The Wolf In The Woods by Dan Brotzel
Colleen and Andrew haven’t had sex in eleven weeks and three days [not that anyone’s counting]. Their marriage is in crisis, they’re drinking too much and both have secrets they’re afraid to share. A teetotal week in a remote cottage could solve all their problems. But with the promised beach nowhere in sight, a broken-down car and a sinister landlord, they may not find it so easy to rekindle their romance. In this dark and funny novel, tensions build and tempers fray.
My Review
I absolutely loved this book. It’s funny and sad at the same time – I laughed out loud, cringed at times (because Wolf really is rather creepy), and even shed a tear or three at the end.
Colleen and Andrew’s marriage (20 years married but 27 years together) is a disaster, but will a week away in a remote cottage in the forest really help? Will their marriage survive the make-or-break getaway? You wonder whether they will both survive at all – and I mean literally.
Wolf (Wolfgang? Mr Wolf?) lives next door and owns the cottage they are staying in. He can’t do enough to help to the point of being intrusive. It’s nice to have a caring landlord, but he is always there, accompanied by his dog Jack, poking his nose in, inviting Colleen to spend time having a drink with ‘Mrs Wolf’. Not a good idea as Colleen and Andrew are trying to stay off the alcohol while they are away. Make a fresh start. Stay sober.
Wolf appears to know so much, doesn’t he. And Colleen and Andrew have some big secrets, one of which is about the drinking, but there are other things which each thinks the other doesn’t know about.
Mrs Wolf – Hildy – is also a strange one.
‘Your Andrew.’ she says to Colleen.
‘Yes?’ said Colleen. ‘Does he have a big one?’
Now the reason this made me laugh was because while at our local Lido with my friend who is probably not far off Hildy’s age, we bumped into someone I have known for years, but she had never met before. He showed us a picture of his beautiful second wife. Admitted punching above his weight.
‘Are you rich.’ my friend asked.
‘No,’ he replied. ‘Then you must have a big one.’ she said.
Brilliant!
About the Author
Dan Brotzel describes himself as a “funny-sad author” and writer of novels, short stories, articles and other motley bits of content. The author of Hotel du Jack, a collection of short stories, and The Wolf in the Woods, a novel, he also co-wrote the brilliantly funny Work in Progress – a “novel-in emails” from award-winning publishers, Unbound. He lives in suburban north London with his partner and three children.
More info at www.danbrotzel.com
