Blog Tour Review, The School Trip

On this crisp October day, the class of six-year-old children are wrapped up warm in gloves and coats for their trip to a local farm. They giggle as they stroke the animals and search for the perfect Halloween pumpkin, and as I watch my daughter Claire race off with her friends, the pink ribbon in her hair bouncing, I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been so hard since my husband died and my sweet little girl deserves to be happy.

But as the sun sets and the teachers gather the children, Claire is nowhere to be seen.

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.

My blood turns to ice. Claire would never leave with a stranger. Whoever took her must be someone I know.

But who could want to punish me this badly? Is it linked to the night I refuse to think about—the terrible night my husband died?

Did my mistakes put my baby girl in danger?
Can I save her by finally facing the past?
Or will I lose her forever when the truth comes out?

A brilliantly twisty thriller that will have you gripped from the first page to the final reveal. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.

My Review

OK I liked that bait and switch at the beginning of the book.  I didn’t fall for it at first, but then eventually I did.  It is kinda like the misdirection of all of Emma’s work friends. No matter how much Emma thinks they are a team, everyone was keeping secrets and lying.

I love the author’s writing style.  it is so easy to read.  The mostly short chapters kept me reading and kept up the pace of the story.  It’s been a little while since I read a book where we know what the bad guy is thinking and this one it was interesting to see their play by play thoughts.

And while I am not a parent, I really felt Emma’s distraught.  All her interactions with Claire early in the book, really set the stage for later angst.

It was quite the mystery that I kept bumbling around changing my mind as to who could do it.  Long before the secrets came out, I was working out everyone’s reason for doing it.

If you are fond of quick mysteries that keep you hooked, this one is for you.

About the author:

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.

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