[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Andy Bosworth was working his way through the snowy winter woods with his fishing gear when he spotted the man, mauled by some sort of animal. As he raced to the river for better reception to call for help he encountered the likely animal. But Hodags aren’t supposed to be real! He could never tell anyone that was what he saw. But keeping it to himself doesn’t keep him from becoming the primary suspect.
Andy’s aunt, Rita, works for cryptozoologist – and Odds and Ends shop owner – Morgan Carter. And Andy’s father, an attorney, wants to hire Morgan to investigate Andy’s Hodag sighting as part of his defense.
Morgan would love to say no. The Hodag is a fictional cryptid, and she has her hands full with her shop and watching over her shoulder for her merdourous ex. But she can’t say no to Rita.
Morgan encounters local business owners who want her to leave and not tank the local economy with bad stories about their beloved Hodag. And there are other weird things going on as she investigates. But nothing as mysterious as the creature she spots in the woods.
Review
This was a twisty adventure for Morgan and her friends! I was guessing all the way to the end how this was going to work out. I enjoyed both how the murder mystery was solved and also the solution to the Hodag question.
Readers who enjoy intricate mysteries that will keep you guessing should check this series out. I loved book 1, Death in Door County. I skipped book 2 (the opener was a few steps too far for me in terms of violence), but my husband has read it and really enjoyed it.
You don’t have to have an interest in cryptids to follow or enjoy these books. Most are aware enough of the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot to follow the first two books. The Hodag here in book 3 is a bit of a niche cryptid, but as a Wisconsin girl, I was familiar with it. I did ask two friends from Wisconsin – one who spent several years there for grad school and another who grew up not too far from where I did – and neither had heard of a Hodag. So this story might be a bit more unique for the average reader (although the author does a great job with plenty of backstory). Cyrptid fans will get a kick out of this.
I realized as I read this that while I enjoy the intricate mysteries and the cryptid connections, I have not really clicked with the main characters in the series – thus a “lower” rating than you might expect from my written review. Character connection really matters to me. I think my husband will continue with any future books that might come along, but this is not a great fit for me, so I’ll probably move on from here. (Violence, TW: Stalking)
Rating: ♥♥♥½*
*♥♥♥½ = Good +
