Official Review: To Catch a Wolf

Jorge Leon Salazar · Post by **Jorge Leon Salazar** » 17 May 2020, 10:23

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "To Catch a Wolf" by Chris Drewitt (http://chrisdrewittauthor.authorpage.co).]

4 out of 4 stars

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To Catch a Wolf by Chris Drewitt (http://chrisdrewittauthor.authorpage.co) is the first installment of The Wolf Pack Mysteries series. It is a sensational thriller, mystery, and crime novel. In 1965, the United States carries out Operation Deadwood in which they develop a virus called Masada to spread it in North Vietnam. Thereafter, an airplane containing the chemical weapon was stolen and never found. During years, the plane was believed to have fallen into the Atlantic. In 1981 the CIA learned that the aircraft crashed somewhere in the jungle of the fictional country Sierra Laputu, and the remains of the virus’s containers might be still in the crash site.

Admiral Carlton Hess, deputy director of the CIA, hires the mercenary Rafer Stuart, known in the underworld as The Wolf, to perform an operation that allows the remnants of the Masada to be recovered and destroyed therefore prevent a global scandal that might affect the reelection of the President of the United States. Mark Capricci, Operations Director for Carlton Hess, is also a member of the Italian mob, which is led by Caesar Falcone. Don Falcone finds out about the operation through Capricci and tries to sabotage it and manipulates the evidence of the existence of the Masada weapon to blackmail the President of the United States. At the same time, the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad, has infiltrated the operation through an Israeli-American spy woman. The Israelis also plan to reach the crash site to stop Stuart and retrieve the evidence of the weapon.

While Stuart and his group are carrying out the operation, a group of Sierra Laputu's military unintentionally overthrow the president of that country, and that further complicates matters. The Wolf and his team manage to land in the African forest. They must advance and reach an abandoned mine complex, but on their way, they face many life-death situations. Will Stuart and his people succeed on the mission? Or will The Wolf definitely be caught? Will the Italian mafia or the Israeli government be able to cease the operation and gather the Masada’s remnants?

The story is narrated from the third-person perspective. Initially, it turns a bit weighty to follow the development of the story since there are many characters and several plots that occur in parallel in different places. New York, Washington, London, Scotland, Tel Aviv, Spain, and Sierra Laputu are some of the places where the plots unfold. The author skillfully tried to establish a link to switch from one environment to another. Fitfully he merely implements a play on words. At some point, he could be recounting about Stuart and his fights in the African jungle and suddenly switch to a CIA’s office or Don Falcone's yacht. There are many characters; all of them are properly described and fulfill a specific role in the plot, even those who have a brief appearance.

The author demonstrates an impressive knowledge of the topics related to the story: weapons of all kinds, the intricacies of the intelligence services, African geography, ships, among others. Plus, he expresses precise references to aspects such as clothing brands, drinks, or restaurants, that makes the narration interesting and relatable.

I liked the writing style since it was descriptive and explicit, but it was open enough to leave readers with the ability to interpret or doubt. For example, it was confusing for me to see the justification of the operation to recover the remains of the weapon because I performed a lot of analysis. The dialogues are carefully constructed, they are fluid, and according to each situation and location.

There was nothing I dislike about this book. The story was entertaining, rousing, and unpredictable. Every so often it was crude since there are violence and murders, but that is to be expected in such a novel. The edition was outstanding, although I found some typos that I think do not disturb the reading. Therefore, I am pleased to rate To Catch a Wolf 4 out of 4 stars. I look forward to reading the upcoming installment in the series. I would recommend this book to those who like crime, mystery, and thriller genre, especially spy novels related to worldwide intelligence services. Of course, this novel is not suitable for children or any youth audience because of the themes explored, and there is a lot of violence.

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To Catch a Wolf

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To Catch a Wolf
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Finakaranja · Post by **Finakaranja** » 26 May 2020, 05:55

Great review! I'm definitely adding this to my bookshelf.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 26 May 2020, 10:14

An impressive description of what seems an intriguing mystery. I'm not sure it's the best time to read a story about the virus, but in the future I might feel more like doing that and look into the whole Wolf Pack Mysteries series. Thank you for your great review!

Wachira marvin · Post by **Wachira marvin** » 26 May 2020, 10:26

I think It's nice to read something familiar to what is happening currently in the word

Caffrey_19 · Post by **Caffrey_19** » 29 May 2020, 14:43

Based on how much this NCP has taken over the streets and organizations, I think this book is closer to reality than to fiction. It sounds detailing and captivating. Thanks for the review.

Samuel Windybank · Post by **Samuel Windybank** » 22 Jun 2020, 03:47

Excellent review. Very detailed. It sounds like a really interesting read!

Priyanka2304 · Post by **Priyanka2304** » 24 Jul 2020, 01:23

I really enjoyed reading your review. Would definitely try to read this book some day.

Buk Nerd · Post by **Buk Nerd** » 20 Jun 2021, 06:42

This book sounds like it's right up my alley. A sensational thriller, mystery, and crime novel with some espionage mixed in. Thanks for your review.

Aisha Yakub · Post by **Aisha Yakub** » 04 Jan 2022, 07:57

This is a "real fiction". Thanks for the review

Ay Obaj · Post by **Ay Obaj** » 26 Apr 2022, 05:49

I love it when books storyline are constructed perfectly, and contains every single element of thrill. A book like this will surely wow any reader. Thanks for a honest review.

Stevenmusk · Post by **Stevenmusk** » 08 Jun 2022, 10:33

Not my genre of books but I like the detailed nature of the review.

Chiamaka Ogadimma · Post by **Chiamaka Ogadimma** » 25 Aug 2022, 20:05

Your review is quite informative. You really did a great job. Well done

Stephen Pokoo · Post by **Stephen Pokoo** » 20 Oct 2023, 06:31

This review offers a thoughtful and comprehensive analysis of the book, providing valuable insights for readers.

Post by **Joshua Sawders** » 14 May 2024, 09:24

Well, howdy there! After reading this review of "To Catch a Wolf" by Chris Drewitt, I gotta say, this book sure seems like a good read! It's a thrilling blend of crime, mystery, and espionage set in different locations around the world. The author's knowledge about weapons, intelligence services, and African geography really shines through, making the story realistic and engaging. The plot seems action-packed and full of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. If you enjoy spy novels and stories about worldwide intelligence services, then this book might just be right up your alley! So grab yourself a copy and let the adventure begin! Yeehaw! Dynamic character dynamics, felt authentic and nuanced.

Nneka Bridget · Post by **Nneka Bridget** » 02 Nov 2024, 12:22

The intricate plot of To Catch a Wolf seems to weave together a captivating mix of espionage, crime, and intense action. The setting across multiple global locations adds depth and complexity, while the diverse cast of characters promises a rich narrative experience. It’s intriguing how the author balances detailed descriptions with an engaging storytelling style, allowing readers to form their own interpretations. The inclusion of violent themes is expected in this genre, and it sounds like the story does not shy away from that. This book appears to be a thrilling read for fans of crime and spy novels, and your anticipation for the next installment is a great sign of its quality.