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Brothers Grimm Mystery #1
Once Upon a Crime
From New York Times bestselling author P. J. Brackston comes the prequel to Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints, the new novel in the rollicking series featuring Gretel, all grown up and working as a private investigator in 18th century Bavaria.
Gretel (yes, that Gretel) is now 35, very large, still living with her brother Hans, and working as a private investigator. The small, 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 is discovered in the ashes. It is Gretel who notices that the cadaver is missing a finger.
At first, she does not see this as significant, as her mind is fully focused on a new case. Not that she wouldn’t far rather be investigating an intriguing murder, but her client is willing to pay over the odds, so she must content herself with trying to trace three missing cats. It is not until she is further into her investigations that she realizes the two events are inextricably and dangerously connected, and that the mystery of the missing cats will lead her into perilous situations and frightening company.
Very soon Gretel finds herself accused of kidnapping Princess Charlotte, twice 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 brother (whose scant wits are habitually addled by drink), she must prove her innocence, solve the puzzle of the unidentified corpse, and find the stolen cats before they meet a grisly end.
Gretel (yes, that Gretel) is now 35, very large, still living with her brother Hans, and working as a private investigator. The small, 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 is discovered in the ashes. It is Gretel who notices that the cadaver is missing a finger.
At first, she does not see this as significant, as her mind is fully focused on a new case. Not that she wouldn’t far rather be investigating an intriguing murder, but her client is willing to pay over the odds, so she must content herself with trying to trace three missing cats. It is not until she is further into her investigations that she realizes the two events are inextricably and dangerously connected, and that the mystery of the missing cats will lead her into perilous situations and frightening company.
Very soon Gretel finds herself accused of kidnapping Princess Charlotte, twice 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 brother (whose scant wits are habitually addled by drink), she must prove her innocence, solve the puzzle of the unidentified corpse, and find the stolen cats before they meet a grisly end.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 30, 2020
Just finished reading this wonderful book from my hospital bed! I absolutely loved it. Gretel (yes that Gretel ) is an absolutely fantastic character along with her brother Hans who tries his best. If you love fairly tales, crime ,mystery and comedy then you'll love this. 5/5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
June 28, 2023
The book description says it all, really. This is a fairly entertaining, mildly humorous, mystery novel set in the fictional, semi-historical-fairytale-ish town of Gesternstadt (and sometimes Bad am Zee) in 18th century Bavaria. Gretel (yes, that Gretel) has interesting (and often funny) encounters with a princess, a troll, Kapitan Strudel, the cheerful Herr Schmerz the torturer, Uber General Ferdinand von Ferdinand (love this guy!), all in an attempt to find the missing cats and figure out why there are corpses piling up. I found the characters interesting, and the story itself a fairly entertaining mystery. A fun little frivolous novel for those days when you don't feel like serious stuff.
August 21, 2015
A fairy tale sequel and crime novel with a light, humorous twist, P. J. Brackston’s Once Upon a Crime is hard to pigeonhole. For her premise, she takes the character of Gretel, first made famous by her childhood appearance with brother Hansel in the witchy Brothers Grimm story, ages her a few decades, and installs her as a private detective in 18th-century Bavaria.
I’ve always gone for novels taking place in historical Germany, but must say up front that the setting here is quasi-historical at best. There are many willful anachronisms – waxing appointments, for example, and vodka martinis – plus a host of imaginary creatures, but the wacky combination of elements is part of its charm. When I heard the name of the place where Gretel hangs her shingle, the sleepy backwater of “Gesternstadt,” I was intrigued enough to read it.
Gretel’s a hefty gal who loves her Weisswurst and a good beer or two, and her perpetually inebriated brother Hans, who has never truly recovered from their childhood trauma, contributes to the household by cooking delicious meals. When Gretel agrees to help Frau Hapsburg locate her three kidnapped cats, she gets drawn into a web of danger involving a treacherous princess, a troll (the lives-under-a-bridge type) who has the hots for voluptuous women, and several unexplained murders. She also discovers that the fiery destruction of a local carriage-maker’s workshop is related to her case.
The storyline took a while to grab me. While I like a well-done spoof, I prefer historical fantasy novels with more actual history than this one offered. However, Gretel’s smart and sarcastic attitude soon won me over. A fashionista who appreciates the finer things in life, Gretel also detests the innate twee-ness of the world she’s forced to live in. I confess to being so distracted by all the amusing whimsy that I neglected to pay attention to the clues in what turned out to be a pretty decent mystery.
Historical purists may want to steer clear, but for those looking for an entertaining diversion from more serious fare, this could be just the ticket.
First reviewed at Reading the Past.
I’ve always gone for novels taking place in historical Germany, but must say up front that the setting here is quasi-historical at best. There are many willful anachronisms – waxing appointments, for example, and vodka martinis – plus a host of imaginary creatures, but the wacky combination of elements is part of its charm. When I heard the name of the place where Gretel hangs her shingle, the sleepy backwater of “Gesternstadt,” I was intrigued enough to read it.
Gretel’s a hefty gal who loves her Weisswurst and a good beer or two, and her perpetually inebriated brother Hans, who has never truly recovered from their childhood trauma, contributes to the household by cooking delicious meals. When Gretel agrees to help Frau Hapsburg locate her three kidnapped cats, she gets drawn into a web of danger involving a treacherous princess, a troll (the lives-under-a-bridge type) who has the hots for voluptuous women, and several unexplained murders. She also discovers that the fiery destruction of a local carriage-maker’s workshop is related to her case.
The storyline took a while to grab me. While I like a well-done spoof, I prefer historical fantasy novels with more actual history than this one offered. However, Gretel’s smart and sarcastic attitude soon won me over. A fashionista who appreciates the finer things in life, Gretel also detests the innate twee-ness of the world she’s forced to live in. I confess to being so distracted by all the amusing whimsy that I neglected to pay attention to the clues in what turned out to be a pretty decent mystery.
Historical purists may want to steer clear, but for those looking for an entertaining diversion from more serious fare, this could be just the ticket.
First reviewed at Reading the Past.
August 12, 2015
This book combined some of my favorite things….fairy tales and murder mysteries. It was really cute and a fun little escape. It took me a bit to sort some things out since this is the second book in a series, I felt like I was missing a couple of things in the landscape, like how did she become a private investigator in the first place?
As far as the dialogue goes, I struggled a bit with some of the statements. For example, this book is supposed to be set in the 1700s Bavaia…..did they have vodka martinis then? There were lots of little things like this that seemed more like modern dialogue and unlikely in the historic period. Same with some of the hygiene things….people in the 1700s just didn’t care that much about personal hygiene etc.
But once I accepted the fact that this story was a fairy tale and anything could happen in a fairy tale so I just took it at face value and tried to let it not annoy me…it was hard but I tried. Sometimes I just wanted to scream ‘that’s not historically accurate’ but this wasn’t marketed as a historic fiction novel so in the end I just had to let it go and enjoy the story.
Also the constant references to Gretel’s weight was kind of annoying. I don’t know that it added much to the story….it was lighthearted and comical at times but a couple of comments was plenty to get the point across.
All that said, I liked the magical/fantasy elements in the story and the overall premise. The mystery was enough to keep me interested. The book over all was cute and entertaining as well as funny. I liked that Gretel was a more mature heroine and she had a unique and quirky way of looking at things and the mystery. I liked her, I don’t know that I loved her, but I liked her enough to keep reading the book to see what happens next.
See my full review here
As far as the dialogue goes, I struggled a bit with some of the statements. For example, this book is supposed to be set in the 1700s Bavaia…..did they have vodka martinis then? There were lots of little things like this that seemed more like modern dialogue and unlikely in the historic period. Same with some of the hygiene things….people in the 1700s just didn’t care that much about personal hygiene etc.
But once I accepted the fact that this story was a fairy tale and anything could happen in a fairy tale so I just took it at face value and tried to let it not annoy me…it was hard but I tried. Sometimes I just wanted to scream ‘that’s not historically accurate’ but this wasn’t marketed as a historic fiction novel so in the end I just had to let it go and enjoy the story.
