"Pack of Lies" by Charlie Adhara was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. It's a spinoff from the Big Bad Wolf series (an absolute favorite of mine!) and it's preferable to read that to in order to fully enjoy "Pack of Lies.

Eli has always been a very lovable and intriguing character, and I was happy to see that he'd be getting his own series. One of the things I love about Adhara is her ability to create these incredibly realistic, complex and flawed characters, wolves notwithstanding. Her writing style is unmatched and unpretentious; and she has always succeeded in avoiding the typical cliches. I was gripped by the story and, of course, the banter between Eli and Julien was fantastic. They were quite endearing, and I can’t wait to see what they get up to next.

Thank you, Carina Adores, for allowing me to read Pack of Lies early!

My first Charlie Adhara book and it was a great time! I'm so happy I got to read earlier than normal this adventurous achillean book. I love books with shapeshifters and werewolves in particular.

I am a huge fan of Charlie Adhara's Big Bad Wolf series, and eagerly awaited this spin-off featuring Park's ex-boyfriend, Eli.

Eli is a complicated figure with a difficult past. He uses snark and misdirection to mask his loneliness and his genuine fear of both humans and other wolves. Eli wants desperately to prove that he can be a good member of his new pack, but it's clear he feels the bonds are fragile and that he believes it's his own fault. Crossing paths with Eli is Julien Doran, another troubled soul, who is investigating the death of his cryptid-obsessed brother.

You really need to have read the Big Bad Wolf series, especially Cry Wolf, to fully appreciate Eli's motivations and emotions. Pack of Lies is very much a call-back stylistically to The Wolf at the Door, in that it's clear that the focus was on the (excellent) mystery plot, and introducing Eli and Julien and their nascent relationship, in order to set the stage for future installments. I like that Adhara doesn't rush the romance, and expertly balances plot and character development. I'm very excited to read the next book!

Pack of Lies is the spin-off to the Big Bad Wolf series, that focused on Cooper and Oliver.

In this we get the start of <b>Eli's</b> - Oliver's ex - own love story.

His love interest is <b>Julien</b>, a human who used to be a movie star, and is still fairly well known. He's 44, though and his career isn't exactly hopping, especially after 14 months before the start of this story, his younger brother, Rocky, died, and he's been grieving ever since.

His brother was into the whole monster thing, and trying to find out if they existed. Like big foot, werewolves, ghosts, etc etc. Julien never did and is a sceptic, but after his brother's death, he takes off for North Carolina from California, wanting to investigate the last place his brother went before his death, as he left some maps and such that could lead to something.

Julien still doesn't believe in the supernatural, but he thinks if he could solve what his brother was looking into, it could help him in some way.

Of course, a guy who doesn't believe walks right into a murder plot that involves said supernatural.

Although on his first day there, he almost hits an animal and runs his car off the road. When he tries to find the nearest shelter, it turns out to be the shelter, retreat, what have you, that Eli is now the manager of, and which Oliver and Cooper own. It's been turned into a place for wolves needing refuge after running away from their rebel packs.

There is a connection when Julien and Eli first meet, but I do have to say the first 30-ish percent of this was a little slow.

It was setting things up and I get that, but getting all this info and seeing Julien and Eli interact so much more with all these other people I didn't care about made that go a little slow, so I gave .5 off for that slow beginning.

Then after that it started to get more and more into the story, which got more interesting as it went on, and we got more and more of Julien and Eli and I was very into the story.

I do wish we had gotten to get a little deeper into Julien and Eli as a pairing, as a couple. My other .5 stars off is just...not feeling like we got enough of them by the end of this. I understand this is a series and these are just starting their relationship, but I still felt like we barely got anywhere with them by the end of this.

Not to say we didn't start getting a lot more of them, we did and I enjoyed it so much. But by the ending of this I'd say they aren't even in a relationship yep. They're maybe just past the point of casual into "I like you, lets hang out more" territory which isn't much of a start of anything. I guess I just wish they were further along by the end of this. They didn't need to be at "I love you"'s yet, but...I don't, maybe to a point where they wanted to date? Somewhere around there would have been nice.

They don't even have full on sex in this. I mean, there are sex scenes, don't get me wrong and they are hot, and the chemistry was there for sure. But they don't even get to penetrative sex. I guess I just wanted them to be father along in their romance by the end of this. Not much, but a little more.

Instead in this we just got the <i>very</i> beginnings of it. I did like what we got for them in that stage, the feelings they were starting to get, but certainly I wish we had had more. I guess it's a little similar to Oliver and Cooper in the first book of their series, if I remember correctly, so maybe I shouldn't be too surprised, but I guess with Eli and Julien it just felt like..not enough. Especially with the slow start that didn't see them interacting a ton.

But, other than those frustrations, I did love and enjoy this a lot. I felt the chemistry and connection between Eli and Julien and definitely want more, and am definitely excited for book two in this series. I want to see Eli let down his walls completely for Julien, something at this point he thinks he'll never do for anyone. It'll make it all the sweeter when he does for Julien.

The plot became interesting the more we got into this, with the mystery of what was happening and who was murdering and attacking others. It definitely left that plot open ended at the end of this, with more definitely to come. Because really, what is so interesting and important about Neilson's notebook? We didn't get to find that out in this one. I feel like that storyline will be ongoing.

And we got a Cooper and Oliver cameo at the end, which was fun to see. And it made me smile when Eli said he didn't want to disturb the two of them because they were on their honeymoon. Aww 😍

So overall, a strong start, that could have been slightly improved in a few areas, which would have made this a 5 star read to me.

Definitely a strong start, though, and I'm excited for the second book in this series and the furthering of Eli and Julien's relationship. I hope the next book goes more in depth with them.

Still two thumbs up from me, can't wait for the next one! 🥰

Sometimes, I swear you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. In this particular sense, I’m talking about rereads. I made a point to reread the <i>Big Bad Wolf</i> series prior to this spin-off series opener because I wanted everything fresh in my mind for any carry-over plots and characters. And I’m glad I did. I’m also glad I put two weeks between finishing those and starting this, just so there wouldn’t be too much of a good thing in my brain. But.. I think it also made me love this a little less.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to love here. Eli being the number one thing. Eli was perfect. His dialogue, his wit, his whole being. There was no wrong done. And while I liked Julien, and did think there was some chemistry in their intimacy, outside of it..? It just wasn’t as electric. I wasn’t desperate for them to interact, to bounce off each other, or even to bone — though they, again, those were good times. There was really only one moment, where Julien asked to be friends (if you know you know!), that socked me in some feels.

Having said that, when I did my reread, I knocked some ratings up a star. So maybe this is one I’ll love this beginning in hindsight when it’s all said and done? Historically that seems to be the case with Adhara. We might eventually find out.

Oh, what’s this all about you ask? Well, it’s a queer paranormal shifter mystery! This new series (which, by the way, I would not recommend starting here; go back to the beginning and meet Cooper and Oliver!) features a secondary character from the main series, one who has not had quite such an easy life (some backstory reveals in the main series, hint hint), and who is now part of a new start-up pack and is heading the running of a “retreat” (as far as humans know) which is a front for a shelter, or a safe place, for wolves. He’s barely there long enough to get the place running before hijinks ensue that have him threatened by a nearby pack, put a human who is clearly hiding things in his path, and more. Said human, Julien, eventually convinces Eli to team up and try to uncover.. well, more than a few things. How’s that for vague and unhelpful?

But yes, while I’m not shouting praise from the rooftops like I expected, this could just be me a little overwhelmed by my own expectations, and also too much Ollie and Coop too recently in my reading (and forever in my heart). It does not mean I am in any way not excited for more. I want Julien to grow on me. I want more hijinks. I want more Eli fullstop. And, in general, I just love this world and Adhara’s writing. Also, I’m clearly an outlier; just look at all those five stars! I’m not disappointed by this rating. And you shouldn’t be put off, either.

