A strong sequel with well-developed characters whom readers will stick with to the end.
Werkmeister presents the second installment of a supernatural thriller series that combines spy intrigue with classic werewolf tropes.
The story begins in the Southwestern deserts of Arizona, where police detectives John Lightfoot and Ed Stackhouse are reeling from yet another murder—and this time, it involves one of their own: Trooper Roger Pearl has been found dead on the side of a highway after stopping to investigate a disabled Jeep. Both the cop and the Jeep’s driver, a civilian, were viciously torn apart, as if by a huge, predatory beast. They’re the seventh and eighth victims of an apparent serial killer on the loose. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, FBI Special Agent Terri Watson—the hero of Volk(2024)—is tracking down leads and suspects in a widespread car theft ring that seems to have ties to Russian organized crime. As Terri and her colleague, Alex, begin to piece together the connections between the activities in Philadelphia and the murders outside Phoenix, readers discover that someone is not who they claim to be, and they’re playing a dangerous game, indeed. As the plotlines on two sides of the country quickly intertwine, readers effectively get a glimpse into the inner workings of a werewolf’s life, and they learn that he’s not only a sort of demigod, but also an online pot-stirrer. Despite his murderous past, readers will feel a sort of conspiratorial thrill at the cat-and-mouse game that the lycanthrope describes: “Was killing that cop a mistake? I know they’ll be after me like a fat kid chasing the Mr. Softee truck. But I’m smarter than them. They won’t catch me.” Overall, this novel moves quickly; there’s no shortage of action, and Werkmeister seamlessly weaves the work’s several perspectives together. In addition, there’s old-world mysticism alongside the modern law enforcement intrigue that will satisfy fans of both fantasy novels and thrillers.
A strong sequel with well-developed characters whom readers will stick with to the end.Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2024
ISBN: 9798991499101
Page Count: 264
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
An existential crisis that steps on its own final moments.
With only a month left until the world ends due to a swiftly approaching black hole, Don and Rodney, a retired gay couple, road-trip from Maine to Washington to spend their final days with their son.
After reports that a planet-swallowing black hole is making its way toward Earth, Rodney and Don—who have been together for 40 years and survived everything from homophobia to the HIV crisis—decide to pack their belongings into an RV, say goodbye to their neighbors, and travel from Camden, Maine, to Washington to uphold a promise to spend their final days with their son. They can’t wait any longer, since there’s already chaos around the country: “Military vehicles in the streets of most cities and towns. Looting, rioting, the burning of cars and buildings and people, all of it had already happened.” As they make their way west across the country, they encounter fellow travelers ranging from close-knit families to free-spirited hippies, some of whom have come to terms with the impending end of the world and others who haven’t. While the story seems to be asking readers what they would do if they had 30 days left to live, and reflects on what different kinds of acceptance might look like in the face of unavoidable tragedy, it loses some of its poignancy in a series of thinly padded monologues about the meaning of life. Clearly intended to pack an emotional punch, it’s failed by an abrupt ending, and the way the journey’s mystery—which will be obvious to many readers—is revealed by an info dump in the last chapter.
An existential crisis that steps on its own final moments.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781250881236
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Tor
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A tender reminder that gratitude is a path we choose, one conversation at a time.
In Green’s inspirational novel, a journalist boarding the wrong train discovers the right moment to speak the words that matter.
Daniel arrives at the Beacon station carrying a leather notebook filled with an unfinished eulogy for his still-living grandfather, only to be swept onto the mysterious 5:07 Gratitude Express, a steam locomotive that appears “for those who want to express gratitude.” His uncanny journey sends him through vividly rendered moments from his own life, where he witnesses the ripple effects of kindnesses he has offered and reunites—sometimes for the first time—with people who were permanently shaped by those actions. Each stop brings a new encounter: A childhood classmate says, “That morning, you altered the course of my life”; an elderly woman confesses, “Your simple act of kindness saved me that day”; a mentor tells him, “You need to figure out what you’re good at and what you like to do. Because when you do that, your potential is limitless.” By the time Daniel reaches Cedarville, intent on seeing his grandfather—the person who most profoundly shaped him—his reflections echo the conductor’s warning that “Time is unpredictable, and unsaid words bring pain and regret.” What follows is a moving affirmation of connection that honors the story’s central message: Appreciation should be expressed to the living. Green structures the narrative as a fable, with emotional clarity and cinematic pacing. The train’s dissolving walls, the recurring whistle rising “high into the dark sky,” and the symbolic briefcase filled with long-kept letters lend the tale a gentle magical-realist texture. While the storyline remains linear and accessible for all ages, the themes—regret, legacy, and intergenerational love—invite adult reflection. The prose is simple, intentionally so, grounding the fantastical elements in an earnest emotional register. This is not a plot-twist-driven story; it’s a quiet parable urging readers to act before time steals their chances. Readers who appreciate heartfelt, uplifting narrative journeys will find resonance in Green’s message.
A tender reminder that gratitude is a path we choose, one conversation at a time.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
ISBN: 9798891385252
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 13, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
