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Hank Flynn

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Hank Flynn is a tormented man.He’s an outcast among humans, and condemned to confront evil, for as long as he lives.Serving a higher power, Hank wanders the earth alone, until he stumbles into Protection, Kansas.Mortally wounded and delirious after a demonic encounter, Hank Flynn is desperate for help.Wallace Bixby, a local merchant and man of faith, graciously opens his home to the broken stranger.Hank Flynn discovers the meaning of family and community, and the avenging drifter finds peace with Josie Bixby, the young woman who heals his body and his heart.The town of Protection is exactly what Hank needs, and the town needs the man with special talents, who slays demons.He deals out a unique brand of punishment to anything breaking the law, or threatening the people he loves.But when the Devil himself comes calling, Hank Flynn must risk everything for the town he now calls home.

171 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2021

24 people are currently reading
212 people want to read

About the author

Candace Nola

118 books301 followers
I am Candace Nola, and I am a multiple award-winning author, editor, and publisher. I write poetry, horror, dark fantasy, and extreme horror content. My books include Breach, Beyond the Breach, Hank Flynn, Bishop, Earth vs The Lava Spiders, The Unicorn Killer, Unmasked, The Vet, and Desperate Wishes.

I have short stories in The Baker’s Dozen anthology, Secondhand Creeps, American Cannibal, Just A Girl, The Horror Collection: Lost Edition & The Turquoise Edition, just to name a few.

Beyond the Breach, won the “Novel of the Year” and my Debut Novel, Breach, was nominated for “Debut Novel of the Year”, for the 2021 Horror Authors Guild awards. I am also the publisher and editor of the 2022 Splatterpunk Award Winning Anthology “Uncomfortably Dark Presents: The Baker’s Dozen.”

I am the creator of Uncomfortably Dark, which focuses primarily on promoting indie horror authors and small presses with weekly book reviews, interviews, and special features. Uncomfortably Dark Horror stands behind its mission to “bring you the best in horror, one uncomfortably dark page at a time.”

Find me on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook and the website, UncomfortablyDark.com. Sign up for the Patreon for exclusive content, free stories, and more.

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5 stars
44 (58%)
4 stars
25 (33%)
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4 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Lee Franklin.
Author 8 books43 followers
July 15, 2021
I consumed this novel in one sitting.

A brutal story of redemption that won’t leave your soul unscathed.

Candace Nola’s Hank Flynn is a story of a tortured soul seeking redemption from an unforgiving God.

Brilliantly written Nola captures Hank’s story as he serves God in the only way he knows how. Set in 1840’s Kansas, Hank emerges battered and bruised from the wilderness into a two-horse town. Hank is no ordinary man though and his struggle for a peaceful life with the woman he loves pulls your heart across the pages.

Nola’s prose is both eloquent and visceral, creating characters you can’t help but cherish, loathe or a bit of both. She splashes blood and torture across the page with the deft hand of an artist that will keep the most blood-thirsty of us sated without taking away from the greater story. And therein lies the real horror of this novel, the brutality of Hank’s constant torment and anguish that culminates in an explosive ending that won’t leave your nerves untouched.
Profile Image for Steve Stred.
Author 89 books677 followers
August 5, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **

Usually, I can share the exact way or time I connected with an author, but oddly, I feel like Candace and myself connected some time ago and we both interact, but not hugely. Not saying this as a negative, but she’s always been supportive and encouraging, while at the same time I know very little about herself and her work!

Well, it was time to change that second part. When she announced her release ‘Hank Flynn’ and shared the awesome Don Noble cover art, I was all in, not even bothering to read the synopsis.

So, having finished, guess what? Not only was this awesome, but this was a really nice entry into the ever-growing horror-western subgenre that has really exploded over the last year or so.

What I liked: The book follows our character, Hank Flynn, a man who has taken up residence in a small town. Nobody knows his background, but all of the residents trust him and know that he’ll have their backs.

Of course, this is a dark fiction story, so when some outlaws arrive, followed by a dark evil, Nola makes sure to bring in some fantastic supernatural elements and we get cinematic action sequences.

The townsfolk all feel relatable (even the ones that you detest) and you want Hank to save them all, even when he can’t.

The ending did a great job of tying together the strangeness of Flynn’s background as well as the who and why of his being chased.

