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The Wolfman
Since being dishonorably discharged after a tour in Vietnam, Marlowe Higgins has been in and out of prison, moving from town to town,going wherever thewindtakes him. He's not the kind of guy who can stay inone placetoo long.Every full moon he kills someone. For years he struggled with his affliction, untilhefounda way to use his unfortunate curse for good--he only kills re...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
June 30th 2009
by Tor Books
(first published May 13th 2008)
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This was actually a quite enjoyable book -- quick, breezy, several good turns of phrase and a few good zigs just when you think you've got it figured out where he's going with the whole werewolf thing.
Of course I initially purchased out of respect for the author -- Nicholas Pekearo found out from his agent that this book would be published, and then three days later he was killed in the line of duty as an NYPD Auxillary cop while pursuing a guy who had just shot up a pizza parlor on Houston. Rea...more
Of course I initially purchased out of respect for the author -- Nicholas Pekearo found out from his agent that this book would be published, and then three days later he was killed in the line of duty as an NYPD Auxillary cop while pursuing a guy who had just shot up a pizza parlor on Houston. Rea...more
“In the night, the life that had inhabited those woods kept its distance and left that unnatural creature to its own devices. Its only company was the wind, carrying a trace of every single body in the world, and death. The moon watched like a quiet God, a beacon, a partner.”
An evil demigod working its wrath and murderous instincts for the better good is a rare occurrence. So rare, in fact, it had never even been heard of, yet, it is the very curse that Marlowe Higgins possesses. Unfortunately,...more
An evil demigod working its wrath and murderous instincts for the better good is a rare occurrence. So rare, in fact, it had never even been heard of, yet, it is the very curse that Marlowe Higgins possesses. Unfortunately,...more
I love werewolf fiction but it is my belief that most of the best werewolf stories are short stories. I have enjoyed most of the werewolf books I've read but nothing, and I mean NOTHING, compares to this first and only novel by Nicholas Pekearo which is head & werewolf tails above them all. "Silver Bullet"? Nah. This puts a silver bullet right into Stephen King's story. W.D. Gagliani's "Wolf Trap"? Sorry, good, but not even close. P.D. Cacek's "Canyons"? Another good read but no. To be hones...more
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Early in this novel, during the prologue, a character driving his car on a lonely road encounters a creature that we know is a werewolf though he doesn't. The beast leaps onto the hood of the care and then, the narrator tells us, crouched there glaring in at the driver "like he owed him money". That line made me laugh out loud. That's a reaction I never had from a typical werewolf novel and I've read a few. What makes this debut novel such a fun read is that unexpected mashup of wit and dismantl...more
I very much like the main character, Marlowe. I like his narration. His voice is strong. I like this idea that he loses control and must kill someone when he becomes the wolf, but that he's learned to go vigilante and direct the wolf toward baddies. However, I was really bothered by the fact that he killed a lot of innocent folk before he figured this out and didn't take himself out in that situation. But then, taking one's self out isn't an easy proposition and there'd be no story. Still, I lik...more
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Mar 11, 2012
Rinibeans
rated it
4 of 5 stars
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review of another edition
Shelves:
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This is one gritty story that holds no punches! There's gore (in spots, but not as excessive as one might expect) and cursing (all in character, totally felt natural) and a pretty good mystery. I got a little emotionally involved with the main character; his narration evoked a real person that you may not want to necessarily befriend, but could hang out with a cigarette or two for a night, that is, if you didn't get him too riled up. His heart's in the right place, it's just his trigger-happy fi...more
Definitely NOT recommended to tween/teenager/young adult fans who read Twilight. This book is grittier, a sort of honest point of view of a man cursed to turn into a wolf every full moon. Sorry girls, no Jacob Black whatsoever here.
I like it, it's a breeze turning from a page to another. Although almost from the start I've already knew or at least predicted who the Rose Killer is, it wasn't a problem to me. The flashback of the wolfman previous life that shaped his cruel destiny is relevant to w...more
I like it, it's a breeze turning from a page to another. Although almost from the start I've already knew or at least predicted who the Rose Killer is, it wasn't a problem to me. The flashback of the wolfman previous life that shaped his cruel destiny is relevant to w...more
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As the editor tells us in his beginning note, Nicholas Pekearo didn't get to do much writing before his death. The Wolfman is his debut book and he had envisioned a series of books featuring the Vietnam Veteran Marlowe Higgins and his dark secret, but alas Nicholas was killed in the line of duty, working as an unarmed volunteer police officer in New York city.
This is, in fact, quite sad for many reasons.. but the main one that touches me (and you) personally is that he was one hell of a writer....more
This is, in fact, quite sad for many reasons.. but the main one that touches me (and you) personally is that he was one hell of a writer....more
This book presents a bit of a conundrum to me. I really, really wanted to like it. The summary/teaser on the dustjacket outlined an excellent plot, and I really thought the main character sounded very interesting. Unfortunately, the best word I can come up with to describe the book is either of these: cliched or predictable. I don't want to be "that guy", but it was obvious to me about halfway through the book who the serial killer was. On the plus side, I don't think the author was really going...more
I've always had something of a soft spot for werewolf tales, but find that few really get the concept right. I picked up this novel on a friends recommendation and fell in love immediately. Marley is the anti-hero archetype to a T, enough morality to keep you on his side and enough devil-may-care attitude to to make him almost contemptible at times.
The story is part classic horror, part modern crime and all fantastic. The blend of Dexteresque justice and Incredible Hulk isolation (not to mentio...more
The story is part classic horror, part modern crime and all fantastic. The blend of Dexteresque justice and Incredible Hulk isolation (not to mentio...more
picking up a book in an airport is always a dicey proposition... this one seemed to have mystery and super natural elements (which is nice for a quick read on a plane), and the sleeve made several bukowski references, so i went ahead and picked it up.
long story short, not a terrible book, but not a great mystery or piece of sci fi lit either. also not sure i get the bukowski reference, unless all literature that talks about drinking, smoking, social anxiety and trouble with women is somehow buko...more
long story short, not a terrible book, but not a great mystery or piece of sci fi lit either. also not sure i get the bukowski reference, unless all literature that talks about drinking, smoking, social anxiety and trouble with women is somehow buko...more
A disappointing but interesting effort, overall.
Though the basic concept hybridizes Lee Child's Reacher with Jeff Lindsay's Dexter (and throws a little bit of the Universal Monsters into the mix), Pekearo is a little too much in love with cursing to the point where it distracts, both in narration and in dialogue.
The epilogue, though somewhat far-fetched, is quite amusing.
This could have been an acceptable first installment in what could have become quite an entertaining horror/crime series, b...more
Though the basic concept hybridizes Lee Child's Reacher with Jeff Lindsay's Dexter (and throws a little bit of the Universal Monsters into the mix), Pekearo is a little too much in love with cursing to the point where it distracts, both in narration and in dialogue.
The epilogue, though somewhat far-fetched, is quite amusing.
This could have been an acceptable first installment in what could have become quite an entertaining horror/crime series, b...more
This was an excellent debut for young Nicholas Pekearo. The book had a new feel/slant to an old story; "The Wolfman". I thought this had the makings of a good series. We'll never know.... To Quote:"[Pekearo's] unusual blend of Bukowskiesque misanthropism,Lovecraftian horror,and hard-boiled existentialism `a la Ed McBain make the novel's intimate,first-person narration an unforgettable read....Crime fiction, paranormal fantasy, and horror fans alike should cherish this outstanding debut."--Chicag...more
A more “realistic” urban fantasy than the other stuff I’ve read, this one is the tale of one man, seemingly alone in his supernaturalness, cursed with some kind of evil spirit thing that turns him into a murderous werewolf every 29 days or so. Unfortunately, the author’s life was cut tragically short before he got to write or publish a sequel, so we’ll never know how the rest of his world works. There were two rather serious hints about other things of a supernatural nature, but the lead doesn’t...more
A good example of "don't judge a book by its title. This sleeper hit is a winner in a big way, and not your typical monster story - couldn't put it down, read it in a couple sittings.
There's some terrific unexpected twists to the usual Wolfman myth going on here. I'd tell you what they are, but if you're lucky you'll get to discover them yourself like I did! If you see any reviews with spoilers, don't read 'em. Instead just run out and get this book.
This is a page-turning blend of crime thriller...more
There's some terrific unexpected twists to the usual Wolfman myth going on here. I'd tell you what they are, but if you're lucky you'll get to discover them yourself like I did! If you see any reviews with spoilers, don't read 'em. Instead just run out and get this book.
This is a page-turning blend of crime thriller...more
Marlowe isn't the type of narrator you'd expect to keep your attention, but he does. I think there is something about the prologue and the pacing that really pulls you into this story.
A little rough around the edges as any debut novel has the right to be, it is truly a shame that Nicholas Pekearo will write no more. (This book being published post humorously and all)
There is a good bit of humor and suspense. And while I had the murderer pegged and I felt that last change (let me see the moon) w...more
A little rough around the edges as any debut novel has the right to be, it is truly a shame that Nicholas Pekearo will write no more. (This book being published post humorously and all)
There is a good bit of humor and suspense. And while I had the murderer pegged and I felt that last change (let me see the moon) w...more
Beware of foul language!
