Wolf Point

by Lisa Howells

Situated in the fictional 'Wolf Point', an isolated town in Alaska, Terril Black, the only female police officer in the tiny local police force, is plunged into action when a local indigenous teenager goes missing whilst working the night shift at the local motel.

In the remote Alaskan town of Wolf Point - a melting-pot community built on the bones of a once-thriving whaling industry - police officer Terril Black is unexpectedly thrust into the position of sergeant under brutal circumstances. On her first night in charge, a teenage girl disappears from a desolate motel, plunging Terril into a desperate race against time and the elements.

With only a rookie flown in from Miami and the hostile fellow officer she's now in charge of by her side, Terril faces a town on the wary locals, distrust within her own department, and a vicious winter storm that cuts Wolf Point off from the outside world.

As a local strike fuels hostility, unsettling clues point Terril towards something sinister lurking within the town. As tensions rise and old secrets claw their way to the surface, can she bring the missing girl home before Wolf Point's dark history shatters the community forever?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Suspense

Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 1, 2026

About the author

Lisa has been a journalist in consumer media for over 20 years, working for a host of market-leading titles throughout her career. She currently works in true crime, and is committed to being an advocate in the field. As well as writing and editing for magazines, she works as a book reviewer, championing (particularly crime) fiction in all its forms.

She has a master’s degree in scriptwriting, and her debut novel, a female-centric crime thriller, is set in the brutal environs of Alaska.

Reviews

[Emilie Sommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best mystery debut I’ve read in ages! Outstanding.

[Rachel B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I really enjoyed this one! A very solid thriller debut set in Alaska. I enjoyed the setting and how the author developed the small town environment. I thought the characters were also great, especially our protagonist, and everyone was pretty well developed. There are basically two interconnected plot lines, and both resolve in a satisfactory manner.

My only real criticism is that the author does something I don’t love in a mystery/thriller book, which is ending every chapter on a “cliffhanger” that isn’t really a cliffhanger - or writing something like “Terrill couldn’t believe she didn’t see it sooner” without telling the reader what “it” is. I thought there was enough tension in the story that the author didn’t need to repeatedly do this.

Overall, I liked this and would definitely read the next book in this series.

[Heather Gothie]

Overall I liked this book, but there were a few things that took me out of the plot. I really enjoyed the atmosphere - cold, dark, winter time. This was one of the reason I chose to read the book - the setting. For some reason I really enjoy this environment. One thing that bugged the heck out of me was the main character's knee injury the ENTIRE book. It got annoying after awhile and didn't progress the story at all. The other thing was the lack luster relationship with Sam. I was just confused why the author even introduced this? She's married, but she starts a relationship with this person? It just didn't add up for me. Felt like it was just thrown in there for a "romantic vibe". Also, the story line started out good and interesting, but there was just too much going on. Drugs, prostitution, photos, tunnels, the Wolf, bear attacks - just pick a direction and go with it, it doesn't have to be this complicated. Some of the best books I've read are simple stories and decent plots. This just sort of felt all over the place for me. I'd give the author another try as I did like the writing!

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY COLD BLOODED MURDER!

I received this book free from the author through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Written by Lisa Howells in 2026, this is a current-period novel published by Grand Central Publishing of the Hachette Book Group in New York. The setting is a very small former whaling town in northern Alaska along the coast of the Bering Sea that is known as Wolf Point. Summer is almost at an end, and the “endless night” is about to begin. There is a small motel/hotel in the community known as The Comfort Inn. Typically, such small inns hire a single person to staff the front desk during the nighttime hours, and that person is often called a night auditor. As the story opens, it is nighttime and eighteen-year-old Angela Stone is the night auditor. She is on the telephone chatting with her best girlfriend, seventeen-year-old Casey Benson, daughter of the owner of the local canning factory. Angela hears a loud noise from behind the inn, and it scares her. A storm is brewing and the wind is blowing hard. Casey suggests that the sound might be the door to Carl, the hotel manager’s office blowing open and shut by the wind because he forgot to lock it when he left for the day. The next morning, Angela is nowhere to be found, and the police are called.

The Wolf Point police department is very small, consisting of three officers: a sergeant and two officers. Terril Black is one of the officers, and Eli Ash is the other. He has been with the department much longer than Terril, and there are hard feelings between the two. Terril is in the field with Sergeant Cormack Shephard, and he is being attacked by a large bear. Terril is able to shoot and kill the bear, but the sergeant has been quite severely injured. (As an aside, Terril is proud of the fact that she is carrying a single-shot shotgun and, after she shoots, she must eject the spent shell and insert a fresh one before she can shoot a second time. This is madness. No American police department would ever issue single-shot firearms to its officers.) Both of the officers wind up in the Hospital where they are visited by Captain Miller. When he learns that Sergeant Shephard will be laid up for a prolonged period, he makes a spot promotion of Terril to sergeant. Strangely, he does so by giving her a new badge, though (in America) it would normally be indicated by stripes on an officer’s sleeve, rather than a different badge. Terril is worried about the potential reaction of the other officer, one with much more seniority: Eli Ash.

Captain Millers tells her that he has arranged for another officer to join the force, and he is already on his way to Wolf Point as they speak. He arrives the next morning in a rental car from the nearest airport, and introduces himself as Damien Burns, from Miami, Florida. He is wearing a “colorful” shirt and is smoothly tanned. She tells him that he will need to acquire warmer clothing if wants to remain in Wolf Point. Lacking her own transportation, Terril instructs Burns to drive them to the station, and as they leave, she explains the very large and stable glacier (Wolf Glacier) that separates Wolf Point from the rest of Alaska. There is a long tunnel through the glacier, and traffic is controlled to be one-way only during the daytime. In the “endless night” of Winter, the tunnel is closed, effectively cutting off Wolf Point from the rest of civilization until Summer (and daylight) returns. Not sure how such a thing might really exist as many glaciers move during their lifetime.

On their way to the station, Burns almost hits a man standing in the road. He is Kellan Frost, and he is accompanied by his very large wolfdog, Tundra. His son, Haldan has been missing for a couple of months, and Kellan appears to be out looking for him. He reminds Terril that she had promised to find him, and had not, yet, done so. He has nothing more to say, and the two police officers proceed to the station. Before they can move on, Terril receives a radio call from the other officer, Eli Ash, instructing them to redirect to the Comfort Inn because Angela Stone has gone missing. When they arrive, a search party is organized to find where she might be.

The searchers find footprints and an article of Angela’s clothing, along with a small amount of blood. Soon, Damien falls through thin ice atop a raging stream, and Eli has to rescue him so he won’t drown. He is dragged from the stream, and is given a change of clothing by various members of the party. It is apparently about -30° F at the place where he fell in, yet they elect for him to try to change clothes at the scene, rather than to seek the dry warmth of the Comfort Inn in which to change clothes and boots. Eventually, the search party finds the wheel tracks of a large, four-wheel-drive vehicle leaving the area, and it appears that Angela might be in it. Because of the storm, the snow is coming down harder, so the search is now abandoned.




It is my understanding that a good book, whether of fiction of non-fiction, requires hours of diligent and meticulous research. Many of the authors that I have reviewed highly have reported that they spent a lot of time in libraries, ensuring that their material is realistic and accurate. Today, that time might be spent on the Internet, rather than at a library, but the principle is the same. Do your homework! This author obviously has talent, and could be an even better writer if she did a little more research. I found a few logical inconsistencies and many inaccuracies that bothered me.

Early on, we are led to believe that the only access in and out of Wolf Point is through the long narrow tunnel through the Wolf Glacier. But Wolf Point has a cannery, and it is operating, even though they have a labor dispute that has led the company to hire non-union “scabs” (my word, not the author’s) to work until the dispute is resolved. It’s quite obvious that the factory is not canning vegetables like peas, carrots, or corn, so they must be canning fish. That means that there is traffic to and from the cannery by fishing boats, and that, in turn, means that Wolf Point has a water access that could very well be used in emergencies, such as getting Mack to a hospital in a larger city than Wolf Point, such as Anchorage.

When the search for Angela Stone is initiated, the locals form a line search and set out through the woods. Damien shortly falls through the ice on a fast-flowing stream and must be rescued by Eli. Anybody who has spent time in climates where it gets cold enough to freeze the top of a swift-flowing stream knows better than to walk on its ice. One can never tell how safe the ice might be, especially when it is covered with snow, as at Wolf Point. So why did the search party allow a neophyte cold-weather police officer just arrived from Florida to walk on such an icy surface? And why wasn’t he immediately returned to the Inn for dry clothing, and especially for warm, dry covering for his feet? Making him change his outer clothing in the cold outdoors with no change of boots (and boots that might fit him) would be the pinnacle of irresponsibility, in my view: an invitation to frostbite.

Character development is acceptable. The plot becomes increasingly complex and interesting. Several potential villains are introduced, as well as additional victims in addition to Angela. In fact, in my view there are way too many villains in this story. There are not a lot of logical inconsistencies in the plot and, for the most part, the story is believable. Most readers might not even notice the factual errors that bothered me.

We are told that Wolf Point police officers chose to serve in a remote place like Alaska when they completed their term at the Police Academy. Unlike the United Kingdom, where the author lives and works, we do not have a national police force system. Each state has its own police academy. You might be able to find a job within the state in which you studied but, unless your police academy had national certification capabilities, probably not as easily in a completely different state like Alaska. Wikipedia, for example, has this to say about the issue: “In the Unites States, certification and licensure requirements for law enforcement officers vary significantly from state to state. Policing in the United States is highly fragmented, and there are no minimum national standards for licensing police officers in the U.S.” Even if Burns had graduated from such an academy, there is no mention of the amount of time he would be required to serve under the direction of a Field Training Officer before he would be allowed to police on his own.

Sergeant Terril Black does not carry a firearm. Why? Wolf Point is not in the U.K. where police often do not carry guns. Almost all American peace officers carry handguns in addition to a non-lethal form of force such as a taser or a cannister of pepper spray/Mace.

Chapter 25 is a flashback to the previous Spring. The next flashback is about fifty chapters later (Chapter 76, to be precise). The use of flashbacks in the story does nothing but disturbs the flow. On page 410 (on a Kobo e-reader), we are told that one of the bad guys hears a “click” from an officer’s Glock 22. Never mind that Glocks do not have hammers or safeties that might be able to click, and they are normally carried with a live round in the chamber.

On page #523, the author refers to the wreck of the Mary Celeste as the Marie Celeste. Nope. It was the Mary Celeste! Of course, the author also had to use the cheap Hollywood movie and TV trick of having a vehicle involved in a collision explode with a “deafening roar.” Never mind that, unless the vehicle was carrying dynamite, TNT or C-4, it might burn, but probably would not explode.

As a final criticism, the author, in my view, would have done well to end the story soon after the arch-villain is identified. This story dragged on too long, and there are too many villains. For me, a good portion of the story’s ending was anticlimactic.

Perhaps you think that I am nitpicking this author, but she has not done her homework. She clearly has talent, and this is a fast-paced and interesting story, but she would do well to stick to stories that are set in the United Kingdom, where she currently lives and with which she is probably familiar. She is insufficiently acquainted with life in the United States to write convincingly about it.

Still, the author is a fairly good writer so you might very well enjoy this book. I will award four of the available five stars and a recommendation to read it. You might like it as much as I did. I am also looking forward to the release of her next novel, which I hope to find freer of factual error.

[Jen’s Book Village · Rating 4 out of 5]

What starts out with a bear attack turns into a race to find a missing teenage girl in cold, unforgiving Alaska. Conditions and life in the small town of Wolf Point are rough. Locals know and trust only each other in the best of circumstances and even in the tiny police department, there is distrust. Terril marries into the town when she and her husband, a local, move back to town. They have demons of their own that they are attempting to leave behind and secrets they’d rather forget than relive…and currently the pair are separated but not exactly living apart. Terrill is unexpectedly put in charge of the police department of just three officers when the girl goes missing, the town continues to deal with a strike and strike breakers in their main small industry, and they are all heading towards the onset of the time of year where there are 100 days of no sunlight. There is also the issue of the town being entirely shut in- no one in, no one out for the season.
WOLF POINT is an engrossing thriller based on real events. It is a book that looks long in length but pulls you in from the start. There are plenty of surprises and twists. There are plenty of moments that make you think one thing, but cleverly things change, so that you don’t know what is coming next. This book will keep you on your toes for sure and will stay with you after you complete it.
I like the crime thriller aspect of the book, and I really appreciate the pieces of truth layered throughout such as the problem of missing indigenous and Alaskan females, drug use and abuse in small and remote towns, corruption and socioeconomic factors, and the plight of the wolves. Terril is a strong, female lead in a town that doesn’t want her in charge. She is tough, but with flaws. She feels real. The plot and the entire cast of characters are exceptionally well done. Anyone who craves a good thriller should pick up this book and mystery lovers should pounce on it.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY FOR SENDING THIS BOOK FOR REVIEW CONSIDERATION. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

[Just Blue Through Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of Wolf Point by Lisa Howells.

Wow. Just wow. This is one of the best, if not the best, book I have read this year. I devoured it one day. Howells is brilliant -- this is GIllian Flynn, Jane Harper, Stieg Larson, S.A. Cosby level bingeable. Comparing it to the intensity of Mare of Easttown and the season of True Detective based in Alaska is completely on point as well. Seriously, I just finished reading it and I know I'm going to be thinking about it for the next several days because the plotting is immaculate. I loved everything about it.

The description is accurate to the main plot of the book -- a lot happens, but when it comes to mysteries/thrillers, if the description is solid I try not to write too much more to avoid spoilers and this one readers will want every first glimpse at to be on their own. I will say this is very much a plot driven book, and while we learn a lot about the characters, there are aspects to them that are still a bit shrouded and contained while the plot and the setting do a lot of the talking. I think this really works for the story, especially because so much of the setting is devoted to the fact that people come to Wolf Point to escape something, so feeling like their pasts or personalities is guarded is part of the dark charm.

The novel is violent and does involve off-page descriptions of sexual assault and drug use and alcohol abuse and on-page violence, and attempted sexual assault, which sensitive readers may wish to know prior to committing to this book. I will say Howells uses every scene for the plot, so nothing is gratuitous and is with the acknowledgement of crime rates and crimes against women which do occur at a higher frequency in remote Alaskan towns. The people in Wolf Point have rough pasts and layered traumas and there is not really any character who is unscathed from the harsh realities of life and the choices they've made to survive.

The mystery and the thriller aspect of this are just phenomenal. I want to say more but won't, but Howells ties up loose ends I wasn't even aware were going to be relevant while also tying up the entire story in a perfect bow where every motivation and motive is an absolute gut punch. I was thrilled to read in the author's note that there is a planned sequel because I am already seated for it.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the outset, Wolf Point reminded me of Whittier, Alaska - a town accessible only through a tunnel. The fictional town of Wolf Point takes that isolation to another level, accessible only through a fifteen-mile tunnel carved through a glacier-covered mountain. It is the perfect setting for this chilling debut by Lisa Howells.

Wolf Point was once a thriving community, but now it is beset by troubles. Terril Black’s job as a police officer has changed dramatically. After being handed a badge and promoted to sergeant, she is suddenly in charge and struggling under the weight of her new responsibilities. Terril is also a troubled woman who once relied on alcohol to cope. Now, her sobriety is critical, even as she finds herself pushed to her limits more than once.

Her job becomes even more difficult when she is paired with Damien Burns, a rookie officer from Miami. The two immediately clash, and the town itself is not far behind when it comes to mistrust. When a powerful winter storm hits, they are trapped in Wolf Point, surrounded by brutal elements and an increasingly hostile environment. Despite the obstacles, Terril and Damien must find a way to work together to locate a missing girl.

Apparently the first book in a new series, Wolf Point is an atmospheric and compelling read from start to finish. I’m already curious to see how Terril and Burns navigate both their complicated partnership and the unforgiving community they call home. I can’t wait to see what Lisa Howells has in store for them next.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terril Black is a police officer of Wolf Point who gets a case about a missing teenager. Soon, one missing person turns into two, and then more follow. As she races to find the teenagers she starts unraveling a thread leading all the way back to the killing of indigenous people. What she finds out will shock her, and the people she's closest to may be her greatest threat.

Phenomenal is the only word I can use to describe this book. I devoured every page and had a very hard time trying to get back to reality. I like that this book was connected to real history. The pacing was fantastic, the characters were well developed, the plot was believable, and I didn't see the plot twists. The ending was fantastic. I teared up at the ending a little. In a lot of novels, the main lead seems to be indestructible. They don't get hurt, and if they do, they never feel pain. It's almost always emotional damage without physical scars. I appreciate that Terril Black feels pain and is slowed down by it. She's not a machine and she feels real. She makes human decisions and I think she shows a lot of growth throughout this book.

The author did such a great job with this book. I was instantly hooked. There were so many unexpected twists that really added to the story. I liked the slow unraveling and appreciated that while this isn't a romance book, we did get a few glimpses that made the journey more emotional.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel that starts with a bang and doesn't stop. Terrril Black goes from police officer to Sargent in one day after the brutal mauling of her superior by a grizzly bear. As he is hospitalized, his position is handed off to her until his recovery. That same day, a teenage girl disappears from the motel where she works the front desk.

The story is set in the town of Wolf Point which is only reached via a 15 mile long tunnel that can only be used one way at a time. Winter is on the way and time is of the essence. Terrill has a new officer from MIami to help her out, Damien Burns, who is carrying his own secrets. Black makes the decision to have the tunnel closed so that no one can escape from Wolf Point until Angela, the teen girl is found.

There is a mix of other missing persons and a strike going on at the cannery with some dubious members involved somehow and quite a few possibles who could be the party guilty of taking Angela. The story has so many twists and turns and Black has to wrangle through all of them on crutches from a damaged knee and not sure if she can trust her own office. The only thing I thought did not really add to anything to this story was the start of a relationshp with Sam. Was that just to appeal to a specific group of people? It really did not add much of a positive while Black was still married..

I have to say this book was almost impossible to put down and I look forward to a possible second installment in Wolf Point.

I would like to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this early read opportunity.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you.

This was a great book, fast paced, lots of suspicious characters, and twists. Setting the book in the isolated, rural town of Wolf Point, Alaska, sets the scene immediately. The town is only accessible through a long tunnel through a mountain, it's dark, it's bitter cold, and it is almost always snowing. Terril Black becomes sergeant of the town when the current sergeant is maul by a bear, and immediately she is thrust into the middle of a case of a missing person. Already short staffed, a rookie officer, Damien Burns, from all places, Florida is brought in to help. As with any small town there are conflicts in personalities, and almost everyone, including Terril has something to hide. Adding to the turmoil, is that the main industry in town has brought in strike breakers to continue work production, and the strikebreakers are a very sketchy lot.
As Terril works to unravel the mystery and follow the leads, she and the other officers hit roadblocks and false leads. As one promising lead disappears, suspicion of other leads leaves Terril wondering who she can trust. With determination and little sleep, Terril and Damien continue to sort things out, find out about each other and find out about themselves. There is suspense right to the very end.

[sniksnak · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the remote Alaskan town of Wolf Point, police officer Terril Black steps into her new role as sergeant with unwavering determination. On her first night, a teenage girl disappears from a secluded motel, but Terril is ready to face the challenge head on.
She is met with obstacles, including a department hesitant to embrace female leadership and a colleague who tests her resolve. However, with a rookie from Miami by her side, Terril knows the importance of acting swiftly. In this isolated setting, the first few hours are crucial, and Terril is committed to finding the missing girl.
As Terril investigates, she uncovers intriguing clues that hint at deeper mysteries within the town. Its peaceful facade begins to reveal intriguing layers, with locals and simmering tensions adding to the complexity. A fierce snowstorm isolates the town, but Terril’s determination only grows stronger as she leads the search with courage and heart.
Atmospheric, tense, and full of heart, this captivating debut crime novel showcases one determined officer’s resilience against the elements, a community facing its truths, and the promise of uncovering secrets that could change everything.

**I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#ARC
#NetGalley
#WolfPoint

[Amber Boos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for the perfect atmospheric, creepy winter read? Allow me to present Exhibit A. Wolf Creek is just that! Winter is coming and teens are going missing in the small town of Wolf Point, Alaska. Wolf Point is an isolated town, reminiscent of Whittier, Alaska. A town that shuts down during winter and no one comes in or leaves and is accessible only through a miles long tunnel. Oh, and they are about to begin the several months of winter darkness. Unfortunately, the current sheriff has suffered a terrible accident, so Officer Terril Black is now acting Sheriff with a newbie from Florida and a veteran officer who, along with most of the town, is less than supportive of Terril's promotion. This team has to work together to find the missing kids, one of which is Terril's godchild. With this weather, survival rate is low. The investigation unearths multiple topics, crimes, corruption and a few subplots. The way everything comes together is tightly written and highly suspenseful with a lot of twists. I really liked Terril and I think and hope this will make an interesting series!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lisa Howells and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Marion Lovett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent detective thriller situated in the wilds of Alaska. A small town and harsh Alaskan environment are critical to the plot development and Lisa Howells does an outstanding job bringing these elements to life. The characters are well developed; most have harsh or difficult backgrounds which they are trying to escape or resolve.

The book is fast paced and as a reader, I enjoyed the two or three page chapter format. While occasionally I had to step back to understand if a chapter took place in the past, present or combination, all quickly fell into place.

The book provides a compelling plot and strong character development with plenty of twists and turns. One complaint is that a rookie officer arrived from Miami and immediately became critical to the investigation. The fact that he didn’t take a minute to acclimate to his new responsibilities or environment stretched credibility.

I appreciate that it has the courage to address critical issues facing small and isolated Alaskan communities, including the plight of missing woman, drugs, violence and corruption. I look forward to reading the second book in this series.

I would like to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It moved with impossible speed, skull-cracking paws eating up the ground. Terril knew it would come in low and fast..."

#wolfpoint by Lisa Howells is terrific. She has created a fantastic sense of place - the cold feels painful and mean, these cops (all three of them, one of whom is new) are fighting against more than crime. I liked Terril a lot, and it was such a trip following her through her first case as sergeant.

So much going on here - small town secrets, misogny, crooked cops, and the terrain and weather...bruatal. It's all brutal quite frankly. Terril takes over the small town police force in Wolf Point after her mentor is injured. A girl and a boy go missing, and not necessarily together. Terril's early investigation only scratches the surface of what's going on in Wolf Point, and meanwhile, I couldn't even imagine what it must be like living in a place that basically shuts down and is shut off from the rest of society for several months in the winter. Place is just as much of a character as Terril.

Excellent police procedural, and I can't wait to read more! Thanks so much to #netgalley for the ARC.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Wolf Point” is not only the name of the book, but it is the fictional city where this mystery takes place. It’s isolated from the rest of Alaska, and that plays a big role in the story. Especially when the weather cuts you off from everyone else.

People have been disappearing in Wolf Point. And as the new acting Sheriff, it falls on Terril Black to solve the latest one. Especially with her connection to young lady that disappeared.

There is a strong pace throughout this book. Even when it feels like the investigation has stalled out, there is a lot going on, personally and professionally. They are not only racing time to find the latest victim, but they are fighting the weather.

There is plenty of misdirection from the people in town. No one seems to be able to give a straight answer, and all seem to be hiding a secret or two. Some of the subject matters in the novel are heavy. But all of them are expertly handled by this debut author, Lisa Howells.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Jennifer Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Wolf Point
Author: Lisa Howells
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There is something about a thriller set in the dead of winter, causing a community to be closed off from the world due to a brutal snow storm that I find hard to put down. When a bear attack sidelines the head of police in small Wolf Point, Terril is promoted to sergeant just as a missing person’s case, her best friend’s daughter, falls in her lap. Between trying to find her, taking on a new officer from Miami, and dealing with a broken marriage, Terril has her hands full. Wolf Point is a place people come to hide, but now someone has made it personal and Terril is battling the weather and a short frame of time to find the girl before everything freezes over. Fast paced, well written, full of intrigue, and layers that intricately fit together for a conclusion that that will blow your mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on December 1, 2026.

#arc #netgalley #bookstagram @GrandCentralPub #WolfPoint @lisahowells

[Mike Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf Point is a stunning success. It is an atmospheric thriller of the highest order and one of the more pleasant literary surprises of 2026. Howells deftly portrays the claustrophobic atmosphere which envelopes the citizens of Wolf Point. The crime she presents is worthy of your time. It really is one of the best "locked wilderness" thrillers you could ever hope to read. Because Wolf Point is a place where no one can get in and no one can leave. That's not such a great thing if you live there and realize there is a killer among you. What makes this book especially riveting is the great cast of characters Howells populates Wolf Point with. Terril Black is an engaging character. She's one you hope you'll see more of. Personally, I'll be hoping I don't have to wait too long before Bear Bay is released.

[Tara Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about a thriller that keeps going to the very last chapter! These twists weren’t as transparent as one would think. I was thought what was going on, then I didn’t, only to have that “I knew it” moment.
Wolf Point tales place in a very small Alaskan town that is basically isolated during the Endless Night. Cue a giant storm, a missing teen, and a newly appointed female police sergeant with an injured knee and you have the stage set for a thrilling plot.
I liked most of the characters. I did not like the Sam romance interest. It took away from the story and just didn’t fit this particular book. There’s a manhunt for a missing people yet you’re dealing with butterflies from a shared look? The timing didn’t feel appropriate to me.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolf Point is an isolated Alaskan community, a community where everyone knows everyone else. When teenager Angela Stone goes missing from her motel job, newly promoted officer Terril Black is determined to find her before it's too late.

With a new recruit from Miami and a veteran officer she's not sure she can trust, Terril starts digging into what's really going on at the Comfort motel and begins to suspect some of the long term residents might have something to do with Angela's disappearance. Adding to the difficulty of the investigation is an ongoing strike which has brought unknown strike breakers into town.

Wolf Point is very strong in plot, twists, and character development. The writing was fairly strong, though some of it and some of the dialogue was a little cheesy. Overall, this is a captivating thriller and I look forward to the next book in this new series.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very dark novel based in a unique fictional community in Alaska. Wolf Point is isolated from all surrounding towns by a long, single lane tunnel that is sometimes closed completely by law enforcement or by the weather. Terril Black has just been promoted to sergeant when a teenage girl goes missing. In this small, remote town, everyone knows everyone and Terril has deep connections to the missing girl. There was a lot going on in this story, and it did seem a little bit over-complicated in places - But I liked the main characters and was engaged with the fast-paced story. The afterword indicates that there is another book set in Wolf Point in the works, and I'll be looking for it!

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I liked this more than I did. I really liked the premise and reading the author's note also made it more touching because it's an important topic. However, I couldn't get past all of the similes and metaphors--they were starting to get really annoying and extra because they were on like every page or every other page. I also found a few typos. I also don't like how the doctor described angela as "well nourished" when it then said she was 5'8 and 112 pounds because that's underweight. I also didn't like the names of any of the characters but that's not that important. What I did like was the twist at the end and how everything was logically connected. I also liked Terril and Sam because they were very cute. It also took me forever to get through but some of that is on me.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the first published work by the author. While it contained a reasonable plot line and characters, it also felt a bit unrealistic at times. One example is having a police recruit brought in from Miami to remote Alaska with no orientation or training for the conditions. In addition, it was fairly easy early on to figure out who the villain was based on numerous hints. The author is from England and perhaps should have tried writing about something closer to home rather than a remote area of Alaska.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, and my fiction book review blog.

[Andrianna Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW! What can I say about this incredible book. The best book I have read for a long time and I was hooked from the first few pages. The characters were brought to life so well and I could feel the cold location through the pages, the twists and turns of the story made it gripping reading and every time I thought ok I’ll just finish this chapter, I just had to read on. I love a crime novel and this one really is up there with the best. If you are a crime fan, READ IT! You won’t regret it and I already can’t wait for Lisa’s second book. If I could give it more stars I would, well written, amazing plot twists and incredible locations.

[Jim Holscher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun thrill ride in the vein of CJ Box. We are following a Deputy in a small hamlet in Alaska called Wolf Point. Our Deputy is appointed to Sereant and a missing girl case stymies the community.

If you like thriller books this was very entertaining and has a lot to recommend it. The story has many twists and turns that keep you guessing and the plot is not so overridden with twists that make things rediculous or hard to follow.

I would highly recommend this one for fans of police procedurals, CJ Box, or Michael Connoly.4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of this work for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rick Molitor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very good police thriller. Terril is a police officer who saves her Sergeant from a bear. Then, because there is no one else to take the position, she gets promoted to Sargeant. When the daughter of her best friend goes missing, she has to find her even if she shouldn't be involved. This thriller will keep you guessing as to which of the people in this small, isolated town could be responsible. This is a thriller that gives you enough clues you keep you guessing but throws you a wicked curve at the end. It is a book you will not want to put down.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really liked how this author brought attention to the issues of M&MIW and the starlight tours. It's not often that an author will be able to incorporate such social issues without that being the MAIN issue in the book. I thought it was really well done. 5 stars just for including it with sensitivity and with just cold hard facts.

I am looking for forward to reading more with these characters. They seemed well rounded and believable. The setting is awesome as well.

[Sarah Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book! I was drawn in from the first few chapters and found myself completely enthralled before long. This is a pulse pounding, emotional, edge of your seat thriller. With a main character that has a checkered past, making her so human, but she also just wants to see right done. I absolutely devoured this book and would highly recommend it to people like enjoy suspenseful thrillers, with a deep emotional undercurrent to the plot.

[Tyler Drennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! The author put so many small details and little nuggets throughout the story that had me trying to guess where it was heading the whole time.

It didn't all tie together until the very end, and those unpredictable twists completely caught me off guard. Once I got into it, I just couldn't put it down.

Easily a 5-star read for me. Highly recommend if you like atmospheric mysteries that keep you guessing!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great mystery/police thriller set in the isolated and snowbound Alaskan town of Wolf Point. A newly promoted female Sargent is paired with a rookie transplant from Miami to solve the disappearance of a young woman.

This book was fast paced with lots of fantastic and unexpected twists. I really appreciate authors who can vividly create a location that becomes a character itself.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this impressive debut novel.

[Ana Sosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me cold even though I read it during the summer. I’ve always been fascinated by Alaska and they way people have to adapt to live in those conditions. A small town in Alaska is the backdrop for this absolutely crazy and twisty story. I really enjoyed this read, even though I have some minor issues with how the characters are written, I could not put it down.