Kinfolk

by Matt Kurtz

Criminal brothers Ray and Eric Kuttner pulled off what they thought was a seemingly simple score, until Ray’s innocent wife, Rachel, was brutally murdered in retaliation. Hell-bent on revenge, the brothers delivered their own merciless payback.

Three years later, something sheds new light on Rachel’s murder and it requires the brothers to drive across Texas to Oklahoma on a new mission of vengeance that’ll finally bring them closure.

After an incident forces them to take back roads to elude the cops, they get stranded along a hunting ground patrolled by a family looking for fresh meat to feed their hunger for flesh.

In a race against the clock, Ray and Eric must fight their way out of the backwoods of Texas and still make it across state lines to accomplish their plan of revenge . . . all before one very large—and pissed off—family secret is unleashed to stop them.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Adult

204 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2018

About the author

Author of THE ROTTING WITHIN, A DARKNESS UNSEEN, KINFOLK, and SHOCK WAVES, the 2024 Imadjinn Award Winner for Best Horror Novel.

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise!!

I have to tell you something - for this review I'm going to use some cool-speak (kinda, sorta maybe). For those of you who doesn't know this about me - I'm over 40 and technologically challenged. So, for someone like me, it can be hard to understand all the abbreviations the younger generation uses. I found, if you spend some time in a chat room, you can kind of figure out what some of them means if you look at the content.

For example:
WTF - Where's The Food.
FYI - Fuck You, Idiot!
BYOB - Be Your Own Boss.
BRB - I'll admit, this gave me some trouble at first. While it is true that if you surf from one chat room to the next, you will eventually end up in a lesbian chat room, I kind of figured out eventually that it doesn't mean Big Red Boobs.
What I figure is, since the people don't participate for a while, it could be either Bacon-Rind Bagel, which people will eat, or Beer, Rum, Bourbon, which means they go to drink something.
YOLO is still giving me some trouble - I'm just not sure that many people will know what Ornery means.

Anyway, for this review I'm going to use IDC.

This book is super violent and perhaps overly gory.
IDC!
This book makes you suspend belief toward the end.
IDC!
In fact, this book goes right the fuck Hollywood for the final showdown.
I...D...C...!

Look, this one was a pleasant surprise - I shouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did, but I'll be damned if this one didn't take me on that ride I want. Yes, there are some faults and things I would usually judge, but for sheer pace and entertainment, I'll recommend it to all those fans of the hardcore cannibalistic redneck horror.

Enjoyed the hell out of it!

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Precioussss...

KINFOLK by Matt Kurtz

No spoilers. 3 stars. 20 year old Andy Meyerson was following the family tradition of seeing the USA from coast to coast before starting college...

His father and two older brothers made the same trek before him...

The rules of the road...

Drive the designated route, sleep rough under the stars, and always use the buddy system with a friend and a dependable car...

But early into the trip...

Andy's buddy with a Cadillac Escalade bugged out on him, leaving Andy no choice but to leave the preset route and hitchhike by himself...

His new plan was to bum a ride, see the states, sleep wherever he found shelter, then buy a bus ticket back home...

Now...

The trip was all about the journey, not the destination. He would stay fluid now that he was depending on the kindness of strangers...

Eventually, somewhere in Texas...

Andy hitched a ride with an old man driving a decrepit pickup with a camper attached. That was the last thing he remembered...

Until he woke up tied to a bed stained with blood, urine, and feces... Where he was introduced to Preciousssss...

Meanwhile, in another part of town...

Ray Kuttner and his brother Eric, drinking in the Last Chance bar, were making plans to locate the man who murdered Ray's wife... then to kill him...

Later that night...

The two brothers ended up stranded on the same lonely dirt road where the unlucky Andy disappeared...

And before the night is over, they are going to meet Precious and his kinfolk...

If you like a good B-movie with lots of murder and mayhem, you'll probably like this novel.

The first part of the story had me hooked, but the rest of the story revolved endlessly around the brothers, either riding in a vehicle or trying to find another vehicle, and the story rarely moved past those sequences. Also, there were literally pages and pages of blow-by-blow fight sequences that seemed like they would never end.

This was not my kind of story, but I bet a lot of testosterone soaked male readers who like action stories would like it.

Warning to some readers: graphic rape depicted.

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was jam-packed full of action, bloodshed, and intrigue. A ton of plot points that kept everything very fresh and engaging. While I enjoyed most of what this offered, I just felt like a lot of the great set up in the early portions of the book all took a backseat to the action. A strong majority of the story consisted of Eric and Ray battling the crazed family in the woods. And, because of the elongated process there, I began to feel fatigued after awhile and really longed to revisit some of those established plot points more so to break things up a bit. It all reached its peak early on and attempted to coast a bit too much for too long. Just some further content editing may have helped things a lot here. But none of it was done badly, just the pacing and focus was a bit off. Still a fun outing that mixed some minor horror elements into an fast-paced premise.

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review (and for waiting so patiently for me to get to it).

Kinfolk follows two brothers who are on the run from the police when they become stranded in the wilderness. To make matters worse, their path collides with a murderous family with a taste for human blood.

The “cannibalistic backwoods family” subgenre of horror is one that I'm not as familiar with...at least, that's what I thought before starting Kinfolk. After reading, I was able to draw several comparisons to movies like Wrong Turn, Deliverance (more of a thriller, I know, but still horrifying), The Hills Have Eyes, and even certain scenes from the 1994 New Zealand film Body Melt and the ‘80s film Humongous. Then, of course, there's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. So I guess I knew enough about the genre to enjoy these nods after all. But I was also happy to find that this book is more than a rehash of similar stories. It is a high-octane thrill ride that is violent, shocking, and grim without losing its playful nature… minus the opening scene.

I’ll get right into it. The book starts off with an extremely disturbing rape scene that made me dread what I was getting myself into. But, rest assured, you won’t witness anything quite as disturbing as that opening scene throughout the rest of the book. Kurtz injects enough humor and over the top characters into the gory mix to keep things from returning to the heaviness of the opening chapter. Most readers will be overwhelmed by that shocking start, but if you keep reading, I think you’ll enjoy the rest of the book. As long as you don’t mind gross-out gore, of course.

Matt Kurtz is a pro when it comes to gore, action, and pacing. I’m pretty unfazed by most things, but there were descriptions in Kinfolk that made me squirm in my seat. He isn’t afraid to push the envelope, that is for sure. When it comes to action, I am one to zone out during long-winded fight and car chase sequences--lots of choppy little sentences bore me. But Kurtz had a limited page-count to work with, so he wound the action tight as a guitar string and eliminated unneeded details. Each word is calculated by someone who knows how to entertain and shock his readers in a narrow number of pages, while easing into a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, I recommend Kinfolk to readers who are fans of the movies I mentioned above and to anyone wishing to dip their toes into extreme horror. A solid 4-star read.

[Pisces51 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished "Kinfolk: Revised Edition" (2025). I was introduced to the multi-talented horror author Matt Kurtz through a short story he contributed to D.O.A. (2013) "Finger-Cuffs" which blew me away.

This novel is action suspense married to hillbilly horror with some western flavoring and topped with scenes of bloody violence and gore. The description on Amazon provides pretty much an overview of the book. There is the suggestion that the two main protagonists are on a mission of vigilante justice. This work was revised and tightened up with less pages than the 2018 release. It is a solid Four Stars. I believe it deserves more than a brief endorsement that it is well written, and the pace is faster than a Nascar driver.

I was unable to come through with a more comprehensive book review as I had planned but I sincerely admire this author's talent and will be reading and recommending his works again.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit-- reread 4/21. If I could blurb this book, it would be "Cannibalistic inbred rednecks served up West Texas style."

I do not know just how many inbred redneck horror stories there are, but Kurtz decided we needed another, one perhaps with a little more gore than most! Kinfolk is, in a way, a homage to the splatterpunk genre with a few twists along the way. The story centers on two brothers, Ray and Eric, with lets say criminal tendencies. Three years before the story takes place, the two pulled off a heist and shortly after that, Ray's wife was brutally tortured and murdered. Ray has spent the last three years in a bottle when Eric show up at a seedy bar with some new info--he at last found the real killer of his wife and where he will be shortly. Ray is less than enthused, however, but is co-opted into going with Eric nonetheless.

Kinfolk starts off not with Ray and Eric, however, but a young male Junior in college who is touring the USA before he graduates during his summer break. After some hitchhiking, he falls into the wrong company-- inbred rednecks-- and we get to read about his brutal rape while he is being eaten alive. This is just a teaser of what Ray and Eric will stumble onto on their way to Oklahoma to revenge Ray's late wife...

What Kurtz produced here is really nothing too new; think about the Wrong Turn film franchise, or many of Ed Lee's redneck stories (or Laymon, etc.). Nonetheless, Kurtz does it well, and his family of rednecks are really something else! A quick, brutal, visceral read, Kinfolk moves right along, dripping gore and mayhem along the way. The ending was a neat twist, but you will have to read it to find out what happens. 3.5 stars, rounding down because this, or something like this, has been done many times before.

[Angel Gelique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the tragic death of his wife, all Ray Kuttner wants to do is spend his nights sitting at the local bar, drinking away his misery. That’s what he was doing when his brother, Eric, suddenly pays a visit. Eric gives him a birthday present—the name and location of the man who savagedly killed his wife. Ray attempts to refuse Eric’s gift, explaining that he has given up his life of violence and crime. But Eric won’t take no for an answer. Before long they are on their way to settle the score, traversing back roads in attempt to evade the cops. Unfortunately for them, revenge won’t come easy. They encounter a family of deranged cannibals. Luckily they brought weapons and ammo...but will it do any good?

Though not quite the most original idea for a book, Kurtz successfully creates an engrossing, well-written story. I was definitely rooting for Eric and Ray. This was a good, action-packed, gory and horrific read.

[Red Lace Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estranged siblings Ray and Eric Kuttner find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere. With a painful past hanging over their heads, and vengeance to dish out, they struggle with their brotherly relationship whilst being forced to protect themselves against an insane clan of flesh eaters. Being hunted down like animals was not the plan; they were to be the hunters. The only thing they can do is try to turn things around, and guns will undoubtedly help.

(WARNING: This review contains MAJOR spoilers.)

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Matt Kurtz for giving me the opportunity.

Where to start? Well, at the start.

I imagined that the beginning of this book was akin to being shoved head-first down a ravine - there was no going back, there was more than little discomfort, and the question of why would you do this to me was entirely appropriate. For some the very first chapter of Kinfolk will prove difficult to read; the topic of rape is one that I personally find upsetting. It won't put me off a novel, but if explicit then I'll probably have to put it down for a while and focus on something else. That's exactly what I had to do in this instance. It occurred to me later on that Kurtz made the decision to put the most horrific scene - for it was the only scene of its kind to involve sexual abuse - at the very start. It never reached that level of unpleasantness again, focusing more on action and gore for the remainder. It's certainly a decision that could be considered brave.

The generous amount of violence that ensued throughout the majority of the book was at times amusing, and other times, thrilling. Kurtz was able to switch up the plot a great deal, resulting in a number of challenges the "heroes" had to overcome: a car chase, to a siege scenario that came together with flawless transition. Suffice it to say, I was entertained and impressed by how the writing was able to adapt. At no point did I have trouble envisioning the events, and that's coming from someone who often has to re-read passages that are heavy with action.

The backwoods setting with the cannibalistic family obviously brings to mind The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and similar works, but I feel that it set itself apart from the typical plot involving helpless young adults. Ray and Eric were characters that had already fought through their fair share of tribulations, and the individuals they were molded into were far from innocent. I prefer it when protagonists are flawed, and I enjoy it immensely when the predator and prey aspect isn't so straight forward. The relationship and history of these siblings was something I definitely found to be a strength. When all was said and done, I felt genuine sadness - I appreciate when such emotions are evoked, as it means I was a hundred percent invested.

In conclusion: A fast-moving tale of survival, Kinfolk was exciting and addictive. I felt desperate to reach the end, as I was dying to know the final outcome. I'd not hesitate to recommend this novel to anyone who relishes the chaotic backwoods, cannibal trope, yet it's my opinion that this one offers a depth that many of its kind lacks.

Notable Quote:

The horror was finally brought into the light... up close and personal.

© Red Lace 2019

Wordpress ~ Twitter

[Rayne Havok · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Gets me right to giggling whenever there is a fart scene in any book. I don't know why I still haven't matured beyond that.

If you're more mature than me, and you want something more than that! Have I got a surprise for you, this book also has that shit.

[Austin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't go into this expecting high literature. This is a trashy and pulpy story about inbred hillbillies, but it was so much fun!
There's nothing too original about this but it's a subgenre I love and this was a solid foray into that type of story. The writing is a bit on the amateurish side of things but I had fun with this violent and action packed story and that's all that really matters. I may check out some of Matt Kurtz's other books in the future.

3.25⭐

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fast paced and action packed from the start. Some of the best gore scenes I have read. Backwoods horror, but not the typical backwoods horror book.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Matt Kurtz for sending me a copy of Kinfolk in exchange for an honest review!

Quick note! As what can be expected in a horror novel, there are quite a few of the common horror novel triggers in Kinfolk (i.e. gore, death, etc.); however, I would like to mention a certain trigger warning: rape. It occurs in the very first chapter of Kinfolk & it definitely made me cringe. If this is something that really bothers you, please keep it in mind when considering to pick up this book.

If real-life didn’t get in the way (– why must I suffer with responsibilities), I would have kept myself snuggled in bed, devouring each of the 193 pages that Kinfolk had to offer. Admittedly, I was slightly nervous in the beginning scene. Ya see, ghouls, I rarely find myself turned off by disturbing images in the horror genre. I mean, c’mon, when picking up a horror novel or film, it’s me signing up to be disturbed. Yet, that rape scene may have been a little too much for me. However. this theme does not carry on throughout the novel & was definitely a good set-up to show how terrifying Precious really is.

There is not a second of filler or any other boring tidbit in Kinfolk. The entirety of the novel held my attention & kept me on the edge of my bed. Seeing as Kinfolk is a story of survival, it carried some more umph than what’s typically found in a horror novel, which in turn, made this read extremely addicting. We all love an adventure, amiright? If you're looking for a page-turner, this is the book for you.

Kinfolk is spot-on when it comes to visuals. I was able to imagine the entire thing unfold in great detail, as if I was watching a film. This helped give me Texas Chainsaw Massacre (one of my all-time faves!!) & Hills Have Eyes vibes. Y’all want a dysfunctional, killer family? Look no further.

Throughout the book, perspective changes between the brothers & the family hunting them, allowing you to see the entire showdown. For me, this helped invoke more fear & empathy for the Kuttner brothers.

One thing I really loved about Kinfolk isn’t even the horror aspect. In 193 pages, Matt Kurtz managed to write a novel that contains a well-developed plot, a well-developed subplot, and some exceptional character development. What the what? And, here’s the kicker — it’s all extremely well written. Kudos to you, Matt Kurtz. Kinfolk is definitely on my list of favorite reads this year & I will be keeping my eye out for all future Matt Kurtz releases.

[Garrett Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to give a big thanks to Matt Kurtz for a copy of Kinfolk in exchange for an honest review.

Second, I just want to say there could possibly be a trigger scene in the first chapter for new readers to this story. Rape is a touchy subject and one of the darkest scenes in this book. Matt lets you know how dark this story could get straight out of the gate. So be prepared for some tough scenes.

Imagine if you took Wrong Turn, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and parts of From Dusk Till Dawn, threw them into a bloody blender and mixed the bones of each story. That is what Kinfolk is to me. And it was one hell of a ride.

We meet outlaw brothers Eric and Ray, who are on an adrenaline fueled revenge mission until things take a turn for the worse and become a sight for survival.

I enjoyed the brothers relationship. Neither is really a good person but you still find yourself rooting for them. They are believable, flawed, realistic characters. Not to mention pretty bad ass. That is where the From Dusk Till Dawn comes in.

And then you have the Wrong Turn and Chainsaw Massacre parts of the story. This is a backwoods, hillbilly cannibal gore fest at it’s finest. I believe it’s really easy to get these stories feeling cheesy and B rated. However, Matt is such a talented writer that I never felt bored or out of place in the story. I could easily picture everything that was happening and felt like I was there with our flawed protagonist up to the violent, bloody end. As if fighting for my life and looking for a light at the end of the tunnel.

I loved everything about this book and am grateful to have been given the chance to read it. This could easily become a feature film due to Matt’s writing ability. I’m looking forward to reading more of Matt’s work, I hope you are too.

[Horror DNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is absolutely no point reading a book by a publisher called “Grindhouse Press” and then moan about it being too bloodthirsty. Let’s just say when it comes to Matt Kurtz’s Kinfolk, the reader truly gets what is on the label of the tin, in large gore-filled quantities. Yes, this is an extremely violent book, however, it is also very skillfully written and I never truly got the feeling it is overtly gratuitous. Having said that, it will certainly be too much for some palates, so you have been warned. If you fancy some genuine cannibalistic hillbilly horror, keep reading; otherwise find something a tad gentler.

You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

Recently, I have begun seeking out more and more titles from Grindhouse Press. They offer a diverse range of horror and dark fiction that pushes me to expand the boundaries of the types of horror fiction I enjoy.

Kinfolk, by Matt Kurtz is no exception. When I saw the synopsis mention a pair of brothers that “get stranded along a hunting ground patrolled by a family looking for fresh meat to feed their hunger for flesh”, I HAD TO READ IT. Backwoods gory cannibalism? Yes, please. This does put me in mind of some of my favorite horror movies; however, Kinfolk boasts a crisp storyline and manages to accentuate the best parts of tales like this in ways that can often be lost in a cinematic format.

A length of 167 pages does not afford much leeway to mince words. Kurtz’s first chapter is a rite of passage of sorts; it challenges the threshold of what a reader may be able to handle with one of the goriest, fantastically bloody, and disturbing scenes I’ve read recently. No detail is spared in showing the levels of depravity this family of hunters can reach as they play with their favorite “toys” – humans. There are plenty of other scenes that will sate a horror lover’s desire for carnage, but the beginning is the most brutal. There are a few places later on in which the pacing lags, as well as some minor issues with phrasing (for me), but it didn’t pull me out of the story.

Often I find that the depth of characters in a novella such as this can suffer, especially when much of the focus is on the action. The author does a great job of giving the characters just enough personality to make me cheer them on as they navigate these backwoods roads and the family that “hunts” there. The brothers are on a revenge mission and have a past of opportunistic crime; their imperfections endear them to me a bit. The reader is invested in seeing them try to escape the chaos that surrounds them. Additionally, I appreciate that Kurtz focuses on male characters for the victim pool; it is a refreshing change from seeing a young woman at the mercy of evil, strong male antagonists.

Intense, brutal, and bloody, Kinfolk delivers everything a reader might expect from a south Texas, backwoods cannibal tale…and then some.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy crap!!! Want to be stressed out and reading as frantic as you can? Are you okay with gallons of blood and super intense action? Want to see a mix of From Dusk to Dawn and Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Then grab your sawed off shotgun, your brother and a need for revenge and get on this!

I'll have a bigger review for Gingernuts of Horror, but know that I loved this book.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 badasses, running into a couple of bigger badasses on their way to kill the ultimate badass. That is a recipe for disaster.

The book was very entertaining. A little predictable but entertaining. I’ll give it a 3,5 stars out of 5.

[Diamond]

You're probably familiar with the story, city people driving through the countryside end up taking a detour on the backroads, an accident leaves them stranded with no cell phone service, and find themselves crossing paths with a family of backwoods cannibals. Kinfolk hits all the notes and features the tropes, but this isn't about a group of college kids looking for a party that get picked off in a variety of gruesome ways, this is about a pair of armed and dangerous criminals out for revenge. Brothers Ray and Eric really take this story up a few notches, they don't make easy prey, and their need to survive in order to have their vengeance gave so much more tension and I ended up being so invested in the characters I couldn't put it down until I was done!

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great fast-paced take on Wrong Turn meets From Dusk til Dawn.

[John Bender · Rating 4 out of 5]

2019.

This short novel hits my personal sweet spots-- hints of 70s exploitation, with wild rednecks, blasts of gore, the all-time quest for revenge.

I don't want it to get lost in the shuffle. I purposely delayed reviewing it until 2019, because I want to give it a push into the New Year.

I haven't read any Matt Kurtz before, but I'm intrigued. He writes clean and simple, and has a good eye for action and planning scenes. I guess it's no surprise that he used to be a filmmaker!

Oh, and Precious. 😉 read it and see.

[Matt Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hell of a ride

I've seen this book described as "From Dusk Til Dawn meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and yeah, that certainly fits: outlaw brothers on the run fall afoul of a family of backwoods Texas redneck serial killers, and it's a hell of a fight. Kurtz's bio says he's a former filmmaker, which makes perfect sense, as this often reads like something that began life as a screenplay before being re-writen as a short novel... which sometimes works in the book's favor, other times not so much, such as when the narrative POV jumps all over the place, sometimes in the same paragraph, which can be confusing and distracting. However, what Kurtz lacks in polish, he generally makes up for and then some in character, gruesome vividness, and propalsive narrative drive. Once our antiheros and villains clash about a third of the way in, it's a full-throttle, white-knuckle hell ride that just doesn't let up and pulls no punches. Outlaw brothers Ray and Eric, while locked in a criminal lifestyle, are effortlessly three-dimensional and sympathetic, so you actively root for them to kick some ass when pitted against truly evil, disgusting villains...then feel true anxiety as the odds stack up against them. Kurtz's knack for atmosphere also helps, infusing the lonely Texas back roads with a sense of isolation that's dreadful and ominous. If I have one complaint about the characterization, it's that the villains can feel a little *too* close to generic TCM-knockoffs (one character, the more I think about it, just pretty much is Leatherface, sans chainsaw). Though if Kurtz never quite succeeds in making them his own, that certainly doesn't stop him from making them feel like a living, breathing, terrifying threat.

[Broken Bones Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be my favorite from Kurtz. The first half is especially good. The story and pacing fit just right. Then they reach Jessica's house, and all hell really breaks loose. From there on, it's action, action, action until the end. The only problem I really had with this book was Kurtz's overuse of introductory phrases; they became distracting because they'd appear 3-5 times on average every single page. For example: "Sucking in a deep breath, he turned the corner and quietly found a knife." A lot of sentences began with introductory phrases such as this, and it was to the point that my reading rhythm began to get wonky. Other than this problem, I really loved Kinfolk. It's gruesome, exciting, and never slows down. This would be a fun and disgusting movie if ever made.

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who likes action with some horror? If you do, this book won't disappoint. Two bros get caught up in a twisted cannibal family's lair and have no choice but to fight.... I wish I had gotten more background on the one bro's wife, but maybe it really wasn't important to the story.... This would be a great read for action lovers.... Once the horror starts, it didn't let up until the end

[Dan Mckeithan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story that starts with a bang. Matt brings us to Ray and Eric, two criminals on the run. But what they discover in getting away is there are a whole lot of worse ways to end up. The story is action packed with suspense, gore, and blood. And the cannibals! Think Wrong Turn on Steroids. Great read.

[Serenity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

Not bad. Loved the gore. Well written. Just not very original. The book was like a knock-off Leatherface story. Just an ok read.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What in the Rob Zombie did I just read? lol

I think for what this book was supposed to be, it did it well.

Absolutely check your triggers with this one!

[AJRXII · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride!! Well recommended. Gruesome and captivating.

[Corey Caison · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 from dusk until dawn meets wrong turn/Texas chainsaw massacre. This author does not miss

[Maya J. Lujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second book by Matt Kurtz, and man, was this a doozy. Major trigger warnings for the first chapter, but I promise it's worth it! Oddly, upon initial readings, I actually enjoyed The Rotting Within more...but Kinfolk seems to have clawed it's way into my brain and has proven to be much more memorable (and upsetting).

[Brad Tierney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fucking awesome. You get exactly what you expect to get here, pure hillbilly horror. A fast paced storyline made the chapters fly by, I read this sucker in one sitting, I didn’t even get up to pee. Scrumptious gore in all the right places is the cherry on top. Again, I’m sold by a perfect synopsis and way, way more than satisfied with this book in every manner.
4/5 Precious Skulls
💀💀💀💀