The Midnight Carousel, Fiza Saeed McLynn (Review by Stacey Lorenson)

The Midnight Carousel, by Fiza Saeed McLynn, is a spellbinding debut novel that tells a story about a mysterious carousel that vanishes children and the lives of those who revere and fear it. Set in 1900s, Paris, France, a carpenter builds an unparalleled carousel, then mysteriously disappears. Laurent Bisset is the detective responsible for solving the case. The story jumps to 1910 in England where a 12-year-old, biracial orphan named Maisie, is rescued by her Aunt Mabel from abusive foster care. Aunt Mabel brings her home to Jesserton Estate where Mabel works for a wealthy businessman, Sir Malcolm. The house is stricken with scarlet fever and Sir Malcolm’s daughter and Maisie’s Aunt Mabel die. The deaths motivate a move to America. Upon arriving, they witness the unloading of a carousel which Sir Malcolm purchases, installing it on their estate. Shortly after, another child riding the carousel disappears. News of the disappearance in Chicago reaches Paris news, and Laurent feels responsible for possibly accusing the wrong perpetrator. He sails to Chicago to investigate this latest missing child, meeting Maisie in the process. Who has been kidnapping children? Where are these children? Are they still alive? How will Maisie overcome this tragedy? This page-turning mystery novel will captivate readers with its multilayered characters and complex plots filled with plenty of twists and turns. The romance between Maisie and Laurant is fraught with longing and tension. The carousel becomes a main character, connecting the past and present while simultaneously separating and uniting people that cross its path. Maisie’s character is continually surviving catastrophe while striving for autonomy and happiness. Her climb from illiterate orphan to successful woman was a very satisfying narrative. The Midnight Carousel contains all the components for one of the best books of 2026!