Book of The Month discussion

From the author of the beloved national bestseller Migrations, a pulse-pounding new novel set in the wild Scottish Highlands.

Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with her twin sister, Aggie, to lead a team of biologists tasked with reintroducing fourteen gray wolves into the remote Highlands. She hopes to heal not only the dying landscape, but Aggie, too, unmade by the terrible secrets that drove the sisters out of Alaska.

Inti is not the woman she once was, either, changed by the harm she’s witnessed—inflicted by humans on both the wild and each other. Yet as the wolves surprise everyone by thriving, Inti begins to let her guard down, even opening herself up to the possibility of love. But when a farmer is found dead, Inti knows where the town will lay blame. Unable to accept her wolves could be responsible, Inti makes a reckless decision to protect them. But if the wolves didn’t make the kill, then who did? And what will Inti do when the man she is falling for seems to be the prime suspect?

Propulsive and spell-binding, Charlotte McConaghy's Once There Were Wolves is the unforgettable story of a woman desperate to save the creatures she loves—if she isn’t consumed by a wild that was once her refuge.

I think this book will combine different elements to a plot that interests me: nature and its damage/ recovery attempts. The sample writing style hooked me in. Why did you pick this book?

This month was right up your alley with two books on or about nature. I'm not the outdoorsy type so I passed on this one. Let us know what you think about it as your reading.

getting ready to start this one! I saw everyone raving about this author's other books and the writing style so I was sold to give it a try!

7 chapters

I had no idea of the drama around wolves in these parts - hunted for sport and fear and even burned out

(view spoiler)[ that last howl was so sad

I can't imagine having the infliction she does, feeling what others feel. Eesh. and the school boys were cruel

I think her sister's jaw must be wired shut? or maybe broken? I'm not sure, but I'm definitely assuming she saw violence and that's why she isn't leaving the house, talking, or taking mom's calls. (hide spoiler)]

17 chapters

wow (view spoiler)[ I can't believe she just buried him
but I wonder what really happened. I don't think a wolf did it buy it seems like someone wanted everyone to think a wolf did it

however, if someone DID kill him and want to stage it, wouldn't they steer the search to near where his body was left? They'd have to think/know the dogs would find his buried body

and I don't think the sister did it - they can't really swap spots when she's this catatonic half the time (hide spoiler)]
this is a good mystery. I have no real guesses!!

21 chapters

(view spoiler)[ okay so maybe her sister did it and then she found the body and buried him?

because that chat with Lainey sure made it sound like she saw someone who looked like her kill her husband
and she sounds mad but relieved. . . (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done
what a surprising read

(view spoiler)[ I figured her sister had done bit but WOW, she went after Duncan too. and he was such an amazing human about it!! He trusted them and even embraced the baby

it was so sad she needed to kill that wolf. it was interesting to hear all the ideas about rewilding and reintroducing wolves. I had no idea they were hunted so much on these lands (hide spoiler)]

I am just starting this book tonight. When not reading, I try to spend as much time as I can outdoors hiking so really looking forward to this one!

It's so good! I found the history of wolves in that area fascinating!

I hope you love it!

A little slow with starting this book (life, not the book). About 70 pages in and this is a beautifully written book with the descriptions of nature and the part humans play in it

(view spoiler)[ Intrigued by what is going on with the sister and assuming some sort of assault. I can’t imagine dealing with the feelings of others and animals. I can barely deal with my own emotions at times so I can’t even imagine adding the emotions of others to the mix. Trisha, I completely agree with the howl at the end of chapter 7, heartbreaking. (hide spoiler)]

right? What a tough thing to deal with, all those emotions. . .
and the howl. Ugh. 😥

This is a book that would have never been on my radar had it not been for BOTM and I am so glad I found it. I completely enjoyed this story of the wolves and the murder kept me guessing until the very end. Very intense!

YAY!! I'm so glad you loved this one too! I agree, I never would have picked this one up without it being a BOTM pick!