If only it were possible to travel back in time. I’d really like to see the look on my one-year-ago face when I tell him “Dude, splatter westerns are a thing, and pretty soon you’re going to need them in your life.”

The Magpie Coffin is the first in Death’s Head Press’ Splatter Western series. You might ask, much like I did, what exactly is a splatter western? Based on this book, it follows a lot of tropes you might expect in a western – lone gunslinger sets out on a quest for revenge against people who committed some sort of wrong against him – but the violence is extreme, and this story also contains supernatural elements. The story actually fits a lot more neatly into the western genre than it does the horror genre. That’s not to say there aren’t horror elements, there are so many, but Wile E. Young fully immerses himself in this world. The word choice, the writing style all come together perfectly to transport the reader into the world of Salem Covington.

Covington, our lone gunslinger, at least for a little while, sets out to track down the men who murdered his teacher. As the story unfolds, we find out what kind of things this teacher instilled in Salem and how some of those teachings were perverted to turn Salem into the ruthless killer who resides in the pages of this book. Despite how vicious and, at times, sadistic Covington is, Young gives us moments that showcase a moral compass, an internal set of ethics. These moments make for a truly three dimensional character.

The men Salem tracks down are despicable human beings and Covington’s interactions with them are not for the faint of heart, hence the “Splatter” portion of the series title. There are definitely parts where I felt a little bad about what I was reading, but also having fun. That might actually be more a reflection on me than the book.

While about halfway through this book, I was thrilled to see Young announce that he was working on another story set in the same world, For a Few Souls More. I can’t wait to spend more time following this character and see how many more creative ways he can come up with to dispatch enemies, it’s the mythology present in this world that has me most excited. I won’t spoil, but I’m intrigued to learn even more about the rules and history surrounding Salem’s weapon of choice.

The Magpie Coffin kicks this new series from Death’s Head Press off with the grandest of receptions. If you’ve been enticed with horror westerns from the likes of Jonathan Janz, Josh Malerman, and John Boden, this is another stellar entry in the subgenre. If you like stories that show all the blood and guts, but still take the time to develop the character who’s causing all the ruckus, look no further.


I was given a copy by the publisher for review consideration.