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Skull Moon
Das Montana Territory im Jahre 1878: Wolf Creek wird von etwas hinterhältigem, fleischverschlingendem Bösen belagert, das durch die Nacht schleicht und eine Spur angefressener Leichenteile hinterlässt. Niemand kennt es, niemand hat es gesehen und niemand kann es stoppen.
Dann wird Joseph Longtree, ein Deputy U.S. Marshal, nach Wolf Creek geschickt. Er weiß, dass hinter den Morden Sinn und Methode stehen - doch um die Wahrheit herauszufinden, muss er tief in den örtlichen Aberglauben, die Korruption und Verderbtheit eintauchen, bis er sich mit einem Monster der indianischen Mythologie konfrontiert sieht.
Dann wird Joseph Longtree, ein Deputy U.S. Marshal, nach Wolf Creek geschickt. Er weiß, dass hinter den Morden Sinn und Methode stehen - doch um die Wahrheit herauszufinden, muss er tief in den örtlichen Aberglauben, die Korruption und Verderbtheit eintauchen, bis er sich mit einem Monster der indianischen Mythologie konfrontiert sieht.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
24 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Tim Curran
149 books595 followersTim Curran lives in Michigan and is the author of the novels Skin Medicine, Hive, Dead Sea, Resurrection, The Devil Next Door, and Biohazard, as well as the novella The Corpse King. His short stories have appeared in such magazines as City Slab, Flesh&Blood, Book of Dark Wisdom, and Inhuman, and anthologies such as Shivers IV, High Seas Cthulhu, and Vile Things.
For DarkFuse and its imprints, he has written the bestselling The Underdwelling, the Readers Choice-Nominated novella Fear Me, Puppet Graveyard as well as Long Black Coffin.
Find him on the web at: www.corpseking.com.
For DarkFuse and its imprints, he has written the bestselling The Underdwelling, the Readers Choice-Nominated novella Fear Me, Puppet Graveyard as well as Long Black Coffin.
Find him on the web at: www.corpseking.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 6, 2021
This was a great "creature feature" western horror story!
A small backstory:
U.S. Deputy Marshal Joe Longtree has been sent out to Wolf Creek in the Montana territory by the U.S. Marshals office to investigate a series of murders that no one seems to know "what" or "who" is killing people. Rumors have reached the Marshals office that it could be just wild animals, but the rumors are sketchy so with everything being up in the air and no one being sure what is going on, Longtree goes out there to see if he can dig up clues.
Once Longtree gets out there he comes up against some resistance from not only the townspeople but especially from Sheriff Lauters who doesn't want any outside help with the murders in his jurisdiction and is violent toward a deputy marshal stepping on his toes.
Longtree learns that a Blackfoot indian had been hung and the murders seemed to start not too long after that happened which leads Longtree to think that someone is on a revenge hunt for the men that hung the indian, but what Longtree finds out with his deep investigation is so much worse than just a "someone" on a revenge hunt as it seems "something" has been conjured straight out of hell to deal with the culprits that killed the indian.
Thoughts:
This was my first time reading this author and what an entertaining ride it was into the deep recesses of the wild west. I normally don't read westerns but I will read that genre if it is entrenched deep with horror elements.
I became caught up with the investigation of what the character Longtree has to go through to find out what was going on as there is quite a bit of suspense and mystery surrounding what is really committing the murders.
The pace of the story is about medium as there is some world building in the beginning of the book with the character Longtree getting settled into the town and trying to gather information from the townspeople. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, but nothing that slows the pace of the story as everyone is just weaved smoothly into the storyline. Will be looking forward to reading more by this author. Giving this book five "Creepy Creature Feature" stars.
Note: I do have a warning though for this book as there is graphic gore content within along with descriptive animal mutilations' within this story. So for those of you that do not like to see animals hurt then this warning is for you.