What I didn’t like: I will say, the beginning was filled with the repetitive western tropes of us finding out everyone talks with a drawl and such, but once that gets out of the way, the story hums along.

Why you should buy this: ‘Hank Flynn’ was really well done, and shows Nola’s willingness to create great characters while also being willing to kill them off when needed. She really makes you feel the dirt under your feet and the dust in your eyes with this one, all the while making you glance nervously at the clouds above.

Good stuff.
Profile Image for Mark Towse.
Author 97 books495 followers
January 9, 2022
An enjoyable story of redemption with great character development.
Profile Image for Dave.
Author 75 books148 followers
July 21, 2021
This solid tale of duty and redemption is told with a nice balance of brutal action and tacit introspection. The Western edge makes it a mix 0f True Grit meets Supernatural, and boy does it work!

A quality read. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for DA.
Author 3 books133 followers
October 17, 2021
This book was absolutely amazing! A western with demons and a man whose purpose is to fight them. But Hank Flynn isn't an ordinary man.
I sincerely hope that this isn't the last we read of Hank.
Profile Image for Alan Aspinall.
Author 6 books27 followers
July 24, 2021
Vengeance is mine saith the Lord, and no line sums up this book better than that. The setting is the Old West, and our dark hero is the titled Hank Flynn. He is a man with a long and troubled past, he is also on a mission from God. The wild west was hell, but in this book that’s more than just a metaphor, you see demons walk the earth, and they are tempting and possessing humans. When Hank finds love, he must work to protect the town that he has come to call home, while at the same time fight the evil that has infected the land. Which is no easy task. Hank Flynn is great read that take’s both horror and history, and mixes them both together in to a well written tale of hardship and redemption.
Profile Image for Brian Bowyer.
Author 62 books276 followers
April 4, 2024
Brilliant!

This one blew me away. Hank Flynn kills demons, but there's a lot more to this story than just that. It's a mesmerizing, beautifully written tale filled violence and redemption. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Iain Anderson.
Author 2 books18 followers
August 18, 2021
I'll start straight off the bat by admitting that Westerns are something I rarely, if ever, go for. But after reading the blurb, I was intrigued and dove in. Overall, it was a good choice to make.

Telling the story of Hank Flynn, who wanders into town half dead one morning and stays to watch over the town for the next few decades, the book is intriguing from the get go. Characters are deftly drawn in a few bold strokes, relying on tropes just enough to let us identify who's who, but still giving them enough quirks and personality to make them feel like individuals in their own right. Religion is also treated sympathetically but without any bias coming through. Regardless of what the author's views may, or may not, be on the matter, she is well able at sympathetically showing people for whom these are important matters, and we empathise along with them. The prose is excellent, often reaching a literary quality that is frequently missing form genre fiction. It's refreshing to find it here.

The pacing is a little off at times, a stop start approach making it feel like the story isn't quite sure where it wants to go. This isn't helped by a fantastic shootout scene early on that just isn't matched in the action stakes elsewhere. Tightening the focus of the plot would kick the whole thing up a gear, but then this could well be my unfamiliarity with the genre conventions coming through.

Overall though, this is an interesting and fun book, that lifts itself to glimpse the heights of what could be at times. A solid four star read.
Profile Image for Tim Eagle.
Author 23 books33 followers
August 11, 2021
Page Turner and Nola at her Finest

Hank Flynn, a name I'll never soon forget ( Breaking Bad Character Mash up, I love it) is a man with the devil on his back and he must repent. He's an ancient man rich with history and is tormented by the call and duty asked of his father. Will Hank ever find true peace in his life as he battles day to day to help build a town, serve as a deputy and do his father's will? This book is a unique page turner straight out a western novels playbook mixed with the disturbed imagination of an excellent story teller, Candace Nola.
Profile Image for Eric Butler.
Author 47 books198 followers
September 27, 2021
Hank Flynn is a good mix of an old fashion western and spiritual horror. Candace does a good job with the juxtaposition of the two worlds Hank Flynn must reside in as he follows the path God has laid before him. Hank Flynn is a mystery, but the citizens of Protection, Kansas embraced his weird ways as their town grows under his protection. However, that protection comes with a price, as his very existence draws evil to him from all directions.

If you like demons, possession, and man's struggle with destiny then Hank Flynn is the book for you.
Profile Image for David Green.
Author 29 books288 followers
April 27, 2023
Brutal, honest, visceral, and beautiful, Hank Flynn is a must read.

