Book Review: ‘THE FRENZY WAY’ by Greg Lamberson

In the first act of Greg Lamberson’s The Frenzy Way, Dr. Lockhart describes the werewolf as “a shaggy second cousin to the more respected vampire.” She goes on to say that “a man transforming into a wild beast is an act of rebellion against society.” The first statement certainly rings true today as the shelves at your local bookstore continue to swell with vampire-inspired paranormal romance novels and every market from television to clothing appear willing to keep tapping that consumer vein until it runs dry. People can’t seem to get enough vampires! Of course, most of the popular vampire movies / TV series / books include shape shifters and lycanthropic cousins, but they seem to exist as secondary characters whose purpose is to simply accentuate the supernatural atmosphere and complicate plot lines. Now there are a litter of books focused on the often neglected werewolf and running among the pack is director of the cult film Slime City (1988), Greg Lamberson. Perhaps Dr. Lockhart is right. And, maybe like the werewolves that inspired his book, The Frenzy Way is Lamberson’s rebellion against society, one that has embraced sparkly love-sick vampires much to the chagrin of many horror fans. I like to think of The Frenzy Way as Lamberson’s pre-emptive strike against any possible affront to the hairy beast, his way of saying, “Fine, you want non-threatening, romantic vampires, you can have ‘em. But werewolves? They’re ours and I’m gonna use them to scare the hell out of you!”

The Frenzy Way is a novel that will be appreciated by both enthusiasts of lycanthropic lore and fans with just a passing interest. Lamberson weaves his crime thriller yarn with a mixed bag of fiction and fact giving the werewolf myth his own personal touch. He gives a couple of nods and winks for the hardcore buffs as well. Set in present day New York City, the story centers around celebrity detective, Captain Tony Mace, fresh from solving the high profile case of the Full Moon Killer. When Captain Mace is called to the brutal homicide scene of Professor Terrance Glenzer he is faced with the case of his career; to solve a series of inexplicably violent murders by a killer who prefers to work by moonlight. Each murder leads him further into a secret and supernatural world, one that his superiors refuse to believe exists. If Mace is going to solve the case and stop the killing he must risk his career and put his life on the line.

The Frenzy Way is completely enthralling. The book shifts from frightening, gruesome, sexy, and suspenseful seamlessly. I sat down to read a few pages and before I knew it I had burned through half the book. The character development is really strong and the action moves along at a dynamic pace. As a native New Yorker and someone who has spent a lot of time in the City no doubt, Lamberson maneuvers through congested streets, weaves in and out of alleyways, and ducks into subway tunnels fast enough to make your head spin. He has no trouble bringing the sights, sounds, and smells of the Big Apple to life and often in cinematic fashion. His experience in film transfers well to the written word and each scene materializes in the reader’s imagination quite naturally.

Lamberson develops the werewolf in a very believable way. All the pieces of this scattered puzzle have been well thought out and when they come together the reader will marvel at his attention to detail. Bone cracking, flesh ripping transformation scenes are always entertaining, but Lamberson has included unexpected touches to make his werewolves truly terrifying, details that go beyond massive strength and speed. For instance, Captain Mace, on the hunt to find a particular wolf, finds himself in a make-shift security system as he tracks through werewolf feces. I never considered how a rogue wolf man would secure his home against intruders, but I found that scene particularly bloodcurdling. If you’ve ever wondered how a werewolf would protect himself or exact revenge on the human race, you will find out in The Frenzy Way. The world Lamberson has created in his werewolf tome is unsettling enough it will have you eyeing your neighborhood dog with unnerving suspicion and clutching your bedcovers as you wonder whether you’ve pissed off any werewolves lately.

Werewolves, however, aren’t all bad; in fact they’re just like us. Their metamorphosis wasn’t triggered by an attack by another wolf, but they were born that way – some good, some bad, and others experienced life changing events that catapulted them from good to bad. While many werewolves want their existence to remain a secret, there is another breed that wishes to make their presence known. Although the reader only becomes acquainted with the players in a war as it’s just about to erupt, don’t worry, The Frenzy Way will be part of a trilogy, the next book of which is The Frenzy War. The current release date on the Medallion Press website isn’t until 2012, but I guarantee  it will be well worth the wait.

A big thanks goes out to Paperback Horror for having The Frenzy Way Giveaway! Thanks to the contest I was able to win a copy of the book and have since picked up the first 2 entries in Lamberson’s Jake Helman Files, Personal Demons and Desperate Souls. Paperback Horror is the best source for finding great horror reads. Add them to your list of websites to follow and be sure to check back often.

Find news and updates on Greg Lamberson’s happenings at Slime Guy and check out Medallion Press for their latest releases.