March Book Of The Month Monster In The Moonlight
Wisconsin brims with cryptid legends, from Bigfoot to werewolves, making it a perfect setting for a scientist-minded main character raised among believers. That’s exactly the premise of Monster In The Moonlight by Annelise Ryan, the fourth installment of her Monster Hunter series.
The discovery of a dead body along Bray Road in Wisconsin sparks rumors of The Beast of Bray Road, a werewolf-like creature that is said to inhabit the area. The dead woman has been mutilated by some kind of large animal. The community is convinced that the legendary beast is not only real but responsible for this brutal killing. In an effort to prove them wrong, the police bring in cryptozoologist Morgan Carter, who soon finds that the mystery runs much deeper than whether one mythical predator is on the prowl.
I fell in love with this series when we read Beast Of The North Woods for book club. At first, I didn’t know that I had picked the third book in the series, so I made a point to read the first two before I could read the third. I was so surprised that each story had its own cryptid and fun adventures. I personally have always loved werewolves and am a sucker for anything with a werewolf in it, so of course I had to pick up this one! What I liked about this book was that not only was the cop in this one a cop, but he also wrote romance novels. Awesome! I also liked that Morgan really had some moments where she grew. It’s the fourth book, so I was hoping that it would happen, but it was really good. Morgan stumbled upon those herself. The romance between Jon and her always felt weird to me, but this one I felt like it helped move the story along, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes. Another thing I think Annelise does well is that her side characters have so much personality and main-character energy. They really help not only bring the story to life but also add some fun banter. The relationships also feel very genuine. The ending made it seem like we might actually be leaving Wisconsin and venture further into the world. I find that very exciting. I like that all the cryptid mysteries have a possible logical end. I really enjoyed this series so much and can’t wait to read the next one. I also got the audiobook for this one, and I really enjoyed the voice actor. They did a good job. So I not only recommend the book, but also the audiobook!
