Carnival Blues

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about a carnival setting—it’s an easy gimmick. But *Carnival Blues* uses it to brilliant effect, turning the festive chaos into a pressure cooker for DI Nick Dixon’s investigation. The audiobook’s strength lies in how it *sounds*: Simon Mattacks’ narration is a masterclass in restraint. He doesn’t overplay the carnival’s creepiness; instead, his steady, slightly weary tone lets the absurdity (and menace) of the setting speak for itself. When Dixon interrogates a suspect mid-ferris wheel ride, Mattacks’ dry delivery makes the scene darkly funny rather than cartoonish. The story’s pacing is another standout. Boyd avoids the common procedural pitfall of dragging out red herrings—every clue feels purposeful, even when the trail goes cold. That said, the middle act sags slightly under the weight of Dixon’s personal subplot (a recurring issue in this series), and one late-game reveal relies a bit too heavily on a character’s sudden, convenient memory. Still, the payoff—a climactic chase through the carnival’s funhouse mirrors—is worth it, especially in audio, where Mattacks’ breathless delivery ratchets up the tension. If you like your detectives stubborn, your villains slippery, and your settings dripping with atmosphere, this is a winner. Just don’t listen to it while eating cotton candy—it’ll kill the mood.