Read Time: 2 Minutes
Monster is the second book by A. Lee Martinez I’ve purchased in a few months, and I suspect I’ll have more in my collection before long. In the mood for something monstery, I jumped into this Scooby-Doo-style adventure where magic and monsters are real. Just most people don’t tend to notice them.
Judy is working the late shift at an out-of-the-way convenience store when a yeti appears in the freezer aisle. Most people would probably wig out, but Judy keeps calm and calls animal control. That’s how she meets Monster. He’s a freelance monster hunter… er, Cryptobiological Containment and Rescue Service.
The story that follows isn’t particularly fast-paced but more a methodical yet engaging tale spun like classic sci-fi. Evenly paced if I had to sum it in two words.
The characters of Judy and Monster aren’t overly likable, but I’m not sure if they were supposed to be. There’s nothing specific I can really point the finger at, just that I didn’t get particularly invested in them like they were essential to moving the plot along, but maybe not the kind of people I’d like in my life.
The narration by Eric Michael Summerer was well delivered, and I think his voice suited the story well. Overall, the production felt a little weak, where the quality sounded just a little bit off… like a tiny bit rough. Barely noticeable, but enough to take note of.
One massive thing that annoyed me, though. The first minute of narration has the intro music playing behind it. This is something that is a major pet peeve of mine. Interestingly, the preview available on Audible is the opening chapter of the book and contains no such music. Why? It’s probably because it puts people off, and I’d certainly have thought twice before clicking the buy button.
Overall, a fun yet slightly forgettable monster story. Interesting ideas with a menagerie of monsters. As I mentioned at the top, a little Scooby-Doo-ish was an impression I walked away with. That’s not a bad thing, mind you.