Publication Date: June 30th 2016 from The Borough Press
Source: Review Copy
Everything Elka knows of the world she learned from the man she calls Trapper, the solitary hunter who took her under his wing when she was just seven years old.
But when Elka sees the Wanted poster in town, her simple existence is shattered. Her Trapper – Kreagar Hallet – is wanted for murder. Even worse, Magistrate Lyon is hot on his trail, and she wants to talk to Elka.
Elka flees into the vast wilderness, determined to find her true parents. But Lyon is never far behind – and she’s not the only one following Elka’s every move. There will be a reckoning, one that will push friendships to the limit and force Elka to confront the dark memories of her past.
The Wolf Road is an incredible novel – dark, intriguing, absolutely beautifully written with one of the strongest and most memorable character voices I have ever read.
This is Elka’s story – and BOOM what a story it is. Her parents gone, lost in a storm, taken in by “Trapper” and brought up in the wild, until one day she discovers something sinister about her saviour and sets out on a journey across a wild and bitter landscape, a journey that will take her to unexpected places and unexpected people. Chased by her mentor and the law, nothing about this is going to be easy for Elka.
She will take you with her though, the gorgeous descriptive prose is totally immersive, the setting coming alive around you – a primitive and chilly post apocalyptic world cleverly set in no time or place specifically but all the more real for it. Primitive and unforgiving, The Wolf Road is part road trip, part drama, part mystery but the heart of it is this one girl, Elka. You will never forget her.
The Wolf Road may be beautiful but it is also relentless and often surprising, sometimes violent, sometimes peaceful, but always fascinating and I was totally riveted. There is a mystical magic to be had here, the author weaves somewhat of a spell around you via Elka and her unique way of telling the tale – the whole thing has an eerie, mesmeric vibe to it that is really difficult to put into words – but that is absolutely and completely creatively vivid and exquisite. I loved every minute.
Highly Recommended.
Beth Lewis will be appearing at First Monday Crime in July – I can’t wait to hear her talk about The Wolf Road having read it – to wet the appetite there will be a short sharp interview with her (and the other July authors) coming soon to the blog, so keep an eye out for that. Meanwhile if you are around London on the 4th July you might want to pick up a ticket from the gorgeous Goldsboro books here.
And if you would like to find out more about Beth go HERE
Follow her on Twitter HERE
You can purchase The Wolf Road by clickety clicking right HERE
Happy Reading!
