Beach Blanket Bloodbath

Amanda Feral #4

by Mark Henry

Zombie socialite, Amanda Feral, and her undead friends, Wendy and Gil, descend on an idyllic seaside village for some rest, relaxation and the consumption of cute coastal townsfolk. Their plans are derailed when they become embroiled in a mystery at the Miss Sand Flea Pageant involving overtly perky go-go dancers, the inevitable wereshark attack and an annoying octogenarian sleuth/writer.
After a few years away from the Urban Fantasy genre, the dark and dementedly funny Mark Henry is back with the first installment in a new trilogy of hilariously gruesome novellas featuring everyone's favorite undead socialite, Amanda Feral.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Zombies

136 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2014

About the author

MARK HENRY traded a career as a counselor to scar minds with his fiction. In stories clogged with sentient zombies, impotent sex demons, transsexual werewolves and ghostly goth girls, he irreverently processes traumatic issues brought on by premature exposure to horror movies, an unwholesome fetish for polyester and/or witnessing adult cocktail parties in the swingin' 70s. A developmental history further muddied by surviving earthquakes, typhoons, and two volcanic eruptions. He somehow continues to live and breathe in the oft maligned, yet not nearly as soggy as you’d think, Pacific Northwest, with his wife and four furry monsters that think they’re children and have a complete disregard for carpet.

Reviews

[Kathryn Herron · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: This review is based on an ARC copy.

Amanda Feral is back in all her sassy, bitchy, zombie glory! I cannot express how glad I am that Henry is returning to this series. While I enjoyed Velveteen, I have missed this character. I'm sometimes tempted to strangle her (mostly when she uses words like "obvies" and "totes"), but the urge doesn't last long. I love her in the same way that I love the characters from the TV show Girls or Cher from Clueless. The dialogue seems to come naturally to her and she's not an airhead.

Enough about her dialogue. This is a great story. I couldn't put it down (or rather, look away from the screen). Very well written and hilarious. The characters are great. The dialogue and humor seem genuine rather than forced. Beach Blanket Bloodbath does not follow the plot pattern of most urban fantasy books, which is a good thing. It features unique villains (some are silly yet terrifying and the other I found oddly sexy) and a great female lead. It has a spark of originality in an otherwise overpopulated genre. Be sure to pick up a copy when it's released on April 7th!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the author that brought you HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMMED Comes the next installment of the Amanda Feral saga. BEACH BLANKET BLOOD BATH as Amanda, Wendy and Gil at it again. As they head to a sea side town for some rest and relaxation. Until they get embroiled in the mystery surrounding the Miss Sand Flea pageant. And hilarity and death follow them . Just ask all the were sharks circling around the pageant . The scent of chum in the air .
Amanda and her sassy, bitchy attitude keeps everyone on their toes as they work their way through the mystery.
I couldn't put this book down. I was laughing so hard in some spots .Mark can weave a tale that is both funny and gross at the same time. The characters feel like they are part of your family. We all have them the sassy bitchy sister, and the best friend that just shakes her head and goes along with you . Sassing you right back.
This maybe a short book, but it is packed to the gills . you will get so wrapped up giggling all night long.
I was given this book as an ARC for an honest review . But when it comes out . you need to get this book. I know you won't be disappointed . So check it out when it comes out

[Saltydawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review based on an ARC copy! And tapped out on my phone while sitting in a dive bar; and two whiskies into my evening. I can't help but think Amanda would approve. Well, maybe not of the dive bar, but certainly the libations.

But I digress. Amanda and the gang are back! With a vengeance! Or at least a thirst for vengeance. BBB takes them to a sleepy seaside town where (of course) they are stalked by crazed dancers in golden hotpants, a terrifyingly sexy wereshark, and enough plot twists to make 101 look like a direct route.
The inro was a bit meta (but anyone who has ever tried to make their living outside of a corporate office can totally relate) and once you make it past there it's a non-stop snark-a-moment ride through the end. I honestly laughed until I cried, and then I googled "shark penis".
Overall, it was a fun ride for the afternoon, and I can't wait for the next installment.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Amanda Feral story.

Oh my gawd!! This story is so flippin funny!! Love, love, love the satire and the snark. I will definitely be adding the preceding Amanda Feral stories to my to read shelf.

It took me a little while to get into the story, probably because I haven't read the prior series, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down! The Golden Boys are a hoot and the "bloodbath" is hysterical. I was reading parts out loud to my daughter-in-law when she wondered why I was laughing.

I received a copy of this ebook in return for an honest review.

[T.M. Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the ARC. I'll do a longer review closer to release.
For now: hilarious. Raunchy. Depraved.
This is also a perfect jumping on point for people who haven't read the first three. It's very accessible.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda, Wendy, and Gil are back and they're off on an epic road trip (another epic road trip). When another of the walking dead steals Wendy's stash (Wendy is now a drug lord), she drags Amanda and Gil along on a retrieval mission. But they have a few things to take care of along the way.

Their first stop is the tiny town of Las Felicitas where Amanda has a scheduled book tour event. On their way the group manages to piss off a group of evil male strippers called The Golden Boys. (Considering Amanda snacked on one of their own...) With the Boys in their tail, they pull into Las Felicitas just in time to attend the local Miss Sand Flea pageant and witness the odd and brutal murder of its winner. Now it's up to Amanda and friends to find the murderer or risk the wrath of Las Felicitas's local bookstore owner.

Readers, if you're not familiar with Mark Henry or his Amanda Feral series, I should probably warn you about the fairly raunchy content. But if dark humor, snark, and smut are up your alley then you'll want to add Beach Blanket Bloodbath to the top of your reading list.

Here you have the wit and sarcasm we've all come to love in our zombie fashionista heroine and her cohorts, but you have the added bonus of weresharks (and, um, wereshark sex). It's weird to the extreme, I'll admit, but it's also laugh out loud hilarious - the kind you feel a little guilty about later.

And yes, this is the first in a new trilogy. The road trip will continue in A Night to Dismember and Ship of Ghouls, which means way more fun to come!

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

For long time fans of Mark Henry's Amanda Feral series, this novella heralds the return of our favorite snark-talking, sharp-dressing, body-parts chomping sex on heels zombie. However, if you've never read the novels (you should!) this is also a great jump on spot. Henry includes enough necessary exposition, cleverly disguised as humorous internal "monologing" & girl talk, that a newbie won't get lost in the zombie shuffle. (Not to imply that Amanda, or her BFF, Wendy, shuffle. That would ruin their shoes.)
This novella is the first of three; & sees Amanda traveling to promote her supernatural expose book, Happy Hour of the Damned (which, coincidentally, is the first book of the series.) There is a certain amount of meta-humor in this book, because Amanda turns to writing to support her undead lifestyle. This allows Henry to poke fun at a lot of the cliches about writers, fandom, & the realities of being a full time author, & this is part of the snarky charm of the tale.
I won't lie to you; if you're looking for your typical HEA romance, thinly veiled in the realms of the paranormal, look elsewhere. If, however, you're looking for a buffet of sass, snark, sexy creatures of the (late evening &) night & fast paced, fun plotting, you can stop looking & buy this book. I couldn't stop reading this delightful romp, as Amanda & friends rollercoastered haphazardly through plot twists & cuddling vampires. I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Feral is back! With her friends by her side, she is headed to the beach. Not really a hot spot for zombies, But then Amanda isn't your average zombie. An excellent installment to the series. So, glad to see Amanda is back. Beach Blanket Bloodbath is a fast, fun read. Mark Henry is one the most unique writers I've come across. His stories always have wonderful mix of gore, mayhem and humor. I recommend this one, and the whole series really.

[Caryl Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody Fun! The gang is back and in trouble as always. Great read, lots of humor and the snarkiness this author is known for is in full force. I was sad to see this book end and I can't wait for the next in the series to come out!

[Kerita Fuller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea…but I finished the cup because I was curious about how it’d end 🤭

[Shannon Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Amanda Feral, author Mark Henry’s salacious undead heroine, since 2008′s Happy Hour of the Damned. Since then she’s been in two more books, Battle of the Network Zombies (2010) and Road Trip of the Living Dead (2011) and now a fourth ‘book’, well novella, entitled Beach Blanket Bloodbath. Amanda is a zombie who ‘lives’ in Seattle along with were-creatures, vampires, and unsuspecting humans. Amanda is the type of friend that you love to have over, but not to be in public with, in case she talks, because anything she says will be completely inappropriate, albeit funny.

In Beach Blanket Bloodbath, Amanda takes an unscheduled road trip to the ocean beaches of Washington state to track down a drug thief who has hopped on a cruise ship headed for California. Along with Wendy, her best zombie pal, and Gil a gay vampire, they set their sights on Las Felicitas and get caught up in a murder in the small town.

It’s been 3 years since the last Amanda Feral book and I was famished! Henry’s books have always struck the lowest of my senses of humor. When I first played Cards Against Humanity, I thought they’d be like the Amanda novels. Turns out they are waaaaay tamer than what I had expected. Maybe Henry should look into dirtying those up for the more depraved of us.

The Feral books are a mash-up of South Park, Workaholics and The Devil Wears Prada mixed in to a gay friendly atmosphere that just hits me the right way. “Guilty pleasure” doesn’t even cover these. Warped, licentious, perverted pleasure may be closer. It’s been too long Amanda, and even if I have to wait another three years to read about your exploits, I’ll be here hoping that Mark Henry stays the debauched writer I know he can be. You are a sick, sick man Mark, and I love that about you!

[Bitten_by_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda is a Zombie who has recently written a tell-all book about the dark underside of Seattle, all about the vampires and zombies and weres living in the area. This has not gone over well. Her friend, Wendy, has started selling Cloud to the vampires, which is a drug made from the breath of certain zombies and is making the vamps all smexy and kittenish. Since Amanda owes Wendy money, she gets suckered into being her drug pimp.

Wendy’s drugs get stolen and she ends up getting talked into going with Amanda on a little book promotion tour in the hopes of catching up with her product. They take their gay vampire friend, Gil, along. All plans get side-tracked when they get messed up in a mystery at the Miss Sand Flea Pageant. They have to find a killer all while evading pissed-off gay male strippers in gold hot pants and entertaining male weresharks.

I have not read any other books by Mark Henry but I am now a convert. His writing is superb and Beach Blanket Bloodbath is hilarious. I cannot remember laughing so hard over a book, but it is not just the humor. Mark’s characters are engaging and interact well together, and he injects the right amount of snarkiness. I could totally picture these friends sitting around saying what they do.

The mystery part is well-done, leaving you guessing. I am going to get on this bandwagon and get the rest of his books. This is a short novella (the first in a trilogy) and I need some full-length books with this group of friends.

Read the original review at Bitten by Books here: http://bittenbybooks.com/beach-blanke...

Mark Henry

[Rhonda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully Different

This is the first book I have read about Amanda Feral, so I did not have the background other fans of the author have. The beginning of the book started a little slow for me. Basically, An author female zombie, a drug dealing female zombie, a gay male vampire, and an older Hispanic female called Abuelita go on a road trip. The author is going to a book signing and the drug dealer is going to recover some stolen drugs. The drugs are sold to vampires, so that takes the sting out of the book being about true drug dealers, which I would not like to see, just saying. So far, sounds like the beginning of a joke someone may tell in a bar, right? Well, as is true of most road trips, the beginning of the book, the somewhat slow part for me, is a lot of snarky humor between the passengers and irreverent thoughts on the part of the author zombie, Amanda Feral. Very, very funny, if you can imagine what zombies would find entertaining (chowing down on body parts kept in a purse, because everyone knows you have to take snacks with you on a road trip). Then they make their first stop, the town where the author zombie is doing a book signing and all Hell breaks loose. The action and pace of the book is non-stop, murder, mayhem, and one surprise after another, including finding out what the gay vampire does for a living and who Abuelita is. The book was wonderful. I can't wait for the next one.

[Ned Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few years back, the hilarious and grossly wrong writer Mark Henry burst open putrescent bag of overwrought horror fiction, slicing open the pretension of zombie-dom with an acid wit and a vindictively profane tongue that left no decaying cliché in-snarked. It was, in all the worst ways, Sex in the City meets Night of the Living Dead, and oh what a sick package of cannibalistic fetish rants it was.

Well, my friends, Amanda Feral is back -- with her usual strong emphasis on barb-tipped quips and nauseating sexuality. Beach Blanket Bloodbath is a return to form for Henry, a sardonic parody that owes equal inspiration to Christopher Moore's brilliant supernatural comedy and Bret Easton Ellis's darkly bloody vision of American capitalism -- rotten and gore-soaked at its core. If you're bored with post-Walking Dead horror, Amanda Feral's take-no-prisoners licentious greed and sick wit will wake you up.

The beautiful thing about the new BBB novella (if there is anything redeeming about it at all), is that Mark Henry has a three book backlist and more books forthcoming for this character and in this style – so if this catches your fancy, you'll love digging your dirty little nasty teeth and your maggoty claws into the entire series.

[Debi Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Feral is back and I loved it. Good quick read, highly entertaining in a despicably vile way. But that is how Amanda, Gil, and Wendy roll. Good news is that this is the first Novella in a trilogy. Next one, A Night To Dismember, is due out in August 2014. I love you, Mark Henry! Thank you for listening to Amanda bitch for a come back. Her story is just not finished yet.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If dark humor, gratuitous violence, glamazombies, teen pageantry, road trips and creepy B&B's are what you seek...pick up the first book in the second Amanda Feral trilogy - BBB. It's all in good humor. Sarcastic! If you can't laugh at the bad stuff that happens in this life, then it will be a real drag. Hilarious hijinks with Hermes and Louboutin in tow. Can't wait for two and three!

[Angela Verdenius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the first three books in this series, they are laugh-out-loud, rude, funny, and great escapism. This one is another gold addition!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It should come as no surprise that I am a fan of the series. If it does, you clearly haven’t been paying attention to what I write and read. Fine, maybe not lately. Everyone has a slump now and then, right?

Amanda Feral attracted me to the gritty, snarky… dare I say… bitchy underbelly of urban fantasy. Though I see this more as comedic horror. Something along the lines of Idle Hands or Heathers. And this is the story that was only hinted at in his young adult novels. Teased a bit in the Carniepunk anthology.

There’s something about Amanda’s voice that speaks to me. Which should frankly scare the Twix bars right out of me. But I’ve grown comfortable with my reality. Frankly, her voice mimics a female version of my own, unfiltered, internal voice. Which makes following her a wildly indulgent run.

One of my favorite aspects of the original novels were the footnotes. Those little tidbits that made it look like Amanda herself was writing the book. More an autobiography than a fictional novel. With the format of digital first with indy publishing, those became a technological nightmare and were eliminated. For me, the old school fan, I can see the mental asides written into the story that would have been footnotes. While the new reader, will see nothing out of the ordinary. In short, it works. Totally works.

If you were to pick this up without being a fan already, the novella stands alone. There should be no problem jumping right in. Not to mention there is enough new stuff to keep things fresher than Amanda’s nethers. Weresharks, for instance. And who knew they had anatomy that could put Jaye Wells’ Giguhl to shame?

Mark even includes a bit of social commentary on the writing/publishing process. A bit of personal snark as told through the voice of Amanda. There are times when I can hear his story in there enough that Amanda seems like a middle-aged author with a tuck job and as fine of a knock-off couture as he can muster. Raging against the publishing machine really speaks to me and like the book all that much more. And I’ve met some of the people he describes in this novel. Well, at least one of them.

It takes a truly twisted sense of humor to enjoy this novel, but I definitely have that. I’ll give this chum bucket full of fun a ranking of…

5 Stars
Because Amanda is back, bitches!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Feral, shallow zombie socialite, is back with her entourage of snarky undead friends. They embark on a road trip. Amanda needs to get her tell all book on the supernatural underbelly of Seattle, Happy Hour of the Undead, off the ground with a book tour. Wendy is a budding dealer of Cloud, basically zombie breath in a cream that is an aphrodisiac to vampires. Her supply is stolen, so she goes along to get it back and make the thief pay. Gil is just along for the ride. They stop in a sleepy seaside town for Amanda's book tour and are immediately caught up in a murder mystery surrounding a beauty pageant. The ensuing adventure is hilarious with amorous weresharks, a vicious gang of gay male strippers, and our lovable gang of undead.

Amanda Feral is back! This is only the first in a series of three novellas, so it's like three small nibbles of Amanda instead of giant zombie bites. The story is self contained, so knowledge of the previous three full length books isn't necessary, but why wouldn't you read them? This novella is the perfect balance of supernatural horror and humor. Amanda's narrative reads true as an inner monologue complete with overshares and judgy thoughts that she would never say out loud. I like that Henry uses Amanda to show the realities of being a published author and throws some shade at the industry at the same time.The addition of the Golden Boys, a dangerous gang of gay male strippers, and the wereshark are inspired and fit well into this wacky world. I hope we see the wereshark in the other novellas as well. Amanda tackles the murder mystery with her usual flair and it ends with hilarious, yet disgusting results.

Although I greatly enjoyed the novella, I miss the footnotes that were a staple in the previous books. The asides are still there, but not as obvious anymore. They gave Amanda a deranged and irreverant Jane Austen vibe. I also wish the other novellas were out already because I want to know what happens! Definitely recommend for Amanda fans and newbies to the series.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violent and vivacious Amanda Feral is back with a vengeance in Beach Blanket Bloodbath! (And I'm happy to report, she came without the footnotes this time.)

