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Луната на върколака
Cast out of County Cork, Ireland, years before, the clan of the Howler--a pack of werewolves--has moved its hunting grounds to the United States, where it preserves its traditional diet of human flesh in Old Hickory, Tennessee
- GenresHorrorWerewolvesFiction
432 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1991
About the author
Ronald Kelly
106 books416 followersRonald Kelly was born and raised in the hills and hollows of Middle Tennessee. He became interested in horror as a child, watching the local "Creature Feature" on Saturday nights and "The Big Show"---a Nashville-based TV show that presented every old monster movie ever made ---in the afternoons after school. In high school, his interest turned to horror literature and he read such writers as Poe, Lovecraft, Matheson, and King. He originally had dreams of becoming a comic book artist and created many of his own superheroes. But during his junior year, the writing bug bit him and he focused his attention on penning short stories and full-length novels. To date, he has had thirteen novels and twelve short fiction collections published. In 2021, his extreme horror collection, THE ESSENTIAL SICK STUFF, won a Splatterpunk Award for Best Collection.
He currently lives in Brush Creek, Tennessee with his wife, young'uns, and an ultra-hyper Jack Russel named Toby.
He currently lives in Brush Creek, Tennessee with his wife, young'uns, and an ultra-hyper Jack Russel named Toby.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 8, 2020
There are two basic types of werewolf novels: those where the main character is (knowingly or unknowingly) a werewolf; and those where the werewolf is the antagonist. This is one of the latter, only it's a whole family of werewolves that move into the small town of Old Hickory, Tennessee (as the new town undertakers), and it's just a matter of time before the bodies start piling up. Two high schoolers, a gun dealer, and an ancient drifter are the only ones who've figured out the truth, and must band together to defeat them. And of course no one else in town believes their whole "werewolf" story.
This was quite possibly the best werewolf novel I've ever read, though I haven't read an enormous amount of them due to rarely having much luck with them. But this was just pure cheesy goodness, and now Ronald Kelly's status has been elevated from "solid midlister whose stuff I'll buy if I come across" to "must get everything" in my eyes. It won't be for everyone, certainly, but if you're the type who digs trope-filled 80s/90s small town horror where the jock and the nerd must join forces, doing research projects on old Irish werewolf folklore and making silver bullets while meeting hobos with secret werewolf knowledge, then it most likely will be.
It was slightly padded in places and the plot is pretty standard, but the well-drawn characters and Kelly's southern/folksy writing-style were more than enough to make up for that. It's more fun than scary, though it does have its share of chilling moments. Anyone who, like me, has pretty much given up on ever finding a decent werewolf novel* should give this one a go. Sure, the book is stocked with cliches and there's not a whole lot that's original, but it's a blast if you go for pulpy B movie-style horror.
(This book was reissued as Undertaker's Moon by Thunderstorm Press in 2011.)
4.5 Stars.
* Lee Hawks' Night, Winter & Death (1991) and The Prey (1977) by Robert Arthur Smith are two of the better ones I've read, though The Prey isn't really a traditional "werewolf novel," more of a historical adventure with werewolves. Outside of full-length novels, the best and most disconcerting piece of werewolf fiction I've experienced is Clemence Housman's 1896 novella, "The Were-Wolf," which I read in Alden H. Norton's excellent Masters of Horror antho.
This was quite possibly the best werewolf novel I've ever read, though I haven't read an enormous amount of them due to rarely having much luck with them. But this was just pure cheesy goodness, and now Ronald Kelly's status has been elevated from "solid midlister whose stuff I'll buy if I come across" to "must get everything" in my eyes. It won't be for everyone, certainly, but if you're the type who digs trope-filled 80s/90s small town horror where the jock and the nerd must join forces, doing research projects on old Irish werewolf folklore and making silver bullets while meeting hobos with secret werewolf knowledge, then it most likely will be.
It was slightly padded in places and the plot is pretty standard, but the well-drawn characters and Kelly's southern/folksy writing-style were more than enough to make up for that. It's more fun than scary, though it does have its share of chilling moments. Anyone who, like me, has pretty much given up on ever finding a decent werewolf novel* should give this one a go. Sure, the book is stocked with cliches and there's not a whole lot that's original, but it's a blast if you go for pulpy B movie-style horror.
(This book was reissued as Undertaker's Moon by Thunderstorm Press in 2011.)
4.5 Stars.
* Lee Hawks' Night, Winter & Death (1991) and The Prey (1977) by Robert Arthur Smith are two of the better ones I've read, though The Prey isn't really a traditional "werewolf novel," more of a historical adventure with werewolves. Outside of full-length novels, the best and most disconcerting piece of werewolf fiction I've experienced is Clemence Housman's 1896 novella, "The Were-Wolf," which I read in Alden H. Norton's excellent Masters of Horror antho.
July 11, 2014
Things get hairy in the hills and hollows of Tennessee in this entertaining novel, an old school tale of lunar lunacy that goes down like a mason jar of moonshine with an Irish whiskey chaser. Ronald Kelly is a major talent, imbuing his tale with a wonderful sense of place. "Down home" horror, done right.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
August 11, 2022
Готина книга за върколаци, хареса ми доста!
September 7, 2018
Четох книгата в едно окаяно, опърпано издание, преминало през няколко ръце и гнило в поне три различни кашона. Това й състояние някак допълни колорита на четивото, което - без да е запомнящо се или оригинално - изчетох бързо и с интерес.
Общо взето едно от любопитните слабовато известни у нас хорърчета.
Общо взето едно от любопитните слабовато известни у нас хорърчета.
February 25, 2014
Ronald Kelly is a treat to read. Like many writers, he infuses his stories with the atmosphere of his time and place, which, in his case, happens to be the South. It lends his works an authenticity that enhances their appeal.
For werewolf fans, MOON OF THE WEREWOLF is a feast of pure joy. A family of werebeasts have hit on a novel way to satisfy their cravings for flesh. Their secret has enabled them to survive undetected in the modern world. But then a rebel arises in their midst and unleashes a gorefest of sheer savagery, forcing an unlikely hero to try and save himself and those he cares for.
If you're a werewolf nut like me, you're always on the lookout for something new, something different, a take on the tale that keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can read. MOON OF THE WEREWOLF does that, and more.
For werewolf fans, MOON OF THE WEREWOLF is a feast of pure joy. A family of werebeasts have hit on a novel way to satisfy their cravings for flesh. Their secret has enabled them to survive undetected in the modern world. But then a rebel arises in their midst and unleashes a gorefest of sheer savagery, forcing an unlikely hero to try and save himself and those he cares for.
If you're a werewolf nut like me, you're always on the lookout for something new, something different, a take on the tale that keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can read. MOON OF THE WEREWOLF does that, and more.
July 5, 2013
I just finished the rereleased kindle edition of the novel known as "Undertaker's Moon". This book is by far one of my favorite werewolf novels out, as the story line and premise are completely unique and original. It contains plenty of eerie horror, past paced action, and even a bit a shy teenage romance. Their is an epic rivalry presented that caught me off guard but made for an amazing plot line. This novel is not just for werewolf and horror buffs, it is one that can be enjoyed by all readers and I highly recommend it.
October 17, 2017
4.0 Solid read. Well written, fun story, easy to follow and overall enjoyable. Only knock is that it is a bit predictable. That and the ending was goofy. I did like that it seemed a bit more realistic than some other books (when it comes to hunting werewolves).
March 19, 2012
I read the recent e-book release, under the title, Undertaker's Moon, courtesy of http://store.crossroadpress.com/
When I downloaded this novel from Crossroads Press, I had no idea it was originally published over twenty years ago as a Zebra mass market paperback. So, what I thought was a new release was really a blast from the past, with a brand new editing job and a fresh coat of paint. Which raises the question: how does a twenty-year-old werewolf novel hold up over time?
Most werewolves in fiction these days tend to be like the ones in Twilight, the type that change into actual wolves, but you don't see a whole lot of wolfmen. Well, Ronald Kelly wrote a book that seems much more influenced by Universal Studios than the usual fare these days. Kelly's werewolves are a bit different, both in their Irish heritage and their ferocity. This book feels firmly set in the time in which it was written, which was the late 80s, chock full of archetype characters (i.e., the arrogant jock and the mysterious drifter) and over-the-top violence.
Set in Tennessee, the small town of Old Hickory has inherited a new undertaker after their old one died. The new proprietor is part of a family of five originally from Ireland, though they've spent several years in America working as undertakers. The O' Shea's, led by the eldest Crom McManus, seem normal enough at first, but suspicions grow among a select few of the residents when strange and gruesome deaths start taking place around Old Hickory. Most are unassuming, as the O' Shea's have a certain level of charm and disarming eccentricities. They're Irish after all, perfectly normal ... as long as you don't notice their bursts of feral strength, shimmering predatory eyes--and don't forget the excessive body hair at times.
When one of the local teen boys, Brian Reece, a chubby introvert with an affinity for horror movies, winds up the object of affection for the young Rosie O' Shea, he also finds a new confidence in himself--and the ire of her big brother, Devon. Devon, meanwhile, has grown weary of the traditional werewolf ways as dictated by McManus, which has the family feasting on dead flesh rather than living humans so as to avoid detection. Devon wants fresh meat and figures he can add it as one more vice to quite a list. The story plays out with readers getting a view from both the good guys and bad guys, which isn't so clear cut as the story progresses. The O' Shea's aren't a band of mustache-twirling, two-dimensional villains, as the family dynamic and how they came to be werewolves is very well laid out and helps create a lot of sympathy for them. Though, Devon is clearly an unlikable cad and almost seems to be malicious for the sake of being malicious. And as for the heroes, I was just happy to see a chubby guy get a leading role for a change.
The book feels drawn-out in spots and felt less like a cinematic spinetingler and more like a made-for-TV schlockfest at times. There are a lot of entertaining and harrowing moments though, and the interest level always rebounded when the focus honed in on the conflict between Brian's small band of heroes and their lycanthropic adversaries.. The werewolves when they appear are gruesomely depicted and Kelly does a lot to give their existence and their behavior substance in a real world setting. The idea of surviving and laying low by feeding on the recently deceased struck me as particularly inventive. And some of the secondary characters that pop up, and some who pop out, were added treats to this literary popcorn fare.
A masterpiece this is not, but werewolf fans ought to enjoy it, and anyone with an affinity for those horror movies of the 80s and pulpy paperbacks of the same era, could find a weekend of entertainment in this book's pages too. It even includes a brief novella that acts as a prequel of sorts, though reading it first risks spoiling some of the developments in the novel, as forewarned by Kelly in his afterword.
When I downloaded this novel from Crossroads Press, I had no idea it was originally published over twenty years ago as a Zebra mass market paperback. So, what I thought was a new release was really a blast from the past, with a brand new editing job and a fresh coat of paint. Which raises the question: how does a twenty-year-old werewolf novel hold up over time?
Most werewolves in fiction these days tend to be like the ones in Twilight, the type that change into actual wolves, but you don't see a whole lot of wolfmen. Well, Ronald Kelly wrote a book that seems much more influenced by Universal Studios than the usual fare these days. Kelly's werewolves are a bit different, both in their Irish heritage and their ferocity. This book feels firmly set in the time in which it was written, which was the late 80s, chock full of archetype characters (i.e., the arrogant jock and the mysterious drifter) and over-the-top violence.
Set in Tennessee, the small town of Old Hickory has inherited a new undertaker after their old one died. The new proprietor is part of a family of five originally from Ireland, though they've spent several years in America working as undertakers. The O' Shea's, led by the eldest Crom McManus, seem normal enough at first, but suspicions grow among a select few of the residents when strange and gruesome deaths start taking place around Old Hickory. Most are unassuming, as the O' Shea's have a certain level of charm and disarming eccentricities. They're Irish after all, perfectly normal ... as long as you don't notice their bursts of feral strength, shimmering predatory eyes--and don't forget the excessive body hair at times.
When one of the local teen boys, Brian Reece, a chubby introvert with an affinity for horror movies, winds up the object of affection for the young Rosie O' Shea, he also finds a new confidence in himself--and the ire of her big brother, Devon. Devon, meanwhile, has grown weary of the traditional werewolf ways as dictated by McManus, which has the family feasting on dead flesh rather than living humans so as to avoid detection. Devon wants fresh meat and figures he can add it as one more vice to quite a list. The story plays out with readers getting a view from both the good guys and bad guys, which isn't so clear cut as the story progresses. The O' Shea's aren't a band of mustache-twirling, two-dimensional villains, as the family dynamic and how they came to be werewolves is very well laid out and helps create a lot of sympathy for them. Though, Devon is clearly an unlikable cad and almost seems to be malicious for the sake of being malicious. And as for the heroes, I was just happy to see a chubby guy get a leading role for a change.
The book feels drawn-out in spots and felt less like a cinematic spinetingler and more like a made-for-TV schlockfest at times. There are a lot of entertaining and harrowing moments though, and the interest level always rebounded when the focus honed in on the conflict between Brian's small band of heroes and their lycanthropic adversaries.. The werewolves when they appear are gruesomely depicted and Kelly does a lot to give their existence and their behavior substance in a real world setting. The idea of surviving and laying low by feeding on the recently deceased struck me as particularly inventive. And some of the secondary characters that pop up, and some who pop out, were added treats to this literary popcorn fare.
A masterpiece this is not, but werewolf fans ought to enjoy it, and anyone with an affinity for those horror movies of the 80s and pulpy paperbacks of the same era, could find a weekend of entertainment in this book's pages too. It even includes a brief novella that acts as a prequel of sorts, though reading it first risks spoiling some of the developments in the novel, as forewarned by Kelly in his afterword.
July 28, 2022
Review coming soon!
May 11, 2026
One of the great werewolf novels. Lots of fun
July 7, 2025
Pack werewolves. Minor alpha/beta stuff.
Irish werewolf morticians move to small town Tennessee and try to keep a low profile by only eating dead people. Neo-nazi teenage werewolf goes rogue, and only two unlikely teen allies with the help of a grieving, grizzled gunsmith and mysterious Irish vagabond can stop him.
Irish werewolf morticians move to small town Tennessee and try to keep a low profile by only eating dead people. Neo-nazi teenage werewolf goes rogue, and only two unlikely teen allies with the help of a grieving, grizzled gunsmith and mysterious Irish vagabond can stop him.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews