Best 2023 May Books – Reviewed by author Andy Zach. I read almost every day, certainly more than I write. May was a good month for books. Check out some of my favorite fantasy and SciFi.
I finished my most recent review the other day on Goodreads:
Best 2023 May Books > Cowboy Necromancer Devil’s Garden
I’m delighted to review another Cowboy Necromancer book. This one was a novella. There are more fights with bandits, drunks, and God Walkers–alien devices which gave some humans ‘mancer’ powers–RPG skills.
Sterling Montero is a necromancer–he does magic with dead things. He’s also a deadeye shot and loves fighting to blow off steam. He’s got a short fuse and is stubborn to his own hurt. He’s also the hero of this book and the other four in the series.
If you like rough-around-the-edges heroes, he fills that bill. If you like RPG-type adventures, with wild, unpredictable fights, the book scratches that itch too.
It is amazing that such a funny title and a random premise could make such an enjoyable experience. This story was fantastic. Certainly the narrator made the story come alive, but I can’t say how many times I “laughed out loud” while reading this book. Only one other book in my life ever made me feel this way. I enjoyed this story. It is a zombie-apocalypse book with political thriller feel as well as a home-town romance subplot. I would give it 10 stars if I could. Read it (listen!) and laugh. And learn how to be prepared for that zombie turkey apocalypse.
One advantage to being a superpowerful hero like John Sutton, the Farmer Mage, is you’re really hard to kill. The disadvantage is more people try to kill you and you attract more powerful opponents. And your quest challenges get harder: like stopping the apocalypse that’s currently underway. And discover the three threats endangering the world.
There’s plenty more action in this one and each battle reveals more and worse opponents than any he’s faced before. They’re even coming from outside the world.
Bill looked up as a man came in—average height, maybe five-nine, medium build, not fat, not skinny, roundish face, hazel eyes, and brown hair. He would be hard to remember. But Bill had known him all his life.
Sam Melvin, the reporter for Midley Beacon, dropped in for his daily chat. Sam and Bill had been friends since elementary school, and they had both stayed around Midley all their lives. Bill, a short, stocky guy with blondish hair, had gone off to school and become a coroner.
Zombie Detective cover
Sam had stayed in Midley after high school, doing odd jobs, until he got on with the Midley Beacon. As a reporter and blogger for a small-town weekly paper,Sam wasn’t especially busy, and he liked to socialize.
Here’s Sam’s view of Lisa Kambacher ten years after high school, when he was working for her as a reporter for the weekly newspaper, The Midley Beacon.
Karen Yardley
“Keep it down,” growled Lisa Kambacher, his boss and the editor of the Midley Beacon, and the only other employee at the small weekly newspaper. “I’m busy editing your crap.”
Sam swiveled his ancient, uncomfortable office chair from his laptop so he faced Lisa. He’d garbage-picked that chair from his neighbor in Midley when he was hired fifteen years ago. Her thin face, framed in brown hair, peered at the computer screen.
Lisa’s dark-brown eyes stared intently at what she edited. Maybe it was the piece Sam had written about Mrs. Huntington and her award-winning afghans. He hadn’t enjoyed reporting that; he couldn’t imagine she’d like editing it.
After typing up his story and sending it to Lisa for editing, he stared at her.
Because of his good grades, Sam’s high school English teacher had suggested he volunteer for the school paper. He’d gone to the newspaper “office,” a walk-in closet, and had seen a tall, slender girl pounding away on an old IBM PC. She’d looked up sharply, scowled, and said, “What do you want? Do you have a story?”
“Uh, um, I’d like to work for the newspaper.”
“Hmmm. I could use a reporter. Let me test you out. There’s a track meet today after school. Go to it. Get all the winners and losers and their feelings.Our readers care about them.Write it up, and report back to me here by seven p.m.”
“You’ll still be here at that time?” Sam asked incredulously.
“Of course. I’m the editor and head reporter and writer. I’ve got twenty stories to write, and I’ve got to report on the tennis match after school today. I expect you to work just as hard, if you want to stay on.”
“Uh, OK.”
“What’s your name, anyway?”
“Sam Melvin.”
“Sam, I’m Lisa Kambacher. Do what I say, and we’ll get along fine. Cross me, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”
I’ve never enjoyed a zombie story as much as The life after life chronicles. This is the second in the series and I enjoyed every moment. The virus has now transmitted to other animal plus a few humans. But, this is not your typical zombie apocalypse. The zombies don’t lose their intellect at least not in the humans. The animals appear to have increased their intellect in order to survive. A little humour also adds to the enjoyment of the story
I love mysteries, and Andy Zach has come up with a fun and believable one with his “Zombie Detective” book. It kept me reading to figure out the murderer. I missed the Peoria area locations from the first book, but I guess folks from other regions should get to join in the fun. Sit down, eat your grits, and enjoy another fun mystery from Andy Zach!
“Sam, you’re fired.” Lisa’s green eyes met Sam’s brown ones.
“What? Lisa, you and I have worked together at the Midley Beacon for ten years! And we’ve known each other for fifteen! And we’ve been married almost two months!” Sam broke eye contact, stood up from his desk, and paced about their small office.
“Sorry, Sam. Romance has to take a backseat to finances. Ever since the bottom dropped out of the zombie turkey news market since the first of the year, the Midley Beacon hasn’t made enough to pay your salary.”
“But that’s our salary. We share and share alike.”
“We can still live on my salary. And you can apply for unemployment now that you’re fired.”
“But what’ll I do all day? I can only play Fortnite for so long.”
“What did you do before I hired you ten years ago? What did you do while I was in college?”
“Uh, mow lawns. Handyman repair. Stuff like that. But I’m a grown man now. I want more.”
“Hmm, you are a decent reporter.”
“Thanks, Lisa. That’s high praise coming from you.”
Sam Melvin Zombie Detective Excerpt Continues
“Well, it’s the truth. You’ve grown from a crappy reporter, like ninety-nine percent of all reporters, to well above average. I did lay off everyone else on the staff before you, you know.”
Sam’s eyes misted. “Aw, you’re making me feel warm and mushy.”
“That’s part of good management—emotional manipulation.”
“Uh, you mean you don’t mean it?”
“Nah, I mean it. Emotional manipulation is much more effective if you’re sincere. Say, why don’t you call Andy Zach and see if he has some royalties to share. We signed a contract with him to get half the royalties from his book Zombie Turkeys. We supplied more than half his source material right from the pages of the Midley Beacon.”
Sam shook his head. “I just called him yesterday. His sales haven’t paid for the cover yet, let alone the editing.”
“I told him to go with traditional publishing!” Lisa scowled.
“He’d still be trying to get an agent, let alone publishing his book. Who wants to represent a zombie turkey author?”
“So think of something to do with your reporting and investigative skills. That’s your first job. Get out of here and work on it at home. When I come home tonight, I want a decision from you. That’s a deadline.”
“Ok, Lisa. And thanks. You know I work best under a deadline.”
“Sure, dear. We’ll go out for dinner tonight to celebrate your new career, whatever it will be.”
“I’m kind of tired of McDonald’s.”
“We’ll spurge. We’ll go to the big city of Peoria. Maybe to the Country Time Buffet.”
“Wow. Thanks, Lisa.”
“Now, shoo!” Lisa pushed her hands toward him. “Don’t forget to clear out your desk.”
Meet My Undead Mother-in-law! Did you know, Diane Newby, the undead mother-in-law, has two children?
Diane Newby, in her natural environment.
My mother-in-law, Diane Newby, zombified by accident. She still volunteers at her church bake sales and cooks pot roast for her daughter and son-in-law, Ron Yardley. What ticks her off is when people don’t treat her like a normal human being—with glowing red eyes and super strength and speed. And if she doesn’t get her own way, look out. She explodes and leaves broken plaster and body parts in her wake. Nothing stops her: not brick walls, the federal government, or middle-aged spread.
But the world’s most powerful criminal plans to control zombies. His only problem with zombies is that they have way too much free will. He has a solution for that. But will it work with Diane Newby?
The world divides into pro-zombie and anti-zombie factions. Battles break out everywhere. Which side will you take? Who will live and who will die?
You might not survive this book. But at least you’ll die laughing.
Donald Newby had been a computer programmer for three years, ever since he got out of college. He’d been paying off his student loans by living in his parents’ basement. That gave him plenty of time for online gaming: DOTA (Defense of the Ancients) was his favorite. Occasionally, he wanted to go out with girls, but he couldn’t figure out how to find one, let alone how to start a conversation with one. He’d read about people meeting in nightclubs and bars, but that didn’t make sense; he didn’t dance or drink.
He vaguely realized he wasn’t a girl’s ideal man: below average height and overweight. He figured he’d just find some girl who wasn’t ideal. Any girl would do, when you had none.
(Excerpt from Don’s introduction in Zombie Turkeys Epilogue.)
Andy Zach continues his unrelenting attack on the horror/zombie genre with outlandish humor. What will society do with the new human zombies after the havoc caused by The Turkey Zombies?!? That was a rhetorical question…so just laugh! 😉
Note: While this is Book 2 in the series, it works pretty well as a stand alone story.
Set several months after the zombie turkey outbreak of Book 1, the contagion continues to pop up in other species. Now that several zombie humans have been created, the government can no longer hide it. In fact, most zombie humans continue to work, play, cook, attend church, and have family get-togethers.
Diane is such a fun mother-in-law! She’s a bit overbearing but ferociously protective of her family. I love her dedication to zombie acceptance and beating down zombie stereotypes. Also, she’s a great brawler. I would not want to be on any team opposing Diane!
The zombie critters were great too! I love that the contaminated corn (the suspected source of the zombie outbreaks) is still the main suspected source of these new zombie species – like snakes and chipmunks. That scene with the rat and the snake hijacking the plane – haha! This story had me chuckling often.
The Narration: Phil Blechman and Raven Perez continue to do a great job with this series. I love Blechman’s zombie turkey calls – makes me laugh every time no matter how gruesome the scene. Perez was spectacular as Diane – loud, proud, boisterous, hilarious. The technical recording quality is also top notch. Blechman and Perez sound like they are in the same room for the recording. It’s seamless when they trade off or even back and forth in the same conversation. Excellent all around! 5/5 stars.
Not your usual zombie story. This one is fun and funny. I laughed several times throughout the story. I’m looking forward to the next installment of the series.
Andy Zach has done it again for me, I love the Audiobooks. The Performances by Raven Perez, and Phil Blechman, are outrageously Great. Not too many turkey gobbling sounds in this story, but I can live with that. Read the first book and you’ll understand. All in all, I’d double the number of stars for the first book, and this one if I could.
Very entertaining. Didn’t know what to expect other than I thought it would be amusing. It was! I played some for my husband and laughed tears at one point just as I had.
Is a super story about a super mother in law. father in law, brother and sister in law and a bunch of “Sidekicks” real impressive side kicks. Good triumph over evil through pain and persistence and a real bad villan is finally defeated; or is he? The Narration is outrageously hilarious and so “Camp” that I smile when I think about this listen.
I am becoming a lover of Zombisim, in fact long live Zombies, no perhaps live isn’t quite the right word. Any way If a great listen is what you need these days first listen to Andy’s first book Zombie Turkeys “gooble gooble” and than for a continuous great listen meet the mother in law
