Review: A Nightmare on Elk Street

A Nightmare on Elk Street by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Buck Yeah, Another Great Weredeer Book!

A Nightmare on Elk Street is the third (and last) book in The Bright Falls Mysteries Series and follows An American Weredeer in Michigan. Like many of C. T. Phipps’ books, it’s set in the United States of Monsters urban fantasy universe (which you can read more about on the author’s blog).

Phipps pays homage to the classic slasher film genre in A Nightmare on Elk Street. Another supernatural killer is rampaging through Bright Falls and Lucien Lyons convinces Jane to work security on the set of his money-laundering scheme … I mean B-movie horror film. While trying to protect the crew, Jane attempts to track down the killer only to discover that the murder’s next target is her. 

Though it is still essentially a comedy, A Nightmare on Elk Street is also well-written with a great plot. The plot is a bit thicker in this book than in previous novels as this final installment reveals a hidden narrative arc that’s been building throughout the series. I love the deeply satisfying “ah-ha!” moment you get when you realize how all the little side stories and individual plots have been linked together the entire time. It really makes me appreciate the planning and talent that went into the series.

I’ve liked all of the Bright Falls Mysteries books and Jane’s snark and puns are deer-lightful. So, even though this book is perhaps the best of the series, I’m also really disappointed that this is where the buck stops for Jane’s tail. I’ve just grown so fawn of deer puns and Jane’s snarky personality – along with the rest of her family and friends in Bright Falls. Jane’s just now getting into her stride in A Nightmare on Elk Street and my hope is that she continues to show up in supporting roles and cameos in other of Phipps’s books.

Special thanks to C.T. Phipps, who provided me with this book at my request.

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Review: An American Weredeer in Michigan

An American Weredeer in Michigan by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An en-deer-ing and deer-lightful tail.

An American Weredeer in Michigan is the second book in The Bright Falls Mysteries Series and follows I Was a Teenage Weredeer. Like many of C. T. Phipps’ books, it’s set in the United States of Monsters urban fantasy universe (which you can read more about on the author’s blog).

  

The big bad wolf has been defeated, but there’s no rest for Jane (the weredeer) and Emma (Jane’s now out-of-the-closet lesbian, werewolf best friend). While out for a hike, the two stumble on a murder pit full of infant’s bones and feel obligated to seek out whoever is responsible for the mass grave and bring them to justice. While on the trial of the apparent baby murder, Jane faces off against an evil cult leader, tries to sort out her relationships with Alex and Lucien, and continues to dish out non-stop deer puns.

All the Bright Falls Mysteries books have been fun, full of comedy (and deer puns), and have had surprisingly entertaining and well-written characters and plots. But it took me so long to start on the series and I kept passing it by every time I looked for a new book.  I kept seeing I Was a Teenage Weredeer and then thinking to myself, “A weredeer? That’s just dumb, I don’t think I could ever get into that book.” Yet, here I am declaring Jane Doe the weredeer one of my favorite protagonists. So if you are reading this review and are still on the fence about the series, it’s time to go ahead and take the plunge.

Special thanks to C.T. Phipps, who provided me with this book at my request.

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Review: 100 Miles and Vampin'

100 Miles and Vampin' by C.T. Phipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Straight Outta Fangton was fantastic, so it's no surprise that I loved 100 Miles and Vampin' as well. Peter Stone is an amusing first-person protagonist, and his perspective presents an entertaining and surprisingly down-to-earth narrative. Throughout the series, vampires and other supernatural characters are often presented with quirks and foibles that make them seem (ironically) more human. Despite their 

While Straight Outta Fangton had a more straightforward plot, 100 Miles and Vampin' is written like a murder mystery. The pacing is excellent; the plot builds up nicely, only revealing bits and pieces of the concealed storyline until the big reveal in the end. Both books are excellent but comparing the two,  I enjoyed the story of the second book even more than the first one. 

Even with a complex (and excellent) plot, the book still possesses plenty of comedy, and the dialog and interchange between the characters is amusing. If you love humorous, irrelevant writing and tons of pop culture references, you'll find any book in the series entertaining.

I don't have many negative things I can really critique about the book. For what it is (that being a supernatural comedy), it's excellent. My only real complaint is that it ends on one hell of a cliffhanger, and I had to wait two and a half years before the third book came out. That's just cruel.

Cary Hite's performance in the audiobook version is outstanding. He's a talented narrator and pulls off a thoroughly entertaining and wholly believable Peter Stone. 

Special thanks to C.T. Phipps, who provided me with this book at my request.

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