Also the constant references to Gretel’s weight was kind of annoying. I don’t know that it added much to the story….it was lighthearted and comical at times but a couple of comments was plenty to get the point across.
All that said, I liked the magical/fantasy elements in the story and the overall premise. The mystery was enough to keep me interested. The book over all was cute and entertaining as well as funny. I liked that Gretel was a more mature heroine and she had a unique and quirky way of looking at things and the mystery. I liked her, I don’t know that I loved her, but I liked her enough to keep reading the book to see what happens next.
See my full review here
July 15, 2015
The premise of this book was very eye-catching - a mystery with characters from the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales, and with Gretel as a detective. Gretel being an interesting choice as a main character because you can see how her past has affected her and made her a stronger, more sarcastic and less trusting woman. It's very entertaining to read about her in this story, but the mystery aspect as well as the inclusion of the fairy tale theme overall seemed very light.
The mystery was the biggest disappointment. There were many odd threads to it, which made it difficult to predict or even comprehend what was the true mystery - it all seemed a bit of a jumble with the connection made much later and unfortunately past the point when I cared very much about the resolution. I was hoping to see more familiar fairy tale characters besides Gretel and Hans, but there weren't many - just characters who would appear in fairy tales, like trolls and giants, and other colorful human characters. It was a more realistic take on the world though, which might appeal to some readers.
The story is humorous, and Gretel has a fun way of looking at things, although the sense of humor was not quite my cup of tea. It drew a lot from crass actions and characters, which probably did fit the setting (people were not as careful of their hygiene in the past) so that might also appeal to some readers and definitely helps to keep the realistic tone of the novel.
The novel has an unpredictable mystery, and a fun, mature heroine in Gretel but unfortunately many aspects of the story did not appeal as much to me. I love the premise though, and if this continues as a series (this is a second adventure for Gretel) it might be fun to see where the author takes it.
(I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.)
The mystery was the biggest disappointment. There were many odd threads to it, which made it difficult to predict or even comprehend what was the true mystery - it all seemed a bit of a jumble with the connection made much later and unfortunately past the point when I cared very much about the resolution. I was hoping to see more familiar fairy tale characters besides Gretel and Hans, but there weren't many - just characters who would appear in fairy tales, like trolls and giants, and other colorful human characters. It was a more realistic take on the world though, which might appeal to some readers.
The story is humorous, and Gretel has a fun way of looking at things, although the sense of humor was not quite my cup of tea. It drew a lot from crass actions and characters, which probably did fit the setting (people were not as careful of their hygiene in the past) so that might also appeal to some readers and definitely helps to keep the realistic tone of the novel.
The novel has an unpredictable mystery, and a fun, mature heroine in Gretel but unfortunately many aspects of the story did not appeal as much to me. I love the premise though, and if this continues as a series (this is a second adventure for Gretel) it might be fun to see where the author takes it.
(I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.)
April 2, 2018
Ever been stuck in an airport without a book? There's a bookstore. You have seven minutes. You grab this. After your flight, you go, "eh, that wasn't bad" and you leave it for someone to find. This is that book.
It's pleasant. It passes the time. There are flashes of wit, and a decent plot. Hans is a good character.
I'm OK with the vodka martinis in 1700s Bavaria, we're all friends here.
And you know you wanted to look up "Gesternstadt." I did. It's "yesterday city" - not bad.
Gretel is a heroine of the persistent bungler class, but she does make the occasional reasonable deduction so it's all good.
Not sure why we have to be reminded so often that Gretel is large and several times naked. Doesn't seem to contribute to the plot in any way, and no one else seems to react in the slightest, so why mention it?
Not great lit'rature, not trying to be. If I have three books for a trip and I want a fourth, I might grab another of these.
It's pleasant. It passes the time. There are flashes of wit, and a decent plot. Hans is a good character.
I'm OK with the vodka martinis in 1700s Bavaria, we're all friends here.
And you know you wanted to look up "Gesternstadt." I did. It's "yesterday city" - not bad.
Gretel is a heroine of the persistent bungler class, but she does make the occasional reasonable deduction so it's all good.
Not sure why we have to be reminded so often that Gretel is large and several times naked. Doesn't seem to contribute to the plot in any way, and no one else seems to react in the slightest, so why mention it?
