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The Beast of Brenton Woods
From the author of Paradise, Maine.
Some legends never die....
The White Wolf, the Beast of Brenton Woods, a legendary creature said to walk like a man. When the full moon rises, it will feast.
Unseen for years, truth has turned to rumor, mere folklore. Until something lures the monster from exile, calling it home.
For Tyler and Ben, a firsthand encounter leads to an exploration of the forbidden depths of Brenton woods, and for Ben, the discovery of a family secret.
When Wendy and her friends hangout in the abandoned cabin is compromised, the hunt begins. The target of a creature's desire, Wendy is hearing whispers in the night, finding footprints outside her window, and can't shake the dreadful feeling that something is waiting for her.
Deputy Kathy Wilcox understands the disturbances, the shredded carcasses, and the growing list of missing persons in town are connected to something larger than life. Will her acceptance of the legend end in tragedy?
There's a full moon above, the night is coming down, and blood is about to run.
"The Beast of Brenton Woods" is a werewolf novel coming summer of 2018 from Alien Agenda Publishing.
Some legends never die....
The White Wolf, the Beast of Brenton Woods, a legendary creature said to walk like a man. When the full moon rises, it will feast.
Unseen for years, truth has turned to rumor, mere folklore. Until something lures the monster from exile, calling it home.
For Tyler and Ben, a firsthand encounter leads to an exploration of the forbidden depths of Brenton woods, and for Ben, the discovery of a family secret.
When Wendy and her friends hangout in the abandoned cabin is compromised, the hunt begins. The target of a creature's desire, Wendy is hearing whispers in the night, finding footprints outside her window, and can't shake the dreadful feeling that something is waiting for her.
Deputy Kathy Wilcox understands the disturbances, the shredded carcasses, and the growing list of missing persons in town are connected to something larger than life. Will her acceptance of the legend end in tragedy?
There's a full moon above, the night is coming down, and blood is about to run.
"The Beast of Brenton Woods" is a werewolf novel coming summer of 2018 from Alien Agenda Publishing.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2018
157 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Jackson R. Thomas
6 books28 followersJackson R. Thomas has lived in Colorado, New York, and now resides in Coopers Mills, Maine with his cat, Gizmo.
He loathes social media, and has worked as a janitor, fast-food slave, record store clerk, and night auditor at an unnamed hotel on Route 1.
He loves horror books, horror films, and the band, Ministry.
He loathes social media, and has worked as a janitor, fast-food slave, record store clerk, and night auditor at an unnamed hotel on Route 1.
He loves horror books, horror films, and the band, Ministry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 29, 2021
This was a real werewolf story, not some romantic notion of a loving and charming shifter! I don't know what took me so long to read this book because it was dark and gritty with a few touches of humor now and then. There were many twists and turns which made the story even more compelling. There also were an unusual amount of characters which I appreciated but some other readers may not like keeping track of so many people that were involved, but I really enjoyed the fact that there were many characters and I didn't know who would become victims or survivors.
There was a good amount of blood and gore and foul language which seem appropriate in a good creature feature book. I also loved the fact that the author captured a few different elements with this werewolf that combined several other mysteries into his history but there were still many questions unanswered by the end of the book, so hopefully there will be a sequel one day.
I recommend this book to any werewolf story lover and have given a rating of 4 Horrifying and Secretive 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
There was a good amount of blood and gore and foul language which seem appropriate in a good creature feature book. I also loved the fact that the author captured a few different elements with this werewolf that combined several other mysteries into his history but there were still many questions unanswered by the end of the book, so hopefully there will be a sequel one day.
I recommend this book to any werewolf story lover and have given a rating of 4 Horrifying and Secretive 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
August 7, 2018
There is a werewolf on the loose and he’s got murder, food and procreating on the brain!
If you want a fast paced, action-packed, blood-soaked read and are sick and tired of watered down monsters you should give this one a go. I think you will be very satisfied. There are a few people who accidentally get in his path but, for the most part, his victims are no big loss to society.
This story is more than just people eating fun though and that’s why I liked it. There’s some good characterization, realistic dialogue and interesting plot threads here too. There’s a young boy who feels a weird connection to this monster and thinks his momma is keeping secrets and there’s a teenager who has a heart of gold and risks everything to save his feckless sister. It’s good to have a couple of good guys to root for in this cruel, cruel world.
This reminded me slightly of a Richard Laymon story, what with the pervy men and stupid people, but it wasn’t nearly as in your face with it all and there wasn’t all the rump and boob talk that Laymon loved so much. I enjoyed it without ever wanting to murder one of the characters myself.
My only minor issue was the plethora of characters. There were a lot of them in this novella and sometimes I struggled trying to remember who was who but maybe that’s due to my crappy memory and the fact that I couldn’t finish it in a sitting or two.
At any rate, it’s a solid four star read and recommended for you beast lovers!
If you want a fast paced, action-packed, blood-soaked read and are sick and tired of watered down monsters you should give this one a go. I think you will be very satisfied. There are a few people who accidentally get in his path but, for the most part, his victims are no big loss to society.
This story is more than just people eating fun though and that’s why I liked it. There’s some good characterization, realistic dialogue and interesting plot threads here too. There’s a young boy who feels a weird connection to this monster and thinks his momma is keeping secrets and there’s a teenager who has a heart of gold and risks everything to save his feckless sister. It’s good to have a couple of good guys to root for in this cruel, cruel world.
This reminded me slightly of a Richard Laymon story, what with the pervy men and stupid people, but it wasn’t nearly as in your face with it all and there wasn’t all the rump and boob talk that Laymon loved so much. I enjoyed it without ever wanting to murder one of the characters myself.
My only minor issue was the plethora of characters. There were a lot of them in this novella and sometimes I struggled trying to remember who was who but maybe that’s due to my crappy memory and the fact that I couldn’t finish it in a sitting or two.
At any rate, it’s a solid four star read and recommended for you beast lovers!
January 12, 2020
Crude and not as scary as it should be
No romantic, misunderstood creature here. Just a monster. And a bunch of crude, vulgar talking people some of whom are very foolish. Some are downright stupid. I spent a lot of years in law enforcement and the National Guard so I am accustomed to such language. However, in real life everybody doesn't talk that way. Certainly not all of the time. This could have been a good but simple scary story. The overuse of crude language, graphic sex, the in-your-face monster with too little suspense, a few obvious grammatical errors, foolish and stupid characters, etc. take much of the fun out of this one. Still, those things don't take all of the fun out. If you like werewolf stories about real monsters you maybe able to overlook the problems and enjoy reading this one. Three stars.
No romantic, misunderstood creature here. Just a monster. And a bunch of crude, vulgar talking people some of whom are very foolish. Some are downright stupid. I spent a lot of years in law enforcement and the National Guard so I am accustomed to such language. However, in real life everybody doesn't talk that way. Certainly not all of the time. This could have been a good but simple scary story. The overuse of crude language, graphic sex, the in-your-face monster with too little suspense, a few obvious grammatical errors, foolish and stupid characters, etc. take much of the fun out of this one. Still, those things don't take all of the fun out. If you like werewolf stories about real monsters you maybe able to overlook the problems and enjoy reading this one. Three stars.
February 19, 2019
Review originally in the Holiday issue of Scream Magazine, 2018
There aren’t nearly enough werewolf novels out there. I mean, that probably depends on where you’re looking because I’ve Tweeted this very statement before and I was told that there are more than enough werewolf novels on Amazon in the “self published” arena but who has time to push aside the weeds to find the treasures?
That’s why I’m only too happy to review The Beast of Brenton Woods for Scream fans. Werewolf stories are full of so much potential. As horror fans, we know that if there’s a werewolf, there’s bound to be some carnage and on that front, The Beast of Brenton Woods delivers.
In fact, readers are thrown into a pretty hectic scene right away and then another and another. It took some time to get used to the frenetic pacing. This was definitely not a slow burn. Intermingled with Beastial encounters, the author chooses to introduce a large cast and it was difficult to keep everyone straight. I wasn’t sure if all the characters were going to stick around for the duration of the novel and I should try to remember them or if they were just going to become fodder for the beast and I could just keep reading--I chose the first option and tried to keep track of the names. This means that as the narration jumped from scene to scene-I’d have to sometimes go back through the parts I read to remember who was who. That was a little frustrating, especially since this is novella length and I wanted to binge read straight through. It required a little more effort on my part. Of the more memorable characters, is a protagonist named, Ben Cutter. I liked Ben right away since he and my son are both thirteen years of age. The author did a good job portraying him as such. Ben felt authentic.
I love when an author has a good handle on writing realistic dialog--it really helps the story move at a quick, desirable pace and also helps with solid character building so the reader can invest; this could be Jackson’s wheelhouse as this was prevalent throughout the book. All the teenagers had their own voice, especially Ben and I appreciated that--sometimes writers forget that not all teenagers talk the same.
I enjoyed that this was a werewolf story with some well-developed backstory and its own folklore-the legend of the White Wolf. But this also presented its first of a few problems; namely I wanted more. Once you grow to like the cast and navigate the three groups of people we’re following, the story begins its blood-soaked-gore-fest sprint to the end. It was over too quickly.
As soon as the body count begins to rise, the authorities are called in to investigate and too late in the game, we meet Deputy Kathy Wilcox. I was so glad to get an adult female lead but unfortunately, she was a little underdeveloped for my taste and I was left wondering if the author had spent a little more time with the novel, if she would have had a more deserving role? We did get Wendy, however and she was quite complimentary alongside Ben Cutter.
I’m actually hoping there will be a sequel because the author did leave the door open for the opportunity. So even though this book had a couple of issues for me, it was still a page
turner--each chapter leaving me wanting to keep reading. The White Wolf left plenty of gore and carnage in its wake. The Beast of Brenton Woods not disappoint on that score.
There aren’t nearly enough werewolf novels out there. I mean, that probably depends on where you’re looking because I’ve Tweeted this very statement before and I was told that there are more than enough werewolf novels on Amazon in the “self published” arena but who has time to push aside the weeds to find the treasures?
That’s why I’m only too happy to review The Beast of Brenton Woods for Scream fans. Werewolf stories are full of so much potential. As horror fans, we know that if there’s a werewolf, there’s bound to be some carnage and on that front, The Beast of Brenton Woods delivers.
In fact, readers are thrown into a pretty hectic scene right away and then another and another. It took some time to get used to the frenetic pacing. This was definitely not a slow burn. Intermingled with Beastial encounters, the author chooses to introduce a large cast and it was difficult to keep everyone straight. I wasn’t sure if all the characters were going to stick around for the duration of the novel and I should try to remember them or if they were just going to become fodder for the beast and I could just keep reading--I chose the first option and tried to keep track of the names. This means that as the narration jumped from scene to scene-I’d have to sometimes go back through the parts I read to remember who was who. That was a little frustrating, especially since this is novella length and I wanted to binge read straight through. It required a little more effort on my part. Of the more memorable characters, is a protagonist named, Ben Cutter. I liked Ben right away since he and my son are both thirteen years of age. The author did a good job portraying him as such. Ben felt authentic.
I love when an author has a good handle on writing realistic dialog--it really helps the story move at a quick, desirable pace and also helps with solid character building so the reader can invest; this could be Jackson’s wheelhouse as this was prevalent throughout the book. All the teenagers had their own voice, especially Ben and I appreciated that--sometimes writers forget that not all teenagers talk the same.
I enjoyed that this was a werewolf story with some well-developed backstory and its own folklore-the legend of the White Wolf. But this also presented its first of a few problems; namely I wanted more. Once you grow to like the cast and navigate the three groups of people we’re following, the story begins its blood-soaked-gore-fest sprint to the end. It was over too quickly.
As soon as the body count begins to rise, the authorities are called in to investigate and too late in the game, we meet Deputy Kathy Wilcox. I was so glad to get an adult female lead but unfortunately, she was a little underdeveloped for my taste and I was left wondering if the author had spent a little more time with the novel, if she would have had a more deserving role? We did get Wendy, however and she was quite complimentary alongside Ben Cutter.
I’m actually hoping there will be a sequel because the author did leave the door open for the opportunity. So even though this book had a couple of issues for me, it was still a page
turner--each chapter leaving me wanting to keep reading. The White Wolf left plenty of gore and carnage in its wake. The Beast of Brenton Woods not disappoint on that score.
August 1, 2018
3.5 stars!
THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS is the first novel I have read by author Jackson Thomas. Years before, this town had whispers of a "white wolf" that terrorized the town. In the present day, most think of them as mere stories told to scare the local youth. However, for some, Susan Cutter, her thirteen year-old son, Ben, the new Sheriff Decker, and teenagers Johnny, Wendy, and Bryan, the tales are about to come alive.
". . . the existence of a werewolf changed her concepts of what was and what was not possible."
The werewolf legend comes to life with some unique details here. I enjoyed the background that the author gave for this tale, and the character of Ben really kept my attention. He was so real in the things he'd do and the risks he'd take, that it was difficult NOT to see him as a person.
". . . Yep. Definitely the dumbest thing I've ever done . . . "
While his character was very well fleshed out, I never really felt "close" to the majority of the rest of them, for some reason--with the exception of the "White Wolf", himself. During the other scenes, I would find myself wishing we could go back and see what Ben was up to, as I felt he was the most believable and interesting of all the characters.
"You can't run from me . . . There's worse monsters than me out tonight."
Overall, while only a couple of characters impressed me, I really enjoyed the background tale of the wolf, and how some of the threads tied together in ways that I couldn't have predicted. There was a good amount of gore, and not a lot of repetitious lore that we've all read dozens of times. A unique werewolf tale that I felt could have used a little more in the way of characterization for most of the people present.
Recommended.
THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS is the first novel I have read by author Jackson Thomas. Years before, this town had whispers of a "white wolf" that terrorized the town. In the present day, most think of them as mere stories told to scare the local youth. However, for some, Susan Cutter, her thirteen year-old son, Ben, the new Sheriff Decker, and teenagers Johnny, Wendy, and Bryan, the tales are about to come alive.
". . . the existence of a werewolf changed her concepts of what was and what was not possible."
The werewolf legend comes to life with some unique details here. I enjoyed the background that the author gave for this tale, and the character of Ben really kept my attention. He was so real in the things he'd do and the risks he'd take, that it was difficult NOT to see him as a person.
". . . Yep. Definitely the dumbest thing I've ever done . . . "
While his character was very well fleshed out, I never really felt "close" to the majority of the rest of them, for some reason--with the exception of the "White Wolf", himself. During the other scenes, I would find myself wishing we could go back and see what Ben was up to, as I felt he was the most believable and interesting of all the characters.
"You can't run from me . . . There's worse monsters than me out tonight."
Overall, while only a couple of characters impressed me, I really enjoyed the background tale of the wolf, and how some of the threads tied together in ways that I couldn't have predicted. There was a good amount of gore, and not a lot of repetitious lore that we've all read dozens of times. A unique werewolf tale that I felt could have used a little more in the way of characterization for most of the people present.
Recommended.
June 13, 2018
There's something in the woods - white furred and enormous, with an insatiable appetite for violence...and revenge. The beast of Brenton Woods has a score to settle, and lots of blood to spill. Standing in its way, though, is an adolescent boy, his mother, and a local deputy, each of whom are ensnared in the search for this monster, and who are intent on uncovering its secrets, and possibly hiding a few of their own.
Jackson R. Thomas has crafted a really fun debut with The Beast of Brenton Woods, one with enough mystery to leave a few lingering questions that lead me to suspect we'll be seeing a sequel soon enough. Frankly, I wouldn't mind a return trip to Brenton Woods and seeing how the threads of this particular story can continue to unravel.
I quite enjoyed Ben, the thirteen-year-old at the heart of this book, and Deputy Kathy Wilcox, a tough gal who has little trouble asserting her dominance when needed. Equally enjoyable was Thomas's attention to carnage. Once The Beast of Brenton Woods gets going, this book becomes down right unputdownable, and blood splashes across the page. If you like your werewolves violent, and with not a whiff of paranormal shapeshifter romance to be found, Thomas should satisfy nicely. This is authentic werewolf horror, chockablock with mutilated corpses, and plenty of silver bullet-driven action.
The Beast of Brenton Woods is a blistering read of werewolf horror, one that chugs along at lightning speed and will leave you howling at the moon for more.
Note: The Beast of Brenton Woods is published by Alien Agenda Publishing, the publishing imprint of horror author Glenn Rolfe, which, as it turns out, makes for pretty companionable bedfellows. There's a certain aspect to Thomas's writing and storytelling that reminded me quite a lot of Rolfe's own work, and Glenn's readers should feel quite at home with this new author's debut. Glenn provided me with an advanced, uncorrected copy of this book, so many thanks to him.
Jackson R. Thomas has crafted a really fun debut with The Beast of Brenton Woods, one with enough mystery to leave a few lingering questions that lead me to suspect we'll be seeing a sequel soon enough. Frankly, I wouldn't mind a return trip to Brenton Woods and seeing how the threads of this particular story can continue to unravel.
I quite enjoyed Ben, the thirteen-year-old at the heart of this book, and Deputy Kathy Wilcox, a tough gal who has little trouble asserting her dominance when needed. Equally enjoyable was Thomas's attention to carnage. Once The Beast of Brenton Woods gets going, this book becomes down right unputdownable, and blood splashes across the page. If you like your werewolves violent, and with not a whiff of paranormal shapeshifter romance to be found, Thomas should satisfy nicely. This is authentic werewolf horror, chockablock with mutilated corpses, and plenty of silver bullet-driven action.
The Beast of Brenton Woods is a blistering read of werewolf horror, one that chugs along at lightning speed and will leave you howling at the moon for more.
Note: The Beast of Brenton Woods is published by Alien Agenda Publishing, the publishing imprint of horror author Glenn Rolfe, which, as it turns out, makes for pretty companionable bedfellows. There's a certain aspect to Thomas's writing and storytelling that reminded me quite a lot of Rolfe's own work, and Glenn's readers should feel quite at home with this new author's debut. Glenn provided me with an advanced, uncorrected copy of this book, so many thanks to him.
June 24, 2018
Review: THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS by Jackson R. Thomas
A finely-tuned coming of age tale ensconced in the setting of a paranormal novel, THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS is a deep and engrossing read. Beware the White Wolf; beware also the monsters that walk as men, who don't shapeshift but whose cores are evil (yes, more than one). Tyler and Ben are 13; Jimmy, his sister Wendy, and best friend Bryan, are 23. Yet all experience "coming of age" tribulations during the short time span of this novel, and all 5 are given opportunities, even demands, to mature, and quickly. As Ben discovers, his father Scott also endured an unexpected coming of age trial that altered his life.
THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS engrossed me from the very first page and never let up. It definitely provided food for pondering, and considering the conclusion (and my deep interest in the characters), I hope for a sequel.
A finely-tuned coming of age tale ensconced in the setting of a paranormal novel, THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS is a deep and engrossing read. Beware the White Wolf; beware also the monsters that walk as men, who don't shapeshift but whose cores are evil (yes, more than one). Tyler and Ben are 13; Jimmy, his sister Wendy, and best friend Bryan, are 23. Yet all experience "coming of age" tribulations during the short time span of this novel, and all 5 are given opportunities, even demands, to mature, and quickly. As Ben discovers, his father Scott also endured an unexpected coming of age trial that altered his life.
THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS engrossed me from the very first page and never let up. It definitely provided food for pondering, and considering the conclusion (and my deep interest in the characters), I hope for a sequel.
September 23, 2018
This ARC was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
While reading this book I realized that I haven't really read any werewolf fiction! That needs to change. There are a few books that I'm eager to read, and this one makes me excited to continue to read stories with werewolf mythology. It's a part of the horror genre that I have somehow missed, and I'm excited to read more stories that focus on this particular creature from folklore.
Everyone knows about the legend of Brenton Woods. Ben Cutter grew up hearing about the White Wolf, or the Beast of Brenton woods. It's been years since the werewolf has killed, and suddenly it's back. Young Ben comes face to face with it in the woods, and makes it out to tell the story, but a lot of other locals aren't so lucky that night. Deputy Kathy Wilcox quickly becomes involved in the case once the body count starts to rise, and eventually the town realizes that what once seemed like just a legend is very real and has finally returned.
This is a fast paced novel that's absolutely dripping with blood. The characters are well written, and the villains are truly evil. There are three groups of central characters that I was seriously invested in, but at times there were so many characters to up the body count that I became a little confused juggling all the names. However, this is a solid and genuinely gruesome story. This is a superb introduction to werewolf fiction for me, and one that I would recommend to fans of the man-eating monster.
While reading this book I realized that I haven't really read any werewolf fiction! That needs to change. There are a few books that I'm eager to read, and this one makes me excited to continue to read stories with werewolf mythology. It's a part of the horror genre that I have somehow missed, and I'm excited to read more stories that focus on this particular creature from folklore.
Everyone knows about the legend of Brenton Woods. Ben Cutter grew up hearing about the White Wolf, or the Beast of Brenton woods. It's been years since the werewolf has killed, and suddenly it's back. Young Ben comes face to face with it in the woods, and makes it out to tell the story, but a lot of other locals aren't so lucky that night. Deputy Kathy Wilcox quickly becomes involved in the case once the body count starts to rise, and eventually the town realizes that what once seemed like just a legend is very real and has finally returned.
This is a fast paced novel that's absolutely dripping with blood. The characters are well written, and the villains are truly evil. There are three groups of central characters that I was seriously invested in, but at times there were so many characters to up the body count that I became a little confused juggling all the names. However, this is a solid and genuinely gruesome story. This is a superb introduction to werewolf fiction for me, and one that I would recommend to fans of the man-eating monster.
August 28, 2018
Secrets refuse to remain buried and watch out for what character becomes your favorite because he has no problem killing them off in a wickedly brutal, savage way…A claw here, a bite there and I hope it gets that bag of shit Kenny.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Beast of Brenton Woods by Jackson R Thomas.
See more at fundinmental
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Beast of Brenton Woods by Jackson R Thomas.
See more at fundinmental
July 1, 2018
Jackson R. Thomas's debut comes to us in the form of a small-town werewolf yarn, The Beast of Brenton Woods. As far as debuts go, it's a decent one, but the Beast also has a few fleas that I would like to see removed. Bodies are starting to show up again in Brenton Woods after many years of tranquility. Legend has it that the last time this happened in the mid-1980s, a white wolf was responsible. And just like that, the wolf disappeared. Now 13 year-olds Ben and Tyler have seen it. So have early 20-somethings Jimmy, Wendy and Bryan. They are all too young to remember the last time the Beast made it's appearance in Brenton Woods, but it's back, bloodthirstier than ever, and it wants revenge on a past that won't stay buried any longer.
Thomas does many things right in The Beast of Brenton Woods. For one, the dialogue. I think this is the strongest part of the book. So many authors, especially in their debuts, swing and miss with the dialogue. It's either too wooden or completely unrealistic. In Beast, it's pretty much spot on. Kudos to Thomas. Second, the characters are interesting. While that's another bonus, it also left me wanting for more...much more. And this is where we come to the flea portion of the werewolf. The story and character development. While the characters are interesting and realistic, I felt they needed to be much more fleshed out. The story is told in a frenetic pace, but we're left to continually go back to see which character is who. After just finishing the story, I couldn't tell you what many of the characters looked like, what the town of Brenton Woods looked like, why the Beast came back or have a clear understanding of what happened in the past. This is the frustrating part, because I really like what the story had for it's base. I only wish it was more of a smorgasbord than an hors d'oeuvre. Jackson has a ton of promise and I look forward to watching him grow as a writer.
3 1/2 Yellow Eyes Glowing in the Dark out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Thomas does many things right in The Beast of Brenton Woods. For one, the dialogue. I think this is the strongest part of the book. So many authors, especially in their debuts, swing and miss with the dialogue. It's either too wooden or completely unrealistic. In Beast, it's pretty much spot on. Kudos to Thomas. Second, the characters are interesting. While that's another bonus, it also left me wanting for more...much more. And this is where we come to the flea portion of the werewolf. The story and character development. While the characters are interesting and realistic, I felt they needed to be much more fleshed out. The story is told in a frenetic pace, but we're left to continually go back to see which character is who. After just finishing the story, I couldn't tell you what many of the characters looked like, what the town of Brenton Woods looked like, why the Beast came back or have a clear understanding of what happened in the past. This is the frustrating part, because I really like what the story had for it's base. I only wish it was more of a smorgasbord than an hors d'oeuvre. Jackson has a ton of promise and I look forward to watching him grow as a writer.
3 1/2 Yellow Eyes Glowing in the Dark out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
December 19, 2018
*** Edited as review now live on Kendall Reviews! ***
4.5/5
If you’ve read any of my recent reviews or followed me on my various social media accounts, you will know how much I love Werewolf tales.
The Beast of Brenton Woods does not disappoint for fellow Lycanthrope fans! This tale from Jackson R. Thomas bristles with full moon energy and never once let’s up, as it builds and builds from chapter to chapter.
The story follows three main groups of characters; Tyler and Ben, two pre-teens who had an encounter with the beast. Wendy, her brother Johnny and friend Brad are the second group. Three early twenties friends who haven’t had a good run in life. The last group is the police department. The sheriff, Deputy Wilcox, Deputy Rutherford, Deputy Lloyd and coroner Bruce.
All of the groups know of the legend that persists, but now the creature has returned, leaving a path of carnage and death in its wake.
Each of the groups has their own reason for pursuing the beast, wanting to find out who or what it is, and this is the key to how well this story reads. Thomas bounces back and forth between the characters, giving us that connection we need and crave, and makes us see just why they are doing what they are doing.
I truly couldn’t put this down. The pages flew by and the story kept hooking me in and leaving me wanting more.
The only thing that dropped this down a half star for me was the repeated use of ‘The Beast of Brenton Woods’. It became a repetitive announcement (to me at least), and I was hoping at some point the characters would just say ‘the beast,’ instead.
If you are looking for a riveting, fast paced beast tale, and love yourself some Werewolf carnage, I can’t recommend this enough!
4.5/5
If you’ve read any of my recent reviews or followed me on my various social media accounts, you will know how much I love Werewolf tales.
The Beast of Brenton Woods does not disappoint for fellow Lycanthrope fans! This tale from Jackson R. Thomas bristles with full moon energy and never once let’s up, as it builds and builds from chapter to chapter.
The story follows three main groups of characters; Tyler and Ben, two pre-teens who had an encounter with the beast. Wendy, her brother Johnny and friend Brad are the second group. Three early twenties friends who haven’t had a good run in life. The last group is the police department. The sheriff, Deputy Wilcox, Deputy Rutherford, Deputy Lloyd and coroner Bruce.
All of the groups know of the legend that persists, but now the creature has returned, leaving a path of carnage and death in its wake.
Each of the groups has their own reason for pursuing the beast, wanting to find out who or what it is, and this is the key to how well this story reads. Thomas bounces back and forth between the characters, giving us that connection we need and crave, and makes us see just why they are doing what they are doing.
I truly couldn’t put this down. The pages flew by and the story kept hooking me in and leaving me wanting more.
The only thing that dropped this down a half star for me was the repeated use of ‘The Beast of Brenton Woods’. It became a repetitive announcement (to me at least), and I was hoping at some point the characters would just say ‘the beast,’ instead.
If you are looking for a riveting, fast paced beast tale, and love yourself some Werewolf carnage, I can’t recommend this enough!
October 3, 2018
If there were such a thing as a 3.75 rating-that is what I’d choose. Since this book deserved more than a 3star rating, I rounded up. There were some parts of this book I really enjoyed & just a few I could’ve done without. This being my first read by Jackson Thomas, I can easily say that I am interested in reading more of his work. I’m thankful & lucky that a friend recommended The Beast of Brenton Woods to me.
I especially liked the characters Wendy, her brother Jimmy, & their close friend Bryan. They had a blast doing some crazy things together, but in rough times, one was always there to support the other. Yet I wanted to shake Wendy & give her a smack in the face for the reckless decision she makes at the end of the story...Grrr!!!
I wasn’t much of a fan of the law enforcement...with the exception of Kathy. She was a kickass, strong female tough enough to face what most people appropriately ran for the lives from. Overall, nice character development! Thomas made me care about certain people;either rooting for their safety or wishing for their painful bloody death.
I wish that more would’ve come from Ben & the mysterious curiosity about his father. However, that part, in addition to how the story ends, leads me to believe we haven’t seen the last of Brenton Woods. (Yay!)
Thumbs up on originality of the Beast’s physical traits & behavior. This was no text book werewolf story (HOWEVER THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!!! They are one of my most favorite monsters). This Beast had his own agenda. In addition to ripping bodies apart until they were in almost unrecognizable pieces-he was out to procreate, which made him all the more vile, threatening, & scary in my opinion. I also enjoyed the fact that although the Beast was supposed to be a legend, people knew that something wasn’t altogether “right” in their town and that it was not wise to venture into the woods at night, particularly during a full moon.
This was a fun read & I recommend The Beast of Brenton Woods to anyone looking for a fast paced, action packed thrilling horror story...perfect Halloween reading!!!!
I especially liked the characters Wendy, her brother Jimmy, & their close friend Bryan. They had a blast doing some crazy things together, but in rough times, one was always there to support the other. Yet I wanted to shake Wendy & give her a smack in the face for the reckless decision she makes at the end of the story...Grrr!!!
I wasn’t much of a fan of the law enforcement...with the exception of Kathy. She was a kickass, strong female tough enough to face what most people appropriately ran for the lives from. Overall, nice character development! Thomas made me care about certain people;either rooting for their safety or wishing for their painful bloody death.
I wish that more would’ve come from Ben & the mysterious curiosity about his father. However, that part, in addition to how the story ends, leads me to believe we haven’t seen the last of Brenton Woods. (Yay!)
Thumbs up on originality of the Beast’s physical traits & behavior. This was no text book werewolf story (HOWEVER THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!!! They are one of my most favorite monsters). This Beast had his own agenda. In addition to ripping bodies apart until they were in almost unrecognizable pieces-he was out to procreate, which made him all the more vile, threatening, & scary in my opinion. I also enjoyed the fact that although the Beast was supposed to be a legend, people knew that something wasn’t altogether “right” in their town and that it was not wise to venture into the woods at night, particularly during a full moon.
This was a fun read & I recommend The Beast of Brenton Woods to anyone looking for a fast paced, action packed thrilling horror story...perfect Halloween reading!!!!
August 16, 2018
Debuts are always a bit of a crap-shoot. You pick up a book on the basis of some decent reviews, or a striking cover and blurb, or perhaps even because (as in this case) you're offered a sample copy for review. You're hoping it will be good, but only readers inherently far more optimistic than I believe that will be the case.
So I was very pleasantly surprised by new author Jackson R Thomas' The Beast of Brenton Woods. It follows a series of attacks on members of a small town which quickly seem to point to the return of a legendary creature which had (seemingly) terrorised the town almost a decade before.
Thomas quickly goes about establishing a few main characters (and associated other buffet menu items) before throwing them all in harm's way. There is enough detail here to get a sense of the characters, but there is very little filler and the 169 page book screams along at a frenetic pace. It may even be too frenetic in places, as the book would have benefited from a little more time with some of the slightly less important characters to better understand their motivations.
That, however, is the most significant problem in the book, as Thomas manages to weave a driving mystery into the narrative as the town's population is quickly eroded amid some bloody and entertaining carnage.
It may not change your life, but if werewolf reads are your thing, The Beast of Brenton Woods is easily the best novel of the sub-genre since Jonathan Janz's Wolf Land a couple of years back.
3.5 Secrets that Won't Die for The Beast of Brenton Woods.
So I was very pleasantly surprised by new author Jackson R Thomas' The Beast of Brenton Woods. It follows a series of attacks on members of a small town which quickly seem to point to the return of a legendary creature which had (seemingly) terrorised the town almost a decade before.
Thomas quickly goes about establishing a few main characters (and associated other buffet menu items) before throwing them all in harm's way. There is enough detail here to get a sense of the characters, but there is very little filler and the 169 page book screams along at a frenetic pace. It may even be too frenetic in places, as the book would have benefited from a little more time with some of the slightly less important characters to better understand their motivations.
That, however, is the most significant problem in the book, as Thomas manages to weave a driving mystery into the narrative as the town's population is quickly eroded amid some bloody and entertaining carnage.
It may not change your life, but if werewolf reads are your thing, The Beast of Brenton Woods is easily the best novel of the sub-genre since Jonathan Janz's Wolf Land a couple of years back.
3.5 Secrets that Won't Die for The Beast of Brenton Woods.
October 14, 2018
Review copy
This is the first book I've ever read by Jackson R. Thomas and I'm already looking forward to more. It's no secret what The Beast of Brenton Woods is about. Just look at that cover.
It's been a while since I've been able to sink my teeth into a werewolf story and this one has plenty of blood, guts, and bone-crunching action.
With a nod to horror writers who came before him, Jackson R. Thomas acknowledges the likes of Jack Ketchum, Gord Rollo, Edward Lee, and Stephen King, through his character's love of the genre. His writing style is easy to read and relatable to a young audience...
"...this whole thing is crazy. I just want to watch Adventure Time and pretend everything is normal, ya know? It' Summer for crying out loud."
And then there's the gore, after all, that's what you came for...
The beast chewed its way through the policeman's neck, enjoying every tendon, muscle, and grisly, tasty bit."
What we have here are a strong debut and a solid werewolf story.
The Beast of Brenton Woods is available in both paperback and e-book formats from Alien Agenda Publishing. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Jackson R. Thomas sleeps during the day, writes and works at night and doesn't like social media. He's worked as a janitor, cashier, fast food slave, and a night auditor at a hotel you don't want to stay at...if you know what's good for you.
This is the first book I've ever read by Jackson R. Thomas and I'm already looking forward to more. It's no secret what The Beast of Brenton Woods is about. Just look at that cover.
It's been a while since I've been able to sink my teeth into a werewolf story and this one has plenty of blood, guts, and bone-crunching action.
With a nod to horror writers who came before him, Jackson R. Thomas acknowledges the likes of Jack Ketchum, Gord Rollo, Edward Lee, and Stephen King, through his character's love of the genre. His writing style is easy to read and relatable to a young audience...
"...this whole thing is crazy. I just want to watch Adventure Time and pretend everything is normal, ya know? It' Summer for crying out loud."
And then there's the gore, after all, that's what you came for...
The beast chewed its way through the policeman's neck, enjoying every tendon, muscle, and grisly, tasty bit."
What we have here are a strong debut and a solid werewolf story.
The Beast of Brenton Woods is available in both paperback and e-book formats from Alien Agenda Publishing. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Jackson R. Thomas sleeps during the day, writes and works at night and doesn't like social media. He's worked as a janitor, cashier, fast food slave, and a night auditor at a hotel you don't want to stay at...if you know what's good for you.
January 8, 2020
Trigger warning
This was mostly a fun, blood splattered romp through werewolf-in-the-woods territory. It would have been a 4 star read but for the poor editing in the last 1/4 or so of the book and the 2 female leads' actions right at the end of the book leaving me with a WTF moment and a disappointing way to set up a sequel.
A HUGE thank you to my secret Santa for 2019 for sending this all the way across the globe to me :)
This was mostly a fun, blood splattered romp through werewolf-in-the-woods territory. It would have been a 4 star read but for the poor editing in the last 1/4 or so of the book and the 2 female leads' actions right at the end of the book leaving me with a WTF moment and a disappointing way to set up a sequel.
A HUGE thank you to my secret Santa for 2019 for sending this all the way across the globe to me :)
September 18, 2019
A solid 3.5 for this fun, fast debut novel.
Plenty of gore and werewolf action, if you're looking for something quick and easy, this is a good one.
I enjoyed it quite a bit and look forward to reading more of Thomas's work.
My one qualm is that for a fairly short novel, it's a bit scattered, switching points of view and character narrative a bit too frequently/recklessly. It probably didn't do any favors that I consumed this story in a mixed format, through both the novel itself and the audible version.
Needless to say, I recommend it.
Plenty of gore and werewolf action, if you're looking for something quick and easy, this is a good one.
I enjoyed it quite a bit and look forward to reading more of Thomas's work.
My one qualm is that for a fairly short novel, it's a bit scattered, switching points of view and character narrative a bit too frequently/recklessly. It probably didn't do any favors that I consumed this story in a mixed format, through both the novel itself and the audible version.
Needless to say, I recommend it.
June 8, 2018
At last! A proper werewolf story. It’s got it all. It’s edge of the seat scary, unpredictable, and there is nothing sparkly about this werewolf. He has no conscience. No kind heart lurking beneath the hairy exterior. No, this wolfman is pure, unadulterated evil.
He is the stuff of myth and legend, as Brenton Woods have long been rumoured to be haunted by a fearsome white wolf. Now, the myth is about to become all too real. Enter Tyler and Ben. They know the folklore but to encounter this creature for real is something that will change their lives forever. For Ben, there is even more that draws him to the beast.
This is a story about friends who start out as a bunch of kids looking for a good time, a few laughs, a bit of no-strings-attached frolicking. They grow up pretty fast in Brenton Woods and, for some, it will be the last thing they ever do.
Jackson R. Thomas is a new author to me and, if this is an example of what he can write, I shall look forward to adding more of his books to my shelf.
He is the stuff of myth and legend, as Brenton Woods have long been rumoured to be haunted by a fearsome white wolf. Now, the myth is about to become all too real. Enter Tyler and Ben. They know the folklore but to encounter this creature for real is something that will change their lives forever. For Ben, there is even more that draws him to the beast.
This is a story about friends who start out as a bunch of kids looking for a good time, a few laughs, a bit of no-strings-attached frolicking. They grow up pretty fast in Brenton Woods and, for some, it will be the last thing they ever do.
Jackson R. Thomas is a new author to me and, if this is an example of what he can write, I shall look forward to adding more of his books to my shelf.
November 22, 2018
"He would unleash hell. He let the image of blood, tears, and pain coax him on."
I buddy read The Beast of Brenton Woods the other day with Lilyn from Sci-fi and Scary. This book had some fun ideas, and if you need a quick & gory creature feature, this one is for you.
I keep picking up werewolf books hoping for something different. I still have yet to find one that I really feel stands out from other werewolf stories. That doesn't mean that this book is bad at all; I just wanted a little something different from hearing people be shocked that werewolves exist 500 times & then there werewolf kills everyone. It felt really repetitive in this story. I know there's not much else to werewolf stories, but I can dream.
There were a lot of characters, which is fine when they keep getting picked off, but more kept popping up. It was difficult to keep track of who was who. The story went in a nonsensical direction toward the end, and I believe the door was left open for a sequel.
I think my enjoyment of the book was about at a 2⭐, but the story itself is fine & it just wasn't for me, so it gets 3⭐.
Thank you to Alien Agenda Publishing for sending me this one.
I buddy read The Beast of Brenton Woods the other day with Lilyn from Sci-fi and Scary. This book had some fun ideas, and if you need a quick & gory creature feature, this one is for you.
I keep picking up werewolf books hoping for something different. I still have yet to find one that I really feel stands out from other werewolf stories. That doesn't mean that this book is bad at all; I just wanted a little something different from hearing people be shocked that werewolves exist 500 times & then there werewolf kills everyone. It felt really repetitive in this story. I know there's not much else to werewolf stories, but I can dream.
There were a lot of characters, which is fine when they keep getting picked off, but more kept popping up. It was difficult to keep track of who was who. The story went in a nonsensical direction toward the end, and I believe the door was left open for a sequel.
I think my enjoyment of the book was about at a 2⭐, but the story itself is fine & it just wasn't for me, so it gets 3⭐.
Thank you to Alien Agenda Publishing for sending me this one.
April 28, 2019
I love werewolf books, so I was really looking forward to reading The Beast of Brenton Woods and it did not disappoint.
Everyone in town has heard the notorious legend of the white wolf of Brenton Woods, which supposedly was responsible for many murders in the 80s. Recent gruesome deaths have led a few members of the local law enforcement to believe the white wolf is back, while others will need to suspend their disbelief if they want to help save the town from the savage beast.
The Beast of Brenton Woods is a quick and fun read with tons of gore—which is to be expected of a novel about a monster that rips its victims to shreds. The action starts on page one and the frenetic pace doesn't let up until the end.
The ending left a few questions unanswered, so I'm really hoping Jackson R. Thomas will write a sequel. I would really love to read more about the beast of Brenton Woods and see what happens to the characters in the future.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Everyone in town has heard the notorious legend of the white wolf of Brenton Woods, which supposedly was responsible for many murders in the 80s. Recent gruesome deaths have led a few members of the local law enforcement to believe the white wolf is back, while others will need to suspend their disbelief if they want to help save the town from the savage beast.
The Beast of Brenton Woods is a quick and fun read with tons of gore—which is to be expected of a novel about a monster that rips its victims to shreds. The action starts on page one and the frenetic pace doesn't let up until the end.
The ending left a few questions unanswered, so I'm really hoping Jackson R. Thomas will write a sequel. I would really love to read more about the beast of Brenton Woods and see what happens to the characters in the future.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2019
A big thank you to Alien Agenda Pub for providing me with an Audiobook of this, for review consideration!
I'm on the lookout for more and more Werewolf or create-feature novels this year, so when I saw there was an opportunity to review this one I snapped it up!
This book is super-fast paced, and as it is quite short (176-pages or 4hr47 on Audio), does a good job of plunging the reader straight into the gory action.
There are quite a lot of characters to keep up with, some more memorable than others, which meant a couple of times I had to hit the *rewind 30 seconds* button, but that only happened a couple of times and it wasn’t a big deal because the characters had their own voices. The characters are realistic and mostly likeable, except for those you just love to hate.
I listened to the narration of this by Joe Hempel, who does a great job, I didn’t realise just how many books he has narrated and now I need more! I listened to this on speed 1.5x.
3.5 stars!
I'm on the lookout for more and more Werewolf or create-feature novels this year, so when I saw there was an opportunity to review this one I snapped it up!
This book is super-fast paced, and as it is quite short (176-pages or 4hr47 on Audio), does a good job of plunging the reader straight into the gory action.
There are quite a lot of characters to keep up with, some more memorable than others, which meant a couple of times I had to hit the *rewind 30 seconds* button, but that only happened a couple of times and it wasn’t a big deal because the characters had their own voices. The characters are realistic and mostly likeable, except for those you just love to hate.
I listened to the narration of this by Joe Hempel, who does a great job, I didn’t realise just how many books he has narrated and now I need more! I listened to this on speed 1.5x.
3.5 stars!
May 7, 2019
I'm always on the look out for a good werewolf read, and this one satisfied my thirst ;)
The pacing of the plot was fast enough because we basically had a bloody death every few chapters, and the plot itself was entertaining. Brenton Woods has seen tragedy before, but things went quiet for a few years so the locals thought their problem was solved, but a white form has been seen in the woods, and bodies are starting to appear just like the last time. The people who remember know that the Beast is back, and it's hell bent on revenge.
I pretty much enjoyed everything about this book. It was an easy read, and held my attention till the very end. The deaths are bloody and the werewolf is savage, which is as it should be!! I listened to this over the course of a single day and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm hoping there is another one because the ending left it so there could be! I'd enjoy coming back to Brenton Woods.
In all, an enjoyable, gory, werewolf tale and one I know I'll read again.
Joe Hempel is one of my go to narrators for Horror. He knows how to perform a book and make a story come alive. He has a wide array of tones and voices and always gives a great performance.
I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
The pacing of the plot was fast enough because we basically had a bloody death every few chapters, and the plot itself was entertaining. Brenton Woods has seen tragedy before, but things went quiet for a few years so the locals thought their problem was solved, but a white form has been seen in the woods, and bodies are starting to appear just like the last time. The people who remember know that the Beast is back, and it's hell bent on revenge.
I pretty much enjoyed everything about this book. It was an easy read, and held my attention till the very end. The deaths are bloody and the werewolf is savage, which is as it should be!! I listened to this over the course of a single day and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm hoping there is another one because the ending left it so there could be! I'd enjoy coming back to Brenton Woods.
In all, an enjoyable, gory, werewolf tale and one I know I'll read again.
Joe Hempel is one of my go to narrators for Horror. He knows how to perform a book and make a story come alive. He has a wide array of tones and voices and always gives a great performance.
I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
June 18, 2018
The Beast of Brenton Woods is a fast paced Werewolf novel that I really enjoyed. I’m not sure if this is a short novel or a novella but even though the story is short, I felt that the story was complete and not rushed. There was plenty of gore and action in this story and the pace was great. The characters were well created and I was invested in their fate. I loved that the character that I thought would be the main one wasn’t. Overall this was a fun Werewolf story that I enjoyed. I recommend it.
September 17, 2018
For me, The Beast of Brenton Woods was interesting and a lot of fun.
Obviously, we are dealing with a werewolf, but it’s a white wolf, which I thought was really cool.
I also liked how the female characters were strong and independent, not playing the damsels in distress.
I’d like to see a sequel.
I’d like to know more about the futures of Ben and Wendy. I wasn’t left without answers, but I think it’d be great to see how those characters handled their situations.
Thanks a million to AAP for the review copy!
The world is always a better place with a good werewolf story!
Obviously, we are dealing with a werewolf, but it’s a white wolf, which I thought was really cool.
I also liked how the female characters were strong and independent, not playing the damsels in distress.
I’d like to see a sequel.
I’d like to know more about the futures of Ben and Wendy. I wasn’t left without answers, but I think it’d be great to see how those characters handled their situations.
Thanks a million to AAP for the review copy!
The world is always a better place with a good werewolf story!
September 12, 2018
As the bodies pile up, the dark secrets of the past slowly edge forward, leaving all gasping in fright. Excellent descriptive details, a good grouping of characters made this an entertaining horror read. Great for fans of horror/paranormal & werewolves.
June 20, 2018
Aroooooooooo! The Summer of Horror is here! Up until this point, Alien Agenda Publishing has consisted of solid novels from its head honcho, Glenn Rolfe. The dynamic changes with Alien Agenda’s first release from another author, Jackson R. Thomas. THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS is the kickoff release for Alien Agenda’s busy summer, which will also see releases from Mick Ridgewell, Dave Bernstein, and more.
This review won’t be one of my standard ones. Normally I dive right into the plot and assume you’ve already read the book, spoilers be damned. However, as I recently decided while writing my review of PRACTITIONERS (available on the Ginger Nuts site), if it’s an ARC, I’m not going to give away too much. The brief synopsis and first three chapters available over at the Alien Agenda site should be more than enough of a primer for any interested readers. I’ll post the link at the end.
Alright. The BEAST. My first encounter with a white werewolf in the wild. This one is ruthless and nasty--it’d be fun to pit him against the furballs in BLOOD AND RAIN. The wolf in this story, rather, the man in the wolf suit, is a bestial creation whose bloodline contains traces of Garton’s RAVENOUS, Strieber’s WOLFEN, and even Rolfe’s aforementioned werewolf opus. Very little is explained or revealed about the antagonist of BEAST. All you’re gonna get here is blood, gore, teenagers stumbling around the woods, silver bullets, and small-town secrets.
Don’t get me wrong, though. Lean and mean isn’t bad at all, especially for a first novel. The only frustrating point? The antagonist is a little TOO much of an enigma. You’ll see what I mean, because you DEFINITELY need to read this novel. Although very little is known about this Jackson Thomas fella, his first effort reads like yellow paperbacks with trashy covers and embossed titles. Maybe some boobage in there, too. Anyway, I’m not going to draw this out any further. Here goes, both barrels:
THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS is nasty and ruthless. It’s a more substantial CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF, or any of King’s other stories with small towns, smaller minds, and huge secrets. You can smell the pine trees and feel the nighttime dew coming down. The moon sits in the sky, brooding like a dark god. Was that a flash of white fur in the trees?
This review won’t be one of my standard ones. Normally I dive right into the plot and assume you’ve already read the book, spoilers be damned. However, as I recently decided while writing my review of PRACTITIONERS (available on the Ginger Nuts site), if it’s an ARC, I’m not going to give away too much. The brief synopsis and first three chapters available over at the Alien Agenda site should be more than enough of a primer for any interested readers. I’ll post the link at the end.
Alright. The BEAST. My first encounter with a white werewolf in the wild. This one is ruthless and nasty--it’d be fun to pit him against the furballs in BLOOD AND RAIN. The wolf in this story, rather, the man in the wolf suit, is a bestial creation whose bloodline contains traces of Garton’s RAVENOUS, Strieber’s WOLFEN, and even Rolfe’s aforementioned werewolf opus. Very little is explained or revealed about the antagonist of BEAST. All you’re gonna get here is blood, gore, teenagers stumbling around the woods, silver bullets, and small-town secrets.
Don’t get me wrong, though. Lean and mean isn’t bad at all, especially for a first novel. The only frustrating point? The antagonist is a little TOO much of an enigma. You’ll see what I mean, because you DEFINITELY need to read this novel. Although very little is known about this Jackson Thomas fella, his first effort reads like yellow paperbacks with trashy covers and embossed titles. Maybe some boobage in there, too. Anyway, I’m not going to draw this out any further. Here goes, both barrels:
THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS is nasty and ruthless. It’s a more substantial CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF, or any of King’s other stories with small towns, smaller minds, and huge secrets. You can smell the pine trees and feel the nighttime dew coming down. The moon sits in the sky, brooding like a dark god. Was that a flash of white fur in the trees?
June 20, 2018
The Beast of Brenton Woods is a fantastic werewolf story that will leave you panting for more! The heart pounding action starts at the very beginning and doesn’t let up until the very end. This book had me saying ‘Just one more chapter,,,’ until the wee hours of the morning. I had to know what would happen to Ben, Deputy Kathy Wilcox, Wendy, Johnny, and Bryan as they searched for the truth about the Beast. The Beast itself was a great villain, evil and relentless in its pursuit of our heroes. The ending is perfect for this tale of werewolfy goodness and leaves enough room for a sequel that I am salivating for. I can’t wait to see where Jackson Thomas takes us next! A highly recommended 4.5 star read.
August 12, 2025
This is one of my favorite werewolf novels. This is a white wolf too. Ben’s father was killed years ago by the sheriff and others. They buried him and the secret thinking him the werewolf. And they didn’t want the secret out. Now the monster is back and Ben has seen it. People are dying and a strange hideous man is trolling the woods. Looks like Arthur Dresden is back. I want to know, where has he been? Where was he when Scott as a child ran from him? Where has he been? Id think it would stay at home. And sheriff deputy Rutherford is a pig.
Wendy is taken and raped by the werewolf and tells nobody in the end and is carrying the monster child.
The monster goes after Sheriff Decker because he killed the only friend he ever had, Scott Cutter. But where has the monster been?????
Kathy is promoted to sheriff, Ben found out his mother was raped by Arthur and Scott took her to him.
Ben is turning after he was attacked.
This was an excellent book.
Wendy is taken and raped by the werewolf and tells nobody in the end and is carrying the monster child.
The monster goes after Sheriff Decker because he killed the only friend he ever had, Scott Cutter. But where has the monster been?????
Kathy is promoted to sheriff, Ben found out his mother was raped by Arthur and Scott took her to him.
Ben is turning after he was attacked.
This was an excellent book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2018
This book delivered! I did find it a little lacking on world building & character development, the book was more plot driven instead of character driven. However, it gave me what I wanted, which was a book about a ferocious beast! The werewolf appears on page one, and by page twenty he has already ripped through several poor souls. Talk about fast paced! If you love monsters, this is a must read! I thoroughly enjoyed my literary encounter with the White Wolf of Brenton Woods. It takes place in a small town with people who are equally as monstrous as the legendary Beast. And the ending with leave you with a chill. Very cool read.
May 30, 2020
Excellent werewolf story
I would definitely read this author again. I picked this book up last night and even had to take it with me to the gym to finish today. Couldn't put it down.
I would definitely read this author again. I picked this book up last night and even had to take it with me to the gym to finish today. Couldn't put it down.
May 19, 2019
Good fun read
Really enjoyed the first half of this story, just felt the second half was a little rushed, and didn't feel like all my questions were answered. Overall it was a fun story thou.
Really enjoyed the first half of this story, just felt the second half was a little rushed, and didn't feel like all my questions were answered. Overall it was a fun story thou.
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