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The Wolf Hour
A gripping thriller set in Africa about a young aid worker in danger and the lengths to which her family will go to save her. Edge-of-your-seat suspense combines with a compelling family drama in this story of power, greed and salvation.
A searing contemporary thriller about an Australian family in crisis against the backdrop of war-torn Africa.
Thirty-year-old Tessa Lowell has a PhD in psychology and is working in Uganda to research the effects of PTSD and war on child soldiers. She joins a delegation travelling across the Congolese border, deep into the African bush, for peace talks with Joseph Kony, notorious leader of the Lord's Resistance Army.
At the camp Tessa meets thirteen-year-old Francis, already an experienced soldier and survivor of shocking violence. The talks stall, and the camp is attacked by other rebels who take Tessa. Isolated in an increasingly volatile situation, she tries to form a bond with Francis.
In Melbourne, Tessa's parents are notified of the kidnapping, but learn there is little that government agencies can do. Desperate, they contact their son Stephen, an astute if manipulative businessman based in Cape Town. He agrees to search for his sister but has other reasons to contact the rebel forces.
As Tessa's time runs out, her family begins to fracture. Her parents arrive in Uganda to hear awful news about what she has endured. They also learn the devastating truth about the kind of man their son has become. Only they have the power to stop a terrible injustice. But at what cost to their family?
A searing contemporary thriller about an Australian family in crisis against the backdrop of war-torn Africa.
Thirty-year-old Tessa Lowell has a PhD in psychology and is working in Uganda to research the effects of PTSD and war on child soldiers. She joins a delegation travelling across the Congolese border, deep into the African bush, for peace talks with Joseph Kony, notorious leader of the Lord's Resistance Army.
At the camp Tessa meets thirteen-year-old Francis, already an experienced soldier and survivor of shocking violence. The talks stall, and the camp is attacked by other rebels who take Tessa. Isolated in an increasingly volatile situation, she tries to form a bond with Francis.
In Melbourne, Tessa's parents are notified of the kidnapping, but learn there is little that government agencies can do. Desperate, they contact their son Stephen, an astute if manipulative businessman based in Cape Town. He agrees to search for his sister but has other reasons to contact the rebel forces.
As Tessa's time runs out, her family begins to fracture. Her parents arrive in Uganda to hear awful news about what she has endured. They also learn the devastating truth about the kind of man their son has become. Only they have the power to stop a terrible injustice. But at what cost to their family?
352 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2018
14 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Myles
2 books13 followersSarah Myles grew up in rural Australia where she fell in love with reading, story and landscape. She has trained and worked as a nurse, travelled through Europe, the Americas and Africa.
She is the fiction author of two novels THE WOLF HOUR and TRANSPLANTED. Currently she divides her time between writing and family, living in inner Melbourne and on the surf coast of Victoria, Australia.
She is the fiction author of two novels THE WOLF HOUR and TRANSPLANTED. Currently she divides her time between writing and family, living in inner Melbourne and on the surf coast of Victoria, Australia.
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January 27, 2019
The Wolf Hour presents an interesting take on modern day Africa, particularly on Uganda with its many problems. The author has obviously travelled widely and she describes the African bush perfectly.
The story is good as long as you can accept the main premise that Tess would have been allowed to go on the trip to the rebel camp in the first place. After that is allowed the rest is predictable and everything that one would expect to happen to a young, white female in a Ugandan rebel camp happens. Meanwhile her parents are in Australia trying to deal with their daughter's disappearance in not very effective ways.
Overall an interesting book which provides the reader with a lot of information about Uganda, the refugee camps and boy soldiers.
The story is good as long as you can accept the main premise that Tess would have been allowed to go on the trip to the rebel camp in the first place. After that is allowed the rest is predictable and everything that one would expect to happen to a young, white female in a Ugandan rebel camp happens. Meanwhile her parents are in Australia trying to deal with their daughter's disappearance in not very effective ways.
Overall an interesting book which provides the reader with a lot of information about Uganda, the refugee camps and boy soldiers.
September 1, 2018
Tess Lowell was both fascinated and somewhat repulsed as she watched the ritual. In Uganda to help the children who had been abducted and coerced into fighting for the rebel forces, Tess had a PhD in psychology and was sure it would give her certain insights into the culture of Africa. But when Tess joined soldiers, against their express wishes, to travel deep into the African bush and across the Congolese border to meet the rebel leader for peace talks, she had no idea how big the mistake was that she had made in leaving the relative safety of the rehabilitation centre.
The terror Tess felt as she was grabbed and hauled off through the bush was immense. She tried to remain positive but as Tess formed a slight alliance with thirteen-year-old Francis, a young soldier who was guarding her, she wondered if she would ever see her family again…
When Tess’ parents heard of her abduction back in their home in Melbourne, Australia, their first thought was to fly to Africa and start searching. But with their son Stephen working in Cape Town, they telephoned for his help. Would Stephen be able to find where Tess had been taken? Or was it far too late for her to have survived the brutal clutches of the rebels?
The Wolf Hour by Aussie author Sarah Myles is a gripping, intense and heart thumping thriller which I devoured. An intriguing plot, the characters were well-crafted and the horrors that the child soldiers had to endure were unbelievable (although I know things happen like that!) The stress and frustration of Tess’ parents back in Australia was totally relatable. My only problem was with the ending – it seemed to end prematurely, so I’m left with questions that weren’t answered. That said, The Wolf Hour is a great read which I highly recommend.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The terror Tess felt as she was grabbed and hauled off through the bush was immense. She tried to remain positive but as Tess formed a slight alliance with thirteen-year-old Francis, a young soldier who was guarding her, she wondered if she would ever see her family again…
When Tess’ parents heard of her abduction back in their home in Melbourne, Australia, their first thought was to fly to Africa and start searching. But with their son Stephen working in Cape Town, they telephoned for his help. Would Stephen be able to find where Tess had been taken? Or was it far too late for her to have survived the brutal clutches of the rebels?
The Wolf Hour by Aussie author Sarah Myles is a gripping, intense and heart thumping thriller which I devoured. An intriguing plot, the characters were well-crafted and the horrors that the child soldiers had to endure were unbelievable (although I know things happen like that!) The stress and frustration of Tess’ parents back in Australia was totally relatable. My only problem was with the ending – it seemed to end prematurely, so I’m left with questions that weren’t answered. That said, The Wolf Hour is a great read which I highly recommend.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2018
The Wolf Hour is the second novel by Australian author, Sarah Myles. It’s not uncommon for families with adult children to be living remote from each other. Award winning photographer, Neil Lovell leads his fairly ordinary life in Melbourne with his wife, Leigh, a medical practitioner. Their son Stephen runs a sporting goods business in Cape Town with his South African school mate, Matt Reba. And their daughter Tessa, a psychology PhD, is in Gulu, Uganda, doing research on PTSD. That location allows her to interact with child soldiers who are in the process of rehabilitation.
All their lives are turned upside down when Tessa is abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, a ruthlessly violent rebel group known for taking children. In the rebel camp, Tessa establishes contact with young soldier, Francis Amayo, hopeful that he may be her means of escape, but also to further her research.
Getting no satisfaction from Government agencies, Neil and Leigh ask Stephen to track down Tessa while they make their own travel arrangements. Their relationship with him is somewhat fraught and it is with misgivings they ask him to help; those misgivings only increase as they learn more about his activities in South Africa. By the time they arrive in Uganda, blame has been apportioned, guilt and worry are uppermost in their minds, and their marriage is under considerable strain.
Neil realises he may have been too indulgent with his children. He’d opted for lenience, a liberal tolerance when raising his son “…but if he was afraid of the things Stephen might do, then he also loved him with a father’s hopeful pride and irrational loyalty, the same impulse that made him jump to Stephen’s defence whenever someone else found fault in him.”
In this fast-paced thriller, Myles gives the reader an interesting insight into the mindset of a child soldier, and shows just how the leader’s charisma, combined with superstition, ignorance, a good deal of brainwashing and the will to survive, produces these young killers.
The plot is original, taking an unpredictable direction, with a nail-biting climax and a realistic ending. Tessa’s initial choices seem incredibly naïve, and the depth of her bond with the Ugandan locals is not convincing enough for her later decisions to ring completely true. A basic map would have been a welcome addition to this gripping page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen&Unwin
All their lives are turned upside down when Tessa is abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, a ruthlessly violent rebel group known for taking children. In the rebel camp, Tessa establishes contact with young soldier, Francis Amayo, hopeful that he may be her means of escape, but also to further her research.
Getting no satisfaction from Government agencies, Neil and Leigh ask Stephen to track down Tessa while they make their own travel arrangements. Their relationship with him is somewhat fraught and it is with misgivings they ask him to help; those misgivings only increase as they learn more about his activities in South Africa. By the time they arrive in Uganda, blame has been apportioned, guilt and worry are uppermost in their minds, and their marriage is under considerable strain.
Neil realises he may have been too indulgent with his children. He’d opted for lenience, a liberal tolerance when raising his son “…but if he was afraid of the things Stephen might do, then he also loved him with a father’s hopeful pride and irrational loyalty, the same impulse that made him jump to Stephen’s defence whenever someone else found fault in him.”
In this fast-paced thriller, Myles gives the reader an interesting insight into the mindset of a child soldier, and shows just how the leader’s charisma, combined with superstition, ignorance, a good deal of brainwashing and the will to survive, produces these young killers.
The plot is original, taking an unpredictable direction, with a nail-biting climax and a realistic ending. Tessa’s initial choices seem incredibly naïve, and the depth of her bond with the Ugandan locals is not convincing enough for her later decisions to ring completely true. A basic map would have been a welcome addition to this gripping page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen&Unwin
March 1, 2020
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Tessa goes to a community camp in Uganda with the aim of studying the child soldiers who have escaped from the LRA. The camp is trying to get these children accepted back into their villages. Tessa wants to write a paper on the children and PTSD. Tessa insists on joining a delegation on a dangerous mission of peace talks with Kony, leader of the LRA, deep in the Congo.
Personally I can’t understand why these academics, and journalists too, who know nothing about the traditions and superstitions of the tribes put themselves in such dangerous situations and expect to be safe. One character actually outs Tessa as a white saviour, doing what she does to ultimately benefit herself.
Myles descriptions of Uganda, the beauty and the horror, were exceptional. The heat, the mosquitoes and the smell of unwashed bodies was real. I fell into the story. There was a foreboding sense of danger as the delegation moved deeper into the Congo.
I easily empathised with Tessa’s parents, the fear they felt and also the utter helplessness when you are so far from your child. Although I didn’t like the way they, especially the father, treated Stephen. Calling upon him when Tessa was in danger then trying to bring him down after. I’m sure they could find another way around this moral dilemma.
Myles gives her readers a fully rounded look at what is happening with the LRA and the child abductions. There is no preaching as we see everyone’s point of view, leaving the reader to make their own conclusions.
The Wolf Hour is a rivetting and emotive read. Highly recommended!
Tessa goes to a community camp in Uganda with the aim of studying the child soldiers who have escaped from the LRA. The camp is trying to get these children accepted back into their villages. Tessa wants to write a paper on the children and PTSD. Tessa insists on joining a delegation on a dangerous mission of peace talks with Kony, leader of the LRA, deep in the Congo.
Personally I can’t understand why these academics, and journalists too, who know nothing about the traditions and superstitions of the tribes put themselves in such dangerous situations and expect to be safe. One character actually outs Tessa as a white saviour, doing what she does to ultimately benefit herself.
Myles descriptions of Uganda, the beauty and the horror, were exceptional. The heat, the mosquitoes and the smell of unwashed bodies was real. I fell into the story. There was a foreboding sense of danger as the delegation moved deeper into the Congo.
I easily empathised with Tessa’s parents, the fear they felt and also the utter helplessness when you are so far from your child. Although I didn’t like the way they, especially the father, treated Stephen. Calling upon him when Tessa was in danger then trying to bring him down after. I’m sure they could find another way around this moral dilemma.
Myles gives her readers a fully rounded look at what is happening with the LRA and the child abductions. There is no preaching as we see everyone’s point of view, leaving the reader to make their own conclusions.
The Wolf Hour is a rivetting and emotive read. Highly recommended!
November 26, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
he Wolf Hour: the time we come to face-to-face with ourselves.
Ultimately, The Wolf Hour, penned by Australian novelist Sarah Myles, is a novel about how we view ourselves, especially in a time of great stress and danger. The Wolf Hour uses a Melbourne family as vehicle to examine family relations and the pressures involved when one family member goes missing in a far away land. For the Lowell family of Melbourne, when daughter Tessa goes missing in the thick jungle terrain of the Congo region, Cape Town based sibling, Stephen Lowell must summon all the resources he can to rescue his sister. Waiting in the wings with bated breath are parents Neil and Leigh Lowell. The Wolf Hour is a mesmerising and astute thriller that has plenty to say about the state of affairs in Africa today.
At the centre of the second novel written by Sarah Myles is Tessa Lowell. Tessa is a determined, intelligent and hardworking young woman with a PhD in Psychology. Tessa’s interest in the effects of PTSD on child soldiers has resulted in a study opportunity in Africa. In the heart of the African wilds, Tessa finds herself trekking through this dangerous terrain in order to get to the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Tessa’s convoy are hoping to ignite peace talks with the well known leader, Joseph Kony. Things swiftly take a turn for the worse for Tessa, when she is kidnapped by rebels. Tessa is completely on her own, so she tries to form a bond with a child solider Francis and this child becomes a subject fascination for the hostage. However, Tessa’s situation becomes dire and she desperately needs to escape the rebels. Back home in Melbourne, Tessa’s family have been told of her abduction. There is little assistance available to the Lowell family to help them rescue Tessa, so they call on their son Stephen who is based in Cape Town to rescue her. But Stephen is hiding a dark secret which he may not be able to keep locked away from his family if he rescues Tessa. Things come to a head for each member of the Lowell family once Tessa’s rescue process is complete. The whole ordeal forces the Lowells to critically about themselves and face some hard truths about the decisions they have made.
I have often dreamed of a holiday to Africa, I would love to discover the wild plains of this majestic but dangerous country. Books such as The Wolf Hour help satisfy my desire for a trip to Africa, as I get to experience Africa from the comfort and safety of my armchair. The Wolf Hour represents a solid testimony to Africa, it gives the reader an essential overview of the current climate of this continent, covering Cape Town, the Congo, Uganda and surrounds. The Wolf Hour also provides the reader with an inadvertent education of Africa, its political fractions, the resistance groups at work and organisations such as the Lord’s Resistance Army. I definitely felt a gap in knowledge in this area prior to reading this book, but Sarah Myles has worked to increase my awareness of this area. This is the main advantage of The Wolf Hour.
Tessa Lowell is the central protagonist of the book and she is a character that evoked feelings of empathy, understanding and frustration at times. The author has injected a significant proportion of herself into the character of Tessa, which makes her feel more authentic, real and well rounded. With a detailed background in research on the civil war issues in Uganda, along with her studies in the psychology of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, author Sarah Myles puts herself in good standing to pen a convincing narrative. Myles is able to apply this pre existing knowledge to the characters of Tessa, Francis and many other side protagonists.
I noted in the author write up of my press release that accompanied this book that Sarah Myles has travelled extensively around Africa. These extended travel experiences have clearly shaped her novel, she injects so much life into her Africa based sequences in the novel. The prose is tinged with much clarity and as a result we receive a first hand understanding of this troubled but picturesque backdrop. The land and its people have such a commanding force in the novel, Africa could almost be considered as the centre piece of this novel, linking all aspects of the narrative together.
In terms of the narrative itself, The Wolf Hour is well written, thoroughly researched and carefully paced. It has a thriller and suspense feel, especially in the kidnapping and rescue sequences. I did feel on edge for much of the novel. The Wolf Hour also morphs into a solid character study and it casts a critical eye on a family under duress. Myles handles these aspects well. There were some unexpected moments, along with some jaw dropping revelations that definitely moved this reader. It is a little tenuous to say that I enjoyed this novel, rather, it is best to say that I appreciated what The Wolf Hour had to offer. By the close of the novel, I was somewhat satisfied by the final turn of events, but this book does feature an open ending. I believe a follow up book is in the works, which is news to my ears!
A blistering family drama, set against a troublesome backdrop, The Wolf Hour offers a genuine and eye opening study of Africa today. This is a highly relevant and well situated book that I am confident will draw in readers from all directions, especially those with a special interest in Africa.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Wolf Hour is book #143 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
he Wolf Hour: the time we come to face-to-face with ourselves.
Ultimately, The Wolf Hour, penned by Australian novelist Sarah Myles, is a novel about how we view ourselves, especially in a time of great stress and danger. The Wolf Hour uses a Melbourne family as vehicle to examine family relations and the pressures involved when one family member goes missing in a far away land. For the Lowell family of Melbourne, when daughter Tessa goes missing in the thick jungle terrain of the Congo region, Cape Town based sibling, Stephen Lowell must summon all the resources he can to rescue his sister. Waiting in the wings with bated breath are parents Neil and Leigh Lowell. The Wolf Hour is a mesmerising and astute thriller that has plenty to say about the state of affairs in Africa today.
At the centre of the second novel written by Sarah Myles is Tessa Lowell. Tessa is a determined, intelligent and hardworking young woman with a PhD in Psychology. Tessa’s interest in the effects of PTSD on child soldiers has resulted in a study opportunity in Africa. In the heart of the African wilds, Tessa finds herself trekking through this dangerous terrain in order to get to the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army. Tessa’s convoy are hoping to ignite peace talks with the well known leader, Joseph Kony. Things swiftly take a turn for the worse for Tessa, when she is kidnapped by rebels. Tessa is completely on her own, so she tries to form a bond with a child solider Francis and this child becomes a subject fascination for the hostage. However, Tessa’s situation becomes dire and she desperately needs to escape the rebels. Back home in Melbourne, Tessa’s family have been told of her abduction. There is little assistance available to the Lowell family to help them rescue Tessa, so they call on their son Stephen who is based in Cape Town to rescue her. But Stephen is hiding a dark secret which he may not be able to keep locked away from his family if he rescues Tessa. Things come to a head for each member of the Lowell family once Tessa’s rescue process is complete. The whole ordeal forces the Lowells to critically about themselves and face some hard truths about the decisions they have made.
I have often dreamed of a holiday to Africa, I would love to discover the wild plains of this majestic but dangerous country. Books such as The Wolf Hour help satisfy my desire for a trip to Africa, as I get to experience Africa from the comfort and safety of my armchair. The Wolf Hour represents a solid testimony to Africa, it gives the reader an essential overview of the current climate of this continent, covering Cape Town, the Congo, Uganda and surrounds. The Wolf Hour also provides the reader with an inadvertent education of Africa, its political fractions, the resistance groups at work and organisations such as the Lord’s Resistance Army. I definitely felt a gap in knowledge in this area prior to reading this book, but Sarah Myles has worked to increase my awareness of this area. This is the main advantage of The Wolf Hour.
Tessa Lowell is the central protagonist of the book and she is a character that evoked feelings of empathy, understanding and frustration at times. The author has injected a significant proportion of herself into the character of Tessa, which makes her feel more authentic, real and well rounded. With a detailed background in research on the civil war issues in Uganda, along with her studies in the psychology of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, author Sarah Myles puts herself in good standing to pen a convincing narrative. Myles is able to apply this pre existing knowledge to the characters of Tessa, Francis and many other side protagonists.
I noted in the author write up of my press release that accompanied this book that Sarah Myles has travelled extensively around Africa. These extended travel experiences have clearly shaped her novel, she injects so much life into her Africa based sequences in the novel. The prose is tinged with much clarity and as a result we receive a first hand understanding of this troubled but picturesque backdrop. The land and its people have such a commanding force in the novel, Africa could almost be considered as the centre piece of this novel, linking all aspects of the narrative together.
In terms of the narrative itself, The Wolf Hour is well written, thoroughly researched and carefully paced. It has a thriller and suspense feel, especially in the kidnapping and rescue sequences. I did feel on edge for much of the novel. The Wolf Hour also morphs into a solid character study and it casts a critical eye on a family under duress. Myles handles these aspects well. There were some unexpected moments, along with some jaw dropping revelations that definitely moved this reader. It is a little tenuous to say that I enjoyed this novel, rather, it is best to say that I appreciated what The Wolf Hour had to offer. By the close of the novel, I was somewhat satisfied by the final turn of events, but this book does feature an open ending. I believe a follow up book is in the works, which is news to my ears!
A blistering family drama, set against a troublesome backdrop, The Wolf Hour offers a genuine and eye opening study of Africa today. This is a highly relevant and well situated book that I am confident will draw in readers from all directions, especially those with a special interest in Africa.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Wolf Hour is book #143 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
November 22, 2018
The Wolf Hour is the second book by Australian author, Sarah Myles. When I began this book, I wasn't too sure of what to expect as it's not my usual genre and I had not come across Sarah Myles before. The Wolf Hour turned out to be a well researched, intriguing look at contemporary life in Africa. Africa itself became a character of the story. Sarah doesn’t hold back as she describes the beauty of the land and contrasts it with the harsh reality of daily life with political strife. The authenticity is brought to life through the eyes of thirty year old Tessa Lowell. Tessa, armed with a phd in psychology, is researching the effects of PTSD and war on the child soldiers in Garamba, Africa. Though Tessa was ultimately a person with a good heart, her naivety and stubbornness, was at many times frustrating. She didn’t want to face the dark truth about the place she was currently calling home. Ultimately, Tessa’s refusal to listen to those who know the country places her life in jeopardy. While this was distressing to witness, I felt that Sarah barely touched on exploring child soldiers as the blurb stated. This was more about Sarah’s experiences as a white woman in a foreign country. Tessa’s brother, Stephen, on the other hand, knows the heart of Africa as he lives in Cape Town. While it was clear from the very start that Stephen was living a dangerous life, I was just as shocked as his family when Sarah reveals his true colours. Both Tessa and Stephen were real, flawed, multifaceted characters just like their parents, Neil and Leigh. Neil and Leigh see both their children for who they truly are, warts and all. They have never really been comfortable with Tessa’s decisions but love their child for the woman she has become. A woman who wants to make a change, who wants to stand up for the rights of others. Tessa’s parents are the perfect example of parental love when they embark on a journey to bring her home. When it came to their son, Stephen, and his ethics, Neil and Leigh have always known that something was not quite right but haven’t needed to investigate the truth. Through Stephen’s path in life, Sarah skillfully draw out the darkness and danger that hides in all of us.
This is a read for those who are interested in Africa or who need something a little different to their usual genres.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace for the chance to review this.
#AWWC#
This is a read for those who are interested in Africa or who need something a little different to their usual genres.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace for the chance to review this.
#AWWC#
September 6, 2018
The Wolf Hour proved itself an incredibly thought provoking read, although in the end, not solely for the reasons I had expected. I was anticipating a bit of tough read, in terms of digging deep into a topic such as child soldiers – and it was – but I was not expecting to be affected by the family drama aspect as much. The perspective of Tessa’s parents really reached in and squeezed my heart and they quickly became my favourite characters. Overall though, I found myself racing through The Wolf Hour. It had an ‘unputdownable’ quality that made it nearly impossible to resist reading one more chapter of.
There were so many profound moments within this novel, but none more so than this observation from Tessa on the spread of children’s ages in Uganda:
‘The thing that struck her most was how young they all were. The older ones – from the age of about ten onwards – were missing. Their absence, Tessa thought, was like the last scene in the tale of The Pied Piper when the town’s children disappeared through a door in the mountainside.’
It’s truly horrifying, to contemplate this. Sarah diligently explores this issue, and there are certainly some tough moments where we as readers get to fully realise the extent of what being kidnapped and indoctrinated as a child soldier actually means. This novel is written so well, because Tessa is making these observations alongside us:
‘He began to knead the flesh on his forearm, pinching the skin and twisting it in tight bunches. Tessa reached across and rested the weight of her hand on his, something her mother might have done. He stopped, and quickly pulled away from her. She had urged him to tell her his story – and it was shocking. Beyond belief, she thought; beyond understanding. Her face burnt and a surge of anguish tore at her chest. She felt a tremendous responsibility which she was ill-equipped to handle; he had lived with different rules and there was little place for the mild, kind psychology she espoused. The knowledge behind his eyes terrified her.’
While this is harrowing material, it is by no means objectified. The truth is presented with authenticity but tempered with sensitivity. It gives you a lot to think about, not least of how lucky some children in the world are in comparison to others.
For me, I was able to intimately relate to Tessa’s parents. My own children are not adults yet, still teenagers, but that loss of control over your children’s lives really got to me. They were still parents; the fact that Stephen and Tessa were adults didn’t change this. The way they cared for them and worried about, and fretted over the life choices their children were making; what age your children are doesn’t diminish this, particularly if they are in trouble, which in this case, both of them were. I found myself angry at Tessa, for her altruistic ambitions, while still being able to understand her motivation for being in and remaining in such a dangerous place.
‘They were like two people in a boat at sea, and she suddenly felt a new burden that extended to her parents – of how what happened to her could not be contained behind the facade she was working so hard to maintain. She knew she couldn’t tell them not to worry.’
The events that unfold within this novel fracture this family, and I was utterly gripped by the drama. I likened it to being in a body of water, floating along, everything calm until all of a sudden, one person is pulled under and the rest lose their equilibrium. That’s very much what happened with this family, and Tessa’s kidnapping was a catalyst for Stephen’s true lifestyle to come to the fore and further damage this already fragile family balance. There was no quick fix offered, to which I was grateful. This story is very much about keeping it real on all fronts, its impact all the more solid for it.
‘Together her parents made small objections, but there was hurt there too, and irritation. Over the last few days they had been building towards this, towards some kind of reckoning. Tessa was aware of her parents’ support and grateful for it, but she craved consolation not just for herself but for them. To find some kind of resolution.’
There is a rich atmosphere in terms of people and place running through this novel. A heady visualisation that transplants you. I’ve long been drawn to novels about Africa and this one did not disappoint. Highly recommended.
‘“This place,” Tessa said again. “But especially the people here, they’re amazing. Even after everything they’ve been through, there are those who can still forgive so much. It’s like Beatrice says: they bring relief to their tragedy. I see it sometimes in the way they talk about things other than the war. How they get on with life; their laughter, their jokes – about their shoes, or lack of them.” She gave a wry smile, then lifted her shoulders and let them fall. “It’s what drew me here in the beginning – how people cope in the aftermath of civil war.”’
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Wolf Hour for review.
There were so many profound moments within this novel, but none more so than this observation from Tessa on the spread of children’s ages in Uganda:
‘The thing that struck her most was how young they all were. The older ones – from the age of about ten onwards – were missing. Their absence, Tessa thought, was like the last scene in the tale of The Pied Piper when the town’s children disappeared through a door in the mountainside.’
It’s truly horrifying, to contemplate this. Sarah diligently explores this issue, and there are certainly some tough moments where we as readers get to fully realise the extent of what being kidnapped and indoctrinated as a child soldier actually means. This novel is written so well, because Tessa is making these observations alongside us:
‘He began to knead the flesh on his forearm, pinching the skin and twisting it in tight bunches. Tessa reached across and rested the weight of her hand on his, something her mother might have done. He stopped, and quickly pulled away from her. She had urged him to tell her his story – and it was shocking. Beyond belief, she thought; beyond understanding. Her face burnt and a surge of anguish tore at her chest. She felt a tremendous responsibility which she was ill-equipped to handle; he had lived with different rules and there was little place for the mild, kind psychology she espoused. The knowledge behind his eyes terrified her.’
While this is harrowing material, it is by no means objectified. The truth is presented with authenticity but tempered with sensitivity. It gives you a lot to think about, not least of how lucky some children in the world are in comparison to others.
For me, I was able to intimately relate to Tessa’s parents. My own children are not adults yet, still teenagers, but that loss of control over your children’s lives really got to me. They were still parents; the fact that Stephen and Tessa were adults didn’t change this. The way they cared for them and worried about, and fretted over the life choices their children were making; what age your children are doesn’t diminish this, particularly if they are in trouble, which in this case, both of them were. I found myself angry at Tessa, for her altruistic ambitions, while still being able to understand her motivation for being in and remaining in such a dangerous place.
‘They were like two people in a boat at sea, and she suddenly felt a new burden that extended to her parents – of how what happened to her could not be contained behind the facade she was working so hard to maintain. She knew she couldn’t tell them not to worry.’
The events that unfold within this novel fracture this family, and I was utterly gripped by the drama. I likened it to being in a body of water, floating along, everything calm until all of a sudden, one person is pulled under and the rest lose their equilibrium. That’s very much what happened with this family, and Tessa’s kidnapping was a catalyst for Stephen’s true lifestyle to come to the fore and further damage this already fragile family balance. There was no quick fix offered, to which I was grateful. This story is very much about keeping it real on all fronts, its impact all the more solid for it.
‘Together her parents made small objections, but there was hurt there too, and irritation. Over the last few days they had been building towards this, towards some kind of reckoning. Tessa was aware of her parents’ support and grateful for it, but she craved consolation not just for herself but for them. To find some kind of resolution.’
There is a rich atmosphere in terms of people and place running through this novel. A heady visualisation that transplants you. I’ve long been drawn to novels about Africa and this one did not disappoint. Highly recommended.
‘“This place,” Tessa said again. “But especially the people here, they’re amazing. Even after everything they’ve been through, there are those who can still forgive so much. It’s like Beatrice says: they bring relief to their tragedy. I see it sometimes in the way they talk about things other than the war. How they get on with life; their laughter, their jokes – about their shoes, or lack of them.” She gave a wry smile, then lifted her shoulders and let them fall. “It’s what drew me here in the beginning – how people cope in the aftermath of civil war.”’
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Wolf Hour for review.
August 7, 2018
I have just finished 'the Wolf Hour' by Sarah Myles, I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Allen&Unwin. What a super read I finished it in super quick time.
Tessa is working in Uganda involved heavily with child soldiers, she manages to persuade her superior that she should be included in a delegation travelling over the Congolese border. She is abducted and ultimately rescued by her brother Stephen who is sent by her Australian parents to rescue her. So suspenseful, with a very interesting plot and beautiful descriptions of the country.
Tessa is working in Uganda involved heavily with child soldiers, she manages to persuade her superior that she should be included in a delegation travelling over the Congolese border. She is abducted and ultimately rescued by her brother Stephen who is sent by her Australian parents to rescue her. So suspenseful, with a very interesting plot and beautiful descriptions of the country.
June 15, 2021
The Wolf Hour is the epitome of untapped potential. The first chapter blew me away, and there was no doubt in my mind that it would go on to become an all-time favorite (i was wrong ofcourse). I will say, however, that it was a very informative read. I learned a lot about the political system in Uganda. Apart from that, it was super readable, and the multiple perspectives added an interesting layer to the narrative. The author did a good job of outlining the landscape of Africa and integrating it with the story. While there were parts that I liked, overall, this novel did not live up to my expectations. I may sound like a heartless prick, but it did not make me feel a thing. For the powerful topics that it dealt with, it should have been a banger. But I was nowhere as connected to the characters as I wanted to be. I hated the fact that the focus of the novel shifted from Tessa to her brother. I couldn't care less about him to be honest. Things got a little too convenient towards the end and the ending was really abrupt. It felt incomplete for some reason. Long story short, I just wanted more from this book than I ended up getting. I would still recommend it if you wanna read a book set in Africa.
December 28, 2018
A fairly quick read. Fairly compelling. I've taken a bit of an interest in children abducted and brutalised to become soldiers in Kony's LRA so the main protagonist annoyed me a bit, at first, as she was setting it up to put herself in harms way. Of course, she then was faced with some fairly predictable repercussions. This struck me as fairly reasonable for a YA audience, I'm not sure that is the book's original target audience. Being a quick read it satisfied my curiosity about it without taking up too much of my time from something else. Not one I'll read again. Recommended for people who are interested in child abductions in Africa and the repercussions, if you're after a fictional introduction to the situation.
February 12, 2019
This book is somewhat stilted. There are some sloppy editing mistakes that crashed back to reality, like Tessa's dad heating the oil in the pan twice. Mistakes like that aren't really important, they don't impede the events but they take you out of your imagination & back into reality. This is a big, sensitive subject this author has chosen to take on but from the first 100 pages it seems it is mostly gloss. And what mother says out loud that she thinks something is wrong with both of her children? The Melbourne conversation seemed wrong so I have less trust in the African parts, the main part of the book. And why is it called wolf hour, it's set in Africa & Australia. I'm sick of books with wolf in the title for no good reason.
September 24, 2018
I knew that I had to read this as soon as soon as I read the description. I absolutely love books set anywhere in Africa and I’m pretty certain I’d never read one set in Uganda before. I was really interested to get a glimpse into that country and this had the promise of potentially being quite a frightening read, given the main character is kidnapped by rebels.
Tessa Lowell is 30, from Melbourne and she’s in Uganda researching the effects of PTSD on child soldiers kidnapped and turned into soldiers. Everyone hears about how rebel groups sweep through villages, taking all the available male children, raping and killing the women and then burning what’s left behind. These children are indoctrinated into killing at heartbreakingly young ages, given machetes and machine guns and are taught to dehumanise others. For Tessa, the interest for her is in how they cope in the aftermath. She’s working in a refuge centre observing children who have escaped this life and how it impacts their emotional wellbeing. She’s confused that some seem to cope better than others and she’s trying to find a reason why.
I wasn’t sure what to think of Tessa’s decision to insert herself into the group going to meet for peace talks with Joseph Kony, because it seemed incredibly foolish. She’s told that her safety cannot be guaranteed, that she’s both white and a woman and this is incredibly dangerous but she’s determined to go anyway. When she strikes up a conversation with a young rebel named Francis, she mentions that she’s a doctor – she has a PhD, she’s not a medical doctor but Francis doesn’t know the difference and Tessa finds herself kidnapped and taken to a rebel camp and ordered to treat a man dying of gunshot wounds.
Back in Melbourne are Tessa’s parents, Neil and Leigh, who are devastated and terrified to learn of their daughter’s kidnapping. So far no demands have been made so there can be no negotiations and they don’t even know where she is. So they call on their son Stephen, living in South Africa and running a business that seems dubious at best, begging him to do what it takes to get Tessa back. This will open up their eyes to what their son is really doing over there.
I felt for Neil and Leigh. I think it’s very hard to be a world away from your children, be they grown and living their own lives, especially when they are living and working in places where there are different sorts of dangers to the ones familiar at home. Australia is a long way from anywhere and early investigation is crucial so they beg Stephen to go to Uganda and try and find Tessa, knowing that it’s going to take them probably two days to get there. I found their struggle to accept what Stephen was doing very realistic and the questioning that Leigh in particular did, was very well done. There was a lot of that internal debate, was this their fault? Had they contributed to this being the path that Stephen had decided to take? Was there something in his character that they’d fostered or nurtured? That sort of parental struggle was also handled in different ways – Neil’s at first reluctance and then complete capitulation into fury versus Leigh’s emotional look for answers. They had a lot to deal with in a very short time with both their children and it places real strain on their marriage.
It’s hard for me to imagine children being swept up in this sort of world. My oldest son is 10 and my younger son will turn 7 next week. They are probably right at the age that kids are taken and it’s heartbreaking. They are exposed to such horrifying violence and will also commit it themselves and I understand Tessa’s desire to study the after effects of such a life. It’s not easy to imagine people who have been soldiers in an army from such a young age just settling back into village life again and that’s made quite clear at the end of the book. I wanted to read a little more about Tessa’s work, see what she was coming up with and what she might be working towards in the future.
This book was not really the type of read that I expected – I thought the kidnapping might actually take up a greater portion of the story but it’s a relatively small part to be honest. There’s a lot of focus on family relationships and the connections that bind people together through blood even though they might not be connecting in other ways. Tessa and Stephen seemed to have a very fractious sibling relationship – periods of camaraderie but also antagonism. Most of that appeared to be Stephen, who wasn’t a particularly enjoyable character to read. He seemed to have quite a large sense of entitlement and was willing to exploit what he could in order to get himself ahead in terms of money and wealth. Tessa is almost the opposite, wanting to help these communities heal from the ravages of war and destruction. I also felt that I was left with more questions than answers at the end, so I’m not sure if that was intentional (because life is messy and full of answered questions) or perhaps this will be addressed in a further book.
I found that this was a really fast, engrossing read – it took me no time at all to tear through it and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a thoughtful exploration of family strain during a difficult time, of secrets coming to light and a place far removed from what I’m used to. I enjoyed the insight.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Tessa Lowell is 30, from Melbourne and she’s in Uganda researching the effects of PTSD on child soldiers kidnapped and turned into soldiers. Everyone hears about how rebel groups sweep through villages, taking all the available male children, raping and killing the women and then burning what’s left behind. These children are indoctrinated into killing at heartbreakingly young ages, given machetes and machine guns and are taught to dehumanise others. For Tessa, the interest for her is in how they cope in the aftermath. She’s working in a refuge centre observing children who have escaped this life and how it impacts their emotional wellbeing. She’s confused that some seem to cope better than others and she’s trying to find a reason why.
I wasn’t sure what to think of Tessa’s decision to insert herself into the group going to meet for peace talks with Joseph Kony, because it seemed incredibly foolish. She’s told that her safety cannot be guaranteed, that she’s both white and a woman and this is incredibly dangerous but she’s determined to go anyway. When she strikes up a conversation with a young rebel named Francis, she mentions that she’s a doctor – she has a PhD, she’s not a medical doctor but Francis doesn’t know the difference and Tessa finds herself kidnapped and taken to a rebel camp and ordered to treat a man dying of gunshot wounds.
Back in Melbourne are Tessa’s parents, Neil and Leigh, who are devastated and terrified to learn of their daughter’s kidnapping. So far no demands have been made so there can be no negotiations and they don’t even know where she is. So they call on their son Stephen, living in South Africa and running a business that seems dubious at best, begging him to do what it takes to get Tessa back. This will open up their eyes to what their son is really doing over there.
I felt for Neil and Leigh. I think it’s very hard to be a world away from your children, be they grown and living their own lives, especially when they are living and working in places where there are different sorts of dangers to the ones familiar at home. Australia is a long way from anywhere and early investigation is crucial so they beg Stephen to go to Uganda and try and find Tessa, knowing that it’s going to take them probably two days to get there. I found their struggle to accept what Stephen was doing very realistic and the questioning that Leigh in particular did, was very well done. There was a lot of that internal debate, was this their fault? Had they contributed to this being the path that Stephen had decided to take? Was there something in his character that they’d fostered or nurtured? That sort of parental struggle was also handled in different ways – Neil’s at first reluctance and then complete capitulation into fury versus Leigh’s emotional look for answers. They had a lot to deal with in a very short time with both their children and it places real strain on their marriage.
It’s hard for me to imagine children being swept up in this sort of world. My oldest son is 10 and my younger son will turn 7 next week. They are probably right at the age that kids are taken and it’s heartbreaking. They are exposed to such horrifying violence and will also commit it themselves and I understand Tessa’s desire to study the after effects of such a life. It’s not easy to imagine people who have been soldiers in an army from such a young age just settling back into village life again and that’s made quite clear at the end of the book. I wanted to read a little more about Tessa’s work, see what she was coming up with and what she might be working towards in the future.
This book was not really the type of read that I expected – I thought the kidnapping might actually take up a greater portion of the story but it’s a relatively small part to be honest. There’s a lot of focus on family relationships and the connections that bind people together through blood even though they might not be connecting in other ways. Tessa and Stephen seemed to have a very fractious sibling relationship – periods of camaraderie but also antagonism. Most of that appeared to be Stephen, who wasn’t a particularly enjoyable character to read. He seemed to have quite a large sense of entitlement and was willing to exploit what he could in order to get himself ahead in terms of money and wealth. Tessa is almost the opposite, wanting to help these communities heal from the ravages of war and destruction. I also felt that I was left with more questions than answers at the end, so I’m not sure if that was intentional (because life is messy and full of answered questions) or perhaps this will be addressed in a further book.
I found that this was a really fast, engrossing read – it took me no time at all to tear through it and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a thoughtful exploration of family strain during a difficult time, of secrets coming to light and a place far removed from what I’m used to. I enjoyed the insight.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
June 17, 2020
I found the book not in sync with my way of thinking at all. I found the descriptions repetitive and unimaginative which was a shame as being in Uganda would be quite amazing. Too much was predictable and it became a chore to finish. It just wasn't my "cup of tea". It did introduce a lifestyle I had put no thought into before. I cant imagine the parents interfering in their children's lives so much when they have each other and their own careers.
August 25, 2018
Australian author Sarah Myles has conjured up a thriller that races across Africa, while unpicking the relationships between two adult children, and their Australian based parents.
Siblings Tessa and Stephen are both in Africa, she working with child soldiers in Uganda, he in Capetown living on the very edge of a legal business, which involves gun running and more. When rebels kidnap Tessa in a remote and dangerous location her parents Leigh and Neil begin a disintegration in their relationship as they rush to Africa, hoping they can rescue Tessa. Stephen is called upon to help and behind his shady dealings he manages to mount a rescue mission himself.
While The Wolf Hour is a seat of the pants thriller, with many balls in the air, from page to page, its also about the dynamics of a family in which the past is no longer relevant to the present.
Siblings Tessa and Stephen are both in Africa, she working with child soldiers in Uganda, he in Capetown living on the very edge of a legal business, which involves gun running and more. When rebels kidnap Tessa in a remote and dangerous location her parents Leigh and Neil begin a disintegration in their relationship as they rush to Africa, hoping they can rescue Tessa. Stephen is called upon to help and behind his shady dealings he manages to mount a rescue mission himself.
While The Wolf Hour is a seat of the pants thriller, with many balls in the air, from page to page, its also about the dynamics of a family in which the past is no longer relevant to the present.
Read
October 14, 2019The Wolf Hour opens in 2008, with 30 year old Tessa Lowell, an idealistic PhD student who has been studying the impact of PTSD on child soldiers in Uganda for several months. Tessa works with Dominic Oculi, a former abductee and child soldier himself, now rehabilitated and working to negotiate a peace deal with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and its volatile leader Joseph Kony. When Tessa insists, against Dominic’s advice, that she tag along with his peace delegation, she is kidnapped over a misunderstanding of what kind of doctor she is. The result is devastating, not only for Tessa, but for the delegation and for her family. The story is richly rooted in time and place, and Myles does a superb job of conveying both the beauty of Uganda, and the strange, sometimes horror, of what Tessa carefully observes. The book opens with a ceremonial purging seen through Tessa’s eyes that tells us more about the protagonist than any description of Tessa could:
The story progresses at a rapid pace, driven forward by the unfolding danger of Tessa’s position, her growing sense of the blindness and protections her privilege and easy upbringing in Melbourne has afforded her, the sense of helplessness felt by Tessa’s parents, Leigh, a (medical) doctor and Neil, a documentary maker, and her brother Stephen, a “businessman” living in Cape Town. When Neil and Leigh are notified of Tessa’s abduction, they call upon Stephen to help rescue Tessa. As Tessa’s dangerous situation plays out, Stephen’s nefarious and covert business dealings begin to unfold, unhinging the relationship between Leigh and Neil and forcing them to question their own beliefs.
Myles builds the story in alternating chapters that explore the parents growing awareness of their adult childrens’ activities, as well as Stephen’s perspective - one that highlights the privileged upbringing that Tessa and Stephen had, but also opens a range of questions about the interconnectedness of the events that unfold. Throughout the novel, Myles’ writing is exquisite, walking a careful line between the psychological introspectiveness of her characters, and the unfolding events of the Ugandan Civil War and its impact on the lives of people living there. Tessa’s observations in particular are poetic and careful, illuminating Africa’s beauty against her own frailty:
The link between Tessa and thirteen year old Francis, an abductee and soldier who she meets at the talks and later a the LRA camp, is both moving and disturbing. Through Francis, Tessa learns about the shocking violence that Francis endured and participated in, and gets a far more in-depth awareness of PTSD than she ever wanted. Though the plot develops around Tessa’s kidnapping, The Wolf Hour covers a lot of other ground, exploring the family dynamics between Tessa, Stephen, Leigh and Neil, and the broader, but paralleled relationship between Uganda and those who continue to profit from war and the pain it creates.
As parents, Leigh and Neil are credible and rational, and Leigh’s narrative in particular is compelling as she begins to suspect that her intrepid, high-achieving children are not quite as they appear. As the antagonist, Stephen is the least appealing character, with an icy, slightly exaggerated greed that is unfortunately familiar. However, he makes it clear to Tessa that there is no such thing as unfettered innocence, and that we are all, in some way, connected, and culpable:
The Wolf Hour is a powerful and subtle novel that raises big questions and doesn’t shirk from depicting the ugliest aspect of the Ugandan Civil War, including its impact on the people of central Africa, especially the children, nor does the book shirk from exploring the way in which Neocolonialism feeds and supports these wars. Myles’ depiction of Uganda is well-researched and engrossing. The Wolf Hour is an important work of fiction that continues to be timely, thought-provoking, engaging and impactful.
The boy’s father nodded and Oraako sat down on the branch-swept earth. Placing the bowl at his son’s feet, the man dipped his gnarled hand into it and sprinkled water on Oraako’s wounded foot, then took the chicken from his wife and with one deft spin broke its neck. Tessa watched. She would record the details later, noting the way the boy’s father laid the bird on the ground, how he used the panga to leave it in two, then wiped its blood and faeces onto Oraako’s hands and infected foot. (3)
The story progresses at a rapid pace, driven forward by the unfolding danger of Tessa’s position, her growing sense of the blindness and protections her privilege and easy upbringing in Melbourne has afforded her, the sense of helplessness felt by Tessa’s parents, Leigh, a (medical) doctor and Neil, a documentary maker, and her brother Stephen, a “businessman” living in Cape Town. When Neil and Leigh are notified of Tessa’s abduction, they call upon Stephen to help rescue Tessa. As Tessa’s dangerous situation plays out, Stephen’s nefarious and covert business dealings begin to unfold, unhinging the relationship between Leigh and Neil and forcing them to question their own beliefs.
Myles builds the story in alternating chapters that explore the parents growing awareness of their adult childrens’ activities, as well as Stephen’s perspective - one that highlights the privileged upbringing that Tessa and Stephen had, but also opens a range of questions about the interconnectedness of the events that unfold. Throughout the novel, Myles’ writing is exquisite, walking a careful line between the psychological introspectiveness of her characters, and the unfolding events of the Ugandan Civil War and its impact on the lives of people living there. Tessa’s observations in particular are poetic and careful, illuminating Africa’s beauty against her own frailty:
A steady rain began to fall, producing the faint arc of an opaque moonbow. It shone iridescent, if diluted, but when the moon went behind a cloud its extraordinary beauty was lost and the night became a vast black ocean. They found a sheltered place and stopped to rest, drinking rainwater from the waxy drip-tips of broad leaves and waiting for what had become a downpour to ease. (225)
The link between Tessa and thirteen year old Francis, an abductee and soldier who she meets at the talks and later a the LRA camp, is both moving and disturbing. Through Francis, Tessa learns about the shocking violence that Francis endured and participated in, and gets a far more in-depth awareness of PTSD than she ever wanted. Though the plot develops around Tessa’s kidnapping, The Wolf Hour covers a lot of other ground, exploring the family dynamics between Tessa, Stephen, Leigh and Neil, and the broader, but paralleled relationship between Uganda and those who continue to profit from war and the pain it creates.
As parents, Leigh and Neil are credible and rational, and Leigh’s narrative in particular is compelling as she begins to suspect that her intrepid, high-achieving children are not quite as they appear. As the antagonist, Stephen is the least appealing character, with an icy, slightly exaggerated greed that is unfortunately familiar. However, he makes it clear to Tessa that there is no such thing as unfettered innocence, and that we are all, in some way, connected, and culpable:
she had come all this way only for Stephen to show her what she most feared about herself, and there was a flicker in his eye that told her he understood: You’re the problem; you should think more about yourself before judging me. (252)
The Wolf Hour is a powerful and subtle novel that raises big questions and doesn’t shirk from depicting the ugliest aspect of the Ugandan Civil War, including its impact on the people of central Africa, especially the children, nor does the book shirk from exploring the way in which Neocolonialism feeds and supports these wars. Myles’ depiction of Uganda is well-researched and engrossing. The Wolf Hour is an important work of fiction that continues to be timely, thought-provoking, engaging and impactful.
October 11, 2018
Delving into family politics, neocolonialism, civil war and forgiveness, The Wolf Hour has no interest in patronising its readers with tidy solutions. The novel is diligently researched and breathtakingly descriptive, yet packs a punch rarely seen in contemporary literary fiction.
The Wolf Hour moves quickly and raises fundamental human questions which play out on a global political scale and at the heart of one family; making it hard to put down while reading and impossible to forget once it’s back on the shelf.
The Wolf Hour moves quickly and raises fundamental human questions which play out on a global political scale and at the heart of one family; making it hard to put down while reading and impossible to forget once it’s back on the shelf.
October 16, 2018
The Wolf Hour is Sarah Myles’ second novel. I read and admired Transplanted (2002) not long after it was released so I retrieved my reading journal – and yes, there are some common themes with this latest book.
Myles is interested in the dark side of human nature, and how society contributes to violence. What I wasn’t expecting in The Wolf Hour was the way tolerant liberal parenting was exposed as flawed and irresponsible.
The story begins in Uganda where 30-year-old Tessa Lowell is researching the effects of PTSD on child soldiers rescued from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). She’s an idealist, who wants to make a difference, but her naïve enthusiasm for being at the coal face of peace talks with the LRA leader Joseph Kony is disastrous. She gets abducted while others in the delegation are injured trying to protect her.
Back in Melbourne, her mother Leigh was worrying even before the ominous silence from Uganda, and there are small fissures in an otherwise loving relationship with her husband Neil. When they are told about the abduction by Dominic, a former child soldier now working for reconciliation and restorative justice, they turn to Tessa’s brother Stephen, who is living and working in some unspecified business in South Africa.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/10/16/t...
Myles is interested in the dark side of human nature, and how society contributes to violence. What I wasn’t expecting in The Wolf Hour was the way tolerant liberal parenting was exposed as flawed and irresponsible.
The story begins in Uganda where 30-year-old Tessa Lowell is researching the effects of PTSD on child soldiers rescued from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). She’s an idealist, who wants to make a difference, but her naïve enthusiasm for being at the coal face of peace talks with the LRA leader Joseph Kony is disastrous. She gets abducted while others in the delegation are injured trying to protect her.
Back in Melbourne, her mother Leigh was worrying even before the ominous silence from Uganda, and there are small fissures in an otherwise loving relationship with her husband Neil. When they are told about the abduction by Dominic, a former child soldier now working for reconciliation and restorative justice, they turn to Tessa’s brother Stephen, who is living and working in some unspecified business in South Africa.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/10/16/t...
February 12, 2019
The Wolf Hour is set in Africa and Australia. Tessa has a PhD in Psychology and is in Uganda researching the rehabilitation of children who are suffering from PTSD. All of the children and young adults had been abducted from their villages and compelled to fight in armies sometimes against their own villagers before being rescued and assisted to reconnect with their remaining relatives. Tessa’s brother, Stephen operates a business in Cape Town and had cautioned Tessa when they caught up before she went north. Their parents now live in Melbourne, their father is a retired award-winning wildlife photographer and their mother is a medical practitioner.
When Tessa insists on accompanying her African colleague and a group of international delegates into the wild to attempt a peaceful agreement with Kony the rebel leader, the story suddenly picks up the pace. The inevitable happens when Tessa herself is abducted and is taken to a hidden settlement run by Kony supporters. Despite some injuries the rest of the group gets out and raises the alarm about Tessa’s capture.
From this point forward, the story becomes more interesting, convoluted and philosophical as the attitudes of the siblings and their parents is slowly deliberated. Family dynamics, changing parenting attitudes and behaviours, familial obligations and demands, plus unfailing expectations increase the tensions between the family members when Tessa’s rescue remains imperative.
This is an interesting mystery thriller which throws in many thought-provoking rhetorical questions in areas where there are no right or wrong answers, especially about parenting in general and resolving difficulties in developing countries. It is an stimulating page-turner that kept me reading to the end.
When Tessa insists on accompanying her African colleague and a group of international delegates into the wild to attempt a peaceful agreement with Kony the rebel leader, the story suddenly picks up the pace. The inevitable happens when Tessa herself is abducted and is taken to a hidden settlement run by Kony supporters. Despite some injuries the rest of the group gets out and raises the alarm about Tessa’s capture.
From this point forward, the story becomes more interesting, convoluted and philosophical as the attitudes of the siblings and their parents is slowly deliberated. Family dynamics, changing parenting attitudes and behaviours, familial obligations and demands, plus unfailing expectations increase the tensions between the family members when Tessa’s rescue remains imperative.
This is an interesting mystery thriller which throws in many thought-provoking rhetorical questions in areas where there are no right or wrong answers, especially about parenting in general and resolving difficulties in developing countries. It is an stimulating page-turner that kept me reading to the end.
December 31, 2018
I received The Wolf Hour by Sarah Myles from Beauty and Lace Book Club to read and do an honest Review.
The Wolf Hour by Sarah Myles is a captivating read.
War torn Uganda is not a place for the lighthearted
and this book delves into the brutal lifestyle
and what lengths Ugandans go to to survive.
It has been widely reported in the Media
about the child soldiers that fight in African Rebel Forces
and we follow Tessa, an Australian
who is in Uganda working with these children
and studying PTSD on them.
Tessa gets caught up in the Peace Talks
and ends up being abducted when she is mistaken
for a medical doctor.
She is exposed to unimaginable horrors.
Her parents are in Australia
and are dealing with their own problems
and when they are notified of Tessa's kidnapping,
they contact their son Stephen who is in Cape Town
and ask him to find his sister.
We follow the rescue attempt
and the far reaching ripple effect of this.
Myles has written beautifully
with a sound knowledge of war torn Africa.
I did feel the ending was a bit flat a
and left open, hopefully for a sequel,
but quite a fascinating read overall.
http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
The Wolf Hour by Sarah Myles is a captivating read.
War torn Uganda is not a place for the lighthearted
and this book delves into the brutal lifestyle
and what lengths Ugandans go to to survive.
It has been widely reported in the Media
about the child soldiers that fight in African Rebel Forces
and we follow Tessa, an Australian
who is in Uganda working with these children
and studying PTSD on them.
Tessa gets caught up in the Peace Talks
and ends up being abducted when she is mistaken
for a medical doctor.
She is exposed to unimaginable horrors.
Her parents are in Australia
and are dealing with their own problems
and when they are notified of Tessa's kidnapping,
they contact their son Stephen who is in Cape Town
and ask him to find his sister.
We follow the rescue attempt
and the far reaching ripple effect of this.
Myles has written beautifully
with a sound knowledge of war torn Africa.
I did feel the ending was a bit flat a
and left open, hopefully for a sequel,
but quite a fascinating read overall.
http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
Read
November 20, 2018The Wolf Hour by Sarah Myles was a book I normally wouldn’t pick up, but because it was by an Aussie author and Aussie characters it made me interested. I really enjoyed this read, it’s about a lady called Tessa with a PhD in psychology who goes to Africa to write a paper on the young children who are made to be soldiers and about their rehabilitation. What’s happened to these young kids has shocked Tessa and she wants to help them, but some can’t be.
Something goes wrong and Tessa is abducted, will she survive?
This incident shows Tessa what she is really capable of and to what lengths she must go to, to survive.
A tale of families, betrayal and what it’s really like to be in the dangerous lands of Africa.
#beautyandlaceonline#
#AllenandUnwinBooks#
#beautyandlacebooks#
#sarahmylesauthor#
#thewolfhour#
Something goes wrong and Tessa is abducted, will she survive?
This incident shows Tessa what she is really capable of and to what lengths she must go to, to survive.
A tale of families, betrayal and what it’s really like to be in the dangerous lands of Africa.
#beautyandlaceonline#
#AllenandUnwinBooks#
#beautyandlacebooks#
#sarahmylesauthor#
#thewolfhour#
April 7, 2019
I loved the descriptive and emotive language throughout this novel, it created a rich visualisation of the setting, characters, and themes. Myles explored some pretty heavy topics well, giving a good insight into the reality of civil conflict and child soldiers. Whilst I'm not informed enough to comment on the accuracy of the setting, I thought she did a great job of delving into the psyche of child soldiers. I found this element of the story more captivating than the actual plot and probably would have appreciated this side of things along with the parallels between the protagonist's life in Australia and Uganda to have been explored a little more. The ending felt a little abrupt - like there was still more of the story to tell when I reached the final page.
December 20, 2018
My view of this book is Meh, really I just wasn't impressed, the writing was average the plot was average.. I definitely didn't find it even slightly gripping, I did the thing where I read to the end as I don't like to leave a book half way through and thinking it may get better... it didn't. Debating between two and one star really. I'm really not sure on what basis this book gets good reviews to be honest, it's definitely not good literature.
January 4, 2019
Not the story line I would normally read, but took a punt on a new Australian author for me. It paid off..big time! I really loved this book. While reading it I could see the characters playing out the story in my mind, like a movie. Will definitely be watching out for more by Sarah Myles. Would love to see it come onto the screen too.
February 10, 2019
I loved this book. The characters are well written and I felt I wanted to know more about them, I cared what happened. There is obviously an enourmous amount of personal experience and research that has gone into the writing and it's evident in the believability of the characters and situations. A sequel would be well recieved.
January 1, 2025
Weaves together the personal and the political. The Wolf Hour is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged story that sheds light on the complexities of war and the consequences of our actions. Kept me guessing until the very end and left me haunted by the ethical questions it raises. A captivating and morally complex work that lingers in the mind long after reading.
November 21, 2018
"The Wolf Hour" by Sarah Myles is quite the deep novel. Based on the troubles within Uganda and the Congo and the fights between the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army), and the government and the implication of that on the Acholi people of northern Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Tessa, an Australian psychology graduate (with PhD), is over in Uganda to research the psychology of the child soldiers rescued from the resistance and the PTSD these children suffer. She works hard to find ways to help these children, to integrate them back into their society and families, while acknowledging the tribal requirements and processes that need be undertaken.
To enhance her understanding of the war at hand, Tessa requests, begs and bullies her way onto a delegation travelling into the African bush to try to reach a peace treaty. The rebel leader turns them away, siting he will not give in to the western world and his army and their war is the only way to give Africa back to its people. Returning to Uganda, the delegation is attacked, still within the LRA territory in the Congo, and Tessa is abducted. She sees first hand the treatment of these children as a part of the war efforts, makes a connection with a 13-ish year old soldier Francis, hoping he can help her escape this tragic situation.
With despair and anguish, Tessa's parents want their daughter back, fracturing their once perfect relationship. They beg assistance from their son Stephen, who lives and works in South Africa. But Stephen see this as an opportunity. He works in the weapons industry and a connection within the LRA may be just the way to expand his connections and trade. He takes on the task for her rescue with that in mind.
While the rescue successful, getting both Tessa and Francis out, with the help of Francis's bush skills to get Stephen, Tessa and himself out without being caught by the LRA.
The ending to the story was a little lacking, I felt it left more questions than answers and perhaps an open door for what I hope will be a second novel. Otherwise I felt for the story, the participants and gained an understanding of what has happened to these people. Touching and deep story. Not a bad read all up.
Tessa, an Australian psychology graduate (with PhD), is over in Uganda to research the psychology of the child soldiers rescued from the resistance and the PTSD these children suffer. She works hard to find ways to help these children, to integrate them back into their society and families, while acknowledging the tribal requirements and processes that need be undertaken.
To enhance her understanding of the war at hand, Tessa requests, begs and bullies her way onto a delegation travelling into the African bush to try to reach a peace treaty. The rebel leader turns them away, siting he will not give in to the western world and his army and their war is the only way to give Africa back to its people. Returning to Uganda, the delegation is attacked, still within the LRA territory in the Congo, and Tessa is abducted. She sees first hand the treatment of these children as a part of the war efforts, makes a connection with a 13-ish year old soldier Francis, hoping he can help her escape this tragic situation.
With despair and anguish, Tessa's parents want their daughter back, fracturing their once perfect relationship. They beg assistance from their son Stephen, who lives and works in South Africa. But Stephen see this as an opportunity. He works in the weapons industry and a connection within the LRA may be just the way to expand his connections and trade. He takes on the task for her rescue with that in mind.
While the rescue successful, getting both Tessa and Francis out, with the help of Francis's bush skills to get Stephen, Tessa and himself out without being caught by the LRA.
The ending to the story was a little lacking, I felt it left more questions than answers and perhaps an open door for what I hope will be a second novel. Otherwise I felt for the story, the participants and gained an understanding of what has happened to these people. Touching and deep story. Not a bad read all up.
October 12, 2018
The Wolf Hour by Sarah Myles
Thirty year old Tessa Lowell is captured by a group of rebels in the African Bush and this sets off a chain of events when her parents in Australia are notified of her disappearance .
Tourists visiting Africa are warned of the dangers of travelling in remote areas but Tessa is a doctor of psychology who has been working in Uganda to research the effects of PTSD and war on child soldiers. She joined a delegation travelling across the Congolese border, for peace talks with Joseph Kony leader f the Lord’s Resistance Army. After the peace talks stall Tessa is captured during the night and taken back to the rebels camp to try to save a man’s life.
The author moves the story along at a fast clip and takes the reader back and forth between Australia and Africa as Tessa parents try to work out how to rescue their daughter . There is a lot of detail and history in the text, Myles has obviously done a great deal of research about the African civil wars, and this has made for a fascinating if at time harrowing read. There is bloodshed, killing and other atrocities but like many thrillers this all adds to the narrative which kept me turning pages right to the end. The characters are skillfully crafted and woven into the book which is as much about family relationships and modern day issues as it is with crime .
I liked the style of writing particularly when Myles related the feelings Leigh, Tessa’s mother, was experiencing with the horrific news while at the same time coping with the menopause. “Leigh woke to the full force of her body’s radiating heat…..She had dreamt in colour. Vivid ,in the way dreams had blared when she was young..”
I am hoping there is to be a sequel to The Wolf Hour as the ending has left me pondering , an interesting finish but not a real conclusion, there could be more to this African story to come???
Thank you Allen & Unwin for a copy of the book
Thirty year old Tessa Lowell is captured by a group of rebels in the African Bush and this sets off a chain of events when her parents in Australia are notified of her disappearance .
Tourists visiting Africa are warned of the dangers of travelling in remote areas but Tessa is a doctor of psychology who has been working in Uganda to research the effects of PTSD and war on child soldiers. She joined a delegation travelling across the Congolese border, for peace talks with Joseph Kony leader f the Lord’s Resistance Army. After the peace talks stall Tessa is captured during the night and taken back to the rebels camp to try to save a man’s life.
The author moves the story along at a fast clip and takes the reader back and forth between Australia and Africa as Tessa parents try to work out how to rescue their daughter . There is a lot of detail and history in the text, Myles has obviously done a great deal of research about the African civil wars, and this has made for a fascinating if at time harrowing read. There is bloodshed, killing and other atrocities but like many thrillers this all adds to the narrative which kept me turning pages right to the end. The characters are skillfully crafted and woven into the book which is as much about family relationships and modern day issues as it is with crime .
I liked the style of writing particularly when Myles related the feelings Leigh, Tessa’s mother, was experiencing with the horrific news while at the same time coping with the menopause. “Leigh woke to the full force of her body’s radiating heat…..She had dreamt in colour. Vivid ,in the way dreams had blared when she was young..”
I am hoping there is to be a sequel to The Wolf Hour as the ending has left me pondering , an interesting finish but not a real conclusion, there could be more to this African story to come???
Thank you Allen & Unwin for a copy of the book
December 8, 2018
The Wolf Hour is a solid 3.5 ⭐️'s
Reading the blurb/ reviews on this book I went in with high expectations that really weren't met, I think if I was a 40year + mum I would have liked it a lot more and understood the whole family undertone this book is centered on, but as it is I don't have any kids of my own I couldn't relate to some of the main characters.
Other characters like Dominic, Tessa and Steven are very 2 dimensional. I think the way the story is written doesn't show an in depth view of the personality of these characters which is a real shame. That being said this book did make me stop and think about my own potential response in the situation Tessa finds her self in the LRA rebel camp.
This story ends on a bit of a cliff hangar which opens it up for a second book that I probably wouldn't bother reading. That being said it was defiantly a good read and I'm glad I picked it up. :)
Reading the blurb/ reviews on this book I went in with high expectations that really weren't met, I think if I was a 40year + mum I would have liked it a lot more and understood the whole family undertone this book is centered on, but as it is I don't have any kids of my own I couldn't relate to some of the main characters.
Other characters like Dominic, Tessa and Steven are very 2 dimensional. I think the way the story is written doesn't show an in depth view of the personality of these characters which is a real shame. That being said this book did make me stop and think about my own potential response in the situation Tessa finds her self in the LRA rebel camp.
This story ends on a bit of a cliff hangar which opens it up for a second book that I probably wouldn't bother reading. That being said it was defiantly a good read and I'm glad I picked it up. :)
October 2, 2018
I love a good thriller, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s gripping, suspenseful and refreshingly unique. The plot is fantastic and it touches on some big political issues: child soldiers, genocide, corruption and the illegal arms trade to name a few. Myles’ portrayal of the plight of the child soldiers and their allegiance to their leader, Joseph Kony, is very believable.
Tessa, Stephen and their parents, Leigh and Neil, have a strained relationship and the tensions escalate as the story progresses. I liked the insight into the parents lives and their thoughts and feelings, however I would have liked to have heard a bit more of Stephen’s story as I thought he was a tad underused. Overall though, I really enjoyed this one and I think it would make a great movie!
DISCLAIMER: I won an advance copy of this book from Allen & Unwin. All thoughts and opinions are are my own.
Tessa, Stephen and their parents, Leigh and Neil, have a strained relationship and the tensions escalate as the story progresses. I liked the insight into the parents lives and their thoughts and feelings, however I would have liked to have heard a bit more of Stephen’s story as I thought he was a tad underused. Overall though, I really enjoyed this one and I think it would make a great movie!
DISCLAIMER: I won an advance copy of this book from Allen & Unwin. All thoughts and opinions are are my own.
November 20, 2018
This is an extraordinary tale of brother and sister Stephen and Tessa Lowell. Born in Australia, they have grown up with a father who filmed documentaries on the wildlife and natural wonders of Africa. As adults, Stephen has helped a long time friend build their family business and enjoys the ease of skirting the law and bending the rules in Africa. Tessa is studying for a PhD in Psychology and is based in Uganda, learning of the affects of warfare on Africa’s child soldiers.
When Tessa accompanies colleagues to a meeting with Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony, the camp is ambushed and Tessa kidnapped. What unfolds is a terrifying and very unsettling chain of events that sees Tessa pushed to the limits of her ability to survive and makes Stephen accountable of his own involvement in the saga.
A compelling read, well researched and written.
Thank you Sarah Myles, Allen and Unwin, and Beauty and Lace Book Club for the opportunity to read this book.
When Tessa accompanies colleagues to a meeting with Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony, the camp is ambushed and Tessa kidnapped. What unfolds is a terrifying and very unsettling chain of events that sees Tessa pushed to the limits of her ability to survive and makes Stephen accountable of his own involvement in the saga.
A compelling read, well researched and written.
Thank you Sarah Myles, Allen and Unwin, and Beauty and Lace Book Club for the opportunity to read this book.
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