The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings is an edgy, high body count read that will both frighten and engross readers as the story of Zephyr and Meadow unfolds.
Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.
The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is — although he doesn’t know it – one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?
Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.
Book Review: ‘The Murder Complex’
The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings is a dark, twisted tale of a future society where bodies are left in the street and society is controlled by the Initiative.
The Murder Complex takes place in a dystopian future where a plague has devastated most of the world but a unique society exists in Florida. Bodies are often found littering the streets and the murder rate is higher than the death rate. In order to get a job from the Initiative you must be willing to kill. Food is rationed, people are desperate, and dying; while this feels like a familiar tale, The Murder Complex brings several new twists to the table.
The Murder Complex is told in alternating points of view. Meadow Woodson has been trained to survive since she was young. Her father’s motto is ‘kill or be killed’ and Meadow isn’t afraid to do what is necessary to survive. Her father shows his love through training her which often means leaving Meadow on her own at night to survive the Dark Time. If Meadow has a weakness it is the love she has for sister, Peri.
The other point of view is Zephyr James, a boy who is a ward of the Initiative. He is an orphan who cleans the dead bodies up off the street. Zephyr also tries to take care of those around him that are less fortunate like a young orphan who is new to tent city. But for all his kindness there is something dark inside Zephyr that even he is unaware of. Zephyr’s nightmares of murder are more a reality than even he knows. Zephyr is a unique character in YA as he isn’t an alpha male who you may want to slap on occasion. In comparison to Meadow, Zephyr is soft and caring – in fact the first time she sees him he is crying at the grave of someone he killed.
The story is filled with action and death. Zephyr and Meadow are interesting characters that you will you want to know more about and the twisty plot will keep you reading late into the night. There are a few things that were not appealing such as the insta-love and limited development of their feelings but overall the story is solid.
Fans of Legend, Divergent and The Hunger Games are bound to enjoy The Murder Complex which was released on June 10.