Kathleen Peacock

If you’re looking for a book that throws action at you right off the bat, sucking you helplessly in from the first page, it’s right here.



Sweet mercy alive, this book is inTENSE!



Mac seems to be pretty emotional throughout the book, but seeing as her best friend was killed by a werewolf and she’s losing everyone around her for various reasons, added to the fact that she almost dies about a BILLION times, I’ll let her emotional displays slide. Because how on earth is anyone expected show more to deal with the life she has?



Good gracious.



Not to mention all the mental blows from the abundance of secrets and betrayals that are hurled her way. Seriously, who knew one town could harbor so many secrets?! It’s like every character we meet throughout the book is hiding something, and it blew my mind every time one of their secrets is revealed.



There was a little while at the beginning that I was worried that the stereotypical love triangle was going to form and I was going to go lay back outside in the sun until it actually incinerated me (because that would be preferable). So I wasn’t too sold on Mac’s love interests because of that shaky, what-if-this-turns-into-one-of-those-triangle-debacles fears I harbored, and it looked like it might go that direction. But the love triangle vibes died down and I was able to believe her relationships more, and not feel like it was just a plot point.



*silent cheers*



So the story is this whole action-filled mystery-thriller where danger is thrust in your face at every turn and whenever I guessed at who I thought the murderer was–as I was constantly trying and failing to do–someone else would pop up on the radar as a possible suspect. Until that complete WHAT THE BLEEP moment where I realized who it was and I’m fairly positive my eyes almost snapped out of their sockets and my jaw flopped open limply.



I’m over-the-top impressed by this book’s ability to blindside me.



Over and over and over again.



Also, let’s talk about how creepy Amy-the-horribly-slaughtered-best-friend-who-haunts-Mac’s-every-dream is. Even I dreaded when Mac would fall asleep, because that meant another interaction with that overly eerie version of Amy.



C-R-E-E-P-Y.



And that ending? Creepiest moment of the entire story! GAH why do authors just leave you hanging by your fingertips, your grip slipping on loose gravel as you try to hold on until you get the closure only the following book will bring?!



So yeah. You want an acutely intense and paranormal read? Read Hemlock. I loved it, and I hope you do too!





4.5/5 STARS;) show less

It’s no secret that paranormal and dystopia are my genre of choice when it comes to books. But that means a read of lot of them, and it can be hard to find that really unique take on a story that makes you clutch the book in your hands and not let go until you’ve turned the last and wish like crazy that the sequel was out now. HEMLOCK by Kathleen Peacock is just such a book – it’s brilliant.

Most important factor in my love for HEMLOCK is Kathleen’s werewolves. Lupine syndrome is show more public knowledge, and werewolves could be anywhere. They can shift at will, though they are often slave to strong emotions if they don’t have good control. And their change is rough, body changing and bones moving around. It’s not seamless or instant, and Kathleen’s werewolves can be just as normal as you or I, only they can go furry, or they can succumb to bloodlust and be the scariest thing around. The backstory and off screen story that is hinted at throughout the book is really intriguing. Anyone with lupine syndrome that is identified is sent to a camp where they live in horrible conditions, and the group calling themselves the Trackers hunt down those with the syndrome to send to camps. The werewolves don’t always survive the encounter, though. It’s a huge political set up, and Kathleen only hints at the bigger picture going on outside of the town of Hemlock, where the main character Mac has had her world changed due to werewolves.

Mac is so strong. Her best friend Amy is murdered, Amy’s boyfriend Jason is spiraling out of control, and Kyle’s suddenly looking to be not just a friend anymore, but possibly a boyfriend. Secrets are rampant in this group, and just when you think you may have it figured out, there are nice little twists and turns to keep it all anxious and nail-biting until the end. It’s done in a way where you think you figure it out, then something happens to change your mind, and then you realize you were right after all. Mac gets put through a lot of stuff over the course of HEMLOCK, but she pulls through it. Like any teenager some of her decisions are a bit rash and may not be the best, but she’s confident and determined to find who killed Amy. She’s up against a lot of opposition and the bad guys are truly bad guys – they made me cringe and fear for Mac, Kyle and Jason. Oh, and Kyle…so much love! Jason grew on me, and honestly, I wanted to smack both of them at different times and tell them to smarten up! I’m surprised Mac didn’t.

HEMLOCK is a book I had been waiting for since since July of 2010 and it so lived up to my expectations. Engaging writing that pulls you into Mac’s world completely, characters that you can relate with – be happy, sad and terrified with – and some great backstory that has me wishing for book two all combine to make it so that HEMLOCK is a must to read in one sitting, late into the night when your eyes are blurring but you just can’t put it down. show less

This review appears on my blog, Starting the Next Chapter.

Hemlock is a little different than your typical werewolf novel. Rather than being relegated to the shadows and full moon-lit nights, lurk amongst everyday citizens who know that there are werewolves, though they don't know who they might be. In the town of Hemlock, being a werewolf is a disease, one that some people would do anything to eradicate. This approach to the werewolf story made for a fresh twist on the folklore that usually show more makes its way into stories and novels. This characteristic, and more, are what make Hemlock a riveting, interesting read, one that I stayed up long into the night reading.

Mac, the main character of Hemlock, finds herself in a very tough situation when her best friend is brutally murdered by a rare white werewolf. She is a girl consumed by guilt and questions due to her absence when her friend tried to call her before she died. It is guilt and sadness that make Mac unwilling to let the circumstances of Aimee's death remain ignored. It is during her attempts to solve the mystery surrounding Amy's death that we get a sense of who Mac really is. She is a very complex character with a keen sense of loyalty and an obstinate streak that won't allow her to sit back and take things at face value. I found that I liked Mac for her complexities and willingness to go the extra mile to find the answers she needs.

The mystery that makes up Hemlock was so intense and riveting that I read the entirety of the book in a single night, simply because I had to know what would happen next. The pace is neither too fast nor too slow, making it easy to process the information as it comes without giving things away too soon. Hemlock's setting makes for an interesting place for a werewolf epidemic. Affluence surrounded as it is by more run-down neighborhoods make it like any number of cities in the real world, making the acknowledged presence of werewolves both surreal and sinister. I found the angle to be very enjoyable.

Fans of werewolf fiction, take heed: you must read Hemlock. Kathleen Peacock has created a fantastic story of murder, betrayal, guilt, and acceptance. Every bit as chilling as a cold, moonlit night, Hemlock was able to keep me enthralled from cover to cover. If you're looking for a slightly different spin on werewolves, you should definitely pick up this book. The thrills and chills just don't stop!

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Southern Book Blogger ARC Tours. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review. show less

The Good Stuff

Mac is a fabulous well rounded character with an awesome name.
Tons of mystery, intrigue and plot twists - I was surprised on many occasions by what happened
Storyline is fast paced and never boring
I'm not the biggest fan of werewolf stories, but thouroughly enjoyed this one & look forward to reading more of the series
Author is a good storyteller (and a Canadian!)
Another suprise for me when reading this was I didn't mind the sorta love triangle thing, it actually really show more worked in this story - you can understand why the boys feel like they do and why Mac might have feelings for both of them (and why oh why can't two boys fight over me -- oh yeah 41 and married, probably not a good idea)
Fabulous character development and most of the characters (well except for the adults) are realistic in terms of actions, feelings and dialogue
plenty of thinly veiled commentary on the evils of prejudice and government control (you can see the paralels to the Salem witch trials and the hollywood blacklist against suspected communists and even towards the treatment of aids victims and homosexuals)
Enjoyed the dark humour added in at just the right time
The relationship between Tess and Mac is lovely and some of their conversations are hilarious
The Not So Good Stuff

Majority of the adults are useless uninvolved jerks -- you know how I feel about that
some repetition of plot points (for example 12 years ago when the government announced the existence..) we get it no need to keep repeating it
Favorite Quotes/Passages

"Yes, a werewolf had killed Amy. But I couldn't blame an entire group of people - even if that would have been easier. The only person to blame was the one who had killed her."

"The intercom buzzed. "Wow," I muttered, we're more popular than a pretty girl at a Star Trek convention."

"He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "In some ways. After enough time passes, you realize that maybe a whole day went by where you didn't think of them. Then you feel guilty because you're not supposed to forget - even if it is just for a day."
"We'd watch The Birds last year, and ever since, she claimed that pigeons were just biding time before making their move.
For some reason, 90 percent of Tess's fears seemed to come from movies we watched on cable."

Who Should/Shouldn't Read

For those who enjoy a twist of mysery and the paranormal
Fans of Kelley Armstrong will enjoy
4.5 Dewey's

I picked up a copy of this at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference 2012 from the HarperCollins booth show less