Bad Wolf (Bad Wolf Chronicles, #1) by Tim McGregor

Bad Wolf (Bad Wolf Chronicles, #1) Reviews

• 
  Pamellia

  Good story for one book, March 1, 2014
  
  Amazon Verified Purchase
  
  This review is from: Bad Wolf (Bad Wolf Chronicles: Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
  
  This book was recommended to me sometime ago. Because of a horror group read I finally got around to reading it.
  
  This was a good story. The characters were realistic and likeable. The author may have gotten hung up on a few phrases, but that was OK, most of the time. The story had just enough gore to let you know this was an evil creature, but not so much that it grossed you out for no good reason. There was plenty of fast moving scenes with good word support. This author is a good story teller. Even though the book is the first in a series, it does completely tell the story that is started.
  
  Because I greatly enjoyed the story, characters and the completed Bad Wolf story, I gave this book 4.5 stars. (I'm not so sure I thought it was "amazing" which would be 5 stars.)
  
  I would recommend this book to lovers of werewolf stories.
• 
  Bill

  *Review for the Audible audiobook*
  
  A very good and entertaining listen. The narrator nailed it and had the perfect tone and cadence for this type of story.
  
  My first Tim McGregor story, but definitely not my last. The characters were fleshed out well and I particularly enjoyed the relationship with Gallagher, his daughter and Mendes and thought it gave the story additional depth and color. The action and tension built steadily to a satisfying conclusion (and yes it did kind of leave you hanging for the second installment). Overall, this one was very well done and look forward to the second and third in the series.
  
  A solidly written and entertaining werewolf novel with plenty of likeable characters (and plenty of unlikable ones as well). 4+ Stars
  
  *Note: I was provided a copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review and this was it.*
  
• 
  Tammy

  I love a well-written, action-packed werewolf yarn. I hope there is a sequel.
  
  *****update*****
  Now that I have the sequel Pale Wolf queued up on the Kindle, decided to re-read BW.
  
  I loved it even more the second time around. Just as action packed as a good Maberry yarn without any of the annoying tics found in the Pine Deep trilogy. No corny dialogue, no overtly macho bullshit, just some great story-telling, awesome characterization and some big bad wolves.
  
  I highly recommend Bad Wolf.
• 
  Matthew

  The was a fun and interesting read. It started off kind of slow as it set up the story with the character's backgrounds and personalities but once it got going, it was a fun ride. However, I found some places in the book to be choppy with some sentence fragments, especially in the beginning. There were also several typos and other errors that might not be noticed by most (for instance, Barn Swallows do not hop). It snapped me out of the story a bit but I was anxious to dive right back in. Recommended for fans of police procedurals who don't mind a werewolf tossed in for a little mayhem!
  
  3.5 stars rounded up to 4
• 
  Inga

  My review:
  
  
  
  I read Bad Wolf almost two months ago and haven’t managed to write a review yet. Reason behind it is very simple – I needed some time to get this book settled in my mind. It has haunted me (in a good way) for some time and now I am ready to put my thoughts down.
  
  
  Tim McGregor’s Bad Wolf was a very good book in its genre. It was dark and visually scented and it left a spooky feeling with you while reading it. Reading Bad Wolf was like watching a movie, it gave me very clear images in the head and the scenes kept running in my head after I put the book down. It was well written and when I am saying well written, then I am aware that some people who have read Bad Wolf might disagree with me because the usage of language and lot of swearing, but I think it suited this book. Somehow it just seemed natural for the characters.
  
  
  It was a heavy read for me in the beginning, but it caught me after the first third of the book was read and after that the pace of the writing sped up and suddenly lot of things started to happen in the story itself. The first third was very detailed description of police work and was interesting, but I really had to focus on reading. This book is not something what you read in one sitting, at least it was not to me. After reading the first couple of chapters it consumed me, it became really thrilling reading experience!
  
  This book is definitely gripping thriller!
  
  
  Regarding the plot:
  
  Detective Lara Mendes is partnering up with an experienced cop John Gallagher and they start working together on a homicide case of mutilated body, which seems literally to be eaten up by something or somebody. During the investigation they meet a man who seems to be crazy and to be a werewolf. The question which is for reader to find out is exactly is he or isn’t he.
  
