Author Cary J. Griffith originally published this book in 2013 as Wolves. Now, it has been reedited and rebranded as Wolf Kill, the first in a four book Sam Rivers mystery series. I don’t know what Griffith and his editor, Mary Logue, changed, but this is a riveting book set in northern Minnesota, close to the Canadian border.
Even though his head was blown off, the sheriff and coroner identified attorney Williston Winthrop. His four gun and card-playing buddies said he must have tripped over his gun, although that would have been unusual for the man who hunting regularly and continued his family’s generations-long practice of slaying wolves. But, it looked like Winthrop was dead, and there are plenty in the area, including the sheriff, who are happy to see the cruel man gone.
Perhaps the person happiest to hear the news is Winthrop’s son, Sam Rivers. Twenty years earlier, after a violent fight with his abusive father, Sam left town, changed his name, and became everything his father hated. Rivers is a wildlife biologist, a special agent for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service who investigates unusual occurrences involving wildlife. But, he specializes in wolves.
Now that his father is dead, Rivers can come home and claim the money that he and his mother hid. But, Rivers isn’t the young boy who ran away. Now, when his father’s old buddies see him, they see a powerful man who spends his time in the wilderness. When they claim that wolves went into Winthrop’s barn and killed his cattle, they don’t realize an expert will be called in to check out that claim; Sam Rivers. Sam knows there’s something wrong with the scene as well as the prints left behind. And, the more he noses around, the more he thinks there’s something funny about his father’s death.
While authors such as William Kent Krueger and Brian Freeman raved about the ambiance, the setting and cold environment of this book, I was impressed with Griffith’s characters. Winthrop and his cronies are despicable men who get what they deserve. Sam Rivers is no super hero. He’s a man who took one lesson to heart, a lesson from his father. “Surprise is what you hunt. Not the animal. Look for the unexpected place they feel secure.” When Sam Rivers goes hunting in this book, he looks for the unexpected place a man feels secure.
I hope the second Sam Rivers mystery is as compelling as the first.
Cary J. Griffith’s website is https://www.carygriffith.com/
Wolf Kill by Cary J. Griffith. Adventure Publications, 2021. ISBN 9781647550572 (paperback), 256p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a .PDF for a journal review.
There seems to be a lot of this re-editing, rebranding and re-publishing going around lately. I wonder what’s behind the movement?
I don’t know, Glen, other than Sandy’s note below, and that would be specific for this book.
I suspect that Wolves was hard for readers to find since anyone searching for that would get all sorts of books about wolves and the mystery would get lost in there. But this sounds good enough that I put in a purchase request at the library. I’m not anywhere near my 60 request limit for the year.
I love that your library allows you to put in 60 purchase requests a year, Sandy. So many libraries are skimpy with requests.
Sounds good. I am a fan of Mary Logue’s Claire Watkins series.
I knew some readers might recognize Mary Logue’s name, Jeff, which is why I mentioned it. Sometimes, that connection is important.
Dallas is getting five copies–which is a lot for this system—so I now have a hold on one. Number one on the holds list to boot.
As to the editing/rebranding/reissuing thing….. I am seeing a lot of this as well. Far more than it used to be. I think some of this is driven by publishers picking up self published books that did decently sales wise, the publishing consolidation as many smaller presses have shut down or been absorbed in recent years, authors that get their rights back as contracts end, etc. I have no idea what applies in this case. It does seem to me the previous title might have been hard to find.
Wow! I’m surprised they’re getting five copies. I can’t wait to read your review, Kevin, whenever it comes out. I have the feeling this one might have been #1 or #2 in your suggestions. It was just a good book.