A documentary crew searching for a giant eel rumored to live in a remote harbor in Newfoundland get more than they bargained for when they discover not a long-lost creature from the deep, but a dead body. Everyone in town could be a suspect. Can the murderer be brought to the surface before it's too late?

This was a fun book. First of all, Lake Crescent is the second book in J.J. Dupuis' Creature X series with Laura Reagan as the main character. That being said, I had no problem dropping into this one without having read the first. The characters were well established and fleshed out, and although some nods to the previous book were scattered throughout Lake Crescent, they served to entice me to read that book as well without spoiling it in the process! The set up for the book series is that a documentary team is traveling around filming a tv series, Creature X, that is looking for cryptozoological creatures, commonly called cryptids. If you've seen Monster Quest on the "History" channel, you know what I'm talking about. Bigfoot, Nessie, Thunderbirds, Jackalopes, etc. I think it's a great set up. Additionally, the author has added an extra-layer to the story by having the main character following in the footsteps of her cryptid-obsessed father who abandoned she and her mother (Her mother and her? idk let's let it ride. English is a mad language anyways) to go searching for these creatures. What happened to him? Is he still out there somewhere chasing Chupacabras? Is his the body in the cove? The missing dad definitely throws down some great Supernatural season one vibes for me.

The book itself definitely fits into the Cozy Mystery genre with the amateur detective and small town cast of characters. The scientific aspect of the actual hunt for the giant eel said to live in the cove broke up some of the normal features of going around town to talk to the varied villagers, and was enjoyable to me. The "Big Reveal" at the end was very well done and kept me leaning a couple different ways until the final trigger was pulled. A definite recommendation to fans of the genre who might like a little more science sprinkled on the top. Or who also enjoy a good cryptid hunt. The last several years of U.S. politics have ruined the fun of basically all the old standby conspiracy theories, so a good giant eel or Bigfoot hunt helps remind one of gentler, more pleasant times. That being said, I'll definitely be getting my hands on the first book, Roanoke Ridge, and keep my eyes open for the series as it continues. Jolly good show.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.