I devoured this in a day, not able to put it down and cursing when I had to. The story is one of gut-wrenching redemption; about a man who just wants peace but can never find it.

Stunningly detailed and deep, Hank Flynn comes highly recommended.
Profile Image for Nikki.
240 reviews20 followers
March 16, 2022
Demon Slayer meets Little House On The Prairie


This book was a quick and fun horror story to read. It was nicely paced book with a solid premise and strong characters. I thought I knew who someone was a few times, but I was so wrong with the 3 guesses I had throughout the book. This was my first book and looking forward to reading more from her.
Profile Image for Todd Love.
Author 40 books101 followers
March 3, 2022
Candace has a wonderful way of drawing you into her stories. Beautifully written. Hank is a wonderfully fleshed out character. I loved this book!
28 reviews30 followers
July 18, 2021
I want more!

It's very rare that I'll finish a book and immediately go back to re-read it but with Flynn I did and enjoyed it even more the second time around.

Great character development, plot, progression and action. Perfect blend of riot & rest.

I love the old west feel. I love a good vengeance tale but this was so different from your normal revenge setup, very unique spin.

While by no means a noob when it comes to Catholicism in stories the theology wasn't insurmountable and you can follow as a first time reader of it.

Nothing but praise for Nola's Flynn and keeping my fingers crossed for a prequel or sequel or both.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christopher Besonen.
Author 19 books93 followers
October 25, 2023
Half historic, half religious, and a whole lot of bloodshed, Hank Flynn delivers it all! This story was mysteriously dark with no shortage of gore and it kept me hooked until the blackened end. I couldn't call the twist, but I did enjoy what it turned out to be. I'll be coming back for more Candace Nola books soon, she has proved herself a very valid storyteller and I need more!!!
Profile Image for Nikolas Robinson.
Author 34 books101 followers
March 3, 2022
When Hank Flynn stumbles onto the site of what will soon become Protection, Kansas, it's immediately apparent to Wallace Bixby and his daughter, Josie, that there's something special about this grievously injured man. Nursed back to health, Hank settles in and becomes a member of the growing community as long as God will allow it.
Protection is aptly named, with Hank Flynn around, because there's no threat that Hank won't combat to keep the people of his home safe, whether marauder, drought, or worse. It soon becomes clear that "worse" is going to be the case more often than not, as strange and evil forces align to seek out Hank where he's found peace. But Hank is a man of many skills and a haunted past that propels him forward as he does God's will wherever he's called to do so. The malevolent beings that hunt him down would be wise to avoid Protection, Kansas because Hank is no stranger to raising Cain when the situation merits it.
Candace Nola has written a spiritual horror stand-in for Little House On the Prairie, punctuating the prosaic struggles of frontier life with body and soul battles against the denizens of Hell. It's a little bit Kung Fu (the 1970s television series) and a little bit Supernatural all rolled into one captivating package.
The narration provided by Jamison Walker is dramatic, and the voices of the assorted characters are distinctly their own. I'd never encountered his narration with previous audiobook titles, so I'm not sure if this title is representative of his other work, but it was suitable for this book.
Profile Image for Jeremy Fowler.
Author 1 book31 followers
March 3, 2022
An Amazing Demon Slaying Adventure!

This book was really great! There is a slow burn aspect, but Hank Flynn was quite the main character. Candace Nola has truly woven a masterpiece in detailing Hank Flynn’s faith and his duty to take on the demons of the world. Even up until the last twist is revealed and we learn the true identity of our characters, I could not pull myself from the pages! Check it out!
Profile Image for Jill.
30 reviews
June 27, 2025
Reminded me of Supernatural, but with extra extra gore and horror.
Profile Image for Milt Theo.
1,885 reviews158 followers
August 3, 2021
Fantastic world-building, great pace and a satisfying ending with a major revelation. Candace Nola knows her way around a good story. The main character and his horrifying tale is told beautifully, his background given piecemeal, with compassion, attention to detail and genuine concern for his tormented past and his uncertain future. The ending will certainly not disappoint. Recommended.
Profile Image for Shaun Filion.
234 reviews10 followers
September 24, 2021
An excellent tale to read to be introduced to Ms. Nola's work. Solid pacing. Interesting characters. And a kick ass protagonist. I will definitely be buying more of her stories
Author 3 books12 followers
August 18, 2021
CANDACE NOLA STRIKES AGAIN!!

Once more, Candace Nola has found the motherlode of literary gold in her latest offering. In Hank Flynn, she has struck her vein in presenting us with the latest heart-wrenching, hard-hitting journey of the title character's search of redemption, peace and his own place.

His weary journey takes him to Protection, Kansas; an apt name for what he offers and the small town needs. His intense battles are not only outward but fiercely exists within his heart and soul. He does not go it alone, as he makes friends who heal not only his body but heart as well. I invite you, gentle reader, to join Hank on his quest!
Profile Image for Katrina Nola.
2 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2021
Candace Nola does it again with this horrifying tale of Hank Flynn. She captures the human experiences of good, evil, love, sacrifices and working for forgiveness, all while giving it a paranormal and terrifying twist . Hank is by far her best work yet and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Profile Image for Paris Purnell.
123 reviews3 followers
March 2, 2025
Read ebook via Kindle
Rating: 5 STARS
This story was very different. It was like reading a redemptive cowboy thriller.! Hank was a very complex character that you learn about and keep uncovering layers of him as the story continues. One thing I did enjoy about this story was that Hank had a purpose and it had to be fulfilled. The religious aspect of this story was a great idea because it added more mystique and mystery as well. It took me a while to understand what was going on, when Hank would have those frequent disappearances. Lastly one thing I do have to note, was the tone of the “colored people” which was mentioned in this story. They seemed to be out of sight and out of mind. Disliked that truly. But I did love that Hank looked out for the black people regardless of their race, as he did for everybody else in the town.

The ending reveal, so unsuspecting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jeanna.
181 reviews47 followers
January 16, 2022
A lot of elements in this book don't typically work for me: Western themed, man of God as the good guy, and vigilantly justice. But Hank Flynn did! It's well written, violent, and fast paced. I read it in a day!
51 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2022
I read this right after authorcon and realized i never reviewed it. Candace weaves a story following a character inherently doomed but still fighting for good despite the carnage left behind. We know he is more than what he seems and we are goven clues to his identity but the final pages blew me away.
Profile Image for Danielle Yvonne.
303 reviews37 followers
June 28, 2025
*okay, I always take real time notes when I’m reading a book. I then use them as inspo for my reviews. For this one, I’m literally just going to copy and paste my realtime notes without doctoring them up at all. That being said…

•Amazing world and character building. Like really amazing. Unmatched to be completely honest. •Detailed without being too wordy. •Attention holding and easy to binge type of page turner.
•I really love her short extreme stories. But this writing style?! I absolutely adore to the moon and back. She is one hell of a story teller and I really don’t know how else to put it.
•Do I have a crush on the MMC?!
•Oh there’s lots of demons. Hell yeah.
•Brutal. In the best way possible.

*Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Thank goodness the second book comes out this Monday, the 30th, because I NEED to know what happens next asap. 11/10 recommend.
Profile Image for Christine HorrorReaderWeekend.
436 reviews47 followers
September 3, 2025
This is some OLD TESTAMENT horror, a genre I just found out is truly scary.

The book opens with Hank battling a demon in a desert. We are hit with body horror, violence, biblical vengeance, guilt, sorrow and religion. Hank is being punished for sins and must walk the world alone hunting for evil and sending it back to hell.

Hank just wants forgiveness and peace, and, after a particularly brutal battle, he stumbles into Protection, Kansas and finds both.

Nola has written a lovely story about the old west, with found family, community, blossoming love, the age old struggle to survive and find simple joys, home baked bread and rockers on the porch. But she also writes shocking, bloody, terrifying scenes of true ancient evil.

Great characters, great town, gore and horror. A heckova lot of fun!
Profile Image for Kimyona Dietter.
231 reviews9 followers
August 21, 2022
Demons Galore!!!!
This is my second Candace Nola book. I was promised a demon hunter and I got it! I spent most of the book wondering the time period and who the main character was. Both questions were answered by the end of the book. So appreciated. There was action, gore, and an adorable love story. My only issue was the passage of time in the book. The book takes place over decades, but it happens quickly and unexpectedly which I found slightly jarring. The book recovered from it, but it took me a bit of time to get over the jump. Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more by Nola.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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