What do you think?
Rate this book
Sebastiano Cangio #1
Cry Wolf: A Mafia Thriller Set in Rural Italy
Introducing resourceful park ranger Sebastiano Cangio in the first of a brand-new crime series set against the glorious landscape of Italy's Umbria region.
Sebastiano Cangio has just accepted his dream job as a park ranger in the stunning Sybilline Mountains National Park in central Italy; it's a unique opportunity to study and live amongst the wild mountain wolves he loves so much. But when a series of devastating earthquakes rocks the region, the dream looks set to become a nightmare.
With the area evacuated, the Mafia seize their chance to move in to pursue their own sinister agenda - and Sebastiano finds himself the only person in a position to stop them. As he embarks on a lone mission to protect the beautiful, unspoiled landscape and ensure the survival of the wolf pack, Sebastiano finds himself up against a menacing trail of a trail that leads all the way to the top.
Sebastiano Cangio has just accepted his dream job as a park ranger in the stunning Sybilline Mountains National Park in central Italy; it's a unique opportunity to study and live amongst the wild mountain wolves he loves so much. But when a series of devastating earthquakes rocks the region, the dream looks set to become a nightmare.
With the area evacuated, the Mafia seize their chance to move in to pursue their own sinister agenda - and Sebastiano finds himself the only person in a position to stop them. As he embarks on a lone mission to protect the beautiful, unspoiled landscape and ensure the survival of the wolf pack, Sebastiano finds himself up against a menacing trail of a trail that leads all the way to the top.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2015
6 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 28, 2025
Sebastiano Cangio had fled Italy after seeing something he shouldn't, heading for London. But life there was not for him, and applying for the position of park ranger in the Sybilline Mountains National Park, a unique opportunity, was something he dreamed of. The fact that it was in Umbria, central Italy, didn't bother him much; living and working among the wild mountain wolves he loved, made it worth the risks. But devastating earthquakes, plus the Mafia cause major problems for the area and Sebastiano knew he was in trouble.
Cry Wolf is the 1st in the Sebastiano Cangio series by Michael Gregorio and unfortunately it wasn't for me. Short chapters, which I normally enjoy, but each chapter chopped to a different scenario with different characters. And there were many of them, so many I struggled to keep up. I chose this book for its cover, needing a wolf for a challenge. I won't read any more in the series though.
Cry Wolf is the 1st in the Sebastiano Cangio series by Michael Gregorio and unfortunately it wasn't for me. Short chapters, which I normally enjoy, but each chapter chopped to a different scenario with different characters. And there were many of them, so many I struggled to keep up. I chose this book for its cover, needing a wolf for a challenge. I won't read any more in the series though.
March 16, 2015
Not all Italians are criminals!
There are those who fight the bad guys, whether the bad guys are street thugs or politicians.
The main protagonist of this crime thriller (some violence and foul language) is a young Italian man who has had to leave Calabria because of the criminals. When his peaceful life in Umbria's mountain animal reserve is threatened by criminal gangs, he fights alongside the good guys to keep his new home safe.
The author varies the point of view skillfully throughout the story, letting us into the minds of anarchists, mafia, secret service agents, policemen, politicians...
If gritty thrillers are your thing, and you have an interest in Italy, then Cry Wolf is for you!
There are those who fight the bad guys, whether the bad guys are street thugs or politicians.
The main protagonist of this crime thriller (some violence and foul language) is a young Italian man who has had to leave Calabria because of the criminals. When his peaceful life in Umbria's mountain animal reserve is threatened by criminal gangs, he fights alongside the good guys to keep his new home safe.
The author varies the point of view skillfully throughout the story, letting us into the minds of anarchists, mafia, secret service agents, policemen, politicians...
If gritty thrillers are your thing, and you have an interest in Italy, then Cry Wolf is for you!
February 15, 2015
I love to read mystery novels and like to read stories set in different parts of the world. Therefore, when I saw this novel would be set in the Umbria region of Italy and featuring a park ranger in those hills I decided to give it a try. The sub-title of the book leads you to think it will also be about the Mafia, but that proves to be incorrect. Instead this book is about the activities of a different segment of the criminal element, the 'Ndrangheta who want to move out of Calabria into the rich pickings of rural Umbria.
