Wolf in Wanderley



Released on September 1, 2026 by Kaji-Pup Press.
Available now on Hardcover and eBook.



Hardcover Version
$25.99
Buy now on Amazon.




eBook Version
$9.99
Buy now on Amazon, Bookshop.org,
Barnes & Noble, Kobo, or Apple Books.




SYNOPSIS:

Wolfgang Barnes has relocated to the sunny reaches of southwest Florida, but the future hanging over him is cloudier than ever. Known simply as Wolf to his friends, the aging Gen Xer has bounced around the country and made inspired films on the cheap while grappling with the likelihood of his own obsolescence.

With his parents now gone, against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world in which many creatives seem to be coming up short, Wolf seeks to compile his life's work in the form of a Blu-ray before it's too late. As he puts down roots in his new environment, he crosses paths with Maisy, his take-no-shit punk-girl neighbor, and her mother Katherine, both of whom might factor into his future.

Meanwhile, Lenny Medway, a sinister former associate from Wolf's days in Chicago, seeks revenge on him for reasons that aren't quite clear. After committing some grave blunders, Lenny has been put behind bars, but he's looking to get out and weasel his way back into Wolf's life. Will their two paths converge, and if Wolf is forced into a confrontation with his foe, will he meet the challenge or choke under pressure?

With his third novel, Wolf in Wanderley, Dave J. Andrae expands his literary palette to create a sublime meditation on the contemporary moment, as seen through the eyes of an aging artist. This blended-genre book combines elements of crime, literary fiction, romance, cultural commentary, and more, resulting in a page turner for the ages.






Read an author interview on the subject of the book HERE.


REVIEWS AND BLURBS:

"A measured and engaging tale of how calamitous a grudge can be. [...] Our verdict: Get it."
- Kirkus Reviews

"A darkly comic crime novel about two aging men trying to salvage meaningful identities from lives that have not worked out as planned. One turns to art; the other turns to violence, fraud, and revenge."
- Reader Views

"In Wolf in Wanderley, Dave J. Andrae pulls readers in by constantly shifting the narrative between Wolfgang and Lenny. This dual perspective subtly encourages readers to track both of their journeys and motives, as they decide who the story's true protagonist really is."
- Readers' Favorite

"At its very core, it is really an allegory of people simply trying to live their lives encumbered by thoughts, feelings and circumstances which are doing them no favours at all. [...] It is a profound literary piece if you delve beneath its layers--which Dave skillfully urges you to do."
- Matt McAvoy Book Review

"What's smart about the way the crime element is handled is that it never overwhelms the more intimate story at the center. The danger feels real but it also feels like a metaphor, the external version of everything Wolf is already fighting internally."
- The Book Revue

"Arranged like a colloquial feast for linguists and grit-loving logophiles, the prose is acrobatic and sprawling, matched in quality by probing, razor-sharp character development."
- Self-Publishing Review

"One of the novel's greatest strengths is its characterization. Wolf, Lenny, and Maisy all feel like fully realized individuals with distinct personalities, motivations, and voices. The novel captures many of the anxieties that define contemporary life."
- Independent Book Review

"Wolf in Wanderley starts off with a narrative maturity that makes readers wonder if it qualifies to become a modern classic."
- IndieReader

"The relationship between Wolf and Maisy adds a romance element to the story and shows how life can take unexpected turns. I also found Lenny's narrative quite interesting, he is a complex villain whose outlook on his situation is his downfall."
- LoveReading

"As film ambitions collide with relationships and stalkers, Andrae builds a plot where the aging filmmaker is forced to confront his past, present, and future beyond his initial concerns about obsolescence and isolation. The connections he makes during this journey prove life-changing..."
- Midwest Book Review / Donovan's Literary Services







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