"When the Carnival Came" By Kathleen Bailey: Review/Giveaway

Review by Sarah Erwin

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Calling all Nancy Drew fans! I’ve got a book and series that is just perfect for grown-up Nancy Drew fans. 

When the Carnival Came is book four in the “Olivia Penn Mysteries” by Kathleen Bailey and might just be my favorite entry yet. While this entry can certainly be read as a standalone, I'd also encourage readers not to miss out on books one through three, as those entries help readers to get to know the characters and learn Olivia’s fascinating backstory.

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Image Source Rhino Publishing LLC

It’s spring in Apple Station, Virginia and everything seems to be going Olivia’s way – her romance with the local detective Preston is strong, and there is a carnival in town, which brings back memories of fun nights as a child for Olivia.

All’s well until a stranger appears at Olivia’s house with carnations and a strange message for neighbor and friend Sam. Something isn’t right, Olivia knows, and Sam isn’t answering her phone. When a dead body is discovered, Olivia is recruited to go undercover at the carnival, and there is tension with her boyfriend Preston.

This is such a strong, well plotted mystery that I tried so hard to figure out along with Olivia. The details around the carnival and the folks who work there make for an interesting and creative read. Having Olivia go undercover as a journalist writing about carnival life was an excellent storytelling device, allowing readers to get an inside look at all the possible suspects.

Olivia is such a wonderful main character–very real and very brave! She cares deeply about truth and justice. She’s surrounded by a cast of characters that I adore, especially her dad and friends.

The small-town setting of Apple Station, Virginia is so vivid and cozy that I felt like I was there with Olivia.

This is exactly the kind of cozy mystery I like – a page-turning mystery brimming with cozy details AND suspects, clues and red herrings. The addition of two adorable pets (dog and cat) are a wonderful bonus.

To enter to win a copy of When the Carnival Came, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "carnival,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 18, 2025. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! 

You can click here to purchase this book.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.