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The Kielder Experiment #1
The Kielder Strain
Re-assigned to an isolated district, disgraced Police Officer Javeen Latimer thinks her career is over. It is. Now all Javeen wants to do is lick her wounds, and get through each uneventful day.
But when two residents in the sleepy village of Kielder disappear, and the finger of suspicion points at a secretive research facility hidden deep in the surrounding forest, Javeen has to find the courage to take action.
Someone is hiding a secret, and something terrible lurks in the forest, but when she discovers what it is, it will be too late!
Their disappearance was an accident, finding them will be a mistake.
Grab your copy of THE KIELDER STRAIN today and discover exactly why Javeen should stay out of the woods!
THE KIELDER STRAIN is a full-length novel and can be read as a standalone.
But when two residents in the sleepy village of Kielder disappear, and the finger of suspicion points at a secretive research facility hidden deep in the surrounding forest, Javeen has to find the courage to take action.
Someone is hiding a secret, and something terrible lurks in the forest, but when she discovers what it is, it will be too late!
Their disappearance was an accident, finding them will be a mistake.
Grab your copy of THE KIELDER STRAIN today and discover exactly why Javeen should stay out of the woods!
THE KIELDER STRAIN is a full-length novel and can be read as a standalone.
- GenresHorrorWerewolves
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2019
133 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 1, 2022
Horrific!
At nearly five hundred pages, this horror filled tome will leave you filled with fear.
A small English village, located near the Keilder Institute, becomes the unwilling sacrifice of their unlawful experiments.
When a nearby village comes under attack from rabies carrying dogs, the administrators from the Institute boasts they will come up with a new vaccine.
But they are lying. Their top scientists are testing a drug that regenerates, and when a scientist is bitten by one of the test animals, it changes him forever.
Now, on the loose from the Institute, the scientist is no longer human, but a werewolf. And he is biting and eating his way through the village.
Growing his pack, nothing appears to be able to stop these werewolves. Fortunately, depending on which side you are standing, a long metallic fence encircles the village.
As long as the werewolves cannot leave the village, the rest of the world is safe. Right?
Really worth the four stars. ⭐️
At nearly five hundred pages, this horror filled tome will leave you filled with fear.
A small English village, located near the Keilder Institute, becomes the unwilling sacrifice of their unlawful experiments.
When a nearby village comes under attack from rabies carrying dogs, the administrators from the Institute boasts they will come up with a new vaccine.
But they are lying. Their top scientists are testing a drug that regenerates, and when a scientist is bitten by one of the test animals, it changes him forever.
Now, on the loose from the Institute, the scientist is no longer human, but a werewolf. And he is biting and eating his way through the village.
Growing his pack, nothing appears to be able to stop these werewolves. Fortunately, depending on which side you are standing, a long metallic fence encircles the village.
As long as the werewolves cannot leave the village, the rest of the world is safe. Right?
Really worth the four stars. ⭐️
May 14, 2019
This book will appeal to some but it goes too far into the realm of fantasy for me, despite it being labelled as 'science fiction horror'. It's about a viral outbreak (mutated rabies) which causes its victims to turn into monsters, similar to werewolves. This happens within a few minutes of being infected and causes massive physical and behavioural changes. The situation is exploited by the pharmaceutical company meant to be developing a cure in an isolated location.
I managed to finish the book but was distracted by all the plot holes, irritated by the frequent descriptions of genitalia and disturbed by all the gore, blood and evisceration. I wondered how the company could get away with what it did - where was the government in a time of crisis? How could a whole village be physically isolated without someone in authority getting curious? Why was no-one sent to investigate the missing policemen? There was also mention of residents working on oil rigs and having children at university, so weren't they alarmed at all? At one point, a probable solution to the crisis was found but this was dropped without further reference and the two people involved were not heard of again.
I was confused by the time period - the book seems to be set in the present but at one point it goes a bit 'futuristic', with no British Army left and Rolls Royce having been sold off.
I don't want to be all negative - the book is fairly well written with realistic dialogue, and had a great female main character - PC Latimer. It will no doubt appeal to lovers of paranormal fiction.
I managed to finish the book but was distracted by all the plot holes, irritated by the frequent descriptions of genitalia and disturbed by all the gore, blood and evisceration. I wondered how the company could get away with what it did - where was the government in a time of crisis? How could a whole village be physically isolated without someone in authority getting curious? Why was no-one sent to investigate the missing policemen? There was also mention of residents working on oil rigs and having children at university, so weren't they alarmed at all? At one point, a probable solution to the crisis was found but this was dropped without further reference and the two people involved were not heard of again.
I was confused by the time period - the book seems to be set in the present but at one point it goes a bit 'futuristic', with no British Army left and Rolls Royce having been sold off.
I don't want to be all negative - the book is fairly well written with realistic dialogue, and had a great female main character - PC Latimer. It will no doubt appeal to lovers of paranormal fiction.
February 26, 2019
Nope!
No thanks. Not even believable. At first, so many characters are tossed out, you've no idea who is who. It barely gets better. Lots said about the greed of Big Pharma but really? Quasi-werewolves taking over a castle near an isolated forest ...in ENGLAND?! Great imagination but this isn't even fantasy, it's just fantastical. Blah.
No thanks. Not even believable. At first, so many characters are tossed out, you've no idea who is who. It barely gets better. Lots said about the greed of Big Pharma but really? Quasi-werewolves taking over a castle near an isolated forest ...in ENGLAND?! Great imagination but this isn't even fantasy, it's just fantastical. Blah.
September 6, 2024
I really liked the idea of a science fiction werewolf novel. I especially like the way it was done in this book where it was sort of a perfect storm/trifecta of events that resulted in the virus. Although a book of this genre doesn’t need its base premise to adhere to any sort of realism, I thought the complex virus origins gave it some refreshing credibility, even paired with the cliched experiment-gone-wrong trope. This is, sadly, where my praise for this book ends.
Where the Kielder Strain does have a main character with Javeen Latimer, an officer reassigned to a remote village in England after having an affair with a married man, she doesn’t quite have the depth to carry the remaining cast of weak supporting characters. She’s serviceable, but I don’t feel like I got to really know anybody in this book, making the emotional moments a bit stale. While new to the town, she is quickly paired with the sexy Andy, who is simply set up for obligatory tragedy, since, with wolfman attacks quickly occupying everyone’s attention, they don’t get much time to develop enough as a couple to justify the strength of bond the book might otherwise indicate.
Marta was ok as an antagonist, certainly unlikeable, but not very threatening. Max, the first infected, garnered no sympathy from me as the book frequently liked to tell me how much he loved his wife. Loved her so much that he cheated on her – before he was turned and still had his wits about him mind you. Andy was just kind of there. And then there’s PC Stangton, Javeen’s fellow officer.
This book could have been 2-stars, if not for a few standout issues that cemented the 1-star for me. Stangton’s disappearance is one of them. Unless I was so bored that I missed it, I don’t recall us ever learning what happened to Stangon. He was a bit of a jerk to Javeen, sure, but I honestly thought he was going to reappear at some point in the story with some sort of plot relevance. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to just drive off and never come back. They don’t even mention him being seen among the infected either.
This bugged me because there were a number of things that happened off-screen, so to speak, that I felt were too important to not be shown. Stangton just being erased from the story with no explanation while random-citizen-Freddie is suddenly sharing the spotlight with Javeen midway through the book exasperated a big problem I had with weak character writing.
The plot and writing was about the same: serviceable, but weak. Characters didn’t react to certain things as strongly as they perhaps should have, like the network outage. They were slow to take action and kind of meandered around before obvious protective measures were actually attempted. There were a number of continuity issues and action was difficult to follow due to a lack of immersive description. Lack of action tags made it difficult to follow who was talking in conversations. Overall, I just wasn’t impressed with the progression of the story or its jarring ending.
Speaking of which, they go to the castle near the end, which is cool and all. I mean, you’re going to end your modern werewolf book by having the surviving villagers fend off the infected in a classic European castle? Awesome . . . except the castle was mentioned so briefly in passing near the beginning of the book that I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN THAT IT EVEN EXISTED until Javeen randomly mentions it near the finale. And there wasn’t even some grand climax. Forget subverting expectations, you fill me with hope that we’re going to have a big ol’ battle at a castle and then stab me in the eye with a suspiciously quiet wolfman hiding in the boot of the car? You spit in my face, I spit in yours. And they didn’t unload Laura’s luggage until just before dark, when it would be dangerous, and the ambush would be the most dramatically timed? Really? Really?
And this is a horror book? Interesting, because:
There wasn’t nearly enough description, and what little there was was too clumsily written to immerse me in the villager’s terror.
The wolf people and villagers both were unnecessarily sexual in everything they did. I don’t know what animalistic qualities you think the turned got from the infected beagles, but I don’t think dogs experience the act of eating to survive as sensual. You could have had just enough of this to be uncomfortably horrific, but it ended up being weirdly distracting and tropey.
And Laura! The one scene that could have gotten really disturbing, psychologically scaring, would have been the interview Javeen had with Laura after being assaulted by Max. BUT WE DIDN’T GET TO READ IT! We were just told that it happened, which fails the story both in it’s supposed genre AND in the writing! Brushing important events aside like this isn’t satisfying!
I give this book 1 dead lynx out of 5 English castles. It could have been something more, but it just wasn’t.
Where the Kielder Strain does have a main character with Javeen Latimer, an officer reassigned to a remote village in England after having an affair with a married man, she doesn’t quite have the depth to carry the remaining cast of weak supporting characters. She’s serviceable, but I don’t feel like I got to really know anybody in this book, making the emotional moments a bit stale. While new to the town, she is quickly paired with the sexy Andy, who is simply set up for obligatory tragedy, since, with wolfman attacks quickly occupying everyone’s attention, they don’t get much time to develop enough as a couple to justify the strength of bond the book might otherwise indicate.
Marta was ok as an antagonist, certainly unlikeable, but not very threatening. Max, the first infected, garnered no sympathy from me as the book frequently liked to tell me how much he loved his wife. Loved her so much that he cheated on her – before he was turned and still had his wits about him mind you. Andy was just kind of there. And then there’s PC Stangton, Javeen’s fellow officer.
This book could have been 2-stars, if not for a few standout issues that cemented the 1-star for me. Stangton’s disappearance is one of them. Unless I was so bored that I missed it, I don’t recall us ever learning what happened to Stangon. He was a bit of a jerk to Javeen, sure, but I honestly thought he was going to reappear at some point in the story with some sort of plot relevance. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to just drive off and never come back. They don’t even mention him being seen among the infected either.
This bugged me because there were a number of things that happened off-screen, so to speak, that I felt were too important to not be shown. Stangton just being erased from the story with no explanation while random-citizen-Freddie is suddenly sharing the spotlight with Javeen midway through the book exasperated a big problem I had with weak character writing.
The plot and writing was about the same: serviceable, but weak. Characters didn’t react to certain things as strongly as they perhaps should have, like the network outage. They were slow to take action and kind of meandered around before obvious protective measures were actually attempted. There were a number of continuity issues and action was difficult to follow due to a lack of immersive description. Lack of action tags made it difficult to follow who was talking in conversations. Overall, I just wasn’t impressed with the progression of the story or its jarring ending.
Speaking of which, they go to the castle near the end, which is cool and all. I mean, you’re going to end your modern werewolf book by having the surviving villagers fend off the infected in a classic European castle? Awesome . . . except the castle was mentioned so briefly in passing near the beginning of the book that I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN THAT IT EVEN EXISTED until Javeen randomly mentions it near the finale. And there wasn’t even some grand climax. Forget subverting expectations, you fill me with hope that we’re going to have a big ol’ battle at a castle and then stab me in the eye with a suspiciously quiet wolfman hiding in the boot of the car? You spit in my face, I spit in yours. And they didn’t unload Laura’s luggage until just before dark, when it would be dangerous, and the ambush would be the most dramatically timed? Really? Really?
And this is a horror book? Interesting, because:
There wasn’t nearly enough description, and what little there was was too clumsily written to immerse me in the villager’s terror.
The wolf people and villagers both were unnecessarily sexual in everything they did. I don’t know what animalistic qualities you think the turned got from the infected beagles, but I don’t think dogs experience the act of eating to survive as sensual. You could have had just enough of this to be uncomfortably horrific, but it ended up being weirdly distracting and tropey.
And Laura! The one scene that could have gotten really disturbing, psychologically scaring, would have been the interview Javeen had with Laura after being assaulted by Max. BUT WE DIDN’T GET TO READ IT! We were just told that it happened, which fails the story both in it’s supposed genre AND in the writing! Brushing important events aside like this isn’t satisfying!
I give this book 1 dead lynx out of 5 English castles. It could have been something more, but it just wasn’t.
March 12, 2021
I'm never sure how much detail is considered a spoiler from one person to the next. And while I don't say any real specifically spoilery things I put the warning up just in case.
This book is hard for me to give a rating to because I both liked it and didn't like it.
First what I didn't like. First and foremost the author seemed obsessed with female pubic hair and the smelling of genitals. Every time a female werewolf was seen and/or described the fact that she had a lot of pubic hair had to be stressed. Almost every scene with lead werewolf had something sexual and him smelling a woman's vagina and description of werewolf on werewolf or werewolf on human erotica. This is my review so of course, this is just my opinion but none of that was needed or helped to improve the story in any way and in the end did not lead to any storyline developments. Something I never knew about myself but had also never considered. I am apparently not into the sexual habits and practices of werewolves or what dirty werewolf "soft places" smell like.
The main character was in a lot less of the book than she could have been and she didn't feel like the main protagonist character at all. She didn't seem to have any type of leadership or extraordinary traits or any characteristics to make her stand out. She seemed to be reliant on other characters for taking any type of action and really didn't do anything of any consequence in the entire book.
The book had some editorial issues where for instance the wrong character's name was used which resulted in said character "scooping himself off the ground and carrying himself upstairs in his arms."
I hated the ending. It seemed like the author just didn't want to write anymore and stopped.
I could go on but believe it or not, I enjoyed the book. Despite its faults, I enjoyed the pace of the book. I enjoyed the idea of how the virus/sickness/condition was created and/or spread. I read the book in two sittings and it didn't feel like I was forcing myself to read which has been the case with a lot of books I've read recently. For some reason with this book, I was able to overlook things that would usually turn me off to the book and enjoy reading it. I wanted to know what would happen next. For the most part, I did like the book so I'm giving it 3 stars. If I had the option though the more I think about the book I'd probably go with 2.5.
This book is hard for me to give a rating to because I both liked it and didn't like it.
First what I didn't like. First and foremost the author seemed obsessed with female pubic hair and the smelling of genitals. Every time a female werewolf was seen and/or described the fact that she had a lot of pubic hair had to be stressed. Almost every scene with lead werewolf had something sexual and him smelling a woman's vagina and description of werewolf on werewolf or werewolf on human erotica. This is my review so of course, this is just my opinion but none of that was needed or helped to improve the story in any way and in the end did not lead to any storyline developments. Something I never knew about myself but had also never considered. I am apparently not into the sexual habits and practices of werewolves or what dirty werewolf "soft places" smell like.
The main character was in a lot less of the book than she could have been and she didn't feel like the main protagonist character at all. She didn't seem to have any type of leadership or extraordinary traits or any characteristics to make her stand out. She seemed to be reliant on other characters for taking any type of action and really didn't do anything of any consequence in the entire book.
The book had some editorial issues where for instance the wrong character's name was used which resulted in said character "scooping himself off the ground and carrying himself upstairs in his arms."
I hated the ending. It seemed like the author just didn't want to write anymore and stopped.
I could go on but believe it or not, I enjoyed the book. Despite its faults, I enjoyed the pace of the book. I enjoyed the idea of how the virus/sickness/condition was created and/or spread. I read the book in two sittings and it didn't feel like I was forcing myself to read which has been the case with a lot of books I've read recently. For some reason with this book, I was able to overlook things that would usually turn me off to the book and enjoy reading it. I wanted to know what would happen next. For the most part, I did like the book so I'm giving it 3 stars. If I had the option though the more I think about the book I'd probably go with 2.5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2025
Werewolf outbreak in the English countryside…due to SCIENCE!!!
The Kielder Strain: A Science Fiction Horror Novel by Rebecca Fernfield is fairly straightforward as an action horror story.
Near the remote Kielder Village in the Kielder Forest lies the Kielder Institute.
They conduct animal experimentation free of oversight for the most part. Warning…there is talk of dog death in case that’s an issue for you.
The story follows those native to the region and those from outside…both researchers and other employees at the Institute…the police, clergy, and others in the Village…even others such as those protesting the Institute’s activities…
And then the outbreak…a terrible accident occurs…
As a few humans are infected with a mutated form a rabies…they start to change…
And soon the entire village (what’s left o it) are trying to escape them…
It’s pretty grim, I felt it was about a hundred pages too long, and I don’t think it properly developed the Institute itself outside of the early chapters showing some days to day discussions…
Still it was decent…and it sets up further plots, so I may give those a try…
The Kielder Strain: A Science Fiction Horror Novel by Rebecca Fernfield is fairly straightforward as an action horror story.
Near the remote Kielder Village in the Kielder Forest lies the Kielder Institute.
They conduct animal experimentation free of oversight for the most part. Warning…there is talk of dog death in case that’s an issue for you.
The story follows those native to the region and those from outside…both researchers and other employees at the Institute…the police, clergy, and others in the Village…even others such as those protesting the Institute’s activities…
And then the outbreak…a terrible accident occurs…
As a few humans are infected with a mutated form a rabies…they start to change…
And soon the entire village (what’s left o it) are trying to escape them…
It’s pretty grim, I felt it was about a hundred pages too long, and I don’t think it properly developed the Institute itself outside of the early chapters showing some days to day discussions…
Still it was decent…and it sets up further plots, so I may give those a try…
April 15, 2019
My giddy Aunt, what a ride this story was!!! I have to admit, I had to read this book during daylight hours because it scared the you-know-whatsits out of me.
Javeen is a police officer in a small village and when something goes wrong in a nearby research laboratory, it is mostly up to her to keep the villagers safe. What is menacing them all, is beyond belief, but there you have it, it is very real nevertheless.
There was so much tension in this story that I barely drew breath throughout....and as I already mentioned, I couldn't read this story at night at all!
I think this author is an amazing storyteller and I enjoyed being scared out of my wits, lol. There are some very graphic descriptions (if blood and guts turns your stomach, perhaps this book isn't your kind of read) but wow!! I can't wait to read the sequel to this book, I really NEED to know what happens next.
A definite 5 stars from me.
Javeen is a police officer in a small village and when something goes wrong in a nearby research laboratory, it is mostly up to her to keep the villagers safe. What is menacing them all, is beyond belief, but there you have it, it is very real nevertheless.
There was so much tension in this story that I barely drew breath throughout....and as I already mentioned, I couldn't read this story at night at all!
I think this author is an amazing storyteller and I enjoyed being scared out of my wits, lol. There are some very graphic descriptions (if blood and guts turns your stomach, perhaps this book isn't your kind of read) but wow!! I can't wait to read the sequel to this book, I really NEED to know what happens next.
A definite 5 stars from me.
February 12, 2019
Wow What a Ride!
I've read every book by this author but wow what a story. PC Javeen Latimore has committed the unthinkable and become entangled with a superior officer. Her punishment is to be banished to the smallest village in England. There she encounters a horrific science project gone terribly wrong. The rest of the story should be read with lights on and doors locked. This book was so well written that I wanted it to go on and on. I would honestly recommend this book to anyone who likes the pants scared off you type of book. The Kielder Strain is not for the faint of heart!
I've read every book by this author but wow what a story. PC Javeen Latimore has committed the unthinkable and become entangled with a superior officer. Her punishment is to be banished to the smallest village in England. There she encounters a horrific science project gone terribly wrong. The rest of the story should be read with lights on and doors locked. This book was so well written that I wanted it to go on and on. I would honestly recommend this book to anyone who likes the pants scared off you type of book. The Kielder Strain is not for the faint of heart!
