The Wild Dead

By: Carrie Vaughn

Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan

Mysteries and murder abound in the sequel to Carrie Vaughn's post-apocalyptic mystery Bannerless.

A century after environmental and economic collapse, the people of the Coast Road have rebuilt their own sort of civilization, striving not to make the mistakes their ancestors did. They strictly ration and manage resources, including the ability to have children.

Enid of Haven is an investigator who, with her new partner, Teeg, is called on to mediate a dispute between households over an old building in a far-flung settlement at the edge of Coast Road territory. The investigators' decision seems straightforward - and then the body of a young woman turns up in the nearby marshland.

Almost more shocking than that: She's not from the Coast Road, but from one of the outsider camps, belonging to the nomads and wild folk who live outside the Coast Road communities. Now one of them is dead, and Enid wants to find out who killed her, even as Teeg argues the murder isn't their problem.

In a dystopian future of isolated communities, can our moral sense survive the worst hard times?

©2018 Carrie Vaughn (P)2018 Recorded Books

Conflict between seasoned investigator and investigator on his first case.

In a Utopian World, centuries after the fall a settlement asks for an investigator to help with a decision about an old house that is eroding due to natural erosion. A young woman is found brutally murdered after many days in the sea. She is not from any settlement but from the wilds that has their own lifestyle and ways - more primitive and feared by the settlement people. The seasoned investigator strives to look for facts, the truth. The investigator on his first case argues with the female, makes assumptions not really listening. There are secrets being kept that impact the case, there is bias between the settlement and wilderness and the young investigator who is quick to make decisions. Well written mystery. Although this was the first book I read in this series I did not have to read earlier parts of the series to understand the book. Great narration. Have been reading Carry Vaugh’s work and loving it for years

A world we hope doesn’t come to be

Book two, a post apocalyptic future and a strong female lead. Enid is curious, determined and perhaps a bit reckless as she seeks answers among the Wild folk who don’t fit in the strictly ruled society formed after the great fall.

Miscategorized but really enjoyed it

This is miscategorized as Mysteries & Thrillers > Noir, but I really enjoyed it.

I don’t really read mysteries anymore—especially not on audio since they seem formulaic, and if you don’t like the main character… But I do like this new genre of post-apocalyptic mysteries because the author has to do some serious world building along with character building and, of course, the mystery. I read the author’s first book in this series (Bannerless) and was thrilled to see this second book. I hope there will be a third!

Different but entertaining

An enjoyable followup to Bannerless. I like the main character and the world in which she resides and the mystery plot was well done. The narration was fine.

Just ok

I found this book to be predictable and a bit boring; the characters seemed pointless and under deve!oped. I figured out the plotline from the first time the body was discovered. I wouldn't recommend.