Title: Everyone Dies at the End

Author: Riley Westbook

Goodreads: Everyone Dies at the End on Goodreads

Synopsis:

“Who knew the zombie apocalypse would be caused by something we all know is deadly…but that is also all around us? Two stories intersect as the world delves into chaos – Earl, a drugged out heroin addict constantly in search of his next fix, and a family struggling with the dramas of everyday life, get no reprieve during this zombie outbreak. Can any of them survive the deadliest game of all – survival against undead, each other, and the world around them?”

I rarely say that a book or story is brilliant, but when I do, I mean it wholeheartedly.  That being said, this short story was BRILLIANT.  I was not expecting it to be as good as it was based on the title, but by the time I got to the end of the story I realized how important the title was to the overall story.  This may have been a short story, but it was an insanely strong piece of writing.  I found it both horrific and intriguing all at the same time.  Riley Westbrook knows what he is doing.

I read this book in about a day since it was only 87 pages, but I was unable to read it at night because of how scary it was.  Many times horror stories can become too grotesque, but Westbrook’s writing was poetic.  He knew what he was doing with both stories that he intertwined, and didn’t leave the reader wondering what had happened to certain characters.  I would even dare to say that he has the talent of Stephen King.  Based on his biography, he states that he began writing after being unable to work anymore and used writing as an outlet.  This passion that he put behind his writing showed significantly.  It was clear that he knew every aspect to his story and didn’t leave any loose ends.  I was not expecting the surprise ending, and I would gladly read this story again.

If you are intrigued by horror stories that pack a punch, then this story is the one for you.  I must admit that Westbrook is clearly a talented writer in the way that he was able to pack a punch in such a short piece of writing.  He has the talent of a professional and I will gladly read any work that he writes.  Westbrook is sure to go far.