Smoke & Mirrors: A Novel

by Rosalyn Ransaw

An exciting and twisty middle-grade debut mystery novel—perfect for fans of From the Desk of Zoe Washington and The Parker Inheritance— about the disappearance of a famous magician, and one boy’s quest to find the truthA Junior Library Guild SelectionA School Library Journal Best Book of the YearA New York Public Library Best Book of the YearA Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year***STARRED REVIEW***
"Ransaw’s fast-paced debut offers an introspective look at dealing with racism and ambiguous grief through the eyes of a preteen. Through an intriguing mystery, the story explores biases and preconceptions. A fast-paced, adventurous journey in search of the truth."― Kirkus Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Debut author Ransaw has done something extraordinary here in building a mystery that is as satisfying to adults as it will be to middle-school readers. Black readers in particular will feel empowered by Ransaw’s message of self-advocacy, emerging from the novel stronger and more confident. A worthwhile read for any mystery fan or anyone in need of a little magic."― Booklist

With a gripping combination of hidden doors, shocking twists, and deep emotional heart, Smoke & Mirrors asks the How much of the truth is what you can get people to believe?

Spending the summer with his aunt as the only Black kid in a small Midwestern town was bad enough, but now Andy Carter’s summer has been effectively ruined.

His dad’s parole hearing is postponed, he misses his friends, and—when an old barn burns down—he’s stuck taking the blame. Andy is sentenced with helping the barn’s owner, a cantankerous old man, renovate his crumbling mansion—a mansion that hides a mystery.

It was once owned by the famous magician the Red Knave. In 1954, the Knave was a wanted suspect in the town’s most infamous murder before disappearing without a trace.

The whole town is sure the Red Knave is guilty, but to Andy, things just don’t add up. Investigating a mystery from the ’50s isn’t the same as spending time with his dad, but Andy can’t help but be drawn into the Red Knave’s exciting world of magic and illusion. To solve the Knave’s final vanishing act, Andy teams up with another boy he doesn’t quite trust.

Secret by secret, they try to uncover the Red Knave’s identity and learn why his last performance came to such a tragic end.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile, Mystery Thriller

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Lastblossom]

tl;dr
A well-paced mystery with a splash of stage magic intrigue and a very relatable main character.

Thoughts
Andy has enough troubles in his life already. He definitely doesn't need to add a decades-old murder mystery to his to-do list. And yet as he finds himself stuck in a small sleepy town for the summer, he finds himself drawn to the old case and the secrets that it might unlock. The story plays in two threads, intertwined with each other. The first thread, the mystery itself is very well plotted. Red herrings, twists, and reveals are paced out neatly, with a satisfying conclusion to a well-thought out mystery. The second thread doesn't get as much attention, probably by design, leaving a lot of Andy's personal life open-ended. This works for the most part, although there were several scenes in the end that I wish got a little more time just for the weight of their emotional impact.

Andy is very well-written. Likable, relatable, snappy, and easy to cheer for. The other characters are all layered and complex with troubles of their own, and I found myself connecting to many of their stories. The Red Nave's in particular definitely caught me by surprise. He could be an entire separate book on his own. Overall a great middle grade read for anyone looking for a good mystery and a relatable lead.

Thanks to NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Remember: You have the choice to see people as the sum of their mistakes or the sum of their potential."

this was such a good debut!! Can't wait for whatever Ransaw writes next 👀

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent cold-case mystery and such an easy sell to so many kids. One of the best middle grades I've read so far this year

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm kind of surprised by the lack of engagement I'm seeing for this book, both at libraries in my county as well as online. It got a starred review in Kirkus, which made me want to read it, but now that I have, I'm not sure why it did and am wondering if maybe everyone else knew something I did not.
It's not that the premise, setting, and central mystery weren't compelling; they very much were and I regularly had much longer reading sessions with this book than I'd been planning on. But the prose was wooden/workaday in the extreme, bordering on "See Spot run" level. Absolutely zero sentences sparkled, and furthermore the worldbuilding and description was so minimal that there were several times -- especially in Mr. Gilbert's house -- where I had trouble imagining what was being described. A shame, because awesome, mysterious houses like that one are one of my very most favorite elements in a book. And a great deal of suspension of disbelief on my part was required, too. I'm willing to grant that to a degree, but multiple aspects of the plot really strained credulity.
I guess that's kind of just what I keep coming back to: a shame. There is very important representation here and a lens to understand the life experiences of those in different circumstances than oneself. There is an absolutely killer premise, no pun intended. This story really could have been incredible with a lot of zhuzhing, but unfortunately for me it was largely a dud.

[Carey Blankenship-Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite MG books I've read in recent years...this story is a masterclass at writing a meaningful mystery is perfectly filled with twists and turns but also important lessons many kids will face in their lifetime. It kept me reading from page one, desperate to know what was going to happen and HOW it happened. I loved Ransaw's writing style, how she kept me engaged and fully present in her world. This was such a fun and delightful read that I can't WAIT for kids' to get their hands on.

Count me a fan of Rosalyn's forever!

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

just ok, the mystery came across as a subplot and why so many racist microaggressions?

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Andy ends up living with his Aunt Nonie while his dad faces incarceration, the only Black kid in her small midwestern town. As the story opens, a neighbor’s barn burns to the ground and everyone suspects Andy, although he’s innocent; the real culprit is his friend Pauly’s older brother. After a tense faceoff with police, the owner Mr. Gilbert agrees to take Andy on as a helper as he undertakes the restoration of a property previously owned by the Red Knave, a local illusionist who mysteriously disappeared after being accused of murder.  The cleverly designed derelict house and Mr. Gilbert’s vivid stories soon set Andy and Pauly on their own investigation as they try to uncover the secret identity of the Red Knave and who actually committed the murder over 60 years ago. Andy has a lot of texture as a character and Ransaw adds further depth by having him journal about both the mystery and his absent dad on facsimile pages. The parallels between unjust accusations – Andy, his dad, and the Red Knave – are sensitively drawn and tween readers will strongly feel the injustice that links the three and also feel the sting of the microaggressions and outright prejudice that Andy must confront. Aunt Nonie, Andy’s dad, Mr. Gilbert, and even Pauly end up supporting Andy, which keeps the story from veering down a more grim, young adult path. Although Andy doggedly follows leads, pursues research, and even takes some risks, the mystery of the illusionist ends up being a bit of a red herring, with the real interest and emotional heft of the story coming from the closely observed interactions he has with his family and community. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Megan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of Smoke and Mirrors by Rosyln Ransaw. This middle-grade mystery was full of heart, history, and just the right amount of magic to keep me hooked from start to finish.

📚 Why It Worked for Me:

🎭 Voice for the Unheard – I deeply appreciated how the author pulled from her own life experience to tell a story that centers a Black protagonist in a genre that often sidelines diverse voices. Andy’s perspective was fresh, heartfelt, and complex in all the right ways.

🕵️‍♂️ A Real Mystery! – So often in middle-grade, the mystery is too easy to solve—but not here. Every clue, red herring, and twist was placed with care. I found myself second-guessing my theories all the way until the final reveal.

💬 Beautifully Written – The prose was strong, smooth, and engaging. Ransaw balances emotional depth with fast-paced plotting, no small feat in middle-grade fiction. The book asks important questions about truth, perception, and who gets to control the narrative.

🤝 Reluctant Friendships & Redemption – The budding (and tense!) partnership between Andy and Pauly adds another layer of richness, showing how trust and understanding can be earned, sometimes in the most unexpected places.

💬 Final Take:
This book is a little bit Knives Out, a little bit The Parker Inheritance, and entirely its own magic trick. Smoke and Mirrors doesn’t just entertain, it resonates. It’s a mystery with a message, and I’ll be recommending it to readers of all ages who are looking for a meaningful adventure cloaked in illusion.

[Rebecca Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's said you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I was so drawn in by the fabulous illustration on the cover that I needed to read it!
This was a debut by @RosalynRansaw, which saw the main character experiencing adventure, mystery, prejudice, and assumptions throughout this book. This book reminds people that you have a choice how you view people and how you deal with the assumptions made about you. This is a very powerful message for our children of today! I love this quote:
"Andy, there are people who aren't going to like you for some very good, not reasons. But that says nothing about who you are. It can't stop you from becoming who I know who you can be."
Everyone needs someone championing you on like Aunt Nonie!
I love the storytelling of the different types of friendship that builds through this who done it mystery and can't wait to see what's next from this author.
Thank you, @Netgallery, for this #SmokeMirrors ARC.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andy Carter has already spent too much time with his aunt while his father waits for his trial for a crime Andy is convinced he didn't do. Now Andy is blamed for burning down an old barn and he has a choice: help Mr. Gilbert fix up an old house all summer or spend time in juvenile detention. While reluctantly helping Mr. Gilbert fix up the delapidated place, Andy discovers a mystery about the house, once the show case for the illusionist, the masked Red Knave, then the site of a murder. Andy becomes convinced the Red Knave is innocent and believes that if he can make the town rethink their assumption of the Red Knave's guilt, maybe they will rethink their automatic assumption of his own and his father's guilt. Getting locals to think differently about Black people is hard, though, and Andy keeps making mistakes, but so do others. The question is, can Andy accept the help he needs in order to solve the mystery in time?

[Ms. Nigeria Nigeria Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw where a comment said this book has racist microaggression. I was straddling the fence because microaggression itself has to do with race or ethnicity. so..... saying racist microaggression threw me for a loop. I think this book was relatable. (not to my life) you have a young man staying with his aunt because his dad was in jail. Then you have a man accused of murder. Those two topics happen in people's lives. The point of this book is about giving a child a chance to find out who the real killer was instead of making assumptions. I think this author did an amazing job, especially if this is her first book. Unfortunately, my sons are now grown. But my former student's parents still reach out about book suggestions. I will definitely suggest this book. I would also like to see at least one more book with Andy. Great job

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mystery that can't easily be solved early in the book, so it keeps the reader interested. The pacing was good and the clues and red herrings were well placed and kept the mystery going. I especially enjoyed the "fun-house" feel of the old house that Andy is helping to fix. Andy was a well developed character who genuinely demonstrates all kinds of emotions and feelings that a 12-year old would have in his situation. I really liked the aunt who did her best to support both Andy and his father. Besides trying to solve the mystery of the Red Nave, Andy works through all kinds of personal struggles and friendship issues.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is good -- very consistent messaging about being a Black kid in a place that just believes the worst of you, and I liked that when Andy finally tells someone that he was wrongly accused, they believe him after all. Hard to be a kid with an incarcerated parent. Harder to be a kid who believes in their innocence and still has to wait through the insecurity of the justice system. Andy's aunt is great. His friend Pauly is learning to be a better friend. His relationship with Mr. Gilbert and the house they are restoring is a solid backbone for a story, and the Red Knave is fascinating.

[Edelyn Parker-Frye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Its characters are written with nuance and compassion, its central mystery is exciting and full of compelling twists, and more than anything, this book is full of heart! The story's themes of patience, empathy and understanding are important for readers young, and not-so-young, alike. This is a must-add for your immediate reading list.

[Lindalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listening to it as audiobook and had to keep adjusting the volume depending who was speaking. Finally gave up. Might try it on paper.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery was interesting, but I thought there would be more about the magic lol Real rating 3.5. Real review to come to my blog.

[Lynn Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Andy is a well written character. Enjoyed him growing in the book. Middle schoolers would enjoy this story.

[Jessica Jung]

tl;dr: Buy/borrow this book. You will not regret it nor will you be able to put it down.

I adored this book and devoured it within 24-hours. Andy, the main character, is a whip-smart, brooding, emotionally reactive young man facing a lot of barriers and interpersonal struggles which makes him incredibly relatable as a reader. The other characters are dynamic and layered and they keep the story interesting.

I will not give any spoilers, but the mysteries and intrigue last for the entirety of this novel which keeps you wanting more and more. I enjoyed this book so much I wish she were making a series out of Andy’s life!

Though this is for middle-graders, I thoroughly enjoyed this as a 35-yo woman. Rosalyn Ransaw tackles racism, biases, lies & lore, grief & loss, and interpersonal relationships in such a beautiful and captivating way.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A fast-paced, multilayered mystery that will encourage readers to question preconceived notions and search for the truth in their own lives." [School Library Journal]

[libreroaming · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot hook, shaky execution. The mystery was not as prominent as I hoped.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Review posted closer to publication date.