This was an eagerly awaited hold for me, and it came in at the library in March (after it was released this past December). I read Ryan’s first book in this Monster Hunter Mystery series, A Death in Door County, back in late 2022. Born and raised in Wisconsin, I loved reading a fun mystery about a hunt for Nessie set in my home state. Keep reading to see if it was as good as A Death in Door County!
The Summary
A potential Bigfoot sighting is linked to a vicious murder, but skeptical cryptozoologist Morgan Carter is on the case in this new Monster Hunter Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Annelise Ryan.
Business has been booming since Morgan Carter solved the case of the monster living in Lake Michigan. The Odds and Ends bookstore is thriving, of course, but Morgan is most excited by the doors that were opened for her as a cryptid hunter.
Recently, there have been numerous sightings of a Bigfoot-type creature in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest area of Bayfield County, Wisconsin. After a man is found dead from a vicious throat injury in the forest, the conservation warden asks Morgan to investigate.
When Morgan and her dog, Newt, go there to investigate, they uncover a trail of lies, deception, and murder. It seems a mysterious creature is indeed living in the forest, and Morgan might be its next target.
My Review
This was such a fun read for multiple reasons.
First, it’s set in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. My first year of college (and my first year away from home) was spent in Ashland, WI, which is on the border with Bayfield County. I visited Bayfield multiple times, and took the ferry to Madeline Island as described in the book. I also drove through a good swath of the national forest any time I drove to and from home.
Second, it’s just a really fun cozy-style mystery that keeps you guessing. There’s a tangled web of characters who all could have had something to do with what’s going on, but what if it wasn’t one of them? What if it really was Bigfoot?
Third, I love the main character, Morgan. She’s gutsy, has a ridiculously cool job, and isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with men who think they run the world, but she’s also got depth in her brokenness over the sudden death of her parents. Besides owning a very cool store, she keeps her trusty pup, Newt, by her side. He…might just be my favorite character ;).
This one kept me guessing until the end as to what was really going on. It didn’t quite get as crazy at the end as A Death in Door County did, but it didn’t really need to. I flew through it, it was fun to read, and I looked forward to picking it up in the evenings. I’m going with a solid 4 stars!
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1 comment
A new series for me. Thanks.