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Mirage
A Halloween murder mystery novel by Emma Smith, perfect for fans of Cynthia Murphy and Kathryn Foxfield.
Ravensfarne, an idyllic paradise, off the beaten track...
Georgia has lived on a tiny island off the coast of Northumberland all her life. So when cousin Cindy from Connecticut comes to stay for Halloween, she's not expecting anything out of the ordinary to happen... until her friends start dying, one by one.
A push from the castle ruins; an accident; and murder, cold-blooded murder. Trapped in a storm with the killer still on the loose, there's no way to escape. It's down to the cousins to figure out what's going on, and to track down the murderer...
Because if they don't, it looks like they might be next.
A young adult mystery set off the coast of England, exploring themes of first love, friendship and loyalty.
Ravensfarne, an idyllic paradise, off the beaten track...
Georgia has lived on a tiny island off the coast of Northumberland all her life. So when cousin Cindy from Connecticut comes to stay for Halloween, she's not expecting anything out of the ordinary to happen... until her friends start dying, one by one.
A push from the castle ruins; an accident; and murder, cold-blooded murder. Trapped in a storm with the killer still on the loose, there's no way to escape. It's down to the cousins to figure out what's going on, and to track down the murderer...
Because if they don't, it looks like they might be next.
A young adult mystery set off the coast of England, exploring themes of first love, friendship and loyalty.
304 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2024
30 people are currently reading
1291 people want to read
About the author
Emma Smith
14 books569 followersEmma Smith is a young adult and children's author from Yorkshire. She wrote and illustrated her first “book” when she was seven years old and hasn’t stopped writing since. When she’s not walking on the beach or drinking an iced coffee with a crumpet and some chocolate, you’ll probably find her reading something dark and mysterious… and most certainly YA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
August 3, 2024
This book was given on behalf of an ARC read, in return for a review
Mirage by Emma Smith
A young girl who has moved from Connecticut, USA to a small local town called Ravensfarne to start a whole new life but who was to know what would happen next?
My initial reaction was oh my god, I love the way the characters were displayed how jealousy filled Georgia but yet how she put her differences aside with her cousin who came to visit. As well as this I love how the plot keeps you in suspense one second someone is alive and next you’re thinking who will be gone so soon after. The pace of the plot was good I liked how it flowed so effortlessly, with Georgia being able to show each stage of the event.
I liked how Georgia had her comfort and how they started with a big life in America to a small deli in Northumberland, as well as this the final exposure to what happened at the end brought me to another level how quickly the scenarios changed and how it was presented was amazing, although one thing I didn’t like about it was how quickly Georgia judged Cindy not knowing the events that had happened and I often found her jealous over small things but I felt that Brough a difference to the story as it showed her true emotions about how different the pair are. I feel this is written 100% for the age group that it was aimed at, and I believe it will be enjoyable for whom it’s intended.
Overall I would 100% recommend this book for the release on the 30th of August, especially for those who are a massive fan of horror and Halloween themes similar to A Good Girls Guide to murder, Mirage brought me a thrill like never before and showed me a genre that caught me from the beginning. My rating for this book is 5/5 stars.
Mirage by Emma Smith
A young girl who has moved from Connecticut, USA to a small local town called Ravensfarne to start a whole new life but who was to know what would happen next?
My initial reaction was oh my god, I love the way the characters were displayed how jealousy filled Georgia but yet how she put her differences aside with her cousin who came to visit. As well as this I love how the plot keeps you in suspense one second someone is alive and next you’re thinking who will be gone so soon after. The pace of the plot was good I liked how it flowed so effortlessly, with Georgia being able to show each stage of the event.
I liked how Georgia had her comfort and how they started with a big life in America to a small deli in Northumberland, as well as this the final exposure to what happened at the end brought me to another level how quickly the scenarios changed and how it was presented was amazing, although one thing I didn’t like about it was how quickly Georgia judged Cindy not knowing the events that had happened and I often found her jealous over small things but I felt that Brough a difference to the story as it showed her true emotions about how different the pair are. I feel this is written 100% for the age group that it was aimed at, and I believe it will be enjoyable for whom it’s intended.
Overall I would 100% recommend this book for the release on the 30th of August, especially for those who are a massive fan of horror and Halloween themes similar to A Good Girls Guide to murder, Mirage brought me a thrill like never before and showed me a genre that caught me from the beginning. My rating for this book is 5/5 stars.
March 24, 2025
oh. my. god. started this book the same day i finished it and couldnt put it down. a mix between gilmore girls and halloween and a twisty murder mystery. so many twists and turns and this book was SO EXCITING. my new favorite from emma smith and one of the best books ive read this year. i highly recommend this book if you like pumpkin spice lattes and murder mystery books 🎃🔪⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 4, 2024
The perfect YA novel…
If you loved Good Girls Guide to murder you will love this book even more. I did.
The scenery had me wanting to get in bed with a blanked and a hot chocolate I ate this book up.
The mystery hooked me and I loved the island setting it just felt so cozy and homely. Then the mystery kicks in and you’re on your seat wanting to know who is the traitor. One minuite I’m loving the characters relationship development the next I’m trying to be a detective and solve the mystery.
The ending was not at all what I was expecting honestly you will not see it coming which is rare for books these days. This book really had an eerie feeling that kept me hooked all the way through
Emma has written a great YA mystery and I wish I could re read it again without knowing the ending it was fabulous🙂
If you loved Good Girls Guide to murder you will love this book even more. I did.
The scenery had me wanting to get in bed with a blanked and a hot chocolate I ate this book up.
