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Canadian Werewolf #4
Fright Nights, Big City
STOP SPREADING THE NEWS
THERE'S NO LEAVING TODAY
Not when the Big Apple comes under attack from an infectious worm threatening to rot it, and the entire nation, to the core.
Michael Andrews thought he'd found the perfect woman. A companion whose own powers neutralize his werewolf curse and bringing the balance he's always wanted. But his plans on settling down and giving up the vigilante lifestyle are fleeting.
The hatred, the fear, and the monstrous attacks on innocent civilians are growing and spreading as supernatural monsters roam the city streets at night. The neo-Nazi Proud Fighters for America, aware of the special abilities that Lex possesses, track her down and plan on leveraging her powers for their own nefarious purposes.
With Michael's powers nullified in Lex's presence, the couple is forced to divide in their attempt to conquer, and Michael turns to his ex-girlfriend and her knowledge of the occult world in order to understand how to fight this rising evil.
But will two supernatural forces of good operating separately and one paranormal scholar be enough to vanquish the growing legion of evil?
THERE'S NO LEAVING TODAY
Not when the Big Apple comes under attack from an infectious worm threatening to rot it, and the entire nation, to the core.
Michael Andrews thought he'd found the perfect woman. A companion whose own powers neutralize his werewolf curse and bringing the balance he's always wanted. But his plans on settling down and giving up the vigilante lifestyle are fleeting.
The hatred, the fear, and the monstrous attacks on innocent civilians are growing and spreading as supernatural monsters roam the city streets at night. The neo-Nazi Proud Fighters for America, aware of the special abilities that Lex possesses, track her down and plan on leveraging her powers for their own nefarious purposes.
With Michael's powers nullified in Lex's presence, the couple is forced to divide in their attempt to conquer, and Michael turns to his ex-girlfriend and her knowledge of the occult world in order to understand how to fight this rising evil.
But will two supernatural forces of good operating separately and one paranormal scholar be enough to vanquish the growing legion of evil?
- GenresParanormalHorror
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2021
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Mark Leslie
125 books177 followersMark is a writer, editor and bookseller who was born and grew up in Sudbury, spent many years in Ottawa and Hamilton and currently lives in Waterloo, Ontario.
When he is not writing, he tacks "Lefebvre" back onto his name and works as a book industry consultant, having been a bookseller since the 1992, the same year his first short story was published.
Apart from publishing novels and non-fiction paranormal explorations under the name Mark Leslie, having works occasionally appearing on his mother's refrigerator door under the name Mark Lefebvre, and podcasting and consulting about the book industry under the name Mark Leslie Lefebvre for his Stark Publishing/Stark Reflections brand, Mark is a lover of craft beer.
When he's not enjoying craft beer or playing around with his three given names, he can usually be found wandering, awestruck through bookstores or libraries.
When he is not writing, he tacks "Lefebvre" back onto his name and works as a book industry consultant, having been a bookseller since the 1992, the same year his first short story was published.
Apart from publishing novels and non-fiction paranormal explorations under the name Mark Leslie, having works occasionally appearing on his mother's refrigerator door under the name Mark Lefebvre, and podcasting and consulting about the book industry under the name Mark Leslie Lefebvre for his Stark Publishing/Stark Reflections brand, Mark is a lover of craft beer.
When he's not enjoying craft beer or playing around with his three given names, he can usually be found wandering, awestruck through bookstores or libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 6, 2025
“Michael Andrews thought he’d found the perfect woman”
In the previous episode, FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES saw Canadian author and reluctant werewolf Michael Andrews accept the suggestion of his manager, Mack Halpin, to take a working vacation out west. Putting a little space between him and Gail Sommers, the girl friend who had just parted ways with him, he headed to Los Angeles to work as a script consultant on the movie production of his most recent novel. Now he’s back home with a new love, Lex Jones, and a new lease on life only to discover that the neo-Nazi domestic terrorist organization they battled in Los Angeles, had followed them to New York. Anarchy, fascism, racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and violence rooted in hard core right-wing hatred fueled by the rambling musings emanating from the Oval Office were the order of the day. The clues pointed to a nefarious plot to bring New York City to its knees.
The volume and frequency buttons on Mark Leslie’s puns and dad jokes were turned up to 10 and, no question, I’m a fan. FRIGHT NIGHTS, BIG CITY explored aspects of the paranormal and the occult beyond lycanthropy in the form of new and interesting supernatural powers, vampirism, hexes and spells, and even rather unique methods of battling or nullifying those powers (including his own enhanced abilities as a werewolf!). Fabulous … loved that too! That Donald Trump’s lunatic demagoguery remains in full-flight in the lead-up to the 2024 general election and that the pace of the Department of Justice’s progress toward criminal indictments against him is positively glacial adds fuel to my full support of author Leslie’s obvious left-wing and anti-fascist sensibilities in an exciting plot. The world definitely needs more courageous and outspoken authors willing to call this particular spade a spade. Kudos and bravo for that, Mr Leslie!
So why not a five-star review?
FRIGHT NIGHTS, BIG CITY is still, underneath it all, a romance. But the sweet nothings, the cuddling, the love-making and the starry eyes are simply too cute, too saccharine, too frequent and too overdone for my tastes and, frankly, I found it all very distracting. I understand completely that the love between Michael and Lex and his confusion over his obvious continuing love for ex-girlfriend, Gail Sommers, are a critical part of the story but my personal tastes in that kind of thing need to see it toned down several notches. Other readers’ opinions may be different, of course, but I offer my honest feelings and put them openly on the table. Take note, however, that despite the misgivings, I still rated the novel as an enjoyable 4-star novel!
AND, I might add, there is clearly lots of steam left in the plot-line, and in the lives and the contributions to be made by all of the characters who have thus far put in an appearance (or not, as is the case of the invisible man). Woot, woot! Bring on LOVER’S MOON, the next novella, and your as yet untitled full length continuation in THE CANADIAN WEREWOLF series. Can’t wait!
Paul Weiss
In the previous episode, FEAR AND LONGING IN LOS ANGELES saw Canadian author and reluctant werewolf Michael Andrews accept the suggestion of his manager, Mack Halpin, to take a working vacation out west. Putting a little space between him and Gail Sommers, the girl friend who had just parted ways with him, he headed to Los Angeles to work as a script consultant on the movie production of his most recent novel. Now he’s back home with a new love, Lex Jones, and a new lease on life only to discover that the neo-Nazi domestic terrorist organization they battled in Los Angeles, had followed them to New York. Anarchy, fascism, racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and violence rooted in hard core right-wing hatred fueled by the rambling musings emanating from the Oval Office were the order of the day. The clues pointed to a nefarious plot to bring New York City to its knees.
The volume and frequency buttons on Mark Leslie’s puns and dad jokes were turned up to 10 and, no question, I’m a fan. FRIGHT NIGHTS, BIG CITY explored aspects of the paranormal and the occult beyond lycanthropy in the form of new and interesting supernatural powers, vampirism, hexes and spells, and even rather unique methods of battling or nullifying those powers (including his own enhanced abilities as a werewolf!). Fabulous … loved that too! That Donald Trump’s lunatic demagoguery remains in full-flight in the lead-up to the 2024 general election and that the pace of the Department of Justice’s progress toward criminal indictments against him is positively glacial adds fuel to my full support of author Leslie’s obvious left-wing and anti-fascist sensibilities in an exciting plot. The world definitely needs more courageous and outspoken authors willing to call this particular spade a spade. Kudos and bravo for that, Mr Leslie!
So why not a five-star review?
FRIGHT NIGHTS, BIG CITY is still, underneath it all, a romance. But the sweet nothings, the cuddling, the love-making and the starry eyes are simply too cute, too saccharine, too frequent and too overdone for my tastes and, frankly, I found it all very distracting. I understand completely that the love between Michael and Lex and his confusion over his obvious continuing love for ex-girlfriend, Gail Sommers, are a critical part of the story but my personal tastes in that kind of thing need to see it toned down several notches. Other readers’ opinions may be different, of course, but I offer my honest feelings and put them openly on the table. Take note, however, that despite the misgivings, I still rated the novel as an enjoyable 4-star novel!
AND, I might add, there is clearly lots of steam left in the plot-line, and in the lives and the contributions to be made by all of the characters who have thus far put in an appearance (or not, as is the case of the invisible man). Woot, woot! Bring on LOVER’S MOON, the next novella, and your as yet untitled full length continuation in THE CANADIAN WEREWOLF series. Can’t wait!
Paul Weiss
February 18, 2024
STOP SPREADING THE NEWS
THERE'S NO LEAVING TODAY
Not when the Big Apple comes under attack from an infectious worm threatening to rot it, and the entire nation, to the core.
Michael Andrews thought he'd found the perfect woman. A companion whose own powers neutralize his werewolf curse and bringing the balance he's always wanted. But his plans on settling down and giving up the vigilante lifestyle are fleeting.
The hatred, the fear, and the monstrous attacks on innocent civilians are growing and spreading as supernatural monsters roam the city streets at night. The neo-Nazi Proud Fighters for America, aware of the special abilities that Lex possesses, track her down and plan on leveraging her powers for their own nefarious purposes.
With Michael's powers nullified in Lex's presence, the couple is forced to divide in their attempt to conquer, and Michael turns to his ex-girlfriend and her knowledge of the occult world in order to understand how to fight this rising evil.
But will two supernatural forces of good operating separately and one paranormal scholar be enough to vanquish the growing legion of evil?
🐾
"Fright Nights, Big City" is actually the fourth book in Mark Leslie's Canadian Werewolf series. I've only gotten around to reading the sixth book so far, but I'm planning to catch up on the others soon. While you could dive into this one without reading the rest, I think it's probably better to start from the beginning to really get the full picture.
I enjoyed the sixth book, but "Fright Nights, Big City" didn't quite hit the same high notes for me. I still liked Michael as the main character, especially with all the messy relationships he's dealing with, but the story just didn't grab me like the sixth one did. Maybe if I'd read them in order, I'd appreciate how the story has evolved more.
The writing's good though, and Leslie does a decent job blending thrills and romance while still throwing in some relatable real-life stuff.
Overall, it's a solid read, and you can see how Leslie's grown as a writer, but I think it could've been even better with a tighter focus on what really matters and maybe a bit more punch in the storytelling.
🐾
Rated 6.5/10
Melina L.
THERE'S NO LEAVING TODAY
Not when the Big Apple comes under attack from an infectious worm threatening to rot it, and the entire nation, to the core.
Michael Andrews thought he'd found the perfect woman. A companion whose own powers neutralize his werewolf curse and bringing the balance he's always wanted. But his plans on settling down and giving up the vigilante lifestyle are fleeting.
The hatred, the fear, and the monstrous attacks on innocent civilians are growing and spreading as supernatural monsters roam the city streets at night. The neo-Nazi Proud Fighters for America, aware of the special abilities that Lex possesses, track her down and plan on leveraging her powers for their own nefarious purposes.
With Michael's powers nullified in Lex's presence, the couple is forced to divide in their attempt to conquer, and Michael turns to his ex-girlfriend and her knowledge of the occult world in order to understand how to fight this rising evil.
But will two supernatural forces of good operating separately and one paranormal scholar be enough to vanquish the growing legion of evil?
🐾
"Fright Nights, Big City" is actually the fourth book in Mark Leslie's Canadian Werewolf series. I've only gotten around to reading the sixth book so far, but I'm planning to catch up on the others soon. While you could dive into this one without reading the rest, I think it's probably better to start from the beginning to really get the full picture.
I enjoyed the sixth book, but "Fright Nights, Big City" didn't quite hit the same high notes for me. I still liked Michael as the main character, especially with all the messy relationships he's dealing with, but the story just didn't grab me like the sixth one did. Maybe if I'd read them in order, I'd appreciate how the story has evolved more.
The writing's good though, and Leslie does a decent job blending thrills and romance while still throwing in some relatable real-life stuff.
Overall, it's a solid read, and you can see how Leslie's grown as a writer, but I think it could've been even better with a tighter focus on what really matters and maybe a bit more punch in the storytelling.
🐾
Rated 6.5/10
Melina L.
May 29, 2022
I have to say, this is a new kind of werewolf tale. Sure, there's a moon and a guy that becomes a wolf when it's full but that's where this story goes on it's own path. I am new to this author and though I started this series with book 4, I didn't feel lost.
The book is told in first person by the main character, Michael Andrews, who is a famous author and the werewolf in the story. I love that he admits to being a beta male and as uncomfortable as I found some of his worries and especially his crying jags, they made his admission to being beta more defined.
His relationships with the 2 women in his life were well written and I especially liked many of the humorous moments thru out this tale.
The story and narration of this book, I would give a strong rating of 4 star. The reason I needed to rate overall a 3 was the 3 areas of the book where I felt Leslie went off topic and flat in explaining things that were not necessary and did not advance the plot in anyway.
That said, I feel that Mark Leslie did a great job of taking a fictitious story and addressing the real world problems of the hate and prejudice that have been growing in America today, showing the time bomb that is brewing and the importance of keeping vigilant to in these unsettling times.
I believe this book would appeal to readers of paranormal, action and romance novels.
The book is told in first person by the main character, Michael Andrews, who is a famous author and the werewolf in the story. I love that he admits to being a beta male and as uncomfortable as I found some of his worries and especially his crying jags, they made his admission to being beta more defined.
His relationships with the 2 women in his life were well written and I especially liked many of the humorous moments thru out this tale.
The story and narration of this book, I would give a strong rating of 4 star. The reason I needed to rate overall a 3 was the 3 areas of the book where I felt Leslie went off topic and flat in explaining things that were not necessary and did not advance the plot in anyway.
That said, I feel that Mark Leslie did a great job of taking a fictitious story and addressing the real world problems of the hate and prejudice that have been growing in America today, showing the time bomb that is brewing and the importance of keeping vigilant to in these unsettling times.
I believe this book would appeal to readers of paranormal, action and romance novels.
January 25, 2022
“Fright nights, Big City” takes off with energy and a quick recap of the last book’s, “Fear and Longing in Los Angeles“, main events.
Although this is a paranormal comedy romance, Mark Leslie grips us into our seats with a suspense-inducing first scene that promises trouble and lots of awkward moments for our main character and Alex. A perfect start, to say the least. New characters, new problems, new powers, old enemies will be back and memories of love will mix the air with this furry adventure.
The emotional tension is doubled down this time along with the romantic part of the book. Expect LOADS of romance from this book and Mark will not disappoint. Michael, tells that he is over Gail, the constant comparisons between her and Alex as the plot progresses leaves serious doubts to that, but is it enough for us to keep our hopes up? Will they somehow get back together?
Awkward tension, sex, genuine love, confusion, hurt feelings, surprises, more sex, more hurt feelings, tears, and, drama. Oh, the drama is thick and surprising, but not so much to be unpleasant, so if you like it, grab some popcorn and buckle up! That, with the BIG surprise that Mark Leslie put when it comes to Gail that will leave you floored. Perfect timing.
This part of the series resonates with readers in funny ways. So, we have the “normal” or “not-werewolfy” state of Michael, that can’t read emotions. This makes him “unsee” obvious clues about the women he loves, Gail, and Lex, Michael’s new girlfriend. What happens is that, male readers will feel the confusion of Michael and female readers will relate to the annoyance of Gail and Lex.
Another GREAT and original thing that Mark Leslie did was to take whole new approach to the love-triangle dynamics. The route that Mark took made the book even more interesting and surprising. Points to Mark for dogging the cliché bullet.
We also loved his approach on the emotions of our MC, and the fact he displayed them quite often was refreshing.
Mark Leslie has put the pedal to the metal when it comes to humor on this book and there are so many great jokes and funny interactions woven into the story. The author threw funny expressions all around the book which enhanced the comedy of the book. Prepare yourself for the laughter and the joy when reading this awesome book. Amazing stuff.
It’s nice to read again the “mind” of the wolf and the perceptions that the wolf got, revealing many things about our MC. Two separate worlds, two sets of memory and two perceptions of the same world. It’s fascinating, especially when the wolf and Michael start to have… issues with one another. Curious.
Mark Leslie makes his characters break the fourth-wall without them realizing, and it’s hilarious, hahahahahah. Like, they describe the whole plot without them knowing they ARE living it, LOL. Nice one Mark. Very nice. LOL.
Mack is back!! Mack IS BAAAAACK! Ok, we realize how gruff Mack is, and that will annoy many readers, yes, but one thing is for sure, Mark can pull of some great jokes through him along with an enhanced contrast to the other characters. Mack is a total exaggeration of everything, and that makes him comical in a weird sense. The return of Mack also brings forward great points about self-respect and boundaries, and a GREAT surprise from our MC, and… Mack himself, which makes us love him even more. Loved it!
We appreciate how the author made internal questionings about Michael’s integrity and showed his doubts as a person. This made the character, and the whole book, even more relatable to the reader and much more real when it comes to the reading experience. Mark Leslie, like in the previous books, didn’t try to make him “the perfect” male, or “alpha male”, and this made the reading experience more believable. This is how you engage and keep readers. This is experienced writing right here. Excellent.
Is this book just love, emotional drama and tears mixed with fur? Oh not at all. Mark Leslies us takes his time in developing the major plot of the book, slow cooking the enemy again in the readers mind, bringing it forward to the first stage of the book, making it a seamless and natural integration to the story as he keeps adding layer upon layer of suspense! Very nicely done indeed.
It’s curious to admire how Mark Leslie makes a tidal motion with things in this book. He lets us know that something is happening, hints to its presence, and then focuses on developing a another side of the plot. This continues for about a chapter or two then, he goes to another side of the story and focuses on that for another one to three chapters, then comes back to a previous plot, mixes everything up, connects the dots and THEN moves with it even further. It’s BRILLIANT!
Oh yes, of course, there is a powerful and relevant message to this book. It’s about the danger of fear, because it causes hate, and hate makes people commit atrocities that cannot be justified or accepted, not even through the scapegoats of our beliefs or ideals. There are fundamentals that must stick to, and one of them is the respect for life and choice in general.
