The Enemy by Charlie Higson

When a mysterious disease turns every adult into a flesh-eating shadow of their former selves, the world becomes a nightmare ruled by chaos — and only the young are left to fight for survival. In the ruins of London, scattered groups of children band together, scavenging to live another day while the infected roam the streets like predators.

Among them, a small group dares to believe in hope. They’ve heard whispers of sanctuary at Buckingham Palace — a place untouched by horror, where safety still exists. But the road there is treacherous. Rival gangs, crumbling buildings, and the relentless pursuit of the infected turn every step into a battle for life itself.

Charlie Higson’s The Enemy is a masterclass in tension and atmosphere — brutal, cinematic, and deeply human. It’s not merely a survival story; it’s a haunting exploration of courage, morality, and what it means to lead when the world has collapsed.