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Steve Jobz #1
The Embalmer
THE EMBALMER IS DYING TO DATE YOU. QUESTION IS, ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE FOR A DATE WITH HIM TOO?You might think that a guy with the name of Steve Jobz would be one lucky man. That he'd be rich and have the world at his fingertips. But instead, Jobz (which is short for Jobzynski) is barely making ends meet at the New York State Department of Unemployment Insurance Fraud. A former cop who was forced to retire early after shooting a young man during a convenience store holdup, Jobz has since resigned himself to wasting away his days in a four-by-four cubicle inside an office space that's more boring than watching the paint dry.However, when his overbearing boss and best friend calls him in on a job that the Albany Police Department is heading up, Jobz has a chance to get out of the office for a while. But what he doesn't realize is that he's about to come face to face with a serial killer who embalms his victims alive. What he is also about to face down, is his own worst nightmare come true when that serial killer turns out not to be a stranger.The Embalmer culminates with an explosive climax and promises to keep readers glued to their chairs for hours. The first-in-series novel combines wry humor with some serious hard-boiled action, adventure, and romance. For fans of Michael Connelly, Robert B. Parker, Charlie Huston, Jim Crumley, Lee Child, Brett Battles, and more.Scroll up and grab a copy of The Embalmer today. Then binge the entire series."Gritty, fast-paced, lyrical and haunting." - Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Six Years."Tough, stylish, heartbreaking." -Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of Savages.
373 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2017
352 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
About the author
Vincent Zandri
235 books576 followers"Vincent Zandri is one of the most acclaimed thriller writers working today!" --Publishers Weekly
“Zandri (is) a veteran wordsmith who executes quality and quantity at superlative levels.” --Book Reporter
"The story of Vincent Zandri is the story of our times."
--Business Insider
"Vincent Zandri hails from the future."
--The New York Times
“Sensational . . . masterful . . . brilliant.”
--New York Post
"...big time author..."
--Digital Journal
Considered one of the most prolific writers of his generation, Vincent Zandri is the winner of the 2015 PWA Shamus Award and the 2015 ITW Thriller Award, both for MOONLIGHT WEEPS in the Best Original Paperback category. He is also the NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and AMAZON KINDLE OVERALL NO.1 bestselling author of hundreds of novels, novellas, and stories, including THE REMAINS, MOONLIGHT WEEPS, THE EMBALMER, THE SHROUD KEY and QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT. His list of domestic publishers includes Delacorte, Dell, Down & Out Books, Thomas & Mercer, Blackstone Audio, Tantor Media, and more. He is also the CEO of Bear Media. An MFA in Writing graduate of Vermont College, his work is translated in the Dutch, Russian, French, Italian, and Japanese. Having sold over 1 million editions of his books, Zandri has been the subject of major features by the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Business Insider. He has also made appearances on Bloomberg TV and the FOX News network. In December 2014, Suspense Magazine named Zandri's, THE SHROUD KEY, as one of the "Best Books of 2014." Suspense Magazine selected WHEN SHADOWS COME as one of the "Best Books of 2016". He was also a finalist for the 2019 Derringer Award for Best Novelette. A freelance photojournalist, freelance writer, and the host of the popular YouTube Podcast, "The Writer's Life," Zandri has written for Strategy Magazine, RT, Living Ready Magazine, New York Newsday, Hudson Valley Magazine, The Times Union (Albany), Game & Fish Magazine, CrimeReads, Altcoin Magazine, The Jerusalem Post (ghost), Market Business News (ghost), Duke University (ghost), Colgate University (ghost), New York University (ghost), The Rice University Gazette (ghost), Yale University (ghost), Digital Journal (ghost), and many more. An Active Member of ITW, he lives in New York and Florence, Italy. For more go to WWW.VINZANDRI.COM
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
September 2, 2017
A middle-aged man with a funny name caught up in a Twilight Zone of fuckedupness.
I don't know about this one. It was good. I guess. It was entertaining anyway. A little elementary despite the random gore. The main problem I had was that the protagonist wasn't menacing at all, just kind of goofy, which detracted from the story for me. While he was obviously a "bad dude" he just didn't ever seem like a threat. The story was very fast moving too. Conclusions and coincidences were too fast, too convenient and too frequent. Maybe I just expecting a more brutal thriller...
It sounds like I didn't like it, but I did. It wasn't great, but I did like the main character and I can see where the series was set up well for a continuance.