For more thoughts on this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
A small backstory:
U.S. Deputy Marshal Joe Longtree has been sent out to Wolf Creek in the Montana territory by the U.S. Marshals office to investigate a series of murders that no one seems to know "what" or "who" is killing people. Rumors have reached the Marshals office that it could be just wild animals, but the rumors are sketchy so with everything being up in the air and no one being sure what is going on, Longtree goes out there to see if he can dig up clues.
Once Longtree gets out there he comes up against some resistance from not only the townspeople but especially from Sheriff Lauters who doesn't want any outside help with the murders in his jurisdiction and is violent toward a deputy marshal stepping on his toes.
Longtree learns that a Blackfoot indian had been hung and the murders seemed to start not too long after that happened which leads Longtree to think that someone is on a revenge hunt for the men that hung the indian, but what Longtree finds out with his deep investigation is so much worse than just a "someone" on a revenge hunt as it seems "something" has been conjured straight out of hell to deal with the culprits that killed the indian.
Thoughts:
This was my first time reading this author and what an entertaining ride it was into the deep recesses of the wild west. I normally don't read westerns but I will read that genre if it is entrenched deep with horror elements.
I became caught up with the investigation of what the character Longtree has to go through to find out what was going on as there is quite a bit of suspense and mystery surrounding what is really committing the murders.
The pace of the story is about medium as there is some world building in the beginning of the book with the character Longtree getting settled into the town and trying to gather information from the townspeople. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, but nothing that slows the pace of the story as everyone is just weaved smoothly into the storyline. Will be looking forward to reading more by this author. Giving this book five "Creepy Creature Feature" stars.
Note: I do have a warning though for this book as there is graphic gore content within along with descriptive animal mutilations' within this story. So for those of you that do not like to see animals hurt then this warning is for you.
For more thoughts on this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
August 19, 2025
DNF at 40%. This was not a bad story. Great lore, Longtree was a good lead, and everything seemed to be in all the right spots. However, the story dragged very much. Lots of repetitive information, tons of dialogue, and the pace is very slow. Just not a good fit for my preferences, but I think other readers who enjoy folk horror will have a ball with this one.
June 12, 2015
When Deputy U.S. Marshal, Joseph Longtree, becomes involved in a hunt for a savage killer, he never expects the culprit to be a monster...literally. Men are being brutally ripped apart and it isn't long before the clever Marshal realizes that the killer is targeting specific men. With some help from the Blackfeet tribal Indian Chief, Longtree discovers exactly what he's up against. And it's not just the creature that he must worry about, but also the town's pompous and corrupt sheriff, in addition to the lawless scoundrels who'd love to kill him. The odds are stacked against Longtree. Can he capture the beast and save innocent lives from being lost?
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started reading it (because I'm not a big fan of western stories) but it very quickly captured my interest. It is exceptionally well-written and greatly immersing, with just the right amount of descriptive gore and violence. I will definitely be reading more books written by the very talented Tim Curran.
March 20, 2014
Another fantastic western horror from Tim Curran, this story is set in Wolf Creek, Montana and Deputy Marshal Joe Longtree is sent in to investigate some particularly gruesome murders by the Chief US Marshall.
Wolf Creek sits at the foot of the Tobacco Root Mountains, near to a settlement of Blackfoot Indians on Reservation land and tensions are running high. Longtree is supposedly perfect for the job being half-Crow Indian, but a thorny sheriff and bodies being ripped apart with increasing regularity give him his most brutal and inconceivable mission yet.
Really enjoyed this, Joe Longtree must investigate the source of the killings and the reasons behind it, nobody wants to help him against a seemingly unstoppable assailant rooted deep in local history and malfeasance amid a town that harbours secrets by the bucket load.
Wolf Creek sits at the foot of the Tobacco Root Mountains, near to a settlement of Blackfoot Indians on Reservation land and tensions are running high. Longtree is supposedly perfect for the job being half-Crow Indian, but a thorny sheriff and bodies being ripped apart with increasing regularity give him his most brutal and inconceivable mission yet.
Really enjoyed this, Joe Longtree must investigate the source of the killings and the reasons behind it, nobody wants to help him against a seemingly unstoppable assailant rooted deep in local history and malfeasance amid a town that harbours secrets by the bucket load.
February 27, 2017
Western Horror Done Right
Skull Moon is the second Curran western horror I have read. It was worth it. This is Curran at his most unrelenting. He goes for it and doesn't let up until it is over. I loved it.
Skull Moon is the second Curran western horror I have read. It was worth it. This is Curran at his most unrelenting. He goes for it and doesn't let up until it is over. I loved it.
June 24, 2015
A lone, crooked oak claws at the sky, its stripped limbs creak and moan. From one blasted fork a body hangs, strung by the neck with a coil of frayed rope. The body swings and turns with a gentle tenebrous motion, urged by the night winds.
With a sound like dry lips parting, the eyes open.
We join Deputy U.S. Marshal Joe Longtree, half-Crow and former Army scout at the tail end of an assignment chasing down three men who robbed an army wagon and killed six troopers in the process.
After completing this job Longtree meets with his boss who wants Longtree to ride to Wolf Creek in the Montana territory and investigate a series of brutal deaths. The deaths are thought to be the act of an animal, but from the signs left at the scene, it's no animal anyone has ever encountered before.
Wolf Creek is situated close to the local silver mines as well as a nearby settlement of Blackfoot Indians which makes for a volatile mix. Nerves are still on edge after the hanging of a young Blackfoot for the rape and murder of a local white girl about a year prior to current events. There are some cliche characters in town, the local wealthy rancher, the now useless sheriff, a fire breathing preacher and a mysterious Gang of Ten who are rumored to have been a part of the rape and murder of the girl and the subsequent framing of the young Blackfoot for the crime. There are a couple of cool characters including a local Blackfoot girl who helps Longtree during his investigation and also becomes a love interest(that part is also kinda cliche). Without a doubt the best secondary character was Wynona Spence, the local mortician who loves drinking fine whiskey, robs the dead as they pass through, has a "friend" Marion who stays in the house and whose motto for her business is "No one gets out alive".
A nice mix of horror and western which I'm hoping will become a series because there are quite few things about Longtree that I would like to see explored.
3.5 stars
With a sound like dry lips parting, the eyes open.
We join Deputy U.S. Marshal Joe Longtree, half-Crow and former Army scout at the tail end of an assignment chasing down three men who robbed an army wagon and killed six troopers in the process.
After completing this job Longtree meets with his boss who wants Longtree to ride to Wolf Creek in the Montana territory and investigate a series of brutal deaths. The deaths are thought to be the act of an animal, but from the signs left at the scene, it's no animal anyone has ever encountered before.
Wolf Creek is situated close to the local silver mines as well as a nearby settlement of Blackfoot Indians which makes for a volatile mix. Nerves are still on edge after the hanging of a young Blackfoot for the rape and murder of a local white girl about a year prior to current events. There are some cliche characters in town, the local wealthy rancher, the now useless sheriff, a fire breathing preacher and a mysterious Gang of Ten who are rumored to have been a part of the rape and murder of the girl and the subsequent framing of the young Blackfoot for the crime. There are a couple of cool characters including a local Blackfoot girl who helps Longtree during his investigation and also becomes a love interest(that part is also kinda cliche). Without a doubt the best secondary character was Wynona Spence, the local mortician who loves drinking fine whiskey, robs the dead as they pass through, has a "friend" Marion who stays in the house and whose motto for her business is "No one gets out alive".
A nice mix of horror and western which I'm hoping will become a series because there are quite few things about Longtree that I would like to see explored.
