren't answered but it's still a nice thriller novel to read.
I think this book compares to real life because in the world today, there are people who suddenly disappears, whether it is a boy or a girl, mom or dad, kid or teenager. Then their bodies would be found somewhere in a desolate area and their bodies were either raped, brutally murdered, etc. It reminded me of the Daniel Van Dam case because after her body was discovered, her parents tried to find the truth behind her death, not letting anyone stop them. I'm not sure if this book is important to read but it gives a journey that some people do go through in finding out the truth about some cases.
If I were in Ruben's shoes, I think that I would've done some of the things he did. I would also feel what others are feeling to put me into their shoes and also to go my way on doing my own study of what could've happened to my older sister. I think I would acted the same way he did. I think an alternative ending for the book was to extend a little more on what was found and not just leave the reader hanging. I think that a little more information in the end might of done the trick but I liked how it book ended with an open ending where it takes my imagination to a whole different level.
Kevin Brooks wrote four other novels before this book which were also juicy teen thrillers. Some of his books were Candy, Kissing the Rain, Lucas, and Martyn Pig. Like this book, it started the same way with a mysterious opening talking about the situation then transition to what happened before that situation. I do plan on reading other books like this but a little less graphic. I don't think that I would always read a book like this but maybe once in awhile.
Labels: Book Report