Real Wolfmen: True Encounters in Modern America

by Linda S. Godfrey

What’s hiding in the woods? Here is the definitive account of today’s nationwide sightings of upright, canine creatures – which resemble traditional werewolves – and a thorough exploration of the nature and possible origins of the mysterious beast.


“She has the ability to send chills up and down your spine.”
—Brad Steiger, author of Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places

 
“If you thought the likes of The Wolfman, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and Underworld had no basis in fact, it's time to think again!” —Nick Redfern, author of There's Something in the Woods




The U.S. has been invaded – if many dozens of eyewitnesses are to be believed – by upright, canine creatures that look like traditional werewolves and act as if they own our woods, fields, and highways. Sightings from coast to coast dating back to the 1930s compel us to ask exactly what these beasts are, and what they want.

Researcher, author and newspaper reporter Linda S. Godfrey has been tracking the manwolf since the early 1990. In Real Wolfmen she presents the only large-scale cataloguing and investigation of reports of modern sightings of anomalous, upright canids.  First-person accounts from Godfrey’s witnesses – who have encountered these creatures everywhere from outside their car windows to face-to-face on a late night stroll – describe the same human-sized canines: They are able to walk upright and hold food in their paws, interact fearlessly with humans, and suddenly and mysteriously disappear.

Godfrey explores the most compelling cases from the modern history of such sightings, along with the latest reports, and undertakes a thorough exploration of the nature and possible origins of the creature.

Genres: Werewolves, Nonfiction, Cryptozoology, Paranormal, Cryptids, Halloween, Horror

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2012

Reviews

[Rebecca Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linda S. Godfrey’s Real Wolfmen: True Encounters in Modern America is a spooky, fascinating and easy to read book. It’s an excellent blend of history, folklore, and eyewitness accounts of encounters with unidentifiable wolfmen that’ll send shivers up the spine of even the most stoic reader. I really enjoyed the book but I wish it was better organized and that there were more pictures and maps.

This is such a great and chilling read! The majority of the book features people’s accounts of their interactions with these unknown upright canine creatures. But, I really love that Godfrey also includes a lot of interesting history and folklore. I particularly liked reading about the chilling sightings around military bases. The book mostly focuses on the creatures in North America but I like that there are also a few mentions of encounters from around the world. I really appreciate that Native Americans and their folklore feature heavily in the book.

Godfrey’s writing style is lightly humorous, easy to understand, and approachable. I like that the book features artistic renderings of these creatures that were done by the author and some eyewitnesses. However, I wish the book had more photos and maps. I would have liked to see maps showing how the important places and waterways are connected. I also wanted some pictures of the Native American mounds as well as photos of some of the places where sightings occurred.

I really like that Godfrey doesn’t offer a definitive conclusion about whether or not these mysterious creatures actually exist. Instead, she presents information and encourages critical thinking. She posits various theories and offers suggestions on what witnesses could have seen. She also explores where these creatures may have come from and their possible intentions. I particularly like that Godfrey also pays attention to debunking some hoaxes.

However, I would have liked better organization of information throughout the book because things sometimes seemed a little scattered. Additionally, I’m not a fan of the appendix’s interview with a were-guiser because it doesn’t fit the overall tone of the book.

Real Wolfmen: True Encounters in Modern America is a great and quick read for anyone who loves cryptozoology and the world of the paranormal. Although I wish the book was a little better organized and had more photos and maps, it’s a well-researched and entertaining read. I will definitely be checking out more of Godfrey’s work!


🐺 🐺 🐺 ½ mysterious upright canine creatures out of 5!

[✨ Bookferatu ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It moves like a shadow through the dark woods, and as the moon emerges from between the clouds, it reveals the creature in the center of the clearing. Instantly, the beast rises onto its canine-like hind legs, seeming almost human, walking forward, revealing a long, muscular torso; its hair dark, primitive and shaggy, jutting over its whole body. With eerie long arms held out straight ahead, forepaws ready, the creature slowly lifts its head up. A large wolf-like head sitting heavy on broad, hairy shoulders. Its yellow eyes shining bright without fear. It stares longingly at you.

Real Wolfmen is a seriously chilling in-depth look at "upright canid" creature phenomena that has been reported by credible witnesses from across the American landscape.

These are the strange true stories to support the claims of werewolves, or "dogmen" as they are sometimes referred to by the often terrified firsthand observers.

Behind every rumour of werewolf-like beasts of intelligence and mischief roaming boldly across North America, are actual personal encounters of uncanny similarity recounted by sincere, ordinary people from all over the country and from all walks of life. Researcher and prominent guest speaker Linda Godfrey, an educated, greatly respected and trained reporter, gives these frightened people a voice.

