Review | The Loop by Jeremy Robert Johnson

The small town of Turner Falls becomes the center of epidemic violence as teenagers suddenly become aggressive and start attacking others. They are all the children of executives from the local biotech firm in what appears to be a science experiment gone wrong. With the town in chaos, a young woman teams up with her friends and fellow outcasts to try and survive the night.

She was about to laugh when she saw the way Chris’s body was moving.

Something was wrong with him. Very, very wrong.

The Loop is intense! It’s been compared to the TV series Stranger Things but I wouldn’t classify this book under Young Adult as it deals with mature themes. The language is crass with a lot of sexual elements, and the violence and gore are unflinching. It starts with a bang where a violent incident takes place in a school classroom and the pace doesn’t let up from there.

The main character, Lucy, had a troubled childhood and she lives with her adoptive parents whom she has complicated feelings for. Her friends, Bucket and Brewer, have different outlooks on life and provide a nice balance in the group. I did find the teens’ conversations too much at times because they feel a little forced. But I liked seeing Lucy’s growth and her evolving relationships with the people she meets. Her dawning realisation that not everyone can survive is harrowing. I expected that some of the characters may not live to see the end but it was still unexpectedly moving.

The action scenes are relentless and brutal. I liked how the zombie tropes are applied here, from the gathering of strangers to the narrow escape from the horde of attacking creatures. The science parts are interesting – I learned more about octopus than I thought I would! There are also snippets of a podcast that focuses on an unexplained murder-suicide in Turner Falls, which is ultimately linked with the violent epidemic. The book doesn’t portray the characters in black and white, instead, they are shown as flawed and make choices that serve themselves even when it might hurt others.  While I wish there’s an epilogue that wraps up the events, the ending is bold and left a lasting impression on me.

The Loop is a solid addition to the zombie horror genre. Be prepared for a thrilling ride and an emotional roller-coaster!

CW: graphic violence, sexual references

I received a digital copy from Titan Books and Netgalley for review purposes.

About the author: Jeremy Robert Johnson

Photo by Nathan Wright