Gunther by James Kaine is a prequel novella to My Pet Werewolf. In that novel Gunther is the catalyst for all the events that occur. In this novella Gunther is not a pet but the main focus. At the end of My Pet Werewolf we learn that Gunther once had a name, Dr. David Bixby.
Gunther asks the question what if a good man were bitten by a werewolf. Dr. Bixby is a man who dedicated his life to saving people. After the bite he begins to feel the urge to take lives instead. The werewolf disease amplifies other urges as well, including sex, violence, and aggression.
The story unfolds like a slow version of Breaking Bad as it explores the psychology of a good doctor slowly becoming more aggressive and dominant as the lunar cycle approaches. I especially enjoyed the scenes where the doctor fights against these new urges.
The werewolf takes a while to appear, but when it finally does the scene is excellent. Several different events are happening at the same time, and Kaine writes the moment well. The tension builds because the characters are unaware of just how much danger they are in. I loved the way the scene unfolded.
This book is also very spicy. After reading three stories by James Kaine I would not be surprised if he writes smut under another name. There are two sex scenes that both occur after the bite, as David struggles with the new urges he can only resist for so long.
The ending leads directly into the events of My Pet Werewolf. The epilogue even takes readers into an important scene from that novel, the moment when he receives the name Gunther.
Gunther was first published on February 16, 2024 by Horror House Publishing.
Why did I read Gunther by James Kaine?
I really enjoyed My Pet Werewolf. It had great werewolf action, some strong twists, and characters I connected with. Gunther, the werewolf in the story, was particularly interesting. In My Pet Werewolf we only learn about who Gunther really was at the very end, when we discover he was once Dr. David Bixby.
I was attending AuthorCon VI and planned to meet James Kaine to get My Pet Werewolf signed. When I saw that a prequel novella existed, I decided to pick it up so I could get that signed as well.
I also went to the convention looking for more books for my #monsterofthemonth reading challenge. While there I picked up Gunther and two additional werewolf novels.
Plot Summary
Dr. David Bixby is working the late shift in the emergency room when a troubled man with a gunshot wound is brought in. The man screams about the moon while the staff tries to restrain him. During the struggle the man bites David’s hand.
That moment seals David’s fate.
He does not yet understand the monster he will soon become as he returns home to his pregnant wife.
What I Liked
I enjoyed the psychological angle of the story. Watching a good man slowly change as a dominant force takes over inside him was fascinating. My Pet Werewolf hinted at this, but it was interesting to see the full character study here.
I liked the character Chaney and the role he plays in the story. As the story progresses more layers of his character are revealed.
The transformation scene was excellent because of the setup. Multiple tense events are already happening before the horror begins. When the werewolf appears it pushes the scene into full chaos.
I liked the name Bixby since it is tied to The Incredible Hulk TV actor Bill Bixby. Guther lives as the Hulk traveling from town to town at the end hoping for a cure. The other name Chaney named after Lon Chaney who play the first werewolf in The Wolfman. I also liked that the name Chaney gets called out for its association in the story.
I liked how the story connected directly to My Pet Werewolf, especially the epilogue where he receives the name Gunther.
The spicy scenes were intense but also served the character development. They were not included simply for shock value. The scenes give insight into David’s internal conflict and show how easily desire could turn into horror.
I also liked the relationship between David and his wife. They feel like a strong couple who are completely in sync until the wolf begins to tear their lives apart.
What I Disliked
I would have liked a little more werewolf action.
I also wanted to see more progression of time, especially how David eventually ended up farther north. I wondered whether he ever tried to contact his wife again.
Recommendation
This story worked very well for me because I was already invested in the character of Gunther. I think the novella might feel slow to readers who have not read My Pet Werewolf first. James Kaine even notes at the beginning that the story works better if you read that novel first, which I completely agree with.
I recommend Gunther to readers who enjoy werewolf stories that focus on character study, especially the tragedy of a good man slowly losing control.
Rating
Gunther by James Kaine
4 out of 5 stars
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