Hayden and his best friend Hollister are invited to a fundraiser for Bakers without Borders. When the celebrity performer, Kennedy Osaka, is a no show, Hayden's frenemy Sarah Lee is determined to find her, only to find Kennedy dead and Sarah arrested as a suspect in her murder. Hayden and Hollister must investigate inside Mysterium, an upscale circus to find the true killer.

When I started listening to Cirque du Slay, I did not realize that this was part of a series. Although you do miss the introduction of some secondary characters, the author does a great job in giving a summary of Hayden and Hollister's first investigation.

This was a fun cozy mystery. I enjoyed the investigation into Mysterium. The author did a great job in describing the circus acts and the performers of the show. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the antics that Hayden and Hollister find themselves in. One thing I truly enjoyed was the posts from Hayden's blog that were posted throughout this book. The posts gave a great insight into Hayden's character, and I hope they continue in the next book of this series.

Cirque du Slay is out now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review Cirque du Slay. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a fun read! I didn't realize when I requested it that it was the 2nd book in a series but was ok not having read the first one. There were a few things that I think would have been better had I done so but it was fine as a standalone. There was a lot going on in here, and several characters but it didn't get confusing at all. I'd be willing to read more by this author. The narrator did a good job.

This was a delightful second book in the series by Rob Osler! I just love the main character, and especially loved all the side characters in this book. I can't wait for the 3rd book to come out, this is definitely a series I will be sticking with. This series will be a fun one to recommend to patrons.

Cirque du Slay by Rob Osler is now one of my favorite series! Upon getting this ARC I read book 1, Devil's Chew Toy and was blown away. The found friendships/families, vivid characterizations and character growth were compelling; not to mention the humor and ameteur sleuthing. Love the characters! Adore the writing! I hope this series never ends.

This book made me so invested on how the victim died. The circus setting was super unique and I love that this book is a cast of almost all queer characters that is not a romance. There is a tiny bit of romance but that is in no way the main focus. This is the second book in the series and there’s some stuff that connects to the first book so I do recommend reading that first. This was a fun mystery. Not a cozy mystery, but not a thriller. Just a good mystery with a good cast of characters.

The audio was well done and the voice of the main character really matches who I imagine. I enjoyed the audio a lot.

*Thank you netgalley and dreamscape media for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the dynamics of Hayden and Hollister, and enjoyed reading Hayden's blog/article entries. And while I really liked the whole concept of whodunnit in the circus world, something about the overall execution of the mystery and who was the killer didn't stick to the landing with me. It felt like everything else surrounding it was interesting, but once they were all put together to move along the mysterious storyline, the marriage of the two just didn't quite mesh well.

But kudos to the title, that is definitely a great catch. And for a book that screams acceptance on who you are, the body shaming on one of the characters is unnecessary. Why is it every time she comes up, we have to be reminded that she's a bigger woman? But I'll move on... the mystery? Somewhat fun. The characters? Great. But putting them together was simply just alright. I definitely would love to read more of Hayden and Hollister.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy. All opinions are my own.

Second book in series - stand alone but first book will help you know the characters
Single POV
Found family
Murder mystery
Amateur sleuths

Seldom do I veer out of my romance rut, but a reading challenge prompt and an interest in the blurb for this book had me keen to give it a read. I thought I would be mentally speculating more, instead I found myself following along with the characters as they evaluate the evidence. I’ve literally raved about this book to my whole extended family who are Mystery fanatics.

I adored the easy LGBTQ+ representation. I think everyone will find a character they can relate to at some point. It was wonderful.

The narration was fantastic.

- 0.5 of a star for not enough kissing...

A light hearted and fast paced queer and cosy crime novel.

Circe Du Slay follows dynamic duo Hayden and Hollister, as they test their amateur crime solving abilities to clear their innocent friend’s name. Their investigation takes them to the travelling home of the wild and wonderful Mysterium circus show.

Although this book is the second of a series titled ‘Hayden and Friends’, I read it as a standalone and didn’t feel like I was disadvantaged at all. However, after reading this one, I’d definitely be looking into the previous novel and any future ones in this series.

I really enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook and felt he really brought the book to life and had a clear and unique depiction of each character.

One particular downfall for this book was there was a lot of unnecessary plot lines that either didn’t add anything to the story, or didn’t get wrapped up by the end of the novel which is always a little disappointing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was such a fun read! I especially loved the queer found family aspects of the story.

I'm a bit late in reviewing this title, which came out earlier in March, mostly because I wanted to read the first part of the series before. And I have to say, that despite sharing some weaknesses with the previous book, there was also some improvement in craft. The pacing issues I noticed in the last book were barely here in this one. The more traditional structure of the storyline probably helped with that, as it was a fairly standard murder mystery. It being standard, however, was not necessarily a bad thing since it allowed the author to put work towards other elements of the story.

I also appreciated that Hayden being a teacher was more relevant to the story - we didn't quite see him work with kids, however, we saw the way anti-queer legislation in education affected his life outside the classroom.

The thing that kept this from being a favorite was the characters - it just seemed so flat. Some characters could have had scenes cut without the story losing anything, while other characters like Camilo, who is central to Hayden's conflict in this book, don't get enough scenes to justify the influence they exert on the story. I think the best character in the series by a mile is Jerry, an old man Hayden has a very wholesome relationship with.

Hayden and Hollister are back and back at crime-fighting. Sarah Lee is fundraising for Bakers without Borders with a fantastical circus led by her sometimes-friend, Kennedy. When Kennedy doesn't show for the performance and Sarah Lee finds her dead- and then is found in her room- she becomes the number one suspect.

While Hayden isn't Sarah Lee's biggest fan, Hollister and Hayden agree to help a frenemy out. Full of the usual hijinks, the dynamic due is back and full of spark and spunk. A great follow up to The Devil's Chew toy.

The one part that fell flat for me was Hayden never having met a Transgender person before, and then the education that went with it felt didactic. I felt like the story became less for Queer people and more for teaching straight people about Queer people, especially Trans people. I think the education part could have been done in a less heavy-handed way. Also, I live in the Northwest, and I just can't believe that a Queer person in the Seattle scene hasn't met a Transgender person. I mean, really? That complaint aside, I liked it enough to go back and read the first book which I also enjoyed.

I went into reading Cirque du Slay knowing I wasn't a fan of cosy crime. I came out still not a fan but loving everything else about the book. This isn't as weird as it perhaps sounds.

Rob Osler employs a wildly diverse cast of characters. This is great and a very definite plus. The fact this novel spends a lot of time in an upmarket circus only adds to the roster. The background is Seattle - hip and diverse.

Hayden McCall (and his friend Hollister) are our amateur sleuths, Hayden is a compact, queer, red-haired teacher. He's very self-aware, with a wry sense of humour and a love-life he wishes would burst into being. He's also trying to challenge himself. Trying to find a murderer will tend to do that. Especially as Hollister has a tendency to push both of them out of their comfort zones.

The mystery has its fair share of dead ends and believable red herrings before finally uncovering the truth. While I followed along with that element, I had much more fun with the rest of story. If you actually enjoy cosy mysteries and like a modern, multi-hued cast, you should really read this.

I read book 1 to prepare for this ARC and I am SO glad that I did! I love this group of friends and really want to join them in their crime-solving escapades! They are so fun and supportive and hilarious! I can't wait for the next installment! This was my 1st book by Rob Osler but will not be my last, I am adding all of his books to my TBR!

#CirqueduSlay
#NetGalley

Hayden and friends are back for a second amateur sleuthing adventure. With its lovable queer-friendly cast and high-stakes-yet-cozy vibe, this sequel is a pleasure to read. Major props to the audiobook narrator for another stellar performance — so many different voices!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC. Available now!

this book was archived before i could get to it. So i wasn't able to give it a genuine review. my rating is based on good faith and the description

A fun follow up to Osler's debut. Hayden remains a charming sleuth, and his friends a delightful tapestry of queer culture.

If you're looking for a fun, light mystery with some really endearing LGBT characters, then this is for you! I thought this was a really solid read and a perfect palate cleanser for reading in between more intense reads.

Cirque du Slay by Rob Osler

Thank you for the gifted copy @crookedlanebooks and the free audiobook @netgalley @dreamscape_media

Blurb:
“In this rollicking mystery, perfect for fans of Steven Rowley and Elle Cosimano, the circus becomes the stage for a high-profile murder investigation. With quirky LGBTQ+ amateur sleuths, Cirque du Slay will delight readers looking for a madcap mystery with high-flying excitement!

