4.5 stars. A slower-paced, immersive paranormal whodunit that shines because of the rarity in the way the POV/world-building works. Werewolves are real in this world, but most humans don't know they exist. Even our main character, who has found out they exist, doesn't really know how their culture/species works, and so we really look at werewolves from an outsider's perspective! I adored this. Cooper and Oliver are fascinating, complex characters, and their slow-burn relationship is impeccably done. Although I did wish for more of a climactic moment/aftermath than the build-up set us up for, the whole book is well worth the read and I'm excited to move on to the next book in the series!



Knowing what I know now about this book, would I still read it if I went back in time?
Absolutely!


 See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book



CHARACTERS: Our MC is Cooper Dayton, an ex-FBI agent who moved to the BSI (Bureau of Supernatural Investigation) after a wolf attack that left him with a fascinating injury (one that really spoke to me, since it involves the stomach!). He's a prickly bastard who always has his guard up because he's constantly being forced to prove himself and defend his life choices from his family. He's competent and complex, especially in dealing with his understanding of werewolves based on his past and present experiences with them. Though we don't have his POV, our other MC is Oliver Park, who I truly adore. He's an alpha in a very understated way. Masterfully portrayed at how innate and natural it is for him. I love his temperament the most and the dichotomy between their dispositions. They're wonderfully realistic and easy to sympathize with. Even though we still don't have all the answers by the end of this book, we get enough to truly want more.


PLOT: Working together as the first wolf/human pair between the BSI and the Trust (Wolf government), Cooper and Oliver are sent to a small town in Maine to investigate murders that look suspiciously like werewolf attacks. Throughout the mystery, they're both forced to reckon with their worldviews changing after being in such close proximity with each other. The push and pull of the developing relationship mirrors the one step forward, two steps sideways of their investigation. The plot remains fairly slow-paced, yet it works well because we have such compelling characters to follow.



EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.

3:5/medium. I think it could have been higher if certain plot points were heightened, but this was still a solidly immersive read with a HFN.




CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled? 

75%. As always, I was disappointed in the final climactic moment and aftermath, as both felt they missed the high mark that the rest of the plot builds up to. However, we're still only in book one and I think things wrapped up just well enough to leave me content and eager to read book two without cliffhangers!