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    The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus
    The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus
    The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus

    Written by Jaime Jo Wright

    Narrated by Leah Horowitz

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Welcome to Bonaventure Circus, where misfits go to hide.

    In 1928, the Bonaventure Circus has become a refuge for many, but Pippa Ripley was rejected from its inner
    circle as a baby and is no longer content to leave the reason for that rejection unquestioned. When she receives
    mysterious messages from someone called the “Watchman,” she is determined to find him and the connection to her
    birth. As Pippa’s search leads her to a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and evidence that a serial killer has
    been haunting the circus train, she must decide if uncovering her roots is worth putting herself directly in the path of
    the killer.

    Decades later, an old circus train depot’s future hangs in the balance—it will either be torn down or preserved
    for historical importance, and its fate rests on Realtor Chandler Faulk’s shoulders. As she dives deep into the depot’s
    history, she’s also balancing a newly diagnosed disease and the pressures of single motherhood. When she discovers
    clues to unsolved murders of the past, Chandler is pulled into a story far darker and more haunting than even an
    abandoned train depot could portend.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateSep 1, 2020
    ISBN9781705003459
    Author

    Jaime Jo Wright

    Jaime Jo Wright (JaimeWrightBooks.com) is the author of ten novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She's also a two-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and felines.

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    Reviews for The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus

    4.5/5

    57 ratings14 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This story was equal parts fascinating and exciting. You go back and forth in time following two women who will never know each other but whose stories interact. There is mystery and faith oh and the smells and sites of the circus! I wasn't honestly surprised at the end such a great story would definitely recommend
    • 3/5
      Firstly, full disclosure. I’m not a circus person. There were parts of this story that I didn’t care for, not because of the writing, but the subject matter. Some parts were very intriguing. I do prefer all the other books I’ve read by this author.
    • 4/5
      Title: The Haunting at Bonaventure CircusAuthor: Jaime Jo WrightPages: e-bookYear: 2020Publisher: Bethany House PublishersMy rating is 4 out of 5 stars.This novel is one of split-time storylines. The first takes place in 1928, with the main character of Pippa Ripley. Pippa is a young woman who was abandoned by her parents on the doorstep of the owner of a circus. He reluctantly allows his wife to convince him to raise her as their own. As a young adult, Pippa longs to find her parents and discover why she was abandoned. She wants to know who she is and how she fits in. She wants to be loved and to love somebody. She has been browbeaten by her verbally abusive father. She obeys him to a fault, except where the “Watchman” is concerned. She thinks the notes left by him might lead her to an actual meeting. Is this man who she believes has been watching over her, protecting her, maybe her father?The second timeline is present day, featuring Chandler Faulk. Chandler is a young woman who works for her uncle, restoring or repurposing old properties. She is a single mom with no idea who the father of her child is after a rebellious streak in her college days. She has taken on the project of refurbishing some old buildings from the 1920s that housed circus employees when they weren’t traveling. There is a rumor that one of the seamstresses of the circus was murdered in one of the buildings, and a local real estate agent takes people on tours of the site where the creepy factor for ghosts is prominent. Chandler also struggles with her health due to Lyme disease that takes a toll on her if she isn’t careful with her diet and rest regimen. Enter Hank, a biker/repairman whose uncle owns the house Chandler is renting. His gruff exterior and how he dresses puts her off at first, but she learns not to judge a book by its cover. She also has experienced that herself with her physical condition. Hank helps her and challenges her, but he is also seeking the answer to an old mystery. Chandler gets involved and what they find is not at all what they expect.Here is another good story that builds the creepy factor over the course of the book but when all is said and done, the creepiness is explained with facts. For those who like a little bit of scariness in their fiction, this fits the bill. I like the mystery between the two timelines and how they thread together to form an enjoyable read. Faith is plays a role in the story, which I always like to see, and maybe in the next story that could be more evident. There is also a bit of romance, too!Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
    • 3/5
      I liked both the historic and modern day settings for this novel. Chandler would be imagining the people and what it looked like in the past and through Pippa the reader is able to picture it a bit more accurately. The alternating storyline format was done well. However, I felt more description was needed for the present timeline to make the characters come alive in my imagination. I felt much more invested in the historic storyline.If asked what type of book I thought it was, well, that's really open to interpretation. Mainly it's a mystery but it's also a tale about women standing up for themselves against actual or perceived cultural norms, and there's some romance too.
    • 5/5
      I love everything Jaime Jo Wright has written. "The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus" is truly inspirational while being a page-turning "who done it". Anyone who is a suspense reader should give this book a read.
    • 3/5
      A serial killer, a circus, an elephant, and two young woman trying to find their way in the world. These elements are put together in one doozy of a story. There are two timelines - one in the present where a young single mom named Chandler is trying to prove herself. Her firm has recently bought an old train depot that was used by the Bonadventure Circus - and that was reported to be where one of the circus employees was hanged to death. As she seeks to put together a proposal for the renovation of the depot as a historic attraction, Chandler begins to uncover disturbing things about the past. The other timeline takes us to the past, where a young woman named Pippa who is the adopted daughter of the owner of the Bonadventure circus is trying to decide whether or not she should trust the mysterious Watchman. The Watchman has been leaving her cryptic notes since she was a young child, and she thinks they may be tied to the mystery of who her birth parents were. All she knows is they were from the circus - a place she feels drawn to even though her father forbids her to go there. I enjoyed some of the suspense elements of the book. I wanted the baby elephant born at the circus to survive - and I was glad when Pippa was able to help with that. I wondered who the Watchman was and who committed the murders that had happened in the past. Was the train depot and costume shop really haunted? Why did Hank keep poppinig up in Chandler's house at weird and unexpected times? By the end of the book most of these questions were answered, but there were still some holes that I didn't quite understand. Some of this was OK - like whether or not there were really "hauntings" going on. Some pieces of the plot didn't quite seem to fit together though and that kind of bothered me, I can't be too specific but overall not all the parts of the story clicked together for me and I didn't feel a stronge connection to most of the characters. This was a book I could have easily put down. I know many others loved it though, so if someone wants a somewhat creepy book from the Inspirational genre this one will fit the bill.
    • 5/5
      I was almost surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I became sick of the circus when I got older and I usually avoid books with circuses. I am so glad I read this book. I love how Jaime Jo Wright writes a book with 2 storylines that interconnect even though they are a hundred years apart or more. I could not figure out most of the mysteries until close to the ending. I could not put this book down and it made me cry for some of the characters. This gives one a good look at what is behind a circus and the members of a circus. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
    • 5/5
      The sheer intensity of this story had me not on the edge of my seat, but in the floor leaning against the sofa. I had to be as close to the words as possible so I wouldn’t miss anything. I have only been to the circus once in my life. A friend took me and I was able to go behind the scenes and see the animals. The elephants were huge and commanded attention. There was a lot of people running around getting things ready for the big show. I noticed during the performance how hard each act worked to make their appearance perfect. It is a sight to see with everything going on at once.The author presents a story that is a time slip which I adore. I love how the past and present collide. I am amazed how the author parallels two time periods and pieces them together like a puzzle. Pippa is a character that I found very endearing. She has a past that has haunted her for years. She has never felt like she was loved yet she has someone who protects her from harm. The Watchman was very intriguing and I tried so hard to figure out his connection to Pippa. The Bonaventure Circus is surrounded by unexplained deaths, secrets and a mix of characters that explode across the pages. I loved being in this time period and reading how Pippa gets herself mixed up in a mystery that flows over to present day.Chandler is very determined to prove that she can renovate the now abandoned circus depot. Right away you can sense that something isn’t quite right as unexplained noises and shadows appear that frighten Chandler. I did enjoy reading about her strained relationship with her parents which causes Chandler to push people away. Her son is the most important person in her life and she will protect him at all cost. When Chandler starts to find evidence that links to the murders of the past, she puts her life and her son’s life in danger. I loved how the mystery weaves throughout the story and blends seamlessly from past to present. I was shocked at the ending and gasped as the author reveals answers to questions I had pressing in my head. I wanted to know who The Watchman was and how he fit into the killings. My interest piqued when I got close to the end and someone I never suspected did the unthinkable. This story is one of the best mysteries I have read all year. It includes faith and oh how I loved the spiritual truths the author used to help a few characters find their way back to God.If you read only one book this year, it must be this one. It is written with depth and oozes with mystery so intense you feel apart of the story. What I really liked was the underlying theme of how we all need someone. We are loved unconditionally and are never alone. This story brings home the emotions of feeling abandoned and lifts you up to the truth that, “We all need saving.” “It’s the idea that we don’t that makes us fools.”I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing and the author. The review is my own opinion.
    • 5/5
      “Life was not unlike the wisp of fog that curled around the base of a grave marker, softly caressing the marble before dissolving into the violet shadows of the night.” And so, Jaime Jo Wright begins spinning her chilling web of mystery, wonderment, and deceit in The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus.At first, it seems like there might be a lot of unrelated information we are given. Like Alice in Wonderland, we just never know down which rabbit hole Ms. Wright will take us, or what to do with the scenes we see. With a dual timeline story, Wright alternates chapters between past and present. Double the rabbit holes; add a baby elephant, a Sasquatch-like man, a self- proclaimed medium, and a pit-bull, in no particular order. We see young Pippa Ripley, adopted daughter of the circus owner, who longs to know her people and find value in her life. Before we can discover too much about Pippa, Wright pulls us out of the mire and thrusts us into the quagmire that is Chandler Faulk’s story. As we sort through her present-day needs to survive, excel, and raise a child on her own, we are again uprooted and thrown back into the circus world, or as close as Pippa is allowed to venture. Actually, Wright does a wonderful job of feeding us just enough information about each young lady, both searching for belonging, significance, and love. Then, like a crazy carnival ride, we are tossed back and forth between the two narratives, hanging on for dear life, and trying our best to hang onto our wits as well. When I finished the book, I looked back in astonishment, amazed at the wild ride I’d been on, helpless to change it (I tried, but Pippa wouldn’t listen).What a slowly-building whirlwind adventure that turned out to be! The book is finished but the repercussions will live on in my mind. Dare to read the book and leave it unfazed.I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
    • 4/5
      This story jumps between the past and the present, between Pippa and Chandler, between a sweet baby elephant and a precocious seven year old.We are pulled into this book, mystery, murder, happenings, all surrounding a circus.When the facts unfold, surprises, yes! A lot I never saw coming, and yet it was right in front of me. We have an abandoned baby with a deformity, a mother that has a serious illness but with a fearless she loves her child, and how this story is all wound together is masterful, and you will quickly page turning for answers. This book has hauntings and serial killers along with two very strong women.I received this book through NetGalley and the Publisher Bethany House. and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is another great read from author Jaime Jo Wright. It is a dual time story with mystery and edge-of-the-seat suspense that lures the reader in immediately and doesn't let up. Readers are caught up and compelled and inspired by the lives of the characters and their stories. Wright has permeated the story with mystery, drama, and emotional tension as the intense action is seen from several characters' points of view. I enjoyed how the mystery of a long ago circus murder is woven into a present day ghost story that refused to be put to rest. The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is