Death of a Fairy Tale

The Mari Fable Mysteries #1

by Emily Fluke

Mari can solve any mystery, except who wants to murder her and why they're leading her to grandmas.

Death of a Fairy Tale is a supernatural mystery chock-full of classic stories, murders, and sarcasm. Mari is a determined, if not a little frazzled, investigative journalist and brand-new mother. The birth of her daughter sparks strange events that lead her into the hidden world of fairy tales. Mari struggles to balance her baby in one hand and her job in another while she hunts her supernatural stalker and uncovers the truth behind beloved children's stories.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Horror, Fiction

155 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2022

About the author

Emily Fluke is a Congenital Heart Defect survivor who finds joy and peace through writing (though she’ll tell you her scars are from a dragon attack or a sword fight). She is an internationally published author with an honorable mention for science fiction from the Roswell Awards and a recent contributor to the United Disability Services’ magazine; Kaleidoscope. Inspired by Tolkien and her children's’ imaginations, Emily writes when she’s not spending time with her family. For an extensive look at her publications and life as well as access to giveaways, visit emilyfluke.com or follow Author Emily Fluke on Facebook.

Reviews

[Devika]

DNF @28%
This isn't because it is a bad book or something like this, but I just had trouble getting trough it.
I couldn't get used to the pace and noticed I had a bit of trouble with understanding what was happening, since it is a lot.

Hope to be able to finish this one in the future

[Melissa Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Death of a Fairy Tale is the first book in an Urban Fantasy series. The story follows investigative journalist and brand new mother, Mari Rowen (maiden name Fable) as she navigates the trials of motherhood, mystery stalkers, murder, and boatloads of Chinese takeout.

Life starts looking a bit strange for Mari as she gives birth to her daughter, Wendy. The hospital staff is acting strange--did one of them have fangs?--and babies are starting to go missing. Add in a mysterious woman in a red cloak and magical doorways, it doesn't seem like life can get much weirder.

While Mari and her husband, Kai, begin their journey through the challenges of parenthood, Mari discovers someone is following her and they're leaving a trail of mutilated bodies in their wake. Unfortunately, that bloody trail is getting closer to Mari and her daughter.

Luckily, Mari is a woman of action and this mystery is no match for her research and color-coded organization skills! But the clues seem to suggest these murders have a fairytale tie-in and Mari and her family have a larger part to play in it than she realized. Apparently, things can get weirder.

Emily Fluke crafts a fun and fresh take on the standard Urban Fantasy tropes. Mari's voice is snappy and relatable. Even though I'm not a parent, I truly empathized with Mari and her struggles as a new mom. And can we just all agree that Kai is hands down the unicorn man of our dreams?

The pacing of this story was nicely done and even in the slow parts, they felt meaningful to the story. My only gripe was that I felt like Mari entertained the possibility of supernatural things a little too easily since her world, up until that point, seemed to be strongly rooted in mundane reality. But this may just be my own personal taste on wanting to see a little bit more internal struggle.

Overall, this book was a nice escape and a quick easy read. I'll absolutely continue reading this series!

[unknown_reads (sherlock's version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Rating: 2.5*
This story follows our protagonist Mari Rowan, a great investigative journalist who wishes to acquire a Pulitzer.

During one hectic day, Mari gives birth to a healthy baby girl. However, it was from this point on that things were no longer the same. The constant sounds of howling in the distance, a female stalker who wears a red cloak, and the gore murders of countless women lead Mari into a world of fairy tales, and the supernatural. With her infant on one hand, and the murders on the other, Mari navigates through the hurdles of motherhood as a determined journalist (with her husband, Kai, supporting her of course).

A witty, adventurous, and lovable mystery that will manage to cozy its way into readers' hearts.
_______________________________________________________
Thoughts: *SpOiLeRs*
I personally liked this book, although I wasn't completely fond of it, I didn't hate it either. The uniqueness of the story, and the plot line were organized and created in a diligent manner. I've personally never read anything like this, but I'm grateful I did since it was an eye-opener to the experiences a mother goes through throughout her life. I also loved the characters, since they each had unique and fascinating personalities. However, the predictability of certain plot twists wasn't something I enjoyed. This may, or may not be due to the fact that I am perceptive and have read a lot during my lifetime, but I thought most incidents were pretty obvious and self-explanatory. For instance; The revelation of Red Riding Hood's identity. Although the story doesn't match my "tastes", AGAIN, I didn't hate it!! The ending was great and perfect since it left no frayed strings behind. Overall, I definitely might consider reading more of this series in the future :)

(thank you for the arc!!)

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

"Mari can solve any mystery, except who wants to murder her and why they're leading her to grandmas.

Death of a Fairy Tale is a supernatural mystery chock-full of classic stories, murders, and sarcasm. Mari is a determined, if not a little frazzled, investigative journalist and brand-new mother. The birth of her daughter sparks strange events that lead her into the hidden world of fairy tales. Mari struggles to balance her baby in one hand and her job in another while she hunts her supernatural stalker and uncovers the truth behind beloved children's stories."

Death of a fairytale follows Mari Rowan who is an investigative journalist. At the start of the story, she is having her first child, Wendy. From the start she's met with some pretty out of the ordinary happenings while still in the hospital. She chalked it up to being newly post-partum, until the killings and strange occurrences continue to happen.

"It could have been the epidural or the face that the pain ripped through even the strongest of spinal drugs, but I swear on Wendy's peach fuzz my OBGYN had fangs. Can a mom get postpartum anxiety if it's not even post the partum?"

This book was so damn funny. As a mom myself, reading just the first few pages had me laughing uncontrollably at Mari's dialogue. Not only is the content in this story relatable (I mean minus the you know, supernatural creatures) but Mari is a funny and incredible character. She's strong, brave and fierce. Emily did a wonderful job at portraying our main character as a smart and amusing female who can hold her own in a world where people see women as the lesser beings, especially once they become moms, all while navigating her new motherhood and job as a journalist. (Yes, detective douche canoe, looking at you here... and you, too Jameson, you turd.)

Emily wrote not just a strong female main character, but a strong and captivating fairytale re-telling. She captured the new motherhood feeling effortlessly. Mari not only was struggling through being a new mother but solving the continued murders that were plaguing closer and closer to their house.

This is the first book I read that didn't have a lick of romance in it, aside from the casual love between Mari and her husband Kai, and I was totally okay with it because Emily captured this story so well that it didn't need romance. This story is perfect. I don't think anyone who reads this will regret it, not only is the writing simply fantastic but the whole story is incredible. A twist on Little Red Riding Hood, in a modern setting that is so fun, thrilling and captivating.

Cannot wait to read the next one when it comes out! Thank you so much Emily for giving me an ARC to this amazing story and for chatting with me throughout reading it.

Pick this up on pre-order, you will not regret it one bit!

[Brittney Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death of My Reading Slump

I was absolutely on the edge of my seat the whole time. I started reading around 9 pm the other night, and finished by midnight the next, and it honestly would have been sooner if motherhood and running a business didn't consumer most of my waking hours.

I've always been more of a fantasy reader and made it a point to stay away from any urban reads because I would rather escape the normal world and be whisked away somewhere magical, but something about this one caught my eye. Maybe it was the stunning cover, or the fun tiktok I saw, or possibly the fact that I've been binge watching Once Upon a Time for the hundredth time? No matter, I'm thanking the gods that this book ended up in my lap.

If you love a good retelling (honestly who doesn't?) this is the series for you. As a mother and wife, it was so fun to read about a badass character that not only dealt with the realness of being a new mother, but was still true to herself and who she was before motherhood. I love how it constantly toed the line between talking truths about being a new parent, and staying in the fast paced, fantasy mystery world. One of my favorite parts about watching OUAT was trying to figure out who each character the people in Storybrook were, and it was so fun to get to do that again! I am so stoked for the next one!

[Nite0wl29 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book! Mari’s quirky personality makes it easy to stay engaged with this murder mystery/thriller retelling of one of the most beloved fairytales. It definitely wasn’t your usual romantic retelling, and it definitely wasn’t what I expected.

Many thanks to the author for gifting me the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Lauren Sevier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death Of A Fairytale is a scathing commentary of all the ways our society is failing working mothers juxtaposed beautifully with a rich and engaging paranormal fantasy world filled with heart-stopping danger and gripping mystery.

We follow our protagonist, Mari, from the last pushes of labor through the many trials and anxieties of a newly minted first-time mother. Through her experience, we see the multitude of ways several systems (including healthcare, paternity leave--or the lack of its existence-- birth advocates, lactation education, the workforce in general, etc.) consistently fail a mother who is expected to have a full-time career, know instinctively how to raise a child with little to no preparation, be under constant scrutiny from literally everyone outside her immediate nuclear family for every choice she makes, and do all of this while keeping her baby safe from monsters she didn't even know existed before she gave birth.

The writing is whip-smart and funny--to a fault, at times--with a sarcastic edge that will have you rooting for the cynical ramblings of our overly hormonal main character more often than not. The secondary characters, mainly the husband (Kai) were not only realistic but relatable. At times I found that I wanted more refinement in the writing, or that there was too much personality to allow readers to slow down in emotionally tense moments and fully feel the magnitude of them. Overall, the writing style didn't distract me too much from the enjoyment of the read of this book.

On a personal note; this book made me want another baby SO BADLY! The chaos, the messiness, the strange way your life is upended, all for the sake of this tiny person that you couldn't imagine loving more... It definitely made me nostalgic for the time when my son was an infant and our family was suddenly centered around each silly, giggly, milestone in this tiny new person's life.

Overall, I think while Death Of A Fairytale may turn off some readers who lack a connection to motherhood, it is wildly inventive, scorchingly funny, and evidence of great things to come from an author with unlimited potential.

[Marissa Pekurny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story, I liked how the author incorporated different fairy tales into the book and this one was very interesting. It is loosely based on the fairytale and has Mari trying to solve multiple murders that have something to do with her. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing what fairytale is next!

[Kristin Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, it had such an interesting premise and I enjoyed the writing style at first. But the author didn't let more than three paragraphs go by without talking about feeding the baby, so the story felt like it was more about breastfeeding than it was about the twist on the fairy tale.

[Amanda Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable story

If you like fairy tales and mysteries, and if you remember what it was like to try to juggle everything as a new mom you will enjoy this book.

[Kayleigh | Welsh Book Fairy · Rating 4 out of 5]

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Death of a Fairytale
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Emily Fluke
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mystery Fairytale Retelling
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 25th January 2022
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬:
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.5/5

What an intriguing start to a series! Death of a Fairytale is a fairytale retelling with a wolfskin full of mystery, murder, and dirty nappies. This book reminds me of a combination of Grimm and Once Upon A Time. This isn’t a complaint, I love those shows.

I found the main character, Mari, super relatable. She had a wonderful witty sense of humour which really helped dispel a lot of the tension surrounding the storyline. I also loved her character being used as an exploration of new motherhood, making her feelings of inadequacy something that I could find tearfully funny in Mari, whilst identifying those same feelings within myself.

I’d definitely read the rest of the series if they were on kindle unlimited like the first installment is, but unfortunately there were a couple of shortfalls in this story. The main one I found is that it could be quite chaotic in terms of plot points, a lot of them are introduced at the same time with no time for processing and no explanations until the end of the story. At the same time, the plot points that are supposed to be twists in the novel are very easily solved, so it felt chaotic at times and then slow at others.


𝑲𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 @ 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒉 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚
🧚‍♀️🤍


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[B.L. Callaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairytale retelling like no other, Death of a fairytale was full of drama, intrigue, humor, and mystery.
Our MC, Mari, was hilarious, relatable, and pretty much everything I want to be when I grow up. The relationship she has with her husband is inspiring and real, and I loved the way they worked together through all of the crazy.
Fluke’s writing style was great, giving the plot an easy flow that never felt bogged down or lacking, and her use of descriptive imagery made the story come to life in my hands.
I adored that Mari struggled her way through the events of this book, questioning everything, making mistakes, leaning on others – it was refreshing and totally relatable. I enjoyed the mystery and the intrigue too, Fluke was able to effortlessly throw me off with plot twists and red herrings more than once, and I found myself unable to put the book down until I’d figured it out.
I enjoyed the mention of other fairytales spread throughout and the history of why they do (not going into too much detail as not to spoil it for you).
If you like mystery, retellings with a twist, humor, magic, and mayhem, check this out for yourself.

[Stephanie]

If you like the TV show Grimm then this book is going to be right up your alley. This was a fun and quick read.

[roadtopages · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the Beginning. Not because it was written poetically and skilfully. It was written in a way that felt close to a personal experience. It felt warm and loving and I love that. It was a connection I never thought I’d feel at the beginning of the book.

I was amazed with the characters—their personalities and and actions. And who doesn’t love a strong female lead. Even though the plot was somewhat predictable, I still enjoyed the journey towards the end.

Sometimes a plot can be simple but a good storyteller can turn simple things into something unique and different. That is what I felt with this book.

Thank you, Emily, for the ARC!

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, left off at 46% done, but I just couldn't read it anymore. At this point in the book the story hardly has a plot other than failed breastfeeding, calling the baby a poop factory, and fake new mother drama. If I wanted to read about breastfeeding failure and over dramatization of being a new mother I would have picked up a bad parenting book. After hearing people talk up this book, I was excited to read it, but ultimately could not stomach it. Hopefully it gets better in the end, but sadly I will never know.

[Debbie Lawrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love slants on Fairy stories, and this did not disappoint. I loved the way the character was hormone-raged and questioning her sanity. A nice bit of humour and onward to the next in the series.

[Megan Fosson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Fluke's Death of a Fairy Tale, was both charming and exciting. If you are looking for a fun urban fantasy murder mystery definitely pick this one up. Fluke reimagined a classic childhood story in a very intriguing way. The lead, Mari, was endearing as she maneuvered through the early days of motherhood while navigating a rather ominous situation. I loved the quirky relationship she and her partner shared and the honest glimpse into motherhood. I was engaged throughout the book. In fact, the closer I came to the end of the story the faster my heart beat and less I could put it down.

Many thanks to the author who gave me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to her next release in the series!

[Vanessa Garcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

LAZY BLURB:

New mom with journalistic background experiences the supernatural and became a supernatural detective.

—

THOUGHTS:

If you're a fan of Grimm or Once Upon a Time, the premise is similar.
You will find, Madi Rowan nee Fable, giving birth to her daughter, Wendy. Immediately after, she started hearing growling in which other people seems to be oblivious off.
Then the killings started to happen: young women were getting killed. Actually they were being shredded by what seems to be a big animal. And all throughout the crime site, the word ‘Fable’ was written over and over.
The plot had real potential. Just that the author focused a lot on the ordeal of first time mothers; specially for working mothers where they need to cut their maternity leave short due to work. Which is in itself an insight but due to this, the plot got lost completely. I was 50% in and nothing is happening.
And I think the author wanted to give Madi’s character some sort of a tough chick persona who can handle herself in a male dominated industry but it’s just falling short
LIke I said, there’s potential but will I be reading the rest of the series? Probably not.

[Leslie Erkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great first book for the series! Mari Fable Rowan is an investigation journalist and the story starts with her about to give birth. Strange things happen and sets up the story well.
I love the relationship she has with her husband Kia! Kia is a history teacher and never doubts his wife one moment when she tells him about the supernatural.
She does her investigation with baby Wendy strapped on. She is struggling with her new mom role and improvising.
This Red riding hood retelling is full of funny, suspense, intrigue and guesses.
I don’t feel like the wolf was a big surprise but made sense.
I’m looking forward to diving into the next book. There are some questions about her family I have and look forward to discovering the answers.
Oh and her phrases she utters out always makes me laugh. I just really love this book!

[Lucy Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I haven't had much luck with this genre so far this year but this book was so incredibly good! The only reason I'm not giving this book five stars was just some things didn't make sense to me in the story (no spoilers). But the level of involvement in the story that I had was incredible, I felt very connected to the MC even though I'm not a mother. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of urban fairytale retellings and murder mysteries!

[J LoConti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun twist on a classic fairytale. We follow the main character, Mari, as she navigates motherhood and this new supernatural world that she's been thrust into. The author does a great job of writing characters that are relatable and you're rooting for Mari to solve the mystery of Fable's story. I'm interested to see how she continues the twist on little red riding hood in book 2.

[Christie Rhodes · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 47%. I couldn't get into it or bring myself to care what was happening. Very disappointed because I love Fairy Tale based novels, but this was just blah

[NannaJen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Emily has taken us into the land of tales of our childhood with a Twist of True Crime. A page turning drama full of twists and turns destined to be the modern-day fairy tale

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I hoped to find a fun new urban fantasy series to get into. Not sure if I did.

The Good:

- The magical elements were quite fun, and I liked that it pulled a lot of vibes from Grimm, since it's a show I quite like. I like fairy tales being pulled into urban fantasy, and for the most part this did it in an interesting way.

- I don't get to read many books featuring moms as main characters, especially moms with very young children trying to adjust to motherhood, so that was quite fun. It's what got my attention with the series in the first place. I also liked the Mari had a good relationship with her husband, since there seems to be a lack of happy married couples at the center of fantasy stories, and I want there to be more.

What Didn't Work for Me:

- In urban fantasy, I find that extra attention needs to be given to the real world elements, so that it's easier to buy into the fantastical. It makes the world feel grounded.

This had some of the most nonsensical real-world things I've seen in an urban fantasy, and once they started popping up and becoming noticeable it made it really hard for me to regain my footing and investment in the story. This is actually the book that's made me realize the importance of having strong real-world elements in urban fantasy.

The biggest example (and the one that ripped me out of the book) is just how incompetent the police were, mixed with how incompetent the main character was acting in return. She's supposed to be an investigative journalist (NOT a PI or actual licensed investigator, a JOURNALIST). She should understand the sanctity of a clean crime scene and the importance of forensics to at least some degree, and yet she was tramping all over a fresh murder scene and putting her bare hands all over the evidence and then wondering why a detective was mad at her, chalking it all up to him being sexist. (He was sexist, but that's beside the point. She was acting like an absolute menace. Any detective worth their salt would be annoyed.)

Another was a library that happened to have an uncatalogued dark and shadowy section of books that just happened to have a bunch of pertinent answers to Mari's investigation. That she was then able to check out. As someone who has worked in libraries, I'd love to know how she was able to check out books that are not listed in the library system, and why a library would be wasting precious space on moldering old books that apparently nobody reads and aren't listed.

There were other things too, and maybe they sound a bit nitpicky, but once I started noticing them I couldn't stop and they ripped me out the story, making it really hard to just get into it and enjoy it.

- On the note of her being a journalist and not a PI, I feel like this would have worked better with her as a PI or some other actual investigator. Maybe even as a consultant. Yeah, it's more common to see licensed investigator characters in this genre, but it felt like the author really wanted her to be a detective but didn't want to seem cliche. The thing is, this doesn't feel like a journalist character. This is not the kind of work investigative journalists do. Journalists and reporters don't go to crime scenes.

If the character's supposed to investigate the crime, just make her an investigator or make it a cozy amateur sleuth situation. Having this weird fifty-fifty thing going on really didn't work for me.

- Every female character was good, every male character was either misogynistic, creepy, or Mari's husband.

The detective? Didn't hate her because she was screwing up his crime scenes; he hated her because he was sexist.

The rival reporter? Didn't have a sense of competition with her because he's also a good reporter and there's a natural rivalry between them; he hated her because he was sexist and creepy.

The mortician? Turned out to just be quirky, but he was constantly described with very derogatory and gross descriptions and came off as creepy.

The food delivery guy? Creepy.

The absent dad? Clingy.

Absent dad's friend? Creepy and cryptic.

The lactation consultant? Creepy and overly-friendly.

Even her husband's introduction was of him fainting and being useless in the delivery room.

I can't think of a single man who wasn't described as creepy, useless, a simp, or sexist, and I can't think of a single female character who was shown in a negative light and wasn't quickly redeemed and shown as being totally justified in her actions. If a character didn't like the female lead, it was because she was a woman--not because she was being legitimately problematic.

Maybe that kind of character writing works for some people. It really doesn't work for me.

- The made-up swearing. If I have to read one more line of a character saying "Ebenezer Scrooge" or "What in the Wonderland" as a curse, my eyes might roll so hard they get stuck.

Overall, the book was fine. Very three star. I probably won't keep going with the sequel, but it was a decent enough read.

[Steven Cortinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often you find a gem when it comes to movies, shows, and books. They all tend to feel the same after a while. That does not apply to “Death of a Fairy Tale”, one of the most charming and original books I’ve read in a long time.

I wasn’t sure what the novel’s genre was going in, not even after reading the blurb. It ultimately becomes a supernatural mystery, but there are often times where I felt like I was reading a really gripping crime drama.

The first three chapters are incredibly scary and suspenseful. Those chapters even border on a horror story that could rival Stephen King. It opens with our young lead (Mari Fable) giving birth for the first time, and then having her baby disappear right there in the hospital. The search through that hospital is terrifying, even more so because having just given birth, Mari could not be in a more vulnerable position. Any parent (especially mothers) would be going out of their minds.

After recovering her baby, the rest of the story reveals Mari’s skills as an investigative journalist as she tries to solve the murders of different women around town, all by a possible werewolf. As Mari’s investigation progresses, the root of what is REALLY happening is as unpredictable as it is complex. It not only kept me guessing, but when certain revelations occur, the payoff always felt earned instead of forced.

The story is told in the first person in a way that feels incredibly grounded in reality, despite the supernatural implications. Instead of unnecessary and excessive philosophical thoughts, I completely felt like the narrator was a friend that was merely telling me their story. I also found it charming that the author maintains a PG rating by substituting the kind of curse words I would use in one of my own novels for superlatives of her own creation. In the absence of profanity or violence that would typically exist in a tale involving supernatural murders, the author cleverly maintains tension and suspense without anything even close to rated-R territory.

What I love the most about our lead, Mari Fable, is how relatable and likable she is. She does not have superpowers, and she’s not a badass trained in combat that kicks everybody’s butts. She’s just a young mother and a reporter that uses her wits and courage to investigate these terrible crimes. And make no mistake: it is most definitely HER story, and there are certainly strong themes of feminism, but the narrative doesn’t beat you over the head with it the way a less talented or more politically motivated writer would. The story also doesn’t demonize men or make its protagonist flawless and invincible in the standard “girl power” way that seems to have become a trend. It’s Mari’s vulnerability (both emotionally and physically) that made me root for her. I also loved how likable her husband Kai is. Instead of him being a bumbling idiot or an abusive jerk, he is a supportive and loving husband that always has Mari’s back. He doesn’t try to solve Mari’s problems for her, nor does he try to steal the spotlight or find himself shunned to the side when crunch time comes around. He and Mari are a team in every sense of the word. They are first-time parents scrambling to keep up with raising a newborn. My favorite moment between them is conveyed in the following:

“If only I could have taken a snapshot of our family right then and there. I wanted to remember the moment forever, the moment when we both realized becoming parents made us both stronger and weaker at the same time. The moment where I decided this case and the murders growing closer to our house meant I needed to give it my all. Because now I had a family to protect, and this was no normal series of murders.”

“Death of a Fairy Tale” was instead an incredibly engaging and suspenseful tale, and it was a marvelous way to kick off a series that I’m now invested in. Whether a film or a TV show, Mari Fable’s stories could easily be translated to the screen. These 5-stars are well-earned, and I highly recommend.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death of a Fairy Tale
The Mari Fable Mysteries, Book 1

By: Emily Fluke
Narrated by: Suzanne T. Fortin

Deliciously Witty! Magic! Perfection!

Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 04-30-24

Deliciously witty, brilliantly imaginative, and dark in all the right ways with a decidedly foreboding feel that captured me … held me … RIVETED me, from the opening scenes, “Death of a Fairy Tale” is NOT your normal cuddly fairy tale! It is also NOT to be missed! The plot is a delightfully mysterious interweave of nursery rhymes, fairy tales and stories from our youth, updated and given a shivery, frightening , stallkerish, “something is coming for you … and it’s getting closer …” edge that kept me firmly IN the story, headphones glued to my ears, late into the night! I did not want to stop listening! I’m giving no details, I don’t want to ruin ANYTHING for future listeners, but I MUST say the blend of these stories, the pacing, the FEEL, and the mood created by the author is incredible, “edge of seat”, oh holy wow, what’s next, I can’t stop listening MAGIC! The characters are the perfect blend of normal human, lawd knows what, likeable, and “I want to dig a deep hole and plant ‘em” - ALL perfectly drawn and defined. Their dialogue witty; at times hysterically so, but at ALL times believable, AND ringing one hundred percent true! The narration that brings this story to life is astounding! From beginning to end I was ENTRANCED by our narrator’s perfect voicing of every character, her capture of every nuance, every emotion, every single wonder filled moment of this fabulous story, truly giving life to our author’s vision and making “Death of a Fairy Tale” the perfect listen, in every way. An unhesitatingly five perfect stars for this beautiful collaboration! I loved it!

[Tambi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’ll Never Look at Fairy Tales the Same Way Again

Death of a Fairy Tale by Emily Fluke is the first book in the Mari Fable Mysteries. This fairy tale retell of Little Red Riding Hood opens a completely different view from anything I have ever known these stories to be.

Not only is Mari a new first time mom but she is also an investigative reporter. She is eager to solve the mystery behind the animal attacks that have been getting closer to home that had been triggered when her baby was born. She is also dealing with her own imperfection of motherhood.
Detective Wilhelm is not only on the case but he is on Mari’s case about the murders. He believes she is in connection with the murders or maybe even the murderer herself. With the help of her husband, Kai, Mari and her family try to prove her innocence without giving too much information about the supernatural that would result in Mari being put into a straightjacket. Can Mari find out what is causing all the howling from the streets of San Francisco? Can she solve the murder before the fatality of another victim occurs? Can she figure out how the fairy tales are related to the real world in order to save her daughter? You’ll just have to read it to find out.

Death of a Fairy Tale is an absolutely amazing, thrilling, and uniquely captivating supernatural mystery filled with twists and turns that will leave the reader eager for more. Thankfully, the series continues with the second book of the Mari Fable Mysteries - Kidnapping the Classics. I can’t even imagine what Emily Fluke has in store for us readers next but I can’t wait to find out.

[Hallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death of a Fairy Tale: Book 1 of the Mari Fable Mysteries by Emily Fluke. I was lucky enough to have Emily Fluke ask me to be an advanced reader for her new cozy mystery series (now available for preorder on Amazon). Just so it is known I will always say yes to being asked if I’ll read her work. This maybe my favorite work by her. I was able to set aside the whole afternoon and evening to read her book. Though I had planned to start it but needed answers so I just kept reading. Like Agatha Christie before her Fluke creates a mystery that propels the story forward in your search for answers. Even when things turn to the supernatural, Mari stays grounded and believe. I could relate so much to Mari’s new mom fears and experiences. I vividly remember feeling terrible when the hospital talked down to me because my son wasn’t latching correctly. I remember waking every other minute to make sure he wasn’t suffocating when he started sleeping on his belly because he had learned to turn over and wouldn’t stay on his back anymore. I enjoyed reading a marriage that worked well. All the drama came from the mystery. We didn’t have to worry about whether Mari or her husband were having an affair or secretly hated the other. They worked well together and complemented one another. They completely and fully supported one another. Fluke knowing to pepper in the references of her inspiration also leaves little nods to fairy tales through names and background clues. Though I may be reading too much in to some instances. I am looking forward to the next installment of the series

[Hannah [thebookium] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Emily Flukes for sending me an ARC of “Death of a Fairytale”! I don’t normally read murder mysteries but this one had a fairytale retelling interwoven into the plot which made it a quirky and unique read.

Quick synopsis:
Mari Rowan is brand new mom and right after giving birth to little Wendy, strange strange things start to happen. Mari has a stalker and frequently hears growling and the occasional howl. Along with this, there’s a murderer targeting young women in her neighborhood. Mari is an investigative journalist and she juggles motherhood while solving the murders. She’s aided by her loyal husband and has a wonderfully sarcastic sense of humor, even when things are not going her way.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW:
There’s drama, mystery and a good dose of humor in this book!
I really enjoyed Mari’s sarcasm and sense of humor throughout the story. While I can’t relate to the challenges she faced with being new to motherhood, Mari embraced it with humor and a quiet strength. Mari and her husband have a cute and quirky relationship and they made parenting sound easy. Mari is very passionate about staying loyal to her career after having a baby and I enjoyed reading about her inner turmoil to find the right balance between motherhood and a career throughout the story. While it is a fairytale retelling, there were parts of the storyline that were unpredictable which was delightful.

If you’re in the mood for an urban fantasy murder mystery, this book is for you.

[Lydia Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you get when you combine the shows Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and Castle.

You get 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆 by Emily Fluke. When I saw Emily’s TikTok about this book. She immediately had me sold with Supernatural and Once Upon a Time. I haven’t watched Castle, but now I want to.

In this book, we follow Mari who is a brand new mom and an investigative journalist. With the birth of her daughter, strange things start to happen. Mari is determined to figure out who her stalker is and who/what is behind these supernatural murders. All while balancing being a first time mom. This book was full of humor, mystery, and drama.

I found Mari’s character to be funny and strong. The relationship with her husband, Kai, I adored. It felt real and authentic. Filled with so much love and respect. Kai supported her during her investigation. He even helped with research.

Fluke’s writing style is easy to read and understand. I was able to picture what was happening due to her descriptive imagery. It’s definitely a cozy mystery which I do really enjoy. I will definitely be continuing with the series.

I think if you enjoy Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and Castle you will enjoy this book. 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆 comes out January 25th.

Thank you so much Emily for sending me an advance reader copy.
My rating 5 stars
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