28 by You Jeong Jeong

People  realize the disease originated in dogs, and the government sends armed military personnel to round up dogs and kill them. Eventually, the government cuts off all access to the outside, including internet and cell phone service, and the military stands by as the city descends into violent riots, looting, and other crime. As people try to flee the city on covert midnight journeys through the woods, rumors abound that the military is shooting anyone who attempts to break the quarantine. With nobody to trust and a large number of townspeople succumbing to this mysterious disease, Gi-jun, Su-jin, Jae-hyeong, Yun-ju, and Dong-hae try to survive in their own ways, feeling increasingly abandoned and isolated. Some of them begin to descend into madness, as others dig deep to do the right thing. In the end, as the military slaughters protesting civilians, Gi-jun, Jae-hyeong, and Ringo face off, fueled by sorrow, revenge, and despair.  

This adrenaline-filled novel is written from the six characters’ intersecting points of view, a stark reminder that no event is ever clear-cut. Brimming with characters that are larger than life and embroidered with evocative meditations on humanity, 28 is a riveting ride of fear, despair, and the power of empathy. This blockbuster of a novel is reminiscent of the very best of Stephen King and is sure to be a worldwide sensation.