Brighton, winter 1951. Pantomime season is in full swing on the pier with Max Mephisto starring in Aladdin, but Maxs headlines have been stolen by the disappearanceof two local children. When they are found dead in the snow, surrounded by sweets, its not long before the press nickname themHansel and Gretel. DI Edgar Stephens has plenty of leads to investigate. The girl, Annie, used to write gruesome plays based on the Grimmsfairy tales. Does the clue lie in Annies unfinishedand rather disturbinglast script? Or might it lie with the eccentric theatricals who have assembled for the pantomime? For Stan (aka the Great Diablo), whos also appearing in Aladdin, the case raises more personal memories. Back before the Great War, he witnessed the murder of a young girl while he was starring in another show, an event which has eerie parallels to the current case. Once again Edgar enlists Maxs help in penetrating the shadowy theatrical world that seems to hold the key. But wi