Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Synopsis
The outbreak tore the US in two. The east remains a safe haven. The west has become a ravaged wilderness, known by survivors as the Evacuated States. It is here that Henry Marco makes his living. Hired by grieving relatives, he tracks down the dead and delivers peace. Now Homeland Security wants Marco for a mission unlike any other. He must return to California, where the apocalypse began. Where a secret is hidden. And where his own tragic past waits to punish him again. But in the wastelands of America, you never know who - or what - is watching you.
The Return Man: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This post-apocalyptic thriller contains strong violence including zombie encounters and descriptions of death, along with dark thematic content involving grief and loss. The story deals with mature themes of tragedy and features a protagonist confronting his traumatic past.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include gore, death, mass death, and grief (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Older teens and adults who enjoy intense survival stories and zombie fiction will be gripped by this character-driven journey through a dangerous wasteland.