Book Review: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock

Kathleen Peacock

404 Pages

Published May 8th, 2012

Fans of Maggie Stiefvater and the hit television show True Blood will flock to this first book in the supernatural mystery series set in a town where werewolves live in plain sight.
Mackenzie Dobson's life has been turned upside down since she vowed to hunt her best friend Amy's killer: a white werewolf. Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country, and bloodlust is not easy to control. But it soon becomes clear that dangerous secrets are lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, Mac's hometown—and she is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her in grave danger.
Kathleen Peacock's thrilling debut novel provides readers with a mystery that Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder, calls "clever and frightening," while Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author ofFirelight, raves: "Forget every werewolf book you've ever read. This one breaks the mold."

I'd been hearing rave reviews about this book for months and months before I picked it up.. I'm almost glad I waited because now I can get a hold of the second book without waiting! Hemlock exceeded my expectations and I loved it, even though I'm not normally a fan of werewolf books.

Werewolves are common knowledge where Mac is from. Her best friend was murdered by a werewolf and she'll stop at nothing to figure out who the killer was, though everyone else seems to have put the death behind them. Reading a story where the presence of these mythical beasts was well known and out in the open was different and quite refreshing. Most stories focus on the craziness of this concept, on the hiding of it. Hemlock is different, and different is almost always good in my book.

Mac was a strong character with many problems. She has no parents, but does have some very good friends, one of which.. you'll have to read and see. I loved her and all the rest of the characters, though I must say there were a heck of a lot of wolves in this little town. They just kept popping up out of the blue and I sat there again and again going: "whoa, you're one of them too?!" This book was quite a shocker.

Overall it was a great story that I finished in what I think was two sittings. A quick break for a bubble bath and some supper and I was back at this one. The good thing about waiting so long to read this one is that I can read the sequel asap!