In this magical mix-up of fairy tales and murder, Little Red Riding Hood solves the mystery at the heart of A Thousand and One Nights: how much power do stories have in the face of murder? Alchemist Red and her friends are hitting the road, this time to visit Red's homeland–a distant desert island full of magic, history, and now, danger. They haven't even reached their final destination before a mysterious body appears–and just as quickly, is gone!The last thing on Red's family vacation agenda is getting mixed up with a murder and a fancy new Palace. But the local police need help, especially as the plot lines multiply: a reclusive heiress rumored to get rid of a secretary every moon, a local ifrit making perilous deals, a down-on-his luck newcomer jumping into the fray, and even a crew of shipwrecked sailors looking to change their fortune. Not to mention a decades-old cold case and a series of strange shipping deals! Red's parents may be known for seeing the future, but what the island truly needs is practicality and clear sight in the present. Can Red reconcile with her past and realize her own unique gifts in time . . . or will this tale be too complex to solve?
