“Cinders to Dust”, book five in The Alchemist Tales mystery series, finds alchemist Red and her friends investigating a locked room murder aboard a magical, floating carnival. The murder is tricky enough to solve but Red has to also face her own fears and who she really is.

I love this series and this book is no exception! I really love the setting of Belville – a town filled with fairy tale people who are part troll, phoenix, wolf, dragon, and so much more! I also love Red as a character – she has grown and continues to grow throughout the books, even more so in this book as she settles into her romance with Luca and begins to realize she doesn’t have to protect him. Each book offers a take on different fairy tales – in this one it is Cinderella as Red begins to realize she can truly be herself and not hide behind a mask. Mixed in with the fairy tale elements is the mystery itself and it’s a good one – a classic locked room mystery with plenty of suspects, twists and turns, and surprises. I did try to figure out who the killer was but was completely wrong – I still had fun trying to figure it out though!

I won a copy of this book but was under no obligation to review it.

Another fun installment in the Belville magical mystery series! Red and her friends not only solved the murder/blackmail case, but they also helped someone find their way out of being trapped in a situation they didn't want to be in. I really appreciate the evolution of Red's character as she learns to loosen her guard and let people in. Looking forward to the next installment in the series!

This novel has a solid plot with many twists. I loved that I actually didn't figure out who the murderer was until right before the reveal! As usual, the interactions between the characters are great. I can't wait to read the next one! ( )