Death in the Dark Woods: A Monster Huntery Mystery

In Ryan’s gripping sequel to 2022’s A Death in Door County, Wisconsin cryptozoologist Morgan Carter chases down Bigfoot while recovering from the trauma of discovering that her former fiancé murdered her parents. Since that tragedy, Morgan has spent most of her time running Odds and Ends, a store selling trinkets and paperback murder mysteries, but she’s happy to volunteer her expertise when local police chief Jon Flanders asks for help on behalf of a colleague. Conservation warden Charlie Aberdeen is looking into a fatal attack on a hunter that one witness attributed to a Bigfoot-like creature. The discovery of a second victim increases the pressure on Aberdeen, and Carter, who is skeptical that Bigfoot exists, agrees to travel to the area and investigate pro bono. Ryan conjures a wonderfully spooky atmosphere as Carter risks her life in search of the truth, and expertly keeps readers in the dark about the perpetrator’s identity for most of the narrative. With a strong premise and smart characterizations, this series is well suited to a long run. Agent: Adam Chomroy, Movable Type Management. (Dec.)