Jodi Picoult`s twelfth novel is permeated with themes from Dante`s INFERNO. Daniel Stone, a successful graphic novelist, is working on a new book about a man not unlike himself who is able to morph into a bloodthirsty animal named Wildclaw when his anger is roused. Daniel`s wife, Laura, is a professor at a local college, where she specializes in Dante. Their 14-year-old daughter Trixie has successfully entered the social scene, even dating the star of the high school hockey team. When Trixie is raped by her boyfriend and Laura`s affair with a student is revealed, Daniel becomes gripped by his long-buried past as the tough white kid raised among Eskimos, and, in his rage and confusion, he finds it necessary to take action that will have far-reaching consequences for everyone he loves. Picoult`s haunting tale, in which Wildclaw`s story and Daniel`s intertwine, is illustrated with art by the comic-book artist Dustin Weaver. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.