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Death Wind
In 1891, in the aftermath of the Wounded Knee massacre, awful nightmares and bizarre killing sprees shake the uneasy peace between a frontier town of White Pine and the Lakota on the nearby reservation. Pioneer doctor Charles Zimmerman finds himself at the forefront of the investigation and uncovers a crawling horror the likes of which he could not imagine. With the help an orphaned farm girl, a smart-mouth stage robber, a beaten-down Lakota warrior, a beautiful medicine woman, and Charles's estranged father-the aging town marshal-Charles must save not only the town of White Pine but also the starving Lakota from an ancient, hungry evil.
193 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2016
3 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
Travis Heermann
66 books193 followersTravis Heermann is also known as T. James Logan.
Freelance writer, novelist, award-winning screenwriter, editor, poker player, poet, biker, roustabout, Travis Heermann is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop, a member of the Authors Guild, an Active member of SFWA and the HWA, and the author of The Hammer Falls, The Ronin Trilogy, Rogues of the Black Fury, and co-author of Death Wind. His short fiction appears in anthologies and magazines such as Apex Magazine, Alembical, Blood & Gasoline, BattleTech: Legacy, and many others. As a freelance writer, he has contributed a metric ton of work to such properties as Firefly Roleplaying Game, Legend of Five Rings, EVE Online, and BattleTech.
He enjoys cycling, collecting martial arts styles and belts, torturing young minds with otherworldly ideas, and monsters of every flavor, especially those with a soft, creamy center.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 4, 2017
This book was interesting and different for me. Something I don't read every day but I think it was a fun change for me. Lakota Indians were a new touch for me since I don't read much with Indians in it. I think for me this book was a little bit scary, western and maybe some historical fiction. At first I didn't think I would like this book, but I was wrong. I enjoyed it very much, the story was good and I wanted to see how it ended and I enjoyed the ending very much. * I received this book from the author and this is my honest review*
September 25, 2017
If you have a weak stomach, you might want to pass on this story but for us horror fans it was blood-soaked, so real, I was on the edge of my chair much of the time. As an evil hunger spawned from hatred and fear ravages the desolate Black Hills of the Dakota Territory where the once mighty bison roamed in great numbers in which the Sioux or Lakota Indians found their meager means to survive. Can the small town of White Pine and the White River Agency Camp were the Lakota Indians have been coraled after the Massacre at Wounded Knee shelter themselves from the madness that comes in the form of a massive storm which carries madness and death within its path of destruction?
September 7, 2017
I love the Old West and I love ghost stories, so when Travis Heermann asked people to review Death Wind (co-authored with Jim Pinto), I wasn't about to say no.
Death Wind is a gruesome horror story that takes place in 1891 in the frontier town of White Pine just outside the Lakota reservation. The protagonist, Dr. Charles Zimmerman struggles with this belief in science - as well as orders from the U.S. Army - as he tries to deal with a deadly weather system brought on by shape-shifting cannibals known as the Black Wind People. With the help of some unlikely allies, Zimmerman battles an ancient, hungry evil.
The story has references to the Ghost Dance and the wiindigu legend, which, as a religious studies and folklore geek, I appreciated. But what I enjoyed most was the diversity of characters and their points of view. I really enjoy stories told from all angles.
The writing is graphic, so if you're squeamish, this won't be a good book for you, but it is a good Western horror story.
Death Wind is a gruesome horror story that takes place in 1891 in the frontier town of White Pine just outside the Lakota reservation. The protagonist, Dr. Charles Zimmerman struggles with this belief in science - as well as orders from the U.S. Army - as he tries to deal with a deadly weather system brought on by shape-shifting cannibals known as the Black Wind People. With the help of some unlikely allies, Zimmerman battles an ancient, hungry evil.
The story has references to the Ghost Dance and the wiindigu legend, which, as a religious studies and folklore geek, I appreciated. But what I enjoyed most was the diversity of characters and their points of view. I really enjoy stories told from all angles.
The writing is graphic, so if you're squeamish, this won't be a good book for you, but it is a good Western horror story.
November 18, 2017
-I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Death Wind, by Travis Heermann and Jim Pinto, is a horrifying novel about a powerful hatred that will gleefully destroy whatever you hold dear.
The book is separated into three parts. The first part introduces Charles Zimmerman, a doctor who recently lost his two daughters to a deadly disease. Meanwhile, Oliver McCoy had just survived a strange attack, in which his friend decided to slaughter his comrades. In the second part, a supernatural pandemic has spread throughout the lands, carelessly decimating whomever comes into contact with it. This pandemic has been given the name of a malevolent spirit that takes over weak humans, and intensifies their hate until they are only shadows of what they once were. In the third and final part, Charles must face this evil, in spite of the disgusting tension between the settlers and the natives. In a thrilling novel that details the grotesque threads humans have woven into history, Heerman and Pinto skillfully illustrate what happens when hatred goes unchecked.
I loved Charles, because he was a realistic character I could relate to. I commiserated with him when he lost his daughters, as well as his failing marriage. Though he tries to be a good doctor, he can’t seem to grasp his own inability to understand either community, and only seems to start grasping things only after everything is destroyed. Then there’s Little Elk, who had to rely on the settlers to try and find the missing children. Like Charles, she tries to find a balance between her life with the settlers and her native one. She grew up attending a Christian school, but she ultimately decided to follow the ways of her ancestors. She tries to be the voice of reason, but, much to my dismay, she ended up being consumed by that malevolent spirit.
Blinding hatred was an overarching theme of the book. From the Black Wind, a wind that preys on the weaknesses of men, to the seething rage between the settlers and the natives, to even the bitterness of a once joyful family, both authors already foster the environments for such a demonic entity to take over. The aftermath of the Battle of Wounded Knee, as well as the haunting attributes of the Ghost Dance, also contributed to the fostering of this spirit. This detail was well-executed in the book, and one that I found the most enjoyable.
From the rotating points-of-views between the two sides, to the dark entity lurking between the them, this book is a demented work of literary art that shows what happens when humanity succumbs to its vices. What’s more, the book lends itself to history, all the while presenting itself in the most gruesome way possible. Because of this, I would give this book a rating of a 4.3 out of 5 stars, and would recommend this book to fans of the supernatural genre in general.
Death Wind, by Travis Heermann and Jim Pinto, is a horrifying novel about a powerful hatred that will gleefully destroy whatever you hold dear.
The book is separated into three parts. The first part introduces Charles Zimmerman, a doctor who recently lost his two daughters to a deadly disease. Meanwhile, Oliver McCoy had just survived a strange attack, in which his friend decided to slaughter his comrades. In the second part, a supernatural pandemic has spread throughout the lands, carelessly decimating whomever comes into contact with it. This pandemic has been given the name of a malevolent spirit that takes over weak humans, and intensifies their hate until they are only shadows of what they once were. In the third and final part, Charles must face this evil, in spite of the disgusting tension between the settlers and the natives. In a thrilling novel that details the grotesque threads humans have woven into history, Heerman and Pinto skillfully illustrate what happens when hatred goes unchecked.
I loved Charles, because he was a realistic character I could relate to. I commiserated with him when he lost his daughters, as well as his failing marriage. Though he tries to be a good doctor, he can’t seem to grasp his own inability to understand either community, and only seems to start grasping things only after everything is destroyed. Then there’s Little Elk, who had to rely on the settlers to try and find the missing children. Like Charles, she tries to find a balance between her life with the settlers and her native one. She grew up attending a Christian school, but she ultimately decided to follow the ways of her ancestors. She tries to be the voice of reason, but, much to my dismay, she ended up being consumed by that malevolent spirit.
Blinding hatred was an overarching theme of the book. From the Black Wind, a wind that preys on the weaknesses of men, to the seething rage between the settlers and the natives, to even the bitterness of a once joyful family, both authors already foster the environments for such a demonic entity to take over. The aftermath of the Battle of Wounded Knee, as well as the haunting attributes of the Ghost Dance, also contributed to the fostering of this spirit. This detail was well-executed in the book, and one that I found the most enjoyable.
From the rotating points-of-views between the two sides, to the dark entity lurking between the them, this book is a demented work of literary art that shows what happens when humanity succumbs to its vices. What’s more, the book lends itself to history, all the while presenting itself in the most gruesome way possible. Because of this, I would give this book a rating of a 4.3 out of 5 stars, and would recommend this book to fans of the supernatural genre in general.
August 16, 2018
I will admit this is my first full audiobook, I typically prefer reading but found this book to be engaging and enjoyable in audio book format. This was partially due to the fact that the narrator was extremely good. He did different voices and accents and although some of his female voices were a little weird I knew exactly who was speaking which made it easier to follow without visual clues.
As for the content of the book, it was also very good, I'm not one for reading historical fiction, I dont hate it, its just not my go-to genre and it takes me a little while to get into it. I enjoyed this tho because it starts with the horror/mystery right away. The book manages to meld historical fiction with mythology and lovecraftian horror in a way I've never seen before with results I really appreciated from all aspects. The ending is very high paced so make sure to carve out an hour of uninterrupted time. I highly recommend it on these merits, anyone interested in horror or history will definitely enjoy it like I did.
full disclosure I was provided an audio copy of the book (which I had previously purchased) so I would move it up in my queue to review it sooner. I have more listening time than reading time due to my work schedule.
As for the content of the book, it was also very good, I'm not one for reading historical fiction, I dont hate it, its just not my go-to genre and it takes me a little while to get into it. I enjoyed this tho because it starts with the horror/mystery right away. The book manages to meld historical fiction with mythology and lovecraftian horror in a way I've never seen before with results I really appreciated from all aspects. The ending is very high paced so make sure to carve out an hour of uninterrupted time. I highly recommend it on these merits, anyone interested in horror or history will definitely enjoy it like I did.
full disclosure I was provided an audio copy of the book (which I had previously purchased) so I would move it up in my queue to review it sooner. I have more listening time than reading time due to my work schedule.
September 6, 2018
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
It is 1891 and the massacre of Wounded Knee has already occurred and there are many strange, dangerous things going on in the territory. Men have slaughtered another man, wolves have viciously hunted in packs, and there's an ill wind blowing, creating much fear at the nearby fort and throughout the area. Seeing a connection between all the terrible things happening is doctor Charles Zimmerman. Zimmerman gathers together a handful of unlikely heroes - a orphaned farm girl, a stage-coach robber, an un-lucky Lakota, and a medicine woman. Saving both the town of White Pine AND the Lakota community might be just too much to ask of these poor souls.
Death Wind has an incredibly strong opening that will grab the reader and shake them a bit as if to say "This is not your ordinary western romance fiction novel!" We are plopped down in the middle of some tremendous action and the anticipation is high.
Likewise, the ending comes along strong and fierce and we are caught up in a maelstrom of violent, wicked activity rising to a frenetic climax.
But the middle portion of the book cannot hold this fever, even though it tries.
At its core, this is a horror novel. I've written before, and believe it to be true, that horror is extremely difficult to sustain for an entire novel, which is why those who can do it well continue to leap to the top of the best seller lists. Authors Travis Heermann and Jim Pinto don't quite get there.
In order to maintain a horrific sense throughout the book, actions are repeated. Not the same action and not to the same person, but the same concept is used. 'Something bad is happening to Person A, but before we get to the climax..." 'Something bad is happening to Person B, but before we get to the climax...' 'Something bad is happening to Person C, but before we get to the climax...' ... you get the picture.
I began to get quite bored with the book, wondering if anything really new was ever going to happen. It did, and it was wonderful, but by then the book had really lost me.
This is a wonderful short story or novelette that was unfortunately expanded to novel length.
Looking for a good book? Death Wind by Travis Heermann and Jim Pinto explores horror in the old west but could have done it better by cutting a third of the book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It is 1891 and the massacre of Wounded Knee has already occurred and there are many strange, dangerous things going on in the territory. Men have slaughtered another man, wolves have viciously hunted in packs, and there's an ill wind blowing, creating much fear at the nearby fort and throughout the area. Seeing a connection between all the terrible things happening is doctor Charles Zimmerman. Zimmerman gathers together a handful of unlikely heroes - a orphaned farm girl, a stage-coach robber, an un-lucky Lakota, and a medicine woman. Saving both the town of White Pine AND the Lakota community might be just too much to ask of these poor souls.
Death Wind has an incredibly strong opening that will grab the reader and shake them a bit as if to say "This is not your ordinary western romance fiction novel!" We are plopped down in the middle of some tremendous action and the anticipation is high.
Likewise, the ending comes along strong and fierce and we are caught up in a maelstrom of violent, wicked activity rising to a frenetic climax.
But the middle portion of the book cannot hold this fever, even though it tries.
At its core, this is a horror novel. I've written before, and believe it to be true, that horror is extremely difficult to sustain for an entire novel, which is why those who can do it well continue to leap to the top of the best seller lists. Authors Travis Heermann and Jim Pinto don't quite get there.
In order to maintain a horrific sense throughout the book, actions are repeated. Not the same action and not to the same person, but the same concept is used. 'Something bad is happening to Person A, but before we get to the climax..." 'Something bad is happening to Person B, but before we get to the climax...' 'Something bad is happening to Person C, but before we get to the climax...' ... you get the picture.
I began to get quite bored with the book, wondering if anything really new was ever going to happen. It did, and it was wonderful, but by then the book had really lost me.
This is a wonderful short story or novelette that was unfortunately expanded to novel length.
Looking for a good book? Death Wind by Travis Heermann and Jim Pinto explores horror in the old west but could have done it better by cutting a third of the book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2018
Charles with his family moved out to the west to White Pines. His dad is the sheriff of the town. Thinking his dad would be proud of him as he is now a doctor, he doesn't get his expected "what a man you've become." His two daughters have died from measles causing a rift between him and his wife. Charles arrived some time after the Wounded Knee massacre, so the Lakota Indians now lost be on a reservation starving to death and no resistance to illness. The soldiers don't like the Lakota Indians or trust them. The Lakota Indians feel the same way about the soldiers. Charles becomes the first white person to become aware of something strange going on. As time passes, an evil appears that no one seems able to fight. Will they survive?
In this novel, there is violence that creates much of the story. It is more than violence, the story also shows how relationships can be destroyed or made. There is Native American mythology in the story that adds a realty to the story. I enjoy reading horror as long as there is a true storyline rather than just violence. This is an excellent horror story. It made me think more about the history of the west. Do read it.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
In this novel, there is violence that creates much of the story. It is more than violence, the story also shows how relationships can be destroyed or made. There is Native American mythology in the story that adds a realty to the story. I enjoy reading horror as long as there is a true storyline rather than just violence. This is an excellent horror story. It made me think more about the history of the west. Do read it.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
August 1, 2017
This isn't the normal type of book I read - western- but the book was recommend and I said I would try it. I am glad I did! The book is fast paced and there are no dull moments. I had to keep reading because I had to see how it ended. The characters grab your attention and I cared about what happened to them. Even though the setting is the west and there are Indians I would not classify this as a western. It is a horror novel all the way. I enjoyed it and recommend it!
January 19, 2018
I'm not that into horror, but I enjoyed this more than I expected to. The Native American cultural and historical details all matched the modest amount I know, and the rest felt very well researched, giving the whole story depth I didn't expect. I think any fan of horror, undead, and/or zombies will enjoy this.
January 12, 2021
Carefully crafted to produce graphic imagery and a captivating story line, Death Wind kept me reading until the last page.
See my full review here: https://writingtoberead.com/2020/03/2...
See my full review here: https://writingtoberead.com/2020/03/2...
July 3, 2021
Well done, description of the horrid treatment of the Lacota after the tragedy of wounded knee, sad that so many do not know or care about the government treatment of native Americans in many places even now many have no running water.
February 1, 2025
Harrowing horror novel set in the immediate aftermath of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre of Indians in South Dakota. Don't get too attached to any of the characters. Took off a star due to the unremittingly bleak ending.
December 3, 2017
A horror western that is fast paced and leaves you wanting to read more. An interesting tale for horror fans.
November 2, 2023
Brilliant storytelling! Western horror at its best. Destined to become a classic! At the top of my 'best of 2023' list.
February 16, 2018
Charles with his family moved out to the west to White Pines. His dad is the sheriff of the town. Thinking his dad would be proud of him as he is now a doctor, he doesn't get his expected "what a man you've become." His two daughters have died from measles causing a rift between him and his wife. Charles arrived some time after the Wounded Knee massacre, so the Lakota Indians now lost be on a reservation starving to death and no resistance to illness. The soldiers don't like the Lakota Indians or trust them. The Lakota Indians feel the same way about the soldiers. Charles becomes the first white person to become aware of something strange going on. As time passes, an evil appears that no one seems able to fight. Will they survive?
In this novel, there is violence that creates much of the story. It is more than violence, the story also shows how relationships can be destroyed or made. There is Native American mythology in the story that adds a realty to the story. I enjoy reading horror as long as there is a true storyline rather than just violence. This is an excellent horror story. It made me think more about the history of the west. Do read it.
In this novel, there is violence that creates much of the story. It is more than violence, the story also shows how relationships can be destroyed or made. There is Native American mythology in the story that adds a realty to the story. I enjoy reading horror as long as there is a true storyline rather than just violence. This is an excellent horror story. It made me think more about the history of the west. Do read it.
March 29, 2021
I recently read an excerpt of this book and feel the need to write a review on what I did read - also hoping I get to read the full story so I can add to this review.
The Lakota people were decimated at Wounded Knee Creek and as a result were thrown into reservation villages with barely enough food, clothing and accommodation to survive. The treatment they received was nothing short of criminal and sadly, even with the help of people like Dr Charles Zimmerman, their plight was hopeless.
I recommend this excerpt - but more still - I believe the whole story will be an eyeopener.
The Lakota people were decimated at Wounded Knee Creek and as a result were thrown into reservation villages with barely enough food, clothing and accommodation to survive. The treatment they received was nothing short of criminal and sadly, even with the help of people like Dr Charles Zimmerman, their plight was hopeless.
I recommend this excerpt - but more still - I believe the whole story will be an eyeopener.
January 15, 2022
Yet another great book by Travis Heermann.
I love his style of writing, the suspense, building up of characters, the short engaging chapters and yes, always an unexpected twist to the story.
If you like the wild west and horror you're in for a treat.
If you think there's only a, good and bad wolf we all bare and the one we feed will be more dominant, well, you're in for a surprise. Loved it.
I love his style of writing, the suspense, building up of characters, the short engaging chapters and yes, always an unexpected twist to the story.
If you like the wild west and horror you're in for a treat.
If you think there's only a, good and bad wolf we all bare and the one we feed will be more dominant, well, you're in for a surprise. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews