Ok, first I should just come out and say it, I have a serious crush on this cover. SO serious I actually showed the husband and forced him to put on glasses so he “could get a real good look at it.” I can’t explain it. This is just how true love works. Magic.
Once I was able to stop staring at the cover I dug into what was a very well written crime novel. It is well placed in the category of “Mystery and Suspense” instead of being pigeon holed as a werewolf story. We follow Lara, a freshly promoted homicide detective, who has been moved up to keep her new partner in line. In some ways I could make several rather hilarious (ok, at least to me) Lethal Weapon jokes if Lara were only an old black man about to retire. Garrison, her new partner, is clearly off his rails. Everything goes instantly “to cutting the crap to get to the confession”. He takes no pause, shoots from the hip, punches first, asking questions later, and would much rather work alone. Lara has a few tricks up her sleeve and from time to time manages to impress him (and me). I was glued to my kindle as the story played out, I rather enjoyed the twists and turns and a few “No don’t open that door” moments like any scary story would provide. The incorporation of the paranormal into what seemed to everyone to be a straightforward murder case was a fun twist. The development of the Wolf was very well done. There are some things here that I just refuse to spoil, but let me just say, that moment with the priest, well done Mr. McGregor. I very much enjoyed that.
This book has been out for a few years. This series of three are all published and available. This first book is also free, that is right FREE. Personally I thought that the story ended well (as well as that can at least) but there were a few reviews complaining of cliffhangers. I personally disagree, I felt the author did a great job closing it all up, but the last page does leave us ready for book two! We will be hosting an author chat with Tim McGregor over in PaperSisters Book Club on June 22nd. Hope to see you there.
Book Description:
Detective Lara Mendes’s hard work pays off when she finally gets to join the homicide detail. There’s only one catch; she has to partner up with a cop no one wants to work with.
John Gallagher is a veteran homicide detective who wants nothing more than to work alone. When the Lieutenant partners him with Lara Mendes, his first reaction is to ditch her but a call comes in about a body on the river bank and the rotation says they’re up.
What they find are human remains, mutilated and partially devoured. Their investigation reveals a killer stalking the city with a pack of vicious, feral dogs.
And the suspect believes he is a werewolf.
But this is Portland, where crazy bastards outnumber normal ones ten to one. Except there’s another catch. The crazy werewolf guy? He isn’t crazy…
Author’s note: Bad Wolf is my first novel and remains a favourite. This free full-length novel is the first in the Bad Wolf series about two homicide detectives trying to stop a monster. A murder mystery and police procedural, it’s premise is simple; cops versus werewolves. I had an absolute blast writing this series. Now that’s it’s done, I miss these characters. The books, in order, are:
1 Bad Wolf
2 Pale Wolf
3 Last Wolf
This free book is the gateway to a world of monsters, gritty detectives and the werewolves that haunt the moonlit night.