“I may be evil, but I am not the evil you’re hunting.”

Autopsy of A Fairytale by Nicole Scarano

Why This Rating?

This was a dark, compelling, and a bit gruesome of a murder mystery that was impossible to put down! You dance on the edge of the where reality and fantasy play the entire story. Plus, the suspense that this balance gives is wonderful! This is a dark and twisted story that leads our detective into some horrific scenes. Bel investigates a string of murders that are stomach turning with their macabre arrangements. And I mean on the edge of being super disturbed kind of macabre. And yet, each one was eerily beautiful. By far the one scene that made me pause while reading was the piano *shivers*. Not for the faint of heart reader because the details are exquisite! And wouldn’t recommend reading the murder scenes during lunch… at work… with the lunchroom full of people. I swear they are still joking at me going “Oh my gosh! Eewwwss!!”, snapping the book shut, pushing it away, and saying, “Nope. Not a lunch conversation OR scene” to this day.

I became quite invested in the characters, especially the more we found out about everyone’s history. And the push and pull between our Beauty and Beast is intriguing. Not entirely sure if I am sold on him yet. Maybe the rest of the series will help convince me there is more there for them as a pairing. I have a theory about them, but am going to withhold until I at least read the next one. Which is absolutely happening! Of course my favorite character has to be Cerberus. Who wouldn’t want a handsome, protective, cuddle bug of a pup as him! I know, I might be biased since I have my own dogs, who are my own fur babies as well as being mine and my husband’s world. So I related with Bel with her devotion and love for her baby beast.

Scarano’s writing was solid. It was a good book one for the series. We’re given a taste of what character backgrounds will develop into more. There are moments of showing what other folklore and monsters that are lurking just off the pages could bring to the small town. Then there is the pull between Bel and Eamon that I am simply giddy to see more of. Each of these just pull you further into the world that the author has created and makes you want more from it all. You do experience both the investigating side of the detective work as well as the boots-on-the-ground and victim family interactions. I personally really enjoyed seeing all parts Bel’s job happening from being at the scenes to the desk work. That part of the book might be a bit boring to some, but the author did a good job at keeping interest and not letting menial or hard parts of the profession deter from the story.

This whole thing gives me a massive flashback to the TV show, Grimm. Which was one I really enjoyed the earlier seasons, so this let me enjoy those moments again. That is not saying this is a one-for-one story. These are vastly different stories. It simply reminded me of it with the cop brought into the “knowing” and having to find the middle ground of what to believe. And honestly, I would pick Scarano’s world over the TV show easily. I think the way she takes our typical understanding of a fairy tale then finds creative ways to twist the story into something new is genius. I loved finding hints of the Beauty and the Beast story scattered throughout this one. From character names to images and even some scenery if you look around you’ll see them. But Don’t go into this one thinking it’s a retelling. Scarano has made the world her very own!

I recommend this to any of my murder mystery readers out there for sure! The folklore enjoyers who doesn’t mind crime scene or police work would also get a kick out of it too! And fun little fact, if you look over the cover of the book, most of the elements that are scattered on there do in fact have meanings to the story. Let us see if you can figure out what goes with what.

I am looking forward to continuing this series!

Time to get lost in the next story!