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The Wolf Wants In

Written by: Laura McHugh
Narrated by: Suzanne Elise Freeman, Tara Turnbull
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Publisher's Summary

"Calling all fans of Sharp Objects and the third season of True Detective: You need to read Laura McHugh." (Refinery29)

"A perfect thriller...a thoughtful commentary on America’s opioid crisis and an utterly satisfying mystery." (Janelle Brown, New York Times best-selling author of Watch Me Disappear)

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by Library Journal

Sadie Keller is determined to find out how her brother died, even if no one else thinks it’s worth investigating. Untimely deaths are all too common in rural Blackwater, Kansas, where crime and overdoses are on the rise, and the small-town police force is consumed with the recent discovery of a child’s skull in the woods. Sadie is on her own, delving into the dark corners of a life her brother kept hidden and unearthing more questions than answers.

Eighteen-year-old Henley Pettit knows more than she’d like to about the seedy side of Blackwater, and she’s desperate to escape before she’s irreparably entangled in her family’s crimes. She dreams of disappearing and leaving her old life behind, but shedding the past is never easy, and getting out of town will be far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

As more bones are found in the woods, time is running out for Sadie to uncover the truth and for Henley to make her escape. Both women are torn between family loyalties and the weight of the secrets they carry, knowing full well that while some secrets are hard to live with, others will get you killed.

Like Laura McHugh’s previous award-winning thrillers, The Weight of Blood and Arrowood, The Wolf Wants In is an atmospheric, beautifully told novel that barrels toward a twisting, chilling end and keeps us listening to find out how these small-town secrets will unravel - and who will survive.

Praise for The Wolf Wants In:

"The Wolf Wants In perfectly balances gripping suspense with stunning, lyrical prose - a rare combination, but one that seems to be McHugh’s signature gift. Atmospheric and chilling, this novel takes place in the twisted, destructive wake of the opioid crisis as one woman struggles for justice and another for redemption. A truly thrilling read." (Jill Orr, author of the Riley Ellison mysteries)

©2019 Laura McHugh (P)2019 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“[An] intelligent thriller...elegant plotting, finely honed character studies, and lyrical prose.... This emotionally resonant tale will also appeal to literary-fiction readers.” (Publishers Weekly starred review)

“In a small, dead-end Kansas community devastated by the opioid epidemic, two young women grapple with dark family secrets.... Readers will become invested in the struggles of the well-drawn lead protagonists; the stoic and resourceful Henley will especially remind Daniel Woodrell fans of Ree Dolly, the heroine of Winter’s Bone. Inspired by the still-unresolved sudden death of McHugh’s brother, this third novel is atmospheric grit lit with emotional depth.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“If you’re looking for a writer who understands Midwestern life from the grand scales of economic and social contracts down to its tiniest customs and stoic beauty, look no further. Laura McHugh is the queen of the haunted heartland. Every scene simmers with hope and dread, making it impossible to rest until I knew these characters’ fates. An absolute must-read.” (Mindy Mejia, author of Leave No Trace)

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