what a confusing mess. This book tried so hard to be meta and just ended up confusing the heck out of my. Rec: don't listen to this on audio.

LOOKING GLASS SOUND, the latest literary horror thriller by Catriona Ward (@catward66) drops today from Tor Nightfire, and I cannot stop thinking about this puzzle box of a book. Much like THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET, there are so many unseen twists and turns to this story that I’m afraid to really say anything about it, in fear of unintentionally spoiling something.

Part coming of age story, part mystery, part ghost story, it is based in unreliable memory and is inevitably about how stories can haunt us, and how those stories can themselves be haunted; it’s just SO well crafted.

I believe that between this and NEEDLESS STREET, Ward has cemented herself as a favorite author for me, and I’m definitely going to be tracking down her other books.

Thank you to @netgalley and @tornightfire for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I'm not quite sure how to review this book. Catriona Ward has a way of telling a story that is both engrossing and a bit confusing at the same time. There were times I felt like I fully understood what was happening and others that I was a little lost. But the entire time I enjoyed the story, even when I was lost I was so fully invested in figuring out what was happening. At times it felt like the pace was slow, but I think that is completely necessary to weave such a multi layered story. And maybe that's the best way to describe this story, like an onion with many layers. It all comes together in the end and I'm still thinking through the layers of this story days after finishing.

⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)

Thank you to @netgalley @torbooks and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy of this book.

When people ask me for psychological thriller recos, I used to point them towards Gillian Flynn. From now on, it will be Catriona Ward. From the first page she creates such an eerie atmosphere and puts you on edge. Nothing is real, everything is real.

Be warned there are 3 stories within this novel, very Inception-ey. As a reader I never knew what was real and what was fake, what were the characters' memories versus fiction. Ward kept me completely off balance! I was that Always Sunny in Philadelphia meme, you know the one I'm talking about, Charlie with the red strings everywhere....and I still got the ending wrong.

Pick this book up! Read it, then read it again! Thank you Tor Nightfire Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!
3.75 stars!

LOOKING GLASS SOUND is a prism, and the story it refracts shimmers and wavers. This book is a marvel; a maze that leads back into itself. Nothing is what it seems and ghosts linger everywhere, crying out to be heard. Catriona Ward has created a tragic, enigmatic, audacious wonder.

Looking Glass Sound will stick with me for the sole fact that it was an extremely frustrating read. It wasn’t scary, it wasn’t suspenseful, it was just muddled and unnecessarily convoluted (I cannot stress enough this enough). As someone who enjoys multiple POVs and stories within a story, this felt very poorly put together. It is not a horror novel; if anything, it felt more like a work of literary fiction with questionable pacing. I had high hopes for this one and was definitely let down.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Why would someone want to live forever in a book?"

"Maybe they don't. Maybe the writer keeps them prisoner. You can trap someone in a book. Their soul. Make a prison of words...a cage."

The ingenious warped mind of horror thriller author Catriona Ward has all the power in her latest brain hurting, mind bending, figure 8 twisty psychological thriller Looking Glass Sound. I honestly don't even know where to start because I'm still hyper ventilating from the end.

The beginning of this work of pure horror literature reads/sounds like a coming of age story as 16 year old Wilder Harlow spends what SEEMS like an idyllic summer with new friends Harper and Nat. Then...my brain stopped and I entered the metaphysical world of this needs her mind studied writer.

We find out about serial killer The Dagger Man who takes creepy pictures of his victims children while they are sleeping. At college, suffering from panic attacks from that summer, Wilder meets new BFF Sky who is truly not there in the best interest of Wilder. That's just the start before the veil is lifted and the falling over the cliff truths are revealed in a kaleidescope of unprecedented prose.

Reading and listening to narrators Christopher Ragland and Katherine Fenton perform this trippy, WTF just happened, unreliable protagonists, I don't know how to explain this much too smart for me story, was heart pounding, chilling, shocking and anything but a peaceful day on the sound. Maybe take a tranquilizer before starting this one.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @tornightfire for an advance copy of LOOKING GLASS SOUND in return for my honest review.

In his memoir, Wilder is an odd teenager with pale skin and bulging eyes who spends a summer in a coastal cottage in Maine. A windswept town where he makes his first ever friends.

Nat, a handsome local, and Harper, a British rebel with long fiery hair, claim Wilder as their new friend for a summer of wild and sometimes unsettling childhood adventures by the seaside. When they get caught up in a The Dagger Man’s path, they will uncover more than just the whereabouts of several missing local women.

💭 @catward66 has broken my brain with this literary horror story. The first long chapter could have been an entire book for me, but she continued to layer the plot with mysterious characters and haunting atmosphere.

As you read this book, you will feel the anticipation building… but to what? You’ll have no idea. So don’t go into this one trying to predict the ending, or you’ll just get a headache!

Not only are the twists unexpected, they are made to keep you as confused as the characters. It’s described as a horror story, but it’s a lot more than that - it’s a slow creeping tale of forbidden secrets in an ominous setting. The stones that make a dismal hooting sound in the wind, the claustrophobic sea caves, a nautical serial killer, and a little bit of magic.

I prefer stories, even horror, that are planted more firmly in reality. With Looking Glass Sound really need to let that go and allow the plot twists just wash over you. I had a hard time doing that, so I found myself feeling confused and a bit frustrated trying to sort things out.

I loved the atmosphere and the anticipation of the first third of this story, and I think it’s definitely worth a read if you like being physically affected by a book!


Read this book if you like…
🧟‍♀️ Literary horror
✍️ Books about writers
👦🏻 Creepy kids
👻 Paranormal twists
👨‍👦 Coming of age stories
🦞 Coastal New England
🪝 Serial killer plots
🌊 Eerie settings as a character

I struggled between rating this one at 3 stars and 4 because objectively, it was a 4-star book, but compared to Ward's other books, it was definitely 3 stars. Her previous books, especially Sundial, were just so buck wild that I realize it would be hard to top them, but this one just didn't really click with me. The premise was very compelling and some of the side plots are what kept me reading until the end, but the characters just seemed a bit underdeveloped. Again, I'd still recommend this book on its own, but I'd recommend Ward's other books first if given the option.

I have absolutely no idea what to say about this. I really liked the first half — it was creepy and atmospheric, and I loved the setup with the three friends and their lives unraveling as they discover a sinister secret.
*
But this takes the book-within-a-book trope wayyy too far. I was on board for the first time, and kind of the second, but by the third I just had no idea what was going on anymore.
*
It’s creative, that’s for sure, and great at character building and atmosphere. But I don’t think I can say I enjoyed it since I couldn’t even tell you what happened at the end, or really for much of the second half.

Cartriona Ward is an author to gravitate towards when you want something completely unique and out of the box! She does horror and thrill in the most unexpected way! Looking Glass Sound has a serial killer, a small town setting and so much psychological suspense. At times, the book was slightly difficult to follow but I find her writing style is one that you really need to pay attention when reading. Overall, this wasn’t my favourite book by her but I still really enjoyed it and felt myself being pulled to pick it up! 3.5⭐️

{2.5 rounded up to 3 stars}

It was a shock to the system that I didn’t LOVE this book 😩 I gave her previous books 4.5 (Sundial) + 5 stars (Needless Street; Little Eve).

The good: Ward knows damn well how to create and wholly envelope you in the eeriest atmospheres. The vibes, as always, were on point 🤌🏻

The not so good: her books are always weird af; I’ve come to expect and love that! BUT this one felt needlessly confusing and convoluted. 6 days later and I’m still scratching my head a bit 😳

It started off super strong—intriguing, spooky, and suspenseful—but she introduced too many layers and it got quite hard to follow.

At least there was a legit aha moment that made me want to flip back and read some parts with new eyes 👀

A genre bending tale with a chilling wrap up!

Catriona Ward has created an atmospheric thriller that does not disappoint. I was so engrossed in this story that I could barely put it down. I'm still not one-hundred percent sure what exactly happened, and I love it. This unreliable narrator(s) have me in knots. I'm still reeling over the final page. It's the perfect beach read for lovers of dark and speculative fiction.

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward is a haunting and atmospheric novel that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. The story follows Wilder Harlow, a writer who returns to his childhood home in Whistler Bay, Maine, to write a book about the summer he spent there as a teenager. That summer, Wilder and his two friends, Nat and Harper, made a terrible discovery that has haunted them ever since. Now, as Wilder tries to piece together the events of that summer, he begins to question his own memories and sanity.

Ward's writing is exquisite, and she creates a truly immersive and unsettling atmosphere in Looking Glass Sound. The setting of Whistler Bay is perfectly described, and the reader can almost feel the cold, salty air and hear the waves crashing against the shore. The characters are also well-developed and believable, and the reader will find themselves rooting for Wilder as he tries to unravel the mystery of his past.

4 stars - loved it

This is a bit of a slow burn, important details are periodically revealed leaving you unsettled and trying to figure out whats going on. The story is layered with so many elements that unravel over time. Catriona Ward is one of my favourite authors, her ability to confuse you and have you puzzled and then have the twists served to you is always outstanding.
The formatting was a little off, my digital copy wasn't the final draft and was a bit difficult to read at times because the grammar and sentences were a bit all over the place. Im going to get the paperback once it releases and have a reread.

Thanks to netgalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Nightfire for sharing a digital copy for me to read and review. As always, opinions are my own 🤘🏻💀🤘🏻

Looking Glass Sound is a chameleon of a book. It begins as a coming-of-age tale set in a creepy, almost gothic setting. There is, of course, a serial killer and a child peeper loose that may or may not be the same person. It also has a literary fiction style and is filled to the brim with metaphors for its eerie island location. Ultimately, it is a book about writers and ownership of plots.

After spending quite a while reading it, because it demands a reader’s full attention, I enjoyed it. It is unique in the burgeoning sub-genre of horror thrillers. However, its style requires a thoughtful read, and perhaps a rereading or two. It reminded me of books I read in high school English class by long dead authors. If you are looking for a light beach read, Looking Glass Sound is not it. For those readers looking for a book that will offer them a thoughtful read, this book is highly recommended. I’ll average my rating for both types of readers with 4 stars!

Thanks to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

The whole book within a book within a book
1, made me nauseous
2. wasn't that great a ~twist
Not a fan of this one, although the cover is (deceivingly) good.

This book was a mind-bending plot mixed with overall unease, with secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end. This is the story of an author, working on his last novel. Strange occurences and hallucinations haunt him until he begins to suspect that writing this novel will be the last thing he ever does.
A study in madness where there's more going on than meets the eye. Catriona Ward is a true genius when it comes to suspense and thrillers.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for this e-arc.*

When I say this book was a wild ride…

Cat Ward has done it again, you truly never know where her stories are going to go. This is truly a nesting doll story where we have stories inside of stories inside of books inside of diaries. It’s twisty-turny and absolutely bingeworthy.

Wilder has come to Whistler Bay with his parents to get his deceased uncle’s house on the market. While there, he meets Nat and Harper who tell him about the Dagger Man of Whistler Bay and set his life on an entirely different course.

Looking Glass Sound is a coming of age story combined with murder, magic and a heaping amount of trauma. The characters are so well done that I immediately found myself drawn to them and Whistler Bay. I was so immersed that it felt like I had been summering in Whistler Bay my whole life.

This is a book that keeps you up at night because you simply can’t put it down! One of my best reads this year!

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward had me practically gnawing on my tongue with chilly anticipation. The staccato writing crackles like aluminum foil on teeth. The stories are told in punctuated chunks from multiple perspectives which magically meld together and make absurd sense.

Main characters Wilder, Nat and Harper strike an odd friendship and find themselves in the thick of swirling mystery and death. Wilder writes stories which take him deeper and deeper into fascinating realms which messed with my mind. I really liked the various points of view and snappy pace.

Catriona Ward's writing makes me feel as though I've struck gold in a tight underwater cave without air supply. It reminds me of an discomfiting combination of Shirley Jackson and Daphne du Maurier in the best way possible.

My sincere thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this deliciously disturbing book which to me should be classified as a psychological suspense.