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American Mythology
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.
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.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published July 15, 2025
15 people are currently reading
774 people want to read
About the author
Giano Cromley
4 books19 followersBorn and raised in Montana, Giano Cromley is the author of two young adult novels and a collection of short stories. He is a recipient of an Artist Fellowship from the Illinois Arts Council and was a BookEnds Fellow with Stonybrook University. He is an amateur woodworker, a certified wildlife tracker, and an English professor at Kennedy-King College, where he is chair of the Communications Department. He lives on the Southside of Chicago with his wife and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
July 31, 2025
They reached the far edge of the lake, where the woods grew right up to the shore, making it dark and shadowed. Tree branches seemed to sway and move, even though there was no breeze. Luther stood very still, staring at something deeper inside the forest, a dense knot of branches and limbs braced against each other. Mud was chinked into crevices between logs. Grasses and moss thatched a roof. Jute realized it was a primitive shack, like something out of a fairy tale. Without saying a word, they slowly approached. Once they were upon it, Luther reached out and tugged a gnarled branch, which turned out to be a door. They stepped inside.--------------------------------------
…this was what small towns did. They caught you in their nets, kept you from going out into the world and growing into the person you were supposed to be.The prologue sets the scene. 1853, a trapper crew reports trap lines being cut, members mysteriously disappearing, whispering noises heard in the woods.
Giano Cromley - Image from his Twitter profile
Julius (Jute) Ramsey is our leader today. A strange event happened when he was 11 years old, on a hike up to the unmapped Ramsey Lake with his father. Subsequent signs offer more warning than welcome. Dad was clearly afraid, and all but dashed away. He became almost a different person, losing his mood control, and his job, disappearing for increasing durations until he stopped coming back at all when Jute was 16. Jute's mission today is to return to that place and discover exactly what had so changed his father, as much as he wants to discover proof of something undiscovered
Luther tucked his chin into his Adam’s apple for a moment. “Don’t be surprised if you see some mighty strange stuff up there,” he said. “Ramsey Lake is what some folks call a thin place.” “What’s a thin place?” Jute asked. “Every culture’s got spots like this,” he said. “Where the veil between our world and the spirit world is so thin they practically overlap.”For Jute Ramsay it is an unmissable opportunity to go on a BigFoot hunt with a major player in the field. For Doctor Marcus Bernard, eager to return to academic acceptability after a long tenure as an expert in Sasquatchology, it is a chance to re-establish his intellectual cred with a bang. He is hoping to be helped along by Vicky Xu, who had started out merely looking to do a film project on Dr. Bernard for her graduate thesis, but who sees the outing as a great opportunity. Vergil Barnes is Jute's best friend and co-founder of the Basic Bigfoot Society of Basic, Montana, population 484. He has reason to think it may be his last, and he does not want to disappoint his buddy. Vergil's daughter, Rye, is in from college, and tags along to help look after her father.
This zoomed-in image shows a creature resembling bigfoot. Shannon Parker took the photo Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, while departing Silverton on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. She used an SLR camera with a 300 mm lens. (Courtesy of Shannon Parker) - Image from The Durango Herald
There are the usual odd things you might expect on such an adventure. Rapid, unexplained changes in weather, discoveries of clues, such as a casual acquisition of a very old, and relevant notebook. Some mysteries are not well explained, which can be irksome, but, whatever.
So, the bottom line in all such novels comes down to "is there or isn't there?" I will not spoil it for you here. It is the journey of course that matters, or the journeys, as all six may all be on the same trail but travel their own roads. Is there magic in the world, and if so, of what sorts? Searching for Sasquatch is a journey of self-discovery for all of them.
The journal entries offer a nifty myth-making tool to keep them connected to the past and strange possibility. But the absence of harder evidence roots the tales of BigFoot in oral tradition, where most lore is communicated.
Bigfoot allegedly caught on cam near Braxton County, in 2019. (The source has since been determined to be from Jeffrey Stoffel and Jenna Oleson.) - image from West Virginia Explorer
Vergil faces an existential threat. Rye is there to support her ailing dad, but hears the voice of her late mother. Jute’s challenge is his need for the whole truth. Will he find it? He is a good sort, and you sure hope so. Dr. Bernard is up to cynical no-good. His journey is more annoying than not for his eagerness to dismiss all evidence, even any suggestion of possibility. Vicky abets him in this. Her struggle is less fraught than Bernard’s but providing evidence for him is why she is there. Some of the characters’ struggles are more engaging than others, but overall there is enough buy-in to keep you turning the pages for the next twist, surprise, and peril. Their concerns are serious, touching on religion, the endangered planet, and connection to family and community.
Image from The Keystone Newsroom
There is an explanation offered at end that was no more unbelievable than any other, maybe even a bit better than most. It is a nice-to-have, but the generally warm-hearted, open-minded, exploratory take of the book makes this an easy Summer read. Whether your piggies are petite or prodigious, and however distant your extremities may be from your face, it will definitely be worth your while to take a large step into American Mythology.
MAGIC PROTECTS THIS SPACE TURN BACK NOWReview posted - 07/25/25
Publication date – 07/15/25
I received an ARE of American Mythology from Doubleday in return for a fair review, and destroying all copies of that map. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.
This review will soon be cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Links to Cromley’s personal, FB, Instagram, and Twitter pages
Profile – from the book
Author Bio: Born and raised in Montana, GIANO CROMLEY is the author of two young adult novels and a collection of short stories. He is a recipient of an Artist Fellowship from the Illinois Arts Council and was a BookEnds Fellow with Stony Brook University. He is an amateur woodworker, a certified wildlife tracker, and an English professor at Kennedy-King College, where he is chair of the Communications Department. He lives on the Southside of Chicago with his wife and two dogs. Residence: Chicago, IL Hometown: Billings, MT.Interviews
-----Talking Scared- 245- Giano Cromly & Our Friends in the Forest
-----Chicago Review of Books - The Proof Is Out There: An Interview with Giano Cromley by Rachel Robbins
Item of Interest from the author
----- The Tao of Bigfoot
Items of Interest
-----BFO - The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization
-----The Keystone - Bigfoot fever grips Pennsylvania as reports of strange footprints and howls surface
-----BFT - BigFoot Times
My other BigFoot book review
-----Devolution by Max Brooks
November 5, 2024
This book has my whole heart!
July 25, 2025
American Mythology is a book that straddles several genres – cryptid horror, wilderness adventure, buddy comedy, family drama – all combining to make for a fresh, surprising reading experience. I came for Bigfoot, but I stayed for the characters.
Vergil and Jute are the founding (and only) members of the Basic Bigfoot Society in their small town of Basic, Montana. They’ve been friends for decades and have gone on countless Bigfoot hunts together, but after a chance encounter at their local bar, their newest hunt is shaping up to be quite different. This time, joining them on their trek into the Montana wilderness are Vergil’s daughter, Rye, and the world’s foremost Bigfoot researcher – along with his documentary filmmaker.
I’m a sucker for a cryptid story, but I’ve never read one quite like American Mythology. Everyone’s favorite sasquatch is at the center of this story, in that the hunt for Bigfoot is the guiding force behind the characters’ circumstances – but the hunt for Bigfoot is not what this book is really about. Instead, it’s a heartfelt, meaningful exploration of family, faith, and friendship, with some sasquatch sprinkles for pizzazz. I grew to genuinely care about these characters, flaws and all. Plot-wise, things got a bit messy for me around the three-quarters mark, but Giano Cromley brought everything together in the end with a satisfying, moving conclusion.
With a few laugh out loud moments, several creepy scenes, and just the right touch of magical realism, American Mythology is a book about believing in things we can’t see but nevertheless know to be true: love, connection, the beauty of the journey, and – yes – even Bigfoot. Thank you to Doubleday for the complimentary reading opportunity.
Vergil and Jute are the founding (and only) members of the Basic Bigfoot Society in their small town of Basic, Montana. They’ve been friends for decades and have gone on countless Bigfoot hunts together, but after a chance encounter at their local bar, their newest hunt is shaping up to be quite different. This time, joining them on their trek into the Montana wilderness are Vergil’s daughter, Rye, and the world’s foremost Bigfoot researcher – along with his documentary filmmaker.
I’m a sucker for a cryptid story, but I’ve never read one quite like American Mythology. Everyone’s favorite sasquatch is at the center of this story, in that the hunt for Bigfoot is the guiding force behind the characters’ circumstances – but the hunt for Bigfoot is not what this book is really about. Instead, it’s a heartfelt, meaningful exploration of family, faith, and friendship, with some sasquatch sprinkles for pizzazz. I grew to genuinely care about these characters, flaws and all. Plot-wise, things got a bit messy for me around the three-quarters mark, but Giano Cromley brought everything together in the end with a satisfying, moving conclusion.
With a few laugh out loud moments, several creepy scenes, and just the right touch of magical realism, American Mythology is a book about believing in things we can’t see but nevertheless know to be true: love, connection, the beauty of the journey, and – yes – even Bigfoot. Thank you to Doubleday for the complimentary reading opportunity.
July 17, 2025
Full disclosure: I love Giano Cromley. I've worked with him on a few of his previous titles and I love cryptid fiction, so when I saw this was releasing, it was an absolute no-brainer. I had to have it.
Montana locals Jute and Vergil are overheard at St. Pete’s Tavern discussing plans for a Basic Bigfoot Society expedition. Renowned Bigfoot expert Dr. Marcus Bernard leans over and promptly invites himself along. He’s accompanied by Vicky Xu, a young graduate student filming a documentary about him, and Jute and Vergil can’t believe their luck. But Bernard’s intentions may not be entirely noble and when Vergil’s daughter Rye hears about the trip, she insists on joining—not for the squatch hunt, but to protect her dad and Uncle Jute from potential embarrassment and exploitation.
What began as a modest two-man search for the elusive North American Woodape and the mythical Ramsey Lake quickly evolves into a ragtag crew of misfits, each driven by their own reasons—some chasing proof, others seeking to debunk it. As they venture deeper into the wilderness, they’re forced to confront painful truths from their pasts while pursuing one of the most haunted and hunted cryptids in American folklore.
At its core, American Mythology is a Bigfoot story, sure. But it’s also about having the courage to chase what you believe in. It’s about surrendering to grief. And it’s about the relentless pursuit of truth, no matter the cost.
Some things you chase. Others chase you.
This one gets all the stars!
Montana locals Jute and Vergil are overheard at St. Pete’s Tavern discussing plans for a Basic Bigfoot Society expedition. Renowned Bigfoot expert Dr. Marcus Bernard leans over and promptly invites himself along. He’s accompanied by Vicky Xu, a young graduate student filming a documentary about him, and Jute and Vergil can’t believe their luck. But Bernard’s intentions may not be entirely noble and when Vergil’s daughter Rye hears about the trip, she insists on joining—not for the squatch hunt, but to protect her dad and Uncle Jute from potential embarrassment and exploitation.
What began as a modest two-man search for the elusive North American Woodape and the mythical Ramsey Lake quickly evolves into a ragtag crew of misfits, each driven by their own reasons—some chasing proof, others seeking to debunk it. As they venture deeper into the wilderness, they’re forced to confront painful truths from their pasts while pursuing one of the most haunted and hunted cryptids in American folklore.
At its core, American Mythology is a Bigfoot story, sure. But it’s also about having the courage to chase what you believe in. It’s about surrendering to grief. And it’s about the relentless pursuit of truth, no matter the cost.
Some things you chase. Others chase you.
This one gets all the stars!
October 10, 2025
IN A NUTSHELL
If you're in the mood for a novel with a little bit of magic, in which nice people contemplate the nature of belief and the bonds of family while on a mild.y tense quest for Bigfoot in the Montana wilderness, 'American Mythology' will give you what you need. I liked some of the ideas on the nature of belief but the people and the story were too nice to hold my interest.
This is how 'American Mythology' was marketed:
"A charming and comic debut novel about a quirky ensemble embarking on an epic quest to find Bigfoot."
"American Mythology is a riveting, big-hearted novel about a group of pilgrims who encounter both the mysteries of nature and ultimately those of the human heart. Giano Cromley has given us a much-needed reminder that, if sought, wonder may yet be found in our world.”—Ron Rash, author of The Caretaker"
Reading this, I expected an eccentric comic adventure story about the search for Bigfoot. What I got was something much gentler, more sentimental and more reflective than that.
The story is told in a slow, pull up a chair on the porch, get yourself situated and sit awhile style that I found quite relaxing. It's the kind of style that signals to the reader that they need to listen for the lesson in the story and not just the plot; that things are going to move slowly, but that's OK because good things take a while.
This is a story about four nice people and one person who, over time, has become someone who is no longer nice, searching for Bigfoot. Not a metaphorical Bigfoot, an actual Bigfoot that one member of the party has a traumatic childhood memory of almost encountering in the mountains of Montana. It's also a story about the nature of belief: how it differs from knowledge and how it has the power to illuminate the imagination and make the world a more magical place. I thought the approach to belief was signalled early in the book when the two members of the Basic Big Foot Society were considering the peculiar stained glass window in the only bar in Basic, Montana:
“No one left alive in Basic today could verify the window's origin though. Like all myths, this one became history the moment enough people chose to believe it.”
It's a story about how you build your identity. It considers how small towns conspire unconsciously to prevent you from becoming someone different from the person you were in school, how friendships and family relationships can help or hinder us in becoming who we are meant to be. It reflects on how who we are can be shaped by having a purpose, a passion to pursue, especially if there is someone to share the passion/purpose with.
It has a broadly quest-based plot, seeded with magical elements, set against spectacular natural beauty and with occasional moments of tension that put the main characters at risk.
Fundamentally, this is a nice book, full of uplifting ideas and relationships. Sadly, I'm not as nice as the book and there were times when I grew a little bored with it. Perhaps it was the meandering pace but I think it was mostly just too wholesome for me.
If you're in the mood for a novel with a little bit of magic, in which nice people contemplate the nature of belief and the bonds of family while on a mild.y tense quest for Bigfoot in the Montana wilderness, 'American Mythology' will give you what you need. I liked some of the ideas on the nature of belief but the people and the story were too nice to hold my interest.
This is how 'American Mythology' was marketed:
"A charming and comic debut novel about a quirky ensemble embarking on an epic quest to find Bigfoot."
"American Mythology is a riveting, big-hearted novel about a group of pilgrims who encounter both the mysteries of nature and ultimately those of the human heart. Giano Cromley has given us a much-needed reminder that, if sought, wonder may yet be found in our world.”—Ron Rash, author of The Caretaker"
Reading this, I expected an eccentric comic adventure story about the search for Bigfoot. What I got was something much gentler, more sentimental and more reflective than that.
