Criminology of a Character

Autopsy of a Fairytale, Book 4

What on earth is a homicide detective supposed to do with two unexpected weeks off?

While on their first romantic vacation, Detective Isobel "Bel" Emerson and Eamon Stone accidentally uncover a black market operation. Agent Jameson Barry and the FBI rush to their aid, but during the raid, Bel finds an inconsequential piece of evidence that the FBI dismisses as trash. Yet she can't get it out of her mind. It lodges in her brain long after she returns home, driving her and her partner, Detective Olivia Gold, to launch an investigation of their own.

When evidence uncovered in a disturbing homicide case in Bajka bears striking similarities to the evidence found during the FBI raid, Bel is convinced the two vastly different crimes are somehow related. She throws herself into uncovering the truth as she hunts for the serial killer plaguing Bajka, but when tragedy strikes the small town, the police face a devastating question. Is the truth she's searching for worth the risk, especially when not even Eamon's beast is strong enough to help her?

Loosely inspired by "Bluebeard" and "The Little Match Girl," Criminology of a Character is book four in the Autopsy of a Fairytale series, a crime procedural romantic suspense perfect for those who like dark fairytales, murder mystery, crime procedurals, romance, found family, and a hint of fantasy. Each book will be based on a different fairytale, but Bel (and her Beast) will connect them all, her story ending on small cliffhangers in each book. This series must be listened to in order.

©2024 Nicole Scarano (P)2025 Podium Audio

Best One Yet!

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! The writing is so perfect.

Amazing storytelling

Great twists on familiar stories and how it all builds. I hope she writes more of these.

An incredible love story!

Love love love this series!!! The drama of a mystery entangled with a sweet love story!!! I can’t wait for the next book!!!

Spoilers

Criminology of a Character
(3.75 stars)
The beginning very much read like a full-on episode of Jane the Virgin—specifically the over-the-top hotel plot with the secret plastic surgery operation. If you’ve seen it, you’ll know exactly the vibe I mean: dramatic, slightly absurd, and leaning hard into telenovela-style twists.
It wasn’t bad by any means, but it also wasn’t my favorite in the series.
That said, the writing is still solid, the characters remain likable enough to keep me invested, and the series as a whole has earned enough goodwill that I’m not tapping out yet.
I liked the ending, the doctor, the dead wives and the scalpel. That cliff hanger though.

It was amazing

Basically.So far all of these have been the perfectly sequential non sequential unsure fairy tales mixed with the best of true crime