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)

Well Written, Intelligent Horror

This book reminded me of Lev Grossman's "Magician" novels -- urban fantasy that read like literary novels. Yes it's graphic in terms of sex and violence, but how can you have a werewolf story without them? To my mind, that's the point of horror fiction: to take what we fear in our mundane lives and to exaggerate it for effect, I liked the narrator's performance as well; his deadpan delivery matched Jake's world-weary ennui perfectly. Looking forward to listening to more of Duncan's audiobooks, as they become available.

Amazing.

This is probably one of the best Werewolf tales that I've read in my life. Can't wait to read book 2!

I love the first Half

I would have been perfectly happy with an accounting Of the final days of the last Werewolf. That's what I was expecting to get when I started this book. It seems like you would be a great character study maybe devoid a little bit of Development but I was OK with That. Open halfway through with the arrival of certain female character it Became this very typical terran normal finish the novel that I believe I took a lot of shine out of a greatOpening. If you like Modern Paranormal novels I would recommend giving it a try in forming your own opinion.

Read it and listen!

I loved it! And the narrator was awesome!! I also read the book, fantastic read.

Awooo! Werewolves of Wales...

So, this story reminds me of the Highlander TV series or maybe even Forever Knight, but in a good way. It's certainly a step up from your John Conroe style werewolves and vampires using magic-dressed-up-as-quantum-physics to explain their transformations. It is, however, for good or ill (good though definitely) a story about bestial people doing very primal things. One of those things is just boning a lot, a truly impressive amount for a book that doesn't have a bodice-ripper image of some half-dressed muse and a toned werewolf on the cover, so if sex turns you off of a book about werewolves I'd say skip this entire series. If you like sex, violence, and werewolves then give this a go and you won't be disappointed. It isn't Steinbeck's lost werewolf novel, but it is an enjoyable listen. Narrator is solid, though there are a few overt Britishisms that slip into the story from time to time, and these can be awkward when various characters are traipsing through the American West. Nobody 'hires a car' in Nebraska, for Christ's sake. Still, I used an audible credit on this book and wasn't disappointed with the result.
A note: Having listened to just the first few minutes of the second novel in the series, I think I'll skip the audiobook version on account of the painfully bad narrator who isn't quite sure where on the Eastern seaboard her accent should land.

great from beginning to end!

I couldn't stop listening to this audio book, now I want to read it! the story really ifs riveting from the very beginning and keeps you glued to it until the end!

Finally! A horror novel for adults!

Ever since the rise of the Harry Potter books, the fantasy genre has been overrun by "Young Adult" books. Personally, I am sick to death of angst ridden teenagers, coming of age, and rising hero stories. Really. I'm a grown-up. No matter how popular the book is, if the main character is under legal drinking age, I'm probably not interested.

So when "Books on the Nightstand" featured this book, I couldn't wait for Audible to get it. Glen Duncan is an amazing writer. This is a book about growing old, finding love and a reason to live, and the pain of loss. There is mystery and intrigue, betrayal and alliance. Oh, and there are werewolves, vampires and lots and lots of sex.

Robin Sachs blends his beautiful voice and lovely accent with Duncan's amazing prose. It's a wonderful piece.

Finally, the Return of the Werewolf

Can a book be both literary and genre? Yes. Can it be both successfully? Yes, see: The Last Werewolf.

I originally heard about this book via an NPR review and it languished on my to-read list for a long while until, when in need of my next book, I reviewed the synopses of the books on my to-read list. This one finally had it's turn to be what I was in the mood for. I loved it from the word go. The Last Werewolf was, for me, a perfect fit between what I was in the mood for and what the book (and the wonderful reader since I listened to this one) delivered. Beginning this book was like slipping into a warm bath mood-lit by aromatherapy candles, perfectly steeped cup of tea in hand. Or whatever your perfect scenario might be. I'll admit that my tranquil depiction makes for a strange juxtaposition with the violence and gore of the book, but such was my satisfaction with starting The Last Werewolf.

For starters, Jake Marlowe is a werewolf. And,I don't mean a Twilight werewolf, running around with no shirt, well-oiled muscles glistening in the sunlight kind of werewolf. He is an ancient, pragmatic, animalistic, savage monster who has no delusions that he is anything else. Glen Duncan wrests the werewolf from the teeny-boppers and the romance novels, and successfully returns him to the horror category. It is Jake's acceptance that he is an evil monster that makes him so unnerving: he is neither an unthinking beast (quite the contrary in fact, since the whole book is filled with his musing and ennui) nor is he in denial of the monstrosity of his true nature. In fact, the frank tone with which Jake describes killing and sex add to the discomfort.

The potential reader should be aware that this book is graphic. I blushed more than once. There is sex in this book, but it is not the sex of romance novels; there are no corsets, or 'throbbing members' here. There are, however, multiple mentions of the c-word. Be forewarned.

A Note on the Audiobook:
I often wonder what I may have missed by listening to the book that I would have gained if I had read a physical book. e.g Would I have enjoyed that passage more if I had re-read it? Not so with this book. I believe that listening to this only enhanced my enjoyment. In fact, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it at much if I had read a physical copy.

A Werewolf with Attitude

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

The moment I heard the narrator begin, it was very easy to imagine this very articulate Brit actually being a beast that feasts on human flesh. Perfect intonation for the lead character.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jake as the lead character is sublime in his seeming hatred of who he really is, yet needing so badly to feel the human touch of love. There is major juxtoposition here, and his dealing with this as an aging antagonist is cool to behold.

Which scene was your favorite?

Well, this is gross. And, without giving to much away....let's just say Jake's love interest in this book shares the same 'condition' as him. As such, they 'feed' on the same food source. The first time they dine together is both treachery and love at the same time.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At certain times, the book can be extreme. Frankly, I think the description of the sex scenes were more graphic than the horror scenes.

Humanistic Monster Tale

The story personalizes the experience of being a monster and includes the complicated logistics of life lived outside traditional boundries of behavior. I found the some of the stroy to be a little over sexed in places.

Recommended.