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The Pack #1
The Pack
When Simon Burns is fired from his job without warning, he takes on the role of stay-at-home dad for his three-year-old son. But his reluctance pushes his already strained marriage to the limit. In the nestled playgrounds of the Upper West Side, Simon harbors a simmering rage at his boss's betrayal.
Things take a turn when he meets a tight-knit trio of dads at the playground. They are different from other men Simon has met, stronger and more confident, more at ease with the darker side of life- and soon Simon is lured into their mix. But after a guys' night out gets frighteningly out of hand, Simon feels himself sliding into a new nightmarish reality.
As he experiences disturbing changes in his body and his perceptions, he starts to suspect that when the guys welcomed him to their "pack," they were talking about much more than male bonding. And as he falls prey to his basest instincts, Simon must accept that werewolves exist if he is to turn the tides of his fortune...
Things take a turn when he meets a tight-knit trio of dads at the playground. They are different from other men Simon has met, stronger and more confident, more at ease with the darker side of life- and soon Simon is lured into their mix. But after a guys' night out gets frighteningly out of hand, Simon feels himself sliding into a new nightmarish reality.
As he experiences disturbing changes in his body and his perceptions, he starts to suspect that when the guys welcomed him to their "pack," they were talking about much more than male bonding. And as he falls prey to his basest instincts, Simon must accept that werewolves exist if he is to turn the tides of his fortune...
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
33 people are currently reading
962 people want to read
About the author
Jason Starr
118 books249 followersJason Starr is the international bestselling author of many crime novels and thrillers, including Cold Caller, The Follower, The Pack and The Next Time I Die. He also writes comics for Marvel (Wolverine, The Punisher) and DC (Batman, The Avenger) and original graphic novels such as Red Border and Casual Fling. In addition, he writes film and TV tie-in novels including an official Ant-Man novel and the Gotham novels based on the hit TV show. His books have been published in sixteen languages and several of his novels are in development for film and TV. He has won the Anthony Award for mystery fiction twice, as well as a Barry Award. Starr lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
April 17, 2012
Review in thirty words:
Are you a happily married man in his thirties suffering from a testosterone deficiency? Why not become a werewolf? It's great fun, except when it's not!
Entertaining read!
Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.
Are you a happily married man in his thirties suffering from a testosterone deficiency? Why not become a werewolf? It's great fun, except when it's not!
Entertaining read!
Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com.
March 5, 2021
If you happen to notice anyone become suddenly very active a fast runner and have a large appetite and delicacy for meat not well done you would not think twice about it. If his meat is served on a plate with nothing else, no vegetables, just one grand slab of bloody steak sitting on plate you should have some concern and then there is a noticeable hair growth and the lack of need of Viagra all hours going ons you better really be concerned. The persons hearing will greatly be increased, something you say in another room in a low voice would be known by the recently gifted one.
The main protagonist in this story a father of one boy and wife to a business woman is about to feel the pinch and be in a situation where he loses his job. He becomes a home alone dad for his kid while his wife earns the money. There are many fathers who would love to be in his shoes. He finds it hard and a chore at first but one stroll to a park he discovers other men babysitting also. Now group of guys relating to each others situation is all fine and dandy but when you get invited back for a guys evening meal with only steaks on a plate take it as a warning you about to be part of a pack.
In history people have found the need to part of something a group a gang a tribe or clan.
There are always leaders of these groups chieftains, captains of football teams and armies.
There is one leader of the pack who bent on recruiting new blood an this group you are about to learn of may well be thee most powerful and high libido orientated pack you are about to partake in by way of this story that Jason Starr has created.
The main protagonist Simon is about to feel and enjoy things in ways he has never thought possible with deadly and bloody consequences. Jason Starr has penned mysteries and thrillers previously and has done well here with something different. His own angle on the urban fantasy story of other becomings and beings with writing that really hooks you in and thoroughly entertaining and hypnotic. In the meantime I am watching out for any extra hair growth, until the next time Jason Starr takes me eagerly back again to The Pack in his sequel.
Also review @ http://more2read.com/review/the-pack-by-jason-starr/
The main protagonist in this story a father of one boy and wife to a business woman is about to feel the pinch and be in a situation where he loses his job. He becomes a home alone dad for his kid while his wife earns the money. There are many fathers who would love to be in his shoes. He finds it hard and a chore at first but one stroll to a park he discovers other men babysitting also. Now group of guys relating to each others situation is all fine and dandy but when you get invited back for a guys evening meal with only steaks on a plate take it as a warning you about to be part of a pack.
In history people have found the need to part of something a group a gang a tribe or clan.
There are always leaders of these groups chieftains, captains of football teams and armies.
There is one leader of the pack who bent on recruiting new blood an this group you are about to learn of may well be thee most powerful and high libido orientated pack you are about to partake in by way of this story that Jason Starr has created.
The main protagonist Simon is about to feel and enjoy things in ways he has never thought possible with deadly and bloody consequences. Jason Starr has penned mysteries and thrillers previously and has done well here with something different. His own angle on the urban fantasy story of other becomings and beings with writing that really hooks you in and thoroughly entertaining and hypnotic. In the meantime I am watching out for any extra hair growth, until the next time Jason Starr takes me eagerly back again to The Pack in his sequel.
Also review @ http://more2read.com/review/the-pack-by-jason-starr/
June 28, 2017
3.0 Stars
First of all, the premise of this book is absolutely ridiculous. Anyone considering picking up this one should calibrate their expectation accordingly. All that being said, this was really entertaining read.
In terms of genre, this book should really be categorized as contemporary with elements of romance and urban fantasy. Anyone expecting a horror novel will be terribly disappointed. Sexy? Yes. Scary? No.
The writing and characters were honestly quite average, but something about the story was quite engrossing. The narrative moves quickly, with plenty steamy scenes and humorous moments.
I would recommend this one to readers, who are in the mood for an addicting, fun story that doesn't take itself too seriously.
First of all, the premise of this book is absolutely ridiculous. Anyone considering picking up this one should calibrate their expectation accordingly. All that being said, this was really entertaining read.
In terms of genre, this book should really be categorized as contemporary with elements of romance and urban fantasy. Anyone expecting a horror novel will be terribly disappointed. Sexy? Yes. Scary? No.
The writing and characters were honestly quite average, but something about the story was quite engrossing. The narrative moves quickly, with plenty steamy scenes and humorous moments.
I would recommend this one to readers, who are in the mood for an addicting, fun story that doesn't take itself too seriously.
April 17, 2012
Simon Burns is your typical beta male. He goes to work but can't climb the corporate ladder because he lacks the requisite ambition and willingness to resort to cut-throat office politics, yet he still shocked when he is unexpectedly fired. A bad economy soon forces Simon into making an unconventional decision and he ends up as a stay-at-home dad to his three-year-old son Jeremy. It's a tough adjustment and when Simon runs into another group of dads at the playground he's relieved to find a group of guys who seem to understand his situation.
His new friends are a close-knit group that possess an eerie physicality, but Simon brushes off their oddness in his desire to find a comfortable niche in his new life. He soon progresses from playdates at the park to nights out with the guys- but when Simon wakes up in the middle of the woods with no memory of the previous night, blood on his clothes and a sudden strange craving for meat, he begins to realize that his new friends aren't exactly what they seem to be.
When I was first offered "The Pack" for review I was drawn to the differences in the concept of the werewolf story. Who wants the same old thing with all the were-themed fiction out there? But the promise of flip-flopped gender roles and the pull of a charismatic pack leader ended up being only a small part of the narrative as the execution gets bogged down in mundane repetition and discombobulated characterizations.
The difficulty I had in reading "The Pack" primarily came from a feeling that nothing had a natural flow to it. When we're confronted with strange situations most people have a native wariness. We might talk ourselves out of paying attention to our gut reactions, but not until we've run through some rationalizations first. But the characters in "The Pack" have a shared tendency to disregard frightening circumstances and leap into things when they should run in the other direction. To explain this behavior we're told that the would-be leader of The Pack, Michael, is an unusually charismatic guy. That he has the ability to overwhelm with his presence and make people trust him. The problem with that description is that he is never written in a way that makes this believable. Michael really just comes off as odd and I could never suspend disbelief enough to go along with the idea that people would do what he wants so easily.
And the disjointed feeling carries over into the most pedestrian aspects of the story. Simon doesn't have to go through any kind of initiation into the pack-- he's basically accepted on sight and brought into the fold for no other reason than he's a stay-at-home dad. His odd behavior does cause his wife some alarm, but her reactions are all over the place. She runs an emotional obstacle course that goes from accusing Simon of having an affair to being gay and even fears Simon will hurt Jeremy at one point. But when it becomes convenient to the narrative for her and Simon to be together, she goes through a massive change of demeanor and decides everything is fine. I couldn't decide if the author thought all women were that wishy-washy, or if that was particular to this story. But the only other female characters aren't given more credit for being perceptive- or sane- so I didn't love the way women were treated in the book.
Not to nit-pick this book to death, but I also have to mention that for a thriller "The Pack" spends a lot of time on not-so-thrilling minutia. Much of Simon's day, after being essentially turned into a werewolf, revolves around eating meat, running laps and doing push-ups to burn off his new-found energy or taking his son to the park. There are a few glimmers of what the book could be when Simon interacts with his former co-workers but it never finds its potential. It feels like more time is spent describing the changes in Simon's eating habits than showing the fear and anger that should accompany such a life-altering situation.
I wanted to like "The Pack" because I think it has such a good premise. Starr touches on the idea that women like passive men on an intellectual level, but respond to the alpha male on an instinctive level. The conundrum of having Simon being financially passive while physically aggressive is something I wish had been explored more. I also think Michael could have been developed in a much more convincing manner and I was disappointed that *the pack* that is the central idea of the book was more of a concept that a well fleshed-out part of the story. In the end I felt like "The Pack" was a collection of good ideas that needed a lot of refining.
His new friends are a close-knit group that possess an eerie physicality, but Simon brushes off their oddness in his desire to find a comfortable niche in his new life. He soon progresses from playdates at the park to nights out with the guys- but when Simon wakes up in the middle of the woods with no memory of the previous night, blood on his clothes and a sudden strange craving for meat, he begins to realize that his new friends aren't exactly what they seem to be.
When I was first offered "The Pack" for review I was drawn to the differences in the concept of the werewolf story. Who wants the same old thing with all the were-themed fiction out there? But the promise of flip-flopped gender roles and the pull of a charismatic pack leader ended up being only a small part of the narrative as the execution gets bogged down in mundane repetition and discombobulated characterizations.
The difficulty I had in reading "The Pack" primarily came from a feeling that nothing had a natural flow to it. When we're confronted with strange situations most people have a native wariness. We might talk ourselves out of paying attention to our gut reactions, but not until we've run through some rationalizations first. But the characters in "The Pack" have a shared tendency to disregard frightening circumstances and leap into things when they should run in the other direction. To explain this behavior we're told that the would-be leader of The Pack, Michael, is an unusually charismatic guy. That he has the ability to overwhelm with his presence and make people trust him. The problem with that description is that he is never written in a way that makes this believable. Michael really just comes off as odd and I could never suspend disbelief enough to go along with the idea that people would do what he wants so easily.
And the disjointed feeling carries over into the most pedestrian aspects of the story. Simon doesn't have to go through any kind of initiation into the pack-- he's basically accepted on sight and brought into the fold for no other reason than he's a stay-at-home dad. His odd behavior does cause his wife some alarm, but her reactions are all over the place. She runs an emotional obstacle course that goes from accusing Simon of having an affair to being gay and even fears Simon will hurt Jeremy at one point. But when it becomes convenient to the narrative for her and Simon to be together, she goes through a massive change of demeanor and decides everything is fine. I couldn't decide if the author thought all women were that wishy-washy, or if that was particular to this story. But the only other female characters aren't given more credit for being perceptive- or sane- so I didn't love the way women were treated in the book.
Not to nit-pick this book to death, but I also have to mention that for a thriller "The Pack" spends a lot of time on not-so-thrilling minutia. Much of Simon's day, after being essentially turned into a werewolf, revolves around eating meat, running laps and doing push-ups to burn off his new-found energy or taking his son to the park. There are a few glimmers of what the book could be when Simon interacts with his former co-workers but it never finds its potential. It feels like more time is spent describing the changes in Simon's eating habits than showing the fear and anger that should accompany such a life-altering situation.
I wanted to like "The Pack" because I think it has such a good premise. Starr touches on the idea that women like passive men on an intellectual level, but respond to the alpha male on an instinctive level. The conundrum of having Simon being financially passive while physically aggressive is something I wish had been explored more. I also think Michael could have been developed in a much more convincing manner and I was disappointed that *the pack* that is the central idea of the book was more of a concept that a well fleshed-out part of the story. In the end I felt like "The Pack" was a collection of good ideas that needed a lot of refining.
June 27, 2011
The Pack by Jason Starr
This is Stepford Wives meets werewolves and not in a good way. This is a poorly written book with little character development and unlikable characters. The protagonist Simon is naive and self centered, his wife needs some bipolar meds and their 3 year old needs to be in permanent time out. This could have been a really good story in someone elses hands but we are treated to Simon running, eating meat and erections, none of which are interesting. We know nothing about the rest of the pack except that they are good looking. Pass this one up as it's a waste of time. 2 stars as I made myself finish to see if it got better, it didn't and the book just ends with no resolution
This is Stepford Wives meets werewolves and not in a good way. This is a poorly written book with little character development and unlikable characters. The protagonist Simon is naive and self centered, his wife needs some bipolar meds and their 3 year old needs to be in permanent time out. This could have been a really good story in someone elses hands but we are treated to Simon running, eating meat and erections, none of which are interesting. We know nothing about the rest of the pack except that they are good looking. Pass this one up as it's a waste of time. 2 stars as I made myself finish to see if it got better, it didn't and the book just ends with no resolution
April 24, 2012
~~** Originally posted @ ReadingDiva's Blog Rating 3.5 of 5**~~
Review by Vicky: Normally when I write up a review I have a clear idea of how I feel about the book but with The Pack that isn’t the case. I know it may sound strange but even though I couldn’t put it down I’m still not sure that I really enjoyed it. I have mixed feelings as on some occasions I found I was questioning the sanity of the characters and at others I was really happy that things were working out for them.
When we first meet Simon he isn’t having the best time of it. He’s just been fired from his job and his relationship with his wife is on the rocks. He is lonely and a depressed and is struggling with his new role as a stay-at-home dad. His relationship with his wife seems very genuine and was written in such a way that you could understand the situation from both his and his wife’s perspective.
Simon is so angry over the way he has been treated by someone he thought of as a friend that not only is he trying to deal with losing his job he is also coming to terms with how lonely he feels. He is craving the companionship and understanding that seems to be missing from his life. When Simon meets Ramon, Charlie and Michael he feels a connection to them as they appear to be in a similar situation to him and the friendship he develops with them gives him the confidence that he has been missing in his life.
Charlie and Ramon appear to be nice people but it is obvious early on that they are easily manipulated by Michael. Michael seems like a stuck up arsehole that can’t be bothered to talk to people with respect and acts like he believes he’s a superior being. When he meets Olivia I was shocked that this supposedly strong woman was letting this person, who she had only just met, treat her so disdainfully. I presume the reason behind everyone’s reaction to Michael is some sort of animal magnetism that he supposedly has – I can’t think of any other reason that these people would let someone talk to them like fools.
