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The Saint of Wolves and Butchers
A mysterious stranger. A deadly task. A dark secret hidden for sixty years...
When State Trooper Skottie Foster moves back home to rural Kansas, she's hoping for a new start. But then a chance encounter on a snowy highway changes everything.
Travis Roan is a Nazi hunter, and he needs her help. Roan suspects this isolated region is home to infamous World War Two villain Rudolph Bormann.
When State Trooper Skottie Foster moves back home to rural Kansas, she's hoping for a new start. But then a chance encounter on a snowy highway changes everything.
Travis Roan is a Nazi hunter, and he needs her help. Roan suspects this isolated region is home to infamous World War Two villain Rudolph Bormann.
As they encounter immediate resistance from the deeply suspicious community, it soon becomes clear that Bormann's new life in America is every bit as sinister as his awful past.
But neither Roan nor Foster imagines how dangerous - and how personal - their task will become...
389 pages, Hardcover
First published April 17, 2018
119 people are currently reading
2182 people want to read
About the author
Alex Grecian
60 books1,642 followersGrecian is the author of several bestselling novels, including the horror/fantasies RED RABBIT, ROSE OF JERICHO and THE BOATMAN, plus the contemporary thriller THE SAINT OF WOLVES AND BUTCHERS, and five historical thrillers featuring Scotland Yard's Murder Squad: THE YARD, THE BLACK COUNTRY, THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP, THE HARVEST MAN, and LOST AND GONE FOREVER, plus the original Murder Squad ebook, THE BLUE GIRL.
He also created the six-volume graphic novel series PROOF, and the two-part graphic novel RASPUTIN.
He currently lives in the American Midwest with his wife and son. And a dog. And a tarantula.
He also created the six-volume graphic novel series PROOF, and the two-part graphic novel RASPUTIN.
He currently lives in the American Midwest with his wife and son. And a dog. And a tarantula.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
March 28, 2018
Spiders and flies lost in a tango of missteps.
The more you struggle.....well, you know.
Travis Roan has an unusual job. He hunts down evil-doers. Yep, that's right. There are those who walk this earth with bad attitudes and far more than mischief on their minds. They take their victims at will and scorch the ground that they walk upon. And Travis travels with his ready-to-leap canine, Bear, who resembles more lion than dog. Down, Boy.
Now you'd be scratching your head about now to think that Travis and Bear are tooling down the highways of rural Kansas in search of a Nazi doctor from long ago. Rudolph Bormann paid well to hide out in the same place as the Wizard of Oz. Rudy Goodman, as he's called now, has established a church with a multitude of followers and has honed some nasty skills imported from his port of departure. Rudy is far more Wicked Witch with a cast of Flying Monkeys than Wizard. You'll be finding that out real soon.
Law and Order Kansas is represented by African American State Trooper, Skottie Foster, who questions Travis at a rest stop. Little does Skottie realize, but she and her ten year old daughter, Maddy, will become main players in this quest for the elusive Rudolph Bormann. Skottie has moved back to her hometown in Kansas from Chicago in order to make a fresh start after her divorce. Have mercy! Skottie is one powerhouse of an intelligent, take-the-lead-at-all-times, analytical, professional woman. If there's another book following this one, Skottie best be in it front and center. Seriously......
I know that Alex Grecian has been around with some stellar books under his belt. This was a first time read for me. His character development is outstanding with dialogue that is sharp and intent and with chunks of humor thrown at you unexpectantly. I must say this: We no longer live in a once upon a time world. I think that Grecian's storyline here and perhaps in future books with Travis and Bear will reflect the reality of the dastardly that walk amongst us. Now there's a scary thought for another day.
I received a copy of this book through Giveaways on Goodreads. My thanks to G.P. Putnam (Penguin Random House) for the opportunity.
The more you struggle.....well, you know.
Travis Roan has an unusual job. He hunts down evil-doers. Yep, that's right. There are those who walk this earth with bad attitudes and far more than mischief on their minds. They take their victims at will and scorch the ground that they walk upon. And Travis travels with his ready-to-leap canine, Bear, who resembles more lion than dog. Down, Boy.
Now you'd be scratching your head about now to think that Travis and Bear are tooling down the highways of rural Kansas in search of a Nazi doctor from long ago. Rudolph Bormann paid well to hide out in the same place as the Wizard of Oz. Rudy Goodman, as he's called now, has established a church with a multitude of followers and has honed some nasty skills imported from his port of departure. Rudy is far more Wicked Witch with a cast of Flying Monkeys than Wizard. You'll be finding that out real soon.
Law and Order Kansas is represented by African American State Trooper, Skottie Foster, who questions Travis at a rest stop. Little does Skottie realize, but she and her ten year old daughter, Maddy, will become main players in this quest for the elusive Rudolph Bormann. Skottie has moved back to her hometown in Kansas from Chicago in order to make a fresh start after her divorce. Have mercy! Skottie is one powerhouse of an intelligent, take-the-lead-at-all-times, analytical, professional woman. If there's another book following this one, Skottie best be in it front and center. Seriously......
I know that Alex Grecian has been around with some stellar books under his belt. This was a first time read for me. His character development is outstanding with dialogue that is sharp and intent and with chunks of humor thrown at you unexpectantly. I must say this: We no longer live in a once upon a time world. I think that Grecian's storyline here and perhaps in future books with Travis and Bear will reflect the reality of the dastardly that walk amongst us. Now there's a scary thought for another day.
I received a copy of this book through Giveaways on Goodreads. My thanks to G.P. Putnam (Penguin Random House) for the opportunity.
February 20, 2020
" . . . you are a symbol of the evil that men do. You represent an ugly time in our shared history, and it helps to see you brought down."
A Nazi hunter, and his sidekick, a Tibetan Mastiff, arrive in Kansas to follow up on a report that a former camp worker has been sighted. They are unprepared for the fact that the man they seek may also be an insidiously evil serial killer. Luckily, a local state trooper is able to help in the investigation.
I thought this one was a fun, and vastly compelling read with likable, interesting characters to cheer for, and unlikable, interesting villains to root against. Then again, I'm a simple gal who is easily amused, so you might not like it as much. I gotta admit - there was one scene that made me not only laugh out loud, but hoot with joy. It's not a spoiler, so I'll share it with you. Here's the set-up: Trooper Skottie Foster, and her elderly mother have a genuine white supremacist who's also a police officer tied up on their floor. They believe he has information about a missing child, but he's not talking. Skottie is on the phone with her boss.
"I don't know what they were after, sir."
Emmaline gestured to her.
"Hang on a second, sir." Skottie lowered the phone. "What, Mom?"
Emmaline pointed at the deputy on the floor.
"They thought they could scare you."
"How do you know that?"
"I stepped on his knees."
"Mom!"
Emmaline waved her off. "He'll be all right."
"Did he say what it's all about?"
"No, but I could step on him again."
Go for it, Mom!
I know there was a lot in this book that seemed implausible, but thanks to the scene mentioned above, AND the fact that , I enjoyed the heck out of it.
And, Bear ROCKS!
A Nazi hunter, and his sidekick, a Tibetan Mastiff, arrive in Kansas to follow up on a report that a former camp worker has been sighted. They are unprepared for the fact that the man they seek may also be an insidiously evil serial killer. Luckily, a local state trooper is able to help in the investigation.
I thought this one was a fun, and vastly compelling read with likable, interesting characters to cheer for, and unlikable, interesting villains to root against. Then again, I'm a simple gal who is easily amused, so you might not like it as much. I gotta admit - there was one scene that made me not only laugh out loud, but hoot with joy. It's not a spoiler, so I'll share it with you. Here's the set-up: Trooper Skottie Foster, and her elderly mother have a genuine white supremacist who's also a police officer tied up on their floor. They believe he has information about a missing child, but he's not talking. Skottie is on the phone with her boss.
"I don't know what they were after, sir."
Emmaline gestured to her.
"Hang on a second, sir." Skottie lowered the phone. "What, Mom?"
Emmaline pointed at the deputy on the floor.
"They thought they could scare you."
"How do you know that?"
"I stepped on his knees."
"Mom!"
Emmaline waved her off. "He'll be all right."
"Did he say what it's all about?"
"No, but I could step on him again."
Go for it, Mom!
I know there was a lot in this book that seemed implausible, but thanks to the scene mentioned above, AND the fact that , I enjoyed the heck out of it.
And, Bear ROCKS!
May 8, 2018
Dr. Travis Roan is a Nazi hunter, working for the family foundation started by his grandfather. He and his huge dog Bear have tracked Rudolph Bormann, a Nazi doctor and concentration camp administrator, to Kansas where he has been living under the name Rudy Goodman since he came to the US in the 1950s. Rudy is now 94 and as evil as ever. In Kansas he established the Purity First church that has incorporated Nazi beliefs and stretched its activities into other areas of criminality. Roan is assisted by Kansas State Trooper Skottie Foster.
The first two-thirds of this book felt very slow and uneventful. The pace picked up in the end where we get murder, kidnapping and human trafficking. Other than Rudy, the bad guys were so inept and stupid that it didn't seem like a fair fight. Roan had an odd, robotic way of speaking for no apparent reason. His character definitely needed some fleshing out. He mentions that his mission is tracking evil doers of all sorts, which I assume is a set up for turning Roan (and possibly Foster) into a new series. So far, I prefer the author's historical fiction, but I would give Roan another try. And Bear was wonderful.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
The first two-thirds of this book felt very slow and uneventful. The pace picked up in the end where we get murder, kidnapping and human trafficking. Other than Rudy, the bad guys were so inept and stupid that it didn't seem like a fair fight. Roan had an odd, robotic way of speaking for no apparent reason. His character definitely needed some fleshing out. He mentions that his mission is tracking evil doers of all sorts, which I assume is a set up for turning Roan (and possibly Foster) into a new series. So far, I prefer the author's historical fiction, but I would give Roan another try. And Bear was wonderful.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
April 15, 2018
I like the idea of this book, about a Nazi hunter who pairs up with a downtrodden state trooper, but it never came together for me. Travis the Nazi hunter is like some weird cross between Data from Star Trek TNG and David Carradine's character from Kung Fu; I didn't believe he would exist or that people would find him charming if he did. His giant dog familiar, Bear, ends up functioning as a convenient deus ex machina who jumps out of the shadows to attack the bad guys whenever they get the drop on our heroes (also Bear's vocal cords are supposedly "cut," which is not a thing since vocal cords are not ACTUAL cords). And poor trooper Foster is the saddest sad sack ever. Even though she's actual law enforcement and Travis is a vigilante, he's the one who gets to do all the cool stuff while she follows him around asking totally reasonable questions and basically being the proxy for the reader. She constantly gets hamstrung by her superiors or menaced by the bad guys, to the point I started wishing she could catch a break.
On a larger scale, the big thing this book lacked was any element of suspense or surprise, which is kind of a problem in crime fiction. I kept reading in the hopes that the end would lead to some sort of reveal, not necessarily a twist but something that I didn't know at the beginning of the book, and that unfortunately never happens. I was also extremely uncomfortable with the scene where Travis and Sheriff Goodman gleefully arm themselves at Walmart with enough firepower to take on a small army, which basically stops the narrative in its tracks for several pages just so we can see the virtues of "one stop shopping" and snicker at Travis's assertion that they're "getting a head start" on deer hunting season. I'm perfectly comfortable with heroes whose ethics or lack thereof fall into a gray area, but this book takes more pleasure in the weapons than in the action or suspense. Not my thing.
On a larger scale, the big thing this book lacked was any element of suspense or surprise, which is kind of a problem in crime fiction. I kept reading in the hopes that the end would lead to some sort of reveal, not necessarily a twist but something that I didn't know at the beginning of the book, and that unfortunately never happens. I was also extremely uncomfortable with the scene where Travis and Sheriff Goodman gleefully arm themselves at Walmart with enough firepower to take on a small army, which basically stops the narrative in its tracks for several pages just so we can see the virtues of "one stop shopping" and snicker at Travis's assertion that they're "getting a head start" on deer hunting season. I'm perfectly comfortable with heroes whose ethics or lack thereof fall into a gray area, but this book takes more pleasure in the weapons than in the action or suspense. Not my thing.
October 7, 2019
I positively adore Alex Grecian’s Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad series and was super curious about The Wolf when I saw we were getting something outside of the series. I was eager for a standalone that would grab me in the same way as the Scotland Yard Murder Squad series.
Unfortunately, The Wolf failed to grab me in the way I had hoped. The story had the potential to be gripping, but I found myself unable to get into it in the way I had hoped. There was never the shock factor I had expected, there was never the love for the characters I had hoped for, and in the end I was disappointed by how easily everything came together.
In fact, the only thing I was crazy about in this book was the dog. It’s rather disappointing when the aspect that steals the limelight is an animal. I love animals – I adore animals – but there was so much in this book that should have rated above. There should have been mystery and suspense that shocked me, there should have been characters I adored, and there should have been emotion pulled out of me. Instead, the only thing I cared for was the dog.
I’ll certainly continue to read Alex Grecian, but The Wolf wasn’t to the author’s usual standard.
Unfortunately, The Wolf failed to grab me in the way I had hoped. The story had the potential to be gripping, but I found myself unable to get into it in the way I had hoped. There was never the shock factor I had expected, there was never the love for the characters I had hoped for, and in the end I was disappointed by how easily everything came together.
In fact, the only thing I was crazy about in this book was the dog. It’s rather disappointing when the aspect that steals the limelight is an animal. I love animals – I adore animals – but there was so much in this book that should have rated above. There should have been mystery and suspense that shocked me, there should have been characters I adored, and there should have been emotion pulled out of me. Instead, the only thing I cared for was the dog.
I’ll certainly continue to read Alex Grecian, but The Wolf wasn’t to the author’s usual standard.
April 28, 2018
DNF. I can't believe this was written by the same guy who wrote the wonderful Scotland Yard Squad novels. This may be the worst novel I've read so far this year. It is so bad, I sometimes wonder through reading it if it wasn't meant as some sort of parody. The characters are ridiculous - collections of unlikely and unbelievable traits and skills that behave in unexplainable ways. The plot sensationalizes the subject of Holocaust retribution and Nazi hunting, something that I feel very strongly about. It doesn't move much either, and if it does, it is in directions that stretch your disbelief to its breaking point. How could this have been allowed to be published?? I hope Grecian goes back to his usual (and very good) form before I lose interest.
April 27, 2018
Travis Roan is a Nazi hunter and his travels have led him to Kansas in the American Midwest and in particular to the community know as Purity First, a religious order. The founder of this sect is an elderly gentleman called Rudy Goodman a notorious Nazi better known as Rudolf Bormann, who is still adhering to evil practices on mainland USA.
It is now over 70 years since the conclusion of wartime hostilities in Europe. It therefore follows that any supporters of that regime would in all probability be very elderly and most likely infirm. This does not detract or excuse their past misdemeanours but it makes it highly unlikely that a 90 year old man would actively pursue evil practices by carrying out depraved deeds and murder. Over many years a number of children have gone missing, and it would appear that the good population of Kansas never once suspected or indeed questioned a motley group of individuals who wore "Brownshirts" acting in the manner of Adolf Hitler's SA..."all of them wearing identical brown shirts. There were perhaps twenty of them, their pink skin scrubbed clean, their fair hair neatly parted"..... In additions Rudolf Bormann owns a ranch know as the Third R which unbelievably never attracted attention from anyone in the rural community.
The hero of the moment is Trooper Skottie who certainly adds a little charm and colour to a sorry tale. Travis Roan's faithful dog Bear is at the centre of all the action, he is both deadly and loveable in equal measures and only responds to commands made in a language known as "Esperanto" (which has an estimated 2 million speakers worldwide, I am led to believe). Skottie struggles in her role as a single parent to her daughter and is drawn to the quiet reserved manner that is Roan. I quite liked the first third of this story and was prepared to overlook the fact that a very old man could be at the centre of a community funnelling drugs and people and guns and equally be the main suspect in the disappearance of young children. It was laughable to even consider that no one noticed these rather odd Brownshirts or even questioned a homestead called the third R....I suspect that if a man in brown shorts, neatly parted hair, short stubby moustache and a swastika on his arm jack booted his way down main street he would probably just been seen as an oddity and ignored! If an author chooses to use Nazi ideology as the main theme in his book the story should at least have some plausibility and not be portrayed in this nonsensical way culminating in a shootout when the main culprits were finally uncovered. As a reader and reviewer on netgalley it has to be right that I view and voice my opinions whether they be good or bad. Unfortunately in "The Wolf" I cannot find anything of merit, it was a story that had a ridiculous unfolding plot and it seems to me that the only reason for using Nazism as its central plot was a cheap ploy to draw in unsuspecting readers. Best avoided and certainly not recommended...however as always thanks to the good people at netgalley and the publisher Penguin for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
It is now over 70 years since the conclusion of wartime hostilities in Europe. It therefore follows that any supporters of that regime would in all probability be very elderly and most likely infirm. This does not detract or excuse their past misdemeanours but it makes it highly unlikely that a 90 year old man would actively pursue evil practices by carrying out depraved deeds and murder. Over many years a number of children have gone missing, and it would appear that the good population of Kansas never once suspected or indeed questioned a motley group of individuals who wore "Brownshirts" acting in the manner of Adolf Hitler's SA..."all of them wearing identical brown shirts. There were perhaps twenty of them, their pink skin scrubbed clean, their fair hair neatly parted"..... In additions Rudolf Bormann owns a ranch know as the Third R which unbelievably never attracted attention from anyone in the rural community.
The hero of the moment is Trooper Skottie who certainly adds a little charm and colour to a sorry tale. Travis Roan's faithful dog Bear is at the centre of all the action, he is both deadly and loveable in equal measures and only responds to commands made in a language known as "Esperanto" (which has an estimated 2 million speakers worldwide, I am led to believe). Skottie struggles in her role as a single parent to her daughter and is drawn to the quiet reserved manner that is Roan. I quite liked the first third of this story and was prepared to overlook the fact that a very old man could be at the centre of a community funnelling drugs and people and guns and equally be the main suspect in the disappearance of young children. It was laughable to even consider that no one noticed these rather odd Brownshirts or even questioned a homestead called the third R....I suspect that if a man in brown shorts, neatly parted hair, short stubby moustache and a swastika on his arm jack booted his way down main street he would probably just been seen as an oddity and ignored! If an author chooses to use Nazi ideology as the main theme in his book the story should at least have some plausibility and not be portrayed in this nonsensical way culminating in a shootout when the main culprits were finally uncovered. As a reader and reviewer on netgalley it has to be right that I view and voice my opinions whether they be good or bad. Unfortunately in "The Wolf" I cannot find anything of merit, it was a story that had a ridiculous unfolding plot and it seems to me that the only reason for using Nazism as its central plot was a cheap ploy to draw in unsuspecting readers. Best avoided and certainly not recommended...however as always thanks to the good people at netgalley and the publisher Penguin for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.
April 27, 2018
Alex Grecian weaves together a strong tale of past and present to bring historical fiction into a modern mystery. There are so many links in the chain of this plot: Nazi war crimes, missing children, a cult-like church under the control of a dangerous charlatan...
Somehow, it all fit together for an exciting read. While the story is concluded, I feel Grecian left an open ending to allow for new adventures with these characters eventually. I'd be interested to see what the future holds for Dr. Travis Roan and Bear.
You can read my full review on Roots & Reads here: https://rootsandreads.wordpress.com/2...
Somehow, it all fit together for an exciting read. While the story is concluded, I feel Grecian left an open ending to allow for new adventures with these characters eventually. I'd be interested to see what the future holds for Dr. Travis Roan and Bear.
You can read my full review on Roots & Reads here: https://rootsandreads.wordpress.com/2...
May 1, 2018
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers is a thriller of a read with an interesting premise, a diverse cast of characters, and a dog that rather steals the show.
The story follows Dr. Travis Roan of the Noah Roan Foundation as he follows up on a reported Nazi sighting in rural Kansas. As part of the Roan Foundation, Travis is in the business of catching bad guys, particularly the ones that are off the regular justice system's radar. So when a German immigrant claims to have seen Rudolph Bormann, a former Nazi doctor, in her town, the Roan Foundation is on it.
Hunting down Rudolph Bormann is the main premise of the book, but there ends up being a lot more going on than just that. There are a lot of plot threads to keep track of, and while they all end up tying together and resolving quite nicely, there are times that the story feels bogged down with all the drama. Of course, all that drama is what keeps the story moving, and I enjoyed the fast pace.
I also enjoyed the characters. Grecian has created a diverse cast of characters, from the prim-and-proper and incredibly clever detective in Travis to the hard-working mama cop in Skottie, the good-ol-boy with a secret in Goodman, and the truly evil and sadistic conman villain in Bormann. I do wish we'd gotten a little more character development here and there, but there is a good amount of character growth to keep the characters believable.
My favorite character in the story has to be Bear. Bear is a mute Tibetan mastiff who was once used by poachers to hunt rhinos. It's a wild background, but that background created a fiercely loyal and incredibly adept companion for Travis. Bear is definitely more than capable of taking care of himself, but he really shines when he's taking care of others, especially Skottie's daughter Maddy. I love the relationship between these two; it's sweet, but also a bit scary, as Maddy knows what Bear is capable of, and she isn't afraid to use that to her advantage when the situation calls for it. I really hope Skottie ends up working for the Roan Foundation if solely for Maddy and Bear to continue to be buddies.
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers is certainly a twisted tale, but it's a good one. I haven't read anything else by Grecian, although I do think I owned The Yard at some point, but is this is the beginning of a series, I'll certainly be checking out the other books.
Thanks to Penguin's First to Read for the advance copy of this book.
The story follows Dr. Travis Roan of the Noah Roan Foundation as he follows up on a reported Nazi sighting in rural Kansas. As part of the Roan Foundation, Travis is in the business of catching bad guys, particularly the ones that are off the regular justice system's radar. So when a German immigrant claims to have seen Rudolph Bormann, a former Nazi doctor, in her town, the Roan Foundation is on it.
