9.27.2023 | Wednesday

Freaky Lies

Item: Freaky Lies
Rating: 3.5
Author: Kim

category: Book Reviews
tag(s): adult
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title: Freaky Lies
author: Amanda M. Lee
series: Mystic Caravan #2
published: 4 July 2016
publisher: WinchesterShaw Publications
genre(s): cozy mystery, paranormal
pages: 277
source: Kindle Unlimited
format: eBook
buy/shelve it: Amazon | B&N | StoryGraph | Goodreads

rating:

| series rating:

the blurb

The Mystic Caravan Circus is a place of magic and mayhem. Unfortunately for Poet Parker these days, it’s also packed full of lies.
It’s been more than a week since she found out an unsightly secret: Her boss Max is her boyfriend’s father. Despite giving Max an ultimatum, he’s yet to tell Kade Denton the truth, and that’s left Parker in a sticky situation.
When the circus goes to Nebraska, Poet can’t dwell on her personal problems for long because a body is found in a nearby field and it’s missing arms, legs and eyes. Everyone agrees there’s something off about the death – other than the obvious, that is – but no one can figure out what kind of force the folks of Mystic Caravan are facing off with next.
Between the emotional distress, her best friend Luke threatening to release embarrassing photographs, and a local police presence that is suspicious, Poet has her hands full. That’s on top of a new clown that makes everyone suspect he’s up to no good … even as he leaves the female population salivating.
The clues come together slowly, and when the end comes, the enemy is someone no one saw coming. What happens when the face of evil looks like a victim? And, more importantly, what happens when all of the lies are eradicated and Poet is stripped bare and forced to tell the truth?
It’s another fun-filled outing for the Mystic Caravan Circus – as long as everyone survives to see another day, that is.

my review
a few notes

One of my favorite things about this series thus far is that, while still cozy mystery in genre, they are a little darker than average, with characters that are a little less wholesome and perfect. It makes the characters and the stories feel a little more real, despite the paranormal aspects. And while horror and circuses are nothing new as plot devices, they are used very differently in this series. The community of the Mystic Caravan are a blend of supernatural creatures, humans with powers or abilities, and humans that are simply that, human. The circus itself is almost a side hustle to their true job… finding and “solving” the problem of evil, supernatural and human alike.

I enjoyed this second installment, with an interesting story and some great twists and turns. But I did like the first one more. It felt as though there was much more focus on the personal issues between Poet, Kade, Luke, and Max, rather than on the monsters. There was also less of the secondary characters, many of whom I really enjoyed in the first book. I hope there are more of them in the next book.

content warning: ❗some graphic violence❗

POV: 1st person
keywords/phrases: circus, supernatural, monsters, betrayal
cover notes: fabulous!

About Amanda M. Lee

When I was a kid, I was torn between whether or not I was going to grow up and be the Incredible Hulk or Wonder Woman. I flirted with being a Jedi Knight for awhile, but I wasn’t up for the intense travel associated with the gig. In my teens, I settled on being a writer — although I had no idea the effort that would entail.
Not only am I a writer now, but I’m a writer in several different mediums. I’m a longtime newspaper reporter, an avid reader and a voracious science fiction fanatic.