A Death in Door County

August 1, 2022
An outdoor paradise turns deadly. Door County, along Lake Michigan, offers recreational boaters and sport fishers a "tiny slice of bliss." But something beneath the water's tranquil surface is leaving a trail of death. It starts with animals, a fish and a deer whose bodies appear to have been mauled by a giant creature on the scale of the Loch Ness monster. Later there are human victims with distinctive, disturbing bite marks: kayaker Oliver Sykes and salmon fisher Will Stokstad. Jon Flanders, chief of police on Washington Island, is concerned enough to hire Morgan Carter, who owns Odds and Ends, a shop filled with examples of nature gone wrong. Morgan, who spent her formative years traveling the world with her cryptozoologist parents in search of monsters including Nessie herself, has a healthy respect for the supernatural. So she's more than sympathetic to Flanders' concern that there may be some fantastical creature in the lake preying on unsuspecting tourists. But she's enough of a pragmatist to realize that there are many possible reasons for humans to kill other humans. As she investigates, she begins to form a bond with Flanders, but memories of toxic past relationships limit her ability to trust him. A terrifying encounter on the lake urges her onward to get quite literally to the bottom of the mystery. A satisfying adventure cozy.

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Starred review from August 1, 2022

Cryptozoologist Morgan Carter owns an eclectic bookshop in Door County, WI, where she sells old books, shrunken heads, crystal balls, and other oddities. Her reputation as an expert on cryptids, legendary and extinct creatures, reaches the chief of police, Jon Flanders, and he approaches Morgan to consult on a bizarre case. Two men have recently been killed and were seemingly crushed by what appears to be a giant animal bite. The corpses were found near Porte des Morts, or Death's Door, where the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan merge and can be treacherous. While skeptical himself, Jon wants Morgan to rule out some sort of Great Lakes Loch Ness Monster. They begin working together, and soon their chemistry is undeniable. When a violent attack at the bookshop occurs, an unspeakable tragedy from Morgan's past comes into play as suspicion surrounds her role in these mysterious deaths. VERDICT Full of fascinating history and lore, as well as the underwater geography of these fearsome waterways, this new mystery from "Mattie Winston" series author Ryan is a tour de force featuring a plucky and imminently likable sleuth. A deliciously clever and entertaining puzzle, highly recommended.--Amy Nolan

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2022
Raised by parents who vacationed where they could search for cryptids, Morgan Carter inherited not only their love of the search, but also Odds and Ends, their Door County, Wisconsin, book and curiosity shop. Among the shop's unusual wares are death masks, crystal balls, and jewelry made of pig bones. Washington Island police chief Jon Flanders hires Morgan as a consultant after two men's bodies wash up, both with unexplained marks, possibly bites. Despite her study of cryptozoology, Morgan takes on the assignment with skepticism, wondering how to prove the deaths were not due to a Loch Ness-type monster in the Great Lakes. As she investigates, with Newt, her large, mixed-breed rescue dog, at her side, Morgan learns about the history of the treacherous waters between the Door County peninsula and the offshore islands. In this inaugural title in a new series, Ryan not only blends mystery, romance, and the supernatural but also deftly introduces accessible explanations of Great Lakes topography. The region's history as a mining, timber, and shipping center provides an engaging backdrop for the story.

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