Smoke & Mirrors: A Novel

(Hardback)

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Description

An exciting and twisty middle-grade debut mystery novelperfect for fans of From the Desk of Zoe Washington and The Parker Inheritanceabout the disappearance of a famous magician, and one boys quest to find the truth

Spending the summer with his aunt as the only Black kid in a small Midwestern town was bad enough, but now Andy Carters summer has been effectively ruined. His dads parole hearing is postponed, he misses his friends, andwhen an old barn burns downhes stuck taking the blame.

Andy is sentenced with helping the barns owner, a cantankerous old man, renovate his crumbling mansiona mansion that hides a mystery. It was once owned by the famous magician the Red Nave. In 1954, the Nave was a wanted suspect in the towns most infamous murder before disappearing without a trace.

The whole town is sure the Red Nave is guilty, but to Andy, things just dont add up. Investigating a mystery from the 50s isnt the same as spending time with his dad, but Andy cant help but be drawn into the Red Naves exciting world of magic and illusion. To solve the Naves final vanishing act, Andy teams up with another boy he doesnt quite trust. Secret by secret, they try to uncover the Red Naves identity and learn why his last performance came to such a tragic end.

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

Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Ransaws fast-paced debut offers an introspective look at dealing with racism and ambiguous grief through the eyes of a preteen. Through an intriguing mystery, the story explores biases and preconceptions. A fast-paced, adventurous journey in search of the truth."

* Kirkus Reviews *
Intertwining plotlines regarding the mystery of the Red Nave and Andys struggles navigating prejudice shed light on how preconceived assumptions can strain friendships and communities. * Publisher Weekly *

Author Bio

Rosalyn Ransaw writes middle-grade mysteries with twisty plots and diverse main characters. She has a B.A. from Columbia University in political science and currently lives in Columbus, Ohio. When not writing, you can find her working her day job as a marketing manager, scrolling on social media, or brainstorming her next book idea. Smoke & Mirrors is her first book.