Catherine Steadman brings a new thriller about Mia Eliot, who is the new it girl in London after receiving a BAFTA nomination for her role in Jane Eyre. Mia decides to try her hand in the US and goes to Los Angeles to see if she can land her dream role.

When the book opens Mia’s long term partner George has taken off and has had a moving company take his stuff without ever talking to Mia, which leavers her very frazzled. When her agent approaches her about the possibility of some lead roles for movies in LA, Mia decides to take a chance and go.

Mia arrives in California and given a luxury car and nice apartment for her stay. At one of her earlier auditions, she meets Emily, who asks her to feed her meter so she can audition. She leaves Mia with her wallet and keys. When she returns Emily is gone, but without those items.

This leaves Mia completely unsettled, and when strange things start occurring, she cannot leave it alone. This sets up this propelling story that had me turning the pages as fast as I could.

Steadman knows how to engage readers and leave them wanting more. I was a little disappointed with the reveal, but overall, this was a solid read. I was left wanting more of this new protagonist and though unlikely, I would love to see additional books with her as part of the storyline.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about Catherine Steadman’s The Disappearing Act. I was immediately drawn into the story with actress Mia Eliot’s stalker. Then there was George, her live-in boyfriend, an actor who has not had a job for eight months. He disappears with his new girlfriend and says nothing to Mia. As a reader there is immediate sympathy for Mia and I kept waiting to see how these two plot lines would develop in the story.

Mia has had a successful streak as an actress. Her role as Jane Eyre and a successful run in a theater production of The Doll House has brought attention to her career. Her agent, Cynthia, arranges a trip to LA to be considered for many roles during pilot season. In the back of my mind, I keep wondering how the two plot lines of the stalker and George would reappear in Los Angeles. They don’t. I think they could have been left out completely.

I also felt it was unbelievable that Mia would have had a rental car immediately upon arriving in LA. I did think that the main plot of meeting Emily at an audition and Mia ending up with Emily’s wallet and charge card and everything that ensued after this was an interesting plot. For me, I thought this book needed a lot of streamlining of the plot. So for me, it would be an ok weekend read. My thanks to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Don’t trust anyone. What the heck is happening? Those are the vibes of this book. Mia is the probably most reasonable person in book world. There are events in this book where Mia reasonably talks herself through it, while I’m internally saying “what?? ... Hell no! ...Run!.. NO... oh girl!” rinse and repeat. I definitely enjoyed this read more than Something In The Water. This one kept me on my toes and wanting. NO, needing to know what happens. I got to the end and thought “Oh. I don’t know if I love it, but it was definitely a ride! Solid 4stars” If you enjoy a mysterious, on your toes thriller I highly recommend this read.

Thank you @Netgalley and Ballantine books for the opportunity to read this eBook in exchange for my honest review

Another winner by Catherine Steadman! An actor who seemed to be living in a movie of her own!
Mia is a British Actress who made her mark as the star of a series in her own country. Now she hopes to make it big in Hollywood where she is auditioning for several roles during pilot season hoping for another winner. At one of these auditions, she meets a fellow actress named Emily and ends up in a whirlwind of events when Emily leaves behind her wallet and Mia is determined to return it. She soon finds that this is not a simple task and there is much more to the story of the disappearing Emily. The farther that Emily goes to learn the truth and find this woman who she met only briefly, the more entangled and endangered she becomes. In. hollywood, your dreams can come true but how far are people willing to go to make that happen and who are they willing to hurt? She has invested some much time and energy that she can’t stop even when her life may be in danger.
I was reading this in shock of the lengths that she would go. I was cringing at the danger she put herself in and the things that were happening but I really enjoyed it! Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Actor Mia Elliott is known for period dramas in England and is rumored to be a BAFTA nominee. Her agent sees this as the perfect time to promote her in Hollywood. In L.A. she is scheduled for several auditions and at one of them she meets Emily. As Emily’s turn to audition nears, she realizes that it is time to feed her parking meter. Mia volunteers to help and armed with Emily’s card and wallet she runs off to take care of it. When she returns, Emily is nowhere to be found. Her car rental agreement provides contact information for Emily but when she shows up at Mia’s apartment two days later to claim her items it is not the same woman that Mia met at the audition.

Mia’s encounter with Emily was brief and the woman calling herself Emily bears a strong resemblance but she is sure that it is not her. Even though she turns Emily’s possessions over to her, she is driven to discover what happened to the Emily that she met. Soon after she begins making enquiries she notices items that have been moved or are missing from her apartment. Someone has gotten access to her phone records and her key card is lost. Reception also confirms that they have let Mia’s assistant into the building, but Mia has no assistant. Mia discovers that Hollywood has a dark side that she is being dragged into. The bright side of her visit to L.A. is meeting Nick, a well-known producer. He offers support in her search for Emily, but as a part of the Hollywood scene can she really trust him?

Catherine Steadman’s The Disappearing Act has all of the twists, turns and excitement of a roller coaster ride. Each time Mia makes a discovery and believes that she is on the right track, her search takes her in a new direction and leads to a nail-biting ending. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for providing this book for my review.

Mia Elliot is a British actress whose star is rising after a breakthrough performance in a television series about Jane Eyre. Blindsided with the breakup of her longtime boyfriend, and in need of a change of scenery, Mia goes to Hollywood to try to land a starring role. While at an audition, Mia helps another actress out with a favor. That favor leaves Mia wondering who the other actress really is and puts her life and career in danger.

I enjoyed this behind the scenes look at Hollywood. Author Catherine Steadman is also an actress so she definitely knows the business. The auditions, the screen tests, the meetings with Hollywood power players, and the swag all add an air of authenticity to the story. It the mystery part of the book that is a little convoluted. Mia spends most of her time trying to track down a woman who she met for about 10 minutes. Is it mistaken identity or identity theft? Mia is like a dog with a bone and just won’t let it go even when the police tell her everything checks out.

I don’t want to give anything away but it wasn’t hard to figure out where the climax to the story takes place- and that Mia followed along so willingly. And the ending wraps up too neatly, not only for Mia but also for the character that put Mia in danger. I guess since it’s Hollywood, there has to be a happily ever after, right?

But none the less, this is an entertaining slow burning mystery perfect for readers who like the entertainment biz or who enjoy a good cat and mouse thriller.

Mia is an up and coming British actress who gets dumped by her husband and decides to head to Los Angeles to audition for some roles. Soon she's caught up in the case of a missing person.

What I did enjoy about this book: Mia's narrative voice, which was the chatty chick lit kind of British voice I love. It was a lot of fun to watch Mia navigate Hollywood with her British sensibility.

What I enjoyed less: The plot was a little too convoluted for me. And despite hailing from London, Mia seemed to have zero common sense or street smarts. I would have preferred Mia in a gossipy, chatty kind of "British actress goes to Hollywood" story. Or maybe a cozy mystery. As an amateur detective in a missing persons case, she just perplexed and irritated me.

The first part of this puzzle that will intrigue you is the inside look at lives of actresses on the verge. Mia an actress coming off a bit of success in featured dramas in England is here to audition and snag the role of a lifetime. Auditioning she meets a kindred spirit in Emily. Emily disappears and the confusion begins. Mia is living in a place that’s monitored and provided by the powers that be. Powers which can make or break a career. As the mystery of Emily’s disappearance evolves into a maze of more questions than answers, Mia begins to question her own reality. Trying to find a reality in the place of dreams pushes Mia to a point of no return. Happy Reading

The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman was quite the page turner. It was suspenseful and had enough twists to keep me interested until the end. I was looking forward to reading this book because the author has their own experience with Hollywood, and I was curious to see what insights the author would add to the story. It did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more by Catherine Steadman.

This story gives us a behind the scene look at that Hollywood shimmer. It was suspenseful and action packed and a page turner. Didn’t predict that ending.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book really engaged me right from the very start, and remained okay for the rest of the story. I think I became a little less intrigued as the story progressed, mainly because I was expecting something more thrilling and more twisty. In reality, we have a suspenseful mystery with a dark Hollywood element that does it's job well. I would recommend for people who like to read books where fame plays a large role, and those who are looking for a mystery to dig into this summer!

Overall, I enjoyed this. It was an easy, fast-paced story. It started well and ended well. The details of the life of an actor were very interesting and kept me entertained. However, I had issues with the main character which dropped stars for me. Her reactions were simply unbelievable to me. I understand suspending disbelief to an extent, but the whole time I was thinking, "wait, is she really this dumb??"
I would have liked to have seen more development in the main character. There were a few plot holes too.
I think a lot of people will like this book though.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this novel.

This is my first book my Catherine Steadman. I have to say that I absolutely loved her writing style. However, reading books about acting, hollywood, auditions, etc. just wasn't of an interest to me. Mia was a well written character, but I just didnt relate to her. I would've loved this book if I had any interest in acting/hollywood scene. That, in turn, is the only reason I don't rate it any higher. It was a good thriller with some crazy twists, though it felt light it was sluggish at some points.

When Mia arrives in Hollywood for pilot season, she meets another young actress at her first audition and thinks she’s made a friend. She is quickly pulled into a strange situation when that actress disappears, leaving Mia with her wallet and car keys. This is a fantastic thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat as twists and turns and mistaken identities will keep you guessing until the end.

Catherine Steadman writes in a way that makes me feel as if I am there with the main character, living their life and experiencing the sites and smells around them. No sooner did I start this book I was thoroughly hooked into the life of an actress on the go in Hollywood. I smelled the air and felt the sunshine on my skin, and I felt the drama of the casting reads and the awkward, anxious people all working for the exact same part. So when we first meet Emily, I was easily taken in by her giggles and drawn to her easy-going manner. I think its very possible I too would have offered to pay her parking meter, even though I had just met her. From there Emily disappears while Mia still holds her keys and wallet, and Mia knows she can't just leave it. She has to find out where Emily went and if she is OK, and just who is the Emily that isn't Emily that shows up at her apartment? Strange things start happening and the police say Emily is home and not missing, but Mia knows this is not the case. With Mia's insistence to find out what really happened to Emily, the true story slowly comes light.

For me this book had a very slow, realistic build to it, all the while showcasing the glaring hunger that can envelope Hollywood and those looking to move on to bigger, better roles and popularity. It made me feel a little dirty, and thankful any lack of stardom. I like how Mia dug deep into her inner Jane Eyre to find her strength and courage.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for granting my wish to receive a digital ARC of the latest book by Catherine Steadman - 4 stars!

Mia is a successful British actress, starring in period pieces, but after a bad breakup, her agent arranges for her to travel to Hollywood for pilot season - that important time of the year when studios look for stars for upcoming projects that can make or break an actor's life. Things are going well for Mia but during one audition, she does a favor for another hopeful actress, Emily, and her life will never be the same. When Emily disappears and Mia realizes she is the last one to see her, Mia becomes obsessed with finding her. Soon Mia is questioning her memory and all of those around her as she searches desperately for Emily.

This was an intriguing mystery with lots of unreliable characters to question. It is the type of book that has you screaming silently to Mia to just walk away, but what would be the fun in that? It was also an interesting back look into Hollywood and the actors literally dying for their big break. I never realized that one of my favorite writers, Catherine Steadman, was also a British actress, so this book is obviously a true peek into that world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC.

3/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟

The Disappearing Act is a fast-paced, entertaining mystery set in Hollywood. When Mia, a British actress fresh off her breakthrough role as Jane Eyre, sets off to L.A. to try her luck in Hollywood, she quickly finds herself struggling in the new town. Reeling from a difficult breakup and lonely in the city, Mia hits it off with Emily, a fellow actress at an audition. When Emily asks her to feed her meter so she doesn’t get a ticket while auditioning, Mia helps her out. Only when Mia goes back to return Emily’s wallet and keys, she can’t find her. Mia becomes increasingly obsessed with finding the missing actress and puts herself in danger in the process.

I feel I enjoyed The Disappearing Act even more than Catherine Steadman’s debut novel, Something in the Water. Mia is a very naïve character with motives you at times struggle to understand. Why is Mia so invested in a girl she met for 5 minutes? The entire plot hinges on this and how much you understand her reasoning really impacts how much you enjoy the story. I loved the twists and turns, but wanted a little more from the ending.

Overall, The Disappearing Act is an enjoyable thriller with all of the Hollywood glamour and scandal. It is definitely a book to enjoy by the pool this summer!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Net Galley for a digital ARC of THE DISAPPEARING ACT by Catherine Steadman.. This story is about an actress, Mia, who goes to Hollywood from London and meets another young actress for whom she does a favor. That actress disappears, causing Mia confusion and concern. Overall, I liked this book, although I had some difficulty getting into it. Once I did, it had my attention and I wanted to find out what happened to Emily and why she disappeared.




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Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Something in the Water I was looking forward to The Disappearing Act. Set in modern day Hollywood and featuring the famous Hollywood sign several times throughout the story this read definitely held my interest. I had a little glimpse of what actresses go through to audition for movies and shows but was really hoping for more of that. Loved Mia, a British actress auditioning for a role when she meets another woman auditioning. She does a favor for her and has her keys and wallet when the woman seemingly disappears. The suspense kept building as the mystery became more and more puzzling. Mia is by no means a detective and made poor choices along the way which just lent credence to her character. All in all a satisfying read.

The premise of “The Disappearing Act” was so intriguing and I enjoyed the background and relevance of Hollywood and the entertainment world. That being said, an interesting mystery became outlandish with twisty subplots and characters that made the big reveal(s) a bit confusing. My heart was racing for a good portion of the book, trying to figure out what was going to happen and then...it became rather convoluted. It was decent and an easy read so 3 stars ⭐️ . Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.