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Sam Rivers #1
Wolf Kill
In this outdoors thriller, the investigation of a bizarre wolf attack leads to evidence of murder, conspiracy, and shocking family secrets. A decades-old promise haunts Sam Rivers, but the wildlife biologist refuses to return home—not with his abusive and estranged father still there. Rivers left the family farm some 20 years ago. He found solace in nature and built a respected career as a special agent for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. His experiences have given him a penchant for understanding predators—a skill he’ll need, now, more than ever. After his father’s mysterious death, Rivers is lured back to his hometown of Defiance, in northern Minnesota, to fulfill his mother’s dying wish. But all is not as it seems. Rivers breaks into his childhood home during a howling winter storm and discovers something sinister. His suspicions are heightened after a bizarre wolf attack on local livestock. The events lead the special agent to a series of clues that could change everything he knows—or thinks he knows—about the town, his family, and himself. With the help of alluring reporter Diane Talbott, Rivers must unravel the wolf kill and learn what really happened to his father—a man Rivers has hated for most of his life. It is a case unlike any he’s worked before. His knowledge of frigid winters, wolves, and wilderness will be put to the test, as he tries to solve the case—and stay alive. In Wolf Kill ,natural history writer Cary J. Griffith introduces readers to Sam Rivers, the predator’s predator, and weaves a masterful tale of danger and suspense in the far north.
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2013
102 people are currently reading
2642 people want to read
About the author
Cary J. Griffith
11 books144 followersAward-winning author Cary J. Griffith grew up among the woods, fields, and emerald waters of eastern Iowa. His childhood fostered a lifelong love of wild places.
He earned a B.A. in English from the University of Iowa and an M.A. in library science from the University of Minnesota.
Griffith’s books explore the natural world. In nonfiction, he covers the borderlands between civilization and wild places. In fiction, he focuses on the ways some people use flora and fauna to commit crimes, while others with more reverence and understanding of the natural world leverage their knowledge to bring criminals to justice.
He lives with his family in a suburb of Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
He earned a B.A. in English from the University of Iowa and an M.A. in library science from the University of Minnesota.
Griffith’s books explore the natural world. In nonfiction, he covers the borderlands between civilization and wild places. In fiction, he focuses on the ways some people use flora and fauna to commit crimes, while others with more reverence and understanding of the natural world leverage their knowledge to bring criminals to justice.
He lives with his family in a suburb of Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
November 2, 2022
The debut novel of a MN author. Sam Rivers is so estranged from his shyster father Winthrop that he's changed his name and moved to Colorado. Now, in the dead of winter, his father has apparently accidentally blown his own head off with his custom ten-gauge shotgun while hunting. Hunting what? There's no game season in January, other than Manitou and Sasquatch. It turns out that Winthrop was about to be indicted for a big-dollar scam against elderly clients, so his death might be a suicide. Or not; he's written a new will leaving his fortune to his drinking buddies. While this is obviously suspicious, his buddies include the police chief, who declines to investigate, the insurance agent who wrote the policy, and a couple of other local bigshots who 'identify' the unrecognizable body. Of course it's all a scam, and that's the flaw with this book: every dramatic step is a little too obvious, a little too unlikely, and a little too reliant on everybody ignoring the signs. Winthrop has murdered an indigent traveler who matches his size and age and substituted the body. This puts the will in probate and passes the fortune to his drinking buddies. Presumably, Winthrop will want some of it back. He also has a big life-insurance policy, payable to the buddies. How nice of him. Having fooled the authorities, he decides to hang around this small, northern-Minnesota town where everybody knows him and stage a fake wolf-kill of three feeder calves in a barn, the apparent point being that the State will compensate him ($2,000? $3,000?) Also, it will further the cause of wolf haters, though not by much since the scenario isn't realistic. Much of the book is about investigating the apparent wolf kill, since Sam Rivers, Winthrop's estranged son, is a wolf expert. More unbelievable coincidence. Eventually Sam plods into the solution and the bad guys are exposed. This is a weak, weak mystery, but at least the portrayal of Minnesota winter at its worst is vivid and visceral.
