Kirkus:
“A monster tale brimming with frights, suspense, and gore…”
September 17th, 2020:
“In this debut thriller/horror novel, a massive creature with a seemingly insatiable hunger terrorizes citizens in a small Canadian town.
Christine Moon, the new conservation officer in Lawless, British Columbia, has an unusual case of roadkill. Someone apparently hit a raccoon, but the amount of remains on the highway suggests an animal considerably larger. Around the same time, Austin Murphy, the head of road and highway maintenance, and his assistant, Trip Williams, stumble on a campsite showing signs of a bloody massacre. They find a delirious survivor who’s unquestionably scared of something catching him. After Christine and Austin team up to investigate, they decide that whatever attacked the campers was, based on its tracks, a colossal beast. Unfortunately, Lawless’ police chief dismisses their advice to warn the public of an “unknown predator” in the area. Meanwhile, powerful individuals are eying a local cavern, which houses a staggering mass of gold. Acquiring the valuables sparks double-crosses and worse. Since this cavern is in the vicinity of where the ferocious creature came from, there’s a good chance many more people will die. Christine, Austin, and Trip take it upon themselves to track down the beast and stop its murderous spree. Berry’s lengthy novel (over 500 pages) features numerous playful scenes, including ones that spotlight Trip’s unhealthy affinity for crullers. But the author still manages a steady narrative pace, courtesy of a plausible and succinctly detailed creature origin story and copious monster attacks. These are often substantially violent. The more effective scenes feature suspense, with the beast pursuing its prey or struggling to reach someone who’s cramped in a tiny hiding spot. Readers won’t have much sympathy for the victims; they’re callous men greedy for gold or barely known citizens who are merely creature fodder. Nevertheless, Christine, Austin, and Trip are appealing characters whose inevitable peril heightens the story’s intensity. A monster tale brimming with frights, suspense, and gore.”
Readers’ Favourite Review
March 14th, 2020. Reviewed By Teresa Syms.
“I applaud Katie Berry for her work. She is an incredible story-teller and I look forward to reading more…”
Katie Berry, the author of Claw, transports the reader into the heart of the Kootenays where the gold rush of 1895 took place. Deep in the heart of the Cascade Mountains of Western Canada during the gold rush days, no one was safe in the town of Lawless. The name of the town, Lawless, speaks for itself for back in 1895 gold was prevalent as was theft and violence. That was then but now in Lawless, although the gold rush is over, times for the area are difficult with the change in the climate. Christine Moon is the new British Columbia Conservation Officer brought in quickly after the mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. Christine along with Austin and Trip, the local road and games authorities, band together to stop a ravenous predator that seems to be at the heart of multiple deaths, disappearances, and violent attacks. As Christine, Austin, and Trip track the ancient creature, they uncover a devious plot of corruption at the highest level in Lawless.
Claw by Katie Berry is definitely a thrilling page-turner. Her use of very graphic description and imagery, while telling the story of carnage, corruption and everyday life in the small mountain town of Lawless, British Columbia, truly draws the reader into the book. Not only is Lawless shrouded by the deadly ice fog at night, but uncovering what is plaguing the town and devouring the inhabitants is left up to our heroine, Christine Moon, the new Conservation Authority Office, and her newfound friends, Austin, Trip, and Alex. With the knowledge and experience of the only survivor, Jerry Benson, the group sets out to locate and destroy the predator by any means. What they uncover while searching for the carnivorous beast is a story of corruption and murder that can bring the town of Lawless to its knees. Who will survive to tell the tale? I applaud Katie Berry for her work. She is an incredible story-teller and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Audiobookreviewer.com
“This book is one of those rare ones written by a new author that deserves a higher than a five-star rating. Therefore, Katie Berry is being awarded the AudioBookReviewer’s Choice Award.“
Set in Western Canada, specifically in an area that experienced a gold rush in 1895 is now experiencing a different kind of rush. Fear! Christine Moon, the new conservation officer is trying to solve several missing person reports, deaths, and violent attacks by a mysterious, very hungry, huge, and particularly vicious creature. What she learns almost too late is the effect gold fever has on certain people!
Katie Berry, the author, creates a riveting story that is action-packed and reflects human greed perfectly. In addition, it captures the behavior of the creature perfectly – its reactions, instincts, hunting, and such to survive. Each character, including the creature, is fully developed. While parts of the story are predictable, it does not take away from the scare factor at all! There are still sections that will make you bite your nails, lean forward, and other such behaviors one assumes when engrossed in a story such as this.
Berry paints a vivid and striking picture with details that add to the tense and frightening plot. With help from the narrator, Alex Knox, this is one book that will grab you and not let go until the end. Each character had a unique voice so there was never confusion over who was speaking. In addition, each voice captured the essence of the character (including the sneaky and corrupt officer). Between the voices and the delivery of the performance, Knox keeps the story moving along at a steady pace.
Overall, this book has a lot going on, but it is well planned and written. One cannot help but keep listening and NOT in the dark either! Completely scary!
The cover is stunning. It clearly portrays what the book is about – something big, mean, and vicious! If I had seen the book in a store, I would have picked it up based on the cover alone!
This book is one of those rare ones written by a new author that deserves a higher than a five-star rating. Therefore, Katie Berry is being awarded the AudioBookReviewer’s Choice Award.
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook, it was clear and crisp.
Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.
Reviews from Amazon.com:
- One of the Best New Authors I have come across!
- It is a roller-coaster ride of adventure from one chapter to the next!
- The author was able to use the setting to invoke a level of suspense one is rarely able to achieve.
- I found myself rooting for the beast to bring forth righteous judgment upon those who deserved it.
- The physical setting played a large role in this and kept me constantly coming back for more until I finished the book.
- I would highly recommend CLAW and will be looking for other books from Katie Berry!!!
- 5.0 out of 5 stars Impressed the hell out of me!!
- The five stars I gave this book weren’t enough; I wish I could give it six or seven!
I read this all in one day (and night) ((very sleepy today, but the book was well worth it 😊)). - This book has everything I love most in a “scary” story, and presents it well to boot!
- Her characters alternated between lovable and hateful, her “monsters” were incredibly scary
- Buy this book if you love horror! I bought it myself and glad I did.
- Great action, better characters and a very good look at prehistoric zoology
- Always fun to read something not only interesting but amusing as well!
- Different approach to a retro monster. Loved it and so will you. Could be a good horror movie as well.
- The author has a sharp talent in creating imagery details of the story’s settings and main characters’ backgrounds. I also enjoyed the author’s humorous tongue throughout the novel that provided a balance to the tension in the story.
- What a great adventure! Loved the characters, the creatures, and the humor of this great story.
- This is one of those books that you don’t want to stop reading and pull you in deeper and deeper from page one.