The novel begins with the main character, Sebastian Cangio, witnessing a criminal gang killing and seeing a piece of information which can identify the assassin. His mother panics and sends him off to live in London to escape certain death at the hands of this gang. So when Sebastian returns to Italy a short time later and takes up a job as a park ranger in the mountains of Umbria wouldn't you think that he would know enough to keep quiet about what he saw on that beach? I would have thought that, but instead he tells a total stranger every particular detail. I almost dropped my Kindle in shock at his incredible stupidity. Was that supposed to show how naïve and trusting he was?
Unfortunately this was not a good book for me. This book is just barely 190 pages long and yet there are 52 chapters. Just when I had settled down to read, the chapter ended and some other time, place, or person was front and center. I was always being pulled out of the moment. There were too many distractions (mostly the conversations I was having with the book in my head) for this novel to be smooth flowing and enjoyable for me.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
The novel begins with the main character, Sebastian Cangio, witnessing a criminal gang killing and seeing a piece of information which can identify the assassin. His mother panics and sends him off to live in London to escape certain death at the hands of this gang. So when Sebastian returns to Italy a short time later and takes up a job as a park ranger in the mountains of Umbria wouldn't you think that he would know enough to keep quiet about what he saw on that beach? I would have thought that, but instead he tells a total stranger every particular detail. I almost dropped my Kindle in shock at his incredible stupidity. Was that supposed to show how naïve and trusting he was?
Unfortunately this was not a good book for me. This book is just barely 190 pages long and yet there are 52 chapters. Just when I had settled down to read, the chapter ended and some other time, place, or person was front and center. I was always being pulled out of the moment. There were too many distractions (mostly the conversations I was having with the book in my head) for this novel to be smooth flowing and enjoyable for me.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
February 21, 2015
I like the cover, the setting (the Sybilline Mountains National Park in Italy), and the fact that it is a new series featuring a park ranger.
That said, I hoped the plot would include more about wolves and less about organized crime. I usually avoid books that are heavy on mafia-like organizations, but the park ranger and the wolves led me give this one a try.
My favorite character was a minor one; a kleptomaniac. If you enjoy reading about organized crime, you will probably like this better than I did.
Read in December. Blog post scheduled for March 14.
NetGalley/Severn House
Mystery/Crime. April 1, 2015. 192 pages.
That said, I hoped the plot would include more about wolves and less about organized crime. I usually avoid books that are heavy on mafia-like organizations, but the park ranger and the wolves led me give this one a try.
My favorite character was a minor one; a kleptomaniac. If you enjoy reading about organized crime, you will probably like this better than I did.
Read in December. Blog post scheduled for March 14.
NetGalley/Severn House
Mystery/Crime. April 1, 2015. 192 pages.
March 1, 2018
I was interested in this book because of the Italian setting, and that was definitely worth it. The author/s have a very good understanding of Italian customs and ways of life, and how to portray them for non Italians.
The story on the other hand didn't grab me that much.
The story on the other hand didn't grab me that much.
June 9, 2019
If English is not your native tongue write in your native tongue. Far better results. I really appreciated the historical crime fiction much much more. Pity.
February 14, 2015
It not a book I would usually read,but I was intrigued to read it from what was written on the back n inside cover,, for me it seem to lack and didn't draw me in by the first chapter,but I thought I would stick with it n im gladi did it was a great read,dont really want to put to muchabout it as don't really want to spoil it for others who haven't read it,but yes I would recommend it to you.If the author writes any more books I will be more than happy to read them. Great job.
I received this book for free from good reads. :)
I received this book for free from good reads. :)
Want to read
April 23, 2016First in a contemporary series by the authors of the Hanno Stiffeniis series set in Konigsberg. I read the Critique of Criminal Reason, an historical mystery with a nod to Kant, some years ago. The new series features a man working as a ranger in a mountainous national park in Umbria. Cry Wolf is first in series and was published in 2015. Think Wolf is forthcoming in July 2016.
April 13, 2015
Quick-moving, with short, snappy chapters and a multitude of different characters. This is all about Ndrangheta gangs muscling in outside their home turf, corrupt politicians and police commanders with monstrous egos. A quick and enjoyable enough read, but nothing really memorable or outstanding.
May 27, 2015
I had a difficult time following the who's who of this, but that might have been all the unfamiliar names. It's neatly crafted and well written, although I'm not sure I"d describe it as a thriller. It was an enjoyable read and I'm interested enough to pick up the next one.
July 26, 2015
Here is another good idea that does not get the treatment it deserves.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews