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The School Trip
They should have been watching. But my little girl is gone…
On this crisp October day, the class of six-year-old children are wrapped up warm in gloves and coats for their trip to a local farm. They giggle as they stroke the animals and search for the perfect Halloween pumpkin, and as I watch my daughter Claire race off with her friends, the pink ribbon in her hair bouncing, I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been so hard since my husband died and my sweet little girl deserves to be happy.
But as the sun sets and the teachers gather the children, Claire is nowhere to be seen.
We call the police and frantically scour the fields and playgrounds, my heart breaking as I cry out Claire’s name. And then a detective shows me a video: my daughter, skipping away from the farm, holding hands with an adult in a bulky coat, their cap pulled down low.
My blood turns to ice. Claire would never leave with a stranger. Whoever took her must be someone I know.
But who could want to punish me this badly? Is it linked to the night I refuse to think about—the terrible night my husband died?
Did my mistakes put my baby girl in danger?
Can I save her by finally facing the past?
Or will I lose her forever when the truth comes out?
A brilliantly twisty thriller that will have you gripped from the first page to the final reveal. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.
On this crisp October day, the class of six-year-old children are wrapped up warm in gloves and coats for their trip to a local farm. They giggle as they stroke the animals and search for the perfect Halloween pumpkin, and as I watch my daughter Claire race off with her friends, the pink ribbon in her hair bouncing, I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been so hard since my husband died and my sweet little girl deserves to be happy.
But as the sun sets and the teachers gather the children, Claire is nowhere to be seen.
We call the police and frantically scour the fields and playgrounds, my heart breaking as I cry out Claire’s name. And then a detective shows me a video: my daughter, skipping away from the farm, holding hands with an adult in a bulky coat, their cap pulled down low.
My blood turns to ice. Claire would never leave with a stranger. Whoever took her must be someone I know.
But who could want to punish me this badly? Is it linked to the night I refuse to think about—the terrible night my husband died?
Did my mistakes put my baby girl in danger?
Can I save her by finally facing the past?
Or will I lose her forever when the truth comes out?
A brilliantly twisty thriller that will have you gripped from the first page to the final reveal. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2023
1475 people are currently reading
3220 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Smith
14 books316 followersMiranda Smith writes domestic and psychological suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Her debut novel, SOME DAYS ARE DARK, will be released in March 2020.
Miranda has been a staff writer at a local newspaper and a secondary English teacher. When it comes to fiction, Miranda writes about complicated women, dark impulses and Southern settings.
She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three children.
Miranda has been a staff writer at a local newspaper and a secondary English teacher. When it comes to fiction, Miranda writes about complicated women, dark impulses and Southern settings.
She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
April 13, 2023
Shocking, gripping, and hard to put down, The School Trip contains every parent's worst fear - their child going missing. The School Trip kept me on my toes, fully invested and glued to the pages. Everything can change in an instant and it does for Emma, a kindergarten schoolteacher, when her daughter, Claire, goes missing on a school trip. Emma was busy helping look for another missing child on the same school trip when her own daughter went missing. Another teacher was supposed to be watching Claire, but in an instant, Claire was gone.
I could feel Emma's shock, despair, anxiety, desperation, and heartbreak. Her daughter is missing, and no one saw a thing. Still mourning the death of her husband, Emma is beyond devastated when she can't find her daughter. She feels she has lost everything but is determined to get her daughter back.
This book was full of feeling and as a parent, I felt for Emma. I can't even imagine that stabbing pain she must have felt when she could not find her daughter. This book kept me fully invested and feeling all kinds of emotions. This book was suspenseful, emotional, gripping, and hard to put down. Whew!
Miranda Smith knows how to pull the heartstrings while creating a tense mystery that does not disappoint. I look forward to what she writes next.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
I could feel Emma's shock, despair, anxiety, desperation, and heartbreak. Her daughter is missing, and no one saw a thing. Still mourning the death of her husband, Emma is beyond devastated when she can't find her daughter. She feels she has lost everything but is determined to get her daughter back.
This book was full of feeling and as a parent, I felt for Emma. I can't even imagine that stabbing pain she must have felt when she could not find her daughter. This book kept me fully invested and feeling all kinds of emotions. This book was suspenseful, emotional, gripping, and hard to put down. Whew!
Miranda Smith knows how to pull the heartstrings while creating a tense mystery that does not disappoint. I look forward to what she writes next.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
March 26, 2023
This was a fast and engaging read that really sucked me in. It centers on Emma, whose daughter Claire disappears on a class trip. Working with friends and police and digging further into the death of her husband 2 years ago, Emma is able to connect some dots as who who might be behind the kidnapping.
The book really puts you front and center in the investigation and it was scary to be in Emma’s position. The first part of the book with the distraction is really well done- I went into the book blind and didn’t realize until I read it that the initial scary situation was only a diversion (which the synopsis tells you). I was periodically frustrated with some of the things Emma said and did, but I could also fully empathize with her under the circumstances. I thought the ending of the book was a bit abrupt and almost a little too easy, but that also tracked with what I had learned up until that point about the characters involved.
Overall, good story that really gives you all the feels while also providing a good mystery to solve. Not a whole lot of twists, as I would say this falls more into police procedural than psychological thriller, but an engaging mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book really puts you front and center in the investigation and it was scary to be in Emma’s position. The first part of the book with the distraction is really well done- I went into the book blind and didn’t realize until I read it that the initial scary situation was only a diversion (which the synopsis tells you). I was periodically frustrated with some of the things Emma said and did, but I could also fully empathize with her under the circumstances. I thought the ending of the book was a bit abrupt and almost a little too easy, but that also tracked with what I had learned up until that point about the characters involved.
Overall, good story that really gives you all the feels while also providing a good mystery to solve. Not a whole lot of twists, as I would say this falls more into police procedural than psychological thriller, but an engaging mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2023
★★★★ 4.5 stars
You looked away for a moment...And then she was gone...
I read this book in one afternoon. It's THAT good! My third read by Miranda Smith, THE SCHOOL TRIP is just as thrilling and just as compelling as "Not My Mother" which I just loved. Of course, as soon as it mentioned a missing child I knew this would be right up my alley...and it was. It was everything I love about missing children tropes and thensome. What is even more impressive is that the entire story (bar the final chapter) takes place in one single day. How can an author do that and keep things interesting? Who cares? She did!
Emma is a widowed mother to six year old Claire and a kindergarten teacher. And although she is busy trying to remain present for her daughter, today is a special day for the school where she teaches as it's a field trip day. Most of the childrens' parents have come along to act as chaperone but those who couldn't remained in groups of two or three with their teachers. The teachers have planned things to the nth degree. Security is solid. What could possibly go wrong?
Of course, Claire had hoped to be spending the day solely with her mum at the Pumpkin Patch farm and isn't at all impressed to be having to share her with other students whose parents couldn't come on the school trip. But Claire's attention is soon diverted with the promise of feeding the animals and playing on the ten foot slide and play equipment the farm have. Tantrum diverted.
The past two years have been tough for Emma. Having been on extended maternity leave during Claire's early years, she returned to work to find juggling motherhood and a full time job was not as easy as she'd first thought. And then just as she was trying to find her footing in both camps, her husband David is killed in a car accident leaving her to raise their daughter alone. To make matters worse, Emma and David had been arguing the day of his death and she has never forgiven herself for it. Now Claire is all she has left.
Now Emma is busy navigating the field trip and allocating chaperones with children before heading off to enjoy the day. Claire is busy with her friends, calling out to her mum every so often which Emma obliges. Despite this, she still seems to be having a wonderful time.
And then every teacher's worst nightmare happens...a child goes missing. The farm is placed into lockdown and the police are called as Emma assists in searching for the missing girl. After a couple of hours, the child is thankfully located in the middle of a cornfield maze, sobbing and scared. Everyone is relieved as news spreads that the little girl has been found. Police release the scene and parents begin to leave the farm with their children. But relief is shortlived because while Emma was out searching for the missing child, her own daughter went missing. Frantic, she asks Sarah, her friend and colleague, where Claire is but Sarah can only respond tearfully that she only took her eyes off her for a second. But a second is all it takes.
But the day is almost at an end and night is drawing in, meaning they are now losing daylight. If Claire is out there, she will be in the dark and frightened. But the owner of the farm reassures her that all sections of the farm are now closed so she won't be anywhere on the property. So where is she? And then police discover park footage of Claire leaving with an unknown person. A stranger. But Claire wouldn't have left with a stranger...so who is it that lead her child out of the park?
It's every parent's worst nightmare - your child going missing. And the author brings the reader to the forefront of the investigation as police search for missing Claire. Emma is placed in the spotlight as the media speculate a neglectful mother leaving her child in the care of another at the time she disappeared which only serves to infuriate her further. Why aren't the police updating them with the facts instead of wasting time. Then soon Emma discovers some of those closest to her aren't at all who they appear to be and she begins to wonder just who can she trust? Any one of them could have Claire. Everyone seems to be lying so who can she trust?
The story unfolds through Emma's perspective as well as the first person narrative of the kidnapper and their unhinged "plan". I did question some of Emma's decisions but as I'm not a mother I guess I can't fully comprehend her reasoning behind her behaviour which seemed a little unhinged herself. But the mystery itself was thrilling, emotive and made for addictive reading. There are plenty of suspects to sift through but the real surprise was who. I really didn't see that coming...but it so made perfect sense.
Overall, THE SCHOOL TRIP is a real pageturner and perfect for fans of domestic suspense and anyone who loves a good missing child trope.
I would like to thank #MirandaSmith, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheSchoolTrip in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
You looked away for a moment...And then she was gone...
I read this book in one afternoon. It's THAT good! My third read by Miranda Smith, THE SCHOOL TRIP is just as thrilling and just as compelling as "Not My Mother" which I just loved. Of course, as soon as it mentioned a missing child I knew this would be right up my alley...and it was. It was everything I love about missing children tropes and thensome. What is even more impressive is that the entire story (bar the final chapter) takes place in one single day. How can an author do that and keep things interesting? Who cares? She did!
Emma is a widowed mother to six year old Claire and a kindergarten teacher. And although she is busy trying to remain present for her daughter, today is a special day for the school where she teaches as it's a field trip day. Most of the childrens' parents have come along to act as chaperone but those who couldn't remained in groups of two or three with their teachers. The teachers have planned things to the nth degree. Security is solid. What could possibly go wrong?
Of course, Claire had hoped to be spending the day solely with her mum at the Pumpkin Patch farm and isn't at all impressed to be having to share her with other students whose parents couldn't come on the school trip. But Claire's attention is soon diverted with the promise of feeding the animals and playing on the ten foot slide and play equipment the farm have. Tantrum diverted.
The past two years have been tough for Emma. Having been on extended maternity leave during Claire's early years, she returned to work to find juggling motherhood and a full time job was not as easy as she'd first thought. And then just as she was trying to find her footing in both camps, her husband David is killed in a car accident leaving her to raise their daughter alone. To make matters worse, Emma and David had been arguing the day of his death and she has never forgiven herself for it. Now Claire is all she has left.
