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A Brothers Grimm Mystery

Gretel of Gesternstadt (of Hansel and Gretel fame) has made quite a name for herself throughout Bavaria as a private investigator of some note. And so, when Albrecht Durer the Much Much Younger has two of his ancestor’s famous paintings stolen from right under his very nose, Gretel is the one he seeks out.

The case starts on a sour note, however, when Durer’s messenger dies in Gretel’s front hall. Fearing a delay due to questioning in the matter, Gretel absconds to Nuremberg to get started on the case. With the lure of a payday and a chance to shop in Nuremberg’s fine establishments bolstering her on, she immediately gets started. But when the Kingsman from Gesternstadt arrives in Nuremberg intent on arresting Gretel, things become somewhat complicated. Eluding the officials while attempting to catch a thief is a bit above and beyond, but Gretel is determined to solve this one and reap the rewards.

Readers may already know P. J. Brackston and her work as Paula Brackston, but this first in her new Brothers Grimm Mysteries is a bit of a change from her Witch books.

Set in eighteenth-century Bavaria, the series, helmed by a thirty-year-old Gretel, features Grimm characters galore. In fact, this first outing finds Gretel and Hans calling on an old friend who has a penchant for crying wolf for a place to stay.

At times, the actual mystery of the missing frog prints does take a backseat to the overall setting of the story. Brackston’s unique premise and Gretel’s hilarious antics are quite fun reading, though, making this a very promising start to a fun and quirky new series.

2/16 Becky LeJeune

GRETEL AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING FROG PRINTS by P. J. Brackston. Pegasus (January 15, 2015).  ISBN 978-1605986722. 352p.

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Sam Blackman Series

Two little boys are orphaned when their parents are killed during a domestic violence trial. The people of the small town of Asheville, North Carolina pull together and plan a fundraiser for the boys.

Private investigator Sam Blackman had been testifying when the murders occurred and feels guilty, so he agrees to help out when his girlfriend Nakayla asks him to work with the Asheville Apparitions, who want to create a fundraising ghost tour of the town, using members of the group as reenactors. Sam agrees to act as storyteller at the bridge where a woman hung herself years earlier and her spirit is seen from time to time.

When the first tour group comes by, an actual woman tumbles down from the bridge dangling from a noose and very much dead. Then another of the reenactors dies in a recreation across town in an old hotel, and the hunt is on for the killer.

Sam and Nakayla work with the police to help solve the murder, while more of the town’s history unfolds. Lots of interesting characters and some nice twists help make the pages fly by, and readers who enjoy small town mysteries and ghost stories should enjoy this.

Copyright ©2015 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association.

11/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

A SPECTER OF JUSTICE by Mark de Castrique. Poisoned Pen Press (November 3, 2015).  ISBN 978-1464204746. 252p.

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A Rosato & DiNunzio Novel, Book 3 (sort of)

I adore Lisa Scottoline, but I don’t understand why her publisher has “rebranded” her series. I think this is actually the 14th book in the series. And it’s terrific!

Bennie Rosato, founder of the Rosato & Associates law firm, is a very private person, even with her staff. When she takes on a low profile murder case, she tells them she’s been appointed by the court.

The truth is very different; thirteen years earlier, Bennie had represented the same defendant, Jason Leftavick, but in juvenile court. While those records were sealed, she never forgot him or the only case from which she’d ever been fired. Carrying around years of guilt leads her to represent him in what seems like an open and shut case of first degree murder.

Bennie had been fired for dating Declan Mitchell, whose nephew Richie was incarcerated along with Jason. The boys were enemies; Richie bullied Jason until he finally snapped and shoved Richie. A no-nonsense judge sentenced them both to juvie and Jason’s father hired Bennie to free his son, who had recently lost his mother.

Declan and Bennie fall in love and spend one weekend together before circumstances force them apart, but Bennie never forgot the man she considered the love of her life. But now they are on opposite sides of a murder case; Jason is accused of killing Richie. Both the juvenile case and the murder case are compelling on their own, but the combination and the glimpse into Bennie’s younger self make this a wonderful addition to the series.

Copyright ©2015 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association.

10/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

CORRUPTED by Lisa Scottoline.  St. Martin’s Press (October 27, 2015).  ISBN 978-1503945807. 368p.

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The smell at the Brighton train station led the police to find the head and legs of a woman packed in two cases. Shortly thereafter, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens receives the body’s torso in a package addressed to him, using his recent World War II rank of Captain.

The body reminds Edgar of an old magic trick called the “Zig Zag Girl” perfected by Max Mephisto. The men served together in a special unit called the “Magic Men,” and Mephisto is still performing on the circuit but sees that times are changing.

Stephens gets Mephisto to help him investigate, and the time period is classic mystery era, pre-cell phones, computers or DNA, when murders were solved by face-to-face investigation and brilliant deduction.

Another death attributed to a magic trick amps up the tension, especially as Edgar realizes the Magic Men are being targeted. The setting of the shabby, post-war beach town during the 1950’s adds another layer to the story. This is a clever, original plot and the quirky characters bring it all to life in this well written mystery. Classic mystery fans will find this an enjoyable read.

Copyright ©2015 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association.

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE ZIG ZAG GIRL by Elly Griffiths.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (September 15, 2015).  ISBN 978-0544527942. 336p.

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A Jessica Blackwood Novel

A church explosion in Virginia has led some to theorize the devil could be at work. It’s true, there’s little evidence of the cause of the explosion. There’s also no sign of the reported victims. The latter is easily explained, though, as Jessica Blackwood can attest. Called in alongside Agent Knoll to assist in the investigation, Jessica quickly realizes that the search perimeter is too narrow. They find the first victim hanging upside down from a tree just outside their search field. Less easily explainable is the strange symbol etched in blood across the man’s chest.

In this follow up to Angel Killer, Andrew Mayne once again pits Blackwood against a criminal mastermind whose motives and methods are truly baffling and bizarre. But baffling and bizarre are exactly what Jessica Blackwood excels at.

There are just so many things Mayne does so perfectly here – the cases are super odd, Jessica Blackwood is completely unique and kick ass, and all of the weirdness is couched in a premise that ultimately comes across as believable.

As a second in a series, this is also a great follow up because we finally get to meet some of Jessica’s family and learn more about her background. As such, and due to the fact that there are some references to Angel Killer, I would suggest reading these in order. Trust me, they’re worth it.

8/15 Becky LeJeune

NAME OF THE DEVIL by Andrew Mayne. Bourbon Street Books; Uncorrected Proof edition (July 7, 2015).  ISBN 978-0062348890. 432p.

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Shinobi Mysteries (Book 3)

The morning starts out regular enough as Hiro and Father Mateo make their way for their favorite noodle vendor, but the day takes a turn when they witness Ginjiro the brewer being arrested for murder.

A fellow brewer has been found dead in Ginjiro’s alley, apparently beaten with one of Ginjiro’s own flasks. Just hours before, patrons at Ginjiro’s brewery witnessed the two of them arguing and overheard Ginjiro threaten the dead man. With such damning evidence, Ginjiro’s guilt is the simplest conclusion. But Hiro and Father Mateo aren’t so certain. The two are given just a few days to try and find the real killer before Ginjiro is put to trial and almost certainly hanged, but will it be enough time to prove their friend’s innocence?

Susan Spann’s Shinobi series is an excellent blend of history and mystery. With feudal Japan as the backdrop, Spann explores the intricacies and politics of the era, weaving those details into well-conceived plots of murder and more.

Though Flask is technically the third in the series, it does stand quite well on its own. There are a few mentions of previous investigations on the part of our heroes, but nothing that would ruin Claws of the Cat or Blade of the Samurai should you decide to go back to those later.

7/15 Becky LeJeune

FLASK OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER by Susan Spann. Minotaur Books (July 14, 2015).  ISBN 978-1250027061. 304p.