8/3/21; 272 pages
Flatiron Books
Inti
Flynn is leading a team of biologists who are going to reintroduce
fourteen wolves into the Cairngorms National Park located in the
Scottish Highlands. The goal is introduce a top predator to assist in
rewilding the land, which has been successful in Yellowstone National
Park. When the wolves are introduced, there is resistance from the local
farmers who fear their livestock will be hunted by the wolves. Inti and
her team try to answer their concerns, but the locals remain skeptical.
When Inti finds a body of a local man, who was suspected of abusing his
wife, she makes the decision to bury him to protect the wolves and
begins to look into the murder. This is complicated by her relationship
with the local police chief.
Inti has brought
her twin sister, Aggie, with her. Aggie requires care and support from
her sister due to a traumatic event that has left her wounded mentally
and physically, as well as mute. Inti is hoping the change of location
will help heal her, but the two sisters are actually very codependent.
They grew up traveling between living with their naturalist father in
the wilderness of British Columbia and their police officer mother in
Australia. Complicating her life is the fact that Inti has a
neurological condition called mirror-touch synesthesia, which means she
feels what she sees happening to others. This can be with people or
animals.
Once There Were Wolves
is an elegantly written novel that uses expressive, beautiful language
along with heartbreaking descriptions to describe both the natural world
and the cruelty that can be inflicted on man and animal. The plot
involves relationships, brutality, isolation, personal sacrifice, and
fighting for a cause, while also trying to solve a murder mystery. It is both complicated and compelling, but presented in an authentic way rather than sensationalized. The novel
moves at a quick pace and is impossible to put down. Between the release
of the wolves, the question of what trauma happened to the sisters, and
the murder mystery, the intricate plot will hold your attention
throughout.
All of
the characters are wonderfully rendered and portrayed as complex
individuals. Even the supporting characters feel like real people. Inti
is a strong woman but is also damaged and has been changed by some
events in her past. She tends to keep to herself and keeps her own
counsel. She clearly feels humans are more dangerous than wolves. The
source of the trauma inflicted on Aggie and Inti's knowledge of the
details are not revealed until late in the book, but there are
indications in the narrative and it is horrific when finally revealed.
It is clear that Inti as a child is quite different from the woman
today.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Macmillan Publishers.
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