Synopsis: A predator stalks a cold northern Minnesotan
town. There is talk of wolves walking on two legs and attacking people in the
deep woods. Lauren Westlake, resourceful and determined FBI agent, has found a
connection between the strange murders in the north and a case file almost a
hundred years old. Traveling to the cold north, she begins an investigation
that spirals deep into the darkness of mythology and nightmares. Filled with
creatures of the night and an ancient romance, the revelation of who hunts
beneath the moon is more grisly than anyone could imagine.
“Bitten is an extremely well-balanced and engaging novel. It
contains mystery, suspense, horror, romance, and best of all – a creative,
genre-bending twist on werewolf mythology. The story is quick-paced and dark
without being too heavy or overdramatic. The protagonist is a strong and
courageous FBI agent who is able to assert herself without casting aside her
femininity. She reminds me of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone and Janet
Evanovich's Stephanie Plum…. If a sequel follows, I will definitely read it.”
“Author Dan O'Brien left his mark with Bitten. I’ve now read
three books by O'Brien, but BITTEN is by far my favorite. It not only showcases
his literary skills, but leaves the reader wanting more. What else could an
avid reader ask for?”
An excerpt from Bitten:
THE CREATURE crashed into the sides of its space. Tearing
broken, rusted objects from the shelves, it threw them to the ground in angry
fits of rage. Tears streamed down its face and the guttural whimper that echoed
in the oversized shed was the only shred of humanity that remained.
With each mashed piece of its life, it plunged deeper into madness;
closer to the monster it was slowly becoming. The light of the day had all but
faded. Reaching out and grasping a light bulb that hung dimly at the center of
the shed, it crushed it, allowing the shards to rip apart its hands.
Blood dripped on the work table and the partial husk of Wayne
Joyce’s mutilated face. It had stretched out the flesh, drying it and coating
it with deer oil. Its cries were crocodile tears; there was no emotion left
except rage, hatred. Remorse and guilt long since disappearing into the abyss
that was its mind.
The winds howled.
It responded.
Black thread, spooled with a sharp needle, sat beside the
human mask. It reached down with one of its mangled hands, lifting the needle
and then the flesh. Pressing against its skin, it drove the needle into its own
face, drawing blood and an angry snarl. Each time through, there was a growl
and a pool of blood. The task was complete: the flesh attached to the monster.
Little folds lifted from its face. The wind whipped against
them, drawing its attention. Reaching out to a staple gun, it pressed it
against its face. The creature drove thick steel staples into its face,
flattening out the macabre mask.
The table was a massacre.
Leftover pieces of the trophies it took were lifeless artifacts
of its ascension to death-bringer. Reaching out for the long claw of torture it
wore as a glove, the creature groaned. Language was lost. More and more, it
felt like an animal, a creature meant to destroy everything.
The rage built like steam. It coursed through its veins,
polluting every aspect of humanity that remained. The moon would rise
soon––full and omniscient. That would be the moment of its ascension.
It would be its masterpiece.
If you love supernatural fiction, a good mystery, and a fun
story, then you’ll want to give Bitten
a look. Releasing in July as well is the follow-up novella, Drained. The third novella in the
series, Frighten, will be released in
early 2019.
Dan O’Brien has over 50 publications to his name––including
the bestselling Bitten, which was featured on
Conversations Book Club’s Top 100 novels of 2012. Before starting Amalgam
Consulting, he was the senior editor and marketing director for an
international magazine. You can learn more about his literary and publishing
consulting business by visiting his website at: www.amalgamconsulting.com. Follow
him on Twitter at
@AuthorDanOBrien.
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