When a ragged traveling carnival rolls into Cypress City, it stirs more than just excitement-it sets the stage for murder. A brash young man finds himself the prime suspect after a bitter public feud with a disgraced prizefighter ends in bloodshed. As suspicion grows and a redheaded dancer vanishes, the town's police chief must confront the possibility that his own son may be guilty. Caught between duty and loyalty, he pursues the truth through a maze of carnival secrets, gossip, and betrayal. Set in a vividly drawn Southern town, The Midway Murder blends hard-boiled mystery with a poignant exploration of family, pride, and the painful lessons of growing up.