  The plot is plausible and it kept me wondering throughout the whole book if it is a werewolf or not who did all that killing. I really wanted to get the solution of the plot when the book came to end, but I was left with so many questions hanging up in the air. The plot is built up for a sequel and I am hoping that Tim McGregor will give that to us in the future! It was not a weak ending of the book, it just demands a sequel!
  
  Generally:
  
  
  Bad Wolf by Tim McGregor was a very good read. It gave me thrills, laughs and also kept me figuring about the murder until the very end of the book. It left many questions open and maybe that is the factor which disturbed me mostly – it kept me wanting another book right after the last page. The other reason why I enjoyed this book was the writing style, when reading it, it really gave me the visual scenes of the action. The only thing missing was a scary music and it would have been like watching a horror movie!
  
  4 stars.
• 
  Brainycat

  Brainycat's 5 "B"s:
  blood: 4
  boobs: 0
  bombs: 1
  bondage: 0
  blasphemy: 2
  
  Bechdel Test: FAIL
  
  Deggan's Rule: FAIL
  
  Gay Bechdel Test: FAIL
  
  This was a decently written, very quick read. I haven't read a lot of police procedurals, so I don't know how it rates in that respect. I usually read stories about PIs and their ilk; it felt to me like being able to call upon the resources of a major metropolitan police force was like having
  Mary Sue on speed dial. This is probably normal for the genre, however.
  
  The book got off to a slow start. I picked this up hoping for a lycanthropic gore fest devoid of any of the trappings of the romance genre. I did eventually get what I was looking for, but I had to get about a third of way through the book before it got interesting. I think the author spent too much time trying to make generic (and ultimately forgettable) characters unique. Some tighter editing and more creative characterization would help elevate this book. The fact that I was willing to go a third of the way through book looking for the payoff says a lot for the skillful foreshadowing and overall quality of the writing.
  
  The perspective on the UF elements was well done. I like the idea of the contemporary world as we know it getting a sudden interjection of lycanthropy, and how normal people tried to deal with it and explain the evidence in front of them. The whole issue was handled well and I appreciate the lack of HEA. Also, the tiny of sliver of romance was there to drive the plot, was totally believable, and played out with a grace and maturity not shown by too many authors.
  
  I liked this book well enough to finish it, but not because of the characters. I was more interested in how the plot points around lycanthropy would play out against the criminal justice system, and I feel a little disappointed . If I find the rest of the series on sale for £1 I'll pick them up, but I don't find the "whole package" exciting enough to pay more than that.
  
  

  Please note: I don't review to provide synopses, I review to share a purely visceral reaction to books and perhaps answer some of the questions I ask when I'm contemplating investing time and money into a book.

  
  
• 
  Doug Lamoreux

  A pack of feral dogs leave a half-eaten female corpse in their wake. Evidence points to murder and investigations reveal hints of the supernatural. Are detectives Mendes and Gallagher (good cop, bad cop, at least at first) on the trail of a psychotic killer and his vicious pets? Or is it possible that werewolves actually exist?
  
  There is a lot to like about Bad Wolf; a crime drama and a horror story. It takes a while to draw the reader in, with opening chapters heavier on police procedure than on suspense, but it does get there - and holds your interest thereafter. The settings and situations are believable and, in several sequences, so real they are squirm inducing. (Animal lovers BEWARE; these are not cute puppies and this ain't Old Yeller. Gore, violence, cruelty... 'nuff said). But those reading for horrific thrills shouldn't be disappointed. You will want to see what happens next.
  
  This is author Tim McGregor's (until now a screenwriter) first novel. And, no, it isn't perfect. Like most first novels, there are times when one adjective would probably have sufficed. Several plot threads feel a bit forced. And, dear God, does everybody in Portland swear that much? I'm not a prude but, mercy, how do they eat with those mouths?
  
  That said, I'm glad I read Bad Wolf. It was a brisk, spooky read that I happily recommend. Mr. McGregor, meanwhile, goes on my list as I look forward to his next novel.
• 
  Irene Well Worth A Read

  I received a complimentary copy for review. I found Bad wolf to be a well written story, with likeable and well developed characters. I would describe it as a police procedural with a twist. The twist being a bit of supernatural horror in the form of a werewolf that should appeal to fans of both crime thrillers and horror stories alike.
• 
  Rob Twinem

  an average werewolf book but real fans will read The Wolfen by Whitley Strieber or The Wolf's Hour by Robert McCammon
• 
  Gef

  If you've ever seen a feral dog, you'll know they aren't something you want to mess with. Well, try a pack of them. Yeah, not pleasant. In Tim McGregor's debut novel, a string of deaths lead police to believe there's a pack of dogs responsible. And as detectives, John Gallagher and Lara Mendes, investigate they realize the pack is being led by a man. A crazy man, because he thinks he's a werewolf.
  
  Now, I'm not a reader who gravitates towards detective novels, just one of those genres I don't care for, so if not for the prospect of a supernatural element I would have likely passed on this book altogether. And the first few chapters, with their typos, did nothing to win me over. As I read through though, the errors dissipated and the overall story started to gel. The police procedural aspect was too heavy for my tastes, but that's my personal bias, so fans of the genre likely would find no real problems there.
  
  My main problem came from the male lead character, Detective Gallagher, who I think was meant as a cop who plays by his own rules a la Dirty Harry. But, in my eyes, he came off as a detestable, crooked cop, who I couldn't bring myself to root for even during his most sincere father/daughter moments. Mendes was a far more likable character and her promotion to working homicide with the proviso of being Gallagher's partner added some interesting tension. The tease of a romantic entanglement didn't come off as believable, though.
  
  As for the villain in the tale, I thought a deranged vagabond with a pack of dogs at his command was an interesting way to go, and his motivation came off as organic, if not a little preposterous. But the way he was depicted felt inconsistent through the novel, as he was presented as a conflicted soul tormented by his belief that he's a werewolf in some chapters, then other chapters showed him as a malevolent killer with an eagerness to tear his targets limb from limb.
  
  The first half of the novel was a bit of a chore for me to get through, but it picked up once Gallagher and Mendes finally tracked down their suspect and the real chase began. Some of the story comes off as distance with some of the narration, but the action helped make up for that once it got going. I found it to be an okay debut for McGregor, but I'll keep my fingers crossed for some marked improvement when he gets around to his sophomore effort.
• 
  B.L. Hewitt

  
  
  Tim McGregor’s Bad Wolf, takes us back to the days of throat ripping werewolves. No more Jacob Black, this story is aptly named. McGregor gives us the Lon Chaney curse of the werewolf, but in a more fiendish and feral way. The cursed Wolf, Ivan Prall, abandoned, abused, and then finally bitten by his caretaker Ronald Kovacs, Prall believes by killing Kovacs he will lift the curse from itself. Prall and his angry pack of feral strays sets out to rip apart every one of the people that brought this curse upon him. He sets his pack to tear his foes to pieces. This book is not for the fainthearted. McGregor’s masterful descriptive passages bring you right into the fray, ripping fur, snapping teeth and bloody snouts. Not just the sounds but the blood and the stench.
  John Gallagher and his partner Laura Mendes are not true believers in vampires, werewolves and things that go bump in the night, at least not in the beginning. Mendes almost succumbs to the wounds inflicted by the rapid Prall, but as she heals she finds her body is changing.
  Once Gallagher and Mendes get their hands on Kovacs, they lure Prall in, in hopes to get both men behind bars. No spoilers here, you will have to read the book and you will be glad you did. This was a rip ranting time and I look forward to book 2 of The Bad Wolf Chronicles, Pale Wolf.
  
• 
  Laura Thomas

  Two hardened detectives, a rampaging pack of wild dogs, and a killer who believes he’s a werewolf. I don’t know about you, but this sounds too good to pass up.
  
  I enjoy police stories. There’s always that one guy no one wants to work with. John is just that guy. Tons of baggage and an eat shit attitude. Partnered with Detective Lara Mendez, neither ones happy about it.
  
  As much as I loved the idea of the werewolf using his pack of wild dogs to kill, the dynamics between the two detectives was even better.
  
  Lara wasn’t a pushover. She’d put up with lots of crap to make it to Detective. She wasn’t going to take any from John. How these two navigated around each other was a whole lot of fun. I wondered if they might actually end up being good together and kept my fingers crossed.
  
  The killer and his dogs were super bad ass. Was he a werewolf? You’ll have to read it to find out.
  
  And watch out for the ending. It’s a twister and I sure loved it. It wraps up this chapter and leaves things open for more. A little birdie told me there is.
  
  I own a copy of this book. My review is voluntarily given.
• 
  Heather Faville

  Technically 4 1/2 stars for this reviewer.
  
  First off, Bad Wolf, is set in the Portland, Oregon area, so it was neat to hear about local street and landmarks and know where certain scenes are taking place. I really enjoyed the story that Tim McGregor created. It is a werewolf story, but it's not a "creature feature" the primary focus is on the characters of Mendes and Gallagher, both of whom I really enjoyed learning about. The author did an excellent job creating interesting backstories for his protagonists, as well as his wolfy antagonist. Another very likable character is Amy, Gallagher's daughter who is interested in her father's work...sometimes a bit too interested for her father's liking.
  
  Bad Wolf is one of those books that you can easily visualize what is happening to the characters. The violence was detailed, but I didn't feel it was graphic or overly gory. It was, also, not over the top to where I rolled my eyes at what was happening. It was definitely not your typical werewolf story and I enjoyed the change that Bad Wolf had to offer.
• 
  Amy_Read to My Heart's Content

  I really really enjoyed this book! It had so much action in it!
  This is a nice turn on cop thriller book and I insist anyone to read it. Even if you are not a fan of paranormal romance this book is exciting just for the mystery that it creates trying to find out who is killing these people. And I just fell in love with John Gallagher. He is a gritty character, who at first glance, seems to be a jerk; but eventually you get to know him and find he is much more complex.
  
  I really hope Mr. McGregor will definitely do a sequel to this book. I was sad to see the ending and hope that we get to tie up some loose ends in another book! Please give this book a read. Once you start you will have a hard time trying to put it down.
  
  I received a complimentary copy of this book, Bad Wolf, in exchange for my review.
• 
  Brandi

  This review is from: Bad Wolf (Kindle Edition)
  I'm not really a fan of cop drama (with the exception of Catherine Coulter's FBI series) but I fell right into the crazieness surrounding Gallagher and Mendes. There has been a murder of a very gruesome quality: she's been ripped apart and partially eaten by dogs. Very bog dogs. But something is not right. Dogs don't normally hunt to eat humans but wolves do. The police are trying hard to solve an unsolvable case and with the eveident pointing to a man who thinks he's a wolf, they are more than skeptical. Gallaher is the biggest a##hole on the Portland police force and Mendes, newly promoted, gets him as a partner. Where Gallagher is a cowboy, she's methodical and by the book. They clash but also compliment each other. There is some chemistry between the two, however it does not take over the story. This case is really puzzling to the both of them and as new clues and dangers arise, it gets even more complicated when Mendes is attacked by the Pack.
  This book does not lead where you think it should and I can't say much without giving everything away. Like any good mystery, McGregor stings you along until the end and then leaves you hanging. I got to the end and was like, "WTH?" I want this to go on and finish NOW!!!!! NOW, I say.! I woke up at 5 a.m this morning and began reading, so you know there has to be something to this book.
• 
  Tracy Hensley

  I got the first in the series free through Amazon and was hooked! I true summer horror story with my favorite of all monsters, the werewolf! Of course this is not wonder given my love of lupines. I loved journeying from Oregon, to New Mexico into British Columbia and I genuinely liked the characters, especially Amy in the two books, she really stepped up.
  I have two complaints. One is how specific breeds were handled in the first book had to do with continuing stereotypes of dog. The pack of dogs that prey with the werewolf are described as pit bulls, rottweilers, etc. you get my gist. As an avid dog lover and decade long rescuer of 'pit bulls', I just wish Mr. McGregor had been more knowledgeable about the breed. In my opionion, one of them would have been more likely to befriend Gallagher then the Husky.
  The second complaint, and I have read it from other reviewers, has to do with proofreader issues. It sometimes read like spell check was all that was used before it was sent for distribution.
  Thank you Mr. McGregor for a supernatural tale of true classic proportions!
• 
  Sharon Michael

  I'd give it 3 1/2 or 4 stars for the plot/characters and overall read. I read it, found it entertaining, thought it was one of the more interesting 'takes' on a werewolf plot. I'd give it one star for the cliffhanger ending, which I HATE and refuse to read if I know about it in advance.
  
  So, if you like cop stories and werewolves and can deal with cliffhanger endings, it's as good as anything I've read along those lines.
  
  If you dislike cliffhanger endings, find another book.
• 
  Babette

  It was a good book. A standard cop procedural with a twist.
  
  My only issue is that the main character had a chance to stop the bad guy, and her partner stopped her with a "not here". There was no reason why not. If she had taken the bad guy out then, instead of waiting until there were other people around to act as fodder for the beast, less people would have died, and she would not have had the impetus to transform. It was a weak plot point.
• 
  Sheila Wilkins

  I downloaded this as a Kindle freebie and didn't have very high expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the wearwolf aspect is just background and that it's actualluy a very good book. The story follows rooky homicide detective and her mentor (think Harry Bosch). I won't spoil the fun by going into too much detail.
  
  I will be purchasing the sequal to this book! Cannot wait to read it.
• 
  TJ

  I really enjoyed this police drama that revolved around a serial killer who just happened to be a werewolf. The characters were great and the plot never stalled. I look forward to more from author Tim McGregor. He wove an interesting story that can be picked from where it left off with an anticipated sequel.
• 
  Pamela

  Really enjoyed this werewolf horror/crime mystery mash-up.
• 
  *Suzy (ereaderuser)*

  I found this one to be amazing. A mystery/police novel combined with werewolves. But not your average werewolves. These are horror type werewolves. So this book was the best of both worlds for me.
• 
  Ellie

  When a body is found eaten by a pack of feral dogs, homicide detectives Gallagher and Mendes find themselves on the trail of a man who believes he is a werewolf. Is he just insane? Or could there be some truth to his crazed ramblings?
  
  An interesting concept for a novel that sits mostly within the crime genre. I found it took me a long time to get into the story and felt it could have used some serious editing, especially in the first half. Overall an easy and fairly entertaining read, though maybe not one for dog lovers (the dogs of the story aren't shown in a good light).
  
  The character development was more “tell” than “show” which may be a symptom of the author's screen-writing background. I felt the novel improved when the action started to shape the characters more. Whilst I quite liked the character of Amy, tough cop Gallagher's daughter, she seemed to be a bit of an add-on and not entirely relevant to the story. I thought that maybe her troubles at school were going to feed into the plot but they were mentioned once and then forgotten about.
  
  The ending was a little abrupt, at first I thought there might be a missing final chapter and I had to re-read it to make sure. If you don't like things left open you might feel frustrated.
• 
  Nancy Steinle gummel

  Bad Wolf by Tim McGregor is a book about loners. A lone killer assisted by a pack of wild dogs, a lone detective and a lone would be detective. After his former partner is hospitalized, Det. Gallagher is partnered with Lara Mendes a transfer from the sex crime unit. Working solo Mendes tracks down the killer of Elizabeth Riley. During the investigation she is attacked and bitten landing unconscious in the hospital. She wakes up several days later with Gallaghers daughter in the room. She gets assistance and goes back investigating. She wants to bring in Ivan Prall. Gallaghers backs her up. They are both in trouble and turn in their badges and weapons. They discover Prall is a werewolf. Lara realizes she will turn into one too. Can they subdue Prall before anyone else gets killed? What will Lara do? Read the book for some answers.
• 
  Kami Dodson-Perry

  This is the first book by Tim McGregor that I have read. I do not feel that his writing style is for me. The story was slow starting & although I was intrigued by the 2 main characters I found myself a little bored. This is very unusual for me especially with a book about werewolves, detectives & a little bit of mystery. I had to force myself to keep reading at the 70% mark but it was a slow go. I felt a little lost & confused a lot of the time. The wording in the book at times I found strange & hard to follow. I did not like the ending & felt it was incomplete. I understand that this will be a series but I still feel that it needed an ending.
• 
  Karin Corneau

  I must admit that I did enjoy this book. It was a little slow to get going but once it picked up I found it really hard to put down. It was very different from the usual werewolves stories that I read. The only parts I didn't like were a few scenes involving the dogs and that's only because I am a huge animal lover and just couldn't stomach what was going on with them. Having had to skip most of those scenes though, I really did enjoy it and will definately check out the rest of the trilogy when it comes available
• 
  Timothy Bateson

  Great read, and an interesting take on werewolves
  
  There are few great werewolf stories out there, and this is one of them. McGregor's antagonist believes he is a werewolf, but is clearly treates as a disturbed psyche first, and a mythological monster second. Is ivan Prall really a werewolf, or just deluded? Can the awesome pairing of the hotshot detective Gallager and his rookie detective partner uncover the truth? Keep turning the pages to find out, because you wont be able to put the book down easily.