Dead upon a Time by Elizabeth Paulson (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Dead upon a Time by Elizabeth Paulson Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Paulson, Elizabeth Dead upon a Time. Scholastic, 2015 [224p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-545-64046-6 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-545-64047-3 $17.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 7-10 Kate Hood and her grandmother have always been considered outcasts in Shepherd’s Grove. When Nan goes missing from her cottage, Kate, who survives as a live-in servant, knows that any help she will get will have to be from the village’s other pariah, Jack the giant killer (who unfortunately slew the giant only after the beast left a trail of destruction). The only clues to Nan’s disappearance are several tapestries left in her house that depict grotesque scenes of torture: in one, a terrified girl kneels in a cell covered in needles; another shows two small children being baked alive. When the king’s daughter goes missing as well, Kate and Jack acquire some royal assistance with their search; the evil behind the kidnappings, however, is a powerful force, and Kate’s budding magical abilities may be the only way to [End Page 108] save the prisoners and the kingdom. A blend of fairy tale and crime procedural, the story is light on the world-building but skilled in pacing, leading readers from one clue to the next as the mystery intensifies. With a narration that somewhat belies her outward bravado, Kate is an appealing blend of vulnerability and moxie; her amiable, clever banter with Jack adds levity to their often dangerous predicaments. The ultimate villain, however, is not all that intimidating and immediately deflates the book’s tension, while the abrupt conclusion offers too many tidy solutions. Still, the accessible language and compelling plot might make this a quick pick for fairy-tale fans. Copyright © 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois