Splendors and Glooms
Splendors and Glooms
Author: Laura Amy Schlitz
Desc: The master puppeteer Gaspare Grisini is so expert at manipulating his stringed puppets that they appear alive. Clara Wintermute the only child of a wealthy doctor is spellbound by Grisini’s act and invites him to entertain at her birthday party. Seeing his chance to make a fortune Grisini accepts and makes a splendidly gaudy entrance with caravan puppets and his two orphaned assistants. Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are dazzled by the Wintermute home. Clara seems to have everything they lack — adoring parents warmth and plenty to eat. In fact Clara’s life is shadowed by grief guilt and secrets. When Clara vanishes that night suspicion of kidnapping falls upon the puppeteer and by association Lizzie Rose and Parsefall. As they seek to puzzle out Clara’s whereabouts Lizzie and Parse uncover Grisini’s criminal past and wake up to his evil intentions. Fleeing London they find themselves caught in a trap set by Grisini’s ancient rival a witch with a deadly inheritance to shed before it’s too late.