It tells the story of a young man who retreats to his family's fishing cabin located in the wilderness of the forests in overlooking Lake Michigan in Michigan's Upper Peninsula He's gone there to gather his thoughts and collect his emotions after the deaths of his father, his girlfriend, and his dog. While there, he encounters and is subsequently trapped in the isolated cabin by a monstrous creature referred to as "the Puller" It has been a very long time since I've seen a writer create so effective and monstrous a monster as the creature in this book. We are treated to a number of fascinating characters that include a cast of animal inhabitants of the Upper Peninsula, all of whom have some connection to Matt. The author proves himself to be a master of foreshadowing and of connecting disparate strings of plots to weave an absolutely startling and terrifying tale. I live in Michigan and have visited the UP many times. Think maybe I'll remember next time what could be lurking nearby. ( )

In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, there exists a creature that is a little bit animal, a little bit alien, and a whole lot dangerous. The Puller is an effective horror story in the manner of Stephen King & Peter Benchley, and it shows the influence of both to good effect. Where Benchley's great white shark controls the local environment, traveling invisibly, so does the Puller. Within its environment, it has a seemingly unfair advantage in power and stealth over people and animals that come close. It also has an appetite. Mostly, however, it is bellicose animosity.

Unlike Benchley, Hodges puts the action in rural solitude in the same sort of isolated and isolating environment frequently employed by King. Readers who enjoy Benchley and King will enjoy Hodges' work quite well.

Of literary note, Hodges dares the reader to ponder if the Puller is created in the image of man. Though the being is formidable in and of itself, it is not on the best of terms with Mother Nature. This dysfunctional relationship becomes apparent at the end of the book. It is one aspect of the work that I would have enjoyed seeing further developed. ( )