Once Upon a Crime: A Brothers Grimm MysteryFrom New York Times bestselling author P. J. Brackston comes the prequel to Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints, the new novel in the rollicking series featuring Gretel, all grown up and working as a private investigator in 18th century Bavaria. Gretel (yes, that Gretel) is now 35, very large, still living with her brother Hans, and working as a private investigator. The small, sleepy town of Gesternstadt is shaken to its pretty foundations when the workshop of the local cart maker is burnt to the ground, and a body is discovered in the ashes. It is Gretel who notices that the cadaver is missing a finger. At first she does not see this as significant, as her mind is fully focused on a new case. Not that she wouldn’t far rather be investigating an intriguing murder, but her client is willing to pay over the odds, so she must content herself with trying to trace three missing cats. It is not until she is further into her investigations that she realizes the two events are inextricably and dangerously connected, and that the mystery of the missing cats will lead her into perilous situations and frightening company. Very soon Gretel finds herself accused of kidnapping Princess Charlotte, twice locked up in the cells at the Summer Schloss, repelling the advances of an amorous troll, strapped to a rack in Herr Schmerz’s torture chamber, and fleeing a murder charge. With dubious help from her brother (whose scant wits are habitually addled by drink), she must prove her innocence, solve the puzzle of the unidentified corpse, and find the stolen cats before they meet a grisly end. |
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Agnes Bad am Zee Bavaria Bechstein beer beneath Big-fat woman body bratwurst breath brother Bruder Brunhilda castle cats clearly clutching creature daybed Dieter Muller dirndl eyes face feet Ferdinand von Ferdinand fingers Frau Hapsburg Frau Peterson Fraulein Gretel front door further gargoyle gasped Gesternstadt giant girl give Gretel asked Gretel decided Gretel felt Gretel found Gretel told guard hair hand Hans Hans's head Herr Peterson Herr Schmerz Herr Troll horse hour Hund Hund's yard Johanna Kapitan Strudel King Julian kingsman knew knife least lion look mind Mippin mouth Muller never nodded once opened paused Peterson-Muller Princess Charlotte pulled Queen Beatrix Roland screamed seemed sergeant shook smile snatched soldiers stagecoach stepped stood teeth tell things toffee took trap turned Uber General Ferdinand voice waited weisswurst window young