An American Weredeer in Michigan

The Bright Falls Mysteries Series, Book 2

By: C. T. Phipps, Michael Suttkus

Narrated by: Arielle DeLisle

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of The Rules of Supervillainy:

Life is not easy for the world's first weredeer detective. A simple hike turns into a media circus when Jane Doe, her best friend Emma, and a pair of monster hunters find a mass grave. Determined to find the parties responsible, Jane soon discovers a sinister cult leader has decided to make Bright Falls, Michigan the home of his corrupt religion.

As if this wasn't complicating her life enough, Jane also has to decide whether or not she wants to begin a relationship with FBI Special Agent Alex Timmons or local crime lord Lucien Lyons. Both men are determined to get to the bottom of the crime she's investigating but may be distracted by their own agendas--as well as their love for Jane.

"Surpasses the first book in all ways." (The Bookwyrm Speaks)

"Phipps is the best thing to happen to urban fantasy." (Booknest.EU)

©2017 Charles Phipps (P)2018 David N. Wilson

fun

The weredeer romance was a bit much at points but the story overall was great.

Great addition to the series!

This is the continuing story of Jane Doe (yeah) the weredeer from Bright Falls, Michigan. In this volume, she and her best friend are innocently walking out in the woods and they find a mass grave of infant children. And so the hunt is on to figure out what sort of monster could do such a thing, while at the same time trying to save her family’s diner from being sold and demolished to be turned into a shopping mall, and preventing a local group of cultists from moving into town and establishing a base there.

While on the case, Jane and Emma meet one of the (former) cultists, a young woman named Robyn, who seems to have a connection to the children in the mass grave. She joins the case with a vengeance for…. vengeance. Jane also gets much advice and additional information from the Merlin gun that she keeps in her pocket, which is inhabited by an angel, Raguel. Being an angel, he has a pretty convincing point of view on religious topics that come up, and they do more than you’d think, because the theme of belief plays a pretty big part in this volume. Raguel is a great character (kind of character? Sentient gun?) and I rather liked him snarking at Jane or correcting her on religious or folklore trivia, hehehe.

Anyway, while Jane and her friends attempt to solve the whodunnit, we’ve got a love triangle happening between Jane and both Alex, the hot FBI agent, and Lucien, the hot drug dealer, who are foster brothers, and both still inexplicably want this girl. It has to be her sparkling personality, I guess. So, that’s still a thing. I’ll admit that I rolled my eyes a few times here in the beginning, because as some people might remember from my review of the first book in the series, I thought the romance between the three of them was hilariously contrived, but I guess if these two dudes are so determined be with this girl, then I guess it is what it is. I will give this one points for actually resolving the triangle in a way that makes sense and was satisfying. So, it’s less contrived now than it was at first. In the end, I admit that they make a cute couple, even if Jane makes some ridiculously stupid decisions along the way.

Jane is still nerdy AF, and throws out many a pop culture reference. Like a lot. So, if you’re not down with nerding out, maybe avoid this one. I thought many of them were enjoyable, and a few made me laugh. It feels like some were a little bit overused though. I mean, I’m not sure one UF novel needs two entire Star Trek Discovery references, and two entire ‘do or do not’ references. But, all the same, I nyyyeeeeerddded out, quite a bit throughout the whole thing. Today I learned (more) reasons I should not read further than I did into the Dune series. :D

The narrator, Arielle DeLisle, did a great job with this one, just as she did with the last one. She gives Jane a really good voice, and tells her story very well, as this story is told in the first person. Robyn, Maria, Emma, and Kim Su also had really great voices. Even the dudes got some great voices.

All told I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It started out a little rocky for me but once I got into it, I couldn’t help but listen to the entire thing in one sitting. I got a lot of work done. I hope to hear more of this story, because if any of Jane’s visions come to pass, there appears to be a lot of awesome on deck!

This review is based on a review copy of the audiobook :)

I really love Jane and the Gang.

Jane Doe, our nineteen year old weredeer lead character is at it again. She can’t help but stumble into trouble. It seems wherever she goes, she finds trouble. This time, while out on a picnic with her best friend and werewolf, Emma, they are met with two monster hunters. Then stumble upon a mass grave of baby skeletons.

The villain even has two different references that I always thought about when he was mentioned. Dr Jim Jones. There are times when they talk about Jim Jones, and yes, he is a cult leader too, which always made me think of Jonestown. Then other times, he’s called Dr. Jones, which makes me think of Indiana, which this Dr Jones really doesn’t match in my eyes.

So, Jane has to battle another baddie with a little help from her friends. Some hard choices have to be made by many. Jane’s gun continues to be snarky. We also learn more about the gun’s history.

Oh, should I mention Jane’s relationship issues? There is this hot FBI agent, Alex, who she has had a bit of a long distance thing going on with for a while. Then there is Lucien, mob boss who own a nightclub with a portal to hell. Oh, and he’s Alex’s adopted brother, Lucien being the one adopted into the family. Emma also has a crush on Jane. Jane is bisexual, but is a little creeped out about her best friend having a crush on her. There is just a lot going on here and I wish there was less. I think we’ve made some progress on this, but I’m not 100% sure yet.

This is a humorous mystery that will be enjoyed by urban fantasy and cozy mystery fans alike. While, I don’t think there are quite as many deer puns (evidently, that is something that weredeer just love, puns) in this book as the previous one, there are still plenty to keep you chuckling. There are also more than plenty pop culture references to make everyone happy.

I continue to enjoy the humor that these two authors bring to this series. I can’t wait to read more to see what’s next in store for Jane Doe and the gang.

Narration
I continue to enjoy Arielle DeLisle’s narration of this series. Her voice sounds a bit young, but since Jane is only nineteen, I’m okay with it. I like the voices she chooses for most of the characters. I don’t mind the men’s voices, which are pretty masculine when compared to Jane’s young voice. I like the women’s voices. I think she does a great job bringing out the humor in this series.

**I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

Even better than the first!

It kept me listening until the end. it had a little less puns and more story than the 1st and I enjoyed it, looking forward to the next one.

great addition to the first story

I can't wait for the third book to come out first two were amazing I highly suggest if you're into pop culture reference

Puns are both poison and medicine

I like expanded universe aburch has it give more to tge narrative linked yo outer series. Do has the story continued it felt the author didn't like that part has an endding and kept adding more chs till got something he liked, but instead it just felt a horse beat till it kept going. Another thing I didn't like where the puns has they where really too on the nose at times that felt cringe and dumb to remember. In the end I like premise of the story just not how it was done at all.

Fun listen

This is an energetic fun listen. Highly recommend you give the series a shot. Don’t get stuck in headlights. Just watch out for the Puns :).

Very en-deer-ing

Chock full of deer puns, this new installment in the Bright Falls series did not disappoint. Comedy, romance, and a supernatural mystery all rolled into one. I liked the narrator a lot. Her voice is very versatile, and highly entertaining. Well done!

I highly recommend this series

Jane Doe finds herself in yet another mess in Michigan!  Seems she can’t take a step in the woods without stepping right in it!  Enjoying a picnic with Emma, Jane encounters two monster hunters, a religious fanatic who wants to be the world’s strongest wizard and discovers a mass grave!

Jane finds herself facing down yet another entity as well as figuring out how to live now that mom and dad are in witness protection! Oh, then there’s the little thing between her, agent “hottie” Alex and “luscious” Lucien!  Male testosterone is in full “charge ahead” mode leaving one anticipating a knock down drag out between the two brothers.

C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttku are excellent storytellers utilizing snark, whimsical and humorous writing and dialog styles to tell the story of young Jane Doe.   Skilled in puns, the authors cleverly utilize their talent to draw the audience in and make them laugh.  This is a fun, easy read with lots of laughable moments.  I enjoy this series, it has everything – supernatural, mystery, romance, clever writing and … well, it’s just fun!  Of course, there are a lot of folks who think I am nuts given my frequent outbursts of laughter and such while in public with a Bluetooth headphone in!  My one question – when’s the next one????

The narrator, Arielle DeLisle performed the audiobook expertly.  She brought the book to life with her talent and enthusiasm.  She is Jane Doe!!

There were no issues with the production or quality of this book.   I highly recommend this series if you like light, fun reading with mystery and supernatural creatures!

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog.

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Excellent magical and supernatural story!

First let me begin that this is the second book in the series and I have not listened to the first. I was a little lost on some of the backstory but it was not enough that it prevented me from enjoying the tale. I must say I loved loved loved the pop culture references and the humor of the story in general. Basically magic and monsters are real and its a battle between good and evil but not pure white driven snow good, more gray area good Spock style. I really enjoyed the characters and story, the narration was also excellent! I plan to listen to the first book and then re-listen to this one. Definitely recommended to all 90s pop culture sci fi geeks! I received a free review copy of this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you.