THE CARNIVAL MURDERS (Tate and Bell Mystery #7) by Irina Shapiro will be released on March 10, 2026, by Storm Publishing.
While searching for their first home, Gemma Tate and Inspector Sebastian Bell stumble upon the body of a young, pregnant woman. There is evidence that the woman and her unborn child were autopsied before their bodies were dumped in an alley near her father’s tavern. Sebastian’s investigation leads him to similar bodies that were autopsied prior to disposal. The murders of a pregnant dwarf and conjoined twins and the attack on a faux wolfman convince Sebastian that someone is killing carnival “freaks” to study their anatomy while their first victim was murdered as a comparison.
THE CARNIVAL MURDERS is a bit of a misnomer since there are no scenes that take place at a carnival or freak show. Some of the victims were current or former carnival workers. I must admit that I was disappointed that neither Sebastian nor Gemma got to visit a Victorian era carnival since I’m sure it would have made an interesting scene. Aside from the slight disappointment, I’ve mostly enjoyed THE CARNIVAL MURDERS. I am a huge fan of Gemma and Sebastian, and I’ve been following their investigations since the beginning of the series. I’ve enjoyed the progression of their personal relationship as well as Gemma’s growth—though she takes several unnecessary risks in this book. This book was darker than the previous ones. That, combined with Gemma’s recklessness, made for a difficult read at times.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.