It was the subtleties throughout the story that saved it for me. And they seemed to out shine the obvious throughout the whole story. The world building is understated with us only finding out the reality of what is happening near the end of the book. The slight changes to Simon’s appearance take a back seat to the other changes he experiences which kept me guessing and considering alternatives to the reasons that were being hinted at. The ending came as a shock as I was not expecting the direction that it took and I am wondering where this is now going to go.
Review by Vicky: Normally when I write up a review I have a clear idea of how I feel about the book but with The Pack that isn’t the case. I know it may sound strange but even though I couldn’t put it down I’m still not sure that I really enjoyed it. I have mixed feelings as on some occasions I found I was questioning the sanity of the characters and at others I was really happy that things were working out for them.
When we first meet Simon he isn’t having the best time of it. He’s just been fired from his job and his relationship with his wife is on the rocks. He is lonely and a depressed and is struggling with his new role as a stay-at-home dad. His relationship with his wife seems very genuine and was written in such a way that you could understand the situation from both his and his wife’s perspective.
Simon is so angry over the way he has been treated by someone he thought of as a friend that not only is he trying to deal with losing his job he is also coming to terms with how lonely he feels. He is craving the companionship and understanding that seems to be missing from his life. When Simon meets Ramon, Charlie and Michael he feels a connection to them as they appear to be in a similar situation to him and the friendship he develops with them gives him the confidence that he has been missing in his life.
Charlie and Ramon appear to be nice people but it is obvious early on that they are easily manipulated by Michael. Michael seems like a stuck up arsehole that can’t be bothered to talk to people with respect and acts like he believes he’s a superior being. When he meets Olivia I was shocked that this supposedly strong woman was letting this person, who she had only just met, treat her so disdainfully. I presume the reason behind everyone’s reaction to Michael is some sort of animal magnetism that he supposedly has – I can’t think of any other reason that these people would let someone talk to them like fools.
It was the subtleties throughout the story that saved it for me. And they seemed to out shine the obvious throughout the whole story. The world building is understated with us only finding out the reality of what is happening near the end of the book. The slight changes to Simon’s appearance take a back seat to the other changes he experiences which kept me guessing and considering alternatives to the reasons that were being hinted at. The ending came as a shock as I was not expecting the direction that it took and I am wondering where this is now going to go.
December 30, 2023
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Un libro que disfruté de inicio a fin. La novela parte de un argumento que parece no tener el impacto necesario, como lo es un despido. Pero ese hecho hace que se movilice toda la trama.
De ahí en más es imposible dejar de leer. Yo no pude, y me devoré el libro en tres días. Y esto porque la novela va hacia adelante, y cada capítulo te sorprende.
Y la historia es muy original. No puedo detallar demasiado por los spoilers, pero básicamente el título te dice más o menos de qué se trata el libro, y uno también lo intuye en las primeras páginas. Sólo diré que Simon experimentará cambios en su cuerpo, y que la licantropía aparece cuando menos te lo esperas.
Los personajes de la jauría están muy bien trabajados, y todos tienen un desarrollo fascinante, sobre todo Simon.
Lo recomiendo para todo amante del thriller.
Un libro que disfruté de inicio a fin. La novela parte de un argumento que parece no tener el impacto necesario, como lo es un despido. Pero ese hecho hace que se movilice toda la trama.
De ahí en más es imposible dejar de leer. Yo no pude, y me devoré el libro en tres días. Y esto porque la novela va hacia adelante, y cada capítulo te sorprende.
Y la historia es muy original. No puedo detallar demasiado por los spoilers, pero básicamente el título te dice más o menos de qué se trata el libro, y uno también lo intuye en las primeras páginas. Sólo diré que Simon experimentará cambios en su cuerpo, y que la licantropía aparece cuando menos te lo esperas.
Los personajes de la jauría están muy bien trabajados, y todos tienen un desarrollo fascinante, sobre todo Simon.
Lo recomiendo para todo amante del thriller.
October 20, 2024
Very much enjoyed this book. I had no idea it was about werewolves going into it, but this to me was an entertaining read from start to finish. Will look to more from this author.
August 5, 2012
Time Taken To Read - 1.5 days
Blurb From Amazon
When Simon Burns is fired from his job without warning, he takes on the role of stay-at-home dad for his three-year-old son. But his reluctance pushes his already strained marriage to the limit. In the nestled playgrounds of the Upper West Side, Simon harbors a simmering rage at his boss's betrayal.
Things take a turn when he meets a tight-knit trio of dads at the playground. They are different from other men Simon has met, stronger and more confident, more at ease with the darker side of life- and soon Simon is lured into their mix. But after a guys' night out gets frighteningly out of hand, Simon feels himself sliding into a new nightmarish reality.
As he experiences disturbing changes in his body and his perceptions, he starts to suspect that when the guys welcomed him to their "pack," they were talking about much more than male bonding. And as he falls prey to his basest instincts, Simon must accept that werewolves exist if he is to turn the tides of his fortune...
My Review
Meet Simon Burns, possibly the most unfortunate guy of the week in terms of work. He thinks he is getting a big promotion after working for the same company for over 7 years only to be fired rather humiliatingly and without a second thought. Going from a high powered job to a stay at home dad is life changing and challenging. But after a play date with his son at the park he meets some grown up friends and on their first "night out" his life changes and here in starts a new and terrifying chapter.
I loved this book, it is easy to read - a story that you just fall into and can't put down (well nosey folks like myself can't). We follow Simon going through an emotional journey through stresses with his job and financial situation, not to mention his marital issues which all stem from his journey after being flung into the life of a werewolf. I think I liked it so much because you get to follow pretty much every aspect of this normal guy going through a lot of struggles you can identify with(especially with today's economy). Also how the journey of the "change" happens and how it affects him both emotionally and physically.
There is a fair bit of violence and sex in this book (it is all wrapped up in the beast and the changes that take place) but it doesn't detract or take anything away from the story. It has been a long time since I read a werewolf book and I love how this one has been done, it isn't all about the horror and gore (although there is enough of it to keep fans happy). I have been left with a few questions which I hate but as there is going to be another book I am hoping they get answered there, also you are left with a cliff hanger and the omg no you can't end it here!! Book two is out in the US now and for everyone in the UK we need to wait til October. 4/5 for me and now going to see if I can get book two whilst on vacation.
Blurb From Amazon
When Simon Burns is fired from his job without warning, he takes on the role of stay-at-home dad for his three-year-old son. But his reluctance pushes his already strained marriage to the limit. In the nestled playgrounds of the Upper West Side, Simon harbors a simmering rage at his boss's betrayal.
Things take a turn when he meets a tight-knit trio of dads at the playground. They are different from other men Simon has met, stronger and more confident, more at ease with the darker side of life- and soon Simon is lured into their mix. But after a guys' night out gets frighteningly out of hand, Simon feels himself sliding into a new nightmarish reality.
As he experiences disturbing changes in his body and his perceptions, he starts to suspect that when the guys welcomed him to their "pack," they were talking about much more than male bonding. And as he falls prey to his basest instincts, Simon must accept that werewolves exist if he is to turn the tides of his fortune...
My Review
Meet Simon Burns, possibly the most unfortunate guy of the week in terms of work. He thinks he is getting a big promotion after working for the same company for over 7 years only to be fired rather humiliatingly and without a second thought. Going from a high powered job to a stay at home dad is life changing and challenging. But after a play date with his son at the park he meets some grown up friends and on their first "night out" his life changes and here in starts a new and terrifying chapter.
I loved this book, it is easy to read - a story that you just fall into and can't put down (well nosey folks like myself can't). We follow Simon going through an emotional journey through stresses with his job and financial situation, not to mention his marital issues which all stem from his journey after being flung into the life of a werewolf. I think I liked it so much because you get to follow pretty much every aspect of this normal guy going through a lot of struggles you can identify with(especially with today's economy). Also how the journey of the "change" happens and how it affects him both emotionally and physically.
