From beast tamers to trapeze artists, they all worked under the direction of their enigmatic ringmaster, Cecile’s father. This was the world of Le Cirque Secret, whose performers beguiled audiences nightly with wondrous illusions and seemingly impossible feats. An old journal belonging to her great-grandmother Cecile gives Lara glimpses into the past with its lush descriptions of a mysterious traveling troupe whose existence is only known to those lucky enough to receive a magic ticket. Thirty years ago, another man disappeared under similar circumstances, their empty car also left on this exact spot.Īs Lara begins her own investigations, her findings lead her to uncover more about her family’s magical history and involvement with an enchanted circus with roots that date back to 1920s Paris. Sure enough, when Todd’s abandoned vehicle is found on a lonely patch of road known as Wickelow Bend, uneasy questions are brought to the surface by old-timers and residents familiar with their town’s history who know it is not the first time this has happened. While initially everyone believed this to be a case of the groom getting cold feet, a humiliated Lara has never accepted this to be the truth. Told in distinct sections separated by time and place, our story first begins in Virginia in the year 2005 where protagonist Lara Barnes is excitedly preparing for her wedding to Todd Sutton, the love of her life. I loved her debut A Witch in Time and I am pleased to say she delivers a shining sophomore novel in The Ladies of the Secret Circus. I discovered a lot of new authors last year, and so far I have not been disappointed by the subsequent works they’ve put out, with Constance Sayers being the latest on this list.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own. I received a review copy from the publisher. Book Review: The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers

Ladies of the secret circus book