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An enigma consumes the residents of Full Moon Cay after teens Tommy and Bobby go missing, and only Tommy returns with no memory of what happened. Later, Bobby is found dead, marking Tommy as the number one suspect. Then Tommy begins a complicated relationship with school psychologist Dr. Niki Ravine, who has secrets of her own. Meanwhile, veteran Detective Esposito, who literally pieces together puzzles while putting the pieces together of this investigation, reluctantly partners with Harlan Shangri-La, a book-smart cadet. The two hunt for a killer in a town where almost anyone is a potential suspect, while a mysterious shape-shifting wolf seems to haunt everyone.
Thibault, an award-winning author and screenwriter, has crafted a paranormal thriller about selfhood and transformation. This lengthy but engaging novel is taut with suspense, leaving readers guessing throughout the convoluted story, complete with a murder investigation, cunning and dangerous killers, and small-town secrets. The author is excellent at painting an atmospheric setting with eerie phenomena, shadowy figures, and misguided youth. The novel is essentially a thriller, whodunit, and coming-of-age story focused on Tommy's journey and hidden desires. Thibault explores heavy, mature themes alongside current, divisive issues regarding gender roles in a patriarchal society.
Though the complex plot leaves some storyline threads and characters a little underdeveloped, it's when the paranormal elements fully emerge in the last third of the book, with connections to the lunar cycles, that Thibault's writing shines, finally explaining the wolf's purpose in the story. The action-packed fantasy is a page-turner that offers plenty of intriguing commentary, including one in particular on carnivorous plants, as it explores the complexities of finding our true selves while embracing tolerance and inclusion.