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Once There Were Wolves

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Once There Were Wolves

By: Charlotte McConaghy
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

New York Times best seller.

A wild and gripping novel about one woman's quest to reintroduce wolves to the Scottish Highlands at any cost.

Inti Flynn arrives in the Scottish Highlands with 14 grey wolves, a traumatised sister and fierce tenacity.

As a biologist, she knows the animals are the best hope for rewilding the ruined landscape, and she cares little for local opposition. As a sister, she hopes the remote project will offer her twin, Aggie, a chance to heal after the horrific events that drove them both out of Alaska.

But violence dogs their footsteps, and one night Inti stumbles over the body of a farmer. Unable to accept that her wolves could be responsible, she makes a reckless decision to protect them. But if the wolves didn't make the kill, then who did? And can she trust the man she is beginning to love when he becomes the main suspect?

Propulsive and unforgettable, Once There Were Wolves is the spellbinding story of a woman desperate to save her family, the wild animals and the natural world she loves, at any cost.

©2022 Charlotte McConaghy (P)2022 Penguin Audio Animals Fiction Genre Fiction Small Town & Rural Wolf Highlander Inspiring

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Critic reviews

"One of those very rare, special novels that changes you as you read." (Laurie Frankel)

"So damn good. A page-turner that makes you think and has a huge emotional impact." (Jeff VanderMeer, author of Annihilation)
All stars
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Would give this book six stars if it were possible. Would recommend to anyone who loves the wild.

Amazing

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A very well-crafted novel with intertwined suspenseful story threads. An excellent reader, you ‘forget she’s there’. Only thing I didn’t like was that I found the heroine very irritating!

Great story excellent reading

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I wasn’t entirely sure about this book at the beginning but as it was recommended by my Bookclub, I decided to stick with it and I’m so glad I did!

Loved it!

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Beautiful writing, wolves, nature, murder, mystery, good pace, unexpected twists, perfect length and an epic ending. I loved it. One of the rare books I have given 5 stars to.

Brilliant, and so original

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An excellently written, thought provoking book with one major flaw. The story contained a "twist" as obvious and transparent, that I can't believe a single reader didn't guess it, well in advance of the reveal.

That said a hugely relevant novel, that I'd recommend to anyone.

Performance wise the narrator is good, but if you're going to set a novel in Scotland, with the majority of the characters being Scottish, surely the ability to perform an even vaguely accurate Scottish accent, is a prerequisite? The lady performing this story makes Scotty in Star Trek sound positively authentic!

Deeply moving book but....

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I was drawn to the premise of this book; reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Cairngorms. And there was lots I liked about the cast of characters and the relationship between the wild, communities and individuals. There was an excellent pace and energy in the writing that kept me listening to the audiobook. But, I struggled with the level of violence running through the story and that this could ever be acceptable in the communities depicted. Also that the wild landscape is such a strong part of the story, and yet I didn't find the descriptions strongly evocative of a place I have visited in summer and winter and have a strong visual image of.

A gripping story - but I struggled to engage with it

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This story twisted and turned...described and lived....surprised, and yet confirmed.
One of the best books in a long time.

clever.... gripping....emotional

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Loved the story telling and the poetic writing, an excellent read. I agree the Scottish accents weren't great but it didn't take away from the tale told, loved the descriptions of nature, the author seems very atune with the wild.

Excellent

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This is a really great listen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is very engaging and it’s beautifully written and very well narrated.

Excellent

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Sarah Hall’s Wolf Border and this novel, both make the same claim: that women biologists will bring wolves back to the British countryside, but will face the same opposition as feminists do. It is the patriarchy that will try its utmost to foil them. While Hall explores complex pregnancy as a parallel, McConaghy is clearer about the male violence against women that is stopping the reintroduction of wolves to Britain.

I would love to introduce both authors to my nephew and his wife who are stewards of a large estate in Scotland which is overrun with deer. Stripping the forest of bark and the forest floor of everything, the idea of sadness for Bambi is replaced by the fear of being left with forests of dead tree trunks. Everyone wants the wolves back, even the sheep farmers (and my niece is a sheep farmer too). A little bit of research would make both novels much better - as they stand they are both mediocre examples of feminist fiction a la Angela Carter. Haven’t we moved on from the 1960s?

Another wolf book

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