5-STAR REVIEW: WHEN THE CARNIVAL CAME by Kathleen Bailey

An Olivia Penn Mystery: Book 4
Publication Date: November 12, 2024

A mysterious murder at an abandoned military base. A carnival has rolled into town. The shocking connection forces her to choose between a dear friend and her new love.

Spring is blooming in Apple Station, Virginia, and Olivia Penn’s new romance is heating up. With love in the air and the carnival in town, life seems picture-perfect—until a stranger arrives at her door with carnations and a cryptic message for her friend.

When Olivia follows the trail and finds her friend standing over a dead body, she discovers there’s more to the carnival than just fun and games. Compelled to keep an impossible secret from both her new love and the police, Olivia is recruited to go undercover and investigate who among the quirky carnival crew had a motive for murder.

In a race to protect her friend and solve the crime, she must trust a man she never expected to see again. Together, they execute a daring plan to bring a killer to justice and save the lives of thirty very precious, valuable feathered friends.

With the killer on the verge of vanishing without a trace, justice—and her life—hinge on quick thinking and a bold move. Will she and her new love survive to see another day?

When the Carnival Came is the fourth book in the award-winning The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. When the Carnival Came is a small-town, cozy mystery brimming with heart and humor, featuring a charming cast of characters and a fast-paced, twisty plot. Action-packed and full of suspense, this clean, cozy thrill ride will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Small towns, carnivals, murders, and a puzzle to solve are some topics and tropes in cozy mysteries that I enjoy, and author Kathleen Bailey’s When the Carnival Came includes them all!

The primary protagonist, Olivia, is a very likable character. She’s a survivor and gets to the bottom of whatever she’s investigating. She may be afraid, but she doesn’t let fear stop her, which I find admirable. Olivia’s love interest, Preston Hills, is a dogged investigator and leaves no stone unturned.

Other secondary characters, including Olivia’s father, add color and flavor to the mystery and plot, creating a relatable world for the readers.

Bailey provides a short synopsis of her previous books so readers can catch up on the series’ overarching plot line. The author adeptly builds tension for the audience when Olivia is placed in peril and leads us through clues and red herons to the reveal of the whodunit.

When the Carnival Came is a fast-moving, edge-of-your-seat, entertaining read for lovers of the cozy mystery genre.

Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. Kathleen has degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She previously worked as a pediatric physical therapist for over twenty years with children who have special needs. She now spends her days plotting and sleuthing in Virginia where she lives with her husband and adorable feline fur baby. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the James River Writers.

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