Clash of the Cryptids Part 1: A Nicole Beretti Thriller

by Luka T. Jacobs

When Nicole Beretti is called home by her uncle after a string of animal attacks, she expects a short assignment. What she finds instead is the start of a cryptid Dogmen encroaching on Sasquatch territory, and the Sasquatch won’t allow it.

Returning to Blackridge isn’t easy. Beretti has spent years avoiding old ghosts, and facing the fallout of strained relationships proves just as difficult as facing what’s stirring in the woods.

Alongside her partner Noah Jacobi, Beretti begins to investigate a rising wave of violence that points to another cryptid pushing into established Sasquatch territory. And that can only mean trouble. The town is nervous. The creatures are escalating. And buried beneath it all is a truth Beretti never expected to uncover, one that shatters everything she thought she knew about her past.

If you like cryptid thrillers with high tension, emotional depth, and a slow-building storm, Part One pulls you deep into the shadows where nothing stays buried forever.

Genres: Horror

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2025

About the author

Luka T. Jacobs is an author with a passion for cryptids, particularly Sasquatch and Dogman. Originally hailing from Sydney, Australia, Luka now calls the picturesque Illawarra region of New South Wales home, where she resides with her partner and their cheeky little dog, Finnigan.

With a deep love for animals and a keen sense of adventure, Luka's fascination with the mysteries of the natural world fuels her storytelling. Drawing from her background in Graphic Design and Art, she brings a unique visual flair to her writing.

As an avid traveller and explorer of the unknown, Luka continues to seek inspiration from the wild and untamed corners of the world, eager to share her imaginative worlds with readers everywhere.

Reviews

[Brittney]

Best cryptid author out there by far!

[Emily Haynes]

Agent Beretti has returned to her hometown after some strange things have occurred. People are reporting sightings of terrifying looking creatures. People are being attacked. What happens when two powerful creatures battle? Frightening page turner full of amazing characters and creatures from your nightmares.

[Leon Scheppink]

Nicole Beretti is back and this time, it's personal. Returning to her hometown at the request of her uncle after a series of animal attacks, she and Jacobi soon find out the situation is much worse than expected: Dogmen are moving in on Sasquatch territory and the question is, will this result in a massive clash between the two and what happens to the townspeople stuck in the middle?

Jacobs delivers as usual: a well thought out and thrilling tale. But this isn't just senseless action or Kong vs Godzilla-type clashes, the underlying story is the thing that adds depth to the story. The main characters return but they've evolved. We get a peek into Beretti's background and her partnership with Jacobi evolves. The other characters are of a level we've come to expect: fleshed out, real, alive. 

It is fascinating to see that with relatively limited source material - so far, Jacobs' books have focused entirely on these two cryptids - she manages succesfully to keep things fresh, interesting and yes, terrifying. Between her series of books so far, it doesn't come down to a simple rehash of the same type, the same creature, the same storyline, over and over again. No, there's always a different outline, different characters - not only as a person but also how they act - and even subtle differences in the creatures themselves.

I can easily say this is another winner and as the ending is begging for more, on to part two!

[Michael Frank]

I am torn, like one of the Dogman's victims.

Such beautiful writing, laying out such vivid imagery as to make you almost forget that you are reading a book, and not watching a movie. You can't help but be swept along by it all... And then you are ripped from the magic - the richness of the plot and the depth of the characters - by something as easily avoidable as these painfully obvious lapses of proofreading. I so badly wanted to
give her five stars on the merits I mentioned alone, but with the sheer density of these failures, I could not. One cannot simply ignore the toll taken by being so frequently robbed of such enjoyment. I tried.

[Steven Hall]

Excellent cryptid thriller

Luka T. Jacobs delivers another entertaining cryptid adventure. The story moves at a good pace, the action keeps coming, and Nicole Beretti is a likeable lead. I enjoyed the investigation, the suspense, and the way the cryptid mystery unfolded without dragging. If you enjoy creature features, cryptid fiction, and fast-paced thrillers, this is well worth reading. I finished it quickly and was keen to move on to the next book in the series. A very enjoyable read.

[Kara Bosher]

Hit it outta the park!

Holy smokes! I can’t wait to read Part Two. I have enjoyed how Beretti and Jacobi’s relationship has deepened and developed. Secrets exposed, lots of creepy and gory action. What more could you want? So glad Luka wrote about Beretti’s earlier life and the Cryptid crossover. Nailed it. Well done Luka!

[Claudia A.]

Amazing

I am totally hooked on this series. Nicole is kind, smart, and funny. The storyline gets better and better. Characters are likable and written in a way you know them. I love how the stories flow and leave just enough tension to keep you reading. On to the next one.

[carl e. james]

Always great stories

Nicole Beretta stories always fun and exciting to read. Although a series each bok could be read as a standalone with great characters and storylines. Hard to put down start to fiish.

[Bob]

Cliffhanger!

Another enjoyable read from this author. I'm not a big fan of cliffhangers, and the ending of "part one" is no exception. Understandable though and fairly? transparent. I will read part two.

[Keith Putnam]

Never disappointed!

I love these characters and the writing style is so smooth while you’re reading it’s hard to put it down. Anxiously awaiting part 2!

[Norm S]

3 Stars

This was a good book except it ended in a cliffhanger and I never give a cliffhanger ending more than three stars.

[Dena Ellis]

Awesome

I knew it I knew the creature killed her family. Need 2 read the rest of part 2
I think the creatures waiting for her 2 return

[Don Wilson]

Nicely done

This is horrifying but fun to read. Can’t believe I am still wanting more. Thanks for the chills and thrills

[Georgina Sayer]

next one

[Jason Busby]

Awesome

First book I've read of Lukas so far and can't wait to read the rest... Most excellent and keeps you wanting more.

[John]

the whole series is great

I enjoyed reading this. Read the first two volumes a while back. Happy to continue with the next two and look forward to more in the future

[Hsg134]

Cryptid

Was starting out good, but then no more confrontations. Not enough fighting between species. Or why they decided to come back down to the forest.

[Donna Elliott]

Great

Love the excitement and horror. The character development and story line keeps you wanting more. I hope you enjoy it as.much as I did

[Mary Morelli]

a good read

This is one of the better Beretti books. Not too much blood and gore. Interesting vibe between Jacobi and Beretti with a nice little twist.