Not great lit'rature, not trying to be. If I have three books for a trip and I want a fourth, I might grab another of these.
October 17, 2017
Das sind eher 2,5 Sterne als 3. An Anfang hab ich überhaupt nicht reingefunden und hatte wenig Anknüpfungspunkte an die Protagonisten. So ab ca 60% hat sich das gelegt und die vielen "Baustellen", die aufgemacht wurden, liefen auch irgendwann zusammen. Ab und zu war es ganz witzig, wenn Gretel versucht hat, ihre Würde und Haltung zu bewahren. Aber so richtig spannend war es leider nicht für mich. Vielleicht bin ich da auch wieder mit anderen Vorstellungen dran, denn in der Nachbemerkung wird erwähnt, dass es Märchen für Erwachsene sein sollen (und daher wohl weniger Krimi, als der Titel vermuten lässt). Es war ok, aber kein Buch, das ich unbedingt nochmal lesen muss/würde.
July 14, 2017
This book was a great mix of humor and 'grim' (pun intended) antics as Gretel (yes, that Gretel) solves her latest crime mystery. Set in a small European country, various fairy tale characters including her brother, Hans, appear when the reader least expects them. This book was such fun to read and was full of unexpected events that lead the reader through many surprises.
May 17, 2023
It’s surely not the Gretel of the fairytales. Gretel continues her adventures in detecting and sleeping and eating.
August 5, 2023
So fun and the audiobook narration is excellent! This should be listed as Brothers Grimm Mystery #1 but I listened to it 2nd and it was still great.
October 3, 2021
Oh, my goodness — this book is a hoot! It is a retelling of a Grimm’s Fairytale; although, I think it might be a mashup of several tales blended!?!?!
Funny, quirky, and weirdly engaging, it is a great Halloween romp!
Funny, quirky, and weirdly engaging, it is a great Halloween romp!
July 31, 2023
Audiobook. 3.5ish.
Not sure if I'll continue the series, but I was entertained.
Not sure if I'll continue the series, but I was entertained.
March 26, 2024
Read this for my book club. It was delightful and funny and mysterious. I love books like these where they take well known characters from children’s stories and tell more about them. The audiobook was great.
May 20, 2024
This was a really fun short listen. I found it because I was looking for other books narrated by Kate Reading.
August 19, 2015
Remember Gretel? Yes, THAT Gretel. She of the woods-walk-and-bread-crumb-trail. The girl who survived nearly being eaten by a witch. That one. Did you ever wonder what happened to her? After all, psychotherapy isn’t a big deal in 18th-century Bavaria. You got a smack upside the head and a “well, it’s over now so quit crying about it”.
Did she? Get over it, that is. Well, you be the judge. In this story, Gretel is all grown up and working as a detective. Well, she would if she could get the work. Seems the town’s police force and King’s Guard get all the juicy stuff.
She is left with…cats. More specifically, missing cats. If she had her way, the cats would remain missing, but their owner has more money than sense (to Gretel’s way of thinking). The money for all of Gretel’s fine (undersized) fashions, including her Timmy Chew shoes, has to come from somewhere. Not to mention having to pay the enormous tavern tab and the cigar bills for her brother Hans.
Gretel has no idea what she is getting into when she happily and hastily removes the client’s money from her hand. What follows takes her into and out of prison, endangers her life at the hands of a skanky and amorous troll, and puts her into embarrassing positions – usually in front of one of the dreamiest men she has ever seen.
Ms. Brackston’s first book in her “A Brothers Grimm Mystery” series is certainly a tribute to the genre. Very much like Jasper Fforde’s “Nursery Crimes” series, but with a twist all her own—in hers, the Grimm brothers’ characters come to life and come of age—and not in any fairy-tale way either. I love how Hansel and Gretel have evolved, and how their own particular hang-ups have shaped their lives.
The author’s writing is so much fun! I love how she has put this book together. In one scene, Gretel is hanging from a gargoyle, and she looks down to see handsome Ferdinand. She fervently believes that he has come racing to save her. But as the conversation continues, she is crestfallen at his words. Then “her crest (was) fallen further”. Later, her “crest (was) now completely fallen.” Writing like that—laugh-out-loud humor—really made this book worth every word.
If you’re looking for a fun mystery, this is definitely it.
Did she? Get over it, that is. Well, you be the judge. In this story, Gretel is all grown up and working as a detective. Well, she would if she could get the work. Seems the town’s police force and King’s Guard get all the juicy stuff.
She is left with…cats. More specifically, missing cats. If she had her way, the cats would remain missing, but their owner has more money than sense (to Gretel’s way of thinking). The money for all of Gretel’s fine (undersized) fashions, including her Timmy Chew shoes, has to come from somewhere. Not to mention having to pay the enormous tavern tab and the cigar bills for her brother Hans.
Gretel has no idea what she is getting into when she happily and hastily removes the client’s money from her hand. What follows takes her into and out of prison, endangers her life at the hands of a skanky and amorous troll, and puts her into embarrassing positions – usually in front of one of the dreamiest men she has ever seen.
Ms. Brackston’s first book in her “A Brothers Grimm Mystery” series is certainly a tribute to the genre. Very much like Jasper Fforde’s “Nursery Crimes” series, but with a twist all her own—in hers, the Grimm brothers’ characters come to life and come of age—and not in any fairy-tale way either. I love how Hansel and Gretel have evolved, and how their own particular hang-ups have shaped their lives.
The author’s writing is so much fun! I love how she has put this book together. In one scene, Gretel is hanging from a gargoyle, and she looks down to see handsome Ferdinand. She fervently believes that he has come racing to save her. But as the conversation continues, she is crestfallen at his words. Then “her crest (was) fallen further”. Later, her “crest (was) now completely fallen.” Writing like that—laugh-out-loud humor—really made this book worth every word.
If you’re looking for a fun mystery, this is definitely it.
August 24, 2015
Once Upon A Crime is the second in P J Brackston’s new dark comedic crime drama series, a prequel to book one, Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints. Her twisting, turning, nail-biting storyline is once again a mix of ribald and gallows humor that features idyllic fairytale settings with a definite sinister side, interspersed with a melding of Sherlock and Pink Panther crime solving. Her stars, the irrepressible, über-curvaceous, self-serving Gretel and her humble, addled big brother sidekick rule every page as do her amazing townsfolk and fantastical co-stars.
I have enjoyed all the writings of Paula Brackston and am loving her new incarnation as P.J. where with her unique imagination she once again leaves me in awe.
Once upon a time in Bavaria, Gretel (yes that Gretel) lived in a village called Gesternstadt earning her keep as a private detective with her brother Hansel (yes that Hansel) as her befuddled assistant. Her current case of the missing kitties has gotten her once again on the wrong side of the law. She’s trying to avoid all the kingsmen, and the machinations of the royals, all the while hoping to keep her considerable self out of trouble so she can solve the case and fill her quickly emptying coffers. While executing her superior (to her anyway) method of sleuthing she encounters murder and mayhem leaving her with more questions than answers and she must do some quick thinking to keep herself and Hans out of the clutches of the good guys and the bad guys so she can find and return the absconded felines to their grieving owner.
I have enjoyed all the writings of Paula Brackston and am loving her new incarnation as P.J. where with her unique imagination she once again leaves me in awe.
Once upon a time in Bavaria, Gretel (yes that Gretel) lived in a village called Gesternstadt earning her keep as a private detective with her brother Hansel (yes that Hansel) as her befuddled assistant. Her current case of the missing kitties has gotten her once again on the wrong side of the law. She’s trying to avoid all the kingsmen, and the machinations of the royals, all the while hoping to keep her considerable self out of trouble so she can solve the case and fill her quickly emptying coffers. While executing her superior (to her anyway) method of sleuthing she encounters murder and mayhem leaving her with more questions than answers and she must do some quick thinking to keep herself and Hans out of the clutches of the good guys and the bad guys so she can find and return the absconded felines to their grieving owner.
September 21, 2019
To my surprise, Once Upon a Crime is a great comic-mystery novel with a quirky cast of characters. I began this book expecting a decent mystery set in the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales. Much to my delight, it quickly became apparent Brackston was taking a humorous approach and I was immediately sold.
