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Track the Wolf: Alex Steward Book 4
Alex idolized her grandfather. When she discovers he wasn't the man she knew, she fears what her future will hold.
Alex’s werewolf gene triggered years after her beloved grandfather’s death. He left a letter sharing how to survive as a werewolf to guide her. But old articles documenting violent attacks and a mysterious key to an unknown lock turn up in his belongings. Alex is driven to seek answers about her grandfather’s secret life.
With Ben as her co-pilot, Alex sets out on an impromptu road trip. The pair find themselves retracing her grandfather’s steps, navigating the folklore of a feared cryptid, and fleeing a deadly stranger aiming to bring their road trip to a grisly end. Can Alex gain understanding of her grandfather's past, or will she be doomed to repeat it?
Alex’s werewolf gene triggered years after her beloved grandfather’s death. He left a letter sharing how to survive as a werewolf to guide her. But old articles documenting violent attacks and a mysterious key to an unknown lock turn up in his belongings. Alex is driven to seek answers about her grandfather’s secret life.
With Ben as her co-pilot, Alex sets out on an impromptu road trip. The pair find themselves retracing her grandfather’s steps, navigating the folklore of a feared cryptid, and fleeing a deadly stranger aiming to bring their road trip to a grisly end. Can Alex gain understanding of her grandfather's past, or will she be doomed to repeat it?
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Stefanie Gilmour
7 books28 followersStefanie is a graphic designer who enjoys creepy and fantastical stories. Her short fiction has been published in The Quiet Ones literary magazine.
Plants, concerts, books, and writing are a few of her favorite things. She’s a Midwest native and lives there with her patient husband and their tolerant cat.
Plants, concerts, books, and writing are a few of her favorite things. She’s a Midwest native and lives there with her patient husband and their tolerant cat.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 27, 2025
I adore well-developed and fleshed out characters in stories. Alex Steward has shown herself to be strong, resourceful, loyal, and maddeningly stubborn throughout this series. Similarly, Ben is back and as lovable and enjoyable as ever.
I'm going to try and avoid spoilers-this is a great book, and you don't want me giving away the story before you read it for yourself. That said, this is a bit of a departure from the original trilogy of books. We've left Hopewell behind and many of the characters from Hopewell either do not appear or are only there as cameos. This is not a bad thing, as it allows new characters to be introduced and developed and also gives us a chance to see Alex and Ben reacting to new and unfamiliar circumstances.
Previous novels in the series have established who Alex is within her own territory; now we get to see Alex when she's forced outside her comfort zone. It's worth remembering that wolves (and, presumably, werewolves, although Alex might disagree) are territorial-take the werewolf out of her territory and you're adding a new stressor that she has to deal with in addition to everything else, and this is covered deftly and compassionately throughout the story.
In addition to the road trip narrative, there's a mystery (Alex initially describes it as a treasure hunt, but, come on...) and Alex uses her forced exile as an opportunity to dig into her own family history-things even her grandmother hadn't told her. We also continue to see Alex and Ben building their relationship and, even when the pressures are great, their commitment to each other is extremely satisfying to witness.
As others have said, this book can easily be read without the background of the initial trilogy. While there are references to previous events, they are sufficiently explained to within the story so that you never feel lost. That said, hopefully you will be inspired to go back and read the first three books if this is your first in the series, if only because they deeply enrich the tapestry the story is telling.
I'm going to try and avoid spoilers-this is a great book, and you don't want me giving away the story before you read it for yourself. That said, this is a bit of a departure from the original trilogy of books. We've left Hopewell behind and many of the characters from Hopewell either do not appear or are only there as cameos. This is not a bad thing, as it allows new characters to be introduced and developed and also gives us a chance to see Alex and Ben reacting to new and unfamiliar circumstances.
Previous novels in the series have established who Alex is within her own territory; now we get to see Alex when she's forced outside her comfort zone. It's worth remembering that wolves (and, presumably, werewolves, although Alex might disagree) are territorial-take the werewolf out of her territory and you're adding a new stressor that she has to deal with in addition to everything else, and this is covered deftly and compassionately throughout the story.
In addition to the road trip narrative, there's a mystery (Alex initially describes it as a treasure hunt, but, come on...) and Alex uses her forced exile as an opportunity to dig into her own family history-things even her grandmother hadn't told her. We also continue to see Alex and Ben building their relationship and, even when the pressures are great, their commitment to each other is extremely satisfying to witness.
As others have said, this book can easily be read without the background of the initial trilogy. While there are references to previous events, they are sufficiently explained to within the story so that you never feel lost. That said, hopefully you will be inspired to go back and read the first three books if this is your first in the series, if only because they deeply enrich the tapestry the story is telling.
May 27, 2025
The fourth book in the Alex Steward series finds Alex, a werewolf, and her partner Ben, a wizard, returning to Hopewell, Michigan, from a road trip back East. Visiting her grandmother in upstate New York, Alex retrieves a shoe box of newspaper clippings from 40 years ago that had belonged to her late grandfather, also a werewolf. There's also a mysterious key in the box.
After stopping in Detroit for Ben's last concert of the trip, they find their car vandalized: someone has scrawled "Your fault" on the hood. This is the first of many encounters with a foul-smelling werewolf who seems to be following them. Each encounter is more worrying and dangerous than the last.
With their return to Hopewell on hold because of trouble back home with a vampire, Alex and Ben decide to investigate the events in her grandfather's news clippings, stories about livestock being slaughtered, possibly by the legendary Michigan Dogman. Late one night, they hit a deer--or something larger--with their car. This brings them to the attention of a local sheriff, one who knew Alex's grandfather when he was tracking the livestock killings.
Events from 40 years ago converge with events from Alex and Ben's recent past to put them in danger and heighten the tension.
In this volume, Stef Gilmour deepens the characters of Alex and Ben while keeping readers guessing at how the mysteries of the distant and immediate past will be solved. The resolutions are satisfying and even encouraging. When Alex gets back to Hopewell, she may just have the skills to heal the rift between the Commoners and Supernaturals who live there.
After stopping in Detroit for Ben's last concert of the trip, they find their car vandalized: someone has scrawled "Your fault" on the hood. This is the first of many encounters with a foul-smelling werewolf who seems to be following them. Each encounter is more worrying and dangerous than the last.
With their return to Hopewell on hold because of trouble back home with a vampire, Alex and Ben decide to investigate the events in her grandfather's news clippings, stories about livestock being slaughtered, possibly by the legendary Michigan Dogman. Late one night, they hit a deer--or something larger--with their car. This brings them to the attention of a local sheriff, one who knew Alex's grandfather when he was tracking the livestock killings.
Events from 40 years ago converge with events from Alex and Ben's recent past to put them in danger and heighten the tension.
In this volume, Stef Gilmour deepens the characters of Alex and Ben while keeping readers guessing at how the mysteries of the distant and immediate past will be solved. The resolutions are satisfying and even encouraging. When Alex gets back to Hopewell, she may just have the skills to heal the rift between the Commoners and Supernaturals who live there.
May 29, 2025
The road trip story is one that has solidified itself into American art and culture. Characters in these stories are free to engage in wacky hijinks, find trouble (or trouble finds them), and explore, both their surroundings and themselves. They always emerge from these stories changed in one way or another. In Track the Wolf, our heroine Alex experiences all of these, and more.
We follow Alex as she sets out on a trip, leaving the familiar streets, locations, and people of her home, Hopewell. Along the way Alex does typical Alex things, like meeting magical creatures and people, getting into trouble, and making poor decisions. Alex is confronted with all of these difficulties, as well as the challenge of navigating a rural setting!
I highly recommend the complete Alex Stewart series, and Track the Wolf is no different. If you haven’t read the rest of the Alex Stewart series you can easily pick up this book and enjoy it (although I recommend reading the series in order). Gilmour gives us a fun adventure that entertains from start to finish and a story that is sure to entertain.
We follow Alex as she sets out on a trip, leaving the familiar streets, locations, and people of her home, Hopewell. Along the way Alex does typical Alex things, like meeting magical creatures and people, getting into trouble, and making poor decisions. Alex is confronted with all of these difficulties, as well as the challenge of navigating a rural setting!
I highly recommend the complete Alex Stewart series, and Track the Wolf is no different. If you haven’t read the rest of the Alex Stewart series you can easily pick up this book and enjoy it (although I recommend reading the series in order). Gilmour gives us a fun adventure that entertains from start to finish and a story that is sure to entertain.
May 27, 2025
This is the fourth book in the series but can absolutely be read as a standalone.
Three big milestones in this book:
1. We leave Hopewell for the first time, as Alex and Ben hop from town to town in northern Michigan, trying to discover what her grandfather was up to during similar visits years ago.
2. We meet even more supernatural beings - this time dryads.
3. Alex and Ben say the L word - squee!
TBH, I missed all the Hopewell characters, and all the new people we meet this time around can't quite make up for the absence of my faves. But I love how the story continues to broaden this world, and deepen the relationship between Alex and Ben. I also like the bonus material that gives more background on Leo. (Wow, I hope that guy finds some real friends ASAP.)
This is such an enjoyable series and perfect for readers who like supernatural stories with strong female characters and without graphic sex. I like having a series I can recommend to my teens.
Three big milestones in this book:
1. We leave Hopewell for the first time, as Alex and Ben hop from town to town in northern Michigan, trying to discover what her grandfather was up to during similar visits years ago.
2. We meet even more supernatural beings - this time dryads.
3. Alex and Ben say the L word - squee!
TBH, I missed all the Hopewell characters, and all the new people we meet this time around can't quite make up for the absence of my faves. But I love how the story continues to broaden this world, and deepen the relationship between Alex and Ben. I also like the bonus material that gives more background on Leo. (Wow, I hope that guy finds some real friends ASAP.)
This is such an enjoyable series and perfect for readers who like supernatural stories with strong female characters and without graphic sex. I like having a series I can recommend to my teens.
May 4, 2025
The road trip setting of book 4 in this series makes for an interesting change, forcing Alex to do a little more internal examination as she struggles to figure out her grandfather’s history while dealing with the dangerous fallout of her struggles with authority in the previous books. She’s forced to work on herself and her relationship, but there’s still lots of fantastic action and expansion of the world building. If you like urban fantasy, you shouldn’t sleep on this series—this is another winner!
May 24, 2025
Track the Wolf is fast-paced while adding depth to Alex as a character, making meaning of her relationships and introducing new characters. Alex and Ben go on a roadtrip to delve into the paranormal lore and strange patterns in her family and community. Alex’s grandfather kept news clippings of several “dogman” sightings across Michigan. Alex and Ben begin to wonder if he was involved and why he was so interested in these stories. They adventure, work to solve these mysteries, grow closer to each other and come into themselves throughout this book. Thank you to Stefanie Gilmour for providing me an ARC, I’ve absolutely loved each new installation in this series even more than the last!
May 27, 2025
I loved this book. It's the 4th book in the Alex Steward series, and I highly recommend all 4. Alex goes on a fast paced road trip with lots of new, fun characters. This book sets a different tone with Alex leaving her hometown. The story is not as intense as the previous books while still being exciting and entertaining. I would get grumpy when I had to stop reading to do other things because I didn't want to put it down. This could be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the books in order.
December 3, 2025
4.5⭐️ - I enjoyed Track the Wolf so much! It was great to see Alex so determined to learn more about her grandfather. It’s so nice to follow Alex’s journey to find out more about herself as a werewolf and where she comes from in the lupin lineage.
I loved how Stefanie had specific characters give second chances and show that not all of a certain species are the same.
It was so fun to hear about the cities, towns, and counties of my home state! Of course, the local folklore mentioned was a nice touch!
I loved how Stefanie had specific characters give second chances and show that not all of a certain species are the same.
It was so fun to hear about the cities, towns, and counties of my home state! Of course, the local folklore mentioned was a nice touch!
May 26, 2025
Fun, clear and delightful read. The story is engaging, suspenseful, intriguing, magical, insightful, adventurous, heartwarming with a positive message.
The mythos and human characters are entertaining and blended nicely in the story.
I liked how Stefanie was able to set the right atmosphere across the state of MI.
Loved the food and the music on the road trip. The food made me hungry and the music made me want to dance.
Best part of the story are the surprises!
The mythos and human characters are entertaining and blended nicely in the story.
I liked how Stefanie was able to set the right atmosphere across the state of MI.
Loved the food and the music on the road trip. The food made me hungry and the music made me want to dance.
Best part of the story are the surprises!
May 22, 2025
I loved how this addition to the series gave us new further insights into both Alex and Ben’s familial relationships and allowed us to see their romance blossom further. The author imbued such realism into this urban fantasy road trip adventure through their emotional journeys, even as they dealt with a rogue werewolf trying to hunt them down, a mysterious and VERY powerful supernatural shop owner, and a potential cryptid. I loved everything that Alex discovered about her grandfather, and further herself, along the way. Another great read!!
May 22, 2025
Track the Wolf is a crazy adventure right from the start! It offers a deeper look at Alex and Ben's relationship post-tether as they grow as a couple, offers a unique viewpoint on familiar to me places and legends, while balancing real human fears and feelings. There's no guessing what lays around each corner, but you can bet you'll be thinking 'Oh Alex' every time!
May 31, 2025
It was so much fun to join Alex on a new adventure as she heads out on a road trip with Ben after visiting her family. Not surprisingly, she hits a few potholes along the way and discovers even more about her supernatural community. It was a good balance of lighthearted humor and adventure. I also really loved the Michigan lore!
July 14, 2025
Such a fun addition to this series - I LOVE a good roadtrip. As always, lots of depth in both the characters and the world building. Alex made less bad choices this time around and I enjoyed the different Michigan settings. It was great to see Alex's heart for her grandpa and not to have the suffering of her fellow lupine.
June 3, 2025
This series just keeps getting better. Gilmour does a great job of developing characters who are constantly growing but are far from perfect. They are real and sweet and funny and the road trip setting was the perfect background for this adventure! It’s a howling good time! 😉
May 21, 2025
I was so excited to see what Alex got into next. This was a fun ride, lots of clever quips of humor will keep you laughing and plenty of suspense and drama. Great read!
May 28, 2025
Low-key obsessed with these characters and the depth that Alex seems to have. This series has opened my mind to the excitement and enjoyment that this genre can have. Great read!
May 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this. After book 3, I wondered where the next book might take its readers. I wasn't disappointed. My emotions were battered throughout as the story unravelled. It kept me wanting to know what would happen next and how things might turn out. Another great installment to the Alex Steward series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews