The Key to Circus-Mom Highway

By: Allyson Rice

Narrated by: Allyson Rice

In an attempt to secure an unexpected inheritance–and hopefully find a few answers–two estranged sisters and their newly discovered brother embark on a surreal trip through the Deep South to retrace the life of the mother who abandoned them.

On a Tuesday afternoon, sisters Jesse Chasen and Jennifer McMahon receive a phone call notifying them that the birth mother they had no knowledge of has died, leaving behind a significant inheritance. But in order to obtain it, they must follow a detailed road trip she designed for them to get to know her–and that includes finding a brother they never knew existed.

For the next week, this ill-assorted trio treks across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia to meet their mother's old friends, from circus-performers to a juke joint owner, each of whom delivers a shocking vignette into the life of a young mother traumatized by loss and abuse. Along the way, these three siblings–Jesse, whose fiery exterior disguises a drifting musician stuck in a rut; Jennifer, whose carefully curated family life is threatened by her husband's infidelity; and Jack, whose enigmatic Jackie, Oh! persona in the New Orleans drag queen scene helps him escape the nightmares of Afghanistan that haunt him–must confront their own demons (and at least one alligator). But in chasing the truth about their real mother, they may all just find their second chance.

This uproarious debut novel is a reminder that sometimes, the family you'd never have chosen may turn out to be exactly what you need.

©2023 Allyson Rice (P)2023 Allyson Rice

Critic reviews

An EARPHONES AWARD WINNER

"No character's accent or eccentricity is beyond the skills of author/narrator Allyson Rice in this raucous yet poignant road trip story...exceptionally rendered...Rice shines."–AudioFile Magazine

“Fans of family drama, road trips, and non-stop laughs will love this cross-country adventure.”–BookLife (Publisher's Weekly)

Loved it!

Such a great story. Satisfying in so many ways. And I can totally see this as a movie! I hope that’s in the works!!

Great read!

I loved tjos book. The characters were real and well developed. The storyline was rich. The narraration was superb. This was a fun read, I didn't want it to end. Kudos to Allyson Rice for her debut novel. I can't wait for what comes next.

Quirky and funny

Fans of Carl Hiaason will enjoy this romp through the American south. Laden with colorful characters and descriptive environs, this is a fun book read with aplomb by its author. (I often avoid books read by their authors, but Allyson Rice has some impressive acting credits which made for a delightful listen…)