Chuckles Goes Sampling

Seeing Kermit surrounded and almost buried in leaves kind of reminds me of my relationship with books. I'm pretty much buried in them too! I have no more space in my house for the books I buy and piles are sitting on the floor which isn't good and I can't read them quick enough because I keep buying!!! I've battled to reduce the tbr without success this year but now Kermit and I are embarking on a new plan to reduce the book buying and give me a chance to reduce the tbr at last. The Plan? Download samples and read them and only go on to buy those I liked instead of grabbing everything!

Here is what I read last week! 

1) David A Simpson-Zombie Road 
It starts with a survivor of the zombie outbreak telling his story which we then see in flashback form. It takes place at a truck stop with a few tourist interest things to draw in a few visitors to the area. A virus is breaking out and news coverage shows the bloody violence, which alarms the truckers who are anxious to know if their destinations are caught up in the trouble. Two bikers decide to leave the truck stop but are quickly attacked by zombie children and try to flee back to the truck stop for help.

I'm not quite sure about this one. The sample spends a lot of time on the history of the town, the stories of our MCs, introducing the truckers...all decent background information to give the characters depth and I appreciate the reasons for doing that. There just isn't much background to the virus itself, just reports of it in major towns and cities. I'd have liked a bit more. In saying that, I liked the first zombie attack which is left unresolved as the sample stops, and I like the idea of a ruralish truck stop with a range of people there as a location for zombies. I think I'd say I'm intrigued by this one and might check it out at some point. 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34108605-zombie-road

2) Jack Hamlyn-Necrophobia 
Ricki and Steve hear the screaming outside and a few people in the street go to investigate. It is Steve who finds a neighbour dead and a zombie feeding on her. A zombie who had died and was buried days ago. As he looks towards the graveyard he sees more of the dead shambling their way. By the time he gets back onto his street it is a battleground, with the postman being eaten and others fleeing in terror as Steve and Jimmy try to kill whatever they can. They retreat into their homes where Steve tells Ricki and son Paul to prepare their supplies in the more secure basement, while Steve ventures out to check on a friend-who is already dead.

Again I'm not totally sure about this one. It is a serious zombie novel that starts with the first attack and everyone knows that it is zombies they are dealing with. I liked the return to the traditional zombie novel where the dead rise from their graves to attack the living. It is descriptive on things you need to know, and attempts to develop a few characters from the start. I think I could really like Jimmy. There is nothing at all wrong with it but I still find myself hesitant about definitely getting this one and I'm not really sure why! 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13020337-necrophobia

3) Victoria Thompson-City of Lies 
Elizabeth and her brother Jake are watching their next mark Thornton and waiting for a chance to chat to him and scam him out of his money. Introductions are made and the trap is sprung with their inside man introducing them to stocks which gives them a small win. The three of them then lure Thornton into the big scam but everything seems to go wrong with the plan.

I'll be honest here-I never really expected to like this as I'm not a fan of books in a setting where a woman is expected to be a lady and men tell them what to do. To be fair to the book, that is not what is happening as Elizabeth plays that part of the dim lady for the scams but is more headstrong and independent than would be expected of her. I just found that despite good writing and a great cover, it turned out to be as I feared-just not my thing. I think if you like this kind of read though ie historical mysteries, you might just like this one.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34286537-city-of-lies