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. ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )