“Charlie Adhara once again delivers a clever, fast-moving, intriguing and twisty mystery.” —All About RomanceDon’t miss this thrilling installment in Charlie Adhara’s suspenseful paranormal mystery series, Big Bad Wolf.Agent Cooper Dayton never thought anything could be harder than solving murders. Until he had to plan a wedding.After taking down an old adversary, Agent Cooper Dayton of the … plan a wedding.
After taking down an old adversary, Agent Cooper Dayton of the Bureau of Special Investigations has earned a break. Not that planning a wedding to his sexy shifter partner, Oliver Park, is necessarily stress free, but it’s better than worrying about the ominous warning, delivered months ago, that Cooper’s life is in danger.
When he’s dragged to an event by his family, Cooper braces for an awkward evening, but instead finds himself in the middle of an ugly feud between Park’s ex and a rebel pack leader. What was supposed to be a quick outing turns into a full-blown murder investigation after the pack leader ends up dead, Park’s ex goes missing, and Cooper and Park are sent a series of disturbing wedding gifts that are somehow connected to it all.
The list of potential suspects is long, and with the bodies piling up, Cooper must turn to the one person he trusts the least: the villain he’s already put behind bars once and who has nothing to lose by lying and everything to gain if Cooper is out of the picture—for good.
Big Bad Wolf
Book 1: The Wolf at the Door
Book 2: The Wolf at Bay
Book 3: Thrown to the Wolves
Book 4: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Book 5: Cry Wolf
more
Another wonderful addition to the series. I hope there will be more Cooper and Oliver adventures. It just keeps getting better and better! I enjoyed seeing Cooper come into his own, loved the tender moments between him and Oliver. And the best part was how the author managed to show the intensity and strength of Oliver’s feeling even without his POV. So many feels! *sigh*
The mystery was well written with many twists and many suspects. The author delved into mythology, wolf way of life and mind set and delivered a stunning story about past and present colliding together. I enjoyed every page!
Ms Adhara writes humor just right. It’s funny with good amount of snark and self deprecation and sometimes affection. Cooper and Oliver are so in love. They see each other through the worst moments of fear and vulnerability that are followed by the best be it investigating a case, dealing with preconceived notions of wolf/human relationships or managing their families. The story is steadily paced, smooth flowing and really reels you in. There is heat, suspense, mystery and likable characters. I hope that she writes more about my favorite book boyfriends! Wonderful story!
What a lovely, lovely conclusion to this compelling series. I feel quite a bit lost at the moment: I’m both excited and sad to have finally reached Cooper and Park’s hard-fought HEA.
Their final adventure was fantastic and riveting and creepy and shocking and heart-stopping, and even though I can safely say that it’s not my favourite story out of the five (the last book of a series rarely is for me: I can’t help loving the first ones more, with all the getting-to-know-each-other and surprises it entails), I really really loved it.
Charlie Adhara is a truly talented storyteller and her prose is fantastic: she manages to weave the story together seemlessly and effortlessly, with just the right amount of a poetic undertones to it, without making it seem unnatual and forced. Her writing feels momentous in a way, like I could be changed by it just by reading about Cooper’s thoughts and feelings and fears: I’m not a picky reader, far from it, but this book’s prose? It’s always been good, but I think the author reached a truly spectacular peak this time around.
I loved how everything that has happened to Cooper and Park since the beginning of their adventure seems to weave into this story, into the big picture that the reader (and Cooper) finally start seeing. Wolves and humans, Cooper and Park’s combined past and traumas, their friends and family, all the big players of the story (from the Trust to the WIP) have a part to play here and even though some things are (deliberately, I would guess) left vague and unresolved, I really enjoyed how it all came together.
The mystery plot of this book wasn’t my favourite, surprisingly, but it’s by far the creepiest, most momentous and life-changing murder adventure Cooper and Oliver have had. It’s also fairly addicting: I managed to devour this book in a day, even though I currently have two other books I definitely should be finishing on hold.
Cooper and Park both shone so much this time around and the way they work together and understand each other with just a glance, their partnership and their love story, all of it feels so natural and lovely. And seeing them both so sure and confident about their relationship? It was priceless.
Cooper was, as usual, one of my favourite characters and I’m really sorry to be leaving his very unique, prickly and sarcastic voice behind: I’ll miss him a ton.
The epilogue nearly made me bawl my eyes out, but I’m so damn excited for Eli’s story. He’s such a different character from Cooper, sunny and flirty and soft in a way, and I really cannot wait to see what the author has planned for him and how his voice will sound (at least, I’m hoping we’ll be getting his POV: if not, I might seriously cry and/or jump out of a moving car).
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It is set to be published in January 2021.
“Cry Wolf” by Charlie Adhara is the long-awaited fifth instalment in the Big Bad Wolf series, an addictive mix of thriller, urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
Agent Cooper Dayton, a human, and his partner Oliver Park, a shapeshifter, find themselves involved in the unofficial investigation of a murder case that gets more and more personal as the bodies pile up. On top of that, the couple is also busy planning their wedding.
This book makes for a rollercoaster of emotions, going with breakneck speed from thriller to erotica to urban fantasy, somehow managing to always find the perfect balance between humour, romance, and some pretty dark themes, such as psychologically abusive relationships (*not* the one between the main characters) and teenage homelessness.
The narration remains fast-paced, action-packed and awesomely written throughout.
I love the author’s inventiveness, the amazing world-building that lets the reader glimpse so many interesting possibilities without being pedantic or over descriptive, always leaving you with an appetite for more.
The writing style is perfectly polished, the dialogues sound so real that you get the impression you’re hearing the words, rather than reading them, and the witty banter is simply delightful. Each character has their own distinctive voice and this all makes for a very colourful reading.
I tend to be wary of shapeshifter romance novels – or any paranormal romance, actually – because they’re often disappointingly repetitive and clichéd. “Cry Wolf” (the whole Big Bad Wolf series, really) is not like that, though: the characters are flawed and relatable – I even related to the ones I hated! – and they constantly defy stereotypes and your own reader’s prejudices.
I particularly enjoy the trademark way Charlie Adhara has of presenting the investigation’s “false leads”–all those characters you’re going to peg as the unsub in the course of the narration only to learn later that they’re not. The introduction of the false leads is done much more subtly here than in other thrillers, in a very natural, and thus more deceptive, way.
I was completely blindsided by most of the plot twists in this novel, which made for a highly gratifying reading experience. I can’t imagine anything worse than reaching the end of a thriller only to find out that the killer was exactly who you had suspected all along! No danger of that happening in this book.
My favourite quote in “Cry Wolf” – possibly in the whole series – is: “He felt… not changed. But like he’d been seen, understood, and then cherished all the more for it, which had something of a transformative effect in itself.”
My favourite scene is the one with the crocodile (I won’t tell you more, I don’t want to spoil it for you), plus obviously any scene with shapeshifted Park and/or Eli in it.
Kudos to the author for giving all the characters, even the minor ones you only get to see every couple of books or so, an amazing growth arc (I think Eli wins the prize for the best growth arc in this instalment).
I guess we might soon be seeing the Big Bad Wolf made into a TV series, or maybe into a series of feature films, because it has that kind potential.
The only problem is, now that I’m hooked to the series, it’s going to be tough waiting for Book#6 to come out!
I love all of the stories about Cooper and Oliver. Must read.
Love this series
One of the best werewolf series
The fifth and final book of Charlie’s BIG BAD WOLF series finds human Cooper and werewolf Oliver trying to plan their wedding, so of course they get caught up in a string of murders that could expose the existence of werewolves to the world. Watching Cooper develop over the series has been awesome, and Oliver just hits all those sweet-hot protective partner buttons. Recommend!
This is one of my favourite series!!
I love everything about it from the suspense to Cooper and Partks ever growing relationship tp the continuing plot of Coopers knowledge and ties to the werewolf world.
I absolutely adore the dynamic between Park and Cooper and how they both have grown. They are now sure of their love for each other and their bond is growing stronger and stronger for every book. And it’s interesting to see how Coopers test and alpha traits are showing.
The suspense is written perfectly and was keeping me on my toes throughout the book and Cooper really have a knack for stumbling into a murder investigation. And I loved how we got more of Eli in this book and it’s lovely that Cooper cares for him even if he’s Parkx ex.
I can’t wait for the next book and I hope there’s more interaction with Parks family then and the only bad thing about the book is that the next one isn’t out yet.
Right now, I’m feeling sort of numb and a bit lost.
Book hangover doesn’t begin to describe how I’m feeling.
It’ll probably be a year until the next installment in this series is released and I won’t know what to do with myself in the meantime.
So yeah. This was a spectacular story. And right now, when I’m in the process of returning to reality, Cry Wolf feels like the best in the series yet. With some time and a bit of distance I might re-assess, but considering I re-read the first four books in preparation for the Cry Wolf release, it’s not likely.
It’s really hard to pinpoint exactly what makes this story – and series – so bloody good. It’s difficult to analyse and pick apart a text when I’m just swept up into the story and then spit out on the other side all exhausted and emotional.
The awesomeness is of course a combination of things, but I think what really stands out to me is the portrayal of Cooper and his relationship with Park.
Suspense and crime-solving is all well and good, but the insecurities and second-guessing about life, love and Park in particular, that constantly occupies Cooper’s mind is just so painfully realistic (well, not the werewolf part obviously) and intriguing as hell. So yeah, it’s Cooper. His character makes this series perfectly riveting.
That’s it really. I’ve got a humongous mind-crush on a fictional, gay agent and I can’t recommend this series enough.