Hunting down Rudolph Bormann is the main premise of the book, but there ends up being a lot more going on than just that. There are a lot of plot threads to keep track of, and while they all end up tying together and resolving quite nicely, there are times that the story feels bogged down with all the drama. Of course, all that drama is what keeps the story moving, and I enjoyed the fast pace.
I also enjoyed the characters. Grecian has created a diverse cast of characters, from the prim-and-proper and incredibly clever detective in Travis to the hard-working mama cop in Skottie, the good-ol-boy with a secret in Goodman, and the truly evil and sadistic conman villain in Bormann. I do wish we'd gotten a little more character development here and there, but there is a good amount of character growth to keep the characters believable.
My favorite character in the story has to be Bear. Bear is a mute Tibetan mastiff who was once used by poachers to hunt rhinos. It's a wild background, but that background created a fiercely loyal and incredibly adept companion for Travis. Bear is definitely more than capable of taking care of himself, but he really shines when he's taking care of others, especially Skottie's daughter Maddy. I love the relationship between these two; it's sweet, but also a bit scary, as Maddy knows what Bear is capable of, and she isn't afraid to use that to her advantage when the situation calls for it. I really hope Skottie ends up working for the Roan Foundation if solely for Maddy and Bear to continue to be buddies.
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers is certainly a twisted tale, but it's a good one. I haven't read anything else by Grecian, although I do think I owned The Yard at some point, but is this is the beginning of a series, I'll certainly be checking out the other books.
Thanks to Penguin's First to Read for the advance copy of this book.
October 28, 2018
As a native Kansan, I generally try to read Kansas-set novels--which is what sent me to this one. Dr. Travis Roan, along with his massive dog Beast, is a Nazi-hunter, drawn to Kansas by the report of a concentration camp survivor that a man in her neighborhood was actually the Nazi doctor who terrorized inmates. African-American highway patrol officer (and single mother) Scottie Foster has come to Kansas from Chicago to raise her daughter in a safer environment. She and Roan become uneasy partners tracking down the villain. The story moves at a good clip with flashbacks to the 1951 arrival of Rudolf Bormann and his transformation into Rudy Goodman and his earlier years as a concentration camp doctor; Foster is well drawn, but both Goodman and Roan are overdrawn, each representing opposite ends of the good/evil spectrum; story line with issues past and present (Bormann was welcomed by a sympathetic group and continues to carry out experiments with their support), cinematic, violent, investigative, plot-centered; vivid writing; chilling, gritty, suspenseful tone. A decent thriller with a story line that unfortunately seems all too possible, even though we'll surely eventually run out of actual Nazis. And then we'll find a new avatar to represent the evil in the world.
March 30, 2018
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers is a terrifically suspenseful and compelling read, that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through.
Travis Roan and his dog, Bear, hunt the evil people in the world. This work brings Travis to Kansas, on the heels of a recent witness report of a Nazi doctor living in the area. Soon Travis finds himself working with and against local law enforcement, while he tries to untangle the complicated and powerful web protecting the Nazi doctor.
Alex Grecian has done amazing work to weave together a storyline that moves between the present day events, and snippets of the Nazi doctor's history. I loved the quick pace of the story, and the fact that I couldn't set this book down for long - I simply had to find out what happened next.
Alex has also created absolutely TERRIFIC characters - the depth to each character added so much to the story. These characters were each quirky in their own specific and unique way, which in turn makes the standard police procedural feel super fresh and intriguing.
I would love if this book became the first in a series following Travis, Bear and Skottie and their work - I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that these characters make a repeat performance soon.
A definite recommendation for readers who love a fast paced mystery, and a strong crime drama. Happy reading!
Travis Roan and his dog, Bear, hunt the evil people in the world. This work brings Travis to Kansas, on the heels of a recent witness report of a Nazi doctor living in the area. Soon Travis finds himself working with and against local law enforcement, while he tries to untangle the complicated and powerful web protecting the Nazi doctor.
Alex Grecian has done amazing work to weave together a storyline that moves between the present day events, and snippets of the Nazi doctor's history. I loved the quick pace of the story, and the fact that I couldn't set this book down for long - I simply had to find out what happened next.
Alex has also created absolutely TERRIFIC characters - the depth to each character added so much to the story. These characters were each quirky in their own specific and unique way, which in turn makes the standard police procedural feel super fresh and intriguing.
I would love if this book became the first in a series following Travis, Bear and Skottie and their work - I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that these characters make a repeat performance soon.
A definite recommendation for readers who love a fast paced mystery, and a strong crime drama. Happy reading!
June 5, 2017
I am a big fan of Alex Grecian's dark story telling; especially here, where he illustrates a fresh time periods and locations, with invigorated stylized storytelling.
You're instantly immersed in the character's lives and very different stories, it make you wonder how they'll connect; from cryptic Nazi hunter Travis Roan, with his mute Tibetan Mastiff named Bear, to good-hearted Kansas State Trooper Skottie Foster.
Grecian creates an engaging ensemble of heroes and stacks them up against the vicious and unforgettable villain Rudy Goodman- who's the right blend of evil that you come to expect from Grecian's wring!
You're instantly immersed in the character's lives and very different stories, it make you wonder how they'll connect; from cryptic Nazi hunter Travis Roan, with his mute Tibetan Mastiff named Bear, to good-hearted Kansas State Trooper Skottie Foster.
Grecian creates an engaging ensemble of heroes and stacks them up against the vicious and unforgettable villain Rudy Goodman- who's the right blend of evil that you come to expect from Grecian's wring!
April 16, 2018
I was excited to get my hands on a copy of Alex Grecian's new book after reading his Scotland Yard series and enjoying the hell out of it. This new book takes us away from the Victorian period and right into present day, with a few glimpses into the past through our antagonist, Rudy Goodman.
Travis Roan, of The Noah Roan Foundation, has been sent to Kansas to investigate a sighting of Rudolph Bormann, an ex-Nazi doctor, as well as the disappearance of the last Foundation agent that was sent to investigate. You'd think it would be pretty easy to track a nonagenarian, but like me, you'd be wrong. Rudolph came to the US in the early 1950's as Rudy Goodman and has been hiding out since. Even at 93/94 years old, Rudy is giving Travis the run around.
Joined by his faithful friend, Bear, a mute Tibetan Mastiff, Travis encounters State Trooper Skottie Foster, who questions him about his motives for being in Kansas. Travis is upfront with her, quickly bringing her up to speed on the purpose for his trip. Skottie finds that she is intrigued by the case and finds herself getting more involved as the days go on. As with most small town scenarios, the local sheriff doesn't take kindly to strangers, making things extra difficult for Travis.
The first quarter of the book starts slow, setting the scene and introducing us to these new characters. As the story of Rudolph/Rudy unfolds, we learn that he didn't leave his unsavory behaviors in 1940's Germany. Grecian has a knack for giving the reader a glimpse at the horrors of his evil masterminds, and this time around was no different. I found myself wishing there was even more gory details than we actually get. Grecian also gives us some good character development here, but I felt that Travis as a character was a bit cold. In trying to be honest and upfront, some of his dialogue felt stilted and it was hard for me to really root for him to find the former Nazi doctor. Conversely, Skottie was cautious early on when meeting Travis and Bear, but she began to open up and show some more emotion once we get to meet her daughter and mother, who she lives with.
If this is the first in a series of books with Travis acting as a sort of bounty hunter, I'll likely check out book two. If Skottie comes back, it's even more likely. Thanks to First To Read/G. P. Putnam for an early copy of the book!
Travis Roan, of The Noah Roan Foundation, has been sent to Kansas to investigate a sighting of Rudolph Bormann, an ex-Nazi doctor, as well as the disappearance of the last Foundation agent that was sent to investigate. You'd think it would be pretty easy to track a nonagenarian, but like me, you'd be wrong. Rudolph came to the US in the early 1950's as Rudy Goodman and has been hiding out since. Even at 93/94 years old, Rudy is giving Travis the run around.
Joined by his faithful friend, Bear, a mute Tibetan Mastiff, Travis encounters State Trooper Skottie Foster, who questions him about his motives for being in Kansas. Travis is upfront with her, quickly bringing her up to speed on the purpose for his trip. Skottie finds that she is intrigued by the case and finds herself getting more involved as the days go on. As with most small town scenarios, the local sheriff doesn't take kindly to strangers, making things extra difficult for Travis.
The first quarter of the book starts slow, setting the scene and introducing us to these new characters. As the story of Rudolph/Rudy unfolds, we learn that he didn't leave his unsavory behaviors in 1940's Germany. Grecian has a knack for giving the reader a glimpse at the horrors of his evil masterminds, and this time around was no different. I found myself wishing there was even more gory details than we actually get. Grecian also gives us some good character development here, but I felt that Travis as a character was a bit cold. In trying to be honest and upfront, some of his dialogue felt stilted and it was hard for me to really root for him to find the former Nazi doctor. Conversely, Skottie was cautious early on when meeting Travis and Bear, but she began to open up and show some more emotion once we get to meet her daughter and mother, who she lives with.
If this is the first in a series of books with Travis acting as a sort of bounty hunter, I'll likely check out book two. If Skottie comes back, it's even more likely. Thanks to First To Read/G. P. Putnam for an early copy of the book!
May 4, 2018
Alex Grecian makes the leap from 19th century Scotland Yard to 21st century rural Kansas without a stumble. Dr Travis Roan is a Nazi hunter (although we learn he hunts other evil doers as well) on the trail of Dr. Rudolph Bormann, concentration camp surgeon, aka Rudy Goodman since his illegal entry to the US in 1951. A camp survivor has seen and recognized him in a rural Kansas town and Travis is following not only that lead, but the first investigator who has somehow disappeared.
Trooper Skottie Foster is a single mom, recently returned home to Hays, whose gut feeling tells her Travis Roan (and his dog Bear) means trouble, but he almost persuades her otherwise. Still., she calls ahead to Sheriff Goodman in Paradise Flats to let him know Roan is headed his way. Her second talk with him convinces her she needs to help but both him out, but ONLY until he's released. Each step she takes however seems to bring her to the attention of those who want Roan gone. Soon she has no choice but to join in his quest, putting herself, her daughter, and even her ex-husband in jeopardy.
I finished this book in two days...the first sentence hooked me and the two protagonists were so well drawn....there is an edge to Skottie and Travis is driven by his need to find not only truth but the monster behind that truth. They're different in many ways, yet they work well together as a team. Excellent read!
Trooper Skottie Foster is a single mom, recently returned home to Hays, whose gut feeling tells her Travis Roan (and his dog Bear) means trouble, but he almost persuades her otherwise. Still., she calls ahead to Sheriff Goodman in Paradise Flats to let him know Roan is headed his way. Her second talk with him convinces her she needs to help but both him out, but ONLY until he's released. Each step she takes however seems to bring her to the attention of those who want Roan gone. Soon she has no choice but to join in his quest, putting herself, her daughter, and even her ex-husband in jeopardy.
I finished this book in two days...the first sentence hooked me and the two protagonists were so well drawn....there is an edge to Skottie and Travis is driven by his need to find not only truth but the monster behind that truth. They're different in many ways, yet they work well together as a team. Excellent read!
May 16, 2018
I thought this was great. This is was historical fiction is supposed to feel like. Unlike most historical fiction novels, this one is more of a thriller which I found to be a refreshing change of pace. So refreshing, I read it in two days. Alex Grecian expertly created a mystery that is captivating and characters that hold your attention.
Travis Roan is a Nazi Hunter sent to Kansas to track down a rumored concentration camp director. You might be thinking, really? aren't Nazi's at this point really old? Yes, they are, but Grecian still makes the villain of this story creepy and relevant even though he is 94 years old. The back story provided for this guy is expertly woven into the present time. Travis enlist the help of a local state trooper, Skottie Foster and of course his trusty dog Bear. I don't want to give anything away, but these two form a great team without it being cheesy and are able to solve the case in a way that seems plausible in the real world.
I could not put this down. I hope we get more of Dr. Travis Roan and his buddy Bear.
Travis Roan is a Nazi Hunter sent to Kansas to track down a rumored concentration camp director. You might be thinking, really? aren't Nazi's at this point really old? Yes, they are, but Grecian still makes the villain of this story creepy and relevant even though he is 94 years old. The back story provided for this guy is expertly woven into the present time. Travis enlist the help of a local state trooper, Skottie Foster and of course his trusty dog Bear. I don't want to give anything away, but these two form a great team without it being cheesy and are able to solve the case in a way that seems plausible in the real world.
I could not put this down. I hope we get more of Dr. Travis Roan and his buddy Bear.
April 1, 2018
I received this book from Goodreads.
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers is a compelling read with a gripping plot.
Rudolph Bormann, AKA the main bad guy, a Nazi doctor and concentration camp administrator who snuck into the US under the name Rudy Goodman in the 1950s and still practices his disturbing experiments, has at last been identified. A witness from the camps recognized him, and called the Noah Roan Foundation.
The NRF tracks all types of bad guys, not just Nazis, and gathers evidence to convict them in court and bring them to justice.
Which explains why Travis Roan is in Kansas with his conspicuous jeep, intimidating dog, and his unmistakable loaded semi automatic pistol. Skottie's not buying the Nazi story, but Roan isn't necessarily doing anything illegal so she can't arrest him.
She'll keep her eye on him, though. And give the surrounding counties a heads up over radio.
And unknowingly wakes up a den wolves and their flock of extremist sheep.
Clouds are gathering and thunder rumbles.
Lightning is gearing to strike.
And.....
I ship Travis and Skottie. Just saying.
And Bear is my absolute favorite. Without him, this book would be nothing.
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers is a compelling read with a gripping plot.
Rudolph Bormann, AKA the main bad guy, a Nazi doctor and concentration camp administrator who snuck into the US under the name Rudy Goodman in the 1950s and still practices his disturbing experiments, has at last been identified. A witness from the camps recognized him, and called the Noah Roan Foundation.
The NRF tracks all types of bad guys, not just Nazis, and gathers evidence to convict them in court and bring them to justice.
Which explains why Travis Roan is in Kansas with his conspicuous jeep, intimidating dog, and his unmistakable loaded semi automatic pistol. Skottie's not buying the Nazi story, but Roan isn't necessarily doing anything illegal so she can't arrest him.
She'll keep her eye on him, though. And give the surrounding counties a heads up over radio.
And unknowingly wakes up a den wolves and their flock of extremist sheep.
Clouds are gathering and thunder rumbles.
Lightning is gearing to strike.
And.....
I ship Travis and Skottie. Just saying.
And Bear is my absolute favorite. Without him, this book would be nothing.
July 23, 2018
I am a huge fan of Alex Grecian and have read, and loved his Scotland Yard series. . This book not so much. Dr. Travis Roan is on the search for his father, who was last seen in Kensas. He was after a war criminal a Nazi doctor. The book really did drag. A highway patrol officer name Scottie, who has a daughter, and going through a divorce gets dragged in. She lives back at home with her mother, and has a daughter named Maddy. The best character in the book is bear, a big dog that belongs to Travis. It never takes me this long to read a book. I keep putting it down, because it feels cardboard. There is no doubt the Nazi was, and is evil. He has branched out over the years, and hides behind a ministry, he began, a cult really. He is a pervert, and a torturer, and everything one could say, but it just limps along. plus if his father disappeared in this environment why would you come alone. The whole thing, but the last several chapters finally, was just sad compared to his other books. I gave it a three because he can write, and I do feel going after these feral animals are needed, but next time, if there is more ,pump up some action. I hope you continue, in your other books about the yard, and stories that were really much better. plus the Nazi is 94. He did have family in law enforcement, which helped protect him, but still. I really have a dislike for those that go after children, and to the end this pervert never paid the price he had inflicted on so many innocents...So not my type of story.
March 19, 2018
This book was a fun and enthralling read, but I have to say a HUGE chunk of the plot was basically the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I would consider reading other things by this author but honestly part of the plot line was very unoriginal.
April 27, 2018
I don't even know what to say. I loved the first half of this book. Great premise and interesting characters. Then it all went wrong for me. I don't want to spoil it, but I can't suspend my disbelief quite that much! You don't have to make your antagonist so unbelievable. Being a Nazi is enough. That being very vaguely said, I love the author's Victorian series and cannot wait for another!
November 1, 2019
This is a great, fast-paced read, full of suspense. I think I partially enjoyed it because it's set in Kansas and references a lot of towns I know. It also has a unique storyline with Nazis and a big fluffy dog. Not a cute story by any means, but if you like suspense and thrillers, you'll enjoy this one.
February 4, 2020
Spellbinding. It kept me up half of the night finishing it.
August 26, 2020
I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to! I LOVE Bear! Travis and Bear are a great team that I hope we might see again even though this wraps up on its own.
November 16, 2024
Definitely not as good as Red Rabbit, but this thriller with a hint of the supernatural is a quick, straightforward, Nazi-punching adventure.
December 27, 2024
Kind of disappointed. What started as a fun concept of a nazi hunter, turned into a kind of boring southern cult book. Which sucks, because red rabbit was so good.
May 30, 2018
Well written book. Interesting story with intriguing characters.
December 2, 2020
I was so scared but I also couldn't put it down. Read it in less than 24 hours and prayed I wouldn't have nightmares 😂.
April 17, 2023
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't like I hoped it would be. I have a number of Alex Grecian books on my TBR and hopefully they'll be better than this. I'm always wary of male authors writing women convincingly, and in this case the woman in question is black. She's a state trooper in rural Kansas, but beyond mentioning how few female troopers were serving in Kansas, there's not a whole lot there.
Given that it's a book about racial purity, about how the main baddie is an unrepentant Nazi who goes on and on about how he rids the world of Jews and black people, this is such a wasted opportunity. Did she really have no racism thrown at her? Im not even saying that about the police force - the church people are literally bonkers brown shirts. Did the black and brown community really not feel the racism coming through to them from the church? The church raises eyebrows, even Skottie's, but it's the kind of eyebrow raise from someone who isn't likely to be affected by it.
It's a wild story and I really loved the Tibetan mastiff and Skottie's daughter, but it also needed to be enjoyed after suspending a good amount of disbelief.
Given that it's a book about racial purity, about how the main baddie is an unrepentant Nazi who goes on and on about how he rids the world of Jews and black people, this is such a wasted opportunity. Did she really have no racism thrown at her? Im not even saying that about the police force - the church people are literally bonkers brown shirts. Did the black and brown community really not feel the racism coming through to them from the church? The church raises eyebrows, even Skottie's, but it's the kind of eyebrow raise from someone who isn't likely to be affected by it.
It's a wild story and I really loved the Tibetan mastiff and Skottie's daughter, but it also needed to be enjoyed after suspending a good amount of disbelief.
August 24, 2018
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers by Alex Grecian will go down for me as one of those mystery novels that may have just tried a little too hard. It may have pushed the boundaries of believability to the point that I no longer was as invested in the book as I once was. Add onto it the cliche characters of rural America and the inherit racism, and you end up with a decent novel that could have been much better.
Rudolf Bormann fled Nazi Germany at the end of the second world war for South America to escape persecution. After a few years in South America he made his way north, into the United States under the name, Rudy Goodman. Bormann had been a concentration camp doctor whose experiments upon the prisoners wavered between mad genius to outright barbaric. Bormann is now a cattle rancher and local minister at a church in Kansas. Until one day, he is recognized.
Travis Roan, with his dog Bear, are looking for Rudy. But more importantly, they are looking for the man who came searching for Rudy first. Travis' father. Roan tries to keep his business secret but he has attracted the attention of the local sheriff and soon he finds himself thwarted and a suspect in a rash of recent killings. Bormann has the support of the local police and in his church, followers who revere him with god like status.
What Roan does not know is that Bormann had never ended his experiments and now with an entire town protecting him, he is nearly untouchable. Roan's only ally is the State Trooper Skottie Foster, but Foster soon finds her own family at risk as she tries to help Roan.
Travis Roan must find a way to stop Bormann and bring him to justice and perhaps, even save the life of his own father.
The concept of a Nazi war criminal making his way to the United States and hiding out is not a bad storyline. That he would continue to experiment on human beings as a demented yet genius serial killer is not bad either. That a group of "manhunters" would search out these criminals either is not bad. But lets put the criminal in Kansas. In rural America where everyone is uneducated and backward and quick to follow cult leaders and the only people that have the sense to see through this are the "non-white" citizens of the area...okay that is what I mean by cheap and stupid cliches about small town America.
I have lived in small town America and I have lived in the larger cities and I have to say that racism and ignorance is far more prevalent in the large cities than what I encounter in small towns. Far more in the "educated" community than in the rural areas.
So when a writer reaches for these cliches I find it weak and quite frankly, insulting to the reader.
Grecian is a good writer and I found his earlier works about Jack the Ripper very well done. Maybe he just doesn't get what its like in America. Perhaps its time to turn off Fox and CNN and look at how the people really are.
Decent but severely lacking.
Rudolf Bormann fled Nazi Germany at the end of the second world war for South America to escape persecution. After a few years in South America he made his way north, into the United States under the name, Rudy Goodman. Bormann had been a concentration camp doctor whose experiments upon the prisoners wavered between mad genius to outright barbaric. Bormann is now a cattle rancher and local minister at a church in Kansas. Until one day, he is recognized.
Travis Roan, with his dog Bear, are looking for Rudy. But more importantly, they are looking for the man who came searching for Rudy first. Travis' father. Roan tries to keep his business secret but he has attracted the attention of the local sheriff and soon he finds himself thwarted and a suspect in a rash of recent killings. Bormann has the support of the local police and in his church, followers who revere him with god like status.
What Roan does not know is that Bormann had never ended his experiments and now with an entire town protecting him, he is nearly untouchable. Roan's only ally is the State Trooper Skottie Foster, but Foster soon finds her own family at risk as she tries to help Roan.
Travis Roan must find a way to stop Bormann and bring him to justice and perhaps, even save the life of his own father.
The concept of a Nazi war criminal making his way to the United States and hiding out is not a bad storyline. That he would continue to experiment on human beings as a demented yet genius serial killer is not bad either. That a group of "manhunters" would search out these criminals either is not bad. But lets put the criminal in Kansas. In rural America where everyone is uneducated and backward and quick to follow cult leaders and the only people that have the sense to see through this are the "non-white" citizens of the area...okay that is what I mean by cheap and stupid cliches about small town America.
I have lived in small town America and I have lived in the larger cities and I have to say that racism and ignorance is far more prevalent in the large cities than what I encounter in small towns. Far more in the "educated" community than in the rural areas.
So when a writer reaches for these cliches I find it weak and quite frankly, insulting to the reader.
Grecian is a good writer and I found his earlier works about Jack the Ripper very well done. Maybe he just doesn't get what its like in America. Perhaps its time to turn off Fox and CNN and look at how the people really are.
Decent but severely lacking.
April 18, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC copy of this from Penguin Random House First To Read in exchange for an honest review.
One-Line Summary:
When Travis Roan shows up in a small town claiming to be on the trail of a Nazi doctor, Kansas State Trooper Skottie Foster finds herself in over her head as she tries to find the truth.
Summary:
When Kansas State Trooper Skottie Foster makes a routine traffic stop, she hardly expects the driver to inform her that he’s chasing a man he believes is a Nazi war criminal, a doctor who performed unspeakable experiments at an internment camp during the war. Yet, that’s exactly what Travis Roan claims. What she expects even less is the way Travis’ presence is handled in the next jurisdiction by Sheriff Goodman. Things just keep getting weirder, as Travis isn’t welcome in the small town, and it seems that someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to convince him to leave. Soon, Skottie Foster finds herself dragged into the tangled web, and all she wants is for justice to be served.
The Positives:
- I really liked Travis Roan and Bear, his giant dog sidekick, as characters. Actually, the way they’re handled makes me think this is the beginning of what will become an ongoing series, so we’ll see? Travis Roan is from the Roan Foundation, which is a family-owned entity, and his whole family happens to be in the business of hunting down wanted criminals. There are a lot of little hints in the book about his background, from the strange way he talks (which implies English was not his first language), to the fact that he commands Bear in Esperanta, which is a language that is significant to him because of something in his past. I felt like there was just enough exposed for me to like him, but still so much more to explore that I’d love to revisit the character. And of course, Bear is a big, ferocious lug. What’s not to love about that?
- I felt the plot and characters were actually fairly unique for an idea that’s been done as often as this. I mean, I’ve seen the basic premise done many times, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but this felt novel enough where I didn’t roll my eyes or anything, for the most part. There were some surprises (not as many as I’d hoped), but I think the strength of it really was in the handling of Rudy Goodman as a character. He’s not evil just because, and he actually has motives (albeit skewed and slightly crazy ones, but I can totally buy his conviction in them).
- The cult is fantastically unique and well done … mostly. There was one point that I really just wasn’t a fan of regarding that because it didn’t make much sense logically to me, but as it’s a bit of a spoiler, I won’t go into detail. I loved the background of the cult and its founding and beliefs, not because they were terribly unique, but because the antagonist was so totally bought up in it and convinced of it that during sections with his point of view, it seemed to make total sense from his perspective. Enough so to at least give you pause.
The Negatives:
- There were so many instances that required me to suspend my disbelief for this plot to work, and I just … I couldn’t. Even from the very beginning. There was really no reason for Skottie Foster to interrogate Travis Roan like he’s a suspect when she approaches him to tell him to leash his (very well behaved, might I add) dog at a rest stop. But fine, I can buy that. However, why would she call ahead to the jurisdiction where he’s heading to tell that sheriff to keep an eye out for his vehicle when he answered all her questions honestly and broke no laws? It just didn’t make any sense, especially considering she gives no reason as to why they should be on the lookout, which seems quite heavy-handed and likely to send the wrong message. Things like this happen over and over again. Obviously, they need to happen for the rest of the plot to “work,” but at the same time, I’m just not buying it. There were far too many of these instances.
- When it was thrilling, boy was it thrilling, but mostly, for a large part of the book, it was just slow. Actually, most often, it was me yelling at the characters for being completely stupid/irrational and ugh. Like any book, there are lulls and peaks, but I felt like a lot of “big” reveals were obvious to me, so the fact that they’re dragged out to build up to it felt unnecessary.
- I’m fairly certain that everything in this gives small towns a bad rep, and I assure you, as someone who has always lived in a small town, we’re not this bad. I mean, as far as my town’s concerned, you’re going to have to be able to put up with A LOT of random pets and iced tea so sweet that it’ll turn your blood to syrup, but that seems fairly mild in light of this book. I totally understand the draw and appeal to small-town living like this, but given the fact that I live in a small town … it makes it even harder to believe that someone could get away with so much stuff.
- The summary makes sure to point out that Skottie is black, but other than it playing into the Nazi thing (which, let’s face it, a lot of other identities would also suffice for this), it seems to have no purpose. Her character doesn’t seem particularly unique or seem to have a different voice or world view because of it. Her being a female in law enforcement seems to have a bigger impact on the story than her being black. As a brown kid who has grown up and always lived in very white, very rural towns (okay, except that brief stint when I tolerated a city for college), I figured surely she would be a character I could relate to, but that wasn’t the case. So I guess I was sort of disappointed that such a fuss was made about it in the summary that I thought it would be a major plot point, and it just wasn’t. Certainly didn’t warrant a mention in the summary except to earn diversity points (or that’s how it seems to me).
- Travis Roan and Rudy Goodman are the only two characters I really connected with … and considering one has a mysterious and questionable background and the other is a former Nazi, that’s maybe not a good thing? The other characters just fell flat for me, though. Skottie was neither good nor bad; I felt more like I just tolerated her. She didn’t feel like she had a whole lot of voice or personality, other than seeking justice. The same with her daughter. Smart kid acting out because of a divorce, until she needs to do something utterly stupid because the plot necessitates it. I just couldn’t stand Sheriff Goodman, because his character was all over the board. I wanted to like him, but I never knew where he was going to stand on any given point, and first impressions left a bitter taste in my mouth that I just couldn’t get past.
Overall:
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers is a book that I’ve seen a lot of, and I did that internal should I/shouldn’t I when deciding whether to read it. Actually, I passed it up several times because I wasn’t sure it was my “thing.” I’m still not convinced. It was an enjoyable read and easy to get through, with a satisfying ending. It was good, but not particularly memorable. That being said, if a second book were to come out with Travis Roan, would I read it? Heck yes. So you can take what you want from that.
One-Line Summary:
When Travis Roan shows up in a small town claiming to be on the trail of a Nazi doctor, Kansas State Trooper Skottie Foster finds herself in over her head as she tries to find the truth.
Summary:
When Kansas State Trooper Skottie Foster makes a routine traffic stop, she hardly expects the driver to inform her that he’s chasing a man he believes is a Nazi war criminal, a doctor who performed unspeakable experiments at an internment camp during the war. Yet, that’s exactly what Travis Roan claims. What she expects even less is the way Travis’ presence is handled in the next jurisdiction by Sheriff Goodman. Things just keep getting weirder, as Travis isn’t welcome in the small town, and it seems that someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to convince him to leave. Soon, Skottie Foster finds herself dragged into the tangled web, and all she wants is for justice to be served.
The Positives:
- I really liked Travis Roan and Bear, his giant dog sidekick, as characters. Actually, the way they’re handled makes me think this is the beginning of what will become an ongoing series, so we’ll see? Travis Roan is from the Roan Foundation, which is a family-owned entity, and his whole family happens to be in the business of hunting down wanted criminals. There are a lot of little hints in the book about his background, from the strange way he talks (which implies English was not his first language), to the fact that he commands Bear in Esperanta, which is a language that is significant to him because of something in his past. I felt like there was just enough exposed for me to like him, but still so much more to explore that I’d love to revisit the character. And of course, Bear is a big, ferocious lug. What’s not to love about that?
- I felt the plot and characters were actually fairly unique for an idea that’s been done as often as this. I mean, I’ve seen the basic premise done many times, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but this felt novel enough where I didn’t roll my eyes or anything, for the most part. There were some surprises (not as many as I’d hoped), but I think the strength of it really was in the handling of Rudy Goodman as a character. He’s not evil just because, and he actually has motives (albeit skewed and slightly crazy ones, but I can totally buy his conviction in them).
- The cult is fantastically unique and well done … mostly. There was one point that I really just wasn’t a fan of regarding that because it didn’t make much sense logically to me, but as it’s a bit of a spoiler, I won’t go into detail. I loved the background of the cult and its founding and beliefs, not because they were terribly unique, but because the antagonist was so totally bought up in it and convinced of it that during sections with his point of view, it seemed to make total sense from his perspective. Enough so to at least give you pause.
The Negatives:
- There were so many instances that required me to suspend my disbelief for this plot to work, and I just … I couldn’t. Even from the very beginning. There was really no reason for Skottie Foster to interrogate Travis Roan like he’s a suspect when she approaches him to tell him to leash his (very well behaved, might I add) dog at a rest stop. But fine, I can buy that. However, why would she call ahead to the jurisdiction where he’s heading to tell that sheriff to keep an eye out for his vehicle when he answered all her questions honestly and broke no laws? It just didn’t make any sense, especially considering she gives no reason as to why they should be on the lookout, which seems quite heavy-handed and likely to send the wrong message. Things like this happen over and over again. Obviously, they need to happen for the rest of the plot to “work,” but at the same time, I’m just not buying it. There were far too many of these instances.
- When it was thrilling, boy was it thrilling, but mostly, for a large part of the book, it was just slow. Actually, most often, it was me yelling at the characters for being completely stupid/irrational and ugh. Like any book, there are lulls and peaks, but I felt like a lot of “big” reveals were obvious to me, so the fact that they’re dragged out to build up to it felt unnecessary.
- I’m fairly certain that everything in this gives small towns a bad rep, and I assure you, as someone who has always lived in a small town, we’re not this bad. I mean, as far as my town’s concerned, you’re going to have to be able to put up with A LOT of random pets and iced tea so sweet that it’ll turn your blood to syrup, but that seems fairly mild in light of this book. I totally understand the draw and appeal to small-town living like this, but given the fact that I live in a small town … it makes it even harder to believe that someone could get away with so much stuff.
- The summary makes sure to point out that Skottie is black, but other than it playing into the Nazi thing (which, let’s face it, a lot of other identities would also suffice for this), it seems to have no purpose. Her character doesn’t seem particularly unique or seem to have a different voice or world view because of it. Her being a female in law enforcement seems to have a bigger impact on the story than her being black. As a brown kid who has grown up and always lived in very white, very rural towns (okay, except that brief stint when I tolerated a city for college), I figured surely she would be a character I could relate to, but that wasn’t the case. So I guess I was sort of disappointed that such a fuss was made about it in the summary that I thought it would be a major plot point, and it just wasn’t. Certainly didn’t warrant a mention in the summary except to earn diversity points (or that’s how it seems to me).
- Travis Roan and Rudy Goodman are the only two characters I really connected with … and considering one has a mysterious and questionable background and the other is a former Nazi, that’s maybe not a good thing? The other characters just fell flat for me, though. Skottie was neither good nor bad; I felt more like I just tolerated her. She didn’t feel like she had a whole lot of voice or personality, other than seeking justice. The same with her daughter. Smart kid acting out because of a divorce, until she needs to do something utterly stupid because the plot necessitates it. I just couldn’t stand Sheriff Goodman, because his character was all over the board. I wanted to like him, but I never knew where he was going to stand on any given point, and first impressions left a bitter taste in my mouth that I just couldn’t get past.
Overall:
The Saint of Wolves and Butchers is a book that I’ve seen a lot of, and I did that internal should I/shouldn’t I when deciding whether to read it. Actually, I passed it up several times because I wasn’t sure it was my “thing.” I’m still not convinced. It was an enjoyable read and easy to get through, with a satisfying ending. It was good, but not particularly memorable. That being said, if a second book were to come out with Travis Roan, would I read it? Heck yes. So you can take what you want from that.
April 17, 2018
Alex Grecian takes a break from his Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad Series with a new novel, THE SAINT OF WOLVES AND BUTHERS, introducing Dr. Travis Roan, a hunter of evildoers, and Skottie Foster, a Kansas State Trooper. Travis, along with his dog Bear, travels the world chasing the most malevolent offenders to bring them to justice. They have traveled to Kansas to apprehend Rudolph Bormann, a Nazi doctor who snuck into the US in the early 1950s. Travis learns that Bormann, operating under the alias Rudy Goodman has powerful allies that will do anything to protect him. Goodman, the founder of Purity First Church, has been using his church and congregation as a cover to continue his vile “work”. Travis and Skottie cross paths and she is drawn into Travis’s hunt for Bormann, putting herself and her family in danger.
I am a big fan of Grecian’s Murder Squad series and I was really excited to read this book featuring new characters in a modern time frame. There is an element of historical fiction in the novel with Bormann’s flashbacks of being smuggled into America and the founding of his twisted church, but the main thrust of the novel is set in the present day. I was engrossed with this novel from the opening chapters. Full of nail-biting action and a very swift plot, the novel is a quick read, even at a length of 400 pages. I enjoyed getting to know both of the protagonists in the story. Travis is very formal and his profession has made him a loner, with only his dog for a companion. The novel doesn’t go into much of his backstory, but I feel there is more to Travis than we have been shown. Skottie is an African American woman, a newly single mom, and a good police officer. She has moved back to her hometown to raise her daughter, Maddy, after her marriage ends. The pair make an effective team and need to rely on each other in their pursuit to rid Skottie’s hometown of an insidious evil. I really loved this book. It was chilling to read, but the warmth of friendship balances out the nasty bits. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Roan and Foster. I am excited to read more about these characters and get to know them better. I highly recommend this novel. It was a very strong 5/5 star read for me.
Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and Penguin Random House for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
I am a big fan of Grecian’s Murder Squad series and I was really excited to read this book featuring new characters in a modern time frame. There is an element of historical fiction in the novel with Bormann’s flashbacks of being smuggled into America and the founding of his twisted church, but the main thrust of the novel is set in the present day. I was engrossed with this novel from the opening chapters. Full of nail-biting action and a very swift plot, the novel is a quick read, even at a length of 400 pages. I enjoyed getting to know both of the protagonists in the story. Travis is very formal and his profession has made him a loner, with only his dog for a companion. The novel doesn’t go into much of his backstory, but I feel there is more to Travis than we have been shown. Skottie is an African American woman, a newly single mom, and a good police officer. She has moved back to her hometown to raise her daughter, Maddy, after her marriage ends. The pair make an effective team and need to rely on each other in their pursuit to rid Skottie’s hometown of an insidious evil. I really loved this book. It was chilling to read, but the warmth of friendship balances out the nasty bits. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Roan and Foster. I am excited to read more about these characters and get to know them better. I highly recommend this novel. It was a very strong 5/5 star read for me.
Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and Penguin Random House for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
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