The Blue-Haired Bombshell (Nuclear Bombshell, #5) by John Zakour

The Blue-Haired Bombshell (Nuclear Bombshell, #5) Reviews

• 
  Bryan Brown

  I finished this a few days ago and looking back on it nothing really stands out to me. I had fun reading it but it's shallow enough that I don't really have any strong feelings about the book. File these under popcorn for the brain.
  
  I continue to enjoy the interplay between Zach and HARV, this time they add Carol to the story and spend a lot of time making fun of politicians and politics in general. The world is fleshed out some outside of New San Francisco, to the moon, which is probably the only place in Zakour's world not prefixed with 'New'. The politician did it, of course. But the reader is left up to guess which one, since nearly every possible subject is one. The politicians in the story are portrayed in the least favorable light possible, a very cynical outlook. I'm afraid that there is too much truth in it to be really funny though. I keep waiting for Zakour to make more out of the relationship with Electra, but she's just not important to the stories or maybe to Zach to get much screen time.
  
  I've got a few more of these to read, and I'm sure I'll keep up with the series, since they are very easy and amusing reads.
• 
  Wing Kee

  Still ridiculous in the most amazing of ways, but some minor irks makes this the only book of the series I've given four stars to.
  
  Ah, where to start? If you've read the four books that preceded this one, there is simply no point in telling you why this is awesome. If you've not read the other four and have arrived here, stop, and go find book one. So, what are my thoughts on book five? Here they are:
  
  World: Nuts. Ridiculous and fun. It is a parody and it is a satire so you know some things will offend for those without a funny bone. It's more of the same world building I've come to love from Zakour. We get a glimpse of the moon this time and it is a fun local with a whole new canvas for Zakour to paint so, for me, this was the highlight of this book.
  
  Story: It's a SF/Hard Boiled/Comedic/Satire/Parody story. It's paced like a movie, it's written like a movie. What does that mean? It's awesome fun. Leave your logic at the door and you will have fun. The story this time is pretty much what you expect from the rest of the series.
  
  Characters: Fun, over the top, ridiculous, sarcastic and snarky. All those things makes for wonder banter and characters. I've been around these characters for five books now so they are close and dear to me. I never get tired of Harv and his remarks. The only thing that made this book fall to four stars are the new cast members. I found them to be too similar and too many that it somewhat convoluted the plot a bit. It's a minor thing but it did make me enjoy this book less.
  
  Still super fun to read, if you have a sense of humour and understand where Zakour is coming from. I will continue to swear by this series, if you just want to check your brain and enjoy a mindless fun ride.
  
  Onward to the next book!
• 
  Nai Wang

  This review is for the entire series I binged in two weeks like a crazy day on Netflix. So I must say I loved it! Humorous, campy and fun for all the right reasons. Zakour pokes fun at all the tropes and takes it to the next level, so much over the top you have to chuckle at it poking fun of itself. Just the right blend of Noir and Sci-Fi to make the universe come alive! I highly recommend a binge on this one if you want something light hearted and fun to read!
• 
  Violet

  The best installment of series yet. So very over the top, so much hilarity. Clever twists, blue-haired damsels and apes on the moon. Completely nuts.
• 
  Joshua Palmatier

  The Blue-Haired Bombshell is the fifth book in the Zachary Nixon Johnson series from John Zakour. I really like the main character in this series, and I like the humorous and over-the-top riff on detective noir fiction with all of the SF elements mixed in.
  
  In this book, we get to see the relationship between the Earth and the Moon in this SF future, and it isn't good. Most of the book revolves around the fact that the Moon would like independence from the Earth, for various reasons, not the least of which is that the Earth uses the Moon as a dumping ground for its toxic waste. Zachary Nixon Johnson gets caught up in the all of the political mess when three of the members of the World Council are killed days before the vote on independence is to be made. One of those killed is someone Zach knew well (even though he despised her). So he's off to find out who killed her . . . and he isn't getting paid for this one.
  
  In addition to the loveable HARV, the computer implant that's attached to Zach's brain, we're also introduced to a new intelligent gun called GUS. HARV and GUS don't quite get along, but I did like the new character and the conflicts it brings into the story. I also liked the plotline as a whole.
  
  However, this book wasn't as polished writing-wise as the previous one, and I thought the plot was a little rocky in the first half of the book. I like the fact that we aren't thrown into the middle of the hiring of Zach in the first chapter or two, as in the first three novels (that always seemed a little too abrupt to me), but this one might have taken too long in the set-up. And I was also disappointed that the author didn't do more with HARV in this novel. In the previous one, we end with HARV actually making the decision himself to kill someone. There was a little detail about how this affected him and Zach and their relationship at the end of the book, but I was hoping that the ramifications of that would be dealt with in more depth here and they weren't. There's a fleeting mention that HARV has killed before in this book, but that's it. In fact, the usual interplay between Zach and HARV is missing from this novel, probably because of the interaction they're having with GUS, but one of the reasons I like reading these is because of the way in which Zach and HARV change during the course of the books.
  
  So not as good as the previous book in this series, but still an enjoyable, fun read. I'll definitely continue reading the series.
• 
  Ines

  The Moon is a paradise for blooming psis and the people living there think it's time to seek independence from the Earth. Unfortunately the World Council disagrees and every time there is a vote concerning the issue, they vote against it. However, more and more people on Earth are rooting for the Moon's independence - the so-called moonies. When three people from the World Council die days before the new vote on independence and while the Head Administrator of the Moon is visiting the Earth, Zach decides to investigate as he believes in the innocence of the woman the police arrested. To make things worse, Electra (Zach's girlfriend) is invited for a conference on the Moon along with the brightest minds on Earth. Zach decides to go to the Moon after Electra and takes Carol, HARV and his new talking gun GUS with him. Knowing how fate likes to treat Zach, he knows a war of worlds is in the horizon for him to stop.
  
  This series is so funny, I can't put these books down. Filled with action and witty comments there is no reason why you won't enjoy this book or the whole series. Regarding this story, the pace is quite fast, the mystery is well built as well as the possible suspects and all the characters are quite believable, considering the super powers they have. Reading this was a pleasure.
• 
  Jeffrey Grant

  This series' hook is that you have a traditional noir-style Private Investigator who's plying his trade in a futuristic Earth. It's reminiscent of Mr. Pratchett in that many of the subjects of his investigations are satires of modern pop-culture, and even more satirical items are shoved into the background.
  The earlier incarnations of the series were co-written, this is the second solo outing, and I think something has definitely been lost. The charm was always that the main character was trying desperately to go against the grain in the high-tech world, and that anti-conformity often gave him the hook that he needs in order to solve the puzzles.
  In this installment, however, it was more like he was dumbfoundedly dragged along. Rather than coming out on top because of an old-fashioned method that no one else came up with, he came off more like an ignorant and stubborn buffoon who actually did nothing to solve or resolve anything. The story was still entertaining for its' satirical elements, but I'm hoping it steers its way back to the original formula.
• 
  Julie Johnson

  I have to be in the mood to read a book like this but when I am, I really really enjoy myself. Very droll, part send up of the genre, part homage...it is quite an inventive take on the adventure / sci fi/ hard boiled detective genre.
  
  There is always a twist or turn or two in these books and always a moment where I go 'huh, clever!'.
  
  Don't let the pop-art on the cover fool you. These aren't as silly as they make themselves out to be...though of course, they are plenty silly!
  
  Very unique. I'll venture to say there are few books like these. I admire the writer very much for 'thinking outside the box'.
• 
  Michael

  This fifth book about the last freelance detective on Earth, Zachary Nixon Johnson, continues the series and easily matches the preceding books. The series is enjoyable and light reading that has fun with the usual tropes of noir mysteries. Throw in some light satire and some beautiful dames and these books are fine for some light, fun reading. These are not mystery plots to try to figure out early, just sit back and let yourself be taken along for the ride.
• 
  Stacey Chancellor

  A fairly generic attempt at the classic PI novel, set in the future. It was very funny at times, but too cliched to take too seriously.
• 
  Cher

  Very silly. More a guy's story than a romance but essentially the same formula.
• 
  Kione

  Started this one last night and as usual, Zakour writes a hilarious story.
  I love this series.
  
  As always, very fun to read. I love how the main characters are constantly evolving w/ each book.
• 
  Norman Howe

  Action-oriented spoof of detective novels"," James Bond movies"," and superhero comics. Number five in a series.
• 
  Meg

  Campy fun.
• 
  Marcy

  Not well written but fun pulpy sci-fi