What do you think?
Rate this book
Monster Hunter #1
A Death in Door County
A Wisconsin bookstore owner and cryptozoologist is asked to investigate a series of deaths that just might be proof of a fabled lake monster in this first installment of a new mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Annelise Ryan.
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.
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.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2022
557 people are currently reading
15699 people want to read
About the author
Annelise Ryan
19 books1,148 followersAnnelise Ryan is a pseudonym for Beth Amos, the USA Today bestselling author of 30 novels, including the Monster Hunter Mysteries featuring cryptozoologist and bookstore owner, Morgan Carter, the Mattie Winston mystery series, featuring a wryly cynical nurse-turned-coroner, and the Helping Hands Mysteries featuring social worker Hildy Schneider.
In addition, she is the author of the Mack's Bar Mystery series written as Allyson K. Abbott and five standalone paranormal thrillers written as Beth Amos.
She is a retired emergency room nurse living in Wisconsin. There are several reasons why she decided to use pseudonyms, 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.
In addition, she is the author of the Mack's Bar Mystery series written as Allyson K. Abbott and five standalone paranormal thrillers written as Beth Amos.
She is a retired emergency room nurse living in Wisconsin. There are several reasons why she decided to use pseudonyms, 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,436 reviews
October 18, 2022
This novel had a promising premise and a beautiful plot setting. Door County is 3 hours from me and we just recently were there for a visit so I was very curious about this book!!
This book sits well in the cozy mystery genre. Morgan Carter has an unusual bookstore that carries so much more – collectibles of all kinds leaning strongly towards remains gathered from Lake Michigan. Morgan is a cryptozoologist and was brought up traveling with her parents looking for the ever evasive Loch Ness monster and others.
When there are a number of animal and human remains found with unusual bite markings, Morgan is the one to ask!! That is exactly what Washington Island police chief Jon Sanders does.
Together Morgan and Jon will work through lots of twists and strange occurrences to find the answer to the riddle of who or what killed these visitors to Death’s Door. That is the name given to the area of the lake where the waters of Green Bay meet those of Lake Michigan. Many ships had gone down in this area in the earlier days of commerce and travel.
PROS:
*Beautiful setting with some great descriptions of the lake and surrounding cliffs and forested areas.
*A look into what exactly a cryptozoologist does.
*Interesting characters well described, interesting and relatable.
CONS:
*Overly descriptive and wordy – I didn’t need to know every time the dog needed to go outside!
*Pace – the pace is slow and only picks up towards the end of the book, obviously the most exciting part
*Early red herrings led me to untangle the mystery two thirds of the way through the book. At that point I just wanted to get to the exciting part!!
I think this book would have benefited from better editing and a more tightly plotted story. That said, this was still an enjoyable and entertaining cozy mystery.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, Berkeley, through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this novel.
This book sits well in the cozy mystery genre. Morgan Carter has an unusual bookstore that carries so much more – collectibles of all kinds leaning strongly towards remains gathered from Lake Michigan. Morgan is a cryptozoologist and was brought up traveling with her parents looking for the ever evasive Loch Ness monster and others.
When there are a number of animal and human remains found with unusual bite markings, Morgan is the one to ask!! That is exactly what Washington Island police chief Jon Sanders does.
Together Morgan and Jon will work through lots of twists and strange occurrences to find the answer to the riddle of who or what killed these visitors to Death’s Door. That is the name given to the area of the lake where the waters of Green Bay meet those of Lake Michigan. Many ships had gone down in this area in the earlier days of commerce and travel.
PROS:
*Beautiful setting with some great descriptions of the lake and surrounding cliffs and forested areas.
*A look into what exactly a cryptozoologist does.
*Interesting characters well described, interesting and relatable.
CONS:
*Overly descriptive and wordy – I didn’t need to know every time the dog needed to go outside!
*Pace – the pace is slow and only picks up towards the end of the book, obviously the most exciting part
*Early red herrings led me to untangle the mystery two thirds of the way through the book. At that point I just wanted to get to the exciting part!!
I think this book would have benefited from better editing and a more tightly plotted story. That said, this was still an enjoyable and entertaining cozy mystery.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, Berkeley, through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this novel.
September 9, 2022
Author Annelise Ryan has infused her latest book,
A Death in Door County
, with unique characters, danger, and suspense. This cozy mystery with a twist features Odds and Ends bookstore owner and cryptozoologist Morgan Carter and is set in Door County, Wisconsin. This is the first book in the Monster Hunter Mystery series.
When human and animal bodies are found onshore over the course of a few months with unusual bite marks, Washington Island police chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help. While Morgan is a skeptic, the thrill of hunting cryptids (creatures whose existence is rumored, but never proven real) has her accepting the job. She and her dog, Newt, along with Jon, her employees Rita and Devon, and a variety of others embark on a journey to determine who or what the killer is.
Morgan has unusual tastes in items for her shop. It’s not just a mystery bookstore, but contains odd and obscure items too. She has degrees in biology and zoology, with minors in religion and mysticism and loves exploring the plausible existability of mythical creatures. Both she and Jon are likeable characters, but both have some secrets. Morgan also has trust issues that affect new relationships. Both care about others and want to give back to those in need.
This book has a solid plot with some twists and turns, an unusual mystery to solve, and a unique sleuth working with the police. When you add in the search for a potential lake creature from legends and myths, great atmosphere and world-building, lots of suspense, and a bit of romance, you have a winner. The geographical details of the setting added to the atmosphere of the story. My one quibble is that the pace occasionally slowed down.
This novel is creative and exciting, and it will keep readers guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. The people in the story came to life and Lake Michigan almost became another character. Themes include friendship, loyalty, trust, betrayal, attraction, greed, domestic abuse, death, grief, helping others, and much more. The author’s note at the end of the book tells how her novel plays with factual history.
Overall, this intriguing mystery has great characters and danger, as well as intense moments and action that kept me turning the pages. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries with unique characters and a subplot of a budding romance will likely enjoy this book, as well as those that enjoy the unusual. This is an excellent start to the series.
Berkley Publishing Group and Annelise Ryan provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 13, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
--------------------------
My 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review will be coming during the week prior to publication (per publisher guidelines).
When human and animal bodies are found onshore over the course of a few months with unusual bite marks, Washington Island police chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help. While Morgan is a skeptic, the thrill of hunting cryptids (creatures whose existence is rumored, but never proven real) has her accepting the job. She and her dog, Newt, along with Jon, her employees Rita and Devon, and a variety of others embark on a journey to determine who or what the killer is.
Morgan has unusual tastes in items for her shop. It’s not just a mystery bookstore, but contains odd and obscure items too. She has degrees in biology and zoology, with minors in religion and mysticism and loves exploring the plausible existability of mythical creatures. Both she and Jon are likeable characters, but both have some secrets. Morgan also has trust issues that affect new relationships. Both care about others and want to give back to those in need.
This book has a solid plot with some twists and turns, an unusual mystery to solve, and a unique sleuth working with the police. When you add in the search for a potential lake creature from legends and myths, great atmosphere and world-building, lots of suspense, and a bit of romance, you have a winner. The geographical details of the setting added to the atmosphere of the story. My one quibble is that the pace occasionally slowed down.
This novel is creative and exciting, and it will keep readers guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. The people in the story came to life and Lake Michigan almost became another character. Themes include friendship, loyalty, trust, betrayal, attraction, greed, domestic abuse, death, grief, helping others, and much more. The author’s note at the end of the book tells how her novel plays with factual history.
Overall, this intriguing mystery has great characters and danger, as well as intense moments and action that kept me turning the pages. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries with unique characters and a subplot of a budding romance will likely enjoy this book, as well as those that enjoy the unusual. This is an excellent start to the series.
Berkley Publishing Group and Annelise Ryan provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 13, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
--------------------------
My 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review will be coming during the week prior to publication (per publisher guidelines).
January 6, 2026
"His frantic efforts to break free drained away the last of the fight in him, as he sank down into the darkness, those two glowing eyes were the last terrifying things he saw."Morgan Carter has spent her entire life looking for legends.
And until she does find that evidence, Morgan has her freelance work and shop (Odds and Ends) manage. She deals in all sorts of oddities and mysteries, and she always keeps a lookout for the real thing.
"While I'm certain there are lots of interesting things in the world that we have yet to discover, I'd need absolute proof before I'd believe in the existence of a cryptid."
One day, Officer Jon Flanders strolls into her shop to ask her advice.
He has a case on his hands that looks awfully suspicious. A man (well, two men now) were murdered and all evidence is pointing in a rather odd direction - a lake monster.
"I've been told you are a cryptozoologist."
Can Morgan crack the case? Or will this cryptid swim through her fingers?
On paper, this one had all the elements that I thought I would love - Loch Ness Monster, a skeptical cryptozoologist, a budding romance, and plenty of mystery elements.
And yet...I just don't think I enjoyed reading this one all that much. I think it's almost entirely due to the main character -- her personality, her narration, and her weirdness with corpses.
Her Personality:
Right off the bat, Morgan is very intense, confident, and convinced she's always right. I've read characters like that before and they tend to be a little irksome to me but manageable. That wasn't the case here.
Morgan monologues (constantly) and does a very stream-of-consciousness narration throughout the book - which often resulted in an oversaturation of detail and me waving my hands around saying, 'get to the point!' But we wouldn't get to the point because her dog has to pee and the audience needed to know when, where, and how that happens.
Additionally, she's rich. Like so crazy freaking rich that all the challenges and various obstacles in her path are merely speedbumps.
I felt like I couldn't connect to her character cause every time she has a problem, I'm like, 'why don't you just throw money at it, richie-rich?' (and )
The Narration:
The close first person narration feels like we are going through the story at the same time as her but she often breaks through the fourth wall for foreshadowing or to tell us she's deliberately withholding information.
I don't think she's writing a journal in this book - so is she Deadpool and knows she's a character? Or does she always monolog like that inside her head (as if there's an audience watching)?
Either way, I found it annoying because often the blatant foreshadowing would ruin surprises and when she kept her cards close to her chest, it felt like the author knew everything would be spoiled if the main character reveals what she literally just saw (in other words, I felt like the story was stalling to increase page count because the author didn't want to reveal things too quickly...even though we all knew her main character already knew this).
Her Affinity for Corpses:
Her shop has a mascot. It's the desiccated body of an old miner nicknamed "Henry". He gets dressed up for holidays and moved around the shop whenever she feels like it. She thinks it's quirky.
Unless Henry told her (or wrote a note) that he's cool with his body being used as a cutesy accessory...it just feels wrong to me. Like, I get that her dad obtained Henry and when he died, she now "owns" the body...but is she that detached from human decency that she'd rather play and pose this corpse than put him to rest?
I know this is a fictional corpse and she's not a real character, but I think the author is unintentionally really showing us who Morgan is with her flippant treatment of the human body.
Overall Thoughts
This book had a pretty good premise but the main character really made it fall through for me. I want to try the second book...so hopefully things get better.
June 29, 2024
Have you ever been attracted to a book simply by its title? That happened to me with this book. Besides, I had made the mistake of reading the second in the series, first, “Death in the Dark Woods” and I have learned it makes more sense, if possible, to start at the beginning with series.
Even so, when my Texas kids use to live in Illinois, and we visited them, we had the opportunity to also enjoy Door County, Wisconsin, which we absolutely loved. So, to be honest, when I saw this title, I thought, why not? Maybe, I will have a chance to re-live my experience of being in that great place again. (And yes, this is a very scenic read.)
This is also the first of the Monster Hunter series, in which Morgan Carter, the owner of the Odds and Ends Bookstore, in Door County, Wisconsin, enjoys hunting cryptids (lake monsters). She also has Newt the dog who brings a little humor and dog-love to the story.
When 2 young men go missing while boating at the lake, this is the perfect case for Morgan to help Chief Flanders find out what happened to them. Once discovered, the mystery steps up in high gear.
This is a page-turning, engaging and fun cozy, which according to the author’s note plays on some factual history. I won’t say what that is, because that will be a spoiler…I will leave that to readers to discover as they enjoy this first in the series, and may even want to befriend this quirky cryptozoologist.
“Death in the Dark Woods” Review Here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Even so, when my Texas kids use to live in Illinois, and we visited them, we had the opportunity to also enjoy Door County, Wisconsin, which we absolutely loved. So, to be honest, when I saw this title, I thought, why not? Maybe, I will have a chance to re-live my experience of being in that great place again. (And yes, this is a very scenic read.)
This is also the first of the Monster Hunter series, in which Morgan Carter, the owner of the Odds and Ends Bookstore, in Door County, Wisconsin, enjoys hunting cryptids (lake monsters). She also has Newt the dog who brings a little humor and dog-love to the story.
