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Wolf Lake: Revenge, rescue, redemption in a race-against-time dual POV action thriller

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Gabriel Wolfe used to kill for the government. Before that, he served in the SAS.

Now someone has taken his sister.

Tara Wolfe lives quietly in Paris these days. A long way away from the years she spent running one of Hong Kong’s most ruthless triads. But people like Tara don’t get to disappear forever. Sooner or later, the past comes looking.

And when it does, it comes hard.

With only days to find her, Gabriel is forced back into a world of violence, betrayal, and old debts. Outnumbered and outgunned, he turns to the one woman he swore never to trust again.

The trail leads to Wolf Lake. When Gabriel Wolfe gets there, somebody is going to pay.

Because whoever kidnapped Tara made one fatal mistake…They picked the wrong family.

A Gabriel Wolfe thriller.

‘Relentless action.’

‘A real page-turner.’

‘Fast, evocative writing.’

‘Another brilliant read.’

‘The stories just get better and better.’

‘Action from start to finish.’

‘An edge-of-the-seat page turner.’

‘Highly recommended.’

‘Couldn’t put it down.’

‘A masterclass in high-stakes suspense.’

406 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2026

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About the author

Andy Maslen

75 books593 followers
MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLER

Andy Maslen writes thrillers across a number of genres: police procedurals, vigilante, psychological, suspense and horror. He spent 30 years in business before turning to writing full time.

Readers praise Andy's novels for their relatable characters, realistic dialogue, sense of place and kinetic action sequences, and for his meticulous research into police procedure around the world.

He is the creator of best-selling series featuring Kat Ballantyne, Gabriel Wolfe, Stella Cole and Inspector Ford, plus standalone novels and short stories.

Andy was born in Nottingham, England. After leaving university with a degree in psychology, he worked in business for thirty years as a copywriter. In his spare time, he plays the guitar. He lives in Wiltshire.

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5 stars
218 (71%)
4 stars
68 (22%)
3 stars
15 (4%)
2 stars
2 (<1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Georgina Candy.
686 reviews21 followers
August 16, 2026
An action packed thriller that doesn’t stop until the end.

I’ve not read any of the Gabriel Wolfe books before and this was a perfect introduction to the ex-SAS soldier and his fearless sister, Tara. We meet them in Paris, living a quiet life until someone kidnaps Tara and Gabriel is beside himself. He sets out to find out where she is and who took her, not knowing this will start a series of events that neither could have predicted.

There were a couple of characters I was a bit unsure of during the story, they seemed to turn up at just the right time which seemed a bit dubious and convenient.

I really enjoyed the writing style and short chapter format of this book, it was easy to read and packed with action. Things were a bit gruesome in places, but overall the story was fast paced and enjoyable. I’m going to add this author and series to my tbr, I’d love to know more about Gabriel in his former life, and Tara too!
Profile Image for Gary.
3,200 reviews442 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 4, 2026
Wolf Lake is the seventeenth book in the Gabriel Wolfe series by Andy Maslen. Although I am a long time admirer of this author and his Detective Kat Ballantyne series, this is my first read of a Gabriel Wolfe novel. Gabriel Wolfe is a former SAS soldier who used to kill for the government. These days, he’s trying to leave that life behind, but peace never seems to last long. When his sister, Tara, is kidnapped, Gabriel is plunged right back into the danger zone.

Tara has been living quietly in Paris, attempting to put her own dark history behind her—specifically, the years she spent running one of Hong Kong’s most ruthless triads. But in their line of work, the past always comes calling eventually. With only days to locate her, Gabriel is forced back into a world of ruthless violence, betrayal, and unpaid debts. Outnumbered and heavily outgunned, he has no choice but to team up with the one woman he swore he’d never trust again. The trail leads directly to Wolf Lake—and whoever took Tara is about to learn the hard way that they picked the wrong family to mess with.

This is a proper high-octane, action-packed thriller that hits the ground running and rarely lets up! The countdown element gives the storyline a brilliant sense of urgency, keeping you on the edge of your seat as Gabriel races against the clock. Andy Maslen has crafted some really interesting, complex characters here. Gabriel is a fantastic lead—tough and capable, but driven by a fierce loyalty to his sister. The addition of Tara’s intriguing backstory and the shaky alliance Gabriel has to form with a woman from his past adds brilliant tension to the narrative. The plot is packed full of suspense. The setting of Wolf Lake makes for a tense backdrop, and watching an outnumbered Gabriel use his old SAS instincts to take on seemingly impossible odds makes for a hugely satisfying read.

Wolf Lake is a very good action-packed thriller that delivers exactly what you want from the genre, relentless tension, great characters, and a plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish. A solid four-star read and a thoroughly enjoyable ride!

I would like to thank both Netgalley and BeRead for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Zara Dal.
181 reviews7 followers
August 18, 2026
Wolf Lake was my first Gabriel Wolfe novel, and despite being book 17 in the series, it worked brilliantly as a standalone, which, from what I understand, was the author's intention.

Gabriel Wolfe is an ex-SAS veteran whose sister, Tara, has been kidnapped. Sounds straightforward enough, right? Wrong. Because Tara just happens to be the former leader of one of Hong Kong's most ruthless triads.

What follows is an explosive, high-octane thriller packed with action, danger, twists, and tension from beginning to end.

Andy Maslen's writing style is incredibly addictive. The short chapters create that irresistible "just one more chapter" feeling, and before you know it, you've raced through far more of the book than you intended. The pace never lets up, yet there's still plenty of room for character development.

One of my favourite aspects of the story was Tara herself. She's intelligent, resilient, resourceful, and more than capable of handling herself. I found myself rooting for her just as much as I was for Gabriel.

The international settings added another layer of excitement, taking the story across Paris, England, Morocco, and Hong Kong. Each location felt distinct and helped give the novel a cinematic feel. I also loved the dual POV structure.
When I was reading Gabriel's chapters, I was desperate to know what was happening to Tara, and when I was with Tara, I couldn't wait to get back to Gabriel. It kept the tension high throughout.

An absolutely thrilling read from start to finish. Action-packed, addictive, and impossible to put down.

Amazing, amazing, amazing.

Now excuse me while I go back and start at book one...
Profile Image for Dani.
497 reviews29 followers
August 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

I’m a huge Andy Maslen fan, but Wolf Lake was actually my first venture into the Tara Wolfe spin-off from the brilliant Gabriel Wolfe series. It certainly won’t be my last. In fact, I was so invested that halfway through I bought Purity Kills because I knew I wanted more of Tara’s story.

From the opening chapters, this had me completely hooked. The combination of meticulous research, authentic background detail and believable, well-developed characters made it impossible to put down. The plot is tightly constructed, with tension building steadily as Tara is kidnapped by a dangerous rival and forced to rely on every ounce of her intelligence, resilience and training to survive.

I loved the dynamic between Tara and Gabriel. While Tara fights to stay alive, Gabriel is racing against time to find her, never quite knowing who he can trust. Their relationship, along with the strong supporting cast, gives the story real emotional weight alongside the action.

The suspense never lets up, the twists felt earned, and the pacing kept me turning the pages long into the night. Whether you’re already a fan of Gabriel Wolfe or, like me, are just discovering Tara Wolfe, this is an outstanding thriller that stands comfortably on its own while making you want to read the rest of the series.

An easy five stars from me. I can’t wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Chrissie Patterson.
213 reviews9 followers
August 20, 2026
Wolf Lake was definitely a thrilling read! This is the seventeenth book in the Gabriel Wolfe series, but I jumped straight in without having read any of the previous books and never felt like I was missing important context.

When Gabriel’s sister Tara is kidnapped, he is willing to do whatever it takes to find her. What follows is a fast-paced and action-packed story that takes us into a dangerous world of kidnapping, trafficking and violence.

There was definitely more graphic violence in this book than I would typically read, and some of the topics were quite hard hitting. It did make me wince at times! But I really enjoyed the grittier aspects of the story and the fact that none of the characters are morally perfect. Gabriel and Tara are both willing to cross lines and do whatever they believe is necessary to save the people they love and protect the innocent.

I really liked the sibling relationship between Gabriel and Tara, but Tara was a particular standout for me. Often, women in books like this can feel like the witty sidekick or someone who needs saving, but not Tara! She was such a badass - there were times when she was scarier than Gabriel.

This was a fun, gritty and thrilling read that kept the pace up throughout. I am definitely intrigued by the rest of the Gabriel Wolfe series now and would happily pick up another book.

Profile Image for Martin Pingree.
1,057 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 12, 2026
Gabriel and his sister, Tara, are living a peaceful life in Paris until everything changes in an instant. Returning home with breakfast one morning, Gabriel discovers Tara has vanished without a trace. With no evidence and no clear suspects, he launches a desperate search that quickly reveals she has been kidnapped.

Calling in old favors and following the few clues available, Gabriel uncovers a shocking truth: the mastermind behind the abduction is one of Tara’s former employees. What follows is an explosive journey filled with relentless action, shocking twists, brutal confrontations, and murder as Gabriel stops at nothing to bring his sister home.

