Official Review: The Mirrors by E F Townsend

Poppy Drear · Post by **Poppy Drear** » 01 Aug 2020, 21:40

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Mirrors" by E F Townsend.]

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

When one of her renters goes missing, Tori is shocked to find the historical mansion she'd been renting out full of mirrors, and she later learns that her renter was investigating the supernatural phenomena he'd been experiencing. Compelled to learn more and wanting to clear her own name, she winds up investigating the case alongside Hal, a paranormal investigator. In The Mirrors by E. F. Townsend, mysteries abound, and it'll take courage, quick thinking, and lots of bravery for Tori to figure out what really happened.

With an expertly constructed and very unique plot, this book had me invested all the way through. The mystery was complex enough to be interesting, but it didn't feel convoluted, and I enjoyed trying to figure out if certain strange events had supernatural or mundane causes. Even with the possibility that the disappearance wasn't supernatural at all, the alternative explanation involved a dangerous criminal being at large, so it didn't take any of the tension out of the experience. My uncertainty about the role of paranormal activity in the mystery only made the conclusion all the more satisfying.

I also appreciated how the story progressed at a steady pace, with some more relaxed scenes interspersed throughout to give readers a break from all the excitement. This helped sell Tori's relationship with Hal, and it also made the story feel grounded, all without sacrificing narrative tension. The Mirrors is certainly a plot-driven novel, and while the characters aren't incredibly deep, there's still enough substance to make them feel realistic and interesting.

The book's writing style does a great job of bringing its settings to life, too, from a haunted mansion to a decrepit, abandoned boat. The characters' dialogue felt realistic, and their emotions were conveyed effectively without ever becoming distracting, making the story feel incredibly immersive and letting readers really get into their heads. I especially liked how the author brought Tori's love of antiques to life, shining a spotlight on the love of history that draws so many people to stories about ghosts and hauntings. I did find a handful of grammatical errors, but nothing too noticeable.

At the end of the day, I enjoyed this book so much that I have to give it 4 out of 4 stars. I finished it in just a few days, and while I think the term "page-turner" is woefully overused, if there ever was a book that deserved the moniker, this is it. If you have even a passing interest in supernatural thrillers and mysteries, this is a great book for you, as long as you aren't too easily spooked. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for Townsend's future work.

******
The Mirrors
View: on Bookshelves

Priyanka2304 · Post by **Priyanka2304** » 03 Aug 2020, 05:17

The plot of this book reminded me of the supernatural movie having the same name 'Mirrors.' I think I would love to read this book as there are a lot of common elements in both the book and the movie.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 03 Aug 2020, 11:03

Haunted houses are a classic of supernatural thrillers, I'm glad to see that the mystery is complex enough to properly take advantage of it. Thank you for your great review!

Missdeniseh38 · Post by **Missdeniseh38** » 03 Aug 2020, 11:32

From what i read the mirrors is someone who thinks there is a supernatural but in reality a murder waiting to be discovered..i love thrillers and mystery novels so hard to put down.

Miller56 · Post by **Miller56** » 03 Aug 2020, 13:21

Thanks for the review. This sounds like a great thriller mystery. I will have to add it to my list.

Nath_chuks · Post by **Nath_chuks** » 03 Aug 2020, 15:04

I especially liked how the author brought Tori's love of antiques to life, shining a spotlight on the love of history that draws so many people to stories about ghosts and hauntings.

This seems like a book i would enjoy. Excellent review

RHD · Post by **RHD** » 03 Aug 2020, 16:37

I miss me a thriller. Judging by your work, Townsend's work is quite captivating. Nice job on the review.

kljrox · Post by **kljrox** » 03 Aug 2020, 21:29

I always look forward to reading a book that is well written with a convincing setting and well fleshed characters. Thanks for the engaging review. Great job.

baha Ibrahim · Post by **baha Ibrahim** » 04 Aug 2020, 12:43

Thanks for the review. This sounds great.

Thanks for the review.

shamayelnur · Post by **shamayelnur** » 04 Aug 2020, 16:29

The book sounds like the mystery thriller I crave for. I'm gonna add it to my book list for sure.

jcorr · Post by **jcorr** » 04 Aug 2020, 21:18

Thank you for the review. I am generally pretty skeptical about mystery thrillers, but I am glad you enjoyed the plot. The only part of the book that I question is if the characters have enough development for my taste.

Valkyrie9 · Post by **Valkyrie9** » 05 Aug 2020, 02:41

This sounds like an interesting read! I love the fact that the author didn't try to force all the strange events that happened to be supernatural - that the reader is kept guessing as to whether the cause was supernatural or completely explainable. Thanks for the thorough review!

LiLj · Post by **LiLj** » 06 Aug 2020, 21:15

This book sounds very interesting. Thanks to your review I think I have to read this book now. I think it would get my attention because of how some of the events are supernatural and some aren’t.

Tablito · Post by **Tablito** » 12 Aug 2020, 13:51

Tori must feel the pressure to prove her innocence by finding out whether supernatural phenomena or an individual is responsible for the disappearance of her tenant