The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus

I knew that Jaime Jo Wright had written another triumph when I found myself fervently praying for a fictional elephant! This story immediately grabbed my attention and kept me guessing until the last possible moment. With lots of mystery, suspense, and just the right amount of spookish intrigue, this book has it all! Jaime’s writing creates such vivid images that you feel like you can actually see the characters and scenes unfolding. I have to say that the heroes in the story are definitely not your typical heroes and I was surprised at how much I admired them by the end of the story. This is one book that I will definitely read again and again!

No ones pens a more eerie tale than Jaime Jo Wright. She has mastered the craft of writing suspenseful split time novels with haunting plots that are chilling and full of surprises. The Haunting At Bonaventure Circus kept me guessing until the conclusion! Prepare yourself for twists and turns as this story unfolds! This has such a suspenseful and shocking ending, like hold your breath and just keep turning the pages! I love it when I’m surprised by an ending or shocked by a reveal of facts and this one delivers! This isn’t your typical trip to the circus, but it will definitely grab your attention and intrigue you!

This was a heart thumping time slip novel set in 1928 and current day. It evolves around a circus that has its headquarters in a small town. Strange noises, screams, ghosts and serial killers all play a part in this story, especially in the dark of night. The not so perfect characters won places in my heart. Pippa in the 1928 tale was born of circus parents and had a deformed leg. Given up at birth, she was raised by the owner of the Bonaventure Circus along with his wife. A very strict father kept Pippa under his thumb most of her young life. She found time to sneak off to the wonders and people in the circus world feeling a connection deep in her soul. Pippa was lost and felt so unloved, always searching for acceptance. Baby Lily also won me over. Her rejection by her mom left lots of hurt and scars that formed in big tears and whines from within. Pippa could relate so well to Lily and they formed a close bond beyond explanation.
Chandler in modern day was just trying to survive and raise her young son Peter alone. She was working on a renovation of the old circus buildings under her uncle who purchased the property. Strange sounds and moans and scraps across the floors that couldn’t be explained sent Chandler on a search into the past. Rumors of a serial killer, the Watchman, surfaced as she dug deeper and deeper. What was it going to cost her in the end?
And who couldn’t love an author that uses such fun words as “heebie-jeebies” and “flibbertigibbet”?
Look for them! And my favorite reference to my all time favorite TV show, Andy Griffith on Loc 1695.
My takeaway from this book, “the best families are made of broken people.”
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author through Netgalley but was not required to write a review.

Reading the “The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus” will make your heart flip like the acrobatics of a trapeze artist. In typical Jaime Jo Wright fashion, this book is spooky and perfectly unique. I will say this book freaked me out more than her previous novels, but with a book by Wright, I knew that nothing was as it seemed and in the end it would all make sense. I wasn’t disappointed!

There are so many things I love about this book. First off, there’s a baby elephant. I mean, you can’t not love a baby elephant! I found myself rooting for this sweet baby to survive as much as I did the human characters. Speaking of the human characters, Wright outdid herself. As I read, I kept thinking that these characters felt so REAL. The setting is my home state of Wisconsin. I live just a couple hours from the small circus town this book is inspired by. Many of the phrases Wright uses are typical Wisconsin phrases. I could hear the words coming out of characters who looked like people I know, right down to the burly bikers with hearts of gold! Then there was the connection to an autoimmune disease. Chandler was diagnosed with the same autoimmune disease I live with. Her symptoms are a bit different than mine, but it’s powerful to read about a character who struggles with the same thing in life that you do. I had a lot of personal connections to this book.

“The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus” is a fantastic suspense full of more twists and turns than a night under the Big Top. The characters, even the heroes, are flawed and trying to figure out life and faith and love. They question God’s involvement in their lives and struggle to understand why things are happening to them and if they will ever be loved for who they are. They struggle with things that we all struggle with and I think many people will find themselves in the pages of this book. Finally, I just have to say the men in this book are not your typical heroes and I love that so much!

*I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel through Netgalley but was not required to write a review.

I absolutely loved this book and it very well be one of my Top Ten of the year, if not of all time. It was a real page turner and it kept me guessing until the end (which is rare to do).

I loved the circus backdrop of the book. I loved the characters, especially Chandler and Pippa, and I could identify with their struggles. I liked the variety and type of characters and that the author did not shy away from writing about them. There were spiritual warfare struggles (mainly Lottie's medium escapades) and struggling with being enough.

The story was very gritty with it's mystery and as a reader I appreciate that. I was able to keep up with the time slip aspect of the novel and it is VERY well written. The message I got through the book is that even we feel like no one sees us, God ALWAYS does and that we may not be able to escape our past, but God can redeem it--no matter how bad.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book! I have also posted this review on GoodReads.

I loved the creepy story line and the setting of Wisconsin which was familiar to me as my native state. Kudos to Jaime Jo Wright for writing a very atmospheric book. I hightly recommend, not much I would change.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright is a fascinating and truly gripping mystery with deep themes of grace and light shining through darkness. With equally riveting time periods and compelling characters, this story draws the reader into the world of the circus, its people, and a unique look at how history has far-reaching threads into the present.

I really appreciate how both timelines and the heroines mirror each other in many ways. Pippa is learning to champion her independence while Chandler is fiercely fighting to maintain hers. Both heroes play crucial yet subtle roles, too, complimentary to each heroine. Both heroes are strong and protective, yet actively letting the heroines prove their capability. The colorful and unexpected cast of characters imparts both wisdom and insight into the web of mystery.

