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Cryptid Assassin #1
Hired Killer
"Quite," Banks told Taylor. "In your case, though, I will be your FBI handler, taking care of you and getting you anything that you need to get the job done."
Special Agent Niki Banks paused, narrowing her eyes at Taylor. "What?" Banks asked. "No lewd remarks about that? Something about handling, or how I'm going to take care of you?"
"Nah, I thought you would do a better job of it than I ever could," Taylor replied. "Besides, I'm only after empty relationships that have no meaning, where we both go away happy, so there's no need for any handling like that. From you, anyways."
"So, what does that make me?"
Taylor paused to take a bite from his food, which consisted of some bacon and syrup-covered waffles. "A toxic attitude with delusions of awesomeness in high heels and a need to feel dominant all wrapped up in an attractive gift package that smells like a body that's been left out to rot in the Zoo for a week."
Banks' eyebrows shot up. "Excuse you?"
Another bite of his food from his plate was taken before he continued. "I'm sorry, do you need me to make it more specific? Here, try this one then. You look like Eva Longoria, except more brawn than brains, probably can't spell Latina and obviously you don't care about showers. Which is okay; the government only wants you for your brawn anyway."
Banks narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, I smell like the three cretins you needed me to get rid of for you. Between the stench of fear and gasoline, I guess that does make for a pretty foul smell."
Taylor shrugged. "I showered at least."
Banks scowled at him. "You're a jackass."
"Correction," Taylor said with a grin. "I'm a jackass that can kill - what did you call them? Cryptids. A jackass that can kill Cryptids that's living here in the US, no less.
"Oh, great," Banks grumbled. "And here I am, stuck with a Jason Momoa wannabe Cro-Magnon Neanderthal with slightly better dental hygiene and a god-complex."
She sighed. "I don't get paid enough for this shit."
His name is Taylor McFadden, survivor of 83 trips into the ZOO. Now, he's retired, and yet his country needs his skills to save people in the country he calls home.
Can he build a company, put down roots and still bring the pain when the FBI calls?
When they tag him as The Cryptid Assassin, they weren't wrong. For monsters that go bump in the night, he is death incarnate.
Go up and click 'Read for Free' or 'Buy Now' and learn how one messed up soldier is America's greatest asset in the ongoing war against the Alien Goop.
NOTE: There is cussing in the book. In fact, there is a LOT of cussing in this book. There are consenting adults having sex (mostly behind closed doors) and a cynical ex-soldier just wanting to build a business in Sin City.
Not that Sin City... Las Vegas!
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2020
534 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
June 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this! At times I thought the dialogue was a little cheesy but over the story and the concept I thought was really cool!
March 30, 2020
Not one to leave bad reviews usually
The dialogue is terrible, and the author needs to do some basic research on military structure and discipline (as evident in the first 10 pages). I struggled to read this, but have enjoyed some of Mr. Anderle's other books so I kept reading in the hopes it would get better. I don't know how others have given it 5 stars, but I guess everyone's tastes and expectations are different. Will definitely not be reading the other books in this series.
The dialogue is terrible, and the author needs to do some basic research on military structure and discipline (as evident in the first 10 pages). I struggled to read this, but have enjoyed some of Mr. Anderle's other books so I kept reading in the hopes it would get better. I don't know how others have given it 5 stars, but I guess everyone's tastes and expectations are different. Will definitely not be reading the other books in this series.
March 3, 2020
The zoo again
I was so happy to find a new book added to the Zoo world I knew it was a possibility since it was hinted at but to have a zoo “veteran” get out and as far away as possible to be thrown back in sort of made for great reading which I have come to expect from Michael( can’t spell his last name even after reading almost all his books)as well as fully developed characters that pull you into their world and you become a part of.and desk is she a real girl or an AI? Can’t wait to find out. Taylor Taking on a dead strip mall as his place of business, and home is also great how many dead deserted ones are around love that idea too! Can’t wait to read the next one
I was so happy to find a new book added to the Zoo world I knew it was a possibility since it was hinted at but to have a zoo “veteran” get out and as far away as possible to be thrown back in sort of made for great reading which I have come to expect from Michael( can’t spell his last name even after reading almost all his books)as well as fully developed characters that pull you into their world and you become a part of.and desk is she a real girl or an AI? Can’t wait to find out. Taylor Taking on a dead strip mall as his place of business, and home is also great how many dead deserted ones are around love that idea too! Can’t wait to read the next one
February 4, 2020
I couldn't put this book down. Light romance, lots of action, focused and likable protagonist. If you like action, are kind of tired of the harem books and like to read stories where the good guys and bad guys are well delineated this is a good series for you. The action starts immediately but the meat of the story takes a few chapters to develop. These types of books are good for trips because they make the trip seem shorter. Anyway, I recommend this one, already on the second and am having a hard time putting that down as well.
February 19, 2020
The ebook reader stated that it should take me a little over four hours to complete. I felt it was perfect for my travels in two planes from 8 am to 1:30. It was. I read the final 25% after I arrived. Good quick read. Although, I feel that more knives should be used in the monster killing. I enjoyed the banter of the women characters with the main protagonist. It is weird that all women seem to be attracted to him on some level, but Taylor is certainly someone who I would like to see sketched in watercolors. Ginger Aquaman. Heck yeah.
November 15, 2022
Alien DNA is mixing with earth animals creating beasts that must be contained and put down. The marines call the containment zone the Zoo. Wonderful concept that gets glossed over. It lasts for a chapter or two and then the book goes on snooze mode as we follow Taylor McFadden through leaving the marines to start his own business only to be recruited by the FBI in the States because cryptids may have escaped containment.
If you've ever read a book written by a military guy where his character gets to act the way he would like to have acted but couldn't because rules, you've got the gist of this book. HK is the setup for the series. Most of the book could have been condensed into a couple of paragraphs but then we would have missed all the boob jokes and the I'm a sexy, tough guy moments.
At one point we wander into Taylor going after a serial killer covering his tracks by making his victims look like cryptid kills, which is where we get a sloppy shift into the killer's POV. He's a business guy from nowhere but can mimic a cryptid kill close enough to get McFadden brought in. Not believable, not well developed. We get one or two chapters on this? Lots of surface, which in itself isn't terrible for a military scifi story, but we move from the cool concept to a B movie script pretty quickly. Maybe book two is more on point. Doubt I'll find out.
If you've ever read a book written by a military guy where his character gets to act the way he would like to have acted but couldn't because rules, you've got the gist of this book. HK is the setup for the series. Most of the book could have been condensed into a couple of paragraphs but then we would have missed all the boob jokes and the I'm a sexy, tough guy moments.
At one point we wander into Taylor going after a serial killer covering his tracks by making his victims look like cryptid kills, which is where we get a sloppy shift into the killer's POV. He's a business guy from nowhere but can mimic a cryptid kill close enough to get McFadden brought in. Not believable, not well developed. We get one or two chapters on this? Lots of surface, which in itself isn't terrible for a military scifi story, but we move from the cool concept to a B movie script pretty quickly. Maybe book two is more on point. Doubt I'll find out.
July 23, 2023
Once again, the ZOO series has come through for me, and sent me a new series that had me gripped almost from the first paragraph!
The partnership, no matter how reluctant it might be right now, of Taylor McFadden, and Nicki Banks, is wonderfully funny for the most part, and totally hilarious at others, and I'm really loving the realism of it, too.
Talking of which, that's one of the things that REALLY appeals to me in this book: having realistic conversations between consenting adults, in every meaning of the word, brings such a breath of fresh air to my reading.
When Jeremiah Savage came across ZOO animals in an Urban setting, and in the USA, in the Team Savage series, I did wonder what would happen about that situation, because humans really do manage to mess things up, no matter how careful they are!
So, to find that Cryptid Assassin was the answer to this question, really made my day - if I can't read about situations within the ZOO, then I'm just as happy to read about them in a more Urban situation! Lol
So far, this book has been a delight to read, and I'm very much hoping that it'll continue so, rather than waste any more good reading time, I'm off straight away to start Book Two of this series: Silent Death, and I'll catch you on the flip side, to let you know if it lives up to the promise of book one!
The partnership, no matter how reluctant it might be right now, of Taylor McFadden, and Nicki Banks, is wonderfully funny for the most part, and totally hilarious at others, and I'm really loving the realism of it, too.
Talking of which, that's one of the things that REALLY appeals to me in this book: having realistic conversations between consenting adults, in every meaning of the word, brings such a breath of fresh air to my reading.
When Jeremiah Savage came across ZOO animals in an Urban setting, and in the USA, in the Team Savage series, I did wonder what would happen about that situation, because humans really do manage to mess things up, no matter how careful they are!
So, to find that Cryptid Assassin was the answer to this question, really made my day - if I can't read about situations within the ZOO, then I'm just as happy to read about them in a more Urban situation! Lol
So far, this book has been a delight to read, and I'm very much hoping that it'll continue so, rather than waste any more good reading time, I'm off straight away to start Book Two of this series: Silent Death, and I'll catch you on the flip side, to let you know if it lives up to the promise of book one!
November 4, 2020
I’d just listened to a podcast where Michael was talking with one of my favorite authors - Nathan Lowell. I’d finished a book I was reading and saw Michael’s book about a Cryptid Assassin and thought, “This should be interesting...” and more so when I remember reading about The Zoo - and if you haven’t read about it, do that first... then get this book and hold onto your hat as Taylor McFadden leaves The Zoo after 84 trips - more than anyone.
He’s out and starting a business to repair and update the mechanic armor that is standard wear for The Zoo if you don’t want to be eaten by a tree or any of the other horrors that love there. What could possibly go wrong?
Lots of fast-paced action and a new “anti-hero” who walked away from The Zoo but is now dedicating himself to keep the monstrosities from gaining a foothold on American soil. Added by and old friend and an FBI agent in charge of the task force to hunt Zoo creatures down and kill them, wow - Taylor is all that and then some and he’s a real kind of guy... but one you don’t wanna mess with.
He’s out and starting a business to repair and update the mechanic armor that is standard wear for The Zoo if you don’t want to be eaten by a tree or any of the other horrors that love there. What could possibly go wrong?
Lots of fast-paced action and a new “anti-hero” who walked away from The Zoo but is now dedicating himself to keep the monstrosities from gaining a foothold on American soil. Added by and old friend and an FBI agent in charge of the task force to hunt Zoo creatures down and kill them, wow - Taylor is all that and then some and he’s a real kind of guy... but one you don’t wanna mess with.
December 17, 2023
I've had a really good year in books. I don't think I was disappointed very often. This is a great example. Diving into this one I was a little worried. I've read several books with a similar theme and got third-degree burns from doing so. I didn't look into the reviews or really what it was about. I just saw the cover and dark humor as one of its tags and played along. It was a fun book, the characters are more caricatures than characters but there are shining moments where you get a real person. The monster battles were fun and the main character is foul-mouthed and funny. I had a really good time. I recommend just jumping in for this one. There isn't much pulse-pounding action but there doesn't have to be it's good for the short little story that it is, a dark story about a former military guy who just wants to chill away from the apocalypse.
There it is and there you have it.
There it is and there you have it.
February 21, 2021
I had the same problem with this that I do with a lot of military novels. There is exceptionally too much attention to details that don't matter. I get that the character is in control of his emotions, I don't need him to manage to sleep with every woman he meets to prove that he is heterosexual, attractive and confident. I don't need to know that he took out a 0% APR, with half down on a business loan to show that he is intelligent. I don't need to know that he is a computer/mechanical guru to understand he is skilled, or that he was intelligent enough to beat up a bunch of hoods trying to blackmail him to show that he's tough. The entire premise is that he is a soldier who fights creatures that escape "The Zoo" and he does that for the last 1/5 of the book.
November 2, 2021
Taylor McFadden was rude, very crude and obnoxious but he was a great character. He was also a monster killer, whether it was an alien monster or a human one. I can wait for the next book.
Sex was talked about but that's all. BUT for those of you who don't like the word FUCK, I don't think you'll be interested in this. The word was used 252 times, and that's a lot. I don't happen to mind that silly word but I know a lot of you think the world will end if that word is in a story. LOL
As for the narration: I'd never listened to Derek Shoales before but her did a wonderful job on this book. I would definitely listen to him again.
Sex was talked about but that's all. BUT for those of you who don't like the word FUCK, I don't think you'll be interested in this. The word was used 252 times, and that's a lot. I don't happen to mind that silly word but I know a lot of you think the world will end if that word is in a story. LOL
As for the narration: I'd never listened to Derek Shoales before but her did a wonderful job on this book. I would definitely listen to him again.
