The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
bmacenlightened's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining urban fantasy/horror with a sense of humor. Enjoyed. Received audible code for honest review.
twitchyredpen's review against another edition
2.0
A series of stories about a zombie detective solving supernatural mysteries. Previously published as separate stories in various anthologies or what-have-you, leading to every story explaining that he's a zombie, how he's a zombie, where he works, who is friends are, why his girlfriend is a ghost... Necessary in separate publications, a bit tiring when they're all collected.
Fun, and the obligatory violence is low-key -- not graphic, not gory, just there to start the plot off -- everything is for laughs, not to be scary or all that suspenseful.
Unfortunately, between the repetition and the brevity, everything is very shallow and hard to build much interest in. Interesting enough to keep reading while it was convenient, but losing the book mid-story wouldn't have been upsetting.
Fun, and the obligatory violence is low-key -- not graphic, not gory, just there to start the plot off -- everything is for laughs, not to be scary or all that suspenseful.
Unfortunately, between the repetition and the brevity, everything is very shallow and hard to build much interest in. Interesting enough to keep reading while it was convenient, but losing the book mid-story wouldn't have been upsetting.
tarana's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't like the change of narrator, but the short stories were great!
liz_keeney's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
djotaku's review
4.0
The world of Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. is a fun world full of dad jokes and groan-worthy puns. The author doesn't take himself too seriously and so it's easy to have fun and roll with it rather than end up rolling your eyes at it. This collection of Dan Shamble short stories does a good job of introducing, and then having fun with, the regular cast of characters. If you like your noir/hard-boiled detective novels with a bit of camp, this is for you. Here's what I thought of each of the stories within:
Stakeout at the Vampire Circus - I was able to figure out the case, but that doesn't make it a bad detective story. It shows that Anderson wasn't cheating. Also, it was a pretty fun cast of characters.
Road Kill - this one was quite a bit of fun. Looks like Mr. Anderson has a good time filling out the details of his world
Naughty and Nice - Santa hires Dan Chambeaux to discover who stole his naught/nice list. Sometimes the best way to be subversive with a detective story is to be direct. Not bad.
Locked Room - Dan and his partner are hired to test a room that's meant to be inescapable by the undead. The solution is a little bit of a cheat, but still plausible.
The Writing on the Wall - Not too hard to figure out the main case. The fun part was trying to figure out how the two fit together.
Role Model - McGoo and Chambeaux attend a Cosplay Convetion where things go awry. I was able to partially solve it ahead of time, but there were a good number of fakeouts. Also learned that within the world of Working Stiff there are Dan Shamble stories similar to the ones I am reading.
Beware of Dog - The culprits were incredibly easy to guess, but still a BIG twist reveal at the end. Very entertaining.
Stakeout at the Vampire Circus - I was able to figure out the case, but that doesn't make it a bad detective story. It shows that Anderson wasn't cheating. Also, it was a pretty fun cast of characters.
Road Kill - this one was quite a bit of fun. Looks like Mr. Anderson has a good time filling out the details of his world
Naughty and Nice - Santa hires Dan Chambeaux to discover who stole his naught/nice list. Sometimes the best way to be subversive with a detective story is to be direct. Not bad.
Locked Room - Dan and his partner are hired to test a room that's meant to be inescapable by the undead. The solution is a little bit of a cheat, but still plausible.
The Writing on the Wall - Not too hard to figure out the main case. The fun part was trying to figure out how the two fit together.
Role Model - McGoo and Chambeaux attend a Cosplay Convetion where things go awry. I was able to partially solve it ahead of time, but there were a good number of fakeouts. Also learned that within the world of Working Stiff there are Dan Shamble stories similar to the ones I am reading.
Beware of Dog - The culprits were incredibly easy to guess, but still a BIG twist reveal at the end. Very entertaining.
kat_smith24's review
5.0
Hilarious! I can't wait to go back and read the prequels!
I received this eBook as a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received this eBook as a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
vornaskotti's review
2.0
Blah. Feels very forced. If I want to read something in this style, I'll opt for Stross' Laundry series instead.
twitchyredpen's review
2.0
A series of stories about a zombie detective solving supernatural mysteries. Previously published as separate stories in various anthologies or what-have-you, leading to every story explaining that he's a zombie, how he's a zombie, where he works, who is friends are, why his girlfriend is a ghost... Necessary in separate publications, a bit tiring when they're all collected.
Fun, and the obligatory violence is low-key -- not graphic, not gory, just there to start the plot off -- everything is for laughs, not to be scary or all that suspenseful.
Unfortunately, between the repetition and the brevity, everything is very shallow and hard to build much interest in. Interesting enough to keep reading while it was convenient, but losing the book mid-story wouldn't have been upsetting.
Fun, and the obligatory violence is low-key -- not graphic, not gory, just there to start the plot off -- everything is for laughs, not to be scary or all that suspenseful.
Unfortunately, between the repetition and the brevity, everything is very shallow and hard to build much interest in. Interesting enough to keep reading while it was convenient, but losing the book mid-story wouldn't have been upsetting.
More...