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The Crimson Traveler
STEPHEN KING and GILLIAN FLYNN meet BREAKING BAD. Werewolf noir...where addiction and organized crime drive moral collapse. Every bloodline carries a curse. This one howls. THE CRIMSON TRAVELER is a gritty examination of addiction, violence and organized crime, told through a supernatural lens. Set in modern-day Pennsylvania, the novel follows two women, Liz Campbell, a drug-addicted ex-marine, and Macy Burkhardt, an unsuspecting suburban mechanic, as their paths intersect with a lineage of werewolves. On their journey to find a cure for their accidental curse, they collide with Desmond O’Connell, a psychopathic Wolf King from England, struggling to hold together a crumbling dynasty of criminal shapeshifters. In the midst of a re-emerging war, the King’s connection with his bloodline threatens to bring him to his knees, while a mysterious and fatal plague strips the whole syndicate of its humanity. A dark fusion of noir and supernatural horror, THE CRIMSON TRAVELER is an unsentimental tale about inherited violence, family obligation and the monsters inside us.
336 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 7, 2026
Thanks to Left Field Publishing and NetGalley for and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I always enjoy a book involving werewolves - they are definitely one of my favorite horror/monster creatures to read about, they are the stuff of nightmares. I was excited to check out The Crimson Traveler, which could be broken down into two separate stories that eventually converged: the two women, who were unfortunately turned by accident, and their journey to figure out what was happening to them (and what they were facing in the future) and the Wolf King and his separate story, with the creation of his werewolves and why they were getting sick and dying after achieving a certain "stage" of becoming a werewolf.
I thought the whole werewolf lore for this story was actually really interesting and very well-thought-out. The stages a new wolf experiences, the ritual, the way the hierarchy works among the pack. It wasn't quite the typical "werewolf" lore which I think gave this story a refreshing spin.
However, I feel like the plot was kind of slow, and with how many characters there were to keep track of, I found myself confused fairly often. For me, the characters felt a bit one-dimensional. I wanted more out of their backstories. I think I would have followed the characters better if they were just more developed overall, because while the story was interesting, I didn't find myself caring much for the characters in any capacity, which in turn made me lose a bit of interest in the overall story.
While this was still well-written, it was more of a plot-driven story than by the characters, which personally I like more of a balance, so I might not have been the best person for this story in particular. Overall, it was still a decent read and I would probably pick up the next novel to see where things are headed.
I always enjoy a book involving werewolves - they are definitely one of my favorite horror/monster creatures to read about, they are the stuff of nightmares. I was excited to check out The Crimson Traveler, which could be broken down into two separate stories that eventually converged: the two women, who were unfortunately turned by accident, and their journey to figure out what was happening to them (and what they were facing in the future) and the Wolf King and his separate story, with the creation of his werewolves and why they were getting sick and dying after achieving a certain "stage" of becoming a werewolf.
I thought the whole werewolf lore for this story was actually really interesting and very well-thought-out. The stages a new wolf experiences, the ritual, the way the hierarchy works among the pack. It wasn't quite the typical "werewolf" lore which I think gave this story a refreshing spin.
However, I feel like the plot was kind of slow, and with how many characters there were to keep track of, I found myself confused fairly often. For me, the characters felt a bit one-dimensional. I wanted more out of their backstories. I think I would have followed the characters better if they were just more developed overall, because while the story was interesting, I didn't find myself caring much for the characters in any capacity, which in turn made me lose a bit of interest in the overall story.
While this was still well-written, it was more of a plot-driven story than by the characters, which personally I like more of a balance, so I might not have been the best person for this story in particular. Overall, it was still a decent read and I would probably pick up the next novel to see where things are headed.
October 11, 2026
🩸 WEREWOLVES, CRIME SYNDICATES, A DEADLY PLAGUE, AND A WOLF KING WITH A DYNASTY TO PROTECT? Yeah… I was absolutely in. 🐺🔥
THE CRIMSON TRAVELER by Matt Strollo throws you straight into a dark, bloody horror ride where the werewolves are anything but your typical full-moon monsters.
Liz Campbell is a drug-addicted ex-Marine, Macy Burkhardt is a suburban mechanic who definitely did NOT sign up for this kind of chaos, and somehow their paths collide with a lineage of werewolves and an accidental curse neither of them can simply walk away from.
Their search for a cure brings them face-to-face with Desmond O’Connell, a psychopathic Wolf King from England who is desperately trying to keep his crumbling dynasty of criminal shapeshifters from completely falling apart. And because apparently that wasn't enough trouble, a mysterious, deadly plague is spreading through the syndicate, stripping its members of their humanity while an old war threatens to erupt all over again.
What I loved about this one is how it blends werewolf horror, crime, violence, supernatural chaos, and seriously messed-up characters into one wild ride. There’s a grimy, feral quality to the story that feels perfectly at home in the darker corners of horror. This is not a cozy little werewolf romp. It's bloody, brutal, strange, and unapologetically dark.
I went into this expecting monsters, but I got monsters with power struggles, criminal empires, family baggage, and a whole lot of teeth. 🩸🐺 And honestly? That made the chaos even more fun.
If your horror TBR could use something dark, visceral, supernatural, and completely unhinged, add this one to the list.
📚 Thank you to Partners in Crime Tours and Matt Strollo for sharing THE CRIMSON TRAVELER with me!
THE CRIMSON TRAVELER by Matt Strollo throws you straight into a dark, bloody horror ride where the werewolves are anything but your typical full-moon monsters.
Liz Campbell is a drug-addicted ex-Marine, Macy Burkhardt is a suburban mechanic who definitely did NOT sign up for this kind of chaos, and somehow their paths collide with a lineage of werewolves and an accidental curse neither of them can simply walk away from.
Their search for a cure brings them face-to-face with Desmond O’Connell, a psychopathic Wolf King from England who is desperately trying to keep his crumbling dynasty of criminal shapeshifters from completely falling apart. And because apparently that wasn't enough trouble, a mysterious, deadly plague is spreading through the syndicate, stripping its members of their humanity while an old war threatens to erupt all over again.
What I loved about this one is how it blends werewolf horror, crime, violence, supernatural chaos, and seriously messed-up characters into one wild ride. There’s a grimy, feral quality to the story that feels perfectly at home in the darker corners of horror. This is not a cozy little werewolf romp. It's bloody, brutal, strange, and unapologetically dark.
I went into this expecting monsters, but I got monsters with power struggles, criminal empires, family baggage, and a whole lot of teeth. 🩸🐺 And honestly? That made the chaos even more fun.
If your horror TBR could use something dark, visceral, supernatural, and completely unhinged, add this one to the list.
📚 Thank you to Partners in Crime Tours and Matt Strollo for sharing THE CRIMSON TRAVELER with me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
'This was a great, original read. It combined werewolves and "Wolf Kings" with the world of drug addicts and violence. I think a key aspect of this story that I both loved and occasionally hated was its atmospheric nature and the verbose descriptions. I loved the detailed portrayals of the world around the characters, especially when it came to the pack, as I thought their environments often seemed almost surrealist, but at times it was a bit too much for me, ex. there is a scene where a main character is "bludgeoned" by pain (the abstract) concept, which I found odd. I also thoroughly enjoyed the pacing of this book, which I think was nicely supplemented with the names of towns that the wolves were in at various points along their little road trip. I think the ending made sense, though it was definitely not the "happily ever after" all might be hoping for. I will also say that the beginning sections were a bit difficult to follow, as the concept of werewolves is usually done differently with every writer, and this book was no exception (however, the first chapters, in my opinion, could have benefited from just a bit more explanations here and there). Overall, I thought this book was truly new and original, which is quite difficult to find in Murder Mystery/Thriller nowadays, and would definitely recommend to a friend if I thought they would be up for it.
Review of advance copy
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
**3.5/5 ⭐**
*The Crimson Traveler* is well written, and it's clear the author is a talented storyteller. The overall story kept me engaged, and I enjoyed the direction it took. I also appreciated the drink recipes and quiz at the end of the book, they were a fun, unique addition.
My biggest struggle was with the wolf POV chapters. There were so many wolf characters that they started to blend together, making those sections difficult to follow. Between Ben, Desmond, Ryan, Charlie, John, and Harry, I had trouble picturing what each character looked like or remembering their individual backgrounds. I found myself flipping back to their introductions multiple times to keep everyone straight. On the other hand, Liz, Macy, and Brooks were all very well-developed characters whose personalities and motivations stood out, making them much easier to connect with throughout the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and think readers who enjoy dark, gritty horror fantasy will appreciate it. While the graphic horror elements were a bit more intense than my personal preference, the strong writing and engaging story made it a worthwhile read.
**3.5/5 ⭐**
*The Crimson Traveler* is well written, and it's clear the author is a talented storyteller. The overall story kept me engaged, and I enjoyed the direction it took. I also appreciated the drink recipes and quiz at the end of the book, they were a fun, unique addition.
My biggest struggle was with the wolf POV chapters. There were so many wolf characters that they started to blend together, making those sections difficult to follow. Between Ben, Desmond, Ryan, Charlie, John, and Harry, I had trouble picturing what each character looked like or remembering their individual backgrounds. I found myself flipping back to their introductions multiple times to keep everyone straight. On the other hand, Liz, Macy, and Brooks were all very well-developed characters whose personalities and motivations stood out, making them much easier to connect with throughout the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and think readers who enjoy dark, gritty horror fantasy will appreciate it. While the graphic horror elements were a bit more intense than my personal preference, the strong writing and engaging story made it a worthwhile read.
July 7, 2026
Thank you to Left Field Publishing for the e‑ARC in exchange for my honest review.
From the very first chapter, I could tell this story was leaning into the supernatural and I was immediately in. The Crimson Traveler throws you into a world filled with shifting perspectives, multiple characters, and layered points of view, but it all comes together in a way that’s surprisingly easy to follow. I never felt lost, and that made the experience even more fun.
This book is spooky, interesting, and just different enough to stand out. The atmosphere is eerie without being overwhelming, and the character dynamics kept me invested the whole way through. I loved watching how each character’s storyline connected across different locations, it added a cool sense of movement and made the world feel bigger.
Overall, I enjoyed the ride and found myself genuinely curious about where the story was heading. And for something extra fun: the signature drink recipes at the end were such a delightful touch. I’m absolutely going to try.
From the very first chapter, I could tell this story was leaning into the supernatural and I was immediately in. The Crimson Traveler throws you into a world filled with shifting perspectives, multiple characters, and layered points of view, but it all comes together in a way that’s surprisingly easy to follow. I never felt lost, and that made the experience even more fun.
This book is spooky, interesting, and just different enough to stand out. The atmosphere is eerie without being overwhelming, and the character dynamics kept me invested the whole way through. I loved watching how each character’s storyline connected across different locations, it added a cool sense of movement and made the world feel bigger.
Overall, I enjoyed the ride and found myself genuinely curious about where the story was heading. And for something extra fun: the signature drink recipes at the end were such a delightful touch. I’m absolutely going to try.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Soooo good! I went into it blind and absolutely loved it!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews