I think they will like the thriller-ness of this tale, and they might also be enticed by the mystery. However, the other characters in the book are one dimensional and almost like caricatures rather than engaging people.Īlthough I wasn't a fan of this book, I would still pass it on to teens. what the heck is with all these mind-reading books I have been reading lately?!), and we spend a lot of time in his head. Ruben's character is fairly interesting (he is clairvoyant.

The police will not return her body to the family for burial until the murder is solved, so Cole and Ruben decide to travel to her murder site and solve the mystery themselves. In this tale of grief and revenge, Ruben and Cole's sister is murdered while visiting her friend in a small town in rural England. The setting of the book contributes heavily to the mood of the story. The Road of the Dead takes place in England, mostly in the swampy countryside. maybe I WANT to like his books and writing style but I just can't? Maybe I just don't like Kevin Brooks's writing style? I have also read Candy and Being by this author and both of those books just left me saying 'meh.' The interesting thing to me is that I keep picking up books by Brooks. The Road of the Dead, however, I didn't love. I might be a wuss when it comes to horror movies, but scary books I can handle! Bring on the corpses! TOUCHY AREAS-PAGES: many – violence, shooting, torture, rape, dead bodies, etc.I love thrillers and mysteries. On a historical note, the road of the dead was a passageway, funeral processions walked along to arrive to the final resting place of the body many years ago.ĪREAS FOR TEACHING: imagery, author’s purpose, sequence of events, cause and effect The review on the back of the book mentions “brutal, vivid violence” – I totally concur. I found the book to be a little shallow and unrealistic – 2 boys taking on an entire town – what are the chances? The fact that the girl has been raped and murdered is a little dark (not something the teenage mind always needs more of).

REVIEW: Typical Kevin Brooks book – edgy, violent, dark, foul mouthed, violent… To some teens though – this might be interesting. Their only goal is to take Rachel’s body home for a proper burial. Trapped in a web of deceit and surrounded by people who want to silence them permanently, Cole and Ruben must fight their way out. Before long, they are themselves victims of violence. He and his older brother Cole set out on to avenge her death and find out who killed her.

The next day, his family finds out that Rachel was murdered. One night he senses that his sister Rachel is in pain and is gripped by fear. He can sense what others are thinking or feeling even when they’re not near him. PLOT SUMMARY: Ruben has always been different.

Kevin brooks the road of the dead