INDIE FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER 2022

"So damn good" Jeff VanderMeer, NYT bestselling author

"Changes you as you read." Laurie Frankel, NYT bestselling author

"This is a stunner." Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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Ecology Meets Mystery

Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland with her twin sister, Aggie, to lead a team tasked with reintroducing fourteen grey wolves into the remote Highlands. She hopes to heal not only the dying landscape but also her emotionally wounded sister. Inti herself has changed; she may be the one who needs rewilding.

A Community in Turmoil

Facing strong opposition from the locals, Inti's wolves defy expectations by not just surviving but thriving. Inti lowers her defences, warming to new experiences and emotions, including love. Yet, when a local farmer is discovered dead, the finger-pointing begins. Refusing to believe her wolves are at fault, Inti takes a risky step to shield them, putting her instincts to the ultimate test.

A Tangled Web of Blame

If her wolves didn't cause the death, who did? Matters complicate further when a man she's become involved with emerges as a prime suspect.

A Story That Will Stay with You

Propulsive and spellbinding, this is an unforgettable tale of a woman desperate to save the creatures she loves. Part thriller, part redemptive love story, Charlotte McConaghy's profoundly affecting novel will stay with you forever.

Why It Resonates

Achieving both literary and commercial acclaim, Once There Were Wolves serves as a compelling commentary on the urgent issues of environmental rewilding and violence against women. Brilliantly blending genres, this novel is perfect for fans of Emily St. John Mandel, Evie Wyld, and Hannah Kent.

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Additional Acclaim

"A gripping and emotionally resonant journey." James Bradley, Sydney Morning Herald

"A suspenseful and poignant narrative." Scientific American

"Filled with ravishing descriptions of the landscape." Booklist

"A powerful meditation on humanity and nature." BookPage (starred review)

"Poetic... A lovely, gripping tale." Kirkus (starred review)

"Suspenseful... Urges us to take a lesson from the wolves." BookRiot