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jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Duke and Earl are speeding through the deep Texas night when Duke decides he’s hungry and stops at Gil’s All Night Diner. While he’s eating, zombies come lurching into the restaurant, intent on their own late-night snack. Lorraine, the owner, is prepared for this regular occurrence and hauls out her shotgun but then realizes she’s out of ammo. Earl tries to step in but he’s quickly overwhelmed. Duke finishes up his chili, transforms into a werewolf, and quickly puts an end to that night’s invasion. Earl, a vampire, climbs out from under the no-longer-walking dead and Lorraine offers them a place to stay if they’ll help her get to the bottom of the unholy happenings that are centered on the diner.
This book cracked me up! My best description is that it’s a version of Tucker and Dale vs Evil if Tucker was a werewolf and Dale was a vampire. I can’t watch many horror movies but that one made me laugh, just like this book did.
Earl and Duke aren’t quite as hapless as Tucker and Dale since they’re very aware of their own powers and limitations and know a lot about other paranormal beings. When they meet anything they can’t handle, they just call their buddy Hector, a warlock up in El Paso, and he sets them straight.
I think Martinez throws every horror trope known to man into this book, to an over-the-top, hilarious effect! Zombie cows; a nubile jailbait dark priestess; a horny teenage henchman; old, tentacled gods; and bloodstains that can’t be washed away all make an appearance.
Fred Berman’s narration is just as over-the-top as the book so he was a perfect fit. He reminded me a bit at times of Michael Rooker’s character in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
If you’re looking for a horror read that deliberately makes you laugh, this is the novel for you. I especially recommend the audiobook.
This book cracked me up! My best description is that it’s a version of Tucker and Dale vs Evil if Tucker was a werewolf and Dale was a vampire. I can’t watch many horror movies but that one made me laugh, just like this book did.
Earl and Duke aren’t quite as hapless as Tucker and Dale since they’re very aware of their own powers and limitations and know a lot about other paranormal beings. When they meet anything they can’t handle, they just call their buddy Hector, a warlock up in El Paso, and he sets them straight.
I think Martinez throws every horror trope known to man into this book, to an over-the-top, hilarious effect! Zombie cows; a nubile jailbait dark priestess; a horny teenage henchman; old, tentacled gods; and bloodstains that can’t be washed away all make an appearance.
Fred Berman’s narration is just as over-the-top as the book so he was a perfect fit. He reminded me a bit at times of Michael Rooker’s character in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
If you’re looking for a horror read that deliberately makes you laugh, this is the novel for you. I especially recommend the audiobook.
morenmoren's review against another edition
3.0
Silly and enjoyable as always. A few rough edges but totally forgivable.
louwheezer's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
gator468's review against another edition
3.0
Fast, light, easy read. It was enjoyable but I’d say maybe 2.5 stars for my taste
witkopa's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun read! I enjoyed that it seemed pretty aware of itself. Making fun of the werewolf /vampire rivalry, or pointing out that the men couldn't remember what other men wore and only focused on women. I think that anyone that loves the fantasy genre and can have a sense of humour about it will really enjoy this book.
el_viral's review against another edition
2.0
I read this quite quickly, and it had a lot of positive points, it was quite funny in places and combined some of my favourite aspects of the comedy horror genre. However, I can't give this more than two stars because of the extremely two-dimensional female characters, particularly Tammy and Loretta. It basically reads like "Tammy is attractive because she is young, slim and exotic, Loretta is repulsive because she is not young and she is fat. Did we mention fat. Let's talk about how fat she is every time we talk about her." Further, using the term "jailbait" just doesn't sit well with me. A shame - this could have been a 3 star or more book.
stlorca's review against another edition
4.0
A. Lee Martinez's Gil's All-Fright Diner made me laugh my ass off. Best buddies Duke and Earl pull off the highway in search of a restaurant; they find Gil's, a diner located at ground zero for eerie happenings.
See, Duke is a werewolf and Earl is a vampire, and weird crap just keeps happening to them. Mix in Mistress Lilith (a goth teen named Tammy) and her plans to invoke the Elder Gods and, well...Duke and Earl quickly find themselves up to their elbows in zombies, ghouls, ghosts, and evil spirits of all kinds.
If you liked Christopher Moore's zany horror novels, then this is right up your alley.
See, Duke is a werewolf and Earl is a vampire, and weird crap just keeps happening to them. Mix in Mistress Lilith (a goth teen named Tammy) and her plans to invoke the Elder Gods and, well...Duke and Earl quickly find themselves up to their elbows in zombies, ghouls, ghosts, and evil spirits of all kinds.
If you liked Christopher Moore's zany horror novels, then this is right up your alley.
stephaniedoke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
trid_for_kicks's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book delightful, refreshing, quirky, and fun. There's a vampire with a comb-over, werewolf with a beer gut, a teenaged high priestess casting spells using Pig Latin, and an ordinary sheriff who isn't fazed by ANYTHING. The atypical characters and unexpected setting starts you off on a curious and enjoyable tale, and I loved it!
frozenpeas42's review against another edition
2.0
A good idea but the terrible writing rather spoils it.