Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend and I can’t wait to buy a copy for myself 🙂

Rating 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A nicely done mystery that gives this reader vibes of The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys. Sam is new to Hobtown, only at the High School because his father is among 6 men missing in the area. He falls in with Dana Nance and her Junior Detective Club as they try to figure out what is going on in town. Their search becomes dangerous when folks are attacked and the school cook is murdered while the adults in town seem to ignore what is going on while prattling about how bad it had been in various earlier times when similar events occurred. And then little men appear to be seen only by certain club members. The case is eventually solved, but not resolved leading to sequels! I enjoyed the spare artwork and how the artist used the landscape and a few lines to set the mood of this piece.

Thanks Netgalley and Oni Press for the chance to read this title!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion. I was so drawn into this graphic novel by the cover, the art style reminded me of classic pulp fiction novel. The storyline was also giving the same type of vibe, I've seen the story compared to The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew and I so agree. I CANNOT wait to see where this story goes, the end definitely left me anticipating more! Fans of Twin Peaks are going to love this!!

If you’re looking for a darker version of Nancy Drew then look no further. Men have been disappearing in the small town of Hobtown, and teen sleuths are on the case.

This graphic novel didn’t have my favourite artwork but kept me interested enough. It’s a nice blend of mystery/ horror and I liked the characters. The plot was confusing at times. However, that could be the change from novel to graphic novel- maybe if I had read the book previously I’d have liked this more. Nonetheless I was invested. I needed to know what happened and while I wish I had gotten more succinct answers I don’t regret reading this. The characters were fleshed out well and I like their scooby-Doo like friendships.

All in all, it wasn’t my favourite but I’d read volume 2. It’s a quick read for any horror/ mystery lover.

*Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Entertaining enough but I felt like the story lacked some flow and was confusing at times. Probably wouldn't go out of my way to read the next installment.

This was a strange book.

I can't say I didn't enjoy it, because between the unique art style and the curious plot, I was exceptionally motivated to keep reading it. It felt like I was being drawn faster and faster towards the ending. But while the plot was bizarrely curious, I think that this book just wasn't for me.

The mystery was mysterious only in that I (and the characters trying to solve the mystery) had no idea what was going on-- or why-- for most of the book. Even now I'm left confused as to what was really going on in Hobtown. I mean, I know what was happening with the people, and I kind of get why it was happening, but there were so many things that just showed up out of nowhere and then disappeared again, and were never fully explained.

I'm a devoted mystery novel reader, and this didn't have any aspect of the solve-ability (I invented this word, probably) that murder mysteries and whodunits usually employ. I could not have figured out the ending of this story if I had tried. I was not given nearly enough clues. And that being said, I do not believe the author intended for this to be a whodunit. This was a story about weird creatures and strange magic and the bizarreness of a (possibly cursed?) small town. I find that this book leaves me with more questions than answers, and not enough endearment to the characters for me to continue with this series. Continuation or not, I'm glad that I read this book. It was quirky, and convoluted, and I loved examining each page for all of the small details worked into the illustrations.

"Hobtown Mystery Stories, Vol. 1: The Case of Missing Men" by Kris Bertin invites readers into the peculiar world of Hobtown, a small village with a big mystery lurking beneath its charming facade. Through the eyes of the Teen Detective Club, led by the determined Dana Nance, readers are taken on a journey filled with strange occurrences, secretive societies, and the quest to unravel the truth behind a series of disappearances, including that of Sam Finch's father. The blend of ordinary teenage struggles with the extraordinary events unfolding in Hobtown creates an engaging backdrop for the central mystery, drawing readers into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

"Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 1" by Kris Bertin presents readers with a collection of interconnected tales set in the small town of Hobtown, where mysteries abound and secrets lurk around every corner. While the anthology showcases Bertin's talent for crafting atmospheric narratives, it falls short in delivering fully satisfying resolutions to its mysteries.

One of the anthology's strengths lies in its vivid portrayal of small-town life and the quirky characters that inhabit it. Bertin excels at capturing the essence of Hobtown, infusing the stories with a sense of nostalgia and whimsy that will resonate with readers. The town itself becomes a character in its own right, its streets and alleys teeming with hidden dangers and enigmatic secrets.

However, where "Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 1" falters is in its execution of the mysteries themselves. While the setup for each story is intriguing and engaging, the resolutions often feel rushed or unsatisfying. Many of the mysteries are left unresolved or are resolved in a manner that feels too convenient or contrived, leaving readers with a sense of disappointment.

Additionally, the anthology's episodic format can sometimes work against it, as certain stories feel disconnected from the overarching narrative thread. While each tale is entertaining in its own right, there is a lack of cohesion that prevents the anthology from achieving the sense of unity and purpose that is often found in the best mystery collections.

Despite these shortcomings, "Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol. 1" still offers plenty of entertainment for fans of the genre. Bertin's writing is sharp and engaging, and the stories are filled with memorable characters and intriguing plot twists. While the resolutions may not always satisfy, the journey itself is often worth the ride.

With art that's Nancy Drew Mystery Series done in the style of Archer if the artist had a penchant for freehand linework, and a storyline that could believably have been intended for the Weird Mysteries vintage pulp comics but rejected because the writer had dropped too much acid, this is a strange and unique graphic novel. Alternatively, picture a Gravity Falls episode that's rated R for violence and was illustrated by Russell Tandy, and you're starting to picture what this is all about.

I love the art style. It has an unpolished, raw feel that captures a lot of the 'imperfection' that was so common in vintage pulp novel covers. You know what I'm talking about - where the artist did a great job overall, but couldn't quite render the angle of the arms correctly, or the face feels a bit flat, or the perspective is a bit off. Somehow that makes all the more engaging and enjoyable, probably because it evokes that feeling of reading an old comic that you found forgotten in a trunk of your grandparents' attic. I'd love to read more graphic novels from this artist. Based on the credits at the back of the book, I believe this is Jason Fischer-Kouhi.

The story was a bit hard for me to follow at times. I think this is because the writers (Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes) had so many different ideas/themes/characters they wanted to include, they ended up jumping around from place to place in the process of trying to get it all in there. I recognize this because I suffer from this same tendency too when I get excited about a lot of fun, crazy ideas. I wish that an editor had helped them hone in on a few specific themes, and encouraged them to save everything else for their future books. Because all the ideas/themes/characters are good ones...there's just a whole lot of them and it's hard to keep up. (At least, it was hard for me to keep up. As always, your mileage may vary!)

Heads up: It's visually very violent, with a lot of imagery of blood, bodily injury (like fingernails being pulled off), dead bodies, people getting shot with guns/crossbows, severed limbs, animal attacks, and so forth. This all actually works well within the framework of the story but I mention it here for anyone who is particularly sensitive to such things.

This book gets an entire full additional star for the absolutely amazing map at the front. It's rendered in the style of an old map you might get when visiting a small town, complete with advertisements for local retailers around the edges. I love maps in books, and this one is one of the most creatively and enjoyably executed that I've seen in a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review. This review will be cross-posted to my social media accounts closer to the book release date.

It was an Okay read for me. I wouldn't hype it so much because I was expecting a novel. I misread the genre and I still gave it a chance. So, a three star from me.

this was a great graphic novel and enjoyed the detective element. It had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the art style for this book. It was a great start to this type of book and I can't wait to read more.

I’m having trouble finding the right words for this one. I wasn’t able to finish it by the deadline. Life happened and got in the way. It was an interesting read, though. I will finish it someday.

This book was so confusing from the beginning that you feel like nothing is ever complete. I feel like there’s so much missing that the “mystery” doesn’t even make sense.

This was a detective story told in the format of a graphic novel/comic book, following the adventures of the Teen Detective Club.

It was a very interesting change for me, as I don't read many books like this. I enjoyed it and found it quite refreshing, because I felt it encouraged me to engage with the story in a different way. It was bold, colourful, easy to read and fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I fell in love with the artwork but the story is also great!
I loved the mystery and really made you want to keep reading. Can't wait for the next volume!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the eARC of Hobtown Mystery Stories Vol.1!!

So, I decided to read this one on a whim, to help out my teen librarian (I am her graphic novel guinea pig). I really didn't know what to expect going in to this one, but I was honestly surprised. It has this old school mystery feel to it (Nancy Drew Vibes), with this supernatural, magical feel to it. The illustrations add something to it, that just keep you hooked.

I read this in one sitting, which is something I don't often do. Safe to say I really enjoyed this one. I would definitely recommend this one for some of the teens at our library, and I think this would do well for teens during outreach at our local high school. Though I would definitely be mindful, with some of the imagery within this one.

My only issue was the beginning, it felt as though characters were flung at you. It wasn't a slow introduction to them, though it clearly didn't stop me from enjoying this graphic novel. After the initial intro, everything fell into place perfectly.

4.5/5

I wanted to love this but I was too confused by the beginning - so many characters getting introduced in such a short period of time with no way to really hold on to who they are.

Reminiscent of classic mysteries like Nancy Drew with a twist, The Case of the Missing Men delivers a heavy dose of nostalgia with the artwork and the “teens cracking adult mysteries” plot. The teens of this story take on a darker mystery than my beloved Nancy Drew as a string of disappearances plague their small town. It was charmingly creepy and suspenseful. I liked the characters and felt they were well fleshed out, but at times the plot felt scattered for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I must admit, after a stressful workday, as an adult this book captured my imagination and took my mind off of more boring matters.

I read it slowly, going back from other mysteries and suspense novels, although I I kept returning to this book, until I finished it.

I enjoyed all aspects of this odd story of a town plagued by nefarious enemies, very close at home and their mind-control experiments. I found this to be a fun, updated sort of Nancy Drew, Scooby-Doo, teenage heros solving small time, and this time BIG TIME, local mysteries plaguing their community.

I found the graphics, dialogue, storyline and the way the book was presented, in a comic book style all equally appealing.

I will look for more graphic novels (read fancy comic/mystery books) from this author, an enthusiastic 5 stars from this reader!

✨What attracted me to read this comic?
Teen detectives solving a mystery in their small village, told in graphic novel form.

✨My thoughts?
In general, I really like this novel. The overall case, the horror and supernatural elements, and especially the friendship between teens. The choices of illustration styles and colour palettes are also nice, in my opinion.

✨Why not 5 stars?
For me, I can see there are some parts that are quite choppy, like it is not described or hinted well, or, it has some pacing issue. There are some parts that got me confused like, when that happened, I didn’t realize it. There are also uses of derogatory remarks, I know this story is set in the mid-1990s but the use may cause discomfort to some readers.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐

Thank you Oni Press and NetGalley for this ARC! This review was voluntarily written by me. This graphic novel is to be published on 23 April 2024.