3.5 stars
April 30, 2018
Not going to lie, I really struggled with this one. Curran at his best is an incredible writer who can put you right in the midst of particularly bloody carnage and have you sweating the fates of the characters who have thus far managed to survive. Curran at his worst gets bogged down in his efforts to create atmosphere, needlessly repeating information from various sources, and allowing himself to get sidetracked by minor characters who exist for no reason other than to be cannon fodder for whatever nasty threat he is writing about.
Unfortunately, Skull Moon fell into the latter category for me. Far too long and in dire need of some serious editing, this western horror somehow also rushes through its final confrontation, leaving me feeling mildly irritated that I had sat through some very repetitive scenes, only to have the end over in what felt like an instant.
Eh. I'm sure his next one (especially if novella sized) will be better.
2.5 Lawmen Gone Wrong for Skull Moon.
Unfortunately, Skull Moon fell into the latter category for me. Far too long and in dire need of some serious editing, this western horror somehow also rushes through its final confrontation, leaving me feeling mildly irritated that I had sat through some very repetitive scenes, only to have the end over in what felt like an instant.
Eh. I'm sure his next one (especially if novella sized) will be better.
2.5 Lawmen Gone Wrong for Skull Moon.
August 10, 2016
4.5
Tim Curran can't seem to go wrong with historical horror. The way he uses the time setting with folklore and myths, then adds various traits people probably displayed then, is perfect. You get an extraordinary story. All that, and I love his characters. Granted, I love hating some of them too, but still. It doesn't hurt that there is a bit of romance either.
Basically, you find nothing new that isn't in the blurb, but it is worth reading every single page and every single bloody detail to see just how it all happened.
Tim Curran can't seem to go wrong with historical horror. The way he uses the time setting with folklore and myths, then adds various traits people probably displayed then, is perfect. You get an extraordinary story. All that, and I love his characters. Granted, I love hating some of them too, but still. It doesn't hurt that there is a bit of romance either.
Basically, you find nothing new that isn't in the blurb, but it is worth reading every single page and every single bloody detail to see just how it all happened.
December 20, 2013
A friend of mine suggested I pick up this book and I'm glad I did. Great characters, vivid imagery and a strong plot. Loved the tension before the scares. This guy can write fear. Just enough gore to get the point across, but avoiding torture-porn territory. I really liked the protagonist and hope to soon see more books starring Joseph Longtree.
I don't normally read westerns, but something about this "weird west" setting has me hooked. Maybe it's because without modern technology horrific folklore becomes all the more believable. Oil lamps aren't enough to drive away the shadows; shotguns won't kill what howls in the forest at night. There is no 911 to call when evil knocks down your door.
This is a quick read and kept me engaged throughout. The prose really sings. I kept coming back to it, wanting to see what would happen next. After reading "Skull Moon" I went out and bought four more Curran books. I'm reading "Skin Medicine" right now and it's off to a great start.
Five stars for "Skull Moon". I think horror readers of all walks will really enjoy this book.
I don't normally read westerns, but something about this "weird west" setting has me hooked. Maybe it's because without modern technology horrific folklore becomes all the more believable. Oil lamps aren't enough to drive away the shadows; shotguns won't kill what howls in the forest at night. There is no 911 to call when evil knocks down your door.
This is a quick read and kept me engaged throughout. The prose really sings. I kept coming back to it, wanting to see what would happen next. After reading "Skull Moon" I went out and bought four more Curran books. I'm reading "Skin Medicine" right now and it's off to a great start.
Five stars for "Skull Moon". I think horror readers of all walks will really enjoy this book.
January 10, 2014
Tim Curran is the most reliable of the younger generation of horror writers. Everything I've read by him has been great. This book is no exception. An old west tale with a gory creature rampage. If that sounds like something you'd be into, you'll love this book. This would make an awesome movie if it was done right! Looking forward to reading more of Curran's work.
January 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this western horror. Great characters and a great bloodthirsty monster that has a long history. Lots of bad guys and a tough, intelligent good guy.
October 10, 2024
Loved this! The lore of the creature, the background of the tribes, the characters in Wolf Creek, Joseph Longtree as the main character (would love for him to be in more stories)- just everything about this book I really enjoyed. I'm a sucker for a good horror Western story and this hit the mark for me.
I felt the length suited the story, the pacing was good, and the writing was spot on. Descriptions were good enough to allow me to fully immerse myself in the story.
Excellent.
I felt the length suited the story, the pacing was good, and the writing was spot on. Descriptions were good enough to allow me to fully immerse myself in the story.
Excellent.
August 12, 2020
Surely one of the best weird westerns, Curran's Skull Moon blends folk horror and tribal legend with standard western fare. The characters are multidimensional and dynamic, descriptions are vivid and relevant, and the mythology is surprisingly original without being vague and nebulous. For fans of splatter westerns, this story will satisfy and probably provide significantly more substance than the average book. Pass the peace pipe and prepare yourself for sacrifice beneath the Skull Moon.
December 23, 2024
This would have been an excellent short story. In fact it feels like a short story that was padded to make it into novel length.
Which isn't surprising because I think this is the fourth Tim Curran book I've read and the full length novels were okay. But his collection of short stories were fantastic journeys.
This book never really had me caring about the main character, the villains were pretty two dimensional, and the one character that was really interesting (the mortician) was... Just kinda there.
Which is a shame because the whole story was kinda missing.
Which isn't surprising because I think this is the fourth Tim Curran book I've read and the full length novels were okay. But his collection of short stories were fantastic journeys.
This book never really had me caring about the main character, the villains were pretty two dimensional, and the one character that was really interesting (the mortician) was... Just kinda there.
Which is a shame because the whole story was kinda missing.
December 2, 2019
Great read!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! A refreshing read. Just when you think it's another werewolf book... Boom!! Loved it!
Gory, suspenseful, and lots of action. Definite recommend!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! A refreshing read. Just when you think it's another werewolf book... Boom!! Loved it!
Gory, suspenseful, and lots of action. Definite recommend!
July 19, 2024
Great Read
Highly enjoyable little western horror, great build up, nicely paced, , strong characters and a very creative creature. Messy in parts with a keen description of death and injury. Enjoy
Highly enjoyable little western horror, great build up, nicely paced, , strong characters and a very creative creature. Messy in parts with a keen description of death and injury. Enjoy
October 5, 2024
This was really good story telling. It just makes you wanna turn the pages. And the way he weaves his characters is amazing. A true horror legend. I’ve been reading horror forever so I should know right? Take my advice and read it, you won’t be disappointed.
February 10, 2025
I really like Tim Curran, but this one felt really long to me. It seemed like Curran got bogged down by too many detailed side stories that didn't really go anywhere. Although the book felt very long and overly detailed in parts, the ending somehow managed to feel very rushed . I still like Tim Curran, but this was not my favourite of his books.
April 21, 2021
Brutal . . . I liked it :p
August 1, 2021
Western Rawhead Rex? Disappointed. I picked up this book after reading Skin Medicine which I really liked.
January 10, 2024
Wolf Creek a small town in 1878 in Montana territory is haunted by an Indian folklore hellbent on revenge.
October 26, 2017
In Tim Currans “Skull Moon” begleiten wir Joseph Longtree, einen harten, emotionslosen Deputy U.S. Marshall, der sehr analytisch und methodisch vorgeht.
Tim schafft es, dass Longtree extrem kompetent und souverän rüberkommt, ein Gesetzeshüter, mit dem ich mich nicht gerne angelegen würde! Auch hat Curran es geschafft, dass ich Longtree als Hauptcharakter echt respektiert habe und mit ihm mitgefiebert habe.
Dazu kommen noch einige umso schrägere Nebencharaktere, die alle ihr eigenes, krankes Geheimnis haben. Zum Beispiel Reverend Claussen oder die Leichenbestatterin Spence!
Der U.S. Marshall wird von seinem vorgesetzten nach Wolf Creek geschickt, da hier schon mehrere bestialische Morde vorgefallen sind. Erst heißt es, dass ein Tier (ein Puma oder ein Bär) verantwortlich sein soll. Longtrees Ermittlungen ergeben aber relativ schnell, dass der Täter, was oder wer auch immer es sein mag, kein Tier sein kann, da der Täter hoch intelligent sein muss und nach einem Plan vorgeht. Er oder es tötet nicht willkürlich.
Als er von einer Blackfoot Indianerin eine uralte Legende erzählt bekommt steht für Longtree fest, dass der Täter weder Tier, noch Mensch sein kann. Doch wer oder was genau die bestialischen Morde begeht, das müsst ihr selbst rausfinden!
Wenn ich einen direkten Vergleich zu „Skin Medicine“ ziehe, da es zwei Bücher in einem sehr, sehr ähnlichen Setting sind, hat mir Skull Moon etwas besser gefallen, obwohl schon „Skin Medicine“ in meinen Augen ein echtes Meisterwerk von Tim Curran war!
Curran präsentiert uns wieder mit ausgefeilte, schräge Figuren, einen sehr spannenden Plot und ein herrliches Westernsetting. Ein wirklich gelungener Mix aus Western, Mystery und Horror!
„Skull Moon“ wirkt auf mich.. wie soll ich das ausdrücken… irgendwie „runder“, dafür hat mir bei „Skin Medicine“ das Ende, bzw. der Showdown minimal besser gefallen.
Es geht in Sachen Horror ordentlich zur Sache und nach und nach steigt der Splatter-Faktor stetig an, ohne, dass es übertrieben wirkt.
Ich liebe Currans Stil einfach. Curran schafft es immer wieder mich nach spätestens 3 oder 4 Seiten in die Geschichte zu ziehen! Meiner Meinung nach ist Skull Moon ist absolut lesenswert!
Tim schafft es, dass Longtree extrem kompetent und souverän rüberkommt, ein Gesetzeshüter, mit dem ich mich nicht gerne angelegen würde! Auch hat Curran es geschafft, dass ich Longtree als Hauptcharakter echt respektiert habe und mit ihm mitgefiebert habe.
Dazu kommen noch einige umso schrägere Nebencharaktere, die alle ihr eigenes, krankes Geheimnis haben. Zum Beispiel Reverend Claussen oder die Leichenbestatterin Spence!
Der U.S. Marshall wird von seinem vorgesetzten nach Wolf Creek geschickt, da hier schon mehrere bestialische Morde vorgefallen sind. Erst heißt es, dass ein Tier (ein Puma oder ein Bär) verantwortlich sein soll. Longtrees Ermittlungen ergeben aber relativ schnell, dass der Täter, was oder wer auch immer es sein mag, kein Tier sein kann, da der Täter hoch intelligent sein muss und nach einem Plan vorgeht. Er oder es tötet nicht willkürlich.
Als er von einer Blackfoot Indianerin eine uralte Legende erzählt bekommt steht für Longtree fest, dass der Täter weder Tier, noch Mensch sein kann. Doch wer oder was genau die bestialischen Morde begeht, das müsst ihr selbst rausfinden!
Wenn ich einen direkten Vergleich zu „Skin Medicine“ ziehe, da es zwei Bücher in einem sehr, sehr ähnlichen Setting sind, hat mir Skull Moon etwas besser gefallen, obwohl schon „Skin Medicine“ in meinen Augen ein echtes Meisterwerk von Tim Curran war!
Curran präsentiert uns wieder mit ausgefeilte, schräge Figuren, einen sehr spannenden Plot und ein herrliches Westernsetting. Ein wirklich gelungener Mix aus Western, Mystery und Horror!
„Skull Moon“ wirkt auf mich.. wie soll ich das ausdrücken… irgendwie „runder“, dafür hat mir bei „Skin Medicine“ das Ende, bzw. der Showdown minimal besser gefallen.
Es geht in Sachen Horror ordentlich zur Sache und nach und nach steigt der Splatter-Faktor stetig an, ohne, dass es übertrieben wirkt.
Ich liebe Currans Stil einfach. Curran schafft es immer wieder mich nach spätestens 3 oder 4 Seiten in die Geschichte zu ziehen! Meiner Meinung nach ist Skull Moon ist absolut lesenswert!
August 3, 2016
“Skull Moon” by Tim Curran is an exceedingly engaging story from the imagination of a great author. Tim Curran knows horror, and “Skull Moon” is one more piece of evidence in support of that assertion. Crossing the borders of many genres, “Skull Moon” reeks of realism, albeit certainly a different realism than what we see around us. In a world where gigantic men/monster hybrids are worshipped as gods, and their worshippers are also their food source, the events in this tale are perfectly believable.
Curran’s aptitude for crafting precise characterizations will have you seeing, hearing, and even smelling the good guys and the bad. Perhaps Curran’s most impressive accomplishment is his painstakingly accurate depiction of small towns, and the wagging tongues that love to share their gossip with one and all. Having myself lived in a number of very small towns, I can attest to the truth of Curran’s wide-ranging list of the secret lives in Wolf Creek.
“Skull Moon” tells the tale of a ghastly bit of malfeasance on the part of the Blackfoot Skull Society, as they seek vengeance against the white men who wrongly hanged Red Elk, son of their Chief, Herbert Crazytail. Word has reached the ears of Chief U.S. Marshal Tom Rivers, about a number of horrific murders around the town of Wolf Creek. Rivers assigns one of his best Deputies, half-breed Joseph Longtree, to find out the truth of the matter.
Before Longtree arrives in Wolf Creek, he finds another desecrated victim of whoever – or whatever – is behind the killings. Facing an unknown enemy, while fending off aggression and resentment from the town Sheriff, Longtree has his work cut out for him. Long before his work is done, many more bodies will surface. Will Longtree be one of them? “Skull Moon” is an engaging piece of fiction, for people who can appreciate good writing.
Curran’s aptitude for crafting precise characterizations will have you seeing, hearing, and even smelling the good guys and the bad. Perhaps Curran’s most impressive accomplishment is his painstakingly accurate depiction of small towns, and the wagging tongues that love to share their gossip with one and all. Having myself lived in a number of very small towns, I can attest to the truth of Curran’s wide-ranging list of the secret lives in Wolf Creek.
“Skull Moon” tells the tale of a ghastly bit of malfeasance on the part of the Blackfoot Skull Society, as they seek vengeance against the white men who wrongly hanged Red Elk, son of their Chief, Herbert Crazytail. Word has reached the ears of Chief U.S. Marshal Tom Rivers, about a number of horrific murders around the town of Wolf Creek. Rivers assigns one of his best Deputies, half-breed Joseph Longtree, to find out the truth of the matter.
Before Longtree arrives in Wolf Creek, he finds another desecrated victim of whoever – or whatever – is behind the killings. Facing an unknown enemy, while fending off aggression and resentment from the town Sheriff, Longtree has his work cut out for him. Long before his work is done, many more bodies will surface. Will Longtree be one of them? “Skull Moon” is an engaging piece of fiction, for people who can appreciate good writing.
September 7, 2014
A great bit of pulp fun, with a realistic portrayal of the old west plagued by a semi-sympathetic abomination. The setting is great, there are a variety of characters that feel quite well created, and Joe Longtree is the perfect protagonist for this tale. And some of the prose is quite nice, such as "The reverend, electric with religious zeal and self-imposed holiness, stepped forward." And the dialogue can be cracking--an example: "'Something the matter, Sheriff?' 'Yeah,' Lauters said, staring into the amber depths of the bottle. 'I’m scared shitless.'"
There are some flaws. A lot of facts are repeated, both through dialogue and by the narrator recounting the same facts again and again. And despite there being a point made about the Skull monsters predating horses (the dog days), we are later told that the horses had "some vague racial memory" about them. The word omnipotent is simply misused. And Longtree, who barely stays alive between ambushers of townsfolk who don't like him and the supernatural monster, only thinks of calling in the army (less than a day away!) before the final fight.
These little flaws added up for me only because it was such an otherwise great story. It's still a great bit of b-movie fun, but could have been even better. I'll be on the lookout for more from this author.
There are some flaws. A lot of facts are repeated, both through dialogue and by the narrator recounting the same facts again and again. And despite there being a point made about the Skull monsters predating horses (the dog days), we are later told that the horses had "some vague racial memory" about them. The word omnipotent is simply misused. And Longtree, who barely stays alive between ambushers of townsfolk who don't like him and the supernatural monster, only thinks of calling in the army (less than a day away!) before the final fight.
These little flaws added up for me only because it was such an otherwise great story. It's still a great bit of b-movie fun, but could have been even better. I'll be on the lookout for more from this author.
October 20, 2016
This is the second book by Curran I read, and weirdly enough they are both horror stories set in a wild west environment. I never heard of Curran before, and I definetly never would have thought that I could be even vaguely interested in Western.
Because of that I went into reading these books without much expectation at all; honestly, I picked up his book Skin Medicine from a Riffle sale for 99 cents as an impulse buy after reading the summary. I loved it, and I also loved the setting, so I found Skull Moon also on sale and decided to pick it up.
This is what you can expect:
Western setting - check [x]
Good story - check [x]
Believable characters - check [x]
Creepy premise - check [x]
Brutal settings full of gore and lots of splattered organs - check [x]
Believable historic setting - check [x]
A little non-cringe-worthy romance - check [x]
Ancient Native American (fictional) Mythology - check [x]
As I said, I never would have thought that I might have enjoyed it even slightly as much as I did - if you are undecided about it, give it a try. It may turn out to surprise you in unexpected ways.
Because of that I went into reading these books without much expectation at all; honestly, I picked up his book Skin Medicine from a Riffle sale for 99 cents as an impulse buy after reading the summary. I loved it, and I also loved the setting, so I found Skull Moon also on sale and decided to pick it up.
This is what you can expect:
Western setting - check [x]
Good story - check [x]
Believable characters - check [x]
Creepy premise - check [x]
Brutal settings full of gore and lots of splattered organs - check [x]
Believable historic setting - check [x]
A little non-cringe-worthy romance - check [x]
Ancient Native American (fictional) Mythology - check [x]
As I said, I never would have thought that I might have enjoyed it even slightly as much as I did - if you are undecided about it, give it a try. It may turn out to surprise you in unexpected ways.
September 3, 2015
Great, With An Ending
One thing you can say is Tim Curran can tell a story. This was a great Western Horror story with characters that you cared for and monsters that you didn't. I give very few five star ratings. But I gladly give this five stars. I'm a definite fan.
One thing you can say is Tim Curran can tell a story. This was a great Western Horror story with characters that you cared for and monsters that you didn't. I give very few five star ratings. But I gladly give this five stars. I'm a definite fan.
June 9, 2013
Excellent mix of western machoism and supernatural, a great pulp novel
Read
January 13, 2014Loved it
was a little bit skeptical of this book. because of the area it was written in but I was sucked in from the beginning
was a little bit skeptical of this book. because of the area it was written in but I was sucked in from the beginning
September 3, 2014
Captivating Gory Tale
Captivating gory western tale. A bizarre mixture of mystery, horror all on horseback. US Marshall Longtree is an engaging hero. A fun quick read.
Captivating gory western tale. A bizarre mixture of mystery, horror all on horseback. US Marshall Longtree is an engaging hero. A fun quick read.
October 9, 2014
I was really surprised by the book. It was a 1000 times better than I thought. The book kept a great pace and had side stories that really kept it interesting. worth reading.
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