I loved @catsteadman novel Something in the Water, so I was thrilled about this one that’s cover is absolutely divine. This ones comes out June 8th and it is my favorite one of hers so far and so, so enjoyable. Think #GoneGirl meets #TheBlackDahlia meets #LaLaLand and that’s what you get with this enticing Hollywood #psychologicalsuspense goodie.

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Mia is a British actress nearing 30 who seems to finally be making a name for herself - supposedly nominated for a prestigious acting award and newly arrived in L.A. to attend a slew of auditions, one of which promises to catapult her into a true household name. Everything (apart from her failed relationship) seems to be working out - that is until Mia sees the dark side of Hollywood, and the lengths people are willing to go to achieve true fame.

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When Mia makes a small talk with a stranger at an audition, she has no idea it will change her life forever - or perhaps end it. When the girl suddenly vanishes into thin air, Mia can’t help but suspect foul play is involved, and as she searches for the truth and pushes the limits, she is forced to question the cost of an insatiable hunger fame and stardom.

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Also - I never put two and two together that #CatherineSteadman is not only an amazing author but also is the actress on Downton Abbey and my favorite movie version of Mansfield Park. Talk about a girl who can do it all. Cheers, Cat 🍸

While not my favorite from this author it was an entertaining read. It started off a little slow but I was soon caught by the intrigue of everything that was happening. I think it just got a little too fantastical for me at times but overall I did enjoy it & will continue following this author in the future. I’d recommend her first two books before this one though.
3.5 stars

THE DISAPPEARING ACT was a fun, twisty mystery that I read in two sittings, curious to see what would happen to Mia and Emily and the men and women around them.

I found the plot a bit hard to believe at times, but overall this was a fun read and a good mystery. Stead man does a great job building suspense and setting the scene. This wasn’t my favorite of her books, but was an enjoyable tale of a Brit in LA and the web of lies and deception she inadvertently finds there.

I kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion. WOW! This is for sure a must read for anyone who likes twists and turns that keep you guessing up until the very last page. I totally thought I had this figured out and boy was I wrong. I loved it!

Catherine Steadman has a great knack for building uneasiness and making you suspicious of everyone. I loved Mr. Nobody, so I was thrilled to receive this ARC of her new book. First of all, the setting of pilot season in Hollywood is fun and different. When Mia would meet up with various actor friends it reminded me of a documentary I saw years ago about young actors descending on LA during pilot season and asking each other about shows they were trying out for, some of which had crazy concepts. Good characters and nice twists that kept me up reading too late. Yep, it's a winner!

Sigh. Another book I was looking forward too and I just wasn’t interested in and just felt boring - thank you to NetGalley for sending me a copy to read.

I absolutely loved Catherine Steadman's first book (Something in the Water) and extremely disliked her second book (Mr. Nobody). The Disappearing Act fell right in the middle.

What I loved:
The setup: Following an upsetting breakup, Mia, a successful British actress on the cusp of stardom, flies to Hollywood for several weeks of auditions (this was extra fun because Steadman was (is?) an actress and her interactions and impressions felt very authentic and at times funny). At an audition she starts chatting with another actress who then up and disappears, leaving her purse, keys, and phone behind with Mia -- so creepy & interesting to think about what *you* would do in that situation.

What I didn't like:
The middle section felt dragged out and I got annoyed by Mia's consistently terrible decisions and the resulting mess she created for herself. She was likable and not dumb -- and I was rooting for her -- but I also kind of wanted to kick her.

Anyway. Overall, this was enjoyable, and I'll recommend it as a fun book for poolside reading and/or as a book club selection.

(review will be posted on IG @leavemetomybooks closer to publication date & link will be added)

Wow! I didn’t see that ending coming. I binged this story over the weekend and couldn’t put it down. This is my favorite story she wrote yet! The story had me guessing till the very end with the dark and twisty plot.. Highly recommend to anyone who’s looking for a good thriller/mystery.

This book is about an English actress who temporarily moves to LA after her boyfriend leaves her for another woman. At an audition in LA she meets another actress who then mysteriously disappears. The book was quite enjoyable up to this point. It then seemed to go downhill with increasingly implausible scenarios and quite a cheesy ending.

Love Catherine Steadman so much!! This was so good!! I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days (work sucks). Loved the back and forth and would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller/mystery! Thank you for allowing me to preview this copy!!

Simply put, I loved this book! I had absolutely NO idea how it was going to end. It had everything from disappearing actresses to dirty producers, with the perfect mix of mystery and romance. Oh, and it was based in Hollywood, which I love! The glamorous and sometimes not so glamorous celebrity lifestyle had me hooked from the beginning.

Mia is a British star up for a BAFTA in Los Angels for pilot season. Weird happenings begin after she meets Emily at an audition. Emily disappears while Mia has personal belongings of hers. The story is told as Mia tries to find Emily and what happens along the way. Definitely a thrilling ride with surprises all over.

This is my second book by this author and I liked it even more than the first! Part gone girl and part Big Summer this book was a fun mix! I only wished the main character Mia was a little less naive? But then again, if she had been there would have been less plot twists and turns along the way! Kept me guessing until the end which is always great! Thank you so much for the advance read! Can’t wait for her next book!

Mia is a British actress who has come to Hollywood to hopefully take her career to the next level. It is actually a very good time for her to be away, as she is suddenly and quite unexpectedly single. The rules in Hollywood are much different than what she is accustomed to, and who you know is possibly more important than your talent.
She winds up chatting with another actress Emily at an audition. When Emily asks her for a favor, she winds up with Emily's wallet and car keys. Expecting Emily to be waiting for her after their auditions, she is perplexed when Emily has seemingly vanished. Mia is determined to find Emily, but she is about to become involved in a very complicated and perhaps deadly situation. Unprepared for the dynamics that exist in Hollywood, landing a job might not be worth the price.
At first, it was hard for me to believe anyone could be as naive as Mia. But then I thought about it and realized my whole frame of reference was based on what I know/think I know about American actresses. It might be quite different in England, so I stopped rolling my eyes and quickly became invested in the plot. I developed a soft spot for Mia, who was only trying to do the right thing, without understanding the type of people she was up against.
I kept changing my guesses about what was really going on, and by the end, I was rooting for Mia to get the part, find love, find Emily, and make it back home with some of her guilelessness intact.

I have read books by this author before and liked them so it was no surprise I really liked this book. The book is a bit slow but definitely has some twists and turns I didn't see coming. I also love any book set in Hollywood, I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I loved this. It's amazing to read how far actors will go to succeed. This was dark, twisty, action packed, riveting. How have I never heard of Catherine Steadman??

A little bit of a slow burner but I enjoyed this one. The end was a little bit over the top but I guess that's Hollywood!

This my third book of Catherine Steadman’s and it was extremely thrilling and an enjoyable read. The story centers around Mia Elliot, a British actress, who has come to Hollywood for pilot week, She is soon caught up in a women’s disappearance and mistaken identity.
This will a great beach read!

First off, I want to thank NetGalley & Ballantine books for the opportunity to read & review this book via eARC.
I absolutely love a good mystery, suspense/thriller.. but add some Hollywood dazzle to it, perfect! Mia is a beautiful British actress, who flees London for Hollywood after a recent breakup to pursue her dreams, in hopes of landing a role of a lifetime! She quickly meets another young actress named Emily, who after an awkward exchange... goes missing. Nobody seems to notice, or care, except her..
This book was a serious page turner. I loved the speed, suspense, and mystery.. there were even a few scenes that I reluctantly admit, I screamed or yelled out at... well nobody, except my book! This is a must read, I sooo recommend!

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. I literally couldn’t put this book down and finished in one reading. Two women meet at a screening for a actress role. Then one just disappears. She’s a stranger, but the other woman just can’t let it go. And then the woman resurfaces - it looks like her, but it is not HER. what is going on? Who is really behind everything? This was a page turner until the literal last page. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.