The Umbrella Conspiracy by S.D. Perry

[tiffanynettles]

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Conspiracy by S.D. Perry is the second installment of a seven part series. However, even though it is the second book it is actually based off of the first Resident Evil video game. This series would fit nicely in either the horror or mystery genre.

The book begins with newspaper articles that describe a string of bizarre and grisly murders that are spreading into Raccoon City from the surrounding forest. With the city seized by fear and panic it is up to the city’s special tactics and rescue squad, or S.T.A.R.S, to figure out what is going on. Initially the S.T.A.R.S send their Bravo team out in order to investigate a section of the forest, but when the team’s helicopter ends up crash landing the S.T.A.R.S deploy their Alpha team to go see what caused it.

The S.T.A.R.S alpha team is composed of several talented specialists: weapons expert Barry Burton, problem solver Chris Redfield, former thief Jill Valentine, and mysterious team leader Albert Wesker. Regardless of their special training and abilities though, they are not prepared for the monstrous creatures they encounter at the crash site, and are forced to retreat into the nearby Spencer Mansion. The mansion was initially commissioned by the Umbrella Corporation but was abandoned shortly after being built. At least that is what the public has always believed to be true, but the stranded S.T.A.R.S team soon learns that not only is the mansion still being used as a genetic testing site but that it holds secrets far bigger than they could have ever fathomed.

This was such an exhilarating book to read. It doesn’t matter if you have played the game or not, this book will draw you in and have you attached to these characters before the first chapter ends. The author did a fantastic job at developing the characters to feel realistic, in the sense that they think, feel, and react in a way you can imagine relating to if caught in the same situation. Personally, this caused me to actually worry and care about how the different characters would fare in the end. The author also switches between the characters effortlessly throughout the book, which allowed each of them to play a vital role in revealing information pertaining to the plot.

All in all, this book just kind of had it all. It threw together enigmatic characters, a unique variety of nightmarish creatures, death traps to avoid, puzzles to solve, and ended up with a wonderfully elaborate plot. The Umbrella Conspiracy definitely earned 4 stars on my bookshelf.

[Buffyangelopiper]

This book was great, I love anything with zombies. I loved how it was well written in the book and in the movie, but the book was better I thought because it made your mind wander and that's great for a book it's even better when you read it a night time way to go. Wish they come out with more books like this.