It’s brilliant. Epic. So bloody excellent there’s really no point trying to describe it. I’m not nearly eloquent enough to properly convey the awesomeness, complexity and depth of this series. So just read it already.
https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se/cry-wolf-big-bad-wolf-5-by-charlie-adhara/
I feel like this series gets better and better as the characters continue to grow and live and love.
Cooper, in particular, has had such massive character growth. It has been a real joy watching him learn to trust and love Oliver. And Oliver is such his perfect match and a great joy in his own right.
This book! A mystery tied in the series AND a pending marriage. Sold.
More please. All the recommendations in the world for this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving a voluntary review and all thoughts/opinions are my own.
I am obsessed with this series, and this author has made a fan for life with her delightful characters and strong writing. I thought this was the final book in the series, but after finishing it, I refuse to believe that’s true. There are still so many things that need to be wrapped up. While there is definitely the patented happily for now that the author always leaves up with at the end of each book, there was nothing close to an HEA.
But don’t get me wrong. That’s in no way a complaint. I want more of this series. I NEED more of this series. Saying goodbye is going to be hard, so if the author still has more story to tell, I hope she never stops!
If you’ve never read any of the Big Bad Wolf books, I highly recommend you start at the beginning and treat yourself to a wonderful series. It’s one that’ll easily become one of your favorites.
The ending of the Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara pretty much defines bittersweet for me. I’ve followed it from the beginning and have eagerly awaited the release of every single book. I absolutely adore Adhara’s voice and her fresh, unique take on werewolves—a theme I don’t usually gravitate toward.
If you’re at all like me and find yourself a tad squicked out by the way some shifter romances are handled, then I can tell you right now… Adhara’s delightful take on the subject is handled quite beautifully. While there is some delicious heat in the series, none of it involves anything that could be mistaken for beastiality—that is, all sexually-based scenes are between a human and his shifter partner’s human form.
Now that that’s out of the way… let’s talk Coop. I’m not one to typically be a fan of single POV in my romance. I like to get the story from both sides as each character experiences the ups and downs of falling in love and maneuvers the pitfalls and highlights of being in a relationship. However, while this entire series is told strictly from Cooper Dayton’s POV, I rarely found myself upset by the lack of his partner Oliver’s POV. Perhaps it’s because Oliver is the shifter, and I’ve already mentioned my hesitancy in that department, but I honestly think it has everything to do with the fact that Coop is such a brilliant protagonist. He draws you in and tells the story going on around him with such heart.
Not only that, but watching Coop grow and change over the books has been a thing of beauty. I think Adhara should consider giving lessons on how to handle character growth and development because Coop is the poster child. His arc is so satisfying, and yet I was still left with this feeling of wanting more. So much more. I know this is the final book in the series, but it ends with questions and doesn’t feel like a true HEA. It feels a bit more like an HFN. Normally, that would irritate me as a reader, but in this case, it seems rather fitting. After following the same MCs for five books, they feel far more fleshed out and real than even the best-written characters can be after only a book or two or three. Therefore, it makes sense to believe their lives will go on after this series ends. At no point in any of our lives do we have a bow tied on all areas of our existence. There are always questions looming and uncertainties to tackle. By ending this series with such realism, it further makes the whole thing feel exactly that—real.
I would recommend this book—and in fact, this entire series—to just about anyone. Even if “shifters” aren’t your thing, I can almost guarantee you’ll love these books. And the romance between Coop and Oliver is so sweet and yet so very, very genuine. After all, we get to see their relationship develop over five books.
Cry Wolf marks the fifth book in the Big Bad Wolf series. This is a continuing story with an established couple and multiple plotlines and recurring secondary characters, so it’s definitely best read in order. I really love the way this author has blended suspense, a good shifter presence and world, banter, and a great romance.
There was a bit of a different energy in Cry Wolf than the previous books, probably due to the couple feeling more settled overall. While this change means the relationship is less of a source of conflict and angst, the characters and relationship development is still very much present. I especially liked how Cooper progressed during Cry Wolf, particularly regarding his place next to Park and among the wolf shifter world.
The suspense, case, and uncovered connections in Cry Wolf were really interesting. I liked how the secondary characters we’ve met or heard of before tied into the plot and enjoyed some of the twists along the way.
Then there’s the ending. I don’t know if Cry Wolf will mark the close of this wonderful series or not, as there aren’t a lot of loose ends but are some areas that could invite further plotlines. Regardless, the close of this book was amazing. As I mentioned, I liked where Cooper ended up personally, but more than that I loved where Cooper and Park were at in the final moments. The words and sentiments exchanged were some of the best I’ve read, probably ever, highlighting emotions that are so difficult to describe and quantify but which are relatable and palpable between these men. If you enjoy snarky characters, suspense, or paranormal romance, this series isn’t one to miss.
*eARC received via Netgalley*