Elle Hartford

“Death Pulls the Strings” is the nicely done sixth book in Elle Hartford “The Alchemical Tales” mystery series. Each book in the series is filled with fairy tale elements and this book features Hartford’s take on Pinocchio. In this book Red (think Little Red Riding Hood), her boyfriend Luca, her best friend (and dog familiar) William, and Police Officer Thorn travel to Brass – Luca to attend a convention and the others to help solve the murder of a gnome and an enchanted broom. The mystery is well done with just the right number of suspects and more than a few surprises. The fairy tale aspects are also well done with clever references to Pinocchio. But what I really like about this book – and the whole series – is the relationships between the characters. In this book there is an emphasis on the relationship between Red and William – it is very well done and ties in nicely with the overall theme of the book. In the end I was sorry when I was finished with the book and look forward to more adventures with Red and her gang of friends.
I won a copy of this book but was under no obligation to review it.

… (altro)

I won this little gem from Librarything. I began reading before realizing it was 3rd in a series. It would have helped if I had read the previous books, but the author's references helped. (Almost too much revealing).

Mermaids have always fascinated me. But, from my limited experience, most fantasy novels depict the creatures as conniving, manipulative or seductive. But here, there are merfolk and sirens. Merfolk are good people.

Red, is an alchemist. Her companion William, is a protective magical creature in the form of a very large sheepdog. Don't mistake him as a normal dog. The two are attending the wedding of a good friend - merfolk and human. The wedding will last weeks per tradition. Except not for everyone is happy. There are obvious tensions amongst guests and wedding party alike.

What was absolutely fascinating was Elle Hartford's world of the Merfolk. Their oceanmade structures are built to serve a purpose - receptions, gatherings, feasts and ceremony - to be returned back to the waters afterwards. They have structures for both peoples of land and water. Most interesting is how they allowed air breathers travel and live under the ocean without breathing apparatus.

The world is full of fantasy creatures of all persuasions and temperaments and have every sort of positions.

Very clever. Very good.… (altro)

Death Pulls the Strings by Elle Handford is set in a fairytale world with sorcerers, gnomes, familiars, humans, and more. The main character, Red, and her boyfriend are set for a short vacation/conference out of town. At the last minute, they are accompanied by her familiar, William, a dog in appearance, and a local police officer because there has been a strange death in the town they are visiting.
This is a really cute and heartwarming story. I enjoyed the setting and particularly the interesting characters who genuinely seem to care about each other and their places in the world. The mystery was well thought out and offered some twists and red herrings.
This title is 6th in the series. Although this could be read as a stand alone, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had a better understanding of the situations and relationships that had come prior, but that is really my own fault.
I’m now interested in r
eading others in the series which is always a good sign for how much I have enjoyed a book.
Thank you to the author and LT Early Reviewers for the early reader copy.… (altro)