A Killer Carnival by Jeannette de Beauvoir

I truly enjoyed reading "A Killer Carnival", and can't imagine how I haven't discovered this series before now! First off, you absolutely CAN read this and follow everything without having read anything else in the series. I did, and didn't feel like I was missing anything...the author did an AMAZING job of making sure I had all the information I needed. I connected with main character Sydney immediately. She is the perfect amateur sleuth to headline this series! The book is set in Provincetown, a real place that the author obviously knows well. Her love of the area shines through during the entire book, and her descriptions of the town and its people/events made me want to visit. Who wouldn't love a town so devoted to embracing diversity of all kinds? This cozy gets bonus points for uniqueness in three key areas: 1. There is no murder! Instead, our heroine is trying to solve a different type of mystery. 2. It is edgy! There is a lot of discussion about diversity, racism, and the political and social ramifications of these issues. "A Killer Carnival" definitely provides much more material for discussion than the typical cozy, and gives the reader plenty to think about, both during and after reading. 3. There is character diversity! Unlike so many cozies, not everyone is young, beautiful, thin, white, and straight. I very much enjoyed reading about different types of people within the cozy mystery sub-genre. All in all, WELL DONE, Ms. de Beauvoir! You have created a solid story set in a fabulous world that stands out from much of what is on the market today. Five out of five chunks of delicious sharp cheddar!