12 Best Werewolf Books in 2016 for Fiction & Thriller Novels

12 Best Werewolf Books in 2016 for Fiction & Thriller Novels

I have long held a fascination with werewolves. They have a compelling and elusive mythology. I have created a timeline of werewolf books as well. Below is a list of the twelve best werewolf books in 2016 for fiction and thriller novels.

Each of the below books on werewolves offered something unique or compelling to warrant ranking in this list and they are not listed in any particular order. If there is a particular book that you think is missing from this list please comment below and I will be sure to add it to the list.

Top Werewolf Books of 2016

Wolfland book
Wolf Land

by Jonathan Janz
ISBN-10: 1619231166
ISBN-13: 978-1619231160

An unholy predator on the prowl! The small town of Lakeview offers little excitement for Duane, Savannah, and their friends. They’re about to endure their ten-year high school reunion when their lives are shattered by the arrival of an ancient, vengeful evil. The werewolf. The first attack leaves seven dead and four wounded. And though the beast remains on the loose and eager to spill more blood, the sleepy town is about to face an even greater terror. Because the four victims of the werewolf’s fury are changing. They’re experiencing unholy desires and unimaginable cravings. They’ll prey on the innocent. They’ll act on their basest desires. Soon, they’ll plunge the entire town into a nightmare. Lakeview is about to become Wolf Land.

Amazon Link


High Moor (High Moor #1)

by Graeme Reynolds
ISBN 095701032X
ISBN13: 9780957010321

When John Simpson hears of a bizarre animal attack in his old home town of High Moor, it stirs memories of a long forgotten horror. John knows the truth. A werewolf stalks the town once more, and on the night of the next full moon, the killing will begin again. He should know. He survived a werewolf attack in 1986, during the worst year of his life. It’s 1986 and the town is gripped in terror after the mutilated corpse of a young boy is found in the woods. When Sergeant Steven Wilkinson begins an investigation, with the help of a specialist hunter, he soon realises that this is no ordinary animal attack. Werewolves are real, and the trail of bodies is just beginning, with young John and his friends smack in the middle of it. Twenty years later, John returns to High Moor. The latest attack involved one of his childhood enemies, but there’s more going on than meets the eye. The consequences of his past actions, the reappearance of an old flame and a dying man who will either save or damn him, are the least of his problems. The night of the full moon is approaching and time is running out. But how can he hope to stop a werewolf, when every full moon he transforms into a bloodthirsty monster himself?

Amazon Link

Werewolf Book 2016
The Wolf of Dorian Gray: A Werewolf Spawned by the Evil of Man

by Brian Ference
ISBN-10: 0998325201
ISBN-13: 978-0998325200

“Rarely does romance and revenge intersect so pleasurably and delicately, forming a dance of passion and purpose that embraces a soul search and a confrontation between choices of salvation and sin.” – Midwest Book Review

“A delectable page turner. An excellent debut by Brian Ference. Full of excitement, anticipation, and rich scenery.” – Pavan

“It has something for everyone with action, romance, and mystery.” – Rachel

Complete with adventurous romance, harrowing escapes, hell-bent revenge, and a werewolf terrorizing the gentry; The Wolf of Dorian Gray transcends this classic work of literature into a compelling and most delicious read. What will happen when the wolf comes to London? Can Dorian save his soul? Or will the beast consume it and his life, along with those of his friends and loved ones?

Amazon Werewolf Books Link

Immortality’s Touchstone (Lycan Fallout #4)
by Mark Tufo
ISBN13
9781370273034

Can Mike battle back from the final outcome? Now that the world needs him the most. New and old threats emerge to claim a war-ravaged world on the verge of collapse. Lana, Bailey and Azile the Red Witch have assembled all that remains of man in one final battle that could determine the fate of mankind forever. And it just might not be enough.

Amazon Link


The Circle Gathers (Veil Knights Book 1)

by Rowan Casey
ASIN B01MSP0HYG

Three years ago, Jessie “the Berserker” Noble was at the top of the MMA fight game, a world-title contender with a brilliant future ahead of her. Then the visions started and her world came crashing down. Hard. Now Jessie’s a shadow of her former self, taking no-holds barred fights in the underground circuit to earn just enough to buy the drugs she needs to keep the horrible things she sees at bay. When a man named Dante Grimm tells her she’s the modern incarnation of a champion of old and that she and her soon-to-be companions are desperately needed to hold back the darkness to come, Jessie thinks he’s as insane as she is.

But Grimm’s far from crazy. There is a battle coming the likes of which the world hasn’t seen in centuries, a battle against a foe straight out of their worst nightmares. And for them to succeed, Jessie going to have to dive deep into the heart of the very thing she’s been running from all this time – her visions.

Amazon Link


The Turning

by Micky Neilson
ISBN-10: 1535332530
ISBN-13: 978-1535332538

Years ago Brandon Frye was bitten, cursed to transform into a primal killing machine under the light of the full moon… until he met Celine, who introduced him to experimental pills meant to suppress the turning. Now, after a terrible tragedy has taken Celine’s life, Brandon boards a cruise ship bound for Alaska, intending to venture into the cold white north and never return.But when Brandon meets Ginny, he gains a second chance at love. Nevertheless, circumstances align against him: a storm is building, a hunter is on his trail, and the pills that are meant to prevent the turning…

Amazon Link  

Bane County: Forgotten Moon
by J R RICE
ASIN: B01GWRXAZQ 

The large river-island of Bane County has a troubled past; but some histories are eagerly forgotten, especially those written in blood. Nestled into the foothills of the National Wildlife Refuge, the small rural town of Silver Canyon seems idyllic to most; but a long-slumbering evil is about to reawaken.

Seventeen-year-old Bryce McNeel is your average teenage boy, living on a cattle ranch with his grandparents. Well, average genius, but he prefers to keep that fact to himself, no one likes a know-it-all. When Bryce learns of a series of grisly deaths and mutilations that occurred decades earlier, his curiosity gets the better of him. Together with his cousin, Jackson, Bryce sets out to learn more about the macabre event; but as they delve deeper into the history and legends of Bane County, the two boys are horrified by what they find.

Amazon Link


Hemlock Grove

by Brian McGreevy
ISBN 0374532915
ISBN13: 9780374532918

An exhilarating reinvention of the gothic novel, inspired by the iconic characters of our greatest myths and nightmares. The body of a young girl is found mangled and murdered in the woods of Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania, in the shadow of the abandoned Godfrey Steel mill. A manhunt ensues—though the authorities aren’t sure if it’s a man they should be looking for. Some suspect an escapee from the White Tower, a foreboding biotech facility owned by the Godfrey family—their personal fortune and the local economy having moved on from Pittsburgh steel—where, if rumors are true, biological experiments of the most unethical kind take place. Others turn to Peter Rumancek, a Gypsy trailer-trash kid who has told impressionable high school classmates that he’s a werewolf. Or perhaps it’s Roman, the son of the late JR Godfrey, who rules the adolescent social scene with the casual arrogance of a cold-blooded aristocrat, his superior status unquestioned despite his decidedly freakish sister, Shelley, whose monstrous medical conditions belie a sweet intelligence, and his otherworldly control freak of a mother, Olivia.

 
Wolf Hunt

by Jeff Strand
ISBN 0843964650
ISBN13: 9780843964653

Two small-time thugs are hired to transport a caged werewolf cross-country. But when the werewolf escapes, their lives are on the line if they can’t find the lycanthrope and get the beast back in his cage.

Amazon Link

 


The Rising (Blue River Chronicles)

by C.M. Meridian
ISBN13
9780620640053

The town of Greenwood had always enjoyed a placid, yet somewhat boring existence, being a haven for both nature enthusiasts and for its residence who wish to live a peaceful life. Tristan Cain however dreams of something bigger; to have a unique and exciting life. Little does he know that you have to be careful for what you wish for. Tristan thinks of himself as fairly normal; He has friends, needs to focus on his final exams and also deal with the reality of what it means to be a boyfriend, but there has always been something a little odd about him, and lately things seemed to be getting weirder. It started as a feeling of unease, but soon Tristan notices some strange men in town and there is an alarming increase in oddities around the town. Peculiarities in both his appearance and unnatural abilities, leads Tristan to believe that he is in fact not normal, and what’s worse, he seems to be the target of interest for the strange men, who Tristan believes are not what they seem. Reluctantly he accepts the help of his guardian and finds himself being pulled into the world of the supernatural, against his will, as he comes to suspect that he himself is not what he seems.