I’m so SO psyched to be getting an entire series about Eli. He stole my heart when he first appeared in the Big Bad Wolf series, and I look forward to learning more about this melodramatic trickster now that he’s taken a starring role.

(Speaking of, I HIGHLY recommend you read the Big Bad Wolf series before you dive into this book if you haven’t already. It’s a good time all around, but also there’s a LOT of worldbuilding stuff that happens over the course of those five books that is very much skimmed over here, including lots of backstory for Eli.)

His co-star is also a wonderful addition to Charlie Adhara’s world. Julien Doran is the most adorable dork to ever be adorkable, and of course he’s almost as slippery a liar as Eli. The two had great chemistry, but of course were both fascinating enough on their own that even the time they spent alone was really compelling. The SECRETS these men have, my god.

My only complaint with this book is that it felt far too short. The drama between Eli and Julien took center stage, and even though there were still a lot of mysterious things going on (acts of vandalism, bodies being found left and right), not much actual sleuthing happened until the end. (Honestly though, this could easily be attributed to the fact that Eli and Julien are amateur detectives, whereas it’s Cooper & Oliver’s job to solve crimes, so more of their narrative is going to be taken up by investigating suspects, forming educated theories, etc, etc.) Personally, I would have preferred the drama/mystery ratio to be a little more balanced, but either way, I still very much enjoyed the ride.

The climax happened very suddenly as well, then seemed to last an oddly long time, and then just as suddenly we were getting answers. I felt like I didn’t even get a chance to have a theory before part of the mystery was already being unwound.

Though of course it sounds like there’s plenty more mystery left to investigate in future books, which I’m still very much excited for. I’m also looking forward to hearing more about this mysterious Preservation, a new addition to the werewolf world’s hierarchy that promises to be a real source of trouble. And maybe we’ll get some glimpses of Cooper and Ollie running around in the background…

All in all, a very captivating start to this new series. I can’t wait to devour more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt different from the last few Adhara books. This is the first in the "Monster Hunter" series, which takes place in the Big Bad Wold universe, but focussing on different people. The MCs are Eli, from the Big Bad Wolf series, and Julien who is new to us. The story takes place at Maudit Falls, where the last book finished.

Stuff is going on at Maudit Falls. Julien and Eli try to work out what, exactly. They are very different, complex people with very different concerns. As usual, Adhara delicately folds in the world-building and the references to the previous series. You don't need to read the previous series to enjoy this one, but the reading experience, if you have, is completely different - it would almost be like reading two different books.

Right now this is a 4 star read. However, I am already starting to think about rereading it, so it may well go up to 5 stars for me.

Julien Doran arrived in Maudit Falls full of hurt and full of questions. The key to his brother's mysterious last days might be found in this town, and now Julien's is starting to unearth things the locals would rather keep buried. Perhaps most especially the strange manager of a deserted retreat. Eli Smith is a lot of things: thief, werewolf, glamour-puss, liar. And now the manager of a haven for rebel wolves. He’s spent years cultivating a persona to disguise his origins, but for the first time he’s been entrusted with a real responsibility—and he plans to take that seriously. Even if the handsome tourist who claims to be in town for some rest & relaxation is on a hunt for all things paranormal. And hasn't taken his gaze off Eli since he's arrived. When an old skeleton and a fresh corpse turn a grief errand into a murder investigation, the unlikely Eli is the only person Julien can turn to.

I love the Big Bad Wolf series so much. It was one of my favorite reads of last year. It's one of the few books (besides hockey romance) that I will peer pressure people into reading. It deserves so much more hype!! It should be just as hyped as Wolfsong (they don't really have anything to do with each other besides werewolves and how much I love them).

So when I found out that a spin-off about Eli was coming out, I was so excited!! Eli is a character that appears in book two (or three? I don't remember), and ever since he appeared on the page, I loved him. He's eccentric, charismatic, flirty, and hilarious, and I needed to know more about him.

Pack of Lies delivers on that and so much more. We get to understand why he acts the way that he does, and we learn more about his backstory.

This one is different from Big Bad Wolf because this time, we get dual POV, which I didn't expect, but it was such a great surprise. I loved Julien. He's more shy and introverted, always doubting himself. I wanted to reach into the book to hug him 🥺

As always, Charlie Adhara's writing is incredible. She manages to pack so much humor, depth, and complexity in these stories- it always surprises me how much they make me emotional. Big Bad Wolf follows Copper coming to terms with his trauma and learning to build intimacy in the aftermath. Monster Hunter has similar themes, but it's also about grief.

I enjoyed this one, and I'm SO excited to read the next books. Charlie Adhara's sequels are always better than the first book, so I can't wait.

OH, and 👀 a certain prickly porcupine detective and his werewolf boyfriend do appear in this one, and it made me scream and fall from my chair.

Anyways, if I haven't convinced you to read Big Bad Wolf yet: A human and werewolf fall in love while solving crimes!! Everyone is a little shit but deeply lovable, with the mortifying ordeal of being seen amidst murder investigations!! It's grumpy/sunshine, idiots-to-lovers, slow-burn romance with so much yearning! Everyone needs to read it 😌

CWs: blood, some violence/gore but not very graphic, on-page sexual content, murder.

This book is a spin-off of the Big Bad Wolf series. And if there's one thing I really expected from those books it was to know more about Eli.

Eli appeared in the other books as a shooting star who clearly deserved to be the star of his own series. And here I am happy to start with his story. We met Eli as someone flirtatious, with a light personality and full of humor, secrets and sass (I'm weak for this type of trope, sorry... I'm basic).

The thing is, we always knew Eli through the eyes of Cooper and Oliver. So there are a lot of things to find out about him: his true personality, traumas, past, etc. And I love that Charlie Adhara managed to do this, blind us a little bit with what you knew through Cooper's point of view and show us with this book that Eli is a very complex character and that there are many things we don't know.

Regarding the romance, I loved the dynamic between Eli and Julien.

Julien also has his own collection of secrets, he's a shy gentleman, very charming in an introverted way. And I love romances between very different characters that complement each other well. Also, I love this relationship it's clearly going to take several books to develop that true love (just like Cooper and Oliver).

I hadn't realised how much I missed being in Charlie Adhara's world until I heard she was writing a spin-off from her Big Bad Wolf series.

Eli Smith is the star of this series, the cocky but incredibly vulnerable shifter who's also Oliver's ex, who we last saw helping him and Coop in Cry Wolf.

He's 'happily' managing the retreat for runaway rebel wolves that Coop and Park have set up on the old Neilson lands from one of their earlier cases - even though he has no visitors yet - when he crosses paths with faded Hollywood star Julien Doran.

Both men have secrets to hide, but there's also a kindred connection which sparks between them as they get embroiled in the mystery surrounding Blue Tail Resort tucked away in a quiet corner of the Appalachian Mountains.

I can't tell you how much I loved this plot without giving it away, so I'll just say that these two have as rocky a start as Coop and Park did but with all the added complications of Julien knowing nothing about wolves.

The pacing is superb, starting off with a hint of mystery and a creepy feeling that something isn't right, before it picks up and heads off into heart pounding adrenaline-packed action.

It's also got the same subversive humour, as Eli's smart mouth gets him both in and out of trouble when things start kicking off.

Now, unlike the majority of the other books in this universe, I did actually guess who was the baddie but I didn't have a clue for the 'why' and I suspect that will be part of the series long ARC.

This isn't out until September but I'm already having withdrawal symptoms and desperately needing to know when book two will arrive!

I loved it; the mystery, the dual POV, the character in his 40s, the secrets, the mystery, the lies, the cameos from Cooper and Park, Boogie, everything!
Eli has always been a very intriguing and fascinating character and we finally got to be inside his head with his POV chapters. And we got a bit of a glimpse of his past. There's still so much to learn. Eli learning to trust someone after what he went through isn't easy but maybe handsome actor Julien can get past his walls.
Julien was adorable and I loved seeing him flustered and just genuinely happy and interested in Eli. He has secrets and it shows, but he still wants to risk everything to keep having Eli in his life, and I think that's amazing. Even if the romance is still new, we got a few steamy scenes so I'm not complaining at all!

As usual the writing style makes the book hard to put down. I loved every page and even if my detective skills failed me yet again, I can't wait ti try solving the mystery in book 2!

Is anyone surprised that this is a 5 star read for me?
I think not. I could have slapped my 5 star sticker on this even before I read it.
The Big Bad Wolf series is one of my favourites of all time and I reread it not once, but twice already. Charlie Adhara’s way to creat interesting characters that are flawed in ways you simply fall in love with them is unmatched. I love her style of writing, how diverse and against all clichés her characters are and I never see the plot twists coming.
No wonder I couldn’t put this one down either.

I absolutely loved Eli in Cry Wolf, he is such an interesting, multilayer character. He’s mysterious and intriguing. But also extremely sweet and protective of the people he loves.
Now that he found a new pack in Park and Cooper (and Boogie ofc) and responsible of their rebel retreat, he is so eager to show he is good and worth keeping. He wants to belong so badly, my heart bleed for him.
He’s only on the retreat since two weeks and already a stranger appears in the middle of the night under his front desk, he’s got his first guest and a mystical being is haunting the hills. Doesn’t look very good for things to go right.

I loved that this was dual POV, finally we get a glimpse behind the scenes of life as a wolf!
The second MC, Julien, is grieving the death of his younger brother, who he acted as a parent for for most of his life. In search of his brothers last steps and possible secrets, he lands in Maudit Falls.
Julien immediately became a new favourite too. He was so cute and blushing and protective of Eli, even though they only knew each other for such a short time! He fell head over heels for Eli, without even wanting too (who wouldn’t). He was perfect for him!
Also a character in their 40s living out his queer life for the first time? I love it. It was so relatable and I rooted for him a lot!

The story was very gripping, the plot twists were mindblowing and I didn’t see anything coming at all. I suspected everyone and had very wild theories, and in the end I was completely off anyway. I loved the story, I couldn’t put this book down and I am super excited for the next book! Can I please have it now?
Also the cameos? Thank you!!! I couldn’t have asked for more.

This was a solid three stars for me. I'd read and enjoyed the other Wolf books by Charlie Adhara, but PACK OF LIES left me cold--the protagonists are less competent, less interesting, and less likable than the ones in the Wolf books, and the story felt meandering, often jumping back to explain things that either a) didn't need to be explained, or b) could have been handled without that kind of digression. I really wanted this one to be a five-star like the Wolf books; here's hoping that the next one will be better (and will have less of robe-swishing, yikes).

This was marvellous: exactly what I was hoping for, but at the same time, so surprising and utterly unexepected. I've loved every single word Charlie Adhara has written in her entire career, and her latest masterpiece is no exception: the plot was wholly compelling and its protagonists? Nobody does characterization like she does, nobody.

First things first: the story. Murder mysteries are one of my favourite genres, but murder mysteries combined with paranormal elements? *That* is my absolute jam and the one thing I'd happily read for the rest of my life. I've loved every single mystery Adhara has concocted for Cooper and Oliver, but I still remember the Maudit Falls mystery being one of my favourites. I was very excited to be back there, and I was not disappointed, at all. The murder mystery was totally riveting and it kept on the edge of my seat the whole time; and, as usual, all the twist-and-turns and reveals came as a complete shock to me. The mysterious, secretive atmosphere of Maudit Falls and of all the characters (and potential suspects) that populate this book were equally riveting. I loved how this book has a bit of Agatha Christie-esque/Cluedo vibe going on, with the usual fixed set of suspects, and I also loved the small-town vibe of Maudit Falls, with its charm and myths and all the quirky, gossip-y side characters that made the story even more interesting.
And, although the wholly compelling mystery was a definite bonus, the absolute best thing of this novel (and of any Charlie Adhara novel) were the protagonists, Eli and Julien, and their relationship.
I'm 100% sure Charlie Adhara is some sort of character magician: I clearly remember thinking that, thinking "wow, this is some good stuff she's written", while reading Cooper and Oliver's story. I don't know how she does it, but all of her characters are so complex and multi-dimensional, layered and flawed and realistic, and Eli and Julien were no exception, especially combined with her usual flawless and beautiful writing.
I've wanted to read more about Eli since the first time he appears on page, an unrepentant flirt, snarky and strong, but also strangely vulnerable at the same time. I knew I was going to adore whatever Charlie Adhara had plotted for him, but I was not expecting the sheer degree of wonder I'd feel as soon as his many, many layers were being peeled off and the sheer amount of love I'd also feel for his counterpart MC, Julien.

Eli was, as I'd expected, an utterly fantastic protagonist: he's a peculiar combination of flirty and insecure, of flighty and indifferent and eagerly selfless. He's really magnetic, charming and funny, and I could totally see why half of the characters in the book were madly in love with him. I adored every single side of him and although he was a biiiit too quick to judge in some instances, I got why he reacted in that way, and just the thought of the pain and trauma he's been through made me feel somewhat murderous.
Julien, on the other hand, was a complete surprise, a wholly wonderful one at that. I don't know what I was expecting, maybe a bit of a Stern Brunch Daddy or somebody overly responsible to counteract Eli's more flighty disposition, or maybe the complete opposite of that, a bumbling but sweet love interest who'd love Eli half to death. What I actually got was a ridiculously endearing, utterly complex and contradictory character that managed to completely own my heart. He's hilarious, in a self-deprecating way that was 100% delightful; he's insecure and flawed, for sure, and fast-approaching a midlife crisis, but he's also absurdly charming and sexy and lovely; he's also a very, very good liar and an obfuscator and a tiny bit ruthless, and I was not expecting him to keep up with Eli's lies and obfuscation so well.
And their relationship? Inject it into my veins, please and thank you. I adored every single one of their interactions: I loved their chemistry and their sexual tension, and the banter and the sleuthing they shared was totally top-notch. I'm so damn curious to see what will happen next with them. I'm also so looking forward to discover more about the underlying mystery and theme of this series: some of the things that were left hanging are intriguing, to say the least.

When I saw Pack of Lies available for review, I immediately jumped to request it because the Big Bad Wolf series is one of my all-time favorite paranormal romance books. I was so excited for this spin-off series that I was honestly a little nervous about it living up to my own hype. I am happy to say that this book did not disappoint.

The plot revolves around Eli, who’s running the Maudit Falls retreat as a sanctuary for rebel werewolves, and Julian, an actor that’s trying to find answers and closure about his brother’s death. While you could read Pack of Lies as a standalone, I would recommend reading the Big Bad Wolf series beforehand since it provides a little bit more background about Eli, the retreat, and some of the other mentioned characters such as the De Luca’s. I would also recommend reading it just because it’s an absolutely fantastic series, but that’s beside the point.

I will say I’m quite attached to Cooper and Oliver (the main characters from Big Bad Wolf), and it was a little hard for my brain to transition to the fact that we're focusing on Eli now. I was looking forward to seeing more from Eli after getting to know a bit about his character in the original series though. I loved him and his snark, and I really hoped that he would find his own home/family one day and get his HEA.

Pack of Lies is told from a dual point of view, which isn’t always my favorite since sometimes it can be a little jarring. But the dual POV was written really smoothly, and I think it worked well with the plot. I enjoyed getting to see both Eli and Julian’s perspectives and how they view/interact with each other. I think the dual POV also helped with getting to know Julian and connecting to his character since he was newly introduced.

Another thing I love about Charlie Adhara’s writing is how well she balances the plot in terms of the mystery aspect and the character/romance development. The plot pacing was good, and the mystery had me guessing alongside the characters trying to piece everything together. There were definitely elements and reveals that surprised me, and it was just a captivating read overall.

This is just the start for Eli and Julian, and I really hope to see their relationship develop more in the following books. Things were a bit complex to begin with due to the nature of Eli being a werewolf, and Julian dealing with the loss of his brother. I liked how the romance developed between the two, and the smut scenes were written wonderfully. I will say the dynamic was not quite what I expected- given how Eli’s character was presented, I thought he would take more charge. But I think the change in dynamic worked well with two of them.

The end was a solid conclusion for the first book, and I’m definitely curious to see how their relationship will develop in the sequel. The only sad part is having to wait for the next installment- I swear I blinked and I was somehow finished. Overall, Pack of Lies was a wonderful read filled with mystery, romance, and great characters (both new and old with some lovely cameos). I highly recommend Pack of Lies and all of Charlie Adhara’s works!

I read the previous books in this series last year, and I enjoyed them enough to want to pick up this one. It seems as though I mainly liked the characters though, and the characters in this book weren't pulling me in nearly as much. While I wasn't the hugest fan of the plotlines, I loved the romance, but I wasn't enjoying this romance in the same way. Because of that, I decided to DNF the book.

4.5 rounded down

This was a super solid start to a series, and an excellent spin-off from Adara's Big Bad Wolf Series. I think that it works okay as a standalone, but I'd strongly recommend reading that series first, where we're introduced to one of the main characters, Eli, as well as the setting and why he's there. Despite having read the series before, I actually wish I'd done a reread of it prior to this one, or at least re-read that last book, just so that some of the context was fresh in my head. I didn't <i>need</i> it, but it's clear that there are things being referenced that I should have been more familiar with.

Eli we'd already met, but it was fun to learn a bit more about him through his POV, though even then he's still pretty tight-lipped. Julian was a new character, whose POV we also get, and I found him quite enjoyable and interesting. His history and backstory were really great, and the way he and Eli come together, and the build between them, was just lovely. An engaging mystery and plot, and some nice twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. They've both got some trust issues and make some missteps, but nothing that seems unforgivable, and we end the story with a very tentative HFN that feels satisfying for the story, but is clearly not meant to be the end of their romance, considering this is just the start of the series. I think a super solid HEA would not have made sense for these characters at this point so I was really satisfied with where it ended up. The smut was super hot, if not entirely the vibe and dynamic I wanted/saw for them, and I'll be curious to see how that evolves as well.

There are definitely some open threads, both in terms of plot and relationship, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what the next book brings us! I don't love these two *quite* as much as Connor and Park (who do make a brief appearance) but the writing was as brilliant as I've come to expect from this author. Can't wait for the next release!

"Pack of Lies" by Charlie Adhara was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I couldn't be happier to report that it delivered on every level.

‘Monster Hunter’ is a spin-off of one of my all time favorite series, ‘The Big Bad Wolf’, where we first met Eli. The wolf has been an intriguing figure from his first introduction, and quickly ingratiated himself to both Cooper (quite against his better judgment) and to me (a willing victim), and I was jumping at an opportunity to learn more about him.

I confess to a bit of trepidation over the other main character in the series. I couldn’t quite imagine another lead who wouldn’t be outshined by Eli’s effusive charisma and mysterious backstory. Safe to say, I was worried over nothing.

Julian Doran, in his grief and goodness, his genuine emotion despite his need to play his cards close to his chest, is a compelling voice who is very easy to root for - and you can’t help but want to give him a hug.

This book had two very pleasant surprises - it has a dual POV! A first for Charlie Adhara. And the glass fogging amount of chemistry between Eli and Dorian from their very first moment. A magnetic pull almost, that feels every bit as intense for the reader as it does for the very aware but unwilling victims of it.

The mystery aspect will have you making suspect lists, grasping at connections and maybe highlighting way too many passages to analyze over and over again - but hey, maybe that’s just me.

“Pack of Lies” had it all. Humor and snark, mystery and suspense, humanity and vulnerability. Did I mention the glass fogging steam? Because it bears repeating. Adhara toes the edge of kink brilliantly as always, with communication and connection, trust and abandon. Oh, and you may be interested to know that a certain Prickly Porcupine and his wolf half benevolently graced us with an appearance *wink wink*.

I can’t wait to see what’s next for Eli and Julien.

Pack of Lies is the start of the Monster Hunt series by Charlie Adhara. This is a spinoff from the Big Bad Wolf series and while you don't necessarily have to read that to enjoy this, that series is amazing so I don't know why you wouldn't. 😄

When Hollywood actor, Julien Doran, finds a clue towards helping understand what happened to his late brother, he gives up everything in his life to hunt down the lead. This brings him to Maudit Falls, which houses a sanctuary "retreat" for werewolves escaping rebel packs and its current manger Eli Smith. Eli is trying to set up the retreat while the owners are on their honeymoon. He is trying to prove he can handle the responsibility but when someone is hunting in his woods, bodies start appearing, and the wolves' existence are at risk of exposure, he decides to get to the bottom of it. That means partnering up with Julien , neither can trust the other but they both have the same end goal. Before they know it, their lives are on the line and the fragile trust they have built can be shattered by lies of omission.

I have been fascinated with Eli since he was first introduced in the Big Bad Wolf series, and finally getting inside his head was wonderful. I was obsessed with his whole demeanor and all the snark. I loved the fact there was so much more to him than what was on the surface. All his insecurities and fears got me right in the heart. I'm also so glad that we were given dual POV so we could form bonds easily with both Eli and Julien. I really enjoyed Julien's personality and how he genuinely cared for Eli's feelings. The half-truths he gave Eli , however, not so much , I was definitely #TeamEli at all times in this book.

The intimacy between our two men was beautifully done. While Eli comes off as take charge and is quick with words in the world, when it comes to the bedroom he's submissive and lets Julien take charge. I loved that contrast between the face he showed everyone else and the the vulnerability he shows Julien behind closed doors. Julien is bisexual but everything physical with Eli is a first for him, but he gives it his all. The intimate scenes are intense and very steamy. Even though things are hot and Julien was all about the dirty talk, he was sweetly always checking in with Eli, the big bad werewolf, before during and after intimacy.

The mystery aspect of the story in my opinion was well paced, and I hadn't quite figured out all the working pieces before it was all revealed. On top of an entertaining storyline and main characters with depth, fans of the author are given much anticipated cameos, even one of the furry variety that put an instant smile on my face. The story itself ends on a peaceful note and the hope of a future for Eli and Julien, who have a lot of healing to do between them. Feelings that grew on shaky trust that ends up broken is going to take some time to rebuild.

Pack of Lies by Charlie Adhara was everything I wanted it to be and more with mystery, amateur sleuthing, lies, monster hunting, danger and steam. I can't wait to see where Julien and Eli's story goes from here.

Eli is such a great character from the Big Bad Wolf series and I love that he’s getting his own. He comes off so prickly and aloof but at the same time wanting some serious affection. I love how Julien recognizes this and helps Eli let go. Their banter and the overall story is so engaging to read.

I both love and hate that this is a first in a series because I immediately want to read the next and the next.

Thank you Carina Press and NetGalley for the ARC!