You Had Me at Bigfoot

~Nancy Campbell  Allen

She really did ‘have me at Bigfoot.’ The title hooked me instantly – and I’m thrilled to say, Nancy Campbell Allen did NOT disappoint. The mix of lore, murder, mystery, and just the right dash of romance had me hugging my Bigfoot plushie and day‑dreaming about a road trip to the PNW in my gorgeously green Ford Bronco, that just happens to be adorably adorned from bumper to bumper in Bigfoot!

Recent college graduate Daphne Drew is smart, enthusiastic, and a little bit impulsive – a combination that puts her career on pause when her boss steals the podcast pitch she created and presents it as her own. Out of work and out of patience, Daphne’s father sends her to Reno, Nevada to stay with her savvy Aunt Hannah, who promises a new opportunity. Turns out, Hannah just bought the town’s failing gossip rag with hopes of transforming it into a polished lifestyle magazine, Understated Elegance.

Daphne is teamed up with Clark Finkelstein‑Henry, a broody, world‑weary war photographer with an intriguing past, and Jilly, the bright‑as‑sunshine receptionist you instantly want as a best friend. Hannah sends them on assignment to cover a high‑society wedding at a luxury Pacific Northwest resort – the upcoming marriage between wealthy Gerald Welmont Sr. and his much younger bride, Fiona Lindley. But paradise doesn’t last long. A resort employee goes missing, Bigfoot sightings resurface, and an air of danger creeps through the evergreens. When Gerald’s son insists the missing woman simply “took some time off,” the story starts to unravel faster than Daphne’s plans for a quiet new life.

Will Daphne and Clark put their Scooby senses to work and figure out all the mysteries piling up, or will they be another story in the local newspaper?

Allen’s character work shines here – one of her strongest assets. Daphne Drew lives up to her name (courtesy of her mom’s favorite sleuths, Nancy Drew and Scooby‑Doo’s Daphne), combining wit, curiosity, and a heart so big she can’t help chasing trouble. Aunt Hannah radiates confidence and mischief in equal measure, continually two steps ahead even when no one – including her – quite knows how. Clark strikes a perfect balance of reserved charm and reluctant vulnerability, making him an ideal complement to Daphne’s impulsive warmth. And Jilly – colorful, caring, and openhearted – is the glue of the team. Every supporting character, no matter how small, adds dimension and purpose. None feel like filler; they all matter.

Allen delivers a seamless blend of humor, suspense, and whimsy. The PNW setting breathes life into the folklore of Bigfoot: fog‑draped pines, the crunch of forest trails, the echo of something unseen beyond the tree-line. Each chapter strikes that perfect balance between tension and levity – enough intrigue to keep you guessing, enough laughter and warmth to make you care deeply about who’s in danger.

The pacing is strong and steady: no dragging moments, no false beats. Mystery, murder, and myth unfold at just the right rhythm, keeping readers up far too late flipping pages (not that I’d know anything about that…).

You Had Me at Bigfoot is everything I hoped it would be – fresh, funny, atmospheric, and full of heart. Nancy Campbell Allen takes a legendary creature and spins a story that’s part cozy mystery, part romantic adventure, and entirely entertaining. It’s a witty, well‑balanced blend of thrills and tenderness that leaves you grinning and craving more adventures with Daphne Drew.

Release Date: July 7, 2026 – way too much time for me to cry while counting down the days until book two.

I would like to thank Nancy Campbell Allen and NetGalley for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC You Had Me at Bigfoot. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.

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