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Wolvers
From the Southern Book Prize winning author of Rednecks: a thrilling novel of pursuit, survival, and redemption between two species in the American Southwest
Broke, dispossessed, and angry at the government after losing his family’s New Mexico ranch, Trace Temple is looking for revenge. He’s living out of his truck when a shadowy militia movement hires him to take down the legendary she-wolf of the Dark Canyon pack, One-Eleven. But One-Eleven is no ordinary wolf. Cunning, fiercely protective of her young, and seasoned in the ways of men, she leads her pack deep into the forbidding desert peaks and canyons, always one step ahead of pursuit.
After a harrowing brush with death in the backcountry, Trace has a change of heart—only to be replaced by a professional hunter and assassin named Murdoch, who ruthlessly pursues his animal quarry while stalking Trace himself.
To survive, Trace must join forces with a pair of unlikely a survivalist animal protector who deploys feral senses and deep wilderness skills to protect the wolves, and Imogen Cruz, a local rancher, childhood friend, and unrequited love of Trace’s early years. Together, they must fight to protect not only themselves and the Dark Canyon pack, but ultimately, the Gila Wilderness itself—the world’s first designated wilderness area.
In Wolvers, award-winning author Taylor Brown presents a suspenseful, thrillingly-written tale set at the burning edge of today’s Southwest, where once-extinct wolves have returned, the land is tinder-dry and fragile, and desperate men seek to reclaim what they believe is theirs to rule.
Broke, dispossessed, and angry at the government after losing his family’s New Mexico ranch, Trace Temple is looking for revenge. He’s living out of his truck when a shadowy militia movement hires him to take down the legendary she-wolf of the Dark Canyon pack, One-Eleven. But One-Eleven is no ordinary wolf. Cunning, fiercely protective of her young, and seasoned in the ways of men, she leads her pack deep into the forbidding desert peaks and canyons, always one step ahead of pursuit.
After a harrowing brush with death in the backcountry, Trace has a change of heart—only to be replaced by a professional hunter and assassin named Murdoch, who ruthlessly pursues his animal quarry while stalking Trace himself.
To survive, Trace must join forces with a pair of unlikely a survivalist animal protector who deploys feral senses and deep wilderness skills to protect the wolves, and Imogen Cruz, a local rancher, childhood friend, and unrequited love of Trace’s early years. Together, they must fight to protect not only themselves and the Dark Canyon pack, but ultimately, the Gila Wilderness itself—the world’s first designated wilderness area.
In Wolvers, award-winning author Taylor Brown presents a suspenseful, thrillingly-written tale set at the burning edge of today’s Southwest, where once-extinct wolves have returned, the land is tinder-dry and fragile, and desperate men seek to reclaim what they believe is theirs to rule.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published April 7, 2026
89 people are currently reading
7041 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Brown
13 books771 followersTaylor Brown is the award-winning author of the novels Fallen Land (2016), The River of Kings (2017), Gods of Howl Mountain (2018), Pride of Eden (2020), Wingwalkers (2022), Rednecks (2024), and Wolvers (2026) as well as a short story collection, In the Season of Blood and Gold (2014). He is the recipient of the Southern Book Prize, the Montana Prize in Fiction, the Ron Rash Award for Fiction, the Audie Award in Fiction, the Weatherford Award in Fiction, and he was named Georgia Author of the Year for Literary Fiction. His work has also been a finalist for the John Steinbeck Award, Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize, Doris Betts Fiction Prize, the Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, and others. An Eagle Scout and avid motorcyclist, he has lived in Buenos Aires, San Francisco, the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, and traveled extensively in the American West. Currently, he lives in Savannah, Georgia, where he is the founder and editor-in-chief of BikeBound, one of the world's leading custom motorcycle publications. His website is taylorbrownfiction.com. You can follow him on Instagram (@taylorbrown82) and Facebook (@Taylor.Brown.Fiction).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
April 9, 2026
Four Gila National Forest stars for a tale told from four viewpoints: Trace the Would Be Wolver, Horn the Gila Shadow Man, Murdoch the Mercenary, and One-Eleven, the matriarch of the Dark Canyon wolf pack.
Here are some noteworthy bits from this new story about an old issue:
🐺The wolf population was almost decimated in the Western US as recently as the mid-1970's. Since then conservationists have been working to revive the population and those animals have been carefully released back into their natural habitats. The push and pull is complex and both sides have legitimate issues. Taylor Brown takes the villain status away from the wolves and helps give some clarity.
😎We have been in New Mexico all week and were driving just South of the setting of the book while I was reading today. We did not get out into the forest enough to see much wildlife on this trip, but being here made the book come alive.
📚If you have read other Taylor Brown books you know how he gets down to the nitty gritty. I noticed a connection with a previous Pride of Eden in Horn's back story. It has been awhile since I read that title, but a crossover is clear.
🐴Along with the wolves there are some horses who go above and beyond in this book, especially in the second half. The pacing was a bit too slow in the first half, but the second half was quite a thrill ride. If you enjoy the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box, you should give this one a try.
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Happy Pub Week! Available on April 7, 2026.
Here are some noteworthy bits from this new story about an old issue:
🐺The wolf population was almost decimated in the Western US as recently as the mid-1970's. Since then conservationists have been working to revive the population and those animals have been carefully released back into their natural habitats. The push and pull is complex and both sides have legitimate issues. Taylor Brown takes the villain status away from the wolves and helps give some clarity.
😎We have been in New Mexico all week and were driving just South of the setting of the book while I was reading today. We did not get out into the forest enough to see much wildlife on this trip, but being here made the book come alive.
📚If you have read other Taylor Brown books you know how he gets down to the nitty gritty. I noticed a connection with a previous Pride of Eden in Horn's back story. It has been awhile since I read that title, but a crossover is clear.
🐴Along with the wolves there are some horses who go above and beyond in this book, especially in the second half. The pacing was a bit too slow in the first half, but the second half was quite a thrill ride. If you enjoy the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box, you should give this one a try.
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Happy Pub Week! Available on April 7, 2026.
August 31, 2025
This was my 7th Taylor Brown novel and I’ve loved his writing and storytelling in each of them. 5 stars for the writing here , too. This the opening of the Prologue : “ Fields black beneath a starless sky. A land feathered riders once rode on painted horses, following inland seas of bison while the bones of mastodon and dire wolf slept beneath their hooves.” I’ve said it in multiple reviews, this guy was born to write so it pains me to say it’s 3 stars for my overall enjoyment .
The portrayal of the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico and the reintroduction of wolves after being killed off is told in this story of hunters and the hunted - both men and wolves . The most fascinating part was Brown’s writing some of the novel from the perspective of One- Eleven, a female wolf. While I understand the importance of maintaining the wilderness and recognize Brown’s message, the gruesome descriptions wolf killing its prey and the feasting on it were too much to take as were the other acts of violence by men. It’s realistic, I’m sure as the book is well researched.
There’s clearly a message here, but without any preaching . Even though this was not my favorite of his, as always I look forward to Taylor Brown’s next book.
I see received a copy if this from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
The portrayal of the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico and the reintroduction of wolves after being killed off is told in this story of hunters and the hunted - both men and wolves . The most fascinating part was Brown’s writing some of the novel from the perspective of One- Eleven, a female wolf. While I understand the importance of maintaining the wilderness and recognize Brown’s message, the gruesome descriptions wolf killing its prey and the feasting on it were too much to take as were the other acts of violence by men. It’s realistic, I’m sure as the book is well researched.
There’s clearly a message here, but without any preaching . Even though this was not my favorite of his, as always I look forward to Taylor Brown’s next book.
I see received a copy if this from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.
August 28, 2025
5 stars Thank you to St Martins Publishing Group for offering me an ARC of this book for an unbiased review. Publishes April 7, 2026
When I find a book like this I just want to savor it for a few days after reading, before I do my review. I don't rate many books a 5 star read, but a few I would give more stars to if they were available - and this book fits that bill. I have always enjoyed Taylor Brown's writing. And he did not disappoint with this, his newest book.
With minimal characters Brown transplants us into the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. Along with Horn, Murdock and Imogene, Trace is either running from or fighting along side them for literally his life. His life and the life of the main character - One-Eleven - she wolf, leader of the Dark Canyon pack.
This book resonates with nature and the wilderness. Brown has well researched both this land and the reintroduction of the wolf to the Southwest and wove a great story around the two. Once I picked up this book I didn't want to lay it down.
When I find a book like this I just want to savor it for a few days after reading, before I do my review. I don't rate many books a 5 star read, but a few I would give more stars to if they were available - and this book fits that bill. I have always enjoyed Taylor Brown's writing. And he did not disappoint with this, his newest book.
With minimal characters Brown transplants us into the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. Along with Horn, Murdock and Imogene, Trace is either running from or fighting along side them for literally his life. His life and the life of the main character - One-Eleven - she wolf, leader of the Dark Canyon pack.
This book resonates with nature and the wilderness. Brown has well researched both this land and the reintroduction of the wolf to the Southwest and wove a great story around the two. Once I picked up this book I didn't want to lay it down.
