The Frankenstein of the Wild West!

Narration - Lucas D Smith - Pretty Good!

So, call me a nerd, but I didn't know what I was getting into when I started listening to this. A Gothic Western...hmmm...didn't give it much thought, so I'm listening along and enjoying this nice western story about Gunslinger Johnny Pearl. Hungover, "called out" by a young lad, who ends up dead after he takes a shot at Johnny.

After giving the barkeep enough money to pay for his needs and a funeral for the boy, he heads up to his room with a bottle of hooch, asking to be left alone - But wait! His gun starts talking to him? He's interrupted by a beautiful woman who finds him with the gun pointed to his head. He snaps out of it, they talk and she changes his life. No longer a gunslinger, now a settler with baby on the way and ready to live happily every after - That is, until the U.S. Cavalry comes through looking for Indians. His wife ends up trampled, their house torched and Johnny ends up lynched from a tree and I'm thinking - What. The. Heck. Just. Happened!!! Oh, of course, someone is going to come along and save him right? He'll avenge his wife's death and find a new and wonderful woman to spend the rest of his days with.

Uhm...here's where the Gothic part comes in. Duh...

So... for the rest of the book? I thought it was a hoot! It wasn't anything I was expecting. It's certainly out there, fiction, horror, fantasy. Believable? Heck no!
But it was certainly an entertaining listen.

The Narration was pretty good! Great Storyteller with a range of character voices and he did a great job of drawing me into the book pretty much from the get-go.

I'm not going to tell you anything more about the book, because I just don't want to ruin anything for you!

I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from Audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Zombie Frankenstein monster in the Wild West

What did you love best about Lynch: A Gothik Western?

I liked the story, it's very interesting and highly entertaining.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the story itself the best. It's got lots of elements and comes together well, leaving an ending that could lead to more books.

What about Lucas D. Smith’s performance did you like?

At first it thought the rough and tough, raspy voice would get old, but it didn't. The narrator really shows his talent when he uses different voices for different characters

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Cowboy zombie Frankenstein adventures

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Frankenstein old west style with vengeance

Where does Lynch: A Gothik Western rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the upper two thirds.

What did you like best about this story?

A surprise twist about the medicine wagon's doctor's alliances.

Have you listened to any of Lucas D. Smith’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first listen.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was tragic. It didn't make me laugh or cry, but it was tragic.

Any additional comments?

Ex confederate soldier and gunfighter Johnny Pearl meets his soul mate Katie. Johnny lost everything including his entire family in the civil war. Now with Katie he comes alive again and begins to heal.

After the battle of Little Big Horn, native Americans are being rounded up with a brutal vengeance. A now pregnant Katie is half Cheyenne and Johny is seen as an "Indian Lover".

The medicine wagon Dr who happens along was a colleague of Victor Frankenstein and is continuing his research. Ah any more and I will give out spoilers.

The story is tragic. It's a story of lost hope, love, vengeance, hatred, bigotry, betrayal, a quest for power and survival. Great classical themes.

“I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot come”

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Frankenstein's monster as a gunslinger

Lynch is about a man who has become an outlaw after losing his family while he served for the Confederate Army. He meets a young woman and becomes a settler in the west. This marriage is short lived when he watches his young bride trampled by cavalry with their unborn child and his house burned to the ground-

and then, himself lynched.

he is revitalized from his "inconvenience" by a medicine man and seeks revenge on the men who "inconvenienced" him.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. It is a sort of western Frankenstein story. It was not the type of story I normally enjoy but the plot was interesting, the writing was well done for the most part, a couple of times I stopped and thought, "Wait, where did that come from?" or "How did that come about? Did I miss something?" but without making it an epic 20-40 hour audiobook I thought it was great.

Lucas Smith's voice is-

unique

to say the least. he has a deep, rich, and somewhat grough voice that is perfect for the main character, Johnny Pearl, and the more you got to know Pearl the better the voice fit him. Smith's voice does not lend it self to other voices, however. most of the time it worked out but I had to use my own imagination when he got to the 13 year old boy and female voices...those were however very rare.

There was also a part or two that could have been more suspenseful, more dramatic, if he had chosen to read it differently. It was partly the writing in a spot or two.

If you like zombies, Frankenstein, or westerns, you will probably like this book.

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2 people found this helpful

Pleasantly Surprised

Any additional comments?

What a cool Frankenstein themed western. I really liked this book. It was very entertaining. This would make a great series not to mention one hell of a good movie.

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Frankenstein's genius travels to the Wild West!

This is one of those wild weird west stories – and I really enjoyed every minute of it. So we got this guy, Johnny Pearl, wandering the Wyoming area post-Civil War. He’s killed a lot of people, has a reputation, and has to kill more people because idiots keep on challenging him to gun duels and won’t take ‘No’ for an answer. But then he finds his personal angel, Katie Small Dove. Too bad that doesn’t last long. The main antagonist, known as Cpt. Antioch Drake, strolls in and sets things ablaze, killing and hanging. But shortly after Drake and his soldiers clear out, a wonky medicine wagon rolls in, driven by Dr. Mirablis who has a special use for a hung corpse such as Johnny Pearl.

Even though this is novella length, we have a nice solid set up to give us an idea of who Johnny Pearl was before he met Katie, and who he was with Katie, to compare with what he becomes after Doc Mirablis hooks him up to a power source and forces him back to life. I really like that the author took the time to show that. Johnny starts off as a damaged warrior who isn’t sure he wants to warrior anymore but doesn’t see a good alternative (not until Katie enters his life). He goes from this typical damaged hero to this reluctant vengeful hero – a path I enjoyed reading.

Meanwhile, Doc Mirablis has a chip on his shoulder, something to prove. His once-friend and associate, Dr. Viktor Von Frankenstein, managed something incredible, and Mirablis plans to out do him! Cue evil scientist laughter. He’s already made a few attempts – such as the horse in the stable back at the hidden evil laboratory, and his two reluctant henchmen – Sasquatch and Pompeii. Sasquatch was made up of a collection of body parts from a slain Indian village, and as such, he has a rather unique take on his second life (or lives?). Meanwhile, Pompeii was Mirablis’s man servant for years before he died and Mirablis brought him back to life. There’s true loyalty there. But there’s a few costs to living for these once dead men (and horse). If Johnny doesn’t plan ahead, he could end up returning to the dead or becoming a true monster. Both costs make sense, but one is a wee bit bone chilling!

As you might have guessed, once Johnny gets his feet back under him, he is obsessed with revenge. Antioch Drake must die! But he’s not allowed to leave the hidden evil laboratory and the exit is well guarded. Too bad Johnny is rather single-minded, eh? The last quarter of the book is the most exciting. It was indeed nail biting. Given all the crap that has already happened to Johnny, and not knowing if there is a sequel out there (I don’t think there is), I was deeply concerned for our hero. I did not know if he would make it out of this story alive or not. When all was said and done, I was quite satisfied with how things ended, even with that little disturbing twist at the end.

My one little quibble is that we only 1 female character and she has such a small role, even if she has a big impact on Johnny Pearl.

I received a copy of this audiobook at no cost from the narrator (via Audiobook Blast) in exchange for an honest review.

Narration: Lucas Smith was the perfect voice for Johnny Pearl. He had this gravelly, touch-of-sadness voice that really worked for the character. He had great accents for the other characters as well – like the German accent for Dr. Mirablis. The one female character had very few lines but Smith made them sound like a believable female. Later in the story, he has to make some interesting sounds for these walking dead men. An excellent performance all around.

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Wild Strange West with Frankenstein

Hallo CRAZY book! So before you hear Lynch: A Gothik Western by Nancy A. Collins leave your brain behind. This is a "action movie" book, not that worried about taking a stab of the supernatural and make a western out of it. No this "Mad Max", a good experience, with if you think about impossible storyline, so like i said: Don't think this is Shakespear! Becous if it that you are wanting: Then this is not your book. If you want a silly book about Frankenstein and Western: Well, this is that book. I would give this 5 out of 5 if it was not so "out there", but it is that out there, that it makes it impossible to take this book a 110% serous!

Lucas D. Smith reads this silly book like it should be read. With a western voice, with a smile in his voice! Brett said in his review: "Smith's voice does not lend it self to other voices" and i love that. I think Lucas D. Smith reads this JUST like it should be read, and that makes him a lot better then a lot of others here on Audible! I like how Lucas D. Smith reads it with respect for the material, and that shows when hi does not try to make more of himself then needed!

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com

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This one will stay with you long after you finish!

When the book first started out, it had the feel of Stephen King's The Dark Tower. It quickly morphed into a Civil War-era western love story. Even if the book stopped at this point, it would've been pretty great. But it didn't. There was a major twist worked into the story...it was almost part ghost (ghastly might be a better word!) story, science fiction with some old school morality tales to boot. Definitely worth the listen. I generally go for longer books- but trust me, this one will stay with you long after you finish!!

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Phenomenal narration and terrific writing

LYNCH: A Gothik Western

Author: Nancy A. Collins

Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged

Narrator: Lucas D Smith

Genre: Western, Historical Fiction, Horror

Length: 3 hours, 15 mins

Release Date: October 9, 2012

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

* I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudiobookBlast dot com in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook tells the story of Johnny Pearl. Think you can predict the tale? Think again!

Johnny had been a soldier in the American Civil War. When the war ended, he had nothing to go home to and instead made a name for himself as a gunslinger.

He was just going through the motions of living until the day he met Katie Small Dove.

Katie helped Johnny face his demons and the two were married. For the first time in a very long time Johnny was happy. He quit his outlaw life as a famous gunslinger to become a homesteader. Katie and Johnny were truly happy and were looking forward to the birth of their first child. "Johnny Pearl's idyllic new world is suddenly and irrevocably shattered by the arrival of Captain Antioch Drake, a psychotic cavalry officer determined to avenge the recent massacre at Little Big Horn. Within minutes of Drake and his men arriving, the homestead is ablaze, his wife and unborn child cruelly slain, and Johnny left to hang from a cottonwood."

That should be the end of the story, right? WRONG! It is at this point in the audiobook where it takes a decidedly "Gothik" turn.

A medicine-show wagon arrived on the scene shortly after the attack. The driver was a man known as Doc Mirablis who had once been a friend and colleague of Victor Von Frankenstein.

I was not sure what to expect from this audiobook, although I admit I was intrigued by the concept. I knew that I would either love this story or I would hate it; there would be no middle ground. I am happy to report that the former is true: I Loved It!

Narrator Lucas D Smith was the perfect choice for this audiobook. His raspy, deep voice evokes pictures in the listener's mind of a rough'n'tumble soldier/cowboy from bygone days. Lucas D Smith also does a spectacular job with both pacing and inflection. I will definitely be adding him to my "Favorite Narrators" list.

As for author Nancy A. Collins, she has a knack for blending two seemingly incompatible genres and creating something entirely unique. As far as I am concerned, achieving just the right balance requires a vast amount of skill, yet somehow Nancy A. Collins made it seem flawless.

Both the narration and the writing deserve 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This audiobook will appeal to a wide audience, including fans of Westerns, Historical Fiction, Horror, Gothic and Zombie Fiction.

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Frankenstein Meets the Old West

Where does Lynch: A Gothik Western rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the middle batch, not as fantastic as some but definitely of a high enough quality to not be considered bad.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Lynch himself, but in such a short book it's hard to think of anyone else as it was focusing on him for the entire thing and everyone else was more 'side characters'. Sasquatch would probably be vying for this if it were more involved.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the end one because it provided a much needed dosage of catharsis after the perpetually downer tone throughout. Nancy isn't lying when she says that it's a gothik western.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

A pretty major plot point actually made me want to put the book down and walk away. The whole redeemed bad guy loses everything at the end of his ropes angle. The cruelty involved was pretty stiff though.

Any additional comments?

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

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