AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY

Most of Jute Ramsey’s life has revolved around two deeply intertwined missions.

First of all, he’s on the search for Bigfoot. Beneath the surface, though, he’s also trying to figure out whether his father’s disappearance, which was precipitated by a camping trip gone horribly wrong when Jute was a teenager, is somehow related to the fabled creature long a figment of American lore. Jute and his best friend, Vergil Barnes, live in the perfectly named town of Basic, Montana, and they’re the sole members of the Basic Bigfoot Society, which meets monthly at St. Pete’s Tavern. The group suddenly grows by more than 100% when a few interested parties join the fold: There’s Vicky Xu, a graduate student in documentary filmmaking, and her thesis subject, renowned Bigfoot expert Dr. Marcus Bernard. Bernard has a secret, and he’s using the Basic Bigfoot Society to rid himself of his status as a pariah in the academic community. The group is rounded out by Rye, Vergil’s daughter, who has returned to town because Vergil has news to share with her (he’s been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer). The crew, armed with Bernard’s professional gear, heads to the Elkhorn Mountain Range, where Jute and Vergil hope to finally discover the great, mysterious beast. Cromley imbues the book with an intoxicating whimsy, propelling the story with unexplainable mysteries, a diary that spans generations, and quiet battles for each member of the group. A freak weather event cuts the expedition short, but in this easily digestible fable, each character departs from the experience having received not what they wanted, but precisely what they needed.

Family drama, deep friendships, and the power of belief bring reality to this otherworldly novel.