Dark and sinister things are afoot when a young woman goes missing and eleven-year-old Mary is pulled into the mystery. But a worse fate seems to await Mary when she gets ahold of a mysterious journal and dangerous people begin following her.

When an old photograph surfaces that provides clues to Mary's own family mystery, it isn't long before it's revealed that the two cases are intertwined and the young girl must solve the case before she becomes a missing person herself.

With a backdrop of dark humor and intrigue, this book is the first in The M. Goose Chronicles, and aims to combine a classic feel with a contemporary mystery story, using artful language and is steeped in serious humor and crafty storytelling. Reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's voice of Alice along with the drollery style of Lemony Snicket, the book will have middle-grade readers enjoying the fun and inventive twists to the characters and places of their beloved nursery tales.

If you liked The Mysterious Benedict Society and A Series of Unfortunate Events then this dark twist on Mother Goose tales is the next best read.