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Zook
“Zook was a zoo ride! All of the characters are well written and you find yourself unable to put the book down! You might even find it a little sad.” ––NetGalleySome insane sh*t is taking place at the New Pueblo Funeral Home & Chapel. Drifter Ray Zook is about to regret he ever set foot in Tucson, Arizona, let alone allow himself to get hired on as the night man, answering the phone & hauling decedents.
535 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2016
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Kirk Alex
67 books14 followersKirk Alex’s stories & poems have appeared on internet sites such as: http://scars.tv/cgi-bin/framesmain.pl..., schlock.co.uk., www.fictionontheweb.co.uk, https://literallystories2014.com, et al. His horror novel Lustmord: Anatomy of a Serial Butcher was a finalist in the Kindle Book Review’s Best Book Awards of 2014. He is also the author of the 4-volume Edgar “Doc” Holiday thriller series, the multi-volume Chance “Cash” Register blue-collar/working stiff series, and a few other novels and story collections, as well as several volumes of free verse.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 14, 2023
A Thought-provoking Suspense Thriller Slow Build
This is an incredibly intense and offbeat thriller that took me on a wild ride through the dark underbelly of Tucson, Arizona. The story follows Ray Zook, a war veteran battling PTSD and haunted by the ghosts of his past. He’s also a drifter and after being mugged he ends up working night shifts at a funeral home, and from that moment on, his life takes a series of unexpected and increasingly surreal twists.
I don’t want to give away too much about the plot but I will say that it was a great read. The author, Kirk Alex masterfully weaves a web of intrigue and suspense as Zook becomes entangled in a sinister world of grave robbing, coffin swapping, and disappearing bodies. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing what will happen next. Alex's writing is a blend of dark humor and gritty realism, making "Zook" a one-of-a-kind reading experience. His ability to create an atmosphere of absurdity and unease while maintaining a compelling narrative is truly impressive. Ray Zook is both relatable and enigmatic, making him a protagonist worth following through the madness of the funeral home. As Ray manages his new job as the night man, answering phones and dealing with the deceased, I was taken on a journey filled with eccentric characters and strange occurrences.
My favorite thing about the novel is in its exploration of human nature, particularly in the face of bizarre and unsettling situations. "Zook" is not a book for the faint of heart, as it dives into some dark and unsettling territory. However, for anyone who appreciates unconventional storytelling and a healthy dose of dark humor, this novel is a hidden gem. Alex's ability to create a world that is both disturbing and strangely captivating makes this book a memorable and thought-provoking read.
This is an incredibly intense and offbeat thriller that took me on a wild ride through the dark underbelly of Tucson, Arizona. The story follows Ray Zook, a war veteran battling PTSD and haunted by the ghosts of his past. He’s also a drifter and after being mugged he ends up working night shifts at a funeral home, and from that moment on, his life takes a series of unexpected and increasingly surreal twists.
I don’t want to give away too much about the plot but I will say that it was a great read. The author, Kirk Alex masterfully weaves a web of intrigue and suspense as Zook becomes entangled in a sinister world of grave robbing, coffin swapping, and disappearing bodies. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing what will happen next. Alex's writing is a blend of dark humor and gritty realism, making "Zook" a one-of-a-kind reading experience. His ability to create an atmosphere of absurdity and unease while maintaining a compelling narrative is truly impressive. Ray Zook is both relatable and enigmatic, making him a protagonist worth following through the madness of the funeral home. As Ray manages his new job as the night man, answering phones and dealing with the deceased, I was taken on a journey filled with eccentric characters and strange occurrences.
My favorite thing about the novel is in its exploration of human nature, particularly in the face of bizarre and unsettling situations. "Zook" is not a book for the faint of heart, as it dives into some dark and unsettling territory. However, for anyone who appreciates unconventional storytelling and a healthy dose of dark humor, this novel is a hidden gem. Alex's ability to create a world that is both disturbing and strangely captivating makes this book a memorable and thought-provoking read.
February 15, 2023
This was an amazing book. The story was centered around the main character – Ray Zook and his experiences. Ray has been married thrice and divorced thrice. He is weak, ugly and broke. He wants to get to Ft. Worth but he gets mugged by a group of people and so he is stuck in a town with no money, no food, no job. He applies for jobs and also does panhandling to get by. But soon another lady claims that the spot that he is panhandling in is hers and she sends a guy to beat Zook up. Luckily for Zook, he already knows the guy that the woman has sent to beat him up. So Zook escapes somehow. Zook then goes to interview at a graveyard for a job. But the graveyard owners are a dysfunctional family. The story gets more and more interesting from here. It is a complete page-turner. Once you pick this book up, you can’t keep it down. It is extremely well-written and nicely paced. I would highly recommend this book to fiction lovers.
June 20, 2017
Zook By Kirk Alex is a general fiction (adult) read.
Some very strange things are taking place at the New Pueblo Funeral Home…
War vet, Ray Zook, a PTSD afflicted former grunt, is about to regret that he ever set foot in Tucson, Arizona. All he wants is to gain the courage to face his inner-demons and somehow explain to the widow of his best friend what really happened to him during their stint in the military. But when Zook is mugged and takes a temporary job working the night-shift at a crematory run by a couple of unsavory employees, those plans get derailed. After witnessing a series of disturbing incidents—like the shady “after hours” business taking place—that hurl him into an immoral world of grave robbing, coffin swapping, and even disappearing bodies, Zook finds himself caught in the middle of a twisted power-struggle to control ownership of the funeral home.If Zook hopes to escape this utter mess with his sanity intact, he must rise above his fears and confront the dark deeds before he ends up back in the looney bin…for good this time.
A good read with good characters. Although slow I managed to read it. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
Some very strange things are taking place at the New Pueblo Funeral Home…
War vet, Ray Zook, a PTSD afflicted former grunt, is about to regret that he ever set foot in Tucson, Arizona. All he wants is to gain the courage to face his inner-demons and somehow explain to the widow of his best friend what really happened to him during their stint in the military. But when Zook is mugged and takes a temporary job working the night-shift at a crematory run by a couple of unsavory employees, those plans get derailed. After witnessing a series of disturbing incidents—like the shady “after hours” business taking place—that hurl him into an immoral world of grave robbing, coffin swapping, and even disappearing bodies, Zook finds himself caught in the middle of a twisted power-struggle to control ownership of the funeral home.If Zook hopes to escape this utter mess with his sanity intact, he must rise above his fears and confront the dark deeds before he ends up back in the looney bin…for good this time.
A good read with good characters. Although slow I managed to read it. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews