In The Carnival Murders, Haiti’s Carnival celebration takes a deadly turn as a series of mysterious deaths cast a shadow over the festivities. Detective Jean-Luc Duvall and his partner Mélissa Vieux are drawn into a sinister investigation that unearths an ancient Voodoo curse tied to the victims. As they dig deeper, the line between life and the supernatural blurs, and they race against time to stop the murderer lurking in the crowd before the curse consumes the entire city.
Will they unravel the mystery in time, or will Carnival end in tragedy?
Excerpt from The Carnival Murders © Copyright 2025 Paul J
CHAPTER 1: THE FIRST TRAGEDY
The vibrant energy of Carnival pulsed through the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Music, laughter, and the rhythmic beat of drums echoed off the colorful houses that lined the parade route. The smell of street food—grilled meats, fried plantains, and spicy sauces—mingled in the warm air. People in dazzling costumes danced with abandon, their bodies swaying in time to the infectious music. For most, it was a day of celebration, a time to let go of worries and immerse themselves in the spirit of joy and tradition.
But for Detective Jean-Luc François, today was the beginning of something far darker.
The call came in just as Jean-Luc and his partner, Mélissa Saint-Croix, were making their way through the bustling crowd, observing the festivities. Their intent was to enjoy the parade for a while before heading back to the station to finish their reports. But when Jean-Luc's phone buzzed in his pocket, the look on his face told Mélissa everything she needed to know.
“There's been an accident,” he said, his brow furrowed.
“What happened?” Mélissa asked, her expression serious.
“A float collapsed in the middle of the parade. A man was killed.”
Mélissa shook her head. “During Carnival? That’s unusual.”
“Yes,” Jean-Luc replied, already pushing through the crowd. “And it’s Michel Baptiste.”
Michel Baptiste was no ordinary man. He was a well-known figure in the community—an organizer of the Carnival festivities and a respected businessman. His death, particularly during one of the biggest events of the year, would send shockwaves through the city.
They arrived at the scene within minutes. The parade had come to a halt, and the once joyous crowd now buzzed with anxiety. Police had cordoned off the area around the fallen float, and a medical team was working to move Michel’s body. The float itself was a magnificent structure, a multi-tiered display of colors, feathers, and masks, now a crumpled mass of debris.
Jean-Luc approached the scene, flashing his badge at the officers guarding the perimeter. Mélissa followed closely behind, her eyes scanning the wreckage. The float had clearly been a masterpiece, but now, it was nothing more than broken wood and twisted metal.
“Inspector François,” one of the officers greeted him, stepping aside to allow Jean-Luc access.
“What happened here?” Jean-Luc asked, kneeling down to examine the debris.
The officer, a young man with a nervous expression, replied, “It looks like the float collapsed while it was moving. We’ve checked the structure, and it seems like it just gave way. No signs of sabotage, at least not from what we can tell.”
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