Wild Thing

Wild Thing follows Dr. Pietro Brnwa, who lives under the witness protection name Peter Brown, as he takes on a mysterious assignment to investigate a reported lake monster in Minnesota. The former mob hitman turned doctor accepts the job from a reclusive billionaire, joining forces with a paleontologist on an expedition into remote wilderness. The novel combines elements of medical thriller, crime fiction, and monster horror as the protagonists pursue their dangerous mission. Their journey brings them into contact with professional game hunters, conspiracy theorists, and shadowy figures who may have hidden agendas. The story moves at a rapid pace between intense action sequences and scientific discussions about cryptozoology and human belief systems. Footnotes throughout the text provide additional context on everything from pharmaceuticals to folklore. Beyond its genre-blending plot, Wild Thing explores themes of rationality versus faith, and how humans process encounters with the unknown. The narrative raises questions about the intersection of science, mythology, and the psychological need to find explanations for the unexplainable.

Readers found Wild Thing less compelling than Bazell's debut novel Beat the Reaper, with many noting it feels unfocused and strays from the medical thriller format they expected. Readers appreciated: - Dark humor and witty dialogue - Fast pacing and action sequences - Footnotes providing scientific/medical context - Social commentary on science and politics Common criticisms: - Plot meanders with multiple tangential storylines - Less medical content than Beat the Reaper - Ending feels rushed and unsatisfying - Monster-hunting premise not fully developed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (120+ ratings) "The footnotes are brilliant but the story lost its way," noted one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user wrote: "Feels like two different books awkwardly stitched together." Multiple readers expressed disappointment that the protagonist spends less time practicing medicine compared to the first book.

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🦕 Before writing Wild Thing, author Josh Bazell worked as a medical resident at the University of California, San Francisco - lending authenticity to his protagonist, who is also a doctor. 🔍 The book explores the legend of the Loch Ness Monster's American cousin, drawing on real cryptozoological research and Native American folklore about lake monsters. 💉 The main character, Dr. Pietro Brnwa, is in the witness protection program - a plot point carried over from Bazell's first novel, Beat the Reaper, where the doctor was revealed to be a former mob hitman. 📚 Wild Thing includes detailed footnotes throughout the narrative, mixing real scientific facts with fictional elements to create a unique reading experience. 🎬 Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way, acquired the film rights to Bazell's first book Beat the Reaper, though Wild Thing remains unoptioned for film adaptation.