REVIEW: Hemlock

Hemlock
Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock #1

Synopsis: 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.

My thoughts: Hemlock was a really good read.  I like reading about werewolves, and this one was really different from others I've read.  The cover of this book really threw me off.  Even looking at it now, it just doesn't make sense to me.  I think that covers of books should have some rhyme or reason, and this one seems to be a "just because" to me.  The cover honestly makes me think it is a fairy tale, but this book is far from a fairy tale.  I do really like the cover, but it just doesn't match what is inside the book, not that it really matters anyway.  The book was still great!

I really liked Mackenzie, and her cousin Tess.  I even liked Jason and Kyle, both for different reasons.  Jason made me mad a couple of times because he was acting like an idiot, but it kept it interesting.  I think I really liked all of the characters, except for Amy.  I didn't like her from the start, because she was haunting her best friend's dreams, but I really didn't like her as I learned more and more about her!  The Trackers really ticked me off too.  Their ego is way too big and they are way too powerful!  It was definitely nice to have a wide range of characters though. 

I loved the whole idea of a serial killer werewolf being out there among everyone.  Everyone knew about lupine syndrome, and by the end of the book you realize that some had an easier time hiding it than others.  Some just couldn't control the bloodlust.  I really liked the whole mystery of it all and reading about Mac doing all of her investigating into Amy's murder.  I felt like by the end of this book, I didn't have any questions left unanswered....which I think really works for this book!  I am definitely ready to read the next one and am looking forward to what happens next!