A mid 30s, overweight Gretel (yes, that Gretel) is now a private detective whose main motivation is to help people, so no one is abandoned like her & her brother were as kids. Just kidding, it's money and looking out for her own neck and appearance. This jaded Gretel who despises the overly cheery outlook of her fellow villagers is hilarious and the rest of the characters we meet aren't any less. It'd be spoiling the mystery to mention the more important characters, but even the minor ones have their quirks. Such as a Kingsmen who must recite his whole spiel uninterrupted or a torture artist with an oddly bright outlook considering his appearance and occupation.
All the absurd situations and oddball characters were reminiscent of Adams' style and is definitely something I'd enjoy watching on TV. Very glad I stumbled across this series.
A mid 30s, overweight Gretel (yes, that Gretel) is now a private detective whose main motivation is to help people, so no one is abandoned like her & her brother were as kids. Just kidding, it's money and looking out for her own neck and appearance. This jaded Gretel who despises the overly cheery outlook of her fellow villagers is hilarious and the rest of the characters we meet aren't any less. It'd be spoiling the mystery to mention the more important characters, but even the minor ones have their quirks. Such as a Kingsmen who must recite his whole spiel uninterrupted or a torture artist with an oddly bright outlook considering his appearance and occupation.
All the absurd situations and oddball characters were reminiscent of Adams' style and is definitely something I'd enjoy watching on TV. Very glad I stumbled across this series.
November 21, 2018
I listened to this through Hoopla Digital at 1.25 speed, and the narration was so very good. Some great books suffer with poor narrators, but on the flip side, some good books are enhanced with great narration. In this case, I can see that there's fluff in these books, but Kate Reading's interpretation enhances the stories. I think she shows how good the writing really is and completely nails the humor. I say this, because I've seen numerous reviews from readers that, I think, would "get" the books if they'd listened on audio. I was able to listen to the first two in the series for free with Hoopla, which is available through public libraries (www.hoopladigital.com).
August 28, 2015
I wanted to like the book more, just based on the premise. Unfortunately, Gretel mostly made me think of MC Beaton's Agatha Raisin. Both Gretel and Agatha just aggravate me, instead of being amusing. I felt the story spent a lot more time focusing on Gretel's beauty treatments and her efforts to acquire money than on the original catnapping she was hired to solve. But, I know a lot of people like Agatha, so they'd probably like Gretel.
September 25, 2015
I'm glad I gave this series another try! Although excited about the concept, I was a bit let down in the first book; HOWEVER, Gretel (Yes, that Gretel!) didn't disappoint this time. More hijinks, murder, Hans(!), and colorful characters (all wildly entertaining and carrying the fairy tale connection) made for a delightful story. Cat lovers beware: not only are felines in mortal danger, but Gretel doesn't shy in her disgust one bit!
May 30, 2021
Reader thoughts: Well, that was certainly a new kind of book.
We have a retelling-esque story mixed with detective mystery, adventure, and a splash of romance. I enjoyed how it all came together except that Brackston writes with raunchier language and dirtier jokes than I usually stomach. So, I won't read more in this series.
Gretel's character was well done. She's always irritated, always hungry, always complaining in her mind, and always thinking that she is owed pampering and expensive clothes. She isn't a likable character by any means, but she is an interesting one.
I didn't like the inappropriate parts. There was nudity (Gretel is arrested while she is bathing and climbs out, naked, to be arrested) and such. I think there were dirty jokes and Gretel lusting after the handsome guard captain guy.
I liked the climax, where they all went to the giant's cave/castle place. I thought Gretel was going to bring the cats' owner to the giant, and she would live with him and keep him company. I disliked that I like cats and need a perfectly happy ending for all of them.
Writer thoughts: Usually authors want their protagonists to be likable. Give them the "pet the dog" scene early in the book so that readers sympathize with them.
Sometimes, and it doesn't always work, authors write an unlikable protagonist filling an unsympathetic role.
Gretel was this kind. To pull this off, Brackston had to make Gretel interesting (she had strong personality, was intelligent, but was willing to chop off her own brother's fingers). The plot was a bit random, which added interest. Gretel accomplished a lot; she just complained her way through all of it. She finds fault with everyone and everything. She's always asking her employer for more money even though she hadn't made much progress yet.
We have a retelling-esque story mixed with detective mystery, adventure, and a splash of romance. I enjoyed how it all came together except that Brackston writes with raunchier language and dirtier jokes than I usually stomach. So, I won't read more in this series.
Gretel's character was well done. She's always irritated, always hungry, always complaining in her mind, and always thinking that she is owed pampering and expensive clothes. She isn't a likable character by any means, but she is an interesting one.
I didn't like the inappropriate parts. There was nudity (Gretel is arrested while she is bathing and climbs out, naked, to be arrested) and such. I think there were dirty jokes and Gretel lusting after the handsome guard captain guy.
I liked the climax, where they all went to the giant's cave/castle place. I thought Gretel was going to bring the cats' owner to the giant, and she would live with him and keep him company. I disliked that I like cats and need a perfectly happy ending for all of them.
Writer thoughts: Usually authors want their protagonists to be likable. Give them the "pet the dog" scene early in the book so that readers sympathize with them.
Sometimes, and it doesn't always work, authors write an unlikable protagonist filling an unsympathetic role.
Gretel was this kind. To pull this off, Brackston had to make Gretel interesting (she had strong personality, was intelligent, but was willing to chop off her own brother's fingers). The plot was a bit random, which added interest. Gretel accomplished a lot; she just complained her way through all of it. She finds fault with everyone and everything. She's always asking her employer for more money even though she hadn't made much progress yet.
June 18, 2020
This was not exactly what I expected but was just as enjoyable!
I am often attracted to fairytale-twist stories. Clever takes on familiar themes are pretty much always going to be a winner with me and I expected this to be very much the same. It was however, slightly more detective story and slightly less fairy tale than I thought it would be going in, which is just fine with me as I love a good detective story.
What I expected was for this book to be like many others and be packed with fairy tale references, fantastical characters, and most definitely have magical wackiness. Instead this (slightly anachronistic and only a little magical) story was far more of a traditional private detective story but was still just as clever and funny as I’d hoped.
Gretel hits all the notes for a quirky private detective with a patchy relationship with local law enforcement who is investigating an odd case that turns out to be Huge. Add to that some fairy tale references and a heavy dose of dry humor which is my very favorite kind to create a really fun story. Plus there is no nobler cause than the rescue of wayward cats!
There were no real surprises but definitely some story points I couldn’t have predicted from the beginning and the journey was so much fun.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
I am often attracted to fairytale-twist stories. Clever takes on familiar themes are pretty much always going to be a winner with me and I expected this to be very much the same. It was however, slightly more detective story and slightly less fairy tale than I thought it would be going in, which is just fine with me as I love a good detective story.
What I expected was for this book to be like many others and be packed with fairy tale references, fantastical characters, and most definitely have magical wackiness. Instead this (slightly anachronistic and only a little magical) story was far more of a traditional private detective story but was still just as clever and funny as I’d hoped.
Gretel hits all the notes for a quirky private detective with a patchy relationship with local law enforcement who is investigating an odd case that turns out to be Huge. Add to that some fairy tale references and a heavy dose of dry humor which is my very favorite kind to create a really fun story. Plus there is no nobler cause than the rescue of wayward cats!
There were no real surprises but definitely some story points I couldn’t have predicted from the beginning and the journey was so much fun.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 5, 2019
Readers must enter this little humorous mystery with an open mind and a great sense of humor. Ala Fforde, Adams, and Prahchett, Brackston takes Gretel (now a 35 year old rotund hard drinkin’, couture wearin’, day bed sittin’ gal) and makes her a private investigator. She’s not a detective driven by the desire to right wrongs, but rather to bank some cash. Her brother Hansel is a jovial alcoholic, she has issues with witches as a result of her traumatic childhood experience, and don’t even get her started about idyllic little hamlets like the one in which she presently lives where everything is “wonderful”, yet children are allowed to be abandoned by their parents in the woods (childhood scarring, anyone)? Be prepared to meet cat ladies, trolls, highway robbers, evil knights, giants, and dreamy Lancelot types. My only disappointment with this creative little adventure is that sometimes the humor is difficult to sustain and feels a tad forced.
November 18, 2021
Imagine my surprise when I found that one of my favorite witchy authors also wrote a set of mysteries! I was excited to read this mystery series starring Gretel, yes that Gretel, from Hansel und Gretel! Gretel and Hans are adults and are delightfully described by the author with both being connoisseurs of those yummy German treats (brats and brews). Gretel is also a PI and in this particular mystery she's tasked to find missing cats (animals that she really does not like very much). Before this particular case, her town experiences a tragic loss which may or may not (you'll have to read to find out) have to do with her most recent case of the missing cats. I enjoyed the adventures and the mystery. I loved Gretel's spunk and ability to problem solve although I think she sells Hans short at times. A fun read and I look forward to reading more in the series.🍺🍺🍺1/2 beers
February 7, 2021
I was intrigued by the premise of Once Upon A Crime; Hansel and Gretel all grown up after surviving the harrowing nightmare of almost being eaten by a terrible witch. What would they be like, how did they live now, what do they do, were they off gingerbread for life? It started out slowly for me, alluding to their history but not going into detail as to what happened that fateful night they were off into the forest.
It was not until I was about 100 pages in that the story really picked up for me and I was pulled into the narrative. Brackston’s premise around Grimm’s fairy tales is interesting and her story construct and conclusion were enough that I want to pick up the second boo in the series.
It was not until I was about 100 pages in that the story really picked up for me and I was pulled into the narrative. Brackston’s premise around Grimm’s fairy tales is interesting and her story construct and conclusion were enough that I want to pick up the second boo in the series.
February 19, 2024
Naja, Spannung ist vielleicht doch etwas übertrieben. Die Autorin schafft es zwar, den wahren Täter bis zum letzten drittel geheim zu halten, aber es kommt nicht so wirklich Spannung auf. Es ist recht seicht….Man kann schmunzeln und rätseln, aber es fehlt irgendwie der Pepp…bei mir war es leider so, dass ich froh war, als das Buch fertig gelesen war…..Es war wenig fesselnd….Vielleicht eine Strandlektüre im Urlaub?….Es war das Erste in dieser Serie….vielleicht kann man noch mal eine Chance geben….aber erst sehr viel später…..Aber es soll ja eh erst im Dezember weitergehen…bis dahin habe ich vielleicht vergessen, dass es sich etwas arg gezogen hat….
August 4, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. It gives the true crime feel with fantasy fairytales we know and love. It was incredibly slow and disappointing towards the end. Gretel’s main personality trait was being money hungry instead of solving the case she was hired to solve and Hans was incredibly dense. There were a couple of times I had to re-read a page because it was quoted dialogue and it was hard to keep track of whom was walking to whom. Unfortunately won’t be continuing this series should’ve been a stand alone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2018
I always listen to this one first when I go for a listening marathon. I have found the events occur before those of the frog prints. Either way they deal with different mysteries and are a fun read with a wonderful performance either way. I have listened to this multiple times though I have just started bothering to track with goodreads. I like to listen while doing work around the house or while making the commute into work.
September 18, 2019
A mystery with minor fantasy elements. The detective is Gretel, yes, THAT Gretel. There's also a troll, a giant and a minor multitude of cats. Unfortunately, the best parts of the story involve Gretel's brother, Hans. And there just wasn't that much Hans. So, while this wasn't a bad listen by any means - just kind of average most of the time - I've got a LOT to read / listen to that I enjoy more. So I probably won't be in any rush to find the next in the series.
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December 18, 2021DNF. I thought it would be nice to listen to a cozy mystery with a fun premise and read by a narrator who does snark and wit so well. Alas, I was done in the first chapter when the author/main character expresses dislike of cats and cat people, pokes fun at the idea of someone being worried about their cats, perpetuates stereotypes about homes with cats, and then jokes about cats dying a fire. When the entire first chapter is dripping with so much anti-cat sentiment, I was out.
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