Wright’s style, a balance of creepy and lyrical, highlights the contrasts of human nature and grace, the evil lurking in the shadows and bright light of hope. I appreciate the way the realities of redemption, flaws of humanity, and the gift of being seen by those we care about the most was interwoven in a thrilling way.

I had my mind made up about 60% through of just WHO the culprit(s) were in the shadows. I was completely wrong! I love how Wright surprises me with every. single. one of her mysteries. Bravo!

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the review copy. This is my honest review.

In 1928, Pippa Ridley received messages from the "Watchman," and hoped to find a connection to her birth, when she was rejected from the Bonaventure Circus. While she finds a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and a serial killer, she has to determine if finding her past is worth the risk of being in the killer's path. In the present day, Chandler Faulk digs into a circus depot's history to see if it should be preserved as a historic record or dismantled. She's balancing this job against a new medical diagnosis and single motherhood, and is caught up in a deadly story darker than she thought she would find.

From the beginning, the language used to describe the locations in each timeline was gorgeous and evocative. I was fascinated by the strict limits placed on Pippa by everyone around her, yet she still ran around the Bonaventure Circus and could bond with the newborn elephant, Lily. She's very innocent, so much of the circus folks' lives occurs outside of her understanding and people push her in every which way. Even so, she still wants to find a sense of self and belonging, and continues to do so despite efforts to shut her down.

In the modern timeline, Chandler is dealing with what is essentially chronic Lyme's disease and psychogenic seizures. Because her parents had been so disappointed with her getting pregnant in college and not knowing who the father was (this is mentioned many, many times), she pulled away from them and tried to raise her son Peter alone. This is difficult to do even though she's working for her uncle. The renovation project is important to her because she feels undermined by one of her uncle's employees, and the railroad depot's haunted reputation doesn't help matters when someone keeps breaking in.

Small towns are notorious for everyone knowing everyone else, and for lives to intertwine. Many modern day people are descended from the circus folk, so that the notorious killer of Pippa's time is still known and his descendants were shunned. Family lineage is still important; it's the reputation that matters, not the potential affluence, it's for that reputation that people are willing to kill. Chandler is new in town, at once folded into the small town life and held back from it. The renovation project opens up secrets revealed in the final quarter of the book. That's where it takes on a more breakneck pace, until we reach the conclusion.

The storylines build slowly with time, and are laden with details. The reader ultimately knows more about the situation than Pippa or Chandler do, and that's where the tension lies.

Behind the glitz, glamour, and glitter of the circus lies an unspeakable darkness—a darkness so malevolent that its evil stretches across the decades to murder again. Told in split time, Jaime Jo Wright’s latest novel effortlessly travels between the Gilded Age and modern day. Deliciously gothic, richly detailed, and with an ending you won’t see coming!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The parallel lives of two women struggling with finding themselves, in completely different times and circumstance. This book did keep me guessing, to find out “who done it”.

Thanks NetGalley for this review copy. I really wanted to get into the spooky season mood with this one and it worked.
This book is Told by two perspectives pippa’s in the 1920’s and chandler in present time’s almost 100 years later .
Chandler moves to a fictional town called Bluff river home to the bonadventure circus which has been marred by murder and death over the years .
Pippa ‘s story takes place while the murders are taking place and a mysterious figure called the watchman who says he is watching over her tries to meet her. She starts to realise there is something sinister about him.
Through Chandler and Pippa’s stories we see the mystery pan out and like so many unsolved cases there are no answers when questions are asked years later .
This spooky read really had me pretty gripped and I loved the character of Pippa.

I loved this book! Just the right amount of spooky without being dark and ominous. It kept my attention and gave me a it of chills. Nothing that kept me up at night, but I definitely didn't read this book before bed!
* Thanks to NetGalley for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Jaime Jo Wright outdid herself! This split time novel had me on the edge of my seat from the first chapter. I loved the connections between the different times and how it keeps the reader guessing at each turn of the page.

The characters were extremely relatable. I loved Pippa’s want for belonging and to feel loved and Chandler’s desire for independence and deep care for her child. I also really appreciated reading about someone with a chronic illness, as I feel like many people shy away from that topic.

I usually am pretty good at guessing whodunnit, but this book left me surprised at each twist and turn, even though there were clues there along the way.

If you love historical romance with a little bit of mystery/suspense, do yourself a favor and pick up this heart-pounding, enthralling novel!

Thank you to Bethany House fiction and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! My first read by Jaimie Jo Wright and it did not disappoint! A fabulous story woven between two time periods: 1928 and the present day. Jaimie has written characters that captivate you, and I quickly found myself becoming drawn into their stories and wanting happy endings all around. The mystery and murder in this book keep you hooked in from start to finish. There were definitely a few parts where I hunkered further down under the blanket. Don’t wait, grab yourself a copy or request it at your local library and enjoy!

A big thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #TheHauntingatBonaventureCircus #Goodreads #BookBub
** This review can be found on NetGalley, Goodreads, BookBub and Amazon.ca after the publishing date.

Dude. That...wow. That was a wild ride. I'd never read a Jaime Jo Write book before, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but her covers really made me wanna try it out. And I'm so glad I did!

Chandler and Pippa were two different characters nearly a hundred years apart, yet the way their stories intertwined was so cool. I wasn't sure that I would enjoy the book—the word haunting should give you a hint as to why—and while the ghost talk made me uncomfortable, there was only one character that actually made it an obsession, and the rest of the talk about it didn't completely make me dislike it, sooooo.

(I'm having a really hard time organizing my thoughts, I shouldn't have waited two weeks after I finished reading it before I reviewed, haha)

BUT. I did love Chandler's character! She was so relatable, and so was Pippa (actually, Pippa was the more relatable one for me, I'd say)! Can you believe I actually found a book where I loved both female protagonists?! Actually, I think I liked them better than the male characters. *GASP* Yes, you heard that right. While I loved Jake (and Clive and the other circus dudes, for that matter) and enjoyed Hank (once I saw past his ego), my favorite characters were Chandler and Pippa. Pippa especially. So may we all just stand and applause Ms. Wright for accomplishing this?!

Okay, so, the plot. *grins and rubs hands together* the plOT! Duuuude. So, I don't remember the last time I read a historical mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. Couple that with the modern-day mystery that hinted at the past, it made me want to SCREAM because THAT person was going to die and I just wanted to go back in time and warn the characters.

The mystery with Pippa was centered around the Watchman. This part confused me a bit, as I wondered just how she knew that he held the key to her past. But, he did, and duuuude. So, like, I had my suspicions about the serial killer. I thought I had the culprit pegged close to the beginning of the book. But then I thought "Nah, I don't think so." And ya know what? I WAS RIGHT. Liiiiiike...#mindblown And then to find out the rest about Pippa's past, and who the Watchman was, andandand *deep breath* Did I mention that this was a wild ride??

Okay, so, Chandler's mystery. Not quite as nail-biting—at least, not until she broke through the wall. (those that have read the book KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.) Every time I thought we'd get to the bottom of the mystery, a new development would pop up and screw everything and make my head spin. Aaaaaand then we find out who the bad guy is. And I was NOT expecting that and so once again, #mindblown

Sooooo, the last part to talk about is the romance. Actually, it wasn't so much that I would take it down a star! There were a couple scenes (especially that one with Pippa) that I could've done without, but the rest of the book made up for it.

All this to say, Jaime Jo Wright did a fantastic job on her latest book!


*I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley for promotional purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Very well written story following the lives of two women. It isn’t an easy read due to the things that happen but it is very well developed. I am glad I read it.
Thanks for the advanced copy from netgalley and the publisher.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright! It was such a good read; gripping, mysterious, sincere, thought provoking, and of course, a little spooky! 

This novel is gold! It tells two stories; one story is set in the present and one in the 1920s, but they are fused together by the history and a haunting of the circus depot. The protagonists, Chandler in the present and Pippa in the 1920s, are equally haunted by the mysteries and secrets of the crimes at The Watchman and the Bonaventure Circus. Some mysteries really do take a century to solve and most secrets hurt no matter when they are discovered.

The parallel stories are creatively twisted together with excellent writing and exceptional detail.

Interestingly enough, the stories are strikingly similar but it never feels repetitive. It’s intriguing. Chandler and Pippa are crippled by fear, loneliness and the never ending torture of feeling less than or never good enough for the people around them. They struggle with loss and physical health handicaps, they experience abandonment and a longing to belong. And they are both struggling with their faith.

While the characters and personal journeys are developing, a gripping mystery is simultaneously unfolding. The writing is skilled and so vivid that you can create the whole scene in your mind’s eye with little difficulty.

Thank you NetGalley, Bethany House Publishers, and Jaime Jo Wright for a copy of this book for review. 

Possible triggers: domestic and societal mistreatment of women, mentions of God and faith, murder and some gore.

Past and present collide in this amazing story. In the past, during the height of the Bonaventure Circus, Pippa struggles with her past and is pursued by the mysterious Watchman. As clues come together and the body count climbs, Pippa learns the truth of her history. In the present Chandler struggles to raise her son singlehanded while rebuilding the grandeur of the fallen Bonaventure Circus. Break-ins and sabotage mar her progress and things get personal as the story progresses. In the end everything comes to light and the mysterious Watchman is unmasked after years of fear and uncertainty.
This story flows extremely well and draws you in right from the get go. I enjoyed the back and forth as things were revealed little by little. The ending wraps things up nicely and explains things so that there are no loose ends. A nail biting thriller of a mystery until the very end. I highly recommend.

What a wild ride! I enjoyed the thrill of this book and am glad I read it. The dual timelines came together and it was quite a page-turner.

This is a wonderful book! The author has a fantastic way with words and shifting between 1920’s Bluff River home to the famous Bonaventure Circus and present day when single mom Chandler came to the town to work on some projects that would definitely awake some ghosts!
I’m no particularly fond of thrillers, however this book is a great one as it incorporates such good cliffhangers at the end of the chapters, detailed historical research, suspense and important topics such as women’s rights, chronic disease and physical disabilities, and forgiveness.
It kept me awake reading and trying to get to the resolution of the story, I liked the characters are well built and that the Christian message is incorporated beautifully in the novel.

This is my first ARC from NetGalley and I really loved it! All my opinions are my own.

I’ve been wanting to read a Jaime Jo Wright novel for quite some time and have nearly, if not all of them on my bookshelf or Kindle, but honestly, the title and cover of this book drew me in and thrust it to the top of my TBR pile.

As a lover of historical fiction, Wright captured my imagination and interest immediately with life in a 1920s circus as seen through the eyes of the disabled circus owner’s adopted daughter, Pippa. As Pippa grows increasingly curious about the circumstances surrounding her birth and adoption, she is drawn to the Watchman and deeper into the forbidden, secret and very dangerous world of the Bonaventure circus.

The contemporary thread introduces us to Chandler Faulk, a single mom with a demanding career who is struggling with Chronic Lyme disease. As Chandler works to renovate the old circus depot, she learns about a series of murders that occurred around the circus during its heyday in the late 1920s and accidentally stumbles onto clues that may shed light on who had actually committed them.

I found both the modern-day and historical mysteries thrilling, and Wright had me guessing to the end who the murderer actually was. I can honestly say, I hadn’t seen that coming!

I really liked both of these heroines. I give Wright great kudos for writing both of them with difficult physical disabilities that provided many challenges for them throughout the story. The two women also shared an intense inner struggle to be seen and heard, to figure out who they are. As the novel developed, each realized that their journey was really one of self-acceptance and to fully embrace themselves the way God created them, flaws and all.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh wow wow wow! Before I get into this review, I must say that I am an avid anti-circus person. Animals belong in their natural habitats, and should never - never ever - be forced to perform tricks. That's just antiquated and a dark age mentality. You may as well poke bears with sticks as prod elephants. Or tigers, lions, horses...whatever. Just no.

There is, however, another side to the circus, one I first glimpsed when I was a young lass and read what is today still one of the most memorable books I have ever read, Twilight, by Dean Koontz. The circus, or carni, life is a complicated one. These are people bound by a silent code, one that revolves around an unspoken oath to protect, to shelter, to defend. A fierce loyalty born of careless cruelty (to themselves), outcasts of society in a world where only the average, the mundane, the accepted stand a chance. The abnormalities, the free spirits, the freaks, all souls deserving of the same treatment as anyone, as everyone; yet looked down upon and shunned as the outcasts, not fit for 'decent' society.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus took me a while to get into. It jumps between the past and the present, and in both cases, there is a strong female and even stronger male lead. I loved Chandler, a plucky fighter that stood her ground, as did Pippa, despite troubling and difficult circumstances. I'd have to say Hank was my man of the moment, what a fellow to have by your side, especially when you spend your time wandering around deserted - and haunted - abandoned circus depots!

This tale was tragic (Lily made me feel ever so sad, and despondent, poor, wretched creature). As did Patty, for different reasons obviously, but it also made me wonder how often something like that happens to someone like that, and how it's swept away, out of sight, because it's just not a someone that matters to the right people. But it was also so much more than the emotion of sorrow or regret. There was the eerie specter of The Watchman, a dark and shadowy figure lurking in the background throughout the story; Forrest, an enigma of uncertainty, and contradiction. And then there was Richard Ripley, menacing, hard and authoritative...

But let me say no more, lest I spoil it. Suffice to say that nothing is as it seems and there is something here for everyone, a bit of suspense, a bit of spooky, a bit of romance, and a whole lot of nostalgia, for a time that once was, and is no longer. And that is probably for the best, despite our romanticizing of the good old days, they weren't always as grand and carefree as we'd like to think. Well, not for everyone that is.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Jaime Jo Wright and Bethany House for my ARC.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright was a great spooky read for late October. Thank you Bethany House Publishers for offering this on NetGalley.

This dual timeline novel focuses on Bonaventure Circus based In Wisconsin. In 1928, Pippa Ripley is exploring her identity as the adopted daughter of circus owner Richard Ripley, reluctant fiancé of circus co-owner Forrest, and nursemaid to a newborn elephant calf. The present day storyline features Chandler Faulk and her young son Peter who have relocated to Wisconsin for Chandler’s real estate project manager job to redevelop the old circus train depot.

Both women struggle with circumstances that undermine their self-worth. Then unexplained events centering around a mysterious person called the “Watchman” impact both of their lives.

I enjoyed this novel, but because my reading experience was incredibly disjointed, I found it challenging to track the large cast of characters. Within the Christian fiction genre, this is very ‘edgy’ but likely too tame for readers of mainstream thrillers.

Jaime Jo Wright has done it again! The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is another creepy thrill ride certain to keep your eyes glued to the pages whilst huddled in a safe place in your home (preferably with an e-reader under the covers...). With a clever plot straddling two timelines held together by in-depth characters, this is a story that will not soon be forgotten. I greatly enjoyed Jaime Jo Wright's style of writing as she infused enough "teasers" and twists through the novel to keep you guessing until the very end. And, at the end, when things are most climatic in both timelines, the point of view switches back and forth rapidly between timelines for back-to-back cliffhanger moments, rendering it near impossible to put the book down. Jaime Jo Wright has quickly become one of my favourite authors, and I look forward to each new release with great expectations. Suspense and mystery lovers will LOVE The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus for its keep-you-guessing plot and unique story-telling.


Many thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book to read and provide my true and honest opinion thereof.

I generally don't like a story like this one, one that goes between two different times. This book did it so well it had be hooked right away. The story of Pipa from the 1920's and Chandler from Present day. Both is trying to solve a murder that happen at the circus in the 1920"s.. Both the ;women leads are so well written as well as the remanding characters in the book. Jake, Pipa love interests a hard man who cares for Pipa and Hank again hard but falls for Chandler. Both women who are locked into this web of lies, and deceit. Both will risk anything for the answers, Who was the murder all those years ago. I like that both Pipa and Chandler think themselves weak but when faced with a trial they don't think they can handle, both become stronger then they realized. The ending is fast past and has you all over the place. You will wonder 'who did it' all the way to the end. You will also wonder if both Pipa and Chandler has the courage to face their greatest fears and have the strength to see the answers to the end. This was a wonderful mysteries and both will have you wondering until the end. I am still not a fan of dual time periods but I would read another novel like this if its as well written and thrilling like the Haunting at Bonaventure Circus!

First book I've read by Jamie Jo Wright and now I want more. This was such a mix of suspense, ghost story, mystery and a little bit of romance thrown in and I really enjoyed it. The story is split between the present day following Chandler and 1928 with Pippa but both story's connect and flow really nicely especially at the end I was so gripped I couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going on. I second guessed myself the whole way through and some guesses were correct and some not.
I really enjoyed the circus vibe of the story I've never read anything like it before. I great story one I would definitely recommend

I had no idea that this was a Christian book when I read the description and decided to read it and I'm not terribly upset that I didn't know it because I may have skipped it. I really enjoyed the mystery and the back and forth of the writing. Half the time you follow Pippa who was born with a twisted leg to a circus family and was left on the doorstep of the owner of the circus who adopts Pippa and raises her their own. Despite having everything Pippa always feels a pull toward the circus and figuring out her roots.

The other half of the book focuses on Chandler, recently diagnosed with Chronic Lyme disease she is trying to hold onto her job as her Uncles right hand person, evaluate the abandoned train depot as a renovation project and raise her son on her own. She feels very alone and is overwhelmed by all the strange things happening around her and her new condition.

This was a well written mystery and very interesting I didn't realize it was a Christian book until more than halfway through when the whole God and faith thing really took a strong hold however I was able to push through and found that this was actually a very good read about people who feel outside the norm and are just trying to find connection as everyone does.

Absolutely stunning! Five solid stars. I started the book, couldn't race my way fast enough till the wow ending. Beautifully written and original, having read couple of circus themed books before I was skeptical it'd follow the others, not that they weren't good. It gripped me strongly from page one with a powerful first paragraph.
Highly recommended and will seek Jaime's other books indeed.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Haunting At Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright!! This story gave me all of the Water For Elephants plus Tim Burton’s Dumbo meets The Museum of Extraordinary Things with a splash of Unsolved Mysteries. I loved how truth of different aspects of God’s character were questioned and discussed without that becoming the central plot line (even though it really is). There was mystery and family drama and one hunk of a Hank to remind us all we really don’t have to do everything always alone. (I found a small continuity error at the end of Chapter 25 regarding Nel: when she is introduced as the best friend we are told she’s in a wheelchair because of Spina Bifida; then later Cystic Fibrosis is referenced as her ailment. That seemed like a confusion of major diagnoses for such a minor character who barely appears in the storyline. I didn’t know if that was intentional, but it felt a little excessive and more like discontinuity.) Obviously, baby Lily stole the show, but rescue hero Hank was a really close second!!

Author # Jaime Jo Wright has a new mystery novel. #'The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus'. I myself really enjoyed the duel timelines. And highly recommend this for my bored stay-at-home crowd!! My Instagram blog will have a regular review this week at Maddie_approves_book_reviews.
Thank you,
#Netgalley, # Jaime Jo Wright, and # Bethany House for the advanced copy

Read this book if you’re looking for:

✓ historical fiction novel
✓ awe-inspiring writing
✓ suspenseful mystery
✓ well-developed characters
✓ dual POVs (split time: 1928 mixed with present-day)
✓ circus stories (animals)
✓ subtle romance

I loved 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘴! This is the first book by Jamie Jo Wright I’ve read, but it will definitely not be the last! I checked her other books & they’re on my tbr pile now!

In 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘴 two parallel stories unfold, one in the past (1928) and one in the present. Each story gives us a gripping insight into the completely different lives of their respective characters. A secret lurks at the edges of each page, but the protagonists are as unaware of what is happening as the reader. Neither are they aware of the existence of the other, but their lives are inevitably connected. Jamie Jo Wright creates fascinating characters, but her love of mystery is evident in their portrayals as well. You constantly feel as if a piece of the necessary information is missing. The 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 are both incredibly captivating, and we all know how rare that is!

This book is 𝙨𝙤 worth reading if you love historical fiction and mysteries!

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is terrifyingly beautiful.

Can I say that about a book? What other way could I express how I feel about this story?

It is…
tragic
heartwarming
alarming
encouraging
spine-chilling
totally worth it

From the very beginning of Haunting at Bonaventure Circus, I got the distinct impression that Jaime Jo Wright summoned her knowledge of The Phantom of the Opera. Dangerous, alluring, spellbinding – I loved it. So much so that I read half the book in one day.

That was not what stood out to me the most.

Two different lives, generations separated by almost a century, but these women struggled with the same things I see many strive to overcome. The feeling of not being enough, feeling invisible, and feeling like you have something to prove. I don’t know of many who don’t suffer from one of these issues at some point in their lives. It was the words of a side character that I wish every person that feels these things could hear –

We are all meant to be…Providence places you there…who knew God had one me up His sleeve?

– Patty Luchent
Now, this character had a questionable way of making an income, but she knew Who created her, that He loved her, and somehow, she had a purpose. Even if her only job was to be a friend to Pippa and make sure she heard those words.

There was another character, Clive, who told Pippa something similar and it hit m e right at the heart.

I am Clive. I am seen and loved by God. I was created for a purpose. I need no other truth than that.

– Clive
Don’t you love that? See, this is why I love Christian Fiction. If I had read this in a “Christian self help book” I would have ignored it or I might have missed it. But, we all know that God can use fiction as well as the Word to minister to those who need it.

This story is truly a book worthy of gracing the book shelf, after you read it. You won’t want to stop once you start, I promise.

*I was given a copy of this book from the publisher. A review was not required but freely given.

So many twists and turns. This book bounces back and forth from present-day to the past when the circus was in its hay day. If those kinds of books make you motion sick you may not like this one.

I really loved the flashbacks to the past. I'm a lover of history and the time period was great. Plus of course, there was a murderer on the loose and Pippa finds herself lost.

She's always known she's adopted. She has a deformity and the circus didn't even want her. That is to say, she was born into the circus life but she's placed with the owner to keep her safe and to give her a family and a future.

But it never gave her love.

When she gets notes from a man calling himself "the watchman" she feels like maybe he's her father and can give her that link to her past she's desperate to find. But her adopted father doesn't want her to have anything to do with the circus. He wants her to stay far away.

When a baby elephant is injured Pippa is the one it bonds to and she is allowed to have access to the circus again for a bit. It's then that she starts to embrace her true self and things start going horribly wrong. Can she find out who is the bad person and who is good before it's too late?

And who is killing all these girls on circus stops?

Modern-day gives us Chandler. She is in charge of repairing the old train depot and circus grounds to make them into something new. She knows she can do this and doesn't want them torn down. But people are reminding her of the past. She has too much at stake to not do this and do it well.

But as she gets sucked into the mystery and feels solving it is going to be key to her work going forward can she keep herself and her son safe? Can she trust anyone?

This is an amazing book. I loved the two different times and how this one mystery connects so many people. It was fun to learn more about how the circus was run and what went on behind the scenes. And of course, the mystery had me in knots and I couldn't put the book down!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

I'd like to thank @netgalley and @bethanyhousefiction for the digital copy of this book!
This was such a fun mystery! This is technically classified as Christian fiction but it wasn't overly religious. I loved the two different timelines and the 2 different perspectives. I loved the characters and how real they felt. Although the ended felt a bit rushed, I loved how the timelines came together. I kept wondering how they would be connected but I didn't guess the twists or ending. This was a fun read especially because I love the circus and love elephants! This is definitely a good mystery to pick up!

Wow. Jaime Jo Wright continues to amaze me. I have adored each and every book she's written, and each new one I claim is my new favorite. And while I'm tempted to do that again, I might as well just say they are all my favorite! LOL.

Wright is such a fantastic story teller. Truly. She takes her time with the past and present, and slowly intertwines the two, giving little glimpses as to how it will all connect, until you get near the end and bam. Here's the connecting pieces, which are always a delightful surprise, and you immediately want to read it again! And she is the master of making things creepy, but not so creepy that you have to put the book away and never pick it up again. There are things in the story that are eery, things that don't make sense. Until you get to the end that is. The thing about Wright is that I always know she's going to explain everything in the end. And it really puts things into perspective. Like I said, makes you want to read the book all over again!

The other thing I enjoy about Wright's books is the characters. They are so well written. I honestly cannot tell who I connected with more, Pippa or Chandler. I will say this - you can tell that Wright put her heart and soul into Chandler's character. My husband has lyme's disease, and while his symptoms are not that severe, I appreciate it being in a novel, and something I could totally understand and connect with. It just added to the depth of the story for me - and inspiration for others to not let your illnesses drag you down!

Once again Wright's captivating novel had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. My only regret is that I have to wait so long for the next book to release. But that's ok. I know it'll be worth the wait! I highly recommend reading this (and others!) - just make sure to read it during the day, or with a friend close by ;)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book. although a Lot of back and forth in time was needed to explain the why and how . A great storyline that leads to finding a killer from past murders.

A good concept and lots of imagination for the book to move on as it traces the past at the same time.

The baby elephant is the new life that starts the past to open up.

A good read for crime lovers.

I have just finished reading The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus written by Jaime Jo Wright and I have to say that this is one of my favorite reads, definitely of the year and perhaps more. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in both time periods and I related to different aspects of each female lead, Pippa and Chandler. There were quite a few times I found myself pausing to go back to reread certain sentences or passages which I would then highlight so I could go back to savor them again. Mrs. Wright has a certain musicality to her phrasing and an insight that reached in and touched my heart and my soul. This story and the sentiments behind it are lovely yet strengthning. I appreciated the Christian aspects a great deal. I realize that some may be put off by the label Christian fiction but don't be. The idea that may be in your head, that the text will be laden with scripture or be heavy with judgments is not true in this novel and hasn't been true in any of the "Christian" novels I have read in the past. To me, at least, it just ensures that the book I am reading doesn't contain graphic adult (intimate) descriptions of things and situations I believe to be private. It means that I can enjoy the writing and not have to be bogged down by TMI and the ever internal question "What if the author's parents see this, won't they be embarrassed?"

Well, enough of that tangent! The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus is a great solid read. Right from the first sentence I knew I was in for something special, something meaningful. If you like reading about women who, on a journey of self discovery (whether they realize it or not), find out that they are strong, they do have value, they do matter, they have something to contribute; THIS is the book for you. It is inspiring and beautiful. Many of the beautiful things I highlighted will stay with me. They are words that I needed to read.

I really enjoyed this story. I was a bit surprised because it is the first book in this genre that I read, but it turned out to be a very good story. It has two storylines that kept me always alert and wondering what would happen next.
A beautifully story where the past collides with the present in such a smooth way, that the reader would want to know the ending.

This is a tremendous story with two fabulous characters, a wonderful assortment for a supporting cast, and a long held mystery that draws the two stories together.

Pippa and Chandler are brilliant characters. Two ladies from different eras living in the same town, Bluff River, both with chronic maladies grappling with being controlled by others. Interestingly, Pippa is treated like a child by her adopted father, who is the wealthy owner of the circus. He controls her, like I think he does all women, in his superior way. But she is this gutsy young lady who is drawn to the circus believing she was born into it and accordingly is her destiny. And then along comes baby Lily who is swoon material. Lily and Pippa make an instant connection. Lily is a baby elephant who has a tough entry to life, not unlike Pippa. Lily gives Pippa a purpose for being at the circus.

Pippa has been observed from afar by The Watchmen, a hooded character, who may just be a figment of Pippa's imagination. Pippa believes this ghostly character has the keys to who her birth parents were.

Chandler, meanwhile, is a highly competent restorer of old buildings on assignment in Bluff River. Her project: to restore the buildings of the Bonaventure Circus, which long ago ceased to exist. She's a single mother, unsure of who her son's father is, and a chronic lyme sufferer. She dotes on her son, Peter. But she carries all this angst about failing her parents and being replaced in her job by the ambitious Jackson. She's terrified her parents will take Peter from her, believing she is not competent to be a working mom. But, unlike Pippa, is Chandler's sense of being controlled all held in her own mind?

Some strange ghostly things happen in the buildings Chandler is to restore. And this is how Wright weaves the two stories together. The unsolved mysteries of murder and mayhem of Pippa's era suddenly come alive in Chandler's and she can't help herself in seeking to find some answers.

The supporting cast is excellent. The circus family of unusual and multi-talented envelope Pippa in love while Chandler gains her own support crew too. The two men who take active interest in helping the ladies: Jake (Pippa) and Hank (Chandler) are tremendous creations. Two men with their own demons which make them seemingly dangerous but both seeking their own restoration of familial ties.

This is a story of family. Of brokenness. Of light shining brightly into the darkest places of brokenness and the hope that is available to those who seek to push beyond their seeming limitations for more in life. And yes, ghosts and long standing mysteries that have bred fear and suspicion for too many years and negatively impacted too many people.

The last fifty or so pages are riveting as Wright pulls the two stories together seamlessly with some real surprises. It's captivating storytelling from an author who has a deep passion for the circus and broken people.

I received an early ebook copy from the publisher via NetGalley with no expectation of a favourable review.

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 book is a lot of fun and does keep you in suspense. And there is always the delight of the circus!

This book was something slightly outside of my comfort zone, but wow did I truly enjoy every part. This book had all the parts that I love, and that was so pleasantly unexpected. The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus, was just that; it was HAUNTING. I got chills so many times and I was on the edge of my seat just wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved how the lead was a strong female and that made me fall in love so much more. I have never read a book by Jamie Jo Wright before, but I will surely be adding more to my list because this was a masterpiece. She portrayed the ambiance of a circus in a way that is unparelleled and I felt like I was there the entire time.

It’s a rare book that stays in the mind long after you have read it, and this is that book. Fascinating story told masterfully, and would recommend highly.

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus has been on my TBR list for awhile and I am so glad that some winter weather permitted me time to sink into it! Jaime Jo Wright's novel is a romance, a mystery, and a love story all in one. It is the love story between a mother and her child, a father and his child, but most importantly, between God and His created children. The story floats between two time periods, rather effortlessly. Pippa is the adopted daughter of the owner of Bonaventure Circus in the 1920's and is supposed to marry her father's business partner. However, Pippa's blood is in the circus itself; it is where she came from. As she grows closer to the people and creatures that bring the circus to life, she is drawn more and more to another man, one she isn't supposed to want. She is also brought closer to The Watchman, who seems to know all about her but seems to expect something from her. When rumors abound that the Watchman is killing women on the circus tours, she is unsure what to think or who to trust.
Chandler is a young mother in current times, battling an autoimmune disease and trying to raise her son on her own. When Chandler is going to renovate the old circus grounds and the train depot, she and Hank, a the nephew of her landlord, stumble upon more than just circus treasures. Clues to the murders that plagued the circus route in Pippa's time and a long dead body bring more than trouble. When Chandler's son is kidnapped, it is a fight against time to figure out why and by who and where he is.
Seamlessly moving between the two time periods, I was completely taken in by the story. I was caught off guard by the identity of the Watchman and the kidnapper. The writing itself was lovely, the prose beautiful and I could see what I was reading. Mostly, though, the love of God was evident in the writing. His love for His creation, for His children, was ever=present.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I am looking forward to more by #JaimeJoWright.
#Bookstagram #Hauntingatbonaventurecircus #all_the_pages

Wow! This story had been enthralled from the first page. The only thing bad about it was that I wanted it to be three times as long!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced release copy in exchange for my honest review.

This novel grabbed my attention and kept me guessing until the last possible moment. With lots of mystery, suspense, and just the right amount of spookiness, you can't ask for more!
The imagery makes you feel tlike you can actually see the characters and scenes unfolding. I loved the dual timeline and the atypical heroes! I can definitely see this book going in the reread pile!

What could be more intriguing than a book with a beloved baby elephant named Lily and an unknown person known as The Watchman? Especially when they both are such major parts of the story? Once again, Jaime Jo Wright has given readers words to relish, memorable characters that aren't easily forgotten, and two stories, one from the past and the other set in the present, that are connected in ways that I could never dream. Wright's vivid imagination and her descriptive powers make The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus a book to read again, and I found myself going back to read some sections more than once. I just had to make sure that I truly understood what was happening and, I must add, I will never think of a circus in quite the same way as I once did!

I read Wright's first book, The House on Foster Hill, in 2017 and I knew that I'd found an author to follow. Now, with this fifth book, I can honestly say that her imagination and her writing skills have only gotten better. No one does time-split better and very few authors can give you the same spine-tingling, hair-raising thrills and chills! The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus has all of this, plus a reminder that broken and blemished people are loved by their Creator and are capable of being redeemed by Him!

I absolutely loved The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus and I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy from the author. There was no obligation to write a positive review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!!

Honestly I could not put down. What an amazing and eery story. If you like creepy stories and arent afraid to get a little spooked out, this book is totally for you. Jamie Jo Wright did an amazing job and I am now really excited to check out some of the other books written by this author.

This was my first read by Jaime Jo Wright and I was not disappointed! The story is well-woven between two timelines: 1928 and the present day. The author has written characters to captivate the reader and I quickly found myself becoming drawn into their stories. There is history steeped in murder and mystery; human characters with real disabilities and insecurities; and budding romance, along with thrills, chills and lurking ghosts.

Wright places the reader into life in a 1920s circus, as seen through the eyes of the owner’s disabled adopted daughter, Pippa Ripley. As Pippa grows increasingly curious about the circumstances surrounding her birth and abandonment, she is beckoned and drawn by an unknown man, called the Watchman, deeper into the forbidden, secret and very dangerous world of the Bonaventure Circus.

The contemporary thread introduces us to Chandler Faulk, a real estate project manager, who is a single mom. Chandler is also struggling with recently being diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. As Chandler works to renovate the old circus depot, she learns about a series of murders that occurred around the circus during its heyday in the late 1920s and accidentally stumbles onto clues that may shed light on who had actually committed them, exonerating the original murderer.

As the stories unfold, they begin to become similar without feeling repetitive. Both heroines struggle with their physical handicaps and experience trust issues, yet share a longing to belong to their families and the world around them. Both feel fearfully drawn to men who have their own inner struggles and personal demons. While the characters and personal journeys are developing, a gripping mystery is simultaneously unfolding around the Bonaventure Circus.

Are some secrets worth killing for, even a century after the fact?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright. The parallel stories are creatively twisted together with excellent writing and exceptional detail. I'm usually good at figuring out whodunit, but this story had me guessing till the end; that alone was worth the read for me. It was a good book: gripping, mysterious, thought provoking and, of course, a little goosebump-worthy.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this book until the last page, found that I couldn’t put it down. Jaime has managed to write an excellent split time novel. Both characters past and present have you wanting to know what happens next. I will now look for other titles from this author

I've had this one on my shelf for awhile (sorry) but I am ever so glad I finally got to pick it up. It reminded me of a little trip I took with my parent and daughters to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo (found out why at the end). It was not a good day to go, it was cold, rainy, and my girls were 2 and 4, the youngest afraid of anything in costume. So where do we go to the circus tent to see a clown demonstration - she screamed the entire time!! But the history of the circus was interesting to see and the pictures of animals helped soothe some.

This is the story of Pippa Ripley, the daughter of the owner of Ripley's Circus, who just got back from their summer tour and was settling down in Wisconsin for the winter. Having a deformity, and knowing she was the biological daughter of circus performers but adopted by the Ripley's, seemed to pull her in two different directions. But yet it seemed she held herself back from happiness. With the mystery of the Watchman who has watched over her for years, and the mysterious murders of girls along the train route, it brings Pippa's fears of belonging to the surface and where she really wants to be.

In present day, Chandler has just bought the old circus depot and costume workshop to revitalize. But it also comes with the history of the depot, the murders that happened, and the strange things still happening. Chandler is also suffering from a lasting immune disorder, raising a child on her own, and holding back from the help she desperately needs, but won't admit.

I truly enjoyed this book and cannot believe I waited so long to read it. Always a delight to read one of Ms. Wright's books.

I received this ARC from the publisher for my honest review.

Loved the Dual Timeline! I was caught up in both storylines! They will both keep you from putting the book down and the twist and turns will definitely keep you trying to figure things out. I highly recommend this book!

This was the first time I have tried a book by this author, and it will not be the last. The story itself was really intriguing once I got involved in it. It is written a little differently than most of this genre, from the perspective of two different timelines and by two different people. I normally do not care for this type of writing, but the author did a really good job with it in this book, and the different timelines made it that much more interesting. The book has some twists and turns that also help keep the reader on their toes. I see an array of good titles by this author, so I will be looking for more to read from them.

I have read other dual timeline books but this one had me captivated. I like how it was presented by the author. It was thrilling and I was not able to put it down. This is the first book I’ve read of the author, but I was glad I did.