There is a fair bit of violence and sex in this book (it is all wrapped up in the beast and the changes that take place) but it doesn't detract or take anything away from the story. It has been a long time since I read a werewolf book and I love how this one has been done, it isn't all about the horror and gore (although there is enough of it to keep fans happy). I have been left with a few questions which I hate but as there is going to be another book I am hoping they get answered there, also you are left with a cliff hanger and the omg no you can't end it here!! Book two is out in the US now and for everyone in the UK we need to wait til October. 4/5 for me and now going to see if I can get book two whilst on vacation.
September 20, 2019
Un buen día Simon al ir a su trabajo descubre que le han despedido así sin más, de una forma totalmente abrupta se ve fuera de un despacho en el cual lleva años, desesperado, deprimido y sumamente furioso llega a casa en la cual su mujer le comenta que no pasa nada, que se quede cuidando del pequeño un tiempo, que ella ya trabajará, como su mujer ha sido muy comprensiva decide intentarlo, los primeros días son un desastre, pero poco a poco la cosa mejorará. Y seguirá mejorando cuando encuentro otros papás más o menos en su misma situación, son amos de casa, que entienden por lo que pasa y lo más importante no se siente solo en el misterio de cuidar a su hijo, puesto que ya la amante esposa no para de quejarse de que se encuentra cansada cuando llega a casa y no le apetece ordenarlo todo... se queja de que es sólo un bulto, y bueno, Simon, intenta recuperar el estatus de marido perfecto, aunque hace mucho que tienen problemas...
Lo que en un principio era una amistad pasajera, se ve más intima, puesto que el jefe Michael decide que se una a la fiestecita que tienen planeado.
Después de pasarlo bien y de tomar una cerveza algo rara, Simon despierta desorientado en medio de la nada, desnudo va buscando su ropa que esta machada de lo que parece sangre, huye de ese sitio dejándose un zapato... y preguntándose, que hice anoche? qué me hicieron anoche? Ya que esta convencido de que sus supuestos amigos no lo son tanto, pero ellos se sorprenden y niegan todas las acusaciones.
Nuestro protagonista no sabe que ocurrió esa noche, así que vive una autentica pesadilla, tanto marital, puesto que su mujer cree que tiene una aventura, por culpa de que poco a poco va teniendo "super poderes" por así decirlo, tiene un apetito sexual más acentuado, su olfato es más fino, tiene más fortaleza física y encima la policía va detrás de él, ya que la noche de la juerga hubo un asesinato.
Lamentablemente este libro no ha cumplido mis expectativas, y es que se han juntado varias cosas, los personajes, principalmente la esposa de Simon, se queja en casi todo el libro, tiene sospechas infundadas simplemente por su hermana y en vez de disfrutar de su matrimonio deja que los demás participen activamente en todos los problemas.
Y la segunda cosa que me ha chafado del todo, me esperaba más acción, más muertes, ya que con el nombre del título y la sinopsis ya te imaginas que tiene de pasar, pero me he sentido defraudada, puede ser que al ser la primera novela el autor haya querido ser más "sensible" a la hora de presentarnos su libro, y en el segundo ya empiece la verdadera jauría.
August 6, 2011
OK, I didn't realize this book was about werewolves until I was about halfway through, and if I had known that, I wouldn't have even started it. That said, it was an interesting plot, not entirely implausible (if you buy the werewolf thing!). But the characters are so unsympathetic it was hard to get engaged with any of them. The supposed "hero" Simon is a self-centered, pompous, effeminate wuss. His wife, Allison, is shallow, selfish and snooty. The kid, Jeremy, is hell on wheels who throws a fit the instant he doesn't get his way. The "pack," despite their "caring" for each other, are one dimensional. The bad guy, Michael, is predictable and when his girlfriend, Olivia, becomes a werewolf, it's really just an extension of her real personality. Worst was the ending. Setting it up for yet another book of these worthless characters? Come on.....
December 3, 2012
The Pack is an infusion of urban domesticated bliss turned on its head by raw and uninhabited pit bull violence. Conforming to his expected lofty standards, Starr's New York inhabitants are almost too human - even those that aren't, as the reader feels each trial and tribulation these characters face.
The place setting is classic Starr; modern New York, always the peripheral accomplice to protagonist and antagonist alike. The urban sprawl locales evoke a vivid imagery through scaled description and gritty architectural ambiance.
As much noir as horror, 'The Pack' encapsulates the best of both worlds while keeping clear of the line to fulfill the reality and credibility of the protagonist's story rather than the extraordinary paranormal lycan lore. Superb from beginning to end - 5 stars.
The place setting is classic Starr; modern New York, always the peripheral accomplice to protagonist and antagonist alike. The urban sprawl locales evoke a vivid imagery through scaled description and gritty architectural ambiance.
As much noir as horror, 'The Pack' encapsulates the best of both worlds while keeping clear of the line to fulfill the reality and credibility of the protagonist's story rather than the extraordinary paranormal lycan lore. Superb from beginning to end - 5 stars.
December 7, 2017
This really is a case of ‘what you see is what you get’. Genuinely unintentionally hilarious at times, this makes for a fun n’ shallow popcorn read if you need to unwind from a heavier text.
June 15, 2011
Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/06/rev...
When Simon Burns loses his job, he loses more then his income. He finds himself thrust in the role of stay-at home dad for his three year old son which puts a strain on his already rocky marriage. Floundering to try and make sense of why he was fired for no reason, he begins to try and find some balance in his life. He meets a group of single dads at a park he takes his son to. Happy to find some comradely, he immediately joins their tight knit group. Michael, Charlie, and Ramon are different then what Simon is used to. Confident, stronger, and more at ease with themselves. After Simon wakes up disoriented from a night out with them, he begins to notice changes in himself. Stronger, hungrier, and an increased sense of smell and hearing, Simon fears he is going insane. When his former boss is found brutally murdered, appearing to have been mauled by a wolf, Simon fears something much worse is happening to him. He fears he becoming a werewolf. And Simon only has one chance to stop the transformation before he to becomes part of the pack.
This is my first reading of Jason Starr’s work. The Pack is an mix of Urban Fantasy and criminal mystery. The beginning pace was smooth and well defined. You get an instant feeling for what Simon is going through; experiencing with him his anger at his company’s betrayal and his feelings of inadequacy when it comes to dealing with his wife and child. When he meets the dads at the park, you see gradual changes come over him. He’s happier and more in control. He and his wife start communicating again.
Mr. Starr does a great job with Simon. Well fleshed out, Simon comes across very believable and realistic. I enjoyed his inner monologues and observations concerning his family and friends. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the rest of the cast. Michael was the only one who comes across as developed as Simon. He is well portrayed as an animal in human skin. He acts on instinct-taking what he wants with no thought to the consequences. Learning his background, you can almost understand why he is doing what he is. The rest of the supporting characters though just comes across as strange. One dimensional and boring. Ramon with his endless talk of sex and while Charlie gives off a supporting vibe, we even realize it doesn’t ring true. I found the dialogue between all of them to be uninspiring.
Once Simon realizes what is happening to him, the rest of story seems to lose focus and just becomes a series of random events. Simon races around, gathering information but not really accomplishing anything. The ending starts off with the possibility of saving the story with an action packed conclusion but random characters tossed in at the end just confuse the matter. We are left on the edge, not knowing what happened or where we go from here. All in all a very confused story that got lost and never made it back.
Rating: D
When Simon Burns loses his job, he loses more then his income. He finds himself thrust in the role of stay-at home dad for his three year old son which puts a strain on his already rocky marriage. Floundering to try and make sense of why he was fired for no reason, he begins to try and find some balance in his life. He meets a group of single dads at a park he takes his son to. Happy to find some comradely, he immediately joins their tight knit group. Michael, Charlie, and Ramon are different then what Simon is used to. Confident, stronger, and more at ease with themselves. After Simon wakes up disoriented from a night out with them, he begins to notice changes in himself. Stronger, hungrier, and an increased sense of smell and hearing, Simon fears he is going insane. When his former boss is found brutally murdered, appearing to have been mauled by a wolf, Simon fears something much worse is happening to him. He fears he becoming a werewolf. And Simon only has one chance to stop the transformation before he to becomes part of the pack.
This is my first reading of Jason Starr’s work. The Pack is an mix of Urban Fantasy and criminal mystery. The beginning pace was smooth and well defined. You get an instant feeling for what Simon is going through; experiencing with him his anger at his company’s betrayal and his feelings of inadequacy when it comes to dealing with his wife and child. When he meets the dads at the park, you see gradual changes come over him. He’s happier and more in control. He and his wife start communicating again.
Mr. Starr does a great job with Simon. Well fleshed out, Simon comes across very believable and realistic. I enjoyed his inner monologues and observations concerning his family and friends. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the rest of the cast. Michael was the only one who comes across as developed as Simon. He is well portrayed as an animal in human skin. He acts on instinct-taking what he wants with no thought to the consequences. Learning his background, you can almost understand why he is doing what he is. The rest of the supporting characters though just comes across as strange. One dimensional and boring. Ramon with his endless talk of sex and while Charlie gives off a supporting vibe, we even realize it doesn’t ring true. I found the dialogue between all of them to be uninspiring.
Once Simon realizes what is happening to him, the rest of story seems to lose focus and just becomes a series of random events. Simon races around, gathering information but not really accomplishing anything. The ending starts off with the possibility of saving the story with an action packed conclusion but random characters tossed in at the end just confuse the matter. We are left on the edge, not knowing what happened or where we go from here. All in all a very confused story that got lost and never made it back.
Rating: D
September 7, 2019
It's a swing and hard miss for my first horror read of the season, "The Pact," by Jason Starr, a supposed werewolf book. Let me start by saying- this is only kind of a werewolf book- it's mostly the story of an NYC hetero couple trying to have it all! I don't like it, but I at least understand when werewolf movies don't have amazing werewolf moments, after all that requires a big budget to pull off, but words are free- so there is no excuse for these lame werewolf books that I keep finding! Write some actual werewolf scenes in them!
Nothing happens for a long time in this book, starting with our protagonist Simon Burns being fired from his firm, and coming to terms with being a Mr. Mom to his son Jeremy. As nothing continues to drag on Simon meets a group of other stay-at-home-dads, Roman (a really hot Latino dad) Charlie (a really hot Waspy dad) and Michael (a really hot European dad). The author really wants us to know how attractive these guys are so Simon's thoughts and dialogue with these guys comes off about as butch as a client offering to help his plumber in a gay porn.
Cut to- something finally kinda happens- Simon is lured to Michael's loft for a special "homemade brew" and lots of steaks- but no side dishes. Simon soon wakes up naked in a field in New Jersey. Ok- here we go- but sadly no. For the next 200 tedious pages Simon tries to figure out what happened to him as he now has a heighten sense of hearing, seeing, and smelling,craves sex with his wife, and can't stop eating red meat and going jogging. This would be interesting if it were the first werewolf book ever written, but since it's not- these are just a bunch of werewolf cliches that we suffer through. Sadly, around page 255, of a 345 page book, I realize we aren't going to get a werewolf story at all.
Well, I guess the author realized the same thing, so the last 90 pages the wheels fly off this mess and we get werewolves everywhere! Suddenly Michael's gf, who has only briefly been seen in the book, is turned into a werewolf and becomes the book's villain in the third act. While reader's are flipping back to the front of the book to see who she even IS, she goes on the prowl down the streets of New York looking for a man to satisfy her new needs. This leads to us getting laugh out lines like this, "Olivia found that she wanted the guy's roast beef sandwich almost as badly as she wanted his body." Even though I could relate to this sentiment- it's a terrible line that is typical of the last 90 pages of this train wreck! Well, at least it's over for me, even though the jacket warns of a sequel.
Nothing happens for a long time in this book, starting with our protagonist Simon Burns being fired from his firm, and coming to terms with being a Mr. Mom to his son Jeremy. As nothing continues to drag on Simon meets a group of other stay-at-home-dads, Roman (a really hot Latino dad) Charlie (a really hot Waspy dad) and Michael (a really hot European dad). The author really wants us to know how attractive these guys are so Simon's thoughts and dialogue with these guys comes off about as butch as a client offering to help his plumber in a gay porn.
Cut to- something finally kinda happens- Simon is lured to Michael's loft for a special "homemade brew" and lots of steaks- but no side dishes. Simon soon wakes up naked in a field in New Jersey. Ok- here we go- but sadly no. For the next 200 tedious pages Simon tries to figure out what happened to him as he now has a heighten sense of hearing, seeing, and smelling,craves sex with his wife, and can't stop eating red meat and going jogging. This would be interesting if it were the first werewolf book ever written, but since it's not- these are just a bunch of werewolf cliches that we suffer through. Sadly, around page 255, of a 345 page book, I realize we aren't going to get a werewolf story at all.
Well, I guess the author realized the same thing, so the last 90 pages the wheels fly off this mess and we get werewolves everywhere! Suddenly Michael's gf, who has only briefly been seen in the book, is turned into a werewolf and becomes the book's villain in the third act. While reader's are flipping back to the front of the book to see who she even IS, she goes on the prowl down the streets of New York looking for a man to satisfy her new needs. This leads to us getting laugh out lines like this, "Olivia found that she wanted the guy's roast beef sandwich almost as badly as she wanted his body." Even though I could relate to this sentiment- it's a terrible line that is typical of the last 90 pages of this train wreck! Well, at least it's over for me, even though the jacket warns of a sequel.
July 23, 2020
Me parecio entretenido, su trama no es muy original, sin embargo; tiene un buen ritmo, no aburre para nada, el final estuvo abierto para una buena secuela
July 1, 2011
My Rating 4.5 Stars
Simon Burns expected a substantial promotion; instead, he was unceremoniously fired. Unemployed, in a recessive economy, Simon reluctantly becomes a stay-at-home dad and daytime caregiver of the couple’s three-year-old son, Jeremy.
One day Simon and Jeremy are at an unfamiliar park – a slight change from their normal daily routine, when Simon encounters three other dads, also with sons about Jeremy’s age. The men are friendly, supportive, and their sons and Jeremy seem to hit it off, too. As the story unfolds, the friendships slowly deepen, as well. Simon appreciates the camaraderie, and his wounded ego, that took such a beating when he was fired, begins to recover. Then something weird happens, and Simon wakes to discover he has changed. His senses become more acute, and his stamina becomes unflagging; along with almost inexhaustible reserves of energy, he also has a persistent craving for red meat. Simon is perplexed by these changes, but his sex life also improves one-hundred-fold; he and his wife reap the benefits of a new-found desire and closeness. But the mutilations begin, Simon becomes a suspect, and his nightmare is only beginning.
This unique tale of urban werewolves, vengeance, friendship, and duty kept me flipping pages late into the night. I just could not put the book down. I became totally immersed in Simon’s struggles and caught up in the events as he lived them. The tale is unpredictable and unwraps flawlessly to the stunning conclusion. It is a completely satisfying read that appears to be setting up a strange and dangerous world, of which most people are unaware, as the backdrop for a new, amazing series.
Laurie
Reviewer for Night Owl Reviews
Simon Burns expected a substantial promotion; instead, he was unceremoniously fired. Unemployed, in a recessive economy, Simon reluctantly becomes a stay-at-home dad and daytime caregiver of the couple’s three-year-old son, Jeremy.
One day Simon and Jeremy are at an unfamiliar park – a slight change from their normal daily routine, when Simon encounters three other dads, also with sons about Jeremy’s age. The men are friendly, supportive, and their sons and Jeremy seem to hit it off, too. As the story unfolds, the friendships slowly deepen, as well. Simon appreciates the camaraderie, and his wounded ego, that took such a beating when he was fired, begins to recover. Then something weird happens, and Simon wakes to discover he has changed. His senses become more acute, and his stamina becomes unflagging; along with almost inexhaustible reserves of energy, he also has a persistent craving for red meat. Simon is perplexed by these changes, but his sex life also improves one-hundred-fold; he and his wife reap the benefits of a new-found desire and closeness. But the mutilations begin, Simon becomes a suspect, and his nightmare is only beginning.
This unique tale of urban werewolves, vengeance, friendship, and duty kept me flipping pages late into the night. I just could not put the book down. I became totally immersed in Simon’s struggles and caught up in the events as he lived them. The tale is unpredictable and unwraps flawlessly to the stunning conclusion. It is a completely satisfying read that appears to be setting up a strange and dangerous world, of which most people are unaware, as the backdrop for a new, amazing series.
Laurie
Reviewer for Night Owl Reviews
October 12, 2011
Simon Burns’ life is just not going well at all. He exists from day to day, but he is shocked when his boss calls him into his office and fires him with no explanation. He has never been overly confident, not confrontational in the least, and his marriage is not on the best footing. Now, he is reeling emotionally from this latest blow and he finds himself a stay-at-home dad. Frustrated with life and how it is turning out, Simon spends his time taking care of his three-year-old son.
They get into a routine but one day, breaking the normal pattern, Simon takes his son to a different park. There, Simon meets a group of ‘cool’ dads and begins to hang out with them. These men are confident, strong and comfortable with themselves, something Simon has never been able to be. Then, one night of food and drinks with the guys changes his life forever!
His former boss is found murdered and Simon has a strange sense that he had something to do with it. He begins to notice changes in himself, some for the good and some for the bad. He begins chasing clues and has to figure out exactly what is happening to him.
A well crafted book that will keep you immersed in its pages throughout. There are plenty of plot twists and questions to keep you up well into the night.
Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine
They get into a routine but one day, breaking the normal pattern, Simon takes his son to a different park. There, Simon meets a group of ‘cool’ dads and begins to hang out with them. These men are confident, strong and comfortable with themselves, something Simon has never been able to be. Then, one night of food and drinks with the guys changes his life forever!
His former boss is found murdered and Simon has a strange sense that he had something to do with it. He begins to notice changes in himself, some for the good and some for the bad. He begins chasing clues and has to figure out exactly what is happening to him.
A well crafted book that will keep you immersed in its pages throughout. There are plenty of plot twists and questions to keep you up well into the night.
Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine
June 15, 2011
Life was not going well for Simon Burns, marriage undergoing therapy, suddenly fired from his job and has no choice but to become a full time stay at home dad to his 3 year old son. After a rough beginning things start falling into a routine with his son, until he encounters a group of dads that seemed to be in his same position. After a get together with his new friends, he wakes up in the middle of the woods in New Jersey, with no clothes, can't remember how he got there and has the strangest feelings. From here on things start to get weird, his ex-boss is found mauled by an animal, and he can't shake off the nightmares that he had something to do with it. Now, his life as he knew it is no longer, creating the need to find why and what changed it, developing all kind of events.
A very creative novel about not your typical werewolf, sexy and full of unexpected turns with an open anticlimactic ending which leaves you to use your imagination as to what the answers will be.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
A very creative novel about not your typical werewolf, sexy and full of unexpected turns with an open anticlimactic ending which leaves you to use your imagination as to what the answers will be.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
April 13, 2012
The Pack was a very enjoyable read, though I had a bit of a problem with the ending. The first bit read more like a contemporary fiction book than an urban fantasy novel, but the kind that comes after the 'boy meets girl'-part, the one that deals with 'we're in a relationship, now what do we do?' This was actually kind of pleasant and it read away at a great clip. I was quickly drawn into Simon's life and cares. The scenes with his son are adorable and at times very relatable, but then they would be to most parents, even if you don't live in Upper East Side New York.
From the start it was clear to me that this is a book with werewolves in it, thanks to the title and some of the quotes on the press pack. To my surprise however, the actual word werewolf doesn't get mentioned until the last third of the book. Instead, a lot of the book covers Simon's discovery of his new found abilities, his reactions to them and his search to find answers to the how and why of these changes. As such, the book was a far more psychological thriller kind of book, than an action-based one; only in the climax of the novel does the action ramp up. I found this an interesting approach, though at times it was rather frustrating as the clues are all there in the text from the beginning and it takes Simon quite a while to connect the dots. Once he does though, I really liked his reaction: from initial disbelief to anger at being tricked into the situation he finds himself in. Because make no mistake: the book is set in contemporary New York City and the supernatural is very much not a feature of this town. In fact, apart from the pack, there doesn't seem to be any other form of supernaturalism going on. This is one urban fantasy book that is very light on fantasy elements. Starr takes one fantastical element and builds his novel around this, an approach that works singularly well.
So The Pack isn't heavy on the world building – even if Starr draws us a lovely, vibrant view of his home town, New York – and fantasy elements, instead it relies on its characters to draw the reader in. And it does so in style. Simon as the protagonist is a likeable fellow, the reader can easily identify with him and his situation. From being laid off – something many people fear in the current economy – via his struggles to reconnect with his wife emotionally to his difficulties parenting an energetic three-year-old – okay, so my toddler is two, but currently her favourite word is no, so I feel his pain – his problems are something any of us might encounter in our lives. That is until he meets Michael, Ramon and Charlie. When Simon starts changing, his character became more fascinating to me. I liked the way Starr shows Simon's confusion and his both being attracted and repulsed by his new abilities. This internal battle is powerful as it's not just about himself, but also about his marriage and it forces him to really take a close look at himself and become a better person, regardless of his physical enhancements. Simon's wife Alison at first seems a little harsh in her reaction to Simon, but once we get passages from her point of view, she gets more reasonable, which I liked, though at times I wanted to shake her, especially when she started to listen to her sister.
One character that I didn't like was Michael. I didn't like his vibe and the way he ordered everyone around. The reason for his behaviour is quite clear and as such he was well-written, as it seems that the reader isn't meant to like him, but he got on my nerves, both as a character and the way he was written. I wonder whether this will change in future books in the series. In the same vein, I really disliked Olivia as well. She made me want to scream, both in her Carrie Bradshaw-like desire for a man and later on in her wilful blindness to the weirdness of her relationship with Michael. She felt a little cliché, especially as she'd fit into a contemporary fiction novel with shoes on the pink cover seamlessly, but again this may have been exactly what the author was aiming for, making fun of the meat market that is the New York dating scene, but she didn't really do it for me.
While The Pack ends on an action-filled note, there is no actual resolution to the story. It feels as if we exit the book during a five minute break at a film-watching marathon when everyone gets to take a breather and can go and refill their drink and get snacks. The story hits pause, not the end, something which made me feel let down a bit; I like at least some closure at the end of a novel. On the other hand, it has left me looking forward to the next instalment as I really want to know what happens now. Luckily The Craving, book two, has been already handed in to the publisher and is expected later this year.
If you like your urban fantasy a little different, without tramp stamps, vampires and leather-clad heroes – well, actually Simon does wear a leather jacket at one point, but only the once – or you like psychological thrillers with a twist, The Pack is a good book to pick up. I had a great time with this story and it even had me sneaking in one more chapter after feeding the baby in the middle of the night, which has to say it all about how captivating the book is. The Pack will be out from Penguin's new SFF imprint Berkley UK on April 26th as both a paperback and an eBook.
This book was sent to me for review by the publisher.
From the start it was clear to me that this is a book with werewolves in it, thanks to the title and some of the quotes on the press pack. To my surprise however, the actual word werewolf doesn't get mentioned until the last third of the book. Instead, a lot of the book covers Simon's discovery of his new found abilities, his reactions to them and his search to find answers to the how and why of these changes. As such, the book was a far more psychological thriller kind of book, than an action-based one; only in the climax of the novel does the action ramp up. I found this an interesting approach, though at times it was rather frustrating as the clues are all there in the text from the beginning and it takes Simon quite a while to connect the dots. Once he does though, I really liked his reaction: from initial disbelief to anger at being tricked into the situation he finds himself in. Because make no mistake: the book is set in contemporary New York City and the supernatural is very much not a feature of this town. In fact, apart from the pack, there doesn't seem to be any other form of supernaturalism going on. This is one urban fantasy book that is very light on fantasy elements. Starr takes one fantastical element and builds his novel around this, an approach that works singularly well.
So The Pack isn't heavy on the world building – even if Starr draws us a lovely, vibrant view of his home town, New York – and fantasy elements, instead it relies on its characters to draw the reader in. And it does so in style. Simon as the protagonist is a likeable fellow, the reader can easily identify with him and his situation. From being laid off – something many people fear in the current economy – via his struggles to reconnect with his wife emotionally to his difficulties parenting an energetic three-year-old – okay, so my toddler is two, but currently her favourite word is no, so I feel his pain – his problems are something any of us might encounter in our lives. That is until he meets Michael, Ramon and Charlie. When Simon starts changing, his character became more fascinating to me. I liked the way Starr shows Simon's confusion and his both being attracted and repulsed by his new abilities. This internal battle is powerful as it's not just about himself, but also about his marriage and it forces him to really take a close look at himself and become a better person, regardless of his physical enhancements. Simon's wife Alison at first seems a little harsh in her reaction to Simon, but once we get passages from her point of view, she gets more reasonable, which I liked, though at times I wanted to shake her, especially when she started to listen to her sister.
One character that I didn't like was Michael. I didn't like his vibe and the way he ordered everyone around. The reason for his behaviour is quite clear and as such he was well-written, as it seems that the reader isn't meant to like him, but he got on my nerves, both as a character and the way he was written. I wonder whether this will change in future books in the series. In the same vein, I really disliked Olivia as well. She made me want to scream, both in her Carrie Bradshaw-like desire for a man and later on in her wilful blindness to the weirdness of her relationship with Michael. She felt a little cliché, especially as she'd fit into a contemporary fiction novel with shoes on the pink cover seamlessly, but again this may have been exactly what the author was aiming for, making fun of the meat market that is the New York dating scene, but she didn't really do it for me.
While The Pack ends on an action-filled note, there is no actual resolution to the story. It feels as if we exit the book during a five minute break at a film-watching marathon when everyone gets to take a breather and can go and refill their drink and get snacks. The story hits pause, not the end, something which made me feel let down a bit; I like at least some closure at the end of a novel. On the other hand, it has left me looking forward to the next instalment as I really want to know what happens now. Luckily The Craving, book two, has been already handed in to the publisher and is expected later this year.
If you like your urban fantasy a little different, without tramp stamps, vampires and leather-clad heroes – well, actually Simon does wear a leather jacket at one point, but only the once – or you like psychological thrillers with a twist, The Pack is a good book to pick up. I had a great time with this story and it even had me sneaking in one more chapter after feeding the baby in the middle of the night, which has to say it all about how captivating the book is. The Pack will be out from Penguin's new SFF imprint Berkley UK on April 26th as both a paperback and an eBook.
This book was sent to me for review by the publisher.
December 4, 2022
It was sitting in my house so I picked it up. Mediocre writing, but once I got through 25 pages it was entertaining and engaging enough to keep going. Until at about 3/4 in it took a really strange turn and just got weird. Like reading a train wreck. Couldn’t stop and that pint but also couldn’t wait to finish and will not read the coming sequel.
This is a bizarre, testosterone rich story that is no man’s fantasy. Many unrealistic relationship details. Slightly misogynistic. Don’t bother reading. Unless you are obsessed with werewolves.
This is a bizarre, testosterone rich story that is no man’s fantasy. Many unrealistic relationship details. Slightly misogynistic. Don’t bother reading. Unless you are obsessed with werewolves.
January 15, 2021
Bought this book thinking it'd be a decent read for an urban fantasy/horror type of thing. Nope these super hot, super macho "werewolfs" pretty much hump legs. Totally was not what I was expecting. There's practically no horror in it at all and entirely too much erections. This should have been a pass from me. If you're looking for hot dominant guys who crave meat, get turned on with smells and enjoy rough sex then this book might be for you.
December 4, 2017
1 Sentence Summary: Stay-at-home dad falls into a werewolf pack and tries to save his failing marriage.
What I Liked: Watching the Simon slowly discover his physical changes.
What I Didn't Like: Minimal character development. Mostly one-dimensional.
Overall Recommendation: 3/5 stars. OK, quick read.
What I Liked: Watching the Simon slowly discover his physical changes.
What I Didn't Like: Minimal character development. Mostly one-dimensional.
Overall Recommendation: 3/5 stars. OK, quick read.
December 28, 2017
Picked up this book at the clinic. Started it, stopped, tried again and it just did not get better for me. I found the writing shallow and the characters never quite made it off the page.
January 2, 2018
Great characters, got very weird with the werewolf stuff, but kept my attention throughout.
December 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, though the build up took a little too long and wasn't satisfied by the ending. Since it's a trilogy, I'm hoping the rest of the ending will resolve that.
August 23, 2020
Una buena historia pero me dejó con ganas de más. Me hubiese gustado que llegara más lejos con la relación entre los personajes.
February 9, 2022
Better than expected!
May 23, 2012
Reviewed for Book Chick City
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/05/...
‘The Pack’ by Jason Starr is an interesting novel that cleverly intertwines the supernatural with realism, creating an intriguing plot that fits neatly into the crime genre as well as the paranormal.
Protagonist, Simon Burns, is unexpectedly fired from his job as an advertising executive, throwing his family life into disarray as they are now reliant upon the wages of his wife, Allison. His unemployment means that they can no longer afford a nanny for their son, Jeremy, forcing Simon to become a stay-at-home dad. At first he struggles to adapt to his new life, having an almost comical first few days trying to cope with the trials and tribulations of a three year old.
This all changes when Simon and Jeremy meet three single dads at the park, with Jeremy striking up an instant friendship with the other children. Simon also finds it easy to talk to the parents, Michael, Charlie and Ramon, finding his first friends since his departure from work. Ramon and Charlie are easier for Simon to talk to, with Michael forming the epitome of mysteriousness, but he still feels a calming ease around them. They can all run exceptionally fast, and all have an eerie way of knowing when their sons need attention, particularly nappy changes.
Simon becomes more optimistic after meeting the other dads, but after meeting them for a beer, his life will never be the same again. His senses of hearing and smell are heightened, as is his sex drive, with him wanting to sleep with his wife at every opportunity. However, when his ex-boss is found murdered by an animal attack Simon begins to suspect himself, not understanding his new circumstances. His marital difficulties may appear to be solved, but at what cost?
Simon is a very well-developed main character, with the reader thrown straight into his emotional turmoil at being fired, despite seven years good service to his company. The author does a brilliant job of portraying all of his emotions, as well as giving the reader an insight into the emotions of other characters in the novel, such as Simon’s wife, Allison, which gives a sense of realism to the situation. It could be argued that realism is unnecessary in a paranormal novel, but most of the time the plot can become so entwined with the supernatural that all ‘normal’ human elements are lost, but Starr captures human emotion perfectly.
The narrative is told from a third person perspective, focusing on the mysterious Michael as well as Simon, although we never find out too much information about the other single fathers. I would suppose that more information may be revealed in future novels, but this was a downside of the book for me, that a lot of the mysteries are left unsolved. However, a lot of character development centred on Simon and Allison, detailing their marital difficulties, which I did really like, and felt that the novel could still have been a good read without the werewolf element.
In terms of the plot, it does take a while for the supernatural to happen, with not a lot occurring other than the protagonist’s struggle to come to terms with what has happened to him. There is a lot of potential for future books after the novel’s conclusion, although I did feel that the ending of the book was rushed. However, I did enjoy the ending, with there being a nice bloody battle to end everything on a violent high.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but what let it down for me was the fact that it felt a little sex obsessed. The werewolves are turned on constantly, with a lot of the chapters focused on their sex lives, and they have a very derogatory way of speaking to women. They order them around, using blunt commands that I didn’t like and like to discuss their many ‘conquests’. It was a good read despite this, with mysteries left to unravel in future books.
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/05/...
‘The Pack’ by Jason Starr is an interesting novel that cleverly intertwines the supernatural with realism, creating an intriguing plot that fits neatly into the crime genre as well as the paranormal.
Protagonist, Simon Burns, is unexpectedly fired from his job as an advertising executive, throwing his family life into disarray as they are now reliant upon the wages of his wife, Allison. His unemployment means that they can no longer afford a nanny for their son, Jeremy, forcing Simon to become a stay-at-home dad. At first he struggles to adapt to his new life, having an almost comical first few days trying to cope with the trials and tribulations of a three year old.
This all changes when Simon and Jeremy meet three single dads at the park, with Jeremy striking up an instant friendship with the other children. Simon also finds it easy to talk to the parents, Michael, Charlie and Ramon, finding his first friends since his departure from work. Ramon and Charlie are easier for Simon to talk to, with Michael forming the epitome of mysteriousness, but he still feels a calming ease around them. They can all run exceptionally fast, and all have an eerie way of knowing when their sons need attention, particularly nappy changes.
Simon becomes more optimistic after meeting the other dads, but after meeting them for a beer, his life will never be the same again. His senses of hearing and smell are heightened, as is his sex drive, with him wanting to sleep with his wife at every opportunity. However, when his ex-boss is found murdered by an animal attack Simon begins to suspect himself, not understanding his new circumstances. His marital difficulties may appear to be solved, but at what cost?
Simon is a very well-developed main character, with the reader thrown straight into his emotional turmoil at being fired, despite seven years good service to his company. The author does a brilliant job of portraying all of his emotions, as well as giving the reader an insight into the emotions of other characters in the novel, such as Simon’s wife, Allison, which gives a sense of realism to the situation. It could be argued that realism is unnecessary in a paranormal novel, but most of the time the plot can become so entwined with the supernatural that all ‘normal’ human elements are lost, but Starr captures human emotion perfectly.
The narrative is told from a third person perspective, focusing on the mysterious Michael as well as Simon, although we never find out too much information about the other single fathers. I would suppose that more information may be revealed in future novels, but this was a downside of the book for me, that a lot of the mysteries are left unsolved. However, a lot of character development centred on Simon and Allison, detailing their marital difficulties, which I did really like, and felt that the novel could still have been a good read without the werewolf element.
In terms of the plot, it does take a while for the supernatural to happen, with not a lot occurring other than the protagonist’s struggle to come to terms with what has happened to him. There is a lot of potential for future books after the novel’s conclusion, although I did feel that the ending of the book was rushed. However, I did enjoy the ending, with there being a nice bloody battle to end everything on a violent high.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but what let it down for me was the fact that it felt a little sex obsessed. The werewolves are turned on constantly, with a lot of the chapters focused on their sex lives, and they have a very derogatory way of speaking to women. They order them around, using blunt commands that I didn’t like and like to discuss their many ‘conquests’. It was a good read despite this, with mysteries left to unravel in future books.
December 18, 2023
From the JetBlackDragonfly book blog at www.edenthompson.ca/blog
Simon Burns is a New York ad executive with a wife and three year old son. They struggle like many parents do to make ends meet in an expensive city, and since they both work, they have a nanny come in and take care of Jeremy during the day. Simon and Alison both feel guilt over this, and so, when Simon unexpectedly loses his job they find it might work to let the nanny go and Simon to be his full time caregiver. It's a major adjustment for both Simon and Jeremy, and he tries many things to entertain his son.
One day they venture into a new park and meet three single dads, each with a single son. Enigmatic Michael, buff fireman Charlie, and sexy Latin actor Ramon. They know what he is going through and soon the kids are meeting for regular playdates. Some nights they meet for guys night at Michaels home, part of a family brewery downtown. They understand him and welcome him into their close circle.
Simon begins to have more energy and get more done, starts running and eats healthy portions of food, his senses seem enhanced and his stamina in the bedroom brings their marriage out of the rut.
With all the changes, including resistance to sleep, you might think something strange has happened, like he was turning into a vampire!
No, just a werewolf.
Michael has been grooming his pack into temporary werewolves, the full change will come when they are bitten by him at a special ceremony. Meanwhile, the wolves' blood in their system is giving them extra energy and power.
You would think this was a major life adjustment, but this is not Simon's biggest problem right now!
His wife Alison is convinced his strange behaviour is cover-up for an affair - with another woman or with Michael - and decides to leave him. His ex-boss was found dead from an animal attack the night he woke up in the woods near his home, and a witness has alerted the police. He is now the prime suspect. A woman who Michael has been dating has already turned into a werewolf and is now complicating matters as he tries to stop Michael's plan.
Jason Starr has written several urban noir thrillers, but this was the first I have read. I thought it might be a fun (though corny) read, and was pleasantly surprised. The modern day New York setting gave it a sense of reality, and by the halfway point, I forgot the crazy premise and just enjoyed the entertainment. I found it well written - the tension and mystery held throughout, with believable characters and dialogue. It succeeds on many levels. Part mystery, part horror, and part character study, as Simon deals with the strange changes he is going through. If you like werewolves, this is a great reboot to the genre.
The story builds to an action packed ending that demands a sequel - and there is one - The Craving was published June 2012.
Simon Burns is a New York ad executive with a wife and three year old son. They struggle like many parents do to make ends meet in an expensive city, and since they both work, they have a nanny come in and take care of Jeremy during the day. Simon and Alison both feel guilt over this, and so, when Simon unexpectedly loses his job they find it might work to let the nanny go and Simon to be his full time caregiver. It's a major adjustment for both Simon and Jeremy, and he tries many things to entertain his son.
One day they venture into a new park and meet three single dads, each with a single son. Enigmatic Michael, buff fireman Charlie, and sexy Latin actor Ramon. They know what he is going through and soon the kids are meeting for regular playdates. Some nights they meet for guys night at Michaels home, part of a family brewery downtown. They understand him and welcome him into their close circle.
Simon begins to have more energy and get more done, starts running and eats healthy portions of food, his senses seem enhanced and his stamina in the bedroom brings their marriage out of the rut.
With all the changes, including resistance to sleep, you might think something strange has happened, like he was turning into a vampire!
No, just a werewolf.
Michael has been grooming his pack into temporary werewolves, the full change will come when they are bitten by him at a special ceremony. Meanwhile, the wolves' blood in their system is giving them extra energy and power.
You would think this was a major life adjustment, but this is not Simon's biggest problem right now!
His wife Alison is convinced his strange behaviour is cover-up for an affair - with another woman or with Michael - and decides to leave him. His ex-boss was found dead from an animal attack the night he woke up in the woods near his home, and a witness has alerted the police. He is now the prime suspect. A woman who Michael has been dating has already turned into a werewolf and is now complicating matters as he tries to stop Michael's plan.
Jason Starr has written several urban noir thrillers, but this was the first I have read. I thought it might be a fun (though corny) read, and was pleasantly surprised. The modern day New York setting gave it a sense of reality, and by the halfway point, I forgot the crazy premise and just enjoyed the entertainment. I found it well written - the tension and mystery held throughout, with believable characters and dialogue. It succeeds on many levels. Part mystery, part horror, and part character study, as Simon deals with the strange changes he is going through. If you like werewolves, this is a great reboot to the genre.
The story builds to an action packed ending that demands a sequel - and there is one - The Craving was published June 2012.
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