The Wolves of Paris by Michael Wallace

The Wolves of Paris by Michael Wallace

Published by Balsalom Publishing (September 20, 2013)

Review by N. E. White.

The Wolves of Paris is a short, fun read of murder, mayhem, and werewolves in 15th century Paris. Told primarily through three main characters; two brothers at odds with each other, and the woman they both love; The Wolves of Paris starts out funny. Not laugh-out-loud funny, but pretty darn close.

Two gate guards, an older, half-blind fellow and his younger compatriot, are freezing as night descends over Paris. The two collect tolls but their minds are decidedly in the gutter, awaiting the appearance of Lade d’Lisle’s bottom as she extends it over the Seine to relieve herself.

As mentioned above, though, one of the guards is half-blind, so he can’t really see her bottom all the way from across the river, but his partner can and he goes into loving detail to describe the young lady’s most fine attributes.

Indeed, this is an amusing opening and the author should be faulted for including it because these two characters do not play a significant role in the book (though one is pivotal), but I just can’t. The description of these two guards enjoying what they can in a terribly boring job hooked me into the story and set the stage for a romping good and eerie tale of bloodshed, men (along with said woman), and wolves.

The guards’ entertainment is interrupted by a late arrival. On his heels is something sinister and dark, shattering their illusion of safety. The next day, Lorenzo and Marco Boccaccio, two Italian brothers, arrive in the city. The two are in town to investigate the mysterious disappearance of their merchant. Lorenzo, a love-struck heretic, is destined to visit the local inquisitor to pay penance, and Marco intends to see about their missing agent.

But no sooner do they pass into the gates of the city center, the two learn of wolves that have attacked the city. And not just any wolves, but loup-garous or wolf-men.

The two brothers take it in stride and continue on their way. This is 15th century Europe, afterall, where the Inquisition grips the countryside like a vice and it is widely accepted that angels and demons are real – why not wolf-men?

Once at the agent’s home, the two brothers realize their suspected truant employee may have run afoul with the local nobility, the church, the wolf-men, or all of the above. They devise a quick plan to ascertain their missing agent’s whereabouts and Lorenzo wastes no time in writing a letter to Lady d’Lisle, the love of his life. The next morning, he visits her only to find that his brother, Marco has beat him to it. Lorenzo is reminded of his penance and church representatives come to collect him.

After a bit of humiliating torture at the hands of a severe prior who has Lorenzo’s soul to save, he and his brother set out on a journey that will have them running for their lives.

In the meantime, Lady d’Lisle is trying to make amends for a deed she sorely wishes she could erase. The wolf-men’s fate and her own are entwined, and if the two brothers do not help her stamp out their existence, more will be lost than her life.

Michael Wallace writes a dashing tale of suspense, religion, intrigue, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. He colors his world with quick and accurate descriptions that keep the story moving briskly while filling out the histories and customs of the land. His characters are well-drawn and likeable, and the situations they find themselves in are touched with equal amounts of horror and humor.

My only fault with this short tale is that I wished it was longer. I also thought many of the fight scenes could have been a bit better developed. Not longer, but maybe more detailed. Some of the things the wolf-men were able to do didn’t quite make sense in my head. Even so, just as it is, I highly recommend The Wolves of Paris for those who like authentic, historical places touched with some dangerous and fantastical creatures.