Review: Blood and Rain by Glenn Rolfe

Before Graeme Reynolds’ excellent High Moor series, I wasn’t a fan of werewolves. But Reynolds made a believer out of me, and so I’m always on the lookout for the next big thing in lycanthrope fiction. So when I saw that Glenn Rolfe had penned a book called Blood and Rain and when I saw that it had a giant werewolf on the cover, I knew I had to check it out. I was not disappointed.

It’s been years since the “Full Moon Monster” terrorized the unsuspecting residents of Gilson Creek, Maine, leaving death and destruction in its wake. But time has not dulled the memory of some in the town, including the sheriff who may know more about the true nature of the beast than he is willing to admit. Now the full moon is rising again, and the sleeping beast prepares to awaken. Who will live? Who will die? And who will join the ranks of the werewolf?

There’s little that’s more difficult than to take a known trope and make it interesting and new, but Rolfe pulls it off. And he does so by focusing his efforts on the human characters that are hunted by the monster. By the time the full moon rises, we know Gilson’s Creek. We know the people who live there, who frequent Mel’s Diner, who spend lazy afternoons at the lake. And so when they are in danger, we care. We have a great villain to root against, and heroes to cheer for. Many more experienced, more celebrated writers could learn from Rolfe.

If you love werewolves, you’ll love Blood and Rain. But make no mistake, this is a book that any fan of horror could enjoy. So check it out. And when the full moon rises, lock your doors.

4.5 Stars.