Welcome to the Crimival: Carousel Crimes by R.L. Walker blog tour! Today I have an excerpt for you to check out, plus I am sharing my thoughts on this book.
Crimival: Carousel Crimes (The Disappearing Act #2)
by R.L. WalkerGenre: YA Mystery/Paranormal
Release Date: May 2019
Summary:
Zoe is back for another summer of adventure. This time she is trying her hand at running her own business selling her idea of deep-fried soda pop. She quickly learns the ups and downs of starting a business and that she needs to balance her crime-solving with her day job. This time things could get deadly when the rides start falling apart literally. Will her telepathic powers be strong enough to stop disaster before it strikes?
**My thoughts**
I have so many fond memories of going to all of the carnivals when I was a kid. And something that intrigued me with this story was that it took place a lot in Ohio, which is where I grew up, so I really felt at home and was able to retreat back into some of my childhood memories.
Having a mystery at a carnival is an interesting premise. Again, it reminds me a bit of childhood, because one of my favorite Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books was a mystery at a carnival. Only this one is a bit more sinister than that one ever was. Someone is determined to hurt the Kavanagh company and will stop at nothing to do it. Zoe and her friends are determined to try to figure out what is going on and to stop people from getting hurt. Zoe apparently also developed some powers in the first book, on which she depends to help her solve what's going on. Plus she is trying to prove her independence by running her own food truck of Deep Fried Soda, which I still don't quite understand!
This book was definitely a quick read and I didn't have any idea who the culprit would be, in spite of having bits of his or her story being told from his or her point of view interspersed between Zoe's story. I had some difficulty really understanding the relationships between the characters and some of the plot elements because I did not read the first book in the series. It is sort of alluded to and explained a little bit, but not enough to really give me enough clarity. I also had a hard time understanding everyone's true ages. Zoe seems quite mature for a 16-year-old, especially driving and running her own truck!
Reading this as an adult, I felt like it would be best enjoyed by older middle grade and even teens. I know I would have enjoyed it when I was in my late elementary/middle school years for sure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Book One:
The Disappearing Act (The Disappearing Act #1)
Summary:
Zoe has once chance to accept her fate and save her friends. Failure is not an option.
The summer starts off as a normal carnival season for Zoe who has grown up in the carnival. Soon she realizes it's everything, but normal. Friends are disappearing and Zoe begins to notice she has an ability to see what is happening to her. Will she be able to learn to use her newfound telepathic powers to save her friends from a madman before the summer is over?
Come for the carnival, stay for the story....
Series Purchase Links:
Excerpt
Ring! Ring! Holding up my phone, Xavier’s face popped up on the screen. Wondering what he wanted, I swiped to answer.
“Hello! Long time no talk!” I spoke.
“Hey, I’ve got a problem down here in Gib town,” he started
.“What kind of problem? I questioned offhandedly I had put the phone on speaker and continued putting the pop machine back together with a wrench. Giving an extra oomph I clamped the other line.
“Are you even paying attention?” Xavier snapped impatiently, “This is a real emergency and I need your help! Stop fixing that piece of junk pop machine and listen!”
Frowning into my phone screen I replied, “First of all are you secretly telepathic too? Since you know what I am doing. Secondly, don’t take that tone with me, I knew you when you still drooled. Thirdly, I need to spend the least amount possible on this rusty pile to turn it into a profitable business. So I need to do most of the work myself. Not all of us were born with a silver spoon, you know. Anyways, I’m all ears. Tell me what’s up.” I stepped out of the trailer to squat on the step leading up to the trailer on where a fuzzy kitten tangled itself around my feet.
There was an audible pause and for a moment I thought Xavier was pulling a prank or hung up, then he whispered, “It’s happening again, Zoe. I need your help down here.”
“The disappearance or kidnappings? We caught him! It can’t be happening!” I stammered as my heart began to race. The nightmare was continuing.
Xavier mumbled, “Different than the last time, but I swear someone is trying to sabotage the show. I can feel it in my bones…”
About the Author
I grew up in the carnival which was the family business, after graduating I went to college. After which I got a job teaching English in South Korea which compelled me to pursue my Masters in Education upon my return. I have been teaching English ever since.
Last year to help inspire my students to write more, I told them that I would write with them and complete a story and publish it. It took me all year, but I completed my first book, "The Disappearing Act" by the end of the year and got hooked on story telling! My time in the carnival business inspired my first book and my time spent at an archaeological dig helped to inspire my second book, "Kai's Secret".
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Check out the author’s social media pages for giveaways!
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