Happy Sunday! Thanks to Deb Nance at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon.
Favorite Read of the Week:
I post reviews on Instagram and Goodreads. What have you read this week?
When the Carnival Came (Olivia Penn Mysteries #4) by Kathleen Bailey
About the Book:
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.
Step right up, scroll to the top, and grab your copy today!
My Review:
This just might be my favorite entry into The Olivia Penn Mystery Series yet! (Moment of truth: I’ve read books one, two and four–I’m saving book three for my December reading since it’s set around Christmas time. I’m living on the wild side, reading out of order, I know!) This series has been recommended for fans of Clue and Nancy Drew, and I totally agree!
This entry can certainly be read as a standalone, and I’d also encourage you to read the others because you really get to know both the characters and Olivia’s fascinating backstory.
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.
The details around the carnival and the folks who work there made for an interesting and creative read. The mystery is well plotted and Olivia is such a wonderful main character–very real. I’d love so much to visit with her and tour her cozy town. I am hoping we get more Olivia Penn Mysteries!
What I’m Reading & Listening to Now:
Reading: The True Love Experiment (DNA Duo #2) by Christina Lauren
Listening: A New Lease on Death (Supernatural Mysteries #1) by Olivia Blacke
Week in Review:
It was a busy week that felt like it plodded along, but that happens sometimes. My daughter was sick this week (I swear…we are having the worst luck this fall with school germs invading our house). I worked a few extra hours on Thursday to cover for a co-worker and today we went thrifting and everyone read a bunch.
Something I’m Looking Forward To:
I have book club tonight which is always enjoyable. We have two exciting events this week – my son’s fifth grade musical performance, and my daughter will be in Mean Girls, Jr this coming weekend. They have both put in a lot of hard work and we are excited to see. I’m working an extra day this week to cover for a co-worker, and I am counting down the days until Thanksgiving break. I cannot wait!
Posted Recently:
Book Review: All’s Fair in Love and Treachery (Lady Petra Inquires #2) by Celeste Connally
Nonfiction November: My Year in Nonfiction 2024
A review for a book I read earlier was published on Kings River Life News & Reviews. Check it out here:
The Grey Wolf By Louise Penny: Review/Giveaway
sarahcantstopreadingbooks.com 
Leave a reply to Susan Cancel reply