As a disclaimer, I was provided a copy of the audiobook from the narrator who did a really great job and added much to my enjoyment of the story. The audio was a bit "fast paced" just like the plot, but after I got used to it, I settled in and it flowed. Clocking in at a little over 5 hours I listened to it in 2 days while driving around for work.
I don't know about this one. It was good. I guess. It was entertaining anyway. A little elementary despite the random gore. The main problem I had was that the protagonist wasn't menacing at all, just kind of goofy, which detracted from the story for me. While he was obviously a "bad dude" he just didn't ever seem like a threat. The story was very fast moving too. Conclusions and coincidences were too fast, too convenient and too frequent. Maybe I just expecting a more brutal thriller...
It sounds like I didn't like it, but I did. It wasn't great, but I did like the main character and I can see where the series was set up well for a continuance.
As a disclaimer, I was provided a copy of the audiobook from the narrator who did a really great job and added much to my enjoyment of the story. The audio was a bit "fast paced" just like the plot, but after I got used to it, I settled in and it flowed. Clocking in at a little over 5 hours I listened to it in 2 days while driving around for work.
June 8, 2018
I liked "the embalmer". this is my first zandri book and I look forward to more. hope the steve jobz sequel is even better. this is an easy and fast read, with a reluctant leading man who attracts the attention of an "artistic" murderer. well worth the time
June 16, 2021
This is a murder mystery about a really sadistic and sick serial killer, and the Detective who brought him down, with the help of an ex-Detective and who, as it turns out, was closer to the murderer than either of them knew. Confused? So was I for a while, but in a fun way. Read it and find out for yourself.
March 21, 2018
Fast, Furious Fun..and Wild
For me " The Embalmer" was a read-it-in -one-sitting book. Just as the headline says, it was a fast, furious , fun and wild thriller.
The bad guy in the novel is an industrial strength wierdo who picks-up and kills women by embalming them while they are alive. Then he "restores them to life" by using the mortician's arts , dresses them, poses them and places them for public viewing. And believe me that synopsis little conveys the work of this guy. There is more weirdness for the reader to , uh, enjoy, in the book.
Our hero is one Steve Jobz, employed by the state of NY as a claims processor for unemployment fraud. It is boring job which Jobz tolerates with booze, a few hime-rolled spliffs and an unhealthy helping of self-disgust. But a change comes about when the police ask him to help them out by searching the records for an unemployed ex-funeral home worker who might have the required gruesome skills to be the killer.
It would be unfortunate if you are too put off by the occasional use off crude four-letter words at the beginning of the book, because you would be missing the way the character of Steve Jobz develops into a uniquely quirky hero. As the book continues, he gets more confident that he is not a complete loser and might have a future worth the trying .
I recommend the book with the clear notice that it is not , and does not pretend to be a deep treatise on the nature and reasons why someone turns into a freakish murderer. It is a diversion into the madness of a landscape where a killer like this is nearly possible, with a bit of dark humor here and there ( especially from the interplay between Jobz and his formidable boss.) A second warning to anyone: read this book and you will learn more than you might want to know about the mortician's artifices.
It is not the "Silence of the Lambs" ; at least this killer doesn' t eat his victims. But " The Embalmer" is fun, especially with a glass of NYState Reisling at your side.
For me " The Embalmer" was a read-it-in -one-sitting book. Just as the headline says, it was a fast, furious , fun and wild thriller.
The bad guy in the novel is an industrial strength wierdo who picks-up and kills women by embalming them while they are alive. Then he "restores them to life" by using the mortician's arts , dresses them, poses them and places them for public viewing. And believe me that synopsis little conveys the work of this guy. There is more weirdness for the reader to , uh, enjoy, in the book.
Our hero is one Steve Jobz, employed by the state of NY as a claims processor for unemployment fraud. It is boring job which Jobz tolerates with booze, a few hime-rolled spliffs and an unhealthy helping of self-disgust. But a change comes about when the police ask him to help them out by searching the records for an unemployed ex-funeral home worker who might have the required gruesome skills to be the killer.
It would be unfortunate if you are too put off by the occasional use off crude four-letter words at the beginning of the book, because you would be missing the way the character of Steve Jobz develops into a uniquely quirky hero. As the book continues, he gets more confident that he is not a complete loser and might have a future worth the trying .
I recommend the book with the clear notice that it is not , and does not pretend to be a deep treatise on the nature and reasons why someone turns into a freakish murderer. It is a diversion into the madness of a landscape where a killer like this is nearly possible, with a bit of dark humor here and there ( especially from the interplay between Jobz and his formidable boss.) A second warning to anyone: read this book and you will learn more than you might want to know about the mortician's artifices.
It is not the "Silence of the Lambs" ; at least this killer doesn' t eat his victims. But " The Embalmer" is fun, especially with a glass of NYState Reisling at your side.
September 8, 2017
Caught up in a twilight zone."
This is one of those books of synchronicity where the text and the narrator come together perfectly.
Meet Steve Jobz - yes, that's right: Jobz with a z. Not the guy everyone has heard of, no, not that Steve Jobs, who invented the p.c., is talented and famous and rich. No, this Steve Jobs was, briefly, once a cop but fired, and now works for the Insurance Fraud Industry, investigating false claims against the State. Boring, but it pays the rent. And Andrew Wehrlen's is Steve Jobz, 'the middle aged man with the silly name, with a mother with altzheimers, father dead from a stabbing years before and a sardonic approach to his boring life, his creepy work colleagues and his big hearted boss. Then into his life comes a detective named Miller, who wants his help for a couple of days giving background insight into the murder case he's working on: a serial killer known as The Embalmer, who injects his female victims with preserving chemicals and poses their bodies like works of art.
Told in first person from Steve's point of view, Mr.Wehrlen gives even greater depth to the already well drawn character as well as individually voicing all of the other protagonists. This is a fun story and investigation with an endearing main protagonist and a creepy undertone.. An excellent start to what I hope will become a long running series.
My thanks to the rights holder of The Embalmer for freely gifting me my copy of the book, via Audiobook Boom, at my request. I really enjoyed it and will look, hopefully, for more in this excellent new series by Vincent Zandri
This is one of those books of synchronicity where the text and the narrator come together perfectly.
Meet Steve Jobz - yes, that's right: Jobz with a z. Not the guy everyone has heard of, no, not that Steve Jobs, who invented the p.c., is talented and famous and rich. No, this Steve Jobs was, briefly, once a cop but fired, and now works for the Insurance Fraud Industry, investigating false claims against the State. Boring, but it pays the rent. And Andrew Wehrlen's is Steve Jobz, 'the middle aged man with the silly name, with a mother with altzheimers, father dead from a stabbing years before and a sardonic approach to his boring life, his creepy work colleagues and his big hearted boss. Then into his life comes a detective named Miller, who wants his help for a couple of days giving background insight into the murder case he's working on: a serial killer known as The Embalmer, who injects his female victims with preserving chemicals and poses their bodies like works of art.
Told in first person from Steve's point of view, Mr.Wehrlen gives even greater depth to the already well drawn character as well as individually voicing all of the other protagonists. This is a fun story and investigation with an endearing main protagonist and a creepy undertone.. An excellent start to what I hope will become a long running series.
My thanks to the rights holder of The Embalmer for freely gifting me my copy of the book, via Audiobook Boom, at my request. I really enjoyed it and will look, hopefully, for more in this excellent new series by Vincent Zandri
September 15, 2017
An Enjoyable Detective Thriller
4.5 out of 5 stars
The Embalmer is a story about a killer on the loose. The only person who can help catch him has a job at the New York State Department of Unemployment Insurance Fraud. Okay, he also used to be a police officer — but he might be just the guy for the job. And did I mention that his name is Steve Jobz? Don’t bring it up to him though, it’s a touchy subject.
I love a good detective thriller and The Embalmer was just that. There was a lot of action, a lot of great dialogue (especially between Steve and Miller), and a really (really) messed up serial killer.
Did I mention that the killer is messed up? This book is sticking with me. I keep seeing scenes that Zandri wrote out and that Wehrlen described in the audiobook that just won’t let go. That’s a sign of a well-written book.
The Embalmer has a lot going for it, as mentioned above. But as someone who lived through someone who had dementia and Alzheimers — I thought that Zandri’s description of that disease was spot on. It hit a little too close to home for me through some parts.
Jobz himself might be one of my favorite recent characters I’ve read. Especially for detective/thriller novels. He had just the right kind of humor that really made me laugh out loud (literally). It reminded me slightly of old noir titles, especially the ones that didn’t take themselves too seriously.
