Review of WOLF SEASON by Wesley King (New Release)

3.5 Stars 

This novel blends genres: suspense thriller, detective procedural, romance, and horror.

After a 7-year absence, Everett Johnson returns to his hometown of Killdeer, Montana, when he hears that his father, the local sheriff, has disappeared. Everett joins his brother Connor, the interim sheriff, in the search for their father who was, at the time of his disappearance, investigating the murder of 17-year-old Orsie Armel. Everett reconnects with Bernadine, Orsie’s cousin and the only woman he has ever loved. The remaining six Armels, owners of a large acreage, are a group of reclusive, rather feral women. Since the deaths of three Armel men, the women have not allowed men on their property.

Everett discovers a pattern of mysterious disappearances and deaths, some of which seem connected to hints of supernatural phenomena. As is repeated several times, there is a cost for everything, and it’s soon clear that there will be a cost to uncovering the truth, in this case the tearing apart of both Everett’s family and that of Bernadine.

I found Everett a difficult character to like. Some of his choices and promises, like handing over Orsie’s killer to the Armels, are not commendable. His love for Bernadine has shaped virtually his entire life and continues to do so. This love and loyalty should be admirable, but they do not always allow for a clarity of vision. And for a person who loves someone so much, he knows very little about his beloved and is okay with that?

I am not a fan of supernatural fiction so the inclusion of a supernatural element was not to my liking; I’m obviously not the intended reader. First of all, there’s a reliance on tropes like the malevolent old woman and metamorphosis.  And the novel reminded me of the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs in which wishes are granted but with an enormous price.

A suspenseful atmosphere is created from the beginning through the use of death imagery, descriptions of the menacing wilderness, references to a generational blood feud, and the appearance of mysterious figures like the Hill Man and an ancient woman.

The book is well-written; though it’s the author’s first adult novel, he is an award-winning writer of young adult fiction. Unfortunately, it’s not my type of book though, undoubtedly, others will enjoy it.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.