Now Emma is busy navigating the field trip and allocating chaperones with children before heading off to enjoy the day. Claire is busy with her friends, calling out to her mum every so often which Emma obliges. Despite this, she still seems to be having a wonderful time.
And then every teacher's worst nightmare happens...a child goes missing. The farm is placed into lockdown and the police are called as Emma assists in searching for the missing girl. After a couple of hours, the child is thankfully located in the middle of a cornfield maze, sobbing and scared. Everyone is relieved as news spreads that the little girl has been found. Police release the scene and parents begin to leave the farm with their children. But relief is shortlived because while Emma was out searching for the missing child, her own daughter went missing. Frantic, she asks Sarah, her friend and colleague, where Claire is but Sarah can only respond tearfully that she only took her eyes off her for a second. But a second is all it takes.
But the day is almost at an end and night is drawing in, meaning they are now losing daylight. If Claire is out there, she will be in the dark and frightened. But the owner of the farm reassures her that all sections of the farm are now closed so she won't be anywhere on the property. So where is she? And then police discover park footage of Claire leaving with an unknown person. A stranger. But Claire wouldn't have left with a stranger...so who is it that lead her child out of the park?
It's every parent's worst nightmare - your child going missing. And the author brings the reader to the forefront of the investigation as police search for missing Claire. Emma is placed in the spotlight as the media speculate a neglectful mother leaving her child in the care of another at the time she disappeared which only serves to infuriate her further. Why aren't the police updating them with the facts instead of wasting time. Then soon Emma discovers some of those closest to her aren't at all who they appear to be and she begins to wonder just who can she trust? Any one of them could have Claire. Everyone seems to be lying so who can she trust?
The story unfolds through Emma's perspective as well as the first person narrative of the kidnapper and their unhinged "plan". I did question some of Emma's decisions but as I'm not a mother I guess I can't fully comprehend her reasoning behind her behaviour which seemed a little unhinged herself. But the mystery itself was thrilling, emotive and made for addictive reading. There are plenty of suspects to sift through but the real surprise was who. I really didn't see that coming...but it so made perfect sense.
Overall, THE SCHOOL TRIP is a real pageturner and perfect for fans of domestic suspense and anyone who loves a good missing child trope.
I would like to thank #MirandaSmith, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheSchoolTrip in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 24, 2025
The characters were so one dimensional and it bothered me the whole time!!! Execution of the story was good but the final part of the book is just so flat. As flat as the characters in it, I should say. All this built up momentum for that ending? Bleh. So rushed. But I liked the book enough for three stars even if I have a seemingly a billion complaints lol🤭😭🤣 The journey to get to the blah ending was satisfying enough.
April 13, 2023
Emma is a kindergarten teacher, and today is field trip day! She and her colleagues will be taking their classes to a pumpkin patch, and Claire, Emma’s six-year-old daughter, will be joining her mom and classmates. Emma’s been having a rough year; her husband was killed in a car accident, and she’s now raising Claire alone. She’s looking forward to her day, despite field trips being a challenge.
This day and this book definitely started with a bang. The beginning was amazingly tense and terrifying (and also a bit sad - this does deal with child abduction). Eventually, a teacher loses track of a child … the abduction has begun! I was relieved; I didn’t want Emma to lose her child right after losing her husband.
The relief was short-lived though, when that child is soon found. As Emma brings the little girl to her mother, she is approached by another teacher. While Emma was out looking for the first missing child, her own child went missing. Soon, the police find footage of Claire leaving with a man in a hoodie, driving a rental car. She didn’t seem distressed, but she is gone and Emma doesn’t have any idea who would take her.
The rest of the book races through the evening, as they try to find Claire. As the police investigate, Emma soon realizes that some of her coworkers she thought were friends were anything but. Everyone seems to be lying, who can she trust? We also get the first-person narrative of the kidnapper thrown in, and “The Plan” is definitely unhinged.
As this went on, the story started to lose its luster as more and more red herrings are thrown out. The ending was good, but a bit cliche. Otherwise though, this was a very suspenseful novel and definitely a page-turner. 3.5 stars, rounded up!
(Thank you to Bookouture, Miranda Smith, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
This day and this book definitely started with a bang. The beginning was amazingly tense and terrifying (and also a bit sad - this does deal with child abduction). Eventually, a teacher loses track of a child … the abduction has begun! I was relieved; I didn’t want Emma to lose her child right after losing her husband.
The relief was short-lived though, when that child is soon found. As Emma brings the little girl to her mother, she is approached by another teacher. While Emma was out looking for the first missing child, her own child went missing. Soon, the police find footage of Claire leaving with a man in a hoodie, driving a rental car. She didn’t seem distressed, but she is gone and Emma doesn’t have any idea who would take her.
The rest of the book races through the evening, as they try to find Claire. As the police investigate, Emma soon realizes that some of her coworkers she thought were friends were anything but. Everyone seems to be lying, who can she trust? We also get the first-person narrative of the kidnapper thrown in, and “The Plan” is definitely unhinged.
As this went on, the story started to lose its luster as more and more red herrings are thrown out. The ending was good, but a bit cliche. Otherwise though, this was a very suspenseful novel and definitely a page-turner. 3.5 stars, rounded up!
(Thank you to Bookouture, Miranda Smith, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
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April 2, 2023You know that horrible feeling you get when your child disappears from your eyesight? Miranda Smith nails it in her latest psychological thriller. A story that will have your heart racing and keep you on edge until you turn the last page!
November 5, 2023
3.5 stars. Reads well, and I finished it quickly. The ending felt pretty rushed. But I did enjoy it!
April 2, 2023
The School Trip was an 'unputdownable' book that kept me up way past bedtime. There was no way that I could sleep until I found out how the book ended.
Emma is a kindergarten teacher. She's a recent widow and worries about her 6 year old daughter Claire and how her father's death will affect her. As the story begins, all of the kindergarten classes take a field trip to the local pumpkin patch. Even though Claire isn't in Emma's class, they are on the field trip together. The kids have a great time - petting the animals, going on a hayride and playing in the park. Claire doesn't get to spend as much time as with Claire because she has to take care of her own class but she trusts her daughter's teacher to do the same. When a little girl goes missing, Emma works with the other teachers to find her. The police are called and when the little girl is found, the parents and their children begin to leave. That's when Emma realizes that Claire is missing. She knows that her daughter wouldn't leave with a stranger and begins to search for her. The police have a video of the park exit that shows Claire walking out of the park with a stranger. After losing her husband two years before, she is totally upset that she may have also lost her daughter and blaming herself as she wonders if there is somehow a link between her husband's death and her daughter's disappearance.
As a parent, it's hard to imagine anything worse than having your child disappear and the author takes us through all of Emma's anguish and tears. Her willingness to do whatever she can to find her daughter cause the police to begin to leave her out of their case but she's willing to go against them and follow an idea that she has about who is responsible. This book was a real roller coaster ride with lots of twists and turns. The author did an interesting thing to make things even more tense for the reader -- interspersed in the story are several chapters by the kidnapper who has an attitude that is totally unhinged. Those chapters made me worry more about what the outcome would be because I could see the unnamed kidnapper as someone willing to hurt Claire
This was a fantastic thrilling book that melded the search for the child with the grief from the loss of her husband that Emma continues to work through. I highly recommend this thriller and have ordered some of Miranda Smith's earlier novels.
Emma is a kindergarten teacher. She's a recent widow and worries about her 6 year old daughter Claire and how her father's death will affect her. As the story begins, all of the kindergarten classes take a field trip to the local pumpkin patch. Even though Claire isn't in Emma's class, they are on the field trip together. The kids have a great time - petting the animals, going on a hayride and playing in the park. Claire doesn't get to spend as much time as with Claire because she has to take care of her own class but she trusts her daughter's teacher to do the same. When a little girl goes missing, Emma works with the other teachers to find her. The police are called and when the little girl is found, the parents and their children begin to leave. That's when Emma realizes that Claire is missing. She knows that her daughter wouldn't leave with a stranger and begins to search for her. The police have a video of the park exit that shows Claire walking out of the park with a stranger. After losing her husband two years before, she is totally upset that she may have also lost her daughter and blaming herself as she wonders if there is somehow a link between her husband's death and her daughter's disappearance.
As a parent, it's hard to imagine anything worse than having your child disappear and the author takes us through all of Emma's anguish and tears. Her willingness to do whatever she can to find her daughter cause the police to begin to leave her out of their case but she's willing to go against them and follow an idea that she has about who is responsible. This book was a real roller coaster ride with lots of twists and turns. The author did an interesting thing to make things even more tense for the reader -- interspersed in the story are several chapters by the kidnapper who has an attitude that is totally unhinged. Those chapters made me worry more about what the outcome would be because I could see the unnamed kidnapper as someone willing to hurt Claire
This was a fantastic thrilling book that melded the search for the child with the grief from the loss of her husband that Emma continues to work through. I highly recommend this thriller and have ordered some of Miranda Smith's earlier novels.
May 8, 2023
This is one of those books that you could easily finish in one sitting. It was so hard for me to put this down and focus on something else, I had to know what was going to happen next. I literally devoured this in a day, it was such a fast, thrilling, twisty story.
This book follows Emma, a single mother to a six year old daughter, who is trying to navigate her life two years after her beloved husband was killed in a car crash. She is also a dedicated teacher at her daughter, Claire’s, school. The book starts with Emma and Claire on a school trip at a pumpkin patch with the whole class. The day starts off good, but ends in disaster when Emma’s daughter goes missing, and is suspected to have been kidnapped. Emma is sure Claire wouldn’t have left with a stranger and it must have been someone she knew, so Emma is questioning everyone and everything and has no idea who she can trust.
Emma’s grief and anguish is strong and was really upsetting to follow at times but really raw and real. It really showed the impact of having a missing child and how much it tore her apart, and the lengths she would go to in order to save her daughter. This was so cleverly written and pieced together and the twist towards the end was really shocking! This was a really good mystery with some good twists, I’d highly recommend reading this!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Emma, a single mother to a six year old daughter, who is trying to navigate her life two years after her beloved husband was killed in a car crash. She is also a dedicated teacher at her daughter, Claire’s, school. The book starts with Emma and Claire on a school trip at a pumpkin patch with the whole class. The day starts off good, but ends in disaster when Emma’s daughter goes missing, and is suspected to have been kidnapped. Emma is sure Claire wouldn’t have left with a stranger and it must have been someone she knew, so Emma is questioning everyone and everything and has no idea who she can trust.
Emma’s grief and anguish is strong and was really upsetting to follow at times but really raw and real. It really showed the impact of having a missing child and how much it tore her apart, and the lengths she would go to in order to save her daughter. This was so cleverly written and pieced together and the twist towards the end was really shocking! This was a really good mystery with some good twists, I’d highly recommend reading this!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2023
The School Trip is gripping, fast paced and packed with twists that will keep you guessing throughout.
Emma is a teacher who is going on a school trip.
Together with her work colleagues and her daughter, Claire who also attends the school, it’s a day of fun and adventure.
Emma recently lost her husband and is finding it hard to raise her daughter on her own.
But soon the day turns to devastation as Claire disappears.
Things are not adding up…..
And there’s a darkness lurking in the shadows until the truth comes out…..
A tense and smartly created plot with drama and unexpected surprises.
This is my first Miranda Smith read and I was convincingly impressed and I’m keen to attack more of her books.
Sharp, emotional and compelling, it will capture your attention and not let go.
The pace is good, the build up is good and it gives you the confidence and urgency to carry on reading.
A greatly written thriller with unexpected twists.
Between the characters, the storyline and the reveals, this latest read from a talented author is a one that is completely recommended.
Emma is a teacher who is going on a school trip.
Together with her work colleagues and her daughter, Claire who also attends the school, it’s a day of fun and adventure.
Emma recently lost her husband and is finding it hard to raise her daughter on her own.
But soon the day turns to devastation as Claire disappears.
Things are not adding up…..
And there’s a darkness lurking in the shadows until the truth comes out…..
A tense and smartly created plot with drama and unexpected surprises.
This is my first Miranda Smith read and I was convincingly impressed and I’m keen to attack more of her books.
Sharp, emotional and compelling, it will capture your attention and not let go.
The pace is good, the build up is good and it gives you the confidence and urgency to carry on reading.
A greatly written thriller with unexpected twists.
Between the characters, the storyline and the reveals, this latest read from a talented author is a one that is completely recommended.
April 13, 2023
Fabulously gripping sinister tale I did actually think I should steer away from this one as a mother and Early Years teacher about to go on a trip… Anyway, as with any good thriller it plays on our worst fears and insecurities and shows them In horrifying reality in story form. There were various twists and turns, some I guessed and some I didn’t and some nice little details which added to the story, like the soda can which appealed to my inner geek. I liked the characters and the pace and the backstory and reasonings were good too. Recommend.
August 14, 2023
This was a good read. Revenge is real. A mom and school teacher looses her child and it’s a whirlwind story with ups and downs that keeps you guessing who was the kidnapper.
April 14, 2023
The School Trip by Miranda Smith is a thriller that will keep you on edge until the end. Emma is a single mom of a six year old daughter, Claire. Emma's husband was killed in a car accident 2 years ago and it's been very difficult on her and Claire. Emma is a teacher at the same school that Claire attends. It's hard for Emma to find a balance in her life between work, taking care of Claire, and life. The emptiness she feels over the loss of her husband doesn't ever go away.
There's a school trip to a pumpkin patch and farm that Emma's class and Claire's class are attending. There are many parent volunteers to help with the large group of kids. The kids are very excited to pick their own pumpkins as it's getting close to Halloween. There's also animals to visit, a playground, and a corn maze. Claire wants her mom all to herself for the trip, but that can't happen because Emma is a teacher who must monitor the group of kids, give directions to the parent volunteers, and help the rest of the staff know what to do on a trip like this.
Everything starts out smoothly and the kids are having a wonderful time. Emma steals some time away from her group to spend time with Claire throughout the morning. Emma has assistants that cover for her so that she can be with Claire. Claire picks out her pumpkin when her mom is with her and even picks out one for her mom. She's excited to make it a jack o lantern and they decide they will do that tonight. They'll stop on the way home and buy a kit. Claire is thrilled but wants more time with her mom. Emma explains that she must go back to her group and Claire is to return to her teacher's group.
Lunch is set up at the picnic tables and everyone comes back with their groups of kids to eat. They take turns going to the different areas so that no area is too crowded. One of the teachers is a bit late coming back for lunch but finally makes it. Emma knows immediately that her friend is upset. When Emma goes to her to find out what's wrong she lets her know that she can't find one of the kids in her group. Several teachers and assistants set off to check the animal barn and playground. When they come back and haven't found the child, the police are called. Emma tries to keep the parent volunteers calm as the police arrive. The owner of the farm tells them about the corn mazes and that a child of six could get lost in there for hours if they went in alone. Emma and another teacher head to the corn mazes to search. The police split up and take different areas of the farm. After 20 minutes or more inside the maze, Emma hears a noise, and finds the girl. She's sitting on the grass inside the maze drinking a soda. She's really scared and says she wants to go home.
The police haven't let anyone leave and treated the farm like a crime scene. As Emma heads back to the group with the girl, everyone is thrilled! Parents are now allowed to leave and take their kids home, while other kids are going back to the school on the bus. Several staff have already left on one of the buses. One of Emma's fellow teachers comes back and she's distraught. Emma tells her they found the girl and not to worry, but she tells Emma that Claire is missing. Everything happened so fast and everyone was so focused on the missing girl that she had taken her eyes off of Claire while at the playground. She assumed Claire was in one of the tubes that the kids slide down, but she wasn't. Emma's skin prickles and fear creeps in as she can't believe she found one missing girl, but now has lost her own daughter! While the police are still there, Emma tells them that her daughter is missing and hasn't been seen in an hour or more.
A new group of police and detectives arrive as this is very different from the first case. The farm was locked down when the first girl went missing, but now it was wide open with many people leaving in different directions to take the kids home or back to school. Because of the chaos, kidnapping is.a very real possibility. Emma feels sick as everyone that's left goes off searching for Claire. Before dark, Detective Sanchez takes Emma home in case someone took Emma there to help out or in case the kidnapper calls with a ransom demand.
As you read The School Trip there is another point of view periodically that talks about wanting to take the girl, get payback, etc. As the reader you have no idea who that person is and I had no luck figuring it out on my own. Will Claire be found? Was she kidnapped? Who would kidnap a six year old? Is Emma the real target? Why would someone target Emma or Claire? They've both suffered through so much. I read this book in 2 days because I couldn't put it down. This book is very well written and the story will make you read way too fast. I thoroughly enjoyed The School Trip and rate it 4 stars.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The School Trip in exchange for a fair review. #TheSchoolTrip
There's a school trip to a pumpkin patch and farm that Emma's class and Claire's class are attending. There are many parent volunteers to help with the large group of kids. The kids are very excited to pick their own pumpkins as it's getting close to Halloween. There's also animals to visit, a playground, and a corn maze. Claire wants her mom all to herself for the trip, but that can't happen because Emma is a teacher who must monitor the group of kids, give directions to the parent volunteers, and help the rest of the staff know what to do on a trip like this.
Everything starts out smoothly and the kids are having a wonderful time. Emma steals some time away from her group to spend time with Claire throughout the morning. Emma has assistants that cover for her so that she can be with Claire. Claire picks out her pumpkin when her mom is with her and even picks out one for her mom. She's excited to make it a jack o lantern and they decide they will do that tonight. They'll stop on the way home and buy a kit. Claire is thrilled but wants more time with her mom. Emma explains that she must go back to her group and Claire is to return to her teacher's group.
Lunch is set up at the picnic tables and everyone comes back with their groups of kids to eat. They take turns going to the different areas so that no area is too crowded. One of the teachers is a bit late coming back for lunch but finally makes it. Emma knows immediately that her friend is upset. When Emma goes to her to find out what's wrong she lets her know that she can't find one of the kids in her group. Several teachers and assistants set off to check the animal barn and playground. When they come back and haven't found the child, the police are called. Emma tries to keep the parent volunteers calm as the police arrive. The owner of the farm tells them about the corn mazes and that a child of six could get lost in there for hours if they went in alone. Emma and another teacher head to the corn mazes to search. The police split up and take different areas of the farm. After 20 minutes or more inside the maze, Emma hears a noise, and finds the girl. She's sitting on the grass inside the maze drinking a soda. She's really scared and says she wants to go home.
The police haven't let anyone leave and treated the farm like a crime scene. As Emma heads back to the group with the girl, everyone is thrilled! Parents are now allowed to leave and take their kids home, while other kids are going back to the school on the bus. Several staff have already left on one of the buses. One of Emma's fellow teachers comes back and she's distraught. Emma tells her they found the girl and not to worry, but she tells Emma that Claire is missing. Everything happened so fast and everyone was so focused on the missing girl that she had taken her eyes off of Claire while at the playground. She assumed Claire was in one of the tubes that the kids slide down, but she wasn't. Emma's skin prickles and fear creeps in as she can't believe she found one missing girl, but now has lost her own daughter! While the police are still there, Emma tells them that her daughter is missing and hasn't been seen in an hour or more.
A new group of police and detectives arrive as this is very different from the first case. The farm was locked down when the first girl went missing, but now it was wide open with many people leaving in different directions to take the kids home or back to school. Because of the chaos, kidnapping is.a very real possibility. Emma feels sick as everyone that's left goes off searching for Claire. Before dark, Detective Sanchez takes Emma home in case someone took Emma there to help out or in case the kidnapper calls with a ransom demand.
As you read The School Trip there is another point of view periodically that talks about wanting to take the girl, get payback, etc. As the reader you have no idea who that person is and I had no luck figuring it out on my own. Will Claire be found? Was she kidnapped? Who would kidnap a six year old? Is Emma the real target? Why would someone target Emma or Claire? They've both suffered through so much. I read this book in 2 days because I couldn't put it down. This book is very well written and the story will make you read way too fast. I thoroughly enjoyed The School Trip and rate it 4 stars.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The School Trip in exchange for a fair review. #TheSchoolTrip
April 14, 2023
Claire is a parent and a teacher. She and other teachers, as well as several parents, are headed to a school trip at a local farm. Despite some misgivings, the day seems like it is going swimmingly well. However, at some point, Claire’s daughter Emma goes missing. Everyone, especially Claire, is in a panic. Where has her daughter gone?
With a huge pumpkin patch, animals and other activities for children, the farm is huge. Desperate to find her daughter, Claire reluctantly returns home, with the police by her side, as it soon becomes apparent that Emma was taken.
Not only is it clear that Emma was kidnapped, Claire and the police wonder if it is someone from Claire’s past who has taken Emma. As this heartbreaking story is being told, Claire realizes how alone she and Emma are, especially after losing her husband several years ago in a tragic accident.
The search continues for little Emma, and the list of suspects who could’ve taken her continues to grow. Claire’s feelings were palpable, as any parent, or grandparent in my case, would feel if their little one was taken. Filled with angst, I turned page after page with true hopes that Emma would be found safe and sound. This book was one that was impossible to put down. Miranda Smith did a fabulous job with this latest book as she kept the tension at an all-time high while pulling the reader’s attention into the story.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
With a huge pumpkin patch, animals and other activities for children, the farm is huge. Desperate to find her daughter, Claire reluctantly returns home, with the police by her side, as it soon becomes apparent that Emma was taken.
Not only is it clear that Emma was kidnapped, Claire and the police wonder if it is someone from Claire’s past who has taken Emma. As this heartbreaking story is being told, Claire realizes how alone she and Emma are, especially after losing her husband several years ago in a tragic accident.
