The Mischief Makers

by Elisabeth Gifford

In a beautiful house in the wilds of Cornwall, Daphne du Maurier is on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Tangled in a self-destructive love affair that threatens to unravel her marriage to a British army major, she is also increasingly worried about the man who inspired her writing career, whose shadow looms over her J. M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan.

Daphne tries to escape into writing her new book, but the line between fiction and reality blurs dangerously when her own characters start manifesting before her eyes - in particular a woman called Rebecca who looks suspiciously like her husband's alluring ex-girlfriend.

Daphne must confront the dark truth that lurks beneath the fantasy of Peter Pan and the secret life that has plagued her since she found fame. Unless she can solve these mysteries and reckon with who she truly is as an artist, her next great work may be lost to history . . .

A haunting and emotional tale woven across multiple timelines, The Mischief Makers explores the complex forces shaping a woman's heart, from duty to desire, and the contradictions at the heart of creating art.
PRAISE FOR ELISABETH
'Gorgeously written and devastating' Kate Riordan

'One of the best novels I've read' Gill Paul

'Desperately romantic' Katie Fforde

'Compelling' Sarah Maine


'Gorgeous, melancholy' The Times


'A glorious novel. You won't be able to put it down for a minute' Suellen Dainty


'An undeniably haunting love story' Sunday Times
'A moving story, beautifully told' Tim Pear

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

336 pages, Paperback

Published August 7, 2025

Reviews

[Karen Keane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did find the premise of this book interesting, the connection between the Du Maurier family and J M Barrie and ‘the lost boys’ was totally unknown to me me. It started off really well but seemed to get lost along the way, and although I did finish the book I felt disappointed with the second part of it.

[Louise Fein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and beautifully written

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is an interesting take on the lives of Daphne du Maurier and J.M Barrie.
I really enjoyed seeing the two stories intertwine and flow and found the links between the two writers fascinating. I hadn’t made the connection between the two of them before.
Both are such intense characters - living in their own fantasy worlds - their thoughts and misconceptions often mixed with their real life situations.
Both of their writing was so personal - pulling on personal experiences and showing themselves as deeply flawed individuals.

[Lelly4613 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started off loving this book and thought it was a 4 to 5 star read. However, I found the eventual dipping back into previous times jarring, they were too short have real significance, taking me out of the main story. I didn't really care enough to go off on these "tangents".   

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟

[Daren Kearl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was enlightening to read about the relationship between JM Barrie and the du Maurier family. As with du Maurier’s work, much of the motivation behind characters / real life people was psychological, with childhood neglect and depression being the motives cited. It’s difficult to take as truth some of the conjectures in the narrative, however. Did Barrie really cause Michael’s suicide through his dabbling in hypnosis?
I have not read any biographies of du Maurier, so the uncomfortable infatuation with Ellen Doubleday was interesting and insightful to her writing.
There were quite a few printing errors in my hardback edition that jarred the narrative and made for a less enjoyable read.

[Roelia (Roelia Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Mischief Makers" by Elisabeth Gifford dives deep into the enthralling world of historical fiction, bringing to life the professional and personal journey of the renowned author Daphne du Maurier. Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century, the narrative explores du Maurier's experiences that profoundly influenced her most celebrated works. Intertwined with her story is the fascinating relationship between her family and that of J.M. Barrie, revealing how her cousins served as inspiration for the beloved characters in "Peter Pan." The book intricately weaves historical events with intimate family dynamics, presenting an absorbing study of relationships and personal growth.

Themes

Gifford's novel is rich in themes that resonate on multiple levels. The exploration of professional and personal struggles provides a poignant look at how du Maurier's experiences shaped her literary career. Themes of inspiration, creativity, and familial bonds are central, offering insight into the intertwined lives of the du Maurier and Barrie families. The book also delves into the complexities of identity, legacy, and the impact of historical events on individual lives.

What Worked for the Book

One of the standout aspects of "The Mischief Makers" is its well-researched and richly detailed narrative. Gifford's meticulous attention to historical context and character development creates an engaging and absorbing read. The characters are intensely well-developed, flawed, and complex, making them relatable and memorable. The book's intensity and depth keep readers invested, even if it takes a bit of time to fully immerse in the story. The relationship study between the families adds an extra layer of intrigue, making the historical connections both enlightening and fascinating.

Who May Enjoy This Book

"The Mischief Makers" will appeal to fans of historical fiction, particularly those interested in the lives of literary figures. Readers who appreciate well-crafted, character-driven stories with rich historical contexts will find this book highly rewarding. It's also an excellent choice for those who enjoy exploring the intricate relationships and personal dynamics that shape creative inspirations and legacies. While the book may require some patience to get into, those who persevere will be thoroughly rewarded with an engaging and thought-provoking read.

"The Mischief Makers" by Elisabeth Gifford is a meticulously crafted historical novel that offers a deep dive into the lives of Daphne du Maurier and her family's connection with J.M. Barrie. With its well-researched details, complex characters, and engaging narrative, the book provides an absorbing and enriching reading experience. Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or simply curious about the personal lives of literary icons, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Thank you to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read this book.

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Atlantic Books for this eCopy to review

The Mischief Makers offers a fascinating look into the life of the renowned author Daphne du Maurier, delving into her personal and professional life, exploring the influences and experiences that shaped her writing. Especially, du Maurier’s complex relationship with J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Barrie was a close family friend and had a significant influence on Daphne and her cousins, who were famously known as “The Lost Boys.”

What I Loved:
In-depth Biography: Gifford provides a detailed and well-researched account of du Maurier’s life, from her childhood to her later years. It’s insightful to see how her personal experiences influenced her famous works.
Engaging Writing Style: Gifford’s narrative is both engaging and accessible, making it easy to get lost in the story of du Maurier’s life.
Historical Context: The book does a great job of placing du Maurier’s life within the broader context of the times she lived in, offering a richer understanding of her work and legacy.

Barrie’s presence in their lives was both a source of inspiration and psychological complexity. His whimsical and imaginative nature influenced Daphne’s own storytelling and creative pursuits. However, du Maurier learns late on in her life that Barrie may have been manipulating her and the Lost Boys and their parents for years leading to them suffering lasting psychological damage

Gifford’s exploration of these relationships provides a deep and nuanced understanding of how Barrie’s influence shaped Daphne du Maurier’s life and the lives of her cousins. It’s a poignant reminder of the complexities behind the lives of those who inspire great works of literature.

I most saddened by the demise of her relation with her husband Frederick “Boy” Browning as they had such a good one before the war and Jim's manipulations ruined everything

A fascinating insight into one of my favourite authors

[Hana (myjourneywithbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐


The Mischief Makers by Elisabeth Gifford blends known facts with imagination to create a fictionalised account of the life of Daphne du Maurier. Did you know that J. M. Barrie (he who penned the famous Peter Pan) was a friend of the du Maurier family and a sort of mentor to Daphne? I don't know why it should have but the fact took me completely by surprise, like how you'd feel if you found out two friends from two completely different spheres of your life not only knew each other but were bossom buddies.

The story begins from the perspective of a much older Daphne, haunted by dreams of a cousin who drowned years ago. From there, we zoom back to the past and allow the narrative to unfold until we come full circle back to the beginning again. It turns out that the cousin who drowned, along with his brothers, was adopted by J. M. Barrie after they were orphaned. Much attention to given to this fact and to the cousins in general at the start of the story so I thought a large focus would be on the mystery surrounding the drowning. Which is why I suppose I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would, because most of it is dedicated to Daphne herself, her love life, her inspirations for writing and her relationship with her family members.

Fair enough, seeing as this is an account of her life. But the way she comes across in this story makes her seem very shallow and selfish. I really hope the real Daphne wasn't this self-centered, not caring at all about how she broke apart the marriage of a person who was nothing but kind to her and thinking nothing of pursuing someone else who repeatedly states they are not interested in her (and this was while she was married).

A messy character like this should at least make the book interesting, right? Wrong! I was utterly bored and what I mostly felt was embarrassment on Daphne's behalf.

What I did like was how the novel worked in the details of the inspiration behind some of her well-known works. The setting, especially the depictions of Cornwall and the house that Manderly is based on, come across as very atmospheric.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable book about the author Daphne Du Maurier. I have to confess, despite having read Rebecca I knew very little about this writer's life and certainly not that she was married to a war hero who worked for the Queen when he retired from the army.
The book centres round Du Maurier's relationships beginning with her broken relationship with her mother and then moving on to her connections with JM Barrie, author of Peter Pan and the lost boys, and his family of boys that he adopted after their parents' deaths. Du Maurier know Barrie as Uncle Jim and he was an important figure in her childhood, but as she gets older she is forced to accept his friendliness may not have been all it appeared on the surface.
Du Maurier married Tommy, a major in the army. She hated being an army wife and when WW2 comes round and Tommy is abroad she uses her wealth to rent a dilapidated house in Cornwall where she moves with their children. At first the house brings her considerable happiness but hanging over her life is the memory of Uncle Jim.
This is a story that encompasses the rich and famous, affairs, dramas, sexual confusions, family secrets, mental stress and illness and eventually some degree of self-healing.
I very much enjoyed the details of the places, clothing, houses and the contemporary settings and it has certainly encouraged me to read more of Du Maurier's works.
With thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for the early copy in return for an honest review.

[Nicola Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mischief Makers appealed to me as soon as I read the blurb and I thought it was absolutely fantastic. I love a book that fictionalises a real person's life…as long as it is done well, and this book most definitely is.

It focuses on Daphne du Maurier and covers much of her life from childhood through to her sixties. We witness her move to, and fascination with, Cornwall, her marriage, children and of course, the creation of her collection of enduring books: Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, Jamaica Inn et al. However, this is not just Daphne's tale. Her family has always been indelibly linked with J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan. Her five boy cousins, the Llewelyn Davies, were the original lost boys, adopted by Barrie when their parents died. Throughout her life, Daphne considers the effect of Barrie's influence on them all.

The Mischief Makers does focus mainly on Daphne with the Barrie thread running all the way through as well, and the way Elisabeth Gifford has written this book works so well. To be honest, I was completely and utterly mesmerised by the whole thing, drinking in the lives of two authors who I didn't really know very much about at all. There's so much charm in the characters and their families and yet somewhere just beneath the surface something unsettling lurks. Barrie's influence?

The writing is incredibly appealing and absorbing. Gifford has done a wonderful job at bringing Daphne du Maurier to life and telling her story in this way. The Mischief Makers is exactly my kind of read - the life of a prolific writer, with beautifully described settings, researched and depicted perfectly. I completely adored this book and it's easily one of my favourites of the year.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

The Mischief Makers is a fictionalised account of the life of Daphne du Maurier covering her life from childhood and throughout her writing career. It also features the author J M Barrie.

Daphne du Maurier’s life reads rather like one of her own books and it seems to me that many of her books were inspired by the people and places she knew. I didn’t know about the connection between du Maurier and J M Barrie who she called Uncle Jim. He had adopted the five Llewelyn Davies boys after the deaths of their parents. Their mother had been Daphne du Maurier’s aunt. I found it fascinated to read about du Maurier’s writing career especially when she was writing books I am familiar with such as Jamaica Inn and My Cousin Rachel. Rebecca of course is one of du Maurier’s most famous and successful works and it was easy to see the influence of events in her life when she was writing that novel.

The Mischief Makers is clearly well researched with the facts blended so well with imagined parts of the novel. As a fictionalised account of two famous writers’ lives, The Mischief Makers was an engaging read. As a story in its own right, its as readable and intriguing one of du Maurier’s own books.

[Alma (retirement at last) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Very average
I became quite bored as the novel moved forward.
Thought the main characters were shallow and self centred.
I don’t particularly enjoy reading books of this period if they relate to the upper class as they always seem to have no respect for those they employ, looking down their noses as if they are nothing yet they are the ones that tend to abuse their station in life being rude, lacking in manners yet expect respect from others.
Not a good read for me ☹️

[Simon Rosenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating imagining of the life of Daphne Du Maurier and the links she and her family had with Peter Pan author James Barrie. It starts when she was quite young and carries on the journey to the end of her life incorporating her marriage with a highly ranked army major her problems with being accused of plagiarism and trying to find the real reason and consequences of why Barrie adopted her cousins.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictionalized and entertaining piece of Daphne du Maurier's biography featuring her on the edge of a nervous breakdown in the moment that mixes past and the future of her greatest book.
Entertaining, well researched, well written
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[D R ROODYN · Rating 4 out of 5]

another du Maurier book

There are almost as many books about Daphne du Maurier as she wrote. This centres in the effect not positive of ‘Uncle Jim’ Barrie who wrote Peter Pan and the Admirable Crichton on the du Mauriers especially the 5 sons of Sylvia du Maurier and Arthur Llewelwyn Davies he adopted

[Mary Frain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite interesting as I've read some of Daphne du Maurier's novels and visited some of the settings. It made me want to read a biography to find out which parts were true. I felt it stalled a little at times but the final third really kept my interest. Extra words or missing words at times irritated; it needed better proofreading.

[Anne M Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting bio fiction about the life of Daphne Du Marrier. If you've read her books then I recommend it. Slight odd prose in places with some time discrepancies and I felt some events needed a little more explanation. Fascinating insight into the Du Marrier's connections with J M Barrie as well. I didn't realise he was so troubled.

[Rita Hebberd · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this novel I was unsure as to whether there would be enough of a story. How wrong I was with a plot wrapped around the du Mauriers and JM Barrie. The trials and tribulations of Daphne du Maurier whilst she wrote her amazing novels was a real eye opener and I’m going to read all her works again.

[Jehnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not what I expected, but I'm glad I read it. I had envisioned something a bit more whimsical and a bit less biographical.
That being said, Rebecca was one of those foundational books when I shifted from YA to adult books. Learning more about DuMaurier and he personal life was fascinating.

[Anne Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This got off to a great start but it's very difficult to fit a real life person's history into a narrative arc. I enjoyed the insight into Daphne du Maurier and the connection with JM Barrie was interesting but, apart from one poignant chapter imagining his childhood, we learn about it second-hand and I never really cared about the mystery laid out in the prologue.

[Mrs Deborah S Wayment · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and it made me want to read more of Daphne du Maurier’s books. I thought it was reasonably well-written but skimmed over some things and at times a little rushed. An interesting read.

[Rebecca Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit of a dull read. Dragged on in places.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something drew me to pick up Elisabeth Gifford’s sixth novel, The Mischief Makers, whilst I was browsing in my local library. I had not heard of it specifically, but I did read The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Gifford a few years ago, and really enjoyed it. However, had I not read anything of hers previously, I will always be drawn to book featuring one of my all-time favourite authors, Daphne du Maurier, whether fictionalised or otherwise.

The blurb, which opens ‘In a beautiful house in the wilds of Cornwall, Daphne du Maurier is on the brink of a nervous breakdown’, is rather enticing. She is ‘tangled in a dramatic affair’, as well as consumed by worry about her beloved family friend, Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie. The blurb continues: ‘Daphne tries to escape into writing her new book, but the line between fiction and reality blurs dangerously when her own characters manifesting before her eyes – in particular a woman called Rebecca who looks suspiciously like ger husband’s alluring ex-girlfriend.’

The Mischief Makers opens in du Maurier’s famous home, Menabilly, in 1947, and then moves backward in time, to Daphne’s girlhood in London in 1911. Much of the plot is centred upon Daphne’s five cousins, who were adopted by J.M. Barrie after both of their parents died. It is Michael in particular whom Gifford places attention upon; he drowned in Oxford when he was just a teenager, and was a particular favourite of Daphne’s. In a section which takes place in 1928, Gifford writes: ‘And she thought of all the years that had gone by since Michael was lost. Thought of the young man who should have been sitting beside her now, perhaps, Jim [Barrie] no longer so broken and reduced. All the ghosts of people who should have been.’

From the outset, I really enjoyed how descriptive Gifford’s writing is: ‘Over at the window she pushed back the curtain. It was that brief, liminal moment before dawn, the rhododendrons a barely perceptible shade darker than the cooling night air, their humped shapes rising in a ring around the lawns of Menabilly.’

Whilst The Mischief Makers was well crafted, and included a lot of interesting elements, I did not enjoy the book anywhere near as much as I expected to, and I cannot quite pinpoint why. There is a lot of really nice, engaging writing here, and I really enjoyed the structure, but the characters did not feel fully fleshed out. As almost everyone who features is based on a real person, this seemed like a huge oversight; it surely would not have been difficult for Gifford to achieve, particularly as du Maurier and Barrie particularly left such a legacy behind them. The novel is readable enough, but it did leave me feeling a little unsatisfied.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel to begin with, it had a delightful Famous Five feel to it. It became a little to dour in its tone in the latter part of the narrative for my liking.