Wolf's Trap

When I first purchased this book, I settled down to read the first chapter and was instantly drawn in by the dramatic unfolding of the story. Soon I found that I couldn't put it down, and read it straight through. Wolf's Trap is a dark, suspenseful foray into a dynamic world populated by a myriad of powerful, wonderful, and frightening characters. From the seedy underbelly of the urban to the lush, shadowed forests of wilderness, Wolf's Trap takes the reader on a journey. Sometimes that journey is filled with wonder and adventure, and other times the journey twists and coils through a labyrinth of the insidious and dark. With brave detective Nick Lupo, Gagliani delves thoughtfully and deeply into delicious detail of what life as a werewolf might be like -- struggling with the creature inside, finding both power and a little fear there. Gagliani makes you absolutely hate his villains and love his heroes; his writing grips you, forcing you to stay up into the wee hours just to finish one more chapter.

I find that last review irritating! That reader must never read Horror or anything dark! Hello, this is a novel featuring a serial killer! He's a really bad guy. Really bad. He kills women, yeah, but he kills men, too. This isn't so far from the killers in books by James Patterson, Jeffrey Deaver, Robert Walker, and what about Edward Lee and Richard Laymon? It's not for the timid, but it's a solid read, and the gore goes with the territory. Yup, there's child abuse, too, in flashbacks, so be warned. I think that reader wanted some sort of mild fantasy, and this ain't it! Nick Lupo's a good guy (a cop) with some bad qualities and issues, and the killers are all bloodthirsty, sexist fiends, but the hero kinda turns out to be... a woman! There's a theme of redemption here, too, if you look for it. I think people should check into what a book is about before complaining that it's not what they wanted. If you don't like really nasty killers and scenes of brutality or sex, then read a kids' book. This one's a tough crime & horror hybrid that just isn't for everyone. I was going to give this first novel 4 stars, but now it seems even better to me and I'm giving it 5!

This new horror book is a darn good read. It was recommended by a friend, and she wasn't wrong... If you were a werewolf and a cop, and somebody started killing off your friends and leaving you messages, what would you do? What would you do if the messages made it obvious the killer knew your secret? Nick Lupo is that cop, and he can't figure out who hates him and why. At least not at first. But then-- wait, I don't want to ruin it. There's a kind of musical theme that runs through the book, too, almost a soundtrack that probably makes perfect sense to fans of progressive rock from the 70s. It's a nice element to add! The author switches points of view alot, presenting all the main characters until you feel you can understand why they got to be the way they are. The action is quick and gory, but it all fits. Gagliani shows a lot of promise as a novelist; out of the recent batch of werewolf books, this is one of the best. Give it a try and you might want to check out Harry Shannon and Cheri Scotch, too. They're dealing with werewolves, but in different ways. Looks like the wolf is back!

Nick Lupo is a no holds barred cop; a renegade at times; definitely one to be reckoned with---he's also a werewolf! Gagliani's debut novel is right on target in this unique genre-crossing thriller. Martin Stewart is a demented serial killer who is seeking revenge on Nick because as a werewolf he unknowingly killed his sister. Martin is also a victim and perpetrator of child abuse and loves his lipstick.Add an elderly Indian shaman, three brilliantly scarlet rednecks, a lovely and gutsy doctor, and all kinds of mayhem and you get WOLF'S TRAP.Gagliani uses music from those ephemeral 70s and 80s as his backdrop, even Alan Parsons Project! Being a child of those days, this touch was so nice.A really good horror book; one of the best in recent years!

This novel blends horror and noir elements with good results! There's a twisted serial killer, a cop cursed by the full moon, a woman doctor, an Indian elder and a bunch of hick creepoids -- and they all end up slugging it out in the woods. It starts out with some wicked murders of escort girls and other folks, but it's all part of a revenge plan by the serial killer, who knows a lot about the cop. Nick, the cop, is a character I would like to see more of, and I hope there will be more books with him in them. There's a lot of violence and sex, like others have pointed out, and a great climax that almost reads like a movie. If you like werewolves and serial killers, you'll probably like this.