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High Moor #1
High Moor
When John Simpson hears of a bizarre animal attack in his old home town of High Moor, it stirs memories of a long forgotten horror. John knows the truth. A werewolf stalks the town once more, and on the night of the next full moon, the killing will begin again. He should know. He survived a werewolf attack in 1986, during the worst year of his life.
It's 1986 and the town is gripped in terror after the mutilated corpse of a young boy is found in the woods. When Sergeant Steven Wilkinson begins an investigation, with the help of a specialist hunter, he soon realises that this is no ordinary animal attack. Werewolves are real, and the trail of bodies is just beginning, with young John and his friends smack in the middle of it.
Twenty years later, John returns to High Moor. The latest attack involved one of his childhood enemies, but there's more going on than meets the eye. The consequences of his past actions, the reappearance of an old flame and a dying man who will either save or damn him are the least of his problems. The night of the full moon is approaching and time is running out.
But how can he hope to stop a werewolf, when every full moon he transforms into a bloodthirsty monster himself?
It's 1986 and the town is gripped in terror after the mutilated corpse of a young boy is found in the woods. When Sergeant Steven Wilkinson begins an investigation, with the help of a specialist hunter, he soon realises that this is no ordinary animal attack. Werewolves are real, and the trail of bodies is just beginning, with young John and his friends smack in the middle of it.
Twenty years later, John returns to High Moor. The latest attack involved one of his childhood enemies, but there's more going on than meets the eye. The consequences of his past actions, the reappearance of an old flame and a dying man who will either save or damn him are the least of his problems. The night of the full moon is approaching and time is running out.
But how can he hope to stop a werewolf, when every full moon he transforms into a bloodthirsty monster himself?
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2011
About the author
Graeme Reynolds
21 books239 followersGraeme Reynolds is an exile from the North East of England, hiding out in the South West where he spends his time thinking up new ways to terrify people.
You can read more of his work on his web-site:
http://www.graemereynolds.com
You can read more of his work on his web-site:
http://www.graemereynolds.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
April 16, 2024
This was one of the best werewolf books ever! Be sure to read the whole series if you want to immersed in great writing, characters and Creatures!!🐾🐾
December 20, 2025
Violence Rating: 5/5 - Abattoir
Wow, I just loved, loved, loved this book. I couldn't put it down, and when I had to, I was constantly thinking about resuming it. As I got closer to the end I actually took a day break because I didn't want to end it. Then I finished it and now I have to wait for book 2 and 3 to be delivered and I'm dying here of impatience.
Let's get into the details. Obviously, SPOILERS ahead.
The Narrative is just perfect for me. Not superfluous, or verbose, not childish or poor. It was just right, easy to read, engaging, entertaining, captivating. The vernacular is a casual British I reckon (I'm not a linguist so I wouldn't know exactly), but I loved it, albeit this is my own preference as I have a thing for British speech.
The dialogue is real, entertaining, sometimes sad and emotional.
The Plot
We start in the present time with a murder which sets our MC (John) into motion back to his hometown, High Moor.
Then we switch for a lengthy part of the book to the past, in John's childhood where a string of events are tightly connected to one another and tie many people together. It's absolutely gripping and engaging. The way his childhood is presented is so nostalgic and relatable. Yes, we didn't do stuff to the degree those kids did, but we weren't far from it either. We were all stupid like so I guess. The story is rich and gets more intricate as more characters are introduced and slowly we discover the connections between them all.
Eventually we return to present time and continue with John in his hometown, drawn out by another werewolf so he could join a certain group and get help (John is one of those Moonstruck werewolves, but seems to retain some of his humanity which makes him a good candidate to become the best version of these beasts).
There are great fights and kills, the atmosphere is eerie and grim sometimes, other times entertaining, emotional, and adorable even.
The characters
I found it really refreshing to see that most of the characters, if not all, exhibited realistic behaviors in the face of the truth and danger. No stupid Hollywood-style actions, like running away and screaming or waiting to die helplessly or tripping or whatever you see in those types of movies. No, here characters were humans that acted on fear and did anything they could to survive, kid or adult, man or woman. And speaking of women, bravo to the author for writing such strong female characters, not some damsels in distress, not some lame screaming hysterical girls, but actual women, women with balls, not afraid to fight for their life or their loved ones.
John, David, Michael, and Marie were such a cute group. Loved them all, which is quite rare for me to relate to and like so many characters in a book, but man were they all fighters and smart for their own good. It makes sense, in a small town it is more common for children and adults to be less intimidated by savage acts and violence.
As expected, John turned into a werewolf, I won't say more about what happened to the rest because those were part of some twists that made the story a delicious treat, culminating with the best cliffhangers.
It was somehow obvious that John and Marie would be an item, but everything was written with so much taste and such patience that Mr. Reynolds could give some tips and tricks to all Romance/Romantasy writers about what Slow Burn really means. This book shows nothing about this possible couple until the last pages, and even there... nothing happens other than a silent understanding between these two that they both want something more. It's so well written that it's adorable, really.
World building
There is a diversity of werewolves, there are rules, laws, disease/state (mentioned as Moonstruck). There are packs, a hierarchy, there are good werewolves and bad werewolves, you get the picture. And everything seems to be set up for the following books.
Then, there's the things we all cryptids lovers want in these books. Yes, I'm talking about gore and violence. The description of their transformation, their kills and fights are just chef's kiss, I devoured them like a hungry beast myself. The pictures Mr. Reynolds depicts are vivid, you can almost hear and see the bones cracking and the splitting aches, the blood dripping and gore dangling about.
Twists. Read that right, not just one, but more twists. Was anything predictable? Maybe I saw one or two things coming, but the rest were utter surprises for me.
l'm so satisfied with the werewolves. I'm one of those people who enjoys the idea of werewolves being able to turn on their will and not only on full moon. The book relies on the idea they all live with the human and the beast within and they have to find a way to balance those. Besides, a werewolf hunting and killing only on full moon is rather dull to me, not to mention quite an easy target and easily discovered (figuring the novels are crime and they look for the killer; not hard to connect the kills when they all happen every month on full moon, therefore predictable and boring).
_______________________
5 stars with cherry on top:
- Plot (engaging, intricate connections between characters)
- Relatable, realistic characters (both men and women, you care about each and every one of them, love them, hate them)
- World building (a whole werewolf world hidden in the shadows, packs, laws, hunters)
- Twists and cliffhangers
- Awesome, graphic violence and gory content, epic fights werewolf-werewolf, and human-werewolf
The cherry on top is the subtle Romance between John and Marie at the end of the book. I gotta gush over a sweet love interest and romance in a horror book, especially one with werewolves. After reading the whole trilogy, I must say this 1st book is still my favorite from the series.
Wow, I just loved, loved, loved this book. I couldn't put it down, and when I had to, I was constantly thinking about resuming it. As I got closer to the end I actually took a day break because I didn't want to end it. Then I finished it and now I have to wait for book 2 and 3 to be delivered and I'm dying here of impatience.
Let's get into the details. Obviously, SPOILERS ahead.
The Narrative is just perfect for me. Not superfluous, or verbose, not childish or poor. It was just right, easy to read, engaging, entertaining, captivating. The vernacular is a casual British I reckon (I'm not a linguist so I wouldn't know exactly), but I loved it, albeit this is my own preference as I have a thing for British speech.
The dialogue is real, entertaining, sometimes sad and emotional.
The Plot
We start in the present time with a murder which sets our MC (John) into motion back to his hometown, High Moor.
Then we switch for a lengthy part of the book to the past, in John's childhood where a string of events are tightly connected to one another and tie many people together. It's absolutely gripping and engaging. The way his childhood is presented is so nostalgic and relatable. Yes, we didn't do stuff to the degree those kids did, but we weren't far from it either. We were all stupid like so I guess. The story is rich and gets more intricate as more characters are introduced and slowly we discover the connections between them all.
Eventually we return to present time and continue with John in his hometown, drawn out by another werewolf so he could join a certain group and get help (John is one of those Moonstruck werewolves, but seems to retain some of his humanity which makes him a good candidate to become the best version of these beasts).
There are great fights and kills, the atmosphere is eerie and grim sometimes, other times entertaining, emotional, and adorable even.
The characters
I found it really refreshing to see that most of the characters, if not all, exhibited realistic behaviors in the face of the truth and danger. No stupid Hollywood-style actions, like running away and screaming or waiting to die helplessly or tripping or whatever you see in those types of movies. No, here characters were humans that acted on fear and did anything they could to survive, kid or adult, man or woman. And speaking of women, bravo to the author for writing such strong female characters, not some damsels in distress, not some lame screaming hysterical girls, but actual women, women with balls, not afraid to fight for their life or their loved ones.
John, David, Michael, and Marie were such a cute group. Loved them all, which is quite rare for me to relate to and like so many characters in a book, but man were they all fighters and smart for their own good. It makes sense, in a small town it is more common for children and adults to be less intimidated by savage acts and violence.
As expected, John turned into a werewolf, I won't say more about what happened to the rest because those were part of some twists that made the story a delicious treat, culminating with the best cliffhangers.
It was somehow obvious that John and Marie would be an item, but everything was written with so much taste and such patience that Mr. Reynolds could give some tips and tricks to all Romance/Romantasy writers about what Slow Burn really means. This book shows nothing about this possible couple until the last pages, and even there... nothing happens other than a silent understanding between these two that they both want something more. It's so well written that it's adorable, really.
World building
There is a diversity of werewolves, there are rules, laws, disease/state (mentioned as Moonstruck). There are packs, a hierarchy, there are good werewolves and bad werewolves, you get the picture. And everything seems to be set up for the following books.
Then, there's the things we all cryptids lovers want in these books. Yes, I'm talking about gore and violence. The description of their transformation, their kills and fights are just chef's kiss, I devoured them like a hungry beast myself. The pictures Mr. Reynolds depicts are vivid, you can almost hear and see the bones cracking and the splitting aches, the blood dripping and gore dangling about.
Twists. Read that right, not just one, but more twists. Was anything predictable? Maybe I saw one or two things coming, but the rest were utter surprises for me.
l'm so satisfied with the werewolves. I'm one of those people who enjoys the idea of werewolves being able to turn on their will and not only on full moon. The book relies on the idea they all live with the human and the beast within and they have to find a way to balance those. Besides, a werewolf hunting and killing only on full moon is rather dull to me, not to mention quite an easy target and easily discovered (figuring the novels are crime and they look for the killer; not hard to connect the kills when they all happen every month on full moon, therefore predictable and boring).
_______________________
5 stars with cherry on top:
- Plot (engaging, intricate connections between characters)
- Relatable, realistic characters (both men and women, you care about each and every one of them, love them, hate them)
- World building (a whole werewolf world hidden in the shadows, packs, laws, hunters)
- Twists and cliffhangers
- Awesome, graphic violence and gory content, epic fights werewolf-werewolf, and human-werewolf
The cherry on top is the subtle Romance between John and Marie at the end of the book. I gotta gush over a sweet love interest and romance in a horror book, especially one with werewolves. After reading the whole trilogy, I must say this 1st book is still my favorite from the series.
April 10, 2026
What to Expect
• Dual timeline
• Time jumps (e.g., same-day, next-month, and next-day jumps)
• 3rd person POV
• Cliffhanger
• Casual British vernacular
The Premise
In Graeme Reynolds’ High Moor, when a fresh killing is attributed to the legendary High Moor puma, John Simpson returns to his hometown to find the creature truly responsible.
The Structure, Pacing & Experience
The book is divided into a prologue and three parts. The prologue is set in the present (2008) and told through the POVs of John Simpson and Malcolm Harrison.
The story started with a bang: John was about to shift. The author aptly built tension throughout. I felt every bit of John's panic and the urgency to secure himself behind a reinforced door before the change took hold. I loved that the author used visceral imagery to describe the shift:
"Fangs burst through his gums in a spray of bloodstained foam."
Meanwhile, Malcolm's fear was palpable on his late-night dog walk. My heart raced with every step he took and every word I read.
Part 1 takes us back to 1986. The story moves slowly here, but stick it out; the backstory is essential. The descriptions, while sometimes overly detailed, pull you into the 1980s and evoke a sense of nostalgia that only immersive storytelling can achieve.
Part 2 continues in the past (1986), immediately after the werewolf attack that the protagonist survived as a child in his hometown.
Part 3 returns to the present (2008) and highlights the events following John's return to his hometown.
What I Liked
I liked the author’s storytelling style. The fact that the narrative dives deep into the "beast’s" perspective is refreshing. The reader is allowed to experience the world through its heightened senses: the scent of blood, the smell of humans, the reek of fear, and acute hearing. I love that the werewolf was given a level of intelligence rather than being portrayed as just a mindless monster. I was impressed by the ability of some to change at will, but I especially loved the detailed, gruesome transformation. The author truly leaned into the 'body horror' aspect; the descriptions were vivid, with bones snapping, skin tearing, and spines warping. These werewolves aren't just a united front against humans; they police their own. Case in point: how the "moonstruck" are handled or dealt with. Yes, there is a whole hierarchy and a rigid set of rules.
What I Didn't Like
In addition to the pacing issue mentioned earlier, there was one other drawback. I know that this is the first book of a trilogy, but the ending felt abrupt. The story felt like it was cut off rather than finished.
Rating & Recommendation
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Rating Breakdown:
✦Pacing - 3.5/5
✦Atmosphere - 4/5
✦Gore - 5/5
✦The Transformation - 4.5/5
✦Fear factor - 3.5/5
✦Lore & Innovation - 4/5
✦Resolution - 3/5
I recommend it to the lovers of werewolf horror. It's a solid introduction to the series.
Content warnings⚠️: This book features graphic depictions of child abuse, profanity, mature language, attempted suicide, self-harm, animal cruelty, vomiting, graphic violence, body horror, and explicit descriptions of physical trauma/gore.
February 13, 2016
High Moor is traditional werewolf fare, but well told and fast paced, never boring. I can't really point to a scene or moment where I was utterly surprised or awed, but the story was consistently strong the whole way through. A few minor details that made me shake my head (e.g., a character in disguise at a hospital to potentially kill someone gives to another character his real name; the final scene in the epilogue, due to the extreme obliviousness of a professional). Again, these were minor criticisms in otherwise well-scripted monster mash. Horror fans will enjoy this. Werewolf fans will love it. Recommended!
May 3, 2016
I was unsure when I started this book if I was going to like it or not. I've never been the biggest werewolf fan. There are very few really good werewolf books and movies. Lots of others have tried and failed.
This book, however, really won me over. It starts with what can only be described as a coming of age tale. You get to know the characters and you really feel for them.
As the story progresses so does the killings/fights etc. These are all very well written. You can picture it all as its happening and it doesn't come across as ridiculous, which sometimes these mythical fights can do.
If werewolves were real I would imagine this is exactly how they would fight.
Overall a very strong story and it's made me want to check out the sequel.
This book, however, really won me over. It starts with what can only be described as a coming of age tale. You get to know the characters and you really feel for them.
As the story progresses so does the killings/fights etc. These are all very well written. You can picture it all as its happening and it doesn't come across as ridiculous, which sometimes these mythical fights can do.
If werewolves were real I would imagine this is exactly how they would fight.
Overall a very strong story and it's made me want to check out the sequel.
February 2, 2015
It wasn't long after I finally watched Dog Soldiers that I listened to the audiobook version of Graeme Reynolds' High Moor, so I had quite the experience with British werewolf stories. And I gotta say, I had a heckuva time with each.
Werewolves, like vamps and zombies, are an oft-used monster in horror and fantasy, and as well they should be because they are just so tragic and fierce and emotive--maybe Beyonce is a werewolf, come to think of it. Anyway, Graeme's approach is less about the werewolves, although the brand of beast he creates are a vibrant and vicious sort that I think any fan of the genre will appreciate, but the humans populating the smalltown of High Moor are the ones that steal the show for me.
If you're an 80s child, even one outside of the U.K., I am sure there are going to be more than a few identifying moments and characteristics featured in the story to enjoy, coupled with small town hijinks and a ferocious pace that doesn't let up, yet somehow allows enough breathing room for characters. If the flashback-y stuff doesn't suit you, you might be a bit disgruntled by the novel, but it plays in really well overall, and I'd really prefer this novel featuring the bulk of its tale in the 80s more so than present day. The nostalgia factor was set high for me on this one.
Sometimes an audiobook feels like you are being told the story, then there are the ones--like this one--that you simply experience the story. I'm sure had I read the print version of High Moor, I would have been equally pleased with Graeme's artful manner in presenting his characters in all their fabulously fallible glory. Having Chris Barnes practically imbue his voice over each character in a way that causes him to disappear and the story shine through just makes this audiobook a treat, especially for a fan of British horror.
Werewolves, like vamps and zombies, are an oft-used monster in horror and fantasy, and as well they should be because they are just so tragic and fierce and emotive--maybe Beyonce is a werewolf, come to think of it. Anyway, Graeme's approach is less about the werewolves, although the brand of beast he creates are a vibrant and vicious sort that I think any fan of the genre will appreciate, but the humans populating the smalltown of High Moor are the ones that steal the show for me.
If you're an 80s child, even one outside of the U.K., I am sure there are going to be more than a few identifying moments and characteristics featured in the story to enjoy, coupled with small town hijinks and a ferocious pace that doesn't let up, yet somehow allows enough breathing room for characters. If the flashback-y stuff doesn't suit you, you might be a bit disgruntled by the novel, but it plays in really well overall, and I'd really prefer this novel featuring the bulk of its tale in the 80s more so than present day. The nostalgia factor was set high for me on this one.
Sometimes an audiobook feels like you are being told the story, then there are the ones--like this one--that you simply experience the story. I'm sure had I read the print version of High Moor, I would have been equally pleased with Graeme's artful manner in presenting his characters in all their fabulously fallible glory. Having Chris Barnes practically imbue his voice over each character in a way that causes him to disappear and the story shine through just makes this audiobook a treat, especially for a fan of British horror.
October 8, 2014
Werewolves and vampires have, for want of a better phrase, 'fallen in stock' over the past decade. There's a variety of reasons for this - I won't go into them here - but needless to say, it's always fresh and exciting when someone pumps new blood, no pun intended, into either genre. Vampires - step aside, we're talking about werewolves for this review. For me, Lycanthropes take me back to my childhood. Movies such as The Howling and An American Werewolf in London - references are forthcoming - scared me witless. They proved horror can be simple yet terrifying at the same time. After all, a werewolf is nothing more than a huge dog gone bonkers, right?
We'll get to that in due course.
High Moor is a revelation. Told over a timespan of twenty-two years, it details the events of a small town, High Moor, which is rocked by several brutal murders at the hands - or claws - of a large animal. The police are clueless, the local kids terrified. After several sightings, one of the kids moves away from town, but is forced to face his demons twenty-two years later when the animal resurfaces. To say much else, would ruin the intricate, well-written plot.
Werewolves are anything but large dogs with a case of the rage. They are humans who turn into wolves on a full moon - normally. Most readers will already know this. That's where High Moor becomes interesting and refreshingly original. Reynolds switches the story up a notch by introducing different species of werewolf, those who battle against one another and even those who follow a sketchy, moral code. Where the plot could be quite linear - stay in on a full moon, job done, you survive -, Reynolds has just torn down the standard genre walls. Day walking werewolves, those who can change at will...it doesn't bode well for the humans around them. This lends the book a terrifying new angle, one that keeps you turning the pages until the thrilling finale.
The characters are vivid and realistic. Our central characters are a bunch of kids residing in High Moor, whose lives are changed forever by the arrival of the creatures. Their interactions are so typically British and authentic, I felt like I was reliving my youth. True, I never came face to terrified sprinting backside with a werewolf during my childhood, but the banter, chit chat, activities, and general interaction rang true to me. It brought the characters to life and created a humble, realistic setting in which to set the story. When the wolves aren't around, it was like reading The Body (Stand By Me) mashed with It, minus any unwelcome clowns or dead bodies...okay, maybe not the latter.
Then there are the adults. We have the avid werewolf hunter, the hero of the piece with a dark past, the police officer who goes against his orders to help the town, and the unsuspecting parents and locals. Everyone is detailed enough to play a part - the resident bullies are scarily authentic - and none are forced or mere talking heads. Reynolds creates a real tight-knit community within his prose, one that you could almost taste and smell as you immerse yourself in the lavish story. His wonderful characters, with rich, detailed back stories blend effortlessly with the beasts of the piece. People may die, oh yes, but we feel for them, mourn them. There's no cannon fodder here, everyone and anyone is potential prey, but you'll grow to love or hate them first. Which leaves us...
The werewolves are absolutely phenomenal. Terrifying, near invincible and mostly unseen. They could strike at any moment, anywhere...which they do, several times, in a variety of gory, blood-soaked ways. Graeme Reynolds has done for the written werewolf what Rick Baker did for the visual werewolf back in 1981. He's created a monster. When the first transformation happens, your mouth will hit the floor. When the wolves first appear, you'll feel the prickly goosebumps. In fact, I haven't been this enthralled by a wolf since David chased that poor commuter through Tottenham Court Road tube station in An American Werewolf in London. References you don't get, maybe, but the pure horror involved is astounding. I have included a link below for those unknowing folks who read this, but it will give you a brief idea of how it feels to read this book. Terrifying, darkly funny in places, horrifically graphic, but overall, taut and thrilling.
5 stars? No doubt about it. This book just leapt into my top three reads of 2014. Dragging werewolves clawing and biting into the 21st century, Reynolds has created a franchise that is not only British at heart, but universally enjoyable for everyone. Horror fans should add this book to their list right now. High Moor is a master-class in old school horror, written for an ageless audience. An instant classic.
An American Werewolf in London. "I can assure you that is not in the least bit amusing..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ss0nT...
We'll get to that in due course.
High Moor is a revelation. Told over a timespan of twenty-two years, it details the events of a small town, High Moor, which is rocked by several brutal murders at the hands - or claws - of a large animal. The police are clueless, the local kids terrified. After several sightings, one of the kids moves away from town, but is forced to face his demons twenty-two years later when the animal resurfaces. To say much else, would ruin the intricate, well-written plot.
Werewolves are anything but large dogs with a case of the rage. They are humans who turn into wolves on a full moon - normally. Most readers will already know this. That's where High Moor becomes interesting and refreshingly original. Reynolds switches the story up a notch by introducing different species of werewolf, those who battle against one another and even those who follow a sketchy, moral code. Where the plot could be quite linear - stay in on a full moon, job done, you survive -, Reynolds has just torn down the standard genre walls. Day walking werewolves, those who can change at will...it doesn't bode well for the humans around them. This lends the book a terrifying new angle, one that keeps you turning the pages until the thrilling finale.
The characters are vivid and realistic. Our central characters are a bunch of kids residing in High Moor, whose lives are changed forever by the arrival of the creatures. Their interactions are so typically British and authentic, I felt like I was reliving my youth. True, I never came face to terrified sprinting backside with a werewolf during my childhood, but the banter, chit chat, activities, and general interaction rang true to me. It brought the characters to life and created a humble, realistic setting in which to set the story. When the wolves aren't around, it was like reading The Body (Stand By Me) mashed with It, minus any unwelcome clowns or dead bodies...okay, maybe not the latter.
Then there are the adults. We have the avid werewolf hunter, the hero of the piece with a dark past, the police officer who goes against his orders to help the town, and the unsuspecting parents and locals. Everyone is detailed enough to play a part - the resident bullies are scarily authentic - and none are forced or mere talking heads. Reynolds creates a real tight-knit community within his prose, one that you could almost taste and smell as you immerse yourself in the lavish story. His wonderful characters, with rich, detailed back stories blend effortlessly with the beasts of the piece. People may die, oh yes, but we feel for them, mourn them. There's no cannon fodder here, everyone and anyone is potential prey, but you'll grow to love or hate them first. Which leaves us...
The werewolves are absolutely phenomenal. Terrifying, near invincible and mostly unseen. They could strike at any moment, anywhere...which they do, several times, in a variety of gory, blood-soaked ways. Graeme Reynolds has done for the written werewolf what Rick Baker did for the visual werewolf back in 1981. He's created a monster. When the first transformation happens, your mouth will hit the floor. When the wolves first appear, you'll feel the prickly goosebumps. In fact, I haven't been this enthralled by a wolf since David chased that poor commuter through Tottenham Court Road tube station in An American Werewolf in London. References you don't get, maybe, but the pure horror involved is astounding. I have included a link below for those unknowing folks who read this, but it will give you a brief idea of how it feels to read this book. Terrifying, darkly funny in places, horrifically graphic, but overall, taut and thrilling.
5 stars? No doubt about it. This book just leapt into my top three reads of 2014. Dragging werewolves clawing and biting into the 21st century, Reynolds has created a franchise that is not only British at heart, but universally enjoyable for everyone. Horror fans should add this book to their list right now. High Moor is a master-class in old school horror, written for an ageless audience. An instant classic.
An American Werewolf in London. "I can assure you that is not in the least bit amusing..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ss0nT...
January 28, 2012
In the interest of full-disclosure, High Moor made this year's preliminary ballot for the Horror Writers Association's Bram Stoker Award in the First Novel Category. My book, That Which Should Not Be, also made the ballot. That we are competitors of sorts should prove that my esteem for High Moor is in no way exaggerated.
I've never been a fan of werewolves. Not really sure why, but I've always been a vampire guy (Twilight notwithstanding). When werewolves and vampires became inextricably linked in pop culture, perhaps as a result of Underworld though maybe the linkage goes back further than that, I sided with the vampires. So when I heard about Graeme Reynolds and High Moor, I didn't really expect to read it. I mean, it was about werewolves. Graeme is from golly old England, which meant that it was going to be written with all those bizarre spellings the English still insist upon, wasted ou's in the place of o's and oe's stuck in words where an e would do just fine. But then I started to hear people who I trusted talk about the book, and I was intrigued. My verdict? I was never a fan of werewolves before, but I am now, at least if Graeme Reynolds is the one raising the full moon.
High Moor is a taunt horror-thriller filled with chills and action, a non-stop adrenaline rush that will have you turning pages at the speed a werewolf snaps its jaws or rips someone's heart out. High Moor is a bifurcated narrative. Set in Northern England, the first half, minus a very short prologue and first chapter, takes place in 1986 and introduces us to John, Michael, and Marie. These three friends live relatively normal lives. That is, until Michael and Marie's drunken father sends their brother into the woods to recover some forgotten tools. When he ends up dead, his body torn to pieces, a local police officer named Steven calls in an American to help hunt down what they assume is a wild beast. And beast it is, though not one they could ever imagine. The consequences of the events that follow will reverberate throughout the rest of all of their lives, leading us to the second half of the book, set in the present day.
There is so much to recommend Reynolds's novel that I hardly know where to begin. I think the key choice he makes is to stick to the fundamental aspects of the werewolf mythos. So many authors who write on traditional topics—werewolves, vampires, zombies—think that they have to not only do something different, but radically so. Thus we end up with wise-cracking zombies and sparkling vampires. I was relieved that Reynolds resisted this temptation. At the same time, Reynolds builds a fantastic world of his own where werewolves live in the shadows, protecting their secrets through Pack Law enforced without mercy by the pack. The werewolves in Reynolds's novel are of two varieties. Most can change at will, both controlling the beast within while harnessing its power. Others are “moonstruck,” able to change only upon the full moon. They are wild and vicious, and the pack werewolves hunt them down, lest they reveal their secret to the world. And let me tell you, there is a lot of hunting, a lot of fighting, and a lot of killing. No character is safe in Reynolds's world, and that he establishes this fact early on heightens the tension in every werewolf encounter. His descriptions of the attacks are so rich and vivid that you will see them in your mind's eye with a clarity normally reserved for movies. And it is that talent with description that may be Reynolds's strongest suit. The man isn't just writing a scene. He is creating a world for his characters to inhabit, one that I was sad to leave, though something tells me a sequel might be in the works . . . .
I truly loved this book. Once I started to really read it, I finished the novel in a day and a half. Whenever I put it down, I found myself coming back to it almost impulsively. I haven't been this addicted to something since I downloaded Angry Birds. Recommended without reservation to anyone who is a fan of horror or anyone that wants to be. High Moor is the kind of book that will make converts of us all.
I've never been a fan of werewolves. Not really sure why, but I've always been a vampire guy (Twilight notwithstanding). When werewolves and vampires became inextricably linked in pop culture, perhaps as a result of Underworld though maybe the linkage goes back further than that, I sided with the vampires. So when I heard about Graeme Reynolds and High Moor, I didn't really expect to read it. I mean, it was about werewolves. Graeme is from golly old England, which meant that it was going to be written with all those bizarre spellings the English still insist upon, wasted ou's in the place of o's and oe's stuck in words where an e would do just fine. But then I started to hear people who I trusted talk about the book, and I was intrigued. My verdict? I was never a fan of werewolves before, but I am now, at least if Graeme Reynolds is the one raising the full moon.
High Moor is a taunt horror-thriller filled with chills and action, a non-stop adrenaline rush that will have you turning pages at the speed a werewolf snaps its jaws or rips someone's heart out. High Moor is a bifurcated narrative. Set in Northern England, the first half, minus a very short prologue and first chapter, takes place in 1986 and introduces us to John, Michael, and Marie. These three friends live relatively normal lives. That is, until Michael and Marie's drunken father sends their brother into the woods to recover some forgotten tools. When he ends up dead, his body torn to pieces, a local police officer named Steven calls in an American to help hunt down what they assume is a wild beast. And beast it is, though not one they could ever imagine. The consequences of the events that follow will reverberate throughout the rest of all of their lives, leading us to the second half of the book, set in the present day.
There is so much to recommend Reynolds's novel that I hardly know where to begin. I think the key choice he makes is to stick to the fundamental aspects of the werewolf mythos. So many authors who write on traditional topics—werewolves, vampires, zombies—think that they have to not only do something different, but radically so. Thus we end up with wise-cracking zombies and sparkling vampires. I was relieved that Reynolds resisted this temptation. At the same time, Reynolds builds a fantastic world of his own where werewolves live in the shadows, protecting their secrets through Pack Law enforced without mercy by the pack. The werewolves in Reynolds's novel are of two varieties. Most can change at will, both controlling the beast within while harnessing its power. Others are “moonstruck,” able to change only upon the full moon. They are wild and vicious, and the pack werewolves hunt them down, lest they reveal their secret to the world. And let me tell you, there is a lot of hunting, a lot of fighting, and a lot of killing. No character is safe in Reynolds's world, and that he establishes this fact early on heightens the tension in every werewolf encounter. His descriptions of the attacks are so rich and vivid that you will see them in your mind's eye with a clarity normally reserved for movies. And it is that talent with description that may be Reynolds's strongest suit. The man isn't just writing a scene. He is creating a world for his characters to inhabit, one that I was sad to leave, though something tells me a sequel might be in the works . . . .
I truly loved this book. Once I started to really read it, I finished the novel in a day and a half. Whenever I put it down, I found myself coming back to it almost impulsively. I haven't been this addicted to something since I downloaded Angry Birds. Recommended without reservation to anyone who is a fan of horror or anyone that wants to be. High Moor is the kind of book that will make converts of us all.
June 6, 2014
It has been a while since I've 'read' (or in this case 'listened to', because I got the audiobook) something I couldn't put down. I'm one of those horrible readers that isn't easily impressed, and I was really hoping I would find something that would 'drag me by the hair' again. High Moor did that for me. It made me laugh, made me cry... but most of all, it made me want to gag a few times.
If you are not a fan of gore... don't read this book. You'll hate it, because the gore is not only a big part of the story, it's also so well written that you feel you're there as a twisted little spectator. I would recommend anyone with delicate sensibilities to stay away from this book, because I've heard people complain about the swearing too. I personally think it suited the setting, and made the characters more realistic.
The story is very tight, the characters are wonderful and very realistic. I recognized friends in it, but also myself a few times. Not a word is wasted in the writing, and the descriptions really blew me away. Even though the story and the concept are pretty straight forward, the author put some interesting layers that set this story apart. There are a few twists that really had me going, and I might have cursed a few times. The end left me slack-jawed.
After reading this I need a moment to pick myself up, and get back to reality. I have a bit of a reader's hangover now, and I feel as if I just stepped out of a roller coaster ride. I can't wait to get started on the second book. The narrator Chris Barnes deserves a big pat on the back too, he really brought the story to life. I listen to a lot of audio books, and he managed to do what a lot of narrators can't. I'm a fan!
I'm not one of those people who will blow smoke up someone's backside. This book blew me away, plain and simple. I don't tend to like werewolf stories, but I think I might have just changed my mind on that whole genre. This gets a solid five stars from me, in writing and storytelling. I would recommend it to anyone with a taste for intense horror.
If you are not a fan of gore... don't read this book. You'll hate it, because the gore is not only a big part of the story, it's also so well written that you feel you're there as a twisted little spectator. I would recommend anyone with delicate sensibilities to stay away from this book, because I've heard people complain about the swearing too. I personally think it suited the setting, and made the characters more realistic.
The story is very tight, the characters are wonderful and very realistic. I recognized friends in it, but also myself a few times. Not a word is wasted in the writing, and the descriptions really blew me away. Even though the story and the concept are pretty straight forward, the author put some interesting layers that set this story apart. There are a few twists that really had me going, and I might have cursed a few times. The end left me slack-jawed.
After reading this I need a moment to pick myself up, and get back to reality. I have a bit of a reader's hangover now, and I feel as if I just stepped out of a roller coaster ride. I can't wait to get started on the second book. The narrator Chris Barnes deserves a big pat on the back too, he really brought the story to life. I listen to a lot of audio books, and he managed to do what a lot of narrators can't. I'm a fan!
I'm not one of those people who will blow smoke up someone's backside. This book blew me away, plain and simple. I don't tend to like werewolf stories, but I think I might have just changed my mind on that whole genre. This gets a solid five stars from me, in writing and storytelling. I would recommend it to anyone with a taste for intense horror.
October 28, 2023
SIT! Good boy. FETCH! Goooood boy. ROLL OVER! You’re such a goood boy. EAT THAT CHILDHOOD BULLY OVER THERE! * Screaming and munching sounds. * Goooood boy, followed by much patting and hugging.
This is classic vintage werewolf fare, served up just the way I like it: lot’s of gruesome goodness, plenty of action and lots of scary bits. It never goes out of fashion. It was soooo good, I found myself getting up at sparrow’s fart to continue reading it and staying up until owl-o’clock to keep reading it! I even forgot to do the Martini thing at 5pm!
High Moor is really three books in one covering the life of John Simpson's wolfy escapades and his doggy mates. The writing is fast-paced and will get your imagination going. Prepare to imaging LOTS of blood and guts, and furry monsters of course.
I just loved this one and will probably read the next one in the series.
Onward and upward…after my evening Martini of course.
This is classic vintage werewolf fare, served up just the way I like it: lot’s of gruesome goodness, plenty of action and lots of scary bits. It never goes out of fashion. It was soooo good, I found myself getting up at sparrow’s fart to continue reading it and staying up until owl-o’clock to keep reading it! I even forgot to do the Martini thing at 5pm!
High Moor is really three books in one covering the life of John Simpson's wolfy escapades and his doggy mates. The writing is fast-paced and will get your imagination going. Prepare to imaging LOTS of blood and guts, and furry monsters of course.
I just loved this one and will probably read the next one in the series.
Onward and upward…after my evening Martini of course.
March 6, 2021
Really entertaining and fun to read! I'm glad I chose this book and I'm going strait to the next one of the serie :-)
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
October 6, 2022
The end was a bit too much. I would have preferred a simpler and maybe happier ending.
March 28, 2024
A beast is killing off animals and humans. Is it a puma like they say, or is there something else stalking the town of High Moor?
A tale of werewolves that takes place in a small town in the Northeast of England. The story begins in the 80s to set the scene. We are then transported to 2008 to conclude the story. I couldn't work out what was scarier, the werewolves or the chavs!
Fantastically written, I found myself hitting 200 pages in one day. Likable characters that i hoped would survive. Then some, i just wished would be torn apart.
Coming from the North East myself I could vividly see the scenes play out in places I know and have visited regularly, even scenes set in my local hospital which i loved. This was a fantastic read. Now off to go grab the sequel!
A tale of werewolves that takes place in a small town in the Northeast of England. The story begins in the 80s to set the scene. We are then transported to 2008 to conclude the story. I couldn't work out what was scarier, the werewolves or the chavs!
Fantastically written, I found myself hitting 200 pages in one day. Likable characters that i hoped would survive. Then some, i just wished would be torn apart.
Coming from the North East myself I could vividly see the scenes play out in places I know and have visited regularly, even scenes set in my local hospital which i loved. This was a fantastic read. Now off to go grab the sequel!
December 15, 2011
Werewolf lovers need to sink their fangs into HIGH MOOR. Graeme Reynolds has crafted an action-driven horror novel that can only be described as silver-bullet paced, economically worded, yet simultanteous elegant when it chooses to be. Sometimes humorous, sometimes mysterious, and sometimes menacing and violent (love-love-loved the gory imagery in this, especially a scene involving a tree... I'll say no more).
I especially enjoyed the children in the beginning half of the book. They were all very real to me, through their interactions with each other to their expressed and unexpressed needs. The characterization is all handled extremely well, which extends not just from the children but also to the adult characters and wolf-human hybrids as well.
The story is enthralling, not because of its werewolf subject matter, but because the reader has little choice not to be compelled onward-- the plot doesn't stop to catch its breath too often, and when it does you can be certain it'll soon be hurtling you into a brand new crisis.
My only complaint was the length. Too short. Reynold's had me moonstruck and the conclusion comes all too fast.
I especially enjoyed the children in the beginning half of the book. They were all very real to me, through their interactions with each other to their expressed and unexpressed needs. The characterization is all handled extremely well, which extends not just from the children but also to the adult characters and wolf-human hybrids as well.
The story is enthralling, not because of its werewolf subject matter, but because the reader has little choice not to be compelled onward-- the plot doesn't stop to catch its breath too often, and when it does you can be certain it'll soon be hurtling you into a brand new crisis.
My only complaint was the length. Too short. Reynold's had me moonstruck and the conclusion comes all too fast.
October 15, 2013
I have been wanting to get to this one for a while, so when I had the chance to get a hold of a review copy of the audio book from Chris at Dynamic Ram Audio Productions/Horrific Tales Publishing for an honest review, I jumped at the chance. (Incidently, Chris also did the audio work for this novel and did a fantastic job)
High Moor by Graeme Reynolds is fast and furious story with a ton of action and plenty of blood. Just the way I like it! This one moves quickly and the plot flows at a good pace. The characters were well drawn and I really was engaged in the story from the get go. The heavy accent only took a minute to get used to and once the action got moving it added a lot to the ambiance of the story.
Can’t wait to sink my teeth into the sequel. Very solid 4.5 Stars!
High Moor by Graeme Reynolds is fast and furious story with a ton of action and plenty of blood. Just the way I like it! This one moves quickly and the plot flows at a good pace. The characters were well drawn and I really was engaged in the story from the get go. The heavy accent only took a minute to get used to and once the action got moving it added a lot to the ambiance of the story.
Can’t wait to sink my teeth into the sequel. Very solid 4.5 Stars!
February 17, 2012
High Moor is a low-budget, blood-n-guts 80's Werewolf B-movie. Personally I have no problem with that whatsoever, but the definitive work on the subject is out there, and this falls considerably short. There are some interesting ideas in there -if you're willing to suspend disbelief and not ask questions- and the plot is surprisingly engaging and well put together, but the author can't write.
This was a really fascinating experience for me, if I'm honest. By any objective standard the book should be one-star Avoid It stuff but whenever I put it down exasperated I found myself going back to it again not too long after.
The writing is so bad that Reynolds occasionally uses the wrong word for what he means to say, the characters are just spectacularly one-dimensional and cartoonish, and he's clearly lifted his plot threads from several different films and just thrown them all in the mix together but the book is of the compelling, unusual brand of bad.
*Spoilers Start*
I can't even describe it properly, so I'm going to drop my usual semi-formal approach and just talk to you here:
After a minute prologue the book begins proper in the eighties, where we primarily follow three kids around. To start with the way they talk and act is just so bewildering (and don't get me started on the bullies. If you thought IT was over-the-top in it's depiction of fifties small town violence at least that hid behind the excuse of "semi-possession/brain control magic"). It's as if their dialogue has been half-arsedly translated from a foreign language by an American and a Briton working in shifts, then peppered with awe-inspiring profanity throughout.
We also follow a police officer (Steven) who gets pulled into the web of werewolves. After a climactic sequence with a lupine gypsy he is suspended without pay from the police because his senior officer doesn't like him and then his wife has a one page rant at him about showing her no respect without the necessary establishment of character or motivation beforehand and it's just so cliché that it's funny.
People make the strangest decisions the whole way through the book, clearly because the author wanted/needed certain things to happen to certain characters (i.e. getting eaten/infected) and he could only have that happen if they went there alone. Otherwise he'd have to write in a way for the person who would naturally want to accompany them to escape. Instead of this everyone just acts completely irrationally to serve the plot.
The bit where Steven gets left £10million by the dead wolf-hunter (conditionally) is absolutely mind-bending, then the way he has to literally have Steve talk out loud to the reader so we understand that that happened (and even then leaves us with more questions than answers) was incredibly clumsy. How would Carl's Will know if you were actually going to hunt werewolves or not? Do you have to report in to a trustee with the heads of people you murdered or they kick you out of your wolf-proof mansion? Doesn't killing sentient beings that have an established society strike you as enough of an... ethical grey area to question the value of a promise extracted posthumously in exchange for masses of money by a career murderer?
And no one seems to believe anything! A kid literally sets fire to his hand to prove that he's a werewolf with fast healing and the dad goes "eh" and just watches the footy. No dad in the world is spoken to by a police officer in no uncertain terms about the possibility of lunar antics, after a death-toll in the double digits spread over nights with a full moon (blamed on a bear, by the way. Yep.) then watches his son burn his hand up in a fire and instantly heal it to prove Shit Be Going Weird then goes:
"Whatever. Who's playing? Shut up with that bloody howling, John! Don't make me come up there!".
*Spoilers End*
Honestly though, the plot is actually quite fun, there's loads of gore (with unusual focus on intestines and kidneys and liver when the werewolves are eating, for some reason. Are werewolves big on the different flavours of the human body? Perhaps they're loup gourmand's) and the whole thing, inept and unpleasant as it undeniably is, has this infectious strain of enthusiasm to it. Plus it's less than £2 on the Kindle.
Put it this way: I certainly don't want the author to stop writing, and I can't guarantee I won't buy the sequel if he writes it.
This was a really fascinating experience for me, if I'm honest. By any objective standard the book should be one-star Avoid It stuff but whenever I put it down exasperated I found myself going back to it again not too long after.
The writing is so bad that Reynolds occasionally uses the wrong word for what he means to say, the characters are just spectacularly one-dimensional and cartoonish, and he's clearly lifted his plot threads from several different films and just thrown them all in the mix together but the book is of the compelling, unusual brand of bad.
*Spoilers Start*
I can't even describe it properly, so I'm going to drop my usual semi-formal approach and just talk to you here:
After a minute prologue the book begins proper in the eighties, where we primarily follow three kids around. To start with the way they talk and act is just so bewildering (and don't get me started on the bullies. If you thought IT was over-the-top in it's depiction of fifties small town violence at least that hid behind the excuse of "semi-possession/brain control magic"). It's as if their dialogue has been half-arsedly translated from a foreign language by an American and a Briton working in shifts, then peppered with awe-inspiring profanity throughout.
We also follow a police officer (Steven) who gets pulled into the web of werewolves. After a climactic sequence with a lupine gypsy he is suspended without pay from the police because his senior officer doesn't like him and then his wife has a one page rant at him about showing her no respect without the necessary establishment of character or motivation beforehand and it's just so cliché that it's funny.
People make the strangest decisions the whole way through the book, clearly because the author wanted/needed certain things to happen to certain characters (i.e. getting eaten/infected) and he could only have that happen if they went there alone. Otherwise he'd have to write in a way for the person who would naturally want to accompany them to escape. Instead of this everyone just acts completely irrationally to serve the plot.
The bit where Steven gets left £10million by the dead wolf-hunter (conditionally) is absolutely mind-bending, then the way he has to literally have Steve talk out loud to the reader so we understand that that happened (and even then leaves us with more questions than answers) was incredibly clumsy. How would Carl's Will know if you were actually going to hunt werewolves or not? Do you have to report in to a trustee with the heads of people you murdered or they kick you out of your wolf-proof mansion? Doesn't killing sentient beings that have an established society strike you as enough of an... ethical grey area to question the value of a promise extracted posthumously in exchange for masses of money by a career murderer?
And no one seems to believe anything! A kid literally sets fire to his hand to prove that he's a werewolf with fast healing and the dad goes "eh" and just watches the footy. No dad in the world is spoken to by a police officer in no uncertain terms about the possibility of lunar antics, after a death-toll in the double digits spread over nights with a full moon (blamed on a bear, by the way. Yep.) then watches his son burn his hand up in a fire and instantly heal it to prove Shit Be Going Weird then goes:
"Whatever. Who's playing? Shut up with that bloody howling, John! Don't make me come up there!".
*Spoilers End*
Honestly though, the plot is actually quite fun, there's loads of gore (with unusual focus on intestines and kidneys and liver when the werewolves are eating, for some reason. Are werewolves big on the different flavours of the human body? Perhaps they're loup gourmand's) and the whole thing, inept and unpleasant as it undeniably is, has this infectious strain of enthusiasm to it. Plus it's less than £2 on the Kindle.
Put it this way: I certainly don't want the author to stop writing, and I can't guarantee I won't buy the sequel if he writes it.
October 5, 2019
Don't let the cheesy cover fool you, this is a good werewolf horror story. Nothing tame, sweet or sexy about these creatures: the killing is indiscriminate and gory.
In 1986, four friends between 7-12 are spending their summer building forts, buying trading cards and candy, and fending off a group of bullies. David, the oldest, is protective of the others in a way that really endeared him to me, especially when his little sister joins their group and elevates her status from "Squirt" to "Scrapper." Although siblings David, Michael, Marie and their neighbor John aren't exactly innocent, the kind of trouble they get into tends toward pranks. The bullies, an older gang of boys led by a real delinquent named Malcolm, live to torture and injure David's group. In the midst of all this rivalry, a series of animal attacks has the local constabulary worried. Attributed to a large dog at first, they finally decide it must be a loose exotic pet that's disemboweling the sheep. When a likely animal is shot by a hunter, the police are quick to give the all-clear to the public - which doesn't work out well for the townsfolk.
btw, Graeme Reynolds does not give a sh*t about who or what his werewolf attacks. I love this, but I also hate this.
One thing that frustrated me is the lack of explanation for a moonstruck wolf. The gist is that a moonstruck wolf is a killing machine that only shifts during the full moon, whereas most wolves are able to shift anytime and control when and what they kill. Okay, but what causes it? It isn't a personality thing like you might assume; one wolf was in control her whole life and then suddenly she wasn't. Another was moonstruck right from the beginning.
Rather than the more typical back and forth between timelines, Reynolds gives a taste of the current timeline in the prologue, sets the entirety of Parts 1 and 2 in 1986, and returns to the present in Part 3. As a reader, I thought this was a much more satisfying way to digest the story and understand the events contributing to the present day. Parts 1 and 2 were great. I thought the 1986 storyline was well thought-out and totally engaging: a complete story really, only requiring a followup to check in on what became of what and so forth. On the other hand, Part 3 felt so rushed (1986 was covered in 22 chapters, and 2008 was covered in only 8 not counting the prologue.) There absolutely were missed opportunities for Reynolds to flesh out and build more into the present day events, and it's such a shame he chose not to do so. imo, this is the biggest shortfall of the book.
All in all, a great story and a refreshing return to werewolves as horror. I'm going to read the sequel, Moonstruck. With a title like that, I'm hoping it'll answer some questions.
In 1986, four friends between 7-12 are spending their summer building forts, buying trading cards and candy, and fending off a group of bullies. David, the oldest, is protective of the others in a way that really endeared him to me, especially when his little sister joins their group and elevates her status from "Squirt" to "Scrapper." Although siblings David, Michael, Marie and their neighbor John aren't exactly innocent, the kind of trouble they get into tends toward pranks. The bullies, an older gang of boys led by a real delinquent named Malcolm, live to torture and injure David's group. In the midst of all this rivalry, a series of animal attacks has the local constabulary worried. Attributed to a large dog at first, they finally decide it must be a loose exotic pet that's disemboweling the sheep. When a likely animal is shot by a hunter, the police are quick to give the all-clear to the public - which doesn't work out well for the townsfolk.
btw, Graeme Reynolds does not give a sh*t about who or what his werewolf attacks. I love this, but I also hate this.
One thing that frustrated me is the lack of explanation for a moonstruck wolf. The gist is that a moonstruck wolf is a killing machine that only shifts during the full moon, whereas most wolves are able to shift anytime and control when and what they kill. Okay, but what causes it? It isn't a personality thing like you might assume; one wolf was in control her whole life and then suddenly she wasn't. Another was moonstruck right from the beginning.
Rather than the more typical back and forth between timelines, Reynolds gives a taste of the current timeline in the prologue, sets the entirety of Parts 1 and 2 in 1986, and returns to the present in Part 3. As a reader, I thought this was a much more satisfying way to digest the story and understand the events contributing to the present day. Parts 1 and 2 were great. I thought the 1986 storyline was well thought-out and totally engaging: a complete story really, only requiring a followup to check in on what became of what and so forth. On the other hand, Part 3 felt so rushed (1986 was covered in 22 chapters, and 2008 was covered in only 8 not counting the prologue.) There absolutely were missed opportunities for Reynolds to flesh out and build more into the present day events, and it's such a shame he chose not to do so. imo, this is the biggest shortfall of the book.
All in all, a great story and a refreshing return to werewolves as horror. I'm going to read the sequel, Moonstruck. With a title like that, I'm hoping it'll answer some questions.
July 10, 2024
This isn't a shifter book, this is the down and dirty werewolf type book! It's the blood and guts type of werewolf, the ones that will eat you whole and the ones where you find yourself shuddering about. I loved it!!
Right from the start this story will grab you. We learn about John Sampson and basically, how he came to be a Moonstruck werewolf. It starts in the present with Sampson just preparing to lock himself up in his cage and then we are transported back to when he was young. He is a typical child and tries to spend his days hanging with his friends, until a faithful day on the Moor, when his world is changed forever.
This book isn't just a Werewolf book. It's a story of friendship, of mistakes, of finding out about yourself and who you can trust. This is quite a long book but I listened to it in one day because I couldn't put it down. It was fantastic!
There are quite a few characters but they were all extremely well written and developed. I loved reading about John, Michael and Maries' friendship when they were kids. It was so realistic that it brought me right back to my own childhood. Their banter and comradeship was awesome.
There are plenty of other characters like Steven, the Sargent, Carl,the american hunter, the old woman and the gypsies who are all an integral part of the story and all who add something extra. Each person has their own story and the author weaves each tale together seamlessly. There is no wasted information in this book, everything the author does has a point, and I loved that about the book.
The werewolf lore was another thing I loved. I loved how there were 2 different types of them. One is the ones who can turn at will and keep their sensibilities and the other are the "Moonstruck". They are the 7 foot tall ones of nightmares. They are the ones who will rip you to bits because at their core, they are animals and we are prey. The first type hunt and kill the second type because they can expose their secrets!
I loved the setting! It's a tight knit, small town in England with the back drop of the Moors. Even without the blood chilling werewolves, you can picture the creepy setting. Imagine that with the howls of the feral wolves and you get a sense of the frightening setting. It was perfect!!
Anyway. This book was such a tense and chilling read, though there actually was some laugh out loud moments!! The banter flowed with a lot of the characters and it added a much needed levity to the book. The action is basically non stop the whole way through and you will be sitting on the edge of your seat. This book is the old school gory, bloody werewolves and not for the squeamish. With each killing that happens, your heart will quicken and believe me when I say that no character is safe!! It's bloody brilliant ;)
I listened to the audio and I'm so glad I did. Chris Barnes did an amazing job with it. He easily portrayed each character and I had no worry about getting each character mixed up. He really knew when to ramp up the tension and when the voice needed to chill a bit! Loved it.
So ya. This book pretty much blew me away with how much I loved it and I can't recommend it enough! If you want old school werewolf horror, with a thrilling story, then this is for you.
Right from the start this story will grab you. We learn about John Sampson and basically, how he came to be a Moonstruck werewolf. It starts in the present with Sampson just preparing to lock himself up in his cage and then we are transported back to when he was young. He is a typical child and tries to spend his days hanging with his friends, until a faithful day on the Moor, when his world is changed forever.
This book isn't just a Werewolf book. It's a story of friendship, of mistakes, of finding out about yourself and who you can trust. This is quite a long book but I listened to it in one day because I couldn't put it down. It was fantastic!
There are quite a few characters but they were all extremely well written and developed. I loved reading about John, Michael and Maries' friendship when they were kids. It was so realistic that it brought me right back to my own childhood. Their banter and comradeship was awesome.
There are plenty of other characters like Steven, the Sargent, Carl,the american hunter, the old woman and the gypsies who are all an integral part of the story and all who add something extra. Each person has their own story and the author weaves each tale together seamlessly. There is no wasted information in this book, everything the author does has a point, and I loved that about the book.
The werewolf lore was another thing I loved. I loved how there were 2 different types of them. One is the ones who can turn at will and keep their sensibilities and the other are the "Moonstruck". They are the 7 foot tall ones of nightmares. They are the ones who will rip you to bits because at their core, they are animals and we are prey. The first type hunt and kill the second type because they can expose their secrets!
I loved the setting! It's a tight knit, small town in England with the back drop of the Moors. Even without the blood chilling werewolves, you can picture the creepy setting. Imagine that with the howls of the feral wolves and you get a sense of the frightening setting. It was perfect!!
Anyway. This book was such a tense and chilling read, though there actually was some laugh out loud moments!! The banter flowed with a lot of the characters and it added a much needed levity to the book. The action is basically non stop the whole way through and you will be sitting on the edge of your seat. This book is the old school gory, bloody werewolves and not for the squeamish. With each killing that happens, your heart will quicken and believe me when I say that no character is safe!! It's bloody brilliant ;)
I listened to the audio and I'm so glad I did. Chris Barnes did an amazing job with it. He easily portrayed each character and I had no worry about getting each character mixed up. He really knew when to ramp up the tension and when the voice needed to chill a bit! Loved it.
So ya. This book pretty much blew me away with how much I loved it and I can't recommend it enough! If you want old school werewolf horror, with a thrilling story, then this is for you.
December 11, 2013
When Chris Barnes told me about his new production I was a bit skeptical, werewolves are very similar to vampires to me and either the story is going to be really horrible or really fantastic. As I have said in some earlier reviews, the whole Twilight thing kind of ruined them for me. I have the expectations built up in my head of what a proper werewolf or vampire story should sound, feel and look like and it is pretty difficult for people to meet them. With werewolves I want the following; heart pounding action (of course), a gruesome story line, interesting characters, a reason for the story to go on, ect. So again I find myself taking a chance with High Moor but I am hopeful.
High Moor is nothing near a twighlighted, glittery, cuddly, lovey dovey werewolf novel. In fact it is a complete opposite, this was an extreme, holy crap don't turn the lights off, werewolf horror story, and I loved it! Starts off strong and backs away just a little bit for some very interesting back story of how one of the main protagonists becomes a werewolf. Then Graeme Reynolds unleashes hell upon the small town of High Moor. This is the first audiobook in a while were I actually felt something for, or connected with most of the characters, that's what happens when an author builds them up layer by layer until some are complex "real" people. While not nearly as gory as you might think from my opening sentence, don't get me wrong there was blood and gore, I mean werewolfs, but it was only used to enhance the action. I know there are sequels to the print version, I so hope that audio version are made of them as I think anyone that listens to this first one will be hooked.
This is my second time listening to a performance by Chris Barnes, my first being The Cold Beneath. Sadly I couldn't remember what I thought of the previous narration, and within the first 10 seconds of High Moor I remembered. To be honest because of his thick accent I couldn't understand a word he was saying because I was expecting something much further than what I got. Gladly within those first 10-20 seconds I had already adjusted and he became very clear. Barnes style very very fast paced, some could argue too fast, with hardly a breath between the last word of a chapter and the announcement of the next, but for this story he nailed it. Keeping the pacing fast kept the tension level pretty high and I think this helped the story never let up. That mixed with great characterizations, my personal favorite was the American, nailed it! I have become a fan of Barnes and will be looking for more.
Visit www.bookie-monster.com to read the entire review. Reviewed by Paul Stokes, member of The Bookie Monster review team.
High Moor is nothing near a twighlighted, glittery, cuddly, lovey dovey werewolf novel. In fact it is a complete opposite, this was an extreme, holy crap don't turn the lights off, werewolf horror story, and I loved it! Starts off strong and backs away just a little bit for some very interesting back story of how one of the main protagonists becomes a werewolf. Then Graeme Reynolds unleashes hell upon the small town of High Moor. This is the first audiobook in a while were I actually felt something for, or connected with most of the characters, that's what happens when an author builds them up layer by layer until some are complex "real" people. While not nearly as gory as you might think from my opening sentence, don't get me wrong there was blood and gore, I mean werewolfs, but it was only used to enhance the action. I know there are sequels to the print version, I so hope that audio version are made of them as I think anyone that listens to this first one will be hooked.
This is my second time listening to a performance by Chris Barnes, my first being The Cold Beneath. Sadly I couldn't remember what I thought of the previous narration, and within the first 10 seconds of High Moor I remembered. To be honest because of his thick accent I couldn't understand a word he was saying because I was expecting something much further than what I got. Gladly within those first 10-20 seconds I had already adjusted and he became very clear. Barnes style very very fast paced, some could argue too fast, with hardly a breath between the last word of a chapter and the announcement of the next, but for this story he nailed it. Keeping the pacing fast kept the tension level pretty high and I think this helped the story never let up. That mixed with great characterizations, my personal favorite was the American, nailed it! I have become a fan of Barnes and will be looking for more.
Visit www.bookie-monster.com to read the entire review. Reviewed by Paul Stokes, member of The Bookie Monster review team.
December 28, 2011
Well I do enjoy a good horror book and having read very little concerning our good close doggy friends the ever pleasant werewolf I thought I would give High Moor a try especially as the price had just been reduced by the author for a limited period...and I must say I was pleasantly surprised :)) The action is fast and most of it takes place in the 1980's with the last third moving forward to the present. Anyone meeting or infected by the werewolf can expect to meet a sudden and very nasty death, we are introduced to Carl Schneider werewolf hunter extraordinaire arriving with a full arsenal of weapons to tackle the nasty epidemic of the werewolf. The real werewolf beast is the "moonstruck" variety and as the name implies only emerges at a full moon name but boy does he reap carnage.....whereas the more "pleasant" :)) werewolf can change at will and as the action in the book shows they are the only real weapon available to kill the moonstruck werewolf. The story essentially is the return of John Simpson to his childhood home and there he confronts adversaries from his youth....but in order to achieve a good and enjoyable werewolf read the author must blend storytelling with dark humour and Graeme Reynolds does an excellent job at portraying the full horror and joy of the werewolf sage to an eagerly waiting reader salivating at the mouth...with a little bit of blood and grizzle.....enjoy!!
August 2, 2023
I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I never see anyone talking about it. I can't remember where I heard about this book. Perhaps from author Tom Mock?
The action scenes were fantastic and the world building around the childhood days was solid. I'm definitely going to carry on with this series and hopefully read them in spooky October.
The action scenes were fantastic and the world building around the childhood days was solid. I'm definitely going to carry on with this series and hopefully read them in spooky October.
September 8, 2012
Pick it up. PICK IT UP. And don't you dare put it down. While not the best I've ever read in this genre, it reaches up and grabs you with a fine plot and vivid scenes. I honestly felt like I was reading early Stephen King at times, and I can't wait to pick up another book by this author.
November 6, 2020
Not only do you identify with wonderfully-crafted characters and get blown away by the excellent description, but also the kill scenes are so brutal and visceral you can’t believe it. Don’t miss this one!
March 30, 2021
Review to come.
July 27, 2024
4.5/5
Non stop werewolf action from beginning to end. Loved it!
Non stop werewolf action from beginning to end. Loved it!
October 11, 2020
Wow. This was an intense story. I often say that I don't like a lot of blood and gore in stories, but for some reason it doesn't bother me in a good werewolf or vampire story. It just seems necessary. Reynolds doesn't hold back, yet the violence has been well done for believability without crossing over into the unnecessarily gross for the sake of it.
Don't read this if you're looking for romantic werewolves or have lost a child to violence. This is written for Horror fans.
I found it difficult to put down and kept neglecting other books to keep going back to it. It really did hold my attention all the way to the end. I wasn't happy about the cliff hanger at the end, but most of the loose ends were tied up enough that I'll only dock half a star for it.
One thing I really liked about the storyline is that it addresses the subject of bullying in a way that many people can appreciate from childhood, though the bad boys are worse than average. I wouldn't want to have grown up with them around. The relationships among the child characters were realistic and didn't fall into what I would see as YA, even though they did swear a lot. The interactions with adult characters just came over as perfectly natural.
It was a good story and written very well. I keep saying there are some gems in the indie realm and this is one of them. As soon as I get my breath back I'll start reading the second book!
Edit note: I read the subsequent two books and they were as good and ended the series very well!
Don't read this if you're looking for romantic werewolves or have lost a child to violence. This is written for Horror fans.
I found it difficult to put down and kept neglecting other books to keep going back to it. It really did hold my attention all the way to the end. I wasn't happy about the cliff hanger at the end, but most of the loose ends were tied up enough that I'll only dock half a star for it.
One thing I really liked about the storyline is that it addresses the subject of bullying in a way that many people can appreciate from childhood, though the bad boys are worse than average. I wouldn't want to have grown up with them around. The relationships among the child characters were realistic and didn't fall into what I would see as YA, even though they did swear a lot. The interactions with adult characters just came over as perfectly natural.
It was a good story and written very well. I keep saying there are some gems in the indie realm and this is one of them. As soon as I get my breath back I'll start reading the second book!
Edit note: I read the subsequent two books and they were as good and ended the series very well!
January 4, 2012
A modern take on the werewolf concept---sort of like Blade was for vampires. More action than horror but lots of fun. The story was well-paced and interesting; there was plenty of tension, suspense, and surprises; the characters were well drawn and believable; the writing style was very fluid and mature; the plot made sense and could easily sustain another installment to further develop the story(ies).
And the werewolves were big, vicious and nasty as they are supposed to be. And some of the people were too....
I will be watching for this writer.
And the werewolves were big, vicious and nasty as they are supposed to be. And some of the people were too....
I will be watching for this writer.
June 13, 2020
"I absolutely loved this book. The beginning took my breath away, the middle had me begging for more hours in the day to read it and the end had me wanting more. There was a perfect mix of nostalgia and action, kids to route for and adults to champion. There was gore, there was violence. There was suspense, there was action. If you like your wolves mean and conflicted, this is the book for you. I can't wait to read the next 2. I hope this author writes lots more as I really like his style and voice. 5 star for sure.
September 10, 2014
4 Stars
Mr Reynolds, I do believe I am a fan.
I haven't read too many werewolf stories, and so glad to have read this one. Good story and good creeps. Ready to start the next one.
Mr Reynolds, I do believe I am a fan.
I haven't read too many werewolf stories, and so glad to have read this one. Good story and good creeps. Ready to start the next one.
July 1, 2017
This was great fun! Once I adjusted to the Scottish accent, I loved the narration as well - perfect fit!
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