I enjoyed this book. The protagonist was flawed, but not to the point of annoyance. The story was slightly predictable, but since this was a first book it can be excused. Unfortunately, this is also a last book. I wish I could remember all the thoughts I'd had when I read it originally, but it's been too long and I'm not in the mood to reread it right now.
I enjoyed this book. The protagonist was flawed, but not to the point of annoyance. The story was slightly predictable, but since this was a first book it can be excused. Unfortunately, this is also a last book. I wish I could remember all the thoughts I'd had when I read it originally, but it's been too long and I'm not in the mood to reread it right now.
I'm sorry there will be no more books by this author to look forward to reading. This was his first published novel. It was published posthumously after he was killed in the line of duty while volunteering as an NYPD Auxiliary Police Officer. This is a gritty, surprisingly moving horror/mystery thriller featuring a protagonist who isn't the only monster lurking in the area.
Amazing, vivid narrative voice. I feel like I know Marlowe Higgins and I believe in him. The big mystery of the book--the identity of the Big Bad--was overly obvious, so much so that I thought it must be a misdirect. Despite this, I was still compelled to devour the book, just so I could learn more about the tragic, but resilient main character.
Even for a debut novel "The Wolfman" leaves a lot to be desired.
It may well be that the story in itself wouldn’t be that bad after all, but the author’s writing lacks every concept of grammatical logic. This, paired with a narrative style that would make even fan fiction writers ashamed of themselves, made it practically impossible for me to enjoy the book in any measure.
It may well be that the story in itself wouldn’t be that bad after all, but the author’s writing lacks every concept of grammatical logic. This, paired with a narrative style that would make even fan fiction writers ashamed of themselves, made it practically impossible for me to enjoy the book in any measure.
I can't believe I loved a book about a werewolf, but this was great. The story grabbed me from the first page and I couldn't put it down. He tied all the loose ends together and the ending was amazing. Tragic about the author who died so young, but I'll definitely read his other couple of stories.
Perhaps the best fiction I read in 2008. Unbelievable story behind the author - book was published posthumously after he was killed while on duty as an auxiliary cop in NYC.
Marlowe, the main character, is a fantastic character. It's a shame he won't come back in any more books.
Marlowe, the main character, is a fantastic character. It's a shame he won't come back in any more books.
Truly tragic this novelist was murdered after his debut. Macabre footnote to a "genre" novel filled with originality. If they ever film it, I see a result similar to the cult fave "Near Darkness" (redneck vampires). Still superior to the more recent "The Last Werewolf" by Glen Duncan.
What a shame it is that this is the only book that we will ever get to enjoy from the pen of Nicholas Pekearo, who died far too young. I enjoyed this take on the wolfman legend, with Marlowe Higgins, a dishonorably discharged Vietnam veteran as the unlikely hero.
0ne of my favored books! I picked this book up from a clearance rack for a dollar, expecting it to be not so good but I was extremely surprised! Pekearo has a unique voice, and it is tragic that he passed on so young. At least we have this jem to remember him by.
If memory serves me correctly, this young author died after penning this gritty first novel. Well written, unfortunately we will probably not see more of this character in the future. A werewolf hunting a serial killer. Reads better than it sounds.
Very pleasantly surprised by this book and I have to admit I would have loved to have read more books from this young writer. It was a good story with a very satisfying ending that you just wanted to continue. Awesome.
Nicholas Pekearo worked in Bookstores here in NYC. He wrote prolifically in the hopes of being a published writer. He also volunteered as an Auxiliary Police Officer for his West Village neighborhood. Nicholas had hopes of writing a series of "Wolfman" books. This was to be the first. It is an extremely fun/fast read. He manages to reinvent the genre by giving it a modern morality. He fuses elements of "The Hulk" into a the Werewolf myth. He makes the Wolfman a moral psychopath (like Dexter) who...more
The novel was slow to start and had a liberal dose of the "F" word, both of which could have been improved on. Once the plot started moving, I was hooked. Pekearo provides a different look at what life as the wolfman would be. The Wolfman is able to take "justice" into his own hands and do something about it. I wish that Pekearo had not died, because I would have loved to see what he would have done in later books.
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Nicholas Pekearo was an author and volunteer NYPD Auxillary Police Officer living in New York City. In the spring of 2007 he was shot and killed in the line of duty in Greenwich Village whilst in the pursuit of a murderer. His first book, The Wolfman, was published posthumously in 2009.
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