Driven by vengeance and fueled by determination, Gabriel proves that revenge truly is a dish best served cold. Packed with nonstop suspense and adrenaline-pumping action, this is a thriller you won’t be able to put down. A must-read for fans of high-octane action and edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Profile Image for Christine Rennie.
3,172 reviews42 followers
August 6, 2026
Wolf Lake by Andy Maslen is the next book in the Gabriel Wolfe series and in this storyline we see Gabriel and Tara working together at what they do best.
The brother and sister are living together in Paris leading quiet lives, when Tara is kidnapped one morning. Gabriel has to find her before the week is up, because he suspects that even when he paid the ransom Tara would be killed.
The brother and sister then managed to stop some women being trafficked, return the water back to the community by destroying the Country Club that had been using it and then give their own brand of justice to the man who had ordered Tara’s kidnap and was in charge of human trafficking and other criminal activities.
It was a really good read, full of action, suspense and the hint of a new job and a new love interest. So I will look forward to the next book to see what happens to Gabriel and Tara Wolfe.
Highly recommended
162 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 2, 2026
Wow so Gabriel is back in another explosive story, that results in even more than he would have expected.
Little does he know that when he arrives back at the apartment to find signs of a struggle and his sister missing, it would be the beginning of what will turn out to be a time of personal turmoil, sadness, loss and a journey that will shape a future of which he is unsure of.
But the one thing that I personally liked about this story was the clever way Andy shows us through his portrayal of Gabriel’s relentless search for his sister, just how important family is to each and everyone of us and through we ourselves wouldn’t go to the extremes (would we?) that Gabriel does to to help find his sister, Andy uses Gabriel’s exploits to just show us family matters and that we should never forget that.
Happy reading.
Profile Image for Mags Shaw.
191 reviews
August 26, 2026
Brought to surface a few key issues: 1) the trafficking of women, including identification of those who are the users and make it profitable to the criminal population; 2) the ability of the users to pay off those who make up our legal and political systems to look the other way; 3) the fear instilled by the traffickers in those who would attempt to bring justice which might overcome all of this. Gabriel is one of those in black ops able to fight the fear with fear, carrying justice beyond the legal system. Sufficient ricochets in the plot that just when you believe you’ve reached a terminal point the book races off in a new direction. Just had to keep reading until there was justice. Another ‘gud un’. VR, Mags
Profile Image for Elsbookshelf.
178 reviews3 followers
August 15, 2026
Although I absolutely love an action thriller movie, I don’t tend to read this genre.
I signed up to this readalong because I read Perfect Girl by Andy and really enjoyed it.

What a fast paced ride this is. Non stop action and edge of your seat thrills!

Gabriel is some sort of fighting machine, SAS dude and his sister Tara is a badass ex triad boss.

They are currently taking things at a slower pace in Paris, which was never going to go well, let’s be honest and Tara gets kidnapped.

Cue all hell breaking loose. Think assassin level kills, gun shoot outs and vengeance.

I read this as a stand alone but there are previous books in the series. I did not feel I missed out on anything, having not read the others, but I will be going back to start at the beginning because I enjoyed it so much!

Has this series been adapted for TV? If not, why!

AD-PR|GIFTED
7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 3, 2026
Review of advanced copy from the Author.

Gabriel has settled in Paris with his sister Tara and they are both enjoying life to the full. Everything goes wrong for them when Tara is kidnapped from the apartment and along with some trafficked other women she is taken by container lorry to Germany ahead of them being taken to their final destination. Tara decides enough is enough is enough and tries to fight her way out along with the other women.. Gabriel has some sad news and finds a newly formed version of the Department to join but goes it alone to find his sister. Gabriel and Tara relocate the trafficked women to Morocco and take the organised crime establishment to pieces and get their revenge.

Another fantastic can’t put down Gabriel Wolfe book with graphically written narrative and definitely worth a read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Georgia.
365 reviews12 followers
August 15, 2026
Rated 3.5

This book has such a great plot and it’s certainly an interesting read. I really liked the characters of Tara and Gabriel - especially Tara, and it was absolutely not predictable. I did not at all expect the book to go in the direction it did, but it kept it entertaining! There is also a lot of violence in this, which I really enjoyed. However, I did feel a little detached to some of the second half of this one. I am really looking forward to hearing more of Tara’s story and I think that will be such a good read!
9 reviews
August 31, 2026
Well, I finished it - which after condemning another author half-way through his book says something. It is a page-turner and keeps you involved, but both Gabriel and his sister are a little bit too gung-ho for me to sit back and enjoy at five-star level. Having given William Boyd's latest a four-star review - this (for me) was below that level, but still a good read for a wet day or for a flight. No spoilers from me - the actions are detailed but somewhat predictable - and then some parts catch you nicely unware (like George!). Give it a go and it may suit you !
Profile Image for Joanie Hinton.
832 reviews31 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 12, 2026
Another great Gabriel Wolfe book. This time his sister, Tara, has been kidnapped. The man behind it doesn't want ransom, even tho he tells Gabriel he does. What he wants is to make Tara suffer for what she did to him years ago even tho he deserved much worse. And when Tara and Gabriel are thru with the man behind the kidnapping, he will wish for a swift death...but he won't get it.
(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy)
Profile Image for Em Fletch.
100 reviews
October 7, 2026
I really enjoyed this read! I was a bit worried that I would be lost with this being book 17 of the series but you really can just jump in and read it as a standalone. I enjoyed the plot, the twists were great and the writing was so easy to follow along, yet I found myself not wanting to put it down at all! It’s longer than my usual thriller book, but it doesn’t feel like it when you read it! I flew through this book and had such a blast during it!
639 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 8, 2026
An excellent thriller with a well written storyline and an outstanding cast of strong main characters. A page turning read with plenty of action and lots of suspense. Tara and Gabriel are outstanding characters to build a story around. Highly recommended thriller by an outstanding author. Bring on more adventures with Tara and Gabriel Wolfe.
4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 3, 2026
What an action-packed thriller we have once again from the mind and pen of Andy Maslen.
From the first to the last page, nothing but pure action.
I tried to read this in one go, but I had to sleep. It had me riveted all the way through. You could imagine this as a film as you read through it, picturing the scenes as they unfold, as Gabriel plans he way to finding his sister.
Profile Image for Martha Brindley.
Author 2 books40 followers
August 6, 2026
This is a really good thriller by Andy Maslen. it is packed full of action, tension and a whole load of suspense. if you want escapism, then this is the one for you. I devoured this over 2 days, the pace never let up and I found the characterisation to be really strong and I was on the edge of my seat throughout. i can highly recommend to lovers of thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC..
11 reviews
August 7, 2026
He's done it again. What a rip roaring, fast paced story! Gabriel Wolf and his sister, Tara, are a force to be reckoned with...do not cross them! I would say, if you love a really gripping thriller then you should just start at book one and read them all. You absolutely will not be disappointed. I can't wait for the next book!
86 reviews1 follower
August 9, 2026
Of course it's an Andy Maslen, always a 5* read for me. Full of action from start to the end. Not too many characters. Keeps the reader interested another page turner from a brilliant author.
Keep 'em coming Andy. 👏👏
Profile Image for Jim Cerone The Perfect Host DJ MC.
417 reviews7 followers
August 19, 2026
Get The Most

Author Maslen plays the long game with this Gabriel Wolfe series. You will definitely get the most out of this book by reading all of the rest first. Fast paced and full of action, with a couple skillfully placed denouements.
Profile Image for Mrs Linda A Barber.
377 reviews3 followers
October 3, 2026
oh no

I’m a very sad as I’ve read all 17 books about Gabriel Wolfe and now,it’s over. I did have a few tears tbh when someone died but you’ll have to read this before you find out who.
Profile Image for Sandy McCulloch.
378 reviews
October 12, 2026
Wolf Lake. Andy Maslan.

Absolutely brilliant page turning read. Another good Gabriel Wolfe Novel. Thrilling Action, Criminal busting, seriously enthralled me. Well it is a Maslan / Wolfe Book.
742 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
July 23, 2026
Another fabulous read from this author. I couldn’t put it down.an edge of the seat page turner.
6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
August 2, 2026
Best one yet. Gabriel and Tara on a joint venture. Great page turner, couldn't put it down. Highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Jeff Benham.
1,872 reviews11 followers
August 6, 2026
Excellent Gabriel Wolfe thriller as he rushes to find out who kidnapped his sister.
1 review
August 14, 2026
Exciting as ever!

Andy never fails to hit the spot; a rattling good read and I very much liked the sibling connection being to the forefront in this book/ Rock on Andy!
482 reviews4 followers
August 17, 2026
Great book

This is a Great Book in the Gabriel Wolfe Thriller Series, I sure hope there are more to come!! I suggest starting the Series with Book # 1.
1 review
August 19, 2026
simply great

Always a great story to pull you in. Andy Maslen has made me so happy reading HIS fantastic STORIES. Keep them coming.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews