Flayed: The Masterpiece of Madness
Detective Marcus Kane finds himself in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse with Victor Harlow, a deranged sculptor known only as "The Skin Artist." This madman believes true art exists beneath the skin, using human bodies as raw material for his horrific creations.
As Kane pursues this elusive killer through rain-soaked streets and abandoned warehouses, he doesn't realize he's walking into a carefully orchestrated trap. The Skin Artist has been watching him, studying his grief, planning to transform the detective into his ultimate masterpiece.
What begins as a gruesome murder investigation becomes a descent into madness, obsession, and the horrifying beauty of human suffering. To catch a monster, Kane must confront not just the killer, but the darkness within himself.

by Ken Austin

About the Author
Ken Austin resides in the picturesque Black Hills of South Dakota with his wife, Penny, and their devoted canine companion, Pobbles. Inspired by the region’s rugged landscapes and rich history, Austin has developed a distinguished body of work exploring the genres of horror, mystery, and supernatural fiction.
My writing is influenced by some of the greatest minds in the genre, including Stephen King, Clive Barker, H.P. Lovecraft, Mary Shelley, Ramsey Campbell, Shirley Jackson, and Edgar Allan Poe. Through my collection of stories, I aim to immerse readers in narratives filled with suspense, mystery, and spine-chilling encounters, stories designed to captivate and unsettle in equal measure. My published works include The Meat Offering, The Red Carnival, Rally of the Damned: The Wendigo Awakens, and The Skinwalker Chronicles, among others. In addition to his horror and psychological fiction, he has also authored the children's book Kylee and Claire-Bear's Enchanted Whispering Woods, a heartfelt tribute to his grandchildren.
Austin's unwavering dedication to his craft is reflected in his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to craft narratives that leave a lasting impact. As he delves deeper into the realms of psychological horror and mystery, readers can anticipate more compelling and immersive stories from this accomplished author.
Dear Reader,
I would like to take a moment to introduce “Flayed: The Masterpiece of Madness” and provide insight into the inspiration behind my writing. I sincerely appreciate your interest in my stories, and I am truly grateful for your support.
Your engagement is the driving force behind what it means to be a writer, connecting, entertaining, and inspiring. It is readers like you who bring purpose to the characters and worlds I create. Knowing my work resonates with you is both rewarding and motivating, encouraging me to continue crafting stories that transport you to realms filled with ancient artifacts, hidden secrets, mysterious forces and terrifying creatures.
I am committed to crafting narratives that immerse you in enchanting worlds where ancient artifacts conceal hidden truths, dark forces dwell in secrecy, and terrifying creatures evoke a sense of unease. My stories aim to transport you to realms of mystery and suspense, where every turn presents new challenges and unexpected revelations. With each tale, I strive to captivate your imagination, drawing you deeper into these captivating environments and keeping you on the edge of your seat as you uncover the secrets that lie within.
The Skin Artist's Canvas

The Sculptor
Victor Harlow transforms living flesh into nightmarish exhibitions. He sees beauty in suffering, believing the human form is merely clay to be reshaped through exquisite pain.

The Canvas
Each victim is carefully selected for specific physical characteristics. The Skin Artist doesn't just kill, he transfigures, turning ordinary people into eternal expressions of his twisted vision.

The Gallery
Abandoned warehouses become showcase venues for his grotesque displays. Bodies posed in elaborate tableaux tell stories of agony and transformation, arranged for maximum psychological impact.

The Signature
Every masterpiece bears Harlow's distinctive mark, flesh peeled away to reveal intricate patterns beneath. His work evolves with each new victim, growing more complex and disturbing.
The Skin Artists Descent
Following the Blood Trail
Kane immerses himself in the investigation, studying every grotesque detail of The Skin Artist's work. Each crime scene reveals new horrors, yet also provides insights into the killer's methodology and psychology. The detective begins to see patterns where others see only carnage.
Crossing the Line
As obsession takes hold, Kane abandons protocol, alienating colleagues and superiors. He starts thinking like the killer, anticipating his moves, understanding his twisted aesthetic. This newfound perspective yields results, but comes at a terrible cost to his own humanity.
Becoming the Prey
What Kane doesn't realize is that every step forward in the investigation is part of The Skin Artist's design. Each clue is bait, each revelation a lure. As he penetrates deeper into Harlow's world, he's actually being drawn into an elaborate trap crafted specifically for him.
The Shadow of Grief
Loss
Kane's wife died under mysterious circumstances years before, leaving a void he's filled with work and whiskey. The raw wound of her absence has never healed, making him vulnerable to manipulation.
Guilt
He blames himself for not protecting her, for being absent when she needed him. This self-flagellation has become his identity, a punishment he believes he deserves for failing the one person who mattered.
Denial
Rather than processing his grief, Kane has compartmentalized it, creating a fragile psychological architecture that The Skin Artist intuitively understands and expertly exploits.
Vulnerability
The Skin Artist recognizes Kane's unresolved trauma as the perfect medium for his greatest work. By manipulating these emotional wounds, he can shape the detective into a living embodiment of anguish and transformation.
The Final Transformation

The Revelation
Kane discovers The Skin Artist's true identity and the horrifying connection to his past
The Reflection
Forced to confront the darkness within himself that mirrors the killer's own madness
The Choice
Standing at the precipice between justice and vengeance, humanity and monstrosity
The Transformation
Regardless of his decision, Kane will emerge forever changed by his dance with darkness
In the climactic confrontation, Kane and The Skin Artist face each other amid the gallery of horrors. The line between hunter and prey, between justice and vengeance, blurs beyond recognition. As rain pounds against broken skylights, Harlow offers his final revelation, a truth so devastating it threatens to shatter Kane's fragile psyche.
Whatever choice Kane makes at this moment will be his true masterpiece. Whether he embraces the darkness or fights to retain his humanity, he cannot escape transformation. The most profound art, after all, speaks to identity, resilience, and the human experience, even when that art is etched into the soul rather than the flesh.
"Art is eternal."
Other novels and novellas currently available on Amazon include:
Click on the link at the bottom of the page to be directed to the Amazon sales page
Quiet Like the Grave - Amazon Paperback Novel $9.99 162 pages
Series Book 2 - Beyond Fear: Descent into Madness - Amazon Paperback Novel $9.99 (7 chilling horror tales) 325 pages
Series Book 1 -Beyond Fear: Tales from the Darkside -Amazon Paperback Novel $9.99 (7 chilling horror tales) 292 pages
Sketched Guardians: Stick Figure Soldiers - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 82 pages
The Pain Algorithm: Profiting from Agony - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Novella $0.99 52 pages
The Devil Within the Tower: An Ancient Evil Awakens - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 34 pages
Masks - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 55 pages
Beyond the Veil - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 55 pages
The Meat Offering - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 48 pages
The Eyes Are Watching - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 54 pagess
The Midnight Train to Nowhere - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 41 pages
The Hexbound Asylum - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 65 pages
The Red Carnival - Amazon Paperback Novel $7.99 113 page
The Executioner's Gallery: Canvas of Death Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99 53 pages
The 33rd Year - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella
Rally of the Damned: The Wendigo Awakens - Amazon Paperback Novel $7.99 98 pages
Rally of the Damned II: The Skinwalker Chronicles Amazon Paperback Novel $9.99 159 pages
The Curse of Seraphina's Dollhouse - Amazon Kindle (KDP) Short Story Novella $0.99

Amazon.com

Quiet Like the Grave

Amazon.com: Quiet Like the Grave: 9798315267119: Austin, Ken: Books

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Beyond Fear: Descent into Madness

Beyond Fear: Descent into Madness [Austin, Ken] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Beyond Fear: Descent into Madness

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Beyond Fear: Tales from the Darkside

Amazon.com: Beyond Fear: Tales from the Darkside: 9798314012840: Austin, Ken: Books

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Sketched Guardians: : Stick Figure Soldiers

Amazon.com: Sketched Guardians: Stick Figure Soldiers eBook : Austin, Ken: Kindle Store

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The Pain Algorithm: Profiting from Agony

Amazon.com: The Pain Algorithm: Profiting from Agony eBook : Austin, Ken: Books

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The Devil Within the Tower: An Ancient Evil Awakens

The Devil Within the Tower: An Ancient Evil Awakens - Kindle edition by Austin, Ken. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Devil Within the Tower: An Ancient Evil Awakens.

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Masks

Masks - Kindle edition by Austin, Ken. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Masks.

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Beyond the Veil

Amazon.com: Beyond the Veil eBook : Austin, Ken: Books

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The Meat Offering

Buy The Meat Offering: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com

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The Eyes Are Watching

Amazon.com: The Eyes Are Watching eBook : Austin, Ken: Kindle Store

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The Midnight Train to Nowhere

Amazon.com: The Midnight Train to Nowhere eBook : Austin, Ken: Books

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The Hexbound Asylum

The Hexbound Asylum - Kindle edition by Austin, Ken. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Hexbound Asylum.

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The Red Carnival

Amazon.com: The Red Carnival: 9798310960787: Austin, Ken: Books

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The Executioner's Gallery: Canvas of Death

The Executioner's Gallery: Canvas of Death - Kindle edition by Austin, Ken. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Executioner's Gallery: Canvas of Death.

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The 33rd Year

Amazon.com: The 33rd Year eBook : Austin , Ken: Books

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Rally of the Damned: The Wendigo Awakens

Rally of the Damned: The Wendigo Awakens [Austin, Ken] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Rally of the Damned: The Wendigo Awakens

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Rally of the Damned II: The Skinwalker Chronicles

Amazon.com: Rally of the Damned II: The Skinwalker Chronicles: 9798310033436: Austin, Ken: Books

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The Curse of Seraphina's Dollhouse

Amazon.com: The Curse of Seraphina's Dollhouse eBook : Austin, Ken: Books