May 17, 2019
The mistake that came back to bite them all!
This is a must read for anyone that loves creature horror books. A research facility in a small town "accidentally" creates a new creature, a wolf like creature that escapes into the woods. This book actually scared me. Great characters with lots of interaction between man versus monsters. And, these interactions create lots of gore and horror filled moments. I hope there will be a sequel.
This is a must read for anyone that loves creature horror books. A research facility in a small town "accidentally" creates a new creature, a wolf like creature that escapes into the woods. This book actually scared me. Great characters with lots of interaction between man versus monsters. And, these interactions create lots of gore and horror filled moments. I hope there will be a sequel.
February 14, 2019
Great story line
Twist on old stories,packed into a stand alone book. So good to get a beginning a terrifying read with a some what believable ending in one book! Yep truly a good read and fair priced.Don' EAT before Reading.Not for weak stomachs,and never think it's dead unless it's eaten!!!!
Twist on old stories,packed into a stand alone book. So good to get a beginning a terrifying read with a some what believable ending in one book! Yep truly a good read and fair priced.Don' EAT before Reading.Not for weak stomachs,and never think it's dead unless it's eaten!!!!
March 8, 2019
Great read!
Wow! I can't wait for the next in the series. I have to admit, I agreed with another reviewer - after I read this I'm glad I live in a country where I can keep my weapons and all of the police are armed! Although, I don't know...in this case...
I don't want to give anything away, so you'll have to read for yourself!
Wow! I can't wait for the next in the series. I have to admit, I agreed with another reviewer - after I read this I'm glad I live in a country where I can keep my weapons and all of the police are armed! Although, I don't know...in this case...
I don't want to give anything away, so you'll have to read for yourself!
November 28, 2024
There are few negatives, like the overuse of describing genitalia, some grammar mistakes and some plot holes that I would of liked explored more.
BUT, moving past these, I still couldn't put the book down. Absolutely loved the story and the characters. Always had me wanting to know what happens next.
I'm literally jumping straight into the next book. Would recommend this to any horror fans.
BUT, moving past these, I still couldn't put the book down. Absolutely loved the story and the characters. Always had me wanting to know what happens next.
I'm literally jumping straight into the next book. Would recommend this to any horror fans.
March 1, 2019
Good Dentist Needed
Great 👍 thriller book! Pulling out all their teeth and nails might work. I was a little disappointed with the ending, hopefully it will be rectified in the sequel.
Great 👍 thriller book! Pulling out all their teeth and nails might work. I was a little disappointed with the ending, hopefully it will be rectified in the sequel.
March 27, 2019
I received a copy of this book from TBC Reviewers request- Thank you
This is the first book I’ve read like this. It was a really easy read as in the pages kept turning but at the same time your eyebrows kept rising. An absolutely must read for any fans of paranormal fiction I loved it!
This is the first book I’ve read like this. It was a really easy read as in the pages kept turning but at the same time your eyebrows kept rising. An absolutely must read for any fans of paranormal fiction I loved it!
August 10, 2019
To slow
I found it a very slow pace most of the book. I found it hard to stay interested. To ward's the end it got better. Than too many lose ends before jumping 10 year later. Will not be reading the second
I found it a very slow pace most of the book. I found it hard to stay interested. To ward's the end it got better. Than too many lose ends before jumping 10 year later. Will not be reading the second
July 30, 2019
Unique
This story has an unique origin story, I love the story and plot lines. This book moves, it doesn't get bogged down.
This story has an unique origin story, I love the story and plot lines. This book moves, it doesn't get bogged down.
March 5, 2020
Gripping throughout really enjoyed this book.
April 7, 2025
Dems some horny werewolves!
April 21, 2019
The kielder strain by Rebecca Fernfield.
This was a slow starter but after a few chapters I couldn't put it down. A very good read. I liked the story. 4*.
This was a slow starter but after a few chapters I couldn't put it down. A very good read. I liked the story. 4*.
November 13, 2020
This is not normally my cup of tea, but I enjoyed the story. A typical survival-type story with a medical horror twist.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews