Library Journal
★ 11/01/2014
Victorian actress Ophelia Flax quits her music hall job to protect her ward, Prudence Bright, and signs on as a lady's maid to the wife of a crass American millionaire, Homer Coop. When the entourage arrives in the Black Forest of Germany, where Coop has purchased a castle, mysterious events occur. Discovered in the woods is a tiny cottage where a dwarf corpse is found. Is this Snow White's dwelling? Then Coop is killed after eating a poisoned apple, and the cottage's artifacts are stolen. The primary suspect is Prue, but Ophelia is determined to prove her charge's innocence, with the assistance of a handsome English professor of folklore. VERDICT Offering a clever twist on the tales of the Brothers Grimm, this debut historical cozy (and series launch) introduces an attractive, spunky heroine, full of piss and vinegar, and an entertaining, well-constructed plot that will satisfy fans of folklore and fairy tales.