Something a little different to add into the mix of horror and thrillers!
Thank you Doubleday Books for the gifted copy
AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY – Giano Cromley (Released July 15th, 2025)
Book Description:
A charming and comic debut novel about a quirky ensemble who embark on an epic quest to find bigfoot
Every month at St. Pete’s Tavern in rugged western Montana, a meeting is convened by the Basic Bigfoot Society’s members—both of them. Jute and Vergil are lifelong friends, bound by an affinity for the elusive North American Wood Ape. Jute more so than Vergil, having once had a disturbing encounter as a teenager with his father in the Elkhorn mountain range. But their monthly meeting and annual expeditions are a tradition that keep their friendship alive when so much else about their small town has fallen all the lucrative mining jobs, Jute’s own father, Vergil’s late wife, as well as his sharp daughter Rye, who’s now a full two hours away at college.
But things are about to get exciting for the Basic Bigfoot Society. The primatologist Dr. Marcus Bernard, once an esteemed scholar and now perhaps the country’s foremost Bigfoot “expert,” introduces himself after the Society’s proceedings with a tantalizing to join their next expedition with an ambitious young documentarian, Vicky Xu. Thankfully, Rye is in town, and decides to tag along in order to make sure her dad and Jute aren’t made fools of. Thus begins the quest to find America’s great cryptid.
Their trip is not without its complications. Vergil’s real reason for asking Rye to come home in the first place is so he can tell her in person about his cancer diagnosis. And Dr. Bernard, after all, has his own agenda for initiating this venture, namely to show once and for all that Bigfoot does not exist. But strange things begin to happen that seem to defy rational explanation. Is this a hoax? Or are they on the precipice of the greatest anthropological discovery ever?
A spooky adventure story and a wry and heartwarming tale of friendship, American Mythology is a fabulous debut about the power of belief and our sacred bond to nature.
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
Who here likes cryptids? Who here believes in Bigfoot? Would you go searching the Montana wilderness to find him?
The Basic Bigfoot Society in Montana is having their monthly meeting, all two members, Jute and Vergil. Two best friends brought together by their fascination with Bigfoot. This particular meeting is a little different this month because the self-proclaimed Bigfoot expert, Dr. Marcus Bernard, over hears them discussing their trip to track down Bigfoot and decides to introduce himself. He wants to join them on their journey and has Vicky Xu with him – a young documentarian who is more than willing to be there to document the findings of the most elusive cryptid out there. When Vergil’s daughter, Rye, hears about this, she comes home from college to supervise and make sure her dad and Jute aren’t turned into fools for someone’s documentary.
This turns into a fun and almost heartwarming adventure. An unlikely group traveling through the Montana wilderness with one goal. Some want to prove his existence, and others are secretly hoping to prove he is nothing more than a myth. I had a great time with this book. It was quick, and I loved going through the woods and feeling the same eerie vibes as our characters. I keep reading these books that take place in the woods, and thankfully, this wasn’t about monsters waiting for you to cross into the tree line
Jessicamap Reviews 