A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan (2022)
A cozy tale of mystery and intrigue set in charming and picturesque Door County, Wisconsin.
Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Plot: Wisconsin bookstore owner Morgan Carter is asked to help local police investigate a series of deaths in Lake Michigan. Her background in cryptozoology just might be the key to unlocking the mystery, but someone appears determined to keep her from uncovering the truth.
Analysis: It took me a while to get into this book, but it did finally reel me in and keep my attention. I don’t think the writing is exceptional, but the story was interesting and relatively unique. As a fan of Door County, WI it was cool to read about familiar locations and learn some history about the passage known as Death’s Door. The cryptid angle was fun and different without becoming totally campy.
I do feel like there was inconsistency in the tone of the book, which moved between suspenseful, lighthearted, dark, and even cheeky. It was a blend of genres that didn’t quite hit the right balance in my opinion.
I wouldn’t quite call this a cozy mystery, as there are some descriptions of crime scenes and a few suspenseful scenes, but the book has a charming feel to it overall. A note for dog lovers: Newt the dog is the best character and dog lovers will enjoy his presence in the book.
I thought this was a cute read, but it could have been better. Check it out if you’re familiar with Door County or want a cryptid themed mystery.
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