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Zoo of the Dead and other horrific tales
Ever wondered what it would be like to see a loved one in a zoo exhibit? How about where Death takes his girlfriend on their dates, or what kind of client a zombie private detective might have? Well, wonder no more! 'Zoo of the Dead and other horrific tales' compiles six of Iseult Murphy's horror shorts for the first time in one collection, together with three brand new toe curling tales.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2021
4 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Iseult Murphy
32 books142 followersIseult Murphy started writing at a young age, entertaining her family with magazines that she wrote and illustrated as a child. In her teens, she won several local and national short story competitions, including three time overall winner of the RDS Young Science Writers competition, and had work placed in international writing competitions such as the BBC Wildlife Poetry competition.
Iseult is drawn to horror, fantasy and science fiction, as she feels that the most difficult aspects of life can be best explored through the lens of speculative fiction.
She currently resides on the east coast of Ireland with four dogs, a couple of humans and a cat. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, art and spending time with her animals.
Iseult’s speculative fiction short stories have appeared in over two dozen venues, most recently in Liquid Imagination and Frost Fire Worlds.
Iseult is drawn to horror, fantasy and science fiction, as she feels that the most difficult aspects of life can be best explored through the lens of speculative fiction.
She currently resides on the east coast of Ireland with four dogs, a couple of humans and a cat. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, art and spending time with her animals.
Iseult’s speculative fiction short stories have appeared in over two dozen venues, most recently in Liquid Imagination and Frost Fire Worlds.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 18, 2022
This was a fantastic first read of 2022. I don't usually pick up short story anthologies, but this one caught my curiosity... and then totally held it till the last page. Everyone one of these unique stories really embodies the best parts of the horror genre from a variety of angles. They kept me guessing while giving me those creepy, suspenseful, disturbing (hello, "Checking Out") and in some cases, goofy (I'm looking at you, Dead Jimmy) vibes. I also really enjoyed the author's note at the end of each discussing where she got her inspiration (Justice for Twinkie!)
Highly recommend for anyone looking for some great horror short fiction, and I will definitely read more from Iseult Murphy in the future. Minor content warning for body horror and suicidal scenes.
Highly recommend for anyone looking for some great horror short fiction, and I will definitely read more from Iseult Murphy in the future. Minor content warning for body horror and suicidal scenes.
May 19, 2022
I read this collection of nine horror short stories in one sitting late into the night, and was highly entertained by the variety! From zombies and selkies, to vampires, succubus, strange hotel rooms, and a date with Death, no two stories are alike and most end with an enjoyable twist.
The tales aren’t overly gruesome, but they are definitely creepy. After each story, the author provides a brief description of her inspiration. Three of my favorites were Death’s Girlfriend, Checking Out, and Dead Jimmy and the Selkie. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy horror short stories with lots of originality and variety.
The tales aren’t overly gruesome, but they are definitely creepy. After each story, the author provides a brief description of her inspiration. Three of my favorites were Death’s Girlfriend, Checking Out, and Dead Jimmy and the Selkie. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy horror short stories with lots of originality and variety.
April 20, 2020
Review coming soon...
June 10, 2019
Zoo of the Dead:
Harrison and Keith visit the Zoo of the dead in the Transformative Oddities section, they hurry along to see the creatures coming out of their shed. I was thoroughly engrossed in Harrison’s connection to one of them. That was a pretty cool twist at the end of the story. Also, I really enjoyed how the author sectioned off the zoo in colors and titles. It gave it a real feel of walking into zones. The descriptions and imagery were a nice detail to give it that horror feel. I enjoyed this story and its ability for a few moments to raise the hair on my arms.
The Vilage Shop:
Short but sweet and to the point. Serves him right.
Topper’s Shop:
The shop reminds me of a shop I visited in my childhood, without the creepy guy and the magic. I found this story to be a bit sad but interesting. If we all could give up what Sarah did to find happiness, I think it would be a little brighter place.
Clothes Make the Man:
Tracy’s story was like every girl in the club vowing for attention from a man using her sexuality. Only this time, she got the losing end of the stick. Ha. That was a pretty interesting ending. I love it.
Death’s Girlfriend:
A cleverly cute way to tell a story about the grim reaper and his equally demented girlfriend. I have to say, that’s one of the most intriguing storylines I’ve read. Cute, bubbly, and dreadfully deadly. Yikes, what a way to go.
