A Pocketful of Wheat

A Chilling Riddle in Thistlebrook

In A Pocketful of Wheat, Thistlebrook once again becomes the backdrop for a mystery that’s as intriguing as it is eerie. The Village Detective series, skillfully penned by Dirk Volcano, continues to draw readers into its web of suspense and charm.

The Mysterious Clue

A crime scene unlike any other awaits Biddy Apple: a murdered businessman with nothing stolen or disturbed, save for the handful of wheat curiously placed in his pocket. It’s a clue that’s both baffling and foreboding, setting the stage for an investigation that promises to be anything but straightforward.

Nursery Rhymes with a Dark Twist

As Biddy delves deeper into the case, she unearths a connection that sends shivers down the spine. The seemingly innocent world of nursery rhymes hides a malevolence that could be the key to the entire mystery. With each discovery, Biddy finds herself entangled in a web where childhood chants take on a menacing tone.

Unravel the Enigma

With the clock ticking and a killer possibly on the loose, Biddy Apple’s detective skills are put to the ultimate test. Can she solve the riddle and bring justice to Thistlebrook? Or will the town be haunted forever by the echoes of a twisted rhyme?

Join the captivating journey of Biddy Apple in A Pocketful of Wheat and get lost in the intricate mysteries of Thistlebrook. Ready for an adventure filled with twists, turns, and tantalizing clues? 

Dive in and read A Pocketful of Wheat for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Biddy Apple stood on the cobbled street of Thistlebrook, her gaze fixed on the old Tudor house before her. Its dark beams and white plaster exterior had seen better days, much like its current resident—or rather, its former one.

Detective James, a young and rather spry officer from the neighboring town, met her at the door. “Thank you for coming on such short notice, Miss Apple,” he began, adjusting his hat. “This is rather peculiar.”

Biddy simply nodded, her mind already focused on the task at hand. Inside the house, the scene was undisturbed. A crystal glass half-filled with brandy sat on a polished oak table, its amber contents catching the dim light from the nearby window. Nearby, a chair lay overturned, the only sign of struggle.

On the floor, draped in a fine suit, lay the lifeless body of Reginald Crane, a well-to-do businessman known throughout Thistlebrook. His face was contorted in a grimace of surprise or fear—perhaps both.

Detective James cleared his throat. “The scene appears relatively undisturbed, but there’s something you should see.” He motioned to Crane’s front pocket.

With gloved hands, Biddy carefully reached in and extracted a handful of golden grains. Wheat.

She let the grains fall slowly from her grasp, her mind racing. “What’s the meaning of this?” Detective James whispered, equally puzzled.

But Biddy’s attention had shifted. Nestled beside the chair was a torn page, its inky words familiar, yet eerily out of place. “…silver and gold will be stolen away. Pocketful, pocketful, wheat in the fray.“

A childhood nursery rhyme, but with a twist.

“This isn’t the rhyme I remember,” Biddy murmured. Her memories of nursery songs were filled with joy and innocence, not dark prophecies of theft and murder.

“Perhaps it’s a message,” Detective James offered, “or a signature of sorts?”

Biddy slowly stood up, the weight of the case settling in. “Perhaps. But for now, we must examine every inch of this place. There’s a story here, and we need to piece it together.”

As the day wore on, the mysteries only deepened. The house revealed no signs of forced entry, and nothing appeared to be stolen. The only anomaly was the wheat and the ominous rhyme.

As dusk approached, Biddy retreated to her home, the day’s events swirling in her mind. The unsettling link between the murder and the corrupted nursery rhyme gnawed at her. Why wheat? And why that particular rhyme?

Drawing a warm bath, Biddy sank into the comforting embrace of the water, her thoughts drifting to childhood memories, searching for any semblance of a link or motive.

But the more she pondered, the more questions arose, each more perplexing than the last. One thing was clear: this was no ordinary crime. And as the first strains of night began to play outside her window, Biddy knew she was embroiled in one of the most challenging cases of her career.

But if there was one thing Thistlebrook had taught her over the years, it was that even the most baffling mysteries eventually revealed their secrets. All she had to do was listen.