The search continues for little Emma, and the list of suspects who could’ve taken her continues to grow. Claire’s feelings were palpable, as any parent, or grandparent in my case, would feel if their little one was taken. Filled with angst, I turned page after page with true hopes that Emma would be found safe and sound. This book was one that was impossible to put down. Miranda Smith did a fabulous job with this latest book as she kept the tension at an all-time high while pulling the reader’s attention into the story.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
September 5, 2023
Emma is an elementary school teacher. She and her daughter are on a field trip to a local pumpkin patch with the rest of her students. One of them goes missing and the search is on. Thankfully that student is recovered safely on the property. In the chaos that ensues, another child goes missing. Emma's daughter, Claire.
This was a gripping, captivating thriller that had no shortage of high-stakes suspense. There were so many shocking revelations and twists that turned this case on its head.
Emma slowly became a woman I didn't much like. At first, she was a respectable mother and teacher who'd suffered heartache. But her backward choices altered my view of her. Who worries more about money than their kid? Who puts old family drama before their missing child? Who watches a talk show while their child's life is ticking by? It drove me absolutely bonkers! The detective in charge of the case was almost as frustrating.
There were some great red herrings at play with the rest of the cast. I kept guessing and second guessing. I couldn't bout this down. I had to know what had happened.
This was a gripping, captivating thriller that had no shortage of high-stakes suspense. There were so many shocking revelations and twists that turned this case on its head.
Emma slowly became a woman I didn't much like. At first, she was a respectable mother and teacher who'd suffered heartache. But her backward choices altered my view of her. Who worries more about money than their kid? Who puts old family drama before their missing child? Who watches a talk show while their child's life is ticking by? It drove me absolutely bonkers! The detective in charge of the case was almost as frustrating.
There were some great red herrings at play with the rest of the cast. I kept guessing and second guessing. I couldn't bout this down. I had to know what had happened.
April 7, 2023
This book had me up til 3 AM! This is another AMAZING psychological thriller! I’ve never heard of this author, however after reading her book I’ll be binging more! I finished this book roughly in 2 days! It’s a really fast paced thriller which I personally love! I had multiple theories about the plot twist, however I was very wrong. I also loved that about the book, that I couldn’t guess the twist(s)! I got serious Criminal Minds vibes from the legal point of the book! This book is tragic, heartbreaking, thrilling, while at the same time heart warming. I would give this book a 4.5/5! I’m so excited for it to be released and highly recommend it!
I would like to thank @netgalley, Bookouture, and Miranda Smith for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!
This book releases on 4.13.23!
I would like to thank @netgalley, Bookouture, and Miranda Smith for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!
This book releases on 4.13.23!
May 14, 2023
I’d seen mixed reviews for this book but decided to give it a try. So pleased I did. There was a lot of unfolding of the plot, different characters being woven into the story as it developed but for me it was a good read.
July 18, 2023
Every teacher’s worst nightmare. A bit of an abrupt ending, but overall a quick and enjoyable read. As a teacher I was hesitant to give this one a try, but it made the feelings and experiences of Emma’s longest day ever seem that much more relatable.
April 9, 2023
As a teacher, this is one of my worst nightmares. Tense book, keeps you on the edge of your seat. Good twists. Had me guessing who the abductor was up until the reveal!
April 23, 2023
What a brilliant read this was! Loved it so very much. Packed with twists,this book had me glued to the pages and I just couldn't keep away. Addictiveqnd wonderful.
August 9, 2023
A slow start but turned out to be a decent read
October 12, 2024
September book club read
We decided to read this book for our book club September’s pick. The theme was school related. I thought it was going to go in a completely different direction so was surprised how all the story lines came together. Overall, good read. Interested to read more by this author.
We decided to read this book for our book club September’s pick. The theme was school related. I thought it was going to go in a completely different direction so was surprised how all the story lines came together. Overall, good read. Interested to read more by this author.
August 12, 2024
Un vrai page turner, mais j’ai été un peu déçu par la fin!
September 21, 2024
I was really into this book for the first half. The pages just flew by and I was trying to figure out who took Claire. BTW my first guess was wrong.
Unfortunately the second half of the book took the wind out of my sails. I was getting mad at the mother and I didn’t feel the story about her husband’s death was as scandalous as we were supposed to think. Overall, it was a decent read but not one you have to run out and buy.
Unfortunately the second half of the book took the wind out of my sails. I was getting mad at the mother and I didn’t feel the story about her husband’s death was as scandalous as we were supposed to think. Overall, it was a decent read but not one you have to run out and buy.
July 22, 2023
This was a good read - I did guess part of the plot but it didn’t spoil the book for me . Would recommend
March 15, 2023
In summary: I started this book late last night and before I knew it, I was 200 pages in well past midnight and had to FORCE myself to go to bed when all I wanted to do was finish it.
If you're in search of an absolutely unputdownable thriller, pick this one up.
The book starts from the POV of "someone". We don't know name, age, gender, anything, but we know they're troubled and they have a plan to take "the girl". So basically, by page one, you're sucked in.
We go on to meet Emma, a school teacher and single mother, taking her students (including her daughter) on a field trip. Within those first few chapters, you really grow to like Emma & her coworkers. There's not an overbearing amount of detail about them, but it's enough to want to see where the day takes them.
The day takes a turn when one child goes missing, and as a the reader, you are immediately put in panic mode. Unfortunately, that is only the start of the horrible day to come.
This novel was incredible, and not just in terms of suspense (where it was INSANE). But there's so much to be said in here about grief and the domino effect loss can create.
Make sure you have a few hours in your schedule clear before you start this one. Can't remember the last time I binged a book like this one. I will absolutely be reading more from Miranda Smith!
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you're in search of an absolutely unputdownable thriller, pick this one up.
The book starts from the POV of "someone". We don't know name, age, gender, anything, but we know they're troubled and they have a plan to take "the girl". So basically, by page one, you're sucked in.
We go on to meet Emma, a school teacher and single mother, taking her students (including her daughter) on a field trip. Within those first few chapters, you really grow to like Emma & her coworkers. There's not an overbearing amount of detail about them, but it's enough to want to see where the day takes them.
The day takes a turn when one child goes missing, and as a the reader, you are immediately put in panic mode. Unfortunately, that is only the start of the horrible day to come.
This novel was incredible, and not just in terms of suspense (where it was INSANE). But there's so much to be said in here about grief and the domino effect loss can create.
Make sure you have a few hours in your schedule clear before you start this one. Can't remember the last time I binged a book like this one. I will absolutely be reading more from Miranda Smith!
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 22, 2023
The story start with a field trip to a pumpkin patch--Emma who is a kindergarten teacher along with her daughter Claire goes to the school trip. As the trip is nearing to an end, a girl goes missing first and Emma being a responsible teacher starts looking for the girl, leaving her daughter behind with other teachers. As the girl was found and the crowd start leaving the premises, Emma realizes someone else also goes missing--her daughter had gone missing.
This was actually a really good thriller! Though it started out a little slow, it started gaining momentum towards the middle of the book when Claire was kidnapped. I was then hooked into the story. There are some twists, the story itself was fast paced and engaging. Did one of the teachers kidnap Claire? Secrets are revealed showing true color of the characters making nearly everyone in the story a suspect. The ending of the story was unexpected. This was the third book I have read from this author and I have to say, I really start enjoying reading her thrillers.
If you are looking for a thriller with child abduction as a theme, a thriller that is a page turner and unputdownable, then this book is one for you--worth five stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
This was actually a really good thriller! Though it started out a little slow, it started gaining momentum towards the middle of the book when Claire was kidnapped. I was then hooked into the story. There are some twists, the story itself was fast paced and engaging. Did one of the teachers kidnap Claire? Secrets are revealed showing true color of the characters making nearly everyone in the story a suspect. The ending of the story was unexpected. This was the third book I have read from this author and I have to say, I really start enjoying reading her thrillers.
If you are looking for a thriller with child abduction as a theme, a thriller that is a page turner and unputdownable, then this book is one for you--worth five stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
April 9, 2023
First, I want to thank Miranda Smith, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! Miranda Smith’s latest psychological thriller The School Trip is literally something ripped from the headlines! It is every teachers and parents' worst nightmare come true! The School Trip will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride pulling hard on your heartstrings! Infact, I wanted to reach out to my niece and nephew and give them a huge hug!
Everything I crave in a psychological thriller Miranda incorporated into this book! I absolutely adored how she thought outside of the box with the insanely intense storyline, missing person cases, the wicked twists and turns that if you blinked you would miss. It is just a phenomenal read that I couldn’t get enough of!
Everyone who reads The School Trip will be raving about this book and telling all of their friends!! This is my ultimate favorite book that I have read of Miranda Smith and deserves way more than 5 stars!
WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! Miranda Smith’s latest psychological thriller The School Trip is literally something ripped from the headlines! It is every teachers and parents' worst nightmare come true! The School Trip will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride pulling hard on your heartstrings! Infact, I wanted to reach out to my niece and nephew and give them a huge hug!
Everything I crave in a psychological thriller Miranda incorporated into this book! I absolutely adored how she thought outside of the box with the insanely intense storyline, missing person cases, the wicked twists and turns that if you blinked you would miss. It is just a phenomenal read that I couldn’t get enough of!
Everyone who reads The School Trip will be raving about this book and telling all of their friends!! This is my ultimate favorite book that I have read of Miranda Smith and deserves way more than 5 stars!
May 3, 2023
MS is one of my go-to authors when I check the NetGalley book list.
Whilst Miranda Smith set up a very exciting and unique story in her latest novel, The School Trip, I couldn’t help but feel that it was a little lacking, it felt like it's not her. The style, the dialogues, the "twist", it didn't feel like hers.
The final part of this story takes place over just a day and it was packed with action, but not much excitement. For me, it felt like there was something missing compared to what I'd seen in the first two novels. I’m not a fan of repetitive sentences, but I can see how the author used them to show a scene’s chaos, while maintaining a hectic pace, as the story approached the climax.
Thank you for providing me with a copy of this book.
I struggled to get into it because I keep telling myself it's not the classic MS writing style. I ruined it for myself (LOL).
The book is okay though and there are no doubt many people who would be an ideal audience for this book. But I am not one of them.
Whilst Miranda Smith set up a very exciting and unique story in her latest novel, The School Trip, I couldn’t help but feel that it was a little lacking, it felt like it's not her. The style, the dialogues, the "twist", it didn't feel like hers.
The final part of this story takes place over just a day and it was packed with action, but not much excitement. For me, it felt like there was something missing compared to what I'd seen in the first two novels. I’m not a fan of repetitive sentences, but I can see how the author used them to show a scene’s chaos, while maintaining a hectic pace, as the story approached the climax.
Thank you for providing me with a copy of this book.
I struggled to get into it because I keep telling myself it's not the classic MS writing style. I ruined it for myself (LOL).
The book is okay though and there are no doubt many people who would be an ideal audience for this book. But I am not one of them.
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