Hullo, all! Looooooooong time no see!!!
I am still around, I assure you! And despite my saying I was taking a July/August hiatus, it was unintentionally extended through September. HEH
However, I'm hoping to slowly get back into my normal routine, starting with this book review!
Have a lovely days, my friends!
(Also, can you believe tomorrow is the 1st of OCTOBER???)
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The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus
Jamie Jo Wright
Bethany House Publishers | September 1st, 2020
Christian Fiction, Romance, Mystery Thriller
1928
The Bonaventure Circus is a refuge for many, but Pippa Ripley was rejected from its inner circle as a baby. When she receives mysterious messages from someone called the "Watchman," she is determined to find him and the connection to her birth. As Pippa's search leads her to a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and evidence that a serial killer has been haunting the circus train, she must decide if uncovering her roots is worth putting herself directly in the path of the killer.
Present Day
The old circus train depot will either be torn down or preserved for historical importance, and its future rests on real estate project manager Chandler Faulk's shoulders. As she dives deep into the depot's history, she's also balancing a newly diagnosed autoimmune disease and the pressures of single motherhood. When she discovers clues to the unsolved murders of the past, Chandler is pulled into a story far darker and more haunting than even an abandoned train depot could portend.
The Bonaventure Circus is a refuge for many, but Pippa Ripley was rejected from its inner circle as a baby. When she receives mysterious messages from someone called the "Watchman," she is determined to find him and the connection to her birth. As Pippa's search leads her to a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and evidence that a serial killer has been haunting the circus train, she must decide if uncovering her roots is worth putting herself directly in the path of the killer.
Present Day
The old circus train depot will either be torn down or preserved for historical importance, and its future rests on real estate project manager Chandler Faulk's shoulders. As she dives deep into the depot's history, she's also balancing a newly diagnosed autoimmune disease and the pressures of single motherhood. When she discovers clues to the unsolved murders of the past, Chandler is pulled into a story far darker and more haunting than even an abandoned train depot could portend.
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I was provided with a complimentary copy thanks to Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.
WARNING: Possible Spoilers!
THE BASICS
It's been quite a while since last I dove into a good mystery thriller. At first, this novel didn't really sound like something I'd normally pick up, but it certainly drew me in as a page-turner & thrilling whodunnit.
The two female perspectives (set decades apart) was well done, in my opinion, and easily distinguishable. The characters were well fleshed out & easy to discern between. The story was interesting & grew my interest for the circus, reminding me quite a bit about the film The Greatest Showman (2017), in a way. But for those who may be reluctant to begin this tale due to that little tidbit of POVs spanning two different eras, there's no confusion in that regard. :] But again, that's my humble opinion. You'll have to read for yourself!
VIOLENCE
Present day...
Rumors abound about the old, abandoned depot station that was once the winter home of the Bonaventure Circus. It is said a woman was murdered in one of the buildings & currently haunts the place. More rumors of a serial killer...
A young boy is kidnapped. {SPOILER} No harm comes to him.
A woman endures the effects & symptoms of an autoimmune disease. She experiences some episodes caused by the stress of her job & burden of being a single parent.
In the past...
The long-awaited birth of an elephant calf is squashed when the mother panics & trample the calf, most likely causing internal injuries, as well as multiple visible bruising. It's not expected to live, and a man leaves to fetch a gun to end its misery.
A woman is strangled & hung from the ceiling. Another young woman is attacked, but someone comes to her rescue. A man is badly beaten---broken bones & bruising. A man is stabbed in the back with a pair of scissors...
We find out that a teen girl has been "guarded" her whole life by someone she calls her Watchman. She doesn't know who he is, and no one else ever sees him, so she learns to keep quiet for fear her family would believe her insane. Essentially, she's being stalked, but in her mind, he's her guardian...
SPIRITUAL CONTENT
In 1928, our story begins in a graveyard at night *shudders*... at a crypt...
Many of the townspeople believe the old depot is haunted, and that the town itself has other ghosts around. A woman & her adult son lead ghost tours of the town, sharing its stories & history---more for the tourists' sake. It's mentioned that the woman knows things, and at one point they call her a psychic. Whether or not this is true is left to the reader & not really addressed.
Chandler, one of our main characters, and the present day POV, has her own struggling belief in a God she believes just leaves her alone. She prays on several different occasions, and comes to find stronger faith.
A man has a tattoo of a crucifix & rosary on his forearm. We later learn he served time in prison for some minor things & found Christ at that time.
There's talk of dead spirits, ghosts, & the like.
LANGUAGE // ALCOHOL & DRUGS
None. Unless you count the phrase, "Heckuva day."
Talk of circus folk going to the taverns & getting drunk. Parties serve alcoholic beverages.
ROMANTIC CONTENT
Obvious attraction between Pippa (our other main protagonist) & Jake (hired worker of the circus), as well as a growing relationship between Chandler & Hank (their relationship was the BEST).
At one point, Chandler collapses into Hank's arms (unintentionally) from fatigue, having overworked herself. He gently cares for her. Sometime later, she naps in his arms on the couch.
Pippa flees her home & runs to the circus in the rain. Jake finds her & they share some intimate snogging (aka smooching), but other than that, nothing untoward happens.
A seamstress is known for her more unprofessional work... But no details are shared.
CONCLUSION
All in all, this was an enjoyable read, and one that certainly kept me on my toes. While others may be able to discern whodunnit in this [double] mystery, it had me guessing all the way till the end. ;D I'm not sure if it's one I'll ever reread, but if you enjoy a good, clean mystery thriller, with some interesting tidbits about the circus way back when, they I've no doubt you'll like this one.
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Ages: 16+
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Read any good books lately??
If you keep up with Reading Challenges on GoodReads, I'm already TWO books away from my goal of 50---FOR THE YEAR!! This has been a great year for some great reads, & I'm thinking of doing a Rated, Not Reviewed post sometime soon to share some of them. *^ - ^*
In the meantime, I'm LOVING the Fall weather that's finally made its way to my hometown & DEFINITELY anticipating ALL THE THINGS that go with it. <3
Aaaahhhhh, SARAH! I've missed your posts! It's so good to hear from you. ^_^
ReplyDeleteOkay, this book actually totally sounds like something I might want to read, even though it's outside my usual genre. But I do really enjoy mysteries AND I kind of totally love circus tales. So I will have to remember this one! Thank you so much for the great review!
And YES to fall! I. AM. SO. EXCITED. October/November/December is my FAVORITE time of year and I'm so ridiculously happy October starts tomorrow. :D
You're back Sarah!! So glad to see your posts pop up in my email again ^_^
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such a great article.Book for love is another level of hobby. I got historical fiction book subscription and get amazing books monthly.
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