Werewolf Cop

January 26, 2015
In this oddly effective supernatural thriller from Klavan (The Identity Man), Det. Zachary Adams, a top investigator on a federal task force, must track down criminal mastermind Dominic Abend, the leader of an international crime syndicate that has achieved total subversion of the European political establishment. Zach discovers that Abend is seeking the location of an ancient dagger with alleged demonic powers. He follows a lead to meet an expert on the dagger, and there the story takes a wild turn as a werewolf attacks Zach and transmits to him its curse. Zach’s own disbelief and bewilderment give way to his determination to use his new state to catch Abend and end the threat of the magical dagger. From this point on, the narrative proceeds with a dreamlike logic to a satisfying and action-filled conclusion, fitting both Zach’s police background and his fantastic transformation into a creature of vengeance. Agent: Robert Gottlieb, Trident Media Group.

January 15, 2015
On the hunt for a nefarious European crime boss, Texas supercop Zach "Cowboy" Adams desperately searches for himself after being turned into a werewolf.Dominic Abend is not your everyday mobster. A German-Russian worth billions, he's thought to be in possession of a 15th-century dagger that gives him unthinkable black powers. Having taken over the American underworld, he plans to take over the world. After linking Abend to a hideous massacre in Texas, Zach travels to Germany to consult with a female sword and dagger expert. She takes him into the Black Forest, seemingly talking nonsense, where she undergoes a bizarre transformation and...changes Zach. When he comes face to face with the elusive Abend in a desolate building, he's attacked by horrific giant bugs. And that's not all that's making his life miserable. There's the one-nighter with a beautiful stalker he has to explain to his devout Christian wife. And there are charges that his wisecracking partner, Martin "Broadway Joe" Goulart, is dirty. While there's no getting around the book's hokey premise, multiple Edgar Award winner Klavan does his best to transcend it in exploring the extreme thoughts and emotions his protagonist experiences. What chance does Zach's human conscience have of overcoming his beastly desires? It won't spoil anyone's enjoyment to say this may not be the last time he's faced with those questions. Fans of contemporary monster tales will be taken with Klavan's thriller, and others who are willing to indulge the book's hairy trappings will appreciate its existential musings.

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February 1, 2015
Zach Adams, a Houston cop assigned to a federal task force in New York, is on the hunt for Dominic Abend, leader of an international criminal organization that threatens to destabilize the world's economy. As the bodies pile up, the plot takes a supernatural turn; Adams believes Abend to be looking for an ancient dagger associated with werewolves in Germany, a dagger that holds unimaginable power for the wielder. While traveling in search of more information about the dagger, Adams survives a brutal attack by a savage beast, and when he awakens he knows he has been transformedbut into what? Klavan (A Killer in the Wind, 2013) has a knack for creating relentless, fast-paced narratives, and this thriller-horror hybrid is no exception. Unfortunately, the story drags at times, thanks to an overabundance of plot: Adams' inner demons, his misogynistic partner's possible corruption, a crazy affair, werewolves, Nazis, world collapse, etc. Horror fans may get bogged down, but those who want a little bite to their detective stories may enjoy the ride.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)