About The Book

Edgar Award winner and internationally bestselling author Mo Hayder has made her name with nightmarishly dark, impeccably-plotted thrillers that hook readers from the first page and won’t let them go. With her latest novel, Wolf, the frighteningly talented Hayder ratchets up the terror yet another notch, with a bone-chilling home invasion novel.

When a vagrant—the Walking Man—finds a dog wandering alone with a scrap of paper with the words “HELP US” attached to its collar, he’s sure it’s a desperate plea from someone in trouble and calls on Detective Inspector Jack Caffery to investigate. Caffery is reluctant to get involved—until the Walking Man promises new information regarding the childhood abduction of Caffery’s brother in exchange for the detective’s help tracking down the dog’s owners. Caffery has no idea who or what he is searching for, but one thing he is sure of: it’s a race against time.

Meanwhile a wealthy local family is fighting for their lives, held hostage in their remote home. As their ordeal becomes increasingly bizarre and humiliating, the family begins to wonder: Is this really a random crime?

With all of the taut suspense and terrifying twists that have kept her fans on the edge of their seats for years, Wolf cements Hayder’s place at the top of the crime-writing field.

Praise

“[A] destined-to-be classic . . . Hayder’s work and characters are worth the unending nightmares they will inspire.” —The New York Times Book Review

“The home invasion novel to end all home invasion novels . . . Hayder neatly splits genres with this series, borrowing in equal measure from suspense and horror, not unlike John Connolly’s Charlie Parker novels or T. Jefferson Parker’s Charlie Hood books. Wolf is exceptionally original in premise and nightmarish in its rendering.” —Bruce Tierney, Bookpage

“Mo Hayder is a master of ratcheting up tension throughout a book—to the point that one must simply finish it before doing anything else. Such is the case with Wolf.” —George Easter, Deadly Pleasures (Rating: A-)

“Mo Hayder’s books featuring Jack Caffery are always an entertaining and engaging read, and this one doesn’t disappoint.” —Euro Crime

Excerpt

The door opens then, and Oliver is pushed in ahead of Molina. He has his hands tied behind his back and he comes silently, giving the kitchen a quick, hopeful scan. He sees Matilda, and, immediately deflated to see her tied up, lowers his gaze to the floor. Shakes his head.

“Ollie?” she murmurs. “Ollie? What’s happening?”

Molina pushes Oliver against the cooker and forces his hands roughly around the handle. He uses another pair of cuffs to fasten Oliver there. While he’s doing it, DI Honey heads back to the door. “Wait,” Molina says. His glasses are slightly askew and there are sweat stains on his shirt. “Don’t go without me.”

He finishes with Oliver, then hurriedly follows his colleague back into the hallway. The door closes.

“Ollie?” Matilda hisses. “For heaven’s sake, what’s happening?”

He doesn’t answer. His head is hanging low, sunk in despair.

“Speak to me,” she hisses. “Speak to me.”

He turns his head slowly and peers at her over his shoulder, revealing a saggy and bloodshot eye.