The Drift by C. J. Tudor (Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph)

Three storylines are cleverly intertwined. The post-apocalyptic world is destroyed by the virus, people had to quarantine, and blood is essential for the cure. 

Coach crash in the snow with students who want to come to the Retreat. The Retreat with their inhabitants, surrounded by dark forest and by lurking Whistlers and high above the ground, a small group stuck in a stranded cable car with a snowstorm raging outside, all bound for The Retreat. Only two types of people went to places like the Retreat. Volunteers and those who had no choice. 

To all intents and purposes, the Retreat had never existed in the first place. It was easier for everyone if it never existed again. Especially if they ever found out about Isolation Chamber 13.

Obviously, everyone here was hiding something. The only difference was the size of the secret and the depth of the lie. Every man or woman for themselves.

There are good guys and there are survivors. And there is revenge.

An apocalypse doesn’t happen because of evil men, zombies, or even a virus. It happens because of ordinary people. Because somewhere along the way we lost society, lost cohesion. We forgot to try to see the other side. Instead, we all bunkered down harder in our trenches, refusing to be moved, lobbing missiles at those who dared to challenge our myopic view.

People are not black and white, and we all see situations in different ways. One person’s freedom fighter is another’s terrorist. One’s crazy genius is another’s a dangerous psychopath. One person’s leader is another’s oppressor. 

The book is unputdownable. Full of action, twists, turns and chills running down the spine. Gripping and original with a cinematic atmosphere and strong characters.

Brilliant read!

5/5