The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson (Hagenheim #10), Book Review

Book Summary:

A plague of rats. Children going missing. A giant beast attacking just outside the walls of Hamlin. And one young woman determined to save her town.

Katerina’s stepfather, Hennek, is neither a good father nor a good husband, but he is the mayor of Hamlin. Could he somehow be causing the misfortunes that have befallen her beloved town? The evidence points to a beast of unusual size—a wolf, perhaps, or a large dog—killing people who venture too far from town. But does that explain the disappearance of so many children, many of whom seem to have gone missing from inside the town walls?

Steffan knows he must reconcile with his father, the Duke of Hagenheim, but he’s not sure he’s ready. In the meantime, he roams from town to town seeking adventure and reward. When he hears of a giant beast terrorizing the town of Hamlin and an equally giant reward that includes gold, money, and the mayor’s daughter in marriage, he heads to Hamlin. Steffan plans to kill the beast, rid the town of its rat infestation, and take the reward—everything except the girl in marriage. However, when he meets Katerina, he’s not so sure. Perhaps his plans need changing.

Katerina is hunting the Beast of Hamlin for herself, determined to win liberation from her conniving and controlling stepfather. When she finds one of the children who has been missing for many months, dirty and wandering around the woods, the mystery only seems to deepen. Katerina will have to team up with Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son who infuriates her—he’s the only one in town who isn’t controlled by the mayor. Danger dogs them from both man and beast. Can Katerina and Steffan stop the “Pied Piper” from stealing every last child from Hamlin? Or will their interference create an even worse fate?


My Review:

Dickerson has become one of my favorite authors of all time. She takes a fairy tale, re-invents it, and then has her characters learn to turn to God to help them. What a wonderful way to write a story, especially in this day and age! The Piper's Pursuit is a take on the Pied Piper and it was wonderfully done. Huge beasts are on the loose, rats have over run the town, and children are going missing. What is happening to the town of Hamlin? Kat is their protector until Steffan shows up and tries to help. (I am so glad Steffan got his own story) Could he help and would Kat let him? I have to say that the villains are truly horrid in this story, I despised them and what they were doing! Dickerson had me so caught up in the town of Hamlin, that everything truly felt real, as if I was watching it unfold before my eyes. A masterful story-teller, Dickerson has once again worked her magic on yet another book! 


Happy  Reading!!!

You can pick up your own copy via Amazon.

Source:  Netgalley for review