

Could a hundred-year-old circus sideshow be the key to Frankie’s mysterious past?
Seventeen-year old Frankie doesn’t trust easily. Not others, and not even herself. Found in an alley when she was a child, she has no memory of who she is, or why she was left there. Recurring dreams about a hundred-year-old carnival sideshow, a performer known as Alligator Girl, and a man named Monsieur Duval have an eerie familiarity to them.
Frankie gets drawn deeper into Alligator Girl’s world, and the secrets that kept the performers bound together. But a startling encounter with Monsieur Duval when she’s awake makes Frankie wonder what’s real and what’s in her head.
As Frankie’s and Alligator Girl’s stories unfold, Frankie’s life takes a sharp twist. Are the dreams her way of working through her trauma, or is there a more sinister plan at work? And if there is, does she have the strength to fight it?
Thank you to Dundurn Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The dreams started the night of the break-in.

The characters and the atmosphere truly shine within the pages of The Life and Deaths of Frankie D. I was quickly immersed in the story, which is often the case in circus/carnival-themed books. While it did take me a moment to form a connection with Frankie and to become invested in her, I started to understand her more and more as the story went on. She is really a character that grows on you! I always appreciate a book with strong character development, which The Life and Deaths of Frankie D. definitely has in spades! Frankie was found in an alley as a child and has no memory of her past. Things are slowly revealed as she continues to have dreams about a sideshow performer known as Alligator Girl. As the book is only 250 pages, I think it is best to go into knowing very little and to just go along for the ride.
The Life and Deaths of Frankie D. is a book that you could read in one sitting. It is the perfect way to spend a rainy day! There is a mystery woven throughout the story that keeps you turning the page. There was a lot that I didn’t see coming! Also, how stunning is that cover? It perfectly captures the essence of the story.

- Characters: 8
- Atmosphere/Setting: 9
- Writing Style: 7
- Plot: 7
- Intrigue: 8
- Logic/Relationships: 8
- Enjoyment: 8
Overall CAWPILE score: 55/7=7.8
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Wow, thank you for this article! Noting down this book. 🙂
Awesome! Love hearing that 🙂