a well-written yet gritty tale of a serial killer, murders, and kidnapping. It is a book that offers a look at how we long to be known, to be seen by those around us--to be loved for who we are. It is a story about family and how we hide our secrets behind illusions and yet, in the best of families we know we are broken and yet we still see and love each other. As one character put it, "We were all meant to be...Providence places you there...who knew God had one of me up His sleeve?" I loved how there was romance woven into the both time lines, romance that is unexpected, fraught with stress and yet so full of tenderness. This is a book that readers who love a great suspense book, one with some 'wow, I did not expect that at all' moments, will not want to miss. I read a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      What could be more intriguing than a book with a baby elephant named Lily and an unknown person known as The Watchman? Especially when they both are such major parts of the story? Once again, Jaime Jo Wright has given readers words to relish, memorable characters that aren't easily forgotten, and two stories, one from the past and the other set in the present, that are connected in ways that I could never dream. Wright's vivid imagination and her descriptive powers make The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus a book to read again, and I found myself going back to read some sections more than once. I just had to make sure that I truly understood what was happening and, I must add, I will never think of a circus in quite the same way as I once did! I read Wright's first book, The House on Foster Hill, in 2017 and I knew that I'd found an author to follow. Now, with this fifth book, I can honestly say that her imagination and her writing skills have only gotten better. No one does time-split better and very few authors can give you the same spine-tingling, hair-raising thrills and chills! The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus has all of this, plus a reminder that broken and blemished people are loved by their Creator and are capable of being redeemed by Him!I received a complimentary digital copy from the author. There was no obligation to write a positive review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
    • 5/5
      I am not typically a fan of historical fiction, but I just devour a split timeline story by Jaime Jo Wright because it is filled with such suspense and mystery. The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is no exception. This novel bounces back and forth between 1928 and the present day and centers around Pippa in the past and Chandler in the present. They are tied together by the Bonaventure Circus. As a baby, Pippa was left on the doorstep of the Riley family who were the owners of the circus. In present day, Chandler is overseeing the project to either restore or tear down the historic circus train depot. These two ladies are tied together almost a hundred years apart in a search for truth and justice.I was so excited when I first saw that the author was writing a story tied around a circus because I knew she could pen quite a story centered around such an entertaining yet possibly strange and mysterious setting as well. Due to circumstances that I don't want to explain for fear of spoiling too much, both Pippa and Chandler are searching for the real identity of a serial killer known as the Watchmen. The Watchmen killed women at various stops of the circus train back in the 1920's. A man was identified and charged as the Watchmen, but did they actually have the right man? You'll have to read to find out. This story had so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had it figured out, the author threw in a new twist. I was totally surprised and blown away by the ending. If you want a story with lots of suspense, some creepy characters, and a bit of romance, then this novel is for you!I was given a copy of this story by the author and publisher. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
    • 5/5
      "But they weren't loved so much as treasured. And there was a difference between the two. Love sacrificed, whereas a treasure was hoarded."Such a beautifully penned split-time novel with a huge helping of suspense! Jaime Jo Wright never fails to hold you captive with her lyrical writing, raw emotions, and palpable anticipation. The slow build-up to the murder that happened in 1928 at the circus and the disappearance of a young woman in 1983 is well-done and the details are impeccably intertwined. The plot is complex but still easy to follow, with plenty of surprises along the way. The ending will surely leave you reeling and gasping.... I totally did not see any of that coming. If you enjoy well-written suspense novels, you will absolutely love this book. If you've never tried a dual-timeline suspense novel, this book should be your first.In 1928 Pippa, the adopted daughter of the circus owner Ripley, has a physical deformity and has always felt unwanted because she was left at the Ripleys' as a baby. She knows that she was born into the circus before being given away and gravitates toward the circus and its performers, longing to find her roots. Her world careens out of control as she works to rehabilitate an injured baby elephant while unwittingly digging into the darker underworld of the circus.In present day Chandler, a single mother working to restore and renovate historical properties, stumbles onto the mystery and gothic lore that surround the Bonaventure Circus grounds when she heads up this particular project for her uncle. She has a a full plate with her son, an autoimmune disease, and a demanding job but totally unravels when strange and eerie things start to happen at the circus grounds that bring up events of the past.Both Pippa and Chandler are quite likable and relatable though they're very different women. Jake from 1928 and Hank from the present are great supporting roles in the story and are similar in their brooding, intimidating, masculine ways. The romance in both timelines is subtle and works as a nice subplot to the overarching suspense. The central themes of "being seen and known" and "not being alone" are profound and worthy of contemplation. There is one character who was very much into new-age spirituality regarding ghosts and spirits but her thoughts were balanced out by Chandler's biblical beliefs. Learning about the circus in its prime was a lot of fun.I received a copy of the book from the author and Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.