I want to thank NetGalley and Dundurn Books for the Advanced Release Copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really wanted to love this book!  The premise sounded so interesting!  Parts of the book really dragged; it felt stiff, dry, and at times lacked urgency even when there was action on the page.  I want my thrillers to pull me in and not let go.

There were a lot of characters and suspects, and I had a difficult time keeping track.  None of them were particularly memorable so that didn't  help either.  

If you are looking for "lite" mystery then you might enjoy this but for me, it didn't live up to the hype.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my review. 
I’m not normally a fan in the Sci-Fi section, but when I saw it was more a murder mystery....I was game. Laura Reagan is searching for a lake monster called Cressie, in Lake Crescent, so with her camera crew they disrupt a town. When interviewing the town’s people, they find the stories change. With little to go on, she realizes this may be a waste of time. 
While dragging and diving in the lake for this creature, they encounter a woman’s body. Laura’s focal point changes to uncover a crime and some very prominent citizens who may be responsible. 
The Creature X Mystery is not as tantalizing as the unraveling of this crime. An enjoyable read, if you like putting puzzle pieces together to expose a killer.

Cryptozoologist, what a cool word, and a search for a giant eel reeled me in to this book. Laura Reagan brings a “ghost hunters”style TV team to Newfoundland to document a giant eel sighting. They are taken to see a large eel which they know is a scam, but keep the footage anyway. The book begins with the search for the eel;  when they accidentally pull up a dead body, it becomes a crime scene. I enjoyed this book, though there is room for improvement. You get to know the small town and some very quirky type characters as they try to solve the murder. Much later in the book the stories and rumors told by many odd characters don’t quite add up, and it becomes more akin to ‘silly season.”. Laura states at the beginning her father was also a cryptozoologist who abandoned their family, and she liked the region because she thought her father had done some exploring there, it was hardly mentioned again, and I would have liked to see the daughter/father connection teased out a little; it might have added to the mystery and dynamics. Also, Laura and her team were on the move - constantly. I know they spent time at the lodge, but they were always driving, boating, walking, walking here and there, somewhere. I found the constant movement distracted from the story. The descriptions could have been more colorful, but it was a pleasant read, and I plan to read the prior book to this one. Lake Crescent  is a standalone story, and the writing style was good enough to want to read more by this author.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Dundurn Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Really enjoyed this book. It was interesting. Loved the setting.  Thanks so much for letting me read it!

I had a rough start to this book but because of my interest in science I continued.  Once I got a handle on characters and got more into story I was intrigued.   There was so much going on and I thought I had it all figured out but I was wrong.  Very good story.  I feel like this would be good for young readers also.

dnf @ 22%

While the story is not horribly written, the sense of mystery and intrigue did not catch by the whip at around the time I decided to not continue. I don't mind slow burn mysteries, because 1.) they rely on characters and 2.) the setting and the atmosphere are so well-written, but for this one, I didn't find any of the characters and the atmosphere appealing to continue.

Thank you for giving me the arc, and I'm sorry for not finishing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with this book.  

This was my first read by this author, and I really enjoyed the story. I thought it it was easy to follow even though I had not read the first book in the series (I will be doing that next, however). No spoilers here, but a television crew visits Newfoundland to document the sighting of a giant eel Cressie when they find a skeleton. Commence investigation (I know you’re curious!). 

I really enjoyed the writing style in Lake Crescent! I almost felt like I was in the story and could relate to the same emotions as the characters.

I thought the ending was a little bit sudden, but overall I really enjoyed from beginning to end.

A documentary crew searching for a giant eel rumored to live in a remote harbor in Newfoundland get more than they bargained for when they discover not a long-lost creature from the deep, but a dead body. Everyone in town could be a suspect. Can the murderer be brought to the surface before it's too late?

This was a fun book. First of all, Lake Crescent is the second book in J.J. Dupuis' Creature X series with Laura Reagan as the main character. That being said, I had no problem dropping into this one without having read the first. The characters were well established and fleshed out, and although some nods to the previous book were scattered throughout Lake Crescent, they served to entice me to read that book as well without spoiling it in the process! The set up for the book series is that a documentary team is traveling around filming a tv series, Creature X, that is looking for cryptozoological creatures, commonly called cryptids. If you've seen Monster Quest on the "History" channel, you know what I'm talking about. Bigfoot, Nessie, Thunderbirds, Jackalopes, etc. I think it's a great set up. Additionally, the author has added an extra-layer to the story by having the main character following in the footsteps of her cryptid-obsessed father who abandoned she and her mother (Her mother and her? idk let's let it ride. English is a mad language anyways) to go searching for these creatures. What happened to him? Is he still out there somewhere chasing Chupacabras? Is his the body in the cove?  The missing dad definitely throws down some great Supernatural season one vibes for me. 

The book itself definitely fits into the Cozy Mystery genre with the amateur detective and small town cast of characters. The scientific aspect of the actual hunt for the giant eel said to live in the cove broke up some of the normal features of going around town to talk to the varied villagers, and was enjoyable to me. The "Big Reveal" at the end was very well done and kept me leaning a couple different ways until the final trigger was pulled. A definite recommendation to fans of the genre who might like a little more science sprinkled on the top. Or who also enjoy a good cryptid hunt. The last several years of U.S. politics have ruined the fun of basically all the old standby conspiracy theories, so a good giant eel or Bigfoot hunt helps remind one of gentler, more pleasant times. That being said, I'll definitely be getting my hands on the first book, Roanoke Ridge, and keep my eyes open for the series as it continues. Jolly good show. 

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF 15 percent.

I feel conflicted. The book was fine, I guess. But it didn't stand out. It's hard to say if it's just me, because I think there are people who will really like this.

The problem I had was that although the prologue was really interesting, the first few chapters took a step back, and I wasn't that gripped by it. I read in other reviews that it does pick up, so I'll try it again closer to the release, as I think if I can get into it again I may enjoy it.

I also found that the characters didn't stand out much either. But they also weren't bad.

All in all, it was a steady book that I think some people will enjoy, but it wasn't for me.

Laura Reagan is a cryptozoologist who takes a team of scientists, students and film crew to the shores of Newfoundland in search of Cressie, a famous or mythical giant eel believed to be living in the depths of Lake Crescent.
The “out of towners” are made to feel welcome in the small community, growing fond of a number of the locals they have been meeting with interviewing for the upcoming film special.
When a woman’s body wrapped in a tarp with antique Portuguese coins turn up during one of the crews sessions on the lake, Laura and a few on her team find themselves thrust into a mystery of a different kind. Suddenly it seems everyone in the little town of Robert’s Arms has a secret to hide. Laura is determined to find out more about the body but in doing so, she puts a target on her back.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars

I had a rough time reading this book not because it lacked an interesting plot, it was me being struggling to read too many books in a short period of time. This double mystery-solving novel has some gripping storylines, though. 
Honestly, it has been an "on & off" reading, the mystery-solving case was cliché at some times, all culminating with an abrupt and not at all surprising ending. 
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved the location of the story and the characters were richly described and true to the area.  A fun, easy read with just the right amount of mystery to keep me intrigued.  Fully invested in the storyline right from the beginning.  Would love to read more of this series.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #Dundurn Press for providing me with this book.  

No spoilers here.  You just have to read it yourself.

The book doesn't start as a mystery more as an adventure story... instead of looking for the monster of Loch Ness it is Cressie here in New Foundland. Different setting, BUT with its mysteries, an unexpected dead body, an unexpected murder and more unexpected people.

as a mystery it reads easily, not difficult to follow at all. I read it in a just a few days and it gets you hooked more and more..... a "whodunit"!!!

This was a fun read and a pleasant twist on the cozy mystery. Light on the cryptozoology but a strong story anyways. I would be inclined to read more of the series.