✨My thoughts:

This is the second book in the Hayden & Friends Cozy Mystery series and I thought it was funny (in a good way). I loved the play on words. I started listening to this as an audiobook and finished it as a physical book while switching back and forth depending on how my day went. *This is my favorite way to experience a book* Pete Cross (narrator) did a great job keeping me entertained and interested while I was listening to the audiobook. I’d say the audiobook and physical book translated about the same experience wise for me. If you have this on your TBR, you’ll be able to get through it rather quickly. It’s the second in the series but could be read as a standalone in my opinion, which is always a plus! This cozy mystery is a book you found easily enjoy during a relaxing weekend or even read before bed. Cirque du Slay is out now!

Happy reading 📖

Thank you NetGalley dreamscape media and crooked lane books for the free ALC and ARC! All opinions are my own.
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What to Expect:
🎪acrobat hotties
🎪sleuthing queer besties
🎪relationship blog inserts
🎪”if you can’t be you, then who can you be?”
🎪can be read as a stand alone
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🫶🏽What worked for me
This has almost everything I want in a cozy! It’s a fairly light hearted easy read, full of characters you will love. I did read Devil’s Chew Toy first, and appreciated the storyline and characters more because of it. I was happy to get a follow up on Carlos (who went missing in book 1) and thrilled to see Hayden and Hollister are now besties! 🤩 That said, this book does include enough recaps to be read as a stand alone. I loved the way Hollister (artistic genius lesbian) and Jess (Hayden’s trans lawyer doppleganger) continue pushing Hayden (gay teacher/blogger) out of his comfort zone in the best way. If this continues as a series, I will absolutely keep reading!
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🤷🏻‍♀️What might not work for others
It’s a cozy mystery so don’t go into this expecting mind blowing plot twists. I still had a question or two at the end about the mystery aspect, but the overall vibe of the book was chill enough that it didn’t bother me to not have all the answers.

🎧Audio Review
I enjoyed this on audio! Pete Cross had a calming voice with good pacing, and sufficient voice distinctions between characters.

As a lover of animal-free, thoroughly entertaining, and mind-bendingly acrobatic circus, I have really enjoyed this book. The mystery was well set up, although several key clues are given to the reader only at the very end, so it isn’t easy to investigate along Hayden and Hollister. The writing was fun, the narrator was entertaining, and I will definitely pick up the next books in the series. 3.5 stars.

We follow ‘pint-sized Seattle middle-school teacher and gay dating blogger’ Hayden and his best friend Hollister. When their frenemy Sarah Lee is discovered in a hotel room with the dead body of Kennedy Osaka, star performer of high-end circus Mysterium, they get on the case to find the real culprit.

The descriptions in this book were something else. I could spend days reading the descriptions of mind-boggling circus acts and trying to imagine them, and Osler drew up some acts that I would – I promise you – pay good money to see. Plus, the book was so informative about what does it mean to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, without being preachy. Honestly, I learned more by Hayden’s blogs, peppered throughout the investigation, than from other media in the last years. A special mention for the audiobook reader, Pete Cross, who did an amazing job doing justice to the pace of the story and tackling a whole bunch of different accents and voices without making anyone sound as a caricature.

I would recommend this book to anyone who just wants a laugh and to do some daydreaming about hot Romanian acrobats flying high on the trapeze and jumping through fire.

Content Warnings: It’s a murder mystery, so someone dies. Apart from that, it’s quite cozy and safe, except one character who is homophobic (but on the page for a grand total of maybe one chapter) and a mention of what does it mean to be a gay teacher.

I truly enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was excited to see the audiobook for book 2 available on NetGalley.
I don't know what I was expecting for this sequel, but I was blown out of the water! I loved how Rob Osler was able to expand on and solidify the world and characters for this book!
In Cirque du Slay, Hayden and Hollister investigate to help.... *gasp* Sarah Lee? Hayden's former, grouchy neighbor/ current baker frenemy is the prime suspect in the murder of a performer and creative director at Mysterium, an upscale circus. With opportunists and secretive people everywhere at Mysterium, Hayden and Hollister have their work cut out for them.
One thing I loved about this book was that there were questions and plots from the first book brought over into the sequel. Although stand-alone series reads can be fun, I love when books have consequences for characters, and Hayden definitely faces some decisions and growth that transferred over from Devil's Chew Toy. It felt realistic. I also loved getting more on Burley and the cafe. I love Burley's mix of strength and spiritualism. Knowing parts of her family background from book one, it was interesting to see her coping with stress and bonding more with Sarah Lee. Finally, I enjoyed meeting the few new characters we got who may become main characters as the series continues. Hayden's social sphere is expanding in fun and interesting ways.
This book comes out on March 5th, and I very much recommend it (especially for audiobook lovers).