In “Cry Big Bad Wolf”, the fourth book in Elle Hartford’s The Alchemical Tales mystery series, Alchemist Red and her friends are looking forward to Halloween. But when a series of robberies occur some think they may be linked to a darker plot and Red and friends, including some new ones, investigate – but who can they trust and who can’t they trust?
I am really enjoying this series and this book is no exception. Author Hartford has created a wonderful fairy-tale like world with magical dogs, trolls, elves, phoenixkin, shadow witches, regular witches, and so much more including nods to classic fairy tales. I love visiting this world and get caught up in it with each and every book. Besides the fairy-tale/fantasy elements there is a mystery that is well done – I figured out part of what was going on but was completely surprised by other events. Also mixed in with all of this is romance – one that has been running throughout the series and one new to this book – I am always wary of romance plotlines in mysteries because they can sometimes overtake the mystery elements but that is not true in this series – the romance is nicely done but doesn’t take away from the mystery. All in all this is another delightful entry in a great series.
I won a copy of this book but was under no obligation to review it.

Another great addition to the series about Red & her friends! A spooky mystery for spooky season as Red & her friends try to keep Belville safe, and Red finally admits to herself her feelings for Luca. About time! The character of Sakura is a wonderful addition to the mix of people who inhabit Belville. Looking forward to the next adventure these crime solving friends undertake!

Another fantastic addition to the series ! The interactions between the characters were great, as usual, and the plot was riveting (even though I guessed who the villain was early on). Sakura is definitely an intriguing character, and I took a liking to her right away. Also, I am happy to say I had an internal squeal moment near the end. ;) You'll have to read it to find out why! ( )

I believe this is the fourth installment in an ongoing series centered around the same set of characters in the fictional town of Belville, in the land of Beyond - a "world just beyond ours" peopled with mythical creatures and magic. To me, it seemed kind of "steampunk-ish," so if that's your aesthetic, you will probably enjoy this book/series. This is the first book I have read in the series, though, and I would not say it completely stands alone. There are references to characters and events from previous books in the series that are not fully spelled out in the instant one, so I think it might be helpful to read the other three volumes in the series first. The plot is loosely based on the tale of the little boy who cried wolf, and is centered around a group of friends whose upcoming Halloween celebrations are being disrupted by attacks and thefts around Belville, and a previous elected official claiming that necromancy/demons/dark magic is the cause. The deeper themes address trust and treating others the way THEY want to be treated, not the way your fears dictate. To me, this book was fair. The attacks aren't really addressed in great detail, so any violence is pretty much alluded to rather than expressly presented, with the possible exception of one incident. There is supposed to be some will-they-won't-they chemistry between the main character (an alchemist), Red, and the town's scholar, Luka, but it was pretty tepid. There was also a scene where Red goes to help Luka at his shop one morning and I'm not sure why it was included. I picked out the eventual villain about a third of the way in, so the "mystery" aspect was a little weak, too. My favorite character was probably the dark witch, Sakura. She, at least, had some insight into why the other characters acted the way she did. I finished the book, and looked forward to picking the book back up again when I had to set it aside, but I was not DYING to find out what happens next. I might read other books in this series if they were given to me, but I was not wowed enough to seek them out on my own. Your mileage may vary.
I was provided with an advanced reader's copy for this, my honest opinion. ( )