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Annie Jackson Mysteries #3
The Howling
Annie and Lewis search for the son of an old enemy, who may hold the key to ending Annie's curse. Their investigations lead back to the past, uncovering something that could destroy the most powerful people in the country. The compelling, chilling next instalment in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series…
Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf.
One is burned at the stake.
Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.
And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…
Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is once more living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high-security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion.
The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie's curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.
Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie's life, and everything she holds dear…
Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…
Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf.
One is burned at the stake.
Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.
And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…
Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is once more living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high-security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion.
The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie's curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.
Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie's life, and everything she holds dear…
Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…
- GenresHorror
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2025
6 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 15, 2025
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September 17, 2025
Annie Jackson is back in the seclusion of her remote cottage by the loch. She’s trying to placate the “murmurs”, the ancient family curse placed upon the female members of her family. Thanks to this curse, Annie knows when someone is about to die.
Her peace is shattered, when Sylvia Lowry- Law, Annie’s distant cousin (and someone who wanted her dead), makes contact. She wants for Annie to visit her.
Since being incarcerated in a secure psychiatric facility, Sylvia has had a lot of time to think her evil schemes. She is a clever and cunning woman, and nothing will stand in her way.
She offers Annie a deal to find Sylvia’s long-lost son, because he is the key to ending Annie’s curse…
Ooh, what can I say? I just love Annie Jackson and all books in this series.
I was fascinated by the tale of Andra and how he rescued a wolf cub and became drawn to being a wolf himself. I liked how the author weaved Drew’s story into it. As the book progressed, it became clear how interwoven these two characters were.
I was also sad for Annie and her brother, Lewis. Once again, they found themselves in the middle of Sylvia’s scheming and put other people’s lives in danger. I understood Annie’s motivations – if I were her, I’d do anything to end the family curse, too.
The thought of the secret ‘Order’ run by the rich and powerful pulling all the string sent the shivers down my spine. There are some truly despicable people out there who will do anything to protect their darkest deeds.
This book has it all: a hint of supernatural, a dual storyline linking to Scottish witch trials, it promises betrayal and disappointment. What’s not to love?
It also seems that there will be another one in the series, something that I’m very excited about.
I definitely recommend it.
Her peace is shattered, when Sylvia Lowry- Law, Annie’s distant cousin (and someone who wanted her dead), makes contact. She wants for Annie to visit her.
Since being incarcerated in a secure psychiatric facility, Sylvia has had a lot of time to think her evil schemes. She is a clever and cunning woman, and nothing will stand in her way.
She offers Annie a deal to find Sylvia’s long-lost son, because he is the key to ending Annie’s curse…
Ooh, what can I say? I just love Annie Jackson and all books in this series.
I was fascinated by the tale of Andra and how he rescued a wolf cub and became drawn to being a wolf himself. I liked how the author weaved Drew’s story into it. As the book progressed, it became clear how interwoven these two characters were.
I was also sad for Annie and her brother, Lewis. Once again, they found themselves in the middle of Sylvia’s scheming and put other people’s lives in danger. I understood Annie’s motivations – if I were her, I’d do anything to end the family curse, too.
The thought of the secret ‘Order’ run by the rich and powerful pulling all the string sent the shivers down my spine. There are some truly despicable people out there who will do anything to protect their darkest deeds.
This book has it all: a hint of supernatural, a dual storyline linking to Scottish witch trials, it promises betrayal and disappointment. What’s not to love?
It also seems that there will be another one in the series, something that I’m very excited about.
I definitely recommend it.
October 7, 2025
This is the third in the Annie Jackson Mystery series after The Murmurs and The Torments.
Annie and her brother Lewis search for the long-lost son of Sylvia Lowry-Law because Sylvia says that finding him will help end Annie’s curse. (Like other female ancestors, Annie hears murmurs accompanied by shocking visions of the imminent deaths of people she encounters. The horror of these visions is intensified because there is nothing she can do to prevent the deaths.) Annie and Lewis’ investigations lead to an ancient and secretive organization, The Order, which has information which could destroy the lives and reputations of many powerful people who will do anything to protect their secrets and wealth.
I must preface my review by stating that I’m not a fan of gothic literature, the horror genre or supernatural thrillers, so I’m not the intended audience for this book. I have difficulty suspending disbelief since I do not believe in curses, hexes, or animal possession. And the idea of any of those things being passed on through generations, like hereditary traits, I find unbelievable.
Specifically in this book, I had difficulty believing in The Order whose machinations are described as mind-boggling with plans that run for years, decades, and even centuries. I understand powerful people wanting to suppress damaging information (Epstein Files), but the idea that people will put schemes into place that will outlive them is too far-fetched for me. There are also the elements of Satanic worship (goat’s head, inverted cross) which are never explained. Is The Order a Satanic cult?
The novel does emphasize that the past cannot be escaped. So many of the characters are directly affected by people and events in the past. In the first two books, the connections among females in a familial lineage are stressed; now males are also shown to share supernatural traits with ancestors. For instance, Drew shares a connection with a boy named Andra who lived in the early 18th century. I found Andra’s chapters lacking in suspense because it’s clear from the beginning what will happen.
There are some plot holes which bother me. Why would Joan Torrans help two strangers who show up at her door and even take them to the law office? The police are so inept and/or understaffed that they don’t investigate suspicious deaths and accidents? Everyone accepts Annie’s curse without question, as if magic or the occult or supernatural powers are an everyday part of life? How do Annie and Lewis learn Drew’s name? And they seem to jump to the conclusion that a certain person is the mastermind behind what is happening. Just because they pick up a random file which names this person, they assume he’s the leader? Why would Annie’s murmurs be affected by her not being able to see and how would someone know they would be if she doesn’t? We are to believe that Lewis loves Clare, but he seems to almost forget about her during much of the investigation even when she should be a constant worry?
I’m surely an outlier here. I’ve read only rave reviews of this book. As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m not a lover of books with strong gothic, horror or supernatural elements. Those who like those genres will find a lot to enjoy: witchcraft, animal possession, lost and secret family, eerie and dark settings, threats against vulnerable characters, overtones of the occult, etc. It is to those readers that I will recommend this book.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,200 of my book reviews.
Annie and her brother Lewis search for the long-lost son of Sylvia Lowry-Law because Sylvia says that finding him will help end Annie’s curse. (Like other female ancestors, Annie hears murmurs accompanied by shocking visions of the imminent deaths of people she encounters. The horror of these visions is intensified because there is nothing she can do to prevent the deaths.) Annie and Lewis’ investigations lead to an ancient and secretive organization, The Order, which has information which could destroy the lives and reputations of many powerful people who will do anything to protect their secrets and wealth.
I must preface my review by stating that I’m not a fan of gothic literature, the horror genre or supernatural thrillers, so I’m not the intended audience for this book. I have difficulty suspending disbelief since I do not believe in curses, hexes, or animal possession. And the idea of any of those things being passed on through generations, like hereditary traits, I find unbelievable.
Specifically in this book, I had difficulty believing in The Order whose machinations are described as mind-boggling with plans that run for years, decades, and even centuries. I understand powerful people wanting to suppress damaging information (Epstein Files), but the idea that people will put schemes into place that will outlive them is too far-fetched for me. There are also the elements of Satanic worship (goat’s head, inverted cross) which are never explained. Is The Order a Satanic cult?
The novel does emphasize that the past cannot be escaped. So many of the characters are directly affected by people and events in the past. In the first two books, the connections among females in a familial lineage are stressed; now males are also shown to share supernatural traits with ancestors. For instance, Drew shares a connection with a boy named Andra who lived in the early 18th century. I found Andra’s chapters lacking in suspense because it’s clear from the beginning what will happen.
There are some plot holes which bother me. Why would Joan Torrans help two strangers who show up at her door and even take them to the law office? The police are so inept and/or understaffed that they don’t investigate suspicious deaths and accidents? Everyone accepts Annie’s curse without question, as if magic or the occult or supernatural powers are an everyday part of life? How do Annie and Lewis learn Drew’s name? And they seem to jump to the conclusion that a certain person is the mastermind behind what is happening. Just because they pick up a random file which names this person, they assume he’s the leader? Why would Annie’s murmurs be affected by her not being able to see and how would someone know they would be if she doesn’t? We are to believe that Lewis loves Clare, but he seems to almost forget about her during much of the investigation even when she should be a constant worry?
I’m surely an outlier here. I’ve read only rave reviews of this book. As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m not a lover of books with strong gothic, horror or supernatural elements. Those who like those genres will find a lot to enjoy: witchcraft, animal possession, lost and secret family, eerie and dark settings, threats against vulnerable characters, overtones of the occult, etc. It is to those readers that I will recommend this book.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) or substack (https://doreenyakabuski.substack.com/) for over 1,200 of my book reviews.
November 6, 2025
A stunning addition to what is already proving to be a remarkable series. As a reader I sit back and ponder over what I have just read, but in a good way, as it manages to be so many different things at the same time. Truly incredible. It manages to meld historical fiction, a modern crime mystery, the supernatural, the primeval into a cogent and captivating plot, with a sprinkling of the occult for garnish. It’s sad, thrilling, wonderfully entertaining but also is profound about humanity and the human condition.
Annie has the ‘gift’ which is really a curse; voices in her head and premonitions of people who are soon going to die when she looks at their faces. In this instalment her old foe, Sylvia Lowry-Law the dangerous woman now locked up in a mental institution who tried to raise Baobhan Sith by sacrificing Annie (in The Torments) is asking a favour. The task seems simple to find her long lost son. If Annie can do this Sylvia will give her the secret to lifting the curse over her. Wanting a normal life how can she not agree; but Sylvia is a wily woman, one capable of formulating and executing more than one plan at a time. She also has powerful connections. This proves to be a journey that puts Annie, Lewis and his girlfriend Clare into more danger and reveal secrets they could never imagine.
The series has identity at its core. Not the vacuous ‘finding my true self’ of the Instagram age, but that of the very elements from the past that have come together through successive generations to create you as an individual. Most of us learn of the past from our parents, but that is limited to what they know and want to tell their offspring. Annie and twin Lewis were adopted by a loving family, so they began the journey knowing almost nothing and their journey of discovery is a backbone to the series. Each story stripping more layers away, but rather than getting straightforward it is becoming more complex and compelling.
Twins Annie and Lewis are a great combination, each propelling the other forwards but also seeking solitude and a sense of sanctuary from the past begat to them. This time we add another unusual pairing with equally diverse upbringings and history, who bring links and echoes of the past. The personal pain and suffering of the characters are bound to illicit empathy from readers.
The title and the cover design are clearly intended to bring to the readers mind the wolf, so expect some Canis Lupus imagery throughout, but there is much more as there are flashbacks to 1707 and a boy who befriends a wolf cub. As they grow, they form a connection on a spiritual level, almost like how twins can sense each other. This is no cheesy werewolf story though, more a statement of how man has become more modern and civilised we have broken our connections to the land, its plants and animals.
For such a twisty story I found it a brisk read, which I think is down to the characters being so engaging. Even the least sentimental reader wants to follow Annie in her search for a cure to the voices in her head. Annie and Lewis are up against powerful and seriously violent foes, so there is plenty of danger which builds up to a confrontation at its finale which the reader knows is coming and will come to relish. There is no repeat of the Baobhan Sith or devil incantations, but a standoff of power, which could have come from a 1930s occult potboiler but just seems a perfect conclusion. It's great to finish a book and think that couldn’t be done better.
Annie has the ‘gift’ which is really a curse; voices in her head and premonitions of people who are soon going to die when she looks at their faces. In this instalment her old foe, Sylvia Lowry-Law the dangerous woman now locked up in a mental institution who tried to raise Baobhan Sith by sacrificing Annie (in The Torments) is asking a favour. The task seems simple to find her long lost son. If Annie can do this Sylvia will give her the secret to lifting the curse over her. Wanting a normal life how can she not agree; but Sylvia is a wily woman, one capable of formulating and executing more than one plan at a time. She also has powerful connections. This proves to be a journey that puts Annie, Lewis and his girlfriend Clare into more danger and reveal secrets they could never imagine.
The series has identity at its core. Not the vacuous ‘finding my true self’ of the Instagram age, but that of the very elements from the past that have come together through successive generations to create you as an individual. Most of us learn of the past from our parents, but that is limited to what they know and want to tell their offspring. Annie and twin Lewis were adopted by a loving family, so they began the journey knowing almost nothing and their journey of discovery is a backbone to the series. Each story stripping more layers away, but rather than getting straightforward it is becoming more complex and compelling.
Twins Annie and Lewis are a great combination, each propelling the other forwards but also seeking solitude and a sense of sanctuary from the past begat to them. This time we add another unusual pairing with equally diverse upbringings and history, who bring links and echoes of the past. The personal pain and suffering of the characters are bound to illicit empathy from readers.
The title and the cover design are clearly intended to bring to the readers mind the wolf, so expect some Canis Lupus imagery throughout, but there is much more as there are flashbacks to 1707 and a boy who befriends a wolf cub. As they grow, they form a connection on a spiritual level, almost like how twins can sense each other. This is no cheesy werewolf story though, more a statement of how man has become more modern and civilised we have broken our connections to the land, its plants and animals.
For such a twisty story I found it a brisk read, which I think is down to the characters being so engaging. Even the least sentimental reader wants to follow Annie in her search for a cure to the voices in her head. Annie and Lewis are up against powerful and seriously violent foes, so there is plenty of danger which builds up to a confrontation at its finale which the reader knows is coming and will come to relish. There is no repeat of the Baobhan Sith or devil incantations, but a standoff of power, which could have come from a 1930s occult potboiler but just seems a perfect conclusion. It's great to finish a book and think that couldn’t be done better.
September 11, 2025
I have read and loved both books in the Annie Jackson series, but the third, The Howling, is the darkest and most chilling yet.
I found myself completely pulled into Annie Jackson’s haunted world. Living alone by the loch, she’s cut off from everything—but when an old adversary, now institutionalised, begs for help locating the son Annie gave up at seventeen, her carefully constructed solitude cracks open. Working with her steadfast brother, Lewis, their chemistry is what grounds the emotion. Lewis, steady and reliable, balances Annie’s haunted intensity as they dig deep into the past.
The timelines are deftly woven. The investigation has a taut urgency, while the historical interludes echo centuries-old folklore where “two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf. One is burned at the stake. Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.” These fragments of the past don’t just embellish the story—they reverberate through Annie’s own plight, reminding us how easily society can demonise the ‘other’.
Set against this backdrop are Sylvia Lowry-Law and Matthew Pierce, formidable enemies who typify that hypocritical attitude. Sylvia, with her wealth and power now brought low, is chilling because of her ability to manipulate—she hides her ruthless self-interest under a veneer of vulnerability. Pierce, on the other hand, poses an imminent threat. He is manipulative, driven by a desire for power and willing to sacrifice others to maintain control. These two adversaries depict the type of monsters who exploit others to advance their own status. A supernatural curse may haunt Annie, but it is Sylvia and Pierce’s human malice that fuels the majority of the book’s dread. They act as reminders that while the past may contain echoes of the supernatural, the present poses a very modern threat.
The pacing is tight and controlled. Malone takes his time, allowing the tension to build, as he alternates between Annie and Lewis’s perilous investigation, the danger to Lewis, Annie, and Lewis’s fiancée, Clare, and the shadowy presence of their enemies. Malone takes his time, allowing the tension to build as he alternates between the perilous investigation that Annie and Lewis are conducting, the threat to Annie, Lewis, and Lewis’s fiancée, Clare, and the enigmatic presence of their adversaries. The stakes are raised with each discovery, not just for Annie’s need to break free from her curse but also for the very real risk of upsetting rich and powerful people who will do whatever it takes to keep their secrets safe.
Malone writes with a strong sense of place, a rooted mood, and darkly poetic prose. His poetry infuses the book with phrases that evoke the lochside’s ageless beauty as well as a lurking, threatening danger. The tone is elevated by this approach, which highlights themes of deceit, treachery, and misdirected power. By the final chapters, the collision of Annie’s curse, the missing boy, and the ruthless machinations of Sylvia and Pierce delivers a climax that is both emotionally satisfying and genuinely chilling.
Verdict: The Howling is more than a supernatural thriller; it’s a gothic mystery with teeth, where the villains are as frightening in their cold ambition as any curse. Annie and Lewis may be its beating heart, but Sylvia and Pierce are the shadows that make that heart race.
I found myself completely pulled into Annie Jackson’s haunted world. Living alone by the loch, she’s cut off from everything—but when an old adversary, now institutionalised, begs for help locating the son Annie gave up at seventeen, her carefully constructed solitude cracks open. Working with her steadfast brother, Lewis, their chemistry is what grounds the emotion. Lewis, steady and reliable, balances Annie’s haunted intensity as they dig deep into the past.
The timelines are deftly woven. The investigation has a taut urgency, while the historical interludes echo centuries-old folklore where “two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf. One is burned at the stake. Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.” These fragments of the past don’t just embellish the story—they reverberate through Annie’s own plight, reminding us how easily society can demonise the ‘other’.
Set against this backdrop are Sylvia Lowry-Law and Matthew Pierce, formidable enemies who typify that hypocritical attitude. Sylvia, with her wealth and power now brought low, is chilling because of her ability to manipulate—she hides her ruthless self-interest under a veneer of vulnerability. Pierce, on the other hand, poses an imminent threat. He is manipulative, driven by a desire for power and willing to sacrifice others to maintain control. These two adversaries depict the type of monsters who exploit others to advance their own status. A supernatural curse may haunt Annie, but it is Sylvia and Pierce’s human malice that fuels the majority of the book’s dread. They act as reminders that while the past may contain echoes of the supernatural, the present poses a very modern threat.
The pacing is tight and controlled. Malone takes his time, allowing the tension to build, as he alternates between Annie and Lewis’s perilous investigation, the danger to Lewis, Annie, and Lewis’s fiancée, Clare, and the shadowy presence of their enemies. Malone takes his time, allowing the tension to build as he alternates between the perilous investigation that Annie and Lewis are conducting, the threat to Annie, Lewis, and Lewis’s fiancée, Clare, and the enigmatic presence of their adversaries. The stakes are raised with each discovery, not just for Annie’s need to break free from her curse but also for the very real risk of upsetting rich and powerful people who will do whatever it takes to keep their secrets safe.
Malone writes with a strong sense of place, a rooted mood, and darkly poetic prose. His poetry infuses the book with phrases that evoke the lochside’s ageless beauty as well as a lurking, threatening danger. The tone is elevated by this approach, which highlights themes of deceit, treachery, and misdirected power. By the final chapters, the collision of Annie’s curse, the missing boy, and the ruthless machinations of Sylvia and Pierce delivers a climax that is both emotionally satisfying and genuinely chilling.
Verdict: The Howling is more than a supernatural thriller; it’s a gothic mystery with teeth, where the villains are as frightening in their cold ambition as any curse. Annie and Lewis may be its beating heart, but Sylvia and Pierce are the shadows that make that heart race.
December 27, 2025
As Autumn heralds the start of the spooky season, it's the perfect time to settle down with another supernatural thriller from Michael J. Malone. The Howling is the third book in his Annie Jackson Mysteries series and this darkly immersive gothic tale is his best to date. I would recommend reading The Murmurs and The Torments if possible because this story is best enjoyed in its entirety but readers starting here are still guaranteed a compelling treat.
As always with this series, the riveting present day storyline is enriched further by chapters set in the past; following the Scottish Parliament's Witchcraft Act, fear and superstition caused neighbours to turn on one another and innocents, including children were mercilessly put to death. There are also chapters which explore more recent historical failings too, and Drew's story is an all-too familiar tale of institutional neglect and ignorance. These two subplots are seamlessly intertwined with the main storyline as Annie and her twin brother, Lewis are drawn into a perilous investigation on behalf of the woman who once tried to kill her.
Annie has returned to her peaceful solitude in the cottage where her murmurs – malevolent voices which signal the grisly predictions of an imminent death – are quietened. She agrees to leave her home, however, following a visit from Lewis and his girlfriend, Clare who bring good news and an audacious request from Sylvia Lowry-Law, who is now locked up in a high-security hospital. Annie meets with her old enemy and reluctantly consents to help her but although Sylvia appears more frail and vulnerable, she remains a wily manipulator. Annie and Lewis are soon thrust into danger as those who come too close to exposing the dark secrets of a powerful, shady cabal meet a sudden end. Michael J. Malone conveys a deeply unsettling sense of threat throughout The Howling but at some points the narrative becomes almost unbearably tense.
The chapters which follow Andra and Drew are infused with ancient myths and lore and give the book its title, but while the supernatural elements here are intriguing, The Howling is also a fascinating, sombre examination into how those who are different have been historically treated by society. Michael J. Malone also reminds us that the worst monsters are more likely to be found in positions of influence and power, than in the tormented behaviour of terror-stricken children.
As events reach their dramatic conclusion in nerve-shreddingly climactic scenes, the bloody denouement makes for breathlessly compulsive reading. With tempting mentions that there may be some way for Annie's terrible curse to finally be lifted, it looks as though Michael J. Malone has further stories up his sleeve. This richly imaginative novel marries a suspenseful, atmospheric plot with empathetic, vibrant characterisation and the beautifully lyrical writing which is such a hallmark of this brilliant author. I loved it and cannot recommend it highly enough.
As always with this series, the riveting present day storyline is enriched further by chapters set in the past; following the Scottish Parliament's Witchcraft Act, fear and superstition caused neighbours to turn on one another and innocents, including children were mercilessly put to death. There are also chapters which explore more recent historical failings too, and Drew's story is an all-too familiar tale of institutional neglect and ignorance. These two subplots are seamlessly intertwined with the main storyline as Annie and her twin brother, Lewis are drawn into a perilous investigation on behalf of the woman who once tried to kill her.
Annie has returned to her peaceful solitude in the cottage where her murmurs – malevolent voices which signal the grisly predictions of an imminent death – are quietened. She agrees to leave her home, however, following a visit from Lewis and his girlfriend, Clare who bring good news and an audacious request from Sylvia Lowry-Law, who is now locked up in a high-security hospital. Annie meets with her old enemy and reluctantly consents to help her but although Sylvia appears more frail and vulnerable, she remains a wily manipulator. Annie and Lewis are soon thrust into danger as those who come too close to exposing the dark secrets of a powerful, shady cabal meet a sudden end. Michael J. Malone conveys a deeply unsettling sense of threat throughout The Howling but at some points the narrative becomes almost unbearably tense.
The chapters which follow Andra and Drew are infused with ancient myths and lore and give the book its title, but while the supernatural elements here are intriguing, The Howling is also a fascinating, sombre examination into how those who are different have been historically treated by society. Michael J. Malone also reminds us that the worst monsters are more likely to be found in positions of influence and power, than in the tormented behaviour of terror-stricken children.
As events reach their dramatic conclusion in nerve-shreddingly climactic scenes, the bloody denouement makes for breathlessly compulsive reading. With tempting mentions that there may be some way for Annie's terrible curse to finally be lifted, it looks as though Michael J. Malone has further stories up his sleeve. This richly imaginative novel marries a suspenseful, atmospheric plot with empathetic, vibrant characterisation and the beautifully lyrical writing which is such a hallmark of this brilliant author. I loved it and cannot recommend it highly enough.
September 19, 2025
After yet another brush with death, Annie is back living alone in her remote cottage on the shores of the loch, but her peaceful seclusion does not last for long. Her twin brother Luke arrives with mixed news - he is overjoyed to tell Annie that his partner is expecting a child, however, this is tinged with an unwelcome request from Sylvia Lowry-Low, the distant cousin who is now locked up in secure hospital.
Reluctantly, Annie must leave her haven and risk experiencing the overwhelming visions of death that plague her once more. She finds herself back in the presence of Sylvia, the woman who tried to sacrifice her to raise a demon, listening to her nemesis beg for help. Sylvia tells Annie about the son who was taken from her at seventeen, and who she has not seen since. She believes he may hold the key to banishing the curse that affects both sides of their family, ensuring Luke's child will not suffer the same fate.
Annie and Luke embark on a new investigation that takes them back into Scotland's past to the time of witches and wolves. Their discoveries threaten to bring down the rich and powerful people behind The Order - people who will stop at nothing to prevent their secrets from getting out.
Annie Jackson is back in a third adventure that beautifully brings together the threads of books one (The Murmers) and two (The Torments), which you should read before you embark on this cracking novel.
With her twin Luke once again by Annie's side, Malone spins a story that revisits their family history from the 18th century, when jealousy between sisters resulted in the curse that rebounded to afflict females on both sides of the bloodline. Injecting new detail about the rivalry that led to tragic ends, Malone tells of the boy Andra McClean, who bonded with a wolf before he was burned at the stake with his mother and sister, and whose legacy lingers on into the present in new character Drew. Dovetailing into this storyline, Malone also brings back evil Sylvia Lowry-Low whose supernatural ambitions almost brought about the end of Annie and Luke, with more detail about her sinister past with The Order.
With intricate choreography, Malone's literary dance moves back and forth in time, and between the narratives of a number of characters, to create an unsettling performance steeped in mystery, folklore, family ties, and the manipulation of others. Supernatural whispers that ripple through time mix nicely with the grit of a modern day thriller steeped in power hungry greed and depravity, and there is plenty of edge-of-your-seat action Malone-style to keep the tension stakes high.
If well-woven contemporary gothic thrillers, with a touch of cinematic Hammer House of Horror, are your bag then this series needs to be at the top of your reading pile. Perfect for spooky season!
Reluctantly, Annie must leave her haven and risk experiencing the overwhelming visions of death that plague her once more. She finds herself back in the presence of Sylvia, the woman who tried to sacrifice her to raise a demon, listening to her nemesis beg for help. Sylvia tells Annie about the son who was taken from her at seventeen, and who she has not seen since. She believes he may hold the key to banishing the curse that affects both sides of their family, ensuring Luke's child will not suffer the same fate.
Annie and Luke embark on a new investigation that takes them back into Scotland's past to the time of witches and wolves. Their discoveries threaten to bring down the rich and powerful people behind The Order - people who will stop at nothing to prevent their secrets from getting out.
Annie Jackson is back in a third adventure that beautifully brings together the threads of books one (The Murmers) and two (The Torments), which you should read before you embark on this cracking novel.
With her twin Luke once again by Annie's side, Malone spins a story that revisits their family history from the 18th century, when jealousy between sisters resulted in the curse that rebounded to afflict females on both sides of the bloodline. Injecting new detail about the rivalry that led to tragic ends, Malone tells of the boy Andra McClean, who bonded with a wolf before he was burned at the stake with his mother and sister, and whose legacy lingers on into the present in new character Drew. Dovetailing into this storyline, Malone also brings back evil Sylvia Lowry-Low whose supernatural ambitions almost brought about the end of Annie and Luke, with more detail about her sinister past with The Order.
With intricate choreography, Malone's literary dance moves back and forth in time, and between the narratives of a number of characters, to create an unsettling performance steeped in mystery, folklore, family ties, and the manipulation of others. Supernatural whispers that ripple through time mix nicely with the grit of a modern day thriller steeped in power hungry greed and depravity, and there is plenty of edge-of-your-seat action Malone-style to keep the tension stakes high.
If well-woven contemporary gothic thrillers, with a touch of cinematic Hammer House of Horror, are your bag then this series needs to be at the top of your reading pile. Perfect for spooky season!
October 1, 2025
Michael J. Malone has knocked it out of the park yet again with this darkly atmospheric and nerve-shredding thriller where ghosts of the past echo in the present and dark secrets threaten to destroy some of the country’s most powerful men. Two men separated by centuries dream of being a wolf. One of them is burned at the stake. Whilst the other is locked in a psychiatric hospital. And Annie Jackson is about to find out why as she searches for the son of her enemy in this gripping gothic mystery.
The Annie Jackson Mysteries have quickly become one of the highlights of my reading year. I know as the leaves start to turn and the cardigans get chunkier that I will be reading a chilling and sinister story that will have me on the edge of my seat. The Howling lives up to that reputation and Malone has delivered another first-rate thriller. Told by multiple narrators in multiple timelines, the story transports us between 1709, 1979 and 2024, bringing both past and present to life in vivid detail. It’s a complex, intricate and urgent mystery, full of curses, sinister suspense and whispers of the paranormal that is woven into every facet of the story and we get a real sense of the loneliness, isolation, fear and torment that those affected by them endure. As always, Malone’s storytelling is outstanding, while a strong sense of place draws you in as he expertly intertwines the multiple timelines, dropping clues like breadcrumbs throughout the narrative for us to follow. I had some predictions but my jaw dropped when the truth was finally revealed.
One of my favourite things about a series is revisiting characters I love, and Annie and Lewis are two of my favourite, and probably most original, protagonists. I love their strong bond and the way they work together to solve the crimes. They are strong, memorable and richly drawn, as are all of the characters in this book. It is easy to like and root for them while Malone also delivers villains, like the chilling Sylvia, who will make your skin crawl.
So, if you’re looking for an unsettling, heart-stopping and immersive mystery this spooky season, pick up this book. It could be read as a standalone, however I highly recommend reading the others in the series as not only is what happens woven into this story, but they are magnificent reads.
The Annie Jackson Mysteries have quickly become one of the highlights of my reading year. I know as the leaves start to turn and the cardigans get chunkier that I will be reading a chilling and sinister story that will have me on the edge of my seat. The Howling lives up to that reputation and Malone has delivered another first-rate thriller. Told by multiple narrators in multiple timelines, the story transports us between 1709, 1979 and 2024, bringing both past and present to life in vivid detail. It’s a complex, intricate and urgent mystery, full of curses, sinister suspense and whispers of the paranormal that is woven into every facet of the story and we get a real sense of the loneliness, isolation, fear and torment that those affected by them endure. As always, Malone’s storytelling is outstanding, while a strong sense of place draws you in as he expertly intertwines the multiple timelines, dropping clues like breadcrumbs throughout the narrative for us to follow. I had some predictions but my jaw dropped when the truth was finally revealed.
One of my favourite things about a series is revisiting characters I love, and Annie and Lewis are two of my favourite, and probably most original, protagonists. I love their strong bond and the way they work together to solve the crimes. They are strong, memorable and richly drawn, as are all of the characters in this book. It is easy to like and root for them while Malone also delivers villains, like the chilling Sylvia, who will make your skin crawl.
So, if you’re looking for an unsettling, heart-stopping and immersive mystery this spooky season, pick up this book. It could be read as a standalone, however I highly recommend reading the others in the series as not only is what happens woven into this story, but they are magnificent reads.
September 16, 2025
I am a huge fan of Michael J Malone, I have now read ten of his novels and never tire of his incredible, immersive writing. I read and reviewed the first two Annie Jackson novels on my blog.
Sometimes a book comes along that lures you in with mood. The Howling is one of those books: it begins in whisper, then the dread creeps up, and before you realise you’re leaning forward, heart in throat, turning pages in half-light.
From its opening, the author masterfully blends folklore with a modern, very human grief. Annie Jackson, our protagonist, is living in retreat by a loch, trying to escape her past — both the painful personal loss and the legacy of a curse she believes has shaped her life. Malone doesn’t rush into horror for horror’s sake: the mundane and the supernatural are interwoven so that one way of seeing the world (the “real”) shades into the uncanny and more peculiar.
The setting, as in all three of the books in this series, is beautifully evoked. There’s something in the loch, in the old buildings, in the whisper of old stones and old wrongs, that I found very compelling. The landscape itself feels like a character: cold, secretive, capable of holding generations of hurt. For readers who love a gothic edge, the way he situates this story in this rural space works really well.
Annie Jackson is complex and haunted; she is not always likeable, but she is always believable. Her guilt, grief, desire for redemption — these are tangible, and the author gives them weight. Lewis; her companion in much of the investigation, brings a contrast: he is less tortured, more hopeful in places, but burdened in his own way. Their relationship is not sugarcoated; there are frictions, misunderstandings, loyalties tested.
The Howling is a rich, atmospheric gothic-mystery. It creeps under your skin; it makes you question what is past and what is present, what is inherited and what is chosen. For those who enjoy supernatural thrillers that are more about dread, longing and moral danger than jump scares, this is an excellent addition.
Highly recommended by me.
Sometimes a book comes along that lures you in with mood. The Howling is one of those books: it begins in whisper, then the dread creeps up, and before you realise you’re leaning forward, heart in throat, turning pages in half-light.
From its opening, the author masterfully blends folklore with a modern, very human grief. Annie Jackson, our protagonist, is living in retreat by a loch, trying to escape her past — both the painful personal loss and the legacy of a curse she believes has shaped her life. Malone doesn’t rush into horror for horror’s sake: the mundane and the supernatural are interwoven so that one way of seeing the world (the “real”) shades into the uncanny and more peculiar.
The setting, as in all three of the books in this series, is beautifully evoked. There’s something in the loch, in the old buildings, in the whisper of old stones and old wrongs, that I found very compelling. The landscape itself feels like a character: cold, secretive, capable of holding generations of hurt. For readers who love a gothic edge, the way he situates this story in this rural space works really well.
Annie Jackson is complex and haunted; she is not always likeable, but she is always believable. Her guilt, grief, desire for redemption — these are tangible, and the author gives them weight. Lewis; her companion in much of the investigation, brings a contrast: he is less tortured, more hopeful in places, but burdened in his own way. Their relationship is not sugarcoated; there are frictions, misunderstandings, loyalties tested.
The Howling is a rich, atmospheric gothic-mystery. It creeps under your skin; it makes you question what is past and what is present, what is inherited and what is chosen. For those who enjoy supernatural thrillers that are more about dread, longing and moral danger than jump scares, this is an excellent addition.
Highly recommended by me.
September 21, 2025
The Howling is another utterly gripping supernatural thriller by Michael J Malone, which once again takes us into Annie Jackson’s perilous world. Annie has been through a lot over the course of these three books, and it does feel as though she has just come to accept that this is her life and there’s nothing she can do to change it. Now she has been given the option to end her family’s curse once and for all. To do so, she and her brother, Lewis, whose wife is now expecting a baby, much to Annie’s horror, must make a deal with the very woman, Sylvia, who tried to kill Annie in the previous book. They must find her son, who was taken from Sylvia at the age of seventeen, who may hold the key to ending the curse once and for all.
It is clear to see how difficult it would be for Annie to resist the temptation to end the curse she has come to understand and accept, even if it means working with an old enemy. I did wonder how Annie would grapple with this decision, and I could feel the tension on the page, especially when Annie was speaking to this woman, who is now in a psychiatric hospital. Living with this curse means forever removing herself from society. It also means that she will never have children, as she is desperate for the curse not to continue.
But Michael J Malone also takes us back in time to Scotland in the 1700s, which takes us deep into Scottish history and folklore, which I absolutely loved and found really chilling. The supernatural has always fascinated me, which is what makes Michael J Malone’s books such a hit for me. His sense of place, as well, particularly with the old, creepy buildings, really pulled me into the story, making me feel rooted in the characters’ lives at that specific moment.
The Howling is another brilliant book in this series that kept me hooked right the way through. This has been a fantastic series, and I hope that we might yet get another book about Annie Jackson in the near future. I loved it.
It is clear to see how difficult it would be for Annie to resist the temptation to end the curse she has come to understand and accept, even if it means working with an old enemy. I did wonder how Annie would grapple with this decision, and I could feel the tension on the page, especially when Annie was speaking to this woman, who is now in a psychiatric hospital. Living with this curse means forever removing herself from society. It also means that she will never have children, as she is desperate for the curse not to continue.
But Michael J Malone also takes us back in time to Scotland in the 1700s, which takes us deep into Scottish history and folklore, which I absolutely loved and found really chilling. The supernatural has always fascinated me, which is what makes Michael J Malone’s books such a hit for me. His sense of place, as well, particularly with the old, creepy buildings, really pulled me into the story, making me feel rooted in the characters’ lives at that specific moment.
The Howling is another brilliant book in this series that kept me hooked right the way through. This has been a fantastic series, and I hope that we might yet get another book about Annie Jackson in the near future. I loved it.
October 4, 2025
This is the third in the Annie Jackson series and my goodness it delivers as strongly as the rest. I have loved every book written by Michael Malone and his talent for writing crime and gothic are immense. If you haven’t read any others in the series you can read it as a standalone, but these are so good, so why not start from the beginning?
I love how he always shows the dark and light of the characters he creates. There’s never just a dark character that seems to be that way without reason, or is just a classic villain. He also shows the shades that we all have superbly and even more so in this gothic, slightly supernatural series and one or two of his earlier novels. House of Spines comes to mind.
His particular talent for showing how much the past can be repeated if it’s not resolved, is a theme in this series that I very much enjoyed. Also his writing about twins and ensuring that the characters are seen as different people and not two halves of a whole is very interesting. There are multiple timelines showing the links between past and present but they strengthen the story and all the reasons for what is going on in present day. Myth, witchcraft and folklore are wound seamlessly to the point where the reader could easily be convinced that this was a true story.
If you haven’t read any of Michael’s previous books there are plenty to choose from and I’d highly recommend them all. This is a fantastic, fascinating series that once you start reading you cannot put down. Do read them they are books to learn from about people, reasoning and love, while losing yourself at the same time. I can’t wait to read more from this amazing author.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
I love how he always shows the dark and light of the characters he creates. There’s never just a dark character that seems to be that way without reason, or is just a classic villain. He also shows the shades that we all have superbly and even more so in this gothic, slightly supernatural series and one or two of his earlier novels. House of Spines comes to mind.
His particular talent for showing how much the past can be repeated if it’s not resolved, is a theme in this series that I very much enjoyed. Also his writing about twins and ensuring that the characters are seen as different people and not two halves of a whole is very interesting. There are multiple timelines showing the links between past and present but they strengthen the story and all the reasons for what is going on in present day. Myth, witchcraft and folklore are wound seamlessly to the point where the reader could easily be convinced that this was a true story.
If you haven’t read any of Michael’s previous books there are plenty to choose from and I’d highly recommend them all. This is a fantastic, fascinating series that once you start reading you cannot put down. Do read them they are books to learn from about people, reasoning and love, while losing yourself at the same time. I can’t wait to read more from this amazing author.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
September 11, 2025
Oh my word. The Howling, the third book in the Annie Jackson series, might just be my favourite yet. I think by now we are used to Annie's particular 'talents', but it seems that she isn't the only one with an ability they cannot make sense of. Offered an opportunity to end the curse that blights her life once and for all, Annie, and her brother Lewis, make a pact with the Devil. Or as near as Scotland's Psychiatric prison system can claim to hold as a client anyway. Annie is asked to seek out the fate of a boy, more likely now a man, who has been missing for years and whose existence may be the key to ending everything. Given an opportunity like that, to be able to live a normal life, how could Annie resist?
Thankfully for us readers, she doesn't. For one thing, it would be a very short book and, more importantly we wouldn't be treated to all the mysticism and mythology that is steeped in every page of this wonderfully gothic mystery that has once again come forth from the keyboard of the maestro Michael J. Malone. He has enriched Annie's world with such contrast, both light and dark, infused the narrative with moments of happiness as well as scenes which just keep you one edge, and it all adds up to a story that had me completely hooked from start to finish. We have a mixture of characters too, from those who will be all to familiar, particularly if you read the preceding book, which I recommend you do as an absolute minimum before beginning this one, as well as some new, rather deadly folk, who are guaranteed to get your dander up on more than the odd occasion.
And, as a treat to those of us who already know some of Annie's history, of the twisted and tragic family tree that has lead to her current condition, there are some more, unexpected and startling revelations, ones that hold the key to the past and, by extension to the future. This elevates the series beyond the story of a woman who has frightening premonitions, beyond simple claims of witchcraft that are already so deeply embedded in Scottish history, and examines a far richer and broader spectrum of folklore and legend which I absolutely loved. I don't want to say too much about that part of the story, but within in it lies the reason behind the book's title and a kind of spirituality that transcends your run of the mill mystery and feeds right into my sweet spot when it comes to this kind of story.
Michael J. Malone's writing is, as always, superb. The natural way in which he commands the dialogue between his characters, even when what they are discussing is beyond the everyday, and how he captures each of their emotions and makes me, as a reader, fearful for their fates as much as they are of their own, is spot on as always. The pacing of the book is perfect, the tension peaking at just the right moments, the threat ever present and used sparingly but effectively to lead the characters on towards what is an unexpected and perilous final showdown. And, dare I wish it, from those final pages, from the way in which the story reaches a conclusion and yet also leaves much still to be resolved, that we may well be getting another book or two? I'm certain that Annie's story is not over, that she has not yet achieved her own version of a happily ever after. There is so much scope within this series, with the exploration of Annie's curse, that there just has to be more to come.
I haven't even begun to do this book justice, but I really want to avoid spoilers. If you love a story steeped in legend and lore, where tension keeps a steady beat within the narrative and threat, both overt and implied, keeps both the characters on their toes and us readers on the edge of the seat; where mysticism and gothic styling meets beautiful writing and perfect pace and setting, then get your hands on this series. I honestly recommend starting at the beginning as you will understand Annie's history so much more, much of which is hinted at in this book. If you have read the first two books and are coming at this one, to both show my age and quote Duran Duran, hungry like the wolf, then you are in for such a treat. I loved it. Absolutely recommended
Thankfully for us readers, she doesn't. For one thing, it would be a very short book and, more importantly we wouldn't be treated to all the mysticism and mythology that is steeped in every page of this wonderfully gothic mystery that has once again come forth from the keyboard of the maestro Michael J. Malone. He has enriched Annie's world with such contrast, both light and dark, infused the narrative with moments of happiness as well as scenes which just keep you one edge, and it all adds up to a story that had me completely hooked from start to finish. We have a mixture of characters too, from those who will be all to familiar, particularly if you read the preceding book, which I recommend you do as an absolute minimum before beginning this one, as well as some new, rather deadly folk, who are guaranteed to get your dander up on more than the odd occasion.
And, as a treat to those of us who already know some of Annie's history, of the twisted and tragic family tree that has lead to her current condition, there are some more, unexpected and startling revelations, ones that hold the key to the past and, by extension to the future. This elevates the series beyond the story of a woman who has frightening premonitions, beyond simple claims of witchcraft that are already so deeply embedded in Scottish history, and examines a far richer and broader spectrum of folklore and legend which I absolutely loved. I don't want to say too much about that part of the story, but within in it lies the reason behind the book's title and a kind of spirituality that transcends your run of the mill mystery and feeds right into my sweet spot when it comes to this kind of story.
Michael J. Malone's writing is, as always, superb. The natural way in which he commands the dialogue between his characters, even when what they are discussing is beyond the everyday, and how he captures each of their emotions and makes me, as a reader, fearful for their fates as much as they are of their own, is spot on as always. The pacing of the book is perfect, the tension peaking at just the right moments, the threat ever present and used sparingly but effectively to lead the characters on towards what is an unexpected and perilous final showdown. And, dare I wish it, from those final pages, from the way in which the story reaches a conclusion and yet also leaves much still to be resolved, that we may well be getting another book or two? I'm certain that Annie's story is not over, that she has not yet achieved her own version of a happily ever after. There is so much scope within this series, with the exploration of Annie's curse, that there just has to be more to come.
I haven't even begun to do this book justice, but I really want to avoid spoilers. If you love a story steeped in legend and lore, where tension keeps a steady beat within the narrative and threat, both overt and implied, keeps both the characters on their toes and us readers on the edge of the seat; where mysticism and gothic styling meets beautiful writing and perfect pace and setting, then get your hands on this series. I honestly recommend starting at the beginning as you will understand Annie's history so much more, much of which is hinted at in this book. If you have read the first two books and are coming at this one, to both show my age and quote Duran Duran, hungry like the wolf, then you are in for such a treat. I loved it. Absolutely recommended
September 23, 2025
In the first book in the Annie Jackson series, we had flashbacks to the time when witches were strangled and their bodies thrown on a blazing pyre. In Book Three, The Howling, it’s about wolves.
Jean and Mary are sisters who have fallen out. One lives in a great hall, while the other lives in a hovel with her son Andra and two daughters. It’s the year 1707 and Andra saves a wolf cub, which he calls Laddie. He is the last wolf left in Scotland, as all the others have been killed. As Andra and Laddie become close, their souls begin to merge as one. Andra knows that if the wolf takes over he will be lost forever. Hundreds of years later, Drew has flashbacks to Andra’s life and his relationship with Laddie.
So how does this relate to Annie and Lewis? Sylvia Lowry-Law, who we met in the last book, tried to kill Annie as part of a ritual to raise a demon. Naturally it failed, Annie was rescued, and Sylvia ended up in a secure psychiatric hospital. But now Sylvia wants Annie to find her son, who was taken from her when she was seventeen.
Bernard Peters works for his grandfather, also called Bernard Peters. When ‘gramps’ is on his deathbed, he makes a dying confession, telling the younger Bernard that his life was not what he thought and there are secrets that people will kill for to prevent them getting out. And so the two searches and the seemingly unrelated characters begin to merge, like the wolves in the lives of Andra and Drew.
It’s a brilliantly written thriller, which combines fast paced chases, power hungry megalomaniacs, and a group known as The Order, with mysticism and superstition. The wolf scenes are terrifying and each time we went back to Andra, I was almost too scared to turn the page because I knew the outcome, but not the journey.
It’s different from the other two books in the series, but just as good. I have a feeling there will be another book soon as too many questions were left unanswered. Bring it on I say!
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
Jean and Mary are sisters who have fallen out. One lives in a great hall, while the other lives in a hovel with her son Andra and two daughters. It’s the year 1707 and Andra saves a wolf cub, which he calls Laddie. He is the last wolf left in Scotland, as all the others have been killed. As Andra and Laddie become close, their souls begin to merge as one. Andra knows that if the wolf takes over he will be lost forever. Hundreds of years later, Drew has flashbacks to Andra’s life and his relationship with Laddie.
So how does this relate to Annie and Lewis? Sylvia Lowry-Law, who we met in the last book, tried to kill Annie as part of a ritual to raise a demon. Naturally it failed, Annie was rescued, and Sylvia ended up in a secure psychiatric hospital. But now Sylvia wants Annie to find her son, who was taken from her when she was seventeen.
Bernard Peters works for his grandfather, also called Bernard Peters. When ‘gramps’ is on his deathbed, he makes a dying confession, telling the younger Bernard that his life was not what he thought and there are secrets that people will kill for to prevent them getting out. And so the two searches and the seemingly unrelated characters begin to merge, like the wolves in the lives of Andra and Drew.
It’s a brilliantly written thriller, which combines fast paced chases, power hungry megalomaniacs, and a group known as The Order, with mysticism and superstition. The wolf scenes are terrifying and each time we went back to Andra, I was almost too scared to turn the page because I knew the outcome, but not the journey.
It’s different from the other two books in the series, but just as good. I have a feeling there will be another book soon as too many questions were left unanswered. Bring it on I say!
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
September 4, 2025
This is the third book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries. An old enemy of Annie’s has asked her to find her son in return for trying to cure her of her ‘gift’, the curse of being able to predict someone’s death. When Annie and her brother, Lewis, uncover a sinister secret involving a prominent business man, they find themselves in a cat and mouse race for survival.
I’ve read the first book in the series, The Murmurs, but not the second, The Torments. I think it may have been better to have read both previous books, but I did manage to get the gist of what had gone on in book two so it didn’t hinder my enjoyment. This is a quite a dark tale full of atmosphere and creepy goings on. It’s fast paced and takes the reader on very much of an adventure, very like being on a rollercoaster - I’d definitely have my eyes closed on this white knuckle ride! I was gripped from the beginning, keeping my attention throughout until the exciting ending. A wolfishly good read! Just keep those mobile phones and tablets switched off as you never know who might be looking for you! 👀
I’ve read the first book in the series, The Murmurs, but not the second, The Torments. I think it may have been better to have read both previous books, but I did manage to get the gist of what had gone on in book two so it didn’t hinder my enjoyment. This is a quite a dark tale full of atmosphere and creepy goings on. It’s fast paced and takes the reader on very much of an adventure, very like being on a rollercoaster - I’d definitely have my eyes closed on this white knuckle ride! I was gripped from the beginning, keeping my attention throughout until the exciting ending. A wolfishly good read! Just keep those mobile phones and tablets switched off as you never know who might be looking for you! 👀
August 24, 2025
Not sure how to categorise this one. It's a mix of thriller with the supernatural thrown in. It switches between characters and timelines too to give the family history of a cursed family.
Annie and Lewis are at the heart of things and their task puts them in danger. Their journey through uncovering evidence and seeking the truth means we learn more about them and their family history and why everything around them is so dangerous.
Annie's gift is interesting although I'm not sure I'd want it. She has already been at risk before so things are extra tense for her (understandably).
I quite liked this. There's a lot to pick up with quite a few characters to get to grips with. The link between them all over time makes this fascinating. I particularly liked the link to the wolf and how that passed through generations.
Annie and Lewis are at the heart of things and their task puts them in danger. Their journey through uncovering evidence and seeking the truth means we learn more about them and their family history and why everything around them is so dangerous.
Annie's gift is interesting although I'm not sure I'd want it. She has already been at risk before so things are extra tense for her (understandably).
I quite liked this. There's a lot to pick up with quite a few characters to get to grips with. The link between them all over time makes this fascinating. I particularly liked the link to the wolf and how that passed through generations.
September 15, 2025
I hadn’t read the first two books and started this without realising this was book 3, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this dark thrilling tale but there were parts where I thought I wish they’d gone Into more detail on …. But that all makes sense now and I will be going back to read the first 2 as I’m sure they will cover those bits in more detail.
I loved this book, the history, the folklore the different timelines and the whole dark mysterious feel of the book.
I’ve really got into gothic thrillers (I’m a thriller fan anyway) and this was an excellent read I could not put down. My love of all things wolfish drew me to this book and I’m so glad it did.
A must read for any gothic thrillers out there
Thank you @randomthingstours for having me on this tour
#TheHowling
#AnnieJacksonMysteries #Gothic
#Werewolves
#Scotland
#BlogTour
@malonemichaelj @orendabooks
I loved this book, the history, the folklore the different timelines and the whole dark mysterious feel of the book.
I’ve really got into gothic thrillers (I’m a thriller fan anyway) and this was an excellent read I could not put down. My love of all things wolfish drew me to this book and I’m so glad it did.
A must read for any gothic thrillers out there
Thank you @randomthingstours for having me on this tour
#TheHowling
#AnnieJacksonMysteries #Gothic
#Werewolves
#Scotland
#BlogTour
@malonemichaelj @orendabooks
September 23, 2025
The Howling is book three in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series, and for me, it's my favourite one out of the three.
Molone is just an absolute virtuoso in the art of twists and turns, and that expertise really does shine through in The Howling.
It's an expertly told paranormal thriller of the highest order packed with spine-chilling moments, dark legends and folklore, and a alhaunting, creepy storyline that's steeped in Scottish history.
It's skilfully paced and written in a sombre, flowing prose that's slick and wonderfully dark.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Molone is just an absolute virtuoso in the art of twists and turns, and that expertise really does shine through in The Howling.
It's an expertly told paranormal thriller of the highest order packed with spine-chilling moments, dark legends and folklore, and a alhaunting, creepy storyline that's steeped in Scottish history.
It's skilfully paced and written in a sombre, flowing prose that's slick and wonderfully dark.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
December 23, 2025
Rounded down from 3.5
This is the third book I’ve read in this series, so obviously I’ve been enjoying them. They are well written and pacey, really keep me hooked and turning those pages.
Like the previous book, it starts off well with interesting
characters investigating a missing person case. However, it again goes all global conspiracy/ Dennis Wheatley and loses me. But if that’s your thing, this would be an excellent choice
This is the third book I’ve read in this series, so obviously I’ve been enjoying them. They are well written and pacey, really keep me hooked and turning those pages.
Like the previous book, it starts off well with interesting
characters investigating a missing person case. However, it again goes all global conspiracy/ Dennis Wheatley and loses me. But if that’s your thing, this would be an excellent choice
September 20, 2025
A superb third book in the Annie Jackson series. It downright creepy, scary and terrifying but keeping you hooked to the very last page. I can't wait for the next one. Would highly recommend this series to anyone if you want something different.
October 2, 2025
The Howling is book three in the series that features Annie Jackson, her brother Lewis and the family curse that has had a massive impact on her life. You could read this as a standalone but I would strongly recommend reading this series in order.
Annie is continuing to live as a recluse, coping the best way she can. When her brother’s partner tells her that her former enemy wants to meet she is reluctant but agrees. But whilst this meeting has potential to give her answers it also brings danger to everyone she loves. And the people who are responsible for this are extremely powerful.
The reader also gets to know Drew. Like Annie, he is also cursed, and the impact of this is revealed through the tales of his whole life throughout the novel. These parts of the novel are disturbing because of the abuse he suffers as well as his reaction. I was desperate to see if life would improve for him. There are a few different narrators in the novel. Annie and Lewis I expected to be captivated by but the others had an equal impact. Three in particular, had more of an impact. Bernard Peters Jnr, Sylvia and Ewan. For differing reasons, but all significant.
There is less focus on Annie’s skill, instead this novel is about the impact caused by those who are in power. There are some dreadful people in this novel so were capable of anything. Mercifully, there were also the few who were willing to stand up to them despite the consequences.
I really hope that there is more to come in this series, it’s totally different to anything else I have read before.
Annie is continuing to live as a recluse, coping the best way she can. When her brother’s partner tells her that her former enemy wants to meet she is reluctant but agrees. But whilst this meeting has potential to give her answers it also brings danger to everyone she loves. And the people who are responsible for this are extremely powerful.
The reader also gets to know Drew. Like Annie, he is also cursed, and the impact of this is revealed through the tales of his whole life throughout the novel. These parts of the novel are disturbing because of the abuse he suffers as well as his reaction. I was desperate to see if life would improve for him. There are a few different narrators in the novel. Annie and Lewis I expected to be captivated by but the others had an equal impact. Three in particular, had more of an impact. Bernard Peters Jnr, Sylvia and Ewan. For differing reasons, but all significant.
There is less focus on Annie’s skill, instead this novel is about the impact caused by those who are in power. There are some dreadful people in this novel so were capable of anything. Mercifully, there were also the few who were willing to stand up to them despite the consequences.
I really hope that there is more to come in this series, it’s totally different to anything else I have read before.
September 13, 2025
The Howling is a strong continuation of the Annie Jackson series - dark, atmospheric and steeped in gothic mystery. Malone blends Scottish history, myth and family secrets into a tense, creepy story that kept me reading. The eerie atmosphere and gripping finale are done well and fans of the series will enjoy this instalment.
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