A novella length read that provided this reader with an eerie trip to the gateway of hell. Our hero is not, yet he's the best choice to stop the evil seeping from a collapsed mine that claimed so many lives. Abel Reed may be dead, but he's a great character. Let's hope we meet him again.

A very enjoyable read full of blood, gunsmoke and a horror twist on westerns.

Our protagonist has been resurrected against his will to fulfill a revenge mission filled with danger. If fulfilled will he be laoowed to rest in peace, or is there much more to it. He faces dark arts, monsterous beings and difficult choices.

A great short read for fans of horror and revenge.

Do you like cowboys? Do you like eldritch tales of dark entities making deals with mankind that end horribly? Do you like voodoo zombies that can think for themselves? Have I got a tale for you!

“The Bauer Ranch” by Michael J. Stiehl is a short story, but it manages to pack in more character and plot than many novels. Our narrator is a zombie, raised from the dead to be an assassin. As an free African-American during the mid-1800’s, his fate as being enslaved after death as a voodoo zombie is horrifying. He wasn’t a killer during life, but an author. When sent to kill an evil mine foreman, he finds a monster, a Cthulhu-like entity, and chance to avoid his fate.

Stiehl does an excellent job building a world readers will want to return to. He hits the pulpy adventure tone perfectly. Readers of stories like The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle and A Lush and Seething Hell by John Jacob Horner should be interested in Stiehl’s tale, as they share a pulpy, cosmic horror flavor. Hopefully, he gives us more in this world. It’s worth exploring.

A super short novella that is equally haunting and gripping! The story follows an undead man compelled to carry out of the deeds of his creator. He makes a bargain with his target and ends up confronting an even greater evil.

The author did not hold back on the descriptions of the monsters in this book. It exemplifies the horror genre with its grotesque and twisted creatures. The main character was interesting and would love of hear more of his story; hopefully, the author does not stop here!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-book. I enjoyed this fast-paced horror story.

“I had the sober thought that tonight I would kill someone.”

A horror novella that masterfully blends Gothic elements with the rugged grit of the Wild West.
Reed is an undead figure grappling with the consequences of his violent past and the sinister force that commands him.

The story opens in a chilling, silent house, where Reed’s internal struggles are palpable. Tension builds as he contemplates the possibility of taking a life once more, while driven by a compulsion that blurs the boundaries between his own desires and the dark directives of Madame Laroque, a formidable presence. This duality—being both man and ghoul—adds depth to Reed’s character, making him a character that I rooted for.

The rich descriptions in the book vividly portray both the grotesque monsters and the harsh landscape of Colorado. Enter the Colonel, a ruthless man who is the embodiment of greed and moral decay. His chilling abandonment of miners after a catastrophic collapse serves as a stark critique of power and its dire consequences, one that causes the transformation of Carl Claudius Bauer, the Colonel’s son, into a grotesque entity.
After striking a perilous deal with the Colonel, Reed risks everything to confront the malevolent force lurking in the mine, battling both literal and metaphorical monsters. I especially loved how the author didn’t hold back on his descriptions of the creatures,building my anticipation for the horrific and interesting crescendo as Reed steps into the darkness,which left me wanting more.

The Bauer Ranch pulls readers into a world where the lines between life and death, and good and evil, are hauntingly blurred. Horror enthusiasts will find this a perfect standalone read, and I can’t help but to hope for a continuation of Reed’s dark journey.

The assassin on a mission grabbed my attention.The story hits the ground running and kept me immersed with a strong voice, visceral details, and well-paced suspense. I enjoyed this cinematic horror Western with its strange mix of supernatural elements.

The pain of the undead main character came across throughout his challenging quest, and the motives and emotions of his adversaries intensified the stakes. The unusual combination of horror tropes was unexpected, and I liked the ending. The one awkward note was the character's description of himself and reference to slavery. I didn't buy it, and that disconnect distracted from an otherwise satisfying tale.

The atmospheric cover and well-designed interior are clearly a labor of love. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy suspenseful short reads with vivid horror. I would read more Black Hare Press books.

Thank you, Black Hare Books, for the ebook review copy via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions.

I absolutely loved this short story, in fact I want more! The story follows Abel, a cursed man on a mission, who gets pulled to stop a truly terrifying dark force in a mine. The mine is littered with creatures doing the devils work. The creatures that are described are so dark and creepy, what nightmares are made of. Abel begins to question his immortality as he tries to stop the creatures. You have to wonder if Abel will complete his mission or succumb to the dark forces within the mine. Every chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait to explore more of these short stories.

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All reviews posted 10/2/2024

This was a quick read, but absolutely gripping.
I was worried about length but the author managed to pack in so much information needed with out making it seem like a chore to get choked down.

I count this one as a fast paced.

Dark magic, Cowboy ranch, and being trapped between the living and the dead?

Absolute chaos that I couldnt get enough of