Reviews with content warning for Animal death - The Drift

The story begins with a chilling tease, something to whet the reader's appetite before starting on a journey that includes multiple narrators in multiple locations, all facing dire circumstances. Social dynamics are a driving force, making it critical for the characters in each storyline to work with those whom they're sharing space. Everyone is unsure of the dangers, desperate to survive, and there's a common thread running through all the storylines.

This is isolated thriller at its finest, in a treacherous environment... times three! The book jumps around from narrator to narrator so at times it takes a little work to keep the people and events straight. The author, C.J. Tudor is a really good storyteller, and I was wrapped up in all three stories as their told simultaneously. I didn't mind jumping from story to story and felt that provided a forward-moving dynamic and kept me guessing about what was really going on to cause all the calamity being experienced by these people.

This book is deceptively complex, and I thought it was fantastic. There are characters to love and hate, or at least to root for and against. Human nature is on full display and how we ultimately value relationships can end up meaning life or death in the brutal apocalyptic environment imposed on the people that populate the three interrelated stories that make up this book. The book's finale is a jaw dropper that I didn't see coming, and the perfect conclusion.

I recommend avoiding reviews for fear of one spoiler in particular that can steal away from you what I thought was a clever payoff in the final chapters.

I listened to the audiobook and really appreciated that there were two distinct sounding narrators, Nathalie Buscombe and Rachel Handshaw. Because of the three stories presented in the book, having different narrators helped to differentiate which character and story I was listening to.

Content Warnings

tabby2920's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Although I have to read something uplifting after this one, this is one of the most innovative thrillers I've read in a while. Full of suspense and horror, Tudor rides you with this edge-of-your-seat apocalyptic thriller. With the amazing ability to use genre-blending, readers will have fun figuring out how the three perspectives connect in this horrific puzzle.

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soobooksalot's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Hype is often for good reason!
I had serious FOMO once I started seeing all the fantastic reviews of CJ Tudor's The Drift all around these parts.
Take a bit of The Walking Dead, Alive, and even if current-day goings-on had swerved in another direction, and you've got this novel. (Though it's none of these plot points specifically.)
Chapters alternate between Hannah in a full overturned charter bus in the snow, Meg stranded with strangers in a cable car, and Carter in a mountain chalet known as the Retreat.
Ominous enough for you?
Things get a little nasty at times, as apocalypses (apocalii?) are wont to do. There's action! Twists!
I loved this read. Perfect for cold snap weather reading. Recommended!

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