My Blog Tour for Beast of the North Woods wouldn’t be complete without sharing book reviews for the first two books in the Monster Hunter Mystery series.
Author: Annelise Ryan
Series: Monster Hunter Mystery Book One
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers; Paranormal
Format: Audiobook
No. of Pages: 336
Date of Publication: September 13, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Morgan Carter, owner of the Odds and Ends bookstore in Door County, Wisconsin, has a hobby. When she's not tending the store, she's hunting cryptids--creatures whose existence is rumored, but never proven to be real. It's a hobby that cost her parents their lives, but one she'll never give up on.
So when a number of bodies turn up on the shores of Lake Michigan with injuries that look like bites from a giant unknown animal, police chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help. A skeptic at heart, Morgan can't turn down the opportunity to find proof of an entity whose existence she can't definitively rule out. She and her beloved rescue dog, Newt, journey to the Death's Door strait to hunt for a homicidal monster in the lake--but if they're not careful, they just might be its next victims.
MY THOUGHTS:
A series of strange deaths has bookstore owner and cryptozoologist Morgan Carter on a quest to find a possibly otherworldly killer lurking in the vast waters of the lake in her town. If a lake monster, a cryptid, is responsible for these deaths, Morgan, the owner of the unique Odds and Ends bookstore, isn’t easily spooked. So, searching for a cryptid doesn’t faze her.
When the local police chief, Jon Flanders, requests Morgan’s assistance in investigating the bodies, she’s initially skeptical about the possibility of a cryptid like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. However, driven by a relentless determination, she embarks on her search with an open mind, unaware of the dangers that await her. Morgan isn’t alone in her quest; she has her loyal rescue dog, Newt, by her side, providing unwavering support.
Following in her parents’ footsteps, Morgan’s part-time job as a cryptozoologist makes sense. Although skeptical at first, witnessing what could be genuine evidence, she begins her pursuit. But the more she delves into her search, the greater the danger she faces.
As a resident of Door County, Wisconsin, Morgan’s job isn’t necessarily to disprove the theory of a dangerous creature, but to find out who or what is responsible for those dead bodies. Not only is Morgan a remarkable character, but Newt was also wonderful. Jon Flanders plays an important role in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Monster Hunter series, which is already becoming an enjoyable cozy mystery series. I’ve already read the following two books.
Author: Annelise Ryan
Series: Monster Hunter Mystery Book Two
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers; Paranormal
Format: Audiobook
No. of Pages: 336
Date of Publication: December 12, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
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 THOUGHTS:
Two victims and strange circumstances has a police chief, Jon Flanders, seeking the help of bookstore owner and cryptozoologist Morgan Carter yet again. Morgan has gained more than a bit of fame after helping to solve a case that was thought to have been caused by a cryptid. Morgan’s interest in the otherworldly is mainly due to the work of her parents, but she has gained expertise in her own right.
So Morgan begins looking for answers. Although her focus is sharp, Morgan thinks about the attraction between her and Jon, but the baggage between them seemingly holds more weight. Morgan will go deep into the woods to find the monster that is said to be behind the recent deaths. Along with her dog Newt, Morgan begins her search for answers.
This cozy mystery with a twist weaves a captivating and atmospheric narrative, making it an enjoyable read for all.
Author: Annelise Ryan
Series: Monster Hunter Mystery Book Three
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers; Paranormal
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 320
Date of Publication: January 28, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
An ice fisherman is savagely mauled to death in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and an eyewitness claims the man was attacked by a hodag. There's just one problem with it's well known that the creature is not real and was created by a local hoaxer. So how could an imaginary creature be chomping on local sportsmen?
The suggestion that a hodag killed someone isn’t well received by the townsfolk because of its beloved ties to the town and the money it generates from tourist dollars. Due to this, people begin to suspect the witness is the real killer, especially when it’s discovered he has a tangled past with the victim.
The witness to the attack happens to be the nephew of Morgan Carter’s bookstore employee, Rita Bosworth, who convinces the professional cryptozoologist to travel to Wisconsin to prove that a hodag not only exists but killed the victim.
Clues may be hard to come by, but one thing's for something killed that man, and that something now has its eyes focused on Morgan.
MY THOUGHTS:
Morgan Carter, the owner of the quirky bookstore “Odds and Ends,” is also a cryptozoologist. She’s been hired to hunt for legendary creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. But this time, she’s on a mission to find a hodag, a mythical creature from Algonquian folklore.
Beyond her bookstore responsibilities, Morgan is a compassionate boss who fosters a close relationship with her employees. When her employee, Rita, pleads with Morgan to investigate a strange death involving her nephew, Morgan can’t resist the urge to help. This unexpected turn of events proves to be advantageous for Morgan, as she’s already developed a knack for private investigation. Considering the claims of otherworldly creatures, she’s the perfect candidate for the job.
However, Morgan’s skepticism is a challenge she must overcome. Determined to find the truth, she and Rita embark on a journey to Wisconsin, accompanied by Morgan’s loyal rescue dog, Newt. Newt is more than just a pet to Morgan; he can sense her panic attacks, providing a calming presence during stressful moments. He’s also her best friend.
While paranormal genres aren’t usually my cup of tea, I couldn’t resist this cozy mystery with a unique twist. The combination of a captivating story and a series of books made it an irresistible read. I’m so glad I started with the first two books; all three were thoroughly enjoyable.
Annelise Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of the Monster Hunter Mysteries featuring cryptozoologist and bookstore owner, Morgan Carter, and the Mattie Winston mystery series, featuring a wryly cynical nurse-turned-coroner. She has always believed laughter really is the best medicine, and with the Mattie Winston series she hoped to "medicate" the masses. She also believes in a good scare every once in a while, hence the Monster Hunter mysteries, the first of which, A Death in Door County, came out in September of 2022. The second in that series, Death in the Dark Woods, comes out in December 2023.
Annelise Ryan is a pseudonym for author Beth Amos. There were several reasons why she decided to use a pseudonym, not the least of which was that her ER patients might not have been comfortable knowing she spent her spare time thinking up clever ways to kill people. She is also the author of the Mack's Bar Mystery series written as Allyson K. Abbott. Ryan is a retired emergency room RN living in Wisconsin.
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