A carnival has arrived in Las Vegas and is now the center of Jim Richard's attention for possible criminal activities. Children are starting to vanish and there's a number of jewelry store thefts involving most mysterious circumstances and expensive goods. Jim is asked by the parents of two missing boys to find them. The only clue he has is the handbill announcing the arrival of "Jacob S. Dark's Traveling Carnival and Wonder Show". To help, Buck and Mac go undercover in the carnival. Who is the mysterious Mr. Dark? Did he jump from the pages of Bradbury's book to claim souls in Vegas or is he evil of another form. Jim must hold on to his soul as he enters the world of the dark carnival. On the side, Angelo uses his mob connections to help find out who the mysterious Lucius Cole is and what his real connection is to the carnival people. All things are not as they seem in this twentieth novel featuring the senior citizen sleuth, Jim Richards along with Penny and his crime fighting friends.