This was a really fun and different start to a new cozy mystery series featuring bookstore owner/cryptozoologist Morgan Carter!!!

What I loved:
- the pet sidekick
- the bookstore/curiousity shop
- the side characters and
- the unusualness of the female protagonists' side job as a cryptozoologist (expert in 'cryptids' - mythological/fantastical creatures people don't believe are real).

I also really enjoyed the chemistry between Morgan and Police Chief Jon Flanders as they work together to solve a mysterious death in Door County. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I'm excited for the next book in this series!!

One of the most unique cozy mysteries I've read. Enjoyed the quirky setting around a cryptid researcher.

This book was so fun. I really enjoyed how vibrant many of the characters are and how their stories worked together. The way the cryptic storyline played out was interesting and not what I expected. I do wish there were parts of Morgan's past that had been explained a little further, or wrapped up a bit more, but considering that this is a series, I expect there will be more info in later books. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next one!

When I first read the synopsis for ‘A Death in Door County,’ I was super excited to see what it was all about—a mystery set in Door County, one of my favorite spots to visit in my home state, with a touch of cryptozoology mixed in—what could be better? It sounded great, and I dove into it with an open mind, intrigued to see where the story would go and if the author would actually try to make something like a Loch Ness monster real in today’s age of mass surveillance. While the book didn’t quite reach the lofty expectations I had for it, it was still solid nonetheless, and it would make an excellent addition to anyone’s book collection or library.

The story is pretty simple—Morgan Carter, daughter of a deceased shipping magnate, owns an eccentric store in Door County, WI called Odds and Ends. She’s known around the area for being interested in the macabre and unusual, and a detective arrives at her store one day asking for her help in the weird deaths of two men, both of whom were found washed up on shore with strange bite patterns on their bodies. Could this be a case of a real-life lake monster, or are there other sinister actors at work? Were these deaths accidental, or could the two men have been murdered?

Over the course of the rest of the book, readers get filled in on Morgan’s backstory (one that’s extremely dark and tragic at times), the two individuals she employs at her store, the dog she adopted when he wandered onto her property one day, and the detective himself, Jon Flanders, who partially develops into a love interest. Mixed in with the extensive character building is the actual plot itself, which sees Morgan and Jon following all leads and clues that unfold in the days after Flanders hires Morgan to help him crack the case. The book ends in a way that perfectly sets the rest of the series up, as this is the first in a planned multi-book series, and it was good enough that I will definitely be reading the others as they’re published.

There were a few elements to the novel though that brought the book down from a four- or five-star to a three-and-a-half. The pacing is choppy at points, and it drags in the middle. Readers are often told the physical movements of every character, including Newt, Morgan’s dog, to the point where it became excessive, and we get extensive background information through info dumps, with some of it worked into conversations and others just given to us via Morgan’s thoughts. There are whole chapters that are just the history of Morgan’s family, and they slow the pace down compared to the chapters where action and dialogue occur. There are also plot threads left generally unresolved, such as the fate of Morgan’s ex-fiancé or the relationship between Morgan and Flanders, that I hope are answered in coming books in the series. The writing itself can also be a little stilted and basic—for example, on the first page of the novel, two adjectives and two verbs are used in the same paragraph in succeeding sentences, which shows that either the book needed an editor who had a closer eye on its prose, or Ryan needs to expand her vocabulary. This continues throughout, and it got to the point where the reoccurrence of words within the same paragraph pulled me a bit out of the story.

And, the thing that kept bothering me after I finished the book and put it down was that, even though the novel is set in Door County, and the locale of Door County and all its islands and bays are central to the story itself, I never got a full picture and feel of Door County as a whole. In some books where setting is key to the story, the location is another character in and of itself, such as books that are set in Key West or Louisiana or the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. The settings alter the trajectory of the story, and we see characters interacting with their various cultures and people and scenery. That doesn’t really occur in this novel, and I feel like it’s a needed improvement as the series moves forward. Instead of just naming various islands and bays and little towns spread throughout Door County, the setting has to become more distinct and individualized—right now, everything seems to meld together into one amorphous ‘Door County.’ If you’ve ever been to Door County in real life, you know that each of the islands that surround the peninsula, the various parks, and all the small towns spread throughout it have their own distinct flavors and attitudes. As I read through this novel, they all seemed to be one ‘place,’ with Sister Bay and Baileys Harbor and Washington Island seemingly being the same setting despite their geographical and cultural differences. Now, if I’m being honest here, I might be a little biased—I live in Milwaukee and grew up in the area, and I have visited Door County many times over the years, exploring every small city and town and bay of the peninsula for the most part. Door County, in other words, holds a very special place in my heart, which is one of the reasons I was so excited to read this. If I hadn’t been there prior to reading this novel, maybe I wouldn’t have the strong feelings about the lack of distinctive setting/world-building within this story, but it was hard for me by the time I got to the end and realized there didn’t seem to be much characterization of the peninsula and surrounding islands themselves.

At the end of the day though, the story is strong enough to carry the novel through its weaker parts, and the setting of Door County, Morgan’s store, and her individual world has more than enough intrigue to keep readers satisfied and wanting to come back for more. I look forward to the next books in this series, and, hopefully, the world of Morgan Carter continues to flesh out as the series progresses.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Annelise Ryan for the digital ARC of 'A Death in Door County' in exchange for an honest review.

As a regular visitor of Door County, I was so excited for this mystery! And I was not disappointed. You don't have to know Door County to enjoy this story, but I loved the sense of place that Ryan created. Highly recommend!

There are so many appealing elements to this story -- Morgan, the main character, is a monster hunter. That is, she specializes in monsters that may or may not be real (think Loch Ness Monster, for example). To pay the bills, she runs a bookstore in Door County, Wisconsin, which, if you are not familiar, is a beautiful natural area of northern Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. So -- incredibly appealing character, an offbeat, fascinating hobby, a bookstore, and a spectacular Lake Michigan setting. Of course, there's a mystery when bodies start turning up on the shores of the lake, and Morgan is just the one to solve it. Great book, I really look forward to recommending this one.

Come for the cryptids, stay for the setting. The mystery wasn't too hard to solve, but I'm intrigued by the main character.

This novel had a promising premise and a beautiful plot setting. Door County is 3 hours from me and we just recently were there for a visit so I was very curious about this book!!

This book sits well in the cozy mystery genre. Morgan Carter has an unusual bookstore that carries so much more – collectibles of all kinds leaning strongly towards remains gathered from Lake Michigan. Morgan is a cryptozoologist and was brought up traveling with her parents looking for the ever evasive Loch Ness monster and others.

When there are a number of animal and human remains found with unusual bite markings, Morgan is the one to ask!! That is exactly what Washington Island police chief Jon Sanders does.

Together Morgan and Jon will work through lots of twists and strange occurrences to find the answer to the riddle of who or what killed these visitors to Death’s Door. That is the name given to the area of the lake where the waters of Green Bay meet those of Lake Michigan. Many ships had gone down in this area in the earlier days of commerce and travel.

PROS:
*Beautiful setting with some great descriptions of the lake and surrounding cliffs and forested areas.
*A look into what exactly a cryptozoologist does.
*Interesting characters well described, interesting and relatable.

CONS:
*Overly descriptive and wordy – I didn’t need to know every time the dog needed to go outside!
*Pace – the pace is slow and only picks up towards the end of the book, obviously the most exciting part
*Early red herrings led me to untangle the mystery two thirds of the way through the book. At that point I just wanted to get to the exciting part!!

I think this book would have benefited from better editing and a more tightly plotted story. That said, this was still an enjoyable and entertaining cozy mystery.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, Berkeley, through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this novel.

A Death in Door County: A Monster Hunter Mystery
By Annelise Ryan
Berkley
September 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

The Odds and Ends bookstore of Door County, Wisconsin, is not your average bookstore. While it does house books of special interest for Lake Michigan its local fishing, it also houses a skull collection, cow stomach hair balls, and an actual dummy. Owner Morgan Carter is a cryptozoologist specializing in the tracking of cryptids, those mythological creatures like Bigfoot and Yetis who have never actually been proven to exist. It is that particular specialty that has brought Police Chief Jon Flanders to her store, as he and town bigwigs have a mystery they need solving. The body of a man who had gone fishing for salmon at Death’s Door has been discovered with very odd markings resembling huge bite marks, and they need to know if it has anything to do with a possible Loch Ness Monster. That Morgan is a skeptic despite her passion only makes her inclusion more credible to the officials, as she is willing to rule out the fakes and scams while still hoping to find evidence of an actual living monster. Or dinosaur. Or really big eel.

Morgan he has a rather suspicious view of law enforcement, which shouldn’t be surprising even if she wasn’t someone whose business centers around the mythological and creepy. Morgan blames herself for falling for and becoming engaged to a man whose identity was entirely fabricated and who completely disappeared after the murder of her parents. His deception was so well crafted that police suspected Morgan of killing her own parents and making up a fiancé in order to throw off the investigation, and it’s a shadow that continues to give her nightmares. Flanders’ respect for her thoroughness and unusually high-tech equipment has them getting along surprisingly well, with sparks of attraction igniting just as the investigation heats up. The discovery of another body bearing what seem to be bite marks resembling the first victim has Morgan and Flanders racing against the clock as the media circles and other hunters descend. Knowing all too well the dark side of humans and their ability to deceive, Morgan continues to investigate the lives of the dead men and what may have tied them together.

This first of a new series quickly introduces readers into the world of cryptid-hunting and monster lore, creating a fascinating and very original setting for future investigations. The creator of the Mack’s Bar and the Mattie Winston medicolegal investigator series gives Morgan a sharp wit and dry sense humor, often showing a dark edge appropriate to her tragic history. The developing relationship between Flanders and Morgan is thoroughly enjoyable, especially considering that despite their differences they respect the other’s professionalism and intelligence. The plot progresses smoothly and builds tension as Morgan continues to put together the pieces of the puzzle, working up to a conclusion that is both logical and satisfying. This is the start of yet another entertaining series by one of my favorite authors, one whose background in the medical field adds a unique perspective along with the wisdom of one who has seen both the miracles of life and the tragedies of death.

A bit clunky but a fun premise. I'd probably read another in the series as cryptozoology is interesting to me. 3.5 stars

Perfect midwest read for anyone who loves the Great Lakes, legends, cozy mysteries, and dogs! Loved all the lake knowledge incorporated in the story. Love the quirky nature of the story and protagonist.

Bookstore owner and crytozoologist, Morgan Carter, is working hard to make her store a success. She took it over after her parents brutally lost their lives.

When a couple of dead bodies turn up in Lake Michigan, Morgan is asked to put her crytozoologist knowledge to good use and help the local police find a killer. The bodies have animal bites which leads the police to thinking it could be from the Loch Ness Monster. Morgan is not buying the Loch Ness Monster theory, but she’s determined to join in the search and figure it out.

With the help of her adorable dog, Newt, Morgan begins a search into dangerous territory. Although the local police chief hires her to help, they certainly don’t want her in harm’s way.

Morgan is a strong character who doesn’t back down from a challenge. I adored the devotion between Morgan and her canine pal, Newt. There’s a touch of romance hinted at with the local police chief, but basically this is a traditional mystery.

It started a bit on the slow side for me, but then the story took off. I couldn’t stop reading. It’s an engrossing, captivating tale. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style and will check out her backlist. I think I have a few already on my e-reader.

Overall, this is a good start to an exciting new mystery series.







FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.
A Death in Door County is a new cozy mystery from author Annalise Ryan debuting Morgan Carter as our sleuthing protagonist. Morgan is a cryptozoologist in Wisconsin who is brought on to a local police investigation when signs of a potential lake monster can’t be ignored.
This novel was a fantastic read that was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Unlike the standard cozy mystery formula our protagonist is brought in by the police, if a bit under the table, to help them figure out of there is a lake monster in the Great Lakes, however Morgan does end up doing a bit more than just looking for signs of a local Nessie. The plot twists kept coming through out the novel keeping me invested. The characters were all well flushed out and I found myself caring for them greatly – especially when the danger got high. Overall, a fantastic start to a new cozy mystery series.

This isn't the type of book I would usually pick up but I was intrigued by the premise of cryptids and appreciated the tone of a skeptic who still wonders what could be out there undiscovered. It reads like a quirky cozy mystery but with a nice twist at the end. It was an entertaining mystery and it kept me wondering if the creature is real or if something else was going on... The history with Morgan's parents seemed unrelated and I wasn't sure what it really had to do with the plot, but it didn't hinder the story overall.

I'm pretty straight forward when it comes to my cozies. I don't mind an occasional ghost or two but much more than that an I'm usually out. Because of that I almost passed on this one. I'm so glad I didn't because it was an absolute delight!

I love Morgan as a main character and Newt is a delight as a doggy side kick. The Odds and Ends store is incredibly intriguing and her back story is both incredibly sad but also leaves space for a mystery to resurface later. Devon and Rita are her two store employees and make a great team both as investigative and personal support. I also liked Jon. While he and Morgan have very different professions they are both open minded and logical investigators and I enjoyed how they worked together.

I flew through this mystery and enjoyed every moment of it. I loved the characters, was completely wrapped in the plot and was sorry to get to the last page. I'm already looking forward to the next book!

I had high hopes for “A Death in Door County” — and it totally delivered 🦕🛶⁣
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I was drawn in by the zany description of this book: A Wisconsin bookstore owner and cryptozoologist is asked to investigate a series of deaths in Lake Michigan that could be the work of a lake monster. ⁣
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⁣After my initial excitement for this book, I was apprehensive. I’m very picky about quirky books. Sometimes it really works for me, and many times, it just does not. But this story was so wonderfully told — the main character, Morgan, and her beloved rescue dog Newt, are the best team ever. Morgan has a really intriguing backstory, and all of the characters are so well created, they feel like real people. If the idea of a monster hunting mystery sounds like a fun read to you, give this one a try!

As a reader from Wisconsin, I was obligated to read this one, and fortunately it's a nice addition to the locally set cozy contingent. Featuring wealthy cryptozoologist Morgan, who owns a combo bookstore/macabre odds and ends store and takes on freelance clients as she chooses, it's definitely a unique background within the genre. It leaves some really great potential for future stories in the series, while being a solid first, standalone mystery that might have me never going out on a Great Lake again.
There was one moment that really bothered me, when Morgan asks an abused woman point blank "Why don't you just leave?". This character ends up being important to the plot. In the end, Morgan does actually provide the resources for the woman to do just that. It's honestly basically a throwaway line in the book and the discussion moves on quickly from that, but it's a thoughtless addition to an o

I enjoyed this book! It took me a bit to really get into the story but once I did I flew through it. I liked Morgan and thought that her strange little store was rather interesting. The fact that the book dealt with cryptozoology was a huge draw for me and I wondered if a sea monster could really be behind the recent deaths that Morgan is investigating.

This book was a solid start to a promising new series. Morgan owns a bookstore that not only sells books but also an assortment of strange items. Because of her knowledge as a cryptozoologist, she is asked to help on a case by the local police chief, Jon Flanders. There have been a couple of deaths where the victims appear to have been bitten by a large animal and some are wondering if a lake monster is responsible.

I really liked the characters in this book. Morgan was easy to like and Her backstory grabbed my attention right away. I was eager to learn more about the things that had happened in her life. Jon was equally likable. He was patient with Morgan even when she crossed lines in her investigation. I liked the budding romance between the pair and hope to see that further explored in future installments. Morgan’s dog, Newt, was her constant companion in this story. I love how fleshed out the dog’s character was and how important he was to Morgan.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very entertaining mystery that kept me guessing throughout the book. The characters were the best part of the book for me. I cannot wait to read more of this promising new series.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

What lies deep in the waters of the Great Lakes? Could there be a monster or two? Morgan Carter is determined to find out. Her hobby is hunting cryptids—creatures whose existence is rumored but never proven to be real.

