by Ryan Leahy
The Wolfman
Jonathan Maberry
Rating: 2/4
The Wolfman puts a twist on the classic story of the werewolf, combining the story of true love with the gruesome murders following right behind them. Lawrence Talbot had an awful childhood because his mother died. He left his Victorian mansion in Blackmoor, leaving behind his father and rest of his family. He became a famous actor and tried to forget his mother’s death. Lawrence finally returns to the mansion that he grew up in when his brother’s fiancée begs him to come back to help find his brother. She is the one he falls in love with him while he is looking for his brother.
Bodies have been turning up, torn to bits by a monster lurking in the woods and no one comes close to catching it. Lawrence continues to get closer to the truth and understanding what is happening in the sleepy village, even more so than a Scotland Yard inspector. He learns of the curse of the werewolves and fears that he will kill the one that he loves after he is bitten himself.
I felt that this book was one of the typical werewolf stories. It lacked in originality and continued on with the werewolf being in love and having the urge to kill them. I guessed from the beginning of the book what the ending would be because it has happened in so many of these stories. The werewolf died in the arms of his lover after trying to kill her. All monsters related books end the same way.
There were a few moments in the book that I stood back and said “wow that just happened.” The werewolf that murdered so many people and Lawrence’s mother turned out to be his own father. Once Talbot figured this out, his father and he battled to the death, putting aside that they are family and just tried to kill each other.
The character, Lawrence Talbot, was incredibly dark and hid behind the pain of his past. I really enjoyed how he was the hero, but he was also the werewolf being hunted down by the townsfolk. His father was mysterious and held a dark secret that is key in solving the mysteries of the deaths.
This was an okay book. Anyone who likes the traditional horror movie or book would like reading this book. It is based on a movie, but it is still a pretty good book.