After reading "848" (Dark Bites, Part 4) and being very impressed by the author's writing and storytelling skills, I was eager to read "Windy City of the Dead", and also because I'm a big fan of zombie- and post-apocalyptic books.

This short story isn't so much a post-apocalyptic novella, but is mainly centred on the zombie-theme, which of course, I enjoyed immensely. If you're looking for a story with depth and characters you can relate to, then give this one a miss. What I liked most about "848" was that I felt sorry for the main character, but in this story I felt absolutely nothing for the chain-smoking protagonist. I didn't like or dislike her, but at least she was fearless and I admired her courage.

Of course my favorite parts of the plot were the zombie-bashing, but the bit in the story that freaked me out the most, amongst others - and which had me glued to the pages - was the little undead girl terrorizing the main character who is trying to make her escape from the 52nd floor of her apartment building with the lights constantly going out.

If blood, guts, splattering brains, mechanical clown toys, and a katana-wielding woman don't give you the heeby jeebies, then go ahead and spend a worthwhile fifteen minutes of your time reading this suspenseful, gore-drenched novella. I especially recommend it for readers who are new to this genre.

If you have a thing for zombie books, if you loved the movie "Zombieland" or the TV series "The Walking Dead" than you will be mad about "The Zombie Chronicles (Apocalypse Infection Unleashed Series)" by Chrissy Peebles.

The first chapter starts the action with Dean and his date riding a Ferris wheel when zombies storm the fair. Fast forward to a year in time where people are trying to survive. Dean, along with his brother is trying to save Val, the sister they knew nothing about. Dean has an experimental cure for her but the catch is he has to wait for her to turn before administrating said cure, but in the new world of `Zombie land' once someone has been infected then they are put to death before they have a chance to turn and infect others. Right before Val is slated to be executed Dean sneaks her out of the quarantined, top-security detention center to await her turning. Along the way they rescue a couple of girls, fight off numerous zombie attacks and just try to survive long enough to administer the cure that could save their sister.

Chrissy Peebles has outdone herself again with "The Zombie Chronicles (Apocalypse Infection Unleashed Series)". With this third series she has shown that she is a truly gifted, multitalented novelist. If this is the first book that you have read by Ms. Peebles than do yourself a favor, get back to the Amazon website and get yourself a copy of all of her books. Every one of the books in each of her series are different but highly entertaining and once you start one of her books you will not want to stop reading until that last page is turned. I started this book in the morning and before it was bedtime (to my disappointment) I had finished it. It was that difficult to put down. This is one author that will surely become a favorite of yours.

Whoo hoo! There is going to be a third book in the series which makes me very happy!

I highly recommend that you read the first book in the series before you start this one (I actually went back and re-read it so that I could remember all the details before starting the second one) although it could stand alone, you will be missing out on the opportunity to meet these characters and get to love them as they are developed.

SPOILER ALERTS if you haven't read the first book so stop, purchase it, read it, and then come back here...

Did you read the first one yet? Ok... then you can continue on...

Mike, our main character, is a former movie star/action hero who had been lead to believe that he had murdered his wife and then was sentenced to a mental hospital. There, he was kept so drugged that he had gaps in his memory as to what actually happened. When the apocalypse breaks out, he escapes from the facility with Dr Kate (a pyschiatrist)and some other patients (Pancake!). The first book details their adventures (ha!) to not only survive but get to the facility where his wife worked to try to find a cure or vaccine for the infection.

When this book starts, he wakes up in blank white room and wonders if it is all just another drug induced dream but nope, safe on a ship, with the vial of the vaccine. He and Kate are trying to decide who they should give the last remaining vial of vaccine to in order to help save the rest of the survivors in the US. The rest of the book follows their struggles to get to the Pentagon. Of course, just because they are safe when they start doesn't mean that they will stay that way :-)

The characters are highly developed and the type that you would like to have over for drinks one night. Very likable, very funny, very snarky (which is my favorite type of person) and best of all, not the "super hero can do anything personality" that you often find in these types of books. Mike is very self depreciating and has a great sense of humor and Kate keeps up with him the entire way. We get to meet new people that are as highly developed as characters which is very nice - many times, the secondary cast in a book are just that - secondary. Not in LZR.. And don't worry - there is plenty of gore, cool weapons, and action scenes - something for everyone. As a plus, although no one is asking for the "line" that Mike is famous for like in the first book, the author does manage to slip it in once ..

The author's sense of humor is refreshing and not forced. It flows naturally within the book and each of the circumstances that the characters encounter. The dialogue is written so realistically that you feel like you are actually in the same room taking place in the conversation.

If you are still undecided, make sure you download the sample - Mike's awaking in the ship and his subsequent discovery by Kate (and the mishap that occurs) sets the tone for the entire book and gives you a great look into what to expect in the chapters ahead. Personally, I am just trying to decide when to mourn the death of the family cow (and you have to read the book to get that reference :-)

Can't wait for the next installment!