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The Midnight Carousel
PERFECT FOR FANS OF THE MINIATURIST, THE DOLL FACTORY AND WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
'Took hold of my heart and held me captive.'
ANYA BERGMAN
'I completely surrendered to its magic'
HESTER MUSSON
'My favourite book of the year. When I wasn't reading it, it was all I could think about.'
SARAH PENNER
'I adored it . . . Readers are in for a treat'
MELISSA FU
'A gorgeous, lavish tapestry that weaves a compelling mystery into a timeless love story. Breathtaking'
HELEN FIELDS
'A truly magical book that kept me reading long into the night'
LOUISE HARE
------
Come children, come children from far and near. Come choose your steed, you galloping knights, to enjoy the fun of the carousel . . .
Paris, 1900
Celebrated carousel-maker Gilbert works night and day to finish his masterpiece in time for the city's Exposition Universelle. But Gilbert is struggling in the wake of his wife and son's tragic deaths, and as he finalises his creation, a dangerous idea forms in his mind . . .
Chicago, 1920
Maisie Marlowe has come to America in the search of a new life. When she unearths a beautiful, neglected old carousel, she seizes the opportunity to carve a thrilling new destiny for herself. But Maisie doesn't know that beneath its glittering facade, the carousel is hiding a dark secret. Twenty years ago, it was linked to a number of people inexplicably vanishing into thin air - and now history has begun to repeat itself . . .
'Took hold of my heart and held me captive.'
ANYA BERGMAN
'I completely surrendered to its magic'
HESTER MUSSON
'My favourite book of the year. When I wasn't reading it, it was all I could think about.'
SARAH PENNER
'I adored it . . . Readers are in for a treat'
MELISSA FU
'A gorgeous, lavish tapestry that weaves a compelling mystery into a timeless love story. Breathtaking'
HELEN FIELDS
'A truly magical book that kept me reading long into the night'
LOUISE HARE
------
Come children, come children from far and near. Come choose your steed, you galloping knights, to enjoy the fun of the carousel . . .
Paris, 1900
Celebrated carousel-maker Gilbert works night and day to finish his masterpiece in time for the city's Exposition Universelle. But Gilbert is struggling in the wake of his wife and son's tragic deaths, and as he finalises his creation, a dangerous idea forms in his mind . . .
Chicago, 1920
Maisie Marlowe has come to America in the search of a new life. When she unearths a beautiful, neglected old carousel, she seizes the opportunity to carve a thrilling new destiny for herself. But Maisie doesn't know that beneath its glittering facade, the carousel is hiding a dark secret. Twenty years ago, it was linked to a number of people inexplicably vanishing into thin air - and now history has begun to repeat itself . . .
349 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2025
62 people are currently reading
2355 people want to read
About the author
Fiza Saeed McLynn
2 books30 followersFiza Saeed McLynn read History at Oxford University and had a brief career in finance before spending the next 12 years helping the bereaved as part of her work as a complementary therapist. She lives in London with her American husband, and two children. The Midnight Carousel is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
December 27, 2024
My favorite book of 2024! Thank you to PRH for the advance copy. Look for this in the UK in 2025!
January 30, 2025
Grief stricken Gilbert Cloutier constructs a beautiful carousel for the 1900 Exposition. In 1914 in Paris, Detective Laurent Bisset is on the mysterious case of missing children that seems to link to the carnival carousel. Meanwhile, on Canvey Island, Essex, Maisie Marlowe has had a tough start to life but her fortunes change when her aunt Mabel takes her under her wing and into the household of Sir Malcolm Randolph. After a number of tragedies, Maisie emigrates to the USA with Sir Malcolm and they settle in Fairweather House in Chicago. Sir Malcolm buys a carousel on a whim and eventually they establish The Silver Kingdom amusement park with the carousel as its centrepiece. However, sadly, history seems to be repeating itself.
About the only thing that I love about fairgrounds is a carousel and I don’t take much persuasion to choose my horse and jump on. So a story that has a carousel as it’s focus has my interest immediately and this is a very promising debut novel. There are some vivid descriptions especially of the mysterious carousel and it’s easy to picture the scenes that occur around it, especially as the author cleverly hints at the magical and certainly weaves in the very mysterious. It’s therefore a very atmospheric read with great settings and really good characters creating a harmonious whole. Maisie goes on a real emotional journey and experiences danger, loss, grief and love and through it all she forges her way, rising above everything that is thrown at her with determination and resilience. It’s always good to have a central female character that is strong and tough. All the characters are well portrayed from Laurent to Sir Malcolm and Mrs Papadopoulos, the latter who is immensely likeable with some great dialogue between her and Maisie. She has a clearer grasp of Maisie’s strength perhaps more than Maisie herself.
I enjoy jumping on this ride with Maisie and although the ending does come at us with some speed, it does take things full circle. Congratulations to the author for this lovely tale which suggests that she has a promising future as an author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated epub in return for an honest review.
About the only thing that I love about fairgrounds is a carousel and I don’t take much persuasion to choose my horse and jump on. So a story that has a carousel as it’s focus has my interest immediately and this is a very promising debut novel. There are some vivid descriptions especially of the mysterious carousel and it’s easy to picture the scenes that occur around it, especially as the author cleverly hints at the magical and certainly weaves in the very mysterious. It’s therefore a very atmospheric read with great settings and really good characters creating a harmonious whole. Maisie goes on a real emotional journey and experiences danger, loss, grief and love and through it all she forges her way, rising above everything that is thrown at her with determination and resilience. It’s always good to have a central female character that is strong and tough. All the characters are well portrayed from Laurent to Sir Malcolm and Mrs Papadopoulos, the latter who is immensely likeable with some great dialogue between her and Maisie. She has a clearer grasp of Maisie’s strength perhaps more than Maisie herself.
I enjoy jumping on this ride with Maisie and although the ending does come at us with some speed, it does take things full circle. Congratulations to the author for this lovely tale which suggests that she has a promising future as an author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated epub in return for an honest review.
February 25, 2025
Such a great novel – gothic, intriguing, twisty-turny, with an epic love story at its heart and a wonderful atmosphere.
July 17, 2025
3.5 stars
In Paris in the early 1900s, a man who is stricken with grief builds a beautiful, one-of-a-kind carousel, but it is a carousel into which he has infused a darkness.
Later, in the 1920s in Chicago, Maisie and her guardian come across the carousel, and purchase it, taken in by the beauty, the nostalgia and their need to add some whimsy to distract from their own tragedies.
The carousel comes with a mysterious problem. Sometimes, a person disappears while riding it, never to be seen again. A detective arrives from Paris when he hears that people have disappeared now in Chicago, as the same thing had happened in Paris. No one can figure out who or what could be behind it.
I was drawn in by the mystery and allure of the carousel, and had to keep the pages turning so that I could find out what caused the disappearances. Maisie's story was very interesting to follow from her time at an orphanage and through her need to discover her true identity and her place in the world. There were two decisions made by her though, that really made made me question her integrity, and overall my opinion of her was a bit cloudy.
Recommended for anyone looking for a trip to the early 1900s, filled with mystery and whimsy, love and loss, and sprinkled throughout it all: a bit of hope.
Thank you to Penguin South Africa for the gifted copy of this book.
In Paris in the early 1900s, a man who is stricken with grief builds a beautiful, one-of-a-kind carousel, but it is a carousel into which he has infused a darkness.
Later, in the 1920s in Chicago, Maisie and her guardian come across the carousel, and purchase it, taken in by the beauty, the nostalgia and their need to add some whimsy to distract from their own tragedies.
The carousel comes with a mysterious problem. Sometimes, a person disappears while riding it, never to be seen again. A detective arrives from Paris when he hears that people have disappeared now in Chicago, as the same thing had happened in Paris. No one can figure out who or what could be behind it.
I was drawn in by the mystery and allure of the carousel, and had to keep the pages turning so that I could find out what caused the disappearances. Maisie's story was very interesting to follow from her time at an orphanage and through her need to discover her true identity and her place in the world. There were two decisions made by her though, that really made made me question her integrity, and overall my opinion of her was a bit cloudy.
Recommended for anyone looking for a trip to the early 1900s, filled with mystery and whimsy, love and loss, and sprinkled throughout it all: a bit of hope.
Thank you to Penguin South Africa for the gifted copy of this book.
December 20, 2024
I am incredibly grateful to both NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review The Midnight Carousel. Being selected to explore this captivating story before its official release has been such a treat, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it with all of you. A huge thank you to the teams at NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for their generosity and for making this advanced reading experience possible.
Paris, 1900
Celebrated carousel-maker Gilbert works night and day to finish his masterpiece in time for the city's Exposition Universelle. But Gilbert is struggling in the wake of his wife and son's tragic deaths, and as he finalises his creation, a dangerous idea forms in his mind...
Chicago, 1920
Maisie Marlowe has come to America in the search of a new life. When she unearths a beautiful, neglected old carousel, she seizes the opportunity to carve a thrilling new destiny for herself. But Maisie doesn't know that beneath its glittering facade, the carousel is hiding a dark secret. Twenty years ago, it was linked to a number of people inexplicably vanishing into thin air - and now history has begun to repeat itself...
This is THE author to watch! Wow! I do not know how she's going to match let alone top The Midnight Carousel. It gave me all the vibes that The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern did. I was so utterly immersed in the world that Fiza created.
This book just has so many different aspects that I love. The mystery itself was interesting and kept me wanting to know more. In my spare time whilst not actively reading the book I was conjuring up different conclusions to the mystery, it had me hooked.
The characters are everything. There was development all around which was great to see. Even the minor characters had stuff going on. I am quite literally obsessed with Maisie and also Laurent.
I genuinely do not have a bad word to say about this book. The mystery was intriguing, the characters were wonderful and the pace was perfect. Going a little deeper into the pace, it wasn't so slow to the point where you become bored but it's also not too fast so that you speed by everything and it's over before you know it. This book took it's time but not unnecessarily. The descriptiveness was beautiful but absolutely needed to create this universe. Sometimes I find that authors can be descriptive for the sake of it and not because the story calls for it.
This is an absolute work of art. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to find themselves immersed in this story.
Fiza, I hope you are proud of yourself. You have every right to be, this is a beautiful book.
I am still baffled as to how this is someone's debut novel, it is simply amazing.
Paris, 1900
Celebrated carousel-maker Gilbert works night and day to finish his masterpiece in time for the city's Exposition Universelle. But Gilbert is struggling in the wake of his wife and son's tragic deaths, and as he finalises his creation, a dangerous idea forms in his mind...
Chicago, 1920
Maisie Marlowe has come to America in the search of a new life. When she unearths a beautiful, neglected old carousel, she seizes the opportunity to carve a thrilling new destiny for herself. But Maisie doesn't know that beneath its glittering facade, the carousel is hiding a dark secret. Twenty years ago, it was linked to a number of people inexplicably vanishing into thin air - and now history has begun to repeat itself...
This is THE author to watch! Wow! I do not know how she's going to match let alone top The Midnight Carousel. It gave me all the vibes that The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern did. I was so utterly immersed in the world that Fiza created.
This book just has so many different aspects that I love. The mystery itself was interesting and kept me wanting to know more. In my spare time whilst not actively reading the book I was conjuring up different conclusions to the mystery, it had me hooked.
The characters are everything. There was development all around which was great to see. Even the minor characters had stuff going on. I am quite literally obsessed with Maisie and also Laurent.
I genuinely do not have a bad word to say about this book. The mystery was intriguing, the characters were wonderful and the pace was perfect. Going a little deeper into the pace, it wasn't so slow to the point where you become bored but it's also not too fast so that you speed by everything and it's over before you know it. This book took it's time but not unnecessarily. The descriptiveness was beautiful but absolutely needed to create this universe. Sometimes I find that authors can be descriptive for the sake of it and not because the story calls for it.
This is an absolute work of art. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to find themselves immersed in this story.
Fiza, I hope you are proud of yourself. You have every right to be, this is a beautiful book.
I am still baffled as to how this is someone's debut novel, it is simply amazing.
July 3, 2025
Nu prea am rezonat cu povestea sau cu personajele. Nu de puține ori m-am plictisit, dar m-am încăpățânat să o duc până la capăt. Se aseamănă puțin cu Circul nopții. Însă ca subiect este diferită. Un alt lucru care m-a făcut ii reduc nota este faptul că mi s-a părut inutil lungită. Cartea este ficțiune istorica, romance, mister, un pic de gotic și o idee de fantasy.
July 8, 2025
spellbinding mystery 🎠
February 11, 2025
Whenever you decide to read a book by an author who’s new to you, you never really know what to expect and there’s always a risk you won’t like it, particularly when it’s a debut novel like this one. Fortunately, I loved The Midnight Carousel from the beginning; it’s such an original, unusual story that I was completely captivated by it.
The carousel of the title is built in 1900 by Gilbert Cloutier for the Grand Exhibition in Paris. Gilbert is struggling to come to terms with his grief over the recent loss of his young son, so he decides to add some special features to the carousel in memory of the boy. This is the last thing he does before disappearing without trace. Over the years that follow, the carousel gains a sinister reputation when it becomes linked with further disappearances and Detective Laurent Bisset is asked to investigate. He thinks he has caught the culprit, but several years later history begins to repeat itself, leaving Laurent questioning whether he has made a terrible mistake.
Meanwhile, in England, Maisie Marlowe is being raised by abusive foster parents in Canvey Island, Essex. Maisie has no idea who her real parents are and the only things that sustain her through this miserable period of her life are her friendship with her foster brother and a picture of a beautiful carousel that she found on the beach. Eventually, an aunt comes to rescue her and takes her to live in the home of Sir Malcolm Randolph where she has just taken a job as housekeeper. Due to an unexpected sequence of events, Maisie ends up emigrating to America with Sir Malcolm where they open an amusement park in Chicago with a magnificent carousel as the star attraction – the exact same carousel as the one in Maisie’s picture and the same one that was built at Gilbert Cloutier’s factory in Paris.
When the disappearances begin again, Laurent Bisset is sure there must be a connection with the earlier incidents in France, so he travels to Chicago determined to uncover the truth this time. Here he crosses paths with Maisie, bringing the two threads of the novel together. I loved both characters and was interested in their personal stories – Maisie’s Dickensian childhood and her incredible change of fortune and Laurent’s dedication to making amends for his past mistakes – but I also enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they come together over the mystery of the carousel.
The mystery element of the book is not so much a whodunit as a howdunit. How can people be disappearing into thin air while riding the wooden jumping horses? Is the carousel itself haunted? Did Gilbert Cloutier place a curse on it? Is someone somehow snatching people from the horses without being seen? Although there were a few clues that I thought could and should have been noticed by Laurent and the police, I can also understand how they could have been missed. When we eventually get some answers, they are both clever and creepy and what I found particularly unsettling is that all through the book I never really knew whether I was reading magical realism or something with a more human explanation. The eerie atmosphere, along with the fairground setting, kept reminding me of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, but I think this is a better book.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Midnight Carousel and loved getting to know Laurent, Maisie and the secondary characters – I particularly liked Mrs Papadopoulos the dairy seller and Madame Rose the fortune-teller. I’ll certainly be putting Fiza Saeed McLynn on my list of authors to look out for in the future.
The carousel of the title is built in 1900 by Gilbert Cloutier for the Grand Exhibition in Paris. Gilbert is struggling to come to terms with his grief over the recent loss of his young son, so he decides to add some special features to the carousel in memory of the boy. This is the last thing he does before disappearing without trace. Over the years that follow, the carousel gains a sinister reputation when it becomes linked with further disappearances and Detective Laurent Bisset is asked to investigate. He thinks he has caught the culprit, but several years later history begins to repeat itself, leaving Laurent questioning whether he has made a terrible mistake.
Meanwhile, in England, Maisie Marlowe is being raised by abusive foster parents in Canvey Island, Essex. Maisie has no idea who her real parents are and the only things that sustain her through this miserable period of her life are her friendship with her foster brother and a picture of a beautiful carousel that she found on the beach. Eventually, an aunt comes to rescue her and takes her to live in the home of Sir Malcolm Randolph where she has just taken a job as housekeeper. Due to an unexpected sequence of events, Maisie ends up emigrating to America with Sir Malcolm where they open an amusement park in Chicago with a magnificent carousel as the star attraction – the exact same carousel as the one in Maisie’s picture and the same one that was built at Gilbert Cloutier’s factory in Paris.
When the disappearances begin again, Laurent Bisset is sure there must be a connection with the earlier incidents in France, so he travels to Chicago determined to uncover the truth this time. Here he crosses paths with Maisie, bringing the two threads of the novel together. I loved both characters and was interested in their personal stories – Maisie’s Dickensian childhood and her incredible change of fortune and Laurent’s dedication to making amends for his past mistakes – but I also enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they come together over the mystery of the carousel.
The mystery element of the book is not so much a whodunit as a howdunit. How can people be disappearing into thin air while riding the wooden jumping horses? Is the carousel itself haunted? Did Gilbert Cloutier place a curse on it? Is someone somehow snatching people from the horses without being seen? Although there were a few clues that I thought could and should have been noticed by Laurent and the police, I can also understand how they could have been missed. When we eventually get some answers, they are both clever and creepy and what I found particularly unsettling is that all through the book I never really knew whether I was reading magical realism or something with a more human explanation. The eerie atmosphere, along with the fairground setting, kept reminding me of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, but I think this is a better book.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Midnight Carousel and loved getting to know Laurent, Maisie and the secondary characters – I particularly liked Mrs Papadopoulos the dairy seller and Madame Rose the fortune-teller. I’ll certainly be putting Fiza Saeed McLynn on my list of authors to look out for in the future.
June 2, 2025
This started strong but I was left a little disappointed. Too many “hmm” moments and a big plot hole. I loved the idea of the mysterious carousel which was making people disappear, and it was interesting to have the story set in both Paris and Chicago, but the storyline just fell a bit flat.
April 11, 2025
I read this without knowing much about it and from the title/cover I expected something a little more magical but what I got was an interesting, intriguing historical novel with a criminal twist and a slow burn romance. There was much I really enjoyed about this, it was atmospheric, engaging, well written, and I wasn't always sure quite where the story would take me. However, at times I felt that the characters were a little formulaic, a little too stereotypical, and there were a few too many coincidences for me to completely lose myself in the plot. This is a solid debut novel though, and I think one that many people will really, really enjoy. I look forward to seeing what this author writes next.
April 5, 2025
Come children, come children from far and near. Come choose your steed, you galloping knights, to enjoy the fun of the carousel . . .
Paris, 1914
Detective Laurent Bisset has reluctantly closed a most puzzling case. Fairgoers have been vanishing while riding a dazzling carousel. The only man who could be responsible is behind bars – but Laurent cannot explain what happened to those still missing.
Chicago, 1920
Maisie Marlowe acquires a beautiful, antique carousel, and sets up the Silver Kingdom amusement park. It is a place of delight and wonder – until a child goes missing on its most famous ride. When rumours of the Chicago disappearance reach Laurent, he crosses the Atlantic in search of new answers to an old mystery. Together, can he and Maisie uncover the carousel’s secret before it claims another?
My thoughts:
I’ll be really honest… I’d read somewhere what is was compared to The Doll Factory, and I was scared to pick this up because I didn’t enjoy that book 🫣
In my opinion this was far better!
I was captivated by the storytelling. I loved following Maisie and her life and was so curious to discover the connection between her and the carousel. I loved how mysterious the story was and felt it had a bit of a supernatural/fantasy feel to it too.
The book is told through multiple pov and tells the story as it happens spanning across the years.
I liked that world events during the timeline of the story were mentioned and included but did not distract from the main story.
I loved how all the mysteries within the story were solved and wrapped up, and they were not rushed. I loved the link and relevance of Midnight in the title.
I absolutely loved this book. It felt magical and mysterious and had a touch of romance too.
Thank you so much to the author and Michael Joseph Books for the early proof of this book. Opinions expressed here are my own.
Paris, 1914
Detective Laurent Bisset has reluctantly closed a most puzzling case. Fairgoers have been vanishing while riding a dazzling carousel. The only man who could be responsible is behind bars – but Laurent cannot explain what happened to those still missing.
Chicago, 1920
Maisie Marlowe acquires a beautiful, antique carousel, and sets up the Silver Kingdom amusement park. It is a place of delight and wonder – until a child goes missing on its most famous ride. When rumours of the Chicago disappearance reach Laurent, he crosses the Atlantic in search of new answers to an old mystery. Together, can he and Maisie uncover the carousel’s secret before it claims another?
My thoughts:
I’ll be really honest… I’d read somewhere what is was compared to The Doll Factory, and I was scared to pick this up because I didn’t enjoy that book 🫣
In my opinion this was far better!
I was captivated by the storytelling. I loved following Maisie and her life and was so curious to discover the connection between her and the carousel. I loved how mysterious the story was and felt it had a bit of a supernatural/fantasy feel to it too.
The book is told through multiple pov and tells the story as it happens spanning across the years.
I liked that world events during the timeline of the story were mentioned and included but did not distract from the main story.
I loved how all the mysteries within the story were solved and wrapped up, and they were not rushed. I loved the link and relevance of Midnight in the title.
I absolutely loved this book. It felt magical and mysterious and had a touch of romance too.
Thank you so much to the author and Michael Joseph Books for the early proof of this book. Opinions expressed here are my own.
April 24, 2025
A carousel holds a special kind of enchantment on young and old hearts alike and this wonderful novel captures the magic perfectly! Maisie and Laurent’s characters captivated me from the start and the mystery of this carousel that holds the reader throughout. I really enjoyed this book, it felt like it took me back to my youth.
May 16, 2025
The Midnight Carousel, just the title of the book drew me in, and then the book blurb had me hooked. This book covers most of the twentieth century, from he early 1900’s to the 1980’s and takes the reader from France to England to America. I lived near a fun fair as a child and the carousel was always my favourite ride, but what about a carousel where you get on but never get off, simply disappear into thin air, a great premise for an immersive book. This book doesn’t fit into any of the established genres, instead it crosses crime, mystery, romance, history and a touch of the supernatural, an excellent cocktail in my opinion.
The plot if this book and fascinating and really got into my head in a good way. The Carousel is made for the Paris Exposition of 1900, a beautiful work of art and for the maker a peice to remember the son he had lost. However, after three people vanish whilst riding the carousel, Detective Laurent Bisset feels he has the murderer but there are no bodies. This is a case that stays with him, so a fews later when he reads of the same thing happening in Chicago he has to go and investigate.
Detective Bisset is a complex figure, his mother commits suicide when he is young and he is brought up by his domineering father for whom he is always a disappointment. As a detective he is dogged in finding the truth, even after the man he arrested got the death penalty. He is able to accept that they got it wrong which plays on his mind.
The other main character is Maisie who also had a troubled childhood. She spent the first years of her life with a foster family who were violent and cruel until her aunt came to claim her. Her aunt’s employer becomes her guardian and she gets a new life in America, a life where her guardian buys her the carousel. Maisie was my favourite character, she overcame her foster years, the fact that she was mixed race and faced prejudice to becoming a succesful business woman in running her own fun fair, the Silver Kingdom. Her relationship with Detective Bisset grew throughout the book, not only in trying to solve the mystery of the carousel but also on a personal level. Both have had troubled childhoods and have trust issues but in each other they find understanding, friendship and romance.
As a debut novel this is really impressive, with its multi layered plot, characters with depth and reality and a prose that grabs you. I just loved the idea of a carousel where riders simply disappears, like Detective Bisset I tried to think of how this could happen; how did they vanish, how could there be no bodies and where was the killer. The other thread was the beautiful blooming romance between Maisis and Detective Bisset, how he tried to find her parents for her, searching Paris at night. As I was reading The Midnight Carousel I felt it had a feel of one of my favourite books, The Night Circus with it’s magic, romance, suspense, and the beautiful prose. The historical aspect was also well written especially in the descriptions of America in the 1920’s, the bootleg alcohol, the jazz clubs, the mix of cultures and the opportunities available.
The Midnight Carousel is a book that has stayed with me since reading it. It left me with a soft fuzzy feel in relation to the characters whom I loved and a feeling of fascination and awe in regards to the plot. Beautifully written and imagined this is an enchanting and magical read and I can’t wait to read what Fiza Saeed McLynn writes next.
The plot if this book and fascinating and really got into my head in a good way. The Carousel is made for the Paris Exposition of 1900, a beautiful work of art and for the maker a peice to remember the son he had lost. However, after three people vanish whilst riding the carousel, Detective Laurent Bisset feels he has the murderer but there are no bodies. This is a case that stays with him, so a fews later when he reads of the same thing happening in Chicago he has to go and investigate.
Detective Bisset is a complex figure, his mother commits suicide when he is young and he is brought up by his domineering father for whom he is always a disappointment. As a detective he is dogged in finding the truth, even after the man he arrested got the death penalty. He is able to accept that they got it wrong which plays on his mind.
The other main character is Maisie who also had a troubled childhood. She spent the first years of her life with a foster family who were violent and cruel until her aunt came to claim her. Her aunt’s employer becomes her guardian and she gets a new life in America, a life where her guardian buys her the carousel. Maisie was my favourite character, she overcame her foster years, the fact that she was mixed race and faced prejudice to becoming a succesful business woman in running her own fun fair, the Silver Kingdom. Her relationship with Detective Bisset grew throughout the book, not only in trying to solve the mystery of the carousel but also on a personal level. Both have had troubled childhoods and have trust issues but in each other they find understanding, friendship and romance.
As a debut novel this is really impressive, with its multi layered plot, characters with depth and reality and a prose that grabs you. I just loved the idea of a carousel where riders simply disappears, like Detective Bisset I tried to think of how this could happen; how did they vanish, how could there be no bodies and where was the killer. The other thread was the beautiful blooming romance between Maisis and Detective Bisset, how he tried to find her parents for her, searching Paris at night. As I was reading The Midnight Carousel I felt it had a feel of one of my favourite books, The Night Circus with it’s magic, romance, suspense, and the beautiful prose. The historical aspect was also well written especially in the descriptions of America in the 1920’s, the bootleg alcohol, the jazz clubs, the mix of cultures and the opportunities available.
The Midnight Carousel is a book that has stayed with me since reading it. It left me with a soft fuzzy feel in relation to the characters whom I loved and a feeling of fascination and awe in regards to the plot. Beautifully written and imagined this is an enchanting and magical read and I can’t wait to read what Fiza Saeed McLynn writes next.
April 15, 2025
⭐️ Book Review ⭐️
Gifted by @michaeljbooks & @fiza_loves_books
The Midnight Carousel by Fiza Saeed McLynn is a captivating story that combines history, mystery, and fantasy. Set in two timelines—Paris in 1900 and Chicago in 1920—the book follows Gilbert, a carousel-maker , and Maisie, a young woman ahead of her time, starting a fresh in America. Both characters are battling their own personal circumstances and their connection to a mysterious carousel with dark secrets drives the plot.
I much preferred Maisie’s storyline, I felt more connected to her than Gilbert and I liked that there was a bit of a love story at the heart that wasn’t too in depth.
Fiza’s writing is vivid and atmospheric which really brought the characters and storyline to life. Themes like grief, love, and obsession are handled with care, making the story emotional. The mix of historical detail and supernatural elements kept me hooked till the end.
Overall, it’s a unique read and not one I usually would have picked, but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a touch of magic in their stories. I’m excited to see what others think of this as it’s such a different read!
#review #arc #arcreader #reviewer #bookstagram #booksta #debutnovel #reader #readersofinstagram
Gifted by @michaeljbooks & @fiza_loves_books
The Midnight Carousel by Fiza Saeed McLynn is a captivating story that combines history, mystery, and fantasy. Set in two timelines—Paris in 1900 and Chicago in 1920—the book follows Gilbert, a carousel-maker , and Maisie, a young woman ahead of her time, starting a fresh in America. Both characters are battling their own personal circumstances and their connection to a mysterious carousel with dark secrets drives the plot.
I much preferred Maisie’s storyline, I felt more connected to her than Gilbert and I liked that there was a bit of a love story at the heart that wasn’t too in depth.
Fiza’s writing is vivid and atmospheric which really brought the characters and storyline to life. Themes like grief, love, and obsession are handled with care, making the story emotional. The mix of historical detail and supernatural elements kept me hooked till the end.
Overall, it’s a unique read and not one I usually would have picked, but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a touch of magic in their stories. I’m excited to see what others think of this as it’s such a different read!
#review #arc #arcreader #reviewer #bookstagram #booksta #debutnovel #reader #readersofinstagram
February 6, 2025
When I read a book written by the author I'm not familiar with, I try not to have any expectations, if I can help it. So I did for this book... And I'm unsure wherether that had any part in my opinion on this book.. But you know it's pretty darn good!
Interesting plot, some twists and turns, some ups and downs.. Some questionable decisions and lifetime feelings.. But so is life. A little bit sentimental.. But so are a lot of people.
At first I thought that carousel might serve similar part in the book as Something Wicked This Way Comes and maybe, in some part, it was a nod to this brilliant book. But it wasn't truly what it was. It has different meaning, different mystery and kind of different horror to it.
I wouldn't want to say more without spoiling it.. But it was well worth my time!
Interesting plot, some twists and turns, some ups and downs.. Some questionable decisions and lifetime feelings.. But so is life. A little bit sentimental.. But so are a lot of people.
At first I thought that carousel might serve similar part in the book as Something Wicked This Way Comes and maybe, in some part, it was a nod to this brilliant book. But it wasn't truly what it was. It has different meaning, different mystery and kind of different horror to it.
I wouldn't want to say more without spoiling it.. But it was well worth my time!
January 12, 2025
Thank you WME for an advanced copy!
What a special novel - especially if you love carousels. I loved how this was a magical mystery rooted in a bygone time. Such attention to detail that I could imagine myself at Silver Kingdom - the noises, smells and joy of the amusement park. It is a story of loss, love, hope, and determination, with a smidge of magic thrown in. Highly enjoyed!
What a special novel - especially if you love carousels. I loved how this was a magical mystery rooted in a bygone time. Such attention to detail that I could imagine myself at Silver Kingdom - the noises, smells and joy of the amusement park. It is a story of loss, love, hope, and determination, with a smidge of magic thrown in. Highly enjoyed!
April 23, 2025
This book is amazing, its hard to believe this is a debut novel.
The characters are so well written they seem real and the setting is so vivid that you feel like you are there.
I adore Maisie she goes through so much but does not let it make her bitter and my heart hurts for her on so many occasions throughout the book.
This is definitely my favourite book of the year and I will be recommending it to everyone.
The characters are so well written they seem real and the setting is so vivid that you feel like you are there.
I adore Maisie she goes through so much but does not let it make her bitter and my heart hurts for her on so many occasions throughout the book.
This is definitely my favourite book of the year and I will be recommending it to everyone.
June 27, 2025
Started off as a 3 star, then turned into a 4 star through the middle. But then the answer to the mystery turned it back into a 3 for me. I was a bit disappointed with that but I loved the main characters, the plot was really gripping in the middle
Overall an enjoyable read
Overall an enjoyable read
December 29, 2024
I truly fell under the spell of THE MIDNIGHT CAROUSEL. The mystery at the centre of this evocative story swept me away and made it hard to stop turning the pages. I loved Maisie instantly – her resilience, strength and kindness all shone through, making her a character I’ll remember for a long time. This is a magical read, full of exquisite historical details, exploring love and loss in the most thoughtful and tender way. A brilliant debut that deserves to make your reading list for 2025!
June 15, 2025
So sad, because the premice is original, the writing is engaging, but the plot does not really make sense. Some elements are blatant plot devices poorly tied into the story. It also feels the author tried to write a romance/terror/detective/fantastic story. Somewhat confusing to read. I am surprised by the great reviews.
December 16, 2024
The Midnight Carousel is a spellbinding debut that elegantly weaves together historical fiction, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. Set across two vividly portrayed timelines, Paris in 1900 and Chicago in 1920, the novel follows the haunting legacy of a beautifully crafted carousel with a dark secret. The setting of La Belle Époque particularly stood out for me as a setting rarely trodden by authors. Saeed McLynn masterfully explores themes of grief, obsession, and redemption through her central characters, particularly Gilbert and Maisie, however it was Laurent who particularly resonated with me. The writing is atmospheric, brimming with intricate detail and emotional depth, while the plot keeps you guessing as it unravels the carousel’s connection to the wider narrative.
The book, for me, has a very rare quality that all readers are chasing when they pick up a new book. The writing has an undeniable warmth that makes you pause for a few moments to take in the previous section of text before eagerly devouring the next. I loved the book, and eagerly anticipate the next work by the author.
The book, for me, has a very rare quality that all readers are chasing when they pick up a new book. The writing has an undeniable warmth that makes you pause for a few moments to take in the previous section of text before eagerly devouring the next. I loved the book, and eagerly anticipate the next work by the author.
June 26, 2025
I love historical fiction that has that whimsical, magical feel, and whilst this wasn't quite what I expected, I still really enjoyed it.
Paris 1900 and Gilbert is trying to come to terms with the tragic death of both his wife and son. Grief Stricken and feeling alone, the best thing for him is to keep busy, and so he declares that he will create the most beautiful extravagant carousel he's ever made in time for the city's Exposition Universelle but as he puts the finishing touches to his masterpiece a dark and dangerous thought enters his mind...
Maisie has moved to America to start a new way of life. After uncovering an old and decrepit carousel, her imagination sparks, and she envisages a great future for herself but she doesn't realise that all is not as it seems with the carousel and when people who ride it start vanishing into thin air, the race is on to solve the mystery of the sinister carousel.
The Midnight Carousel is an intriguing read full of suspense and mystery, and I loved how atmospheric and gothic the setting was. It's also probably one of my favourite portrayals of grief that I've read in a long time.
Fiza's writing is beautiful and haunting, and although I felt the plot slowed down in the middle slightly, it didn't ruin my enjoyment at all.
This would be perfect to read at any time of the year but, in my opinion, would be extra special in the colder months. It's perfect to cosy up with, preferably with a nice hot chocolate.
Paris 1900 and Gilbert is trying to come to terms with the tragic death of both his wife and son. Grief Stricken and feeling alone, the best thing for him is to keep busy, and so he declares that he will create the most beautiful extravagant carousel he's ever made in time for the city's Exposition Universelle but as he puts the finishing touches to his masterpiece a dark and dangerous thought enters his mind...
Maisie has moved to America to start a new way of life. After uncovering an old and decrepit carousel, her imagination sparks, and she envisages a great future for herself but she doesn't realise that all is not as it seems with the carousel and when people who ride it start vanishing into thin air, the race is on to solve the mystery of the sinister carousel.
The Midnight Carousel is an intriguing read full of suspense and mystery, and I loved how atmospheric and gothic the setting was. It's also probably one of my favourite portrayals of grief that I've read in a long time.
Fiza's writing is beautiful and haunting, and although I felt the plot slowed down in the middle slightly, it didn't ruin my enjoyment at all.
This would be perfect to read at any time of the year but, in my opinion, would be extra special in the colder months. It's perfect to cosy up with, preferably with a nice hot chocolate.
June 30, 2025
જ⁀➴ 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱
🎪 This book follows Maisie’s emotional journey - from when she was badly treated in a orphanage to being adopted by her late aunt’s lover, failed marriage to James, experiencing motherhood to her ripe age of 85 ( if I remember correctly).
🎠 This “magical” carousel, whereby people vanished into thin air when riding a specific horse, really piqued my interest in continuing this book. I want to know the mystery behind it- Was it magic or something more?
જ⁀➴ Disliked
🔍 Laurent - Incapable crime detective and a cheater. He was a married man but started a short love affair with Maise and only came clean about his status through a letter before he returned to Paris. I hated him for breaking Maisie’s heart and having the nerve to court her after his marriage was over. Maisie deserved a better husband.
📝 Rushed ending and everything resolved nicely, tied with a bow. Even a minor character, like Tommy, had his happy ending. Every single character was sorted out, leaving no loose ends. It was unrealistic. I don’t need to know how everyone was doing after that incident at the amusement park.
🎠 The mystery surrounding the carousel took a backseat after Maisie married James.
🎢 Two-dimensional characters - The book introduced many side characters, but none of them were memorable.
I would enjoy this book better if Laurent were not the love interest (I still don’t see the purpose in this), and Maisie continued to investigate the mystery after marriage.
🎪 This book follows Maisie’s emotional journey - from when she was badly treated in a orphanage to being adopted by her late aunt’s lover, failed marriage to James, experiencing motherhood to her ripe age of 85 ( if I remember correctly).
🎠 This “magical” carousel, whereby people vanished into thin air when riding a specific horse, really piqued my interest in continuing this book. I want to know the mystery behind it- Was it magic or something more?
જ⁀➴ Disliked
🔍 Laurent - Incapable crime detective and a cheater. He was a married man but started a short love affair with Maise and only came clean about his status through a letter before he returned to Paris. I hated him for breaking Maisie’s heart and having the nerve to court her after his marriage was over. Maisie deserved a better husband.
📝 Rushed ending and everything resolved nicely, tied with a bow. Even a minor character, like Tommy, had his happy ending. Every single character was sorted out, leaving no loose ends. It was unrealistic. I don’t need to know how everyone was doing after that incident at the amusement park.
🎠 The mystery surrounding the carousel took a backseat after Maisie married James.
🎢 Two-dimensional characters - The book introduced many side characters, but none of them were memorable.
I would enjoy this book better if Laurent were not the love interest (I still don’t see the purpose in this), and Maisie continued to investigate the mystery after marriage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 20, 2025If you are a fan of books that follow the story of a woman ahead of her time through the years as she tries to forge her own path in the world, have I got the book for you!
The author paints a picture from the very first line, and weaves the mystery of the carousel together with Maisie's story of loss and grief, love, and a desperate desire to belong that engages the reader from the moment you meet her. If you enjoyed The Dictionary of Lost Words or Go as a River, check out The Midnight Carousel!
The author paints a picture from the very first line, and weaves the mystery of the carousel together with Maisie's story of loss and grief, love, and a desperate desire to belong that engages the reader from the moment you meet her. If you enjoyed The Dictionary of Lost Words or Go as a River, check out The Midnight Carousel!
February 28, 2025
Thank you to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for this advance e-copy.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was easy and quick. I was drawn by the appeal of a magical carousel. Set in the early 1900s, we hear the stories of different people in different countries and how this one carousel ties them all together.
This book had great potential, the storyline was intriguing and it could have gone many different ways. I was disappointed though with the lack of magic. Without spoiling anything, I think actual magic would have been more believable than the ending.
I felt that the characters were very wooden. People fell in love within a moment’s notice, with no gradual plot development. Sentences were short and to the point, which I felt was a bit childlike.
Overall it was a good read but the writing style and the ending let it down.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was easy and quick. I was drawn by the appeal of a magical carousel. Set in the early 1900s, we hear the stories of different people in different countries and how this one carousel ties them all together.
This book had great potential, the storyline was intriguing and it could have gone many different ways. I was disappointed though with the lack of magic. Without spoiling anything, I think actual magic would have been more believable than the ending.
I felt that the characters were very wooden. People fell in love within a moment’s notice, with no gradual plot development. Sentences were short and to the point, which I felt was a bit childlike.
Overall it was a good read but the writing style and the ending let it down.
June 10, 2025
4.5 rating
Plot Summary
The story unfolds across two vividly depicted timelines: Paris in 1900 and Chicago in 1920. At the heart of the novel is a hauntingly beautiful carousel, commissioned for the Grand Exposition, but hiding secrets far more sinister than its ornate horses suggest. Gilbert Cloutier, the craftsman behind the carousel, pours his love for his son Theo into its creation. Yet, when Theo falls ill and later vanishes, the carousel gains an eerie reputation—one that Detective Laurent Bisset is determined to unravel.
Fast forward to America: enter Maisie Marlowe, a young woman trying to carve a future for herself. When she acquires the carousel years later, she unwittingly pulls the past into her present, unearthing secrets long thought buried. As children mysteriously disappear once again, Laurent re-emerges, and together, they seek answers before more lives are lost.
Themes
This book is steeped in themes of loss, love, hope, and determination, all seamlessly woven together with a dash of the supernatural. Maisie’s journey speaks to resilience—the power of survival against the odds. There’s an undeniable undercurrent of nostalgia that runs throughout, reminding readers of childhood wonders, only to twist those memories into something far more chilling. Gothic atmosphere, historical fiction, and mystery meet in a breathtaking collision.
What Worked in the Book
One of the strongest aspects of The Midnight Carousel is its atmospheric writing. McLynn’s prose doesn’t just tell a story—it immerses you in it. I could practically smell the burnt sugar of a Paris fairground and feel the unnerving chill creeping through the Chicago amusement park. Her descriptions are vivid, evocative, and full of intricate historical details.
Characterization is another standout. Maisie is more than just a strong female lead—she’s practical, vulnerable, and wonderfully real. Her emotional journey grips you, making every triumph and heartbreak feel personal. Laurent, haunted and determined, provides the perfect balance to Maisie’s fierce resolve. Their evolving partnership is compelling without ever feeling forced.
And then there’s the carousel itself—a character in its own right. The mystery surrounding it unfolds at the perfect pace, tightening the tension until the truth finally reveals itself.
nWho Might Enjoy This Book?
If you love historical fiction with a gothic twist, this book is for you. If mysteries that span decades intrigue you, this book is for you. And if you have a soft spot for stories where the past refuses to stay buried, then The Midnight Carousel will absolutely captivate you.
Fans of The Dictionary of Lost Words or Go as a River will appreciate its exquisite historical detail, while lovers of slow-burn thrillers will relish the gripping suspense. If atmospheric, character-driven mysteries are your thing, prepare to be enchanted.
Conclusion
Rarely does a debut novel possess such depth, warmth, and eerie beauty all at once. The Midnight Carousel masterfully balances mystery and nostalgia, weaving a tale that lingers long after the final page. It’s a slow-burn gothic thriller that pulls you under, twists you around, and refuses to let go—much like a carousel you never quite want to leave.
Thank you to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book.
Plot Summary
The story unfolds across two vividly depicted timelines: Paris in 1900 and Chicago in 1920. At the heart of the novel is a hauntingly beautiful carousel, commissioned for the Grand Exposition, but hiding secrets far more sinister than its ornate horses suggest. Gilbert Cloutier, the craftsman behind the carousel, pours his love for his son Theo into its creation. Yet, when Theo falls ill and later vanishes, the carousel gains an eerie reputation—one that Detective Laurent Bisset is determined to unravel.
Fast forward to America: enter Maisie Marlowe, a young woman trying to carve a future for herself. When she acquires the carousel years later, she unwittingly pulls the past into her present, unearthing secrets long thought buried. As children mysteriously disappear once again, Laurent re-emerges, and together, they seek answers before more lives are lost.
Themes
This book is steeped in themes of loss, love, hope, and determination, all seamlessly woven together with a dash of the supernatural. Maisie’s journey speaks to resilience—the power of survival against the odds. There’s an undeniable undercurrent of nostalgia that runs throughout, reminding readers of childhood wonders, only to twist those memories into something far more chilling. Gothic atmosphere, historical fiction, and mystery meet in a breathtaking collision.
What Worked in the Book
One of the strongest aspects of The Midnight Carousel is its atmospheric writing. McLynn’s prose doesn’t just tell a story—it immerses you in it. I could practically smell the burnt sugar of a Paris fairground and feel the unnerving chill creeping through the Chicago amusement park. Her descriptions are vivid, evocative, and full of intricate historical details.
Characterization is another standout. Maisie is more than just a strong female lead—she’s practical, vulnerable, and wonderfully real. Her emotional journey grips you, making every triumph and heartbreak feel personal. Laurent, haunted and determined, provides the perfect balance to Maisie’s fierce resolve. Their evolving partnership is compelling without ever feeling forced.
And then there’s the carousel itself—a character in its own right. The mystery surrounding it unfolds at the perfect pace, tightening the tension until the truth finally reveals itself.
nWho Might Enjoy This Book?
If you love historical fiction with a gothic twist, this book is for you. If mysteries that span decades intrigue you, this book is for you. And if you have a soft spot for stories where the past refuses to stay buried, then The Midnight Carousel will absolutely captivate you.
Fans of The Dictionary of Lost Words or Go as a River will appreciate its exquisite historical detail, while lovers of slow-burn thrillers will relish the gripping suspense. If atmospheric, character-driven mysteries are your thing, prepare to be enchanted.
Conclusion
Rarely does a debut novel possess such depth, warmth, and eerie beauty all at once. The Midnight Carousel masterfully balances mystery and nostalgia, weaving a tale that lingers long after the final page. It’s a slow-burn gothic thriller that pulls you under, twists you around, and refuses to let go—much like a carousel you never quite want to leave.
Thank you to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book.
April 24, 2025
As someone who devours mysteries for breakfast and spends weekends knee-deep in crime thrillers, it takes a lot for a mystery novel to truly surprise me. But Fiza Saeed McLynn’s debut, The Midnight Carousel, didn’t just surprise me—it pulled me under like the slow, hypnotic spin of a carousel horse that knows too much.
From the moment I read the opening line—’Come children, come children from far and near…’— I knew this book was going to play in that eerie sweet spot where nostalgia meets the uncanny. Set between Paris in 1914 and Chicago in 1920, with a brief stint in Essex, the story follows Detective Laurent Bisset, who’s been haunted by a baffling case of missing fairgoers tied to a magical (or cursed?) carousel, and Maisie Marlowe, an enterprising woman who buys that same carousel years later, only to find the past isn’t finished yet.
What drew me in most was McLynn’s writing. She doesn’t just describe scenes—she builds them around you. You can practically smell the burnt sugar and engine grease of the Paris fairground, feel the static in the air of a 1920s Chicago amusement park just before something goes horribly wrong. There’s a lyrical quality to her prose, but it never sacrifices clarity or tension. Every chapter tightens the screws just a bit more.
photo of a vibrant carousel
The dual timeline format can sometimes feel like a gimmick, but not here. The transitions between Laurent’s haunted investigations and Maisie’s brave ambitions are smooth and purposeful. Each thread feeds the other, slowly revealing the carousel’s sinister legacy without giving the game away too quickly. And oh, the tension—it’s steady and quiet at first, but it builds like a slow-creeping fog, the kind that makes you keep the light on a little longer than necessary.
Characterisation is where McLynn really won me over. Maisie isn’t just a ‘strong female lead’ — she’s layered, vulnerable, practical, and smart. I wanted her to succeed from the start. And Laurent? He’s the kind of detective who doesn’t need wear a trench coat to be compelling. He’s thoughtful, conflicted, and genuinely haunted. Their eventual partnership is handled with care, never forced, and adds a human heart to what could have been just a clever plot.
If I had one slight quibble, it’s that I wanted a little more clarity on the supernatural elements near the end—but then again, maybe that ambiguity is the point. The real terror here isn’t the carousel—it’s what people are willing to believe, or ignore, when the impossible happens.
Verdict: The Midnight Carousel is altogether a very impressive debut novel. It is a slow-burn gothic mystery that hits all the right notes: richly atmospheric, emotionally grounded, and filled with just the right amount of dread. Both a mystery and an enduring story of love, it’s the kind of story that lingers, like a strange tune stuck in your head long after the ride has ended. I’ll never look at a merry-go-round the same way again.
From the moment I read the opening line—’Come children, come children from far and near…’— I knew this book was going to play in that eerie sweet spot where nostalgia meets the uncanny. Set between Paris in 1914 and Chicago in 1920, with a brief stint in Essex, the story follows Detective Laurent Bisset, who’s been haunted by a baffling case of missing fairgoers tied to a magical (or cursed?) carousel, and Maisie Marlowe, an enterprising woman who buys that same carousel years later, only to find the past isn’t finished yet.
What drew me in most was McLynn’s writing. She doesn’t just describe scenes—she builds them around you. You can practically smell the burnt sugar and engine grease of the Paris fairground, feel the static in the air of a 1920s Chicago amusement park just before something goes horribly wrong. There’s a lyrical quality to her prose, but it never sacrifices clarity or tension. Every chapter tightens the screws just a bit more.
photo of a vibrant carousel
The dual timeline format can sometimes feel like a gimmick, but not here. The transitions between Laurent’s haunted investigations and Maisie’s brave ambitions are smooth and purposeful. Each thread feeds the other, slowly revealing the carousel’s sinister legacy without giving the game away too quickly. And oh, the tension—it’s steady and quiet at first, but it builds like a slow-creeping fog, the kind that makes you keep the light on a little longer than necessary.
Characterisation is where McLynn really won me over. Maisie isn’t just a ‘strong female lead’ — she’s layered, vulnerable, practical, and smart. I wanted her to succeed from the start. And Laurent? He’s the kind of detective who doesn’t need wear a trench coat to be compelling. He’s thoughtful, conflicted, and genuinely haunted. Their eventual partnership is handled with care, never forced, and adds a human heart to what could have been just a clever plot.
If I had one slight quibble, it’s that I wanted a little more clarity on the supernatural elements near the end—but then again, maybe that ambiguity is the point. The real terror here isn’t the carousel—it’s what people are willing to believe, or ignore, when the impossible happens.
Verdict: The Midnight Carousel is altogether a very impressive debut novel. It is a slow-burn gothic mystery that hits all the right notes: richly atmospheric, emotionally grounded, and filled with just the right amount of dread. Both a mystery and an enduring story of love, it’s the kind of story that lingers, like a strange tune stuck in your head long after the ride has ended. I’ll never look at a merry-go-round the same way again.
May 29, 2025
Fenomenal debut al autoarei Fiza Saeed McLynn! Cred că nu am mai stat niciodată așa de lipită de paginile unei cărți și cu sufletul la gură cum am stat în fața acestui roman asemănat de mulți cu „Circul nopții” de Erin Morgenstern (deși sincer nu prea există multe similarități în afara atmosferei de carnaval bizar).
În paralel cu firul principal al poveștii, McLynn atacă și subiectul rasismului, deși el rămâne în subsidiar. Maisie este o fată de culoare abandonată de părinții ei. Ea cunoaște provocările sărăciei și prejudecățile celorlalți, dar și împlinirile neașteptate ale unei existențe privilegiate. Destinul ei, dar și al celorlalte personaje se învârte (în ritm de călușei creepy) în jurul caruselului unic, fascinant, magistral construit de meșterul Gilbert Cloutier în buza secolului XX – o moștenire... cu surprize.
Mi-a plăcut și faptul că autoarea a „acoperit” două continente și trei culturi diferite (Anglia, Franța și America), înfățișând, pe alocuri, cu ironie fină anumite diferențe de mentalitate, dar și anumite asemănări – îndeosebi în ceea ce privește pasivitatea poliției, dar și unele nedreptăți sociale și juridice (acuzarea unor persoane nevinovate).
Cu excepția a două amănunte/gafe care efectiv trebuia să lipsească și m-au râcâit, am ADORAT cartea asta (mă voi face că nu am citit acea pagină și jumătate despre James - către final -, mai ales că respectivul eveniment nu afectează cu nimic țesătura poveștii de bază).
Se ții în frâu peste 400 de pagini de mister, ca mai apoi să legi satisfăcător toate ițele, e o înzestrare pe care o au foarte puțini scriitori, părerea mea. Către mijlocul romanului suspansul execută un tango magistral cu elementele de supranatural și realism magic, ca mai apoi să rărească ritmul, pătrunzând mai mult în poveștile personajelor, în emoțiile lor adânci, în traumele care li se înfășoară în jurul sufletului ca un văl negru.
Povestea de dragoste dintre Maisie și detectivul francez Laurent se încheagă lent, suav, melancolic, în decorul sinistru al disparițiilor enigmatice. Caruselul te cheamă, te îmbie cu frumusețea lui neasemuită, ca mai apoi să își ceară tributul... Istoria lui este una tristă – a morții premature, a doliului și a nebuniei, dar și a creației geniale. La fel de învolburate sunt și poveștile care se ramifică din trunchiul ei principal – viața însăși este cel mai mare carusel, cu ale sale sus-josuri și rotiri în cerc, cu luminile sale colorate de bâlci și cu întunecimile ei înfricoșătoare.
p.s. chiar mi-ar plăcea să abordez cu cineva chestiunile care mi-au displăcut către finalul cărții, așa că îmi puteți scrie aici dacă ați simțit la fel referitor la soarta lui James și la cum au decurs lucrurile în acea privință..
În paralel cu firul principal al poveștii, McLynn atacă și subiectul rasismului, deși el rămâne în subsidiar. Maisie este o fată de culoare abandonată de părinții ei. Ea cunoaște provocările sărăciei și prejudecățile celorlalți, dar și împlinirile neașteptate ale unei existențe privilegiate. Destinul ei, dar și al celorlalte personaje se învârte (în ritm de călușei creepy) în jurul caruselului unic, fascinant, magistral construit de meșterul Gilbert Cloutier în buza secolului XX – o moștenire... cu surprize.
Mi-a plăcut și faptul că autoarea a „acoperit” două continente și trei culturi diferite (Anglia, Franța și America), înfățișând, pe alocuri, cu ironie fină anumite diferențe de mentalitate, dar și anumite asemănări – îndeosebi în ceea ce privește pasivitatea poliției, dar și unele nedreptăți sociale și juridice (acuzarea unor persoane nevinovate).
Cu excepția a două amănunte/gafe care efectiv trebuia să lipsească și m-au râcâit, am ADORAT cartea asta (mă voi face că nu am citit acea pagină și jumătate despre James - către final -, mai ales că respectivul eveniment nu afectează cu nimic țesătura poveștii de bază).
Se ții în frâu peste 400 de pagini de mister, ca mai apoi să legi satisfăcător toate ițele, e o înzestrare pe care o au foarte puțini scriitori, părerea mea. Către mijlocul romanului suspansul execută un tango magistral cu elementele de supranatural și realism magic, ca mai apoi să rărească ritmul, pătrunzând mai mult în poveștile personajelor, în emoțiile lor adânci, în traumele care li se înfășoară în jurul sufletului ca un văl negru.
Povestea de dragoste dintre Maisie și detectivul francez Laurent se încheagă lent, suav, melancolic, în decorul sinistru al disparițiilor enigmatice. Caruselul te cheamă, te îmbie cu frumusețea lui neasemuită, ca mai apoi să își ceară tributul... Istoria lui este una tristă – a morții premature, a doliului și a nebuniei, dar și a creației geniale. La fel de învolburate sunt și poveștile care se ramifică din trunchiul ei principal – viața însăși este cel mai mare carusel, cu ale sale sus-josuri și rotiri în cerc, cu luminile sale colorate de bâlci și cu întunecimile ei înfricoșătoare.
p.s. chiar mi-ar plăcea să abordez cu cineva chestiunile care mi-au displăcut către finalul cărții, așa că îmi puteți scrie aici dacă ați simțit la fel referitor la soarta lui James și la cum au decurs lucrurile în acea privință..
April 15, 2025
This story starts in Paris in 1900. Gilbert Cloutier is at work making a special carousel for the Grand Exposition. His young son, Theo is gravely ill, and asks his father to name one of the horses after him.
Paris 1914, sees the opening of the Exposition. Detective Laurent Bisset has just been congratulated upon solving a case regarding a missing child, but he hadn’t anticipated finding other victims. The missing children had all been seen talking to the owner of the carousel before they disappeared, much like the original owner, Gilbert and his son Theo.
Canvey Island, Essex, is where Maisie and her young friend Thomas live with foster carers. They endure a hard, miserable life together, full of abuse and deprivation , until one day, Aunt Mabel takes Maisie to go and live with her at Jesserton, the home of her employer, Sir Malcolm and his daughter, Catherine.
The two girls get on well together, and are taken to a funfair one day, and enjoy a ride on a carousel, but tragedy strikes when both Aunt Mabel and Catherine are struck down with Scarlet Fever, and both die from the deadly disease. Sir Malcolm decides that both he and Maisie will move to America so he can be closer to his brother Hugo and Nancy his wife.
Once in America, Sir Malcolm decides to cash in on the trend for Amusement Parks and buys a carousel, he remembers how much Catherine had enjoyed her ride on the horses. The park opens, and once again children go missing.
Detective Bisset hears the tales about missing children and the connection to a carousel, and he goes to America, where he becomes acquainted with Maisie. Together they search for clues about the missing children, and end up falling in love.
Illusions is all about distraction and the mystery is complex, intriguing, chilling and full of twists and turns throughout.
The method of murder is very novel, but is also quite commonplace in some situations today.
We have love and romance, but the ending subverts our expectations, what is wrong with happy ever after? The conclusion could be described as being twee, but all the loose ends are tied up neatly. Love Maisie, her strength and resilience against all the odds really carries the plot.
I found this to be a really creative debut novel, such darkness to arise from lost love, there was much to enjoy and marvel at in this story, tension and thrills alike. A deserved 5 star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Penguin Michael Joseph, Random House for my ARC, freely given in return for my honest review. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication. I will also recommend to my local library and book groups.
Paris 1914, sees the opening of the Exposition. Detective Laurent Bisset has just been congratulated upon solving a case regarding a missing child, but he hadn’t anticipated finding other victims. The missing children had all been seen talking to the owner of the carousel before they disappeared, much like the original owner, Gilbert and his son Theo.
Canvey Island, Essex, is where Maisie and her young friend Thomas live with foster carers. They endure a hard, miserable life together, full of abuse and deprivation , until one day, Aunt Mabel takes Maisie to go and live with her at Jesserton, the home of her employer, Sir Malcolm and his daughter, Catherine.
The two girls get on well together, and are taken to a funfair one day, and enjoy a ride on a carousel, but tragedy strikes when both Aunt Mabel and Catherine are struck down with Scarlet Fever, and both die from the deadly disease. Sir Malcolm decides that both he and Maisie will move to America so he can be closer to his brother Hugo and Nancy his wife.
Once in America, Sir Malcolm decides to cash in on the trend for Amusement Parks and buys a carousel, he remembers how much Catherine had enjoyed her ride on the horses. The park opens, and once again children go missing.
Detective Bisset hears the tales about missing children and the connection to a carousel, and he goes to America, where he becomes acquainted with Maisie. Together they search for clues about the missing children, and end up falling in love.
Illusions is all about distraction and the mystery is complex, intriguing, chilling and full of twists and turns throughout.
The method of murder is very novel, but is also quite commonplace in some situations today.
We have love and romance, but the ending subverts our expectations, what is wrong with happy ever after? The conclusion could be described as being twee, but all the loose ends are tied up neatly. Love Maisie, her strength and resilience against all the odds really carries the plot.
I found this to be a really creative debut novel, such darkness to arise from lost love, there was much to enjoy and marvel at in this story, tension and thrills alike. A deserved 5 star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Penguin Michael Joseph, Random House for my ARC, freely given in return for my honest review. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication. I will also recommend to my local library and book groups.
March 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I have been looking forward to this book since it was first announced and I am so happy to have received an early copy.
It does skip from time period to time period, and it includes a lot of characters, and at first I was a little concerned because my ability to remember names is quite poor. But very quickly, it stopped being a problem.
Fiza has depicted this innocence that only children have. The first time seeing a carousel or a funfair. But on the flip side, we see how a child copes with grief and you see the innocence start to slip away and merge into the general worry that adulthood brings.
I have never been one for a fairground or funfair or rides, but I did love a carousel, and still do. Not to go on, as such, but just to admire. They've always been an example of childhood fun and magic. I never saw them as something to be fearful of, but having read this, I can really feel the eeriness within them.
I love books about women trying to forge their own path during a time they are meant to be seen and not heard, and Maisie is exactly this. It's not always a choice, mostly out of necessity, but she's a very interesting and very real protagonist. Our second main protagonist is Laurent, the detective, who is the constant presence, the link between the time periods, and I think that's what makes the jump from year to year more palatable, because there's a constant.
There are a range of characters, English, French, American; young, middled, old; goodies, baddies and inbetweeners. It's a great spectrum of humanity and she's captured them so well.
It is so rich and luxurious and umptious (not sure if that's a real word but I'm going with it). It's got so many layers, so much depth to the plot and the characters. The attention to detail produces such a fabulous sense of atmosphere, sometimes an uncomfortable atmosphere, but it is spectacular what she's managed to create.
It's a mixture of historical, thriller, fantasy, murder mystery, and gothic, with a hint of romance. I read another review that said it's less of a "whodunnit" and more of a "howdunnit" and I completely agree, that's the best way to describe it.
It is a very promising debut. It's just a beautiful book to read, very warming, and I don't think Fiza's going to have much trouble in forging a successful writing career. I could easily see this made into a movie.
I have been looking forward to this book since it was first announced and I am so happy to have received an early copy.
It does skip from time period to time period, and it includes a lot of characters, and at first I was a little concerned because my ability to remember names is quite poor. But very quickly, it stopped being a problem.
Fiza has depicted this innocence that only children have. The first time seeing a carousel or a funfair. But on the flip side, we see how a child copes with grief and you see the innocence start to slip away and merge into the general worry that adulthood brings.
I have never been one for a fairground or funfair or rides, but I did love a carousel, and still do. Not to go on, as such, but just to admire. They've always been an example of childhood fun and magic. I never saw them as something to be fearful of, but having read this, I can really feel the eeriness within them.
I love books about women trying to forge their own path during a time they are meant to be seen and not heard, and Maisie is exactly this. It's not always a choice, mostly out of necessity, but she's a very interesting and very real protagonist. Our second main protagonist is Laurent, the detective, who is the constant presence, the link between the time periods, and I think that's what makes the jump from year to year more palatable, because there's a constant.
There are a range of characters, English, French, American; young, middled, old; goodies, baddies and inbetweeners. It's a great spectrum of humanity and she's captured them so well.
It is so rich and luxurious and umptious (not sure if that's a real word but I'm going with it). It's got so many layers, so much depth to the plot and the characters. The attention to detail produces such a fabulous sense of atmosphere, sometimes an uncomfortable atmosphere, but it is spectacular what she's managed to create.
It's a mixture of historical, thriller, fantasy, murder mystery, and gothic, with a hint of romance. I read another review that said it's less of a "whodunnit" and more of a "howdunnit" and I completely agree, that's the best way to describe it.
It is a very promising debut. It's just a beautiful book to read, very warming, and I don't think Fiza's going to have much trouble in forging a successful writing career. I could easily see this made into a movie.
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