Caught Dead

Bite Risk #2

by S.J. Wills

In this thrilling sequel to the middle grade adventure Bite Risk, Sel and his friends face something even bigger, stronger, and deadlier than Rippers when a new foe rises with the moon on Howl Night.

When you’ve already helped cause the end of the world, what’s left to be afraid of? Plenty.

After Sel Archer and his friends uncovered a conspiracy that turned the whole world upside down, people are struggling to live with the fact that almost all its adult population turn into Rippers once a month, and Sel is struggling with his newfound celebrity and the fact that Elena and Pedro have moved away from Tremorglade.

But bigger problems soon arise when Rippers start getting attacked on Howl Nights, turning up the following day, human but badly injured, with no idea how they were hurt. Rumors of a foul, unkillable beast begin to stir…someone or something is plotting to control the Rippers once and for all.

Can they stop what’s happening before all of Tremorglade is under the power of something unrelenting, unstoppable, and possibly…undead?

Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Fiction, Dystopia, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2024

Reviews

[Kirsty Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Bite Risk series is just as jam packed with tension, action and suspense as the first one. Sel and the team (including the new edition of the cute, yet feisty Mika) are yet again trying to save Tremorglade, but this time from SCAR and a souped up ripper known as the revenant. An exciting and fast paced thriller with plenty of ‘bite’.

[Agent_bugs · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending tho 👀

I think I preferred book 1 a little more because there was more mystery to it, whereas this one is a bit more how will they save the day rather than what is going on, but still an excellent and engaging story! I am really looking forward to the next book because the ending left a killer plot thread hanging and I have to know more! 😄

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable, genuinely not very good. 2nd book syndrome.

[ZeilenZauber · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘*‘ Meine Meinung ‘*‘
Nachdem mich der erste Teil von „Bite Risk“ so packend in seinen Bann gezogen hat, war meine Vorfreude auf den zweiten Band sehr groß - und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht!
Diesmal wird die Geschichte düsterer, komplexer und knüpft nahtlos an die Ereignisse des ersten Teils an. Sel und seine Freunde stehen erneut im Mittelpunkt, doch diesmal rücken auch ein paar Erwachsene stärker in den Fokus, was der Handlung zusätzliche Tiefe verleiht.
Besonders gelungen finde ich, wie die Autorin auf Erklärungen zu Figuren und Hintergründen verzichtet und stattdessen die Hörbuch-Lauschenden direkt ins Geschehen wirft. Wer den ersten Teil kennt, fühlt sich sofort zu Hause; wer neu einsteigt, wird durch die lebendigen Dialoge und die dynamische Handlung schnell mitgerissen.
Die Charaktere sind so authentisch und vielschichtig, dass sie perfekt zur Zielgruppe ab 12 Jahren passen – ohne dabei kindisch zu wirken.
Mittlerweile verwandeln Sel und einige seiner Freunde sich in Vollmondnächten und werden zu Werwölfen, ähm, Rippern. Als dann auch noch Gerüchte über ein Monster auftauchen, das Ripper beißt, wird die Lage richtig explosiv. Wie soll Sel Nachforschungen anstellen, wenn er sich selbst in Vollmondnächten verwandelt? Die Spannung steigt in Wellen, getrieben von unerwarteten Twists und gut platzierten Überraschungen.
Hinzu kommt der locker-flockige Schreibstil, der nicht so simpel ist, wie man es bei der Altergruppe erwarten könnte. Und die sarkastischen Sprüche der Teens sorgen für Lacher, während die emotionalen Zwischentöne und das Kopfkino, das Marandi, Hrdina und Löwendorf mit ihren Stimmen erzeugen, Gänsehaut garantieren.
Das Finale endet mit einem Cliffhanger, der mich sofort nach dem dritten Teil greifen ließ – und das sagt alles! Von mit gibt es 5 Werwolf, ähm, Ripper-Sterne und eine absolute Empfehlung für alle, die Action, Humor und eine Prise Grusel lieben!
*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
Seit Sel zum Ripper mutiert ist, streift er in Vollmondnächten frei durch Tremorglade. Doch in letzter Zeit kehren einige Ripper mit schrecklichen Bisswunden aus dem Wald zurück. Gerüchte über ein gruseliges Monster, das nicht getötet werden kann, machen die Runde … Sind Sel und seine Freunde auch diesem Gegner gewachsen?

