What an amazing thriller! A bright English actress goes to LA for a few auditions and lands herself in the thick of an impossible situation that is basically unexplainable unless you dive into this book! This psychological thriller will keep you guessing until the final pages.

"The Disappearing Act" was a good thriller. Mia Eliot is a British actress who gained attention playing the part of Jane Eyre, but she is currently at loose ends. Her agent, Cynthia, tells her that she is going to be nominated for a BAFTA in the lead actress category and suggests a work trip to LA, hoping to parlay the announcement of the nomination into attention by the Hollywood studios. She also inadvertently clues in Mia to the fact that her boyfriend of six years is cheating on her; he leaves her for a younger actress later that day. Mia decides to take the LA trip. At an audition, she meets another actress, Emily Bryant, and does a favor for her, running down and feeing the meter for her, but when she returns, Emily is gone and no one has seen her. Mia has Emily's wallet and car keys and wants to return them to her, but does not how to reach her, so she leaves a note with the receptionist. She eventually figures out how to contact Emily and makes arrangements for Emily to stop by the apartment where she is staying, but the person who shows up, although looking a lot like Emily, is not Emily. Mia is concerned that something has happened to Emily and despite being advised to mind her own business, she calls the LAPD to report a missing person and she keeps investigating herself. Making things more complicated, she has met a Hollywood producer, Nick, whom she had been met before (but had forgotten meeting), and with whom there is an obvious romantic connection. Mia is also preparing to audition for what could be the role of a lifetime. Furthermore, she starts noticing that things in her apartment seem to have gone missing or been moved, even though there should not be any way for someone to get into her apartment undetected. The more time she spends trying to figure out what is going on and how it involves her, the stranger things become. Mia finds herself immersed in the darker side of Hollywood and she does not like what she finds. The "win at all costs, take no prisoners" ethos does not sit well with her.

The author utilizes the "Me Too" movement and the abuse of actresses by industry executives. There is a rape involved in the story -- it does not involve Mia and the actual event is not described, just the prelude and the aftermath. However, readers who might find even those limited references disturbing or traumatic should consider themselves forewarned.

The mystery of Emily Bryant is well done and creative. The author does a good job of keeping Mia and the reader off-balance. What you think is going on is probably not correct, or at least not entirely correct. The ending seems like it is going to be disappointing, but the author throws in a satisfying twist.

My only real complaint is that one of the major characters, who is an actress, apparently does not recognize the name, Nick Eldridge, even though he is portrayed as a well-known, powerful Hollywood producer, and she has been auditioning for various TV and movie roles for years. It is hard to believe that she would not recognize his name, even if their paths had never crossed and even though he does not fit into her agenda.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Catherine Steadman writes another nail-biting thriller, and who would guess that she’s also a talented actress? I had no idea, but she is and she has put her knowledge to good use in writing this twisty and quick-paced story of a British actress who comes to America for a short visit, hoping to land some new and exciting roles that will ensure a successful career.
We like Mia Eliot from the start. She’s down-to-earth, goodhearted, hard-working, and a bit too trustworthy. It’s this last trait that makes you a nervous wreck while reading; you want to scream at her to run, don’t trust, don’t be nice. But that’s what makes her endearing.
Mia meets Emily, another actress at an audition, and through an odd chain of events, she ends up with Emily’s wallet and keys. This sets off a chain reaction of super fast-paced events where Mia just can’t convince herself to be quiet and walk away.
Full of fun glimpses into an actor’s hectic schedule and life in LA, but also nerve-wracking because Mia takes horrible chances, this book will satisfy as well if not better than her previous books, “Mr. Nobody” and “Something in the Water”.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is June 8, 2021.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Steadman’s first novel “Something in the Water” a few years ago, and ever since I’ve been a fan! Her latest novel, The Disappearing Act focuses on a young actress visiting Hollywood for casting season, while there she meets a fellow actress who seemingly disappears into thin air. As she tries to find her to return her belongings, a stranger shows up at her front door claiming to be Emily. Mia knows something is wrong, and starts a search for the truth. Mia is a wonderful protagonist (although she made some questionable decisions at times) and I was rooting for her success in Hollywood, just as much as I was for her to solve the mystery

I read this in one sitting!
It had the Hollywood, mystery, reality show vibe that I just couldn't pull myself away from.
I'm a reader so I'm never that interested in Hollywood or that drama but this story really shows you how far people will go to get that they want.
Its fast paced and you just can't pull yourself away from it.

Wow, this book was something else. I was really drawn into this spectacular story. One thing I loved about it was that is was unlike any other book I have ever read. I read a lot of books, so that is really saying something. It was original, interesting and very entertaining. I loved that there was action, that is was paced perfectly and that I could really shut off my brain and be present in the story when I was reading. This last month for me has been hard and to be able to hop in a book and escape is a gift this wonderful storyteller gave. I am so appreciative of it!!! A MUST read.

Wow. So this was just all over the place. I couldn't get a handle on the story and things just read as rushed. Also the entire premise was very unbelievable. Nothing makes a lick of sense and then you get to the ending and I think that Steadman is trying to throw a twist and another twist and I just went huh.

"The Disappearing Act" follows Mia Eliot who flies off to L.A. to audition for some t.v. shows as well as an Oscar worthy movie. Mia is reeling from her long time boyfriend moving out and moving in with a young ingénue he met on the set of his new play. Mia though is determined to turn her L.A. trip into an opportunity to get over her ex. However, things fall apart when during an audition, Mia meets a young woman named Emily. Through the most dumb set-up ever (yeah I said it) Mia agrees to put money in Emily's car's meter so Emily can go first into an audition. Mia is left holding (literally) Emily's car keys, wallet, and other belongings. When Mia comes out of her own audition she is left not knowing what to do next. Enter a mysterious man named Nick. Anyway, the long and short of it is that Mia is determined to find Emily, but when she does, is blown away that the woman she meets is not the same woman from the audition.

I don't even know what to say. If this set-up had appeared on Lifetime when I was a teen, my friends and I would have ate this movie up. But reading this whole thing in a book as just not good. I don't even know what else to say. The plot is not realistic. The entire reasoning behind said plot was dumb. I just couldn't get into it. It didn't help that the characters are not memorable at all. And then we throw in a rape for good measure that just....I don't even know what to say. I think that Steadman was going for the whole Hollywood is dark and seedy behind the scenes, but once again the premise in this does not work. Maybe if she had focused on one plot point it could have, but when she threw in the other thing (yes I am being vague) it just got a little too Single White Female for me.

Mia is just there. I don't even know what else to say about her. She's reeling from her ex leaving her, but when she interacts with other people it feels like she's psychoanalyzing them every five seconds. I just felt bored by her. When she went into detective mode it just didn't even fit the personality of the woman we had met at that point.

The other characters are just bland and there. Nick, just was whatever the story needed at the time. We also never get a sense of Mia's ex George, because we just hear about moments they had together. If Steadman wants to make readers care that Mia got dumped, she should have done a better set up of their relationship.

The writing was so-so. Everyone sounds the same. I think I am shocked cause Mia is supposedly British and does not 'sound' it when you are reading the story. Not that I think everyone is going to run around saying loo and all of that mess. But some things took me out of the story. For example, Mia at one point is just driving around with a gun. I still went, so does everyone just know how to handle guns now?

The flow was not good on this one. The story just drags. When you get to the final execution of the story you are just baffled at the reveals. Or at least I was.

The setting of this story is L.A., but it doesn't feel like L.A. I think if Steadman was going for a Noir book (which I think she was in some respects) she needed to have a different rhythm for L.A. I started thinking about the Harry Bosch books and how Michael Connelly often has the city as another character in his books.

The ending just fell flat.

Mia Eliot has almost achieved the success she has dreamed of as an actress but things are not going as well in her love life. She finds out her partner is leaving her when a courier shows up at her door to collect his things. She finds out why through gossip and IG snooping- he has started a relationship with a younger and gorgeous co-star in his upcoming show. When her agent tells her that she is likely to be nominated for an award and asks her if she would be willing to go to Los Angeles to meet with studios for possible roles, Mia is more than willing for the distraction.
From her arrival, she is swept into a world that has been opened up by her rumored nomination- she is given an Audi at the airport, a luxury apartment for her stay and invited to a gifting suite full of luxury goods.
She is given a schedule of upcoming casting calls and during the first one she meets a woman named Emily whose audition is right before hers. Emily becomes flustered when she realizes that her parking meter is about to run out and Mia tells her not to worry, she will go out and put coins in for her. Emily leaves her keys, wallet and phone with her and goes inside. When Mia returns and expects her to come out of the casting room she never shows up and can’t be found. Mia doesn’t know what to do with the belongings of this woman she met briefly and begins trying to find out what happened to her. She doesn’t know whether she should call the police or the agency or what could have happened. She is relieved when she gets a call from the missing woman who tells her she will come pick up her things. The woman who shows up is not the same woman she met though.
The story that follows a game of Mia chasing down the trail of a woman whose path she barely crossed but cannot seem to let go.
I enjoyed this although it definitely requires a suspension of belief in ways both small and large. ( sorry but I am not buying this actress diet of McDonalds and In n Out while being squeezed into period costumes). The descriptions of the casting calls and Los Angeles were interesting even though I am an Angeleno. The twists and pacing are well done and I enjoyed the story despite the far fetched plot.
Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Who would think that pilot season in LA could turn into a crazy cliffhanger, including a disappearing actress, a look alike and the dark side of Hollywood production companies. The main character, Mia gets caught in a psychological thriller that keeps the pages turning. It pulls you in, lets you think you know what is going on and proves you wrong. Worth the wild ride!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own. Thank you Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this book.

This book was so entertaining!! It almost felt like a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the LA / Hollywood life and I was completely captivated by it!

Mia is a star in the UK and comes to LA to audition for an amazing part. The day of the auditions, Mia meets Emily but then Emily disappears. The Disappearing Act is about Emily digging into the disappearance of this girl she just met and it will have you questioning "what would you do in this situation?". It may also have you wanting to yell at Mia. Me, personally? I would not have gone to the lengths that Mia did, but that would not make for a good thriller novel, now would it?

I found the auditioning aspect to be intriguing and the cut-throat ambition of the actors to be down-right scary. The ending wasn't too shocking but I found it to be quite satisfying. Overall, great read!

Mia is an actress in London and has, right after her partner for several years leaves her for another younger woman, been nominated for a prestigious acting award. Her agent turned this into an opportunity for her to go to Los Angeles for a couple of weeks during pilot filming. After she gets to LA she is treated royally...an Audi sports car at her disposal and a high-rise apartment with security for her use. While at an audition she meets a woman named Emily and they quickly befriend each other. Emily talks Mia into taking her wallet and car keys so Mia could feed the meter while Emily is auditioning. When Mia returns, Emily is gone. This is a page turner and the author’s background as an actress only makes it more realistic. Definitely a full five stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine for an ARC for an honest review.

I highly recommend this addictive psychological thriller. Some reviewers have extolled “The Disappearing Act” as a great beach read. Yes it is, but please be careful and put on plenty of sunscreen. You won’t be leaving your beach chair until you’ve read the last word, and I don’t want you to get a terrible sunburn.

Catherine Steadman is a successful British author and actor.. (You’ve seen her on “Downtown Abbey” and more.) She has also written two success psychological thrillers before this book.

So, let’s get into “The Disappearing Act”. Actress Mia Eliot is the main character and she tells us of her unusual predicament in the first person. Mia is an actor who comes to Hollywood for the first time. Her trip is part therapy to recover from a ruined relationship and part pilot season tryouts. Mia is a great character- beautiful, poised, talented and nice. Author Steadman’s inside knowledge of the acting business adds to the fascinating detail of the story. And her experience with storytelling and pacing also contributes to the quality and enjoyment of this book.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but what would you do if you met another actor at a casting call, you hoped she would be a friend, and then when you meet her again- something’s not right. She looks and sounds like “Emily” but she’s not the woman you met. And what would you do if you feared for Emily’s life? Well, if you are an actor, you have a lot of great skills you can count on to help you save Emily and quite likely your own life. Each chapter brings thrills and chills and the famous “Hollywood” sign looms over it all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.

Absolutely amazing read!! Wow.. I was really impressed with how the way this book was written. Definitely a thriller which is what I love. Honestly even the ending was surprising which is always the best!

The Disappearing Act gave off a very mysterious vibe. It kept me guessing the whole way through. Mia is an actress from London who comes to Los Angeles for some auditions where she meets Emily Bryant. Immediately, she is drawn to her and the exchange between Mia and Emily leads to an entertaining and suspenseful read. Emily disappears, and as Mia becomes more deeply involved with the mysterious disappearance of Emily, she delves deep into the mysteries that Los Angeles has to offer, both in the personal and professional world. If you’re looking for a book to five into this summer and love a good mystery/psychological thriller, this one's for you. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Steadman's first two books so was excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! Mia is an actress living in London and when her live-in boyfriend dumps her for someone younger, she jumps at the chance to visit Los Angeles. At an audition she meets Emily who needs a small favor. But of course things snowball and Mia begins to realize she's in over her head when things go south. Lots of great twists and a look at stardom and men in the upper echelon who prey on young women for their own benefit. Pacing is impeccable and I stopped doing everything I'd planned so I could finish reading! Another solid winner for Steadman!

I think this was the best book I’ve read all year!! Such a great, untold storyline. Loved the characters and truly had no idea what the ending was going to be. It was so interesting to see behind the scenes in Hollywood and the love story thrown in was great! Highly recommend!

So far this is one of my favorite Netgalley reads I've been lucky enough to have access to. I had no idea where the story was going with this one so it was a pleasant twist! Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for a review.

The Disappearing Act

Catherine Steadman

Reader, I loved it.

Such a cliche to say a read is compulsive; I did little BUT read about young naive London actresses Mia as she negotiated Hollywood once I started.

The book is part mystery, part Entertainment Tonight, part romance, part JANE EYRE homage, all of it beautifully written.

Mia’s acting star was on the rise after playing JANE EYRE, with hints at key awards.

Her personal life was falling apart.

When Mia’s agent dangled a trip to LA, Mia jumped at it.

We know from the beginning of the story that Mia misses some key cues...knowing what she failed to see in her personal life is the perfect set up for a “what is REALLY happening” ride through Hollywood.

Chance encounters, beautiful people, sinister beings, deceit, sleight of hand....the reader is never quite sure what to think.

Is what is happening to Mia and the people around her real, imagined, or part of a scripted event?

Mia, like JANE, has core principles and guidelines that are unshakable even when the reader might beg her to make other choices. Turns out that Jane is a great imaginary friend, and a great inspiration.

Reader, you might not be able to put this book down.

#TheDisappearingAct #NetGalley
On sale June 8, 2021

The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman
The Disappearing Act
by Catherine Steadman
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Joan's review May 11, 2021 · edit
it was amazing
Read 1 time

i loved steadman's first novel, 'something in the water' and her latest, 'the disappearing act' does not disappoint. in fact, i was completely captivated from the getgo and did not put it down until i'd finished it late that same night. her plotting is ingenious, but never so overly complicated as to be unrealistic. and her main character, a british actress visiting los angeles for a series of auditions to boost her rising career, is intelligent, talented and very interesting. i felt completely involved as mia eliot tries to untangle the weird events that keep happening around her while trying to prepare for the most important audition of her career. but trying to do the right thing gets her deeper and deeper into somebody else's troubles. and she's the only one who can save herself. thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars

Catherine Steadman writes a wonderful 'beach read thriller'. This book hooks you in from the start and is a read in one-sitting situation. It's extremely well-paced and centers a British actress (while also written by one) caught in the middle of a gone girl plot that she feels compelled to figure out. The mystery of this book propels it forward with remarkable force and sprinkles in quiet moments of insight asking what fame and 'the American dream' are worth.

While overall a thrilling and compelling read, there were plot points that were such leaps the enchantment of being in the story faded away. The romance sub-plot in this also felt forced and not fully flushed out, like the romance was tacked on as an after-thought. The leading man, Nick, had no real depth and felt more like a character description of the perfect American Hollywood man.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to access and review early.

As an aside:
I would be remiss not to mention the center of this story revolves around sexual violence, Hollywood, and power (aka the #MeToo movement). This really isn't on Ms. Steadman, as the role of rape as a plot device is not new, but I would love for storytellers to do more. This story is not explicit in its content and yet the sexual violence committed is leveraged in such a way I feel it hindered my enjoyment of the book.