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Free Zombie Detective Excerpt – Why?

Your Thirteenth Literary Gift Andy Zach Newsletter Zombie Detective Audiobook

Free Zombie Detective Excerpt is here. But why am I giving you this? Because this week, April 7-14, my book is on sale for .99. Get your copy here right now! Clickety-click! Enjoy!

P.S. I give away free books for any comments on the excerpt. Just click here.

Chapter 1 – Laid Off

From Zombie Detective, by Andy Zach
Your Thirteenth Literary Gift

“Sam, you’re fired.” Lisa’s green eyes met his brown ones.

“What? Lisa, you and I have worked together at the Midley Beacon for ten years! And we’ve known each other for fifteen!  And we’ve been married almost two months!”   

“Sorry Sam. Romance has to take a back seat to finances. Ever since the bottom dropped out of the zombie turkey news market since the first of the year, the Midley Beacon hasn’t made enough to pay your salary.”

“But that’s our salary. We share and share alike.”

“We can still live on my salary. And you can apply for unemployment, now that you’re fired.”  

“But what’ll I do all day? I can only play Fortnight for so long.”

“What did you do before I hired you, ten years ago? What did you do while I was in college?”

“Uh, mow lawns. Handyman repair. Stuff like that. But I’m a grown man now. I want more.”

“Hmm, you are a decent reporter.”

“Thanks Lisa. That’s high praise from you.”

“Well it’s the truth. You’ve grown from a crappy reporter, like 99% of all reporters, to well above average. I did lay off everyone else on the staff before you, you know.”

Free Zombie Detective Excerpt – Part 2

Your Thirteenth Literary Gift Andy Zach Newsletter Zombie Detective Audiobook
Audiobook cover – click to listen.

“Aw, you’re making me feel warm and mushy.”

“That’s part of good management, emotional manipulation.”

“Uh, you mean you don’t mean it?”

“Nah, I mean it. Emotional manipulation is much more effective if you’re sincere.  Say, why don’t you call Andy Zach and see if he has some royalties to share. We signed a contract with him to get half the royalties from his book Zombie Turkeys. We supplied more than half his source material right from the pages of the Midley Beacon.”

“I just called him yesterday. His sales haven’t paid for the cover yet, let alone the editing.”

“I told him to go with traditional publishing!”

“He’d still be trying to get an agent, let alone publishing his book. Who wants to represent a zombie turkey author?”

“So think of something to do with your reporting and investigative skills. That’s your first job. Get out of here and work on it at home. When I come home tonight, I want a decision from you. That’s a deadline.”

“Ok, Lisa. And thanks. You know I work best under a deadline.”

“Sure dear. We’ll go out for dinner tonight to celebrate your new career, whatever it will be.”

“I’m kind of tired of McDonalds.”

“We’ll spurge. We’ll go to the big city of Peoria. Maybe to the Country Time Buffet.”

“Wow. Thanks, Lisa.”

“Now, shoo! Don’t forget to clear out your desk.”

From Zombie Detective, by Andy Zach

Free Zombie Detective Excerpt – Still more goodies!

If you like these kinds of excerpts, subscribe here, if you haven’t already. As a subscriber, you can get my audiobooks for free.

You can listen to my audiobook for free here.

You can grab an autographed copy of my book by clicking here.

Check out these reviews!

Not a typical zombie story!

  • Overall    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story    5 out of 5 stars

Listener received this title free

Based on the title and the cover, I originally thought the detective was going to be a zombie back in the 30s or 40s. That wasn’t the case, but it was still a hilarious amateur detective story and I loved the absurdity of it all.

It’s a short read (or listen, since I listened to the audiobook), but is packed with Sam in crazy situations with all sorts of zombies. His string of good luck is as unlikely as the conundrums he finds himself involved in, but somehow it works for him.

Phil Blechman was the perfect choice for Sam’s character. Lauren Testerman did a great job channeling Lisa, the poor woman who has to manage Sam and all his antics.

I Love Andy Zach’s Books!

  • Overall    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story    5 out of 5 stars

Listener received this title free

I wasn’t quite sure where this book was going when it started but as it kept going I understood where it fit in the timeline. . . It was a great book. I laughed several times. Now that I’ve finished this one, I’m going to have to read my Undead Mother-In-Law again.

Andy Zach

Andy Zach in repose
Free Zombie Detective Excerpt
Andy Zach in repose
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Zombie Detective Excerpt 3

Your Thirteenth Literary Gift Andy Zach Newsletter Zombie Detective Audiobook

Zombie Detective Excerpt 3 – I’m sharing this THIRD excerpt of my book Zombie Detective with you, my readers. Enjoy!

Kindle Publishing
Sam Melvin, Zombie Detective

Do you want excerpt 1? Click here to Meet Zombie Detective Sam Melvin.

Do you want excerpt 2? Click to read Secret Blog Post – Excerpt of Zombie Detective

Do you want to listen to the audiobook? Click here for Zombie Detective Audiobook Preview.

P.S. I give away free books for any comments on the excerpt. Just click here.

Chapter 3 – Turkeys

Secret Blog Post
Sam Melvin, dealing with Zombie Turkeys

“Me too. Now that’s over, let’s talk business. About Maryland.”

“What’s going on, Lisa?”

“After the zombie turkey apocalypse, they kept a flock of wild zombie turkeys for hunters. Maryland’s gotten great tourist trade from that. The recent bad weather on the East Coast has kept the hunters down, and the turkeys are out of control. They’re hunting people in the suburbs of Hagerstown.”

“What can I do about that? That’s a problem for the National Guard. I’m a lover, not a fighter.”

“Yes, I know. The governor, Mary Landis, called me begging for your help. They can’t find the turkeys. I promised her that you’ve got a nose for zombie turkeys and you’ll find their hideouts in no time flat. They’re paying you two thousand per day for this, so don’t screw up. I’ve booked an evening flight to Hagerstown from the Peoria airport at six p.m. That gives you an hour to get there. Starting now.”

Zombie Detective, by Andy Zach

Zombie Detective Excerpt 3 – Part 2


The captain put up a map on the wall-sized video screen. It was dotted with little black symbols and bigger red ones. Looking closely, Sam saw they were miniature turkeys.

“The small black symbols are where we’ve found turkeys. The large red ones are where we fought them. The battles are all on the west side of Hagerstown. And so are all the turkeys we’ve found in the woods.”

Sam walked to the screen and peered closely at the symbols. “Hmmm. Look at the turkey attacks, Captain. Do you see the pattern?”

“It’s kind of a semicircular tangent to Hagerstown. What does that mean?”

“See this attack near Cearfoss Pike? Then this one on Fairview Road? Look how they follow the Conococheague Creek. All these attacks in Fairview Acres—it’s surrounded by a big loop of the creek.”

“So they’re following the creek.”

“Yes. Even zombie turkeys need water. And I’m sure there are lots of trees and brush around it.”

“So much so we haven’t bothered investigating the banks.”

“That’s where we’ll go then.”

From Zombie Detective, by Andy Zach

Zombie Detective Excerpt 3 – Part 3

Your Thirteenth Literary Gift
Zombie Detective Excerpt 3

After killing hundreds of hibernating turkeys later, they got a comm: “All units proceed to MD-40. Major turkey attack underway in Cearfoss, Maryland.”

“Crap. That’s past their previous attack in Fairview Acres. They’re getting closer to Hagerstown,” Jeff said.

Sam gunned the engine, and they mushed uphill to the access road where the MRAP awaited them. Jimmy trotted behind them. Another MRAP picked up Amy.

Sam drove a quarter-mile into the woods, when the first zombie turkey flew into his face, spurs first. They scratched the tough Plexiglas on his helmet.

“Gobble! Gobble!”

Sam speared the bird on his twelve-inch knife and continued to plow toward the MRAP. Hundreds of turkeys descended from the trees. Sam ran over some, pounding them into the snow. Jeff shot them with his M4 carbine. Sam again gunned the engine as he hit level ground. The flock followed them, pecking at their backs, as they hunkered down on the eight-wheeled vehicle.

Zombie Detective Excerpt 3 – Part 4

First Draft Complete
Zombie Detective Excerpt 3
Zombie Turkeys fly to escape to Zombie Turkey hunters

Sam had often thought zombie turkey victims looked like they had been assaulted by hundreds of pickaxes. Now he felt their beaks cut through his parka, slowly bleeding him to death. The cold air congealed his blood quickly. Next to him, Jeff had fixed a bayonet on his M4 carbine and sliced wildly, beating off the turkeys.

He saw the MRAP ahead and sped toward it. The flamethrower shot liquid flame over his head. He felt the heat on his exposed bloody skin.

Weak and faint from blood loss, Sam parked next to the MRAP as the flames shot out overhead. Jeff jumped out and opened the rear of the vehicle. Sam fell off into the soft snow between the vehicles. His last sight before losing consciousness was a huge tom turkey stalking toward him.

“Gobble! Gobble!”

If you like these kinds of excerpts, subscribe here, if you haven’t already. As a bonus for signing up for my newsletter, you’ll be able to get codes for free audiobooks. Get yours today!

Andy Zach

Andy Zach in repose
Zombie Detective Excerpt 3
Andy Zach in repose
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Zombie Detective New Excerpt – Book on Sale!

Your Thirteenth Literary Gift Andy Zach Newsletter Zombie Detective Audiobook

Zombie Detective New Excerpt–and the book is on sale! I picked out this excerpt of my book Zombie Detective with you, my readers. Enjoy!

But why now? Today is the start of the Advent season. EVERY DAY until Christmas I’ll post a gift for you. Come back tomorrow and every day until Christmas.

Kindle Publishing
Sam Melvin, Zombie Detective

Do you want to read another excerpt? Click to read Secret Blog Post – Excerpt of Zombie Detective

How about a third excerpt? Click here: Zombie Detective Excerpt 3

Do you want to listen to the audiobook? Click here for Zombie Detective Audiobook Preview.

P.S. I give away free books for any comments on the excerpt. Just click here.

Chapter 12 – Criminal

Zombie Detective New Excerpt
Criminal chapter icon

Sam walked into the office in Chicago Police Headquarters. “Superintendent Howell?”

“Yes. Please call me Gary, Sam.” A big smile creased his brown face below his glasses and bald head.

“Sure, Gary.”

“I’ve prepared a briefing for you. Here are the videos in time order.” Superintendent Howell pushed a button on his computer, and a wall-sized screen lit up, playing a black-and-white security video. A man wearing a ski mask punched a car window, opened the door, and took out a computer bag and a cell phone.

“That was the first crime. Here’s the next.” The same man knocked out a store’s plate-glass window and grabbed a television.

Zombie Detective, by Andy Zach

Zombie Detective Excerpt 3 – Part 2

Your Thirteenth Literary Gift

Sam watched all twelve videos with Gary Howell. They all happened late at night, all the break-ins done by the man’s fist. In the last video, taken from a policeman’s body camera, the man was shot, and he stumbled but kept running and vaulted over a six-foot barbed-wire fence, clearing it with a foot to spare.

“Whoa! I can see why zombiism is suspect number one.”

“Yes. We never found the bullets that were shot, and our video analysis show the man was hit in the leg and the back.”

“And then did the Olympic high-jump stunt.”

“Yes. We also analyzed his speed before the jump. Thirty miles per hour.”

“So an Olympic sprinter as well as a jumper. Have you interviewed any decathletes in Chicago?”

From Zombie Detective, by Andy Zach

If you like these kinds of excerpts, subscribe here, if you haven’t already. As a bonus for signing up for my newsletter, you’ll be able to get codes for free audiobooks. Get yours today!

Andy Zach

Andy Zach in repose
Zombie Detective Excerpt 3
Andy Zach in repose