Overall, I thought that The Embalmer was a great start to a series. A great read that I think people will really enjoy.
Add in the narration by Andrew B Wehrlen and you’ve got gold. Wehrlen gave the perfect narration for this book — allowing Zandri’s words to flow exactly the way I think he wanted them. Wehrlen brought to life the Jobz character and I hope that he will continue to narrate more books in this series.
4.5 out of 5 stars
The Embalmer is a story about a killer on the loose. The only person who can help catch him has a job at the New York State Department of Unemployment Insurance Fraud. Okay, he also used to be a police officer — but he might be just the guy for the job. And did I mention that his name is Steve Jobz? Don’t bring it up to him though, it’s a touchy subject.
I love a good detective thriller and The Embalmer was just that. There was a lot of action, a lot of great dialogue (especially between Steve and Miller), and a really (really) messed up serial killer.
Did I mention that the killer is messed up? This book is sticking with me. I keep seeing scenes that Zandri wrote out and that Wehrlen described in the audiobook that just won’t let go. That’s a sign of a well-written book.
The Embalmer has a lot going for it, as mentioned above. But as someone who lived through someone who had dementia and Alzheimers — I thought that Zandri’s description of that disease was spot on. It hit a little too close to home for me through some parts.
Jobz himself might be one of my favorite recent characters I’ve read. Especially for detective/thriller novels. He had just the right kind of humor that really made me laugh out loud (literally). It reminded me slightly of old noir titles, especially the ones that didn’t take themselves too seriously.
Overall, I thought that The Embalmer was a great start to a series. A great read that I think people will really enjoy.
Add in the narration by Andrew B Wehrlen and you’ve got gold. Wehrlen gave the perfect narration for this book — allowing Zandri’s words to flow exactly the way I think he wanted them. Wehrlen brought to life the Jobz character and I hope that he will continue to narrate more books in this series.
December 15, 2018
A beautiful woman sits on a park bench. A passing jogger stops dead in his tracks when he catches a glimpse of her intense eyes and her friendly smile. He approaches her to say hello, but she says nothing. She’s not being rude, she’s dead...and has been embalmed!
The level of terror in the book was surprising, and for this reader, much appreciated. Psychological thrillers are my favorite genre, and I find characters with sick minds and the ones who study and capture them fascinating and intriguing. Vincent Zandri excels at bringing to life each character with his descriptive prose.
The Embalmer by Vincent Zandri is imaginative and original. I recommend it to readers who love psychological thrillers, suspense, and serial killer books. It is for adult readers who enjoy probing into the minds of the characters, good and evil and all that lies between. It is not for sensitive readers. Overall, I give the book 5/5🌟
See my complete review at
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
The level of terror in the book was surprising, and for this reader, much appreciated. Psychological thrillers are my favorite genre, and I find characters with sick minds and the ones who study and capture them fascinating and intriguing. Vincent Zandri excels at bringing to life each character with his descriptive prose.
The Embalmer by Vincent Zandri is imaginative and original. I recommend it to readers who love psychological thrillers, suspense, and serial killer books. It is for adult readers who enjoy probing into the minds of the characters, good and evil and all that lies between. It is not for sensitive readers. Overall, I give the book 5/5🌟
See my complete review at
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
May 19, 2022
A Rags to Riches (Not Really) Kind of Story
I am a fan of Vincent Zandri's work, having read many of them. As is the usual, this book is an entertaining, hard-hitting and totally immersive story of an unemployment insurance investigator who shares (in sounding) a name with a former Apple CEO. This alone catches in Steve's craw since his life has been a disaster with a drug crazed tweaker murders his father and nearly so his mother while asleep in their bed. This is followed some time later by his barely avoided incarceration because he had the audacity to kill a robber of a convenience store while he was pointing a loaded and cocked handgun at the proprietor. His, "to riches" conversion occurs much later while working for the state in a mind-numbing, unrewarding job. He gets this chance to help the Albany, NY police in a very weird case.
There is action aplenty, twists you won't see coming, humor that will make you laugh and suspense that will keep you so focused you'll be done with the book before you know it. Enthusiastic five stars!