Who’s for Dinner? :
I loved this story. I felt it had the mesh of bringing your girlfriend to meet your mother and the end of a horror movie. It had the perfect amount of emotion and I enjoyed the ending. I did not expect the twist of Lucy’s identity. Pretty awesome stuff. Poor stupid Phillip. Ha!
Felus Demonicus:
I love shapeshifting and animals who appear to be dead relative stories. I’ve read things like it before, but I enjoyed the harsh and eerie way the author told this story. She has a gift for storytelling and intertwining the horror into the story in subtle ways.
Checking Out:
I really enjoy how the author paints a picture. I can visualize and see exactly what Karen is doing while she moves from one task to the next. I admire that in a writer. The story was compelling and actually quite a statement. It hit something inside of me to know that struggles leave us feeling hopeless and we wish for death. Though, when you think of what you leave behind, you realize that it’s worth the fight. Great message and great storytelling.
Dead Jimmy and The Selkie:
Ha! That was a cute story. I really loved the author’s humor.
My Thoughts as a whole:
I enjoyed the creativity, storytelling, and horror mixed with a bit of humor. I enjoyed that the author took the time to make the stories relatable and enjoyable. The ability to tell a story and keep you engaged was great. I think the way she twines from one story to another makes me want to continue reading it more and more. I recommend this highly to fellow readers.
Harrison and Keith visit the Zoo of the dead in the Transformative Oddities section, they hurry along to see the creatures coming out of their shed. I was thoroughly engrossed in Harrison’s connection to one of them. That was a pretty cool twist at the end of the story. Also, I really enjoyed how the author sectioned off the zoo in colors and titles. It gave it a real feel of walking into zones. The descriptions and imagery were a nice detail to give it that horror feel. I enjoyed this story and its ability for a few moments to raise the hair on my arms.
The Vilage Shop:
Short but sweet and to the point. Serves him right.
Topper’s Shop:
The shop reminds me of a shop I visited in my childhood, without the creepy guy and the magic. I found this story to be a bit sad but interesting. If we all could give up what Sarah did to find happiness, I think it would be a little brighter place.
Clothes Make the Man:
Tracy’s story was like every girl in the club vowing for attention from a man using her sexuality. Only this time, she got the losing end of the stick. Ha. That was a pretty interesting ending. I love it.
Death’s Girlfriend:
A cleverly cute way to tell a story about the grim reaper and his equally demented girlfriend. I have to say, that’s one of the most intriguing storylines I’ve read. Cute, bubbly, and dreadfully deadly. Yikes, what a way to go.
Who’s for Dinner? :
I loved this story. I felt it had the mesh of bringing your girlfriend to meet your mother and the end of a horror movie. It had the perfect amount of emotion and I enjoyed the ending. I did not expect the twist of Lucy’s identity. Pretty awesome stuff. Poor stupid Phillip. Ha!
Felus Demonicus:
I love shapeshifting and animals who appear to be dead relative stories. I’ve read things like it before, but I enjoyed the harsh and eerie way the author told this story. She has a gift for storytelling and intertwining the horror into the story in subtle ways.
Checking Out:
I really enjoy how the author paints a picture. I can visualize and see exactly what Karen is doing while she moves from one task to the next. I admire that in a writer. The story was compelling and actually quite a statement. It hit something inside of me to know that struggles leave us feeling hopeless and we wish for death. Though, when you think of what you leave behind, you realize that it’s worth the fight. Great message and great storytelling.
Dead Jimmy and The Selkie:
Ha! That was a cute story. I really loved the author’s humor.
My Thoughts as a whole:
I enjoyed the creativity, storytelling, and horror mixed with a bit of humor. I enjoyed that the author took the time to make the stories relatable and enjoyable. The ability to tell a story and keep you engaged was great. I think the way she twines from one story to another makes me want to continue reading it more and more. I recommend this highly to fellow readers.
August 29, 2019
This is a collection of short stories that lean heavily into horror and death. Some are short and others longer, but each has a unique tale to tell and usually ends with a twist. I enjoyed it even though my usual genre is not horror. The stories are bittersweet but full of well written narrative and dialogue. Don't fall for any character in the stories, they will likely not make it. Overall, an enjoyable read and I would recommend this to those who love the genre AND those who like a quick, fast ending story sure to make you go, "What the heck?" in a good way.
