Cirque Du Slay - (A Hayden and Friends Mystery) by Rob Osler (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this rollicking mystery sure to delight fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club and Robert Thorogood's Marlow Murder Club series, the circus becomes the stage for a high-profile murder investigation.

With quirky LGBTQ+ amateur sleuths, Cirque du Slay will delight readers looking for a madcap mystery with high-flying excitement!

Pint-sized Seattle middle school teacher and gay dating blogger Hayden McCall and his best friend Hollister are invited to a fundraiser for Bakers Without Borders. The celebrity performer, Kennedy Osaka, is the artistic director of Mysterium, an upscale circus arts show combining magic, acrobatics, and a Michelin-star dinner. But Kennedy is a no-show--until she's found dead in her hotel suite.

When frenemy Sarah Lee is discovered in the room with the body, Hayden and Hollister are on the case to find the real culprit before Sarah Lee is charged with the crime.

The suspects for the murder are as unique as Mysterium itself: a Russian trapeze artist, a cowgirl comedian sharp-shooter, an over-cologned operations director, a feisty, green-haired costume manager, and Adrenalin!, a sexy troop of Romanian male acrobats...If Hayden and Hollister are to clear Sarah Lee of suspicion, they'll have to outsmart a killer for whom trickery is art.

Review Quotes

Praise for Cirque du Slay
"A big-tent extravaganza in more ways than one."
--Kirkus

"Chock full of unconventional characters, both LGBTQ+ and not, this entertaining cozy is heartwarming in the characters' caring for one another."
--Booklist

"From the atmospheric beginning onward, the prose is sharp and punchy."
--Foreword

"Rob Osler's latest proves that his winning combination of lovably-relatable characters, play-fair mysteries, and laugh-out-loud humor is way more than just beginner's luck--it's his inimitable style on full display."
--The BOLO Books Review

"A masterfully crafted and original cozy murder mystery."
--Midwest Book Review

"A fresh look at cozy mysteries in a lot of ways."
--Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

"Readers will enjoy spending time with these engaging characters as they entertain one another and genuinely love just hanging out together and sharing their life experiences."
--Kings River Life

"A fast paced and well written whodunit that kept me amused from beginning to end."
--Dru's Book Musings

"It's silly, serious, sexy, and great fun for fans of mysteries and the greatest show on earth."
--Broadway Direct, The Best New Theater Books of Spring 2024

"A fun mystery, with the circus fitting in perfectly with the plot, as well as the diverse list of characters in the novel."
--Red Carpet Crash

"Osler brings his irresistible wit to this trapeze act of a mystery, which swings between catching a killer and protagonist Hayden's deepening friendships with his wonderfully quirky pals."
--Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author

"Osler's debut knocked my socks off, and this devilishly clever and wickedly funny follow-up made me laugh out loud and kept me guessing to the end."
--Greg Herren, award-winning author of Death Drop

"Osler delivers the perfect combo of adrenaline, feels, and fun. Cirque du Slay is divine."
--Raquel V. Reyes, award-winning author of the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series

"Unlikely heroes Hayden and Hollister are back on the hunt, leading to situations both hilarious and frightening."
--Charlaine Harris, Mystery Writers of America Grand Master

"A rock-solid whodunit with a plot that keeps you guessing till the end. Funny, adventurous, and poignant, this mystery is more than clever crime-solving."
--Michael Craft, MWA-nominated author of the Dante & Jazz mysteries

Praise for Devil's Chew Toy
"Charming and diverse characters--both human and canine--fill the pages of Rob Osler's delightfully humorous cozy."
--Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author

About the Author

Rob Osler writes mysteries with LGBTQ+ main characters. Rob's debut novel, Devil's Chew Toy, was a finalist for the Anthony, Agatha, Lefty, and Macavity Awards, and his first publication, Analogue, appearing in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, won the Robert L Fish Award at the Mystery Writers of America Annual Edgar Awards. With a philosophy degree from the University of Puget Sound and an MBA from the University of Washington, he previously worked as a brand marketing executive for global agencies and corporations. After living in Chicago and Seattle, Rob resides in California with his long-time partner and a tall gray cat.