Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf.
One is burned at the stake.
Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.
And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…
Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is back living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion. The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie’s curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.
Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie’s life, and everything she holds dear…
Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…
It's my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for The Howling by Michael J. Malone today. Many thanks to Orenda Books and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for my advance copy of the book.
As Autumn heralds the start of the spooky season, it's the perfect time to settle down with another supernatural thriller from Michael J. Malone. The Howling is the third book in his Annie Jackson Mysteries series and this darkly immersive gothic tale is his best to date. I would recommend reading The Murmurs and The Torments if possible because this story is best enjoyed in its entirety but readers starting here are still guaranteed a compelling treat.
As always with this series, the riveting present day storyline is enriched further by chapters set in the past; following the Scottish Parliament's Witchcraft Act, fear and superstition caused neighbours to turn on one another and innocents, including children were mercilessly put to death. There are also chapters which explore more recent historical failings too, and Drew's story is an all-too familiar tale of institutional neglect and ignorance. These two subplots are seamlessly intertwined with the main storyline as Annie and her twin brother, Lewis are drawn into a perilous investigation on behalf of the woman who once tried to kill her.
Annie has returned to her peaceful solitude in the cottage where her murmurs – malevolent voices which signal the grisly predictions of an imminent death – are quietened. She agrees to leave her home, however, following a visit from Lewis and his girlfriend, Clare who bring good news and an audacious request from Sylvia Lowry-Law, who is now locked up in a high-security hospital. Annie meets with her old enemy and reluctantly consents to help her but although Sylvia appears more frail and vulnerable, she remains a wily manipulator. Annie and Lewis are soon thrust into danger as those who come too close to exposing the dark secrets of a powerful, shady cabal meet a sudden end. Michael J. Malone conveys a deeply unsettling sense of threat throughout The Howling but at some points the narrative becomes almost unbearably tense.
The chapters which follow Andra and Drew are infused with ancient myths and lore and give the book its title, but while the supernatural elements here are intriguing, The Howling is also a fascinating, sombre examination into how those who are different have been historically treated by society. Michael J. Malone also reminds us that the worst monsters are more likely to be found in positions of influence and power, than in the tormented behaviour of terror-stricken children.
As events reach their dramatic conclusion in nerve-shreddingly climactic scenes, the bloody denouement makes for breathlessly compulsive reading. With tempting mentions that there may be some way for Annie's terrible curse to finally be lifted, it looks as though Michael J. Malone has further stories up his sleeve. This richly imaginative novel marries a suspenseful, atmospheric plot with empathetic, vibrant characterisation and the beautifully lyrical writing which is such a hallmark of this brilliant author. I loved it and cannot recommend it highly enough.
The Howling is published by Orenda Books and can be ordered from their website, further purchasing links can be found here.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
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Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. Other published work includes: Carnegie’s Call; A Taste for Malice; The Guillotine Choice; Beyond the Rage; The Bad Samaritan; and Dog Fight. His psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and the critically acclaimed House of Spines and After He Died soon followed suit. Since then, he’s written two further thought-provoking, exquisitely written psychological thrillers In the Absence of Miracles and A Song of Isolation, cementing his position as a key proponent of Tartan Noir and an undeniable talent. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr.
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