Murder-mystery
Small town
Plot twists and turns
A very very slow burn

I loved the relationship between Captain Anderson and Maiden with all the witty banter and clear romantic tension. The storyline of solving suspicious deaths in a town carnival is compelling, but I did feel some of the story dragged. The descriptions of the attractions, especially the mirror maze and fun house were great for visualization and I never knew who the next suspect or victim would be.

Overall a solid 4⭐️ read if you like a lighter murder-mystery

Camille Sharp’s A Fair Chance of Murder is a delightful blend of mystery, romance, and humor, set in a charming Midwestern town that really brings the story to life. The characters are vibrant and distinct, each one with a unique personality that adds layers of enjoyment to the book. I especially loved the chemistry between the lead characters—their romance is sweet, and their interactions are both heartwarming and hilarious. Sharp’s wit shines throughout, keeping the tone light even as the mystery unfolds. My only reservation is that some of the flirtation felt a tad over the top at times, but overall, this was a thoroughly fun read that kept me engaged from start to finish. Highly recommend it for fans of cozy mysteries with a romantic twist!

3.5 ⭐️

Reading this book was such a delight!
It was cosy, it was funny, it was captivating.

This is the second book that follows Maiden Harlow’s adventures: while enjoying the local carnival with her sister, they stumble upon a dead body.
This leads Maiden to an investigation to find out who the killer is, and in between some quirky and cute banters with the captain of the police, and a bit too many pies, she unravels the mystery behind the murder.

I liked how the story was presented and how there was the right balance between seriousness and fun.
The unravel of the chain of events kept me engaged to the book, and the relationships between the main character and the characters around her were funny and interesting to read about. The author described the conversations so beautifully that it felt like I was there with them.

I never read the sub-genre “cosy thriller” before, therefore it took me a bit of time to get used to the style of writing. Nonetheless, I recommend this book, and I will definitely catch up with the other books written by the author, Camille Sharp.

Thank you NetGalley, BookBuzz and the author for granting me an e-arc!

A cozy murder mystery with a carnival setting, this book was fun and twisty. I love this entire series almost purely just because of the author's writing style. She always has such great descriptions and fun storylines that keep the readers engaged to the last page.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Camille Sharp for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Fair Chance of Murder, which was released August 30, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love this author’s writing! I missed this book when it came out, but I’m loving this series. It’s cozy and mystery fun! I think the carnival was a fun setting. I think the plot was interesting. It was stressful for Maiden’s father to be one of the suspects. I’ll definitely read more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

~Murder-mystery, Small-town, Plot-twists, and more!~

A Fair Chance of Murder by Camille Sharp follows Maiden Harlow at the Summerfest carnival in her hometown of Golden Glen. After the last murder at Maiden and her family's business, Harlow House, Maiden is more than ready to ditch all the attention that came with solving the murder. With the carnival in town, she is prepared to relax with her family and enjoy the rides. So when Maiden and her sister, Vonny, stumble upon a body, Maiden knows things are about to get anything but relaxing, especially since her father is one of the suspects. As Maiden starts sleuthing, she realizes things aren't as they seem, with lies, secrets, and betrayal riddling the employees. Will Maiden be able to figure out who did it before things get worse? And will she and Captain McAlister be able to keep things civil?

2| Rating this book was hard. The actual story is great. I loved the descriptions of scenery in the beginning, though it did taper off as the story went on. I enjoyed seeing Maiden and Vonny's relationship in the beginning, even though I wish her presence were a bit more consistent. It also seemed like the Kylie and Gloria storyline disappeared aswell and was only briefly resolved at the end. It seemed too much like an afterthought to me. One part I loved was Miaden and Captain McAlister's banter and dynamic. It was fun to read their interactions. The mystery was great, with lots of twists and turns with secrets coming out constantly. I liked getting to see more of Maiden's interaction with her father. The overall continuation from the last book to this one was well done. The continued library book storyline was a fun touch, and I enjoyed the banter we got through it. Though there were a lot of new characters at once, I did enjoy the new places we got to see, like the cafe. I did wish we got to see more of the Inn. It was only mentioned in passing; I missed some of the day-to-day we got in the last book.

My main issue with this book, and honestly the only reason I rated it so low, is the offensive language towards weight. This may be due partly to the writing style, which I still think clashes with this story and causes a bit of confusion at certain points. Besides Maiden's figure and looks constantly being mentioned throughout the book, weight was also used to put certain characters down. At one point, it was even said a character was "too skinny" to get pregnant, which was used as an insult. At another point, a character was straight-up called overweight, but that didn't matter because their bright clothes distracted from it. It's just odd and offensive language that could have easily been avoided. Not to mention that Bille was called plain-spoken multiple times. Again just strange that so much emphasis was put on that.

Overall, this story has a lot of potential. I hate that my rating is so low because I genuinely enjoyed so much of this story. If the offensive weight talk was taken out, this could easily be a 4-star read. There is so much potential with the characters and story here. This author can write a fantastic mystery, no doubt, and I loved the descriptions of the scenery in the beginning. If things were more constant and the lanugue was less offensive, this would have been 5 stars. I hope this language is fixed for the next book because I enjoy the characters and the story the author has created.

Welcome to Golden Glen, where the summer days are filled with fun and excitement…and murder. The town is celebrating Summerfest when a visiting carnival arrives, bringing with it a wave of chaos and tension.

When one of the most hated members of the traveling show is found dead, Maiden Harlow’s father becomes a suspect in the murder investigation. Determined to clear his name, Maiden must use all her sleuthing skills to uncover the truth behind the murder. As she delves deeper into the secrets surrounding the carnival, she discovers a web of betrayal, jealousy, and dangerous rivalries that could lead to even more bloodshed.

Maiden finds herself entangled in a series of events that not only challenge her investigative abilities but also put her loved ones at risk. With increasing danger around her, she stumbles over another scary scene, landing in a tangle of trouble and danger. The story promises twists and turns as Maiden navigates through personal relationships and the complexities of solving a murder.

If you enjoy twisty plots and smart heroines who find themselves mixed up in murder mysteries, “A Fair Chance of Murder” offers an engaging narrative set against the backdrop of summer festivities in Golden Glen.

Loved this cute and quick read. A carnie who was hated by most is killed and you have to go through how the least obvious person did it. It was fun to go through and figure out who did it.