Another great message that this book carries is about the power that words have, especially when you are a person that other people admire. We have great power to influence, and with great power, come great responsibilities.
This book is as fun as it’s inspirational as romantic as it is thrilling and as deep and filled with values as it is long. We recommend you to read not only this awesome book, but the entire series. Mark Leslie knows how to entertain, educate and steal a good laughter from his readers. This is an excellently built story with great characters. Top stuff right here. Loved it!!
Pros:
Excellent narrative
Excellent romantic plots
Excellent humor
Unpredictable plot
Great character interactions, with exemplary approach
Great message to pass to the reader
Entertaining in every way
Cons:
None
Favorite Character: “Mack, The Knife”
Lesson of the book: “Be Honest”
Cover Score : 9.0/10
Book Score: 9.0/10
Although this is a paranormal comedy romance, Mark Leslie grips us into our seats with a suspense-inducing first scene that promises trouble and lots of awkward moments for our main character and Alex. A perfect start, to say the least. New characters, new problems, new powers, old enemies will be back and memories of love will mix the air with this furry adventure.
The emotional tension is doubled down this time along with the romantic part of the book. Expect LOADS of romance from this book and Mark will not disappoint. Michael, tells that he is over Gail, the constant comparisons between her and Alex as the plot progresses leaves serious doubts to that, but is it enough for us to keep our hopes up? Will they somehow get back together?
Awkward tension, sex, genuine love, confusion, hurt feelings, surprises, more sex, more hurt feelings, tears, and, drama. Oh, the drama is thick and surprising, but not so much to be unpleasant, so if you like it, grab some popcorn and buckle up! That, with the BIG surprise that Mark Leslie put when it comes to Gail that will leave you floored. Perfect timing.
This part of the series resonates with readers in funny ways. So, we have the “normal” or “not-werewolfy” state of Michael, that can’t read emotions. This makes him “unsee” obvious clues about the women he loves, Gail, and Lex, Michael’s new girlfriend. What happens is that, male readers will feel the confusion of Michael and female readers will relate to the annoyance of Gail and Lex.
Another GREAT and original thing that Mark Leslie did was to take whole new approach to the love-triangle dynamics. The route that Mark took made the book even more interesting and surprising. Points to Mark for dogging the cliché bullet.
We also loved his approach on the emotions of our MC, and the fact he displayed them quite often was refreshing.
Mark Leslie has put the pedal to the metal when it comes to humor on this book and there are so many great jokes and funny interactions woven into the story. The author threw funny expressions all around the book which enhanced the comedy of the book. Prepare yourself for the laughter and the joy when reading this awesome book. Amazing stuff.
It’s nice to read again the “mind” of the wolf and the perceptions that the wolf got, revealing many things about our MC. Two separate worlds, two sets of memory and two perceptions of the same world. It’s fascinating, especially when the wolf and Michael start to have… issues with one another. Curious.
Mark Leslie makes his characters break the fourth-wall without them realizing, and it’s hilarious, hahahahahah. Like, they describe the whole plot without them knowing they ARE living it, LOL. Nice one Mark. Very nice. LOL.
Mack is back!! Mack IS BAAAAACK! Ok, we realize how gruff Mack is, and that will annoy many readers, yes, but one thing is for sure, Mark can pull of some great jokes through him along with an enhanced contrast to the other characters. Mack is a total exaggeration of everything, and that makes him comical in a weird sense. The return of Mack also brings forward great points about self-respect and boundaries, and a GREAT surprise from our MC, and… Mack himself, which makes us love him even more. Loved it!
We appreciate how the author made internal questionings about Michael’s integrity and showed his doubts as a person. This made the character, and the whole book, even more relatable to the reader and much more real when it comes to the reading experience. Mark Leslie, like in the previous books, didn’t try to make him “the perfect” male, or “alpha male”, and this made the reading experience more believable. This is how you engage and keep readers. This is experienced writing right here. Excellent.
Is this book just love, emotional drama and tears mixed with fur? Oh not at all. Mark Leslies us takes his time in developing the major plot of the book, slow cooking the enemy again in the readers mind, bringing it forward to the first stage of the book, making it a seamless and natural integration to the story as he keeps adding layer upon layer of suspense! Very nicely done indeed.
It’s curious to admire how Mark Leslie makes a tidal motion with things in this book. He lets us know that something is happening, hints to its presence, and then focuses on developing a another side of the plot. This continues for about a chapter or two then, he goes to another side of the story and focuses on that for another one to three chapters, then comes back to a previous plot, mixes everything up, connects the dots and THEN moves with it even further. It’s BRILLIANT!
Oh yes, of course, there is a powerful and relevant message to this book. It’s about the danger of fear, because it causes hate, and hate makes people commit atrocities that cannot be justified or accepted, not even through the scapegoats of our beliefs or ideals. There are fundamentals that must stick to, and one of them is the respect for life and choice in general.
Another great message that this book carries is about the power that words have, especially when you are a person that other people admire. We have great power to influence, and with great power, come great responsibilities.
This book is as fun as it’s inspirational as romantic as it is thrilling and as deep and filled with values as it is long. We recommend you to read not only this awesome book, but the entire series. Mark Leslie knows how to entertain, educate and steal a good laughter from his readers. This is an excellently built story with great characters. Top stuff right here. Loved it!!
Pros:
Excellent narrative
Excellent romantic plots
Excellent humor
Unpredictable plot
Great character interactions, with exemplary approach
Great message to pass to the reader
Entertaining in every way
Cons:
None
Favorite Character: “Mack, The Knife”
Lesson of the book: “Be Honest”
Cover Score : 9.0/10
Book Score: 9.0/10
January 5, 2022
‘I needed to focus on having a life again’
Canadian author Mark Leslie is a writer, editor, and bookseller whose publications include poetry, short stories and novels – both fiction and non-fiction. His specialty is horror, ghost, and eerie stories, and as such he has served as editor of science fiction anthologies (North of Infinity II, Campus Chills, Fiction River among them). In 2016 Mark introduced the primary character of his Canadian Werewolf Series, of which FRIGHT NIGHTS, BIG CITY is Book 4, outlining him as ‘Michael Andrews seems to have it all. He's a successful author and a minor celebrity living in Manhattan. It's a pretty big step up from his humble Canadian upbringing. Of course, his lycanthropy poses a bit of a challenge.’ For those in doubt, a lycanthrope is a human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf – aka ‘werewolf.’ Mark adds that Michael Andrews is ‘a meek and mild-mannered person, not cut out for the hero life – an Alpha Wolf who is really a Beta Human.’
Given that character build up, Mark opens his story with a Prologue that captures his character well – ‘I was used to waking up naked in strange places with foggy memories of what I’d done the night before when romping around as a canine. It’s amazing how accustomed one can become to the strangest things. But those odd moments, the things we never thought we’d get used to, over time, evolve into habits, rituals. They might even become comforting in a bizarre way. This time I woke in a sitting position…When the moon is at 80% or more, my body undergoes a metamorphosis from a six foot-two two-hundred-pound male Homo sapiens into a six-foot long anis lupus.’
On to the story – ‘Stop spreading the news. There’s no leaving today. Not when the Big Apple comes under attack from an infectious worm threatening to rot it, and the entire nation, to the core. Michael Andrews thought he'd found the perfect woman. A companion whose own powers neutralize his werewolf curse and bring the balance he has always wanted. But his plans on settling down and giving up the vigilante lifestyle are fleeting. The hatred, the fear, and the monstrous attacks on innocent civilians grow and spread as supernatural monsters roam the city streets at night. The neo-Nazi Proud Fighters for America have already seeped their way across the continent and have nefarious plans for the city that never sleeps. With Michael's powers nullified in Lex's presence, the couple is forced to divide in their attempt to conquer, and Michael turns to his ex-girlfriend's knowledge of the occult and an ally he thought was his enemy to fight this rising evil. But will three supernatural humans and one paranormal scholar be enough to vanquish the growing legion of evil?.’
Mark Leslie’s tongue in cheek wit shines through his tale, giving a bonding sense of pleasure in getting to know – and follow - his central character through his antics. This is a gratifying story on many levels, one that deserves a wide audience. Highly recommended.
Canadian author Mark Leslie is a writer, editor, and bookseller whose publications include poetry, short stories and novels – both fiction and non-fiction. His specialty is horror, ghost, and eerie stories, and as such he has served as editor of science fiction anthologies (North of Infinity II, Campus Chills, Fiction River among them). In 2016 Mark introduced the primary character of his Canadian Werewolf Series, of which FRIGHT NIGHTS, BIG CITY is Book 4, outlining him as ‘Michael Andrews seems to have it all. He's a successful author and a minor celebrity living in Manhattan. It's a pretty big step up from his humble Canadian upbringing. Of course, his lycanthropy poses a bit of a challenge.’ For those in doubt, a lycanthrope is a human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf – aka ‘werewolf.’ Mark adds that Michael Andrews is ‘a meek and mild-mannered person, not cut out for the hero life – an Alpha Wolf who is really a Beta Human.’
