by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

In addition to running her Door County, Wisconsin, Odds & Ends bookstore (which definitely has a lot of oddities), Morgan Carter is a cryptozoologist for hire, meaning that she attempts to prove – or disprove – the existence of mythical beasts. She’s never been hired by an attorney before though, even though Roger Bosworth is the step-brother-in-law of her employee Rita. Roger’s son has been arrested for the murder of Brandon Kluver, and the police do not believe Andrew’s claim that the actual killer was the legendary, Wisconsin-based, Hodag. A mix of a dragon’s body, tusks, and a froggy face, the creature was admitted to have been a hoax created by a 20th century logger. It also doesn’t look good that Andy and Brandon have been feuding over a woman since high school, most recently culminating in a bar fight and threats of death. Rita and Roger insist that Andy is telling the truth though, and they want Morgan to visit the town of Rhinelander and prove that the Hodag exists and was responsible for the gruesome murder. Morgan’s not exactly met with enthusiasm once there though, as the entire town has based its economy on being a tourist attraction for all things Hodag. And while they may not necessarily believe in its existence, they certainly don’t want their “mascot” linked to a gruesome murder.

When another body is found with Morgan’s very distinct glove nearby, the police are extremely suspicious and bring her in for questioning. Being in a relationship with Door County Police Chief Jon Flanders helps to alleviate some of the suspicion, but continuing to put herself in danger is throwing a massive roadblock in their happiness. Not helping matters is the possible return of David Johnson, Morgan’s ex-fiance, whom she believed murdered her parents. A con artist who stole a dead man’s identity, the police never found proof of his existence and believed that Morgan made him up to throw off her own guilt. It seems that David has continued his habit of romancing and conning women out of their fortunes, and Morgan doesn’t know whether he’s really spying on her or if she’s having PTSD flashbacks.

The third in this unique series depicts what is a mostly unknown monster, as the Hodag is less famous than the much more familiar Loch Ness and Sasquatch cryptids. How it plays into the plot is ingenious and unfortunately possible. Morgan and Jon have had a rocky path to romance, and while they have moved past his police chief uncle’s belief that she killed her parents, Morgan not informing him of David’s reappearance may be the final straw. That would be a shame, as Morgan’s wit and resilience after the death of her parents make her a woman whom readers will love to see succeed. She does not have the cynical, dry humor of the author’s other lead character in the coroner Mattie Winston series, but Morgan’s intelligence and genuine enthusiasm for cryptid hunting will charm readers and make her equally appealing. Despite her rationality and logical sense of mind, Morgan also can’t help but hope to discover that a legendary creature actually exists. This allows her to be far more open to unconventional possibilities than most, even though it’s often man who proves to be the most villainous.

This continues to be a compelling and unique series that blends contemporary mystery investigations with a dash of fantasy lore. Readers will be curious to see how Morgan deals with her past and find the answers she needs in order to attain a secure future.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of Beast of the North Woods By Annelise Ryan, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “beast” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen March 1, 2025. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.