August 8, 2019
Vermilion Falls is a small dying town mining town near the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. Sam Rivers of the U. S. Fish & Wildlife works out of the Denver, Colorado office and is from Vermilion Falls where his father Willistion Winthrop is killed in a hunting accident or is it an accident and what role does his friend from the Iron County Gun Club have with the accident? How can wolves be blamed for killing cattle and what twists will take place? Enjoyed the book and learned a few things about wolves that I did not know about.
October 16, 2022
Like an iconic western, a stranger arrives in town and cleans house. Only Sam Rivers is no stranger to Defiance, Minnesota, as he'd been chased away by a corrupt and violent father when he was a teenager, only to reinvent himself and return twenty years later in time for his father's funeral. As an added bonus, you'll learn about wolves and hybrid dogs. For a fitting ambiance, you may want to read Wolf Kill when the snow begins to fall and the temp drops below zero.
May 25, 2021
Things on the Iron Range of Minnesota are hard. The cold is hard, the terrain is hard and the men are extremely hard.
Sam Rivers ran from his family farm 20 years ago and changed his name and became a wildlife biologist specializing in wolves. He’s very well respected and has found peace working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He knows predators. He was raised by one.
Now he is getting cryptic e-mails from someone taunting him. But he’s not ever returning home. Until his father dies.
Which happens suddenly. Called a hunting accident, the old man has blown his head off. But as Sam decides to return to his hometown and he wants to see the old man dead and he needs to retrieve something his mother has kept hidden for him in her own house.
The time to face demons has come. The only problem is can he trust anyone in this town. So when a bizarre wolf attack happens in his father's barn, things become very interesting.
I really enjoyed this book. Writing from a wildlife expert's view. Looking at nature in an entirely different way. How it can nourish us and how it can kill us.
I’m very glad I read this one and can’t wait for the next one.
Adventure Publishers Re-release on June 15, 2021
Sam Rivers ran from his family farm 20 years ago and changed his name and became a wildlife biologist specializing in wolves. He’s very well respected and has found peace working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He knows predators. He was raised by one.
Now he is getting cryptic e-mails from someone taunting him. But he’s not ever returning home. Until his father dies.
Which happens suddenly. Called a hunting accident, the old man has blown his head off. But as Sam decides to return to his hometown and he wants to see the old man dead and he needs to retrieve something his mother has kept hidden for him in her own house.
The time to face demons has come. The only problem is can he trust anyone in this town. So when a bizarre wolf attack happens in his father's barn, things become very interesting.
I really enjoyed this book. Writing from a wildlife expert's view. Looking at nature in an entirely different way. How it can nourish us and how it can kill us.
I’m very glad I read this one and can’t wait for the next one.
Adventure Publishers Re-release on June 15, 2021
September 26, 2013
"Wolves" is an exploration in feral natures. The characters showing just as much cunning and tenacity, bearing just as much fang as the wolves themselves. Maybe more than the wolves, who seem downright innocent in contrast to the antagonists therein.
Most importantly, it's a thriller that drinks easily.
The simplicity of the landscape adds focus to the depraved as well as a fervor for the virtuous. Protagonists shine and villains disgust, but they often cross boundaries. There is grey matter enough in this literaverse, but good and evil never forget themselves. It's a perfect mashup of post-postmodernist outlook and the classic good guys/bad guys vision we can't seem to get enough of.
In northern Minnesota people are as simple as they are complex. They are saviors, they are murderers, and they are hell-bent on keeping your attention. I highly recommend this read whenever time permits. Read it during your lunch break, vacation or at home. You'll be turning pages until you've devoured the thing whole. And wonder as I do, what's next for Sam Rivers?
Most importantly, it's a thriller that drinks easily.
The simplicity of the landscape adds focus to the depraved as well as a fervor for the virtuous. Protagonists shine and villains disgust, but they often cross boundaries. There is grey matter enough in this literaverse, but good and evil never forget themselves. It's a perfect mashup of post-postmodernist outlook and the classic good guys/bad guys vision we can't seem to get enough of.
In northern Minnesota people are as simple as they are complex. They are saviors, they are murderers, and they are hell-bent on keeping your attention. I highly recommend this read whenever time permits. Read it during your lunch break, vacation or at home. You'll be turning pages until you've devoured the thing whole. And wonder as I do, what's next for Sam Rivers?
October 18, 2013
I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads.
Lovely.
Wolves is a story that reminds us of horrible days of reading The Call of the Wild because there's just too many mentions of wolves and dogs. Now, we're remembering Buck, this dog, that dog, this wolf, that wolf, and all the other stuff.
What is Wolves about? Wolves, yes, but that's only a midget of what the book's really about. It's about Sam Rivers, whose father is pretty much the meanest and greediest guy around. His father wanted Sam's mother's money so he can enjoy it all. He fake his death so he can get insurance money. He's going to fake his friend's death so he'll get more insurance money.
Sam's knowledge of the wild will certainly help him in Wolves. It's relevant to the story, but it gets quite annoying, especially when he goes wolves this, wolves that.
If I was to recommend this book to someone, I'll recommend it to my worse enemy because it is such a boring read. Not only it is annoying, IT IS BORING! Let me empathized: BORING! Avoid this book at all cost!
Wolves is, as I said before, an annoying and boring read. It's brings back fond memories of The Call of the Wild (which is a finer book than this one). Wolves... You know what? I have enough of Wolves, this book is already too much.
Rating: One out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
Lovely.
Wolves is a story that reminds us of horrible days of reading The Call of the Wild because there's just too many mentions of wolves and dogs. Now, we're remembering Buck, this dog, that dog, this wolf, that wolf, and all the other stuff.
What is Wolves about? Wolves, yes, but that's only a midget of what the book's really about. It's about Sam Rivers, whose father is pretty much the meanest and greediest guy around. His father wanted Sam's mother's money so he can enjoy it all. He fake his death so he can get insurance money. He's going to fake his friend's death so he'll get more insurance money.
Sam's knowledge of the wild will certainly help him in Wolves. It's relevant to the story, but it gets quite annoying, especially when he goes wolves this, wolves that.
If I was to recommend this book to someone, I'll recommend it to my worse enemy because it is such a boring read. Not only it is annoying, IT IS BORING! Let me empathized: BORING! Avoid this book at all cost!
Wolves is, as I said before, an annoying and boring read. It's brings back fond memories of The Call of the Wild (which is a finer book than this one). Wolves... You know what? I have enough of Wolves, this book is already too much.
Rating: One out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
September 26, 2013
WOLVES is one of those rare gems that's both a great stand alone thriller, and a jumpstart to a series helmed by a crafty, dynamic writer.
Set in the Iron Range of Northern Minnesota, wildlife expert Sam Rivers must investigate a series of Wolf depredations on livestock in his home town...a town he fled twenty year prior from an abusive father. That makes this case not only a test of his investigative skills, but of settling his past once and for all.
What sets WOLVES apart from a lot of thrillers is the characters and the location itself. Griffith really knows the Iron Range and the types of people who live up there, making the town, the ranches, and outlying wilderness characters of their own. From the villainous Angus Moon to the stoic Sheriff Goddard, the players in this case are so fluidly written and engaging they melt in your brain as you turn each consecutive page.
Simply put, WOLVES is a must-read, not just for thriller and mystery fans, but for all readers looking to be gripped by the edge of your seat from start to finish.
The Sam Rivers legacy begins....
Set in the Iron Range of Northern Minnesota, wildlife expert Sam Rivers must investigate a series of Wolf depredations on livestock in his home town...a town he fled twenty year prior from an abusive father. That makes this case not only a test of his investigative skills, but of settling his past once and for all.
What sets WOLVES apart from a lot of thrillers is the characters and the location itself. Griffith really knows the Iron Range and the types of people who live up there, making the town, the ranches, and outlying wilderness characters of their own. From the villainous Angus Moon to the stoic Sheriff Goddard, the players in this case are so fluidly written and engaging they melt in your brain as you turn each consecutive page.
Simply put, WOLVES is a must-read, not just for thriller and mystery fans, but for all readers looking to be gripped by the edge of your seat from start to finish.
The Sam Rivers legacy begins....
October 10, 2014
I really liked Cary Griffith's "Lost in the Wild". I had some expectations about this one with the extra research on wolves. I found myself wanting a little more on the wolves aspect but that was just me. A couple technical details may have been a bit of a stretch, e.g. listening to a car to car conversation while hiding behind some trees in a snow storm... The premise that several greedy individuals could keep up such a ruse as they did, well, not much of a chance. The main character seemed reasonable enough, even though he broke a basement window in -20F weather and the whole place didn't freeze. The small town, who knows what about whom, and the assumptions people make with the data right in front of them is interesting. I had no problem finishing the book which means it was good enough to maintain my interest.
July 22, 2023
Goodreads crashed during my review again, so here’s a slightly different version of my previously started review 🤦🏼♀️ 3.5 or 4 out of 5 stars.
Sam Rivers, a Fish & Wildlife officer/wolf specialist, is called back to his hometown twenty years after he fled by a promise he made to his later mother, a string of mysterious emails, and the death of his estranged father. Williston Winthrop drove Sam out of town, and his death is the only reason Sam returned. Sam runs into characters of his past, some welcome (Diane) and some unwelcome (his father’s gun club - a group of entitled bullies and otherwise malicious men), all offering up clues in a series of mysterious events begging to be unraveled.
I read this as part of a city wide book read, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! It was a well-edited and excellently paced novel set in Minnesota with some great information about wolf behavior and a little about hybrid breeders.
I enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery, and while it wasn’t quite at the level of can’t put it down (I returned it to the library once and took some time getting it back), it was a very enjoyable read. When I was reading it, the writing/story kept my attention, and I didn’t feel like I was forcing myself to read it.
I would recommend this book even to people who aren’t hardcore mystery fans (one mystery series holds my heart and that’s about it - Meg Langslow as written by Donna Andrews 💕). This one isn’t as cozy as that series and doesn’t have the humor, but it does develop the characters well, which I very much enjoy. This is a great book for people who enjoy the outdoors and wildlife with their mysteries, and I expect I’ll pick up the next books in the series at some point (so many books to read 😂).
One con for me was the introduction of multiple characters in the first few pages paired with the author altering how he referred to them (Goddard, Sheriff; Heins, Deputy). It frustrated me, and I had to flip back to figure out the who’s who a couple times. There were also some characters introduced the felt like the story wouldn’t have changed much without their involvement (most characters were well rounded, but the ME’s screen time felt a little lacking to me).
All around, I would recommend this book to most. An enjoyable (and well edited!, which can be a source of frustration) read for sure.
Sam Rivers, a Fish & Wildlife officer/wolf specialist, is called back to his hometown twenty years after he fled by a promise he made to his later mother, a string of mysterious emails, and the death of his estranged father. Williston Winthrop drove Sam out of town, and his death is the only reason Sam returned. Sam runs into characters of his past, some welcome (Diane) and some unwelcome (his father’s gun club - a group of entitled bullies and otherwise malicious men), all offering up clues in a series of mysterious events begging to be unraveled.
I read this as part of a city wide book read, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! It was a well-edited and excellently paced novel set in Minnesota with some great information about wolf behavior and a little about hybrid breeders.
I enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery, and while it wasn’t quite at the level of can’t put it down (I returned it to the library once and took some time getting it back), it was a very enjoyable read. When I was reading it, the writing/story kept my attention, and I didn’t feel like I was forcing myself to read it.
I would recommend this book even to people who aren’t hardcore mystery fans (one mystery series holds my heart and that’s about it - Meg Langslow as written by Donna Andrews 💕). This one isn’t as cozy as that series and doesn’t have the humor, but it does develop the characters well, which I very much enjoy. This is a great book for people who enjoy the outdoors and wildlife with their mysteries, and I expect I’ll pick up the next books in the series at some point (so many books to read 😂).
One con for me was the introduction of multiple characters in the first few pages paired with the author altering how he referred to them (Goddard, Sheriff; Heins, Deputy). It frustrated me, and I had to flip back to figure out the who’s who a couple times. There were also some characters introduced the felt like the story wouldn’t have changed much without their involvement (most characters were well rounded, but the ME’s screen time felt a little lacking to me).
All around, I would recommend this book to most. An enjoyable (and well edited!, which can be a source of frustration) read for sure.
June 10, 2021
Wolf Kill is the first in what may be an interesting mystery series. I like the setup: a Forest Service wolf expert solves crimes. In Wolf Kill, Sam Rivers goes home to northern Minnesota after he learns his father died. His father had been an abusive man and Sam fled years ago and changed his name. He kept in touch with his mother but she died a few years earlier. He went home to get something she’d left for him.
Wolf Kill is one of those mysteries where we all know who the bad guys are and just have to wait and hope is it their card out in the end. In this case, Sam’s father is actually not dead. Someone else was murdered in his place so he could escape indictment for multiple embezzlement charges and also cash in on his own life insurance. All his co-conspirators are known. So the only suspense is if and when Sam will figure things out.
Wolf Kill suffers from too much information. We know the conspiracy. We know the conspirators. We know how the Sheriff was pressured. We just know too much. The one thing that is hidden is the particulars of Sam’s leaving and that’s not enough to sustain a story. I may have rated this too high because I love books about Minnesota and am familiar with the peat bogs and the Northwoods. A little state chauvinism. However, I think a second in the series will probably be better. Sometimes, the first book or the series pilot is too much about explaining the characters, the who, why, and what of the situation and gets clunky. That is what this feels like, setting the stage for better books.
Wolf Kill will be released on June 15th. I received an ARC from the publisher through Shelf Awareness.
Wolf Kill at Adventure Publications | Scribd
Cary. J. Griffith author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
Wolf Kill is one of those mysteries where we all know who the bad guys are and just have to wait and hope is it their card out in the end. In this case, Sam’s father is actually not dead. Someone else was murdered in his place so he could escape indictment for multiple embezzlement charges and also cash in on his own life insurance. All his co-conspirators are known. So the only suspense is if and when Sam will figure things out.
Wolf Kill suffers from too much information. We know the conspiracy. We know the conspirators. We know how the Sheriff was pressured. We just know too much. The one thing that is hidden is the particulars of Sam’s leaving and that’s not enough to sustain a story. I may have rated this too high because I love books about Minnesota and am familiar with the peat bogs and the Northwoods. A little state chauvinism. However, I think a second in the series will probably be better. Sometimes, the first book or the series pilot is too much about explaining the characters, the who, why, and what of the situation and gets clunky. That is what this feels like, setting the stage for better books.
Wolf Kill will be released on June 15th. I received an ARC from the publisher through Shelf Awareness.
Wolf Kill at Adventure Publications | Scribd
Cary. J. Griffith author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
May 11, 2021
When Williston Winthrop dies, there are numerous people on the scene able to identify the body. But, his son Clayton who now goes by the name Sam Rivers isn't one of them. Sam, a wildlife specialist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, hasn't been back to his boyhood home in Northern Minnesota in twenty years. He left after an altercation with his father and didn't return even when his mother passed away. Now the time has come for him to face up to his past and the ghosts he left behind. And, he wants to retrieve a few things his mother left hidden for him.
As soon as he arrives in town, he senses things aren't all they seem. The friends from his father's hunting club have inherited everything, and they aren't keen to have the son return to the area. Then Sam is asked by the local sheriff to look at his father's farm, where some calves have been killed in the barn by wolves. Sam isn't convinced it's the work of wolves. But he will have to work quickly if he wants to gather any evidence before members of the hunting club intervene. Will this incident lead him to discover more mysteries? He sure hopes so because he is convinced that his father is taunting him even from the grave.
Wolf Kill is a riveting, atmospheric tale full of double-dealing and deception. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The characters and the rugged landscape were so well developed that I felt like I'd been on an outdoor adventure. I hope there will be more Sam Rivers' mysteries to come.
Thanks to Adventure Publications for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at www.susannebooklist.blogspot.com
April 25, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I have never been the first one to write a review on a new book before, so I am both excited and also nervous. I hope that anyone reading my review will wait until more readers write reviews before they decide whether to read this book or not. Personally, I like to read 2-3 reviews on Goodreads before making a decision, and that's what I would urge for you to do as well.
Wolf Kill by Cary J. Griffith is the first in a series about Sam Rivers, a wildlife biologist and special agent for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who has to solve a mystery regarding wolf attacks in his Minnesotan hometown. Here's an excerpt from an opening chapter when Sam is described by an article on one of his cases:
"Five years earlier the Denver Post ran a Sunday feature on his work at the USFW, "Saving Endangered Species One Animal at a Time." ...
The article called Sam Rivers "the predator's predator," a moniker that stuck, at least within his office and the USFW. There was a picture of his 6'2" frame standing in front fo the South Florida bulldozer he had singlehandedly idled. His square shoulders and 195 pounds looked small in front of the huge shovel blade. But his greasy black hair, disheveled undercover clothes, and four days beard growth made him look like the swamp rats he'd hunted."
Overall, Wolf Kill is an exciting blend of survival/nature fiction and mystery investigation. I was on the edge of my seat and wanted to keep reading to see how the mystery was solved. I did take off one star because I had trouble connecting to Sam as a protagonist. In addition, even though the book was described accurately, for some reason, I went into this thinking that the origins of the mysterious wolf attacks were going to be even more sinister than they actually were. That is completely my fault and not the book's fault. If you are a fan of nature-based fiction or mysteries, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes in June!
I have never been the first one to write a review on a new book before, so I am both excited and also nervous. I hope that anyone reading my review will wait until more readers write reviews before they decide whether to read this book or not. Personally, I like to read 2-3 reviews on Goodreads before making a decision, and that's what I would urge for you to do as well.
Wolf Kill by Cary J. Griffith is the first in a series about Sam Rivers, a wildlife biologist and special agent for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who has to solve a mystery regarding wolf attacks in his Minnesotan hometown. Here's an excerpt from an opening chapter when Sam is described by an article on one of his cases:
"Five years earlier the Denver Post ran a Sunday feature on his work at the USFW, "Saving Endangered Species One Animal at a Time." ...
The article called Sam Rivers "the predator's predator," a moniker that stuck, at least within his office and the USFW. There was a picture of his 6'2" frame standing in front fo the South Florida bulldozer he had singlehandedly idled. His square shoulders and 195 pounds looked small in front of the huge shovel blade. But his greasy black hair, disheveled undercover clothes, and four days beard growth made him look like the swamp rats he'd hunted."
Overall, Wolf Kill is an exciting blend of survival/nature fiction and mystery investigation. I was on the edge of my seat and wanted to keep reading to see how the mystery was solved. I did take off one star because I had trouble connecting to Sam as a protagonist. In addition, even though the book was described accurately, for some reason, I went into this thinking that the origins of the mysterious wolf attacks were going to be even more sinister than they actually were. That is completely my fault and not the book's fault. If you are a fan of nature-based fiction or mysteries, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes in June!
October 19, 2021
I received this book in a giveaway. Thank you!
This book was not bad, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. For starters, based on the description, I expected a mystery, but there was not a mystery to this one. From the very beginning, you know what the protagonist does not, so, while there is a mystery for him, there is not for the reader. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and the book jumped between their points of view in a way that was a little hard to keep track of. It was one of those things where you know if this were a movie, it would be easier because you could see the people and be able to track it better, but in a book, for me it was difficult. Finally, most of the characters were not likeable. Of course I expect to not like the bad guy(s) in a story, but these were just repugnant, and I found myself not enjoying the chapters in their POV.
Would I recommend this book? I would, to a certain type of reader, but not to most of my reading buddies, simply because I know their tastes are similar to mine.
This book was not bad, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. For starters, based on the description, I expected a mystery, but there was not a mystery to this one. From the very beginning, you know what the protagonist does not, so, while there is a mystery for him, there is not for the reader. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and the book jumped between their points of view in a way that was a little hard to keep track of. It was one of those things where you know if this were a movie, it would be easier because you could see the people and be able to track it better, but in a book, for me it was difficult. Finally, most of the characters were not likeable. Of course I expect to not like the bad guy(s) in a story, but these were just repugnant, and I found myself not enjoying the chapters in their POV.
Would I recommend this book? I would, to a certain type of reader, but not to most of my reading buddies, simply because I know their tastes are similar to mine.
July 30, 2023
This book was not really to my liking, due primarily to a distaste for characters with exaggerated and unredeemed flaws - true of all four members of the club of thieves that lie at the heart of the novel. They represent a combination of ignorance, evil and cruelty that undermines any hope of credibility or, frankly, character appeal - even for designated bad guys.
Griffith does a decent job of telling the story and there is enough suspense to keep the pages turning. Perhaps intending at the outset to become a writer of a series, several characters are left markedly underdeveloped, which for the reader of the first in the series is somewhat unsatisfying. Although Sam Rivers, and one or two others in the story, show some promise, it won't be a high priority to read #2 in this series. There just isn't quite enough humanity (meaning the complexity of the human interaction and the interplay of complex human emotions and motivations) to hold my interest.
Griffith does a decent job of telling the story and there is enough suspense to keep the pages turning. Perhaps intending at the outset to become a writer of a series, several characters are left markedly underdeveloped, which for the reader of the first in the series is somewhat unsatisfying. Although Sam Rivers, and one or two others in the story, show some promise, it won't be a high priority to read #2 in this series. There just isn't quite enough humanity (meaning the complexity of the human interaction and the interplay of complex human emotions and motivations) to hold my interest.
January 22, 2025
3.5
"Wolf Kill" is a fine read and a good start for a series, unfortunately it didn't have the quality and smoothness as the sum of it's parts. All the elements were there, excellent, good guy, wolf expert, romantic interest, a lovely villain of five, past and present meeting and the author makes you feel the frigid, stark landscape. But for me the elements didn't mesh seamlessly. The biggest disappointment is with Sam Rivers himself. I just didn't feel I knew the guy, no color and very little personality.
I really did like it, and almost gave it four stars except for the reasons above. Besides the sense of atmosphere and setting, it was moderately suspenseful and was a quick read with enough action to keep me reading into the night. I will read the next in the series, I just thought the potential was missed for something really special.
"Wolf Kill" is a fine read and a good start for a series, unfortunately it didn't have the quality and smoothness as the sum of it's parts. All the elements were there, excellent, good guy, wolf expert, romantic interest, a lovely villain of five, past and present meeting and the author makes you feel the frigid, stark landscape. But for me the elements didn't mesh seamlessly. The biggest disappointment is with Sam Rivers himself. I just didn't feel I knew the guy, no color and very little personality.
I really did like it, and almost gave it four stars except for the reasons above. Besides the sense of atmosphere and setting, it was moderately suspenseful and was a quick read with enough action to keep me reading into the night. I will read the next in the series, I just thought the potential was missed for something really special.
May 1, 2021
Thank you to Adventure Publications and Adventure Keen and Publishers Group West for the physical copy of the ARC of this book In return from my honest review.o
This book follows Sam Rivers who is a wildlife biologist. Sam Is a career special agent for the US Fish and Wildlife service This gives him a pension for understanding predators. After his father mysteriously dies, Sam goes back to his hometown to fulfill his mother's dying wish. But, something is not right.Suspicions are heightened when there are bizarre wolf attacks on local livestock in the area. These events lead him to a series of clues that can change everything he knows about his town, his family and himself. In Wolf Kill, natural history writer Cary J. Griffith weaves a masterful tale of danger and suspense.weaves
I love to read about the elements and how fauna and flora can heal, and also be a dangerous thing. Wolf Kill comes out in mid June. If you love nature, mystery and suspense this is the book for you!
This book follows Sam Rivers who is a wildlife biologist. Sam Is a career special agent for the US Fish and Wildlife service This gives him a pension for understanding predators. After his father mysteriously dies, Sam goes back to his hometown to fulfill his mother's dying wish. But, something is not right.Suspicions are heightened when there are bizarre wolf attacks on local livestock in the area. These events lead him to a series of clues that can change everything he knows about his town, his family and himself. In Wolf Kill, natural history writer Cary J. Griffith weaves a masterful tale of danger and suspense.weaves
I love to read about the elements and how fauna and flora can heal, and also be a dangerous thing. Wolf Kill comes out in mid June. If you love nature, mystery and suspense this is the book for you!
August 20, 2021
I have never read a book that contained so many plot twists and interesting factors. I loved the fish and wildlife agent helping to solve a murder because usually, books would have FBI agents or detectives but this was really cool and not what I expected when I picked up this book. I also enjoyed the insurance fraud storyline along with the blackmailing and corruption. I was not expecting all of this when I won this book in the Goodreads giveaway but I am so glad I won this because this went above all of my expectations and I will be recommending this to everyone. Can't wait for more in the series.
June 29, 2022
I was up north visiting the Splitrock Lighthouse recently and this book caught my eye in the gift shop. Since I love reading books by local authors I was immediately intrigued. Not only did I enjoy the scenery that was painted by Cary J. Griffith, which was very picturesque, I also learned a lot about wolves of Northern Minnesota. Sam Rivers was a character that I really admired. A respectable man who is dealing with his past helps solve the mystery of his father's death. I enjoyed how the story unfolded and look forward to reading more by Griffith.
July 27, 2021
Started slow for me until I understood who all the characters were. His writing style reminds me of William Kent Krueger. Griffith is very descriptive so you feel you are in the cold woods of northern Minnesota.
I listened to the audio book. The narrator was not one of my favorites. It was often hard to know who was speaking in a conversation because the narrator used the same voice for almost every character..
I listened to the audio book. The narrator was not one of my favorites. It was often hard to know who was speaking in a conversation because the narrator used the same voice for almost every character..
March 9, 2022
Wolf Kill was a great read! I had a very hard time putting it down. Following the protagonist and main characters brought together a childhood of pain, with that child returning, as an adult, to the place he left 20 years ago. There were so many plot twists and turns that led to the end of this novel! Cary J. Griffith's Wolf Kill was a great thriller, and so well done. I'm hoping there will be another book in the making that will allow me to follow Sam Rivers on his journeys.
August 2, 2024
This was book 3 of my Wine and Words author sprint. I am not a nature reader, but could listen to Griffith talk about it all day. Wolf Kill was a quick, interesting read. I will likely continue reading the books in this series. The only thing that seemed a bit out of place was the sudden relationship between Sam and Diane. That came out of nowhere and progressed rapidly, which seemed a bit unbelievable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2025
I had not read any of Cary Griffith's books when I purchased Wolf Kill after reading a review. I was somewhat hesitant as wolves - and especially killng wolves - gave me pause. On the other hand, the book is set onthe Iron Range (where I was born) so curiosity won the day.
I was very impressed by the plot. As a reader, I was privy to information that wouldn't be revealed until late in the story which I enjoy. The subplots came together to provide a very realistic ending. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.
I recently read a very favorable review of his non-fiction work Gunflint Falling - Blowdown in the Boundary Waters which I have added to my must read list.
I was very impressed by the plot. As a reader, I was privy to information that wouldn't be revealed until late in the story which I enjoy. The subplots came together to provide a very realistic ending. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.
I recently read a very favorable review of his non-fiction work Gunflint Falling - Blowdown in the Boundary Waters which I have added to my must read list.
August 7, 2021
Book was ok. Reminded me ofJohn Grisham mysteries where a group of old unlikeable men are doing nefarious things to bilk insurance money and make illegal money, Main character is Sam Rivers Takes place in Northern MN. A mystery were Wolves are involved. I think I like the authors nonfiction books better.
August 2, 2022
Wolf Kill by Cary J. Griffith was a thoroughly enjoyable. Part of the allure for me was setting in northern Minnesota. I am also very interested stories about animals. This is not a traditional mystery as we readers know the truth from the beginning. The intrigue is in how the protagonist will find the truth. I recommend the read.
September 16, 2023
This book was just ok, in my opinion. I appreciated that the story had multiple layers and was more nuanced than a typical thriller, but it was a little slow, especially in the beginning. Also, the characters all seemed to be based on common tropes, and the females characters were treated as accessories, which is a pet peeve of mine. I probably won't pick up another book by this author.
August 11, 2021
Nothing like a setting in deep winter woods to cool one off during the dog days of August! This is my first Sam Rivers book, but will likely not be the last. Very compelling character, and I learned alot about wolves, too.
January 9, 2022
Good book. I just had the new, unedited version so there is a lot of repetitive information which I’m sure will be cleaned up for the final publisher version.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via a giveaway.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via a giveaway.
September 5, 2022
If William Kent Krueger novels were more wildlife science focused you would get this 🤪 because the book alternated chapters between our protagonist and the antagonists I would say this book is more just regional fiction rather than a thriller. Still very unique and atmospheric.
May 14, 2024
Book Club selection. Wine and Words author 2024.
Mystery that unravels as it goes along- but basically a bunch of old, white men being mean and awful humans in northern MN and the young wolf expert man who brings them down.
Mystery that unravels as it goes along- but basically a bunch of old, white men being mean and awful humans in northern MN and the young wolf expert man who brings them down.
October 25, 2024
Good characters, dialog and apt description of a Minnesota blizzard enhance the appeal of the good guy, Sam Rivers. I like when the people are shown to have emotional baggage, and how it steers their action. That is, no perfect people Grace these pages, and that makes a more realistic story.
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