Wolf’s Edge by W.D. Gagliani; Samhain Publishing; 2012; 272 pgs; $15.00 Print; 4.24 Kindle US

Samhain has pulled out some good moves under the wise leadership of horror guru Don D’Auria, some of which was to bring a few writers with him from Leisure who he discovered. One of the strongest in his stable has been W.D. Gagliani. Beginning with the Stoker nominated Wolf’s Trap, Wolf’s Gambit, and Wolf’s Bluff, Gagliani has cemented his place in werewolf legend with a muscular and smart series that deserves a much bigger audience.

In the fourth entry of the series, Nick Lupo, werewolf/cop, finds a new enemy in the Wolfpaw Security group.

A new breed is being engineered, one this is impervious to silver, and out to eliminate Lupo. Added to the mix are a mess of homicides around the city which are wolf-related – meant to get Nick’s attention.

Where this entry sets itself apart from the others – tough to do, as each has been stronger than its predecessor – is delving into the past. Taking a turn from McCammon’s Wolf’s Hour, Nazis enter the mix. Also deepening the bloodline is Lupo’s family history and the discovery that Nick wasn’t the first to fall prey to the moon’s call.

As usual, Gagliani’s strong sense of pacing and adept prose propel his narrative with adrenaline. Lupo thickens as a hero who is wounded but far from the emo-ridden leads of other modern novels, films, and television efforts.

For the uninitiated, Wolf’s Edge is a safe place to begin, especially with the extensive backstory of Nick Lupo’s family, one that does nothing to slow down the story.  Then, go back and pick up Wolf’s Trap, soon to be re-released by Samhain.

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Jan 20, 2012

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