Police Chief Jon Flanders has learned of Morgan’s hobby and has asked her for help when bodies, human and animal, have washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan with unusual bites from an unknown animal. Morgan cannot turn the man down so she and her rescue dog, Newt take on the case of the “monster” in the Death’s Door strait. Will they survive or be the next victims of the monster lurking beneath the surface?

As a Wisconsin resident and a fan of Annelise Ryan, I was not sure where she was going with the Monster Hunter theme but was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this story.

Morgan Carter is a unique protagonist that has a sad backstory, her parents were killed a couple of years ago, an unusual hobby, hunting cryptids, and is the owner of the Odds and Ends bookstore which is filled with some really peculiar items. She is smart and driven especially when she is on a hunt. Her best friend is her rescue dog Newt. He goes along with her everywhere she goes. We also meet Police Chief Jon Flanders. He also has a painful past. Morgan’s employees, Devon and Rita, bring a lot to this story too. All these characters are well-developed, especially for the first book in the series.

The mystery was captivating. The weather on the lake was haunting most of the time. The search really drew me in. So much so that I physically jumped back in my seat more than once. Ms. Ryan paced the entire story perfectly. Near the end, I finally had some clues fall into place but I loved the final reveal. When I turned the last page I felt like I had been on a real adventure.

Setting this book in Door County was fun. I recognized the places Morgan traveled and those I was unfamiliar with were described perfectly to create the images in my mind.

The author adds some worthy themes into this story, like building trust and coping with past traumatic events. She also made the idea of cryptids actually believable, even though I have lived here my whole life and never heard of any such thing in any of the Great Lakes. The truth is you never know what you may find in those waters. Hear my diabolical laugh here.

A Death in Door County was a Perfect Escape. Ms. Ryan has given this series a great start. I am eager to see where she takes her characters next.

Author Annelise Ryan has infused her latest book, A Death in Door County , with unique characters, danger, and suspense. This cozy mystery with a twist features Odds and Ends bookstore owner and cryptozoologist Morgan Carter and is set in Door County, Wisconsin. This is the first book in the Monster Hunter Mystery series.

When human and animal bodies are found onshore over the course of a few months with unusual bite marks, Washington Island police chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help. While Morgan is a skeptic, the thrill of hunting cryptids (creatures whose existence is rumored, but never proven real) has her accepting the job. She and her dog, Newt, along with Jon, her employees Rita and Devon, and a variety of others embark on a journey to determine who or what the killer is.
Morgan has unusual tastes in items for her shop. It’s not just a mystery bookstore, but contains odd and obscure items too. She has degrees in biology and zoology, with minors in religion and mysticism and loves exploring the plausible existability of mythical creatures. Both she and Jon are likeable characters, but both have some secrets. Morgan also has trust issues that affect new relationships. Both care about others and want to give back to those in need.

This book has a solid plot with some twists and turns, an unusual mystery to solve, and a unique sleuth working with the police. When you add in the search for a potential lake creature from legends and myths, great atmosphere and world-building, lots of suspense, and a bit of romance, you have a winner. The geographical details of the setting added to the atmosphere of the story. My one quibble is that the pace occasionally slowed down.

This novel is creative and exciting, and it will keep readers guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. The people in the story came to life and Lake Michigan almost became another character. Themes include friendship, loyalty, trust, betrayal, attraction, greed, domestic abuse, death, grief, helping others, and much more. The author’s note at the end of the book tells how her novel plays with factual history.

Overall, this intriguing mystery has great characters and danger, as well as intense moments and action that kept me turning the pages. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries with unique characters and a subplot of a budding romance will likely enjoy this book, as well as those that enjoy the unusual. This is an excellent start to the series.

Berkley Publishing Group and Annelise Ryan provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for September 13, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.