Lake Crescent - (A Creature X Mystery) by J J Dupuis (Paperback)

About the Book

"A body is discovered in the water where a documentary crew search for legendary lake monster Cressie. As host of the cryptozoological documentary series Creature X, Laura Reagan and her team are shooting an episode of Creature X on Cressie, a legendary giant eel, in Robert's Arm, Newfoundland. But what begins as a simple TV shoot takes a drastic turn when a body is discovered in the lake by the crew, the first step in unravelling a cold case that involves prominent members of the town"--

Book Synopsis

A TV documentary crew explores murky waters in search of legendary lake monster Cressie, only to dredge up a body instead.

Laura Reagan, host of the cryptozoological documentary series Creature X, and her team are in Newfoundland shooting an episode about Cressie, a legendary giant eel. Things don't start off great: scientific evidence is scarce, stories keep changing, and the locals are throwing a wrench into the production. But what began as a simple TV shoot takes a drastic turn when the crew pulls a body from the depths of Lake Crescent.

For Laura, unravelling the cold case means unearthing long-buried secrets about the most prominent citizens of the remote town of Robert's Arm. With time running out, she and her team must put the pieces together and expose the killer before more blood is spilled.

Review Quotes

Readers who enjoy the outdoors, cryptozoology, and mysteries will likely enjoy this novel.

-- "Cloud Lake Literary"

Dupuis, in the space of one novel, feels like he's grown as a writer, layering in a stronger story with fascinating and familiar characters, and while once again, there ends up being no proof one way or the other of something monstrous lurking around, it also doesn't quell the imagination.-- "The Mind Reels"

Dupuis nicely captures the feeling of Robert's Arm with its quirky residents and slowly builds tension as what begins as a fish tale develops into a gripping murder mystery. With luck, Laura and her friends will be back soon.-- "Publishers Weekly"

Going both behind the camera and on location, Lake Crescent is an intelligent mystery novel that balances facts and intrigue with finesse.-- "Foreword Reviews"

Dupuis peppers his novel with fascinating research into Indigenous stories [and] evolutionary mutations ... Lake Crescent is a fantastic instalment to the Creature X Mystery series.-- "Literary Treats"

A mysterious and interesting romp into Canadian cryptid history! Readers -- especially Atlantic Canadians -- will enjoy this 'deep dive' into the legend of Cressie, the mythical eel-like serpent that supposedly inhabits Lake Crescent in Newfoundland and Labrador. Lake Crescent: A Creature X Mystery by J.J. Dupuis will keep you guessing until the end.-- "Timothy S. Johnston, award-winning author of The Tanner Sequence series"

J.J. Dupuis crafts a mystery that's atmospheric and layered, where myth and legend clash with real-world stakes. Lake Crescent pulled me under and kept me eager to know more.-- "Samantha K. Garner, author of The Quiet is Loud"

Murder, pirate treasure, and lake monsters -- how can you go wrong? This smart and atmospheric mystery explores the murky depths where science and legend collide. Laura Reagan navigates through a world of small-town treachery, trying to unravel age-old secrets of monsters and men alike. The mysteries keep coming the deeper she goes. With beautifully written descriptions, Dupuis plunges the reader right into the heart of the action. Laura Reagan is hunting monsters but it'll be the reader who gets hooked.-- "A.G. Pasquella, author of the Jack Palace series"

Set against the stunning and mercurial backdrop of rural Newfoundland, the book is part zoological expedition, part murder mystery, all while deliciously delving into local Canadian lore -- a thoroughly gripping read from the first page to the last.-- "Vivian Lin, screenwriter of Hudson and Rex and Killjoys"

What starts as a hunt for the lake monster Cressie, quickly turns into an enjoyable whodunnit with a plot that brings to mind both Raymond Chandler and Neil Gaiman.-- "Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, Hungarian-German writer and diplomat"

This was a fun book ... A definite recommendation for fans of the genre who might like a little more science sprinkled on top.-- "A Librarian on Elm Street"

About the Author

J.J. Dupuis writes fiction, poetry, and satire. When not in front of a computer, he can be found haunting the river valleys of Toronto, where he lives and works.