The Pack by Jason Starr
Hardback
Urban Fantasy
June 7, 2011
Ace
Reviewed by Tori
When Simon Burns loses his job, he loses more then his income. He finds himself thrust in the role of stay-at home dad for his three year old son which puts a strain on his already rocky marriage. Floundering to try and make sense of why he was fired for no reason, he begins to try and find some balance in his life. He meets a group of single dads at a park he takes his son to. Happy to find some comradely, he immediately joins their tight knit group. Michael, Charlie, and Ramon are different then what Simon is used to. Confident, stronger, and more at ease with themselves. After Simon wakes up disoriented from a night out with them, he begins to notice changes in himself. Stronger, hungrier, and an increased sense of smell and hearing, Simon fears he is going insane. When his former boss is found brutally murdered, appearing to have been mauled by a wolf, Simon fears something much worse is happening to him. He fears he becoming a werewolf. And Simon only has one chance to stop the transformation before he to becomes part of the pack.
This is my first reading of Jason Starr’s work. The Pack is an mix of Urban Fantasy and criminal mystery. The beginning pace was smooth and well defined. You get an instant feeling for what Simon is going through; experiencing with him his anger at his company’s betrayal and his feelings of inadequacy when it comes to dealing with his wife and child. When he meets the dads at the park, you see gradual changes come over him. He’s happier and more in control. He and his wife start communicating again.
Mr. Starr does a great job with Simon. Well fleshed out, Simon comes across very believable and realistic. I enjoyed his inner monologues and observations concerning his family and friends. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the rest of the cast. Michael was the only one who comes across as developed as Simon. He is well portrayed as an animal in human skin. He acts on instinct-taking what he wants with no thought to the consequences. Learning his background, you can almost understand why he is doing what he is. The rest of the supporting characters though just comes across as strange. One dimensional and boring. Ramon with his endless talk of sex and while Charlie gives off a supporting vibe, we even realize it doesn’t ring true. I found the dialogue between all of them to be uninspiring.
Once Simon realizes what is happening to him, the rest of story seems to lose focus and just becomes a series of random events. Simon races around, gathering information but not really accomplishing anything. The ending starts off with the possibility of saving the story with an action packed conclusion but random characters tossed in at the end just confuse the matter. We are left on the edge, not knowing what happened or where we go from here. All in all a very confused story that got lost and never made it back.
Rating: D
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Mandi says
Hmm…sounds like a nice premise to begin but I think I will pass.
Aurian says
Well, certainly not a book I am going to be picking up. But then, I prefer books with female lead characters who find their man.
blodeuedd says
I am not feeling it but then I can’t love the premise of all UF books now can I ;)
Tori says
I thought it would be scary and fierce. :(
Tori says
Mandi-The premise is fab. I just wish it had fleshed out better.
Aurian-:) I don’t mind male POV sometimes, makes it interesting sometimes.
Sophia (FV) says
I like an UF told from a male POV. We don’t get that often these days. Too bad it fell flat though.
Tori says
I like a male POV too.
orannia says
Have you tried Mark Del Franco’s Connor Grey series?
Helyce says
Hmm, not for me. It such a bummer when a story starts out with such promise and then doesn’t deliver.
Tori says
Funny thing, I really like his other books.
MamaKitty says
I had the chance to read this one but passed on it. Sounded kind of…. I dunno, hokey to me. I think that’s probably the wrong word. LOL Thanks for the review!
Tori says
LOL Yes, it starts off great but, ummm, yea.
orannia says
Great review Tori. I was getting all excited and intrigued at the start of the review, because the premise had me really excited, but…shame. Such a shame!