Amanda's in kind of a bad place right now. She's broken up with her boyfriend, drifted apart from her friends and she's broke. Her writing career isn't going as well as she'd expected. In order to settle a debt, she agrees to help her friend Wendy's burgeoning business, dealing drugs to vampires. When Wendy's supply is stolen and the thief escapes onto a cruise ship bound for San Francisco, the girls set off down the coast to catch the thief and retrieve the drugs. And of course their vampire friend Gil wants to come along. 

A stop in a small town for Amanda's book signing turns disastrous when the gang witnesses a murder. Amanda tries to play detective with often outrageous results. Without spoiling anything, there's an element of this story that's not making sense to me. But I'm reserving judgement because there's room for a lot of things to follow them on the rest of the trip, which continues in two more novellas. I'm kind of loving Thad the were shark, so I really hope he's one of them.

I feel like Amanda's a little darker than she used to be. Her tone is often more bitter than sassy. Not that she's any less hilarious. Since she's become a writer, a lot of her barbs are aimed at the publishing industry. (I'm sensing a good deal of autobiography in this story. Though probably not the part with the shark sex.)

Fans of Amanda's previous adventures will relish her return to the raunchy and ridiculous. And anyone new to the series should have no problem picking it up from this point. Both are sure to eagerly await the next sexy and snarky leg of this road trip.

[Shawna The Crazy Bookseller · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for a story that makes you wonder what kind of person you are for enjoying the twisted and warped mind of Mark Henry.

I about wet my pants when I found out Mark Henry was writing 3 novellas to continue the misadventures of the gruesome threesome from his Amanda Feral series.

Amanda, Wendy and Gil are on another road trip and they think their first stop will be quiet and peaceful but they should have known better. There is no such thing as peaceful when these three are involved. Golden go-go dancers, pageant queens, crazy annoying writer and Weresharks oh my. Mark has a way of finding anything and everything that is depraved, strange and oh so wrong.

Beach Blanket Bloodbath gets The Crazy Booksellers stamp of approval for a novella that is a must read.

[Michele Bardsley]

A Twisted Zombie Tale with Snarky Hilarity and Acidic Wit

Oh, Amanda Feral! You glorious, vain, sarcastic, degenerate zombie! How I've missed you! I've been a fan of Amanda Feral and her creator Mark Henry since Happy Hour of the Damned. I read all her adventures with ferocious glee. Finally, that glorious dead bitch is back and better than ever. And by better, I mean snarky, foul-mouthed, and immoral. Beach Blanket Bloodbath has it all: were-sharks, zombies, old lady writers, Miss Sand Flea pageants, secretive vampires, and so much more! If you're a fan of Christopher Moore and Jeff Strand, you will love Mark Henry. Buy this novella now!

[Stephanie DeCost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Henry does not disappoint with the amazing return of all our favorites, Gil, Wendy, Amanda and yes, even a gangsta abuetlita! All four smashed up in a car for a road trip makes for a massive amount snark, unhinged jaws (there are 2 zombies involved ya know), snark, and fun! Don't miss out on all the weresharks, zombies or vampires, and gold clad male strippers so, whether you read the first three or are starting your love affair here you will want to pick up this awesome book at a great price ($2.99)!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Henry books make me buy-sexual ... Buy me a new Mark Henry book and my gratitude can be very sexual! Another adventure in the life of Amanda Feral (it's about time). Traveling with Amanda and Wendy would end with a round of "show me on the doll where the bad ladies touched me" (if ya didn't get eaten along the way) but what a way to go! I can't go into details (buy the book yourself bitches) or I'd be posting spoilers (which would be unfair) so I'll just be counting down to the next release!

[Dana Delamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another snarky entry in the blackly comic misadventures of Amanda Feral, everyone's favorite zombie/fashion plate/supernatural celebrity author. Some editing errors tripped me up at times, but the number of times I laughed out loud more than made up for it.

Where the heck is the next one???? I've been looking for A Night to Dismember, but it seems it's not out yet. I need my next Amanda fix!

[Kimberly Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Henry is absolute were genius!! BBB was darkly hilarious!! I laughed out loud numerous times. Oh my thoughts about were sharks have changed drastically!! Amanda and the gang are back in the saddle again.. Road trip= Good Times..

[Mandi]

I'm going to set this one aside for now. I enjoyed the previous books in this series and this one isn't poorly written or anything. I just can't get in to it. It's a lot to take and I'm just not in the mood right now.

[Bonnie Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. I loved the twisted humor.
I laughed out loud at parts.

[Cindi Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing...

[ManaChelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I missed Amanda Feral