‘Under Ground’ by S.L. Grey

Published by Pan Macmillan,
16 July 2015.
ISBN: 978-1-78462-300-5

When a super flu virus threatens America it makes sense to find a safe place to see it out. The underground 'Sanctum' was originally designed to withstand a nuclear war so seems the ideal place. Five families move into what they believe is a well provided self-sustaining sanctuary, only to find it not completely finished.

When a suspicious death occurs tension mounts, added to that the exit hatchway becomes locked and when a fire breaks out all WiFi connections are lost, now they really are cut off from the rest of the world. It becomes clear each family has a secret and it affects how they deal with the many trials that follow.

This book is a really good study of human nature and how different people react to difficult situations, especially when their survival and that of others depends on their actions.

The suspense and tension builds deliciously to a surprising ending. Throughout I found myself wondering what if it was murder, what if there is another, what if they never get out, what if......?

It is the first time I have read a book by S.L. Grey, the name apparently being a collaboration between Sarah Lotz a novelist and screenwriter and Louis Greenberg a fiction writer based in Johannesburg and I will certainly be looking out for more.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, thrilling with a touch of black comedy thrown in.

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

S.L. Grey is a collaboration between Sarah Lotz and Louis Greenberg. Based in Cape Town, Sarah is a novelist and screenwriter and die-hard zombie fanatic. She writes crime novels and thrillers under her own name, and as Lily Herne she and her daughter Savannah Lotz write the Deadlands series of zombie novels for young adults. Louis is a Johannesburg-based fiction writer and editor. He was a bookseller for several years, and has a Master's degree in vampire fiction and a doctorate in post-religious apocalyptic fiction.

website at http://slgrey.com

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf  (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.