I am a fan of Vincent Zandri's work, having read many of them. As is the usual, this book is an entertaining, hard-hitting and totally immersive story of an unemployment insurance investigator who shares (in sounding) a name with a former Apple CEO. This alone catches in Steve's craw since his life has been a disaster with a drug crazed tweaker murders his father and nearly so his mother while asleep in their bed. This is followed some time later by his barely avoided incarceration because he had the audacity to kill a robber of a convenience store while he was pointing a loaded and cocked handgun at the proprietor. His, "to riches" conversion occurs much later while working for the state in a mind-numbing, unrewarding job. He gets this chance to help the Albany, NY police in a very weird case.
There is action aplenty, twists you won't see coming, humor that will make you laugh and suspense that will keep you so focused you'll be done with the book before you know it. Enthusiastic five stars!
September 25, 2017
Despite the cheesy character name and the short length, this story was good. I enjoyed listening to this audiobook the entire way through, and I felt engaged and interested. Initially, I thought the Steve Jobz thing would mean this author was far too on the nose and trying to hard for pop culture references. While there is a little of that, it isn't nearly as bad as I anticipated. In fact, the story surprised me in a good way.
The narrator was the star of the show, though. The reading was just on pace, the characters were all distinct and had vocal personalities that matched their literary ones. It was overall a really well done production that didn't distract me from the story at all.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
The narrator was the star of the show, though. The reading was just on pace, the characters were all distinct and had vocal personalities that matched their literary ones. It was overall a really well done production that didn't distract me from the story at all.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
April 28, 2020
A spine chilling thriller with a hardened and streetwise, but engaging private investigator.
Steve Jobz is stuck with his name, a boring job as an investigator for a government grants agency with a boss who enjoys inflicting him with insults on a daily basis. His routine of suffering through his daily life and escaping in a haze of alcohol at night, is interrupted when he encounters a sadistic and ruthless serial murderer who has a novel manner of killing his victims and displaying their bodies in the public. Steve has to rely on his sheer grit and determination to solve this case and catch the murderer before he murders again. But Steve doesn't realise that he is the next victim in the murderers sights.
This engaging thriller is horrifying and realistic but engagingly reminiscent of the tough Mike Hammer novels by Mickey Spillane from the 1960's.
Steve Jobz is stuck with his name, a boring job as an investigator for a government grants agency with a boss who enjoys inflicting him with insults on a daily basis. His routine of suffering through his daily life and escaping in a haze of alcohol at night, is interrupted when he encounters a sadistic and ruthless serial murderer who has a novel manner of killing his victims and displaying their bodies in the public. Steve has to rely on his sheer grit and determination to solve this case and catch the murderer before he murders again. But Steve doesn't realise that he is the next victim in the murderers sights.
This engaging thriller is horrifying and realistic but engagingly reminiscent of the tough Mike Hammer novels by Mickey Spillane from the 1960's.
July 21, 2018
Meet Steve Jobz, no relation, a somewhat down on his luck former N.Y. City policeman who was forced to retire after a politically charged shooting. He now works in a cubicle for the N.Y. State Dept. of Unemployment Insurance Fraud. Jobz, everyone calls him Jobz, gets an opportunity to help out a police detective on a serial murder case. The killer transfuses his still living victims with embalming fluid, and then poses them in casual positions outdoors. The whack-o considers them works of art by bringing the dead back to life. We follow Jobz as he uses his former investigative skills to identify and track down the killer. Kind of reminds me of the Dick Moonlight P.I. series. Pretty good story, witty dialogue with decent characters.
August 20, 2018
After reading New York Times Bestseller, Vincent Zandri’s THE EMBALMER, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look on an oversized transport van again without thinking something nefarious is going on inside. From start to finish, THE EMBALMER is rife with humor, intense suspense, and internal conflict. Main character Steve Jobz (that’s right, pronounced like Apple’s late great founder), is an ex-cop with nothing left to save except his name. A fast-paced thriller stuffed to the gills with shock and terror. The reader will find herself amused at one moment and jumping out of her skin, the next. Amused, by the Jobz’ sardonic look at the world and jumpy from the evil depths the killer will go with his victims. Don’t miss this one. THE EMBALMER is a great story told.
February 27, 2019
First I have to tell you, this author took a gross but simple murder mystery and with his own wit and satire, made this novel something absolutely freaking amazing! The players were ordinary people but the characterization and the wit of the main characters, kept me interested in a very simple murder mystery that in otherwise would hold no water, but instead, turned it into the most amazing gallow's humor, witty, realistic and tell worthy book of this year and is worthy of every one of its many, many praises that are found at the beginning of the book! I definitely give this book not only 5 stars, but the Chris and Ca, 2 very high thumbs up while we laugh ourselves silly with the irony of the life of this book! Well done, Mr. Zandri!
July 23, 2024
Technically, I give this book about a 3.75 star. I definitely liked how quick it was and I listen to it nonstop for a couple days. There are definitely some parts in this book that are grotesque so if you have a weak stomach I would stay away, however it was a great horror to get me out of a reading slump. I also like that it was based in Albany because I lived there for a couple years so I was able to paint a really good picture of everything and I knew where he was located at all times, which was kind of cool! I didn’t dislike any of the characters; I just didn’t feel for them. I think this was really the only thing that was a downfall for me, but overall, I would definitely read more of his work!
July 24, 2017
Unbelievable you good
I cannot say enough about this book. However let me say, I see series in this one. I refuse to us any spoiler alerts, as I hate them. Suffice it to say this is one of the best books V.Z. has written. There is a creapy person killing people by embalming them alive, and suspects enough to sink a battleship. If you have read any of V.Z.'s other books, you will recognize Georgie the pathologist Detective Miller, who is the lead detective, who drags Steve Jobs along, for a reason. And the ending is so unexpected it's great!! Do not miss this one!!! It's well worth the read!!
I cannot say enough about this book. However let me say, I see series in this one. I refuse to us any spoiler alerts, as I hate them. Suffice it to say this is one of the best books V.Z. has written. There is a creapy person killing people by embalming them alive, and suspects enough to sink a battleship. If you have read any of V.Z.'s other books, you will recognize Georgie the pathologist Detective Miller, who is the lead detective, who drags Steve Jobs along, for a reason. And the ending is so unexpected it's great!! Do not miss this one!!! It's well worth the read!!
November 6, 2017
This book actually gripped me from the first page. The story is about the murders of women who were embalmed while alive. Steve Jobz, a former cop and now a Unemployment Insurance fraud investigator is called in to help find the killer. Steve has a unusual last name of Jobz. He gets teased regularly and is quite the character. He is funny to boot and will make you smile. I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is not the heavy, dark thriller you would expect.
I received this book from Goodreads for a honest opinion.
I received this book from Goodreads for a honest opinion.
dnf
August 18, 2019I gave up just after the halfway point.
This is not a long audiobook at all. I was expecting a fast-paced story but I found it the be slow overall and filled with information and dialogue that added little to the end product. There's a serial killer on the loose and yet I felt nothing. There's an ex-police officer investigating and while I can see the attempt to make him into a character that will carry across a book series, and I felt nothing.. The killer and Steve Jobz both lacked substance.
The narration was adequate but even that failed to interest me in this book.
This is not a long audiobook at all. I was expecting a fast-paced story but I found it the be slow overall and filled with information and dialogue that added little to the end product. There's a serial killer on the loose and yet I felt nothing. There's an ex-police officer investigating and while I can see the attempt to make him into a character that will carry across a book series, and I felt nothing.. The killer and Steve Jobz both lacked substance.
The narration was adequate but even that failed to interest me in this book.
January 29, 2021
The Embalmer (Steve Jobz #1) was a good read by Vincent Zandri. Steve Job works at the New York State Department of Unemployment Insurance Fraud and is barely making ends meet. He was a cop who was forced to retire early due to a shooting of a young man of color. Jobz takes the opportunity to work outside the office when his boss calls him on a job with the Albany Police Department. He winds up coming face to face with a serial killer that embalms his victims alive. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.
July 21, 2023
Most Enjoyable
Most enjoyable read for a long time, the sense of humour is all Zandri, as dry as the bones in the accumulating bodies that are piling up. Yes it’s gory, messy and head banging but that comic strip running through it makes it acceptable to the thrilling fictional crime palate. Meeting one of my fave characters Detective Miller adds to the joy, then my favourite ever Zandri character Moonlight, who appears with his buddies to save the day towards the end, ties it all up in a pretty bloody red bow. I shall be reading more of PI Steve Jobz.
Most enjoyable read for a long time, the sense of humour is all Zandri, as dry as the bones in the accumulating bodies that are piling up. Yes it’s gory, messy and head banging but that comic strip running through it makes it acceptable to the thrilling fictional crime palate. Meeting one of my fave characters Detective Miller adds to the joy, then my favourite ever Zandri character Moonlight, who appears with his buddies to save the day towards the end, ties it all up in a pretty bloody red bow. I shall be reading more of PI Steve Jobz.
