Stalking the Zombie (A John Justin Mallory Mystery Collection)
*Starred Review* Resnick, the award-winning science-fiction and fantasy writer, has a treat for fans of John Justin Mallory, star of the novels Stalking the Unicorn (2008), Stalking the Vampire (2008), and Stalking the Dragon (2009): a collection of short stories featuring the private eye who, in Unicorn, wound up in an alternate Manhattan populated by all manner of fantastical creatures. Here, in stories written between 1991 and 2008 (with one never-before-published piece), Mallory tries to find out if a crooked operator is rigging elephant races; to track down a stolen blue-nosed reindeer; to cool the ardor of a love-smitten broom (yes, a broom); and to find the last known egg of a rare mythological creature. His clients include an old enemy; a woman who wants to reclaim the dream she gave away many years ago; and an undertaker who needs to get a missing body back. Mixtures of fantasy and private-eye noir, laced with healthy doses of humor, these are little nuggets of goofy perfection, absolutely guaranteed to make the author’s legion of fans cheer out loud—and then start clamoring for the next full-length Mallory adventure. --David Pitt