Skinned

Name: Skinned
Price: 22.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781967887880

✍️ Jerry Decastro

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$22.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A detective battles a demon's girlfriend in this modern supernatural thriller.

The narrative focuses on Comfort, a Houston police detective whose childhood trauma resurfaces decades later. Corkscrew, the demon she expelled as a child, has returned through his partner. This new entity seeks to inhabit Comfort’s body, forcing her to confront her past directly. Her grandfather and partner Oscar Century provide essential support in this battle. The story highlights the ongoing struggle between familial bonds and infernal corruption. It does not offer a fresh start for the protagonist but rather a continuation of an old war. The tension arises from the proximity of the threat and the reliance on established relationships to survive.

Key Themes

demonic possession familial exorcism police investigation

Literary Context

This work sits within contemporary American horror fiction, specifically blending police procedural elements with supernatural themes. It is set in Houston, Texas, reflecting modern urban settings for occult conflicts. The publication date of September 12, 2026, places it in recent speculative fiction trends.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Clive Barker · Dean Koontz · Kim Harrison

🕯️

Supernatural

🏛 Bn Publishers 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781967887880

📝 Description: Skinned

Jerry Decastro’s Skinned traces a demonic possession that began with an eight-year-old girl. A demon named Corkscrew inhabited her body until her grandfather and father performed an exorcism to remove it. The narrative jumps forward thirty years to follow the now adult woman, who works as a detective on the Houston police force. She faces a new supernatural threat when Corkscrew’s girlfriend emerges from hell to possess Comfort’s body. The story requires the detective to rely on her partner, Oscar Century, and her grandfather once more. They must work together to perform another exorcism to remove the entity from Comfort permanently. The plot centers on this specific lineage of familial protection against infernal forces. It examines the lingering effects of early demonic encounters and the duty of those who survived them. Decastro structures the tale around these recurring confrontations with evil. The book suits readers interested in urban supernatural fiction and police procedurals involving occult elements. It may not appeal to those seeking historical gothic settings or pure psychological horror without paranormal entities.

💎 Our verdict on Skinned

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Jerry Decastro effectively merges the tension of a police procedural with the visceral stakes of demonic possession. By centering the plot on a detective who was previously possessed as a child, the author creates immediate personal stakes for the protagonist. The reliance on familial support structures provides a unique dynamic for the exorcism narrative, distinguishing it from solitary hero tropes. The urban Houston setting grounds the supernatural elements in a recognizable reality. While it may not satisfy those seeking historical gothic atmospheres or pure psychological ambiguity without paranormal entities, it succeeds as a straightforward supernatural thriller. The pacing likely benefits from the clear lineage of protection against evil.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy the intersection of law enforcement procedural structures with supernatural horror will find this narrative compelling. The story appeals to those interested in how familial bonds serve as a defense against infernal forces. It is suitable for fans of urban fantasy where the mundane world collides with hellish entities. Those intrigued by the lingering psychological effects of early demonic encounters will appreciate the focus on Comfort’s ongoing struggle. The book offers a direct confrontation with evil, emphasizing survival through established relationships rather than fresh starts. It caters to audiences seeking active battles against paranormal threats within a modern setting.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Jerry Decastro effectively merges the tension of a police procedural with the visceral stakes of demonic possession. By centering the plot on a detective who was previously possessed as a child, the author creates immediate personal stakes for the protagonist. The reliance on familial support structures provides a unique dynamic for the exorcism narrative, distinguishing it from solitary hero tropes. The urban Houston setting grounds the supernatural elements in a recognizable reality. While it may not satisfy those seeking historical gothic atmospheres or pure psychological ambiguity without paranormal entities, it succeeds as a straightforward supernatural thriller. The pacing likely benefits from the clear lineage of protection against evil.