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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