BLOODTHIRSTY WOLVES

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite ★★★★☆

Callen Randolph's Bloodthirsty Wolves follows the story of a man in search of purpose in his life. Forty-five-year-old Cal has had enough of his seemingly humdrum life. Still unmarried with his business taking a hit during the pandemic, Cal decides to leave everything behind and go to Las Vegas for one final hurrah. He searches for love and companionship among the various strip clubs in Vegas, which brings him into the path of Zev, a dangerous man who runs a sleazy porn ring. Meanwhile, Cal rescues a young girl called Roxy from the streets and continues his efforts to get rid of his loneliness. But tragedy strikes (...) and Cal suffers yet more heartbreak. With nothing left to lose, will he find his way back? Or will he succumb to his inner vices?

Bloodthirsty Wolves is a character study of a monumentally lonely man who seeks love in all the wrong places. Callen Randolph's narrative is somewhat of a slow burn but all more impactful for it. The plot is full of surprises, and I never felt sure of the direction it would take. This keeps you on the edge of your seat in trying to figure out what's going to happen next. The main protagonist is a multi-faceted character with many flaws. Cal is a hypocrite with a huge grandeur of delusion who fails to comprehend that others, especially young women, also may have agency of their own and that their role in society is not just calming "the violent tendencies of men." It makes him a riveting character to follow. If you enjoy character-driven slice-of-life stories, this book will be right up your alley!