Amazon Link

Werewolf Smackdown
by Mario Acevedo
ISBN 0061567183
ISBN13: 9780061567186

Felix Gomez, Latino vampire detective extraordinaire, tackles a sexy werewolf cabal in Werewolf Smackdown, the fifth installment in Mario Acevedo’s satirical supernatural series. The author’s wonderfully twisted blend of comedy, horror, and detective noir.

Amazon Link

 

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)
by Maggie Stiefvater
ISBN 0545123267
ISBN13: 9780545123266

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Amazon Link

Chapter 2 – The Crime Scene Book 2 Purgatory of the Werewolf

Detective Inspector Gerald Clarke removed his black-wool felt bowler and ran his sweaty palm through the rapidly thinning hair in the center of his head.  He inspected the deep slashes in the wood floor that followed no discernible pattern. They were long and numerous, as if made by a deranged lunatic stabbing at the defenseless floor repeatedly. Splintered shards of glass and twisted metal littered the ground. The scene gave voice to the violent struggle that had taken place here. Fascinating. There was far too little blood to suggest that the victim had met his demise here as The Telegraph and the local constables had reported.

He was at a complete loss as to how Mr. Gray’s assailant had entered or exited the second story room. The interviews he had conducted with the servants all told the same story of an eccentric gentleman who regularly locked himself away at night alone. The five-centimeter thick steel bars on the door stood undiminished in a testament to their strength. Two constables had first reported the room soundly locked and completely empty. The Valet eventually turned up completely unaware of what had transpired and smelling of cheap wine from a night spent at a nearby Pub.  He swore that only Mr. Gray had the key that unlocked the bars to the room—and he had vanished without a trace. They summoned a locksmith, but the surly man had been unable to bypass the stubborn and expensive mechanisms preventing their entry. This had blocked him from making a more thorough investigation of the scene and limited him to observations made from outside of the room.

With that entrance eliminated, the assailant could have only entered through the large window overlooking the gardens below. The glass to the window was shattered and the metal frame bent and twisted outwards as if from an explosion. The lack of any burn marks made that theory unlikely. So what could have caused that level of damage? He had already examined the peaty soil in the garden below the window and the red clay tile of the roof above. Regrettably, the steady rain that had begun falling two days before his arrival had scrubbed away any clear signs that might be found there.

The only other items of note he observed in the room were a single overturned chair, a faded looking table, and a torn screen on the floor. That and of course the presumed murder weapon. It was a silver Garland knife covered in dried blood. The small blade appeared to have an engraved handle and was the sort of instrument that a nobleman would use for opening his letters.

The inspector reached his stout fingers through the bars. He needed to get through these confounding bars. Squeezing between them certainly wouldn’t work. He turned to stare at his reflection in the small mirror hanging in the hallway. He was a short and portly fellow, with long wispy sideburns. He assured his wife he did not grow them out to compensate for his diminishing hairline. No, the additional hair on the sides of his face merely added some warmth during the many cold nights spent in the service of Scotland Yard.

An audible click sounded and a smile came over the locksmith’s bearded face. “Ah, that’s got it. There you are, Inspector. A fine piece of workmanship this was, but no match for a determined mind.”

“A determined mind can overcome any problem, no matter how difficult. Thank you for your service, my good man. One of the constables downstairs will have your fee for you. You have my personal thanks as well as that of Scotland Yard. Constable McDonaugh, please come in here immediately.”

The eager young constable bounded up the steps from his assigned post with wide eyes, thirsty to take in the details of the mysterious crime scene. He was a sturdy lad, well-proportioned and just under two meters tall. His constable uniform was clean and neatly pressed. His face held a strong jaw with a precise beard and mustache that contained a hint of reddish tint. He carried himself well and would be mistook by many as an experienced constable, if not for the lack of confidence in his voice that identified him as newly trained recruit of the Metropolitan Police.

“Yes sir, Inspector. What is your pleasure, sir?”

“Constable, I want you to set a tight perimeter with the other men below. The door is finally unlocked and I want no one coming in or out until my analysis is complete. Conduct a rotating patrol of the entire grounds with a sweep every quarter hour.”

The man saluted and allowed his eyes to stray from the inspector’s face to the room behind him. “Right away. Erm, are you certain you won’t need my assistance with the crime scene?”

The notoriety of Mr. Gray, coupled with the baffling circumstances of his disappearance, had naturally aroused the curiosity of all of London. The police force was no exception. Nonetheless, the curiosity of the constable would not distract Inspector Clarke from the task at hand.

“That won’t be necessary, Constable. Now see to your duty.”

The man’s face fell visibly, before quickly changing to the blank stare that only a previously enlisted man could master. “Yes, sir.” He turned smartly on his heel and hastily retreated down the stairs. It was best to keep the constables busy with patrolling rather than standing around. A man felt more useful when put to action.

Now alone, Inspector Clarke slowly slid open the gate and entered the room. Upon closer scrutiny, he found that his earlier observations still held weight. There were precious few new details to discover after examining the floor and the overturned furniture. The jeweled knife handle bore several scratches and was well bloodied but offered little more. He moved over to the purple screen lying on the floor. It was made of an expensive-looking fabric that was thick and ornate, if not faded from age. This was the kind of material used to cover a statue or work of art in a gallery. He raised his eyes to the wall and gasped in surprise. The wall had been hidden from view until now.

There hung the most marvelous painting that Inspector Clarke had ever seen in his forty-two years. The colors were alive with life, a jubilant expression of passion and joy. The detail and brushwork were clearly the work of a master. He was no art enthusiast, but even his eyes could appreciate the skill displayed in the creation of this portrait.

Given the handsome features, muscular build, and disarming smile of the man featured in the painting, he could surmise that this was the likeness of Mr. Gray, the victim and the owner of the home. Mr. Gray was renowned for his good looks and infamous to the women of London. A painting of this quality would certainly have been very expensive to commission. Perhaps the claims of the victim’s tremendous wealth was not an exaggeration. It certainly provided a motive for either kidnapping or murder.

He made a few notes regarding the appearance and stature of Mr. Gray, before reluctantly averting his gaze and once more considered the crime scene. He scanned the writing he had jotted down in the vellum and cloth bound notebook that never left his side. Suddenly, something caught his eye near the window. He moved over for a closer examination. There between the jagged glass and bent metal, appeared to be a small clump of dark gray hair. The hair was matted and thick. He leaned in closer.

“Ugh, and foul smelling.” He made a note in his book.

Inspector Clarke carefully removed an embroidered white handkerchief from his pocket and brought it to his nose and mouth. The cluster of hair smelled of death and decay. It could have originated from a man. He imagined the hair that continued to grow on a corpse even after death.

Inspector Clarke had found it helpful to assist various doctors as they examined corpses during the course of an inquest. He had made several detailed drawings of the human anatomy in his notebook while assisting in multiple dissections. The deceased human body could give so many clues about the last few moments of life. He found the process of rigor mortis fascinating. As he grew more experienced in murder cases, he discovered he could roughly estimate how long ago death had occurred depending on the state of contraction in the muscles and the level of decomposition found in the body. His train of thought ground to a halt when a knock sounded at the entryway.

Constable McDonaugh stepped into the room. “The perimeter has been set, sir. And there is a Lord Crawley here to see you.”

Inspector Clarke frowned with annoyance. “I thought I said no visitors.”

The constable paused for a moment, as if unsure of his decision to inform the Inspector. “He says he knows the victim and has come on a matter of some importance.”

Inspector Clarke sighed. It was clear the young man had meant to do the right thing. “Very well, send him in.”

The constable dipped his head quickly and exited the room. A moment later, a tall man with short black hair and a thin mustache entered. He was a handsome man, in a dark and unconventional way. He wore a finely cut jacket and trousers that had seen some wear. They had once been expensive clothing but now were on the verge of becoming threadbare. It seemed that Lord Crawley had fallen on hard times.

The fellow smiled and gave a slight nod. “You must be Detective Inspector Clarke.”

Detective Clarke removed his hat. “At your service. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Crawley. I understand the victim was known to you?”

Lord Crawley’s smile vanished. “Yes. Mr. Gray and I were once very close and had a number of business dealings together.”

The Inspector tapped his pen to his chin. “Once?”

Lord Crawley began to frown. “That was some time ago and I have since had some rather bad luck that has kept me preoccupied. However, we did occasionally run into one another at certain establishments.”

The Inspector continued to push. “What sort of establishments?”

Lord Crawley’s face rose in color. “Er, I don’t see how that is relevant.”

“All details are relevant, Lord Crawley.”

“If you must know, we both shared an affinity for a particular imported whiskey that can only be found in certain exclusive clubs.”

“I see. Tell me, my lord, did you run into Mr. Gray on the night he was attacked?”

“As a matter of fact, I did. But I remained at the club while Mr. Gray returned home around midnight, as was his custom. He was quite peculiar about not being long away from home.”

The Inspector opened his notebook as if preparing to write. “There are witnesses who can corroborate this?”

A smile returned under the man’s mustache. “Yes, of course.”

Inspector Clarke made a notation in his book. “Are you aware of anyone who might have wished Mr. Gray harm?”

Lord Crawley paused for a moment as if considering his reply. “A man of his notoriety and wealth naturally makes enemies. There have also been rumors of his involvement with several married women.”

The Inspector closed his notebook carefully. “Yes, I have heard a great deal about such rumors. May I ask this matter of importance that you have come about?”

Lord Crawley reached into his waistcoat and removed a gold pocket watch. “Well, naturally I was quite concerned to hear of Mr. Gray’s fate and wanted to offer my assistance in any way possible.”

The Inspector saw the heavy gold chain and intricate engraving on the watch and decided Lord Crawley had not yet given up everything from his former lifestyle. “That’s quite considerate of you.”

Lord Crawley flipped open the pocket watch and consulted the time. “Yes. I was wondering if Mr. Gray left behind a will of any kind or perhaps an accounting of debts which he owed?”

The Inspector nodded. “Ah, now I understand the nature of your concern. But no, nothing of that sort has been discovered just yet.”

Lord Crawley returned his watch to a hidden seam in his waistcoat. “I fear you have misjudged me, Inspector. Such documents will become known in time. It is a small matter. Certainly, full effort must be made to bringing this killer to justice.”

The Inspector turned partially to look back at the room behind him. “Rest assured, that is my singular purpose. However, I am not fully convinced that he was murdered.”

Lord Crawley’s dark eyebrows rose a few centimeters. “The papers have been going on about it for some time now. Some are saying he faked his own death.”

Inspector Clarke chuckled. “I wouldn’t put so much stock in everything you read, son. The papers spend far too much time on sensationalism and very little on fact or science.”

Lord Crawley took a few steps forward and paused. “If I may?”

Inspector Clarke inclined his head as he intently observed the other man’s movements.

Lord Crawley carefully looked around while making sure to avoid contact with any items in the room. He simply peered at everything around him as though creating a sketch in his head of the scene. His gaze finally came to rest on the portrait that hung on the back wall.

“So, this is the painting he so loved. I can see the beauty in it and why it was his most valued possession.”

The Inspector moved closer. “Is there some significance to this painting?”

Lord Crawley removed a letter from his coat. “That is why I have come, Inspector. I have a letter here from one of Mr. Gray’s closest friends, the Lady Helena Rivera, formerly Lady Helena Wotton.”

“Lady Helena? That name seems familiar to me.”

“Yes, she has been writing to you for days. She would have come herself, but the weather has weakened her constitution somewhat and she asked that I come in her place.”

“Ah, now I remember. A Lady Helena requested that any paintings found in the locked room be given to her care for safe keeping.”

Lord Crawley dipped his head. “That is correct.”

Inspector Clarke removed his bowler but stopped himself from running his hand over his bald spot. “Well, tell Lady Helena that she is mad if she thinks I will release evidence to her during an active inquest.”

Lord Crawley scowled and his eyes began to gleam, as if hatching a scheme. “How is a painting evidence? The portrait is, however, the greatest work of the artist Sage Holdsworth. She was also close friends with Lady Helena. The two were business partners, you see. It follows that ownership of the painting now reverts to her as the only surviving partner. She demands that you relinquish her property at once. She intends to exhibit the work in a gallery as a tribute to both of her deceased friends.”

The lines in the Inspector’s brow knitted together. “Once the inquest is concluded, and the legality of these claims can be proven, then the painting will be released to the proper owner.”

Lord Crawley reached again into his coat and produced a second letter. “She thought you might say that.”

The Inspector cautiously reached for the letter. “What is this?”

Lord Crawley placed it in the Inspector’s hand with a flourish. “A letter from Chief Inspector Williamson requesting that you comply with her demand.”

Inspector Clarke’s face fell at the name. “Let me guess. Lady Helena is also friends with the Chief Inspector?”

Lord Crawley began putting on a pair of leather riding gloves. “Undoubtedly. She has far reaching connections, to be sure.”

Inspector Clarke took the letter and opened it. He carefully read the message and scrutinized the signature and seal closely. “Very well, you may remove the painting. But I caution Lady Helena that this matter will be raised again. I may need to examine it further and interview her myself.”

Lord Crawley was already moving towards the wall and carefully lifted the painting by its canvas sides. “As you say, Inspector. We are happy to cooperate.”

It was only about an hour after Lord Crawley had wrapped up the painting and taken it away when Inspector Clarke heard yelling outside on the front lawn, punctuated by gunfire.

Chapter 1 – A Fresh Start Book 2 Purgatory of the Werewolf

Chapter 1 – A Fresh Start Book 2 Purgatory of the Werewolf

Dorian felt uncharacteristically well rested after the night spent in Sage’s musty, yet comfortable mahogany four-poster bed. The rusty springs and well-worn frame sagged in all the right places. The several layers of feather mattresses seemed to envelop his body with an inviting embrace. The goose down pillows may have been old and faded, but the feathers inside were still soft and smooth. In a bed like this, it was easy to pretend that the events of the past week were simply part of some nightmare. He shook his blonde head and cleared the thought from his mind.

He closed his eyes with a sigh of contentment. With a flash, there appeared the snarling face and hideous form of the monster. Its bloodshot eyes knew where he was hiding and the long claws extended towards him, dripping with blood. Dorian’s eyes shot open. He had lingered here for too long. He needed to formulate a plan to escape before the beast found him again. He would wait until nightfall to leave. Then he would gather some funds and leave London immediately.

Dorian spent that afternoon chopping firewood with the old steel maul that he had found sunken into an oak stump. Once he had sharpened the edges, the ash logs split beneath his swing like butter. The repetition was soothing and he continued for several hours. He felt like each block of wood was a terrible deed from his former life. With each downswing, he smashed the memory into a thousand pieces. He cast his shirt aside, his muscles strained with each rhythmic blow until the hot rays of the sun pulled a sheen of sweat from his skin.

After he was done, he brewed a pot of black tea made using an antique Hester Bateman teapot. He had discovered it hanging forlornly above the stove. It was tarnished and dented, but it made the finest pot of tea Dorian had ever tasted. Dorian wished he could stay in this simple life forever. But he knew it couldn’t last.

Dorian would have to sneak into his own mansion without detection. He remembered his blood staining the hardwood floor. He had been gone long enough that anyone who saw the room would certainly think him dead.  He would return to his home and gather any small valuables that had not already been spirited away by the servants upon hearing of his death. But the most important thing was the painting. That wretched painting that had been the source of all his pain and misery. Yet it still held his secret. To leave it behind and unprotected would be unthinkable. He must retrieve the painting and vanish before anyone discovered he was still alive.

Despite Sage’s attempts to explain it to him, it was still beyond his understanding how that painting had linked his soul to the wolf. She had started the process by dabbling in Romani magic and had mentioned something about The Spell of Making to increase the realism of her painting. She told Dorian that she had foolishly mixed his and the wolf’s blood with her brushes and applied them to the canvas to achieve a deeper color of red. According to Sage, her biggest mistake had been combining these two actions with the third Romani art of naming. Sage had named the wolf cub that they had rescued little Dorian Grey and put all of herself into bringing the canvas to life. She had succeeded in the worst possible way and it had cost Sage her life.

Dorian had not even cared at the time. How could he have committed all those terrible deeds? He had killed innocent men, and even burned a man alive. As Dorian embraced his most base desires and set down his destructive path, the once innocent wolf had slowly begun to change. It became more gruesome and violent as if it were the living embodiment of his many sins. Dorian, however, was completely unchanged. He had gained eternal youth. Dorian was beginning to suspect that he might have developed other strange abilities as well.

It was his fault that Sage was dead. He had seen her killed right in front of him and done nothing. Perhaps that was when he had lost his soul. But that was all behind him now. Before he had awakened in the forest, he had been the real beast. Now he could feel the weight of his conscience and the fullness of his soul within his body again. He was a demon no longer.

There was still a very real demon out there somewhere. The lycanthrope. The sun had finally faded in the sky, casting a reddish light that played off the clouds and the dust of the fields. He slid back his chair and picked up a threadbare coat that he had found forgotten among Sage’s other possessions. He walked through to her art studio where he and Sage had spent so many days in innocence and laughter. He remembered with a smile the image of his friend at her easel as he played with the small wolf cub. Dorian and Sage had been best friends once and could have been more. But he had been so selfish and in love with the thrill of bedding as many women as he could. He saw now that she had loved him completely, maybe even more than her art.

His eyes felt moist and blurry as he looked at the empty easel still there in the corner. “I’m sorry Sage. Please forgive me.” She would never paint again.

Dorian turned and strode from the room. He locked and closed the door tightly behind him. He knew he could never come back again. Taking one more look around in the fading light, Dorian walked slowly to the woodpile and lifted the heavy handle of the steel maul. His thoughts went to the werewolf that prowled the night and his hand tucked the weapon into his coat.

Continue Reading Chapter 2 – The Crime Scene

My Indie Book Cover Redesign Journey

My Indie Book Cover Redesign Journey

The first version of the book cover for The Wolf of Dorian Gray – A Werewolf Spawned by the Evil of Man was a labor of love. I used my Photoshop background and went through several iterations to create my vision on the printed book cover. I was very pleased with it and many have responded that they love it. However, experts have informed me that it might not sell as well as a different design. Below are a few iterations of my indie book cover redesign journey. Please vote in the poll and comment and leave your feedback on what I have settled on for the changed book cover design for my self-published book.

Original Book Cover Design

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The Wolf of Dorian Grey A Werewolf Spawned by the Evil of Man by Brian S. Ference The Wolf of Dorian Grey A Werewolf Spawned by the Evil of Man by Brian S. Ference

Version Two of Redesigned Book Cover

In the version below I tried to add some color and contrast to make the photo jump out particularly when viewed very small. Notice the difference in the thumbnails.
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Version 3 of Indie Book Cover Redesign

I was pleased with version 2 above but several people still said they preferred the white and  I wanted to correct several “issues” such as the background being too busy and some other defects. I made another version with no Big Ben in the background although I hated removing it.

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Version 4 for my Self-Published Book Cover

Version 3 was an improvement but didn’t quite have the same amount of contrast. It was received very well but the thumbnail was a little hard to make out. Also despite my love of the font’s I was informed by the experts that certain font’s are as likely to sell the book. So I made some changes in the final version below such as lightening the werewolf. Please comment below is this better or worse that the original or other versions?

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Version 5 By Popular Demand

By popular demand, version 5 which is a combo of version 4 and the original but with new fog!

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Version 6 Updated Fonts

I wasn’t happy with some of the fonts so one more change. Less yellow, more color, and shadow on legs.

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