This is a quirky LGBTQ+ mystery filled with entertaining characters. Hayden McCall and his best friend Hollister are drawn into solving another mystery when Sarah Lee, a frenemy of Hayden's, is accused of murdering magician Kennedy Osaka.

The story is centered around Mysterium which is a traveling circus show featuring a variety of acts and including a Michelin-star dinner. Kennedy Osaka is the new star and artistic director for the show. Kennedy is an old college friend of Sarah Lee's. Kennedy had promised to perform at an event Sarah Lee is hosting. She doesn't show up which sends her to Kennedy's hotel in a raging temper. Next thing she knows she arrested standing of the corpse with dressmaker's sheers in her hands and no memory of what happened.

Hayden is a pint-sized, gay middle school teacher who also writes a column about gay dating. He's not much for putting himself out there. Hollister is a lesbian Black furniture designer who's fearless and imposing and Hayden's best friend. She's good at pushing him into situations that take him out of his comfort zone. This happens a lot in this case as they investigate the various acts at Mysterium to figure out who wanted Kennedy dead.

There are lots of suspects from fellow performers Kit, who has a comedy sharpshooting act, and Yazminka Smilova, a trapeze artist whose father owns the show. To Sasha Smilov who is Yazminka's brother and the manager of the show and Zell who does the costumes. Also included as suspects with one being a new crush for Hayden are a troupe of Romanian acrobats.

This was an entertaining mystery told by Hayden. I liked the diverse cast of characters which includes a new friend in transgender lawyer Jess Gemalto who looks enough like Hayden to be his twin. The story was filled with humor and lots of heart and had a nice lashing of danger for our main characters.

2SLGBTQIA+ Cozy Mystery featuring a Washington middle school teacher and gay dating blogger and his best friend as they turn sleuthing duo when a friend's indicated in magician's murder.

5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Osler's Hayden & Friends series, which is a Cozy Mystery that takes place in Seattle, Washington and features a middle school teacher and gay dating blogger and his sleuthing partner, his best friend. With plenty of twists and turns, Osler has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Osler's characters are diverse, complex and incredibly likable. Hayden's down-to-earth and I love his relationships with his quirky and hilarious friends and family. I especially get a kick out of Hollister, his sleuthing partner, and his elderly friend Jerry. Additionally I really like the inclusion of Hayden's Mates on Dates blog posts, the topics are timely and heartfelt. And I can't wait to read more about Hayden's new dog, Alice, the hyperactive squirrel-chaser Dalmatian. Osler touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading this series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Devil's Chew Toy.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

there was a problem and the book expired and couldn't renew it, really sad because I was looking forward to it

Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was not aware that this was the second book in a series, but that should not be a huge issue since the premises don't really connect.

The characters seem interesting enough, but I feel like their execution falls a bit flat, leaving me feeling indifferent to their plights.

This is definitely a more light mystery and while it wasn't for me, I believe that many people will love it.

CIRQUE DU SLAY is the second book in the Hayden & Friends Mysteries by Rob Osler. This newest Quozy (queer cozy mystery) packs a lot on the pages. From a top-notch mystery, to laugh-out-loud humorous situations galore, to unique and close friendships, the story pulled me in and kept me intrigued and kept me turning pages. My only little quibble is that some of the “teasing” between the friends verges on meanness, but I realize the comments were meant in jest and not to be taken seriously. I look forward to reading more about protagonist Hayden and the zany antics he and his friends get pulled into!

Well, the author has the 'cosy' aspect down; the characters are all sweet little puppy dogs who talk to each other about their feelings in heartfelt and heartwarming ways. The 'mystery' aspect could use some work, though. The protagonist, Hayden, tells us that he's not much of a detective. This is true. Leaving this one to the police would have been more effective and probably more entertaining.

While I enjoyed a number of elements of Cirque du Slay, I never really connected with the book or its characters. I will admit that I have not read the first installment in the series, and it's possible that would have made a significant impact on my ability to connect with the story.

Hayden is a Seattle middle school teacher and amateur sleuth. With one previously solved mystery under his belt, he and his best friend Hollister are thrust into another case when their friend is accused of murder. The woman she is accused of murdering? Kennedy Osaka - celebrity performer and artistic director of Mysterium, an upscale circus arts show.

Throughout their journey, Hayden and Hollister encounter Hayden's slightly better coiffed doppelganger, some Romanian acrobats, drag performers, and one killer.

Tonally, I think the story just felt a bit like I was reading it one step further removed. I'm not sure if it was the narrative style, or Hayden as a character. Hayden also has blog posts about his dating life interspersed. I liked them, but I think I wanted them to give me a bit more insight on Hayden personally, and they were a bit too short for that.

Overall, I didn't connect with it, but it was a sweet, quirky queer amateur sleuth novel, so that's always a win in my books.

A fine mystery with an interesting setting- but beyond that, the characters felt one-note and the writing was stilted and strange. Not for me.

Cirque du Slay by Rob Osler was an interesting and quite intriguing story.
This book is a good cozy style mystery with queer characters. Which I enjoyed the characters a lot.
Osler has created some unique characters. And a really good story.

Thank You NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I dnf'd it at 25%. It was really boring since the beginning, too much descriptions and too confusing for me

Thank you Netgalley for letting me review this book.

I really enjoyed the play on words. Part circus, part mystery, part suspense.

When a performer ends up dead the race is on to find out who the killer is, before a possible suspect takes the fall for it.

The story was really entertaining while keeping you on your toes to try and find out what really happened,

#Netgalley #Cirque Du Slay

It was only after I requested the book that I found out that it wasn't the first one in the series. Now this is a mystery series where each installment is a self-contained mystery, so I thought it would be fine but just know that this lack of context might color the review.

This book was just not for me. The tone was super offputting, flippant, and generally just.... mean. It kept me at arms lengths from the story and prevented me from getting invested in anything that happened in it.

I really liked Rob Osler's Devil's Chew Top. It was refreshing and hilarious, and I enjoyed myself immensely while reading the story. So, when I saw Cirque du Slay on NetGalley, I immediately requested it.

I hate myself for saying this, but I couldn't get through the first chapters of this book and DNF at 18%. I tried more than once but had to push myself through the story instead of enjoying it. It might be me, and I might return to the book somewhere in the future. Therefore, I won't be leaving a review on Goodreads.

Loved the title, loved the idea...did not love the writing style. Seems to be moving in slow motion, lots of extraneous descriptions, and it felt like the coolest part (the circus) was really glossed over.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a free review, but all opinions are my own.

Special thanks to Crooked Lane and NetGalley for the arc. Hayden and Hollister are at it again, my favorite gay male and lesbian amateur sleuth team deep in another murder mystery. H&H are polar opposites physically but have become the best of friends over the past year. This time they set out to find a murderer in a traveling Cirque-esque show. Lots of fun, author Osler crafts a warm and enticing cozy sure to make you want to be a part of the gang. Love Hayden’s personal arc. Want more of Hollister in book 3. Bestie queer sleuths rule.

Cirque du slay
Written by Rob Osler
Publish date March 5,2024
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for this copy to read and review.

There are genuinely parts of this book that are so much fun. Our main character is Hayden- he and his friends are tasked with solving a murder of the artistic director for a circus show in their town. At times I enjoyed their sassy sarcasm, other times it was too much and quite annoying. The other aspect that affected my reading experience are these sections that are interspersed between chapters of the blog Hayden writes called “Mates on Dates”. These were completely unnecessary and pulled me out of the action of the story. My favorite parts of the story took place in the circus/show itself and interacting with the different acts but this didn’t happen enough for me. I will admit I saw the cover and had high expectations because I love all things “cirque”. I do think I would have enjoyed this cozy mystery better if not for the “blog posts”.

eh… this was fine, but i liked the premise more than i liked the execution. the rep was fine, but i don’t think it was particularly well fleshed out, either.

This is a fun, quirky LGBTQ mystery. The characters are delightful as is their repartee.

I loved that being queer was treated in a matter of fact way. The characters didn't have any major existential crisis regarding their sensuality or gender or pronoun.

I didn't realize this was second of a series. The book easily reads a stand alone. I recommend giving it a try.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this
ARC. This is my honest review..

quozy-mystery, situational-humor, verbal-humor, amateur-sleuth, murder, investigation, friends, friendship, lawyers, law-enforcement, circus, circus-performers, LGBTQIAP, lol-humor, temporary-amnesia*****

There's nothing depressing or explicit in this hilarious cozy mystery filled with characters who are LGBTQIAP. ALL of the characters truly are and none of the humor is mean.
One of the friends who is a circus performer is found dead by another of the friends and the local law have her in their sights. So all of the rest get together to find the right murdered and I got to laugh myself silly. Loved it! Good sleuthing and great fun.
I requested and received an EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is the second book in a series. I didn’t know that going into it, but it didn’t really matter. It can be read as a stand-alone. Anything you need to know about the first book is explained as needed throughout the book.

Really enjoyed the banter between the main characters and all the secondary characters. Loved the LGBTQ representation in the story as well. Interested to find out more about Jess in book 3 (making assumptions that there will be a book 3).

As for the mystery aspect, I might consider it more of a cozy mystery given the humor used in the telling.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Cirque du Slay to come out March 5, 2024.