Consider yourself open-minded? Try reading their compelling stories describing these supernatural intelligences that may or may not have a sinister agenda. Why are these dogmen showing themselves? What is their plan? How is it that so many witnesses report that these strange canid creatures that walk on two legs are able to communicate telepathically with them? From what realm do they originate that they have the power to appear and disappear at will?

The folktales of bipedal canine creatures have existed for centuries, but the formerly skeptical Ms. Godfrey goes out into the field to seek out the modern evidence, to interview the well-respected and intelligent witnesses, and of course, to find the monster dogmen themselves.

The author does not try to convince the reader to any particular way of thinking in this very readable narrative but instead examines all possible theories about the wolfman's existence and history, trying to determine if there really are "werewolves" that exist and she genuinely encourages the reader to decide on their own what to believe.

This is not so much a book about werewolves, as no one is really speaking of transformations from man to manwolf, but it is a collection of real sightings of werewolf-like creatures, strange bipedal and dogheaded creatures that boldly appear near the country's military areas, sacred burial and effigy mound sites, cemeteries and churches and also crossroads.

Anne Rice briefly and dismissively mentioned the Beast of Bray Road in her fantastical paranormal tale The Wolf Gift, but it is to Linda Godfrey we owe the thanks for coining the phrase because it was in her first book “The Beast of Bray Road” that the manwolf/dogman phenomenon really got started. Godfrey was the original reporter for “The Beast of Bray Road” story back in December of 1991 when she was assigned to cover the rash of sightings taking place in her area.

In this well-researched book, Godfrey has compiled numerous eyewitness accounts of these "wolfmen" and their furtive activities. The sightings have hesitantly been recounted by people of credibility and some who fear ridicule for even mentioning the high strangeness to anyone at all, but here they have entrusted Ms. Godfrey with their brushes with these paranormal creatures, understandably to restore some sense of stability back into their lives by finding peace and catharsis in the sharing of their disturbing encounters.

I greatly appreciated the sincerity and respect that Godfrey provided for these people and the way she presented their stories in an informative, journalistic style that was often accompanied by eyewitness sketches of the dogman beasts, but I also was thankful for her enjoyable humour that added levity to the unnerving nature of these highly creepy reports.

This is a really compelling book; I've actually purchased several paperback copies to pass out to fans of my cryptid blog and I would recommend Real Wolfmen: True Encounters in Modern America to anyone interested in joining the cryptid community and to those with even the slightest interest in the paranormal - you won’t be disappointed.

This book will give you a lot to think about. Maybe you don't believe in these wolfmen now, but as these bright-eyed leering beasts seem to be showing themselves more and more, you might one day find yourself looking for believers.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a kid I wasn't scared of monsters much. Frankenstein, vampires or even boogie men didn't faze me in the least. But werewolves scared the shhhh.....well, poop out of me.(Thanks American Werewolf in London) Even under my impenetrable blanket force field.

I give it 3.5 stars. This book was great at parts. And I always expect a few very bizarre stories. But the sections discussing other dimensions and creatures from other planes of existence just completely lost my interest. I prefer stories of encounters that make you at least think they could be real. More believable I guess is what I'm trying to say. I believe in the possibility of bigfoot, UFOs... but not in creatures or beings manifesting or disappearing right before your eyes or passing through dimensional gateways. Were it not for these sections, the book may have gotten 5 stars from me.

I always hoped to see a bigfoot or alien. Shoot, even a lizard man or chupacabra would be cool. But I sho' nough don't wanna see me no werewolf!!!

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seems to be well-researched and thorough.

[Adam · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was more truth in Harry Potter than there was in this ridiculously bad book. Maybe, just maybe this book would have been better, more entertaining, and heck..even more believable if there weren’t dozens upon dozens of cringey Docu-series shows on Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, etc etc.

This book was like reading an episode of Monster Quest or the laughably bad and fake Mountain Monster show. Until the very end where she interviews her mentally ill friend who’s a furry and believes it to be spiritual.

Truly dreadful. I’m embarrassed this was my last book of the year.

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real Wolfmen: True Encounters in Modern America is the second book that I've read by Linda S. Godfrey. While this book was not as well organized as the previous book I read by her, it was a bit more comprehensive when it came to theories as to what the reported upright-canids may be. I appreciated her delving into the North American traditions that may account for such creatures - whether spiritual, flesh and blood, or shamanistic in origin. I love learning more about local folklore, and this book was richer in it than I truly expected.

Linda S. Godfrey truly warmed to her subject in this book. Without the need to focus on other anomalous creatures (Bigfoot, mysterious mists, lizard people, etc.) she got to allow her knowledge of wolf-lore shine, and she delved into animal psychology briefly alongside the spirit-guardians and mound builder legends. This made for better reading, although ultimately I still wish she would dig deeper into these traditions as well as the cognitive ethology of the wolf that would allow for a better understanding of the predatory habits of the 'upright canids'.

I enjoyed her look at the amphicyon's, as well as the dire wolves as possible origins of some of the legends. I also enjoyed her look into the legend of the "Hairy Hearts", as that is something scarcely mentioned. I look forward to reading more by Godfrey, although ultimately she has shone best in interviews in my experience. She is a wealth of knowledge on American folklore, and I wish her books reflected that a bit more deeply - but this was a fantastic start.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reporters collection of myths, folklore, and eye witness accounts of wolfmen or dogmen. It's not your typical hollywood or smexy shifter beast that we encounter in contemporary entertainment, but a collection of stories that have something simular with each other. It's this simular reporting that caught Godfrey's attention to write this book.

Now, before you scoff at the stories, the author does her homework. She does try to debunk when possible and she does not also come to a conclusion as to if the wolfmen are in fact real. It's just a presentation of stories and she allows you to come to your own conclusion. I find the fact that she took from so many sources and had certain aspects come up in a eerily consistant pattern interesting. She even looks into blatant hoaxes and how she identified several of this nature.

The most interesting part of this book for me was when she looked at the Native American mythology. Not just one aspect, but several. She didn't just get her information from unnamed sources, but actually talked to tribal leaders to get this information.

I don't know if I believe in the wolfman or dogman, but then while it remains unproven, it has not been disproved as well. All I know is that I personally do not have all the answers in the universe and while I remain skeptical, I also remain open to the possibility. What if there is more to the world than what we know? If nothing else, it is a fun curiosity.

I give this book 3 stars. I think I would have liked it better categorized within the chapters, but I did love the fact she did not lead you to a conclusion. I recommend it to anyone who loves eye witness accounts, folk lore and mythology concerning this paranormal phenomenon.

[Dee Eisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank gods for Linda Godfrey. In the realm of supernatural and cryptid research, she has the best sense of humor. She's not the most scholarly. She's not the most erudite. She's definitely not the most hysterical, and she looks askance at conspiracy theory. But she has the best sense of humor, she is fun to read, and she has obviously done her research. There is a sense of midwestern calm about her that makes me happy, as if she was saying after each tale "Well. That's different!"

Most of the fun in this book is in the stories told by witnesses to something outside of their experience. Godfrey collects and organizes stories from around the country and in a few cases the world, including several on military bases. If the book is midwest-heavy, that can be forgiven. After all, it's where Bray Road is located, where she's located, and where she's most famous.

Godfrey is scrupulously clear in her efforts to remain theory-neutral in going over the different ideas of what man-wolves might be. She presents the evidence for and against each side. I found the final chapters to be most amusing, when she takes apart arguments that "wolfmen" are mistaken for "bigfoot" and vice versa. She is aware that both are cryptids, and I can almost hear her laughing as she typed. She takes on the issue of hoaxers head-on, and reminds those who might want to do hoaxes that many people carry guns in these rural areas.

A fun read, and well worth checking out. Four of five stars.

[Linda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Wolfmen, True Encounters in Modern America is an unusual compilation of eye-witness accounts of strange bipedal doglike creatures. It is interesting to read each of these accounts from ordinary people in ordinary situations when they come upon this strange sight. I understand that eyewitness accounts can not always be taken at face value because of the way our minds process some information, but for so many people to describe the same phenomenon in different areas of the country is fascinating.

Initially I thought the author was a little too flippant with her paragraph titles which made it sound as though she was ridiculing the people who trusted her by sharing these accounts with her. I recently heard the author, Linda S. Godfrey, on a radio program and she did not sound at all as though she was doing that. I guess it was just a little sarcastic humor in the book. She also covers briefly what is several ideas speculating about what could account for these sightings, but it is just that – speculation.

I enjoyed reading Real Wolfmen as I do most books about cryptozoology. Cryptozoology includes the study of animals not proven to exist, the existence of known animals in places where they were not expected to occur, and sightings of animals presumed to be extinct.

[Seth Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are new to the field of Cryptozoology or the Canid phenomena that has been happening across the country, then Linda Godfrey is the author for you. She explores all possible facets of the origin of these strange creatures as well as motives. If you've read her other books, then some of this information will be familiar to you, but the book itself is a well guided journey through the strange sightings of upright canine creatures that people are reporting. My greatest appreciation for Ms. Godfrey's books is the honest sincerity that she provides about her subject. A great read for anyone who is interested in cryptozoology or canids, or for the more experienced reader of these subjects.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A random book I picked up. An in-depth look at people who claim to have seen "wolfmen," or as the author prefers to call them, "upright canids." The author examines theories about their existence and history, and it's a pretty fun read.

[Quinn Lavender · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, I read a book about wolfmen sightings. Don't judge.

It's less of a book, really, than a collection of reports about creature sightings. Fun, for a while, but I didn't end up finishing it. I guess I can only take so many similar accounts of a probably-not-real creature.

[Slenderman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to give this a 3.5/5 instead of 3 if I could.

I liked it! I listened to the audiobook while driving for a while and it was great because I did not need to focus too hard to absorb all of the information. I liked how they had lots of different stories and sectioned them by related theme so it did not feel as random.

3 stars just because personally some parts didn't hold my attention the best, but thats nothing wrong with the book just personal tastes and I do wish it dove a little bit deeper into the folklore, however I did choose a book saying "True Encounters" and not "Folklore" so that is my fault.

Very interesting! Good job!

[Jane Vellichor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Godfrey is thorough and fun. Her topic is well researched and covers many possibilities as to the nature of her subject. She is careful to differentiate between facts and opinions. While she touches briefly on other possibilities such as werecats or bigfoots, for this document she holds her focus on wolf-men and directs her readers to other books for more information on other possible creatures. Above all, she is a good storyteller so that even those most skeptic readers will at least enjoy her witness statements as campfire stories.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Beast of Bray Road is what brought me to this book. I was discussing the topic with a friend and she mentioned I give this book a read. It is a very well thought out look at werewolves (or dogmen, as she calls them), filled with numerous accounts and stories of encounters with the mythical beast. She takes a very scientific approach to the topic and covers pretty much every possibility, from aliens to skin walkers to spirits to bears.

One thing is for sure, I don’t want to have a personal experience with one of these critters.

[Zuzu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining for lovers of werewolves, and a great compilation of many very interesting stories! Unfortunately flawed in the way the author chooses to gloss over some of the most obvious explanations and stop research just a little bit short of disproving the phenomenon. Its clear that Godfrey is on the side of believers, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, in a book like this, I would expect a little bit more criticism and recognition of some of the most plausible explanations, as being willing to deconstruct your beliefs makes the real standout stories even more believable.

[Xenia Melnik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is interesting. I gave it 3 stars for the sheer audacity of the author to publish this. There are supernatural elements in our world that much is true. Interesting read for sure. Recommend it to anyone who is interested in cryptozoology. Well researched and logical if somewhat unbelievable.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are few things in life more enjoyable than listening to a Linda S. Godfrey book. An eclectic set of tales that will be sure to bring you tons of enjoyment.

Whether you are a believer or not this book is worth a read if you're into the study of cryptozoology.

[Landon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t told in a spooky way, but it was a great October read.

I had no idea there were so many sightings of werewolves. This book makes it feel like there’s more evidence of werewolves than Bigfoot. Do whatever you want with that information.

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at wolfman - dogman sightings, with further discussions of known creatures as well as pranksters who might be mistaken for them. Especially enjoyable to me as a native of southeastern Wisconsin, where many sightings have occured.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Godfrey does an excellent job presenting the information on real Wolfmen sightings in America. She is very thorough in her reporting and presents countless accounts of these encounters. If you're interested in Wolfmen sightings in America, I highly recommend this book.

[Nate McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the book I read, but I wanted it to count towards my reading goal. I'll fix it when Goodreads adds "Monsters Among Us" by Linda Godfrey.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Godfrey could have culled about a third of her stories and made this a better - less repetitive- book.

[Nann Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and scary. I found many of he stories plausible.

[L.V. Velásquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly interesting read! I've always been curious about criptozoology and this book was simply awesome. It was interesting, entertaining and informative. It was a great choice for me!

[Jeff Loquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Mrs Godfrey pulls you in with intriguing stories, data, and hypothesis’s of dogmen and other possible upright canids. Do they exist? Who knows, but the idea is enticing.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sightings of weirdness - author hasn’t been to LA yet

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sightings of weirdness - author hasn’t been to LA yet I guess

[Ana Nehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do believe in werewolves.
I do.
I do.

🖤

[clumsyplankton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean it wasn’t a bad read but it wasn’t overall good