Given that character build up, Mark opens his story with a Prologue that captures his character well – ‘I was used to waking up naked in strange places with foggy memories of what I’d done the night before when romping around as a canine. It’s amazing how accustomed one can become to the strangest things. But those odd moments, the things we never thought we’d get used to, over time, evolve into habits, rituals. They might even become comforting in a bizarre way. This time I woke in a sitting position…When the moon is at 80% or more, my body undergoes a metamorphosis from a six foot-two two-hundred-pound male Homo sapiens into a six-foot long anis lupus.’
On to the story – ‘Stop spreading the news. There’s no leaving today. Not when the Big Apple comes under attack from an infectious worm threatening to rot it, and the entire nation, to the core. Michael Andrews thought he'd found the perfect woman. A companion whose own powers neutralize his werewolf curse and bring the balance he has always wanted. But his plans on settling down and giving up the vigilante lifestyle are fleeting. The hatred, the fear, and the monstrous attacks on innocent civilians grow and spread as supernatural monsters roam the city streets at night. The neo-Nazi Proud Fighters for America have already seeped their way across the continent and have nefarious plans for the city that never sleeps. With Michael's powers nullified in Lex's presence, the couple is forced to divide in their attempt to conquer, and Michael turns to his ex-girlfriend's knowledge of the occult and an ally he thought was his enemy to fight this rising evil. But will three supernatural humans and one paranormal scholar be enough to vanquish the growing legion of evil?.’
Mark Leslie’s tongue in cheek wit shines through his tale, giving a bonding sense of pleasure in getting to know – and follow - his central character through his antics. This is a gratifying story on many levels, one that deserves a wide audience. Highly recommended.
December 20, 2022
This is the fourth book in the series, and I absolutely loved it, a gripping and page-turning read for sure.
Michael turns into a werewolf several times in the book and to see him in his wolf form again was exciting.
Told in the first person we really get into how Michael thinks things through and then has internal conversations with himself. They are often amusing. This time he has a mission from the get-go. The plot is exciting and once more involves The Proud Fighters of America who are now taking over New York. They are a hate group who are vicious and nasty.
Michael also teams up with a man called Irwin who turns into a big grey wolf. I loved this character and he was a great addition with an interesting tale to tell.
Michael continues his love affair with Lex. I found this endearing and sweet. It made it especially interesting when his ex, Gail turned up. There are some awkward situations that made me chuckle and eager to see how it played out.
There is a lot of humour in this book, as well as paranormal, and a very exciting build up to one heck of climax. I literally could not stop reading as the unexpected kept rearing it’s head.
There is nothing that I can say I disliked. The cover matched book one and three and they looked part of the series. Each book seemed to get better, and the plot even more exciting.
Once more, the author took us behind the scenes of his story and how it fitted in with the rest of series. It was fascinating to learn about the research into the occult he had done and how he applied it to the story.
Lover’s Moon is the next one, but I was asked to read and review that sometime ago. Although it’s a great book, beautifully written, it’s the only one that isn’t standalone. I had no idea what was going on. Now at the end of this one, it makes sense. Although it also seems I misunderstood the secret they talked about. Sadly, I will now have to wait till March 2023 for the final book, which I’m excited for, and look forward to reading.
Fright Nights, Big City comes highly recommended for those who love a story with extraordinary characters that changes into a paranormal blockbuster. As with the previous books, it can be read as a standalone. The author is great at keeping the readers informed so we are not left wondering what happened
Michael turns into a werewolf several times in the book and to see him in his wolf form again was exciting.
Told in the first person we really get into how Michael thinks things through and then has internal conversations with himself. They are often amusing. This time he has a mission from the get-go. The plot is exciting and once more involves The Proud Fighters of America who are now taking over New York. They are a hate group who are vicious and nasty.
Michael also teams up with a man called Irwin who turns into a big grey wolf. I loved this character and he was a great addition with an interesting tale to tell.
Michael continues his love affair with Lex. I found this endearing and sweet. It made it especially interesting when his ex, Gail turned up. There are some awkward situations that made me chuckle and eager to see how it played out.
There is a lot of humour in this book, as well as paranormal, and a very exciting build up to one heck of climax. I literally could not stop reading as the unexpected kept rearing it’s head.
There is nothing that I can say I disliked. The cover matched book one and three and they looked part of the series. Each book seemed to get better, and the plot even more exciting.
Once more, the author took us behind the scenes of his story and how it fitted in with the rest of series. It was fascinating to learn about the research into the occult he had done and how he applied it to the story.
Lover’s Moon is the next one, but I was asked to read and review that sometime ago. Although it’s a great book, beautifully written, it’s the only one that isn’t standalone. I had no idea what was going on. Now at the end of this one, it makes sense. Although it also seems I misunderstood the secret they talked about. Sadly, I will now have to wait till March 2023 for the final book, which I’m excited for, and look forward to reading.
Fright Nights, Big City comes highly recommended for those who love a story with extraordinary characters that changes into a paranormal blockbuster. As with the previous books, it can be read as a standalone. The author is great at keeping the readers informed so we are not left wondering what happened
January 27, 2022
The Review
This series just keeps getting more and more engaging. The balance of character development with grounded storytelling and rich mythology never ceases to amaze me. The evolution of new and existing paranormal creatures and individuals was great to see here, as was the dive into what it means to be the wolf for Michael, as his love Lex’s gifts keep the wolf from coming out, but at what cost? The exploration of that cost early on was so fascinating to see and shows the duality that comes from werewolf transformations in literature.
I also loved seeing the developing relationships between Michael, Lex, and Gail, as the sparks between Lex and Michael were so prominent but the author didn’t shy away from the complex relationship Michael has with Gail still, and the shared love that still exists there. The exploration of these characters and how they mesh together was so well done, and the author’s emphasis on character growth really elevated the overall narrative of this novel. The dive into the racism and violence our world has seen in recent years and how it impacts the paranormal community as well was such an inspired choice and was the perfect mirror of real-world problems in a paranormal setting.
The Verdict
Action-packed, emotional, and entertaining, author Mark Leslie’s “Fright Nights, Big City” is a must-read paranormal mystery thriller and the perfect next chapter in the Canadian Werewolf series. The twists and turns the narrative takes and the shocking finale that will have fans gasping in surprise will have readers hooked and in desperate need for the next chapter of the series.
This series just keeps getting more and more engaging. The balance of character development with grounded storytelling and rich mythology never ceases to amaze me. The evolution of new and existing paranormal creatures and individuals was great to see here, as was the dive into what it means to be the wolf for Michael, as his love Lex’s gifts keep the wolf from coming out, but at what cost? The exploration of that cost early on was so fascinating to see and shows the duality that comes from werewolf transformations in literature.
I also loved seeing the developing relationships between Michael, Lex, and Gail, as the sparks between Lex and Michael were so prominent but the author didn’t shy away from the complex relationship Michael has with Gail still, and the shared love that still exists there. The exploration of these characters and how they mesh together was so well done, and the author’s emphasis on character growth really elevated the overall narrative of this novel. The dive into the racism and violence our world has seen in recent years and how it impacts the paranormal community as well was such an inspired choice and was the perfect mirror of real-world problems in a paranormal setting.
The Verdict
Action-packed, emotional, and entertaining, author Mark Leslie’s “Fright Nights, Big City” is a must-read paranormal mystery thriller and the perfect next chapter in the Canadian Werewolf series. The twists and turns the narrative takes and the shocking finale that will have fans gasping in surprise will have readers hooked and in desperate need for the next chapter of the series.
April 8, 2022
Thank you Mark for another fun chapter in the Canadian Werewolf saga.
In this new novel Michael and Gail are joined by Lex and Irwin. Also joining them is Jerry Parks.
After his encounter with Detective McLean Jerry entered the literary witness relocation program and his name was changed to Buddy J Samuels. Buddy retains his abiding interest in the aqueducts of New York City.
Initially not a reader of fantasy I am now hooked on the Canadian Werewolf series. I will of course have to add the rest to my growing list of “to be read” books. Now that I am semi retired I find the list still growing at the rate of 2 books to every 1 book read.
Readers might be able to see Mark in Calgary when in person events resume for When Words Collide. Mark has a unique inside in to the world of books. If you can bring him a new “dad joke” I am certain he might trade a tale of his adventures in the worlds and words of Canadian literature.
In this new novel Michael and Gail are joined by Lex and Irwin. Also joining them is Jerry Parks.
After his encounter with Detective McLean Jerry entered the literary witness relocation program and his name was changed to Buddy J Samuels. Buddy retains his abiding interest in the aqueducts of New York City.
Initially not a reader of fantasy I am now hooked on the Canadian Werewolf series. I will of course have to add the rest to my growing list of “to be read” books. Now that I am semi retired I find the list still growing at the rate of 2 books to every 1 book read.
Readers might be able to see Mark in Calgary when in person events resume for When Words Collide. Mark has a unique inside in to the world of books. If you can bring him a new “dad joke” I am certain he might trade a tale of his adventures in the worlds and words of Canadian literature.
March 27, 2022
Too many references to real life troupes really hurt the story. This started with the last book but I enjoyed the love journey Michael embarked on in finding Lex but it’s become less about a Werewolf and more on political wokeness.
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