Mostly Murders

Hidden behind my sunglasses, I take in the people around me. I like the anonymity of the city: no faux pleasantries to exchange, minimal eye contact. I am a predator mingling with my prey, and they have no idea.

Something is going on in Philadelphia. Five men who all had criminal backgrounds have been found dead, left in the streets and seemingly mauled by wild dogs. FBI agents Terri Watson and Marc Peterson are on the case, but when the coroner’s report questions the wild dog theory and the two agents begin to dig deeper, it becomes more and more difficult for them to believe what the evidence they uncover seems to be suggesting.

Volk is essentially a werewolf thriller with a twist. At first glance a cat and mouse crime thriller, told partially from Terri Watson’s point of view, and partially from the point of view of a modern-day werewolf hiding in plain sight and limiting their victims to “bad guys”. But as Terri and Marc reluctantly acknowledge the existence of a werewolf and inch ever closer to uncovering their identity, the story takes an interesting turn, leading into an unexpected reveal that is both surprising and perfectly sensible at the same time.

A fast-paced read with strong, compelling characters, multiple connected storylines, and an interesting and different take on a contemporary werewolf thriller/crime novel. I found the inclusion of the werewolf’s point of view interesting, and the fact that the story was more than “just” the FBI’s investigation and chase of the werewolf was a very pleasant surprise.

Many thanks to Stephanie at paste creative and D. Werkmeister  for this review copy.

Supernatural thriller – Crime fiction