In this mysterious twist on tales like The Three Little Pigs and The Boy Who Cried Wolf, alchemist Red runs headlong into a new problem . . .

. . . how do you sort out the innocent sheep from the wolf in sheep's clothing?

It's Halloween time in cozy, rural Belville, but the town is feeling far from festive. All Red wants to do is enjoy seasonal treats with her magical canine companion William-and maybe, just maybe, finally strike up the courage to face her feelings for a certain friend. Instead, a robber is playing deadly tricks in the nearby forest, and Red's neighbors are looking to her for help.

One of those neighbors, Ryuko, is known to have a shady past. So when he comes to Red saying that he recognizes the signs of a criminal gang, she listens to him. The incredible part, though, is that Ryuko thinks this gang might be trying to unleash a terrifying magical wolf upon the town! In two shakes of a little piggy's tail, panic descends on Belville. When roadside robbery and rumors of dark magic give way to actual murder, Red knows it's time to face the shadows. The only problem is, no one in town is exactly what they seem to be . . . between the former mayor peddling conspiracy theories, a secret club determined to explore dark magic, and a new friend who declares herself to be a "shadow witch," who is genuine and who is not? Red will have to learn to trust her instincts in order to save her friends from the menace lurking just out of sight.