#124 Book Review: Deadly Hemlock

Deadly Hemlock
Release Date: July 1st 2012
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Fishpond | Booktopia | Dymocks
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:                                               Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

Cover:
When I first saw the cover, I thought it was okay. I might have preferred the US cover over the UK/AUS cover but when I finally took a good look at the cover, I saw the wolf and I was surprised! I LOVE OPTICAL ILLUSIONS and that wolf image hidden in the cover = TOTAL WIN!

Story:

Lupine syndrome haunts Hemlock...

Before I started this book, I have seen the book around and read a couple of reviews so I was very interested in reading the book although I read it without knowing what else to expect besides the theme of werewolves. When I finished the book, I was absolutely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Deadly Hemlock was one of the best werewolves novel I've read!

The concept of lupine syndrome spreading in a town was very interesting. I loved how Kathleen stayed with the original concept of werewolves (such as how when you are bitten or scratched by a werewolf you become one as well) but expanded the concept more than just the original one. As Mac tries to investigate the murderer of her best friend, I was also taken on a journey to investigate the murder with her.  I guess I was not a very good 'detective' because I was very surprised to find out that this particular character was the murderer! The romance was in the right proportion as well! There was some sort of love triangle but don't worry, Mac chose someone in the book! The ending made me desperate for the next book in the series because things were not yet resolved in the first book.

Characters:
Mac was such an enjoyable character to read about! Our heroine here is a strong, determined character who will stop at nothing to find the truth about her best friend's murderer.  Alongside with her comes the two different but awesome guys! Kyle has been Mac's best friend but suddenly, there is something more than just best friends going on with them and Mac is surprised at how she likes it. There is also Jason, Amy's boyfriend who is still grieving about Amy's murder. What happened that night that made Amy decide to walk alone in the middle of the night? Can Jason be the reason? I personally really liked Kyle over Jason. He's just amazing and he has his own secrets that I JUST LOVE. Jason has been going through rough times since Amy's death but I do not like the way he behaves. He gets often drunk and joins a group called the Trackers whose agendas are more than just stopping the werewolves in Hemlock. It's safe to say that nearly all the characters have their own hidden secrets!


Overall:
Deadly Hemlock is wonderful 2012 debut novel with a great concept of werewolves! I was immersed into the story and the investigation of Amy's murder. Filled with surprises, actions, romance and mystery, Deadly Hemlock completely impressed me and I absolutely can't wait for the sequel!

5 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Deadly Hemlock!

  Thank you Simon & Schuster Australia for the review copy!

Check out the book trailer!