Marc Daniel

GoodbooksToday.com

 

“Author Marc Daniel generates a healthy dose of conflict; internal turmoil and a little bit of romance all cumulating into a well-rounded novel.” - GoodbooksToday.com Reviews

 

Chief Deputy Mark Sullivan is found dead in his home, another cop killed in a string of murders. However, this one was different, the other victims were killed execution style, Deputy Chief Sullivan looked like he had been attacked by animals. Lieutenant Steve Harrington was called to investigate and after surveying the crime scene he knew he needed a different kind of expert, so he called his old friend Michael Biorn. Shortly after arriving on the scene, Michael immediately knows something is off, but finds he cannot share what he knows to those investigating and soon finds his own life is at stake. Calling on the help of a few special friends, Michael soon discovers the truth is much worse than even he initially thought.

 

Shadow Pack delivers an energetic read with many twists and turns. The multiple story lines are interesting and have been interwoven well, giving the reader an exciting mystery. The chapters are shorter than most novels, however this style of writing kept the momentum strong, making Shadow Pack a page-turner right from the beginning. Protagonist Michael Biorn’s back-story was expertly placed throughout the book with the author having developed a strong, likeable character. Author Marc Daniel generates a healthy dose of conflict; internal turmoil and a little bit of romance all cumulating into a well-rounded novel. Although the writing is more reminiscent of that for young adults, mystery lovers of all ages will find this story to be a satisfying read with well-developed characters.

 

Shadow Pack was a provocative read making it impossible to put down. The author would do well to continue the story of Michael Biorn as he is sure to find his audience will demand more.

 

 

 

San Francisco Book Review

Star Rating: 3.5/5

 

Cops in Texas are being murdered. They look like mob hits, but someone has gotten creative and is using a wolf as the murder weapon. When Lieutenant Harrington catches the most recent case, he calls in his old army buddy, Michael Biörn, a park ranger living in Yellowstone, an expert on wolves... and not entirely human, as Harrington had seen one bloody day in Somalia. Michael’s conclusion: werewolves.

 

But some things don’t add up. When Harrington suffers the same fate as the victim they are investigating, Michael gets drawn into a shadow conflict between the mob, the werewolves, and the local cops who can’t quite prove he’s involved. As the violence escalates and the level of praeternatural involvement increases, Michael will have to unravel the increasingly complex threads of conspiracy and stand alone to protect the few people he’s come to care about, but he has one advantage – he is something far older, stronger, and more savage than any mere werewolf.

 

Marc Daniel’s Shadow Pack is a fast-moving, no-frills mob thriller/murder mystery with werewolves. The story is bloody and action-packed, and the plot is compelling enough to keep you turning pages. The writing style is straightforward and simple, though a bit heavy on exposition, which, combined with the pace of the plot, made character development feel more artificial than organic. The ending of the book feels somewhat forced, with all the various threads tied up and presented a little too neatly. The result is a book that may be better suited toward targeting a YA audience. A handful of minor typos also appear, but they are not severe enough to distract from the story.

 

These quibbles aside, Shadow Pack is a healthy beginning to the career of an author who, clearly, enjoyed writing it. I will be interested to see what he produces in the future.