Helpful Score: 3
The introduction to "The Wolfman" commemorates the author's too short life and remarkable talent and ambition. Nicholas Pekearo envisioned The Wolfman as the first of a series that would pit his hero, Marlowe Higgins, against neo-nazi vampires, aliens, evil wizards and sadistic serial killers. Sadly, The Wolfman will have to stand alone, as a single mystery of the reluctant werewolf versus a diabolical and unique serial killer.
As a stand-alone mystery/horror story, Wolfman is highly enjoyable. The prose is fresh, evocative and poetic without being flowery or cliched. Marlowe is a memorable, well drawn character. Salty, disillusioned, and tough but with a sense of humor, somewhere across between Travis Bickle and Dirty Harry. For a first time author Pekearo is remarkable deft at juxtaposing Marlowe's past and present. Although the mysteries of Marlowe's past become clear pretty quickly, they are revealed at a the perfect moments and with satisfying detail.
The mystery facing Marlowe at the moment is a doozie. He has singled out a local serial killer, the Rose Killer, as the next victim for his wolf persona. If he can't idenitfy the killer before the next full moon, the wolf will overrule Marlowe's judgment and slaughter the first human it encounters. He has one month to literally catch the killer's scent before the wolf strikes.
The mystery becomes clear to the casual reader early on, but the amazing prose and strong characterization keep the story compelling to the very end. The Wolfman has its highs and lows, but it ends on an extremely satifying high note that emphasizes all the more the tragedy it is that Pekearo won't be able to hone his craft and offer the world more of his unique vision.
As a stand-alone mystery/horror story, Wolfman is highly enjoyable. The prose is fresh, evocative and poetic without being flowery or cliched. Marlowe is a memorable, well drawn character. Salty, disillusioned, and tough but with a sense of humor, somewhere across between Travis Bickle and Dirty Harry. For a first time author Pekearo is remarkable deft at juxtaposing Marlowe's past and present. Although the mysteries of Marlowe's past become clear pretty quickly, they are revealed at a the perfect moments and with satisfying detail.
The mystery facing Marlowe at the moment is a doozie. He has singled out a local serial killer, the Rose Killer, as the next victim for his wolf persona. If he can't idenitfy the killer before the next full moon, the wolf will overrule Marlowe's judgment and slaughter the first human it encounters. He has one month to literally catch the killer's scent before the wolf strikes.
The mystery becomes clear to the casual reader early on, but the amazing prose and strong characterization keep the story compelling to the very end. The Wolfman has its highs and lows, but it ends on an extremely satifying high note that emphasizes all the more the tragedy it is that Pekearo won't be able to hone his craft and offer the world more of his unique vision.
Helpful Score: 1
This book reminded me a lot of Fingerman's Bottomfeeder, which features another supernatural (but never ever glamorous) working-class monster. The main characters are regular guys who become monsters, and yet are decent people, though sometimes unlikeable.
The Wolfman is a crime novel, but the whodunit was less of a mystery to me than the question of how the protagonist became what he is. That was a much bigger revelation, IMO.
It is a real shame that the author's life was cut short. The circumstances were tragic, and a writer of great potential was lost to us all.
The Wolfman is a crime novel, but the whodunit was less of a mystery to me than the question of how the protagonist became what he is. That was a much bigger revelation, IMO.
It is a real shame that the author's life was cut short. The circumstances were tragic, and a writer of great potential was lost to us all.
