Zombie Candy

Annie Ogden #2

by Frederick Lee Brooke

If you wouldn't dream of ever reading a zombie book, Zombie Candy might be for you.Did you ever get the feeling your partner changed overnight with no warning? Research shows this befalls women much more often than men. You stand there thinking, I have to spend the next thirty years with this moron? Fact is, there are 10 sure signs you're married to a zombie. He gives short guttural answers like "I dunno," or "Unh uh," when you'd like to have a conversation. The TV is more important to him than listening to you. MUCH more important. He consults his iPhone repeatedly during meals. When he gets home from work, too tired to talk, he just wants a beer. He doesn't come home from work till late, and claims his phone was dead. He criticizes your cooking by putting cilantro (or hot sauce, or pepper) on everything you serve. He falls asleep during lovemaking, just when you're about to start feeling something. If you want to watch a movie together, you have to sit through his zombie movies. He thinks it's normal to watch them again and again. He flatly refuses to watch romantic movies. He doesn't even notice your new clothes, shoes or hairstyle, much less say anything nice about them.Zombie Candy is a case study of the modern zombified husband. Note to zombie there are NO REAL ZOMBIES in this book. Note to lovers of a good satire, with elements of mystery, and the romance of a vacation in beautiful Tuscany, you will be entertained.As a professional cook who gives cooking classes, Candace is highly offended when her husband Larry sprinkles fresh cilantro on her culinary creations. But that's nothing compared to Candace's shock at finding a small black bra while unpacking a suitcase from Larry's last business trip. A bra that's far too small to be hers. It turns out Larry's a serial cheater.Candace confronts Larry and deals with his betrayal in a uniquely creative way, using his fixation with zombies. Aided by her best friend, Annie Ogden, Candace sets up the ruse of the century in a picturesque hilltop town in Italy, luring Larry there and torturing him in a way that's a tad juvenile and cruel, but wickedly SATISFYING.The solution to all the problems listed above is to sit down and talk together, but if he's so far gone he won't talk despite all your begging and pleading? The way Candace handles it might not be every woman's cup of tea, but it ultimately cures Larry. Might be worth looking into ... ZOMBIE CANDYPraise for Zombie Candy"With action that takes us from the suburbs of Chicago to the forests of Tuscany, and lessons in Italian cooking and zombie movies along the way, Zombie Candy is a recipe for delicious fun. Just go easy on the cilantro." Chris Jay Becker Author of Death in the Fast Lane (A King Leary Crime Novel)"Zombie Candy is a tasty morsel of revenge, regret, renewal, friendship and love with a zombie invasion that's as good and fun as a box of Good & Plenty." Lynn Messina Author of The Girl's Guide to Dating Zombies"This book has all the ingredients of a perfect noir comedy - well formed characters, international locations, a fast moving plot with no brakes, and of course zombies. Revenge is a dish best served cold - and as a betrayed wife, master chef and cookery instructor, Candace cooks up the perfect recipe for the ultimate gazpacho.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Mystery, Fiction

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2012

About the author

Frederick Lee Brooke launched the Annie Ogden Mystery Series in 2011 with Doing Max Vinyl and following with Zombie Candy in 2012, a book that is neither about zombies nor sweets. The third mystery in the series, Collateral Damage, appeared in 2013. The first book in Fred’s entirely new series, the Drone Wars, is called Saving Raine and appeared in December 2013.

A resident of Switzerland for the last 20 years, Fred has worked as a teacher, language school manager and school owner. He has three boys and two cats and recently had to learn how to operate both washing machine and dryer.

When not writing or doing the washing, Fred can be found walking along the banks of the Rhine River, sitting in a local cafe, or visiting all the local pubs in search of his lost umbrella.

Reviews

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zombie Candy makes for fun summertime reading but be warned this is not a typical zombie novel by any means. It features zombies, sort of, but there isn’t any brain gobbling and to say more would ruin it. It’s also not an amateur sleuthing novel even though the cover says “An Annie Ogden Mystery”and “Cheating Husband? Feed Him To The Zombies”. Because of this I was sort of expecting something along the lines of Stephanie Plum tussles with zombies. It’s an eye-catching cover and an amusing story but I can’t help but feel the cover perhaps is cashing in on a few trends that the story inside doesn’t fully deliver upon.

So what is Zombie Candy about then? At its heart it’s a story about a scorned woman who concocts an awesome and intricately planned revenge upon her serial cheating, zombie movie loving, insulting, pudge pinching, Russell Crow look-a-like husband. His name is Larry and he is a first class Asshole to Candace his long-suffering wife who made the mistake of giving up the love of her life to honor her promise to marry Larry. But Larry finally pushes Candace over the edge, and she enlists her best friend Annie Ogden, a brand new PI, to get hard proof of his infidelities – as if the black bra in his suitcase wasn’t proof enough . . .

This is a well written and zany book that zips along at a fast pace and has some funny moments. The main characters are slightly over-the-top but that’s the point. They are also decently developed which I totally appreciated. Candace and Annie are tight friends who have been through a lot of crap and come out stronger for it. I loved that. Candace starts the book overweight, insecure and beaten down by Larry’s constant insults but she transforms into a badass, demented, better version of herself by the end. I truly despised Larry through and through but I think I was supposed to otherwise the whole thing would’ve fallen flat. The author writes his character in such a way that I was able to see things through Larry’s eyes and I mostly understood why he couldn’t help being an insensitive prick. Some guys just are, you know? He also has a sex addiction and truly believes he is doing right by the leagues of women he bonks.

“They want it. I’m giving something they all want. I’m not a taker. I’m a giver.”

He’s delusional and narcissistic and this is why it is so gratifying to watch Candace’s plan unfold as she releases the wraith of her pent up fury upon him. It was a full on trip to crazy town and oh-so-cathartic.

I recommend it. It’s not my normal genre and Larry made me crazy but I enjoyed the heck out it!

[Joann Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story starts off with a well defined character in Candace who has major insecurity issues about the weight she has gained since leaving college. She is married to Larry, a zombie movie freak who is a sex addict. The hilarious scene with the black bra is one I'll never forget.It's obvious right from the start that the two of them are having serious issues in their marriage.

Enter her best friend who recently returned from Iraq, Annie. She has taken a class to become a PI. After being asked to spy on Larry, Annie reluctantly takes her first case, "The Case of the Zombie Movie Freak". Annie has a secret of her own and fears it will impede not only the case, but her friendship as well.

After all the evidence is gathered, it forces Candace to make some changes in her life. Candace takes control in a way that most women in this situation would love to entertain.

Larry is duped into a trip to Italy where the revenge plays out. The people of the town, most related to Candace, assist her in this twisted plan that lands Larry in jail.

Frederick Brooke serves up the word zombie as both a metaphor of the life Candace lives and the animalistic instincts Larry can't help but follow. Through out the story, there are bits and pieces of old "LIVING DEAD" movies mentioned and yes, even an explanation is given as to why Larry loves them so much. Here is the shadowing to the events that transpire later in the novel.

You’ve got your survivors. The survivors have to get somewhere that they’ve heard is safe. There’s lots of fighting, but it’s always a handful of people killing hundreds of zombies. Do you like watching people shoot each other over and over?”

“I like how they band together to survive. I like imagining how most of the world would be destroyed. Don’t you think it could happen?”

Brooke, Frederick Lee. Zombie Candy (Annie Ogden Mystery 2) (Kindle Locations 3049-3052).

Imagine if zombies were real. Candace gives him just that. I can't imagine being able to pull of the ultimate revenge in such fashion. The truth is, if Karma allowed me to put something together like this for a couple people who will go unnamed, I wouldn't hesitate to follow through.

Everyone should purchase this book, especially if you have a friend who has dealt with a lying, cheating spouse and needs a good laugh and a little vengeful inspiration.

For those who are die hard "Walking Dead" fans, (much like myself)they will not be disappointed in reliving some of their favorite old walker movies. This is one of the most unique uses of a zombie metaphor I have read in a long time.

[Emma Calin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know early on, from the color of the inappropriate bra in the opening scenes, that this is going to be a black comedy. In a world where focus and individuality are the agents of success, the line between obsession and personal expression may be blurred. In one of the whackiest stories that I have ever read, I found my own my own moral judgement challenged as I laughed out loud at the evermore unfortunate 'hero'. Most people could sympathize with those obsessed by sex and Zombie movies, but who could live with an obsession for culinary herbs? If you find this strangely conflicting then you are on the right wavelength to get the maximum value from this book.

Frederick Brooke serves up another literary treat with this bizarre and comical tale of love and betrayal. Candace Roach enlists her best friend Annie Ogden (our favorite sleuth from Doing Max Vinyl) to find out what her husband is up to - but their home-cooked aversion therapy gets out of hand and hurtles along an astonishing highway of the Undead.

This book has all the ingredients of a perfect noir comedy - well formed characters, international locations, a fast moving plot with no brakes, and of course Zombies. Revenge is a dish best served cold - and as a betrayed wife, master chef and cookery instructor, Candace cooks up the perfect recipe for the ultimate gazpacho.

[Kriss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know what you are thinking, of course I am reviewing this book, it has Zombie’s in the title, well before we go on, I want to make something clear, this is not a zombie book in the sense of what many of my blog readers expect. Yet, as I sit here and type that this is not a post apocalyptic tale of survival, I realize this is a story of survival just not one after a zombie apocalypse. Then I start typing, this is not a tale about the crazed undead running around obsessed with eating brains and I realize, wait, it is about obsession. In Zombie Candy there is a lot of focused and mindless obsession sprinkled throughout the novel. But I will repeat, though this book is not about Zombies it includes the obsession of zombies in today’s pop-culture as a plot device.

Let’s talk about titles, a title can make or break a book. This title is going to get Frederick sales because people like me are going to buy it. When we read it we will be a bit confused, but most of us will finish it and we will go on to recommend it to everyone, including and even especially to those who are followers of the zombie pop-culture movement. “But wait,” you are saying, “If it is not a zombie story, why am I going to want to read this?” Well let me tell you, it made me laugh at myself a bit because since it is a tale involving obsession and this one part is exploring the obsession of one individuals own zombie movies in particular, it is definitely worth the read.

OK, that is not enough? Frederick Lee Brooke has obsession down! Not just in his characters, but I am betting he has a bit of an obsessive personality, especially after reading the first Annie Ogden Mystery, his obsession of which caused me frustration. I was reading it because it was labeled as a mystery when it was more of a thriller, there was no mystery for the reader just the characters involved. The character development is very in-depth and therefore took up a lot of the novel. Was it badly written? No it was not a mystery and I got hung up on that one thing, hence my own obsession.

But we are talking about Zombie Candy, I already know who Annie Ogden is, her character and her personality. Do you need to read the first one before this? No, he includes enough development that we understand her, and her own obsessions. (seeing a theme here?) This was not an unusual story. Wife is has a dog of a husband. She hires private investigators to find out the dirt. Wife finds dirt out, wife decided to get revenge before serving him with divorce papers, yada-yada. The difference and what makes this an exceptional version of this story arc, is it’s intricacy and fearless reach outwards to the almost fantastical edge of crazy town obsession!

The main character is Annie’s best friend from college, Candice is someone who has pretty low self-esteem due to her weight and her husbands commentary over it. After the first book, Annie took classes at a PI firm and in the beginning of the novel is having dinner with Candice and her husband Larry’s. Candice is also a chef who teaches classes on cooking hence the weight gain. We open up with Larry being a verbal and psychological abusive jerk to his wife to the point of pinching her percieved fat roll.

So we open with Candice obviously upset, but she is upset with more than his actions towards her, but what she has found in his suitcase. In this brief episode at the dinner table we get a taste test for the flavor of the whole novel. Larry’s obsessive personality is introduced with his need to sprinkle cilantro on everything, Candice’s with cooking and the subsequent weight she has put on because this and Annie’s own compulsion and obsession over the happiness of all around her, especially her friends.

As the tale progresses each of these obsessions become bigger and more outrageous. We discover that Larry’s obsession with zombie movies is as bad as his obsession with sex and women. Candice ends up transferring her obsession with her weight into losing it and getting back at Larry before divorcing him by going on to what seems to be a further and further off-the-deep end aggressive attempt to gain control back over her life. Annie’s own obsession with making people happy instead of focusing on her own happiness becomes more prevalent and even begins to be resolved near the end.

In the end the obsessions above continue to grow and rise, much like a great dough recipe with Fredrick Lee Brooke kneading each person’s experiences till everything is just right. Throw in a delightful trip to a village in the Tuscany district in Italy and you have a complete dish! Serve it up finished with the lives of everyone changed for ever as the prefect ingredients. The sauce? All that zombie goodness and sauce is what makes or breaks a good Italian dish. Now just throw it in the oven and see how much a well cooked up zombie can changes your life too. Zombie Candy? Well read the book and see! I give this book a 4 out of 5 set of moose tracks! My obsession with zombies in this paragraph…?

For my special pizza recipe I created just for this book, head on over to Cabin Goddess I promise no brains or cilantro will be part of this pizza!

[Lubna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who know me, are well aware that I hate horror stories and stay well away from books written by Edgar Alan Poe or Stephen King. But I knew this book was not just a mindless book on Zombies. The theme did run across the book and how, but the book was about human emotions and interplay between people - be it Larry (the splitting image of Russel Crowe) who cheats on his wife Candace, or that between Candace and her best friend Annie, who after being a war veteran in Iraq has just got her private investigator license or the unique friendship (a platonic one) that developed between Larry and Roberta, who he once wanted to get in bed with.
Larry is addicted to sex and to zombie movies and has since long stopped caring for his wife. His utter disregard for her, is aptly captured through his actions such as sprinkling heaps of chopped cilantro on her gourmet meals - thereby drowning their very flavours, pinching her midriff - even as she is sensitive about being called fat (thanks largely to her need to get over her depression of a failing marriage by binging, and her gourmet cooking classes). The novel opens up with Candace finding an itsy bitsy black bra in Larry's suitcase - it certainly doesn't belong to her. There is a showdown, just as the couple, Annie, Annie's sister and husband are sitting down for a meal lovingly prepared by Candace. Annie reluctantly takes up the task of unearthing more skeletons in Larry's cupboard with her former instructor, Salvatore. Well, Larry falls for each and every bait thrown in his wake, perhaps with the sole exception of Roberta who becomes his close confidant. His infidelity opens up old wounds and the going is tough not just for Candace but also for Annie -- but their friendship continues to be strong.
Candace has enough evidence on her hand to get a divorce, but she wants revenge and it does not stop at her scratching Larry's car or even shooting him (her aim isn't that good anyway, she is a beginner). She uses his fantasy of Zombies to get back at him and how! Set in the quaint Italian town of Monte Chianti, Candace becomes quite the icon for the village belles, who never again will take things lying down. I shall not add spoilers by saying how the book ends, believe me you, there are many unexpected twists and turns. I loved the setting of Monte Chianti, the importance of 'family' to Italians was well brought out.
A big bonanza are Candace's recipes which are available at the end of the book. I can't wait to try out Eggplant Cutlets with Spicy Red Pepper and Yoghurt sauce (Eggplant with Youghurt are basic ingredients of an Indian recipe called Baigan Ka Bharta). But just like the book, this recipe promises to be different and interesting. I say yes, to cilantro (just a sprinkling of it), but I also say a big YES to this book.

[Jill Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's alot at work here in this book. When Candace finds a black bra in her husband, Larry's suitcase after a trip she chooses her dinner party to reveal his skeletons. And what's a guy to do but deny, deny, deny?

What evolves from that is more than a plot for revenge. You follow Candace on her journey of grief, anger, weight loss, and final acceptance as her revenge is unfolded. She also has regrets about the past and Larry's infidelity opens up old wounds that Candace has long buried.

As a zombie AND cilantro lover I had trouble identifying with Candace at first. Who doesn't love a zombie movie? But as the story went on, I found myself sympathizing with her and I was definately along for the ride. Especially during the flashback sequences. Her issues with her weight and thinking losing 15 pounds will revolutnize her life, is something I think all woman can relate to.

Zombie Candy is hard to catagorize. It isn't a straight PI mystery (there's no murder, and through most of it the PI isn't the main character.) There is alot of black comedy and drama. It really is a melting pot of genres into one well written, easy and exciting read. Myself a lover of traditional mysteries and zombie fiction, even though Zombie Candy strays from the norm, I really enjoyed it and was able to finish it in 3 days.

The characters are fleshed out like real people, all their ups and downs, and are engaging. I wanted to know what happened to them, what would happen to Larry, and if Candace was going to be able to go on with her life once everything was settled. There is also a real love for the exotic locations in the last part of the book that comes across the pages in a loving way. were parts were I cringed, laughed out loud, and thought to myself Oh NO, she just DIDNT do THAT!

And the end revenge plot? I won't spoil that, but it will make you smile and in the end, there's just a tiny bit of horror to keep the heart pumping.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, when I read the title I thought that this was a book for zombies, a zombie mystery that Annie Ogden had to solve. OMG, I was very wrong. This book was much more than that. At the centre of the plot is Candace, human, (who doesn’t want to be called Candy) and her husband Larry, also human, who looks like Russell Crow and his favorite entertainment are zombie movies. Candace cooks well, so she is giving cooking classes in her kitchen. Larry is a traveling salesman and most of the weekdays is out of town.

It all started when Candace found a black bra that wasn’t hers in her husband’s travel bag. Her husband was cheating on her. Why? And who with? Who was the owner of the black bra, who was the mysterious woman? I don’t want to reveal more, but at first I thought that Candace was a weak person. How can you blame yourself for your husband’s affairs? Just because you gained some weight, it’s not a reason for him to cheat on you. But Candace wasn’t weak person at all, she was a woman in love. She asked some help from her friend Annie, human too, a private investigator, to help her nail her cheating husband. And then the party started.

This book has it all. Love, sex, cheating, revenge, zombies. It was above my expectations. Revenge is sweet after all. I had a lot of fun reading this book. I’ve found Mr. Lee Brooke’s style of writing very entertaining. I’ve never thought that a man can write that well about woman’s feelings.

This was Annie Ogden’s mystery, but her role in the book was very small. Candace was the main character. The story started slowly, but it was getting better and better. I got hooked and couldn’t put my kindle down until the last page. I will recommend this book for everyone.

[Deborah Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I read one of Frederick Lee Brooke's books, I have one problem with them - they simply can't be assigned to a certain category. There's so much in this story - tons of humor (most of it black as the deepest night, so beware, ye faint of heart readers), multi-layered characters, a bit of romance, cooking, dieting, zombies, action, sex and an ironic, profound insight on human nature and how a primal, reckless creature - a zombie, one might say in this case - still lurks behind our civilized behaviour. Most of all, this book is about a deep, caring friendship between two women that prevails over all hardships of life. The theme runs through the story like a red thread, giving hope and softening the merciless honesty of the author's reflections on middle-aged couples' married life.

