WHEN THE WOLF COMES HOME by Nat Cassidy is an absolute action-packed, face-melting wild ride. For a man, Nat writes women pretty well and I would say that both Jess and Cookie were standout characters. This makes me want to go backwards in his catalogue and try out both MARY and NESTLINGS, especially after reading his heartfelt afterword where he binds his books together as a trilogy of sorts. I really, really enjoyed this spunky horror.

When The Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy is an audiobook that I couldn’t stop listening to and also one that I didn’t want it to end. I had all the feelings while listening to it and cried after the afterword, which was read by the author. I was having major FOMO about the book because all the horror authors and influencers were raving about it on Instagram. The praise is well deserved. I loved the narration by Helen Laser. She brought the characters to life with perfect pacing and exceptional emotional delivery. The story is bonkers in the best way. Nat Cassidy is an auto-buy author for me. I will add this to my 2025 favorites. ALC was provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. I received an advance listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My first 5 star read of the year and it earned every last star and then some. When The Wolf Comes Home is a relentless, hilarious, horrifying picaresque exploring themes of parenthood, “shapeshifting,” imagination, detestation, anxiety, and, most powerfully, the nature of fear. Despite being formatted as a classic chase novel and its nods to The Twilight Zone, this is anything but your typical chase novel. With fully fleshed out characters with relatable flaws and familiar personal struggles and a plot that never let up, I was captivated for the entire duration of this story.

I won’t spoil it by giving a detailed description of the plot, but when struggling actress Jess finds a little boy fleeing from an abusive home life, both of their worlds are flipped upside down when a gruesome attack takes place right before their eyes. On the run from more than monsters, Jess and Kiddo run into more impossible road blocks as the lines between the possible and the impossible become increasingly blurred. This book is everything!

Side bar: don’t miss the afterward. The author’s personal connections to this story make the whole thing that much more meaningful.

I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this book on April 22, 2025. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC.

“Love is a shapeshifting monster.”
No one will be spared— not even the reader— when the wolf comes home!
Love werewolves, body horror, gore with a splash of dark fairytales/Sci-Fi? Do you have a strained/nonexistent relationship with a parental figure—specifically a father? This book just might be for you. It’s definitely written exactly to my taste

Cassidy has quickly become a favorite author of mine— his writing is so immersive, and When the Wolf Comes Home is no exception. I was already excited to read this, but became even MORE excited when I saw that his influences for this book included Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones and Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison— two of my favorite werewolf books! I see the nods to Firestarter and IT by Stephen King as well!

This story holds you firmly in its blood-dripping maw from page one and doesn’t relent. It’s genre bending and action packed, yet tender when it needs to be. The incredible Helen Laser really brings the characters to life in the audiobook and adds so much to the reading experience! I would be lying if I said I didn’t sob while reading this. It resonated so deeply with me and my own experiences. I don’t believe this book will be leaving my mind or heart any time soon, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

GET THE AUDIOBOOK!! The brilliant Nat Cassidy is one of the readers and it is fantastic! I was hooked from the reading of the trigger warnings- before the book even began. If you don’t like trigger warnings, here’s your warning.

I almost cannot put into words how good this book is. A young boy’s fears can fully manifest and the horror that ensues is absolutely captivating. Somehow, Nat Cassidy manages to balance the perfect amount of horror, gore, humor, nostalgia, and touching moments. Jessa, the protagonist who protects the young boy, is so lovable and real. This is a must must must read. 5 stars.

So that book was craaaazy…
I don’t think any trigger warnings were really necessary, but this eery sci-fi audiobook is exactly what you’re looking for. I normally avoid the sci-fi/horror genre, but went into this one blindly and absolutely loved it. It has the same vibe as the show Stranger Things, without actually being Stranger Things. I also normally can’t envision what I read, but was able to do so with the vivid imagery the author described.

The narrators were great as well.

Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and Macmillan audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great horror story! I’ve loved all of the books from this author and this one was no exception. The narration on the audiobook production is excellent. I particularly enjoyed the author’s sense of humor sprinkled throughout the gore!

Nat Cassidy has made me rethink my own fears and anxieties in a profound way. When the Wolf Comes Home was absolutely gripping. The tension was perfectly relentless, keeping me on the edge the entire time. Unforgettable!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Helen Laser did an amazing job!

WOW. Nat Cassidy and his big brain hit home. If you were a lover of Goosebumps when you were younger, then this matches those vibes. I can't even put into words how much I enjoyed this book. In this chase style horror, Cassidy leaves NO CRUMBS. Character development, thick plot, and unputdownable!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this audio in exhange for my honest review.

Struggling actress Jessa stumbles upon a boy on the run, and what follows is a horrific jaunt into fear as a both a mental game and a physical manifestation.

This book started off with an absolute bang, dropping us right into the action. The first half had me on the edge of my seat with one piece of action after another, and although the second half I found to be a little bit slower, I was overall very invested. The descriptions were vivid, and I was easily able to imagine the scenes and settings. The audiobook was very immersive and well done.

The themes around family and fear were explored brilliantly, and although I think there were a few times that I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, especially toward the end, some of the ambiguity was kind of fun.

This was my first book by Nat Cassidy and definitely will not be my last.

4.75/5. Thanks to Nat Cassidy, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the ALC/ARC!

This is my first Nat Cassidy book, but not the first on my wishlist, and it's made me move the rest up to "buy next." I can certainly see where the comparison to Stephen King comes in. Nat Cassidy manages to take a mundane life, mix in some childhood trauma and baggage, and then inject a bit of supernatural/out-of-the-ordinary in a way that results in a novel you can't put down (or pause, in my case). Definitely one that I could see in my mind as I listened, even though I may have wanted to skip seeing some of the graphic bits.

After a stressful event at work, Jess finds a young boy outside her apartment in the bushes and takes him in to figure out what to do with him. But when the boy's father comes looking for him, things get turned on their heads. The path the two take twists and turns and flips upside down through the novel, bringing in life-like characters that try to help, try to explain, or try to cause even more trouble. But what happens to them, well, it is fitting that this story is a horror novel.

I think this would be an excellent read for anyone who really misses that old fashioned Stephen King vibe. The characters are real, in their own way. The emotions are thick. And I will never forgive Mr. Cassidy for making me relive some of my own elder millennial nightmares of that movie.

As far as the narration goes, I think Helen Laser did an excellent job. I appreciated how she laced emotion into Jess's thoughts and even changed her voice for Cookie's character. Each one was different, even when read by the same person. Kudos to the scenes with Nat Cassidy and Ms. Laser reading together; it was very well done.

Oh my goodness what did I just listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC.

First, Helen Laser may be my favorite audiobook narrator of all time. She is so good.
Second, this book is horrifying. It was gruesome and gory it was descriptive and painful. You were rooting for characters only for everything to completely shift. "No one will be spared" is an apt tag line for this book.

I felt such heartache throughout this entire novel.

My first Nat Cassidy, but certainly not my last. 5/5. But this is absolutely not for the faint of heart.

The story wastes no time sinking its teeth in and plunges the reader into nightmares we all feel. The story has a strong dose of adrenaline and fear, so hold on. We meet Jess, a struggling actress working in a diner, when the unthinkable happens. Her life takes a brutal turn when she discovers a five-year-old boy hiding outside her apartment and the thing chasing him. After a harrowing confrontation, Jess and the boy flee for their lives. Their horror gives chase, and they must get out of this blood-soaked torment, where every step forward reveals a deeper layer.

The pacing is a standout feature, maintaining a relentless momentum that refuses to let up. Each chapter ramps up the storyline, and you can't stop turning the pages. There's a doomed claustrophobic intensity to how the narrative unfolds—like being trapped in a room that keeps shrinking. Jess and the boy forge a raw and authentic bond, grounding the supernatural elements with human emotion. This book excels in blending psychological horror with visceral, stomach-churning, grotesque scenes. The concept of fears manifesting into reality is probed with a suspenseful, unflinching, and horrifying creativity. The atmosphere is oppressive and eerie, turning the mundane into potential death traps. Beneath the gore and terror lies an exploration of trauma, survival, and the primal fears that live in all of us.

While the ending was satisfying, the mercilessness of the story preceded no easy resolutions, just the stark reality of survival. It was a savage, pulse-pounding ride, and I will be thinking about this book for years to come.

The narration of this audiobook is nothing short of masterful. The narrator's voice effortlessly pulls you in from the first chapter, creating instant suspense and tension. Their pacing is impeccably timed, allowing the dread to seep in. Each character is given a distinct voice, making it easy to follow the story without ever feeling lost. They turned an already great story into an unforgettable experience.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Nightfire, for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

Nat Cassidy, you talented devil. I really, really, really loved this book. It hurt in a way that felt necessary. Every time I read a new NC book, I think ‘No way will this top the last one’ and it always does. Always. He is incapable of writing a book I don’t immediately declare a new favorite right after finishing.

In the realm of horror, creature features aren’t my first choice. So I saw this cover and thought ‘Ok, werewolf book it is, I guess.’ WRONG. So wrong. Cassidy takes everything you know about werewolf fiction and flips it on its head. This is no mere werewolf book, my friends.

When the Wolf Comes Home is a fast-paced chase novel that really played well with the themes of fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. What begins as a nightmarish day for our struggling lead, Jess Bailey, quickly becomes even worse when she helps a scared, lost kid. She quickly finds out that there are people who will stop at nothing to get this kid back. And so kicks off a crazy series of events for about 300 pages.

I love horror like this. It’s such a powerful, emotional read with brief moments of levity that make the painful moments even harder. Jess is the same age as I am and I felt such a connection to her character. There’s the grief and complicated feelings surrounding the death of her estranged father, the feelings of inadequacy as she watches another day pass by without accomplishing her dreams, and just the general anxieties of being an adult. And that’s obviously on top of all the horrors she’s dealing with in this, well, horror story. She was such a fully formed character and I was rooting for her every step of the way.

Overall, if you love Nat Cassidy, you’ll not be disappointed by his latest. But this book is truly for any modern horror fan. You can’t go wrong with audio for this! It really enhanced the experience and Helen was a great narrator.

You stick your finger and boom next thing you know you on the run with a kid! What the heck did I read! This was one heck of a ride!! Kid with crazy powers!! It was crazy good!!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC of When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy.

Rating: 5/5

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Going into this book I already had high expectations and they were all met and exceeded. I have read almost every Nat Cassidy book and have loved them all. In keeping to a spoiler-free review this book had elements of fantasy horror, survival horror and of course, wolves. It kept me engaged and interested the entire time.

I highly recommend readers to not skip the afterword. It adds an important layer and meaning to the story that you won't want to miss.

Cannot wait for the next one!

When the Wolf Comes Home was on my list of most anticipated horror books of 2025, and it did not disappoint.

This book gave fairytale horror vibes while also touching on topics like grief, fear, and anxiety. It was packed full of twists and the stakes were high throughout the whole book. I fully expected it to slow down the last chapter or two, but it never did. I devoured the audiobook. I’m looking forward to reading Nat Cassidy’s backlist asap.

4/5 ⭐️ | Check TW before reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

<u>When the Wolf Comes Home</u>
Nat Cassidy

ALC courtesy of MacMillan Audio and NetGalley.

This is a novel about fear and how we deal with it. How our fears are driven by our experiences. How an innocent mind cannot fear something it does not know “exists,” much like my dog just stares at me blankly even if I raise my hand against it, because he has never been hit by a hand in his whole life. Same with a child, until the child has known abuse. Likewise, to conquer our fears, we need knowledge. We need to unmask our fears. <i>“Once we name our monster, its power shrinks.”</i>

It is hard to go into detail about this story without giving up spoilers. Suffice it to say, this novel is brilliant. It is a fast-paced thrill ride, with a diner waitress, Jess and an unnamed 5 year old boy she finds lurking in the bushes, both of whom are relentlessly chased by the boy’s abusive father who may be a shapeshifting psychopath (?) The boy has the vibes of young Drew Barrymore in Firestarter, also being pursued by the FBI. There are horror devices from 80’s paperbacks and movies – a deranged murderous Doc Brown and buzz saw-wielding weasels, a giant spider, animated mannequins, a 20-foot werewolf, and even a Harlan Ellison mouthless person (yeah that’s an older reference) that’s trying to scream. You need to hang on to your seat with this one. I listened on audio – the narrator was just perfectly suited, and she definitely amped it up several-fold. Not to be missed!

I enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook!
Nat Cassidy has a way of writing the creepiest atmospheric stories and I loved this one as well. I appreciate the deeper themes in his stories as well.

**What I Loved:**
- A relentless, high-stakes horror chase that never lets up
- Deeply layered themes of fear, childhood trauma, and self-discovery
- A protagonist who feels *real*—sharp, funny, and deeply human
- An ending that *wrecked* me in the best way

I *dabble* in horror, but *When the Wolf Comes Home* didn’t just pull me in—it *dragged* me through every terrifying, pulse-pounding moment. Jess’s journey starts with a runaway child and a violent confrontation, but what unfolds is so much more than a simple survival story. It’s a chase thriller soaked in blood and dread, wrapped around something deeply personal and emotional.

In his review of this book, Nat Cassidy describes this book as *a little bit Twilight Zone, a little bit Dean Koontz, a little bit Firestarter, a little bit IT, a little bit Ursula K. Le Guin, a little bit Terminator 2.* And while I have an abstract understanding of those influences, I’m not deeply versed in them—I never caught on to certain clues that seasoned horror readers or fans of those works might have anticipated. Instead, I was completely along for the ride, discovering every revelation at the same time as Jess. The result? One of the most immersive, visceral reading experiences I’ve had in a long time.

The concept? Brilliant. The execution? Flawless. The *Afterword*? A full emotional KO. The ending had me in *shambles*, solidifying Nat Cassidy as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary horror. If you think horror is just about scares, *this* book will change your mind. It’s about fear itself—how it controls us, shapes us, and, if we let it, *defines* us. Absolutely incredible.

As a girl with two dead parents, I just want to say thank you. Some books entertain, some linger, and some see you in ways you never expected. When the Wolf Comes Home did all three—and left my heart in pieces on the floor.