The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus

July 1, 2020

Pippa Ripley was abandoned by her circus performer parents as an infant and adopted by circus royalty, the owner of Bonaventure Circus himself. As the 1920s brings more freedom for some women in rural Wisconsin, Pippa is still under her father's thumb even as she is drawn to the traveling life. The seedy underbelly of circus life soon places her in grave danger. In a modern-day story line, which is more appealing than the historical, Chandler Faulk has purchased an old depot and is hoping to make a name for herself in historical renovations even as she raises her son alone and battles an autoimmune disease. Suspicious events and the discovery of a 40-year-old corpse begin to convince her the old circus building is haunted, even though believing in ghosts goes against her faith. VERDICT The intricate setup Wright (The House on Foster Hill) delivers requires patience and suspension of disbelief, but the ending is worth it. Fans of complex Christian fiction in the vein of Kristy Cambron and Mich�le Phoenix will enjoy this title.--Christine Barth, Scott Cty. Lib. Syst., IA

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 13, 2020
Wright’s entertaining latest (after Echoes Among the Stones) centers on two unsolved murders. In 1909, baby Pippa Ridley, born with a deformed leg, was left on the doorstep of her circus owner parents. Now, 19-year-old Pippa is receiving secret messages from someone who calls himself “The Watchman” and claims to know the origins of her birth and the course of her future. In the present day, Chandler Faulk, who has recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and feels abandoned by God, is busy renovating a train depot and learns it is the site of the 1928 murder of Patty Luchent, a circus worker and prostitute. Chandler becomes friends with her landlord, Denny, and his nephew, Hank, who both want to clear the name of Denny’s grandfather, who went to prison for Patty’s murder, as well as solve their own mystery—that of a family member who disappeared 40 years before. In 1928, Pippa develops feelings for Jake Chapman, who is also on a mission to find the Watchman, who claims to have murdered Jake’s sister. While Pippa maintains that the Watchman couldn’t be dangerous, the investigations across time reveal someone (or something) is determined to keep them all from the truth. Wright braids the storylines nicely, building to a jaw-dropping conclusion. Readers of Colleen Coble will love this.

Starred review from September 1, 2020
Chandler Faulk's career and livelihood balance precariously on the success of her most recent undertaking, the historical restoration of the train depot in Bluff River, Wisconsin, once known as the wintering grounds for the famous Bonaventure Circus. As rumors about the haunted depot and its murderous history swirl, Chandler, a single mother with an autoimmune disease, brushes off the superstitions. But unexplained things begin happening: vandalism, suspicious sightings, and whispers of a notorious serial killer. When she stumbles on new evidence that resurrects a cold case, Chandler must piece together the mystery from the past before the vengeful Watchman makes his return, this time for her. Wright (Echoes among the Stones, 2019) is a gifted and affirming storyteller whose newest novel will stun readers with its dramatization of revenge, brokenness, and the different ways people fight for the ones they love. This is an unexpectedly moving tale that brings dignity and depth to circus life. Drawing from the author's personal connection to Wisconsin's circus history, the tantalizing plot and immersive rendition of place are masterful. As Wright alternates between Chandler's present-day story and interludes set in 1928, she captivates with compassion, eerie eloquence, and astounding intensity.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)