Cinders to Dust

In this murderous twist on a familiar fairy tale, alchemist Red and her friends face their most glamorous question yet . . . what secrets lurk behind the mask we show to others?

A magical, floating carnival has arrived in Belville, and Red's all set to see the opening night performance with her boyfriend, Luca. But a chance meeting with a stranger leaves her with doubts-and then the local police officer, Thorn, receives an uncanny threat to the carnival crew. A search of the carnival ship reveals a body-murdered, yet seemingly untouched, lying in a locked room.

What seems like an impossible performance draws Officer Thorn, Red, and their friends into a whirlwind of costumes and drama. Carnival life is far from a fairy tale-amid the hard work and high hopes, dangerous secrets are hidden in plain sight. Someone is lying: could it be the mysterious animal trainer, perhaps, or the alluring sharpshooter? Or is it the prim and proper ship captain, or the grieving stepfamily? Tales of betrayal and transformation come to a head at the carnival's masked ball. There, Red will have to face her own fears in order to confront a murderer who's been hiding behind a mask all along.

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. And while you're there, sign up for Elle's newsletter to get bonus material, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and terrible jokes!