The Lost Carnival

The Lost Carnival weaves together a novella and four stories that tell of lost love, life and death, and the limbo in between.

The book begins where the novel A Killer Story left off a few years ago. Teddy Murphy is back. As are his bad habits. His marriage with Kate is up in the air after his visit to a brothel in Butte.

In the title novella, we meet another Murphy: Rex. Whether related to Teddy Murphy we know not. Rex hits a tree skiing, is buried upside down in a tree well. Alone. A dead man. Until the tail of his ski is seen and he's dug up. During his rescue, he has a transcendent experience, a glorious vision of a country fair and carnival where loved ones, ancestors, friends (dead and alive) are gathered. It's the afterlife, he's convinced. Wants to return there, is distraught he was saved.

In limbo, Rex spirals down and buys a gun. He returns to the scene of the skiing incident. Along the way, he asks people if they've had a near-death experience, hears incredible accounts, takes notes for a book he may write. At Red Lodge Mountain, he locates the tree well. Takes his gun from his pack. Looking down at the town of Red Lodge he sees a hot air balloon floating over a park. He squints up at the sun. The trigger waits.

Book cover design by Jessie Stenehjem.