The Sorcerer's Appendix by P. J. Brackston

Gretel is back and on another adventure.  She better be careful though.  They have to go into the deep dark forest they just barely escaped from in the past.  She doesn't want to find the witch is still alive!

Pegasus Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published November 7th.

I love this series.  Both Gretel and Hans are pigs.  They always get involved with another nursery rhyme character.  There's humor, silliness, danger, and Hans drinks too much.  I'm surprised they survive until the next adventure!

Their case this time is a missing sorcerer.  All that was left of him in his locked shed was his appendix.  His wife thinks he's dead.  The insurance company won't pay without a body.  The wife hires Gretel to find him, dead or alive...

The journey is dangerous, Gretel's heart is broken because her boyfriend is engaged to be married to someone else, and she's determined to solve this case so they have enough money to make it through winter comfortably.  However, she's not enthused about camping on their journey.  They have no choice...

With attacks coming from all around on the journey, I wasn't sure they'd make it all the way back alive.  Only Gretel gets hurt and that's because Hans jumped on her and broke her leg.  Sometimes brothers are not that big of a help.

The ending is great.  And I'm ready to go detecting with Gretel again in another story!

The Case of the Fickle Mermaid: A Brothers Grimm Mystery by P. J. Brackston

Gretel has been hired to find a mermaid.  She's pretty enthused because it means she gets to do a sea cruise.  What fun!  It's also all paid for by the Captain of the ship.  What could be better?  A bigger ship, maybe?

Pegasus and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be on sale January 25th.

This whole series is a hoot.  Gretel always has Hansel along, mostly because it's not safe to leave him alone.  He has a love affair with food and is embarrassing.  There are times in these stories that the author makes me laugh out loud.  They're a touch silly but they are a great joy to read.

In this case, Gretel knows the Captain looks familiar but can't figure out why.  She's ready to begin investigating but before she even gets started she finds out her nemesis on board.  She doesn't need the widowed lady in her life again.  She's after Hansel and trying to keep the two apart is a full time job.  She's already got a job; Hansel will have to deal with it himself.

She has her suspects.  She also finds a murdered chef.  (Good thing Hans can cook; he fills in.)  And, before she's done, she finds the mermaid.

This is another romp through the absurd and a good read.  I'll be watching for the next one. 

Once Upon a Crime: A Brothers Grimm Mystery by P. J. Brackston

Remember Hansel and Gretel?  They've survived their trip into the forest and now are operating a private detective agency.  Really, they are!

Pegasus and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It has now been published, so you can grab a copy.  If you like funny, punny, tongue-in-cheek stories, you'll want to get the first one in this series, too.  They're a hoot to read!

Gretel is a BIG woman.  She loves to lounge around and eat big meals.  But she also likes money, so she takes on cases to get money for her fancy clothing and food.  She might wish she didn't take the case of the three missing cats.  It turns into quite an adventure...

Gretel ends up dealing with thieves and enforcers, a troll, and even a giant.  It's a good thing Hansel is around to help her and that Gretel thinks quickly.  She has two sets of king's men after her.  She's stealing traps, horses, and anything else she needs to accomplish her goal.  Somehow it all works out, with a little embarrassment on Gretel's side.  It's not nice to be caught hanging on off a gargoyle with your underwear showing.  But the General has a soft spot for her and she gets rescued right away.

Gretel solves the missing cat problem, identifies a dead body and nails the killer, too.  It might be a by guess or by gosh technique but it works!

These are a fun read because they are slightly ridiculous but are good clean fun.  You never know what kind of hair-brained idea Gretel will get next.  I like that.  I also like her new romantic interest, even if they haven't really had a date yet.  So far, everyone that should has a happy ending.  I hope to read more in this series.

Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints: A Brothers Grimm Mystery by P. J. Brackston

I've read more than one version of Hansel and Gretel but I've never found one where she was a private detective.  Now I have!

Pegasus and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published tomorrow, so check for it the next time you visit your local bookstore.

This author has a sense of humor.  Gretel loves food, especially sweets.  She has the figure to attest to that.  The only one fatter than she is her brother, Hans.  She's successfully solved one case, so she's happy to be presented with another.  The bad part is that the messenger dies in her hallway after delivering it.  The local kingsman wants to arrest her for murder.  He knows she didn't do it but he's mad about the earlier case.  What Gretel does is sneak off before they can arrest her...

Gretel talks to her client, stays with Hans and his friend Wolfie, meets a couple of hobgoblins and even visits with a mouse.  She even stumbles into a brothel and has to think of an excuse to stay there.  I liked how inventive she got with her proposed "job" and managed to keep herself from being ravaged.  All of these odd creatures, including the humans, are connected to the theft.  

There's a sausage contest, she gets to wear the princess' diamonds, she has a new love interest (that she always manages to look stupid around), and she even recovers the lost prints.  

This is part fairy tale, part farce, and fun to read.  I enjoyed this mystery and will watch for another in this series.