The story is told in a slow, pull up a chair on the porch, get yourself situated and sit awhile style that I found quite relaxing. It's the kind of style that signals to the reader that they need to listen for the lesson in the story and not just the plot; that things are going to move slowly, but that's OK because good things take a while.
This is a story about four nice people and one person who, over time, has become someone who is no longer nice, searching for Bigfoot. Not a metaphorical Bigfoot, an actual Bigfoot that one member of the party has a traumatic childhood memory of almost encountering in the mountains of Montana. It's also a story about the nature of belief: how it differs from knowledge and how it has the power to illuminate the imagination and make the world a more magical place. I thought the approach to belief was signalled early in the book when the two members of the Basic Big Foot Society were considering the peculiar stained glass window in the only bar in Basic, Montana:
“No one left alive in Basic today could verify the window's origin though. Like all myths, this one became history the moment enough people chose to believe it.”
It's a story about how you build your identity. It considers how small towns conspire unconsciously to prevent you from becoming someone different from the person you were in school, how friendships and family relationships can help or hinder us in becoming who we are meant to be. It reflects on how who we are can be shaped by having a purpose, a passion to pursue, especially if there is someone to share the passion/purpose with.
It has a broadly quest-based plot, seeded with magical elements, set against spectacular natural beauty and with occasional moments of tension that put the main characters at risk.
Fundamentally, this is a nice book, full of uplifting ideas and relationships. Sadly, I'm not as nice as the book and there were times when I grew a little bored with it. Perhaps it was the meandering pace but I think it was mostly just too wholesome for me.
July 21, 2025
A funny debut about why we believe what we believe and how we find community and connection through journey.
Jute comes from a long line of Bigfoot believers, having had an experience in the mountains as a young boy. Vergil is his lifelong friend, facing a health crisis. Vergil’s daughter Rue wants to get away from Montana and create a life in the Bay Area. Dr. Marcus Bernard is the worlds ‘Bigfoot expert,” wrestling with his fame vs intellectualism and academia. Lastly, Bernard is being followed by an MFA student and documentarian, Vicky Xu.
As fate brings them together, they become a ragtag team of explorers, searching for answers in the lake mountains of Montana. Our bond with nature is as spiritual as it is practical. Climate change, spirituality and interconnected communities are all themes you will explore in this heartwarming and funny novel that is not about finding answers, but seeking them.
Thank you Nowhere Bookshop for bringing these hidden gems month after month.
Jute comes from a long line of Bigfoot believers, having had an experience in the mountains as a young boy. Vergil is his lifelong friend, facing a health crisis. Vergil’s daughter Rue wants to get away from Montana and create a life in the Bay Area. Dr. Marcus Bernard is the worlds ‘Bigfoot expert,” wrestling with his fame vs intellectualism and academia. Lastly, Bernard is being followed by an MFA student and documentarian, Vicky Xu.
As fate brings them together, they become a ragtag team of explorers, searching for answers in the lake mountains of Montana. Our bond with nature is as spiritual as it is practical. Climate change, spirituality and interconnected communities are all themes you will explore in this heartwarming and funny novel that is not about finding answers, but seeking them.
Thank you Nowhere Bookshop for bringing these hidden gems month after month.
August 26, 2025
Needed a heart warmer and this one set me ablaze by the end.
March 18, 2025
Loved this book! Vergil and Jute are the only two misfit members of the Basic Bigfoot Society. When the most famous Bigfoot researcher happens into their local bar and agrees to go along with them on their latest search for the mythical beast, it sets into motion a comical journey into the mountains of Montana. With a budding documentary film student and Vergil’s daughter along, what could go wrong? But when they get into the woods, strange things start to happen. A funny, heart warming novel.
Read
August 6, 2025Great writing! It was a cool concept, but definitely not my genre or plot of choice. It was nice to expand my preferences, but I didn’t love the whole book. I really liked Vicky’s character, but the rest didn’t necessarily pull me in or made me care about them.
July 17, 2025
One of my favourite books. A reminder of the magic and mystery of nature, when we remember to look for it. These characters will stay with me forever.
June 6, 2025
This heartfelt and humorous novel invites readers into the world of the Basic Bigfoot Society. Lifelong friends Jute & Vergil, based in Montana, have monthly meetings and annual expeditions in search of the infamous Bigfoot. They are joined by a Bigfoot expert, Dr. Marcus Bernard, a documentarian, Vicky Xu, and Vergil's daughter Rye, on one of these expeditions. As they embark on their adventure, they are faced with weird occurrences and challenges in perception that push the boundaries of the group. Will they find the evidence they are looking for? You'll just have to read to find out. Thank you so much to Doubleday for sending me a bound manuscript copy for review. You can check this out when it publishes July 15, 2025!
July 15, 2025
American Mythology by Giano Cromley, the book starts with a retrospective of Jude when he was a little boy and his dad took him to a private mountain lake that his great grandfather found and claimed it had magical properties and fish that tasted better than any fish anywhere in the world. it’s at the lake they find an old hut hidden and grown into the nature around it. Inside the hut they find the book that will change Jude‘s life and eventually the lies of those surrounding him. dr. Marcus Bernard is an accredited professor but his become popular for believing that Bigfoot exist until the day we meet him. While giving a speech in Montana he inadvertently gets directed instead of Saint Petes hospital to Saint Petes bar in basic Montana this is where he runs in to Virgil and Jude the only two members of the Bigfoot society in that town. while they discussed their summer excursion to look for the buy pedal creature he decides to piggyback on their adventure. so with an ulterior motive and a graduate student named Victoria Dr. Bernard stepped out using a map Jude found in his mailbox in the green book is back but Jude doesn’t find it and the one who does isn’t telling. Virgil also has a devastating secret to tell but doesn’t know how so when his daughter decides to go with them on their summer Bigfoot retreat he hopes to have the opportunity. before it’s over Jude knows why they say you should never meet your heroes Virgil grows closer to Rye and Vicky starts learning they’re just may be something to this Bigfoot creature after all. I know this is a horrible review but I seem to always have this problem when the book is so freaking good. For those of us who like to believe there is a little bit of magic and crypto animals in the world as well as a book that has a happy ending then you will definitely absolutely love this one. I left a lot of great plot points out of my review but that is quid pro quo when it comes to writing reviews for books I love just know this is an awesome book with wonderful characters and an even better ending. #NetGalley, #TheReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #GianoCromley, #AmericanMythology,
July 30, 2025
Thanks for this gifting me with this gem, Doubleday! American Mythology feels like the perfect summer read for me this year. Giano Cromley has given us a novel about two friends in Basic, Montana, Jute, and Vergel, who are members of the Basic Bigfoot Soceity. The two are approached by a leading Bigfoot expert and a documentarian to join them on the next expedition. The group is rounded out by Vergel's daughter, tagging along to make sure her father and his best friend aren't turned into big jokes.
Once they arrive in the woods, some spooky and unexplained events start happening to the group, but is it all a hoax?
Don't think this is a scary book or anything, though. It's not one of those. It has the perfect amount of suspenseful mystery with the events that take place but is also quite comedic. What I think is at the real heart of the book is this story of us, as humans wanting to believe in something. Our relationship with nature, with one another, and with one another.
The search for Bigfoot turns into a personal exploration for each member of the group for a personal fulfillment, even if they aren't aware of that just yet.
Wonderfully written and full of heart, I think there is a little something for everyone to get out of this one.
Once they arrive in the woods, some spooky and unexplained events start happening to the group, but is it all a hoax?
Don't think this is a scary book or anything, though. It's not one of those. It has the perfect amount of suspenseful mystery with the events that take place but is also quite comedic. What I think is at the real heart of the book is this story of us, as humans wanting to believe in something. Our relationship with nature, with one another, and with one another.
The search for Bigfoot turns into a personal exploration for each member of the group for a personal fulfillment, even if they aren't aware of that just yet.
Wonderfully written and full of heart, I think there is a little something for everyone to get out of this one.
September 8, 2025
4.5/5
- “‘I don't know if I believe, but I think it's important to try.’"
- This book has EVERYTHING: found family, best friends, great banter, rigid Bigfoot Society meeting rules and protocols that must be followed, a film student, a jaded and famous Bigfoot academic (with a ponytail, obviously), high-tech Bigfoot hunting gear, low-tech Bigfoot hunting methods, creepy journal entries from the past, a daughter who takes no shit, a lake that may or may not really exist, a crow who gave me the creeps, whispering trees, camping, magic, and Bigfoot (or DOES it?).
- I really enjoyed this book - I loved Jute, Virgil, and Rye’s relationship. I also loved the way Vicky looked at the world, both on her own and through the lens of her camera.
- There were creepy parts, thrilling parts, frustrating parts, and warm parts that make you want to hold your friends and family close.
- Definitely recommend if you want to start easing yourself into spooky season with a fun read!
October 5, 2025
This was a great book and I really liked it, I think I just thought it was going to be creepier/scarier and so I was a little disappointed about that. That is not to say that I didn't like it and that there aren't many things to love about it. It started out so strong when Jute was a child on a camping trip with his father when things go sideways and his father changes forever. Then the journal entries. Those were incredibly creepy. The story of found family and the themes on the human experience and belief and how we rationalize the things we cannot understand were fantastic. I loved the characters, the folk horror/magic of it all, and I loved the way the story ended. I just wanted to be a little more creeped out LOL
October 20, 2025
Ignore the Goodreads genres listed after the summary; this is NOT horror. Seeing that almost kept me from reading and I would have missed out.
The story takes place in Montana, where the legend of Bigfoot looms large. We meet five characters who end up going on an expedition to find the hulking creature. There's so much more to the plot than that, of course, but the mystery and intrigue held my interest. The themes of nature and friendship also run strong. The ending was perfect!