[Marisa Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous sequel! While the book led on from the first instalment, it had it's own contained story and and conclusion, and set up the next book so well! Gah! I need it now. One of the best series around for teens.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that the whole world really does have the condition that turns adults into Rippers once a month, Sel and other Tremorgladers have been trying to allay fears and dispel myths with vlogs. But all his good publicity gets a serious setback when a teacher stumbles out of the woods after Howl night bloody and obviously bitten…and then he starts acting strange. Has the condition mutated? Is there something else out in the woods on Ripper night? Or is this yet another part of the secrets and conspiracies companies hid away in Tremorglade? With Elena now halfway across the country, Sel’s main companion and fellow sleuth is Ingrid. They are joined by Mika, a girl with mobility issues who doesn’t let her hip/leg issues slow her down from barging her way into the investigation with Sel and Ingrid. And they reluctantly admit they might need her on Howl nights since they both turn now and Mika is too young to turn. With a militant group of immune adults who’ve moved into town plus one other mysterious lady on the hunt for the creature, it’s a race between Sel’s group and the trigger happy guys with guns (who make no secret they think the Rippers need to be cured) to uncover the truth and set Tremorglade free yet again.

This was an interesting and plausible follow up to Bite Risk. It makes sense that not all the conspiracy elements would have been rooted out in one go, and those in charge before had other secrets. The precocious Mika is a good addition to this book. Even though Elena is in a different state, she and her brother still get involved with helping solve the mystery through video feeds, drones Mika helps operate, and other means. (That is, after Sel finally forgives her for moving and starts talking to her again. He’s being stupid about this for the first part of the book.) The motivation for the militant immune leader was a funny but rather plausible thing that would get someone angry and vengeful, but definitely creative on Wills part to think of the ringleader used to be an author of a famous werewolf series but it got cancelled and became “insensitive” when people became Rippers…and his empire crashed, very believable. The real root of the new scarier Rippers in town was revealed at just the right pacing with enough hints you can guess but also enough red herrings it can really surprise you too. It was well done. There’s a bit of a cliffhanger to the ending of this one, so I’m glad I have book 3 on hand. Put this in the hands of readers who like monster-based light horror/heavy mystery dystopias.

Notes on content:
Language: I don’t remember any, but there may have been a few minor swears.
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are some people who get nasty bites, and a few die from them. One person is shot while in Ripper form. Seriousness is conveyed without very many gory details at all or descriptions of wounds. The kids find a human arm in someone’s fridge (one of the first clues something is not right in town). The bitten teacher slams two students around, almost chokes one and almost drops another out a window (it’s obvious he isn’t in his right mind and something is affecting his mind to make him do this). Someone or something is feeding off of human blood.
Ethnic diversity: The characters are British, a mix of white and Black from what I remember.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Someone is doing unethical human experiments. Someone has cancer in the story.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

If you haven't read Bite Risk, there are some necessary spoilers for that book.

