Annelise RyanRezensionen

I love this series!

This was perfect for a cross country flight. Funny, interesting, and a little romance. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

**4.5 Stars**

Another cozy mystery that hit all of the right spots for me. The new setting allowed for the exploration of new characters, as well as the development of characters from the last book. I think I wanted a bit more development of some of the side characters from the last book, but I'm glad they still played important roles in this story. The story was fast paced, and sometimes felt a bit rushed, but within the context of the mystery made more sense. In all it was a great little mystery with that touch of romance that I love.

First in the Monster Hunter Mystery series featuring Morgan Carter, bookstore owner and cryptozoologist. Several bodies are found washed up on the beaches of Washington Island in Lake Michigan, all bearing unusual injuries that look like bites from a giant, unknown animal. Police Chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help in identifying the creature that may be responsible.

I loved the setting in Wisconsin’s Door County, an area I have often visited, including going to Washington Island. Of course, I’ve never come across any kind of store remotely like Odds and Ends, and I think I would find the mummified corpse too creepy and off-putting to spend any time in such a store. Whatever.

Morgan seems capable and certainly intelligent and a keen observer. The background story of her parents’ murder helped explain her issues with trusting others, especially men who might show any sort of romantic interest. And I do love her dog, Newt. What a champion!

My fellow book club members pointed out many inconsistencies in how the police chief behaved, as well as the implausibility of the final solution. But most agreed it was a fast and entertaining read, with the added interest in cryptozoology, and especially being set in our home state.

I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series, though I might just to spend more time with Newt.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S DEATH IN THE DARK WOODS ABOUT?
Chief Jon Flanders has another possible cryptid for Bookseller/Cryptozoologist Morgan Carter to look into. It's not his case, but he's serving as the go-between for a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden. There've been a couple of killings in her jurisdiction that she'd like Morgan to look into—and is willing to pay her out of pocket to do so.

Charlie Aberdeen isn't even the head of the investigations, but she has a vested interest in the outcome. The official cause of death for both men (a bow hunter and a recreational fisherman) is a bear attack, but a witness account and some of the evidence don't match that. Particularly the wounds. But Charlie's the only one willing to say anything along the lines of "Bigfoot." The existence of this particular creature is a known interest of Charlie's—and local LEOs will send anything along those lines to her.

Morgan, naturally, jumps at the opportunity—no matter how long of a shot it is to find the elusive cryptid, she's got to take it. Her loyal dog, Newt, jumps at it, too—because he jumps at anything she does.

Not surprisingly, some of the locals aren't crazy about her meddling—a Sherriff's Deputy seems particularly hostile (okay, "is" there's no seeming to it)—but some insist they've seen something that could be a Bigfoot themselves. Others just think it's a pipedream and are mildly amused that Charlie and Morgan are wasting their time. There's another cryptozoologist sniffing around, too—Morgan's run into him and his spurious methods before—he's more interested in making money off of locals than he is in finding anything.

BE CAREFUL
Don't read the Author's Note at the back before you finish the book—it'll spoil things. I occasionally do that—I don't know why, but I like seeing what an author mentions in their Note or Acknowledgements, so I start there (or take a peak while reading). Man, am I glad I didn't do that this time.

(but also, maybe bury that information in the second paragraph or later?)

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT DEATH IN THE DARK WOODS?
This was a fun little adventure and a natural next step from A Death in Door County. A hunt for a Bigfoot/Sasquatch-type creature is a bit more familiar in North America than a Lake Monster, but that doesn't mean it's tired out. In many ways, Morgan's hunt reminded me of Gideon Oliver's in The Dark Place—but I enjoyed the way this one wrapped up much more.

Another thing I want to draw attention to is the relationship between Jon and Morgan—Ryan's doing a nice job of letting the inevitable relationship grow slowly, and even stumble a bit. It's really well done.

The narrative and some of the dialogue could be done a bit better—occasionally clunky is the best way to put it. It's never enough to make me want to do anything other than roll my eyes and push on, but it could be easily made better.

Still, like its predecessor, Death in the Dark Woods is a pleasant diversion with some characters you could want to spend more time with. Which is all I'm looking for in a cozy-adjacent murder mystery. I'll be back for more.

Night Shift drew my full attention from the very first page. Those who have read the first book in this series become reacquainted with social worker Hildy Schneider and her therapy dog assistant, Roscoe. Readers new to the series you will learn that Hildy is employed at the hospital and is also just beginning to work as part of a new social worker program with local law enforcement. She discovers that the two jobs overlap when she is contacted by the family of a former patient to work with him again.

This story is full of thrills and surprises. Although there is a continued hint of a potential romantic interest, I found the relationship serves more as a tension release than as a true romance. Hildy’s therapy dog, Roscoe, joins her when she rides along with the police to work his magic in helping people relax.

Murder, drugs, and ghostly visions will have you frantically turning pages to find out what happens next. Primary characters are well developed. Annelise Ryan does a wonderful job of both creating heart-stopping moments and providing the reader an opportunity to catch his breath. If you enjoy reading a good suspense novel, then this book should be perfect for you.

I received my copy of the book as a prize in an online book group giveaway with no strings attached. The decision to review, as long as any opinion given here, is mine.

Needled to Death is the first book by Annelise Ryan that I have read and it will not be my last. It is a fun cozy mystery that has a potential romance, a great dog, some humorous moments, and of course, a good mystery. One plus for me with the mystery is that the police detective that Hildy talks with welcomes her help instead of constantly pushing her away. Oh, but that doesn’t keep her from doing some unapproved investigation on her own.

Although her day job is referred back to throughout the story, most of the book is devoted to the mystery. As a result, the reader really sees little of Hildy working in her profession as a social services worker in a hospital. The characters are well rounded and we get to know them as just more than a social worker or detective. I enjoyed meeting Hildy’s young neighbor and dog walker.

The pace of the book picked up as I got further into the story. Parts of the puzzle came together for me before the end, but there were plenty of surprises, too.

If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, then give this one a try.

I received my copy of Needled to Death in a Facebook book group drawing with no request made or promised of writing a review. This is simply my opinion and nothing more.

Death in the Dark Woods by Annelise Ryan is the second book in A Monster Hunter Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Morgan Carter is a cryptozoologist, which I find to be an interesting and unique career. I had trouble getting through this story because of the author’s writing style and the long, detailed descriptions (the story moved slower than a snail on a hot, July day in Florida). I found Odds and Ends to be an unusual shop (there were some interesting pieces in the shop). After Morgan’s upbringing, I can see why it appeals to her along with her work as a cryptozoologist. I was expecting suspense, a touch of terror, and a puzzling mystery. I found the main mystery to be a letdown. The solution seemed implausible (there were different factors that seemed unrealistic). The secondary mystery was easy to solve. A Monster Hunter Mysteries is not a series for me. Death in the Dark Woods left me feeling frustrated, annoyed, and disappointed.

This was entertaining! I enjoyed the first book in this series so I was eager to pick up this installment. I love a good mystery and the fact that these mysteries deal with possible cryptid situations only added to the appeal. I was hooked by this mystery early in the story and couldn’t wait to see if Bigfoot was really what was responsible for the murders in the small Wisconsin town asking Morgan for her help.

Morgan is called to help out on a case once again, but this time she is looking for Bigfoot. I have to admit that I kind of wanted to see her find the creature but I like that she tends to look for other possible explanations. I enjoyed Morgan’s approach to investigation and was impressed that the story kept me guessing until the very end. The fact that Morgan always has her dog, Newt, with her only adds to the appeal of this story.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Susan Bennett did a wonderful job with the story. I liked the various voices that she used in the narration of this story and thought that she brought a lot of life to the story through her reading. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no problems listening to this book for hours at a stretch. I am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of this book.

I would recommend this book to others. This book could work as a stand-alone since the mystery is contained in this volume but I would recommend reading the series in order if possible. I found this installment to be very entertaining and must admit that I liked it a bit more than the first book. I was very satisfied with how things worked out in the end and look forward to the next installment.

I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.

I really enjoyed this mystery. I thought it was well written and intelligent. So many mysteries these days seem so dumb, but I liked how rational this sleuth was. Despite leaving her mind open to the possibility of a sea monster, she made sure she investigated all other avenues and possibilities, and approached everything in a scientific way. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out.

*4.5 Stars*

There is nothing I love more than a comfy mystery to read during the holiday season. Granted this story has nothing to do with the holidays, but it was such a great vibe for the colder weather. Coming from a Wisconsinite, I thought this book did such a great job capturing the Door County culture and aesthetics. Also, who does not love cryptids and the hunt for their existence.

I loved Morgan and Newt, as well the other people she interacts with on a daily basis. Her back story as well as the side emotional journey she is going through as the mystery unfolds connects you to her character, and has you as the reader cheering her on.

The story, as a cozy mystery, became significantly more dynamic near the end of the story, which was not what I expected, but I really enjoyed how it all turned out. I cannot wait to read the next book that comes out soon, and how the characters continue to develop.

cryptozoologist, cryptids, suspense, mysterious-character, mystery, thriller, Wisconsin, Northern Wisconsin, Northwoods, law-enforcement*****

Morgan is a cryptozoologist ably assisted by her best pal (probably a Newfoundland mix) Newfie. They go from the top of the Door peninsula in Wisconsin to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest area of Bayfield County, Wisconsin up near Lake Superior. This comes at the behest of law enforcement because of the horrific maulings of a couple of hunter in that area. Ah, the joys of the Northwoods! The story is good but the scenery and Newfie are rock stars. Very enjoyable to this Wisconsinite.
I requested and received an EARC from Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley via NetGalley. Thank you

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.

rabck from booklady331; Light mystery set in a Milwaukee bar, Mack is a bar owner who finds a dead body by her dumpster. It's just 10 months after Dad's death and the body is his girlfriend, Ginni. And all the evidence points to Mack, although her regulars are suspects too. The detective on the case, Duncan Albright, agrees to let her keep the bar open during the investigation, as long as he can keep an eye on her. So she "hires" him to be a bartender, and it turns out that he's good at it, entertaining and can find out lots of things by chatting up the customers. The audio version has him speaking with a lovely Scottish burr, and of course, Mack didn't kill Ginni, because she stars in several more books in the series.

The premise here are that there are a series of deaths in Lake Michigan in which the bodies of victims appear to have bitten by a large sea monster (ala Nessie). The main character is a woman who owns a shop of oddities whose parents were deeply involved in the search to find giant sea creatures. She becomes friends with the local police chief and they throw themselves into solving the mysteries. Something enters into it all a horde of Napoleon's gold is beneath Lake Michigan. A nice mystery sometimes a little beyond belief.

If you, like me, have seen Scooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster you will, like me, guess the plot about 30 pages in.

It was an enjoyable and breezy read. The writing was by no means bad, but I often found that I was forgetting that the protagonist is supposed to be in her 30s. Overall I probably wouldn't recommend it, but I certainly would dissuade someone from reading it.

This was a fun book and introduction to the Mack's Bar series. Mackenzie "Mack" owns the bar she inherited after her father's murder a few months earlier. Matters become even more complicated when she finds a dead body in the alley behind the bar, and the victim is her father's former girlfriend.

Mack's life has not been an easy one. Her mother was involved in an accident when she was pregnant with Mack and kept alive until Mack's birth. The trauma inflicted on Mack left her with a neurological disorder called synesthesia. This condition causes short circuits or crossed wires in her senses so that she sees smells, tastes sounds, smells colors, etc. It is something she's learned to live with, but it can be overwhelming in times of stress. Since her father's death, several problems have caused Mack to lose money, putting her in a difficult financial situation.

Duncan Albright is the lead detective on the murder case. He is intrigued by Mack's condition and suspects that it could help solve Ginny's murder. Because many of the leads point to Mack as the chief suspect in the murder, he needs to keep an eye on her. But she is not the only suspect, as any of her employees or patrons also had motive, means, and opportunity. He believes there is a link between her father's and Ginny's murders. Duncan talks Mack into letting him go undercover as a bartender so he can observe and investigate. The only drawback is the attraction that flares between them and distracts them from their goal.

The employees and patrons of the bar are a diverse and quirky group. Their personalities are well-drawn and varied enough to keep them straight. I enjoyed getting to know them and seeing where each fell on the list of suspects. Most of them have known Mack for a long time and don't believe she is guilty. I loved seeing them come together to clear her name and their own.

I also liked the inclusion of the history of Milwaukee and Al Capone. It added a little uniqueness to the setting, which otherwise could have been any city. Mack's discovery of her father's interest in Capone caused her to wonder if there was a connection between that interest and his murder.

I loved following the investigation. It was a little surprising that Duncan shared so much information with Mack since she was a primary suspect in the murder. However, his instincts tell him that she is innocent. There is another person that moves up the list when secrets about his life come to light, but I felt that he was a little too obvious to be a real contender. The tension continued to build as Duncan tried to narrow down the suspect list, and Mack attempted to sort out her synesthetic reactions to the clues they found. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Mack stumbled on a secret room and the murderer. I was on the edge of my seat as Mack fought for her life. While the culprit was not a surprise, the motivations were interesting.

I liked Duncan's proposed partnership with Mack as a "consultant" on future cases. I'm looking forward to more time spent at Mack's, intriguing cases, and perhaps more about the chemistry between Mack and Duncan.

This was a very cozy mystery, until of course, the reader learns about David, and his role in Morgan's past. I do not think this book will be for everyone, but I was invested because the idea of a bookstore owner collaborating with a small town police chief in search of a cryptid--love it. Add in a sweet, dependable, dog, and I'll read that!

