Gretel and the case of the missing frog prints A Brothers Grimm mystery

In Bavaria in 1776, Gretel of Gesternstadt (yes, that Gretel) is 35 and living with her brother Hans, both of them still suffering with sugar cravings after their childhood encounter with that gingerbread house. While she has gained a reputation for private detecting, he is slow-witted and indolent but redeemed, in his sister's eyes, by his culinary skills. When Gretel gets a message from Albrecht Durer the Much Much Younger of Nuremberg asking her to recover two stolen prints of frogs by his famous indirect ancestor, Hans goes along for the upcoming Uber Weisswurst Fest. As Gretel communicates with hobgoblins and talking mice and undertakes a bold operation in a brothel hidden in the city's finest hotel, Hans along with their host, Wolfie Pretzel helps build the world largest Weisswurst. This first in the Brothers Grimm mystery series is a tongue-in-cheek fantasy crime cozy, with tartness from Gretel herself to counter its sweetness, hints of romance provided by Uber General Ferdinand von Ferdinand, and the suggestion of a seagoing adventure ahead. For those immersed too long in the world of noir, this is an apt palette-cleanser.--Leber, Michele Copyright 2015 Booklist

Bestseller Brackston (The Witch's Daughter) melds folktale whimsy with a sardonic adult voice in the rollicking first of a new series set in 1776 Bavaria. Gretel, now grown up and living with witless older brother Hans in provincial Gesternstadt, funds her love of fine things by working as a private detective. When a messenger from Nuremberg dies after delivering a plea to Gretel for her services on behalf of another party, lawman Kapitan Strudel suspects Gretel of his murder, and sister and brother flee to Nuremberg. There Gretel discovers that priceless prints depicting frogs, created by client Albrecht Durer the Much Much Younger's famous relative, have been stolen. A kinky art collector is killed, and Durer's greedy nephew is suspected before Gretel can identify the perpetrators of both crimes. Along the way, talking mice and hobgoblins share clues, the world's largest sausage explodes, and famous fairy tale characters make amusing cameo appearances. Agent: Kate Hordern, Kate Hordern Literary Agency. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

When the messenger arrived on Gretel's doorstep, he was just able to pass on his missive before dying. Albrecht Durer the Much Much Younger has had his Frog Prints stolen, and he knows just the sleuth to solve this mystery: Bavaria's most famous PI. All grown up but still living with her brother Hans, Gretel jumps at the chance to check out the city of Nuremberg. Not even its annual sausage festival will get in the way of her search for the thief. With the not-so-helpful assistance of Hans, his school chum Wolfie, and some verbose mice, Gretel is determined to crack this case before the last bratwurst is consumed. VERDICT Brackston's (The Witch's Daughter) deft mystery (and series launch) set in 18th-century Germany dances a fine line between spoof and satire, with a hearty mix of fairy-tale lore thrown in. Larger-than-life characters are balanced with a smart plot that is sure to appeal to fans of Jasper Fforde's "Nursery Crime" series. (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.