Review of "Unnatural Acts: A Dan Shamble Zombie P.I. Mystery" by Kevin J. Anderson

The premise of this comical mystery series is that a freak event called the 'Big Uneasy' resulted in a spate of ghosts, zombies, ghouls, vampires, golems, werewolves, goblins, etc. joining Earth's population. Most of these 'unnaturals' live in a neighborhood called the Unnatural Quarter, but they interact with humans on a day to day basis as shop owners, pawnbrokers, laborers, hookers, and so on.



Dan Chambeaux, usually referred to as Dan Shamble, is a private sleuth that was killed by a bullet to the head. Dan promptly returned as a zombie, and continued running his detective agency with his ghost girlfriend Sheyenne and his human partner Robin Dyer - a skilled attorney.



In this second book in the series, Dan and his colleagues assist a variety of creatures in the unnatural community; help solve a murder; and fight a bigoted right-wing Senator's proposed legislation.....which slashes the rights of unnaturals. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Located in the Unnatural Quarter, the 'Dan Shamble Detective Agency' usually draws cases from the supernatural population. In this book the agency's clients include:

- Bill the golem, who - along with his golem friends - is being compelled to work 24/7 in a factory that makes cheap souvenirs.



- Neffi, a mummy madam who runs the Full Moon Brothel. Neffi's establishment - which employs vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc. - is being sabotaged by intolerant humans.



- A mixed-race couple (vampire and werewolf) who face housing discrimination when they try to move out of the Unnatural Quarter.



- Alphonse Wheeler, a bank robber who died in prison and returned as a ghost. Alphonse wants advice about keeping the loot from his big heist.



- William Shakespeare, whose 'Shakespeare in the Dark' theatre - which features ghost actors - was damaged in a deliberate fire.



- Francine - a kindly human bartender who'll lose her job when 'The Goblin Tavern' is gentrified by its new corporate owners. Francine is a favorite of the unnaturals.



- Hope Saldana, whose zombie employee, Jerry, sold his heart and soul to a pawnshop. Now merely a shell of his former self, Jerry needs his vital parts back. When Dan attempts to retrieve these items he discovers a murder..... and sets out to find the killer.



Meanwhile, Sheyenne's good-for-nothing thief of a brother shows up, apologizing for missing her funeral and trying to cadge money from her. Sheyenne gives him the benefit of the doubt, but Dan has his suspicions.



On top of all that, loudmouth Senator Rupert Balfour is organizing demonstrations to support his anti-unnaturals legislation, which would strip the supernaturals of almost all their rights. Attorney Robin Dyer is on the job though, filing motion after motion against him.



There's some romantic angst in the story since Dan can't touch ghostly Sheyenne, and spends a little too much time helping a beleaguered succubus. There are also fun descriptions of Dan's 'grooming regimen', which requires make-up artists to hide his bullet hole, plasma to hydrate him, and tailors and seamstresses to sew him together and keep him presentable.



I enjoyed this humorous light mystery and would recommend it to fans of paranormal suspense.



Rating: 3 stars

Review of "The Book of Joe: About a Dog and his Man" by Vincent Price

                                                                          Vincent Price

Vincent Price is probably best known for his roles in campy horror movies like House of Wax, The Fly, The Tingler, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, and many more. Price was also a well known London stage actor, Broadway thespian, and star of a wide variety of mainstream films.

Vincent Price in 'The Fly"


Vincent Price in "The Tingler"


Vincent Price in "The Abominable Dr. Phibes"

In his private life Price was a great animal lover, and this book is about his dog Joe, perhaps the favorite of his many pets. In 1948 Price bought Joe - a short-legged, multi-colored, sweet-faced mutt - from a pet store for the bargain price of $3.50. 🙀



Those were different times, and Joe was allowed to roam freely through his California neighborhood, sometimes staying away for days at a time. At one point Joe fathered a litter of pups at the home of actor Barry Sullivan and started spending most of his daylight hours there. Sullivan and his wife, thinking Joe was homeless, "adopted" him and named him Brownie. This led to an awkward incident when the Sullivans went to the Price home for dinner and saw their dog Brownie there! Everyone had a laugh and things turned out fine.


Barry Sullivan

When Price injured his eye Joe demonstrated the instincts of a therapy dog. He lay on Price's bed or hovered at his feet day and night. Though Price inadvertently (and repeatedly) kicked Joe, stepped on his tail, trod on his paws, tripped over him, bumped into him, etc., nothing would deter the loyal pet's vigil. Joe demonstrated similar concern when Cousin Georgia, a cancer-stricken family friend, stayed with the Prices during her last months. Except for eating and walkies, Joe stayed right by her side until the end.



Price's wife Mary preferred pedigreed dogs to mutts and hoped to get a white puppy from a breeding pair of standard poodles. Instead Mary got a gray pup she named Prudence. Prudence was a lovable gal who - disdaining the cold stone floors of the Price home - would settle her fanny firmly on Joe's prostrate body. After Prudence was bred, nine additional canines entered the Price household (though no white ones).





