Book Review: Wolf’s Gambit by W.D. Gagliani
Review by Jude Felton
In 2006 W.D Gagliani released the novel Wolf’s Trap in which he introduced the world to Nick Lupo, a big city cop with an even bigger secret. He likes to go out at night, especially if there is a full moon, and grab himself a snack. A snack which consists of flesh and blood. This is because Nick is a werewolf, and in Wolf’s Trap he is still coming to terms with this whilst learning how to control the change within him. It was a most enjoyable novel, and one I recommend you read before tackling Wolf’s Gambit as this is a sequel and does bring up previous events whilst also explaining more about the relationships between some of the characters.
In Wolf’s Gambit Detective Nick Lupo is looking forward to a short break out in the country, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with a chance to spend some time with his girlfriend Jessie. Out there he’ll also get the chance to run free in the woods, giving the wolf within him a chance to exercise some of his animalistic urges.
The destination for his vacation is also smack bang in the middle of Native American country where plans for a new casino resort have been passed, and construction on the new facility is well underway. There’s one small problem though. Someone is not too happy about the new addition to this neck of the woods, and is picking off members of the organizing Council. Bodies are turning up in all manner of grisly ways, ways that seem too familiar too Nick. On top of all this someone is also abducting women from the surrounding area and subjecting them to horrifying ordeals. The local police seem ill-equipped to deal with what is happening, and although Nick doesn’t really want to get involved he feels no choice but to help in the matter.
Wolf’s Trap was a great read, but with Wolf’s Gambit Gagliani has moved on leaps and bounds. The writing is more assured with a sense of revisiting old friends yet still adding plenty more into the mix. There is further development of Lupo’s character, taking us back to his childhood and previous relationships as well as his growth in the present day. All of which help to fully flesh out this wonderful character. There are also a couple of other returning characters which fans of Wolf’s Trap will be happy to see.
This is a brisk read, one which you will fly through in no time at all. I would have finished it far sooner had time permitted and often begrudgingly put it down in order to get a little shut eye. The pace never gives up even when switching between the many different characters that are all involved in this story. The structure of the book is set out nicely so that you know exactly what is going on, and who you are dealing with at any one time.
There was a definite passion within the writing too, as you can tell Gagliani loves his subject matter, and this shows on every page. I can only hope that this continues in the next book in the series which I believe is being written as I write this.
Wolf’s Gambit is dark in places, with some disturbing imagery and quite graphic violence, yet this never clouds over the story. Yes, it is a dark and violent story, but at times it is also a quite steamy affair, with the passion just dripping off the pages. Reading books like this and J.F. Gonzalez’ Shapeshifter have only made my thirst for the werewolf novel grow. Gagliani has taken themes we are familiar with and given them a fresh twist, leaving the reader howling for more.
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