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Delaney & Murphy #5
Carnival
A derelict carnival comes to life at night, terrifying residents – but why has it awakened only now after all these years?
For twelve-year-old Adam Murphy and Nate Delaney, Debrov’s Carnival World was the best day out with its ghost train and dodgem cars, but not everyone felt the same. The loud and unsightly carnival run by Rayco Dobrev and his fortune-telling wife, Gerta, was unpopular with new residents in the expanding estate, who wanted it gone at any cost. That price was a riot and a life lost.
Eighteen years later, the carnival is deserted, an eyesore for residents – the riots and death but a memory. Except for one girl, Laura Armstrong, who is all grown up and wants Nate to find out what really happened to her father—the neighbourhood group leader—all those years ago. Adam and Nate are about to be frightened by the ghost train all over again.
Perfect for fans of Jack Slater, Freida McFadden, Tony Urban, Gillian Flynn, and Jack Gatland.
For twelve-year-old Adam Murphy and Nate Delaney, Debrov’s Carnival World was the best day out with its ghost train and dodgem cars, but not everyone felt the same. The loud and unsightly carnival run by Rayco Dobrev and his fortune-telling wife, Gerta, was unpopular with new residents in the expanding estate, who wanted it gone at any cost. That price was a riot and a life lost.
Eighteen years later, the carnival is deserted, an eyesore for residents – the riots and death but a memory. Except for one girl, Laura Armstrong, who is all grown up and wants Nate to find out what really happened to her father—the neighbourhood group leader—all those years ago. Adam and Nate are about to be frightened by the ghost train all over again.
Perfect for fans of Jack Slater, Freida McFadden, Tony Urban, Gillian Flynn, and Jack Gatland.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2024
15 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Jack Adams
6 books15 followersJack Adams is a Brisbane-based writer. He grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, and has lived and worked in London, Melbourne and Sydney. He is married, shares the house with a range of pets, most who have wandered in and stayed, and hopes to have kids when he grows up.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 21, 2025
Laura Armstrong was only six years old when her father, Alex, died at the Debrov's Carnival World, which had entertained kids - including psychologist Adam Murphy and PI Nate Delaney - for years. Adam and Nate were only twelve when it happened, and their main memories were of the ghost train which scared them silly. Now, Laura was an adult, just finishing a law degree and approached Nate about opening her father's case as she was sure he'd been murdered. The verdict eighteen years prior had been death by misadventure, but Laura wasn't convinced.
With the carnival now deserted, run down and largely wrecked, the investigation began. But someone out there didn't want them looking at Alex's death, and soon made the investigators aware of that, with frightening notes and damage to parts of the house. Adam's grandmother, Audrey, knew the Dobrev family from many years prior, and had some insights. Laura's desperation to find her father's killer might well be a case of "not everything is as it seems"...
Carnival is the 5th in the Delaney & Murphy series by Aussie author Jack Adams (aka Helen Goltz) and it was a fabulous read! I've loved the series to date, and am looking forward to #6 - Forgotten - when it's released. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
With the carnival now deserted, run down and largely wrecked, the investigation began. But someone out there didn't want them looking at Alex's death, and soon made the investigators aware of that, with frightening notes and damage to parts of the house. Adam's grandmother, Audrey, knew the Dobrev family from many years prior, and had some insights. Laura's desperation to find her father's killer might well be a case of "not everything is as it seems"...
Carnival is the 5th in the Delaney & Murphy series by Aussie author Jack Adams (aka Helen Goltz) and it was a fabulous read! I've loved the series to date, and am looking forward to #6 - Forgotten - when it's released. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
October 11, 2025
Excellent Book !
I have read all the books in the series and just love all the characters so much ! I enjoyed this book so much and I could not put it down. I am really hoping that Jack Adams adds more books to this series, he has quickly become one of my favorite writers. Give the series a try. I think you will absolutely love them !
I have read all the books in the series and just love all the characters so much ! I enjoyed this book so much and I could not put it down. I am really hoping that Jack Adams adds more books to this series, he has quickly become one of my favorite writers. Give the series a try. I think you will absolutely love them !
January 20, 2025
Great series…. with one tiny caveat
I am devouring this series! Adam and Nate are childhood friends that are normal, regular people that make mistakes and have good and bad days. They also seem to be connected to the weirdest stuff!
My ONLY issue- well, it’s more of a niggling and it certainly is not stopping me from reading— is that the women characters (with the exception of Adams grandmother) don’t seem to be liked by the author. I do not find them fleshed out or sympathetic at all. Might just be me!?
I am devouring this series! Adam and Nate are childhood friends that are normal, regular people that make mistakes and have good and bad days. They also seem to be connected to the weirdest stuff!
My ONLY issue- well, it’s more of a niggling and it certainly is not stopping me from reading— is that the women characters (with the exception of Adams grandmother) don’t seem to be liked by the author. I do not find them fleshed out or sympathetic at all. Might just be me!?
February 21, 2025
Love these mystery books
As usual this was a great read, Delaney and Murphy once again solved the case. I hope there will be more books in the future. All the characters just seem to meld together and make a mystery all the more fun.
As usual this was a great read, Delaney and Murphy once again solved the case. I hope there will be more books in the future. All the characters just seem to meld together and make a mystery all the more fun.
September 4, 2025
Great stories.
I like the laid back style of this series. No bad four letter words. There is a loving connection between Adam and Nate. Last of all I did not need to rush to the finale. It was a pleasant read. I will read the
Last book, and move on.
I like the laid back style of this series. No bad four letter words. There is a loving connection between Adam and Nate. Last of all I did not need to rush to the finale. It was a pleasant read. I will read the
Last book, and move on.
November 3, 2024
Another fantastic read by Jack Adams!!I need more from Nate and Adam! They are such a good team and I honestly love them more every book I read!
I hope the next one in the series is coming out soon!
I hope the next one in the series is coming out soon!
November 21, 2024
I like to read the adventures of Nate and Adam. The story and conversations are great!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews