Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Avery Nolan: Private Dick of the Dead

In homage to the pulp fiction and hard boiled detective dime store novels of the 1950's and 1960's, Tony Faville brings us a new look on those stories of the past. It is 1959, in New York City, the Cold War is in full bloom, and the Red Scare is everywhere. Private Investigator Avery Nolan is hired by the daughter of a missing research scientist to find him. What he finds instead is the KGB, possible government coverup, and the undead ready to tear the United States apart from the inside.

In Tony Faville's second book, he does a fantastic job at grabbing readers from two separate genres, classic crime and zombies! It also would be enjoyable for those of us who enjoys a good conspiracy story. The story itself is well written and tells of an ex GI and ex police officer who is now a detective who seems tough as nails, but like all good 50's detectives, has a softer side. It goes into a cold-war conspiracy, the regeneration of the dead, and has a whole world of corruption as a big red cherry on top of this crime drama sunday. I love how we get to know who Avery Nolan is and what makes him this way without ever being bored. The most remarkable part of the whole novella (just around 120 pages, making it a quick and easy read) is how true Tony stays in keeping that 50's noir theme throughout the entire story (in fact, the term "Zombie" is never used since it really wasn't around back then...instead, they are called "Ghouls", which I think adds that extra layer of realness). Overall, Avery Nolan: Private Dick of the Dead is a great fast-paced noir book with great ghoulish undertones and a sense of humor mixed in with the action and suspense. Think Dick Tracy mixed with Resident Evil! You can get your copy HERE.