However, Brooke never judges or divides his characters into good and bad, it's not that easy. He simply emphasizes strengths and weaknesses. Even if the roles seem to be clearly defined in the beginning, I actually started to feel compassion for a lying, betraying serial adulterer while being shocked about the coldness with which his wife (who had very good reasons, though)seeks out her revenge.
I'd highly recommend this book to any reader who likes an entertaining, clever, funny and intriguing read which is never predictable. As a goodie, Brooke treats us with some mouth-watering Italian recipes at the end - can't wait to try them out! If you still don't know what this book is about, simply imagine "The First Wives Club" with zombies and cooking. But without cilantro.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zombie Candy by Frederick Lee Brooke is a fast past action filled work that is more than just solidly exciting escapist fiction. It is not another post apocalypse work but a very well developed account of matrimonial angst and revenge in which zombies play a big part. The lead character in the story is Candace, married to Larry, a serial adulterer who rationalizes his actions by telling himself it is kind of his wife's fault as she has gained a lot of weight. He has seriously damaged her self esteem with his treatment of her. Her very good friend Annie has gotten a license as a private investigator and they come up with a complicated plan for revenge.

In a great scene Candace finds a black bra, not her size or color, in her husband's luggage and she confronts him about it is a devastating scene, in front of their friends at a dinner party. Annie and her private detective partner follow Larry and confirm his activities.

Some of the best parts of this marvelous book take place in a small hillside town in Tuscany which the author does a great job of bringing to life for us.

Candace is a very well developed character and it was heartwarming to see her self-esteem rebuilt.
The ending is very shocking and I did not see it coming. I really like the epilogue to the book.

As a neat bonus, there are some recipes at the end of the book, Candace runs a cooking class. I think the recipe for Pork Filets in Cream with Tarragon looks delicious.,

Zombie Candy by Frederick Lee Brooke is an exciting, fast reading story with lots of unexpected twists and turns.

[Devan Sagliani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I expected at all – not by a long shot. I had no idea how bizarre and surprisingly unexpected it would be when I downloaded a copy off Kindle. I just wanted something fun and easy to read over the summer, and I liked the fact that it was a zombie book that wasn't really about zombies themselves so much as zombie culture. It's bizarre – arguably – but it's also extremely well written! The author has such a masterful handle on the story that he easily lures you deeper into this emotional work about one woman's revenge on her cheating husband, neatly wrapping in several other character plots at the same time without breaking a sweat. At one point I even felt sorry for the cheater and found myself rooting for him to find real love at last with either his estranged wife or his new transsexual companion. Brooke is an amazing writer with a style all his own!

In addition to countless references to zombie movies, culture, and lore, the story also appeals to me with it's intense character development, foodie references, hatred of cilantro, and the detailed trip to Italy. It's like the book was custom tailored to me! I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

[Juliette Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frederick Lee Brooke, in the second book of his Annie Ogden series, "Zombie Candy," masterfully weaves a tale of sex, lies, love, secrets, betrayal, revenge and, yes, zombies too! This dark, humorous story illustrates how we are all prisoners of our own minds and choices, whether on the battlefield of war or the battlefield of love!

Annie is an army veteran, back from war and trying her hand at a new career as a private investigator. Her best friend from college, Candace, a gourmet cook, treats Annie to her first investigation. Candace’s husband, Larry, also a college friend, happens to be the subject.

Candace’s discovery of a mysterious black bra in Larry’s suitcase ignites a whirlwind of marital insecurities, mystery, intrigue, sex and more sex from the suburbs of Chicago to the fields of Tuscany. Fasten your seat belts for the wild ride provided by this graphic and gritty work full of twists, turns, surprises and gourmet recipes to boot. Brooke’s clean and crisp writing style makes reading his work pure pleasure.

[Melissa Storm]

Zombie Candy sneaks up and takes you by surprise. “Zombie” is a prominent word in the title, and the book is also dubbed a mystery, then you start reading, and it’s really quite funny. So what is it, already?! Zombie Candy is genre-bending done right. Not a fan of mystery myself, I expected to think “eh, not so much” (even after approving it for tour based on Fred’s stellar quality of writing). But then I started reading, and I saw myself in these characters–especially Candace… Then I saw Candace, um, lose it, which was not only entertaining but thought-provoking. Could I lose it, too? Every time you think you have Zombie Candy figured out, it flips a switch and goes in a new, intriguing direction. It’s non-stop fun and a delicious treat. Definitely an original!

Okay, so I can't give it a star-rating, because I'm doing publicity for this book, and that's just not allowed. But, but! I will say, just give it a try. It's a fun book! Also, heart Fred!

[Nicole Henke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and very fast read, perfect for some light reading by the pool, or beach this Summer. For those looking for a traditional Zombie story, this is NOT it! Instead it is sorta Chick Lit meets current fad meets girl done wrong/gets boy back in spades. Which may sound off, but it had some truly laugh out loud moments, that any woman who has ever wanted payback will relate to!


The recipes included in the back of the book are an extra bonus- I can't wait to try the Pasta with Sage and Apples! I also liked how he gives you an epilogue with what happens to all the characters, AFTER the story takes place. You don't normally get that from an author. It's fun to see what they come with, as the characters are their invention after all! I enjoyed the book, and would have finished it in one sitting, had it not been an ebook (I just can't seem to finish an ebook in one sitting like I can a regular book- too much page turning probably!).

[Lynn Messina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candace Roach is willing to put up with a lot in her marriage, including her husband's obsession with zombies and his habit of putting cilantro on every gourmet meal she cooks. But when he returns home from a business trip with another woman's bra in his suitcase, she snaps (and even tries to put on the ridiculously small item of clothing in a scene that's equal parts hilarious and mortifying). With her best friend, Annie Ogden, a newbie private detective, she cooks up a plan of revenge so outrageous it's almost impossible to believe. But detail-oriented Candace manages to pull it off with panache.

Zombie Candy is a tasty morsel of revenge, regret, renewal, friendship and love with a zombie invasion that's as good and fun as a box of Good & Plenty.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very interesting! I really liked this book, I really loved the twists and turns. An author to look for in the future.

[Nai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also the epic fail of scheduling posts before writing them

"my own zombie review"

That was it. My entire review. I'm beginning to thinkI'vebecome the zombie. In actuality I neglected to change the scheduled time of my post to later on.

Later on you say? Why later on?

First (and I kid you not) I had to deal with the cilantro...


nom nom zombie nom and also, screw you absentmindedness.

You see, I have a cilantro problem. My pallet garden escapade, and the subsequent forgetting to take the seed packets in resulted in an entire package of cilantro being planted.

The other seed packets were open ones with less seeds in them,  so the only thing I have WAY too much of is the one vegetable I'm not particularly fond of as anything but a light seasoning.

My evening was spent both watering and 'thinning out' some cilantro.

Here's the thing though, Zombie Candy turned out to be so much more than a Zombie novel. In fact, I'm not sure I'd call it that at all. It also had enough cooking in it to make me not hate the cilantro SOOOO much.

It does however have some great Zombie movie facts and geekieness in it that makes me want to go watch old movies again. I quite loved reading about Zombie movies and not so much reading about people actually eating other people.

The realism of Zombies, and the idea that humanity could do one of the two following things makes me a little sad, and I'd far rather read a book that makes me devilishly happy. This one did. It wassofun to read.

The two things humanity could do?

a) fuck up so bad we end up eating each other because we've got nothing else left,

or

b) fuck up so bad we end up allowing people to create the 'zombie' gene, or a biological weapon that turns against us all. (In the end it would, whether someone's government thought it was a useful 'weapon' or not.)


I went through a zombie love phase, I'll admit it. Also, read the article this links too. It's super amusing.

Having stated that, I went through a gorno phase, I'll admit it.  There's something amusing about old zombie movies at least. New ones are interesting for the CG, but that's about it and frankly - I'll always love star trek CG and effects better.


That's right. I worked it in. Again.
mmmmm ship porn

In reality, I enjoyed reading the book much more than weeding cilantro. I loved that it was so much more than a Zombie story. I also loved that the characters in it were quite real and extremely complex. Candace and Annie were probably my favorites. Giancarlo and Salvatore were also beauties in their own ways. I almost felt sorry for Larry. Almost.

[image error]
Nope. Not really sorry at all.

I lied. I didn't really feel sorry. If I'm sorry I didn't feel sorry because I think I should feel sorry does that make it better?

(It probably just makes me neurotic.)

I'm okay with neurosis. Not so much with necrotising fasciitis though.


Necrotising Fascitis: In the real world. For real. Painful as hell.

That, that up there makes me realize just how close we actually are to unleashing some horrible things on society.

Why can't we all just get along?

om nom zombie nom?

:P

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About the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon.

About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. V isit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.
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[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a mystery fan; at least, not the standard mystery as we’ve come to know it: someone is murdered, clues clues clues, plot twist plot twist, big reveal. Yes, I know this isn’t every mystery plot, but the genre does have a formula and there’s a good reason for that formula that I can respect while not enjoying it. Hell, I get why people love them, as I enjoy a good “fantasy” mystery (for lack of a better word) in my stories.

As a result, I went into this novel with some trepidation. In addition to having some conversations with Brooke and enjoying his blog writing, I’ve forever had his first novel, Doing Max Vinyl, on my to-read list. When this came around, I figured it might be a good kick in the pants to finally sort myself out on that whole “reading-Max-Vinyl” thing. Yeah, I thought, It’s a PI mystery series, but I’ll give it a shot. I’m glad I did, because the thing grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and held on right through the end.

Seriously, I neglected other books for this one. I had to know what happened next.

Zombie Candy is not a traditional mystery novel. Yes, there are private investigators involved and they do unravel something of a mystery, but that mystery is of a mundane variety, the kind that real PIs handle: Candace Roach discovers a black bra in her husband’s suitcase upon his return from a business trip. Is the guy cheating? Well, of course he is. Queue the mad dash for evidence and information on just how much he might be cheating. As the investigation progresses, things become more and more bizarre as Candace (or Candy, part of the title) goes off the rails both mentally and emotionally.

Having been in Candace’s position – in a manner of speaking – many of her emotions ring true. Her plot to both trap her husband and exact her revenge are the same kind of elaborate thing I would have concocted in my darkest moments, though I never would have followed through with them. Her follow-through on her mad scheme doesn’t strain credibility, as the author gives us enough of a hint that Candace is not entirely well from the very start. There are some credibility issues, though, and I’ll address them shortly.

What I’m trying to say is that the characters and their motivations ring true. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but the people (and these are real people, no doubt) that appear in the book are just that: they have real emotions, wants, and needs. They provide their own agency – for the most part – to get those things, whether it’s by befriending the cheating husband or participating in Candy’s crazy idea. The characterization is what kept me coming back.

The story arc is good, though I have a few issues with the ending, which I’ll also address shortly. The plot starts fast and keeps the pace up all the way through, which is part of what kept me reading.

Brooke’s style is darkly comic, and I enjoy it quite a bit. By the end, even with my concerns, I had to stand up and applaud a job well done on the writing and style front. Not once did I cringe or shake my head. The thing is solidly written and edited.

BUT…I have two issues that ultimately dock this story a star:

Credibility
The ending.


The last quarter of the book is a problem. Everything is going well right up until characters leave for Italy, and things begin to wobble a bit. It doesn’t take long in Italy before you get the sense that Candace’s revenge plot requires coordination on a massive scale – coordination that strained my credulity. Don’t get me wrong, I loved watching the thing unfold, but the effort required to get every note right would make an Oscar-winning director think twice. I found it hard to believe that a pair of private investigators (one a total newbie) and a chef would be able to pull something that sophisticated off, not to mention that some people would very well be putting their careers on the line for no real personal payoff. That drew me out of the story a bit.

Then we have the ending. Oh, lord the ending. I had some problems, but I was still loving this story right until it hit what is arguably the ending. That’s the thing: it just…ends, and it’s difficult for me to point to any one moment in the last quarter of the book as a climax. It gets emotionally confusing, as you’re not sure whether you should still be experiencing a rising action on the plot. That rising action does arguably exist in the last five pages, as revelations continue to come after the ostensible climax, and there is still a very emotional, action-packed event right near the end.

Had this been something of a cliffhanger story following an easily-identifiable climax, I might have been more inclined to forgive it, but the book is clearly meant to end there, as we get a series of Animal House-style “where are they now” paragraphs as an afterword. It rang as a disappointingly flat note in an otherwise lush symphony.

Still, I don’t think this should scare off a reader. Four stars is still a damned good book, and Frederick Lee Brooke’s Zombie Candy is a fantastic read, no question about it. I enthusiastically recommend it, so long as you go in ready to accept some strained premise and an iffy ending. I’m going to be gifting it to a few friends, in fact – my ultimate seal of approval.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

First impressions can make or break a book, and in 17 chapters zombies were only mentioned a handful of times. I patted myself on the back for getting that far in a zombie book without any zombies to speak of. So many times I wanted to stop reading Zombie Candy because it wasn’t turning out to be nearly as funny as other reviewers had made it seem. I had hoped that by the time I had reached chapter 17 I would be laughing so hard my stomach would hurt. Instead I was so bored I could barely keep my eyes open.

The story is about Candace, a slightly overweight cooking teacher. She is married to Larry, a zombie movie loving, cilantro eating, sex addict. The author made sure that the character of Larry was virtually unlikable, as there was no way the reader was going to sympathize with him and his unsavory ways. Candace tries everything to keep her marriage alive by dressing as sexy as she can, but due to life she has gained some weight which her Russell Crowe lookalike husband loves to point out. When Candace finds another woman's bra in her husband’s bag she decides to confront her husband in front of their dinner guest and friends. I felt the first half of the book was a very long version of the reality television show, Cheaters. Only in this drawn out episode of Cheaters, the reveals of his infidelity and escapades take up the bulk of the running time. The revenge is still sweet, but it would have been much sweeter had the book not taken 48 chapters to finally pay off.

The chapter bounces back and forth from the present day to Candace's past in Italy where she spent a semester, met and dated a man, and fell in love. I found this to be tedious because I felt what could have been succinctly described in 6 chapters or fewer was drawn out into 17 chapters. For example, in Chapter 5 the author makes a big deal about Candace driving her car and almost being attacked by a sick man who sneezes blood onto her shirt. It didn't add to the story except to make Larry even more the bad guy which we already understand at this point. The author brings in Annie Candace's best friend and war veteran who is now a private investigator. Annie and P.I. partner Salvatore investigate Larry for several chapters, a fact which again, doesn't really add much except to further illustrate the idea that Larry is a dirt bag and won’t change.

I really never felt connected to Candace. She seemed whiny for the first half of the book and the second half she is almost absent from the narrative. I enjoy the revenge aspect, and how creative Candace was at systematically dismantling her husband’s life and how she went about getting back at him for sleeping with more than 88 women. It is at this point that zombies are finally brought into the story, and in that respect, it was a nice twist and a somewhat fun way to get back at Candace's Zombie loving husband.

The book felt like it just ended without much closure. If it had, it would make the book feel more complete in my eyes. They reference the titular Zombie Candy once and if the reader doesn't pay attention they will completely miss it. I was hoping for something along the lines of Zombieland humor and gory, goofy fun but instead I could it turned cyclical and boring until the last few chapters. It doesn't add anything to the zombie genre and it only mention zombies a handful of times, and then then, not until the end.

I connected with Annie as she watched her friend try to figure out her life, and how she never stepped in until Candace asked her for help. She was a good friend who did everything she could to help Candace find out the truth and gain closure.

I had a difficult time with all the inconsistences I found in Zombie Candy. For example the author has Candace tell her husband about family secret and says he never told anyone. Than right towards the end of the book the author has Candace tell her best friend the same secret and he says "No one knows not even Larry." Yet Candace told her husband the same story several chapters earlier.

I loved that at the end of the book they had all of Candace's recipes that are mentioned throughout the book. That was a nice touch.

Despite the book being described as a black comedy, I didn't not find this book to be a very effective black comedy unless you consider the last few chapters dark and funny. This is not a book about zombies as it is about relationships and the extremes Candace takes to get rid of her soon to be Ex-Husband.
There are lot depictions of sexual scenes and some language but not as much as I had expected for the topic that is discussed.

[Roxanne Kade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has ever been scorned by their significant other needs to read this book. If not for a good laugh, then perhaps to show them that getting even doesn't always have the desired effect. Sometimes it's better to cut your losses and walk away with your head held high.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I first started reading this book. The opening scene sets up the rest of the story perfectly, and I have to applaud Candace for her gutsy show. I would never have the nerve to do what she did! It showed great character, which to my disappointment seemed to fizzle in the next few chapters. But then I supposed that was the aim, because it allowed for clear character developement throughout the rest of the book.

Candace went through every emotion one would expect in her situation. One second she was angry, then confused, guilty and desperate to prove her worth, outraged, and finally she was able to find self-acceptance. At one point I wanted to slap her across the face, shake her by the shoulders and ask her, "What the hell are you thinking!?!" But I guess the disbelief of her husband's lies mixed with low self-esteem would make anyone desperate to understand the whys, while holding onto whatever was left of the life they thought was perfect.

I was glad that Candace had a friend like Annie to support her. Annie was often the voice of reason when Candace wasn't thinking straight. And even though she knew it was a bad idea to get involved in the whole mess, she did it for her best friend.

I found some of Candace's actions to be a little extreme. I'm not sure if anyone would actually do some of the things she did, but I suppose, if pushed far enough, people are capable of the most outrageous acts. It was entertaining, though, and Larry, the slimeball, deserved every bit of it. Not once, did I feel even a tiny bit sorry for him. He had it all coming, and the audacity of him, even after his life fell apart he couldn't control his "urges"!

The final few chapters of this book were the most entertaining. I loved the zombie ruse Candace came up with. It was brilliant. I loved the solidarity of the women who gathered to help in her time of need. Let's face it, as women, we'd hate to be treated the way Candace was, so when we see someone like her going through such a tough time, it's what we do. Band together and nail the sucker who dared to mess with her heart!

The ending was quite a shocker. I did not see it coming at all. It changed the whole tone of the book, which for the most part was comedic, even when it was dark, or touched on serious subject matter.

Another thing I loved was the addition of the recipes at the very end of the story. I can't wait to try them out, especially the Penne Pasta with Sage and Apple...sounds delish!

[Tyler-rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally on: www.the-reading-pile.blogspot.com

This is the first novel I've read that's made me want to go to Italy. Die For Me made me want to go to Paris, The Hunger Games made me want to go to Panem, and now Zombie Candy has joined the gang by making me want to go to Italy. But if there are Zombies there... I might stay away.

Frederick Lee Brooke is an amazing writer, who has come up with some amazing characters. Candace and her husband Larry never failed to make me laugh with their fastly ending marriage. Once a black bra is discovered in Larry's suitcase that's too small for Candace, she begins getting suspicious. Silly things like perfume, her weight and cilantro set her off, and in my opinion she goes crazy. Yes, Larry is cheating on her, but some of the things (well one in particular) is crazy!


Larry is well, a cheating, lieing husband. Yet I like him. He's Zombie Movie obsessed, and I guess I find that funny. BUT! I do not like him for what he does to Candace, and continues to do even after admitting he cheated on her! No man should act that way. Ever. At all.


The other characters in the novel like Annie and Salvatore are also interesting, they're the Private Investigators. Interesting indeed. Though some things you guess/discover about Annie may shock you - it annoyed me (in a good way). Also, Annie's history in the military was nice, I don't read a lot of books where a female had been in the army - only very rarely on tv. It was nice. I'm quite a fan of Roberta, though it was easy to sometimes forget that she was being paid to be Larry's friend, she's a great actress after all. The relationship Larry believes he shares with Roberta almost makes me feel sorry for him near the end of the book.


I must admit, I was waiting a long time for actual zombies to come into the novel, and was really shocked when they only appeared 60% into it...When they were introduced though, I thought it was clever. I like Larry's arrogance, believing he knows everything when he doesn't. Though I've never read a book where Zombie's have been used in the way they were in this book. It was a very clever idea of Mr Brooke's. Very clever.


I think Zombie Candy has something a lot of stand alone novels NEED. An epilogue that explains what happens to everyone in the future. I really enjoyed knowing what happened to everyone. It meant I didn't have to guess.

[Marilou George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of love, sex, revenge and the ultimate payback. Frederick Lee Brooke has once again written an intelligent, thoughtful and intricate story that will pull you in and keep you invested in the characters and the drama.

Annie Ogden is back and this time it’s personal. She has made a new career choice as a Private Detective and her first client is her best friend and College roommate Candace and her lying, cheating, zombie movie and cilantro loving husband Larry. Candace has her own business giving cooking lessons and has gathered a few friends over for dinner to try out her recipes.

Earlier that day she found a black bra in her husband’s luggage after his return home from a business trip. Candace becomes more and more disturbed by her find and as the dinner progresses she confronts Larry as her guests watch in disbelief. This is a dinner party that will not be forgotten!

Annie and her partner Salvatore are hired to follow Larry around and determine just exactly what he is hiding. As his actions are confirmed Candace buys a gun and devises an intricate plan sure to expose him and teach him a valuable lesson. Annie’s concern about being too close to this investigation stems from a secret that she hopes will not come between her and Candace.

Candace is a great character who has low self-esteem resulting from her weight gain and of course how it relates to her cheating husband. She is a complicated character who goes thru many emotions as the story progresses and ultimately becomes a strong and self-confident woman.

Annie is a loyal and loving friend whose only wish is to see her best friend happy. Salvatore is a character who seems to fill a void in Annie’s life and is an interesting and likeable character. All the characters blend together with a colorful and intense dialogue that will keep you engaged and intrigued.

The colorful descriptions of a small hilltop village in Italy and the events that transpire there are written with vivid detail and allow the reader to experience the feel of the village and its people as the story unfolds. This is a cleverly written and fun story with twists and turns that are unpredictable and elaborate.

I highly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy a well-written, humorous, absorbing read.

I also appreciated that the recipes mentioned in the story are provided at the end of the book.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, fantastic novel, very funny on how elaborate she made it, with the zombies, and such, very funny! Really enjoyable book!

*Full Review first posted on Words I Write Crazy on 15/06

So this is an awesome book, simply from the characters, and the unique ways they go about things, like Candace, and her husband's cheating, to Annie and her partner on ways to get evidence about said husband's cheating, and the way that they teach him a lesson, it was very elaborate, and inventive, and tailor fit to Larry, what with his love of zombie movies!

The beginning was a bit strange to get into, kinda vague, like I was seeing it through a gauzy veil, what with the discovery of the cheating, and the start of the dealing with said cheating, and some incidents like taking out her old motorcycle, a gun, and a car, and how bits and pieces came together, into a pretty hilarious book at the end! The short chapters of the past, those added to the beginning and middle, and I think they're part of the reason why the ending happened the way that it did.

The whole "teach him a lesson" part of the book was my favourite, with blood, guts, explosions, and a bit of deserved revenge with the bonus of being in Italy, in such lovely yet seldom used scenery, I've maybe read 2 books now with Italy, so yeah, it's something new and fresh, and I love exotic locations on novels, which is just the best!

This was a really great book, and the zombies were the best, and the ending was good, though a bit abrupt, I'd have though there might've been a confrontation between Candace and Larry, beyond what happened, but nope, and that was just fine, and yeah, it was a really good book!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book was brilliant, bizarre, totally creative, and thoroughly entertaining. It is not a horror book about zombies. It is not a book about candy, either. But the title is clever and makes sense once you get closer to the end.

Candace discovers her husband Larry’s infidelity and hires her friend Annie, a private investigator, to gather more evidence. Candace struggles with her weight and goes through the stages of grief after finding out just how terrible the evidence against Larry is. But this book is not quite a mystery. It’s not quite a contemporary novel, either, despite the way the reader follows Candace through her stages of grief.

While I didn’t connect with the characters on a deep personal level, I didn’t feel like it mattered. I was engrossed in the events and wondering what Candace was going to do next. I wondered how many more holes Larry would dig for himself, too. I knew that Candace had something up her sleeve when she finally made a decision regarding her marriage, but I would have never guessed what it was or how it would play out. I loved the zombie elements and the giant ruse that Candace was able to coordinate to get back at her zombie moving loving sex addicted husband.

The book was well written and entertaining and clever. I loved every minute and would definitely recommend this book to others. As I said, it’s not a zombie horror novel, it’s not quite a mystery, not quite a romance, not quite a thriller, yet not a cheesy comedy, either. The author was able to develop a story that fits no genre title.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Candace finds a black bra in her husband, Larry’s, suitcase her eyes are wide open. Candace decides to get more proof of his infidelities and teach her husband a lesson.

Candace, never Candy, hires her best friend since college, Annie, to get her proof of Larry’s infidelities. Recently returning from Iraq, Annie is reluctant to accept the case, her first PI case ever. She teams with her PI class instructor and sets out to get Candace the proof she wants, just not in the usual ways.

Larry is Candace’s college sweetheart. He is a sex addict, a zombie movie addict, and a cilantro addict (GASP). When he is the winner of a trip for 2 to Italy, his revenge is played out. The people in the town go all out to help Candace make Larry pay.

What can I say? I am not a Zombie movie fan. I am not a sex addict. I like cilantro, but I am not an addict. I am a wife, who if her husband cheated would not tolerate it. I love how Candace did not just let Larry get away with cheating on her. She wanted proof and boy did she get it. It seemed every step Larry took was the wrong step. Whether walking down the street or flying across the ocean he could find temptation and Annie was there to catch it.

The chapters set in Italy were by far my favorite. What a way to give your husband divorce papers. The fact that his own obsessions were turned against him and that the whole town was in on it was the true payback he deserved. I loved it!

The title of Zombie Candy might have turned me off in the beginning, but by the end of the first chapter I was hooked. It was a mystery, murder, with a tad of sci-fi all in one. Definitely a great read.

[Paranormal Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most entertaining books I've every read. Candace is a married woman who has put on a little weight since her college years and soon becomes suspicious that her husband Larry is cheating. She hires her best friend Annie and her partner Salvatore to trail him to see if he is cheating. It is soon discovered that Larry is not only obsessed with Zombie movies but is a total horndog. When Candace finds out about the cheating she flips out and what person wouldn't.


I truly hate Larry and just kept thinking I hope if there is Zombies one chews off the part he seems to like sharing so much. Candace does some highly hysterical things to Larry. I would so do some of the same things if I was in her situation. Even if some of these things bite her in the end I think it was worth it. I could tell Annie was hiding a secret but was totally shocked at what came out. As for Salvatore he has some of the wildest friends I've seen. This is a totally amazing cast of characters and the author did a wonderful job writing them. As you can tell they are easy to like and hate.


The story is very catching and you keep reading hoping Larry gets it. This is the first book I have read by this author and will definitely be reading more. It is very witty and has a dark evil twist to it. I loved the book. You want to read about a woman who has had enough pick this up and read it. You will not regret it.


Another way you can tell how much I hate Larry. I looked my husband as I was reading the story and said, "Some of you men are dogs."

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most entertaining books I've every read. Candace is a married woman who has put on a little weight since her college years and soon becomes suspicious that her husband Larry is cheating. She hires her best friend Annie and her partner Salvatore to trail him to see if he is cheating. It is soon discovered that Larry is not only obsessed with Zombie movies but is a total horndog. When Candace finds out about the cheating she flips out and what person wouldn't.


I truly hate Larry and just kept thinking I hope if there is Zombies one chews off the part he seems to like sharing so much. Candace does some highly hysterical things to Larry. I would so do some of the same things if I was in her situation. Even if some of these things bite her in the end I think it was worth it. I could tell Annie was hiding a secret but was totally shocked at what came out. As for Salvatore he has some of the wildest friends I've seen. This is a totally amazing cast of characters and the author did a wonderful job writing them. As you can tell they are easy to like and hate.


The story is very catching and you keep reading hoping Larry gets it. This is the first book I have read by this author and will definitely be reading more. It is very witty and has a dark evil twist to it. I loved the book. You want to read about a woman who has had enough pick this up and read it. You will not regret it.


Another way you can tell how much I hate Larry. I looked my husband as I was reading the story and said, "Some of you men are dogs."

[Johnny · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well written story, nothing really wrong with it regarding language, style, etc. But I can't give it a better rating because of the content. To me it's an adolescent revenge story, something I might have tried to write in my teens. At first it was kind of amusing, and how the PI pestered Larry reminded me of how Thomas Vanadium had Junior Cain terrorized in "From the Corner of His Eye" by Dean Koontz. Larry is a very unlikabel character. Someone who think he'll actually DIE if he doesn't have sex in a week really should grow up and realize how the world actually works; I haven't had sex myself in a year and a half, so his attitude literally sickens me. But that's the whole point of this character, so it's very well written. But then the whole plan of turning a small Italian town into a zombie infestation ... It's just too unrealistic, and to me too juvenile to turn the story into anything more than a complete farce, especially with that very last ending of Larry attacking Candace.

Also, I don't get why this is called "an Annie Ogden mystery" since she only seems to be a side character throughout the story.

I must say this is the first book to include recipes to all the meals mentioned throughout the story at the back. It's a nice and surprising touch.

Once again, this book is a decent read, but looking at the other books I gave three stars, it just wouldn't be fair to rate it as high as those. It's an okay book, just not my thing.

[Kay Glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candace's husband, Larry, has been treating her poorly for some time now. He's been hiding something from her, and she finally knows what it is- he's been having an affair. She hires her friend, Annie, to track down more information, only to find out he's been cheating on her for a lot longer than she knew. Like, years- since before they were married. Even as far back as when she fell in love in Italy while he was still a drunken frat boy.

So she plans revenge- for starters, she works to make herself gorgeous. She goes on a crash diet to remove as much excess weight as possible. Then she, with the help of Annie and Annie's investigator teacher, starts planning little mishaps. When he goes to cheat on her with someone, it backfires- everything from an STD scare to losing his job! He develops an unlikely friend and ally in Roberta, a pre-surgery male who wants to be a woman.

Then comes the ultimate revenge- and that's where the author really lost me. It was great- funny, well thought out, well developed, but totally and completely unbelievable. Overall, I loved the story, but it all got a bit out of hand.

[Jaylyn Styles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty and Masterfully crafted! I've never read a book like this one, it may sound cliche but it's just one hell of a read. I've been through and through the same situation as the character and with a predicament like you can't help admire the characters. It's a perfect read with a touch of well written characters with an awesome plot what is there to loose? I can't help but admire the author because he wrote this wonderful book. It's fast paced which I really liked, I didn't really expect that I was almost half way through and I was just enjoying the read. You know what they say when you enjoy what you're reading right? You never really can tell what page you are until you look at it. And the pages just flew by, the comedic lines just got through me plus the zombies! It's a major plus why I really like Zombies and the way they were presented was really good. I never regret reading this book and I suggest you read this one as well!

[Anna Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This totally zany story starts with Candace Roach, Annie Ogden’s best friend, finding an unknown woman’s bra in her husband’s luggage. Candace hires Annie, freshly armed with a Private Investigator’s licence, to find out exactly what her husband is up to. But the truth is hard to swallow, and when Candace finally realises the true extent of Larry Roach’s infidelity, she devices a way to send him a message in the only way he can understand - through his obsession with zombies.

Zombie Candy is funny and light reading. I could have possibly missed out on some of its nuances, since I didn’t get some of the zombie movie references, but it wasn’t a big deal. I may even have to watch some of these movies myself, since he made it sound so interesting. Unless I discover I’m like Candace (who hates zombies with a vengeance).