The Case of the Fickle Mermaid
A Brothers Grimm Mystery
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch's Daughter comes the story of Gretel, all grown up and investigating a series of mysterious disappearances off the coast of Bavaria.
Gretel—yes, that Gretel—is now all grown up and working as a private investigator in 18th century Bavaria. Her professional interest is piqued when she begins to hear whispers of of mysterious goings-on off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein: sailors are disappearing, and there are rumors of mermaids and sea creatures and all manner of slippery, sea-based happenings. Ordinarily, Gretel’s interest in sea-life does not extend beyond that which is edible, doused in butter and garlic, and already on the plate before her. However, funds are low, and the captain of the ship Arabella makes a tempting offer of good pay and a free cruise in return for her detective services. With a splendid new wig packed, Hans as her bodyguard on the journey north, and the promise of two weeks of fine dining and erudite company whilst sailing around the picturesque Friesian islands, what could possibly go wrong?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Brackston's uneven third Brothers Grimm mystery (after 2015's Once upon a Crime) takes intrepid investigator Gretel of Bavaria and her loyal but not particularly bright brother, Hans, to sea. Capt. Tobias Ziegler, who runs the cruise ship Arabella, hires doughty Gretel to investigate the case of a mermaid and disappearing sailors. Off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Gretel encounters a sea sprite, a genuine mermaid, and a murderous smuggling ring. Cameos by dashing Uber Gen. Ferdinand von Ferdinand, who once saved Gretel from a lion, and Birgit Lange, an avaricious husband seeker who once broke Hans's heart, add intrigue to a plot that sometimes drags. Brackston does a good job of highlighting the plight of magical, misfit creatures such as the sea sprite and Hans's mer-hund, a hound bred to hunt mermaids, though human characters are minimally developed. Still, readers seeking a diversion in the Grimms' fairy tale world should have fun.
