Annelise Ryan

Annelise Ryan's latest release, "Death in the Dark Woods," falls tragically short of the promises made by its marketing. In my many years of avid reading, I've encountered my fair share of letdowns, but this one takes the cake. The anticipation built around a tale of mystery and horror is shattered by an inexplicably lazy conclusion to the Bigfoot storyline.

The marketing led me to expect a spine-chilling and enigmatic experience, but reality couldn't be more different. The unraveling of the show more Bigfoot mystery, a focal point of the narrative, is shockingly simplistic. A single Google search is all it took to expose the frailty of the plot, leaving me utterly disappointed with the lack of depth and creativity.

The author's attempt to resolve the central mystery is where the narrative truly falters. The introduction of escaped chimpanzees as a resolution feels like a desperate grasp at straws. The sudden inclusion of chimpanzees in the woods of Wisconsin during winter is not only implausible but also absurd. As a Wisconsin resident who barely survives the harsh winters, the idea of escaped chimps thriving in a national forest for over 50 years is downright ludicrous.

The sheer disbelief I felt at this narrative twist left me questioning the author's motives. Why choose such an outlandish resolution to a plot that held so much potential? The disconnect between the expected and the delivered narrative is baffling, and I am left perplexed as to why such a creative misstep was taken.

The frustration stems from the apparent lack of consideration for reader intelligence and the abandonment of a promising premise. The question of "Why?" lingers, and it's a query that remains unanswered, further adding to the dissatisfaction.

Living in Wisconsin, I hoped for a story that would resonate with the local landscape and weather. Instead, "Death in the Dark Woods" veers off into the realm of implausible fantasy, leaving me wondering why such a departure was deemed necessary.

In conclusion, I cannot bring myself to recommend this book. Annelise Ryan's "Death in the Dark Woods" is a testament to wasted potential, with a conclusion that defies reason and leaves readers with more questions than answers. Instead of a satisfying mystery, we are served an absurd narrative that crumbles under even the slightest scrutiny. Consider this a warning to those expecting a captivating and logical tale – steer clear of this disappointment. show less

Ok this was grittier than I’ve experienced most cozy mysteries to be, but apparently this is supposed to be a cozy; so either it’s been a while for me or this is a new breed. I liked Morgan’s background (minus her horrific backstory of being parentless—I’m assuming that will come back in future books) as a “monster hunter” as well as her faithful sidekick Newt (seriously dog of the year here). Mostly I wanted to learn more about Door County and all the islands as I’ve never show more been but fell in love with them when I read a LaVyrle Spencer thirty years ago; I honestly can’t believe there wasn’t a freaking map here as it would have helped considering how much exposition was going on. show less

Police Chief Jon Flanders comes to Morgan Carter to hire her because he has a problem. There have been some strange deaths both human and animal that look to be caused by some sort of large, unknown creature.

Morgan is a cryptozoologist who also runs an eccentric bookstore in Door County, Wisconsin. She is a professional skeptic who searches for cryptids despite not being at all sure she believes in them. Morgan takes the job. She and Jon and Morgan's rescue dog Newt begin to investigate show more what is going on near the strait known as Death's Door.

The story was action packed, and information packed too. I learned a lot about cryptids and the numerous shipwrecks that litter the lake bottom near Door County. Morgan is an interesting character who is wary of human relationships especially romantic relationships. She recently lost her parents who were murdered. She was briefly accused of the crime since she couldn't convince the cops that her boyfriend was the likely suspect. He was romancing Morgan for her substantial riches and, it turns out, flying under an assumed name and identity.

This was a fun story that is the first in a series. show less

This was entertaining! I enjoyed the first book in this series so I was eager to pick up this installment. I love a good mystery and the fact that these mysteries deal with possible cryptid situations only added to the appeal. I was hooked by this mystery early in the story and couldn’t wait to see if Bigfoot was really what was responsible for the murders in the small Wisconsin town asking Morgan for her help.

Morgan is called to help out on a case once again, but this time she is looking show more for Bigfoot. I have to admit that I kind of wanted to see her find the creature but I like that she tends to look for other possible explanations. I enjoyed Morgan’s approach to investigation and was impressed that the story kept me guessing until the very end. The fact that Morgan always has her dog, Newt, with her only adds to the appeal of this story.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Susan Bennett did a wonderful job with the story. I liked the various voices that she used in the narration of this story and thought that she brought a lot of life to the story through her reading. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no problems listening to this book for hours at a stretch. I am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of this book.

I would recommend this book to others. This book could work as a stand-alone since the mystery is contained in this volume but I would recommend reading the series in order if possible. I found this installment to be very entertaining and must admit that I liked it a bit more than the first book. I was very satisfied with how things worked out in the end and look forward to the next installment.

I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio. show less