Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for an early listening copy of this amazing novel.

Can you say daddy issues? Both main characters have them! This was the perfect chase style thriller/horror novel mixed with total 80's vibe monster movie feel. It was an interesting take on how fear can take control of your life.

I listened to this in one sitting on 2x speed and loved every minute of it.

I don't know how I missed that this was a horror thriller. It wasn't written in the description, unfortunately horror just doesn't do it for me. I tried but I am not getting into it at all. I couldn't continue and had to DNF.

This has been a highly anticipated read for me and it lived up to that hype!! I it kept me so hooked that I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook until the moment I finished it. An excellent read for fans of classic horror!

When The Wolf Comes Home
Nat Cassidy
Publication Date: April 22

5 / 5

This book hits on so many things, (identity, acceptance, ancestral trauma) but most of all it's amazing.
A woman and a boy are on the run from his "daddy" who changes when he's angry.
But this is no ordinary little boy either.

Nat Cassidy writes flawed characters so perfectly. I enjoyed every moment I spent running with these characters.

This book hit the ground running, then shifts and shifts again, disorienting you and making you dizzy with enjoyment.

This book is adventurous. This book is scary. This book is funny.

I've loved both 'Mary' and 'The Nestlings', but When The Wolf Comes Home is by far my favorite.

I can't wait to hear everyone else's thoughts on this fantastic book that's so much more than a werewolf story. There's darkness. There's light. There's horror. And, importantly, there's hope.

I loved it.
Highly Recommend
5 stars

I can say confidently that Nat Cassidy’s When the Wolf Comes Home is one of the best horror books of the year. This is a fast paced, thrilling, and imaginative story that will hit you in the feels. It is best to go in blind, but be prepared for a ride with a very poignant ending.

This was a fantastic audiobook, narrated beautifully by Helen Laser (with a very impactful section by Nat himself and of course, his beautiful afterword).
Laser brought this story to full vibrant life. Her pacing and characterizations were spot on, with great production by @macmillan.audio. I strongly recommend this one!

3.5 rounded up. Audiobook version.

This is a very interesting, and heart wrenching, take on the big bad wolf. Through a horror lens, we examine the complicated relationships children have with their parents and the manifestations of those relationships.

We follow Jess, a young aspiring actress, as she finds herself on the run with a young child who has secrets of his own. The magical realism element was a welcome surprise, which kicked off around 31% in.

As with all of his books, Nat is excellent at bringing his characters to life and making you truly care about them, their motivations, and the things they experience.

The narrarator did a wonderful job bringing Jess and the boy to life.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but this one just doesn't reach 5 stars for me. I think this will very easily find its audience of fans and is a good additional to Nat Cassidy's publication list.

This is my second Nat Cassidy book, and after loving Nestlings, I knew I’d be in good hands going into this one. It absolutely did not disappoint.

As always, Nat brought the classic horror element but also gave us so much depth in this book with the deeper themes of parenthood-especially fatherhood and fear. This really is a story about fear itself in all of its forms. He crafted such a clever and thoughtful story utilizing fear as our horror theme here in both metaphorical and literal uses within this book that I just know I’ll be thinking about it long after finishing. I enjoyed the high stakes, chase-style plot, along with the character development. Several moments, I found myself taken aback with visceral fear from what was developing on the page and that’s such a testament to his writing. I honestly have no notes, this book was utter perfection.

The audiobook was narrated by one of my very favorites, Helen Laser, and as always she did an incredible job with her voice work and with bringing these characters to life. I also looked forward to the author’s afterward, as it’s always insightful and adds an even more meaningful layer to the story upon finishing. Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for this early copy.

Cassidy is a well known name on my personal bookshelf. His supernatural, psychological, dystopian short stories are all such a treat, and now I can add creature feature to the list. This is also my first time experiencing one of his books in audiobook form and it did not disappoint. Helen Laser does a wonderfully immersive job of pulling you into the story with some surprise narration from Cassidy himself and when the 2 read in tandem...its just finesse.

Jump into the disappointing world of Jess, a 30 something failing actress with a stranger for a roommate, working shitty restaurant jobs after getting blacklisted by a sex driven manager now cleaning gross bathrooms only to get stabbed by a dirty needle. She goes home in a panic induced state only to stumble across a lost 5yo in her backyard who turns her world upside-down. The bloody scenes Tarentino would be proud of, stack sky high from here.

This fast paced monster filled novel takes on a journey dictated through the eyes of a very frightened child. The only thing Jess can do is try her all to keep him away from the one person he fears most...his father. Dad isn't just some ordinary scary dad, but something that most are terrified being under the bed after they read the novel children's tales of the big bad wolf. No mater what she does, things just keep getting worse and people end up dead. Part way through, Jess discovers a very dark secret that perhaps she can use to save the kid and hopefully herself from the monster in tow. Little does she know daddy isn't the only one causing bodies to drop. The ending is a sucker punch in a daring way. Hat off to Cassidy for that curve ball.

Nat Cassidy spends some time with his afterward discussing his purpose for the story and his personal relationship with his father. There is so much important content in this that the story flew through my head again and all carefully crafted character elements and the pivotal story points made all the more sense. All of his stories have a raw element to them and that's him drawing from his personal storyline for us readers to get that even deeper connection. I'm thankful for all things this brilliant mind writes and look forward to the next creation.

I truly, truly love Nat Cassidy. I've adored every single one of his books, so I was pumped to see When the Wolf Comes Home available here. I'm happy to say, I was not disappointed. It is an absolute masterclass in horror and suspense; I can’t recommend it enough.

From the moment struggling actress Jess finds the five-year-old runaway outside her apartment, you're hooked, desperate to figure out just what the hell is going on. What seems like a simple (but terrifying) rescue from an abusive father turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival as they’re chased by the boy’s violent, unhinged father, who may or may not even be human anymore. But trust me, this is just the beginning of a much darker, more complex story. One that is unhinged in the best way possible.

Cassidy’s writing is top-notch, as usual. As the story unfolds, it takes a supernatural turn that was insane yet so well-written that it was completely believable. The way Cassidy layers tension, terror, and mystery is brilliant. I think I devoured this entire audiobook in a day.

What really makes this book stand out is how well-developed the characters are. Jess is relatable and complex— her survival instincts are razor-sharp, and you can’t help but root for her as she faces unimaginable horrors. The relationship she forms with the boy, and the bond that grows between them, adds so much emotional weight to the story amidst the chaos and bloodshed. And the supernatural elements are done so well, ar so eerie and unpredictable that my jaw was on the floor many times. I never knew what to expect next, and every twist was both terrifying and exhilarating.

This book is everything I love about horror—it’s intense, beautifully written, and terrifying as hell. An easy 5-star read for me, and if your taste is anything like mine, you need to pick this one up asap. It’s easily one of the best and most creative horror novels I’ve read in a long time. Phenomenal.

Nat Cassidy has become an auto buy author for me and if you asked me today who my favourite horror author is I might have to say it is him. He never misses! I think he just gets it and that is clear in his afterwards.
I don't normally love horror centered around children but this was unique and chilling. I could not stop listening and felt the tension the entire time. I was so invested in the characters and the outcome. Sat with it for days afterward before I was able to read something else.

Book Review: When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

A charismatic and emotionally complicated waitress finds a tramarized young boy outside her home. Chaos explodes, and Suddenly they are are the run from the law, foundational fears, the past, and the boy's father... a werewolf...or is he?....

The novel is crazy. And good.

There’s something deeply unsettling about When the Wolf Comes Home. It creeps under your skin, burrows in, and stays there. Nat Cassidy has crafted a novel that’s part psychological horror, part supernatural thriller, and part sci-fi nightmare—familiar yet entirely its own beast.

Drawing from The Twilight Zone’s It’s a Good Life (both the TV and Movie version) as well as Charlie X from Star Trek, Cassidy taps into the terror of unchecked power. This trip moves with the breakneck pace of Dean Koontz’s Velocity or Intensity, balancing action with eerie, slow-burning dread. The prose is sharp, the storytelling relentless, and the narration fantastic. The themes of fatherhood, failure, and fear both live on the surface and ferment between the lines no matter the focus of page or the perspective of the person we're following.

Yes, you’ll hear echoes of Stephen King, Frank Herbert, DC Fontana, and especially Jerome Bixby via Richard Matheson. But Cassidy isn’t copying; he’s channeling, reshaping, and making it his own. It’s a love letter to genre-bending horror, a reminder that stories don’t have to fit in neat little boxes. The only misstep? A bloated, meandering ending that loses momentum. But by then, the wolf has already sunk its teeth in.

I give it a B+.
If you're in the mood for tense absurd terror, touching emotional trauma, and a box of good and plenty, you'd dig this puppy.

This one had a bit of a turn that threw me out if it - I was ready for a rip and tear wolf story and then it took a hard left. I don’t know if it was even a bad turn, it just didn’t go where I wanted or thought I wanted.

Not my favorites of Nat’s but I am still a big fan. The story was written well with the trademark Cassidy style and wit. While this was not my favorite, I will read whatever Nat puts out there and I am sure that plenty of people will dig this one.

“No one will be safe when the wolf comes home”.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook. The honest review is all my own.

2.5 - 3 Stars

This was a fast-paced, well written, character study of fear. What a wild ride this book was! I really loved the main characters and following their journey as they run away from the things that scare them. Nat Cassidy is a truly unique writer and I’ll read anything he writes. Highly recommend this work for all horror lovers!

The audiobook narrator was particularly great - highly recommend via audio. The author makes cameos as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Oh My, Oh My! This book was an absolute banger. From the very first page, it grabs you by the throat and does not let go. It’s one of those stories where you think you know what’s happening—runaway kid, terrifying dad, desperate actress caught in the middle—but ohhh no. The layers just keep peeling back, and what’s underneath? Nightmare fuel. And I loved every second of it.

It’s giving high-speed horror thriller with a side of “what the hell did I just read?” in the best way. The action is relentless, the scares are gnarly, and the emotional punches? Whew. Devastating. It’s about fear—how it shapes us, how it twists us, how we fight against it (or don’t). Jess is such a fantastic protagonist, equal parts scrappy and deeply flawed, and her dynamic with the kid?? So well done. Plus, the atmosphere. Every scene is dripping with tension, and the horror elements are chef’s kiss unsettling.

This is my fave kind of horror—fast, brutal, a little weird, and packed with heart. If you love chase thrillers with a supernatural edge, trust me, you need this in your life.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

It pains be to say this just wasn’t for me. I suppose it’s my fault for not looking into this synopsis more, but the storyline was just too silly for me to enjoy. I was expecting more of a domestic horror, but this was supernatural and very over the top. I’m all for the gore but prefer to read stories that are more realistic.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book. The narrator was fantastic, I just didn’t enjoy the story itself.

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.