The School Trip: A completely gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist

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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! Disclaimer: all items are bought personally unless otherwise stated. Posts that have been commissioned will be labelled as sponsored or collaborative based on the brand’s preference. Have you ever read a book that completely twists your emotions and sends your heart racing? The School Trip by Miranda Smith is one such book. An intense thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat, this book tells the story of a mother’s desperate search for her daughter. In this blog post, I’ll share my thoughts on this gripping novel and why I believe it is a must-read for anyone who loves a good thriller. Fantastic… I found very hard to stop reading… brilliant storytelling all the way… I cannot speak highly enough about this book, definitely a must-read… A thoroughly 5+ stars from me.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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.

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. Miranda has been a staff writer at a local newspaper and a secondary English teacher. When it comes to fiction, Miranda writes about complicated women, dark impulses and Southern settings.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. We go on to meet Emma, a school teacher and single mother, taking her students (including her daughter) on a field trip. Within those first few chapters, you really grow to like Emma & her coworkers. There's not an overbearing amount of detail about them, but it's enough to want to see where the day takes them. 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. The story is well-paced and filled with mystery and suspense, keeping the reader engaged throughout the book. The plot is layered and revealed slowly, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. The characters are multi-dimensional with their own secrets and motives, making the story more interesting. Some Days Are Dark tells the intriguing story of Olivia, a woman who had a great life only to lose it all within a very short time. Olivia grew up poor, but life somehow works for her, and she ends up with a beautiful home, a loving husband, Frank, and an adorable son. Despite all these good things, Olivia feels like she is missing something, and this leads her to make the worst decision of his life. Olivia leaves her perfect family for Dane Miller, a no-good drug addict who has nothing to offer to a woman. Aside from losing a man who loves her, Olivia also jeopardizes her relationship with her son.

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. We humans are drawn to tragedy in the same way we’re mesmerized by fire: its power, its unpredictability, its warmth.”Miranda Smith knows how to pull the heartstrings while creating a tense mystery that does not disappoint. I look forward to what she writes next. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. eBook ISBN: 978-1-80019-719-0 This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly” 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.

Olivia’s marriage to Dane doesn’t go well, and she is quite afraid of her husband. Now, Dane Miller is dead, and Olivia is the key suspect to the murder. People in Whitaker cannot stop gossiping about Olivia, and she has a hard time even leaving the house. Just what happened to her perfect life? Is there a chance that she can redeem herself and enjoy the company of her loved ones again? Well, all is not lost because, for the time being, Olivia is off the hook where her husband’s murder is concerned. Someone confessed to killing Dane, and he is already behind bars. I liked Emma; she was a mom doing her best. And she wants the best for her daughter, always. I liked how family was a theme, both chosen and biological. I also found the use of forgiveness beautifully done. The School Trip by Miranda Smith is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story revolves around a class of six-year-old children who go on a trip to a local farm. However, things take a dark turn when one of the children goes missing, and the teacher, Emma, joins in the search. Meanwhile, Emma’s own daughter is abducted, and she is forced to confront her worst nightmare.

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 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. I struggled to get into it because I keep telling myself it's not the classic MS writing style. I ruined it for myself (LOL). 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. Together with her work colleagues and her daughter, Claire who also attends the school, it’s a day of fun and adventure.