DA Chaney

Ed and Brock work as grave robbers in early 19th century England, resigning themselves to such an odious job in order to make ends meet. During one of their jobs, the two are approached by a rival gang of grave robbers and are separated in the battle that follows. While Brock stands and fights, Ed tricks some of the gang into a chase through the woods -- but it's all part of the duo's plan, and they will meet later at the pub in Lock's Landing. When Ed eventually makes it to the pub a few days later, Brock is nowhere to be found. As Ed soon discovers from a Mr. Albert Swicker, Brock and a few others volunteered to help find the animal that was attacking and killing people on the estate of Lord and Lady Lockette. Ed needs to find Brock so the only course is to follow Swicker back to the Lockette Estate to search for him.

When they arrive at the estate, no lights shine from any of the windows, and the front door hangs open tempting them to enter the darkness. Soon, the two find themselves battling the re-animated dead and something worse -- something hungrier and more dangerous than the dead who roam the estate.

"Cryptic" was quite a bit of fun to read. Lots of action and zombie goodness, but Chaney provides an interesting twist with the other creatures who are also trying to capture Ed -- the sleek and pale bodies with sharp claws, their natural aptitude for hunting humans, and the fact that they, too, are afraid of the zombies. The fast-pacing of the story and the well-drawn characters (especially Ed and the unnamed female creature) kept me reading into the wee hours, and by the end I was wondering along with Ed, what happened to Brock? The perfect set-up for a second book which I hope is on the way....… (mehr)

The second volume in May December Publications series of first-time zombie writers is filled from the first to the last with twelve strong stories of zombie madness. What I liked about this collection -- and another reviewer mentioned it, as well -- none of the stories focuses attention on where the zombies came from, who to blame or how to stop their spreading around the world. Instead, we are presented with tales of survival: in the form of a personal blog giving an account of events in Puerto Rico ("Zombies in Puerto Rico: Island of the Dead" by Alexandro Rios), a group of survivors who took to the sewers as a means of escape ("The Mission" by Eric Pollarine), or even a family believing that locking themselves behind the doors of their own home will protect them ("Rude Awakening" by David Maynard), among others. Even with the more traditional zombie tales, First Time Dead 2 throws a few curve balls to make the reader look at the undead in a new light: comic relief from a hungry zombie who lost his dentures shortly before dying and re-animating ("The Hungriest Zombie" by Jason Thacker), a detective who uncovers the secret of what happens when the living eat the flesh of the undead ("Zombie By Night" by Aaron Phillips), and a band that will stop at nothing to make sure their golden voice makes it to the next show ("Once More Without Feelings" by Joe Blevins).

"First Time Dead 2" presents a great showcase of up-and-coming zombie writers.… (mehr)