The Last Werewolf

By: Glen Duncan

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Then she opened her mouth to scream - and recognised me. It was what I’d been waiting for. She froze. She looked into my eyes. She said, “It’s you.”

Meet Jake. A bit on the elderly side (he turns 201 in March), but you’d never suspect it. Nonstop sex and exercise will do that for you - and a diet with lots of animal protein. Jake is a werewolf, and after the unfortunate and violent death of his one contemporary, he is now the last of his species. Although he is physically healthy, Jake is deeply distraught and lonely.

Jake’s depression has carried him to the point where he is actually contemplating suicide - even if it means terminating a legend thousands of years old. It would seem to be easy enough for him to end everything. But for very different reasons there are two dangerous groups pursuing him who will stop at nothing to keep him alive.

Here is a powerful, definitive new version of the werewolf legend - mesmerising and incredibly sexy. In Jake, Glen Duncan has given us a werewolf for the 21st century - a man whose deeds can only be described as monstrous but who is in some magical way deeply human.

One of the most original, audacious, and terrifying novels in years.

©2011 Robin Sachs (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A brilliantly original thriller, a love story, a witty treatise on male (and female) urges, even an existential musing on what it is to be human. Get one for yourself and one for the Twilight fan in your life.” (James Medd, The Word , UK)

“Space should be cleared for this violent, sexy thriller... The answer to Twilight that adults have been waiting for.” (Courtney Jones, Booklist)

“Yes, there are vampires here... But don’t give this book to Twilight groupies; the frank tone, dark wit, and elegant, sophisticated language will likely do them in... smart, original, and completely absorbing. Highly recommended.” (Barbara Hoffert, Library Journal)

Superb!!! No need to hesitate. Just download it!

What a great listen!! I first heard about the book on NPR's On Point a few months ago. When one of the guests recommended this for a summer read, Tom Ashbrook responded with more than a bit of incredulity to a book about werewolves. Fast forward two months and he's got him on the program!! Enough said. Really a terrific book, extremely well written and Robin Sachs was fantastic as the narrator. Even if you're not a fan of the genre, but like good literature, I think you'll enjoy this one.

Great read

The reader performance is first rate. The book is first rate.

This is a book for grownups. If you love a good horror novel, written by a talented author, this is your book. If you're uncomfortable with the horror genre, move along. This book is not about asexual vampires, in love with teenage girls. It doesn't have non-threatening homo erotic themes. This is about monsters, werewolves and vampires who eat people and the terror of that idea. It's about a character who makes peace with, and embraces the horror of his nature.

Yes, there is sex (really hot, steamy sex). Yes, there is gore (really hot, steamy gore). I only wish Audible had more titles by this author.

Werwolves have more fun than vampires

My family and I met the author on the chunnel from London to Paris. Duncan is just as interesting in person as his characters are complicated in the book. These werewolves have a ton of fun. They seem to be having a lot more fun than their vampire enemies. Their lust for life and each other is very evident. The reader does a tremendous job using many different voices and tonalities. Though no prude, I found the "sex" scenes a little to heavy. All in all, the book is very entertaining...as is the author.

Poetic Horror

Both the writer and narrator, do an amazing job. Portraying the bleakness of living beyond purpose, in a most poetic way.

fantastic l.

I loved this book It was a fast read but oh so primal and visceral. I enjoyed every moment of it. werewolves are so much better than vamps.

Quite possibly the best thing I’ve heard on Audible!

An inspired blend of a well-written story with the perfect narrator. A festival for the ears.

Grown-up" paranormal masterpiece!

Five-star literature in all aspects...engaging, sophisticated concept, superb writing, spot-on narration which I found character and pitch-perfect throughout. It is quite visceral and carnal (and in more than only a sexual sense) so you just need to be aware that's what you're choosing. "Jake", the main character, is almost as if James Bond had a Lupine, high-functioning AA-dropout brother who possessed sharp intelligence and wry wit but hadn't been handed all the gadgets to aid in his conflicted quest for...survival? That's really all you need to know!

Fantastic and sexy

This was a great listen, especially because of Robin Sachs' voice. I heard a positive review on NPR, but it failed to divulge that much of this novel is soft porn. It is fantastically creative interpretation of what the life of the last werewolf was like.

Good writing-- for adults only.

What made the experience of listening to The Last Werewolf the most enjoyable?

This was a genuinely well-written, serious adult novel. Dark, emotionally complex, often violent (not gratuitously so), but with a redemptive message. Sachs gives a gorgeous performance.

What other book might you compare The Last Werewolf to and why?

Maybe a Hemingway or Steinbeck novel, except that the main character is a werewolf.

What does Robin Sachs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sachs did a beautiful job. His resonant British baritone was perfect for the character of the werewolf. The only slightly off note was when he had to read dialogue by women. His falsetto was inevitably somewhat distracting and a bit annoying, especially with the American accent that he sometimes had to put on. Not his fault, certainly-- this guy's voice is just unavoidably male.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Perhaps . . . The triumph of love over cynicism and despair?

Any additional comments?

It's not for kids. I love fantasy books, and often read them with my 12-year-old son (even the dystopian novels). But I'm glad he didn't read this one. This is NOT a book for kids, or even adolescents. It's very emotionally and psychologically adult, very dark -- there's quite a bit of sex, which is graphic and completely unsentimental, and sometimes juxtaposed with brutal violence. So, don't read it with your kids.

A thrilling, poetic, deeply disturbing new take on a classic story

First, the casting was perfect
Sachs’ deep, gravel voice fits the lead character, a 200 year old English werewolf perfectly, while his masterful reading has a graceful cadence that is nearly hypnotic. I bet he could make ikea instructions sound like Neruda
Second, Duncan’s story is both full of the classic myth of the werewolf , complete with silver bullets, moonlit transformations and vampire cabal conspiracies. Thirdly, there is enough of a twist that even old licanthropy followers would could stay interested
I’m going to find something else by Duncan
You should start with this and you’ll want to as well