Book Review: Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez
Written by Katie McNeill
Published April 02, 2007

I came across this while searching for something to read. I picked up book after book, scanning covers and first pages looking for something different. Right before I gave up, I came across Gil’s All Fright Diner.

Earl is a scrawny vampire with a combover. Duke is a werewolf with a beer belly he can barely fit behind the wheel of the beat-up truck that takes them from place to place. They’ve been friends ever since Duke helped Earl find his pancreas.

While on the road, they come to Gil’s All Night Diner and decide to get a bite to eat. As they sit down and begin to talk to Loretta, the diner owner, a group of zombies comes through the front door. Without batting an eye, Loretta pulls out a shotgun and unloads like she’s done this all before - and not surprisingly, she has.

For one hundred dollars, Earl and Duke decide to stick around and help Loretta out with her zombie problem. What they think will be something easily solved turns into preventing the end of the world, which is being brought about by a barely legal schoolgirl by the name of Tammy with her minion Chad. Doesn’t that just strike fear into hearts everywhere?

Along the way there is a zombie cow attack, falling in love with a ghost, and so many tongue-in-cheek jokes you will find yourself snickering. The relationship Earl and Duke have is wonderfully done. They have a weird history full of weird happenings. It’s the kind of friendship where one just has to say, "You remember that time?" but you never feel like you’re missing out on it, just lucky to have found this one hilarious piece.

Gil’s All Fright Diner is a highly entertaining read. It is often sidesplitting, slightly raunchy, and completely quote-worthy. I plan to read the part about zombie cow attacks to my book club. I’m sure they will enjoy it.