The mystery hooked me and I loved the island setting it just felt so cozy and homely. Then the mystery kicks in and you’re on your seat wanting to know who is the traitor. One minuite I’m loving the characters relationship development the next I’m trying to be a detective and solve the mystery.
The ending was not at all what I was expecting honestly you will not see it coming which is rare for books these days. This book really had an eerie feeling that kept me hooked all the way through
Emma has written a great YA mystery and I wish I could re read it again without knowing the ending it was fabulous🙂
August 16, 2024
Are you overly obsessed with Gimore Girls? Do you like autumnal books with pumpkin spice lattes and halloween celebrations? And do you like being scared to your wit's end trying to figure out what on earth is going on!!?
Mirage is the perfect blend of cosy and terrifying. The depth that was given to EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER is so thoughtful to the extent where it's very easy to want to hear their story too. But Georgia? Our protagonist? I love how flawed she is, bringing a hint of coming-of-age into the midst of all the horror. This book isn't just about murder; it has a lot of really important topics and realism.
Emma's writing style is so easy to fall in love with and every adventure into the ELU is an amazing experience. I cannot recommend her books enough: you will love them.
Mirage is the perfect blend of cosy and terrifying. The depth that was given to EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER is so thoughtful to the extent where it's very easy to want to hear their story too. But Georgia? Our protagonist? I love how flawed she is, bringing a hint of coming-of-age into the midst of all the horror. This book isn't just about murder; it has a lot of really important topics and realism.
Emma's writing style is so easy to fall in love with and every adventure into the ELU is an amazing experience. I cannot recommend her books enough: you will love them.
August 2, 2024
you need to read this book immediately with a blanket and a hot drink and a cosy lamp and an 80s slasher spotify playlist on and get lost in the mystery!!! perfect summerween to autumn transition i had a blast
August 12, 2025
just went through every emotion in the english dictionary. anyway everyone read mirage by emma smith thanks for coming to my ted talk
September 10, 2024
Before I even started Mirage I knew I'd love it from everything Emma had shared about it - and I was totally right. The perfect Autumn/Halloween read, Mirage is a fairly fast paced mystery set on a tiny island in the north of England. I absolutely adored the setting and thought it was really brought to life, and the mystery itself was terrifying and engrossing - I couldn't stop reading. As always, I loved the characters, they were very realistic and I loved Georgia as a protagonist. The story also deals with some really important issues very well, and I liked the side characters and their places within the island's community and the mystery itself. I would 100% recommend this for a September or October read, it really got me in a Halloween mood!!
January 2, 2025
This was bit of a frustrating read to me. I really wanted to love it, and I did like it in the begging, the whole premise of it all, but then it just went a bit… downhill?
a) Why there was so much time spent on the characteristics of the other three friends, when they were barely important to the story and only one of them showed up again at the very end of the book?
b) Why didn’t any of them make an appearance at least in the village hall, when all of the island residents were there?
c) How could have Mr. Evans been with the Petersons when Lolly died, as we later find out? Because after Lolly dies, the mum goes to his house and sends him to the Petersons to tell them their daughter has died - so that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
d) Almost all of the story building is based on conversations - it’s all tell and almost no show. I feel like there could have been more clues throughout the book about who the killer is, not just a summary of all that happened at the end of the book. The revelation that Paul was suspecting Cindy the whole time also felt a bit random, since there were no suble hints about it before - again.
e) If the mom had such a bad feeling about Cindy and knew she had a history of lying, why would she let her daughter run around the island with her while all the murders were happening? Instead we got the ominous “don’t trust anyone”, but it doesn’t make any sense to me why she wouldn’t just tell Georgia to keep her distance and why.
f) And even if she had no problem with Cindy, why would she let them run around the island with all that was hapenning still? My parents would probably lock me up in a basement.
g) Why would Georgia jump to the conclusion that Mr. and Mrs. Evans were the murderers basically just because he followed them into the house?
h) The overuse of the word “loo”.
i) If Cindy tripped Annie while they were all looking down, why did she fall backwards? At least that’s what I’ve gathered from the description.
All in all, I feel like this writer and her ideas have a lot of potential, but the execution wasn’t quite there yet imo. On the other hand, the whole book is very atmospheric, I loved it’s setting and if Ravensfarne was a real place, I would love to go there.
a) Why there was so much time spent on the characteristics of the other three friends, when they were barely important to the story and only one of them showed up again at the very end of the book?
b) Why didn’t any of them make an appearance at least in the village hall, when all of the island residents were there?
c) How could have Mr. Evans been with the Petersons when Lolly died, as we later find out? Because after Lolly dies, the mum goes to his house and sends him to the Petersons to tell them their daughter has died - so that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
d) Almost all of the story building is based on conversations - it’s all tell and almost no show. I feel like there could have been more clues throughout the book about who the killer is, not just a summary of all that happened at the end of the book. The revelation that Paul was suspecting Cindy the whole time also felt a bit random, since there were no suble hints about it before - again.
e) If the mom had such a bad feeling about Cindy and knew she had a history of lying, why would she let her daughter run around the island with her while all the murders were happening? Instead we got the ominous “don’t trust anyone”, but it doesn’t make any sense to me why she wouldn’t just tell Georgia to keep her distance and why.
f) And even if she had no problem with Cindy, why would she let them run around the island with all that was hapenning still? My parents would probably lock me up in a basement.
g) Why would Georgia jump to the conclusion that Mr. and Mrs. Evans were the murderers basically just because he followed them into the house?
h) The overuse of the word “loo”.
i) If Cindy tripped Annie while they were all looking down, why did she fall backwards? At least that’s what I’ve gathered from the description.
All in all, I feel like this writer and her ideas have a lot of potential, but the execution wasn’t quite there yet imo. On the other hand, the whole book is very atmospheric, I loved it’s setting and if Ravensfarne was a real place, I would love to go there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2024
this book was good, i guess?
i quite liked the beginning, the description of the island and the atmosphere. the prose was also fine. a couple of errors but i can excuse that, since the book’s self-published.
i was excited for this book; a mystery thriller, set on a small island in england, promising agggtm & gilmore girls vibes? sign me up. needless to say, i was a bit disappointed. i wouldn’t say it’s anything like agggtm. or gilmore girls, for that matter. the potential was there, sure, but it wasn’t explored nearly enough for me to consider it a fair comparison.
regarding the plot, it’s… okay. it definitely has potential, again, but i’d say after the halfway mark, it goes downhill. there are no real suspects, at least according to the main character, because every time someone *is* suspected (because they had either motive, a chance to yk… ~do the killing~ or both) she just *looks* them in the eye or *sees* their face and she just… *knows*. trust her, she’s known these people for *so* long and they’ve *always* been kind, they wouldn’t hurt a fly… even though they have secrets that are just now coming to light… she *knows* they’re telling the truth. really. no doubt. unless, of course, they’re lying… that was so annoying, ugh.
i would say most of the plot is quite predictable, i think i correctly guessed all the murders except for one and part of the ending as well. (more on that below)
i will say that the characters were well written, although some of them were uselessly described in detail, even though they don’t appear for the rest of the book. they didn’t feel flat, interesting themes and feelings were explored and i could picture them being real people. however… gushing (for *years*) about a guy you barely seem to know? even though he’s supposedly one of your best friends? WHILE YOUR FRIENDS ARE DYING???? girl, stand up.
now, for the ending. i so wanted it to not be the classic cliche, which is why i was so disappointed and angry at the revelation that the murderer was, in fact, the most obvious and cliche suspect EVER. sorry not sorry, i didn’t like that ending, at all. the explanation of everything felt rushed, boring and… quite bizarre if i may say so.
so yeah, a bit of a let down, but still okay. just… average — hence the three stars.
i quite liked the beginning, the description of the island and the atmosphere. the prose was also fine. a couple of errors but i can excuse that, since the book’s self-published.
i was excited for this book; a mystery thriller, set on a small island in england, promising agggtm & gilmore girls vibes? sign me up. needless to say, i was a bit disappointed. i wouldn’t say it’s anything like agggtm. or gilmore girls, for that matter. the potential was there, sure, but it wasn’t explored nearly enough for me to consider it a fair comparison.
regarding the plot, it’s… okay. it definitely has potential, again, but i’d say after the halfway mark, it goes downhill. there are no real suspects, at least according to the main character, because every time someone *is* suspected (because they had either motive, a chance to yk… ~do the killing~ or both) she just *looks* them in the eye or *sees* their face and she just… *knows*. trust her, she’s known these people for *so* long and they’ve *always* been kind, they wouldn’t hurt a fly… even though they have secrets that are just now coming to light… she *knows* they’re telling the truth. really. no doubt. unless, of course, they’re lying… that was so annoying, ugh.
i would say most of the plot is quite predictable, i think i correctly guessed all the murders except for one and part of the ending as well. (more on that below)
i will say that the characters were well written, although some of them were uselessly described in detail, even though they don’t appear for the rest of the book. they didn’t feel flat, interesting themes and feelings were explored and i could picture them being real people. however… gushing (for *years*) about a guy you barely seem to know? even though he’s supposedly one of your best friends? WHILE YOUR FRIENDS ARE DYING???? girl, stand up.
now, for the ending. i so wanted it to not be the classic cliche, which is why i was so disappointed and angry at the revelation that the murderer was, in fact, the most obvious and cliche suspect EVER. sorry not sorry, i didn’t like that ending, at all. the explanation of everything felt rushed, boring and… quite bizarre if i may say so.
so yeah, a bit of a let down, but still okay. just… average — hence the three stars.
August 20, 2024
‘Ravensfarne is a tiny place. It only has about three-hundred-and-fifty inhabitants.’
‘Untouched beauty. That was the appeal of Ravensfarne. It wasn’t trying to be something great, something special. It just was.’
In a tale of halloween mystery, self-growth, and discovering what is important to you, is the setting of Ravensfarne. Perfectly autumnal and cosy, there are references to Gilmore Girls that make it feel relatable while still being timeless, and Ravensfarne is the best backdrop for this. The descriptions of the castle, the storm and the characters create a spooky atmosphere which makes you question everyone’s intentions. Meanwhile you rely on Georgia’s description of her beloved home and experience her self-development and honest admittance of her insecurities as she sees the island from the view of an outsider, her cousin Cindy, for the first time.
Cindy is introduced as an all-American it girl - the polar opposite to Georgia’s loveable and humble, while still from perfect, group of friends (honourable mention of Annie - the best character in the entire book!). As the group gets closer you grow to love them all despite their faults, and, when the losses start and the betrayal sets in, the claustrophobia of Ravensfarne’s small and tight-knit community grows.
All in all, Mirage is something new to add to Emma Smith’s growing universe (side note: I loved the Dead Fine mention - we love an author who links all her books together!). It is the perfect read for cosy and stormy nights, and as a die-hard fan I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next :).
‘Untouched beauty. That was the appeal of Ravensfarne. It wasn’t trying to be something great, something special. It just was.’
In a tale of halloween mystery, self-growth, and discovering what is important to you, is the setting of Ravensfarne. Perfectly autumnal and cosy, there are references to Gilmore Girls that make it feel relatable while still being timeless, and Ravensfarne is the best backdrop for this. The descriptions of the castle, the storm and the characters create a spooky atmosphere which makes you question everyone’s intentions. Meanwhile you rely on Georgia’s description of her beloved home and experience her self-development and honest admittance of her insecurities as she sees the island from the view of an outsider, her cousin Cindy, for the first time.
Cindy is introduced as an all-American it girl - the polar opposite to Georgia’s loveable and humble, while still from perfect, group of friends (honourable mention of Annie - the best character in the entire book!). As the group gets closer you grow to love them all despite their faults, and, when the losses start and the betrayal sets in, the claustrophobia of Ravensfarne’s small and tight-knit community grows.
All in all, Mirage is something new to add to Emma Smith’s growing universe (side note: I loved the Dead Fine mention - we love an author who links all her books together!). It is the perfect read for cosy and stormy nights, and as a die-hard fan I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next :).
August 2, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
4.5⭐️
I was sent this arc by the author in exchange for an honest review and wow it was amazing! Georgia the protagonist has spent her whole life living on a tiny island in Northumberland where her mum owns a deli. It’s a small, cosy community that has been described beautifully. When Georgia’s cousin Cindy visits from Connecticut, Georgia’s first emotion is jealousy. But the girls have to put their differences aside when they witness a local girl’s murder on Halloween night. Cut off from the mainland, Georgia, Cindy and their friends have to race against the murderer in order to survive…
I will admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of the protagonist (I found her to be unnecessarily jealous and a bit annoying at times) but I found that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book at all. I still loved it and read it in a day as I couldn’t put it down.
The writing style was excellent: the characters were so human and the duality between the cosiness of the island and the creepiness of the crimes taking place was so perfect. I’d recommend to any fans of crime and lovers of Halloween!
4.5⭐️
I was sent this arc by the author in exchange for an honest review and wow it was amazing! Georgia the protagonist has spent her whole life living on a tiny island in Northumberland where her mum owns a deli. It’s a small, cosy community that has been described beautifully. When Georgia’s cousin Cindy visits from Connecticut, Georgia’s first emotion is jealousy. But the girls have to put their differences aside when they witness a local girl’s murder on Halloween night. Cut off from the mainland, Georgia, Cindy and their friends have to race against the murderer in order to survive…
I will admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of the protagonist (I found her to be unnecessarily jealous and a bit annoying at times) but I found that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book at all. I still loved it and read it in a day as I couldn’t put it down.
The writing style was excellent: the characters were so human and the duality between the cosiness of the island and the creepiness of the crimes taking place was so perfect. I’d recommend to any fans of crime and lovers of Halloween!
March 9, 2026
This book was so atmospheric and mysterious, I loved every second reading it!!
The vibes of the setting were amazing it made me really want rainy weather and to just cozy up in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate or tea.
The story follows Georgia, who lives on a small island called Ravensfarne. Her cousin comes to visit her during her October break, but suddenly her friends are dying.
I did figure out who the murderer was, however I still really enjoyed reading it. It was still very mysterious and intriguing, and additionally I started to really care for the characters, especially Ben!!!
I even cried multiple times hahaha, I will definitely miss the characters and the town.
Also, once again, I absolutely loved the atmosphere of the book and now really want to visit Northumberland hahaha
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of the authors works!!
The vibes of the setting were amazing it made me really want rainy weather and to just cozy up in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate or tea.
The story follows Georgia, who lives on a small island called Ravensfarne. Her cousin comes to visit her during her October break, but suddenly her friends are dying.
I did figure out who the murderer was, however I still really enjoyed reading it. It was still very mysterious and intriguing, and additionally I started to really care for the characters, especially Ben!!!
I even cried multiple times hahaha, I will definitely miss the characters and the town.
Also, once again, I absolutely loved the atmosphere of the book and now really want to visit Northumberland hahaha
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of the authors works!!
September 8, 2024
I'm so obsessed!!! The setting in this book is one of my favourites of Emma’s ❤️🍂 Absolutely loved all the descriptions (the attention to detail was so so good) and it really felt like a found family (despite all the murder). It’s made me so excited for Autumn and Halloween 🎃 I suspected almost everyone at one point 🤦🏻♀️🤣 I can’t stop thinking about each character and I’ve already made a Pinterest board for them all! (A true sign of a five star)
August 24, 2024
i am soooo happy that i got to read this book as an ARC reader for the first time ever.
throughout the book, i felt nervous, i laughed, i screamed… and i felt a connection with the main character, Georgia, in many occasions. if you are looking for a YA/ mystery book, i highly recommend reading this one. also the plot twists??? so good!!!
thanks Emma for giving me the opportunity to read your book. it’s going to be amazing!!! 🩷
throughout the book, i felt nervous, i laughed, i screamed… and i felt a connection with the main character, Georgia, in many occasions. if you are looking for a YA/ mystery book, i highly recommend reading this one. also the plot twists??? so good!!!
thanks Emma for giving me the opportunity to read your book. it’s going to be amazing!!! 🩷
August 12, 2024
I was given the chance to read this as an ARC reader.
This is a really cute autumnal YA mystery, it made me want to curl up with a blanket and listen to the rain whilst I read - unfortunately it was 29 degrees instead. The story and the characters kept me entertained and the twists and turns just kept coming. I finished the book in less than 24hrs as I didn’t want to put it down.
This is a really cute autumnal YA mystery, it made me want to curl up with a blanket and listen to the rain whilst I read - unfortunately it was 29 degrees instead. The story and the characters kept me entertained and the twists and turns just kept coming. I finished the book in less than 24hrs as I didn’t want to put it down.
January 2, 2025
WOAH!!! Kept me hooked. Was a bit slow at the beginning and took awhile to get to the main plot but I can guarantee that if you stick it out, it’s SO worth it.
September 4, 2024
3.5 ~ I need to read more mystery books (and more indie ones) I fear.
I thought the prose was well written, some interesting ideas presented (the whole peaking in year 11 thing, etc.) and kinda bitchy main character that was honest and intriguing. I mostly breezed through the book.
Ben for the win. Best boy (and character)!!
I did guess the murderer and I didn’t love how many accused people there were by the end. I also felt a little emotionally distant from the cast but can’t put my finger on why. Wanted more, especially from Cindy.
Weirdly enough with the ending, I’m split. Either I wanted it to be more triumphant than it was (eg with a focus on Ben and Georgia’s bond). Or I wanted it to be, weirdly enough, a bit depressing. Maybe give me a fully traumatised Georgia, unable to write about anything but the murders for her school essay. (Scarred a la The Secret History or even Treasure island (one of my fave endings)).
I think I’ve read too much gothic literature as I wanted even more gothic vibes than it were present. Ravensfarne is forever tainted. (Maybe how can she keep living there???) Burn that castle down. (Maybe not the fire lol).
I also wanted the interesting themes to be explored even more than they were (eg jealousy between the cousins, Georgia feeling boring etc.)
I loved the setting of the castle and the autumnal vibes. The imagery of the castle was 🤌.
…
I do think the mum was a bit irresponsible. What wasssss she doing. But I’ll allow it since we need these reckless teenagers to go out into the storm and find the killer…
I thought the prose was well written, some interesting ideas presented (the whole peaking in year 11 thing, etc.) and kinda bitchy main character that was honest and intriguing. I mostly breezed through the book.
Ben for the win. Best boy (and character)!!
I did guess the murderer and I didn’t love how many accused people there were by the end. I also felt a little emotionally distant from the cast but can’t put my finger on why. Wanted more, especially from Cindy.
Weirdly enough with the ending, I’m split. Either I wanted it to be more triumphant than it was (eg with a focus on Ben and Georgia’s bond). Or I wanted it to be, weirdly enough, a bit depressing. Maybe give me a fully traumatised Georgia, unable to write about anything but the murders for her school essay. (Scarred a la The Secret History or even Treasure island (one of my fave endings)).
I think I’ve read too much gothic literature as I wanted even more gothic vibes than it were present. Ravensfarne is forever tainted. (Maybe how can she keep living there???) Burn that castle down. (Maybe not the fire lol).
I also wanted the interesting themes to be explored even more than they were (eg jealousy between the cousins, Georgia feeling boring etc.)
I loved the setting of the castle and the autumnal vibes. The imagery of the castle was 🤌.
…
I do think the mum was a bit irresponsible. What wasssss she doing. But I’ll allow it since we need these reckless teenagers to go out into the storm and find the killer…
November 8, 2024
Omg this was an amazing experience! It‘s perfect for autumn and mystery lovers. I loved that Georgia actually suspended everyone even her mom and I also understand why she wouldn’t go with Cindy( at the beginning she even suspected her)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2024
I was lucky enough to have been sent this book before it was released. I was truly gripped and like WTF when things started to go down! I really did enjoy the book and story. Flowed nice and was easy to read. I’m dyslexic so that’s a good thing! I didn’t know who to believe and was suspicious of everyone. Can definitely see how cosy this book would be if read during a storm/gloomy night in late October/November with a hot chocolate. Will definitely recommend to friends and family who love these types of small town murder mysteries!
August 30, 2024
I knew that even before I read the book I was going to thoroughly enjoy it because of the setting, time of the year, and overall the way Emma is advertising the book. I am always up for a cozy, small town, murder mystery, and when it’s set during Halloween I am even more enticed. If you like all of those things, it is sure to be a read for you.
Into smaller details I loved about the book, I loved how every character had their own identity and growth. Even the smaller characters changed perspectives and characteristics about themselves as the book went on and that really shows how much time Emma took to write the not-perfect but beautiful characters.
I was kept guessing who was the murderer the entire time, similar to when I read Holly Jackson’s books. At some points I had a hint of who it was but then my opinion changed when something else happened. As a newer murder mystery reader I found it easy to keep track of all the hints and clues and twists, so if you’re newer to the genre it won’t be confusing.
I also love how the book goes from the end, to the time when the main event happened, and back to the end because it makes the book feel more separated and easier to get through. I’ve been in a reading slump for awhile now but I found that when reading it I would wonder what would happen next even when I wasn’t reading!
This book was a 5/5 ⭐️ and I will definitely be reading it in the Fall when it’s not 30 Celsius with a coffee and comfy sweater :) thank you Emma Smith for allowing me to be an ARC reader!
Into smaller details I loved about the book, I loved how every character had their own identity and growth. Even the smaller characters changed perspectives and characteristics about themselves as the book went on and that really shows how much time Emma took to write the not-perfect but beautiful characters.