Mary was fond of alliteration and "Prudence Price's" babies were dubbed Paderewski, Pinto, Pansy, Patience, Penelope, Picayune, Percival, Pablo, and Pasquale - and to keep with the theme Joe was nicknamed PJoe. Following their mommy's example, the "P" youngsters took to sitting on Joe (ha ha ha). In time, seven of the pups were adopted out and the Prices became a three-dog-family, along with six birds and seven goldfish. 🐠

Price also tells stories about other animals he owned, met, or worked with. As a child, for example, Vincent inherited his sister's Boston bull terrier, Happy, when she got married. Having a flair for drama, young Vincent staged theatrical productions and - using household items like fur ear muffs, a lampshade, and cheap earrings - dressed Harry up as historical characters, including Cleopatra and Mary, Queen of Scots.







Later, while working in London, Price adopted a Siamese cat mix he named Albert the Good (for Price's role as Prince Albert in "Victoria Regina"). Later, back in the U.S., Albert roamed the roofs of New York, making friends far and wide. When Price adopted a bulldog named Johnny, Albert (seemingly) decided the apartment wasn't big enough for both of them and disappeared. Price eventually got an anonymous note affirming that Albert now had a good home...but would be returned if Johnny got the boot. Price decided to keep the dog.



Price has additional humorous stories about befriending a goat (who got an Eskimo Pie out of the deal), and working with a horse, a cigarette-smoking chimp (he preferred menthols), a camel (who had a crush on the movie star), and bad oysters :)



One story, about Price buying his son two Easter chicks that grew up to be shoulder-riding Bantam roosters, is hilarious. I especially relate to this story because - after my grade-school son brought home two Easter chicks from school - our family had a (reluctant) years long relationship with pet chickens and roosters.🐔





Price has more stories about Joe, whom he dearly loved...and who loved him in return. Joe's finest moment may well have occurred after an indigent alcoholic odd-job man, recklessly riding a bike, collided with the dog. Knowing Price was a famous actor the old fellow sued for $13,000 - claiming Joe attacked him. Poor Joe endured the following trial with great dignity, even providing a few laughs for the judge and jury. And he won!



Price intersperses his many entertaining animal stories with tidbits about his personal life, professional roles, and interest in collecting art. Price is an excellent writer with a wonderful command of the language and a consistently droll delivery. To add to the fun, the prose is interspersed with humorous cartoon drawings of scenes from the stories.



I enjoyed the book from the first page to the last - including the preface by Price's daughter Victoria and the introduction by actor Bill Hader. I'd highly recommend "The Book of Joe" to dog lovers and anyone else who likes a good story.


Bill Hader

Thanks to Netgalley, the author's estate, and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "Born With Teeth: A Memoir" by Kate Mulgrew

Kate Mulgrew

Inspired to become an actress in grade school, Kate Mulgrew strove to fulfill that goal and - by dint of ambition, talent, hard work, and good luck - succeeded. Kate grew up in a large Irish family with somewhat eccentric parents - an artistic mom and a free-spirited dad - who drank hard, partied hard, and had child after child. Though there was apparently much love in the family, there was never enough food or attention to the children. The tragic illness of a young sister made the situation even more difficult.



Yearning to get professional training as an actress, Kate left home at a young age to go to school and study her craft, and soon landed roles that kick-started her career. These early parts of the book are compelling and touching.



While pursuing her career Kate had a series of romantic entanglements. It seems that Kate was prone to falling in love, and when a man attracted her she made it her business to snag him - even if he was involved with another woman. In one case this led to an unexpected pregnancy and a daughter given up for adoption, an event which haunted Kate for decades.

Kate also married and had two sons whom she apparently loved, but neglected for her career.







The marriage soured and came to a difficult end and Kate was soon after another man. Kate’s inevitable breakups were as dramatic as the beginnings of her relationships, and led to much heartache. Kate describes all her romances in some detail and I felt they took up too much of the book.


Kate Mulgrew with her first husband Robert Egan


Kate Mulgrew with her second husband Tim Hagan

Intermingled with the romances, however, were touching/amusing scenes in which Kate interacted with friends and family or hobnobbed with fellow actors. She talks about getting the role of Captain Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager and narrates a compelling tale about a trip she took with her mother prior to her mom's serious illness. These sections were interesting and it would have been great to read more of them.


Kate Mulgrew as 'Captain Janeway' in 'Star Trek: Voyager'


Kate Mulgrew as 'Red' in 'Orange is the New Black'

All in all the book is just okay for me. I felt like some of the scenes didn’t ring true (perhaps too much author’s license) and that the story was too much about Kate’s love life and too little about her professional life. Still, the book is worth reading and gives some insight into the life of a talented and successful woman.

Rating: 3 stars