Curious Toys

An intrepid young woman stalks a murderer who preys on young girls through turn-of-the-century Chicago, in this thrilling historical mystery.

"Another brilliant mystery ... Wonderfully imaginative and richly delivered." —New York Times Book Review

In the sweltering summer of 1915, Pin, the fourteen-year-old daughter of a carnival fortune-teller, dresses as a boy and joins a teenage gang that roams the famous Riverview amusement park, looking for trouble.

Unbeknownst to the well-heeled city-dwellers and visitors who come to enjoy the midway, the park is also host to a ruthless killer who uses the shadows of the dark carnival attractions to conduct his crimes. When Pin sees a man enter the Hell Gate ride with a young girl, and emerge alone, she knows that something horrific has occurred.

The crime will lead her to the iconic outsider artist Henry Darger, a brilliant but seemingly mad man. Together, the two navigate the seedy underbelly of a changing city to uncover a murderer few even know to look for.

"Turn-of-the-century underworld Chicago comes alive in this rich, spooky, and atmospheric thriller that will appeal to fans of Henry Darger and Erik Larson alike." —Sarah McCarry, author of All Our Pretty Songs

ONE OF THE YEAR'S BEST BOOKS—LitHub, Chicago Public Library, CrimeReads