Review: The Loch Ness Monster by Jean Flitcroft

Title: The Loch Ness Monster
Author: Jean Flitcroft
Series: The Cryptid Files #1
Publication: May 1st 2014 by Darby Creek
Genre: Middle Grade ~ Mystery
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Rating: 4/5

Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

A huge, glowing object moved slowly toward her. As it approached, the glow grew more intense and the water warmer. Vanessa stopped swimming, waiting for the inevitable...

Vanessa's dreams are haunted by cryptids—mysterious creatures that may or may not exist. Her mother used to study them, gathering scientific evidence that at least some of them are real. Vanessa longs to continue her mother's research. At the moment, though, she also has more pressing concerns—like a family trip that includes her father's new girlfriend.

But the visit to Scotland gives Vanessa a chance to explore the eerie secrets of Loch Ness. With the help of her mother's cryptid files, can she solve the mystery of the most famous cryptid of all?

The first book in The Cryptid Files, The Loch Ness Monster was a story that I really enjoyed. The chapters were pretty short, which I loved and the book didn't take too long to read either. It was a great middle grade book.

This book was part mystery, part adventure and who doesn't know Nessie? I think it will speak to many young readers. I'm in my 20's and even I loved it. But then again, I've always been intrigued by the myth of the Loch Ness Monster. And I really thought this book was very well-written and before each chapter there was were some facts about Nessie, sightings and what not. I must admit that it was my favorite part.

Vanessa was a great character to read about. I also liked her family a lot. This book is not just about the mystery that is Nessie but it also is about Vanessa dealing with her mother's death, and accepting a new woman (Lee) in the life of her father, which hasn't been easy for her. But she learns that Lee and her have more in common that she realizes. The only things that was a bit less enjoyable to me was the part where Vanessa falls into the loch and well, let's say things got a little crazy there. I don't want to spoil the story too much so I'll just leave it at that.

All in all, The Loch Ness Monster was a great book. I enjoyed the writing and the facts about sightings through history the most but the story itself was also very good. And I can't wait to read the other books in the series as well. They sound awesome!

About the Author:

Website

Dr Jean Flitcroft lives in Dublin with her husband and three boys. She attended Holy Child School, Killiney and studied science in University College Dublin. On being awarded a Welcome Scholarship she went on to Magdalen College, Oxford University where she obtained her doctorate.

She started as a script writer for medical and scientific films and later became a travel writer when her obsession with travel won out. It was on these journeys around the world that she started writing books for children.

The Cryptid Files: Loch Ness is the first book of a series that covers the globe in pursuit of the weird and wonderful creatures of cryptozoology. It features perhaps the most famous cryptid of all: the Loch Ness monster. It is followed by The Cryptid Files: Mexican Devil, which is set in Mexico and explores the spine-tingling story of the blood-sucking Chupacabra. In the third book in the series, The Cryptid Files: Pacific Giants, Vanessa discovers another beast, cadborosaurus willsi, or Caddy for short, off the west coast of Canada.