I was kept guessing who was the murderer the entire time, similar to when I read Holly Jackson’s books. At some points I had a hint of who it was but then my opinion changed when something else happened. As a newer murder mystery reader I found it easy to keep track of all the hints and clues and twists, so if you’re newer to the genre it won’t be confusing.
I also love how the book goes from the end, to the time when the main event happened, and back to the end because it makes the book feel more separated and easier to get through. I’ve been in a reading slump for awhile now but I found that when reading it I would wonder what would happen next even when I wasn’t reading!
This book was a 5/5 ⭐️ and I will definitely be reading it in the Fall when it’s not 30 Celsius with a coffee and comfy sweater :) thank you Emma Smith for allowing me to be an ARC reader!
August 30, 2024
A deeply twisted, autumnal tale, waxed in pumpkin spice candles, seasonal lattes and rainy halloween nights. Emma wrote this one with so much detail, description and power; it truly was a book worth every moment.
Mirage follows Georgia, a simple teenage girl, living on a small island of the coast of Northern England, and her group of friends on the spooky night of Halloween. Her secretive cousin Cindy, is visiting for the week and it seems that she has bought trouble with her. The tight-knit town is not what is seems when Georgias friends start dying one by one, and the police isn’t there to find the killer. She takes it upon herself to find out the truth, whilst also endangering herself.
I simply could not have figured out this book, I had to sit and read it mostly in one sitting, as it was too gripping and had to find out who was behind the monstrosity. Mirage keeps you guessing, thinking you had it all figured out, until you hadn’t. It’s also a story of youth, friendship, teenage love and difficult relationships.
I really enjoyed reading it, the setting was grimy and dark, perfect for the upcoming seasons, the characters were intricate and interesting, I wanted to know more about them. The writing style was clear and well organised, there was no plot holes and everything made sense in the end.
For the fans of Gilmore girls, pumpkin spice lattes, halloween movies and dressing up- this book is for you: so read it❤️
Mirage follows Georgia, a simple teenage girl, living on a small island of the coast of Northern England, and her group of friends on the spooky night of Halloween. Her secretive cousin Cindy, is visiting for the week and it seems that she has bought trouble with her. The tight-knit town is not what is seems when Georgias friends start dying one by one, and the police isn’t there to find the killer. She takes it upon herself to find out the truth, whilst also endangering herself.
I simply could not have figured out this book, I had to sit and read it mostly in one sitting, as it was too gripping and had to find out who was behind the monstrosity. Mirage keeps you guessing, thinking you had it all figured out, until you hadn’t. It’s also a story of youth, friendship, teenage love and difficult relationships.
I really enjoyed reading it, the setting was grimy and dark, perfect for the upcoming seasons, the characters were intricate and interesting, I wanted to know more about them. The writing style was clear and well organised, there was no plot holes and everything made sense in the end.
For the fans of Gilmore girls, pumpkin spice lattes, halloween movies and dressing up- this book is for you: so read it❤️
September 22, 2024
*Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
Looking for the perfect book for spooky season? Look no further than Mirage!! Emma Smith does an AMAZING job of creating such an atmospheric setting with Ravensfarne that you can easily picture in your mind. It’s the perfect place for a mystery to occur. I also think this book is full of realistic characters. A lot of the time when reading books I feel that teenage characters don’t really act their age, but the main friend group written in the book each face issues many teenagers face and act appropriately. One tiny issue I had was that I felt some scenes could have been used to show rather than tell us about different characters, but that’s no reason to skip this book. I’d say if you want a fun and spooky mystery mixed with Gilmore Girls to check this out on August 30th!!
Looking for the perfect book for spooky season? Look no further than Mirage!! Emma Smith does an AMAZING job of creating such an atmospheric setting with Ravensfarne that you can easily picture in your mind. It’s the perfect place for a mystery to occur. I also think this book is full of realistic characters. A lot of the time when reading books I feel that teenage characters don’t really act their age, but the main friend group written in the book each face issues many teenagers face and act appropriately. One tiny issue I had was that I felt some scenes could have been used to show rather than tell us about different characters, but that’s no reason to skip this book. I’d say if you want a fun and spooky mystery mixed with Gilmore Girls to check this out on August 30th!!
August 30, 2024
This was a cosy spooky read. You didn’t know who to trust or believe and was suspicious of some of the nicest characters. I did however guess who it would be but I read a lot of crime mysteries and for a YA this was great and think many people will love it for its Gilmore Girls/ Halloween vibe.
I really enjoyed how in depth each character was and I found that some of them added to how good this book was! Everyone had their own personality so it was easy to follow and made for fun reading. I also liked the reclusiveness of the place, it’s what added to the Gilmore vibe and it kind of made me want to live there (besides all the murder and stuff 🫢)
100% you have to cosy up with a hot drink, a candle and blanket to get in the proper mood to read this story!
I really enjoyed how in depth each character was and I found that some of them added to how good this book was! Everyone had their own personality so it was easy to follow and made for fun reading. I also liked the reclusiveness of the place, it’s what added to the Gilmore vibe and it kind of made me want to live there (besides all the murder and stuff 🫢)
100% you have to cosy up with a hot drink, a candle and blanket to get in the proper mood to read this story!
August 30, 2025
I loved this book! First of all, the vibes.. omg stunning! Two, I loved the plot, it was intriguing and kept me thinking.
I loved how this book was a bit different from the books I have read by Emma but it still kept the same Emma Smith charms that I love. I think my favourite thing about Emma's books for each of them is the way she can make me feel cosy in places I've never been, also under represented places in both UKYA and literature as a whole!
I loved how this book was a bit different from the books I have read by Emma but it still kept the same Emma Smith charms that I love. I think my favourite thing about Emma's books for each of them is the way she can make me feel cosy in places I've never been, also under represented places in both UKYA and literature as a whole!
August 28, 2024
This book was wonderful,felt like a hug on a plate with a sinister tone (yes im weird that i find murder mysteries comforting), and as someone who has always felt inferior to their cousins, it felt very close to home,the plot was enthralling and dragged me out of my worst adhd based reading slump I've ever had.
September 5, 2024
The perfect read for the autumn, this book came just in time for cosy vibes and warm drinks by the fire!! For a Gilmore Girls and halloween loving fanatic I think this is the perfect book. I cannot wait to read more by this author💗
June 25, 2025
decent book if you wanna get out of a reading slump, but the way it was SO PAINFULLY OBVIOUS who the killer was kinda ruined it for me😕 i’d figured it out by the first kill and kinda was in denial hoping there was gonna be a plot twist but nope. but it was alright ig.
October 20, 2025
I wish I liked this one but I had to push myself to read it bc I wanted to find out the killer. I had a suspicion but I thought that it couldn’t be that obvious…sigh. It was.
August 8, 2024
Rating - 4.5 stars rounded up to 5
Instagram - @mjauthor5
Yet another banger from miss Emma Smith! The recent works have been HITTING from this author and I am absolutely here for it.
The main thing I can infer from every book I see Emma publish is that she has extremely unique concepts. Every single one of her books I have read take a concept that I've never read before and turn it into a captivating story that will grab your attention. Guided following girl guides, Dead Fine being set on a rubbish council estate, Middy Sherb being a coming of age with an asexual character set in Hull, and now we have Mirage, set on an English island with a serial killer. Such interesting concepts and so well done, Emma is certainly an indie author that needs a LOT more praise!
Focusing on Mirage itself, compared to other books by this author, this one was more 'unrealistic'. By that, I don't mean that everything was completely unbelievable and make believe to the point where you can't believe anything you're reading - I'm talking more AGGGTM unrealistic. In reality, would a group of seventeen year olds be able to investigate and solve a serial killer case on a remote island on their own with no police interference? No, probably not. But does that make it any less enjoyable? Also no, because it's written well. I've said this before in other reviews for Emma's books, but her writing has a way of catching you in an iron grip that will not release you until you finish the novel. It's so compulsively readable, and I read this novel in only three sittings inbetween quite a busy summer work rota. Whenever I picked it up, I couldn't have been happier to dive back into Ravensfarne and find out what Georgia was going to be doing next to solve the case. This book is a well written mystery, and Emma's writing journey is clear through the books she has released. The writing has never been bad at all, but you can clearly tell the development in her style as she comes into her own and Mirage was a clear example of how much she has developed, even since her latest release Martha (which was a five star read for me).
The impressive thing I found about Mirage was how it made me question my opinion on the story. Early on, I had a pretty solid guess of who I thought the killer was going to be, and I was quite confident that I was correct. However, as the story keeps going on and on, new people and factors are introduced that make you doubt what you know, and I found myself questioning if it could be someone else instead of my original guess. In the end, when the killer is revealed, I was actually originally correct, but my opinion shifted and faltered so many times during the reading process because new things were revealed and uncovered about the characters. One particular plot twist definitely got to me that I didn't see coming, but I can't reveal it due to spoilers. Emma did an extremely good job of making me doubt what I thought I knew about who the serial killer was in this story, and even though I thought I was correct in the beginning, I doubted my guess the whole time until it was confirmed in the last ten percent of the book.
In the beginning, I found the jealousy of our main character Georgia to be quite tedious. Admittedly, I didn't really enjoy reading from her perspective because of this. I found it to be unpleasant to read about. However (and this is a very important however), the further you get into the book, and the more you learn about not only Georgia, but her life, the people around her, her age etc, you come to realise that this isn't an unpleasant personality trait. That is teenagehood. Whether we want to admit it or not, when we are teenagers, no matter who you are, at one point or another there has been that one person or that one situation that has made you jealous. Envious. You have thought - 'I want that' or 'I want to look like that' or 'Why do they get that and I don't?'. It's an extremely human reaction, and it is a raw and visceral reaction that we are quick to label as unpleasant. Something Emma did VERY well in Mirage is explore this jealousy in Georgia, and she becomes a very very likeable character the more you read on as you accept that jealousy is a human response. It isn't a device used to make Georgia unlikeable, it's used to show the reader that she is human period. It really gave her more depth, and Georgia has become on par with Carmel and Ellie as my favourite Emma Smith main characters. Although she comes across as petty and unpleasant and jealous in the start of the book, this quality is sobered up with her experiences through the book as she prioritises different things and learns new things about herself, her friends, the island etc. We visibly see Georgia grow up, and it's such a lovely thing to read about in a book that I didn't expect but was pleasantly surprised by.
Overall, an extremely strong new release coming from Emma Smith!! So I implore you PLEASE, if you have £2.99 to spare, preorder Mirage now!
Thank you Emma for providing me with an arc for this beautiful book <3
Instagram - @mjauthor5
Yet another banger from miss Emma Smith! The recent works have been HITTING from this author and I am absolutely here for it.
The main thing I can infer from every book I see Emma publish is that she has extremely unique concepts. Every single one of her books I have read take a concept that I've never read before and turn it into a captivating story that will grab your attention. Guided following girl guides, Dead Fine being set on a rubbish council estate, Middy Sherb being a coming of age with an asexual character set in Hull, and now we have Mirage, set on an English island with a serial killer. Such interesting concepts and so well done, Emma is certainly an indie author that needs a LOT more praise!
Focusing on Mirage itself, compared to other books by this author, this one was more 'unrealistic'. By that, I don't mean that everything was completely unbelievable and make believe to the point where you can't believe anything you're reading - I'm talking more AGGGTM unrealistic. In reality, would a group of seventeen year olds be able to investigate and solve a serial killer case on a remote island on their own with no police interference? No, probably not. But does that make it any less enjoyable? Also no, because it's written well. I've said this before in other reviews for Emma's books, but her writing has a way of catching you in an iron grip that will not release you until you finish the novel. It's so compulsively readable, and I read this novel in only three sittings inbetween quite a busy summer work rota. Whenever I picked it up, I couldn't have been happier to dive back into Ravensfarne and find out what Georgia was going to be doing next to solve the case. This book is a well written mystery, and Emma's writing journey is clear through the books she has released. The writing has never been bad at all, but you can clearly tell the development in her style as she comes into her own and Mirage was a clear example of how much she has developed, even since her latest release Martha (which was a five star read for me).
The impressive thing I found about Mirage was how it made me question my opinion on the story. Early on, I had a pretty solid guess of who I thought the killer was going to be, and I was quite confident that I was correct. However, as the story keeps going on and on, new people and factors are introduced that make you doubt what you know, and I found myself questioning if it could be someone else instead of my original guess. In the end, when the killer is revealed, I was actually originally correct, but my opinion shifted and faltered so many times during the reading process because new things were revealed and uncovered about the characters. One particular plot twist definitely got to me that I didn't see coming, but I can't reveal it due to spoilers. Emma did an extremely good job of making me doubt what I thought I knew about who the serial killer was in this story, and even though I thought I was correct in the beginning, I doubted my guess the whole time until it was confirmed in the last ten percent of the book.
In the beginning, I found the jealousy of our main character Georgia to be quite tedious. Admittedly, I didn't really enjoy reading from her perspective because of this. I found it to be unpleasant to read about. However (and this is a very important however), the further you get into the book, and the more you learn about not only Georgia, but her life, the people around her, her age etc, you come to realise that this isn't an unpleasant personality trait. That is teenagehood. Whether we want to admit it or not, when we are teenagers, no matter who you are, at one point or another there has been that one person or that one situation that has made you jealous. Envious. You have thought - 'I want that' or 'I want to look like that' or 'Why do they get that and I don't?'. It's an extremely human reaction, and it is a raw and visceral reaction that we are quick to label as unpleasant. Something Emma did VERY well in Mirage is explore this jealousy in Georgia, and she becomes a very very likeable character the more you read on as you accept that jealousy is a human response. It isn't a device used to make Georgia unlikeable, it's used to show the reader that she is human period. It really gave her more depth, and Georgia has become on par with Carmel and Ellie as my favourite Emma Smith main characters. Although she comes across as petty and unpleasant and jealous in the start of the book, this quality is sobered up with her experiences through the book as she prioritises different things and learns new things about herself, her friends, the island etc. We visibly see Georgia grow up, and it's such a lovely thing to read about in a book that I didn't expect but was pleasantly surprised by.
Overall, an extremely strong new release coming from Emma Smith!! So I implore you PLEASE, if you have £2.99 to spare, preorder Mirage now!
Thank you Emma for providing me with an arc for this beautiful book <3
August 31, 2024
3.5/5
Wow. This book was a rollercoaster, with a mystery that had me hooked from the beginning. Thank you Emma Smith for sending me an ARC copy of Mirage for an honest review!!
First things first. The world building of this book was fantastic: the isolated island of Ravensfarme the perfect setting for a murder mystery set on a stormy halloween night. There were many brilliant pieces of prose that hit me right in the gut. Creepy to its core and full of plot twists, Mirage is an ideal book for binging.
My only critique: I found the plot a little convoluted. While I love a good complex murder case, so much was going on and the suspects kept changing that I often found myself confused or having trouble believing the different plot twists (I won’t specify tho cause I don’t want to give spoilers 🤐).
Other than that, Emma Smith’s writing style is so good and her books are always enjoyable reads. This book gives definite A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder vibes (if Pip was a little less good at investigating). I appreciate the candidness that came through in the characters, a bunch of 16 years old would certainly be quite reckless in pursuing a murderer…
what happens to them? i guess you’ll have to read it to find out 🏰🩸🎃🌊⛈️
Wow. This book was a rollercoaster, with a mystery that had me hooked from the beginning. Thank you Emma Smith for sending me an ARC copy of Mirage for an honest review!!
First things first. The world building of this book was fantastic: the isolated island of Ravensfarme the perfect setting for a murder mystery set on a stormy halloween night. There were many brilliant pieces of prose that hit me right in the gut. Creepy to its core and full of plot twists, Mirage is an ideal book for binging.
My only critique: I found the plot a little convoluted. While I love a good complex murder case, so much was going on and the suspects kept changing that I often found myself confused or having trouble believing the different plot twists (I won’t specify tho cause I don’t want to give spoilers 🤐).
Other than that, Emma Smith’s writing style is so good and her books are always enjoyable reads. This book gives definite A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder vibes (if Pip was a little less good at investigating). I appreciate the candidness that came through in the characters, a bunch of 16 years old would certainly be quite reckless in pursuing a murderer…
what happens to them? i guess you’ll have to read it to find out 🏰🩸🎃🌊⛈️
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