I enjoyed this book, as I do on all of Casey Daniels books.

I loved the way the story jumps straight in on the murder. Miss Barnum is a great choice of main character. The plot and story were solid, well planned and quick paced.

This a book that is well worth reading!

INTRODUCING MUSEUM CURATOR AND AMATEUR SLEUTH MISS EVIE BARNUM IN THE FIRST OF A DELICIOUSLY QUIRKY NEW HISTORICAL MYSTERY SERIES.

Evie Barnum is in charge of her brother’s museum, a place teeming with scientific specimens and “human prodigies” including a bearded woman and the lizard man. In this weird and whacky workplace, Evie hopes she can bury her secrets.

But when an old friend shows up and begs for her help, she does all she can to stay away. The next time she sees him, he is dead in front of the exhibit of the Feejee Mermaid. Suspicion for the murder falls on Jeffrey, known as the Lizard Man, but Evie knows it isn’t possible.

When Jeffrey also goes missing, Evie becomes determined to solve the mystery of her friend’s murder, even if it brings her face to face with her past…

I do hope that Casey Daniels will write more Miss Barnum mysteries.

I was given this free review copy from Severn House Publishers via Netgalley at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

This was a different sort of book for me but the story and characters were so alive and interesting that I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend!

Casey Daniels throws us into old time New York City with the Barnum brother and sister showing off oddities in a museum. A friend is murdered. White slavery, murder, criminal cops and the poor Lower East Side tenements all stir up the case. Whodunit?

I did like the book, just not as much as I wanted to. The characters are unique (especially P.T. Barnum and his "associates"), the setting is well realized, and the research thorough. I just found myself not enjoying the journey or the "terrible secret" that "Miss Barnum" carries with her. The more the level of angst goes up in a mystery book, the less I connect with the story.

The review appears in the January issue of Gumshoe Review:
<http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=5936>

Smoke and Mirrors

by Casey Daniels

P.T. Barnum’s American Museum, stocked with the odd, unusual, and exotic from around the world, is the setting for the mystery Smoke and Mirrors by Casey Daniels. It’s the fall of 1842 in New York City when we are introduced to the fictional heroine Evangeline Barnum, a sister of Phineas T. Barnum.

Although Evangeline lives in a time of severe restrictions on women in the United States, thanks to her forward thinking brother, she works at the museum with many responsibilities. She has more freedom to pursue her investigations than most women would have. Problems begin with the appearance of an old family friend, Andrew Emerson, soliciting her help. Evangeline turns him away because his presence could cause the discovery of secrets she has worked hard to hide. The plot becomes ever more complex as Evangeline becomes involved in a murder, attempts on her life, and the disappearance of young ladies in New York City.

This was a fascinating book of historical fiction. It is well researched, has interesting characters, and provides a different perspective on the lives of the “human oddities” in live exhibits. These are the kinds of people, like the bearded lady, that one used to commonly find in fair exhibits, but are hopefully not exhibited as freaks anymore.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Severn House for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Historical Fiction, Mystery

Notes: #1 in the Miss Barnum Mystery Series

Publication: November 1, 2017—Severn House

Memorable Lines:

Her words were not light and airy, more like a cloud that foretells a coming rain; not so threatening in and of itself—not at that moment—but simply a reminder that there is a chance there are darker things to come.

It was difficult to explain how such groups of people made me feel. In the museum, whether I was talking to one or one hundred, I was at ease. Yet in such social situations, when I was expected to talk of nothing more interesting than the weather or the latest fashions from Paris, I often felt awkward and tongue-tied.

The more mysterious a thing, the more likely it is that people will pay money for it.

3.5 stars
I like the premise of SMOKE AND MIRRORS with its backdrop of Barnum’s American Museum (yes, that Barnum) set in 1842. Overall, it is a satisfying historical mystery that lays a solid foundation for, hopefully, a long running series.

Evie Barnum has a secret that she left her hometown in Connecticut to keep. As a single woman of the era, she lives with her brother P.T. “Phin” Barnum and his wife and children. She earns her keep (and keeps herself occupied) managing her brother’s museum of oddities and hoaxes and is surprised when Andrew Emerson tracks her down. Even though they used to be friends, she wants nothing to do with him, afraid that her secret will somehow come to light, when he begs for her help. Later that night she finds Andrew dead, murdered in front of one of the exhibits. Could what he was trying to tell her have led to his death? Was one of the museum’s employees the culprit? When the employee Jeffrey, also known as the lizard man, is nowhere to be found, the local police are quick to call him the guilty party and leave it at that. Evie finds herself on a twisty course trying to figure out what Andrew was up to, find his sister, and contemplate a decision that would change her life.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS gets off to a good start with Andrew’s murder happening very early in the story, but it then drags a bit at times. I felt like I was waiting for Evie to put the pieces together for too long. That said, the dangerous climax was exciting, and the surprise (to some) at the end made the book worth reading. Evie is very modern in her thinking and actions for a lady in 1842. Though her situation is a tad eccentric, she is fully accepted by Society, which I find somewhat unusual. She is obviously tenacious, curious, and intelligent, and though I like her a lot, her modernity stands out at times as not quite right. I am a big fan of historical mysteries, and it is not unusual for the female protagonists to be ahead of their time so I do not fault SMOKE AND MIRRORS much for Evie’s persona. The supporting cast is diverse and interesting. I was particularly interested in the museum “oddities”, i.e. bearded lady, etc. and hope we learn more about them in future adventures.

There are more mysteries than just Andrew’s death to be solved within these pages, and I really enjoyed how all of the various pieces fit together to make a cohesive story. Though a touch melodramatic, SMOKE AND MIRRORS is an entertaining read with an interesting, flawed protagonist. I can see the museum being fodder for many more mysteries to come. I look forward to the next installment.

An historical mystery that will delight your little gray cells! Evangeline Barnum is sister to P.T. Barnum and she lives with he and his wife in New York City. She also works for her brother at his museum. But Evangeline has a secret which is the reason she fled her childhood home and moved to New York. Her sister-in-law knows her secret and likes to constantly remind her of it. When an old friend from her home town shows up at the museum one morning and is later found dead, Evangeline finds herself embroiled in a mystery and must use all her wits to unravel it and find the murderer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Evangeline is a young lady trying to make the best of the circumstances she’s in, even when those closest to her are not supportive. I found her to be likable, complex and well-written. All of the characters have distinctive personalities and make the story better by being in it. The story itself kept me guessing till the final chapter. Just when you think Evangeline has found the answer the story throws you for another loop. The good thing is it all fits and feels natural and believable. There is danger and deception right up to the last page. I highly recommend this story.

I enjoy historical mysteries and this new series by Casey Daniels did not disappoint me. Smoke and Mirrors is, I hope, the start of a very long series. Evie is the (fictional) sister of P. T. Barnum and a force to be reckoned with. She works side by side with her brother at a time when women did not usually have such freedom. She is working in their museum when an old friend comes to see her but is murdered before he can tell his tale. The police search in one direction while she goes off on her own investigation, putting herself in grave danger.
The setting is so well described, complete with sights, sounds and smells. The fine homes and the rough and dangerous docks and the Bowery - all come to life. Having met Evie and heard her story I can hardly wait for the next entry in this wonderful series.

In 1842 New York, Miss Evie Barnum is working in her brothers' museum when an old friend from home, Andrew Emerson, calls asking for help. But with her recent history of home she refuses to speak to him. Later he is found murdered, and she is determined to save an innocent man from being charged.
I enjoyed this mystery, which started slowly, but did increase in pace. I felt it was a good solid start to the series, introducing us to some decent characters which hopefully will appear in future books.

This was a very intriguing book. There was a lot to take in at the beginning, which slowed down the pacing a little, but since it is a first in series it had a lot to set up. The mystery was really good, with a lot going on and a surprising ending.

Casey Daniels launches 'Smoke And Mirrors' which is the first in a series of classic style historical mysteries, set in New York City in 1842. It centres around a famous 'curiosity' museum owned by Phineas T. Barnum.

The curator of her brother's museum is an amateur sleuth, Miss Evangeline Barnum, known as Evie. She soon becomes embroiled in the shocking murder of an old friend which actually occurs within the museum. Suspicion seems to fall on one of the curiosities.

Evie has the dilemma of having to delve into her troubled past in order to avenge her old friend. She is taken to some rather dark places in order to find the truth. In many ways, Evie is ahead of her time, as she is assertive, bold and determined. I rather like her quirky nature, which would be so different from other young ladies of that time.

I did actually work out who the culprit was before the conclusion, but it was good to have all of the loose ends tied up. This was certainly an entertaining tale which became faster paced as the plot thickened.

Galadriel

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

This is an engaging first entry in a new mystery series. Evangeline Barnum, sister to the great PT Barnum, stumbles on to a mystery when a friend is murdered outside her office in Barnum's curiosity museum, and one of the "freaks" is suspected of the murder. Determined to clear his name, Evie embarked on a series of twists and turns to a very satisfying conclusion. I was very engaged when reading this story, and it had several plot turns that were unexpected along the way. I thought the book was paced well, and the characters well drawn and credible. I will be looking for the next book of Evie's adventures.
I received this book in return for an unbiased review from NetGalley.

Smoke and Mirrors is the first book in a historical mystery series featuring Evie Barnum, the fictional sister of P.T. Barnum. When we first meet Evie, she is taking care of business at her brother's museum which features a collection of human oddities and hoaxes when she receives a visit from an old friend seeking her assistance. This friend winds up murdered and Evie spends the rest of the book trying to solve the mystery of this murder. Due to her lifestyle, readers are given glimpses into some of the day-to-day business at the museum in addition to learning that Evie has grown to have special bonds with some of the exhibits, to include the bearded lady and the lizard man. As Evie tries to solve the murder mystery, she is also pulled into other aspects of New York City society, to include a potential matchmaking scheme. She eventually learns that her brother isn't the only one trying to pull off hoaxes to get what they want. I found the book slow at times and predictable. Evie came across as an intelligent, independent woman for the most part. I really thought she would have put things together much more quickly than she did during her investigations into the murder.

Evie manages her brother's museum. She got caught in a scandal at home, her mother threw her out of the house, and her brother offered her sanctuary. Now if her sister-in-law had been more pleasant, it might have worked out better. But she did have a home and a job even if her sister-in-law was match-making to get her out of the house...

Severn House and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published November 1st.

When an old friend shows up at the museum asking for her help, she tells him she doesn't have time. She doesn't want to go home and doesn't want to bring up the past. She expects he'll be back later. He is, but he's not talking anymore. Someone has killed him. The cop accuses the Lizardman. He's not in his room, he's moved on, so he must be guilty. She knows he's not and starts her own investigation.

This is complex story with pieces of the past mixing with present events. By accident, Evie uncovers a human trafficking venture. She almost loses her life three different times. The Lizardman dies. More will die before justice is served.

The ending is most intriguing because Evie has just found the man that caused her scandal and he tells her he still loves her... What's next?

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn Publishing for a digital galley of this novel.

This historical mystery by Casey Daniels was just not a good fit for me. Set in New York City in 1842 the main character, Evangeline Barnum, is out of place in this time period. Evie is presented as being much too modern in her thinking and actions so almost everything she does stands out as being wrong, naïve, or dangerous. Set in a more current setting her actions would have suited the story better. The information about the museum Evangeline's brother, P. T. Barnum, established in the city is interesting but was not smoothly inserted into the story so it was almost like reading research notes for me. Evangeline has a secret in her past and the author used that as a carrot to keep the reader interested and reading further, but that device backfired for me because she withheld even small bits of information relating to the secret for so long I just didn't care any more.

I read the entire book, but not because I wanted to. I feel an obligation to finish a book when I have accepted a copy for review and that was the main reason I stuck with this book. I also wanted to see how far the author would make her character go in order to find a reason for the murder that happens early on in the novel. The things which bothered me may be of no consequence to you and that is the reason for my 3 star rating. I have tried other novels written by Casey Daniels and had hoped this new series set in this historical period would suit me better but it did not.

To some degree we are all fascinated by the rare, the unusual and the grotesque. PT Barnum made his name and fortune satisfying our craving for the bizarre. Casey Daniels has taken history and put her own stamp creating a heroine as unusual for her time as one of Barnum’s oddities. Evangeline acts as Phin’s assistant and aide de camp running the American Museum. Quick witted and willing to make her living in a man’s world, it is no wonder that she begins investigating when an old friend is murdered and one of her brother’s employees goes missing. But far more is involved than a simple case of murder. The victim’s sister is missing and Evangeline fears for the worst.

Besides being a bang up mystery, Smoke and Mirrors is a novel about judgement based on appearances, and the hypocrisy of social propriety. If Evangeline’s secrets were known, she would be judged and outcast, though she is compassionate and courageous. She struggles, attempting to do what is right, while knowing that as a woman her actions reflect on her brother and his family - a fact her sister in law is quick to remind her of. The novel questions a woman’s place, and points out the difficulty of challenging conventions. From beginning to end, Smoke and Mirrors captured my imagination. Though it may be a historical mystery, Smoke and Mirros has a lot to say about the present, and our willingness to judge based on scant information and long held prejudices.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Smoke and Mirrors from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

This was not what I expected. Perhaps just not the right book for me.

I requested Smoke and Mirrors because the main character is the sister of P.T. Barnum (at least in fiction), and Evie Barnum works at her brother's museum. Of course, I couldn't refuse even a fictional look at the workings of the museum with all of its exhibits and oddities. One of Evie's friends is the bearded lady, the most popular exhibit is the Fiji mermaid.

A murder, a secret past, and an arrogant and annoying sister-in-law all woven in this first book in a new series. Was it all that I hoped for? Not quite. Too much takes place outside of the museum. Nevertheless, I look forward to more of Evie Barnum's adventures, and I expect that a character who was introduced and then dropped will make a return in the next book.

Light and entertaining.
Read in August; blog review scheduled for 8/27/17.

NetGalley/Severn House

Historical Mystery. Nov. 1, 2017. Print length: 224 pages.