Werewolf: The Final Yard

by John Michael

When a couple dressed for an event in their Beverly Hills hotel comes across a stray dog, they never expect to discover a beast on the hunt. The couple escapes -- barely -- but the housekeeper down the hall is shredded amongst the clean linens.
It's the NFL week two opener at SoFi stadium. Fresh out of rehab, backup QB John Perry is called in after the starting QB (and reigning SB champ) is injured badly at the top of the 2nd quarter, and Perry stuns everyone. Dual threat? Forget it; as a punter that can also run – he's a triple threat. Commentators remark how rare that is and hope he can lay off the drugs. John Perry takes a beating his first couple of plays – someone gets in his face and his adrenaline unleashes a rush of endorphins and more. An unbelievable play makes Perry the game hero, and he skyrockets to fame. Media speculates he wasn't expected to play and therefore, not drug tested. A popular female reporter pushes her way into John's path on the field and into his life.
Through his career success, John navigates the horrors from his past – a stint in rehab, a near-fatal attack, and a Monk commune – as well as the press chaos surrounding a series of unsolved murders around the area. Will John find freedom from the evil lurking within?

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2023

Reviews

[Agnes Odek · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Michael’s Werewolf: The Final Yard is a fictional narrative in a high school setting. After an animal attack, John wakes up in the hospital with no recollection of what had formerly transpired. After being discharged, he is called in to play at the NFL after the starting QB gets injured. Being unstoppable in the field skyrockets him to fame. Unsolved murders, troubling pasts, and Monk communes—will Perry finally find peace?

Michael writes, creating a form of suspense throughout the book, captivating the reader. He also does a great job with the characters, enabling one to connect with them. The plot also unraveled at a steady pace, immersing one into the world of John Perry. I highly recommend reading this.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Perry, a breakout championship quarterback, has a dark secret. He morphs into a werewolf at night. Having spent time in a commune carrying a dark past, John did not expect to play in the Super Bowl and bring this game alongside winning. Therefore, he was never drug tested. He gets these spurts of adrenaline and then there is no stopping him; all hell breaks loose.

I am blown away by the shocking plot, intriguing characters, exciting climax, and intricate ending. John Michael did an exemplary job keeping the reader glued to John’s story and elevating the shock factor. I could not stop reading the book. I'm usually not a fan of terror books, but this one took it to a whole new level interconnecting the game of football and the drama and baggage that John carried with him. I was invested through the whole story from beginning to end.

I could not find anything to dislike about the book. It had a well-connected flow and I did not feel distracted while reading it. The book was exceptionally well-edited and well-written. I would recommend this book for those who are in need of a book filled with shockingly exciting twists. For these reasons, I am awarding this book a perfect five star rating.

[Laura Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been really getting into the supernatural these days and WEREWOLF was the perfect read to quench my growing love for it. In this story, a football player named John Perry and his buds get attacked on a night of mischief, and he ends up with super-human abilities that turn out to be a blessing and a curse. Don't you just hate when that happens? Perry becomes a hero and possible villain to his community, making for twists and turns you won't expect! In fact, the wild adventure and happenings that ensue will keep readers on the edge of their seats, just like they did for me!

The character development is wonderful, and the author blended supernatural elements seamlessly with humanism. I never lost touch with reality, which I sometimes do within this genre, and once that happens, I really struggle finishing a book. But Perry as a character has very real stakes and his struggles resonate well for even those of us who don't end up with supernatural abilities after a night in the woods.

The author also did an incredible job with his organization of the plot. Kudos all around. I was compelled the whole way through!!! I want to howl to the rooftops...five stars, five stars, five stars!!!

[Eric Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit this isn't a bad book. It's a bit admittedly at first hard to grasp the story and how it flows to the reader. Once the story flows though, it's not hard to figure out how the story goes and how you expect it to end. It does show some good storytelling that isn’t hard to figure out once things get more described. It’s a good book and describes football star John Perry, our MC for the story. He’s described here and there, but again you start to get a sense of the character and how he relates to the other characters. The characters are pretty well defined and the author did do a decent job of making sure they had their place in the story. Some of it admittedly could use some work, but I do like the story and the ending manages to finish off the book well. It’s a good read and I think if you want a good werewolf story, then check this one out.

[Chico's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Whoa there, not a monster.”

Werewolf: The Final Yard by John Michael is an action-packed suspense supernatural novel. We can see John, an NFL player, recovering from his setbacks and making it all the way to the Superbowl. As the werewolf gets stronger John’s star also rises. I have been a fan of lycanthropy themed books and I can say that is one of the good one’s. It is in the ranks of Teen Wolf and the werewolf from The Underworld. The author wrote relatable characters when they are in their human form. I guess we all battle some necessary evils inside some just have claws and turn into werewolves. It is great that we find characters like Figgy, in life you need friends like her to be by your side, monster or not she will be there. Great plot twist and ending was funny but realistic especially in today's day and age.

[Laura]

Fun

This werewolf book is one of those rare books where even though the writing needs work, the story is engaging enough to keep me reading. There are typos, misuse of semicolons, the use of present and past verb tenses, and the annoying phrase "women and cowardly men." There are also lots of curse words and adult scenes. But the story was cool, and the writing, though full of errors, had a cool film noir vibe which I liked. The story is about an NFL player with a drinking problem who is a werewolf, and is being helped to control his wolf side by meditating monks. Neat concept, very engaging scenes and storyline, and if story is more important to you than quality writing, then I'd recommend this book. 

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved supernatural suspense and drama and, in the Werewolf, I found it. It transcends traditional genres with an amazing narrative and a plot that will make you read all the pages from beginning to end. The story unfolds with a chance encounter in a Beverly Hills hotel, setting off a chain of events that intertwine the high-stakes world of professional football with a chilling werewolf hunt.

I think this book mixes together character development, thrilling football action, and supernatural elements, keeping me hooked with a perfect balance of tension and triumph. The inclusion of a popular female reporter adds complexity to Perry's life, and the unresolved mysteries from his past contribute to the story's depth.

[Almiria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Werewolf: The Final Yard by John Michael is an unusual combination of werewolf murder thriller and American football novel. Footballer John Perry has to contend with his own addiction, returning to football and the mysterious and gruesome spate of murders. Will he be able to juggle the various horrors and challenges he faces or will they crush him?

I was impressed by the unusual combination of themes the author chose, but in the end this book wasn’t for me. I think it needs more editing to improve the narrative tightening and streamlining. Kudos nevertheless for a unique idea and plenty of nail-biting twists and turns in the story. I am giving this book three stars.

[Madison Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Werewolf: The Final Yard delivers a gripping, adrenaline-fueled conclusion to an unforgettable saga. Packed with heart-pounding action, emotional depth, and a raw, primal edge, this final installment pulls no punches. The werewolf protagonist faces his greatest battle yet—against enemies, fate, and himself. The writing is vivid and cinematic, immersing readers in a world where survival hangs by a thread and loyalty is tested at every turn. Themes of identity, sacrifice, and redemption are woven seamlessly into the fast-paced narrative. A satisfying, powerful finale that howls with intensity. Fans of supernatural thrillers won’t want to miss this one.

[Katie Rufo Barksdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this suspenseful fall read! The flow and pace were perfect. I enjoyed the amount of characters (manageable with decent depth). This was a great story! The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was there was a couple of incorrect spelling errors (listed below):

"...Manfred watched the Cleaner tae care of the bloody remains of the night before" (14%).
"...whree the eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes housed his massive wooden airplane, was another relic, or what was mistaken for one" (52%).

Yes, I could be seen as harsh for taking away a star but it distracted from the story. All in all, it was a great read!