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.

This was a very unusual story, all centred around a carousel. I did feel for Maisie, she had a very hard childhood and then just as her home life had improved, things were about to change again. Maisie did endeavour to make the best of any situation she found herself in. There is a mystery to the story concerning missing children. Maisie also experiences racial prejudice as she was of mixed heritage. Also she had little idea who her parents were or where they came from. I did like the way Laurent, the French inspector, tried to help Maisie. He too, had his own domestic problems, particularly from his childhood. There are some heartbreaking moments, that had me holding back the tears and also some people who aren’t helpful to Maisie. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A beautiful carousel but with a dark past finds its way into the life of Maisie and she seizes the opportunity to give it a new lease of life but the curse still exists and people are still vanishing but was is the truth of the carousel and the horses aboard.

This was such an interesting read. I liked how it led you down one path with what might be the reasons only to turn it near the end. I actually found that clever. I especially enjoyed how it was all explained. The plot jumps timelines a bit and follows Maisie and a detective throughout the story. It never gets confusing and it really allows the story to develop. The plot is fascinating and i was easily hooked. The ending was bittersweet but I did like the full circle we got at the end. The characters are al intriguing in their own way and I did love Sir Malcolm and of course Maisie. A mystery full of obsession and revenge.

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.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this eCopy to review

As I closed the pages of The Midnight Carousel, I found myself haunted by its darkly glittering tale of obsession, revenge, and enduring love. Fiza Saeed McLynn crafts a mesmerising story that spans continents and decades, weaving together mystery, history, and a touch of the supernatural.

Set against the backdrop of Paris in 1914 and Chicago in 1920, the novel introduces us to Detective Laurent Bisset and Maisie Marlowe. Laurent, burdened by an unsolved case of missing fairgoers linked to a dazzling carousel, crosses paths with Maisie, who acquires the same antique carousel and establishes the Silver Kingdom amusement park. Together, they unravel the sinister secrets hidden within the carousel's enchanting facade.

McLynn's vivid descriptions transported me to the bustling streets of Paris and the vibrant energy of Jazz Age Chicago. The carousel itself is a character in its own right, its beauty and mystery are both captivating and chilling. The interplay between Laurent and Maisie adds depth to the narrative, blending suspense with emotional resonance.

What struck me most was the novel's exploration of themes like grief, resilience, and the lengths people go to for redemption. The story's twists and turns kept me guessing, and its emotional core lingered with me long after I finished reading. The intricate historical details, added richness to the story.

In conclusion, The Midnight Carousel is a spellbinding story that combines mystery, history, and heart. Full off compelling characters, atmospheric settings, and thought-provoking themes. It’s a journey worth taking for anyone who loves a touch of magic in their mysteries.

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.

Wow, what a great debut novel, I do hope there is more to come from Fiza Saeed McLynn!

This is such an enticing mystery - a beautiful French carousel is key to the story, crafted intricately by a grieving father, with an exquisite caramel coloured horse dedicated to his late son. Once set up, riders start to go missing and Detective Laurent Bisset is called in to investigate. The case seemingly solved, the carousel is sold and shipped to America, where as the centre-piece of Maisie Marlowe's amusement park, it's not long before riders once again start to disappear.

This is such a clever story, and you won't work it out! The characters are well crafted and you'll really care for them and the relationships that develop between them.

Cannot recommend this enough.

A very enjoyable historical murder mystery set around a carousel. Maisie, an undernourished mistreated orphan in Essex is rescued by her aunt. In France, a child disappears off a carousel, then the maker of the carousel also disappears. Eventually Maisie and the carousel end up together in Chicago. There are lots of twists and turns, which make for a great read.

Unfortunately I ended up DNFing this at around 20%, I really struggled with the writing style. I know it will work for other readers, it just didn’t for me.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

This is a good solid mystery, an easy and absorbing read nothing deep or thought provoking but none the worse for that. I didnt think it was anything like The Night Circus, apart from maybe the funfair aspect, as it is set firmly in the real world so I was a bit disappointed by that.

The settings are good, the pace is quite brisk, it is suspenseful and the characters, if a bit stereotypical, are varied and easy to remember. Maisie is a great character and her life, difficulties and relationships are vividly described. Running (or should that be galloping) through her story is the mystery of the carousel and why some riders go missing.

I was quite invested in Maisie and I wanted things to go well for her. I felt a real dread when she took the chance of opening Silver Kingdom but no spoilers. There are one or two surprises in the book, including surprise deaths and I liked the ending. The solution is ingenious - I suppose if you are alert to certain clues and know a bit about mechanical things, you might guess it.

I will say 3.5 rounded up because I have given a 3 to many books I have liked less..

The Midnight Carousel is a magical read that takes you on a journey you will never forget. It begins in Paris 1900 when carousel maker Gilbert works day and night to finish his creation in time for the city's Exposion Universelle .Chicago 1920 Maisie has come to America to seek a new life.Maisie is a very likeable character I also liked Laurent .The story finishes in 1981 it has come the full circle with I thought a perfect ending .I loved this book so much I didn't want it to end .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC

A gripping story linked to a sinister carousel built by a grieving master craftsman in France in 1900. Meanwhile in England a young Maisie who had been abandoned by her mother is saved from a life of hardship by her aunt and taken to live with Sir Malcom who becomes her benefactor taking her off to America where they purchase the mysterious carousel and open a theme park. The carousel is a blight on them .
Be intrigued by the story as good and ill fortune abound . It is like two stories wrapped in one seeking answers to the disastrous events linked to the carousel alongside the emerging story of Maisie from pauper to owning a fairground .
A lot crammed in to the tale

I loved this so much! It has all the mystery of The Night Circus and is so beautifully written, everything is so rich, so real. You can't help but love Maisie, the main character, as soon as you meet her as a small, poverty-stricken orphan. She's so determined, so driven. The story itself is told well and is a brilliant concept. I want to tell you everything about the book, but it is one to be savoured and enjoyed without a sneaky plot reveals. Marvellous!

🎠 Book review: ‘The Midnight Carousel’ by @fiza_loves_books [PR copy] 🎠

🎠 This premise for this one had me hooked — mysterious, magical and thrilling all at the same time. A stunningly beautiful carousel is the scene of a number of disappearances in France. The when the chief suspect is convicted, the carousel is sold to America, where it seems to offer a lifeline to its new owners, until someone else goes missing… 🎠

🎠 Set in the early decades of the twentieth century, there are brilliant flashes of period detail, with Gatsby-esque false glamour, jazz-age night clubs, and the seedier side of the American Dream. 🎠

🎠 The novel also tenderly explores race, gender, poverty, privilege, and family, following the life story of its heroine, Maisie, from the Essex marshes to Lake Michigan and Paris. 🎠

🎠 I particularly enjoyed the air of possibility that surrounds the carousel for most of the narrative, and if you like Sherlock Holmes style denouements, this should a great summer read: it’s intricately plotted and has twists galore, with an ending that definitely caught me on the hop. 🎠

🎠 Released next week (24th April) carousel 🎠

Big thanks to @netgalley and @michaeljbooks for the advanced review copy.

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.

A richly atmospheric mystery, The Midnight Carousel blends historical fiction with just the right touch of magic, centering on a beautifully eerie carousel linked to a string of disappearances. Spanning decades and continents, it’s a compelling tale of love, loss, and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

This is your perfect magical beach read. Mystery and history rolled together to make a great read. You are never sure what is going to happen next.

1914 Paris
Detective Laurent Bisset has closed the case on the disappearance of fairgoers on a carousel and the man responsible has been executed. But something is niggling him about the case and no bodies have been found.

1920 Chicago
Maisie Marlowe is given a beautiful carousel and decides to set up a fairground in the grounds of the family mansion. However, two people disappear whilst riding it and from Paris Laurent becomes interested in them.

Can Laurent and Maisie solve they mystery before more people vanish?

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.

The plotline of this murder mystery/love story was hard to predict. In a winding tale that took in Canvey Island, Chicago and Paris, we see the progress of Maisie from an abandoned child to a rich businesswoman. Central to the start of her success was a carousel which is the site of several disappearances thought to be murders. Her major love interest is the French detective investigating one of the murders, taking place in Paris before the carousel was exported to Chicago. Her life has plenty of triumph and disaster, but she proves to be a strong, capable woman and the detective is passionate about her. This makes for a readable, thoroughly enjoyable novel.