Ok this was grittier than I’ve experienced most cozy mysteries to be, but apparently this is supposed to be a cozy; so either it’s been a while for me or this is a new breed. I liked Morgan’s background (minus her horrific backstory of being parentless—I’m assuming that will come back in future books) as a “monster hunter” as well as her faithful sidekick Newt (seriously dog of the year here). Mostly I wanted to learn more about Door County and all the islands as I’ve never been but fell in love with them when I read a LaVyrle Spencer thirty years ago; I honestly can’t believe there wasn’t a freaking map here as it would have helped considering how much exposition was going on.½

Midwesterners: here’s a contemporary cozy mystery especially for us (but the rest of you can read it, too). Read my full review here.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S A DEATH IN DOOR COUNTY ABOUT?
Morgan Carter owns and runs a bookstore in a tourist-y town in Minnesota. In her spare time, she's a cryptozoologist—hunting for proof of creatures like Bigfoot, Lessie, chupacabra, Jersey Devils, and so on. She hasn't found any yet—but that hasn't stopped her from the search (something she inherited from her parents—along with enough money to pursue this).

One day, the new-ish police chief of a local town comes by the bookstore to hire her as a consultant. There've been a few drowning victims—animal and human—in the last few months that have unidentifiable bite marks on them. The bites haven't been made public knowledge, but the number of bodies with them and the short amount of time has him and state wildlife authorities curious.

She jumps at the chance—but knows that if it's not a large creature living in Lake Michigan, there's a chance that there's a human behind it. Finding a human cause would be a fast way to rule out a cryptid. So, while looking for indications of a creature, she does a little Jessica Fletcher-ing. One way or another, Morgan and her loyal dog, Newt, are going to find out who's behind the deaths.

ODDS AND ENDS BOOKSTORE
So, I want to go visit Morgan's bookstore tomorrow. It feels like it has a pretty extensive inventory—with a great selection of local information and history, esoteric cryptozoological material (due in large part to Morgan and her parents' other gig), and some very strange non-book items for sale, too (like the non-magical section of Alex Verus' Arcana Emporium)—I'm guessing they also have a decent selection of current books, on top of that

The store has two employees (which does suggest it's smaller than the inventory could suggest, unlike, say, Nina Hill's bookstore). They're the perfect level of quirk, competence (possibly hyper-competence), and humanity. They're the kind of supporting characters that will be fun to follow.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A DEATH IN DOOR COUNTY?
I don't have a lot to say about this one—it was a fun little diversion, with nice characters that I want to spend more time with. The conceit should fuel a good number of books. I can't think of a lot to say about it at the moment, I feel like I need to see one or two more books before I can really start talking about things because so much of this book was establishing the characters and the world. The setting of Lake Michigan isn't one that I think I've spent a lot of (any?) time in, so I'm looking forward to more of that.

This was an entertaining, cozy-ish read—the addition of cryptozoology to the amateur detective who owns a bookstore was a fantastic touch. It's really a great idea. Pick this one up, I think you'll enjoy it.

This was slow at first, but suddenly I couldn’t put it down and kept thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading this mystery. Even though it centers on the rumor of an underwater monster-like creature, it wasn’t a silly story, but instead was a suspenseful thriller with a likeable main character.

Morgan Carter is intelligent and fearless. She reminded me of a grown up Nancy Drew, and even though this is the first "Monster Hunter Mystery," there is the promise of more to come. I’ll be there to read the next one.

A nitpicky complaint – there were three deaths in Door County, not one, so the title was inaccurate. Why not just call it Death in Door County and that would cover any and all deaths.

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.

I loved my first experience with Mattie Winston, and immediately added the earlier books in the series to my to-be-read list. This series blends humor with realistic detail perfectly. I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital arc via NetGalley and for introducing me to a new series!

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Motivated by her own difficult past, Hildy has an unparalleled commitment to supporting troubled clients through grief and addiction in Sorenson, Wisconsin. But when a distraught group therapy member reveals disturbing details about her late son’s potential murder, Hildy goes from dedicated mental health professional to in-over-her-head amateur sleuth . . .

Alongside her loyal therapy Golden Retriever, Hildy stumbles through incriminating clues—and an unlikely partnership with Detective Bob Richmond, the irresistibly headstrong cop who shares her passion for helping others. With signs of foul play surfacing all over town, can Hildy and Detective Richmond pinpoint the deadly traits of a sharp-witted killer before another seat gets filled at grief therapy?

This is a great intro to what seems to be a very promising new mystery series! This has all sorts of little details I've never seen in a cozy mystery before.