Jace Stanford has lost family, friends, and his arm to the zombie apocalypse that hit his formerly quiet, American subdivision of Whispering Pines. But he has also gained new allies, a new sense of purpose, and something he never in a million years would have thought would be a plus: the cannibal savant known as Elsbeth. Now facing certain destruction from a faction known as the Consortium, Jace needs Elsbeth’s help more than ever. But is she up to the task when her past is revealed? A past that is possibly more shocking than the zombie apocalypse itself? Jace may find out the hard way. And in the zombie apocalypse, the hard way usually means a whole lot of people are going to die.