The Pack: Winter Kill [Paperback]

Mike Oliveri (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2009

For generations, the northern Minnesota mountain region has been a haven for peaceful hikes and breath-taking scenery. But when tourists suddenly turn up dead, FBI special agents Angela Wallace and Brian Shilling are called in to investigate, only to discover that the murders are part of a deadlier, supernatural mystery. In the series fiction debut, THE PACK: WINTER KILL, Bram Stoker Award winning author, Mike Oliveri gives us the first salvo in a crime, supernatural thriller that reimagines the werewolf mythos in a way you'll never see coming.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Oliveri is the author of the Bram Stoker Award-winning novel, "Deadliest of the Species". His horror fiction has appeared in critically acclaimed editions of "Brimstone Turnpike", "New Dark Voices" and "Dark Arts", among others. Oliveri has also written the comic book limited series, "Werewolves: Call of the Wild".

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Evileye Books (December 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982578911
• ISBN-13: 978-0982578919
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,109,283 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mike Oliveri is a writer, a martial artist, cigar aficionado, amateur photographer, and motorcyclist, but not necessarily in that order. He grew up in the Chicago area and currently resides near Peoria, Illinois, with his wife and three children.

Mike is writing the series THE PACK for Evileye Books, which will include both prose books and graphic novels. The first book, Winter Kill, is available in trade paperback and for the Kindle. Book 2, Lie with the Dead, will be available soon. The series is a follow-up to the comic book mini-series Werewolves: Call of the Wild, published by Moonstone Books.

Mike's first novel, Deadliest of the Species, won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. He has written several novellas and short stories in the horror and thriller genres and has appeared in works from publishers such as Cemetery Dance and Delirium Books.

Mike studies Shuri-ryu Karate and is currently a first-degree brown belt. He has also dabbled in Judo, Kendo (Japanese sword), Kobudo (traditional Okinawan weapons), and Haganah (an Israeli martial art). His love for martial arts and motorcycles frequently makes its way into his work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Tight, Fast, Fun Read, February 9, 2010

By 

William M Miller (Bronxville, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Pack: Winter Kill (Paperback)

This is my first experience with author Mike Oliveri and I'm quite impressed. His dialogue is some of the tightest, most crisp I've read in a long time, reminiscent of the great Tom Piccirilli. I had no knowledge of the background of these characters which apparently were part of a limited comic book series, but I had no trouble catching up with the new problems in their lives.

Oliveri writes with an incredible economy of words, and while this book is a bit short for a novel, I always prefer quality over quantity and his book has it in spades. The pacing, the realistic violence, and the palpable suspense had me hooked on every page. The $13 price tag for a paperback is bit much, however, but the thicker paper stock, book design, and story make it worth owning. There were a couple typos that should have been discovered during the editing stage, so hopefully Evileye will clean things like this up for the next installment.

I did find it a little confusing and maybe a bit misleading how the back cover claims the book "reimagines the werewolf mythos in a way you'll never see coming". This statement makes it seem as if the book is groundbreaking in some way, and while I totally enjoyed the story, anyone who has read a lot of werewolf material will know that this book certainly did not "reimagine" the mythos nor give you a twist that you can "never see coming". Those claims are a bit exaggerated. Don't get me wrong though, this is still one of the best reads of the year and I will gladly come back for another tale.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Pack: Winter Kill - Graphic!, July 17, 2011

By 

Jennifer Morrell (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Pack: Winter Kill (Paperback)

Hi, I was lead to this by Jason Starr's "The Pack" which recommends this graphic novel. I love graphic novels and have been reading them for, well that would date me too much, a very long time.
This one does stand out as an original tale. Not only that but beautifully done. I have grown tired of the romance werewolf's tales, but this is not that! "Winter Kill" actually has given me hope that there are some writers out there who do not stick to the cookie cutter werewolf story. I have a renewed interest again in the werewolf stories.
If you are tired of all the romance ones, pick this up. It is different, exciting, and I loved it.
Jenn

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Winter Kill' slaughters expectations, November 15, 2010

By 

Adam T. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Pack: Winter Kill (Paperback)

For the sake of transparency, I have known Mike Oliveri since high school, where the pinhead worked as our IT guy and scholastic bowl coach. But I promise I won't hold those experiences against him in this review.

I went into "Winter Kill" not really knowing what to expect. I had read Mike's first novel "Deadliest of the Species" years ago and had read several of his short stories. I've never been much of a sci-fi/horror person, but I wanted to check out this latest project and see what it was all about.

Upon reading the book, which happened in about three sittings, I found myself amazed with the end result. All I knew heading in was that it was a book about werewolves, but it's really so much more. "Winter Kill" is at its core a thriller about gun smuggling, racial prejudice and a sense of mystery surrounding a Minnesota family and their guests, both welcome and uninvited.

The werewolf mythology of the book takes a back seat to the drama and great storytelling that unfolds around it. Until the book's ultimate climax, there is little that leads the reader to any hairy conclusions about the book's mythical beasts.

The storytelling of "Winter Kill" drives this book to success. Mike has found a voice as a writer and uses it to captivate the reader and draw them into the events unfolding around them. His narrative style uses short chapters and smooth-flowing dialogue and exposition, which makes "Winter Kill" an enjoyable read for any adult with even the slightest interest in literature.

Knowing there's more to come from "The Pack" series leaves me with a sense of great anticipation. This book will hopefully be the launching pad for a continued line of solid products and success for this prospering author. It also offers a great visual story for any brash, young Hollywood directors out there looking to capitalize on the supernatural craze emanating from American pop culture right now.

Personal relationships and histories aside, I would unbiasedly recommend this book to anyone who asks.