The Misper

by Bea Davenport

I knew this girl, you see. A sort of a friend. No one thought she really mattered much, but that turned out to be a mistake. Because she blew a hole through my life – and the lives of everyone I knew.

Anna's found the perfect friend in Zoe: she's cool, she's smart, she's goth, she's gorgeous. If only geeky Kerry would stop hanging around and cramping their style. They'd like to get rid of her. But they should be careful what they wish for...

The Misper by best-selling crime and children's writer Bea Davenport is a gripping story of obsessive friendships, jealousies, bullying – and the consequences of your actions.

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2018

About the author

Bea Davenport is the writing name of former print and broadcast journalist Barbara Henderson.Her first crime/suspense novel, In Too Deep, was a runner-up in the Luke Bitmead Bursary and published by Legend Press in 2013. A second crime/suspense novel. This Little Piggy, was also published by Legend Press in 2014.
Bea spent many years as a newspaper reporter and latterly seventeen years as a senior broadcast journalist with the BBC in the north-east of England. She has a Creative Writing PhD from Newcastle University where she studied under the supervision of award-winning writer Jackie Kay and renowned literature expert Professor Kim Reynolds. The children's novel produced as part of the PhD, The Serpent House, was shortlisted for a Times/Chicken House Award and published in 2014 by Curious Fox. Her second children's book, My Cousin Faustina, was originally written as an interactive e-book in conjunction with schools across the world. Her novel for readers aged 13-plus, The Misper, was published in 2018 by The Conrad Press. Bea has also won several prizes for short stories.
Originally from Tyneside, she lives in Berwick-upon-Tweed with her partner and children.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

First impressions – the cover – the cover is great! It hints at the three friends and yet you don’t see their faces – they remain a mystery – a mystery that can only be unlocked by delving into these pages.

For anyone unfamiliar with the term Misper, let me bring you up to date – it is, quite simply Police slang for a missing person. And in the first few pages it is immediately clear that this is the thrust of the story. Someone has disappeared and at first we don’t even know who – not to mention why! Police are everywhere, parents and friends distraught.

Rewind several months and we start to fill in the gaps. Anna is starting a new school, and is instantly drawn to goth girl Zoe. As their friendship develops it soon becomes clear that something is not quite right with Zoe, but before we can find out more in bounces Kerry, an awkward geek of a girl who nobody really likes. Anna feels both sorry for her but at the same time that she is driving a wedge between her and Zoe. They both wish Kerry would go away and leave them alone.

Then Zoe starts dabbling in witchcraft and things take a more sinister turn.

This is a really gripping book. From almost the first page I was embroiled in Anna’s world and the pace and intrigue never lets up. The scary parts are really scary, the tense parts really tense, and I can tell you I won’t be snooping round any graveyards anytime soon.

But what I loved the most was the character of Anna. I really felt I could relate to her, almost as if there was a bit of me in her. I think if I was in her shoes I would have done exactly the same…

I know this is a book aimed at the teenage market, but I really enjoyed reading it too. In fact I read it in one sitting before I realised what was happening – and I’d only meant to read the first chapter!

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Misper is a young adult thriller set in the UK. It is the story of Anna, who is fourteen; she has just moved schools to make a fresh start.

A few months ago, the police were asking questions. They repeatedly asked her about the disappearance of a student. But Anna couldn’t tell them the whole story; she felt they were unlikely to believe her. For full review see here https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bTw

[Kim Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A YA story of jealousy and bullying that shows how easy it is to be sucked in to something.

[Rosemary Orme · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book. It starts near the end and introduced a feeling of menace and suspense. Has she murdered both her friends? We are gripped and it is an urgent page turner.

Bea explores the troubled backgrounds of the three children and their psychological make ups. We are entranced, involved and empathetic.

There are sneaky twists and turns and compelling sub plots. There is not a lot of relaxing space within its pages.

If you are ready for a thrill, read it now!