Strange Start

Jane Zombie Chronicles #0.5

by Gayle Katz

**Short Story Prequel to the Jane Zombie Chronicles Series**

One young intern. An experimental medicine. A clinic full of feral patients. The zombie apocalypse is about to begin. I just don’t know it yet.

As a college freshman, I can’t wait for my first day of class. But when my routine health exam turns into a medical emergency, my dreams become a nightmare.

And as my past tumbles back into the present, I’m horrified when patients devolve into animals and attack the medical staff. Desperate to find my way back to consciousness and safety, my anxiety holds tight and doesn’t go away.

Will my life go back to normal, or are these terrors here forever?

Strange Start is the short story prequel that portends the catastrophic zombie apocalypse to come in the Jane Zombie Chronicles. Reading this hair-raising, first-hand account of a brave survivor reveals the soul-stirring plight of those caught in the epicenter of the madness.

Sink your teeth into Strange Start now!

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Young Adult

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2018

About the author

Daring Women. Dangerous Worlds.

Gayle is a fan of zombies, sci-fi fantasy, and psychological horror—though not necessarily in that order. She writes the kinds of books she wants to read but often can’t find. Hoping to scare you, make you swoon, and root for her characters, her love of kick-butt heroines and sassy snark shines through in her work.

If you'd like to find out about Gayle's new releases, exclusive promotions, and get some free reads, check out her website: http://gaylekatz.com

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 star read

A mini short story that introduces us to the protagonist of the author's Jane Zombie series. A freaky little flashback to a frightening field trip at a clinic with some dire repercussions.

[Debra Barstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting start to the book series may have to look into rest of series.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 2 out of 5]

A group of students go on a field trip to a hospital that deals in cancer care, funded by a private company who do experimental treatments on extreme cases. Jane is startled when a patient there begs her to kill him, and that is followed by an incident where a rabid patient attacks staff in front of her.

This book was a bit confusing. It starts with Jane fainting at college, we see this event take place while she was at school and then she wakes at the end at college. The blurb states that the main story is a memory but I didn't feel that this was made that clear when actually reading the story. That part is a little vague. This short story ends with Jane waking up after fainting during giving blood for medical reasons and realising something is wrong. It just came to a very sudden end rather than any kind of resolution and I can't say it really made me want to read on with this series. I'll give it a miss.

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disjointed writing, incomplete story... It never really goes anywhere, and really doesn’t have a plot or motivation.

[Maxine Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

OPINION OF BOOK: Strange Start is indeed just that, a strange start. The story wasn’t long but it was trippy. It was a little slow out of the gate and didn’t get really interesting until a third of the way in. There were times when I wondered why details were included because they didn’t lead to anything else. I was left feeling like this wasn’t a true short story but instead the beginnings of a novel cut off and thrown out as bait. The detail paid to mundane things was excruciating. I found myself soon skimming through the words. Until it got interesting. Once the action started it rolled quickly and swept me up in the uncertain chaos that was taking place.

DO I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK: If you are really into zombie stuff, I would say go ahead and read it.

SPOILER SECTION (WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT): Jane is getting her blood draw for a college wellness test and they aren’t having any luck. They are taking her to a bed when she passes out. Jane and a few select students from her high school are going to an experimental clinic because they have shown promise or interest in the medical field. Jane’s parents are both excited that she is on track to become the first doctor in the family. Upon arrival at the facility Jane’s class is shown an orientation video before they done scrubs and start dividing up. Jane is the first to go with a doctor, Dr. L takes her on his rounds with her where she notices weird things with the patients. Then there is screaming in the hallway. When Jane and Dr. L get there, a patient is biting a nurse on the neck. He has Jane use a broom to pry the patient’s mouth off the nurse, then as a gag to keep her from biting anybody else. Her class leaves early, and Jane has nightmares about the patient. She comes-to in the college health center, where they move here to a bed. She asks if they are done and the nurses reply hints at something sinister.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange Start is a great introduction to the Jane Zombie Chronicles. Jane remembers a day from high school when she went on a field trip to a clinic. While at the clinic Jane saw patients acting weird. Patients were attacking the staff and anyone who got in their way.

After witnessing the incident at the clinic Jane is thinking that she just may have to disappoint her mother with becoming the first person in their family to attend medical school. After the strange attacks at the clinic going to med school just may not be for her.

Strange Start is not the first book by Gayle Katz that I have read and it won’t be the last. I read the first book Campus Closed in the Jane Zombie Chronicles and loved it too. I love the world of zombies and can’t seem to get enough of it.

I would recommend Strange Start to all zombie fans. Pick up your copy today and start your journey into the world of Jane Zombie.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jane faints while having a blood test in highschool.
Several months later, now a college student, Jane goes on a day trip to a local hospital and cancer research centre operated by Scrycor. Strange things happen including an attack on a nurse by a rabid patient.
Jane begins to rethink her plan to become a doctor!
It's very short, disjointed, and not to my liking as I am more than a little squeamish where buckets of blood are involved.
"Strange Start" is a short prequel to the 'Jane Zombie' series - too short to judge.
2 Stars.

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

18 pages.

❤😱🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️ A GREAT BOOK

Jane is in the college infirmary.
She passed out during a blood test...

Seven months earlier :
Jane is getting ready for a school trip to a clinic where strange things are happening...

-----------

A beautiful discovery, fascinating to read, which tells the dangerously incredible adventures of a rather endearing teenage girl.

This prequel made me want to read more 🧟‍♀️

[Richard Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting short story prequel to Gayle Katz's Jane Zombie Chronicles. Being a short, I knocked it over in no time and found it interesting and it left me wondering how a possible zombie apocalypse is going to start in Ms Katz's series. So, now I have to read the whole series!!!

Looking forward to it as I think it has promise...........

[Mcf1nder_sk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, a short as it was, still managed to be a good introduction to Jane, the protagonist of the upcoming Jane Zombie Chronicles. Her experience in high school may have a pivotal affect on her actions during the series. Katz created a realistic hero, and her writing style makes it very easy for the reader to follow the adventure.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting into to a series of Zombie Chronicles and after reading this prequel the series sounds very promising. The book is very short and only takes about 30 minutes to read. Despite being short it is a great read and introduces Jane to us and gives a taster of what is to come. A well written book and I’m looking forward to reading the series.

[Zombie_Phreak · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's not much to say about this. A girl goes into a hospital for what I assume is an internship and she has a brush with what I assume is a zombie. It scares her and she goes on with her life but we can tell this isn't the end. Wasn't too impressed with this story but I will say the author did a great job describing everything and painted a very vivid picture of this world.

[Wyatt Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

A prequel usually introduces the situation, or what lead to the situation, or a character or something related to the story. This “prequel” was a mess. Imagine taking a random scene from a zombie movie and just plonking it down in a book and you would get this. It really did not inspire me to want to read any more of the series.

I received a free copy of this book and chose to write a review.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a short story flashback

It’s a short story flashback intended to get you to read the book. I think it missed its mark a bit because I wanted to read the book before I read the short story now I don’t know if I will. The whole story felt lacking context and the end seemed abrupt.

[✰ Charlie ✰ Chisholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

New author to me.

This book is really good it is a quick short read but gives you an insight of what the follow on books will be about and the character Jane. I like the writing style of this author.

[Jason Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth further examination

Short but sweet....this book will leave you wanting to see what happens or happened at the clinic....bit thin but guess that's the point just a slight cliffhanger hook

[Mkittysamom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird

Just a short sample but not enough to interest me or give me any idea wTF is going on.. some pre-Med high schooler goes to a cancer clinic and some strange things happen but is this a flashback..Shes premed in college fainting before blood taken? Makes no sense.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange start

I was just getting into the story and it was cut short. I am sorry but this is totally disappointing. Gone are the days when authors actually finish a story in a book. This is far too short to make into a sequel that maybe 2 percent get to read. So sad.

[Jessica Pritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Prequel

This is a good opening to the series. I enjoyed this book. The characters seem great, although I feel like the parents seem a little hard about her being a doctor. I can't wait to read the first book.

[Aya Blackwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading novellas before a long series it's a great way to get to know the authors writing style and the story before investing in a whole series. I liked this novella but the series which I intend to read eventually won't be the very next series I get into.

[mel toland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

Not a bad read. The story works well as an introduction into the world of Gayle Katz and her zombie mythos. And, you can't beat the price! NOT a waste of time.

[Precious Meeka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty good prequel. Granted book 1 came out first I waited and read this one so I can familiarize myself with some of the characters

[S.K. Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short intro to the author's zombie series. Jane goes to a clinic as an intern and witnesses some creepy things. A quick, enjoyable read.

[C.J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book. I'm not a fan of zombies or vampires, but I enjoyed reading this brief prequel, and caught myself looking forward to reading the main book.

[Mxnic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Good start to the series. Jump right into the adventure with Jane and hear her version of a zombie apocalypse!!

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

Can't wait to read the next one. This book was a good read. Hope the other books keep my interest like this one

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to this exciting zombie series! Loved it! This is set before the outbreak & just as it starts! Liked the style & ideas! Will look for more by this writer!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but SUPER short. Don't really understand why it's a separate book.

[Mike Wilshin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn't really make me want to explore other books

This was really to short to get a proper vibe for the series.
It's not horrible but it lacks the umph to make one eager for more.

[Elaine and Tess the Springer. I won’t be on GR for a bit. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.

An interesting story. I think if I was thinking premed going to that clinic would put me off. Worth a read.