Death in the Dark Woods

by Annelise Ryan

The idea of Bigfoot conjures up all kinds of feelings. In a tourist town, some want to capitalize on rumors of a sighting to draw in more visitors. Those are the people who sell hats and T-shirts and offer Bigfoot specials and tours. Others are concerned that the buzz will discourage fearful tourists. Morgan, a cryptozoologist with degrees in zoology and biology, owns a shop in Wisconsin that deals in weird and sometimes creepy inventory, but she also is willing to get involved in investigating possible sightings of cryptids, “creatures thought to exist despite there being no proof.” She charges her clients to be sure they are serious in their claim, but then does not actually collect or gives the money to a good cause.

Charlie (Charlotte) is a Department of Natural Resources officer in  the Chequamegon National Forest near Bayfield where there have been some Bigfoot sightings and some vaguely resolved murders. She first meets with Hans, an Indiana Jones looking shyster, but soon decides that he is more interested in money than in the truth. Morgan agrees to work with her using Devon, one of her employees at her store to back her up with his outstanding computer skills. Jon, a police chief she has worked with before, volunteers some of his time to help Morgan. There is a slow developing romance in the works between Morgan and Jon, but Charlie is also interested in Jon.

The plot includes car chases to elude being followed, a camping trip and hikes that make Morgan feel she has a stalker. The closer she gets to the truth, the more danger Morgan finds herself in. The physical evidence doesn’t always match up with what Morgan thinks has happened, but she is cautious in her assumptions if not in her actions. The motivations and identities of those involved will keep you guessing as Morgan uses her professional knowledge to suss out the truth in her investigation of the murders. Has Bigfoot gone on an angry rampage? What would cause an animal or a human to kill someone in the two very different ways the murders occurred? What about the evidence—the huge footprint and some nonhuman hairs in the  wound? I enjoyed following Morgan’s thinking all the way to the end. She definitely fits the role of a strong female protagonist.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #2 in the Monster Hunter Series but could be read as a standalone as the author provides background information as needed.

    2. As a word lover, I enjoyed the informal game Morgan and her employee Rita played throughout the story. They would include special, less used words in their discussions, each complimenting the other over their word choices. (Yes, I did have to look a few of them up which was quite fun.)

            3. Another favorite character who deserves note is Newt, Morgan’s large dog and constant companion. It is a case of “who rescued whom” in their relationship.

Publication:  December12,2023—Berkley

Memorable Lines:

When it came to heavy emotional baggage—both known and hidden—Jon and I had enough between us to sink the Titanic without the help of an iceberg.

But while I’m open to the existence of such a creature and would be beyond delighted to encounter one, I’d have to see irrefutable scientific proof of their existence before becoming a staunch believer.

The silence, which was absolute, felt unnatural. Or rather preternatural.    That was when we heard it, a sound both guttural and screeching, a sound filled with anger and fear, a sound that made my scalp tingle and my heart race. It was unlike anything I’d heard before and something I didn’t think I’d ever want to hear again.