The story takes place in Montana, where the legend of Bigfoot looms large. We meet five characters who end up going on an expedition to find the hulking creature. There's so much more to the plot than that, of course, but the mystery and intrigue held my interest. The themes of nature and friendship also run strong. The ending was perfect!
August 30, 2025
I enjoyed this more than I expected. It was an oddly gentle monster story. There was disturbing imagery, but the humans in the story were the real draw.
This *felt* like "The Lost Story" by Meg Shaffer, in that the people are in a fantastical situation but are facing very human emotions.
This isn't just a bigfoot story.
This *felt* like "The Lost Story" by Meg Shaffer, in that the people are in a fantastical situation but are facing very human emotions.
This isn't just a bigfoot story.
August 1, 2025
This wonderful novel was a delight, start to finish.
July 31, 2025
The perfect vacation book. Fun, entertaining, cliff hangers, beautiful scenery, and of course.. Bigfoot?
July 24, 2025
As a boy, Jute’s father took him hiking in the Elkhorn Mountains and what they found changed both of their lives forever. Years later as an adult, Jute sets out on an expedition back to that mysterious place and hopes to find Bigfoot. Jute’s search party consists of his best friend Vergil, Vergil’s skeptical daughter, a scheming primatologist, and an ambitious documentarian. At times creepy, funny, and heartwarming, American Mythology was a highly entertaining read. A big-hearted novel about family, friendship, embracing uncertainty, and our powerful connection to nature. Thank you so much @doubledaybooks for my #gifted copy.
July 27, 2025
I enjoyed this as things really happen. Mostly
July 17, 2025
Really captivating, strong writing
I was a bit skeptical because I’m not a bigfoot/monsters person, but the book was about so much more. I love the strong, clear prose which is so hard to find these days. Will check out other books from this author.
I was a bit skeptical because I’m not a bigfoot/monsters person, but the book was about so much more. I love the strong, clear prose which is so hard to find these days. Will check out other books from this author.
July 17, 2025
This is a fantastic read. Mr. Crowley has once again captured what it means to be human, including our flaws and blind spots. Great story in a fantastical setting that really illuminates how we interact with one another and what we believe about those closest to us versus what we actually know. Highly recommend.
July 18, 2025
This book is so heartfelt and genuine. Great characters who are flawed and related. A great new take on what haunts our lives from inside and from the outside. Highly recommend!
July 17, 2025
Loved this big-hearted, funny, smart novel. The characters were so dear and the premise—a cadre of Bigfoot hunters, each with different dreams and goals—is delicious. Highly highly recommend.
October 1, 2025
I thought this book was highly entertaining and had just enough mystery to keep me intrigued but just enough explanation and reveals to keep me satisfied with the ending!
July 15, 2025
Oh My! So far 2025 has been an interesting year as far as reading. I feel that I have read a few more books this year that defy genre, yet have somehow touched my soul. This book is one of those. I absolutely loved it, and was mesmerized by the story and the characters from page one!
I originally requested this book because Bigfoot has been a part of our family for a long time. My oldest daughter was into Bigfoot. We would go camping a lot, and my husband would sneak off in the woods near camp and bang wood on trees and whoop and howl- inviting us all to take part in a "Bigfoot Hunt". I know, it sounds crazy- but we had so much fun on these camping excursions. So when I read the blurb for this story, I immediately requested it- not sure what I was getting into. I am so glad that I did.
This story is a beautiful, mystical tale about the memories of our past that have defining strands to our future, deep bonds between family, friends and found family, embracing the unknown and accepting it like a gift. I don't know how to explain it clearly without ruining the experience, so I will give basic info!
Jute and Virgel have been friends for 35 years. They live in Basic, Montana with a population of 484. Both believe in Bigfoot, especially Jute who had an experience in childhood that still holds shadow over his life. They are the only 2 members of The Basic Bigfoot Society. Bernard is a leading expert and professor of all things Bigfoot. Vicki is a film student who is working on her masters project by following Bernard around. Rye is Virgel's adult daughter. All of these characters are lovable. There are humorous times, but there are serious moments of vulnerability when the reader sees into their hearts. The deep connection they all have to the natural world is what ties them together.
I really liked the way the author introduces us to Lake Ramsey- the lake at the top of the mountain. Through journal entries that were all written in the same green book, we see strange and dangerous occurrences happening in 1839 when a mining company was there, in the 1930's when they started logging. Something was protecting the land, and it became hazardous to the men there. Jute and his crew are unaware of this as they begin their expedition.
There are moments of laughter, and there were moments of fear. The setting is crazy good at lending itself as a lead character that drives the mood of the story. As stated before, I do not even know what genre this book would fall into! But I highly recommend it- to everyone. It touches your heart, while giving a mysterious creepy thrill. In the end, I think it will stay with you. One of my top reads for 2025!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Doubleday. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I originally requested this book because Bigfoot has been a part of our family for a long time. My oldest daughter was into Bigfoot. We would go camping a lot, and my husband would sneak off in the woods near camp and bang wood on trees and whoop and howl- inviting us all to take part in a "Bigfoot Hunt". I know, it sounds crazy- but we had so much fun on these camping excursions. So when I read the blurb for this story, I immediately requested it- not sure what I was getting into. I am so glad that I did.
This story is a beautiful, mystical tale about the memories of our past that have defining strands to our future, deep bonds between family, friends and found family, embracing the unknown and accepting it like a gift. I don't know how to explain it clearly without ruining the experience, so I will give basic info!
Jute and Virgel have been friends for 35 years. They live in Basic, Montana with a population of 484. Both believe in Bigfoot, especially Jute who had an experience in childhood that still holds shadow over his life. They are the only 2 members of The Basic Bigfoot Society. Bernard is a leading expert and professor of all things Bigfoot. Vicki is a film student who is working on her masters project by following Bernard around. Rye is Virgel's adult daughter. All of these characters are lovable. There are humorous times, but there are serious moments of vulnerability when the reader sees into their hearts. The deep connection they all have to the natural world is what ties them together.
I really liked the way the author introduces us to Lake Ramsey- the lake at the top of the mountain. Through journal entries that were all written in the same green book, we see strange and dangerous occurrences happening in 1839 when a mining company was there, in the 1930's when they started logging. Something was protecting the land, and it became hazardous to the men there. Jute and his crew are unaware of this as they begin their expedition.
There are moments of laughter, and there were moments of fear. The setting is crazy good at lending itself as a lead character that drives the mood of the story. As stated before, I do not even know what genre this book would fall into! But I highly recommend it- to everyone. It touches your heart, while giving a mysterious creepy thrill. In the end, I think it will stay with you. One of my top reads for 2025!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Doubleday. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 1, 2025
Five clichés in search of a Bigfoot.
I know that Goodreads and honest reviews are not two great tastes that taste great together, but the overwhelmingly glowing responses to this tepid puddle of a novel should be the screaming alarm klaxon that convinces you to take every five-star review on this site with barrels of salt.
Every character is 'been there, done that.' A guy with cancer who has only the most clichéd thoughts about mortality and disease. A headstrong daughter dealing with her father having cancer in only the most clichéd manner. A film student with the most clichéd thoughts on film making, who narrates her footage in only the most clichéd and pretentious ways and who will, don't you even worry about it, end up cobbling together the Greatest Student Film Ever! Five minute standing ovation! It's a film all about the human condition! Why her professor has never before seen such a profound piece of cinema!
Even the dead wife isn't allowed to be anything other then Dead Wife 101. She was such a unique and special flower, you see, because she listened to music. With her eyes closed.
And I guess the videographer managed to get back to her car and follow the professor, unnoticed, to the little bar in the middle of nowhere, or maybe he called her once he got there and asked her to join him or maybe she slipped a tracking device into his pocket and maybe one line explaining which of the above options it was could have been inserted into the narrative.
And maybe give an explanation for why our two main characters are the butt of the entire town's jokes because they believe in Bigfoot and yet everyone in town recognizes the TV show Bigfoot guy and line up to tell him their Bigfoot stories because everyone in town believes in Bigfoot.
And maybe one character could say, "I wasn't intending to write down anything on this trip into the forest, but thank goodness I always carry a pen in my pocket in case I stumble upon a 100-year-old journal undamaged by its exposure to the elements and I feel like adding a line or two."
Oh, and in case you were worried that a book where one of the main characters has incurable cancer might be a little downbeat, please be assured that the author has no intention of dealing with it in a mature or realistic manner.
This? This here is a very bad piece of writing.
I know that Goodreads and honest reviews are not two great tastes that taste great together, but the overwhelmingly glowing responses to this tepid puddle of a novel should be the screaming alarm klaxon that convinces you to take every five-star review on this site with barrels of salt.
Every character is 'been there, done that.' A guy with cancer who has only the most clichéd thoughts about mortality and disease. A headstrong daughter dealing with her father having cancer in only the most clichéd manner. A film student with the most clichéd thoughts on film making, who narrates her footage in only the most clichéd and pretentious ways and who will, don't you even worry about it, end up cobbling together the Greatest Student Film Ever! Five minute standing ovation! It's a film all about the human condition! Why her professor has never before seen such a profound piece of cinema!
Even the dead wife isn't allowed to be anything other then Dead Wife 101. She was such a unique and special flower, you see, because she listened to music. With her eyes closed.
And I guess the videographer managed to get back to her car and follow the professor, unnoticed, to the little bar in the middle of nowhere, or maybe he called her once he got there and asked her to join him or maybe she slipped a tracking device into his pocket and maybe one line explaining which of the above options it was could have been inserted into the narrative.
And maybe give an explanation for why our two main characters are the butt of the entire town's jokes because they believe in Bigfoot and yet everyone in town recognizes the TV show Bigfoot guy and line up to tell him their Bigfoot stories because everyone in town believes in Bigfoot.
And maybe one character could say, "I wasn't intending to write down anything on this trip into the forest, but thank goodness I always carry a pen in my pocket in case I stumble upon a 100-year-old journal undamaged by its exposure to the elements and I feel like adding a line or two."
Oh, and in case you were worried that a book where one of the main characters has incurable cancer might be a little downbeat, please be assured that the author has no intention of dealing with it in a mature or realistic manner.
This? This here is a very bad piece of writing.
August 12, 2025
American Mythology by Giano Cromley
#seventyninthbookof2025 #arc #americanmythology
CW: Bigfoot, cancer, absent parents
From Netgalley: 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. Their monthly meetings and annual expeditions are a tradition that keep their friendship alive when so much else about their small town has fallen away. But things are about to get exciting for the Basic Bigfoot Society. Dr. Marcus Bernard, the country’s foremost Bigfoot “expert,” approaches them with a proposition that seems almost too good to be true: to join their next expedition, along with an ambitious young documentarian, Vicky Xu. Thankfully, Vergil’s daughter Rye is home from college, and decides to tag along in order to make sure her dad and Jute aren’t made fools of. Once in the woods, strange things begin to happen to them that seem to defy rational explanation. Is this a hoax? Or are they on the precipice of the greatest anthropological discovery ever?
My thoughts: I think this was a sweet story and only wished for a little more Bigfoot. It’s very heartwarming, and is more focused on the characters of the group hunting for the creature than the actual creature itself. Jute and Vergil are kind people and good friends, and I’m so pleased with the ending of the book. The entire story gave me such a cozy feel.
Thank you to @doubledaybooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Available now, pub date was 7/15/25)
#seventyninthbookof2025 #arc #americanmythology
CW: Bigfoot, cancer, absent parents
From Netgalley: 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. Their monthly meetings and annual expeditions are a tradition that keep their friendship alive when so much else about their small town has fallen away. But things are about to get exciting for the Basic Bigfoot Society. Dr. Marcus Bernard, the country’s foremost Bigfoot “expert,” approaches them with a proposition that seems almost too good to be true: to join their next expedition, along with an ambitious young documentarian, Vicky Xu. Thankfully, Vergil’s daughter Rye is home from college, and decides to tag along in order to make sure her dad and Jute aren’t made fools of. Once in the woods, strange things begin to happen to them that seem to defy rational explanation. Is this a hoax? Or are they on the precipice of the greatest anthropological discovery ever?
My thoughts: I think this was a sweet story and only wished for a little more Bigfoot. It’s very heartwarming, and is more focused on the characters of the group hunting for the creature than the actual creature itself. Jute and Vergil are kind people and good friends, and I’m so pleased with the ending of the book. The entire story gave me such a cozy feel.
Thank you to @doubledaybooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. (Available now, pub date was 7/15/25)
August 20, 2025
I have never read a book about Big Foot, but this the best and only one I will ever read. Childhood friends Jute and Vergil have their own Big Foot Society ever since Jute's father took Jute to Ramsey Lake in Montana. Something strange happened on that visit and Jute's father was never the same resulting in his disappearance four years later.
This lake is not on any map as Jute's great grandfather mapped the area for the Forestry Service and was allowed to name it as well as keep it off all maps. The lake has special and mysterious qualities as does the entire area around the lake. In addition, it may be home to the infamous Big Foot and his Watcher. Go figure, what the heck is a watcher?
The night of the Big Foot monthly meeting at the local gin mill, an infamous Big Footer storms in after renouncing all things Big Foot at a speech at a Montana College followed by a young women trying to make a documentary about said Big Foot. Jute and Vergil can't believe it and approach him about a Big Foot expedition to Ramsey Lake. Off they go and hijinks ensue.
Aside from the normal hiking, camping and all things exploring the deep wilderness, the friendship of Jute and Vergil, as well as Vergil's daughter, and the hesitating comradery between the group is well done. Does Big Foot exist?? Read this book and enjoy the journey.
This lake is not on any map as Jute's great grandfather mapped the area for the Forestry Service and was allowed to name it as well as keep it off all maps. The lake has special and mysterious qualities as does the entire area around the lake. In addition, it may be home to the infamous Big Foot and his Watcher. Go figure, what the heck is a watcher?
The night of the Big Foot monthly meeting at the local gin mill, an infamous Big Footer storms in after renouncing all things Big Foot at a speech at a Montana College followed by a young women trying to make a documentary about said Big Foot. Jute and Vergil can't believe it and approach him about a Big Foot expedition to Ramsey Lake. Off they go and hijinks ensue.
Aside from the normal hiking, camping and all things exploring the deep wilderness, the friendship of Jute and Vergil, as well as Vergil's daughter, and the hesitating comradery between the group is well done. Does Big Foot exist?? Read this book and enjoy the journey.
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