July 16, 2024
Well I did enjoy this book but it definitely descended into something a little farcical for my liking. The macho characters near the end did turn me off the thought of entertaining another book by this author. Also I felt at times it was more of a comedy rather than a serious crime thriller-especially near the end. The killer wasn't real for me and the main character, although likeable and identifiable, didn't seem right in the part. I just couldn't take the book seriously-it raced on near the end as if the writer was fed up and wanted it to end quick.
September 3, 2017
My review is based on the Audiobook - 4 star Overall 5 Star Performance. The Ebalmer is my first read from Vincent Zandri and I was not dissapointed. This was a great who-done-it told from multiple perspectives. It allowed the reader to understand the thoughts and actions of the characters. Narrator Andrew Wehrlen did a great job bringing the story to life with distinct character voices that were easy to understand and follow. I am looking forward to more from this Author & Narrator!!
February 7, 2020
Zandri tries a little too hard to make this story suspenseful. The action is too blatantly contrived. Jobz is a likable enough character, but perhaps somewhat too flawed for his role in the story. It's just another run-of-the-mill thriller.
Andrew B. Wehrlen is an excellent choice to narrate this audiobook. He voices Jobz and the other characters distinctly and appropriately.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Andrew B. Wehrlen is an excellent choice to narrate this audiobook. He voices Jobz and the other characters distinctly and appropriately.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 2, 2018
This is the first Vincent Zandri book I've read. I LOVED it! A fast and easy read. The author's writing just flows; I don't even recall any cursing which is usually a turn-off and evidence of a lazy writer. I love when the serial killer is absolutely nuckin' futs! This one surpassed my expectations.
October 29, 2018
Grusome murder story
A former police officer was dishonourably discharged for shooting a person about to kill someone. He is a policeman at heart. He struggles to fit in elsewhere, ending up working in a Government Department exposing fraudulent unemployment claims. Its very gruesome but very absorbing. He is redeemed as he helps the police catch the murderer.
A former police officer was dishonourably discharged for shooting a person about to kill someone. He is a policeman at heart. He struggles to fit in elsewhere, ending up working in a Government Department exposing fraudulent unemployment claims. Its very gruesome but very absorbing. He is redeemed as he helps the police catch the murderer.
January 17, 2025
What an intense mystery. Someone is embalming pretty young women. The only thing is: Who? As the body count rises Steve Jobz is asked to help find the sadistic killer. At first it doesn't seem like it will be possible. But the clues add up and the killer is discovered - but will it take jobz's life to capture him? Another nail- biting suspense story from Vincent Zandri! Recommended!!!
July 12, 2018
Dead on, great book!
Truly enjoyed this one. From the onset I didn't want to put it down. Very real, or so it seemed, like this could really happen out there. The Embalmed delivers!
Truly enjoyed this one. From the onset I didn't want to put it down. Very real, or so it seemed, like this could really happen out there. The Embalmed delivers!
September 21, 2018
While a bit quirky this serial killer story will provide an interesting and entertaining journey that will keep readers guessing as the Police and an unemployment office employee strive to solve a series of murders.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
October 16, 2018
This was ok.I expected more. The story line was interesting but I had a hard time keeping with it.
Needed some umph. I wouldn't be surprised if this is going on somewhere.alot of crazies nowadays. Something to think about
Needed some umph. I wouldn't be surprised if this is going on somewhere.alot of crazies nowadays. Something to think about
November 16, 2018
Highly recommended
Where has Mr. Zandri been all my life? So glad I stumbled across this gem of a book. Well told story. I breezed through it and can't wait to get my hands on more of his work!
Where has Mr. Zandri been all my life? So glad I stumbled across this gem of a book. Well told story. I breezed through it and can't wait to get my hands on more of his work!
February 23, 2019
FANTASTIC BOOK!
Wow! I enjoyed every page of this book. Somehow I didn't catch on as early as usual and got a surprise. What a breathless ending! I held my breath through the last several chapters. Highly recommend unless you have some reason to go to bed.
Wow! I enjoyed every page of this book. Somehow I didn't catch on as early as usual and got a surprise. What a breathless ending! I held my breath through the last several chapters. Highly recommend unless you have some reason to go to bed.
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