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 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.… (more)

what a great idea! unfortunately the execution left much to be desired. The book doesn't flow well it feels like an editor gave a few to many notes. The main character is nearly impossible to believe. A woman who is incredibly wealthy, parents murdered by her boyfriend, cryptozoologist, and store owner that gets to be involved in 3 homicides. Huh? Her act of being uncomfortable being wealthy does not work. The pacing is terrible and others have mentioned the over writing. I also do not need to know every time the dog goes out or what he is eating or what kind of look he is giving or his swimming or if he likes someone. UGH.… (more)

This is book 3 in the Mattie Winston series, but the first that I've read. I'll be adding books 1 & 2 to my list of books to watch for when I'm book shopping.

As a fellow Wisconsinite (both the author and Mattie live in Wisconsin), I would have liked more place-specific references that just tossing out the names of a few cities (Madison, Tomah) and comments about the cold winters. I realize that Sorenson is a fictional place, but the book gave me no idea of how large it is or where in the state it's located (although the southern half is a good bet). A more complete sense of place would have added to my enjoyment.

The mystery itself has plenty of twists and turns, and the author move the story right along. The writing style fits the story.

On a scale of 1-10, this would be a 7. I'm happy I won this in a First Read giveaway!… (more)

cryptozoologist, cryptids, local-history, local-law-enforcement, local-legends, Northern-Wisconsin, mystery, thriller, suspense, murder-investigation, threats, conspiracy, FBI, murders, Newfoundland-dog, relatives, relationships, relationship-issues, snow-season, support-animal, traumatic-history, panic-attacks*****

Not an unbiased review because I am from Northern Wisconsin (home of the Butterburger and KwikTrip) and have seen the statues of the Legendary Hodag in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
It started with an investigation into a (probably) wrongful arrest of a good friend's nephew for the mauling death in the deep woods of a man the nephew was known to have had an explosive and contentious relationship with. By the end we have more bodies, angry shop owners, threats, the FBI, a clandestine gene editing lab, and more. Another good read in this series!
I requested and received a temporary review copy from Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley via NetGalley. Thank you!
#MonsterHunterMysteriesBk3 @ryan_annelise #BeastoftheNorthWoods #NetGalley Avail Jan 28, 2025… (more)