Zombie Candy (Annie Ogden Mystery 2)
by Frederick Lee Brooke
You know early on, from the color of the inappropriate bra in the opening scene, that Zombie Candy is going to be a black comedy. Most people could sympathize with the male obsession for sex and zombie movies, but who would put up with a husband who doused every dish with cilantro?
Frederick Lee Brooke serves up another literary treat with this bizarre and comical tale of love and betrayal. Candace Roach enlists her best friend Annie Ogden (our favorite sleuth from Doing Max Vinyl) to find out what her husband is really up to on his weekly business trips – but their home-cooked aversion therapy gets out of hand and hurtles along an astonishing highway of the undead.
Home from Iraq but unsure about her future, Annie Ogden isn’t your typical woman sleuth. Her best friend, Candace Roach – gourmet cooking instructor, owner of a house in Tuscany – isn’t your typical wronged woman either. Candace teaches gourmet cooking, and loves nothing more than orchestrating a four-course meal full of flavorful surprises and artistic touches. A selection of her recipes is found in an appendix to the book.
But with each shocking discovery in the investigation of her husband, the friendship between Candace and Annie is further put to the test. Candace ultimately takes matters into her own hands and, in an elaborate ruse, stages a nightmarish zombie drama in which her husband plays the starring role.
Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a story that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy transcends any single genre. Embark on a journey that will tickle your taste buds and wake up your funny bone. What are you waiting for?
Reviews
“With action that takes us from the suburbs of Chicago to the forests of Tuscany, and lessons in Italian cooking and zombie movies along the way, Zombie Candy is a recipe for delicious fun. Just go easy on the cilantro.” –Chris Jay Becker, Author of Death in the Fast Lane (A King Leary Crime Novel)
“Zombie Candy is a tasty morsel of revenge, regret, renewal, friendship and love with a zombie invasion that’s as good and fun as a box of Good & Plenty.” –Lynn Messina, Author of The Girl’s Guide to Dating Zombies
“This book has all the ingredients of a perfect noir comedy – well formed characters, international locations, a fast moving plot with no brakes, and of course zombies. Revenge is a dish best served cold – and as a betrayed wife, master chef and cookery instructor, Candace cooks up the perfect recipe for the ultimate gazpacho.” –Emma Calin, Author of Knockout (A Passionate Police Romance)
“Brooke does a fantastic job of paying homage to the zombie movies we love in this hilarious parody. I laughed until my sides hurt.” –Martha Bourke, Author of Jaguar Sun
About The Author
Born and raised in the Chicago area, Frederick Lee Brooke attended Amherst College and studied creative writing at the University of Montana, Missoula, where he received his M.F.A. He has lived in France, Germany and Switzerland, and currently divides his time between Europe, where he lives with his family, and Chicago.
DOING MAX VINYL is Frederick Lee Brooke’s first novel.
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