Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2023

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I loved this book - it has a thrilling, fast paced storyline which grips you to it's pages. It also includes wonderfully descriptive insight into the circus itself. Spanning three generations, we see the same town but different people passing through it. You'd think this would complicate things, but even through their similarities and history seeming to dangerously repeat itself, I felt as if I knew each character individually.

Amy, who is living through the 1930s and Georgia, who is living through 2020s, have eerily similar lives. It's a little bit creepy! When Amy's life turns upside down, you feel incredibly anxious for her, but what makes this extra fasinating is the double anxiety you feel. History seems to be repeating itself after all, are the awful things that are happening to Amy, also going to happen to Georgia? This made me want to power through the book, but also made me want to saviour each and every word, staying in this world for as long as possible.

The overall history and apparent curse of the house and The Ringmaster was creepy. I'd love a whole other book just on that! Don't go into the barn, folks! There is some heavy content in this book, but it's written well and adds great shock factor / terror of this situation, constantly building tension and making you wonder: what could possibly be next?

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate The Ringmaster is not supposed to be liked. But my my, he might be a favourite villain for me. That showdown towards the end and the ending itself.......what a performance! I pictured it as if I was there.

This was excellent. Highly recommend!
 

Melody.

5.0 out of 5 stars So enjoyable.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 February 2025

Format: Paperback

The Ringmaster is the best book I have EVER read. It is so captivating. Karen Restaino has done a fantastic job of just making you love every character. I could not put her book down. I would be up at all hours reading it. Even though it is a thriller it will be sure to make you laugh out loud in places. At the end I wished that it could continue. I never wanted it to finish. Please go and buy a copy. You will not regret it. Thank you so much Karen for the escapism. I wish I could give more than five stars on here. I really do.
 

Fantastic book ,,,love it 👍
Great story line,
 

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, gripping read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2024

Format: Paperback

Highly recommend this novel.

I couldn’t put it down once i started reading it.

Recommend it to anyone!
 

Phyllis

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling read from a talented author
Format: Paperback