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Once Upon a Crime

Brothers Grimm Mysteries, Book 1

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Once Upon a Crime

By: P.J. Brackston
Narrated by: Kate Reading
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In which we meet 18th century Bavaria's finest private detective Gretel (yes, that Gretel!) who is now 35, very large, living with her brother Hans, and working as a private investigator.

The 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 discovered in the ashes. Gretel notices the cadaver is missing a finger, but dismisses it, as she is fully focused on a search for three missing cats for a well-paying client.

Soon Gretel realizes that the three-missing-cats mystery is inextricably linked to the workshop-arson-cadaver mystery, which leads her into perilous situations and frightening company. She finds herself accused of kidnapping Princess Charlotte, 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 drink-addled brother Hans, she must prove her innocence, solve the puzzle of the unidentified corpse and find the stolen cats before they meet a grisly end.

©2015 P.J. Brackston (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Historical Mystery Private Investigators Women Sleuths Detective Fiction Cats Crime
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Critic reviews

'This spoof of Brothers Grimm fairy tales will have [listeners] laughing out loud.' (Library Journal)
'A rollicking and entertaining novel. Thoroughly enjoyable.' (Historical Novel Society)
'Clever and cute. Delightfully witty vignettes matched with a solid plot. A real charmer. A wonderful mystery series, something truly different and enjoyable to read.' (Bookgasm)
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