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The Wolf in the Woods
Colleen and Andrew haven't had sex in eleven weeks and three days [not that anyone's counting]. Their marriage is in crisis, they're drinking too much and both have secrets they're afraid to share. A teetotal week in a remote cottage could solve all their problems. But with the promised beach nowhere in sight, a broken-down car and a sinister landlord, they may not find it so easy to rekindle their romance. In this dark and funny novel, tensions build and tempers fray.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 5, 2021
I really enjoyed a short story book by the author. There was something different about the presentation and the characters within the chapters, and that had me curious about this book.
I should have looked at the blurb a little more cautiously because it does warn the readers about the content of the narrative. It is not a topic/angle that I am overly fond of. This is the story of a slightly older couple who have found themselves in a rut. With their children grown and moved out, one with children of her own, they are trying to find a balance.
They decide to take a dry holiday to find a new rhythm. This holiday happens to be at a house with an odd reputation. Things start unravelling even before they start off on their journey.
We are given a window into both their minds and all the things that make them different from each other. They are bound by years of togetherness, and that is not something that can easily be dismissed. It is not hard to figure out the main plotline behind the unexpected events since it is not really hidden by the author.
I am glad I saw the book all the way through, but it is not the kind of book I would recommend to anyone I know. It is heavy in its analysis and not altogether happy. The explanations are also not really enough, although the writing saved it for me. I liked the caricatures that the descriptions and the conversations threw up bring the people being talked about into startling focus. I would pick up another written by the author given a chance, but hopefully, it is of a slightly different type of tale.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and another work by the same author.
I should have looked at the blurb a little more cautiously because it does warn the readers about the content of the narrative. It is not a topic/angle that I am overly fond of. This is the story of a slightly older couple who have found themselves in a rut. With their children grown and moved out, one with children of her own, they are trying to find a balance.
They decide to take a dry holiday to find a new rhythm. This holiday happens to be at a house with an odd reputation. Things start unravelling even before they start off on their journey.
We are given a window into both their minds and all the things that make them different from each other. They are bound by years of togetherness, and that is not something that can easily be dismissed. It is not hard to figure out the main plotline behind the unexpected events since it is not really hidden by the author.
I am glad I saw the book all the way through, but it is not the kind of book I would recommend to anyone I know. It is heavy in its analysis and not altogether happy. The explanations are also not really enough, although the writing saved it for me. I liked the caricatures that the descriptions and the conversations threw up bring the people being talked about into startling focus. I would pick up another written by the author given a chance, but hopefully, it is of a slightly different type of tale.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and another work by the same author.
October 9, 2023
*Thanks to netgalley & the publishes for a free earc in exchange for an honest review*
This was a strange book.
I found the characters unlikable and selfish and felt a lot of their conflict could have been resolved if they had just had an honest conversation.
I did like their relationships with their kids and grandkids and how the differences in parenting styles change with time.
I did see some of the twist coming and honestly was getting very frustrated that the characters didn't.
This was a strange book.
I found the characters unlikable and selfish and felt a lot of their conflict could have been resolved if they had just had an honest conversation.
I did like their relationships with their kids and grandkids and how the differences in parenting styles change with time.
I did see some of the twist coming and honestly was getting very frustrated that the characters didn't.
September 4, 2021
The story opens in the middle of a relationship, the mindset of both husband and wife being pealed back for the reader via their own narratives. The separate bedrooms, the routines, the secrets, desires and the predictabilities. There are several tonal shifts as the reader begins to build a picture of who Colleen and Andrew are, whilst being set off-kilter by the man ‘sat at the window’ reminiscent of ‘Mr Punch’ or ‘those creepy horror-film clowns’. There’s the shop assistant who avoids conversation about ‘Red Barn Cottage’ and the person who’s ‘still at it then’. The reader becomes aware that maybe there’s more to this book than a narrative of a marriage at odds.
What follows is certainly a story of a long term relationship, but Brotzel adds suspense using the fairytale in the woods setting and the irony of the welcome pack from the cottage owners saying ‘we’re watching out for you’ and ‘Just knock on the big red door!’ It’s not long until we meet Wolf, who pops by with advice and seems to know a few details about the couple that he shouldn’t; then we meet Mrs Wolf, or Hildy and it’s even more uncomfortable with her inappropriate references to the young children and the glimpse of her ‘flogging her spouse’ with a ‘leather strap’.
There’s some great hooks throughout, particularly why Andrew failed Colleen ‘when it mattered most’, the backdrop of reading books about serial killers, Nazi references, dangers, alcoholism and desires.
This is an unusual and creative book about problems within a marriage set upon the backdrop on perceived menace; I enjoyed its outlandish style and the dark humour.