March 2, 2019
Iseult Murphy has written a delightfully scary book of short stories. One tells of a dark future where twisted versions of death are on display, another one shows us a day in the “life” of Death personified. My favorite is “Who’s for dinner”, a story containing a terrible twist within a terrible twist!
July 8, 2022
Zoo of the Dead is a collection of short stories by Iseult Murphy. This is the second book I've read from this author, since I so enjoyed her other book, and I love short horror stories, this was an easy purchase. I wasn't disappointed!
Remember when reading these—they are not novellas, but very short stories. They are snapshots of horrific premises. At times the stories ended satisfyingly, at other times I was dying for more.
The first thing that stands out most with these stories is the unpredictability. I really had no idea where each of these stories was going to take me, and I was always surprised by the end. The second thing is the scope of imagination. A "zoo" park for zombies- THAT needs to be a full novel. A zombie Uncle that helps a selkie find her skin... a cat that is an evil reincarnation of a grumpy old relative... I can't help but wonder where the author comes up with these ideas!!
I didn't find any errors or typos in the writing, which means this is professionally done or the author painstakingly worked these out. However, there is nothing elevated or especially deep in the prose, but that is just the particular style. The upside is that it is extremely easy to read, and never once did I trip up or have to re-read a sentence.
Highly recommended for short story fans, and I will be looking into more stories from this author
Remember when reading these—they are not novellas, but very short stories. They are snapshots of horrific premises. At times the stories ended satisfyingly, at other times I was dying for more.
The first thing that stands out most with these stories is the unpredictability. I really had no idea where each of these stories was going to take me, and I was always surprised by the end. The second thing is the scope of imagination. A "zoo" park for zombies- THAT needs to be a full novel. A zombie Uncle that helps a selkie find her skin... a cat that is an evil reincarnation of a grumpy old relative... I can't help but wonder where the author comes up with these ideas!!
I didn't find any errors or typos in the writing, which means this is professionally done or the author painstakingly worked these out. However, there is nothing elevated or especially deep in the prose, but that is just the particular style. The upside is that it is extremely easy to read, and never once did I trip up or have to re-read a sentence.
Highly recommended for short story fans, and I will be looking into more stories from this author
January 7, 2020
Wow!
Refreshingly original, quirky, hilarious, unpredictable and macabre. I could never have guessed how any tale in this anthology would end.
Refreshingly original, quirky, hilarious, unpredictable and macabre. I could never have guessed how any tale in this anthology would end.
March 26, 2021
I have read this book previously and had enjoyed it. I knew what was in store but upon reading it again, in the dark, as a bedtime read, I could truly appreciate her craft for frightening story-telling and manages to do the one thing that only Stephen King's IT had ever done- made me paranoid there was something lurking in the dark, which is exactly the type of feeling I love when I read a horror story (and I have Felus Demonicus to thank for that). For each story, I'm going to write a small review on it:
Zoo of the Dead
I really enjoyed this. I really felt Harrison was such a likeable character and I loved the twists in the story. Another thing I really loved was the idea of a supernatural zoo. It was great to see it written in such a way that it was the norm to have such a thing in a world but then it also made me think about Keith and his blase attitude towards them. I would definitely love to see this as a much longer book. It left me wanting to know more about the zoo.
The Vilage Shop
This made me chuckle. It reminds me of the people who would revel in telling you you've done something wrong, no matter how tiny of an error it is. Short, sweet and darkly funny.
Topper's Shop
I think this may be my third favourite of the short stories in the book (Dead Jimmy and the Selkie gets top prize and Felus Demonicus comes in a very close second but I'll get to them in a minute). I found the shop to be incredibly interesting. I loved the idea of how something ordinary can hold such value but not in anything financial. It brought me back to when I was a kid, reading the Goosebumps books by R.L Stine. I was getting Goosebumps-style vibes from the shop and I loved it. The end was perfect for the story- a happy ending with a consequence, reminding us that nothing is free.
Clothes Make the Man
A very interesting story. I can't really say too much about this because everything is a huge spoiler but I loved it and the last quote of the story made it feel so chilling.