Searching for the infamous giant eel at Lake Crescent but only greeted by a dead body. Just
this idea alone already made a great story. But when the locals add up some different stories,
then you`ll know that this is misery loves company kind of town.

Cressie is the name of the giant eel that the team of Laura Reagan is looking for. The locals
chose that name. They even offer the team of Laura to examine the body of the giant eel they
caught. Knowing that it is a scam they still insist on doing so, for that can be also used for the
documentary. Now, they sail to find the real one but little did they knew that what they caught
was a bigger mystery than the giant eel. They found a dead body! Laura knew that this is big
news and needs a proper explanation. The team now go on an investigation, triggering events
that some are decades old. From different local stories to love affairs and even pirates treasure.
They eventually knew how legends were passed from generations. This story had a few more
characters but they were kind of not introduced properly. Nonetheless, the story had a nice build
to the plot. And I could not ask for more. Well, honestly speaking I want more for the mysteries
this little town had given was way bigger than them and just waiting to be untold.

This one is easy to recommend to mystery seekers. And I doubt that they would never love this.
For this is a well-written story. One that satisfies its readers.

Cryptozoology… what? Just the term got me hooked, I did not read the first book, but had no problem diving into book 2. Laura Reagan is a host for the “Creature X” TV series. Laura and crew set out to Newfoundland to search for “Cressie” a giant eel that is supposed to live in Crescent Lake. While searching the team finds a body, and with it comes a 2nd search, who is it and how did the body end up in the lake … 
The book is very well researched, and I was glad to see some of the typical Newfoundland sayings come up in conversation, including translations. I have book 1 on my list to read, and look forward to book 3
Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the chance to read an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Though the second in the series, this is my first read written by J. J. Dupuis.  Cryptozoology fascinates me (I'm a water creature lover!) and was not disappointed in the bits of science and legend presented here.  Cressie, the legendary lake monster in Lake Crescent, Newfoundland, has made appearances dozens of times throughout history.  

Laura is drawn to this legend and has a personal quest as well.  She is the team leader of a cable TV show which flies to NFLD to film locals tell their stories and hopefully catch a glimpse of a huge eel, the width of an adult's thigh.  Not only that but there are also rumblings of holes appearing in the ice during winter.  Laura and her team go about their business, interviewing and filming, and are at hand when a discovery is made, one of which they had not expected.  This discovery adds layers of mystery to the expedition.  There are a few back stories involving the team members as well.  We are privy to snippets of their inter-relationships and their dealings with the locals.  There is even a great food description which is enjoyable.  

My favourite aspects of this book are the suspense (though not a psychological thriller level of suspense) and plot.  I feel the characters aren't explored as much as I would like but that's a personal view.  The chapter headings are also revealing.  When on a Loch Ness boat ride in Scotland I fervently hoped for a Nessie sighting, whilst knowing full well it wouldn't happen.  Still, legends are fun to read about and leave one wondering...what if?

Intrigued by myths and legends swirling with mystery?  Do read this.  I look forward to the next book in this series.

My sincere thank you to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this interesting book in exchange as an honest review.  Much appreciated.

Call me superficial, but what attracted me to this book was its cover. What a superb piece of cover artwork! Dark, mysterious, and a ripple on the lake to imply something nasty lurking beneath the surface.

The blurb is roughly this: a TV crew turn up in a remote part of Newfoundland (yeah, okay, already a remote part of Canada) to make a documentary about Cressie, the giant eel said to inhabit the eponymous lake. Immersed in a small town of slightly off-beat characters, the filming progresses until they uncover a cold-case murder.

Like any whodunnit, :Lake Crescent offers a spectrum of characters in closed community. Unlike the doyen of the form (Agatha Christie - who else!) whose detectives always operated alone, Dupuis gives us more of a Scooby-Doo group with its own dynamics, rivalries and friendships. This did give the novel better texture, but by the same token, for a relatively short work, there were too many characters to keep track of. To put it another way, the group dynamics distracted from trying work out what had happened and who was the bad guy.

The other slight disappointment was the sense of place. Here's their arrival:

We took Highway 360 around Halls Bay, one of the many fingers of the Atlantic that held Newfoundland in its grasp. Aside from the powerlines that ran parallel to the highway, only the mouth of the odd gravel driveway reminded us that we weren't the only people on this part of the island. There were patches where the shrubbery thinned out and the evergreen trees stood like fenceposts, holding back the untamed wilderness. The road curved and we came to a bridge that spanned a river. A shrub-covered mountain filled the passenger window. The odd car began to appear on the horizon...

This is all well and good as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. Where are the colours, where is the wind, the temperature and the smells? Is the sun a burning disc in the sky, or a white shadow on the horizon? What of the river? Rapids or a gentle burble?

There were places where the dialogue came across as stilted. This is someone speaking:

"To be honest, I didn't really like you at first. You humiliated me that first night we met. But I knew you were smart. I knew you were going to make something of yourself. Then I heard about the stand you took. That was brave. I thought to myself, I need a smart and brave woman like that on my team...."

As an internal monologue, I have no issues with that. But for one character to say it to another?

Another let down was the creature itself. Laura, the leader of the band, is a cryptozoologist, and the creatures she seeks in this book are eels. We find one: a massive, seven-foot long conger eel. Other than being long and thin, I have no idea what such a creature looks like - are its teeth sharp, what colour is it, what do its eyes look like? - and the story left me none the wiser.

Now, this is a whodunnit, not a travel guide or a biology treatise, and as such it reads well and has sufficient action and vivid enough characters to sustain the tension until the end. There's a nice strain of black humour, and a couple of outright jokes. All in all, a fun, if somewhat underwritten read.

Laura Reagan is a Cryptozoologist that hosts a TV series named Creature X.
She and her crew set out to Crescent Lake in Newfoundland to film her latest documentary as they search for “Cressie” a gigantic eel said to be living in Crescent Lake.  “Cressie” has been described by locals to be as large as a human thigh.  Evidence of actual sightings is sketchy at best. When a local declares he has caught the legendary eel and offers to allow Laura and crew to examine it for a fee of $5,000 they realize they have been duped.  In spite of knowing that the local is trying to pull a fast one on them, Laura decides to play along. She and her crew sail out to the location that the eel had supposedly been caught. As they dredge the waters what they discover is not an eel breeding ground but a human skeleton wrapped in a tarp.  Thus begins an investigation into the mystery to discover who the person had been and what secrets were buried with the murdered victim.  I found the first 1/3 of the book to be a bit slow.  As the mystery unfolds, the pace for the remaining 2/3 of the book made up for it.

3 Star
Lake Crescent is the second in the Creature X series, following Roanoke Ridge. 

A cryptozoologist and her tv documentary series crew visit Lake Crescent, Newfoundland, Canada in search of the infamous giant eel, Cressie. While pulling up their ROV from the brackish water after a day of underwater exploration, they pull up a female skeleton as well. Thus, an investigation opens up involving small town rumours, pirate treasure, and love triangles. What is this tight knit town hiding? What is the truth about Cressie? Who is the killer? The tv crew get to work figuring out the truth to a decades long disappearance. 

This brought me back to my childhood creature-loving days. I was interested in this piece of Canadian folklore as I have never heard of it before. This is a very Scooby-Doo style story; a basic whodunnit featuring a creature and a bad guy. The first half of the book was a little boring, but it sped up and the end was more exciting. I felt that the characters were a little flat and there were some cheesy similes, but it was full of aquatic knowledge and excerpts (at the beginning of each chapter) of real life Cressie publications. Overall, this will be a decent beach read that will crawl under your skin just enough while you’re out camping by the lake-- considering the publication is set for August 2021. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review