Lake Crescent: A Creature X Mystery by J.J. Dupuis

 

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

Laura Regan is the host of “Creature X,” a TV show which investigates reports of strange creatures—cryptids—such as Big Foot, Mothman, etc.  This time around she is in Newfoundland at Lake Crescent investigating a lake monster.  Cressie, as the creature is known, is thought to be a giant eel, and legends about it abound.  Laura and her film crew are going to search for it, but are also going to examine written reports and interview locals with stories to tell.

While collecting footage for background material, their ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) is snags something—a tarp, as it turns out.  Inside the tarp, carefully wrapped, is a complete skeleton with a fractured skull. 

Discovering a murder can really put a crimp in your production schedule.

I decided to try Lake Crescent, the second in the Creature X mysteries, because I had so enjoyed The Unidentified, a non-fiction book about cryptids.  To be honest, I went into it not expecting much but ended up really enjoying it because of Laura’s sensibilities. She would love to discover a hitherto unknown creature-- in this case, Cressie, a lake monster-- but she is also rigorous about the science.  She's methodical and exhibits good critical thinking skills.  Her team is the same, all people with areas of expertise who use their skills to examine the evidence for or against a creature.

I also liked that the team members are all professional.  There’s none of the petty bickering or ego trips that are the usual staples for stories about film crews.  They respect one another, and none of them are looking for a career in television. The production gives them a chance to use their skills and be paid.

Meanwhile, they are all part of a TV show on finding cryptids, so we get the producer's take on how to jazz up the story, how to tease the audience with revelations to keep them tuned in, etc.  So much of it seemed familiar from some of the shows I've watched where they drag everything out as long as possible to keep someone in front of the set.  Reading the book gave me a whole new perspective on some of the shows I’ve watched, occasionally wondering why some of these people chose to participate.  With the production company footing the bill, it’s a chance for them to gather data for their ongoing projects which probably have little to do with finding a monster. 

Not that investigating a murder is on the agenda, either, but the author has shaped the story so that the two objectives run on a parallel course.  It was refreshing not to have an amateur sleuth pulled in because he/she was accused of murder, which is a favorite cozy gambit. I’d classify this as a straightforward mystery.

I hadn't read Roanoke Ridge, the first in the series, but I don't feel I've missed anything important.  There were references to the earlier book but nothing that bogged down this tale.  I do think I will find and read it, though, just because I like this one.  There is supposed to be a third in the series out next year.

Monsters and Mythical Creatures from Around the World by Heather Frigiola

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

I picked this book up with the intention of just glancing through it but became intrigued. Frigiola starts from various cultural areas instead of individual countries, and briefly explores some of the creatures from those areas.  Greek and Roman myths occupy their own chapter because of the strong influence these have had on Western civilization, but they didn’t dominate the book. 

While in most cases the author looked at ancient legends, a few creatures of more modern vintage did show up, such as the Mothman, Jersey Devil, and the jackalope.  Entries tend to have some history, a description and variations, and sometimes a brief retelling of a story about the creature.  I especially liked that Frigiola noted how some descriptions changed after conditions in the area changed, whether from conquest or migration. 

Some creatures are not at all well known outside of their homeland while others have international reputations.  There are also comparisons between creatures who have superficial similarities:  the Russian Firebird is compared to the legends about the phoenix ; the Yeti, Yowie, and Sasquatch are contrasted as are the Egyptian and Greek versions of the Sphinx.  I had heard of the Australian bunyip but not the yara-ma-yha-who which draws blood out of its victims by way of suckers on its fingertips and toes.  Parents advise children to play dead if attacked as the creature loses interest if it believes the victim is dead.

The entries are certainly not comprehensive and don’t pretend to be.  They’re short essays designed to whet the appetite and to give the reader some idea of the amazing variety of the world’s mythical beasts and beings.  There are several I want to follow up on.

I also like that the author doesn’t present each entry as if this is the last word.  For example, under Latin America’s “Were-jaguar,” it’s explained that the term is used by archaeologists and researchers who aren’t really sure what it meant in the culture.  It could have been an object of worship or an ancestral totem; it could represent a cryptid or a shapeshifter.  The text also makes clear that shapeshifting can mean something different than a typical Western European interpretation. 

The illustrations are simple but effective.  I would have enjoyed seeing more artistic interpretations (or in some cases photos of native artwork) but given the sometimes greatly divergent descriptions of some of the creatures a full representation would have taken up several volumes. 

A simple index ups the value and maps make clear which geographic area is being referenced.

I think this is a nifty little book and was certainly worth my time.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Reviewed by Ambrea

Written from the perspective of William Henry, a young orphan who has found himself under the curious care of Dr. Pellinore Walthrop, The Monstrumologist recounts the childhood memories of Will Henry as he becomes enveloped by his guardian’s macabre occupation.  For in the small town of New Jerusalem, a frightening creature has arisen from the depths of the earth to devour human flesh.  Called “anthropophagi,” these creatures have a nightmarish appearance and a terrifying appetite—and only one man can successfully hunt them and stop them.

But that begs the question of which is more fiendish:  the monster, or the man who hunts them?

Rick Yancey’s novel is a finely detailed and ripe with vivid language, stunning characters, and wonderful scenes that depict an astonishing—if horrifying—story.  Yancey manages to combine all the right elements of horror to create a thrilling story that kept me glued to the edge of my seat; however, it remains mild enough that it didn’t give me nightmares for weeks on end.  (I’m looking at you, Stephen King.)

I loved reading Will Henry’s account.  For such a young man, he’s thoughtful and insightful, and he’s very much a sympathetic character.  His story is an intriguing one, and I was fascinated to learn more about his life and his—well, I wouldn’t call them “adventures.”  They’re nightmarish enough to be called “ordeals,” ones that will change him in unexpected and increasingly tragic ways.

One of the things I really liked about The Monstrumologist was Yancey’s tendency to focus on forgotten or little-known monsters, or, better yet, “cryptids”—creatures that are rumored to exist—like the anthropophagi, or the wendigo, or Mongolian death worm.  I like fantasy novels and I’m always curious about unusual folklore, monsters or deities, so it was interesting to read about things that had never crossed my path.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Monstrumologist.  It has its drawbacks:  gore, danger, monsters—the stuff of nightmares.  But it’s an enjoyable book and I really liked the narrator.  I realize he’s unreliable, in that I know he’s missing information or he’s not always telling the full truth; however, he provides a unique perspective on the people and the creatures, namely the monstrumologists and the monsters they study.  I highly recommend diving into it if you’re looking for something a little spookier.

The series continues with three more novels:

Curse of the Wendigo

The Isle of Blood

The Final Descent