Hair Raising

Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. #3

by Kevin J. Anderson

Ready-To-Were

The fur really flies when a serial scalper stalks the supernatural citizens of the Unnatural Quarter, targeting werewolves--and what's sadder than a chrome-domed lycanthrope? Zombie P.I. Dan Shamble is on the case, trying to stop an all-out gang war between full-time and full-moon werewolves. As he combs through the tangled clues to hunt down the bald facts, things get hairy fast.

Shamble lurches through a loony landscape of voodoo tattoo artists, illicit cockatrice fights, body builders assembling make-your-own-human kits, and perhaps scariest of all, crazed fans in town for the Worldwide Horror Convention. Yet the reign of hair-raising terror grows longer. If Shamble can't snip this off at the roots, the whole world could end up howling mad.

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Horror, Urban Fantasy, Zombies, Humor, Paranormal

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Yes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.

I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.

I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.

My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third Dan Shamble, zombie p.i., book, and is as slick and clever as the previous two. There are some great, slyly presented one-liners. The best part is when he attends the Worldwide Horror Convention in New Orleans, where real horrors are the main guests. It's a fun and light-hearted romp from start to finish.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hair Raising (Dan Shamble, Zombie PI #3) by Kevin J. Anderson is just so much fun. I love this author's combination of urban fantasy, noir, and the perfect sense of humor. The whole series has been delightful. Plus, I loved the meta aspect of this one with Penny Dreadful, a book within the book about Dan's adventures as a zombie detective. If you haven't tried this series, I highly recommend it. I can't wait to read book 4, Slimy Underbelly.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This urban fantasy neatly combined humour and contemporary life. There were enough puns to make one shudder, or shamble. Plus, the story was neater than the previous one despite so much of hair in the air.
Recommended.

[Kent Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed the more light-hearted side of the dark side. Whether the Addams Family, The Munsters, Monster Squad, Ghostbusters, etc. There's just something so charming about supernatural creatures trying to go about plain old natural lives. The Dan Shamble books fit that perfectly without straying into campy silliness. I find myself wishing the characters were real so I could meet them. Which, being a Christian, makes me feel a bit guilty to find myself so fond of 'monsters' but it is what it is. I'm quite liking the series.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly and cute. We have problems with werewolves this go round. Easy reading

[E.B. Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still good, but sometimes I wonder about why Sheyanne couldn't do more with her poltergeist powers.

[Stacy Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give this a 2.5. I guess it seems silly to say what I'm going to say, especially considering the nature of this book, but this was almost TOO ridiculous. I guess I felt like the first book (Death Warmed Over) was enough. It was entertaining and imaginative and it really DIDN'T need any sequels (in my opinion). I found parts of this book redundant and unnecessary. It wasn't as interesting as the first book and I felt like the author had to really work to make this one even more outrageous than the last. I think this is where I'll have to stop with the series. I would go back and read the other books but I think I would be met with the same problems that I find with this one. I just don't think the author is going to write anything else about Dan Chambeaux that I don't already know.

[David V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as an ARC via my employer Barnes & Noble. I'd never read any of Mr. Anderson's books but Ithoroughly enjoyed this one. It's like a walking dead Guy Noir(Garrison Keillor) in Zombieland. Lots of different types of humor; very cleverly done. Vampires, trolls, werewolves, witches and wizards, ghosts, golems and more----they're all here living in the Unnatural Quarter, and they're all potential clients of Dan Chambeaux the zombie P.I.

As a side note, the same important verb keeps showing up in the chapters---be on the lookout for it.

[John Stinebaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A howling good time.

[Nils Krebber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The puns keep flying, the ideas keep getting more and more ridiculous. This is not highbrow literature and I advise against bingeing it (I recently got the whole back catalogure via Mr. Andersons kickstarter), as it starts to get a little repetitive.
Also get used to having 4-5 episodic cases that are by sheer coincidence all interconnected. Dan Shamble solves most of his cases by pure luck and Deus Ex Machinas. Again, this is par for the course here, but I can imagine it takes away enjoyment for some.
There is also no worldbuilding of any kind - any supernatural thing you can imagine will just come along, with no rhyme or reason as to what any rules are.
Finally, I sometimes find it jarring in this lighthearted banter how many characters simply die, in plainly horrific ways (petrified, smothered alive by hair, etc.), but if you accept this as a cartoon world, that's ok.
But after so much negativity, it is super relaxing to read, great palate cleanser between heavier works, and spotting the next awful pun Mr. Anderson comes up with is a great drinking game :)

[Ethan Nahté · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Dan Shamble (Chambeaux) series is quite entertaining as the zombie private investigator takes on several cases at once that are somehow connected, although he doesn't realize it at first. The Unnatural Quarter is full of everything from harpies to witches, wizards to vampires, ghosts to werewolves--both the sort that turn once a month during the full moon, and the type of hairballs that stay werewolf year 'round. The two types of werewolves are at each other's throats and preparing for a gang war while people and creatures are disappearing at an alarming rate and a body parts warehouse is racking up business and the crematorium is busy doing a bait and switch. Lots more is going on as Dan, wanders from one crime scene, suspect or client to another as he tries not to become dead again.

Anderson uses lots of humor, in-jokes and references to the tropes and fairy tales we all grew up with. Hair Raising is fast-paced and enjoyable, easy to read in a day.

[Paul Hathcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great but not bad either

I've been reading this Dan Shamble series and I finally came to the conclusion that these books, while they aren't fine literature, are what I would call popcorn reads. They have an interesting enough concept, a zombie private investigator who works with his poltergeist girlfriend to solve whatever cases they have each "episode". A cast of supporting characters that show up in each book and the "villain of the day" help round out the tales and make the unnatural quarter come to life (or in some cases afterlife?). If you're looking for something fun and maybe a bit different to read these books fit the bill.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not big on werewolf stories, but the case involving werewolves was interesting and there were other cases being solved as well, so it wasn't solely all about the 'wolves.

The 'Shamble & Die' book series (written by "Penny Dreadful") have the same cases/plots/titles as previous books in this series, heh. Reminds me of the tv show Castle and the real Nikki Heat novels that were written by "Richard Castle" which had similar storylines from the show. Or the Supernatural book series within the show Supernatural.

Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Jacully · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a 2.75
I think this book was good in a quirky kind of a way where you don't take it serious. This book could have been cut down about 100 pages. I liked that even though this is the third book in the serious it dis a good job of filling you in with things that happen in the previous novels because it really read like a stand alone. But I will not be continuing on with the series. And all the characters were really well written I even liked the bad guy.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dan Shamble series is so fun to listen to. The Audible edition, read by Phil Gigante, is an experience beyond mere reading. He brings such personality to the characters, without making them ludicrously goofy, as could easily have been done by a lesser narrator. Throughout the three novels in the series, his reading was consistent with regard to each character, and the stories as a whole. Superb, and well done! And, oh yeah, the writing itself was pretty good too :-)

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

An apt title

Another Dan Chambeaux adventure that's a good read., and an especially funny one. New characters are introduced, a gang war is brewing, Dan is almost turned Extra Crispy as well as numerous other disasters loom on the horizon as Chambeaux & company try straighten it all out. Warning: the puns, bad monster jokes and innuendos fly fast and furious in this one! As one of my friends would say: "A jolly good time!" Shamble on!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not give this book a good rating because the first chapter insulted my family. Authors should refrain from insults to real groups of people. The total story was not bad but I am glad that I got this one from the library. I only hope there is no future reference to real people in his other books. I understand completely the views of animal rights groups when it come to cock fighting. This is a very difficult topic because of the cultural issues in the South West.

[Gail Sawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Chambeaux is on the case again. This time, he’s trying to determine who is stealing from the werewolf running cockatrice fights, helping the coroner get customer satisfaction in a “body building” competition, and other cases, all while trying to prevent a hairball/monthly werewolf gang war. Just another day in the Unnatural Quarter. This series is so creative and clever. Get in on the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I., band wagon.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first taste of the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series dealt with, among other things, a serial werewolf scalper and a shady connection between a crematorium and the Spare Parts Emporium run by an obese flatulent zombie gangster by the name of Tony Cralo. It all takes place in the Unnatural Quarter of the Big Uneasy. I enjoyed it to the max and recommend it highly.

[Wrathleader · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this one I really enjoyed. We made the transition from (attempted) Zombie Gumshoe detective to full on Camp that is self aware and I enjoyed it far more than the first two. Jokes abound with just crazy settings and of course everything comes together neatly in the end... maybe too neatly. But Meh, its a goofy fun easy read that had me chuckling more than a few times.

[Carol Farrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes these books so much fun to read are the unusual and quirky characters and the unusual crimes committed. This book focuses on werewolves being scalped (don’t worry they heal easily), a spare body parts emporium scam and a crematorium that isn’t cremating anyone. Plus a few more surprises thrown in.

[Michael Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

More fun in the Unnatural Quarter of the Big Easy as humans and the creatures from myths and legends continue to find an uneasy peace.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this, but didn't love it like I loved earlier stuff. Good though. Going to listen to book 4.

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun Dan Shamble mystery. Although, I had to knock it down a star due to the PHM, which was just wrong on so many levels...

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of this series. It's full of dad humor and charm. A quick, feel good read. I highly recommend if you're looking for something fun.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

plenty of undead puns and just a lot of fun to read.

[Joan Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with tongue firmly planted in cheek but fun

[Charl · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the classic horror movie monsters in the "real" world give an interesting twist to the mysteries, served up with a generous dollop of humor and in jokes.

[Michael Jarrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great Dan Shamble book! They are just so enjoyable to read and the characters are always something I look forward to returning to!