What follows is certainly a story of a long term relationship, but Brotzel adds suspense using the fairytale in the woods setting and the irony of the welcome pack from the cottage owners saying ‘we’re watching out for you’ and ‘Just knock on the big red door!’ It’s not long until we meet Wolf, who pops by with advice and seems to know a few details about the couple that he shouldn’t; then we meet Mrs Wolf, or Hildy and it’s even more uncomfortable with her inappropriate references to the young children and the glimpse of her ‘flogging her spouse’ with a ‘leather strap’.
There’s some great hooks throughout, particularly why Andrew failed Colleen ‘when it mattered most’, the backdrop of reading books about serial killers, Nazi references, dangers, alcoholism and desires.
This is an unusual and creative book about problems within a marriage set upon the backdrop on perceived menace; I enjoyed its outlandish style and the dark humour.
September 16, 2021
This is such a quirky book with eccentric storyline.
Colleen and Andrew's marriage is
stagnating, both are feeling misunderstood and they are drinking far too much. They've decided on a remote cottage holiday together, staying teetotal all week to, perhaps, try and get things back on track and resolve issues. The cottage appears to be in an idyllic setting but things don't appear to be quite as they thought they'd be.
The story is told over the course of the week, and from here on in the eerieness commences. The couple meet Mr Wolf, their landlord for the week. He seems friendly and amenable goes out of his way to make their stay comfortable telling the couple to 'just knock on the big red door' if they need anything and that they will always be looking out for them. The couple also meet Hildy, who Wolf introduces as Mrs Wolf. There is however a strangeness surrounding them both which as the reader you begin to suspect sinister motives.
As the story progresses the state of the couple's marriage is evident, laying bear irritations with each that can be found in a long term relationships. These differences are put to bed when the couple's grandchildren visit and the couple pull together. All the while being observed, unknown to them by Wolf and Hildy.
I didn't know where this book would lead me, but I was invested in all its suspenseful strangeness. I loved all the little hooks that drew the reader into thinking lots of sinister happenings were afoot. Complete with an ending in which left me wondering if perhaps they could be in a low key, dark way!
An unusual dark read which I really enjoyed.
Colleen and Andrew's marriage is
stagnating, both are feeling misunderstood and they are drinking far too much. They've decided on a remote cottage holiday together, staying teetotal all week to, perhaps, try and get things back on track and resolve issues. The cottage appears to be in an idyllic setting but things don't appear to be quite as they thought they'd be.
The story is told over the course of the week, and from here on in the eerieness commences. The couple meet Mr Wolf, their landlord for the week. He seems friendly and amenable goes out of his way to make their stay comfortable telling the couple to 'just knock on the big red door' if they need anything and that they will always be looking out for them. The couple also meet Hildy, who Wolf introduces as Mrs Wolf. There is however a strangeness surrounding them both which as the reader you begin to suspect sinister motives.
As the story progresses the state of the couple's marriage is evident, laying bear irritations with each that can be found in a long term relationships. These differences are put to bed when the couple's grandchildren visit and the couple pull together. All the while being observed, unknown to them by Wolf and Hildy.
I didn't know where this book would lead me, but I was invested in all its suspenseful strangeness. I loved all the little hooks that drew the reader into thinking lots of sinister happenings were afoot. Complete with an ending in which left me wondering if perhaps they could be in a low key, dark way!
An unusual dark read which I really enjoyed.
October 19, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. It’s funny and sad at the same time – I laughed out loud, cringed at times (because Wolf really is rather creepy), and even shed a tear or three at the end.
Colleen and Andrew’s marriage (20 years married but 27 years together) is a disaster, but will a week away in a remote cottage in the forest really help? Will their marriage survive the make-or-break getaway? You wonder whether they will both survive at all – and I mean literally.
Wolf (Wolfgang? Mr Wolf?) lives next door and owns the cottage they are staying in. He can’t do enough to help to the point of being intrusive. It’s nice to have a caring landlord, but he is always there, accompanied by his dog Jack, poking his nose in, inviting Colleen to spend time having a drink with ‘Mrs Wolf’. Not a good idea as Colleen and Andrew are trying to stay off the alcohol while they are away. Make a fresh start. Stay sober.
Wolf appears to know so much, doesn’t he. And Colleen and Andrew have some big secrets, one of which is about the drinking, but there are other things which each thinks the other doesn’t know about.
Brilliant!
Colleen and Andrew’s marriage (20 years married but 27 years together) is a disaster, but will a week away in a remote cottage in the forest really help? Will their marriage survive the make-or-break getaway? You wonder whether they will both survive at all – and I mean literally.
Wolf (Wolfgang? Mr Wolf?) lives next door and owns the cottage they are staying in. He can’t do enough to help to the point of being intrusive. It’s nice to have a caring landlord, but he is always there, accompanied by his dog Jack, poking his nose in, inviting Colleen to spend time having a drink with ‘Mrs Wolf’. Not a good idea as Colleen and Andrew are trying to stay off the alcohol while they are away. Make a fresh start. Stay sober.
Wolf appears to know so much, doesn’t he. And Colleen and Andrew have some big secrets, one of which is about the drinking, but there are other things which each thinks the other doesn’t know about.
Brilliant!
August 24, 2021
This was a lot of fun, and I was totally on board with the story (even though I had a problem placing the MCs, age-wise -- at first I thought they were a young-ish couple, then all of a sudden it turns out they have grown kids as well as grandchildren (yikes!), so I had them down as 60-somethings, which all things considered seemed a pretty good fit... and then around the 2/3 mark it is casually mentioned they're in their late 40s. WTF?!), looking forward to a cool finale to the mounting weirdness... and then there was that ending. I'm sorry, it's probably me, but I simply did not get it. At all.
(So what *was* the deal with Wolf? And Hildy? And the equipment? And the car? And Jack the dog? And Colleen's final change of heart, if that's even what it was? And the whole Ned business?)
Still, I was enjoying myself up to that point, and I'll definitely check out Mr Brotzel's other works (past & future). AND that cover was just delicious.
(So what *was* the deal with Wolf? And Hildy? And the equipment? And the car? And Jack the dog? And Colleen's final change of heart, if that's even what it was? And the whole Ned business?)
Still, I was enjoying myself up to that point, and I'll definitely check out Mr Brotzel's other works (past & future). AND that cover was just delicious.
August 31, 2021
This novel contains all the pleasures one associates with Dan Brotzel from his short story collection, Hotel du Jack – being both laugh-out-loud funny as well as deeply moving, this time with a side order of creepy and strange. All is not well in the marriage of Andrew and Colleen when they decide to take a week-long vacation in a cottage set in the deep, dark woods. Here they meet Wolf, their ebullient and rather too nosy landlord. Over the course of the week, truths emerge about the true state of the couple’s relationship, as well as the deep and disturbing weirdness of Wolf. Brotzel deftly and humorously portrays the frustrations, deceptions, storms and tender moments of a long-term relationship, and he does so in an atmosphere of sustained suspense that keeps you gripped until the last page. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
May 15, 2024
The Wolf in the Woods by Dan Brotzel is a dark comedy about a middle-aged couple, Andrew and Colleen, who stay at a remote holiday cottage in the woods. As the week goes by, their neighbour and the owner of the cottage, Wolf, becomes more and more involved in their lives. How does he know so much about them, and how will his interference affect their already shaky relationship?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It hooked me from the start with its amusing yet relatable descriptions. There were several unexpected twists, and the story kept me guessing until the end.
Dan Brotzel's writing is clean and well-edited, which made the novel a pleasure to read. I would highly recommend it to fans of comedy and dark humour and am already looking forward to his next book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It hooked me from the start with its amusing yet relatable descriptions. There were several unexpected twists, and the story kept me guessing until the end.
Dan Brotzel's writing is clean and well-edited, which made the novel a pleasure to read. I would highly recommend it to fans of comedy and dark humour and am already looking forward to his next book.
October 29, 2021
A brilliant debut novel from master storyteller Dan Brotzel. In the claustrophobic setting of a holiday rental, the relationship of the two central characters is expertly unpeeled, slowly revealing their flaws and attributes, the backstory behind their fractured lives and the sinister figure of Mr Wolf who seems to know more about their secrets than they do themselves. The writing is fast-paced and full of Brotzel's trademark humour. The intrigue of the story builds and builds from beginning to end. And everything is brought together in a satisfying conclusion. Recommend for anyone who enjoys quirky, character-driven stories.
March 9, 2022
This promised more than it ended up delivering. It starts well, with a story of a disintegrating marriage intertwined with a mystery. It’s a classic scenario of an isolated holiday home and a suspiciously attentive landlord, Wolf. The characters are well done and I got involved with both the development of their story and the tension of exactly what was going on with Wolf. It as it went on, though, the plotting became a bit ludicrous and the behaviour of the characters less and less convincing. So a bit disappointing overall.
August 31, 2021
I loved it. A great read, beautifully written. Reminiscent of early Hitchcock with its sinister set up, full of corners, nooks and crannies to get into. A quirky study of a relationship on the turn - most definitely the reader follows a couple, in their late 40s, along the shadows of their marriage. Unnerving at times in its easy going dialogue, adjacent to the creepiness of the unfolding story. Humorous at times with a satisfying end
April 19, 2023
I couldn't put this down, funny but super creepy with very dark underlying themes. However...the pre ending was just odd would they have been really so ok with everything that went on? There were a few too many untied loose ends which maybe a longer book would have resolved. Saying that I'm not sure I'd want to read the details if they had been tied up. I would try another book by this author as the style was different to my usual reads.
April 25, 2024
I wasn’t sure what to make of this book. The characters weren’t particularly likeable but maybe the things that had happened to them had made them that way. A strange holiday cottage with equally strange people who own it, this story is kind of obvious with the direction things are going but maybe it was supposed to be that way. I found it very different. Definitely worth a read.
July 19, 2024
I really enjoyed The Wolf In The Woods. It's a funny, very sharply observed but poignant little novel. Unlike others, I didn't find the characters unlikeable, just believable, complex people with secrets and flaws.
If you're on the fence, give it a go, it's a breath of fresh air.
If you're on the fence, give it a go, it's a breath of fresh air.
November 28, 2024
Quite a steady story of a couple who have drifted apart. The writing style felt like it was meant to be building to something which never came and the 'twists' when they were revealed were just a bit nonsensical and fell flat.
October 11, 2021
An impulse selection at the library, which didn’t look that promising. Despite its lack of promise, it turned out to be an enjoyable read with a fair bit of novelty in the plot.
January 12, 2022
Short book about life, enjoyed it as given to me in book club. Not one I’d choose to read necessarily
September 15, 2021
Warning! Unpopular opinion!
Honestly? No idea what happened here. This book is so... strange. So different and hard to understand what was the main point of all this story...
Totally not my cup of tea. Marriages issues, a life full of secrets, everyday routines, and a rented house in the middle of nowhere. I thought it would be something a little bit dark. Or a comedy with some kind of crime to be solved. Nope. Not this time.
The action was too slow. I was waiting and waiting for something to blow, for fireworks, murder, or just a confrontation - a spark of danger, but it seems that all the story is about something completely different. No, I cannot say more, cause spoilers are the worst!
I don't really feel the writing. The style, the construction, and the plot are just boring. In fact, nothing spectacular is happening. It seems that I am much more thriller girl than I thought ;)
Honestly? No idea what happened here. This book is so... strange. So different and hard to understand what was the main point of all this story...
Totally not my cup of tea. Marriages issues, a life full of secrets, everyday routines, and a rented house in the middle of nowhere. I thought it would be something a little bit dark. Or a comedy with some kind of crime to be solved. Nope. Not this time.
The action was too slow. I was waiting and waiting for something to blow, for fireworks, murder, or just a confrontation - a spark of danger, but it seems that all the story is about something completely different. No, I cannot say more, cause spoilers are the worst!
I don't really feel the writing. The style, the construction, and the plot are just boring. In fact, nothing spectacular is happening. It seems that I am much more thriller girl than I thought ;)
September 22, 2021
If a book has me still thinking about it long after reading it then it’s an immediate 5 stars for me! I’m still trying to process what happened and I definitely think the ending is one of those that is open to interpretation which will make for many discussions amongst readers.
What seemingly begins as a story of a couple who’s marriage is on the brink of collapse, who head off to a relaxing holiday to resolve their issues, suddenly turns into this dark, mysterious and at times quite creepy thriller-esque story.
Told over the week’s holiday, each chapter is broken down into each day of the getaway as we discover more about Colleen and Andrew, their issues with each other, their own addictions and the challenges they face with their own children. The author really captures the issues of marriage really well and the little things that can irritate the other, but also shows the unconditional love they have for their grandchildren and how they put their differences aside when they are around.
By far the most interesting characters of the book were the landlord Wolf and his ‘wife’ who were so creepy and a little eccentric. From the moment you meet them you know they have secrets galore which made me want to know so much more about them. They ramped up that creepy vibe of the book and really brought everything together near the end. As mentioned, the ending is one that I think can be interpreted in many ways. I’ve got my thoughts as to what has or will happen and would definitely love to hear other readers thoughts.
Overall this was an intriguing look at marriage, which was a real page turner layered with the perfect amount of suspense and one that I couldn’t stop thinking about long after reading!
What seemingly begins as a story of a couple who’s marriage is on the brink of collapse, who head off to a relaxing holiday to resolve their issues, suddenly turns into this dark, mysterious and at times quite creepy thriller-esque story.
Told over the week’s holiday, each chapter is broken down into each day of the getaway as we discover more about Colleen and Andrew, their issues with each other, their own addictions and the challenges they face with their own children. The author really captures the issues of marriage really well and the little things that can irritate the other, but also shows the unconditional love they have for their grandchildren and how they put their differences aside when they are around.
By far the most interesting characters of the book were the landlord Wolf and his ‘wife’ who were so creepy and a little eccentric. From the moment you meet them you know they have secrets galore which made me want to know so much more about them. They ramped up that creepy vibe of the book and really brought everything together near the end. As mentioned, the ending is one that I think can be interpreted in many ways. I’ve got my thoughts as to what has or will happen and would definitely love to hear other readers thoughts.
Overall this was an intriguing look at marriage, which was a real page turner layered with the perfect amount of suspense and one that I couldn’t stop thinking about long after reading!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews