Quiver (Tamsyn Webb #1)

Fischer’s debut offers a new but not entirely fresh take on the ever-popular zombie apocalypse premise. In an alternate 2013, the world is overrun with the undead. Teenager Tamsyn “Tam” Webb, her father, Malcolm, and a group of fellow survivors are fighting a losing battle against infection on the outskirts of London—until their radio picks up an automated message from America heralding a cure. They flee their doomed home, heading for Texas. Arriving after two months at sea, however, they find that the situation in America has changed and they’re taken into custody by the seceded Republic of Texas. Tam strikes a deal for her freedom, agreeing to retrieve a large amount of the cure’s key ingredient—but when traitors pull off a coup in the new Republic, Tam barely escapes once again. This time she flees for Cuba in need of medical attention—but regime changes and danger await in the Caribbean as well. The party of survivors that Tam begins the story with are picked off one by one at each step of the way, yet Tam herself never changes, making rash decisions throughout. There’s little to set this apart from others in the subgenre, but diehard fans of zombie fiction will enjoy the ride. (Sept.)