April 22, 2026
To protect what is near and dear to you seems to be Trace Temple's goal. He is a depressed man losing his family's ranch to the government, he takes on the job of hunting down and destroying a she wolf called One Eleven. However, this wolf is cunning and will do its all to protect her family and as Trace comes to understand and admire her cunning, the task of tracking and killing her is no longer his passion.
Instead another hunter is hired named Murdock who is intent to get this wolf. Together with Imogen Cruz, a former love interest, they fight to save not only One Eleven but also the Gila Wilderness to which wolves have been introduced after so many years of them destroyed and becoming extinct.
It was a very interesting story that points to the fact that sometimes the prey is smarter than the predator.
Instead another hunter is hired named Murdock who is intent to get this wolf. Together with Imogen Cruz, a former love interest, they fight to save not only One Eleven but also the Gila Wilderness to which wolves have been introduced after so many years of them destroyed and becoming extinct.
It was a very interesting story that points to the fact that sometimes the prey is smarter than the predator.
April 15, 2026
4.5 Stars
Trace Temple is bitter after losing his family’s New Mexico ranch, a loss he pins on the protected wolves roaming the land. So, when a local militia hires him to track down and kill One Eleven, the famous female wolf who survived her mate’s death and raised her pups against all odds, Trace agrees without hesitation.
But the hunt doesn’t go as planned. A run in with a mysterious mountain recluse named Horn, followed by a near fatal accident, forces Trace to confront the wilderness, his own mortality, and the beliefs. By the time he makes it out, he’s not the same man who went in. His shift in perspective doesn’t sit well with the militia.
Unfortunately, walking away isn’t that simple. Trace soon realizes these dangerous men haven’t abandoned their mission, or their grudge. As a new hunter enters the chase, both he and One Eleven find themselves in the crosshairs.
Wolvers is a compelling blend of thriller and character study, following Trace, the new hunter, and One Eleven herself. Yes, the wolf gets her own POV, and I loved every minute of it! I was rooting for her and her little pack from the very beginning. Trace’s bitterness made sense, but watching him gain clarity, compassion, and even a spark of happiness (there’s a touch of romance) was deeply satisfying, especially as danger closed in around him.
The writing is beautiful and atmospheric without slowing the pace.
I alternated between an e-copy and audiobook and can recommend either format. Narrator Ramiz Monsef was new to me, but he delivered a standout performance, giving each character a distinct voice and emotional weight that heightened the entire experience.
I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publishers. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Trace Temple is bitter after losing his family’s New Mexico ranch, a loss he pins on the protected wolves roaming the land. So, when a local militia hires him to track down and kill One Eleven, the famous female wolf who survived her mate’s death and raised her pups against all odds, Trace agrees without hesitation.
But the hunt doesn’t go as planned. A run in with a mysterious mountain recluse named Horn, followed by a near fatal accident, forces Trace to confront the wilderness, his own mortality, and the beliefs. By the time he makes it out, he’s not the same man who went in. His shift in perspective doesn’t sit well with the militia.
Unfortunately, walking away isn’t that simple. Trace soon realizes these dangerous men haven’t abandoned their mission, or their grudge. As a new hunter enters the chase, both he and One Eleven find themselves in the crosshairs.
Wolvers is a compelling blend of thriller and character study, following Trace, the new hunter, and One Eleven herself. Yes, the wolf gets her own POV, and I loved every minute of it! I was rooting for her and her little pack from the very beginning. Trace’s bitterness made sense, but watching him gain clarity, compassion, and even a spark of happiness (there’s a touch of romance) was deeply satisfying, especially as danger closed in around him.
The writing is beautiful and atmospheric without slowing the pace.
I alternated between an e-copy and audiobook and can recommend either format. Narrator Ramiz Monsef was new to me, but he delivered a standout performance, giving each character a distinct voice and emotional weight that heightened the entire experience.
I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publishers. These are my thoughts and opinions.
October 20, 2025
Taylor Brown writes meaty fiction that is based in reality. For this reason, he would appeal to readers looking for more than entertainment. Here he goes inside the psyches of several characters, all representing a different aspect of the reintroduction of wolves into the wild, wolves that have been on the brink of extinction. Even to the alpha female herself.
August 12, 2025
“Wolvers” by Taylor Brown was gifted to me by #StMartinsPress as an advanced readers copy. When I was selected on Goodreads I was elated. I’ve read nearly all of Taylor Brown’s previous novels and loved them all. To be perfectly honest I don’t know how he does it. Each book is somehow better than the last and all of them are great. His unique blend of conservation, historical fiction, and characters you truly get to know keeps me coming back book after book. I tore through this book in a hurry. It was hard to put down. One thing I liked was how each short chapter typically came from one of four perspectives. An Alpha female wolf, environmental activist (sort of), a mercenary, and a range riding former rancher. The narratives weave a story of redemption, hope, triumph over tragedy, unlikely aliances, and justice. This book has it all. From folks bent on eco terrorism to conspiracy theorists wishing to bring about a cultural rift. This book will keep you reading and I highly reccomend you get this one when it comes out.
August 22, 2025
Fun read, fast paced, and because it's Brown, beautifully written. Feels like Brown has tapped into something with these characters. Would love to see them again.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Loved, loved, loved! Longer review to come closer to pub date!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital and finished copies!
All opinions expressed are my own and provided voluntarily.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital and finished copies!
All opinions expressed are my own and provided voluntarily.
August 3, 2025
I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing me an advance reader copy of this book through GoodReads.
I do not particularly like anthropomorphism as a literary devise, nevertheless, I enjoyed this book. This book has a bit of man against himself, man against man, man against animal (wolf) and man against nature. The story takes place in the remote Gila Wilderness and Gila National Forest of New Mexico, where wolfs have been reintroduced about 100 years after they were eradicated. Trace Temple is a young ranch whose family has lost their ranch after his father illegally shot a wolf. He is hired by The Free West, a paramilitary group, with ugly political motives, to track down and kill One-Eleven, the she-wolf head of the Dark Canyons pack. In his hunt, Trace runs into a feral mountain man and switches to try to save the wolves. The Free West replaces him with Murdoch, a mysterious professional hunter with his own ulterior motives for wanting to kill One-Eleven and also Trace. The story is told in alternating chapters from the viewpoint of Trace, One-Eleven (hence anthropomorphism) and Murdoch. The story describes the remoteness of this area of New Mexico and the special skills need by man and animal to survive in this area. It delves a little into the politics of the wolf reintroduction program and the independent streak of western people, without being too political. A well written, well told story for anyone, but especially those that like the outdoors and animals.
I do not particularly like anthropomorphism as a literary devise, nevertheless, I enjoyed this book. This book has a bit of man against himself, man against man, man against animal (wolf) and man against nature. The story takes place in the remote Gila Wilderness and Gila National Forest of New Mexico, where wolfs have been reintroduced about 100 years after they were eradicated. Trace Temple is a young ranch whose family has lost their ranch after his father illegally shot a wolf. He is hired by The Free West, a paramilitary group, with ugly political motives, to track down and kill One-Eleven, the she-wolf head of the Dark Canyons pack. In his hunt, Trace runs into a feral mountain man and switches to try to save the wolves. The Free West replaces him with Murdoch, a mysterious professional hunter with his own ulterior motives for wanting to kill One-Eleven and also Trace. The story is told in alternating chapters from the viewpoint of Trace, One-Eleven (hence anthropomorphism) and Murdoch. The story describes the remoteness of this area of New Mexico and the special skills need by man and animal to survive in this area. It delves a little into the politics of the wolf reintroduction program and the independent streak of western people, without being too political. A well written, well told story for anyone, but especially those that like the outdoors and animals.
October 16, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the arc!
I thoroughly enjoyed Wolvers! It was extremely well-written (and well-researched!) with beautiful prose that strove to capture the spirit of the wild American Southwest. I also enjoyed the wide array of perspectives: we hear from Trace, our main protagonist, Murdoch, a major antagonist, and One-Eleven, who lives at the center of it all. I enjoyed hearing from each character, and I thought Brown did an especially great job of allowing a glimpse of the world through the eyes of a wolf. There are a few detailed/violent wolf hunts, and while this may not be for every reader, I appreciate that it didn't shy away from what it takes for apex predators to survive. There was also a nice balance of man v. man and man v. nature.
Perhaps most importantly, Wolvers is a beautifully written, action-packed adventure that still manages to effectively highlight the struggle of the Mexican Wolf's brush with extinction due to human-led efforts to eradicate their population. I hope many other readers will be inspired to support and research conservation efforts for all animals and ecosystems after reading a book like this.
My only critique is that I wish readers were allowed to see more of the transformation Trace underwent between Part One and Part Two. It jumped a little too quickly from deep-seated hatred for what the wolves represented to the acceptance of their presence, and I would have liked to see more of those inner thoughts as his long-held beliefs were finally challenged.
I thoroughly enjoyed Wolvers! It was extremely well-written (and well-researched!) with beautiful prose that strove to capture the spirit of the wild American Southwest. I also enjoyed the wide array of perspectives: we hear from Trace, our main protagonist, Murdoch, a major antagonist, and One-Eleven, who lives at the center of it all. I enjoyed hearing from each character, and I thought Brown did an especially great job of allowing a glimpse of the world through the eyes of a wolf. There are a few detailed/violent wolf hunts, and while this may not be for every reader, I appreciate that it didn't shy away from what it takes for apex predators to survive. There was also a nice balance of man v. man and man v. nature.
Perhaps most importantly, Wolvers is a beautifully written, action-packed adventure that still manages to effectively highlight the struggle of the Mexican Wolf's brush with extinction due to human-led efforts to eradicate their population. I hope many other readers will be inspired to support and research conservation efforts for all animals and ecosystems after reading a book like this.
My only critique is that I wish readers were allowed to see more of the transformation Trace underwent between Part One and Part Two. It jumped a little too quickly from deep-seated hatred for what the wolves represented to the acceptance of their presence, and I would have liked to see more of those inner thoughts as his long-held beliefs were finally challenged.
August 4, 2025
This is a very fascinating book. There is great cast of characters, especially the wolves. The description of the land and the terrain where the story takes place makes me want to make a visit there. The variety of the personalities of the characters made the book very interesting. The way that the main character's feelings towards the evolved added much to the story. I especially found the wolf chapters very informative as to their behavior and made me very sympathetic to them. I would highly recommend this book.
May 4, 2026
4.5 stars. Taylor Brown writes like a more hopeful Cormac McCarthy, and in his latest he covers a lot of ground: the Old West and the New, American identity, wilderness, violence, redemption, and wolves, for starters. He’s giving Peter Heller a run for his money. You’ll want to read this one.
September 3, 2025
Taylor remains a master craftsman of well written and researched fiction. This story sucked me in like so many of his, with an ending that comes with breakneck speed after a detailed and engrossing build up. One-Eleven is the spirit animal we all need. I can’t wait for everyone to read this book!
September 11, 2025
3.5. Interesting and unique story, but it just didn’t land for me. Felt like this was written to be a short film. Wish it paid more attention to fully developing the characters to care about. Well researched though.
April 26, 2026
there’s just something about wolves that makes me want to quit my job and go study wolf packs in the wild
September 7, 2025
Wow! This book is as impressive as it is informative! One-Eleven is an alpha female wolf in the Gila Wilderness--the oldest designated area where nothing mechanized is allowed. Two humans are introduced: Trace and Murdock; each have different motives but neither are afraid of being in the wilderness with wild animals. It's the first--and only--book I've ever read that so carefully personifies a wolf as both a predator and a caring parent. It's both a tear-jerker and an informative text as we see animals--and humans as they co-exist in the wild!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
September 21, 2025
Wolvers isn't a book I would normally pick up and read, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. One-Eleven is a cunning wolf who is as much of a character in this novel as the hunters who are trying to track her down. Trace is a down-on-his-luck rancher who is hired to track her, and he soon teams up with two others to find One-Eleven and her pack. This is a fast-paced thriller with a lot of action that animal lovers will enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
April 28, 2026
Wolvers
By: Taylor Brown
This is a very unique but meticulously researched beautifully written newest novel, and I thought it was innovative in this favorite Author's clever angle in the way he wrote this. I remember loving his novel called "REDNECKS," but I have read and loved every single novel that Taylor Brown has ever written. That was very different from this, but as far as this newest novel goes, I really love Wolves. I felt I loved the fact that he included a much more intelligent, cunning, she Wolf named one-Eleven whose among several additional survival skills that there's an instinctual biological intuition to outwit all of the many Ranchers, and Wolf Hunter's that Wolves have that advantage giving them that I know how they learn to adapt which I know first hand from experience that they learn very fast if they want to keep wandering to be very hard to catch and especially not make the same mistake if they want to evade capturing. Like one-Eleven we had the best unforgettable pet that was half wolf that shared
with one-eleven's many more traits. We bought a Siberian Husky that was half Wolf that was returned a few times. We went to great lengths that we had traveled three hours each way, and he was very people shy, which was the only reason, and we grew attached to him. That was evident the first night we brought him home. That very first night we had set a quilt for him to sleep with his dish with him and a bowl of water and he slept there in the kitchen that very first night, with that being the only night. The next morning he slowly came into our bedroom and this was about three decades ago, before we had kids. I was engaged to my husband, and we moved with him to the house we live in now. We had two sliding doors that I know we eventually fenced in the backyard that faces the water, and he was smart enough to dig underneath it, and run off and I slept with the sliding door open with a Rib Eye Steak outside in front of the one door outside on our patio in the middle of Winter, and I saw that he only fell for that once. We were attached to him and he was protective of our babies. I am a bit biased with Wolves and the chapters featuring one-Eleven were my favorite even though I loved the overall narrative that as someone who has read every novel he has written, and loved them all. He is such a talented Author whose every novel has made me excited to read them I had to go in order of the publication Date since I got behind due to an unanticipated Medical issue that I also had more in March, which didn't help with my getting as far behind than I never in my life have been. I have been doing this for fifteen years and never before have I been in this situation. I am dealing with I am trying to wait for a new computer that this is a computer that is new but unable to get this done without access to functions that I have had not been able to access that I have I ordered a new one that has a few more days to get it. My reviews aren't as well written and I just want to say that I loved this, and it was gorgeously ATMOSPHERIC with a great premise.
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley, Taylor Brown, and St. Martin's for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always
Here is my review of REDNECKS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
does Taylor Brown develop great complex characters with layers that are essential, if you are going t be able to see that they're realistic, but his plots are just as immersive that I could easily summarize it. I already could write about Trace and his reasons for switching his circumstances, and about how his family lost everything due to the fines and consequences of his father killing an endangered species protected Wolf that he claimed was on his land, and the authorities didn't believe anything he said. Trace's father committed suicide. Now he has put his life in danger since he had pretty compelling reasons that he chose why he did. I love how the Author included in this novel how he included as one of the definitions for Wolver was one who hunted Wolves, and how they chose not to do it anymore. Trace gets replaced by the new Character Murdoch who is the antagonist who is involved in the Militia. Trace knew the rules taking that job came with rules that there's only succeed not room to fail. Granted I understood with my loving the Wolves and especially ours who reminded me of one -Eleven which I empathized with the ranchers who had a legitimate reason to how they lost livestock that I still am in the minority for fact that I sided with the Wolves. I have always loved Wolves, and especially won't be changing my position especially after the experience I have included in this review.
Thank you t Net Galley, Taylr Briwn , and St. Martin's fr generusly riving me with my Dazzling ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All inins are my own as always.
Here is my review f Rednecks: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... coo
By: Taylor Brown
This is a very unique but meticulously researched beautifully written newest novel, and I thought it was innovative in this favorite Author's clever angle in the way he wrote this. I remember loving his novel called "REDNECKS," but I have read and loved every single novel that Taylor Brown has ever written. That was very different from this, but as far as this newest novel goes, I really love Wolves. I felt I loved the fact that he included a much more intelligent, cunning, she Wolf named one-Eleven whose among several additional survival skills that there's an instinctual biological intuition to outwit all of the many Ranchers, and Wolf Hunter's that Wolves have that advantage giving them that I know how they learn to adapt which I know first hand from experience that they learn very fast if they want to keep wandering to be very hard to catch and especially not make the same mistake if they want to evade capturing. Like one-Eleven we had the best unforgettable pet that was half wolf that shared
with one-eleven's many more traits. We bought a Siberian Husky that was half Wolf that was returned a few times. We went to great lengths that we had traveled three hours each way, and he was very people shy, which was the only reason, and we grew attached to him. That was evident the first night we brought him home. That very first night we had set a quilt for him to sleep with his dish with him and a bowl of water and he slept there in the kitchen that very first night, with that being the only night. The next morning he slowly came into our bedroom and this was about three decades ago, before we had kids. I was engaged to my husband, and we moved with him to the house we live in now. We had two sliding doors that I know we eventually fenced in the backyard that faces the water, and he was smart enough to dig underneath it, and run off and I slept with the sliding door open with a Rib Eye Steak outside in front of the one door outside on our patio in the middle of Winter, and I saw that he only fell for that once. We were attached to him and he was protective of our babies. I am a bit biased with Wolves and the chapters featuring one-Eleven were my favorite even though I loved the overall narrative that as someone who has read every novel he has written, and loved them all. He is such a talented Author whose every novel has made me excited to read them I had to go in order of the publication Date since I got behind due to an unanticipated Medical issue that I also had more in March, which didn't help with my getting as far behind than I never in my life have been. I have been doing this for fifteen years and never before have I been in this situation. I am dealing with I am trying to wait for a new computer that this is a computer that is new but unable to get this done without access to functions that I have had not been able to access that I have I ordered a new one that has a few more days to get it. My reviews aren't as well written and I just want to say that I loved this, and it was gorgeously ATMOSPHERIC with a great premise.
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley, Taylor Brown, and St. Martin's for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always
Here is my review of REDNECKS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
does Taylor Brown develop great complex characters with layers that are essential, if you are going t be able to see that they're realistic, but his plots are just as immersive that I could easily summarize it. I already could write about Trace and his reasons for switching his circumstances, and about how his family lost everything due to the fines and consequences of his father killing an endangered species protected Wolf that he claimed was on his land, and the authorities didn't believe anything he said. Trace's father committed suicide. Now he has put his life in danger since he had pretty compelling reasons that he chose why he did. I love how the Author included in this novel how he included as one of the definitions for Wolver was one who hunted Wolves, and how they chose not to do it anymore. Trace gets replaced by the new Character Murdoch who is the antagonist who is involved in the Militia. Trace knew the rules taking that job came with rules that there's only succeed not room to fail. Granted I understood with my loving the Wolves and especially ours who reminded me of one -Eleven which I empathized with the ranchers who had a legitimate reason to how they lost livestock that I still am in the minority for fact that I sided with the Wolves. I have always loved Wolves, and especially won't be changing my position especially after the experience I have included in this review.
Thank you t Net Galley, Taylr Briwn , and St. Martin's fr generusly riving me with my Dazzling ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All inins are my own as always.
Here is my review f Rednecks: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... coo
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: April 7, 2026
Taylor Brown, known for “Gods of Howl Mountain” and “Pride of Eden”, among others, takes readers to the American Southwest, where two species compete for survival in his new novel, “Wolvers: A Novel”.
Trace lost his family’s ranch in New Mexico and, since then, he has been living in his truck, broke and broken, desperate and angry at the world. So, when a secretive militia turns to him, offering to pay him if he hunts and kills a legendary wolf, Trace can’t think of a reason to say no. After a harrowing experience, Trace decides to back out of the plan, but the militia aren’t ready for him to leave and instead, they hire an assassin who is not only out to kill the elusive wolf- but Trace as well. Trace must pair up with the most unlikely partners in order to save the wolves- and himself.
“Wolvers: A Novel” is a novel narrated by several characters- Trace, of course, with some parts narrated by the assassin, Murdoch, and a second person narration telling the story of the wolf, named One-Eleven, and her pack, as they, too, try to stay alive. Character-driven, “Wolvers: A Novel” is an engaging story of evolution and survival, with deep emotional themes and an immersive environment.
I can honestly say that I have never read a book narrated (in parts) by an animal, specifically a wolf, although Brown told it in the second-person, to avoid anthropomorphizing the wolves and leaving them as nature intended. There was an instant connection for me with One-Eleven, as she heads up her pack, trying to avoid predators, humans being just one. Brown provided me with copious amounts of information about wolves that I did not know, and it served to connect me even more to the predatory pack animal.
“Wolvers: A Novel”, like all of Brown’s novels, is an atmospheric slow burn. There are no suspenseful twists and turns or high-octane action in Brown’s novels, and “Wolvers: A Novel” is no exception, but it is a novel readers can become completely engaged in, for its unique writing style and compelling, emotional themes.
The ending was fast-paced and page-turning, and Brown brought the plot line to a coherent, flowing conclusion. Brown’s writing style is incomparable, with never-before-seen story lines and out-of-the-box characters. I never quite know how to feel about his novels until the final pages, but yet I somehow always end up satisfied.
Expected publication date: April 7, 2026
Taylor Brown, known for “Gods of Howl Mountain” and “Pride of Eden”, among others, takes readers to the American Southwest, where two species compete for survival in his new novel, “Wolvers: A Novel”.
Trace lost his family’s ranch in New Mexico and, since then, he has been living in his truck, broke and broken, desperate and angry at the world. So, when a secretive militia turns to him, offering to pay him if he hunts and kills a legendary wolf, Trace can’t think of a reason to say no. After a harrowing experience, Trace decides to back out of the plan, but the militia aren’t ready for him to leave and instead, they hire an assassin who is not only out to kill the elusive wolf- but Trace as well. Trace must pair up with the most unlikely partners in order to save the wolves- and himself.
“Wolvers: A Novel” is a novel narrated by several characters- Trace, of course, with some parts narrated by the assassin, Murdoch, and a second person narration telling the story of the wolf, named One-Eleven, and her pack, as they, too, try to stay alive. Character-driven, “Wolvers: A Novel” is an engaging story of evolution and survival, with deep emotional themes and an immersive environment.
I can honestly say that I have never read a book narrated (in parts) by an animal, specifically a wolf, although Brown told it in the second-person, to avoid anthropomorphizing the wolves and leaving them as nature intended. There was an instant connection for me with One-Eleven, as she heads up her pack, trying to avoid predators, humans being just one. Brown provided me with copious amounts of information about wolves that I did not know, and it served to connect me even more to the predatory pack animal.
“Wolvers: A Novel”, like all of Brown’s novels, is an atmospheric slow burn. There are no suspenseful twists and turns or high-octane action in Brown’s novels, and “Wolvers: A Novel” is no exception, but it is a novel readers can become completely engaged in, for its unique writing style and compelling, emotional themes.
The ending was fast-paced and page-turning, and Brown brought the plot line to a coherent, flowing conclusion. Brown’s writing style is incomparable, with never-before-seen story lines and out-of-the-box characters. I never quite know how to feel about his novels until the final pages, but yet I somehow always end up satisfied.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy of this e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
As moving as it is thrilling, Wolves is a testament to the power of nature and how people can, sometimes, change for the better.
A bit low to start, once Wolvers gets going, it takes off running. The reason is that the main character is rather unlikable at first, but once he learns his lesson (so to speak), he becomes quite likable. It disproves my mom’s saying that “you can’t change a man.” I mean, she’s right, a man (or any person) has to change on their own, though Trace has a little help.
After this, Trace becomes a stalwart, brooding main character that is, well, he’s kinda hot (if you like cowboys). And this is because he’s complex but not complicated - he’s a good person at heart who, despite being young still, is adapting to a new world.
Most of this has to do with environmental protection. Being an environmentalist myself, I really appreciated the way this book approached the issue. It shows the real problems people are having with specific regulations that they feel are curtailing their livelihoods, yet also shows how someone can operate within these changing requirements (such as returning to older ways of doing things vs relying on just eradicating what we don’t like). We have made extinct so many species due to our greed and negligence, and while it may seem unfair that this generation has to “pay” for it, it’s also not the animals’ fault for wanting to survive. We need wolves as much as we need bees and spiders, and deer, and everything. Do we need as many cows? I would argue absolutely not, but that’s a separate issue.
Anyway, I really approved of the environmental message in this story. And most of that is shown by the humanization of the wolf pack that is under threat. There are a few almost-grown pups who are given personality by their actions. Dozer, who is often sleepy, and One Paw, who has a deformity but is as fierce as his mama, One-Eleven, who is the real main character. In no way are the animals personified, but the way she protects her young, figures things out, and traverses the landscape is like watching Planet Earth. I adored One-Eleven to no end.
In terms of ladies in the novel, Imogen and Trace’s mom are the only other women in the book (besides unnamed side characters with 1-2 lies of dialogue), but their fierceness, complexity, and the way they are treated in the narrative is a rare time when not passing the low bar of the Bechdel Test didn’t bother me. There are really only three men in the book, too, minus a few side characters, so there is a dearth of people in general. And, of course, we have One-Eleven!
The two other male characters are interesting as well. While I hate what Murdoch does, his reasons for acting the way he does make him a villain with motives that you can understand in a twisted sort of way (more like “it makes sense this guy is messed up”), which kept him from being one-dimensional.
I loved the setting, of course, as that area of the US is one of my favourite places to visit. It was awesome to be able to picture the landscape when reading this (at least generally).
Speaking of sublimity, the book is beautifully written. It has the sort of melancholy tone of an old Western, which - given it has horses and guns and wilderness and brooding men - makes it a new Western, one that is less about chiseling out and claiming a space than learning to give some back.
Overall, when I was about thirty % in, I thought I’d give 4 stars, but I’ve upped it to 5. It’s one of those that gets better the more you think about it.
As moving as it is thrilling, Wolves is a testament to the power of nature and how people can, sometimes, change for the better.
A bit low to start, once Wolvers gets going, it takes off running. The reason is that the main character is rather unlikable at first, but once he learns his lesson (so to speak), he becomes quite likable. It disproves my mom’s saying that “you can’t change a man.” I mean, she’s right, a man (or any person) has to change on their own, though Trace has a little help.
After this, Trace becomes a stalwart, brooding main character that is, well, he’s kinda hot (if you like cowboys). And this is because he’s complex but not complicated - he’s a good person at heart who, despite being young still, is adapting to a new world.
Most of this has to do with environmental protection. Being an environmentalist myself, I really appreciated the way this book approached the issue. It shows the real problems people are having with specific regulations that they feel are curtailing their livelihoods, yet also shows how someone can operate within these changing requirements (such as returning to older ways of doing things vs relying on just eradicating what we don’t like). We have made extinct so many species due to our greed and negligence, and while it may seem unfair that this generation has to “pay” for it, it’s also not the animals’ fault for wanting to survive. We need wolves as much as we need bees and spiders, and deer, and everything. Do we need as many cows? I would argue absolutely not, but that’s a separate issue.
Anyway, I really approved of the environmental message in this story. And most of that is shown by the humanization of the wolf pack that is under threat. There are a few almost-grown pups who are given personality by their actions. Dozer, who is often sleepy, and One Paw, who has a deformity but is as fierce as his mama, One-Eleven, who is the real main character. In no way are the animals personified, but the way she protects her young, figures things out, and traverses the landscape is like watching Planet Earth. I adored One-Eleven to no end.
In terms of ladies in the novel, Imogen and Trace’s mom are the only other women in the book (besides unnamed side characters with 1-2 lies of dialogue), but their fierceness, complexity, and the way they are treated in the narrative is a rare time when not passing the low bar of the Bechdel Test didn’t bother me. There are really only three men in the book, too, minus a few side characters, so there is a dearth of people in general. And, of course, we have One-Eleven!
The two other male characters are interesting as well. While I hate what Murdoch does, his reasons for acting the way he does make him a villain with motives that you can understand in a twisted sort of way (more like “it makes sense this guy is messed up”), which kept him from being one-dimensional.
I loved the setting, of course, as that area of the US is one of my favourite places to visit. It was awesome to be able to picture the landscape when reading this (at least generally).
Speaking of sublimity, the book is beautifully written. It has the sort of melancholy tone of an old Western, which - given it has horses and guns and wilderness and brooding men - makes it a new Western, one that is less about chiseling out and claiming a space than learning to give some back.
Overall, when I was about thirty % in, I thought I’d give 4 stars, but I’ve upped it to 5. It’s one of those that gets better the more you think about it.
August 6, 2025
This book in paperback form I won through the Goodreads lottery. The cover is excellent. I may be longer on this review just because they sent me a copy. It's only fair.
Taylor Brown writes better than well and many of his past books I've read to 4 star or even 5 star personal ratings. This one- while a worthy and rather complex plot which did keep my interest; the levels of violence and just plain chewy/ gore features also made me reluctant to return to it.
In reality there was a point about 2/3rds of the way through Part I when I didn't return for about 5 days to the book but started others. THAT is unusual for me, even in harvesting and processing crop season. Then when I finished Part 1, the rest of Wolvers I took up fairly quickly- in about 2 more days. Most books I read, despite great length, in a matter of 3 days total. So this was outlier. WHY? Just the blood/guts factor and also the form of it.
If this tale would have been told in a more chronological or single motion to context of forward progression pace then I think I would have been better embedded. The constant switching and EXTREME amounts of description (BOTH) kept me caught in a ravine or mud slide pit? And Murdoch? Well I did about half understand Trace and Horn. But can I say even without being elderly and old, old (which I am) that there is "eyes" of hunters and hunted and there are only so many ways to preach and teach about them. Murdoch from Russia, or Ukraine, or some Eastern European cabal fiasco place? Trained serial killer by equipment owned/given and past? Hmmm! Hints were made that he is decade set up spy too? OK, but doesn't it get a little cartoonish?
Really- the last Part was improved to my understanding. But the gist of this book is the HUNT. Hunt of/by hunters who become and yet are also hunted. Wolf and Human both killers and victims of/by their very natures. And their primal natures are also set into will and deep suffering too. Both of those, as well.
This was too, too for me. Others, especially the male readers, might like this much more than I did. Yes, I know that is stereotyping. But come on, man. EwWW! You saw as many bone shafts with hanging meat here as much as you saw vast, vast scenaries minutia detail.
Parts of the beginning portions were like listening to PBS lectures. Hubris of "better" opinions reigned- and then in the rest of the book most of that seemed almost disputed. Throughout the entire book, I always liked the wolf sections (Dark Canyon troup/ One-Eleven's brood) ten times more than the human ones. If I had not won this, I might have actually skipped the men hunting each other sections and especially Trace's girlfriend escapade. That didn't even belong or sit well in this, IMHO. Perhaps her opinions? Well, the rest is just too extreme for it to have mattered much. His mother's intersects did hone it more by triffles.
When will this switching, switching, switching chapters of eyes or places or time periods ever end. Can't be soon enough for me.
Taylor Brown writes better than well and many of his past books I've read to 4 star or even 5 star personal ratings. This one- while a worthy and rather complex plot which did keep my interest; the levels of violence and just plain chewy/ gore features also made me reluctant to return to it.
In reality there was a point about 2/3rds of the way through Part I when I didn't return for about 5 days to the book but started others. THAT is unusual for me, even in harvesting and processing crop season. Then when I finished Part 1, the rest of Wolvers I took up fairly quickly- in about 2 more days. Most books I read, despite great length, in a matter of 3 days total. So this was outlier. WHY? Just the blood/guts factor and also the form of it.
If this tale would have been told in a more chronological or single motion to context of forward progression pace then I think I would have been better embedded. The constant switching and EXTREME amounts of description (BOTH) kept me caught in a ravine or mud slide pit? And Murdoch? Well I did about half understand Trace and Horn. But can I say even without being elderly and old, old (which I am) that there is "eyes" of hunters and hunted and there are only so many ways to preach and teach about them. Murdoch from Russia, or Ukraine, or some Eastern European cabal fiasco place? Trained serial killer by equipment owned/given and past? Hmmm! Hints were made that he is decade set up spy too? OK, but doesn't it get a little cartoonish?
Really- the last Part was improved to my understanding. But the gist of this book is the HUNT. Hunt of/by hunters who become and yet are also hunted. Wolf and Human both killers and victims of/by their very natures. And their primal natures are also set into will and deep suffering too. Both of those, as well.
This was too, too for me. Others, especially the male readers, might like this much more than I did. Yes, I know that is stereotyping. But come on, man. EwWW! You saw as many bone shafts with hanging meat here as much as you saw vast, vast scenaries minutia detail.
Parts of the beginning portions were like listening to PBS lectures. Hubris of "better" opinions reigned- and then in the rest of the book most of that seemed almost disputed. Throughout the entire book, I always liked the wolf sections (Dark Canyon troup/ One-Eleven's brood) ten times more than the human ones. If I had not won this, I might have actually skipped the men hunting each other sections and especially Trace's girlfriend escapade. That didn't even belong or sit well in this, IMHO. Perhaps her opinions? Well, the rest is just too extreme for it to have mattered much. His mother's intersects did hone it more by triffles.
When will this switching, switching, switching chapters of eyes or places or time periods ever end. Can't be soon enough for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh. My. Goodness. This man can write. And tug at heartstrings. He's also adept at placing his readers in landscapes that they can feel, touch, taste, smell.
It’s no surprise to anyone who’s been following my reviews over the years that I am an enormous Taylor Brown fan. When I saw Wolvers was scheduled to publish in 2026 – and on NetGalley – I jumped at the chance to read in advance.
I didn’t think it was possible for one of his new books to jump ahead of all the others, landing on my FAVORITES-OF-ALL-TIMES list. (Because I adored Fallen Land, Pride of Eden, The River of Kings … all of them, really). But, here it is: Wolvers!!!. Favorite!
I live in the Desert Southwest – Arizona – not far from this setting, and I’m a wildlife champion (now running a conservation nonprofit to save the waters and wildlife of our rare Sky Islands from mining). So this one really hit home. Even though the setting is New Mexico, the star characters – Mexican gray wolves – have been reintroduced to my state as well. I’m a fan of this reintroduction. And to compound this delight, years ago, I met a wonderful woman on a flight to Utah, who just happens to play a key role in that reintroduction program. We’ve become friends.
Brown’s book is releasing during a time when the protections of these animals is on the chopping block. Years of hard work could be undone with a pen signature. I hope this novel is read widely – not because it takes a political stance, but because Brown did a ton of research to accurately portray the hot-topic button of wolves in America, and the wolves, themselves. Everyone can learn from this novel.
This book has all the literary beauty of a Taylor Brown novel, but it also has commercial appeal that will make it a hit with larger audiences, I think. It's a nail-biter with pacing that is off the charts. There's also emotion (especially with the wolves, told in their alpha mom's point of view). The characters are not cardboard cutouts; no one’s all good or all bad. They’re real, flawed individuals with a good deal at stake.
I should also add that Brown brings back a character from a past book - which enthralled me! Do any of you know who, and from which book? In small, unassuming ways, he was able, in this book, to bring together what appear to be his biggest concerns/passions/personal life experiences. He peppers the novel with historic context (mining), appreciation of the outdoors and motorcycles/aircraft, as well as a deep concern for environmental matters.
I 100% adored this novel, even though it was a bit more plot-driven than his past books. I will end with just two words: Little Paw! Goodness me. Read this book, friends. Even if you’re not an outdoorsy person, it’s going to resonate.
All the stars. Thanks to St. Martin’s press and NetGalley. I’ll be buying a hardcover of this one for my favorites shelf.
It’s no surprise to anyone who’s been following my reviews over the years that I am an enormous Taylor Brown fan. When I saw Wolvers was scheduled to publish in 2026 – and on NetGalley – I jumped at the chance to read in advance.
I didn’t think it was possible for one of his new books to jump ahead of all the others, landing on my FAVORITES-OF-ALL-TIMES list. (Because I adored Fallen Land, Pride of Eden, The River of Kings … all of them, really). But, here it is: Wolvers!!!. Favorite!
I live in the Desert Southwest – Arizona – not far from this setting, and I’m a wildlife champion (now running a conservation nonprofit to save the waters and wildlife of our rare Sky Islands from mining). So this one really hit home. Even though the setting is New Mexico, the star characters – Mexican gray wolves – have been reintroduced to my state as well. I’m a fan of this reintroduction. And to compound this delight, years ago, I met a wonderful woman on a flight to Utah, who just happens to play a key role in that reintroduction program. We’ve become friends.
Brown’s book is releasing during a time when the protections of these animals is on the chopping block. Years of hard work could be undone with a pen signature. I hope this novel is read widely – not because it takes a political stance, but because Brown did a ton of research to accurately portray the hot-topic button of wolves in America, and the wolves, themselves. Everyone can learn from this novel.
This book has all the literary beauty of a Taylor Brown novel, but it also has commercial appeal that will make it a hit with larger audiences, I think. It's a nail-biter with pacing that is off the charts. There's also emotion (especially with the wolves, told in their alpha mom's point of view). The characters are not cardboard cutouts; no one’s all good or all bad. They’re real, flawed individuals with a good deal at stake.
I should also add that Brown brings back a character from a past book - which enthralled me! Do any of you know who, and from which book? In small, unassuming ways, he was able, in this book, to bring together what appear to be his biggest concerns/passions/personal life experiences. He peppers the novel with historic context (mining), appreciation of the outdoors and motorcycles/aircraft, as well as a deep concern for environmental matters.
I 100% adored this novel, even though it was a bit more plot-driven than his past books. I will end with just two words: Little Paw! Goodness me. Read this book, friends. Even if you’re not an outdoorsy person, it’s going to resonate.
All the stars. Thanks to St. Martin’s press and NetGalley. I’ll be buying a hardcover of this one for my favorites shelf.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
[4.25]
Wolver
Earliest known use: late 1500s
1: One who behaves like a wolf
2: One who searches or hunts for wolves
Wolves are the most enigmatic of apex predators, partially because they were all but eliminated worldwide. and have now been reintroduced by the government in select environments, such as near the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico—the oldest designated wilderness. In this, my first Taylor Brown book, I was easily swept into the story of conflict—those that want the wolves to continue populating and those that want them dead. The two forces keep the pages turning in this adventurous and morally centered story of rule and resilience, survival and redemption.
Trace Temple has a reason for vengeance against the government; his family lost their ranch because his father killed a wolf. An extremist group will pay him to shoot and kill One Eleven, the alpha female of the Dark Canyon group of gray wolves, still on the list of endangered species. Temple sustains a serious injury while scouting; subsequently, an opportunity arises for employment by a rancher, Imogen Cruz, who has had her teeth in his heart since childhood. That requires him to evade the militia group that hired him.
Another character, Horn, is a renegade hunter on his own, out there protecting the wolves. A dangerous international assassin named Murdoch is Temple’s replacement, a psychopath willing to kill for cash. The three men, plus the legendary One Eleven, provide the predator and prey excitement to this tale. As the yarn unfolds, questions emerge in the reader’s mind---who is predator, who is prey? Who is the danger to the ecosystem? Should the gray wolf remain in the wild? Many farmers and ranchers do not want wolves roaming around, as they are a threat to their cattle.
The story is told from third person limited. That allows a realistic “perspective” for One Eleven, also, who credibly thinks and acts like a wolf. The author did a bevy of research to fill his narrative, and lists all the non-fiction literature he read to make it believable. It’s never cheesy or phony, and in a lesser author it might be more of a “bro-story.” Brown concentrates equally on themes, plot, and, to an extent, character.
It takes a while for suspense to reach altitude. I think the author could shave down those roughly seventy-five pages that dominate the action with one character’s survival. After that, it takes off and the pages turn with a thrill. The Gila Wilderness and Gila National Forest is itself a red-hot tempest to contend with, as untamed as the wolves.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced copy for review. Now that I have been introduced, I intend to read more of Taylor Brown's oeuvre.
Wolver
Earliest known use: late 1500s
1: One who behaves like a wolf
2: One who searches or hunts for wolves
Wolves are the most enigmatic of apex predators, partially because they were all but eliminated worldwide. and have now been reintroduced by the government in select environments, such as near the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico—the oldest designated wilderness. In this, my first Taylor Brown book, I was easily swept into the story of conflict—those that want the wolves to continue populating and those that want them dead. The two forces keep the pages turning in this adventurous and morally centered story of rule and resilience, survival and redemption.
Trace Temple has a reason for vengeance against the government; his family lost their ranch because his father killed a wolf. An extremist group will pay him to shoot and kill One Eleven, the alpha female of the Dark Canyon group of gray wolves, still on the list of endangered species. Temple sustains a serious injury while scouting; subsequently, an opportunity arises for employment by a rancher, Imogen Cruz, who has had her teeth in his heart since childhood. That requires him to evade the militia group that hired him.
Another character, Horn, is a renegade hunter on his own, out there protecting the wolves. A dangerous international assassin named Murdoch is Temple’s replacement, a psychopath willing to kill for cash. The three men, plus the legendary One Eleven, provide the predator and prey excitement to this tale. As the yarn unfolds, questions emerge in the reader’s mind---who is predator, who is prey? Who is the danger to the ecosystem? Should the gray wolf remain in the wild? Many farmers and ranchers do not want wolves roaming around, as they are a threat to their cattle.
The story is told from third person limited. That allows a realistic “perspective” for One Eleven, also, who credibly thinks and acts like a wolf. The author did a bevy of research to fill his narrative, and lists all the non-fiction literature he read to make it believable. It’s never cheesy or phony, and in a lesser author it might be more of a “bro-story.” Brown concentrates equally on themes, plot, and, to an extent, character.
It takes a while for suspense to reach altitude. I think the author could shave down those roughly seventy-five pages that dominate the action with one character’s survival. After that, it takes off and the pages turn with a thrill. The Gila Wilderness and Gila National Forest is itself a red-hot tempest to contend with, as untamed as the wolves.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced copy for review. Now that I have been introduced, I intend to read more of Taylor Brown's oeuvre.
April 30, 2026
Taylor Brown has become one of my favorite authors. He creates believable characters and memorable plots, and his recurring themes have to do with championing the poor and dispossessed, and an urgent sense of environmentalism. My great thanks go to NetGalley, RB Media, and St. Martin’s Press for the review copies. This book is for sale now.
Trace Temple hates wolves. His family has spiraled downward since losing its New Mexico ranch, a ranch that was in the family for generations, because of a massive legal penalty incurred by shooting an endangered wolf. It’s legal to kill a wolf that has preyed on one’s livestock, but the circumstances under which that can be done are very specific ones. Trace’s father thought he was shooting the wolf that had eaten his sheep, but he accidentally shot the wrong wolf, and it cost him and his family everything. The patriarch went to prison, and Trace’s mother developed an addiction that has become all consuming. So when some sketchy characters approach Trace and propose to hire him to shoot One-Eleven, the legendary alpha of a wolf pack that ranchers have long hated, he’s all in. But an experience that occurs while he’s on the hunt causes him to change his mind.
Once Trace is out of the running, the organization hires someone else, a man called Murdoch. Murdoch wants to kill the wolf, and he wouldn’t mind killing Trace, too.
The story starts a bit slow, then gathers steam as it goes. The Gila wilderness where all of this takes place is resonantly depicted, and given that nearly everything that Brown has written to this point is set in the Appalachians or some other part of the American South, this is all the more impressive. The dialogue pops! There aren’t many characters in this story, and the two-legged characters that get the most ink are males; it’s all the more amazing, then, that Brown’s respect for women shines through, and it does so naturally. By the last quarter of this story, nobody could have kept me from finishing it.
There’s some gore here; the story could not have been told authentically without it. Humans get hurt, and some get dead, and so do wolves; but none of the damage is superfluous or titillating. And I loved the ending.
Brown explains what’s real and what’s fictional at the end of the book, and he even includes a two page bibliography for those interested in the subject matter.
I was lucky enough to have both the digital and audio versions of this story, and it’s the first time I’ve listened to one of Brown’s books. Ramiz Monsef does an outstanding job as narrator, and for that reason, I recommend this format for those that like audio books. But whatever your preference is, this novel is highly recommended.
Trace Temple hates wolves. His family has spiraled downward since losing its New Mexico ranch, a ranch that was in the family for generations, because of a massive legal penalty incurred by shooting an endangered wolf. It’s legal to kill a wolf that has preyed on one’s livestock, but the circumstances under which that can be done are very specific ones. Trace’s father thought he was shooting the wolf that had eaten his sheep, but he accidentally shot the wrong wolf, and it cost him and his family everything. The patriarch went to prison, and Trace’s mother developed an addiction that has become all consuming. So when some sketchy characters approach Trace and propose to hire him to shoot One-Eleven, the legendary alpha of a wolf pack that ranchers have long hated, he’s all in. But an experience that occurs while he’s on the hunt causes him to change his mind.
Once Trace is out of the running, the organization hires someone else, a man called Murdoch. Murdoch wants to kill the wolf, and he wouldn’t mind killing Trace, too.
The story starts a bit slow, then gathers steam as it goes. The Gila wilderness where all of this takes place is resonantly depicted, and given that nearly everything that Brown has written to this point is set in the Appalachians or some other part of the American South, this is all the more impressive. The dialogue pops! There aren’t many characters in this story, and the two-legged characters that get the most ink are males; it’s all the more amazing, then, that Brown’s respect for women shines through, and it does so naturally. By the last quarter of this story, nobody could have kept me from finishing it.
There’s some gore here; the story could not have been told authentically without it. Humans get hurt, and some get dead, and so do wolves; but none of the damage is superfluous or titillating. And I loved the ending.
Brown explains what’s real and what’s fictional at the end of the book, and he even includes a two page bibliography for those interested in the subject matter.
I was lucky enough to have both the digital and audio versions of this story, and it’s the first time I’ve listened to one of Brown’s books. Ramiz Monsef does an outstanding job as narrator, and for that reason, I recommend this format for those that like audio books. But whatever your preference is, this novel is highly recommended.
April 7, 2026
Wolvers follows an assortment of characters with differing views and beliefs on how humans and nature should interact.
Horn was probably my favorite of the characters, he is a bit of a wild characters who has found himself deeply in touch with nature. He believes in a purpose of protecting the animals, in particular the wolves. He does not try to give them human idea or characteristics, but finds ways to relate to them but leaves them as animals. I think his counter was less Trace and more Murdoch, two characters that find themselves relating more to nature and the animals that inhabit it but take drastically different approaches in how they deal with it. Horn wants to protect it while Murdoch seems to see himself as another predator of nature despite the clear unfair advantage that he has that puts him solely in the category of just another human trying to control nature.
I really enjoyed the inclusion of chapters from One-Elevens point of view. They are very short compared to the other chapters but its a small little insight into a character that would have no voice. It shows that the wolves really have a single purpose for what they do and that is simply the survival of the pack.
The book doesn’t go out of its way to humanize the wolves nor try to make them some mystical human helping creature. They are wolves, not monsters, they do not go out of their way to kill simply to kill nor do they suddenly change their attitudes toward humans. Their goal is to survive, they come up against conflicts from other wolves, the changes in nature. The worst characters in this book are the humans, everything they do is for their own personal gains. Trace starts at that point and slowly evolves as he finally comes to stand with the idea that men and nature can coexist if we return to an idea of living with nature instead of breaking it to suit us.
The writing of this story is strong, the author has a way that brings nature to life in both its beauty and its horrors. The Gila Wilderness is described in such details you can feel the woods around you, the smoke as it chases you through the trees. The action keeps going at a pace that never feels like it is being rushed or dragging along the plot, perfectly paced to keep the story moving. My only complaint is that I wish we had gotten more about how Trace comes to change his views. Its clear why and we get hints at it but I wish we hadn’t skipped ahead for the change of heart since its such an integral part of Trace’s story and why he was willing to do what he did in the second part.
Horn was probably my favorite of the characters, he is a bit of a wild characters who has found himself deeply in touch with nature. He believes in a purpose of protecting the animals, in particular the wolves. He does not try to give them human idea or characteristics, but finds ways to relate to them but leaves them as animals. I think his counter was less Trace and more Murdoch, two characters that find themselves relating more to nature and the animals that inhabit it but take drastically different approaches in how they deal with it. Horn wants to protect it while Murdoch seems to see himself as another predator of nature despite the clear unfair advantage that he has that puts him solely in the category of just another human trying to control nature.
I really enjoyed the inclusion of chapters from One-Elevens point of view. They are very short compared to the other chapters but its a small little insight into a character that would have no voice. It shows that the wolves really have a single purpose for what they do and that is simply the survival of the pack.
The book doesn’t go out of its way to humanize the wolves nor try to make them some mystical human helping creature. They are wolves, not monsters, they do not go out of their way to kill simply to kill nor do they suddenly change their attitudes toward humans. Their goal is to survive, they come up against conflicts from other wolves, the changes in nature. The worst characters in this book are the humans, everything they do is for their own personal gains. Trace starts at that point and slowly evolves as he finally comes to stand with the idea that men and nature can coexist if we return to an idea of living with nature instead of breaking it to suit us.
The writing of this story is strong, the author has a way that brings nature to life in both its beauty and its horrors. The Gila Wilderness is described in such details you can feel the woods around you, the smoke as it chases you through the trees. The action keeps going at a pace that never feels like it is being rushed or dragging along the plot, perfectly paced to keep the story moving. My only complaint is that I wish we had gotten more about how Trace comes to change his views. Its clear why and we get hints at it but I wish we hadn’t skipped ahead for the change of heart since its such an integral part of Trace’s story and why he was willing to do what he did in the second part.
April 8, 2026
Wolvers by author Taylor Brown was dry, dark, scary and often depressing but captivating, intense, thrilling and impossible to put down. I was expecting a predictable man vs. wolves story, but it was so much more than that. It became apparent quickly that my allegiance was going to shift all over the place: from Trace to the wolfman to the wolves and back again. From the ranchers to the hunters, the government or the little man. All sides made compelling arguments and elicited sympathy at some point. It even took some time before it became obvious the organization that initially hired Trace wasn’t as altruistic as they wanted everyone to believe.
It’s difficult to describe the chapters that focused on the wolves and do them justice. The wolves don’t seem human; it’s more complicated than that. Their sense of preservation and loyalty to their leader and the pack is as evident as their awareness of being hunted and their fear of being captured or killed. They are clever at evading danger and planning next moves. With an amazing ability to recognize when an enemy is no longer an enemy.
The book is very hard to read at times, not because it isn’t riveting but because it’s hard to imagine any sort of even remotely happy ending at all. There’s a sense of dread throughout, leaving yourworrying there will be no good answers, no acceptable solutions. Author Taylor Brown’s writing, however, is spare, sparse with just the right wording, action and amount of suspense. And keeps you turning page after page.
Trace Temple is fascinating. He seems shallow and single-minded at first, only looking for revenge. But as the story progresses and the layers peel back, you see his struggle, his pain, his changing thoughts and goals. His life was never easy, but now it seems to be nothing but sleep outdoors or in his truck, hunt wolves, repeat. Until he meets the wolfman and starts to look deeper at what he’s doing and what he really thinks is right. His injured trek through the wood is almost unbearable to read but you can’t turn away. He seems capable but then is easily outsmarted and captured. The supporting characters are just as interesting as Trace.
I received an advance copy of Wolvers from St. Martin's Publishing Group via NetGalley. It’s captivating, exciting, thought-provoking, with edge of your seat action and a perfectly satisfying ending. One of the best books I have read in a long time, written by a new-to-me author who has jumped onto my favorites list. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
It’s difficult to describe the chapters that focused on the wolves and do them justice. The wolves don’t seem human; it’s more complicated than that. Their sense of preservation and loyalty to their leader and the pack is as evident as their awareness of being hunted and their fear of being captured or killed. They are clever at evading danger and planning next moves. With an amazing ability to recognize when an enemy is no longer an enemy.
The book is very hard to read at times, not because it isn’t riveting but because it’s hard to imagine any sort of even remotely happy ending at all. There’s a sense of dread throughout, leaving yourworrying there will be no good answers, no acceptable solutions. Author Taylor Brown’s writing, however, is spare, sparse with just the right wording, action and amount of suspense. And keeps you turning page after page.
Trace Temple is fascinating. He seems shallow and single-minded at first, only looking for revenge. But as the story progresses and the layers peel back, you see his struggle, his pain, his changing thoughts and goals. His life was never easy, but now it seems to be nothing but sleep outdoors or in his truck, hunt wolves, repeat. Until he meets the wolfman and starts to look deeper at what he’s doing and what he really thinks is right. His injured trek through the wood is almost unbearable to read but you can’t turn away. He seems capable but then is easily outsmarted and captured. The supporting characters are just as interesting as Trace.
I received an advance copy of Wolvers from St. Martin's Publishing Group via NetGalley. It’s captivating, exciting, thought-provoking, with edge of your seat action and a perfectly satisfying ending. One of the best books I have read in a long time, written by a new-to-me author who has jumped onto my favorites list. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
October 27, 2025
Wolvers is a novel with the texture of a modern-day western, consisting of characters and an environment where both are well-worn, gritty, and rough. It is about wolves, of man, and of their duality of existing in nature, including the hunting of each other and pining for each other’s eradication from the Earth.
In reading the novel, it translates as if the reader has been given a handbook on wolves, their behavior, and their existence in the natural world alongside humans. Along with the enjoyable depiction of nature as a backdrop, Brown also includes a large amount of necessary factual and layered detail about wolves, their behavior, and those that hunt them, which is essential to enhance the telling of the story, and it does.
For this reader, providing a specific summary of the several divergent plotlines and descriptions of the variety of characters would entail spoilers and lessen the impact of the overall content of the book.
Mostly, the novel follows hunting guide and tracker Trace Temple, who, due to a family crisis and property issues, has become bitter and angry towards not only the US government, but also wolves in general. Temple and his hunting skills have been hired by a shadowy group of wealthy men fond of wearing cowboy hats with silver underlinings. These same men possess not only the desire, but also the means, in their quest to rule the natural world as they see fit. When Temple is unable to deliver their desired results, a second and even more dangerous and sociopathic wolf hunter is brought in to finish the job and leave no others standing, including both creature and human.
The novel then follows as Temple, along with other well-developed and interesting characters, enters the fray of either trying to kill or protect a prized she-wolf known for her immense cunning and successful protection of her wolf pack.
Brown’s use of the natural world as a backdrop brings forth the imaginary odor of pine trees, forest fires, and an overall feeling of being enveloped by nature as if one were present in the outdoors themselves.
Wolvers is recommended to readers who enjoy backdrops involving the natural world and tales of high pursuit, danger, and brutality.
Netgalley provided an ARC upon the promise of a fair review, with Wolvers set to be released in April 2026.
In reading the novel, it translates as if the reader has been given a handbook on wolves, their behavior, and their existence in the natural world alongside humans. Along with the enjoyable depiction of nature as a backdrop, Brown also includes a large amount of necessary factual and layered detail about wolves, their behavior, and those that hunt them, which is essential to enhance the telling of the story, and it does.
For this reader, providing a specific summary of the several divergent plotlines and descriptions of the variety of characters would entail spoilers and lessen the impact of the overall content of the book.
Mostly, the novel follows hunting guide and tracker Trace Temple, who, due to a family crisis and property issues, has become bitter and angry towards not only the US government, but also wolves in general. Temple and his hunting skills have been hired by a shadowy group of wealthy men fond of wearing cowboy hats with silver underlinings. These same men possess not only the desire, but also the means, in their quest to rule the natural world as they see fit. When Temple is unable to deliver their desired results, a second and even more dangerous and sociopathic wolf hunter is brought in to finish the job and leave no others standing, including both creature and human.
The novel then follows as Temple, along with other well-developed and interesting characters, enters the fray of either trying to kill or protect a prized she-wolf known for her immense cunning and successful protection of her wolf pack.
Brown’s use of the natural world as a backdrop brings forth the imaginary odor of pine trees, forest fires, and an overall feeling of being enveloped by nature as if one were present in the outdoors themselves.
Wolvers is recommended to readers who enjoy backdrops involving the natural world and tales of high pursuit, danger, and brutality.
Netgalley provided an ARC upon the promise of a fair review, with Wolvers set to be released in April 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Pain is motivation.
Taylor Brown sings this on a different note throughout his latest novel, Wolvers. It is the raw, brutal sensation that drives individuals to task.....and that task can bend the law and bend morals to one's advantage. Life seems to shift heavy doses to both Man and animal. Whether it be the physical kind or the deep emotionally driven ache within, it seethes and writhes until action takes foot.
Trace Temple drinks from an empty cup handed down from generation to generation. Ol' Temple, his great grandfather, was a hardened rancher of hundreds of acres in New Mexico near the Gila National Forest. But that sacred land was lost when a later generation of Temple men shot a collared wolf for attacking their cattle. The government stepped in and denied their claim and they lost everything including the ranch.
Trace's rage consumed him. A militia group could feel that rage from miles away. They hired him to hunt down an alpha female called One-Eleven. Wolves, once endangered, were reintroduced out West. Many were collared for tracking. Environmentalists applauded these efforts while cattlemen were and still are up in arms. We'll follow Trace as he tracks the movements of this she-wolf and the resilience of the Dark Canyon pack. But an unexpected event will change Trace's motivation.
Wolvers will not be for everyone. Know that going in. Nature and its inhabitants can be brutal when it comes to survival and Brown depicts his graphic scenes as such. I'm from Texas and know first hand the survival spirit that prevails on rough terrain. So if you are faint-hearted, you may want to pass on this one. But the writing is spectacular and the descriptors are almost in 3-D and in surround sound. Brown is such a gifted writer. This is my seventh novel and I've savored each and every one. Wolvers will bring you pause as you experience the deep-set impetus that resides within humanity and within animals themselves. Never discount Taylor Brown's uncanny ability to bring his story to life. Outstanding, Taylor Brown, just outstanding.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the highly talented Taylor Brown for the opportunity.
Taylor Brown sings this on a different note throughout his latest novel, Wolvers. It is the raw, brutal sensation that drives individuals to task.....and that task can bend the law and bend morals to one's advantage. Life seems to shift heavy doses to both Man and animal. Whether it be the physical kind or the deep emotionally driven ache within, it seethes and writhes until action takes foot.
Trace Temple drinks from an empty cup handed down from generation to generation. Ol' Temple, his great grandfather, was a hardened rancher of hundreds of acres in New Mexico near the Gila National Forest. But that sacred land was lost when a later generation of Temple men shot a collared wolf for attacking their cattle. The government stepped in and denied their claim and they lost everything including the ranch.
Trace's rage consumed him. A militia group could feel that rage from miles away. They hired him to hunt down an alpha female called One-Eleven. Wolves, once endangered, were reintroduced out West. Many were collared for tracking. Environmentalists applauded these efforts while cattlemen were and still are up in arms. We'll follow Trace as he tracks the movements of this she-wolf and the resilience of the Dark Canyon pack. But an unexpected event will change Trace's motivation.
Wolvers will not be for everyone. Know that going in. Nature and its inhabitants can be brutal when it comes to survival and Brown depicts his graphic scenes as such. I'm from Texas and know first hand the survival spirit that prevails on rough terrain. So if you are faint-hearted, you may want to pass on this one. But the writing is spectacular and the descriptors are almost in 3-D and in surround sound. Brown is such a gifted writer. This is my seventh novel and I've savored each and every one. Wolvers will bring you pause as you experience the deep-set impetus that resides within humanity and within animals themselves. Never discount Taylor Brown's uncanny ability to bring his story to life. Outstanding, Taylor Brown, just outstanding.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the highly talented Taylor Brown for the opportunity.
April 11, 2026
Wolvers is one of those stories that feels carved out of the land it’s set in: harsh, unrelenting, and deeply rooted in survival. It reads like a chase, but underneath that momentum is something quieter and more deliberate about instinct, loss, and what it means to protect what’s yours.
At the center of it all is One-Eleven, the she-wolf who completely stole my attention. There’s something almost mythic about her presence, but she’s never romanticized to the point of losing her edge. She’s a mother first: fiercely protective, calculating, and always moving with purpose. Every decision she makes is about survival, about her pack, about staying one step ahead of men who see her as something to conquer. The tension in her chapters feels different, sharper, more primal, and those were easily the moments I was most invested in.
On the human side, Trace’s arc is built around desperation and reckoning. He starts in a place of anger and displacement, willing to participate in something brutal because he feels like he has nothing left. Watching that slowly unravel, especially as the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, adds an emotional layer that grounds the story. His shift doesn’t feel instant or clean, which works in the book’s favor.
What really stood out to me, though, was how much this story is about the land itself. The Gila Wilderness isn’t just a backdrop; it shapes everything. It’s unforgiving, fragile, and constantly on the brink, mirroring both the wolves’ fight for survival and the human need to control something that was never meant to be owned.
The pacing keeps things moving, especially once Murdoch enters the picture and the stakes escalate into something far more dangerous and relentless. There’s a constant sense of pursuit, but it’s layered with questions about who the real threat is and what survival actually costs.
Wolvers is gripping in a way that sneaks up on you. It’s part survival thriller, part meditation on nature and control, but what stayed with me most was that image of a mother wolf moving through a world that refuses to let her exist, and refusing to disappear anyway.
At the center of it all is One-Eleven, the she-wolf who completely stole my attention. There’s something almost mythic about her presence, but she’s never romanticized to the point of losing her edge. She’s a mother first: fiercely protective, calculating, and always moving with purpose. Every decision she makes is about survival, about her pack, about staying one step ahead of men who see her as something to conquer. The tension in her chapters feels different, sharper, more primal, and those were easily the moments I was most invested in.
On the human side, Trace’s arc is built around desperation and reckoning. He starts in a place of anger and displacement, willing to participate in something brutal because he feels like he has nothing left. Watching that slowly unravel, especially as the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, adds an emotional layer that grounds the story. His shift doesn’t feel instant or clean, which works in the book’s favor.
What really stood out to me, though, was how much this story is about the land itself. The Gila Wilderness isn’t just a backdrop; it shapes everything. It’s unforgiving, fragile, and constantly on the brink, mirroring both the wolves’ fight for survival and the human need to control something that was never meant to be owned.
The pacing keeps things moving, especially once Murdoch enters the picture and the stakes escalate into something far more dangerous and relentless. There’s a constant sense of pursuit, but it’s layered with questions about who the real threat is and what survival actually costs.
Wolvers is gripping in a way that sneaks up on you. It’s part survival thriller, part meditation on nature and control, but what stayed with me most was that image of a mother wolf moving through a world that refuses to let her exist, and refusing to disappear anyway.
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