Death's Girlfriend [SPOILER]
Another dark comedy story, like The Vilage Shop. Sandy and Death are perfect for each other and I could feel Death's frustration with her but at the same time, he wants to keep his psychotic girlfriend happy. Particularly, with this story, I loved the fact that Death gave her a list of different ways the person could die, showing that Death can show mercy when he feels like it. Obviously Sandy, being the psycho she is, thought she was choosing an over-the-top death but instead chose a slow death. Definitely a good dynamic between Sandy and Death and I hope to see them again soon in another short story because they are definitely interesting characters.
Who's for Dinner? [VERY MINOR SPOILER]
This one gets the prize for unexpected twists. Just as one twist is revealed and you think the story will provide no more twists, a bigger one comes out saying "Hold my beer!". I don't really want to spoil it but all I will say is you'll think twice about meeting your significant other's parents for the first time!
Felus Demonicus
This officially creeped me out! Honestly, after finishing reading this, I started becoming a little paranoid that there was something in my garden. Grandpa Jerry was very easy to hate in the book and I really felt so sorry for Sue, having to face him all of the time. The author's story-telling in this particular short was very detailed and very dark, sending shivers down the reader's spine. I can honestly say I've never had a short story have that type of effect on me. Yes, a short story can creep me out a little but this was on another level of scary, mainly because of the behaviour and attitude of Grandpa Jerry from start to finish. He was very sinister and sly.
Checking Out
I can't really say too much about this because it feels like anything I would say would spoil the story but I found it to be a very interesting concept. I could feel the hopelessness and regret of the character and her choices. I loved how relatable that was. I did like the way the story ended on this one too.
Dead Jimmy and the Selkie
I need more Dead Jimmy stories! He is an awesome character. I loved how he was "living impaired" and how he judges people through whether they would be good enough to eat or not. It's definitely a very interesting idea to see a zombie private investigator solving mysteries of fantastical creatures. This one is definitely my favourite and I'm highly looking forward to reading "Dead Jimmy and the Ghost" again because of this.
===
Overall, this definitely comes highly recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of short stories and I feel we definitely need more Dead Jimmy!
Zoo of the Dead
I really enjoyed this. I really felt Harrison was such a likeable character and I loved the twists in the story. Another thing I really loved was the idea of a supernatural zoo. It was great to see it written in such a way that it was the norm to have such a thing in a world but then it also made me think about Keith and his blase attitude towards them. I would definitely love to see this as a much longer book. It left me wanting to know more about the zoo.
The Vilage Shop
This made me chuckle. It reminds me of the people who would revel in telling you you've done something wrong, no matter how tiny of an error it is. Short, sweet and darkly funny.
Topper's Shop
I think this may be my third favourite of the short stories in the book (Dead Jimmy and the Selkie gets top prize and Felus Demonicus comes in a very close second but I'll get to them in a minute). I found the shop to be incredibly interesting. I loved the idea of how something ordinary can hold such value but not in anything financial. It brought me back to when I was a kid, reading the Goosebumps books by R.L Stine. I was getting Goosebumps-style vibes from the shop and I loved it. The end was perfect for the story- a happy ending with a consequence, reminding us that nothing is free.
Clothes Make the Man
A very interesting story. I can't really say too much about this because everything is a huge spoiler but I loved it and the last quote of the story made it feel so chilling.
Death's Girlfriend [SPOILER]
Another dark comedy story, like The Vilage Shop. Sandy and Death are perfect for each other and I could feel Death's frustration with her but at the same time, he wants to keep his psychotic girlfriend happy. Particularly, with this story, I loved the fact that Death gave her a list of different ways the person could die, showing that Death can show mercy when he feels like it. Obviously Sandy, being the psycho she is, thought she was choosing an over-the-top death but instead chose a slow death. Definitely a good dynamic between Sandy and Death and I hope to see them again soon in another short story because they are definitely interesting characters.
Who's for Dinner? [VERY MINOR SPOILER]
This one gets the prize for unexpected twists. Just as one twist is revealed and you think the story will provide no more twists, a bigger one comes out saying "Hold my beer!". I don't really want to spoil it but all I will say is you'll think twice about meeting your significant other's parents for the first time!
Felus Demonicus
This officially creeped me out! Honestly, after finishing reading this, I started becoming a little paranoid that there was something in my garden. Grandpa Jerry was very easy to hate in the book and I really felt so sorry for Sue, having to face him all of the time. The author's story-telling in this particular short was very detailed and very dark, sending shivers down the reader's spine. I can honestly say I've never had a short story have that type of effect on me. Yes, a short story can creep me out a little but this was on another level of scary, mainly because of the behaviour and attitude of Grandpa Jerry from start to finish. He was very sinister and sly.
Checking Out
I can't really say too much about this because it feels like anything I would say would spoil the story but I found it to be a very interesting concept. I could feel the hopelessness and regret of the character and her choices. I loved how relatable that was. I did like the way the story ended on this one too.
Dead Jimmy and the Selkie
I need more Dead Jimmy stories! He is an awesome character. I loved how he was "living impaired" and how he judges people through whether they would be good enough to eat or not. It's definitely a very interesting idea to see a zombie private investigator solving mysteries of fantastical creatures. This one is definitely my favourite and I'm highly looking forward to reading "Dead Jimmy and the Ghost" again because of this.
===
Overall, this definitely comes highly recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of short stories and I feel we definitely need more Dead Jimmy!
September 9, 2021
Zoo of the Dead & Other Horrific Tales. 9 flash and short stories that are full of zombie detectives, monstrous mothers-in-law and Death dates. This is a collection of nine delightfully dark short stories that range from scary to traumatic to hilarious. Iseult Murphy is one of most delightful authors has come along in recent times. This is definitely not a bedtime story. Her work is delightful and totally convincing world where Zombies and Werewolves are captured and used for entertainment. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book with no monetary compensation
December 20, 2019
Very enjoyable collection of short stories, imaginative and original, some very dark but with hints of redemption. I loved Zoo of the Dead in particular and Dead Jimmy and the Selkie is brilliant. All stories are intriguing and skilfully told. Highly recommend.
August 8, 2021
Interesting pinch of scary stories. 😁
September 12, 2021
Very funny yet wonderfully twisted! Each story was interesting with a creepy comical element! Loved everyone for the suprise endings!
October 8, 2021
Good
I loved all the short stories. It kept you turning the pages to read of the stories. I would recommend this book.
I loved all the short stories. It kept you turning the pages to read of the stories. I would recommend this book.
August 6, 2021
Some were great [like the title story] while some were good (understandably so, it's the nature of short stories and the reader's interest level).
I especially enjoyed the author's comments at the end of each story. It heightened my enjoyment of the stories and even made me like some of them better than I had before reading the author's reasoning.
I was impressed, given the subject matter, the author's lack of foul language. She writes well, interestingly without pandering to low expectations or resorting to cheap dialogue for whatever reason.
I would be glad to read more similar stories by this author.
I especially enjoyed the author's comments at the end of each story. It heightened my enjoyment of the stories and even made me like some of them better than I had before reading the author's reasoning.
I was impressed, given the subject matter, the author's lack of foul language. She writes well, interestingly without pandering to low expectations or resorting to cheap dialogue for whatever reason.
I would be glad to read more similar stories by this author.
August 4, 2023
One of the most unusual horror anthologies I've ever read, but definitely in a good way! Each tale felt so different and unique I couldn't help admiring the creativity of the writer all the way through. Not your average horror story plots for sure.
This collection didn't 100% pull me in-- I found it entertaining and fun rather than completely gripping. But I loved how inventive it all was and it kept me guessing; these stories are full of great twists. Also the art at the start of each story is a nice extra touch. Iseult Murphy is definitely a name to watch out for in the horror genre and anyone looking for something that's a little different should check out her work
This collection didn't 100% pull me in-- I found it entertaining and fun rather than completely gripping. But I loved how inventive it all was and it kept me guessing; these stories are full of great twists. Also the art at the start of each story is a nice extra touch. Iseult Murphy is definitely a name to watch out for in the horror genre and anyone looking for something that's a little different should check out her work
June 15, 2023
This is a great introduction to the author's work. Interesting bite-sized but complete and well written, short stories lead you through a satisfying range of horror tales. Well worth a look. I'm going to read more from this author.
January 30, 2023
Uhmmm
Well written short stories that leave you almost speechless... Upon finishing all I could think of is, "what did I just read!?!"
Well written short stories that leave you almost speechless... Upon finishing all I could think of is, "what did I just read!?!"
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews