At the end of each year I choose my favourite book - it's the one I can't stop thinking about, the one I can't stop telling people about, and the book that I want to start reading again as soon as I've finished it. I know it's still early in the year but I can already say that Looking Glass Sound is going to be that book.

There are elements of horror mixed in with the more traditional thriller storyline (which is a kind of trademark for Catriona Ward) but this never feels unbelievable. What can seem bizarre at times while you are reading, always comes back around to the dark side of human nature and the horrors that come from within.

I don't think I've ever been as taken with a character as I was with Wilder Harlow. The social outcast who uses his writing as a way of making sense of the world. When Wilder and his family spend the summer in his Uncle Vernon's beach house he meets Nat and Harper and the three spend an unforgettable few months exploring Whistler Bay and developing the relationships which will change all of their lives forever. What Wilder learns about The Dagger Man of Whistler Bay that summer ends up haunting him and he bases his memoir on the creepy events which took place. But it turns out that Wilder isn't the only person who wants to write that story and the consequences spiral into a crazy multi-layered tale of obsession, grief, witchcraft, love and murder.

I didn't just read this book - I lived every second of it. I can't say much more without giving away too many spoilers but if you are going to pick up any book this year, make it this one!

Thank you to Viper Books for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
I give this book 4.25 stars

In a windswept cottage overlooking the sea, Wilder Harlow begins the last book he will ever write. It is the story of his childhood companions and the shadowy figure of the Daggerman.
This book will be Wilder's revenge on Sky, who betrayed his trust and died without ever telling him why.

A eerie multi layered book about storytelling.
This author has such a unique and clever writing style.You need to concentrate on the ever changing timelines and perspectives but it makes for a truly vivid but slightly disturbing reading experience. I couldn’t work out what was fiction and what was real……wow what a totally unpredictable read (I expect nothing less from this author)
With thanks to Netgalley,Catriona Ward and Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, for my chance to read and review this book.

4.5

Setting: Maine
Rep: ambiguously queer POV characters

This is the kind of book that you finish and you want to go back and reread to make sense of some things. I think the experience will be even better when I can get my hands on a physical copy and be able to flip back and forth, and hopefully some of the "green ink" sections will make more sense! This is a weird book but I really enjoyed reading it, definitely in my top 2 Catriona Ward books along with The Last House on Needless Street!

3⭐️

This author is getting a lot of acclaim for her unique inventive writing style, so I was keen to try her work, as I’m always keen to read something original. This is a psychological horror thriller.

Wilder is writing his last book, his memoir, giving a book within several books scenario. It’s the story of his childhood and his two companions, Harper and Nat and the dagger man who plagued the small New England town. Sky, Wilder’s one time college best friend stole his memoir turning it into a best selling novel Looking Glass Sound.

It starts very much as a coming of age story. But then it becomes very dark. It’s also a very slow burn for me.

I found that there appear to be random paragraphs that don’t make sense with the rest of the narrative, or ended mid sentence. It left it feeling disjointed. Despite this I was invested for over half of the book, then things change tack, I felt there was a lot of repetition, my interest level immediately dropped, things got even more convoluted, and jumped off the scale.

There’s no doubt the authors approach is very unique and original, and that isn’t going to be for everyone. I feel this is an author you are going to love or hate. It was a book of 2 halves for me, I was enjoying the first half, but it lost me in the second half. Unfortunately it’s not a style that I can gel with.

Where do I start? Do I even know what I have read? Let's start. In the summer of 1989 Wilder and his parents go to stay at their cottage in Whistler Bay and and we read his memoir of that time. He soon makes friends, Nat and Harper whose stunning red hair captivates him. But this summer is not a happy one as horrifying discoveries are made and lives are ripped apart. We then move on and Wilder is at college trying to write a book about that summer where he meets Sky, a young man who becomes his best friend, his roommate and who ultimately betrays him by stealing the story and writing a best-selling novel. So far so good - or it it? Just when you think you know where you are, the author pulls the rug from under you and you find yourself in a maze where fact and fiction are blurred, where ghosts roam and witchcraft lingers. You even find yourself wondering who is who as the words that you think you have just read and understood rearrange themselves into something totally different. These characters are all damaged in some way and are all trying to find out the truth - like we are. With obsession, love and grief, with friendship and betrayal, with horror, murder and secrets - this novel will keep you turning the pages until the very end when you will take a deep breath, rub your eyes and start all over again.

Having been interested in Catriona Ward’s work since discovering The Last House on Needless Street. I was extremely looking forward to Looking Glass Sound after attending a talk on the book and hearing the premise, and was not disappointed!

Ward’s books encompass so many different genres and twists that I think most would be hard pushed not to be intrigued by their offering.

Looking Glass Sound starts with Wilder Harlow, as a young outcast arriving in the coastal town of Whistler Bay at a cottage that once belonged to his deceased uncle. There Wilder befriends Nat and Harper. However that summer leads to a discovery that will haunt the trio.

As an aspiring writer we see Wilder struggle with the events of summer as he tries to pen his memoir. Though he’s not the only one who wants to pen his tale…

It’s hard to say more without spoiling any of this wonderful book. Fans of Ward will know to expect something special. I was hooked throughout and the ending was superb.

Big thanks to Viper and Catriona Ward for the advanced copy. I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

What did I just read? I am not exactly sure, but I loved it.

I am still trying to piece it all together but it's wild and moving and just a little scary.

At times I was trying to figure out what was going on and I was questioning whether or not this book knew what it wanted to be. But it got there in the end and the end was crazy. (in a good way)

If you like a good weird story that keeps you guessing definitely pick this one up!

(this is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be picking up more of her work.

This was a gothic, haunting and atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down. It was gripping and engaging the whole way through with a level of suspense and unpredictability that added an extra layer to the storytelling. It was a chilling read that has stayed with me since I read it.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

Looking Glass Sound is a twisty, extremely clever novel that layers unreliable narrators within a time-jumping narrative which keeps the reader guessing all the way through. Catriona Ward has a brilliant way of keeping you in the dark and surprising you multiple times throughout a novel, without making the plot too difficult to follow. This book is just the right blend of confusion and brilliance though and I absolutely loved it.

Ward tells the story of how three young friends trying to innocently enjoy their summers together end up caught up in the discovery of a serial killer in their small holiday town. Though nothing is quite as it seems, this story flows well with the rest of the book and whilst it leaves the reader a little mind-boggled, I think Ward has combined reality and fantasy just well enough to be able to follow.

This book explores themes of friendship and human nature and poses a lot of questions. This would be a brilliant book club read as it opens up a myriad of discussion topics.

Eternally grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced review copy!

Catriona Ward has fast become one of my favourite authors, she has absolutely smashed this book out of the park with this story within a story within a story.
It’s a coming of age, love story, a murder mystery with a dose of witchcraft.
If you think you understand what’s going on, think again! Ward has the ability to keep you on your toes and completely confused with twists throughout the book.
I loved the character development, and the multi dimensional layers to the story.
So well written, a complex story told in such a unique way. I think this may well be my favourite read of the year. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you enjoyed the last house on needless street, you’ll like this one!

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

This was definitely an interesting read!

I've really loved other books by this author, and while this isn't my least favourite of the ones I have read it's definitely not my favourite.

There were parts I really enjoyed, and it definitely is ambitious. I think the book achieves what it sets out to do, but I just don't think I'm the right person for this one sadly!

That being said, I enjoyed my time with it and I will definitely continue to pick up more from this author in the future.

This book!!! I’m not sure how to even begin reviewing it without spoilers. I enjoy this authors writing style and have read her previous books so I expected the weird. It’s a great book and I really enjoyed it but I would recommend going in blind, don’t read reviews first, you need to just experience this for yourself. Catriona Ward is a must buy author for me now.

I read this with bated breath, wondering how it would all go.

Wilder Harlow’s parents are left a cottage by the sea, after a family death. One holiday there, maybe sell?
Wilder befriends Nat, (Nathaniel) and Harlow when there, friends his own age. Will they remain friends?

Wilder is a loner of a boy, and he attracts likewise.
I started the book feeling empathy for Wilder. His holiday by the sea is a turning point for all involved.
I found myself racing through this book, glued to the storyline, but confused a little at times.
It is gritty in places, but told well. I particularly liked a lot of the interesting one liners, full of depth and meaning. Very descriptive.
It wasn’t the ending I expected, but that’s what keeps you on your toes, and guessing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions of the book are entirely my own.

A well written book which is hard to classify. While initially I thought it was a thriller, at times I was frankly so frightened as to call it a horror story. It’s a complex plot which is further confused by the unreliable narrators taking the reader through it. Pay attention and keep with it - it’s worth it!

My god - I loved this book.

It's got nostalgia. Seaside coming of age. Plot twists. Unreliable narration within unreliable narration within unreliable narration. We have murders. We have magic. We have gore. We have dread.

At no point did I know what was happening or what was going to happen. Just when you think you're on solid ground the sands start shifting beneath you and Ward has wrong-footed you again.

The book starts out as a hazy seaside coming-of-age story: three outsiders become friends over a summer the late 80s. They tell stories, confide and conceal in equal measure. They make a promise to always spend summer together. And then something happens to turn their worlds upside down and inside out.

From here on out the book twists and turns through a series of revelations that are horrifying and heartbreaking. It's difficult to say much without giving too much away.

Lots of people have said that this is a difficult read but I had SUCH a great time with it.

The comparison to Stephen King (so often thrown around for any horror book) holds here, and not just due to the Maine setting. There are echoes of It and Misery at various points but this also owes something to Gone Girl and certain slasher flicks of the 90s.

This is my third Catriona Ward novel and I've loved them all.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Me at various points in the book: "I have no idea what is happening but I'm liking it"

I have yet to read Catriona Ward's previous books, but they've been on my radar for some time (too many books etc. etc.). Quite happy to start my journey here in Whistler Bay.

Full of books-within-books, flashbacks, change of characters, change of setting, it's hard to keep track - and that's not including the word games sprinkled throughout. This is a deep concentration read, and you will probably find yourself flicking back to check something from previous chapters, highlighted certain passages and clues...

Part mystery + part horror = full fun.

I could also stare at how pretty the cover is all day...

Perhaps I went into Looking Glass Sound with my expectations too high based upon the previous two stunning novels from Ward,
both of which I HIGHLY recommend, Needless Street topped my favourite list of 2021.
I was of course thrilled to be accepted for an ARC of Looking Glass Sound, and it was still very good, but slightly missed out on top marks.

I didnt find the depth of character building I'm used to from Ward, they were all a little bleak and self serving so I struggled to invest. Much of the novel is jealousy and betrayal between characters who seemed to bond very intensely in short spaces of time.

There's a lot of inception happening here, differentiated using chapters and slightly varied book titles. At times it's a struggle to understand what is real and what is another version of the same story written by the characters themselves. Which I suppose is the point, but the unreliable narrator approach hits much harder in Ward's previous work. This felt a little convoluted. One character alone is known by four different names throughout overlapping timelines.

The format of the book frequently changes, written in first and third from multiple perspectives as journal pages, book excerpts, word games and standard novel pages spanning a lifetime it can be hard to keep track.

I enjoyed the early parts of Looking Glass Sound, the setting is excellent and the mystery of the Dagger Man was fun. I felt the story leaned too hard into characters becoming authors and penning their own versions though there is something much more brewing beneath it all...

The final chapters in the book bring everything crashing together; shocking, confusing and fantastical. THIS is what I was looking for, this is what I love Ward for. I just needed more of it in Looking Glass Sound.

Overall I do recommend, not my favourite of Ward's canon but still very much worth the read. Now my wait begins anew for her next title.

(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

Catriona Ward's latest is a puzzle with endless layers, a mystery covered by gothic horror that leads the reader as it pleases. It is a story about photos, killers and ghosts; about love and loss; about the magic deep inside books.
This is a difficult review, because delving into the complex narrative that the author creates means travelling the fragile realm of spoilers, and this is a story that must be read without any prior knowledge at all.
At the same time, this cannot come as a surprise in the hands of Catriona Ward, best known for the intricate puzzle that left us all speechless at the end of The Last House on Needless Street, but somehow the different layers of Looking Glass Sound feel even more important, a game of sorts, that will keep the reader on their toes, unable to stop reading once the twists start to surprise them.
About the question whether this is a horror novel or not, there is a gothic horror vibe and some creepy scenes, but it is not its main focus. Half thriller, half meta-experimental work (and just saying that puts me in the entrance of the above mentioned spoiler-land), Looking Glass Sound may be a difficult experience for some, but will thrill those who were waiting for the same ‘I know I am lost but I can’t stop reading’ feeling that was not entirely present in the author’s previous novel, Sundial.
To sum up, this is a very elaborate novel with an enormous work behind that will not leave anyone indifferent. Whether the readers will delve into the puzzle or just lean out from the verge, we will have to wait and see.

Ok so where do I start
I very went with a very surprising two stars compared to the high reviews over all
I didn’t as the writing was good the pictures drawn I saw and the characters I was attached to
I loved the main concept and initially the development of this into the layers of the pages of the novels however
two stars is it was just too confusing like a lot of different novels with a variety of different names representing the characters we earlier or hold on was that in the other book or oh hell what was the original book called ,when u read it u will see
Mystery upon mystery's and as u so lost u lose thread of each one thrown at the wall and I just near the end got so tired of it
I read a lot of layered clever novels but this was trying too hard it lost its way
Now I’m gutted as I sooooooo can see what this cd have been and there was potential in the begining but it got lost

This is the first book by Catriona Ward I've read. I find the conflicting opinions around The Last House On Needless Street fascinating, one of the best books ever or rather confusing, depending who you ask.

Looking Glass Sound starts with awkward teenager Wilder staying at his recently deceased uncle's beach house. He hangs around with Nat and Harper, boating, swimming, drinking, exploring and mainly having fun.

The area has a peculiar real life boogieman, The Dagger Man who breaks into homes and takes photos of his knife blade held next to sleeping children and captures the moment on Polaroid. There's obviously a lot more going on that summer with dangerous seas, underwater caves, dares and pranks.

Wilder is writing a memoir and his initial telling of the events of that first summer was my favourite bit, vivid, naive , a little awkward. I was really excited to see where this would go.

Stories within stories? I loved The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard, I enjoy Anthony Horowitz's various experiments. Honestly, the various retellings on the events of that first summer at Looking Glass Sound and the stories of those writing them didn't really work for me.

I know some people will love it, I've already seen some rave reviews but sorry to say this really wasn't one for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile