Mostly, my days are filled with gossip. Because what kind of mystery-solving sidekick isn’t well-informed?

Not that I am a sidekick, mind you. As a magical familiar, I am a very powerful and intelligent being–even if I do look like a big black sheepdog. You can call me William, by the way. See, the thing is, my best friend in the whole world–amateur sleuth and professional trouble-finder, Red–wouldn’t last two days without me watching her back. If it weren’t for me, she’d probably be lost in the woods or stuck down a well. That or she’d never come out of her alchemy lab.

Don’t tell her I said that though. That part about her being my best friend, I mean. All the other stuff is perfectly true.

So, anyway, because looking after Red is such a big job, I’m pretty much working on it all the time. Except early mornings–I don’t do those. I like to sleep in and then take my time looking out over Market Square, seeing what kind of day it’ll be. Red and I live in an apartment above her potions shop, so I have a great vantage point. No one comes through the center of Belville without me knowing about it.

Once I’m ready, I’ll go down to the shop and see what’s what. Usually my friend Dusty will drop in and tell me what he overheard at his latest job fixing a leaky sink or doing whatever maintenance people need. Belville’s an old town, and being perched high on a mountain, it sees all kinds of weather, so Dusty’s always busy–which is good, because it means he and I are always informed.

Around lunchtime, if Red hasn’t made herself something to eat–she usually forgets if she’s in the middle of an experiment (or a murder case)–then I convince my friend Rhys, who works part time with us, to get takeout from Lavender’s Tavern. I have to act quickly, though, because if I don’t say something first, Red will say we should get pastries and tea from the Pomegranate Cafe. I don’t have anything against pastries, mind you. But I don’t care for witches–even if the one who runs the Pomegranate has been helpful, once or twice.

After that, on a normal day, I’d hang out in the shop, taking orders and making sure everything’s safe. In the evenings I’d go with Red on her daily walk. She likes to gather most of her ingredients from the forest around town. By the time we get home, you can bet her boyfriend will be coming over, sniffing around for something to eat . . . But you really can’t say anything bad about him. I dare you to come up with something. You won’t, because he’s adorable.

But you didn’t hear that from me, either.

Well, like I said, that’s a normal day. We don’t have too many of those, though, especially when the local police officer–Officer Thorn–is working on a case. She likes to ask Red for help, which means I have to go along too. And this time, our investigation will take us into the big city, where some of my gossip could get us in trouble . . .

. . . It’s a good thing, then, that my magic isn’t just for show.

Death Pulls The Strings, An Alchemical Tales Mystery Book #6
Genre: Cozy Mystery with a fairy tale twist
Release: December 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

In this magical mix-up of fairy tales and murder, Little Red Riding Hood solves the mystery at the heart of Pinocchio . . .

What does it mean to be truly “alive?”

Red is looking forward to accompanying her boyfriend to a conference in the big city, Brass. Too bad her best friend and magical companion, William, isn’t on board! In fact, William’s been acting strange, and it’s only when he hears of a murder in Brass that he decides to tag along.

Along with their friend Officer Thorn, Red and William have been asked to consult as impartial investigators in the death of a city gnome. The problem? It wasn’t only a gnome who died: an enchanted broom was found destroyed as well. To make matters worse, the crime was reported by a young “puppet” who wasn’t taken seriously at first. With each new twist and clue, Red finds herself more tangled up in strings of deceit, magic, and politics. The entire city of Brass is wondering if puppets and magical creatures can act freely–and in the midst of it all, William is preoccupied with a shadowy stranger . . .

With each new mystery, Red is willing to learn something new. But this time, what she learns just may be the most elusive quality of all: what it takes to be a real friend!

Meet the author
Elle adores cozy mysteries, fairy tales, and above all, learning new things. As a historian and educator, she believes in the value of stories as a mirror for complicated realities. She currently lives in New Jersey with a grumpy tortoise and a three-legged cat. Find more stories of Red and her friends at ellehartford.com.