Tooth And Claw (Jim Rook, #2)

Title: Tooth And Claw (Jim Rook, #2)

Author: Graham Masterton

Published in: 1997

Date read: 9th September 2008

Score: 3/5

Genre: Horror, Supernatural

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Tooth and Claw" by Graham Masterton, published in 1983, is a visceral and often brutal horror novel that taps into primal fears of the wild and the animalistic nature of humanity, blending ecological themes with supernatural terror.

The story opens with a shocking series of events in the English countryside: farmers and their livestock are being brutally, inexplicably slaughtered. The attacks are savage, leaving behind mangled corpses and a pervasive sense of dread. The nature of the killings suggests a large, powerful predator, but one far more vicious and intelligent than any known animal.

The protagonist is Detective Inspector Jack Kent, a pragmatic and initially sceptical police officer who is assigned to investigate these escalating atrocities. As Kent delves into the case, he is confronted with evidence that defies conventional explanation. The attacks are too widespread, too precise, and too horrifying to be the work of ordinary predators or even a rogue human.

As the body count rises and the panic spreads, the horrifying truth begins to emerge: a monstrous, ancient form of life has awakened. This isn't just a pack of animals; it's a terrifying, almost prehistoric, pack of highly intelligent and malevolent creatures, resembling a hybrid of wolf and bear, but far larger and more ferocious. These "things" are driven by an instinct for vengeance and a primal hunger, targeting humanity for the destruction wrought upon their natural world.

Masterton weaves in a sub-plot concerning a controversial ecological experiment and ancient Celtic lore, suggesting that humanity's disregard for nature has awakened a dormant, vengeful force. The creatures are not merely mindless beasts; they exhibit a chilling cunning and seem to orchestrate their attacks with strategic precision, demonstrating a profound, almost supernatural, hatred for human beings.

Kent finds himself battling not only these monstrous predators but also the disbelief of his superiors and the growing chaos among the terrified populace. He must race against time to understand the origin and capabilities of these beings before they completely overrun the countryside and plunge humanity into a bloody, primal struggle for survival.

The novel is characterized by Masterton's unflinching descriptions of violence and gore, creating a relentless atmosphere of terror. The climax involves a desperate, brutal confrontation between humanity and these resurrected beasts, as Kent and a few desperate survivors make a final stand against the overwhelming force of "tooth and claw," fighting to prevent a complete reversal of the natural order and the re-establishment of a predatory reign.

Comments:
Very entertaining book but nothing like Prey.

Books that we've read by Graham Masterton (9):
Charnel House (1978), Walkers (1989), Prey (1992), Fortnight of Fear (1994), Tooth And Claw (Jim Rook, #2) (1997), Snowman (Jim Rook, #4) (1999), The Devil in Gray (2004), The Doorkeepers (2012), Forest Ghost (2014)