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FindingJane
Oct 31, 2016FindingJane rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
There’s been a mix-up somewhere with the numbering of these criminal novels. In this one, numbered as the second in the Brothers Grimm series, Gretel is meeting the handsome, suave (even with a reduplicated name) General Ferdinand von Ferdinand for the very first time. However, the previously read novel (labeled number one), involving some purloined frog paintings, has the reader noting Gretel’s appreciation at seeing General von Ferdinand repeatedly, making it clear that she’s already acquainted with him. When I checked on another website, the same numbering system is shown, indicating this isn’t a fluke of Goodreads.com. Once the reader gets his/her mind around the skewed timelines, it is refreshing to read about Gretel’s big case. Again, it’s not her first case since her clients come to her already informed about Gretel’s capabilities as a detective. Once again, she runs afoul of the pernicious and persnickety Kingsman Kapital Strudel. Repeatedly she finds herself in hot water and awful messes, usually when the amused General is about the place. The series raises chuckle after chuckle as Gretel finds herself pursued by hungry lions, scratching furiously after leaving a crazy cat lady and ducking the amorous attentions of a besotted troll. It’s a merry, madcap romp as she improbably ties together the case of a trio of missing felines, a double murder and two star-crossed lovers. It’s a bawdy Shakespearean romp liberally sprinkled with hints of Terry Pratchett. As always, Gretel and her beef-witted brother Hans retain their love of epicurean delights even as they struggle mightily through cold, mud and choke down less than appetizing fare. Whether first or second, this book lives up to its premise and its promise. Now, if they would only get the sequence right…