June 4, 2025
A nice spinoff from Heavy Metal 🎸
We meet an interesting character named Taylor McFadden, a big man who first manages to survive & thrive after 83 missions in the Zoo! (See Birth of Heavy Metal 🎸 & read before this for maximum effect)
Taylor has the drive, focus and intelligence to know what he wants from his life. He stands out from other people who happen to be huge, powerful men by using his talents to set himself up to repair & upgrade the mech fighting suits that are the only possible way for humans to survive in the Zoo.
As he is starting to build his business he meets a rather complex & unusual FBI Agent who has a special job for him…
We meet an interesting character named Taylor McFadden, a big man who first manages to survive & thrive after 83 missions in the Zoo! (See Birth of Heavy Metal 🎸 & read before this for maximum effect)
Taylor has the drive, focus and intelligence to know what he wants from his life. He stands out from other people who happen to be huge, powerful men by using his talents to set himself up to repair & upgrade the mech fighting suits that are the only possible way for humans to survive in the Zoo.
As he is starting to build his business he meets a rather complex & unusual FBI Agent who has a special job for him…
September 3, 2025
The premise had me hooked, and I went in with high hopes for something in the vein of Alien or Resident Evil. Unfortunately, it tried hard but didn’t quite hit the mark. The mech suits are supposed to play a major role, yet they’re barely described aside from a late moment when someone mistakes one for a biker. The action felt underdeveloped, and the world-building could have gone deeper. Still, the concept itself was strong, and with more detail and world building this could have been a much more gripping read.
January 23, 2020
Yet another entertaining series from the pen of Michael Anderle
Just when I thought Michael might be running out of new ideas after the squillions of titles he has written he comes up with another.
For once my timing was perfect - finished this on the 23rd (AEDT) and the next one is due for release today US Time - so it will be waiting for me to read on the way to work tomorrow.
Just when I thought Michael might be running out of new ideas after the squillions of titles he has written he comes up with another.
For once my timing was perfect - finished this on the 23rd (AEDT) and the next one is due for release today US Time - so it will be waiting for me to read on the way to work tomorrow.
March 7, 2020
Great fun as always in an Anderle book
I really enjoyed this book exactly as I expected to. Michael Anderle is a favorite author of mine and I really enjoyed the premise of Cryptid Assasin...a long term survivor of the Zoo leaves the military and starts his own business - and then ends up killing Zoo monsters as well. Enjoyable characters and non stop action. Off to purchase book 2 in this series! Please keep up the good work!
I really enjoyed this book exactly as I expected to. Michael Anderle is a favorite author of mine and I really enjoyed the premise of Cryptid Assasin...a long term survivor of the Zoo leaves the military and starts his own business - and then ends up killing Zoo monsters as well. Enjoyable characters and non stop action. Off to purchase book 2 in this series! Please keep up the good work!
September 14, 2023
Taylor McFadden is a former powered body armor soldier (they call them mechs, but it's just a glorified Iron Man suit). He fought against hordes of genetically altered and oversized animals and insects.
After mustering out he returns to the states to open his own business and is recruited by a special division of the FBI to hunt cryptids in the States.
A good start to the series, l'll see how it goes.
After mustering out he returns to the states to open his own business and is recruited by a special division of the FBI to hunt cryptids in the States.
A good start to the series, l'll see how it goes.
January 19, 2020
Good start
Interesting choice, a Zoo soldier as an FBI assassin? Well, in the wacky world of MA's mind it makes perfect sense.
Seriously, it is a good follow-up book to the Zoo series. Strong exciting characters, another crazy storyline, what more can one ask for.
Good fun reading, look forward to next one! Thx MA!
Interesting choice, a Zoo soldier as an FBI assassin? Well, in the wacky world of MA's mind it makes perfect sense.
Seriously, it is a good follow-up book to the Zoo series. Strong exciting characters, another crazy storyline, what more can one ask for.
Good fun reading, look forward to next one! Thx MA!
April 21, 2020
Great Start
Taylor is in some ways the ever practical expedient ex military man. He's the apex survivor. Throwing him against Zoo creatures on a smaller scale allows for a slightly less nerve wracking situation than going in the Zoo.
Fun read, but I'm behind, so on to the next book.
