Amusement Park Arcana
by Jennifer R. Donohue

Reviewed by Galen Strickland
Posted August 17, 2026

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Other than a few stories in print or online magazines, Jen Donohue has self-published most of her work, and I have read and enjoyed the majority of them. Amusement Park Arcana is a novella set in a park on the Jersey shore, Donohue's home state, even though she currently lives in New York. Asbury Park and environs have been featured in several of her stories, but the beach the main character goes to this time is Spring Lake. Belmar is also mentioned, plus a few places that no longer exist, including the notoriously dangerous Action Park. At one point the main character Riley fears being sent to the Marlboro Psychiatric Institute, until she remembers that has been shut down too. The reason for that fear lies in her Nancy Drew-like investigation into the disappearance of her best friend Tara.

The main action takes place in late June, and based on a few clues maybe 1997 or '98. It is a few weeks after Riley's graduation from high school. She has been accepted to college, but defers that to get a job at the park where Tara had worked for a couple of years, the last place she had been seen. At the same time Tara worked at the park Riley had worked as a lifeguard at the beach, and that training comes in handy since the park has a water Grotto that requires guards. The story as narrated by Riley is tense and exciting, possibly revealing clues, or perhaps just hallucinations brought on by what Riley wanted to find. At first it seems there may be a window, mirror actually, into an alternate world into which Tara had been drawn. Riley almost loses herself in that realm, or else it is just a vision she has, but it does occur a second time. It only took me a little over 2 hours to read the 100 pages. The pace is unrelenting at times, Riley's fear and anticipation palpable. I can recommend this for that alone, however I need to be honest. The story unravels in the last few pages, presenting a situation that is hard to believe. I can't reveal the what or why since it would be a spoiler, but one way I could spoil would be to compare it to a movie most would be familiar with. I can still recommend it for the majority of the story, the musings of Riley's mind, her longing for her friend. It would make a terrific film, or extended Twilight Zone or similar show episode. Because it is a novella it is inexpensive, just $8 in paperback at Bookshop, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble, $5 for the ebook at the latter two retailers, but not Bookshop yet. That price holds for Kobo, and it is on Kobo Plus as well. No audio book so far, and I think that is the case for all of Donohue's books at this time.

Even with the slight disappoinment I am not sorry I read it, and I anxiously await Jen's next story.

 

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