When 2 young men go missing while boating at the lake, this is the perfect case for Morgan to help Chief Flanders find out what happened to them. Once discovered, the mystery steps up in high gear.
This is a page-turning, engaging and fun cozy, which according to the author’s note plays on some factual history. I won’t say what that is, because that will be a spoiler…I will leave that to readers to discover as they enjoy this first in the series, and may even want to befriend this quirky cryptozoologist.
“Death in the Dark Woods” Review Here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
September 14, 2023
A Death in Door County is a fun mystery set on the shores of Lake Michigan. While the mystery itself isn't all that complex (and the conclusion not all that surprising), it's still a lively story that kept me entertained. It's not every day that you come across a murder mystery involving cryptozoology and lake monsters, after all.
Newt (the dog) is the best character in the book and his loyalty to Morgan is endearing. Is it weird to be slightly envious of someone's fictional dog? Because I have a greyhound who I love dearly, but she would almost certainly let me drown in the lake rather than get her paws wet during a rescue attempt.
My one complaint about the book is that there was an excessive amount of text describing the location of various islands and passages and shipwrecks and such. I am directionally challenged at the best of times, so it was basically gobbledygook to me. Just tell me that the islands are on Jupiter and cut out pages of unnecessary text and that'll be perfectly okay with me because I certainly won't know any better.
The next book in this series, Death in the Dark Woods, is currently on NetGalley as an ARC and I'm hoping to get my hands on it … mostly to read more about Newt, but the cryptozoology is pretty interesting, too.
3.85 stars, rounded up.
Newt (the dog) is the best character in the book and his loyalty to Morgan is endearing. Is it weird to be slightly envious of someone's fictional dog? Because I have a greyhound who I love dearly, but she would almost certainly let me drown in the lake rather than get her paws wet during a rescue attempt.
My one complaint about the book is that there was an excessive amount of text describing the location of various islands and passages and shipwrecks and such. I am directionally challenged at the best of times, so it was basically gobbledygook to me. Just tell me that the islands are on Jupiter and cut out pages of unnecessary text and that'll be perfectly okay with me because I certainly won't know any better.
The next book in this series, Death in the Dark Woods, is currently on NetGalley as an ARC and I'm hoping to get my hands on it … mostly to read more about Newt, but the cryptozoology is pretty interesting, too.
3.85 stars, rounded up.
January 28, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
A Death in Door County is the first book in Annalise Ryan's creeptastic Monster Hunter Mystery series.
I first learned about this series after I was gifted an ARC of the sequel, Death in the Dark Woods, releasing in December 2023. I was excited to learn about it because it combines two of my favorite things: creepy vibes and cozy mysteries.
This series follows Morgan Carter, a bookstore owner and cryptozoologist, from Door County, Wisconsin. Morgan, like her parents before her, spends her spare time investigating cryptids and that skill is about to come in very handy.
After a few bodies are found along the shores of Lake Michigan with unexplained injuries, Police Chief Jon Flanders asks for Morgan's help. The injuries look like bites, but not bites from any locally known animal.
Could a rumored lake monster be to blame?
Morgan agrees to help. She's no stranger to the legends of lake monsters and is more than happy to assist Jon in his on-going investigation.
Y'all, this was really cute. It's a simple start to a new Cozy Mystery series with a surprising and creative cryptid twist. I definitely enjoyed my time getting to know this main character and a feel for how this series is going to play out.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading more mysterious adventures featuring this plucky-protagonist, Morgan. I also loved how important the presence her dog, Newt, was in the story. You can tell this author is a dog-lover.
It was a little slow for me in the beginning, but I was never not enjoying it. The mystery was fun and I loved how as we got closer to solving it, it started to take on a bit of a Scooby-Doo-type feel.
I was satisfied with the resolution of the mystery and enjoyed the relationship that's building between Morgan and Jon. I'm looking forward to becoming even more attached to these characters as the series continues.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves their dark fiction, but also needs a bit of a palate cleanser every once in a while.
In the next installment, we're tackling a Bigfoot!!
A Death in Door County is the first book in Annalise Ryan's creeptastic Monster Hunter Mystery series.
I first learned about this series after I was gifted an ARC of the sequel, Death in the Dark Woods, releasing in December 2023. I was excited to learn about it because it combines two of my favorite things: creepy vibes and cozy mysteries.
This series follows Morgan Carter, a bookstore owner and cryptozoologist, from Door County, Wisconsin. Morgan, like her parents before her, spends her spare time investigating cryptids and that skill is about to come in very handy.
After a few bodies are found along the shores of Lake Michigan with unexplained injuries, Police Chief Jon Flanders asks for Morgan's help. The injuries look like bites, but not bites from any locally known animal.
Could a rumored lake monster be to blame?
Morgan agrees to help. She's no stranger to the legends of lake monsters and is more than happy to assist Jon in his on-going investigation.
Y'all, this was really cute. It's a simple start to a new Cozy Mystery series with a surprising and creative cryptid twist. I definitely enjoyed my time getting to know this main character and a feel for how this series is going to play out.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading more mysterious adventures featuring this plucky-protagonist, Morgan. I also loved how important the presence her dog, Newt, was in the story. You can tell this author is a dog-lover.
It was a little slow for me in the beginning, but I was never not enjoying it. The mystery was fun and I loved how as we got closer to solving it, it started to take on a bit of a Scooby-Doo-type feel.
I was satisfied with the resolution of the mystery and enjoyed the relationship that's building between Morgan and Jon. I'm looking forward to becoming even more attached to these characters as the series continues.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves their dark fiction, but also needs a bit of a palate cleanser every once in a while.
In the next installment, we're tackling a Bigfoot!!
February 15, 2025
Morgan Carter, cryptozoologist and owner of an oddities shop in the heart of the tourist haven Door County, gets tasked with a lake monster mystery.
Truly all the synopsis I have the energy for. Who doesn't love Door County? I certainly do, so the title was all I needed. The cryptid part was just a fabulous bonus, but alas...disappointment on both fronts.
Outside of the part giving the history of the Porte des Morts, the local character/ambience of Door County was a bit lacking. Odd, especially considering how prominently it plays in the title. More unforgivable though, was the unabashed info dumping in the narration and in the middle of dialogue. The dialogue itself was tough at points. A police chief is repeatedly referred to as "copper" and "flatfoot" (this is not set in the past) and nearly everyone speaks oddly formally/stiltedly. Even in the middle of a kidnapping, the protagonist breaks out with a "What makes you think your fate won't be the same as mine?" It kept taking me out of the story which very quickly started feeling like Scooby Doo but with more bodies.
The protagonist here was also not particularly charming. It definitely didn't help that we are introduced to her with the fact that she displays human remains as a mascot in her shop, but of all the characters (I would almost include the police chief she's helping) she seems to have the least personality, outside of spouting trivia. If you strip away the cryptid part, is there anything left? I'm not sure.
Truly all the synopsis I have the energy for. Who doesn't love Door County? I certainly do, so the title was all I needed. The cryptid part was just a fabulous bonus, but alas...disappointment on both fronts.
Outside of the part giving the history of the Porte des Morts, the local character/ambience of Door County was a bit lacking. Odd, especially considering how prominently it plays in the title. More unforgivable though, was the unabashed info dumping in the narration and in the middle of dialogue. The dialogue itself was tough at points. A police chief is repeatedly referred to as "copper" and "flatfoot" (this is not set in the past) and nearly everyone speaks oddly formally/stiltedly. Even in the middle of a kidnapping, the protagonist breaks out with a "What makes you think your fate won't be the same as mine?" It kept taking me out of the story which very quickly started feeling like Scooby Doo but with more bodies.
The protagonist here was also not particularly charming. It definitely didn't help that we are introduced to her with the fact that she displays human remains as a mascot in her shop, but of all the characters (I would almost include the police chief she's helping) she seems to have the least personality, outside of spouting trivia. If you strip away the cryptid part, is there anything left? I'm not sure.
September 28, 2022
Even if I'd absolutely hated this book I'd have to credit author Annelise Ryan with creating perhaps the most unusual amateur sleuth I've yet to come across. Morgan Carter, who owns a creepy little book and curio shop called "Odds and Ends" in a tourist town in Wisconsin (TIL Wisconsin has tourists towns) also has a side hustle going as...a monster hunter...dun dun DUN!
But before you think we're delving into a supernatural mystery where a ghost Skunk Ape helps Morgan solve crimes (I'd totally read that) or she's in love with a centaur or something (I think I DID read that) let me explain that Morgan is a cryptozoologist. This is really just a fancy word for monster hunter. She's got degrees in zoology and biology and she spends her spare time investigating reports of everything from Chupacabra to the Loch Ness Monster. She inherited both the store and her abiding interest in all things urban myth related from her parents who homeschooled her and raised her to be as fascinated by Bigfoot siting's as they were before they died.
That's why when the local sheriff stops by the shop one day to ask her advice on some mysterious recent drownings with unexplained injuries to the bodies she grabs her life jacket and her beloved rescue dog Newt ready to learn if there might be a monster haunting the depths of Lake Michigan.
This is a solid series launch and I'd definitely read another just based on my admiration for Ryan's writing style and vivid settings. A lot of the action takes place on Lake Michigan and Ryan paints a very striking picture of both its beauty and danger. And while the supporting cast doesn't get a whole lot of fleshing out, Morgan is a very likable narrator. She's kind and generous with the fortune she's inherited from her family and she's not creepy about her interests. She approaches everything with a skeptics eye and is always quick to look for the logical answer to a potential cryptid siting. She's carrying a lot of baggage from her parents untimely death's and the ending of an intense relationship but it doesn't weigh her down to the point of insensibility.
Unfortunately as far as the actual mystery goes (and I have to assume ALL the mysteries will go) this is essentially Scooby Doo if Mystery Inc. actually remembered there's no such thing as ghosts or monsters from one case to the next and had money to buy fancy equipment to solve the crimes.
Here be spoilers so proceed accordingly...
So yes I'd read another but I sincerely hope Ryan spends a little more time with the cryptids and a little less with the cagey antics of her heroine in the future.
But before you think we're delving into a supernatural mystery where a ghost Skunk Ape helps Morgan solve crimes (I'd totally read that) or she's in love with a centaur or something (I think I DID read that) let me explain that Morgan is a cryptozoologist. This is really just a fancy word for monster hunter. She's got degrees in zoology and biology and she spends her spare time investigating reports of everything from Chupacabra to the Loch Ness Monster. She inherited both the store and her abiding interest in all things urban myth related from her parents who homeschooled her and raised her to be as fascinated by Bigfoot siting's as they were before they died.
That's why when the local sheriff stops by the shop one day to ask her advice on some mysterious recent drownings with unexplained injuries to the bodies she grabs her life jacket and her beloved rescue dog Newt ready to learn if there might be a monster haunting the depths of Lake Michigan.
This is a solid series launch and I'd definitely read another just based on my admiration for Ryan's writing style and vivid settings. A lot of the action takes place on Lake Michigan and Ryan paints a very striking picture of both its beauty and danger. And while the supporting cast doesn't get a whole lot of fleshing out, Morgan is a very likable narrator. She's kind and generous with the fortune she's inherited from her family and she's not creepy about her interests. She approaches everything with a skeptics eye and is always quick to look for the logical answer to a potential cryptid siting. She's carrying a lot of baggage from her parents untimely death's and the ending of an intense relationship but it doesn't weigh her down to the point of insensibility.
Unfortunately as far as the actual mystery goes (and I have to assume ALL the mysteries will go) this is essentially Scooby Doo if Mystery Inc. actually remembered there's no such thing as ghosts or monsters from one case to the next and had money to buy fancy equipment to solve the crimes.
Here be spoilers so proceed accordingly...
So yes I'd read another but I sincerely hope Ryan spends a little more time with the cryptids and a little less with the cagey antics of her heroine in the future.
September 14, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this book! It took me a bit to really get into the story but once I did I flew through it. I liked Morgan and thought that her strange little store was rather interesting. The fact that the book dealt with cryptozoology was a huge draw for me and I wondered if a sea monster could really be behind the recent deaths that Morgan is investigating.
This book was a solid start to a promising new series. Morgan owns a bookstore that not only sells books but also an assortment of strange items. Because of her knowledge as a cryptozoologist, she is asked to help on a case by the local police chief, Jon Flanders. There have been a couple of deaths where the victims appear to have been bitten by a large animal and some are wondering if a lake monster is responsible.
I really liked the characters in this book. Morgan was easy to like and Her backstory grabbed my attention right away. I was eager to learn more about the things that had happened in her life. Jon was equally likable. He was patient with Morgan even when she crossed lines in her investigation. I liked the budding romance between the pair and hope to see that further explored in future installments. Morgan’s dog, Newt, was her constant companion in this story. I love how fleshed out the dog’s character was and how important he was to Morgan.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining mystery that kept me guessing throughout the book. The characters were the best part of the book for me. I cannot wait to read more of this promising new series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this book! It took me a bit to really get into the story but once I did I flew through this book. I liked Morgan and thought that her strange little store was rather interesting. Her backstory grabbed my attention right away and I have to admit that I was eager to learn more about the things that had happened in her life. I was eager to find out what exactly was going on in regards to the recent deaths. I am glad that I decided to give this one a try.
I enjoyed this book! It took me a bit to really get into the story but once I did I flew through it. I liked Morgan and thought that her strange little store was rather interesting. The fact that the book dealt with cryptozoology was a huge draw for me and I wondered if a sea monster could really be behind the recent deaths that Morgan is investigating.
This book was a solid start to a promising new series. Morgan owns a bookstore that not only sells books but also an assortment of strange items. Because of her knowledge as a cryptozoologist, she is asked to help on a case by the local police chief, Jon Flanders. There have been a couple of deaths where the victims appear to have been bitten by a large animal and some are wondering if a lake monster is responsible.
I really liked the characters in this book. Morgan was easy to like and Her backstory grabbed my attention right away. I was eager to learn more about the things that had happened in her life. Jon was equally likable. He was patient with Morgan even when she crossed lines in her investigation. I liked the budding romance between the pair and hope to see that further explored in future installments. Morgan’s dog, Newt, was her constant companion in this story. I love how fleshed out the dog’s character was and how important he was to Morgan.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining mystery that kept me guessing throughout the book. The characters were the best part of the book for me. I cannot wait to read more of this promising new series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this book! It took me a bit to really get into the story but once I did I flew through this book. I liked Morgan and thought that her strange little store was rather interesting. Her backstory grabbed my attention right away and I have to admit that I was eager to learn more about the things that had happened in her life. I was eager to find out what exactly was going on in regards to the recent deaths. I am glad that I decided to give this one a try.
November 30, 2022
3.5 stars?
This book was worth waiting for on hold at the library. I quite enjoyed it and it broke me out of a cycle of rereading old favourites instead of my library books. But it was missing some je ne sais quoi that would boost it to 4 stars.
It is highly unusual for a cozy mystery. I don't think I've ever run across a cryptozoologist main character before outside of fantasy fiction. I loved that Morgan was a skeptic and insisted on empirical evidence. I think I had the outline of what was going on figured out at the two thirds mark in the novel, but that's a good long time to keep the secret going.
Cozy mysteries seem to be obliged to have a romance subplot and Ryan provides an acceptable match for Morgan. Jon Flanders, the chief of police on the island, is a decent guy with concerns and history of his own. It's Morgan Carter, the main character, who has the least plausible background. She’s from wealth, but her family used it in quirky ways. Add to that a fiancé who hid his true identity and seems likely to have murdered Morgan's parents, leaving the police to suspect Morgan herself. That's a big burden when you are attracted to a law man.
Morgan's unusual store, Odds and Ends, combines a bookstore and a curiosity shop, two rather appealing settings rolled into one. Getting Morgan to also combine monster hunting and police investigation is another twofer. I may not be sure what's missing, but there's a lot of good stuff to be found here. I will be interested in book two when it's available to see where Ryan goes with this setup.
This book was worth waiting for on hold at the library. I quite enjoyed it and it broke me out of a cycle of rereading old favourites instead of my library books. But it was missing some je ne sais quoi that would boost it to 4 stars.
It is highly unusual for a cozy mystery. I don't think I've ever run across a cryptozoologist main character before outside of fantasy fiction. I loved that Morgan was a skeptic and insisted on empirical evidence. I think I had the outline of what was going on figured out at the two thirds mark in the novel, but that's a good long time to keep the secret going.
Cozy mysteries seem to be obliged to have a romance subplot and Ryan provides an acceptable match for Morgan. Jon Flanders, the chief of police on the island, is a decent guy with concerns and history of his own. It's Morgan Carter, the main character, who has the least plausible background. She’s from wealth, but her family used it in quirky ways. Add to that a fiancé who hid his true identity and seems likely to have murdered Morgan's parents, leaving the police to suspect Morgan herself. That's a big burden when you are attracted to a law man.
Morgan's unusual store, Odds and Ends, combines a bookstore and a curiosity shop, two rather appealing settings rolled into one. Getting Morgan to also combine monster hunting and police investigation is another twofer. I may not be sure what's missing, but there's a lot of good stuff to be found here. I will be interested in book two when it's available to see where Ryan goes with this setup.
October 26, 2022
Review coming soon.
January 14, 2023
Boring arrogant know nothing main character.
And my brain bled everytime she had to mention how wealthy her father was Or how wealthy she was . Again and again and again.
And again.
And how cliched this book is .1. Oh look the detective flirts with her. Check. 2 she plays mind games with him Check.
3. She interfers and annoys people ,sneaks into homes thinking she's smart and knows how to investigate(she doesn't).Check .
4. Drags on longer than it should ? Check .
.
I quit reading less than halfway through zero interest who and why people died.
And my brain bled everytime she had to mention how wealthy her father was Or how wealthy she was . Again and again and again.
And again.
And how cliched this book is .1. Oh look the detective flirts with her. Check. 2 she plays mind games with him Check.
3. She interfers and annoys people ,sneaks into homes thinking she's smart and knows how to investigate(she doesn't).Check .
4. Drags on longer than it should ? Check .
.
I quit reading less than halfway through zero interest who and why people died.
September 10, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
What lies deep in the waters of the Great Lakes? Could there be a monster or two? Morgan Carter is determined to find out. Her hobby is hunting cryptids—creatures whose existence is rumored but never proven to be real.
Police Chief Jon Flanders has learned of Morgan’s hobby and has asked her for help when bodies, human and animal, have washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan with unusual bites from an unknown animal. Morgan cannot turn the man down so she and her rescue dog, Newt take on the case of the “monster” in the Death’s Door strait. Will they survive or be the next victims of the monster lurking beneath the surface?
As a Wisconsin resident and a fan of Annelise Ryan, I was not sure where she was going with the Monster Hunter theme but was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this story.
Morgan Carter is a unique protagonist that has a sad backstory, her parents were killed a couple of years ago, an unusual hobby, hunting cryptids, and is the owner of the Odds and Ends bookstore which is filled with some really peculiar items. She is smart and driven especially when she is on a hunt. Her best friend is her rescue dog Newt. He goes along with her everywhere she goes. We also meet Police Chief Jon Flanders. He also has a painful past. Morgan’s employees, Devon and Rita, bring a lot to this story too. All these characters are well-developed, especially for the first book in the series.
The mystery was captivating. The weather on the lake was haunting most of the time. The search really drew me in. So much so that I physically jumped back in my seat more than once. Ms. Ryan paced the entire story perfectly. Near the end, I finally had some clues fall into place but I loved the final reveal. When I turned the last page I felt like I had been on a real adventure.
Setting this book in Door County was fun. I recognized the places Morgan traveled and those I was unfamiliar with were described perfectly to create the images in my mind.
The author adds some worthy themes into this story, like building trust and coping with past traumatic events. She also made the idea of cryptids actually believable, even though I have lived here my whole life and never heard of any such thing in any of the Great Lakes. The truth is you never know what you may find in those waters. Hear my diabolical laugh here.
A Death in Door County was a Perfect Escape. Ms. Ryan has given this series a great start. I am eager to see where she takes her characters next.
What lies deep in the waters of the Great Lakes? Could there be a monster or two? Morgan Carter is determined to find out. Her hobby is hunting cryptids—creatures whose existence is rumored but never proven to be real.
Police Chief Jon Flanders has learned of Morgan’s hobby and has asked her for help when bodies, human and animal, have washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan with unusual bites from an unknown animal. Morgan cannot turn the man down so she and her rescue dog, Newt take on the case of the “monster” in the Death’s Door strait. Will they survive or be the next victims of the monster lurking beneath the surface?
As a Wisconsin resident and a fan of Annelise Ryan, I was not sure where she was going with the Monster Hunter theme but was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this story.
Morgan Carter is a unique protagonist that has a sad backstory, her parents were killed a couple of years ago, an unusual hobby, hunting cryptids, and is the owner of the Odds and Ends bookstore which is filled with some really peculiar items. She is smart and driven especially when she is on a hunt. Her best friend is her rescue dog Newt. He goes along with her everywhere she goes. We also meet Police Chief Jon Flanders. He also has a painful past. Morgan’s employees, Devon and Rita, bring a lot to this story too. All these characters are well-developed, especially for the first book in the series.
The mystery was captivating. The weather on the lake was haunting most of the time. The search really drew me in. So much so that I physically jumped back in my seat more than once. Ms. Ryan paced the entire story perfectly. Near the end, I finally had some clues fall into place but I loved the final reveal. When I turned the last page I felt like I had been on a real adventure.
Setting this book in Door County was fun. I recognized the places Morgan traveled and those I was unfamiliar with were described perfectly to create the images in my mind.
The author adds some worthy themes into this story, like building trust and coping with past traumatic events. She also made the idea of cryptids actually believable, even though I have lived here my whole life and never heard of any such thing in any of the Great Lakes. The truth is you never know what you may find in those waters. Hear my diabolical laugh here.
A Death in Door County was a Perfect Escape. Ms. Ryan has given this series a great start. I am eager to see where she takes her characters next.
April 7, 2024
As a long time fan of corny monster movies and the podcast Camp Monsters, this book was calling my name! The vivid descriptions of Door County and each of the character paint a detailed canvas in the mind. I know this is the first in the series, and I hope it is the first of many! If you like mystery and a little mystique, do yourself a favor and read this book!
Why five stars? It is creative, ambitious, and heart warming. This book is the perfect combination of monster story meets cozy mystery. Did I mention it is quirky? It has character and depth. Well written and well done. I also appreciated how the author sprinkled some big vocabulary words throughout as a way to keep a little game going between two of the characters. A Death in Door County made me an instant fan of the author and will be buying each book she makes in this series.
I would recommend if you like:
Like mysteries with a different spin
Cozy mysteries
Quirky characters
Descriptive sceneries
Mythological creatures
Dogs as a main character
Depth and tragedy sprinkled in
I would caution you if:
You don’t like mysteries that veer off the beaten path
You don’t like “monster” stories
You like classic mystery books
Why five stars? It is creative, ambitious, and heart warming. This book is the perfect combination of monster story meets cozy mystery. Did I mention it is quirky? It has character and depth. Well written and well done. I also appreciated how the author sprinkled some big vocabulary words throughout as a way to keep a little game going between two of the characters. A Death in Door County made me an instant fan of the author and will be buying each book she makes in this series.
I would recommend if you like:
Like mysteries with a different spin
Cozy mysteries
Quirky characters
Descriptive sceneries
Mythological creatures
Dogs as a main character
Depth and tragedy sprinkled in
I would caution you if:
You don’t like mysteries that veer off the beaten path
You don’t like “monster” stories
You like classic mystery books
May 30, 2024
this review is going to have spoilers, you've been warned.
i was so excited to read a fun summery mystery about a small town with a possible lake monster while substitute teaching (aka watching kids do god knows what on their chromebooks and not actually getting to teach anything). if only this book has been fun! if only it had been summery! if only it had a lake monster!
alas, it was none of these things. there was no fun, only long, dry descriptions of the main character's overly detailed internal dialogue. there was barely any summer, just some boating and adirondack chairs. and there was no lake monster, only a submersible. did i really expect them to find a lake monster? no. but from the first description of this shadowy creature with glowing eyes i said "that's a submersible with headlights." and i was indeed correct.
if i could describe this book in one word, i'd have to go with "dull." morgan is such a stiff character. boohoo, her parents were murdered by her con-artist ex-fiance (which somehow doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of the novel). boohoo, she thinks the cop is attractive but has trauma from said parent-murdering ex. despite all the boohooing, she also doesn't seem to have emotions. her friend is found murdered after being missing for several days and she really didn't seem too worried about that. she only cares about her dog, who we're told is almost-blind about every other page.
speaking of repetition, this whole book tells you every piece of information about three times. the author tells everything and shows nothing. the amount of times we're told how rich this main character is is ridiculous. i literally don't care. show me the lake monster!
when the plymouth clue was first introduced, i thought: "i bet it's a ship that sank with treasure on it or something. and the lake monster is definitely a submersible with headlights the bad guys are using to get the treasure. the victims who "drowned" were probably too close to the treasure hunters and were killed off to avoid interference." and when i realized i could not finish this book after reading 150 pages, i scanned through the rest of the book and found this to be...exactly...the plot...of the remaining 150 pages.
i guess i'll just go reread "the raven cycle" again.
i was so excited to read a fun summery mystery about a small town with a possible lake monster while substitute teaching (aka watching kids do god knows what on their chromebooks and not actually getting to teach anything). if only this book has been fun! if only it had been summery! if only it had a lake monster!
alas, it was none of these things. there was no fun, only long, dry descriptions of the main character's overly detailed internal dialogue. there was barely any summer, just some boating and adirondack chairs. and there was no lake monster, only a submersible. did i really expect them to find a lake monster? no. but from the first description of this shadowy creature with glowing eyes i said "that's a submersible with headlights." and i was indeed correct.
if i could describe this book in one word, i'd have to go with "dull." morgan is such a stiff character. boohoo, her parents were murdered by her con-artist ex-fiance (which somehow doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of the novel). boohoo, she thinks the cop is attractive but has trauma from said parent-murdering ex. despite all the boohooing, she also doesn't seem to have emotions. her friend is found murdered after being missing for several days and she really didn't seem too worried about that. she only cares about her dog, who we're told is almost-blind about every other page.
speaking of repetition, this whole book tells you every piece of information about three times. the author tells everything and shows nothing. the amount of times we're told how rich this main character is is ridiculous. i literally don't care. show me the lake monster!
when the plymouth clue was first introduced, i thought: "i bet it's a ship that sank with treasure on it or something. and the lake monster is definitely a submersible with headlights the bad guys are using to get the treasure. the victims who "drowned" were probably too close to the treasure hunters and were killed off to avoid interference." and when i realized i could not finish this book after reading 150 pages, i scanned through the rest of the book and found this to be...exactly...the plot...of the remaining 150 pages.
i guess i'll just go reread "the raven cycle" again.
September 24, 2022
It was a comfortable mystery set in Door County. I'm not sure outside of somewhere coastal if it needed to be set there except for the name of the book having name recognition. I liked the mystery up until the reveal where the "villain" monologues the entire plot for the our sake instead of just cleaning up his mess quickly. I also didn't buy Jon Flanders. For a cop who wasn't ready to love again, he came on super strong and fast to the main character. He also broke numerous laws and ruined a lot of evidence for a third party consultant to run amok in what should have been a much bigger investigation. I'm not sure why he contacted Morgan in the first place, why he was so invested in her from the beginning or what his ultimate goal was. He didn't believe in the lake monster angle, but he also had no ambition to track down a conspiracy. Was he paying to prove a few accidental drownings? Even after a contributor went missing during the case?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2025
4.25 🌟
Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer I would say
This gave classic Scooby Doo vibes. With a mystery and a monster. It had potential to be a 5 star but the mystery and reveal let me down. However, the setting, characters and premise were very unique. I can’t wait for the next book. I hope this continues into a long series.
I want to find other mystery that fulfills this vibe.
Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer I would say
This gave classic Scooby Doo vibes. With a mystery and a monster. It had potential to be a 5 star but the mystery and reveal let me down. However, the setting, characters and premise were very unique. I can’t wait for the next book. I hope this continues into a long series.
I want to find other mystery that fulfills this vibe.
January 7, 2023
While I really liked the idea of a main character who is also a cryptozoologist in a cozy mystery, I found the characterization felt flat to me. I tried to get into this book, and unfortunately, this didn't sustain my interest.
January 4, 2023
Not enough cryptids for a book about a cryptid
October 16, 2022
A DEATH IN DOOR COUNTY (Monster Hunter Mystery 1)
Annelise Ryan
OK, this is one crazy cozy mystery! I actually loved the twisted plot and the education about cryptozoologists. The characters were relatable, entertaining, and appropriately fleshed out. There is an air of humor and just a touch of romance to brighten the day. It was a super fun read.
Clearly, biologists study known species and hope to discover a new one, but Morgan Carter looks to find evidence of creatures best known in folklore. Creatures like Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, and the chupacabra are the best known. Morgan is a detective of sorts, using depth finders and audio-recording equipment to find and record the cryptos.
In the silence of Lake Michigan and at the height of tourist season, Door County is facing a monster. First, it was a fish, then an animal, then 3 people, but something under the water is catching and killing! No catch and release going on here. With a jaw width of at least 12 inches, the victims are crushed and drowned.
The new Chief of Police on Washington Island, Jon Flanders is working the case very quietly so as not to disturb tourist dollars. He decides to hire Morgan, the owner of an amazing odds and ends shop that has a corpus named Henry and lots of strange stuff, to find out what is going on. So Morgan begins her investigation with the help of a boatman who later disappears and is presumed killed by the monster. THEN her employee is attacked and a threatening note is left for her. WHAT is going on? Rest assured that Morgan will get to the bottom of this.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Annelise Ryan
OK, this is one crazy cozy mystery! I actually loved the twisted plot and the education about cryptozoologists. The characters were relatable, entertaining, and appropriately fleshed out. There is an air of humor and just a touch of romance to brighten the day. It was a super fun read.
Clearly, biologists study known species and hope to discover a new one, but Morgan Carter looks to find evidence of creatures best known in folklore. Creatures like Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, and the chupacabra are the best known. Morgan is a detective of sorts, using depth finders and audio-recording equipment to find and record the cryptos.
In the silence of Lake Michigan and at the height of tourist season, Door County is facing a monster. First, it was a fish, then an animal, then 3 people, but something under the water is catching and killing! No catch and release going on here. With a jaw width of at least 12 inches, the victims are crushed and drowned.
The new Chief of Police on Washington Island, Jon Flanders is working the case very quietly so as not to disturb tourist dollars. He decides to hire Morgan, the owner of an amazing odds and ends shop that has a corpus named Henry and lots of strange stuff, to find out what is going on. So Morgan begins her investigation with the help of a boatman who later disappears and is presumed killed by the monster. THEN her employee is attacked and a threatening note is left for her. WHAT is going on? Rest assured that Morgan will get to the bottom of this.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
December 19, 2022
Should I have expected more imagination from someone that is OK w being branded as a “USA Today” writer? Should I have expected more cryptozoological fun? Should I have expected something more substantial than a scooby doo mystery? Should I have expected fewer instances of a grown woman -humorously- having to pee because the writer thought it would connect with her core audience? No, and neither should you.
I will say that even though the main character is supposed to be somewhat young, the audiobook production used a fairly older woman as the voice and it just made it even harder to make the bad writing convincing.
I will say that even though the main character is supposed to be somewhat young, the audiobook production used a fairly older woman as the voice and it just made it even harder to make the bad writing convincing.
December 17, 2025
Extremely silly story that is also poorly written, but I’ll probably keep reading the series for the same reason that I watch bad Netflix original romcoms.
September 22, 2022
A Lake Michigan monster like Nessie of Loch Ness fame killing people by drowning them? And lets add Napoleon’s gold and a sunken ship that was never located to deepen the mysteries. Who could resist a story like that?
The sinking of the SS Plymouth in Lake Michigan is a documented fact but the actual location is unknown which adds to this mystery. The clever author combined fact and supposition to create a story that held my attention and which I read over a two day period. Who could resist the possibility of yet another “Nessie” or “Champ”?
Morgan Carter comes by her desire to hunt so-called monsters quite naturally since she was raised by parents who did just that before their lives came to a very tragic end three years earlier. She continues to run their shop The Odds and Ends bookstore with emphasis on the odds. Her more than faithful dog, Newt is ever by her side where ever she goes and he has a strong protective instinct. He even approves of the new police chief, Jon Flanders, maybe too much for Morgan’s comfort.
I enjoyed reading this book and especially all the characters who were very well written so I could actually picture them in my mind. The storyline was certainly different and there were a couple of surprises before the end.
I won this book in a First Reads giveaway. Thank you Berkley Prime Crime, Penguin Random House LLC and the author Annelise Ryan.
The sinking of the SS Plymouth in Lake Michigan is a documented fact but the actual location is unknown which adds to this mystery. The clever author combined fact and supposition to create a story that held my attention and which I read over a two day period. Who could resist the possibility of yet another “Nessie” or “Champ”?
Morgan Carter comes by her desire to hunt so-called monsters quite naturally since she was raised by parents who did just that before their lives came to a very tragic end three years earlier. She continues to run their shop The Odds and Ends bookstore with emphasis on the odds. Her more than faithful dog, Newt is ever by her side where ever she goes and he has a strong protective instinct. He even approves of the new police chief, Jon Flanders, maybe too much for Morgan’s comfort.
I enjoyed reading this book and especially all the characters who were very well written so I could actually picture them in my mind. The storyline was certainly different and there were a couple of surprises before the end.
I won this book in a First Reads giveaway. Thank you Berkley Prime Crime, Penguin Random House LLC and the author Annelise Ryan.
August 22, 2023
*3.5 stars, rounded up.
I didn't need to start another new cozy mystery series, but Door County is right in my backyard so I couldn't resist. I'm so happy this one delivered! I loved that the lakes are kind of a character of their own (as well they should be). I really liked Morgan, the protagonist, and I can't wait to see what kind of hijinks and shenanigans she is up to in the next installment of the story. And Newt, the obligatory cozy mystery canine companion, is just everything. There is a delightful cast of side characters, and it's just all around a wholesome good time.
I didn't need to start another new cozy mystery series, but Door County is right in my backyard so I couldn't resist. I'm so happy this one delivered! I loved that the lakes are kind of a character of their own (as well they should be). I really liked Morgan, the protagonist, and I can't wait to see what kind of hijinks and shenanigans she is up to in the next installment of the story. And Newt, the obligatory cozy mystery canine companion, is just everything. There is a delightful cast of side characters, and it's just all around a wholesome good time.
August 18, 2023
Reading this one *in* Door County with my buddy reader sister was a blast, but I found the mystery itself a little thin. I’ve heard it described as Scooby Doo-esque, and that was totally it (which was a bit disappointing to me). Enjoyable either way!
January 17, 2024
I loved this. (Take a shot every time a character says “fellow”.)
![Profile Image for julia ☆ [owls reads].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1636739475i%2F5520447._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
July 7, 2024
A bit too slow for me. The mystery was interesting, though!
September 29, 2023
For fans of amateur sleuths! Morgan Carter, a bookstore owner and cryptozoologist in Wisconsin believes in plausible existability: it’s not that she is certain for example that Big Foot exists, it’s that without proof it doesn’t there’s still the chance. After some strange deaths on Lake Michigan, police chief Jon Flanders hires Carter to look into the deaths to rule out murder by creature. What Flanders didn’t count on was Carter not being the best rule follower, nor staying out of danger. Carter, dealing with trauma from her parents’ murder and having been a suspect, isn’t looking to jump into any personal relationships but she has no problem throwing herself into an adventure or mysterious case with her loving dog in tow. I enjoyed Susan Bennett’s narration of the audiobook, especially since her transition to male characters was smooth and didn’t feel exaggerated or like she was hurting her throat.
(TW mentions maternal and child death, not graphic nor detailed/ mentions death by suicide, no detail/ brief domestic abuse/ mentions past child death and accident)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsleter
(TW mentions maternal and child death, not graphic nor detailed/ mentions death by suicide, no detail/ brief domestic abuse/ mentions past child death and accident)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsleter
June 21, 2023
Two stars because the story was entertaining enough and reminded me of Jupiter Jones and the Three Investigators. Or Scooby Doo. Morgan isn't particularly likeable, either, although a few of the other characters resonate.
Things that got under my craw:
1. It is BOYERS BLUFF not Boyer Bluff. A look at any map would reveal that. This repeated mistake prompted me to distrust other bits of research. Sloppy.
2. This sentence: "Faith is the thing that allows people who have no concept of aerodynamics to confidently climb inside a giant metallic bird ..." NO. That is not FAITH. That is confidence in science. Another reason not to like Morgan.
3. Why is Morgan so stinking insecure that she has to talk about how much money she has all the time?
Things that got under my craw:
1. It is BOYERS BLUFF not Boyer Bluff. A look at any map would reveal that. This repeated mistake prompted me to distrust other bits of research. Sloppy.
2. This sentence: "Faith is the thing that allows people who have no concept of aerodynamics to confidently climb inside a giant metallic bird ..." NO. That is not FAITH. That is confidence in science. Another reason not to like Morgan.
3. Why is Morgan so stinking insecure that she has to talk about how much money she has all the time?
December 11, 2023
I enjoyed this debut cozy mystery series featuring Morgan Carter, a reclusive cryptozoologist who owns a novelty odds and ends store and has a much-beloved dog sidekick. When a series of mysterious deaths along the shores of Lake Michigan bring a police investigator, Jon Flanders to her door looking for help to prove/disprove that some kind of water monster might be responsible, Morgan can't resist providing her help. Well researched with some darker elements (Morgan is still grieving the murder of her parents) with a touch of romance and a great cast of side characters. This was good on audio and perfect for fans of books like the Outer Banks Bookshop Mysteries. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,436 reviews