Life in Tremorglade is very different now that Sel and his friends have uncovered the truth; the corpus pilori virus that turned their parents into werewolves once a month was caused by Sequest, and their friend Harold Poulter was one of the masterminds behind it. Now that there are no sound frequencies driving people to the brink of madness every month, those who have turned run into few problems as they frolic in their lupine form. Some of the kids have recently turned as well. There is some concern from the Immutable Allicance, headed by Sherman Goss, about the turning, but in general Officer Hale has things in hand. When Mr. Costa, the new teacher brought in to get the Tremorglade pupils caught up on world events, is attacked, Sel and his friends start to suspect that all is not right in their world. There is another person who has been attacked, Ms. Dawes, and Mika, a younger girl, has alerted the police that she is not acting quite right. When Sel visits, he finds an arm in her refrigerator, and he and his friends worry that there are zombie werewolves running about, attacking regular werewolves. This is corroborated by Arty, a woman Sel meets, who tells him that this creature is called a Revenant, and was indeed produced by Sequest. She had worked for them for one day before the Rippocalypse, so hadn't had any input into the evil doings that Harold and his ilk had perpetrated. Or had she? When Sel finds that Sherman Goss is harboring someone very close to all of this, he knows that he has to clear matters up before things get out of hand again. There could be another sequel, as the ending is a bit unfinished!
Strengths: Werewolf stories are always good, and the first book Bite Risk, has been very popular in my library. I bought two copies! While Elena has moved away, we have a new, younger character, Mika, who contrasts nicely against the older, more experienced characters. Plus, I really liked her horse, Jelly Bean! It was interesting to see how Tremorglade reacted to the new situation and the freedom that they had. I didn't remember Sherman from the previous book, but he was used to good effect. The covers are definitely a selling point!
Weaknesses: This bogged down a tiny bit in the middle, with a lot of philosophy and explanations, but rallied toward the end of the book.
What I really think: I didn't love this quite as much as the first book; second books frequently are a bit slower paced. It's good that some of the characters are more developed, and there is still a bit of a mystery to solve with Sequest and Harold Poulter. Hand this to fans of Parker's The Devouring Wolf , Moore's Red Moon Rising (2010), or LaFever's Werewolf Rising (2006). Clearly, we need some fresh, new werewolf books!

[John Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

After exposing the malfeasance of the Sequest Corporation, and also exposing the rest of humanity to a highly contagious werewolf virus, a young man named Sel has put the isolated town of Tremorglade on the map. Quite literally: it’s no longer a secret, and people come and go from it as they please. This isn’t necessarily a good thing.

The first book in this series, Bite Risk, concerned the mounting suspicion of Sel, and his friends Elena and Ingrid. The threats they faced were existential: forced into isolation, spied on by fake social networks, at the mercy of a corporate interest who provides for them if they keep in line. For readers who experienced COVID-19 and the various controversies of Facebook and Amazon, it’s pretty evocative.

For the sequel, issues like data harvesting and stay-at-home orders are old news. Other social phenomena are featured: livestreaming and internet personalities, aggressive spreading of misinformation, and paranoid conspiracy theorists grouping together to find a “higher purpose” to carry guns and boss people around. These are probably good to teach kids about early on, but it feels much more uncomfortable.

The book’s conflict has become less ambitious. While the first book was about exposing and escaping a vast and exploitative lie, now Tremorglade is simply being terrorized by a monster. We’ve gone from revolution to just defeating a Big Scary Thing. This is further confounded by the presence of more adult characters who double-cross, triple-cross, cajole and trick the main characters, making the “kill the monster” plot more complex than it needs to be.

Most of the last book’s cast are generally absent, being replaced by several new, and often pretty underwritten, characters. The book sets an artificially quick pace with tricks like short chapter lengths and present-tense narration. Many of the attempts at more grounded character interaction are shunted aside by long, complicated exposition dumps.

In spite of all that, it lives up to the grisly action of the first book, never feels like there are long stretches where nothing happens, and would certainly grip its intended audience, not pulling back on the grim and vicious details of a strong werewolf story.

A third installment is already announced. If it intends to continue with these contemporary references, I wonder how they plan to integrate generative AI and climate change denial into the next volume.

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moon was almost full when I got my claws on this book. Six Howl nights have passed since I first met Sel, which is appropriate because that’s how long it’s been since the Rippocalypse.

It was much easier getting into Tremorglade this time around because it’s no longer cut off from the outside world. Thanks, Sel. Now the entire world has been introduced to the corpus pilori virus. Thanks, Sel!

When you’ve already helped cause the end of the world, what’s left to be afraid of?

The people of Tremorglade have had a long time to get used to turning into Rippers and would be only too happy to lend a hand to the newbies, especially Olive. Depending on your perspective, transforming into a Ripper once a month is either the best thing ever (think Ripper Cultists) or the end of the world.

Immutables, people who don’t Turn, are now in the minority and some have little dog syndrome. They’re trying to convince anyone who’ll listen that Rippers should be put back in their cages, but Rippers aren’t dangerous anymore, right? Right?

The main characters don’t know who to trust and neither did I. I viewed practically everyone with suspicion and wondered if that was in part a result of the us versus them mentality of some of the characters. Fear of the other was the impetus for a whole bunch of dastardly deeds.

Having several narrators telling the story can be distracting for me sometimes but it worked really well here. It’s a good thing, too. Otherwise we wouldn’t know what was happening for entire sections as you don’t remember what you do when you’re Ripped out.

My favourites from the first book all returned for the second in some form or another and I got to meet some of the newbies. My favourite new character wasn’t a newbie at all. She was there all along but because she’s only eleven, Sel hasn’t really paid that much attention to her before, even though they’re next door neighbours.

Mika is oftentimes the voice of reason. She’s determined, persistent and gutsy. And she has a pony called Jelly Bean. I absolutely adore her!

After waiting six entire full moons to be able to sink my teeth into this book, I got sucked straight into it. The story was engaging from page 1 and was as good, if not better, than the first book.

I hoped all book that there’d be an opening at the end for a third book and, oh boy, is there an opening! I need the next book really soon, preferably before the next full moon!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this book.

Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com

[WildesKopfkino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nacht ist keine Stunde mehr, sie ist ein Tier — und Tremorglade hat eindeutig mehr Zähne als ein normaler Wald. Bite Risk – Totgesagt packt einen bei der Kehle, zieht nicht mehr los und schmeißt einem zwischendurch noch ein Grinsen ins Gesicht. Sel als Ripper? Perfekt kaputt. Die Mondnächte sind dichter beschrieben als manch romantische Kurzgeschichte, nur dass hier statt Kerzenschein knirschende Knochen und kalter Dreck die Stimmung machen.

Beim Lesen auf der Couch: meine Tochter stupst mich an, flüstert „Papa, das ist gruselig“ und dann lacht sie schief, weil Sel wieder etwas macht, das man sowohl bemitleiden als auch feiern will. Solche Buddyread-Momente — gemeinsam aufschrecken, gemeinsam kichern — gab dem Buch noch mal extra Biss. Kleine Dialoge zwischen uns, kommentierende Zwischenrufe („Nicht umdrehen!“, „Doch, unbedingt!“) haben die Szenen lebendig gehalten.

Autor baut Spannung wie ein Tüftler eine Falle: Details sitzen, die Welt atmet, und die Ripper sind nicht bloß Monster, sondern Charaktere mit schiefen Kanten. Das Monster, das nicht getötet werden kann, ist eine gute Idee — weil es mehr Fragen stellt als Antworten gibt, und genau das verlangt man in Teil zwei einer Reihe. Humor trifft Horror; Herz trifft Düsternis. Zwischendurch dachte ich: Verdammt, das ist zu fies — und kurze Zeit später lachte ich über einen sarkastischen Kommentar, der genau passte.

Wer auf Endzeit-Vibes mit knirschender Atmosphäre, moralischen Kanten und Buddyread-Momente steht, kriegt hier ein Vollbad in Mondlicht und Matsch. Bite Risk – Totgesagt ist ein echter Night-Ride: laut, unvorhersehbar und mit Freunden besser erträglich. Nach dem letzten Kapitel saßen wir beide still da — und konnten gleichzeitig nicht aufhören darüber zu reden. Mehr davon, bitte.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story picks up where we left it with Sel diving straight into the mystery of a creature biting the Rippers to take control of them.
What ensues is an adrenaline packed ride as Sel and his friends work hard to find out about the mysterious goings on in Tremorglade.
This book was brilliant! Much better than the first one (which was still good) but the author upped the stakes and I couldn’t put it down. Thank you for bringing Mika to the forefront of this story - her character really evolved into more of the badass that she clearly is and I loved that!
Can’t wait to see where the adventure heads next
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this awesome book in exchange for an honest review

[themsbookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a STRETCH. I read it for my 8th grade classroom (per suggestions on Fridays of things in my classroom library). I try to throw in a YA read every so often to keep current on what is in my classroom library. I liked the first one. This second book was lacking something I couldn't put my finger on. It honestly was difficult to track, as it switched narratives but every chapter didn't list who the narrating character was- so you had to remember and was confusing at times. This would be tricky for my students.
I planned on purchasing the 3rd book to continue the series, however after reading this one, I am not sure. This book leaves things to be tied up in the 3rd, but I wasn't a huge fan of this and am wondering if book 3 is even more of a stretch.

[Joanna]

I have got the sprayed edge edition of the first one but it is still in my TBR pile. So the prologue of this one kinda spoiled the plot for me.

But apart from that, it is a real fast-paced thriller that is sure to be a hit among my KS3 students. It is a lot more modernised than your usual werewolf story and that is exactly why I think my students will love it. The characters are oddly relatable (oddly because we are not rippers). And the main premise of the book seems a bit more realistic than we would hope it to be.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, fast paced, fantasy/mild horror book for all teenagers and up. The ware wolf infection is out in the world, but it should be safe for all now in Tremorglade and further afield on full moon nights. Yet there is something out there in the dark, and it’s not friendly. Sel and his friends old and new are once again battling for their lives. Those causing problems better watch out, because these pesky children have a track record of fighting back. Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK Children’s and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Emziethebookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of bite risk and this one was slightly better than the first book, yes it was different but it was a good add on for the series.

Everything was really good characters, the plot etc for a werewolves shifting book, which not gonna lie I am starting to slowly get back into the werewolves genre.

Can't wait for book 3 as I want to know so badly what's gonna happen in it.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anything, even better than the first book. I honestly didn't know what would happen at the end, the conclusion is VERY last minute!
From the acknowledgements I'm guessing there's going to be a third book, I hope!

[Dale2314 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need more 😫

[Kiel Prescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not bad for a young adult book. Very easy to read.

[Sapphire Quick · Rating 4 out of 5]

there’s something about this silly werewolf world that is very entertaining, even when it’s predictable

[Lottie Collett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice ending - very dramatic. Loved it!!!!

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as enjoyable as the first book.
Keen to see how things wrap up in the third.

[Kelly]

DNF

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling fast paced continuation of the unique werewolf story. I really enjoyed the multiple pov story telling, it's hard to say which character/s I like the most as they are all quite fun.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant and thrilling read from S.J.Wills! It was great to return to the weird and wonderful world of Tremorglade. There's such a varied and diverse cast of fantastic characters - Mika's voice and character was a great addition to this sequel. And the story had so many surprising twists and turns. Looking forward to book 3 in the series.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s SO hard to review one of your favourite book series as you just want to gush and extol its virtues and shout from the rooftops but I’m going to try not to do that and probably fail. But ugh. This book is the best and it’s so so soooo (and more so’s) good (think I just failed at the not gushing…!)

I loved the first so I was primed and ready to launch into the second. It was a ‘count down the days until publication date’ kind of read and right from the first page, I was super happy to be back with this world and back with Sel and gang.

Even though the town has opened to the outside world, Sel has a lot to deal with and without his best friend. Elena’s moved with her brother out of town which means Sel is feeling more alone than ever, and there’s certainly danger ahead. Immutables are gaining more power and just when Rippers think they’re safe, they’re turning up bitten.. But Sel isn’t alone- Mika and Ingrid are embroiled into the mystery.

A few new mysterious faces seem to accompany the arrival of a terrifying creature which certainly isn’t a Ripper. The town is in danger and Sel is once again in a race against time to protect his home and friends.

It’s one of those books that you want to read again for the first time because you enjoyed reading it so much. So much love for these books and book 3 is once again, on an anticipated countdown until its release! Roll on book 3!!

REREAD EDIT: Ahead of the final book 3, I decided to reread book 2 just to refresh my memory on all the characters and what happened. I still love this book so much. I also decided to try it in a different format this time and did the audiobook which was fab. The narrator for Sel was great and there was a different narrator for the girls which were all executed perfectly. Really enjoyed and can’t wait to read the next.