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Little Wolves Audiobook
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(3.05) - 375 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Set on the Minnesota prairie in the late 1980s during a drought season that's pushing family farms to the brink, Little Wolves features the intertwining stories of a father searching for answers after his son commits a heinous murder, and a pastor's wife (and washed-out scholar of early Anglo-Saxon literature) who has returned to the town for mysterious reasons of her own. A penetrating look at small-town America from the award-winning author of The Night Birds, Little Wolves weaves together elements of folklore and Norse mythology while being driven by a powerful murder mystery; a page-turning literary triumph.
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"Little Wolves is a complicated novel, one that can be read and enjoyed on several levels. A "literary" mystery blended with myth, horror, fantasy and complicated relationships, it also touches on the very current young man with a weapon theme. Maltman's descriptive prose made the prarie sing ."
— Beverly (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Part allegory, part mystery, and pure poetry, layered with Norse mythology and Anglo Saxon narratives, Maltman’s second novel is dark, redemptive, and very beautiful.”
— Minneapolis Star-Tribune -
“Took my breath away…As rich in myth and metaphors as Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.”
— Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel -
“So good…Magical story, magical writing.”
— Twin Cities Pioneer Press -
“At its heart, Little Wolves is a powerful mystery…With a lyrical style that is anything but ripped from the headlines, Maltman combines mythology and small-town claustrophobia to show how the roots of the violence were planted before Seth was born.”
— Christian Science Monitor -
“Powerful…Skillfully evoked…Maltman skillfully evokes oppressive small-town life and the far-reaching consequences of violence.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“A haunting, complex story…Hillary Huber’s narration is as sparse as the desolate German farming community where the events take place. She builds the suspense, slowly pulling away layers of secrets with a minimalist delivery. Her measured pace and unembellished narration engage the listener with this community and its mysteries.”
— AudioFile -
“In gorgeous prose, Maltman conjures both the irrational suspicion and the heartwarming connections forged in a small town during times of trauma.”
— Booklist -
“Smart thrills.”
— Library Journal -
“Layered with literary and mythic allusions…A satisfying and unforgettable read.”
— School Library Journal -
“Little Wolves is beautifully written, both in the style of prose and pacing of the narrative.”
— Grand Rapids Herald-Review
Awards
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Selected for the January 2013 Indie Next List
Little Wolves Listener Reviews
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" A great read! This one is going to linger a few days. "
— Lisa, 2/18/2014 -
" This book was hard to put down, but the ending seemed a little predictable. I really enjoyed the story and especially the writing. The author does a great job of bringing the area to life. I was especially happy with the farm descriptions. Very realistic. Thank you for not romanticising rural farm work! "
— Erin, 2/14/2014 -
" Clara and Logan move to northern Minnesota where he will take over the local Lutheran church, his first assignment as a new pastor. Grizz has lived in the little town his whole life, not happily. The three become entangled in the discovery of the secrets of the town when Clara becomes the teacher of Grizz's son, Seth, and Seth kills the town's sheriff and then commits suicide. "
— Linnet, 2/9/2014 -
" Surprisingly good book with a real gothic feel. Small town tragedy strikes when a young man kills the local sheriff. The preacher's wife is hiding a secret... and searching for her past. Definitely worth the read. "
— Greg, 2/3/2014 -
" Chosen to read an Advance Uncopyedited Edition of this book there is a good story at the true heart. Loosely based upon two actual events around the town of Morgan Minnesota. The story with characters that are very well developed, allow, the reader to emotionally bond is a strong point of the book. While I knew the characters, I felt I was missing more of the details in the plot. The involvement of a small town, a teacher, and an outcast who was bullied, may have been just a little too quick to read after the tragedy in Newtown. "
— Norma, 2/3/2014 -
" I loved this book! It's rare that I pick up a book at the library or bookstore having done no prior research. I am so happy something led me to this one. I can't wait to read his other work "Nightbirds." "
— Sarah, 1/26/2014 -
" I really wanted to love this book. Set in a small Minnesota prairie town in the late 1980s, various characters desperately try to hold their lives together in the face of tragedy. Well written, but couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to accept the ending. "
— Ann, 1/14/2014 -
" Haunting, intense, a mixture of folklore and violence in small town America. Well written, a page turner. "
— Susan, 1/12/2014 -
" B. the plot was interested but disjointed, and only seemed to come together in the final chapters. the characters were just on the verge of being compelling. the prose was sometimes beautiful. "
— Heather, 12/19/2013 -
" Lyrical writing but convoluted plot that went completely OTT. Pity. "
— Lynne, 12/18/2013 -
" A little flawed (resolution rushed!) but I enjoyed reading this one. "
— Crystal, 11/17/2013 -
" Even though I have a couple of nagging criticisms, I'm going to give up a 5-star review on this book. I just really like Thomas Maltman (Nightbirds was one of my favorite reads the year it was published) and his rendering of place and human complexity. "
— Reed, 11/8/2013 -
" In the backwater of the Bible belt of USA, a murder mystery unfolds. A twisted family chronicle laced with the local folklore delivers a good read. "
— Rudi, 11/3/2013 -
" Maltman can write. A delightful and descriptive wordsmith. Refreshing to get away from the formula driven pop writers today. "
— Roberta, 10/15/2013 -
" A murder mystery/magical realism crossover with an interesting female central character. Well written, though it has a few minor structural problems that caused me to occasionally wonder where we were in the story. On the whole, immensely enjoyable for anyone willing to suspend disbelief. "
— Robyn, 8/3/2013 -
" A promising story that didn't stand up to the potential I thought it held based on the first few chapters. I looked forward to the last page. Boring read. "
— Rachel, 6/5/2013 -
" Beautifully written, suspenseful; weaves the story and language of Beowulf into a murder mystery. Loved it. "
— Tamara, 5/22/2013 -
" Different take on small town Minnesota crime story. Some characters very well drawn, some not so much. Definitely worth the time to read. "
— Karla, 5/21/2013 -
" never would have thought how the story was going to end and it ended with quite the climatic scene. very good book:) "
— Mike, 5/17/2013 -
" A dark story. "
— Tina, 4/23/2013 -
" Beautiful prose, intriguing characters, a simmering undercurrent of mystery, violence, and small town secrets. In a word: chilling. "
— Charlie, 4/12/2013 -
" i loved this book - this was so much more than a murder/mystery. The characters were all true to life and liked all the references to Beowulf. Could not put it down!Very dark, cold Minnesota small town. "
— Agnes, 3/30/2013
About Thomas Maltman
Thomas Maltman’s essays, poetry, and fiction have been published in many literary journals. He has an MFA from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and lives in the Twin Cities area. His first novel, The Night Birds, won an Alex Award, a Spur Award, and the Friends of American Writers Literary Award. In 2009 the American Library Association chose The Night Birds as an “Outstanding Book for the College Bound.”
About Hillary Huber
Elisa Medhus, MD, is an accomplished physician who has practiced internal medicine for more than thirty years. She is also the award-winning author of Raising Children Who Think for Themselves, Raising Everyday Heroes, and Hearing Is Believing.