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Please Note: I received an advance audio copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier's eruption swirled and finally settled, the story of the Greenloop massacre has passed unnoticed, unexamined . . . until now.
But the journals of resident Kate Holland, recovered from the town's bloody wreckage, capture a tale too harrowing--and too earth-shattering in its implications--to be forgotten.
In these pages, Max Brooks brings Kate's extraordinary account to light for the first time, faithfully reproducing her words alongside his own extensive investigations into the massacre and the legendary beasts behind it.
Kate's is a tale of unexpected strength and resilience, of humanity's defiance in the face of a terrible predator's gaze, and inevitably, of savagery and death.
Yet it is also far more than that.
Because if what Kate Holland saw in those days is real, then we must accept the impossible. We must accept that the creature known as Bigfoot walks among us--and that it is a beast of terrible strength and ferocity.
Part survival narrative, part bloody horror tale, part scientific journey into the boundaries between truth and fiction, this is a Bigfoot story as only Max Brooks could chronicle it--and like none you've ever read before.
Review:
Normally, I am not a fan of horror. But Devolution, by Max Brooks, is so riveting, and the audiobook so well produced, that I didn't mind the sleepless nights as I listened to it.
What I Liked:
Audiobook Production:
This is one of the most entertaining audiobooks I have ever listened to! I know that this is a book of fiction. But, with a full cast, lead by Judy Grier, sometimes you forget. The small touches, such as using actual commentators from NPR, bring a level of realism to this book that made me run to Google to double check that this didn't actually happen.
And Judy Grier is so compelling. She has a conversational voice that makes the listener instantly connect to the characters and situations.
Setting:
The setting is the vast wilderness of Washington state that lies in the shadow of Mt. Ranier. A small group of smug techies have established a high tech community where the WiFi is swift and anything can be delivered via drone.
But their reliance on electricity and the Internet prove to be their undoing as a natural disaster wipes out their access to the outside world. And this disaster also flushes out a group of legendary creatures...the Sasquatch!
Story:
At first, the story seems like a straight up tale of survival. The neighbors pool their resources and divvy up tasks such as cleaning off their solar panels. But things take a wild turn as they start to realize that animal predators are killing the smaller animals. Could the humans be next?
Now, most people would think predators would mean bears or bobcats. Humans can do lots to defend themselves from that. But what if they are facing predators who are massively strong, and (perhaps) smart, as well? The humans may not be at the top of the food chain, after all.
What I was Mixed About:
Violence:
I totally get that, in order to really understand how strong these creatures are, there would be scenes of bloodshed. But there were a few scenes that were, for lack of a better term, Slasher Porn. Sadly, I was listening to this part of the book in the car on my way to work. I was so horrified and disturbed, that I almost had to pull over! As it was, I had my hand over my mouth as I listened to the carnage. Plus, as I was listening to an audiobook, I could not skip ahead. Oh the nightmares...
Rating: 
Release Date: June 16th, 2020
Author: Max Brooks
Audiobook Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Narrator: Judy Grier and a full cast
Audiobook Length: 9 hours, 51 minutes
Print Publisher: Del Rey Books
Print Length: 286 Pages
Source: Publisher
Format: Audiobook
Recommendation:
A highly entertaining horror book, particularly in the audiobook format. This book is very violent, so if you are squeamish, be prepared to have some nightmares.
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