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Miranda Smith writes domestic and psychological suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Her debut novel, SOME DAYS ARE DARK, will be released in March 2020. Make sure you have a few hours in your schedule clear before you start this one. Can't remember the last time I binged a book like this one. I will absolutely be reading more from Miranda Smith! The author, Miranda Smith, has done an excellent job of creating a tense and suspenseful atmosphere throughout the book. The characters are great! Emma is very strong and caring, she likes to do things herself without relying on others. Smith’s writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it hard to put the book down. Then the big reveals and truth bombs hit and they were anti-climactic for ME. They were very domestic and emotional. If I had been watching this on screen, I would have gasped out loud. But for a thriller book it wasn't dark enough. That's a personal preference though. I STAYED UP UNTIL 1AM FINISHING THIS BOOK. I tried going to sleep, I really did. But every time I closed my eyes, I just kept thinking about this book, and I neeeedddddeddddd to know how it finished.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Emma is a kindergarten teacher, and today is field trip day! She and her colleagues will be taking their classes to a pumpkin patch, and Claire, Emma’s six-year-old daughter, will be joining her mom and classmates. Emma’s been having a rough year; her husband was killed in a car accident, and she’s now raising Claire alone. She’s looking forward to her day, despite field trips being a challenge. I read this book last month, and it’s one that has still stayed with me! Besides the fact that it’s a fantastic twisty thriller, my youngest is about to embark on her first school trip the week after next! Miranda Smith is a mystery writer best known for debut novel Some Days Are Dark. The talented author also works as an information book editor for both adult and children’s works. Miranda has a deep love for natural history and has also written numerous articles on the subject. While this author is relatively new to novel writing, she has over 75 distinct to her name. This perhaps explains her storytelling prowess and the flow you will enjoy in her debut novel. The School Trip was an 'unputdownable' book that kept me up way past bedtime. There was no way that I could sleep until I found out how the book ended. We are always delighted to hear from authors. We are currently open for review requests and we are happy to review a wide variety of genres. Please submit your information below and we will be in touch asap.What sets The School Trip apart from other thrillers is the author’s focus on the theme of motherhood. The bond between a mother and child is strong, and this book portrays it beautifully. It’s not just about finding the missing child but also about a mother’s resilience and her ability to face her fears. The author also brings themes of grief and guilt into the story, adding depth to the characters.
This novel was incredible, and not just in terms of suspense (where it was INSANE). But there's so much to be said in here about grief and the domino effect loss can create. The School Trip is not just a thriller about a missing child but also about facing past mistakes, learning to trust the right people and expanding one’s perspective. As a mother, I felt Sarah’s pain and anxiety when her daughter Claire goes missing. The author Miranda Smith has crafted the character of Sarah so well that readers will empathise with her and feel all the emotions she is going through. In mystery books like this, I like to play detective and try to figure out the culprit/murderer/traitor, and I was wrong! I thought it was going to be an Along Came A Spider situation, but no. Smith stumped me which is great, but maybe there could’ve been a clue or two. I loved how the story funneled into intensity while maintaining an intense pace. The subtle escalation was so well done. I found the emotions within this book genuine and well-written.Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you very much to NetGalley and Bookouture for this entertaining ARC! All opinions are my own. The School Trip is the spine-chilling new thriller from Miranda Smith that will keep readers up all night.
The rest of the book races through the evening, as they try to find Claire. As the police investigate, Emma soon realizes that some of her coworkers she thought were friends were anything but. Everyone seems to be lying, who can she trust? We also get the first-person narrative of the kidnapper thrown in, and “The Plan” is definitely unhinged. Of course, Claire had hoped to be spending the day solely with her mum at the Pumpkin Patch farm and isn't at all impressed to be having to share her with other students whose parents couldn't come on the school trip. But Claire's attention is soon diverted with the promise of feeding the animals and playing on the ten foot slide and play equipment the farm have. Tantrum diverted. Not only is it clear that Emma was kidnapped, Claire and the police wonder if it is someone from Claire’s past who has taken Emma. As this heartbreaking story is being told, Claire realizes how alone she and Emma are, especially after losing her husband several years ago in a tragic accident. This was actually a really good thriller! Though it started out a little slow, it started gaining momentum towards the middle of the book when Claire was kidnapped. I was then hooked into the story. There are some twists, the story itself was fast paced and engaging. Did one of the teachers kidnap Claire? Secrets are revealed showing true color of the characters making nearly everyone in the story a suspect. The ending of the story was unexpected. This was the third book I have read from this author and I have to say, I really start enjoying reading her thrillers.The pace is good, the build up is good and it gives you the confidence and urgency to carry on reading. Another aspect of the book that I appreciated was the portrayal of the investigation process. The author did a fantastic job of depicting the struggles and challenges faced by law enforcement officials during an investigation. It felt realistic and added to the suspenseful nature of the story. We call the police and frantically scour the fields and playgrounds, my heart breaking as I cry out Claire's name. And then a detective shows me a video: my daughter, skipping away from the farm, holding hands with an adult in a bulky coat, their cap pulled down low.
All across the USA, people are showing up dead. The deaths don't appear to be connected in any way until one particular death occurs and gets the Secretary of Defense's attention. He arranges for a task force to investigate. The day takes a turn when one child goes missing, and as a the reader, you are immediately put in panic mode. Unfortunately, that is only the start of the horrible day to come. Author Bio: Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children. https://mirandasmithwriter. com/It's every parent's worst nightmare - your child going missing. And the author brings the reader to the forefront of the investigation as police search for missing Claire. Emma is placed in the spotlight as the media speculate a neglectful mother leaving her child in the care of another at the time she disappeared which only serves to infuriate her further. Why aren't the police updating them with the facts instead of wasting time. Then soon Emma discovers some of those closest to her aren't at all who they appear to be and she begins to wonder just who can she trust? Any one of them could have Claire. Everyone seems to be lying so who can she trust?
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