DEATH OF THE MIDWAY MERMAID (A Pelican Shores Cozy Mystery Book 14) by Bessie Barr will be released on August 6, 2026, by BB Books.
When a traveling carnival arrives in town, Finn Dockrey is expecting a fun weekend with her boyfriend and their group of friends. Instead, their visit to the sideshow tent gives them a front row seat to a murder. When Marina, the mermaid star attraction dies while swimming in her tank, Finn and her friend, Birdie, make it their personal mission to figure out who killed the young woman and cut short her dream of a permanent midway attraction in Pelican Shores. Assisted by their fur babies, Finn and Birdie investigate the other carnival workers as well as any Pelican Shores residents who had contact with Marina.
DEATH OF THE MIDWAY MERMAID is a fun but moving read. I enjoyed the behind the scenes looks at the carnival, as well as Finn’s interactions with the other characters. There is a lot of depth even to the minor characters, and it seems that Pelican Shores is a wacky but welcoming place. I love the fur babies, Beau and Queen Bean. The dog and cat duo are hilarious. I especially love Queen Bean’s attitude.
Review of advance copy received from Author