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Best of 2026 Reviews and Some of Mine

Zombie Apocalypse Recom Indie Authormendations

Best of 2026 Reviews and Some of Mine. I just love it when my readers “get” my books. I’ve read 50 books so far this year. Read the reviews from my favorites.

Best of 2026 Reviews – Zombie Turkeys

Zombie Apocalypse Recom Indie Authormendations
Best of 2026 Reviews  -
Listen to an audiobook excerpt by clicking here.

Profile Image for Hannah Lawson.

Hannah Lawson

148 reviews

20 followers

February 17, 2026

Zombie Turkeys by Andy Zach is a wild horror comedy about one very unexpected apocalypse.
When small town reporter Sam Melvin discovers turkeys that won’t stay dead, what seems like a strange local story quickly turns into nationwide chaos. The birds can’t be killed, they just come back stronger, and soon the country is overrun.
Teaming up with his sharp, no nonsense editor Lisa, Sam chases the biggest story of his life while trying to avoid becoming turkey dinner himself. The tone is fast, gory, and deliberately over the top, mixing satire with full blown absurdity.
If you enjoy horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously and like your apocalypse with a heavy dose of dark humor, Zombie Turkeys is a chaotic, entertaining ride

Restarting the Apocalypse – Old Trials Anew – Book 4

Best of 2026 Reviews  -

Len and his friend Rich continue to prepare the world for a massive apocalypse of mana bursting out of storms and dungeons. They both got new lives after they died when this happened previously. They found themselves in their 18-year-old bodies with all their knowledge of years of surviving when the apocalypse first occurred.

Now, in the fourth book, they must prepare for and face the first dungeon outbreak. Powerful creatures, twice as strong as Len and Rich, come boiling out of the dungeon by the thousands.

And there’s a civil war going on in their country, at the same time.

Rich and Len have prepared a fortress and a city to withstand the outbreak. Will it be strong enough, or must they destroy all their work to save the world?

Best of 2026 Reviews – Summary Blurb

Civil war is brewing, but Harmonia’s dungeon might end Yorel before the first banner is raised.

Len steps out of Kreni Hall without Rick or the other Titans, Daniela, and Dennis.

King Eardin, whose death sparked the Plynthia Civil War in his last life, is alive and well, summoning Rick to a ball in Eskon City. A ball where he aims to reassert his dominion as King of Plynthia.

An outcome that neither his sons nor their supporters desire. Rick is needed, and Len will go. Now is not the time Goran wants to be drawing the attention of others. Not when their focus is on Harmonia’s growing threat.
They’ve changed the Titans’ fates, brought Dennis and Daniela into the fight, and pushed their skills past anything they had in their last lives.

It’s not enough. Harmonia dungeon spawns Rare grade creatures, over a hundred levels stronger than even Len. The Goran Army has been growing stronger, but not strong enough to face this threat head-on.

If the dungeon’s creatures ever break free, nothing on Yorel can stop them.

Threshold doesn’t just guard Goran or Plynthia—it’s the line between Yorel and annihilation. If the dungeon’s creatures escape, if Threshold falls, Yorel falls with it.

They’ve already watched Yorel die once. If they fail to control Harmonia, they’ll watch it happen again.

And this time, there’s no reset.

Best of 2026 Reviews – My Undead Mother-in-law


SciFi Story Fuel My Undead Mother-in-law
Your New Reviews
Best of 2026 Reviews  -
My Undead Mother-in-law cover. Click to get yours.

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I got a new review! Someone likes Diane Newby.

My Undead Mother-in-law: The Family Zombie With Anger Management Issues (Life After Life Chronicles)

imageBarbara

Fun adventure with some twisted humor

March 22, 2026

Once more, Andy Zach has transported us into his odd but wonderful world. This story is a bit different from his first two books, which introduced us to a new type of zombie and the regular folks who had to step up and deal with these regenerating monsters. This time, a new threat is introduced, and our heroes have to learn to control zombies in order to face it. Ian Fleming would have been a fan of this adventure. I loved reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an action-adventure mystery with a bit of twisted humor.

View this book’s reviews on Amazon

Summary Blurb

My Undead Mother-in-law back cover
Your New Reviews
Best of 2026 Reviews  -
My Undead Mother-in-law back cover

My mother-in-law’s a zombie. And she has anger-management issues.

My mother-in-law, Diane Newby, zombified by accident. She still volunteers at her church bake sales and cooks pot roast for her daughter and son-in-law, Ron Yardley. What ticks her off is when people don’t treat her like a normal human being—with glowing red eyes and super strength and speed. And if she doesn’t get her own way, look out. She explodes and leaves broken plaster and body parts in her wake. Nothing stops her: not brick walls, the federal government, or middle-aged spread.

But the world’s most powerful criminal plans to control zombies. His only problem with zombies is that they have way too much free will. He has a solution for that. But will it work with Diane Newby?

The world divides into pro-zombie and anti-zombie factions. Battles break out everywhere. Which side will you take? Who will live and who will die?

You might not survive this book. But at least you’ll die laughing.

Click here to get an autographed copy now. You’ll get your copy autographed by me, for less cost that Amazon. I also pay for shipping and taxes.

Click here to get an ebook or paperback from Amazon.

For all free audiobooks, click here to get them from me.

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Three Free Excerpts from Zombie Detective

Your Thirteenth Literary Gift Andy Zach Newsletter Zombie Detective Audiobook

Three Free Excerpts from Zombie Detective ! Do you want the whole book? It’s only .99 until May 10, 2026! Click here.

Kindle Publishing
Sam Melvin, Zombie Detective

Do you want excerpt 1? Meet the Zombie Detective Sam Melvin –

To give you the background on Zombie Detective, here are 3 excerpts from my first book, Zombie Turkeys. It’s also .99!

Three Free Zombie Detective Excerpts – Excerpt 1

First, let me give you the first description of Sam in Zombie Turkeys.

Bill looked up as a man came in—average height, maybe five-nine, medium build, not fat, not skinny, roundish face, hazel eyes, and brown hair. He would be hard to remember. But Bill had known him all his life.

Sam Melvin, the reporter for Midley Beacon, dropped in for his daily chat. Sam and Bill had been friends since elementary school, and they had both stayed around Midley all their lives. Bill, a short, stocky guy with blondish hair, had gone off to school and become a coroner.

Zombie Detective  cover
Zombie Detective cover

Sam had stayed in Midley after high school, doing odd jobs, until he got on with the Midley Beacon. As a reporter and blogger for a small-town weekly paper, Sam wasn’t especially busy, and he liked to socialize.

Click to get it for .99!

I have another Sam Melvin excerpt from Zombie Detective lower in this post.

Meet Sam Melvin’s High School Sweetheart

Here’s Sam’s view of Lisa Kambacher ten years after high school, when he was working for her as a reporter for the weekly newspaper, The Midley Beacon.

Lisa Kambacher, fighting zombie turkeys.

“Keep it down,” growled Lisa Kambacher, his boss and the editor of the Midley Beacon, and the only other employee at the small weekly newspaper. “I’m busy editing your crap.”

Sam swiveled his ancient, uncomfortable office chair from his laptop so he faced Lisa. He’d garbage-picked that chair from his neighbor in Midley when he was hired fifteen years ago. Her thin face, framed in brown hair, peered at the computer screen.

Lisa’s dark-brown eyes stared intently at what she was editing. Maybe it was the piece Sam had written about Mrs. Huntington and her award-winning afghans. He hadn’t enjoyed reporting that; he couldn’t imagine she’d like editing it.

Zombie Detective Sam Melvin’s First Meeting With Lisa

After typing up his story and sending it to Lisa for editing, he stared at her.

Because of his good grades, Sam’s high school English teacher had suggested he volunteer for the school paper. He’d gone to the newspaper “office,” a walk-in closet, and had seen a tall, slender girl pounding away on an old IBM PC. She’d looked up sharply, scowled, and said, “What do you want? Do you have a story?”

“Uh, um, I’d like to work for the newspaper.”

“Hmmm. I could use a reporter. Let me test you out. There’s a track meet today after school. Go to it. Get all the winners and losers and their feelings.Our readers care about them.Write it up, and report back to me here by seven p.m.”

“You’ll still be here at that time?” Sam asked incredulously.

“Of course. I’m the editor and head reporter and writer. I’ve got twenty stories to write, and I’ve got to report on the tennis match after school today. I expect you to work just as hard, if you want to stay on.”

“Uh, OK.”

“What’s your name, anyway?”

“Sam Melvin.”

“Sam, I’m Lisa Kambacher. Do what I say, and we’ll get along fine. Cross me, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”

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

Three Free Zombie Detective Excerpts – 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

Three Free Zombie Detective Excerpts – 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.

Three Free Zombie Detective Excerpts – 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

Three Free Zombie Detective Excerpts – Meet Author Andy Zach

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

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Your New Reviews and Some of Mine

Your New Reviews and Some of Mine. You gave me, Andy Zach, some reviews of my books. And I just reviewed some books in the past month, too. So, let’s share.

I posted my most recent review the other day on Goodreads:

Your New Reviews and Some of Mine – The Eye of the World

The Eye of the World cover
Your New Reviews

December 5, 2025

I first read this book in 1994, soon after it came out. I bought it because of the cover and the blurb. I thought it might be a clever knock-off of the Lord of the Rings.

Author Robert Jordan used some elements of that epic in the beginning of his story, but it is nothing like the Lord of the Rings–but it is still very good epic fantasy.

The book begins in a backwater town of Two Rivers, famous for sheep and tabac. Rand al’Thor, a sheepherder, and his two friends, Perrin ay’Barra, a blacksmith, and Mat Cauthon, a son of a horsetrader, have all been shadowed by a man in black, on a black horse. He then disappears.

That launches them into an adventure where they must flee their village for their safety and the village’s. But safety is the last thing they find.

In this fantasy world, time moves in a cycle, from Age to Age, repeating the same events from age to age. The cycle is dominated by the Dark One, imprisoned in his lair, and the Dragon, the hero for good. Creation is a pageant for the battle between good and evil to play out. Key personalities, like the Dragon, are reborn from Age to Age.

How the Dark One and the Dragon fit into these three boys’ lives is what this book is about.

Summary Blurb

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Moiraine Damodred arrives in Emond’s Field on a quest to find the one prophesized to stand against The Dark One, a malicious entity sowing the seeds of chaos and destruction. When a vicious band of half-men, half beasts invade the village seeking their master’s enemy, Moiraine persuades Rand al’Thor and his friends to leave their home and enter a larger unimaginable world filled with dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.

More of my reviews by clicking here.

Your New Reviews and Funny Memes

Chocolate Lab test
Your New Reviews

We own a black lab. We’ve never tasted him.

Your New Reviews and Some of Mine – My Undead Mother-in-law


SciFi Story Fuel My Undead Mother-in-law
Your New Reviews
My Undead Mother-in-law cover. Click to get yours.

 ·

I got a new review! Someone likes Diane Newby.

Hannah Lawson

136 reviews

February 25, 2026

My Undead Mother-in-law by Andy Zach is a horror comedy that fully embraces its ridiculous premise and runs with it.

Diane Newby is technically a zombie, but that hasn’t stopped her from hosting church bake sales or cooking Sunday dinner. What has changed is her temper. With glowing red eyes, super strength, and zero patience for disrespect, she doesn’t take kindly to being treated like anything less than normal even if “normal” now includes smashing through walls when she’s annoyed.

As society struggles to adjust to the existence of zombies, a powerful criminal mastermind sees an opportunity to control them. The only problem? Zombies like Diane don’t exactly enjoy being controlled. What follows is chaos, divided loyalties, and plenty of over the top mayhem.

If you like your horror mixed heavily with satire and absurd humor, My Undead Mother-in-law delivers action, laughs, and just enough undead madness to keep things entertaining.

More of Your New Reviews by clicking here.

Summary Blurb

My Undead Mother-in-law back cover
Your New Reviews
My Undead Mother-in-law back cover

My mother-in-law’s a zombie. And she has anger-management issues.

My mother-in-law, Diane Newby, zombified by accident. She still volunteers at her church bake sales and cooks pot roast for her daughter and son-in-law, Ron Yardley. What ticks her off is when people don’t treat her like a normal human being—with glowing red eyes and super strength and speed. And if she doesn’t get her own way, look out. She explodes and leaves broken plaster and body parts in her wake. Nothing stops her: not brick walls, the federal government, or middle-aged spread.

But the world’s most powerful criminal plans to control zombies. His only problem with zombies is that they have way too much free will. He has a solution for that. But will it work with Diane Newby?

The world divides into pro-zombie and anti-zombie factions. Battles break out everywhere. Which side will you take? Who will live and who will die?

You might not survive this book. But at least you’ll die laughing.

Click here to get an autographed copy now. You’ll get your copy autographed by me, for less cost that Amazon. I also pay for shipping and taxes.

Click here to get an ebook or paperback from Amazon.

For all free audiobooks, click here to get them from me.