Taylor is in some ways the ever practical expedient ex military man. He's the apex survivor. Throwing him against Zoo creatures on a smaller scale allows for a slightly less nerve wracking situation than going in the Zoo.
Fun read, but I'm behind, so on to the next book.
January 18, 2020
Great first book in a new series
Great characters and interesting premise. Taylor managed to escape from the Zoo and now he just wants to set a business. The feds have other plans and he's back into the killing business. Looking forward to the next book.
Great characters and interesting premise. Taylor managed to escape from the Zoo and now he just wants to set a business. The feds have other plans and he's back into the killing business. Looking forward to the next book.
January 19, 2020
Nice fresh view on things...
Nice sequel set in the zoo verse. Tbh, the whole story stands up just fine with the whole mech repair business and vegas action. The hunting cryptid almost feels bolted on. But I'm sure the author is going somewhere with this...
Nice sequel set in the zoo verse. Tbh, the whole story stands up just fine with the whole mech repair business and vegas action. The hunting cryptid almost feels bolted on. But I'm sure the author is going somewhere with this...
February 2, 2020
What can a retired Zoo vet do for fun?
Work for the FBI of course Somehow,creatures are appearing in the states that seem related to things in the Zoo. So ex Zoo person Taylor is recruited to eliminate creatures appearing in odd places. A good read.
Work for the FBI of course Somehow,creatures are appearing in the states that seem related to things in the Zoo. So ex Zoo person Taylor is recruited to eliminate creatures appearing in odd places. A good read.
February 4, 2020
A fu##ing good read
A great story with hilarious by play between the characters. Loved all the insults that the characters voice of each other.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action and adventure.
I look forward to more from this series 😁
A great story with hilarious by play between the characters. Loved all the insults that the characters voice of each other.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action and adventure.
I look forward to more from this series 😁
February 5, 2020
This was an Effing great story
Now I have to read a whole list of books since this is the first of these Zoo stories I've read.
Looking SO forward to it!!!!
Howard S (the S stands for super fan)
Now I have to read a whole list of books since this is the first of these Zoo stories I've read.
Looking SO forward to it!!!!
Howard S (the S stands for super fan)
May 12, 2020
Liked book one a lot
Really have enjoyed the zoo universe books that I have read so far. I definitely recommend them if you enjoy action and aliens...even if the aliens are weird mutated earth fun.
Really have enjoyed the zoo universe books that I have read so far. I definitely recommend them if you enjoy action and aliens...even if the aliens are weird mutated earth fun.
November 13, 2020
Surprisingly Good
I wasn't too sure how this book would go as i love the Heavy Metal Zoo books but i liked this as bringing the urban environment into the mix works quite well and the main characters look like they could develop nicely.
I wasn't too sure how this book would go as i love the Heavy Metal Zoo books but i liked this as bringing the urban environment into the mix works quite well and the main characters look like they could develop nicely.
November 30, 2020
Good book
Good book. Interesting characters. Something different yet similar to the urban fantasy I've been reading lately, aliens instead of supernatural. Like the characters and want to see what happens to them next.
Good book. Interesting characters. Something different yet similar to the urban fantasy I've been reading lately, aliens instead of supernatural. Like the characters and want to see what happens to them next.
January 20, 2020
Good start
Waiting for book 2 to see how the series continues. Technically not a zoo story , but zoo related.
Hopefully a great series in the making here
Waiting for book 2 to see how the series continues. Technically not a zoo story , but zoo related.
Hopefully a great series in the making here
January 21, 2020
Fantastic
This is a fantastic new story in a new series and thank goodness the next one comes out in a few days. I can’t wait to see what else our hero gets up to. ENJOY
This is a fantastic new story in a new series and thank goodness the next one comes out in a few days. I can’t wait to see what else our hero gets up to. ENJOY
January 24, 2020
The Zoo in the USA, oh my!
Another great Anderle book. It's a human Mr Brownstone meets the Zoo. Great characters and lots of action. As good as it gets.
Another great Anderle book. It's a human Mr Brownstone meets the Zoo. Great characters and lots of action. As good as it gets.
February 3, 2020
Great
Fantastic and funny read. I love every zoo book I've read. While technically not a zoo book it's a close enough. Please keep them coming
Fantastic and funny read. I love every zoo book I've read. While technically not a zoo book it's a close enough. Please keep them coming
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews