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The Wolfman
Marlowe Higgins has had a hard life. Since being dishonorably discharged after a tour in Vietnam, he's been in and out of prison, moving from town to town, going wherever the wind takes him. He can’t stay in one place too long--every full moon he kills someone. Marlowe Higgins is a werewolf. For years he struggled with his affliction, until he found a way to use this unfortunate curse for good--he only kills really bad people. Settling at last in the small town of Evelyn, Higgins works at a local restaurant and even has a friend, Daniel Pearce, one of Evelyn's two police detectives. One night everything changes. It turns out Marlowe Higgins isn’t the only monster lurking in the area. A fiendish serial killer, known as the Rose Killer, is brutally murdering young girls all around the county. Higgins targets the killer as his next victim, but on the night of the full moon, things go drastically wrong. . . .
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2008
62 people are currently reading
1388 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Pekearo
2 books8 followersNicholas Pekearo was an author and volunteer NYPD Auxillary Police Officer living in New York City. In the spring of 2007 he was shot and killed in the line of duty in Greenwich Village whilst in the pursuit of a murderer. His first book, The Wolfman, was published posthumously in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
April 6, 2024
Incomparable! Exceptional! Capital!
Although he became a volunteer policeman, Pekearo was born to be a writer!
His writing style is illustrative, clarifying and classical. He was obviously a talented artist.
Our protagonist, Marlowe, our anti-hero, is cursed with the werewolf malady. It has been passed down on him through generations, after an ancestor kills an old Indian shaman.
Unable to kill himself, once he becomes aware of his curse, Marlowe decides to live with it.
How he decides to do this is the premise of his narrative.
Like Jekyll and Hyde, Marlowe is both caring and violent, although he tries to keep the two sides separate.
Most of the time he is able to, but the Wolf, though hidden, is sometimes able to sneak through.
Unlike other werewolf stories that l have read and loved, Marlowe’s wolf has a purpose, a mission to fulfill. Because of this you find yourself rooting for him, wanting him to kill.
I have absolutely enjoyed reading this book and I would love to be able to read more books by this author.
Five well deserved stars. ✨✨✨✨✨
Although he became a volunteer policeman, Pekearo was born to be a writer!
His writing style is illustrative, clarifying and classical. He was obviously a talented artist.
Our protagonist, Marlowe, our anti-hero, is cursed with the werewolf malady. It has been passed down on him through generations, after an ancestor kills an old Indian shaman.
Unable to kill himself, once he becomes aware of his curse, Marlowe decides to live with it.
How he decides to do this is the premise of his narrative.
Like Jekyll and Hyde, Marlowe is both caring and violent, although he tries to keep the two sides separate.
Most of the time he is able to, but the Wolf, though hidden, is sometimes able to sneak through.
Unlike other werewolf stories that l have read and loved, Marlowe’s wolf has a purpose, a mission to fulfill. Because of this you find yourself rooting for him, wanting him to kill.
I have absolutely enjoyed reading this book and I would love to be able to read more books by this author.
Five well deserved stars. ✨✨✨✨✨
November 8, 2021
Da dove vengo non è importante, perché avrebbe potuto essere la vostra stessa città oppure un posto lontano migliaia di chilometri da voi, e neppure che io abbia scopato o meno la sera del ballo scolastico c'entra un beato accidente. L'unica cosa che vi serve sapere, sebbene a me interessi poco parlarne, la sola cosa che va detta, suppongo, è che sono un licantropo, e lo sono stato per gran parte della mia esistenza.
Quello che sto per raccontarvi è accaduto nella primavera del 1993. Mettetevi comodi, e lasciate che il dolore e la sofferenza abbiano inizio. A quanto pare è la cosa in cui me la cavo meglio.
Marlowe Higgins ha avuto una vita dura, ritornato in patria dopo essere stato congedato con disonore dal Vietnam, entra ed esce di prigione, spostandosi lungo l’America di cittadina in cittadina, andando ovunque lo porti la strada.
Marlowe non può fermarsi troppo a lungo nello stesso posto perché ad ogni luna piena finisce con l’ammazzare qualcuno.
Erano gli omicidi il motivo per cui leggevo i giornali. Le morti. In particolare, mi interessavano gli omicidi irrisolti.
Non è che mi entusiasmassero (questo potrei giurarlo su una pila di Bibbie), piuttosto era come se avessi fatto della sofferenza il mio mestiere. Dopotutto, io ero l'ira di Dio.
Ira di Dio. Piacere di conoscervi.
Vedete, Marlowe Higgins è un lupo mannaro ed ha lottato per anni contro la sua afflizione prima di escogitare un modo per mettere a frutto la sua maledizione dandole uno scopo: uccidere solamente la feccia dell’umanità.
Deciso a mettere radici per un po’ di tempo, Marlowe trova lavoro come cuoco in un ristorante locale presso la tranquilla cittadina di Evelyn, diventa amico di un detective di polizia locale, Daniel Pearce, e perde la testa per Alice, una prostituta del posto.
Successe oltreoceano. Il fatto è che Marlowe Higgins mori in Vietnam. Non ce la fece. La notte in cui la bestia entrò dentro di me, quando io diventai, il Marlowe Higgins che aveva sognato di tornare negli States, il Marlowe Higgins che amava il baseball e le motociclette e aveva una ragazza di nome Doris che lo aspettava a casa, cessò di esistere.
Ma poi una notte tutto cambia, quando Evelyn diventa il territorio di caccia di uno psicopatico e brutale assassino di donne conosciuto come il Killer delle Rose, e Marlowe Higgins non è più il solo mostro ad aggirarsi nella zona.
E quando Marlowe prende finalmente di mira il killer al sorgere della luna piena, le cose prendono una brutta piega…
Mi svegliai il mattino dopo sul pavimento della stanza da letto, nell'identico punto in cui ero svenuto la notte prima. Molto del sangue sul telone si era essiccato, ed era appiccicoso come il peccato. Mi sentivo come se un milione di granelli di sabbia si fossero mescolati nella
fanghiglia che era stata il mio corpo, ma non era sabbia.
Erano ossa polverizzate.
Lupo nelle tenebre di Nicholas Pekearo è una gran bella storia di lupi mannari, violenta ed appassionante, con un protagonista sboccato e politicamente scorretto che avrebbe potuto essere interpretato in un eventuale adattamento cinematografico dalla buonanima dannata di Lemmy Kilmister, dal quale prende decisamente in prestito fattezze e buone abitudini in uno dei migliori easter-eggs di sempre.
Il Killer delle Rose era ancora in libertà, chiunque fosse. Era la prima persona contro la quale avessi mandato il lupo che fosse riuscita a sopravvivere. Mi preoccupava che il lupo fosse sfuggito al mio controllo, ma ero abbastanza convinto che, se il bersaglio era ancora vivo, qualcosa doveva essere andato terribilmente storto.
L'unica persona a saperlo era il killer.
Diciamo subito che non ci vuole Sherlock Holmes per indovinare l’identità del Killer delle Rose prima dell’esplosiva e grandguignolesca resa dei conti finale tra l’assassino ed il lupo, ma il racconto avvince, disgusta e diverte, al punto che ho letto tutte d’un fiato le ultime cento e passa pagine senza neanche accorgermene, mettendo in sottofondo come colonna sonora la playlist di canzoni sparse per tutto il libro, che il protagonista e gli altri personaggi si trovano ad ascoltare alla radio o in qualche locale, nel corso delle, spesso sanguinose, vicende ivi raccontate.
Una trovata geniale che ha arrotondato il mio voto finale a cinque stelle piene.
Avevo perso il lavoro, la ragazza che amavo non voleva avere niente a che fare con me, e a meno che il Killer delle Rose non fosse saltato fuori da qualche parte dicendo "eccomi qui", il lupo che aveva sfrattato la mia anima avrebbe ucciso un innocente nel giro di cinque giorni. Pensavo di avere diritto a una bevuta.
Purtroppo la storia di Marlowe Higgins, licantropo vigilante che gira per l’America un po’ come faceva Bill Bixby alla fine di ogni puntata della classica serie televisiva The Incredibile Hulk (1977-1982) dedicata al Golia Verde della Marvel, non avrà mai un seguito.
Infatti l’autore Nicholas Pekearo, poliziotto ausiliario nel Greenwich Village di New York, morì in servizio cercando di fermare uno squilibrato armato fino ai denti quattro giorni dopo aver consegnato al suo editore l’ultima stesura di questo bellissimo romanzo.
Quella delle chiese era una pista, così come la confezione di Polaroid trovata alla proprietà Crowley. Non potevo contare sulla bestia per la prossima luna piena, questo era chiaro, e non era neppure colpa del mostro.
Questo bersaglio era un fantasma. Una nebbia. Uno spettro. Aveva qualche asso nella manica che lo proteggeva dal lupo.
Un vero peccato.
Colonna sonora:
Daddy Sang Bash - Johnny Cash
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
Peace Frog - Doors
Take It Easy - Eagles
California Dreamin' - Mamas & Papas
Lay Lady Lay - Bob Dylan
Black is Black - Los Bravos
Green, Green Grass of Home - Tom Jones
Lookin' Out My Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Aggiungete brani a scelta dei Motörhead, ovviamente, dei Beatles, Hank Williams e Willie Nelson quando vengono citati durante la lettura del libro per godervi al massimo l'esperienza.
Io mi sono permesso di aggiungere la struggente The Lonely Man Theme (Long Version) di Joe Harnell (Ending theme music from The Incredible Hulk: Original Soundtrack) alla fine del libro e ci stava a meraviglia.
Se volete aggiungere qualche altro titolo alla vostra play-list ricordatevi solo una cosa: il lupo adora gli Eagles ma odia gli Stones, qualunque gruppo scegliate lasciate perdere gli Stones.
Siete stati avvisati.
September 4, 2021
As the editor tells us in his beginning note, Nicholas Pekearo didn't get to do much writing before his death. The Wolfman is his debut book and he had envisioned a series of books featuring the Vietnam Veteran Marlowe Higgins and his dark secret. Alas Nicholas was killed in the line of duty, working as an unarmed volunteer police officer in New York city.
This is, in fact, quite sad for many reasons.. but the main one that touches me (and you) personally is that he was one hell of a writer. This is really an awesome book, never minding that it's his first published one. It has crude language, hard characters and real funny moments in between, but ultimately it's a thriller/horror book so there's a nice amount of gore to enjoy as well.
I'll recommend this book to any thriller/horror enthusiasts out there, even though we know that there will be no more such books from Pekearo. Such a shame. :(
This is, in fact, quite sad for many reasons.. but the main one that touches me (and you) personally is that he was one hell of a writer. This is really an awesome book, never minding that it's his first published one. It has crude language, hard characters and real funny moments in between, but ultimately it's a thriller/horror book so there's a nice amount of gore to enjoy as well.
I'll recommend this book to any thriller/horror enthusiasts out there, even though we know that there will be no more such books from Pekearo. Such a shame. :(
January 21, 2018
The concept was solid but the execution was a wee bit boring for me. This should have been a book I loved, based off of my taste in books, but very early one I just couldn't get into this story. Usually when I give a 2 star rating there is something wrong with the book to make me dislike it, but this book is unique as there isn't really anything wrong with it. I can see many people liking and even loving this book, but I just saw the book as uninteresting. To me, the narration read a bit monotonous and I didn't really care about the main character (in the sense that I didn't really care what happened to him after a while). My interest throughout this book was a straight line that never really changed. There were plenty of moments I thought about DNFing this book but I hoped that I would be surprised by a turn in the story. I'm sad to say that never happened because I really wanted to love this book.
Don't let my rating influence those who want to read this book. If you find the premise interesting then give it a shot. As I said before I can see plenty of people liking and loving this book. All I'm trying to say with my rating and this review is that the story wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me.
Don't let my rating influence those who want to read this book. If you find the premise interesting then give it a shot. As I said before I can see plenty of people liking and loving this book. All I'm trying to say with my rating and this review is that the story wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me.
August 17, 2022
Di lupi mannari e loro storie credo di non aver mai letto niente, dando sempre la precedenza a creature come Vampiri e Zombie.
Da piccola ricordo di essere rimasta traumatizzata dal film di Landis "Un lupo mannaro americano a Londra" e da allora non ho più cercato niente a tema Licantropo.
Con questo titolo ho avuto una sorta di epifania.
Un libro tamarro, politicamente scorretto con un protagonista dannatamente volgare che, per assurdo, ho finito di amare alla follia. Anche perché, sotto quella scorza dura e apparentemente maledetta, si nasconde un uomo buono e con senso dell'onore.
Una storia dai sapori southern gothic considerato che la location non è altro che un paesino sperduto del Texas - Evelyn - in cui solitamente non succede assolutamente niente e può essere considerato un posto in cui nascondersi dal mondo intero.
Una trama accattivante, tale da non riuscire a staccarsi dal libro fino a che non si è arrivati all'ultima pagina.
Da piccola ricordo di essere rimasta traumatizzata dal film di Landis "Un lupo mannaro americano a Londra" e da allora non ho più cercato niente a tema Licantropo.
Con questo titolo ho avuto una sorta di epifania.
Un libro tamarro, politicamente scorretto con un protagonista dannatamente volgare che, per assurdo, ho finito di amare alla follia. Anche perché, sotto quella scorza dura e apparentemente maledetta, si nasconde un uomo buono e con senso dell'onore.
Una storia dai sapori southern gothic considerato che la location non è altro che un paesino sperduto del Texas - Evelyn - in cui solitamente non succede assolutamente niente e può essere considerato un posto in cui nascondersi dal mondo intero.
Una trama accattivante, tale da non riuscire a staccarsi dal libro fino a che non si è arrivati all'ultima pagina.
May 26, 2008
This was actually a quite enjoyable book -- quick, breezy, several good turns of phrase and a few good zigs just when you think you've got it figured out where he's going with the whole werewolf thing.
Of course I initially purchased out of respect for the author -- Nicholas Pekearo found out from his agent that this book would be published, and then three days later he was killed in the line of duty as an NYPD Auxillary cop while pursuing a guy who had just shot up a pizza parlor on Houston. Real heroic stuff.
But the book indeed stands on its own.
Of course I initially purchased out of respect for the author -- Nicholas Pekearo found out from his agent that this book would be published, and then three days later he was killed in the line of duty as an NYPD Auxillary cop while pursuing a guy who had just shot up a pizza parlor on Houston. Real heroic stuff.
But the book indeed stands on its own.
June 8, 2013
Early in this novel, during the prologue, a character driving his car on a lonely road encounters a creature that we know is a werewolf though he doesn't. The beast leaps onto the hood of the car and then, the narrator tells us, crouched there glaring in at the driver "like he owed him money". That line made me laugh out loud. That's a reaction I never had from a typical werewolf novel and I've read a few. What makes this debut novel such a fun read is that unexpected mashup of wit and dismantlement of the cliche. I didn't know that the author was a volunteer auxiliary cop who died heroically in the line of duty just before this novel was published and I didn't buy it for that reason - there are a lot of dead authors with great books out there, frankly! (Bad joke, I know.) The point is Nicholas Pekearo managed to invest the typical cliche werewolf tale with an original voice and style and an interesting conceit to boot: the eponymous werewolf is a "Dexter" (my phrase, not the author's) who kills only bad guys. And it's a fun read.
August 14, 2024
What a shame this is the only novel we ever got from this supremely talented author. Helluva debut! I would have loved to have seen what else he could have accomplished. R.I.P.
March 10, 2010
This book presents a bit of a conundrum to me. I really, really wanted to like it. The summary/teaser on the dustjacket outlined an excellent plot, and I really thought the main character sounded very interesting. Unfortunately, the best word I can come up with to describe the book is either of these: cliched or predictable. I don't want to be "that guy", but it was obvious to me about halfway through the book who the serial killer was. On the plus side, I don't think the author was really going for a huge or unexpected twist at the end.. the hints were laid on pretty thick.
The focus, I think and hope, was supposed to be mostly on Marlowe (the main character and figure of tragedy) and his struggle to retain some form of control over himself and what resides inside him. It's a bummer the author died so soon (http://www.thevillager.com/villager_2...). The editor's preface talked about how Pekearo was planning on making a series of stories about Marlowe, and I really think it showed a lot of promise. I enjoyed his writing style, if not the plot layout and use of tired cliches. I could probably score this a 2 out of 5, but it held my interest throughout and that counts for something.
The focus, I think and hope, was supposed to be mostly on Marlowe (the main character and figure of tragedy) and his struggle to retain some form of control over himself and what resides inside him. It's a bummer the author died so soon (http://www.thevillager.com/villager_2...). The editor's preface talked about how Pekearo was planning on making a series of stories about Marlowe, and I really think it showed a lot of promise. I enjoyed his writing style, if not the plot layout and use of tired cliches. I could probably score this a 2 out of 5, but it held my interest throughout and that counts for something.
January 16, 2024
Intelligent werewolves! Hmm. I don’t think so.
So Marlowe Higgins has inherited his werewolfness from his father (thanks dad) and grandfather (thanks grampa), rather than the usual scratch/bite method. I’m not liking this already. Not only that; Marlowe has learned to train his werewolf to track down bad guys and dispense justice by the “fangs” method. Hmm. Not much random munching here. AND Marlowe only changes on precisely one night each month and can’t change at will. Where’s the fun in that?
This is a bait-and-switch book. The title gives the impression that it’s a werewolf book. It isn’t. It’s 20% Werewolf, 80% Whodunnit, 10% Bromance and 10% romance…and I know…I can’t add up, and my grammar is terrible. By the way, if you don't guess who the serial killer is the moment he/she first appears, I'd be very surprised - so that makes finishing the book even more challenging.
I don’t like whodunnits. I don’t know why – probably the same reason I don’t like celery. I like bait-and-switch books even less. Still – it was this bloke’s first published book, right after he was shot by some NYC hoodlum. Poor bastard.
I’ll give him 3 stars ‘cos I managed to finish the book without slamming my arthritic finger down onto the Delete button.
So Marlowe Higgins has inherited his werewolfness from his father (thanks dad) and grandfather (thanks grampa), rather than the usual scratch/bite method. I’m not liking this already. Not only that; Marlowe has learned to train his werewolf to track down bad guys and dispense justice by the “fangs” method. Hmm. Not much random munching here. AND Marlowe only changes on precisely one night each month and can’t change at will. Where’s the fun in that?
This is a bait-and-switch book. The title gives the impression that it’s a werewolf book. It isn’t. It’s 20% Werewolf, 80% Whodunnit, 10% Bromance and 10% romance…and I know…I can’t add up, and my grammar is terrible. By the way, if you don't guess who the serial killer is the moment he/she first appears, I'd be very surprised - so that makes finishing the book even more challenging.
I don’t like whodunnits. I don’t know why – probably the same reason I don’t like celery. I like bait-and-switch books even less. Still – it was this bloke’s first published book, right after he was shot by some NYC hoodlum. Poor bastard.
I’ll give him 3 stars ‘cos I managed to finish the book without slamming my arthritic finger down onto the Delete button.
November 2, 2014
This book came to me from a number of websites that stated that it was one of the best werewolf fictions out there, so I decided to grab it. I was not let down.
Pekearo has crafted a dynamic story laden with interesting characters, haunting situations, and horrific crimes. There are a lot of elements within this novel that work extremely well, so it's going to be hard to nail all of them down here in this review, so I'll just touch on the top ones.
The characters in The Wolfman are easily one of the most interesting aspects of this novel. Each one has a depth to them that most authors don't put into their characters these days. The protagonist himself has many different layers and a checkered past that he draws on throughout the story. You can tell Pekearo's law enforcement background within this story by the way he handles police officers and criminals. Each one draws the reader in, and more than once will frustrate you with their actions. Even the werewolf, which is done in the broadest strokes of them all, has a character all its own and remains cloaked in mystery and myth that works extremely well within this story.
Another element that Pekearo does well is dealing with the werewolf curse itself. The laws he sets up for the curse work and work well. The protagonist's dealings with his other side are mysterious yet believable enough that not once did I question its mythological nature in the story. Instead, it remains a tool for the story and helps to add to the unknown nature of the Rose Killer.
From the diner to the old tree, Pekearo created a living setting for his tale. Each piece of setting is a character unto themselves and he manages to paint a very realistic world for his characters to inhabit. I had no problems imagining what the town was like as the story moved from location to location, each one handled with skilled prose and just the right level of detail.
I will state, however, that Pekearo's storyline is fairly formulaic, with all the right plot points any true horror or thriller fan will recognize. Even the final meeting with the Rose Killer is predictable in its outcome. However, this does not detract away from the story itself, and in fact helps enhance it for the reader as you know what is going to happen and are waiting for it like a ravenous wolf.
In the end, I am extremely sad that Pekearo is no longer among us. I would have loved to have seen where his writing would have evolved to and the world is a poorer place at his loss. The Wolfman is easily one of the best books I have read this year and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good werewolf story.
Pekearo has crafted a dynamic story laden with interesting characters, haunting situations, and horrific crimes. There are a lot of elements within this novel that work extremely well, so it's going to be hard to nail all of them down here in this review, so I'll just touch on the top ones.
The characters in The Wolfman are easily one of the most interesting aspects of this novel. Each one has a depth to them that most authors don't put into their characters these days. The protagonist himself has many different layers and a checkered past that he draws on throughout the story. You can tell Pekearo's law enforcement background within this story by the way he handles police officers and criminals. Each one draws the reader in, and more than once will frustrate you with their actions. Even the werewolf, which is done in the broadest strokes of them all, has a character all its own and remains cloaked in mystery and myth that works extremely well within this story.
Another element that Pekearo does well is dealing with the werewolf curse itself. The laws he sets up for the curse work and work well. The protagonist's dealings with his other side are mysterious yet believable enough that not once did I question its mythological nature in the story. Instead, it remains a tool for the story and helps to add to the unknown nature of the Rose Killer.
From the diner to the old tree, Pekearo created a living setting for his tale. Each piece of setting is a character unto themselves and he manages to paint a very realistic world for his characters to inhabit. I had no problems imagining what the town was like as the story moved from location to location, each one handled with skilled prose and just the right level of detail.
I will state, however, that Pekearo's storyline is fairly formulaic, with all the right plot points any true horror or thriller fan will recognize. Even the final meeting with the Rose Killer is predictable in its outcome. However, this does not detract away from the story itself, and in fact helps enhance it for the reader as you know what is going to happen and are waiting for it like a ravenous wolf.
In the end, I am extremely sad that Pekearo is no longer among us. I would have loved to have seen where his writing would have evolved to and the world is a poorer place at his loss. The Wolfman is easily one of the best books I have read this year and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good werewolf story.
October 23, 2016
Have you ever had to endure a guy at work or at a party that thinks he is superbly clever and charming, but is really the most cliche, sexist dumbwit in the room? This book is that guy.
It kept me reading because, while the plot points are completely unoriginal and entirely predictable, they're new to the werewolf myth. AND occasionally, this guy has a decent cadence and can actually - from time to time - write a clever metaphor. No matter what he thinks, though, he's no Raymond Chandler.
It kept me reading because, while the plot points are completely unoriginal and entirely predictable, they're new to the werewolf myth. AND occasionally, this guy has a decent cadence and can actually - from time to time - write a clever metaphor. No matter what he thinks, though, he's no Raymond Chandler.
October 17, 2020
I love a good werewolf story, and this is definitely original, bloody and exciting. It's a shame this is the only novel we'll get from Pekearo (the editor and end notes are worth a read) as I would have loved to have more. The worldbuilding is a bit clunky at times but the author's take on the werewolf legend and what lycans can and can't do make for an thrilling ride.
August 10, 2021
I wanted to like this book so much. Everything about it's overall premise sounded like it had great potential, and the introduction and first couple of chapters were great in their narration. Unfortunately, the book quickly lost me. I'll get the positives out of the way quick and say that I really liked the overall prose of the story and the flashback sections that deal with the protagonist discovering the werewolf curse are really well written. Unfortunately, everything else is insufferable. The protagonist is a thoroughly unlikable, reflecting the worst, most dated tropes of hard-boiled detective fiction, and his unbearable dialog is filled with slurs and things that seem characteristic of every meat-head, backwater cop rolled into one insufferable jackass. The constant naming of characters after characters in other works of fiction, such as naming the first victim after the first victim in Halloween, or the soldiers named after Larry Talbot and H.G. Wells respectively really sucked me out of the story, reminding me of fiction I'd much rather be consuming than this tired abomination of a novel. I was tempted to make it two stars for the well written flashback scenes, as they are, on their own, worth reading and really well done, but the book itself is too poorly written and unbearable otherwise to justify doing so.
July 18, 2021
This book is bad. Now, the story itself was actually alright - it had a good flow and the story was a nice mix of the present and the past which gives the reader a good insight into who Marlowe is. There's just one problem - the author may try to portray Marlowe as the 'good guy', but he is anything but that. He stalks a woman because he likes her and doesn't want her to be hurt (that's still creepy and unacceptable), he's an alcoholic, he treats everybody - including his job - with contempt and like they're just there to please him.
However, my main problem with this book is the fact that it is both homophobic, racist, sexist and has a horrible view on both mental illness and development disorders. A guy who's (likely) suffering from schizophrenia is by Marlowe told that 'he takes crazy pills' and he uses it against the guy and threatens to cost him his job. The book throws around the f-word, women only exist for one thing, and the native Indians are blamed for Marlowe's plight.
I know this book was written in the 2000's and a lot of books from that time suffers from similar issues - but not as bad as this.
However, my main problem with this book is the fact that it is both homophobic, racist, sexist and has a horrible view on both mental illness and development disorders. A guy who's (likely) suffering from schizophrenia is by Marlowe told that 'he takes crazy pills' and he uses it against the guy and threatens to cost him his job. The book throws around the f-word, women only exist for one thing, and the native Indians are blamed for Marlowe's plight.
I know this book was written in the 2000's and a lot of books from that time suffers from similar issues - but not as bad as this.
November 22, 2019
*** I do not have positive nor negative review for this book. I found the plot to be interesting and different.
For a thriller involving a cursed man (werewolf), the author presents a different perspective of the werewolf's life. Like the hulk in end game, Marlowe accepts the werewolf that lives within him. Like Jack reacher, Marlowe lives like a homeless nomad moving town to town.
At the same time, he manages to direct the wolf to not kill innocent blood, which is the lesser evil of two choices.
As I read the book, I saw a character who embraced the curse yet used it to serve a purpose for a lesser evil. The wolf will kill but will not harm innocent blood as long as it is directed.
For a thriller involving a cursed man (werewolf), the author presents a different perspective of the werewolf's life. Like the hulk in end game, Marlowe accepts the werewolf that lives within him. Like Jack reacher, Marlowe lives like a homeless nomad moving town to town.
At the same time, he manages to direct the wolf to not kill innocent blood, which is the lesser evil of two choices.
As I read the book, I saw a character who embraced the curse yet used it to serve a purpose for a lesser evil. The wolf will kill but will not harm innocent blood as long as it is directed.
October 9, 2019
The Wolfman is Pekearo's first and only novel, published posthumously. While definitely having a modern feel, this book mostly sticks with the traditional werewolf motif - uncontrollable killing machine transforming by the light of the full moon, passed down through a family curse, awakening the next day with no memory of what he has done. Marlowe feels like a realistic character - pretty messed up in a lot of ways but trying to deal with his curse. Two issues I do have with his version of the werewolf are 1) Even though the origins of the curse seems to be non-Christian, the powers of the beast seem to have some sort of relationship to Christianity in a way that is never made clear. 2) After becoming human again, the protagonist sometimes acquires bits of his victims' traits or knowledges, in a way similar to Liv in "I Zombie". While this an interesting concept, in some ways it seems like the author introduced this as a way to feed the reader certain pieces of information to advance the plot. I'm not strictly AGAINST either of these ideas, but they don't seem fully fleshed out. I enjoyed the writing style, fast-paced first person narrative, verging on hard-boiled. His Chandler-esque expressions are a mixed bag, some decent, some overdone. Overall I give this a 3.5. I would have been interested in seeing where Pekearo was planning on taking the series.
EDIT: I just re-read the GR description of the book and it's got a couple of errors. 1) His discharge from the army wasn't dishonorable, it was psychological - after being found wandering in the jungle naked and covered in blood, suffering from amnesia after the destruction of his squad. 2) Marlowe never spent time in prison. Sometimes jail and hospital wards, but never long enough to go to trial (since 28 days is about how long anyone could keep him locked up - for obvious reasons).
EDIT: I just re-read the GR description of the book and it's got a couple of errors. 1) His discharge from the army wasn't dishonorable, it was psychological - after being found wandering in the jungle naked and covered in blood, suffering from amnesia after the destruction of his squad. 2) Marlowe never spent time in prison. Sometimes jail and hospital wards, but never long enough to go to trial (since 28 days is about how long anyone could keep him locked up - for obvious reasons).
April 26, 2023
Marlowe Higgins is a reasonably decent fellow and maybe a bit rough around the edges. He is also a werewolf and painfully transforms to a savage wolf every full moon. Higgins has some control over the wolf, however, as he can dictate who the wolf goes after. Higgins learns of a serial killer in his area and directs the wolf to seek out and destroy the killer. Something goes horribly wrong, though, and opens the door to a clever and interesting murder mystery.
This was a great read and a different look at an old story. I recommend it highly.
This was a great read and a different look at an old story. I recommend it highly.
January 31, 2024
I really loved the way this was written. Sad that the author is no more and I can't read more stories by him
February 18, 2024
Reads like a comic book, thematically. Has a lot of heart. But lol how many bar fights can one guy get into?
June 5, 2014
Ich bin sehr sensibel, was den Mondkalender betrifft. Sobald der Vollmond, wie das blinde und faulige Auge einer Hexe aus dem düsteren Berliner Himmel in mein Schlafzimmer blickt, habe ich schlaflose Nächte. Dann fühlt es sich an als ob mein Blut brodeln würde und an Schlaf ist nicht mehr zu denken.
Vielleicht erklärt diese lunare Sensibilität auch meine Affinität für das Werwolf-Genre. Von Filmen wie Teen Wolf,Dog Soldiers, Wolf, An american werewolf in London/Paris, Romasanta usw. über Romane wie The wolfen, The wolf's hour oder Sharp teeth habe ich einiges aus dem Genre gesehen und gelesen.
Nun also The Wolfman, ein Debüt-Roman der posthum nach dem tragischen Tod des Autors veröffentlicht wurde.
Nicholas Pekearo wurde mit 28 Jahren als (unbewaffneter) NYPD-Hilfspolizist bei der Verfolgung eines Straftäters mit sechs Kugeln erschossen. Schade denn als Autor hätte er durchaus eine Zukunft haben können. Möge er auch bei Vollmond in Frieden Ruhen.
Und darum geht's:
Auf Vietnam-Veteran Marlowe Higgins lastet der Werwolf-Fluch. Immer bei Vollmond muss er jemanden töten. Jahrelang plagt ihn sein Gewissen, bis es ihm eines Tages gelingt, aus der Not eine Tugend zu machen. Von da an tötet die Bestie in ihm nur noch böse Menschen.
Als ein Serienkiller die Stadt terrorisiert, scheint seine nächste Beute klar zu sein. Doch dann kommt alles ganz anders....
The Wolfman ist ein echter Rock n' roll Werwolf. Der Protagonist flucht wie ein Kesselflicker und auch im restlichen Text wird an Schimpfwörtern nicht gespart.
Diese unangepasste Wildheit passt wunderbar zum Genre. Überhaupt kann Pekearo ganz vernünftig schreiben.
Leider will die Geschichte anfangs nicht so richtig in Gang kommen. Erst nach gut einem Drittel des Buches kristallisiert sich langsam eine Handlung heraus.
Dann macht The Wolfman aber richtig Spaß, da kann der Held noch so übellaunig sein. Von Bordell zur Barschlägerei kämpft und beißt sich Higgins durch die Seiten. Dabei sitzt ihm die Zeit im Nacken, denn stets muss ein ausreichend böses Opfer gefunden werden, bevor der nächste Vollmond aufgeht. So liest er sich täglich durch die Schlagzeilen sämtlicher Lokalzeitungen und horcht seinen Polizistenfreund Pearce über aktuelle Straftäter aus.
Eine tolle Grundidee also. Ein Werwolf-Detektiv, der Verbrecher vor sein eigenes blutiges Gericht zieht.
Nebenbei bereichert Pekearo die Werwolf-Mythologie um ein paar interessante neue Eigenschaften. So übernimmt Higgins z.B. teilweise Charakterzüge und Erinnerungen von Menschen, die er getötet hat.
Fazit - Holy motherfucking shit - Der Rocker-Werwolf ist los!
Nicholas Pekearo bereichert das Werwolf-Universum um ein paar unterhaltsame Ideen. Mit pulsierender Schreibe lässt er einen sympathisch übellaunigen, alkoholsüchtigen, fluchenden Helden durch seinen Roman wüten.
The Wolfman ist eine verdammt wilde und blutige Werwolf-Geschichte, die leider einige Schwächen aufweist. Wahrscheinlich hat der plötzliche Tod des Autors dazu geführt hat, dass wir uns mit dieser unfertig wirkenden Version zufrieden geben müssen.
Mit kleineren Änderungen hätte The Wolfman das Potential zum echten Werwolf-Kultbuch gehabt.
Wertung knappe 3/5
awesomatik Kuriosum
Das Buch sollte man nicht mit dem Film The Wolfman von 1941 bzw. dem Remake von 2010 verwechseln.
Letzteres war einer der teuersten Boxoffice-Flops aller Zeiten und bekam extrem schlechte Kritiken.
Ich fand ihn gar nicht mal schlecht. Schönes Creature-Design und gute Schauspieler. Hätte natürlich besser sein können aber dafür, dass die Dreharbeiten mehr als problematisch verlaufen sind, ist das Ergebnis durchaus akzeptabel.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN9v_7...]
Und hier noch ein aktueller Filmtipp aus der humoristischen Sparte. Wolfcop - he's like Dirty Harry, only hairier:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_P4C8...]
Mehr Rezensionen und abenteuerlichen Content auf http://awesomatik.com
Vielleicht erklärt diese lunare Sensibilität auch meine Affinität für das Werwolf-Genre. Von Filmen wie Teen Wolf,Dog Soldiers, Wolf, An american werewolf in London/Paris, Romasanta usw. über Romane wie The wolfen, The wolf's hour oder Sharp teeth habe ich einiges aus dem Genre gesehen und gelesen.
Nun also The Wolfman, ein Debüt-Roman der posthum nach dem tragischen Tod des Autors veröffentlicht wurde.
Nicholas Pekearo wurde mit 28 Jahren als (unbewaffneter) NYPD-Hilfspolizist bei der Verfolgung eines Straftäters mit sechs Kugeln erschossen. Schade denn als Autor hätte er durchaus eine Zukunft haben können. Möge er auch bei Vollmond in Frieden Ruhen.
Und darum geht's:
Auf Vietnam-Veteran Marlowe Higgins lastet der Werwolf-Fluch. Immer bei Vollmond muss er jemanden töten. Jahrelang plagt ihn sein Gewissen, bis es ihm eines Tages gelingt, aus der Not eine Tugend zu machen. Von da an tötet die Bestie in ihm nur noch böse Menschen.
Als ein Serienkiller die Stadt terrorisiert, scheint seine nächste Beute klar zu sein. Doch dann kommt alles ganz anders....
The Wolfman ist ein echter Rock n' roll Werwolf. Der Protagonist flucht wie ein Kesselflicker und auch im restlichen Text wird an Schimpfwörtern nicht gespart.
Diese unangepasste Wildheit passt wunderbar zum Genre. Überhaupt kann Pekearo ganz vernünftig schreiben.
Leider will die Geschichte anfangs nicht so richtig in Gang kommen. Erst nach gut einem Drittel des Buches kristallisiert sich langsam eine Handlung heraus.
Dann macht The Wolfman aber richtig Spaß, da kann der Held noch so übellaunig sein. Von Bordell zur Barschlägerei kämpft und beißt sich Higgins durch die Seiten. Dabei sitzt ihm die Zeit im Nacken, denn stets muss ein ausreichend böses Opfer gefunden werden, bevor der nächste Vollmond aufgeht. So liest er sich täglich durch die Schlagzeilen sämtlicher Lokalzeitungen und horcht seinen Polizistenfreund Pearce über aktuelle Straftäter aus.
Eine tolle Grundidee also. Ein Werwolf-Detektiv, der Verbrecher vor sein eigenes blutiges Gericht zieht.
Nebenbei bereichert Pekearo die Werwolf-Mythologie um ein paar interessante neue Eigenschaften. So übernimmt Higgins z.B. teilweise Charakterzüge und Erinnerungen von Menschen, die er getötet hat.
Fazit - Holy motherfucking shit - Der Rocker-Werwolf ist los!
Nicholas Pekearo bereichert das Werwolf-Universum um ein paar unterhaltsame Ideen. Mit pulsierender Schreibe lässt er einen sympathisch übellaunigen, alkoholsüchtigen, fluchenden Helden durch seinen Roman wüten.
The Wolfman ist eine verdammt wilde und blutige Werwolf-Geschichte, die leider einige Schwächen aufweist. Wahrscheinlich hat der plötzliche Tod des Autors dazu geführt hat, dass wir uns mit dieser unfertig wirkenden Version zufrieden geben müssen.
Mit kleineren Änderungen hätte The Wolfman das Potential zum echten Werwolf-Kultbuch gehabt.
Wertung knappe 3/5
awesomatik Kuriosum
Das Buch sollte man nicht mit dem Film The Wolfman von 1941 bzw. dem Remake von 2010 verwechseln.
Letzteres war einer der teuersten Boxoffice-Flops aller Zeiten und bekam extrem schlechte Kritiken.
Ich fand ihn gar nicht mal schlecht. Schönes Creature-Design und gute Schauspieler. Hätte natürlich besser sein können aber dafür, dass die Dreharbeiten mehr als problematisch verlaufen sind, ist das Ergebnis durchaus akzeptabel.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN9v_7...]
Und hier noch ein aktueller Filmtipp aus der humoristischen Sparte. Wolfcop - he's like Dirty Harry, only hairier:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_P4C8...]
Mehr Rezensionen und abenteuerlichen Content auf http://awesomatik.com
December 27, 2022
Okay, so here’s the thing: for the first forty pages, I wanted to drop this book.
Those first forty pages, meeting and being with Marlowe Higgins is rough. The guy is the epitome of what the insecure think “being a man” is like.
Higgins is entitled, sexist, painfully unfunny, temperamental, and an all around uncomfortable headspace to be in.
Compounded with a writing style that leaves much to be desired, I looked at the swathes of books I could have been reading and wondered why I was wasting my time.
But by the end of the book, I found myself understanding the man better. The more I read, the more I empathized and found my introduction of Higgins to be a facade—a brusque network of defense mechanisms constructed by a broken man in a terrible circumstance.
Higgins is not just a werewolf—he’s a victim of a war that left him mentally ravaged. He’s an unwilling murderer. He’s a victim of generational trauma.
By the end of the story, I was led to see Higgins for what he truly was: a complicated man trying his best to do better.
Now, I’m fairness, perhaps this is just myself projecting subtext on a skin deep story that is just a pulp product of the early 2000’s.
But even if it was, the story was planned for more installments, and this being a debut novel, I was excited to see more.
This could have been up there with Dresden. This could have been the series to elevate werewolves influence in the public zeitgeist.
Like Marlowe, this series could have been more.
But the author was killed, and with him, the fruition of this series potential.
Honestly, I agree that personal circumstance shouldn’t impact the quality or opinion of a piece, but it’s a damn shame we’ll never see what happens next.
It’s a short read. A hard one (Marlowe doesn’t really improve as a person). But he doesn’t stop trying. And sometimes, I feel like we all need a reminder that some people are assholes, but with enough time spent with them, you can, at the very least see where they’re coming.
That being said: prose can be outright grating, Marlowe can be an outright creep, and the plot is not exactly riveting (you will call the killer immediately).
But this is a really interesting take on the werewolf myth as well, and if you have a rainy day to kill, you can get through this pretty easily.
Those first forty pages, meeting and being with Marlowe Higgins is rough. The guy is the epitome of what the insecure think “being a man” is like.
Higgins is entitled, sexist, painfully unfunny, temperamental, and an all around uncomfortable headspace to be in.
Compounded with a writing style that leaves much to be desired, I looked at the swathes of books I could have been reading and wondered why I was wasting my time.
But by the end of the book, I found myself understanding the man better. The more I read, the more I empathized and found my introduction of Higgins to be a facade—a brusque network of defense mechanisms constructed by a broken man in a terrible circumstance.
Higgins is not just a werewolf—he’s a victim of a war that left him mentally ravaged. He’s an unwilling murderer. He’s a victim of generational trauma.
By the end of the story, I was led to see Higgins for what he truly was: a complicated man trying his best to do better.
Now, I’m fairness, perhaps this is just myself projecting subtext on a skin deep story that is just a pulp product of the early 2000’s.
But even if it was, the story was planned for more installments, and this being a debut novel, I was excited to see more.
This could have been up there with Dresden. This could have been the series to elevate werewolves influence in the public zeitgeist.
Like Marlowe, this series could have been more.
But the author was killed, and with him, the fruition of this series potential.
Honestly, I agree that personal circumstance shouldn’t impact the quality or opinion of a piece, but it’s a damn shame we’ll never see what happens next.
It’s a short read. A hard one (Marlowe doesn’t really improve as a person). But he doesn’t stop trying. And sometimes, I feel like we all need a reminder that some people are assholes, but with enough time spent with them, you can, at the very least see where they’re coming.
That being said: prose can be outright grating, Marlowe can be an outright creep, and the plot is not exactly riveting (you will call the killer immediately).
But this is a really interesting take on the werewolf myth as well, and if you have a rainy day to kill, you can get through this pretty easily.
June 6, 2009
ahh.. how i wish i could give this book a five.
so you can pretty much figure out what's going to happen by chapter 2. thanks to the intro on the bookflap, you know that there is going to be some type of murderer and that Marlowe's first attempt to kill him goes wrong.
as soon as the "prettyboy" Anthony walks in-marlowe even says something like, "this day would change everything"-you know he's the killer. and then the clues start raining down. both the killer and Anthony are traveling from one coast to another. they both like to take pictures, and anthony is creepily present at all the funerals, not to mention his obvious morbid interest in the other murders. also, he hates women.
since Pearce is the werewolf's only friend, you know he's the one who gets killed. also easy to figure out because, for one, the incident occurs early in the book, too early for it to be the real killer, and Marlowe tells us that he never sees him again.
so the easiness bothered me a lot. it would be acceptable if this book were intended for kids and tweens, but there is no way that youngin's should be exposed to that much gory violence, profanity, torture, and sex. it is an adult-themes book with a kid level mystery.
that being said, i absolutely loved the book itself. the premise was original, and Pekearo's narration kept me racing towards the end of the book, even though i knew what was going to happen. the dialogue seemed so real, so natural, and Pekearo put a human face on an "abomination": made the reader feel sympathetic and endeared towards Marlowe, see both sides, not just bad. even, in the end, the rose killer gets a bit of sympathy, showing his circumstances growing up. it's all very interesting and very gripping.
i am sad to know that there will be no more stories about Marlowe Higgins. this book was obviously intended to be the first of a series. perhaps if they had gone on, the mysteries would become deeper. supposedly, there were other books that Pekearo wrote, and i hope that one day, those will find their way onto bookshelves too.
so you can pretty much figure out what's going to happen by chapter 2. thanks to the intro on the bookflap, you know that there is going to be some type of murderer and that Marlowe's first attempt to kill him goes wrong.
as soon as the "prettyboy" Anthony walks in-marlowe even says something like, "this day would change everything"-you know he's the killer. and then the clues start raining down. both the killer and Anthony are traveling from one coast to another. they both like to take pictures, and anthony is creepily present at all the funerals, not to mention his obvious morbid interest in the other murders. also, he hates women.
since Pearce is the werewolf's only friend, you know he's the one who gets killed. also easy to figure out because, for one, the incident occurs early in the book, too early for it to be the real killer, and Marlowe tells us that he never sees him again.
so the easiness bothered me a lot. it would be acceptable if this book were intended for kids and tweens, but there is no way that youngin's should be exposed to that much gory violence, profanity, torture, and sex. it is an adult-themes book with a kid level mystery.
that being said, i absolutely loved the book itself. the premise was original, and Pekearo's narration kept me racing towards the end of the book, even though i knew what was going to happen. the dialogue seemed so real, so natural, and Pekearo put a human face on an "abomination": made the reader feel sympathetic and endeared towards Marlowe, see both sides, not just bad. even, in the end, the rose killer gets a bit of sympathy, showing his circumstances growing up. it's all very interesting and very gripping.
i am sad to know that there will be no more stories about Marlowe Higgins. this book was obviously intended to be the first of a series. perhaps if they had gone on, the mysteries would become deeper. supposedly, there were other books that Pekearo wrote, and i hope that one day, those will find their way onto bookshelves too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2012
This was an excellent debut for young Nicholas Pekearo. The book had a new feel/slant to an old story; "The Wolfman". I thought this had the makings of a good series. We'll never know.... To Quote:"[Pekearo's] unusual blend of Bukowskiesque misanthropism,Lovecraftian horror,and hard-boiled existentialism `a la Ed McBain make the novel's intimate,first-person narration an unforgettable read....Crime fiction, paranormal fantasy, and horror fans alike should cherish this outstanding debut."--Chicago Tribune. ....This book received high praise from Joe R. Lansdale and Jack Ketchum;among others.This is not a spoiler alert;this is real life....Alas; Nicholas Pekearo was shot and killed on the night of March 14,2007 while on duty as an NYPD Auxiliary officer (volunteer). This information and further details are given by Eric Raab (March 2008)in an editor"s note at the first of the book. At the end of "The Wolfman" story there is an addendum to Mr.Pekearo's posthumously published first novel. His life underscored by a piece he did for the Empire State College literary magazine, Many Waters, in May 2005.(I'm just copying some of what is stated,with utmost respect.)The piece recounts the first day Nick joined the NYPD Auxiliary police force. The irony of the title is heartbreaking; \\ "THE WALKING TARGET": "The first time I put on a police uniform,....I looked at myself in the mirror hooked to the door of my locker,and I remember the look on my face being one of pure shock. I couldn't believe where I was, that I'd actually striven to be there. I couldn't believe that they'd let a nut like me get this far. I couldn"t believe what I was about to do: go out on the streets of New York City in that fucking monkey suit, that walking target, that uniform, and fight the "forces of darkness".// \\ Yes,"The Wolfman" is a very good story. But the real story is Nicholas Pekearo - "A TRUE HERO". [God Bless]//
July 23, 2010
A good example of "don't judge a book by its title. This sleeper hit is a winner in a big way, and not your typical monster story - couldn't put it down, read it in a couple sittings.
There's some terrific unexpected twists to the usual Wolfman myth going on here. I'd tell you what they are, but if you're lucky you'll get to discover them yourself like I did! If you see any reviews with spoilers, don't read 'em. Instead just run out and get this book.
This is a page-turning blend of crime thriller & horror novel, with lots of hard-boiled dialogue to chew on, believable characters and even though the ending isn't a big surprise, this one's more about how it gets there rather than where it ends up. Marley is an unforgettable narrator, and I hated to see his story end. If you're up for a rip, roarin' tale (literally), then this is highly recommended.
The author actually died before this was published, so sadly there won't be any sequels - and this could have been an amazing series.
There's some terrific unexpected twists to the usual Wolfman myth going on here. I'd tell you what they are, but if you're lucky you'll get to discover them yourself like I did! If you see any reviews with spoilers, don't read 'em. Instead just run out and get this book.
This is a page-turning blend of crime thriller & horror novel, with lots of hard-boiled dialogue to chew on, believable characters and even though the ending isn't a big surprise, this one's more about how it gets there rather than where it ends up. Marley is an unforgettable narrator, and I hated to see his story end. If you're up for a rip, roarin' tale (literally), then this is highly recommended.
The author actually died before this was published, so sadly there won't be any sequels - and this could have been an amazing series.
June 25, 2015
I stumbled across this book while weeding our collection and was attracted to this book due to the tragic biography of its author. The "wolfman" lives in a small Tennessee town working as a cook. He's a wanderer and a werewolf from a curse that's been handed down through the centuries. He is a Vietnam veteran too. He's come to realize he can manage his need to kill by eliminating the bad people. So if this were a TV series it would be like Dexter meets Supernatural. It's written in a funny and shocking style. You want to have some empathy for the wolfman as he often tries to do the right thing but he can be a real jerk most of the time-even when he's trying to be a good guy. The ending is a little predictable but there's some good page turning suspense. It was poised as a launching pad for further adventures by this troubled character. It's a real shame we were denied his talents by a crazed gunman. This is one "series" someone should take up and resurrect.
January 26, 2013
Definitely NOT recommended to tween/teenager/young adult fans who read Twilight. This book is grittier, a sort of honest point of view of a man cursed to turn into a wolf every full moon. Sorry girls, no Jacob Black whatsoever here.
I like it, it's a breeze turning from a page to another. Although almost from the start I've already knew or at least predicted who the Rose Killer is, it wasn't a problem to me. The flashback of the wolfman previous life that shaped his cruel destiny is relevant to what he was currently facing. I like how conflicted the wolfman is, it gave some depth to the book that some supernatural book failed to do so. The mysticism wasn't overpowering, the investigation, the gory killings, the emotional downpour of the characters are perfectly balanced.
RIP to Nicholas Pekearo. Such a lose.
I like it, it's a breeze turning from a page to another. Although almost from the start I've already knew or at least predicted who the Rose Killer is, it wasn't a problem to me. The flashback of the wolfman previous life that shaped his cruel destiny is relevant to what he was currently facing. I like how conflicted the wolfman is, it gave some depth to the book that some supernatural book failed to do so. The mysticism wasn't overpowering, the investigation, the gory killings, the emotional downpour of the characters are perfectly balanced.
RIP to Nicholas Pekearo. Such a lose.
September 10, 2016
เรื่องเกี่ยวกับมนุษย์หมาป่าร่วมสมัยในมุมมองใหม่ตามการตีความของผู้เขียน มีทั้งเอกลักษณ์เดิม ๆ ที่คงเอาไว้ ผสานกับความแปลกใหม่ที่ผู้เขียนคิดขึ้น เป็นส่วนผสมที่ลงตัวดี เสียดายที่ผู้เขียนเสียชีวิตแล้ว โอกาสจะเห็นภาคต่อของตัวละครที่โดดเด่นแบบนี้จึงหมดไปโดยปริยาย
September 30, 2020
This is one of the most entertaining novels I’ve read in a good while. The main character is charming, the plot moves at a steady pace and seeing a Werewolf kill people is always a delight. There were some good one liners here and there too, with some jokes actually landing quite well, physically making me laugh out loud, which is no easy feat.
That being said, despite my enjoyment of this book, it bore a lot of writing that made it sub par on a technical level. The prose lacked flow, bearing way too many sentences where a comma or semi colon could’ve helped with immersion. Telling instead of showing character relationships was also an issue, especially when we consider the lack of emotional attachment I had with these people. It felt more like the writer was dictating characters to do certain things rather than coax them along whatever path they desired. The plot was also rather predictable, with many twists in the story feeling rather predictable.
Though I’d chalk up the following to more personal tastes, I also found the similes to not be all that impactful, and even repetitive in some cases.
This book did bear a bit too much edge for my liking, but I would be lying if I said this wasn’t one hell of a time. The action sequences are fun and the gore described is over the top in the most delightfully of pulpy ways; it’s a love letter to horror and to classic, indulgent action thrillers.
If you hunger for Werewolf fiction, then you’re missing out if you don’t read this. Though if you’re not already invested in such fiction, then this could prove to be monotonous.
6/10
That being said, despite my enjoyment of this book, it bore a lot of writing that made it sub par on a technical level. The prose lacked flow, bearing way too many sentences where a comma or semi colon could’ve helped with immersion. Telling instead of showing character relationships was also an issue, especially when we consider the lack of emotional attachment I had with these people. It felt more like the writer was dictating characters to do certain things rather than coax them along whatever path they desired. The plot was also rather predictable, with many twists in the story feeling rather predictable.
Though I’d chalk up the following to more personal tastes, I also found the similes to not be all that impactful, and even repetitive in some cases.
This book did bear a bit too much edge for my liking, but I would be lying if I said this wasn’t one hell of a time. The action sequences are fun and the gore described is over the top in the most delightfully of pulpy ways; it’s a love letter to horror and to classic, indulgent action thrillers.
If you hunger for Werewolf fiction, then you’re missing out if you don’t read this. Though if you’re not already invested in such fiction, then this could prove to be monotonous.
6/10
November 6, 2020
Marlowe is a Vietnam war veteran who returns to America after his platoon is ambushed in the jungle. He has no memory of the events that brought him home, but soon learns that he's brought with him a deadly curse. After settling in a small town with a job at a diner, the lycanthropic protagonist loses the equilibrium he had established when a new monster moves into town in the form of a very human murderer. The Wolfman is ragged around the edges and shows none of the polish of a seasoned novelist, but given the openness of the the very satisfying ending, it would make sense to assume the author had more in store for Marlowe. There is a passing similarity to Robert McCammon's somewhat juvenile Wolf's Hour, only one of several stories he wrote about werewolf Michael Gallatin, but Pekearo paints a less cartoonish picture with his war-weary Wolfman. With enough time, I believe Marlowe's stories could have been impeccable. The story doesn't ask its readers to do much digging, but there's something to be said for an enjoyable experience earned with minimal effort. Solid werewolf story.
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