If gritty, blood-soaked westerns with a shot of supernatural dread are your thing, "Skin Medicine" is pure gold. Tim Curran masterfully blends relentless action, colorful dialogue, and gruesome, original horror imagery, making the Wild West come alive in the most dangerous ways. The cast is a rogues' gallery of memorable characters, and the atmosphere is dripping with unease. Fans of weird westerns, splatter horror, and classic cowboy showdowns will feel right at home.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Some readers might be put off by the story’s pacing hiccups - major plotlines sometimes vanish, and a long backstory detour for the villain can disrupt the flow. If tidy subplots, consistent focus, or seamless editing are important to you, this book's abrupt transitions and occasional typos might jar you out of the experience. Also, anyone who isn’t a fan of frequent, graphic gore or supernatural twists might find it all a bit much.

A fun, bloody, weird western that’s big on atmosphere and horror - perfect for genre fans, but some narrative bumps and editing issues keep it from being a five-star classic.

About:

'Skin Medicine' by Tim Curran is a Western horror novel that combines elements of the Wild West with supernatural terror. The story follows Tyler Cabe, a civil war veteran turned bounty hunter, as he tracks down a Jack the Ripper-style serial killer in the mining town of Whisper Lake. As Cabe delves deeper into the mysteries of the town, he must confront his past, face off against the brutal sheriff, Jackson Dirker, and ultimately confront the evil antagonist, James Lee Cobb, who brings a terrifying presence to the story. The narrative weaves together elements of history, folklore, and horror, creating a chilling and suspenseful atmosphere that keeps readers engaged until the brutal and action-packed ending.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and well-developed, each contributing distinct motives and histories that enrich the story.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is characterized by vivid imagery and a dark atmosphere, effectively blending horror with the Western genre in a compelling narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around a broken hero, a bounty hunter, navigating a violent mining town plagued by horrific elements, intertwined with tales of evil and grotesque imagery.

Setting:

Set in a gritty mining town, the environment plays a crucial role in building the novel's dark and foreboding atmosphere.

Pacing:

While the story maintains a tense and quick pace, it suffers from pacing inconsistencies and abrupt transitions that can disengage the reader.

It came up over the mountains like some huge, luminous eye staring down from the misty sky above. Its pallid light sought and touched serrated horns of exposed rock, winked off drifts of snow, and imb...

Notes:

Skin Medicine is a weird western by author Tim Curran.

The story mixes elements of the wild west and horror, featuring gruesome imagery.

Tyler Cabe, the protagonist, is a Civil War veteran and bounty hunter.

Cabe is tracking a serial killer known as the Sin City Strangler.

The plot is set in a mining town called Whisper Lake.

The sheriff of the town is Jackson Dirker, who has a violent history with Cabe.

James Lee Cobb is the main antagonist and deals in 'skin medicine'.

The novel features a variety of interesting characters with rich backstories.

The book has been praised for its intense and graphic horror scenes.

Many readers felt the story's pacing was inconsistent, especially towards the end.

The last act of the book was perceived as rushed with unresolved plotlines.

Despite its flaws, many consider it a strong example of the weird west genre.

The book includes elements like werewolves and skinwalkers, adding to its horror theme.

Readers find Curran's writing engaging, with vivid descriptions of settings and characters.

The Kindle version had formatting and typographical errors noted by readers.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include graphic violence, gruesome imagery, and potential themes related to supernatural horror.

From The Publisher:

An unspeakable evil is stalking the territory. Civil war veteran and bounty hunter Tyler Cabe, who is tracking a merciless murderer, must find a way to battle something beyond the imagination of living man. "Tim Curran goes hell-bent for leather in this supernatural thriller set in the Wild West, and he scores a big, bloody bullseye. Writing in the rich language of a Dark Angel on hell brewed whiskey, Curran gives us the scariest beasts ever to fork legs over a horse. Skin Medicine is a wild ride into the Dark Frontier". Randy Chandler Author of Bad Juju.

2004

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274 pages

Ratings (2)

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Reader Stats (10):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (4)
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Skin Medicine

Tim Curran

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