The Disappearing Act
A Novel
by Catherine Steadman
Read an Excerpt
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Ballantine Books
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 08 Jun 2021 | Archive Date 30 Sep 2021

This book was just not for me. I found many things that happened implausible and the acting theme did not resonate with me. Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am sure this book will find success in the hands of a different reader.

3star

3.5 stars rounded up.

As the author says in her afterword, it was only a matter of time before she brought her life as an actor into her second career of thriller writing. It makes for a very satisfying read though, in this case, I was more interested in the acting side of things than the thriller plot.

Actor Mia Eliot is dumped unceremoniously by her long term boyfriend at the same time as she discovers she’s up for a BAFTA. She decides to escape one and capitalize on the other by taking a trip to LA and auditioning for film and TV roles. But at an audition she offers to feed the meter for a fellow actor but that woman promptly disappears, leaving Mia with her phone and wallet.

Of course, anyone sensible would just dump these accoutrements and get on with auditioning for all the roles on offer, but that would be a different book. Instead, Mia gets all wrapped in the mysterious disappearance of this woman until she starts getting threatening notes telling her to leave things alone. Does she? No, of course not.

I loved all the details about pilot season, gift suites, and auditioning that the author brings from her experience. Similarly, Mia’s experience as a lone fish out of water in the heart of movieland feels very authentic. In fact, that was the book I wanted to read.

I found the thriller/mystery somewhat less interesting. Not that it was badly plotted, it just felt like a bit of an afterthought. There’s a half-hearted attempt to throw in some red herrings, however the climax is a delightfully Hitchcockian scene and the resolution is satisfyingly byzantine even if the epilogue feels extraordinarily unlikely.

I’m obviously truly envious of Ms Steadman’s talents in both her careers - it just doesn’t seem fair! But she remains one of the authors I’m excited to read every time she writes something new.

Appropriately enough given that the author is also an actress and that this novel is set among the film industry, "The Disappearing Act" is wildly entertaining. Sure, it's far-fetched; sure, some of the protagonist's actions are barely believable (and is there anyone alive who sets a password for their phone but not for their computer?). But I really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at pilot season and the struggle to make it in Hollywood, and I also enjoyed spending time with the narrator.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for providing me with a free galley in exchange for an honest review.

Bravo! I am a huge fan of Catherine Steadman and this one does not disappoint! Rich, believable characters drive this twisted thriller! A perfect beach or pool read. I can see The Disappearing Act as a Netflix series or Lifetime movie.

Mia is a British actress who has always wanted to make it in Hollywood. After her long-term boyfriend leaves her, she decides to head to Hollywood for auditions during pilot season. Mia, and the other people she encounters in Hollywood, really give actors a bad name. Mia also makes a lot of really dumb decisions throughout the book, so it's hard to really sympathize her at all. I did find the story compelling and kept reading to find out what the hell happened to Emily. Personally, I don't think I would put that much effort in to finding out what happened to someone after they didn't come back for their keys... just leave it with the receptionist and hope for the best (but that wouldn't make for a good story).

The book goes along at a very good pace, keeping you entertained. Although what actually transpires is a little bit over the top and unrealistic, overall I enjoyed the book.

An actress from London auditions for parts in Hollywood, only to become entangled in a missing actress mystery with many twists and turns. At times you might not be able to tell if this is the Hollywood script versus real life for Mia the protagonist. Enjoyable read, and recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for this advance review copy. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. The acting storyline did not hold my interest and there were many things that seemed completely implausible. I never got a sense of building suspense to draw me into the story. I’m sure this book will find success with the right reader.

Backstabbing? Check! Vicious Gossip? Check! Sunshine and smog? Check and check! Welcome to Los Angeles! This is no City of Angels. The Disappearing Act offers a peek at the seedy underbelly of fame, and I couldn't help but want more!

I'm going to skip the plot detail recap, because it's a little complicated, and you can read it in the synopsis. This is all about little old me!

This is the first book I've read by Catherine Steadman, although I'm aware of the previous ones. I didn't realize she was an actress until I read this book, but how cool is that? I actually loved her on the show Rook (sorry, I've never seen Downton Abbey). Her background was immensely beneficial to the detail in this book; I was riveted by the process of pilot season, casting, auditions, etc. I actually wish there was a bit more of that. I felt like an insider, and that was cool! It was weird, because Mia, the actress, was clearly amazing, she was so focused and talented. Then there were times when Mia, the person, came across as staggeringly naive, and I'm not sure if that was supposed to be because she was British and not used to America, or just a plot device, but it really twanged my nerves. There is a rather long build up to the action, but I wouldn't say it was slow. Just a bit repetitive and unnecessary. I found the book enjoyable, just like I enjoy flipping through the pages of those glossy magazines with Brad on the cover. I loved the ending, I actually looked over at my husband and said "Well, Well, Well, she nailed it!" even though he had no idea what I was talking about. Go ahead and give this book a read. Celebrity gossip might be a guilty pleasure, but it has less calories than Chunky Monkey. Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the chance to review this advance copy.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I did not exactly predict the outcome of this book, I wasn’t as surprised with the twists as I was with her debut novel, Something in the Water.

After reading two of Catherine’s three novels, I can say she seems to enjoy creating characters that you just want to scream at for being so dumb in their actions that get them into so much trouble. But it was nice to have an actual good guy thrown in there too!

I enjoyed that she portrayed the Hollywood elite without feeling like she needed to give them names; the descriptions were enough that you didn’t need any names, real or fake. However, I do wonder who she had in mind when writing about those characters.

Overall this book was a a quick and easy read and definitely worth checking out.

A heartbroken British actress decides to leave everything behind and try her luck in L.A.. Unbeknownst to her she is about to play the role of a lifetime. A chance encounter with another actress and a simple favor leads her down a dangerous path.

This slow-burn thriller will keep you guessing until the very end!

It took awhile for me to get into this book however, I am glad I stuck with it because it was a refreshing, twisty, thrill ride that I am still talking about!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for and advanced copy of this book.

Mia Eliot is a British actress who learns that her boyfriend of six years, George, has recently moved out without telling her and she is devastated. She decides soon after this to try her luck acting in L.A. and that's when everything really falls apart.

One day while waiting for an audition, Mia meets Emily. Emily asks Mia for a small favor to go add money to her parking meter. Mia complies and when she returns to give Emily her back her keys and wallet, she finds that Emily has disappeared. Where has Emily gone? Mia starts her search and the suspense begins.

I definitely enjoyed this book. The storyline was great and I really enjoyed the characters. Catherine Steadman’s writing is very compelling and I could not put it down as the suspense kept building.

“The Disappearing Act" will keep you up late at night until you come to a shocking conclusion!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House (Ballantine Books) for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) on June 3, 2021.

At first I didn't like this story so much, but then it started to have some interesting plot twists and I got hooked! It's a mystery/thriller about a British actress that goes to LA after a breakup to see if she can find a different role and a change of scenario, but there she meets another actress at an audition and that lady disappears shortly after. Then she starts to worry where this girl might be and what happened to make her vanish. And the story goes on around that. The mystery is pretty interesting, and the connection to acting life really makes sense.

This book is set in LA amidst Pilot season. A mad rush of auditions for actors and actresses to find their big break into the movie and TV industry. We follow Mia, a British actress who has just suffered a breakup. Mia is the type of character that is naive and has zero street smarts. The story is driven by her questionable actions as she inserts herself into a mystery of a missing actress.

The author uses her background in acting to describe the setting, audition procedures, parties and even explaining celebrity gifting suites. There is also a #metoo moment that drives the mystery along with dirty producers. You have actresses who will do anything for their next big role and unreliable supporting characters. Who can Mia trust? She is in a foreign country surrounded by strange occurrences and cutthroat characters.

Overall, a great read, slow at times but I never guessed what was happening so that was thrilling. Give this one a go if you enjoyed Something in the Water.

Entertaing, fast read! British actress Mia has gone to LA to do the rounds of auditions during pilot season, and meets Emily, who disappears in the middle of an audition. Mia can't leave it alone, and takes it upon herself to investigate. Mia is a fun character - she's a bit irreverant about the acting profession (doesn't take it so seriously) and has flaws like a regular person. I quite enjoyed the ending - the entire plot veers in a way most won't see coming, but the very end? Just when you think everything is perfectly fine . . .

"Once a year, actors from across the globe descend on the smog and sunshine of Los Angeles for pilot season. Every cable network and studio looking to fill the rosters of their new shows enticing a fresh batch of young hopefuls, anxious, desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to make it. Careers will be made, dreams will be realized, stars will be born. And some will be snuffed out.

British star Mia Eliot has landed leading roles in costume dramas in her native country, but now it's time for Hollywood to take her to the next level. Mia flies across the Atlantic to join the hoard of talent scrambling for their big breaks. She's a fish out of water in the ruthlessly competitive and faceless world of back-to-back auditioning. Then one day she meets Emily, another actress from out of town and a kindred spirit. Emily is friendly and genuine and reassuringly doesn't seem to be taking any of it too seriously. She stands out in a conveyor-belt world of fellow auditionees. But a simple favor turns dark when Emily disappears and Mia realizes she was the last person to see her, and the woman who knocks on Mia's door the following day claiming to be her new friend isn't the woman Mia remembers at all.

All Mia has to go on is the memory of a girl she met only once . . . and the suffocating feeling that something terrible has happened. Worse still, the police don't believe her when she claims the real Emily has gone missing. So Mia is forced to risk the role of a lifetime to try to uncover the truth about Emily, a gamble that will force her to question her own sanity as the truth goes beyond anything she could ever have imagined."

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my! what a twisty, heart pounding, can't wait to see what happens, Hollywood mystery. This is a story of Londonite, Mia, auditioning for the role of a lifetime in Hollywood after George, love of her life, dumps her. Throw in the disappearance of Emily, also an aspiring actress, and the nonstop action begins.
I read a previous purchased book by this author & hated it. It's rare I give an author a second chance, but I'm glad I did. It was obvious Ms Steadman was familiar with the industry & I appreciated the knowledge of theater & acting she drew from.
Mia was at times naive & some of her reactions wouldn't be what I would do. However; this is fiction & I read to be entertained, transported & distracted, which this story accomplished.
I thoroughly enjoyed and thanks to Netgalley, Catherine Steadman & Random House/Ballentine books for the digital advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I devoured this!😱
Enthralled would be an accurate description of how I have spent the last few hours. I couldn’t put it down.

Author and actress, Catherine Steadman weaves a story of imagination together that makes you almost speculate how much of her research for this novel borderlined the truth of what happens behind the scenes in Hollywood. Or at least what crazy lore lies, or idyll chatter hums between casting calls and script readings. I mean there has to be some mysterious happenings that get talked about but never investigated. Plus we all know how much wheeling and dealing, “scratch mine, I‘ll scratch yours,” their truly is in the industry.

The mystery that unfolds from Posh England to the bustling hills of Hollywood, the writing makes you question the main character, Mia’s, sanity as she falls deeper into the storyline. And at the same time it shows you a taste of all the perks and sparkling glamour that show business can have. Without giving away too much I highly recommend this thrilling book for hitting the market just in time for summer. You’ll want to have read this one before all your friends do.

Thank you NetGalley, RandomHouse Audio and Ballentine for this ARC.

A twisty psychological thriller that touches on some of the dark parts of Hollywood.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 only because of readability and the mystery drew me in. I felt the plot was a bit simplistic, pacing was rushed, and there were many plot holes that remained by the end of the novel.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

After being dumped, up and coming actress Mia heads to Hollywood to try and find her big break. She meets fellow actress, Emily and does her a favor. When Mia next sees Emily, she realizes it’s not the same person.

Steadman shines here in her knowledge of acting and the theater world, and crafts an interesting story. The ending was more positive than her previous two books. I enjoyed this one.

Another excellent thriller from a very talented author! Steadman is herself an actress and, as she says in the afterword, she may not have needed to become a neurosurgeon to write Mr. Nobody or pore through maritime charts for Something in the Water, but with The Disappearing Act she writes about a world she knows well: acting. To be honest, had I not known this about her, I’d think she was exaggerating about how Hollywood works. Mia Eliot is in the cusp of stardom. Her role as Jane Eyre will probably bag her a BAFTA so, after a painful breakup, she goes to audition in Los Angeles. She’s talented, so she’s doing well until she becomes obsessed with a fellow actress who disappears after an audition. Since Mia seems so smart, I kept yelling at her not to be stupid and stop getting involved but, had she listened, the novel would have been short and very boring. Instead, while navigating the tricky world of auditions, she also starts digging into this mystery. She meets a cute guy (careful, Mia!) and keeps changing her mind about calling the police when things start getting weird. The plot is really very good, and Mia’s reasons for everything she does are actually plausible. The stories about how Hollywood work are insanely entertaining and the ending is fantastic. A great read!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine!

This one took a bit to get where it was going. The theme of "where is Emily" is repeated over and over, perhaps a bit too often. But the author does a great job building up the creepy factor. I was not expecting it to end the way it did, which is what we are looking for in this type of book, no? I think this one would make a great beach read, as it can be read in a couple sittings and it keeps you hanging on.

I received an ARC for my honest review.