ARC Review ✨ The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

I was not expecting I would love this as much as I did- I’m most happy when I have a solid thriller with some twists in my hands, and The Disappearing Act did just that. Catherine Steadman is also the author of Something in the Water which I read in 2019- one of the first thrillers I read as I got back into reading. I really enjoyed that book as well- her settings & plots are creative and I am beginning to see a pattern; I can expect to cozy up and enjoy her writing whenever I pick it up.

The Disappearing Act is a Hollywood thriller with that is suspenseful, fast paced, & leaves you wondering what everyone’s true motives are! This is not an intense/serial-killer type thriller, but a puzzling story about Hollywood fame & how far some may go to push their careers. This fictitious story also brushed on the #metoo movement going on in real life- how terrifying & scary it can be for persons to come forward with abuse claims against industry giants.

I am not familiar with the world of acting & showbiz- but I ended up finding myself able to feel like I was somewhat immersed in the industry while reading- thanks to Steadman’s writing (who’s actually also an actress?!- fun fact, she plays Mabel in Downton Abbey).

I would certainly recommend you pick this up when it releases on June 8, 2021. Thank you to @netgalley & Ballantine Books for this advanced review copy.

I enjoyed the peek into the life of auditions and pilot season in Hollywood, the details and sense of place kept me picking this up. This was a fun one to use Instagram location tags to get a mental picture of what it might look like for the characters.

The mystery fell apart for me a little bit because I was confused by the main character's actions (I had a similar reaction to the actions of the characters in Steadman's first novel- just a lot of me going whooooo would do this??) but at a point, I had to let it go and just roll with it. I was okay with how it wrapped up, if not totally sold on the motivations and judgment calls that got us there.

Overall I was intrigued enough to keep going!

I was ready to give up on this author after not loving her previous 2 books but the synopsis had me so intrigued, and I’m so glad I gave Steadman another chance! I love anything involving actors/Hollywood so I had a great time with this book. I found it really interesting and fast paced (same as Mr. Nobody, but that one really dropped the ball with a terrible ending), and was so invested in Emily’s disappearance.
I will say that this is a mystery that involves a lot of coincidences and clues that just happen to fall perfectly into place, so you’ll have to suspend disbelief quite a bit for its over the top moments, but I still had a super fun time with it.

Nancy Drew meets La La Land... This thriller went into the audition process and life in LA and it was fascinating. The writing was superb and nothing felt off the cuff. It dragged a bit in the middle and towards the end, but overall I really enjoyed this story. I will definitely be reading Catherine Steadman's other books because she really does have a gift for writing.

Thank you Netgalley for granting my wish to read The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman. I like Steadman - wasn't crazy about Mr. Nobody, but Something in the Water was great.
This is just a great beach read - set in Hollywood, stunning characters, and a mystery to boot.
I enjoyed it - Got somewhat confused with so many characters - i think, that was my issue and i think some clarity is needed to keep the reader more engaged.
good book - 3.5 stars.

REVIEW - 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 🌟


Thrillers. What can you say? They are just so much fun, and the best keep you twisting and turning until the very end. The Disappearing Act did just that! Everytime I thought I had it figured out, there would be another twist and I was developing a brand new theory. And in the end? I was completely wrong. Exactly what you want, right?

Mia, a British actress up for a BAFTA award for her portrayal of Jane Eyre, suffers a public, humiliating breakup by text at the hand of her actor boyfriend, who hooks up with his co-star. Awful, right? To refocus, she travels to Hollywood for pilot season - which I knew NOTHING about and found fascinating! (Did I mention that the author is also an actress? She brings her experience to bear as she discusses awards, interviews and pilot season with great detail and description.) Mia’s agent sets her up for several auditions and she is in talks to star in the role of a lifetime, when she meets Emily. Auditioning for the same role, their friendly banter sets Mia at ease - until Emily mysteriously disappears.

Suspense abounds as Mia tries to uncover what happened to Emily. Who can she trust? Who is involved? A tie in to the me-too movement that rocked the industry gives this one some real grit. Honestly, I can see this making an amazing movie - I keep thinking of young British actresses who would bring naive Mia to life. Carey Mulligan? Lily Collins? I really hope we see this one on the big screen.

Loads of pros for this one - and only one con: As I progressed, I struggled to keep the characters straight, which rarely happens to me. There is a significant triangle as you move through the book, and I struggled to keep it straight in places. If this is made into a film, I think that problem would work itself out, as you could put faces to a name.

If you love thrillers, I highly recommend it! Great read.

Note: Thank you to Catherine Steadman, NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very different than I expected. Mia was a tough character for me to like but I thought the author did a great job developing her character. The book dragged for me at times but it ended well. Definitely not one of my favorite reads.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a solid three-star read for me. Not my favorite of Steadman’s work, but still enjoyable. I think for me, my main issues were lack of real caring about the TV/film industry, and also just a little bit of a slow burn on the mystery. All in all, solid, I never wanted to stop reading, but I never felt super amped up about it either.

I couldn’t put this down and I loved the first 70% of the book. However, I feel that the ending was rushed and a bit unbelievable. Overall a decent read. 3.5 starts rounded up

I adore books that start out like this one. They lull you into a sense of normalcy, just before pulling the rug out from under you, when you’re reminded that this isn’t just some run-of-the-mill fiction. There’s a mystery here, and a good one.
The main character, Mia, is an up-and-coming actress who relocates to LA for more opportunities after a breakup with her boyfriend of six years. She is multifaceted and feels so real, as you read through her Point of view as she auditions for a role and meets a woman, Emily, who goes missing. Mia finds herself doing a small favor for Emily, and winds up entangled in the mystery of who she is and what happened to her.
I really loved this story, and it was pretty much un-put-down-able for me from start to finish. The pacing was great, and it was interesting and engaging!

Okay, there are barely words to describe how much I loved The Disappearing Act. I loved it so much I didn’t work today. Loved it so much I hardly moved from my bed until I finished it. I just really really loved it!

Mia is an up and coming British actress. After a devastating blow, she takes a work trip to LA. During a casting call Mia meets fellow actress Emily and the two hit it off. But things get a little weird for Mia when she is unexpectedly left with Emily’s belongings. After tracking down Emily’s whereabouts, Mia comes to the startling discovery that the Emily she met at the casting call is not the same person standing in front of her, and the real Emily has gone missing.

The whole time reading The Disappearing Act I was left wondering what the hell was going on, and had to rush to figure out how it was all going to end. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year.

I love this author and I was so excited when I received this book! It didn't disappoint. I loved this one even more than the others previous work! It was unputdownable

Catherine Steadman delivers a stunner with The Disappearing Act. This one goes in the unputdownable category for me as I read it in less than 24 hours.

I almost never post any sort of plot description in my reviews, and I will go a step further here and highly recommend going into this one as blindly as possible. I promise fans of Steadman’s previous works won’t be disappointed!

I was constantly kept guessing who was trustworthy and what was going to happen next. Steadman’s personal experience as an actress added a level of authenticity to her writing, and I feel it added an extra appealing element to the book.

Thank you so much to Catherine Steadman, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Don’t miss this one on sale 6/8/2021!

Suspenseful and fascinating, this is a great thriller that will take you on a wild ride. Recently light has been shone on the dysfunction endemic in Hollywood and this novel examines the lengths people will go to in order to succeed. While the last act of the novel starts stretching credulity, I did enjoy the ending it produced.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is another perfect beach read to pack away in your beach bag this summer (will be published 6/8!) This book takes place in Hollywood and gives readers an inside look at what it’s like to be an actor and the lengths they will go to to get to the top.

The protagonist, Mia, is really likeable (and British 😍 loooooveeee a British character). She seemed like a genuinely good person, albeit a little naive, and I was rooting for her the whole time.

The ending was a little far fetched for me and there was one relationship (won’t spoil it for you!) in the story I wish would’ve had a bit more to it. But, I think the author did a great job building suspense and creating a page turning thriller/mystery.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend everyone add it to their summer TBR! Overall 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Disappearing Act is one of the best thrillers I've read lately. I was really drawn to both the insights into Mia's career and the creepy mystery she gets wrapped up in. Between the two, there was constant action and suspense. My only criticisms were that the ending did feel drawn out, and I think the reveal(s) could have been explained in a clearer way and with a bigger impact. While there was definite drama, it felt like there were also some missed opportunities to really add some layers to the mystery.

"The Disappearing Act," by the British writer and actor Catherine Steadman, takes place in Hollywood, California where dreams are purported to come true. As a fan of her two previous novels, this third entry sizzles from the start and very cleverly takes a chance meeting and turns it into a dizzying vortex centered on lies and betrayal.

British actress, Mia Eliot, flies to Hollywood at the bequest of her agent to audition during pilot season. After coming off a bad breakup, Mia is feeling very lonely and vulnerable. At an audition she makes a connection with Emily, a fellow kindred spirit, who stands out in a sea of wannabes. Unfortunately, a simple favor asked by Emily will wreck havoc on Mia's life.

During the audition, Emily disappears and Mia suddenly finds herself immersed in trying to find her. Since Emily's car still remains in the car park the next day, Mia is concerned for her well-being. Additionally, a woman claiming to be Emily shows up at Mia's apartment and has her questioning her own judgment and sanity. Mia's only confidant is a handsome stranger named Nick, who coincidentally was in the car park on the day Emily went missing.

This psychological thriller moves at a breathless pace shimmering with menace amid the backdrop of sunny California. Mia is trapped by her own insecurities just as she feels trapped 31 stories up in her rental apartment as she questions everything and everyone around her.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Steadman does it again...I read it on vacation and it was the perfect beach read thriller!

Mia is an actress from London who is visiting L.A. for auditions. Her serious boyfriend left her for a younger woman she decides to go to LA. She meets a woman who looks like her at an audition, after doing the woman a favor Mia becomes intertwined in her life. While auditioning and dating a producer she tries to figure out the mystery of Emily Bryant.

Can't wait for her next book!

Thank you Netgalley, Catherine Steadman, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced review copy of this book

I started this book thinking that it would be set in the Golden Age of Hollywood (for some odd reason). It was actually set in the present, and I found myself enjoying it even more. While auditioning in LA after a successful run as Jane Eyre, our main character Mia encounters a fellow auditionee named Emily. Long story short, Emily goes missing on Mia's "watch" and Mia finds herself unable to let the mystery go. If you enjoy suspense and mystery with a dash of LA quirkiness, you'll enjoy this new read by the pool this summer.

Mystery

Another solid outing for Steadman. This is a slow moving, slow burning pot boiler that bubbles over into a deliciously good mystery.

MIa finds out her live-in boyfriend has moved on with his newest costar when the movers show up at her apartment to get his things. So, the timing couldn't be more perfect when her agent sends her to LA to audition for some upcoming projects. She is a successful actress herself and is being nominated for a BAFTA. She has been assured that she is a shoe in for the win that has to be kept under wraps until awards night.

Her readings and auditions are going well until she gets drawn into another actress' drama. Emily gives Mia her car keys and wallet and asks her to pay her meter as it is her turn to audition. When MIa returns from the errand, the other woman is nowhere to be found. Not able to stop searching for this woman, Mia encounters some strange occurrences and knows that there must be more to the story. Most importantly, where is Emily? Why wouldn't she return for her car and wallet?

The mystery is a good one and there are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader engaged. The only reason this isn't a 5* book is that the pacing is a little too slow. This isn't an unreliable narrator story, but Mia doesn't clue in fast enough and blames what she is experiencing on jet lag, etc. So, we get a lot of pages where Mia is confused, but keeps pressing forward, when it doesn't always makes sense for her to proceed.

So far, Something in the Water is my favorite book by Steadman, but this book is well worth the read.