Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf.
One is burned at the stake.
Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.
And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…
Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is back living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion. The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie’s curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.
Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie’s life, and everything she holds dear…
Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…
What did I think?
The Howling is the third book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series and although you could enjoy it as a standalone, it is absolutely brilliant when read as part of the series. If you thought the first two books were dark, just wait until you read The Howling.
Annie Jackson has a curse that gives her a vision of the impending death of someone with whom she has come into contact. There is nothing she can do to prevent the death so she has chosen to isolate herself in a remote cottage to keep her murmurs quiet. Annie is drawn out of isolation when an old adversary dangles a carrot in front of her that is too impossible to resist: find her son and the curse will be broken.
Interspersed with chapters from a dark and dangerous past, I was completely hooked from the start and the historic storyline is both horrifying and heartbreaking. I could very easily visualise every scene in the book as it played out in my head as I was reading.
I just can't get enough of Michael J Malone's writing; he immediately draws you into the story and I dived in headfirst to submerge myself in the vivid and haunting words. As much as I wanted Annie and her twin Lewis to succeed in their mission to break the curse, I also don't want the series to end so what a quandary that puts the reader in as we race to the dramatic conclusion.
Deliciously dark and incredibly haunting, The Howling is a fast-paced and completely unmissable novel. Very highly recommended.
I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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