Catriona Ward never fails to break my heart and dazzle my senses. She seems to have an especial affinity for the misfits, the outliers who hide on the fringes and long for the "normal" life they see all around them but can never quite grab onto. She's also one of those authors that leaves me wondering "is she...you know...okay?"

You'll think you have this book figured out but you'll be wrong. Its a story about growing up and coming to grips with the failings and failures of those we love most in the world. Its a story about monsters and murder and the depths people can sink to when given the chance. Its a story about falling in love with the wrong person for the right reasons and continuing to love them even when they break your heart in two. Its a story about stories and who gets to tell them, who earns the right to tell them.

Ms. Ward's writing is like wine that's been in the cellar just a touch too long. Its rich and full of complex flavors but sometimes the bitterness threatens to overwhelm, then it goes to your head and you wake up with a wicked hangover but man was it worth it.

I keep trying to read books by Catriona Ward. I want to like her so badly because she is local to me. But I just do not like her books. This is the thrid book I have read by her and I just did not like it. I do not think I am going to read anything else by her. Nothing against this author. Her writing style and ideas are just not for me.

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward by all appearances looks to be a coming-of-age novel, but it is, in fact, a literary fantasy horror story that requires readers to pay close attention and to read between the lines.

Wilder is spending the summer at his recently deceased uncle's cottage in Whistler Bay. He makes friends with Nat and Harper and his summer is both exciting and tragic. He learns about love, about betrayal and about murder.

Every review will mention this, but this is a book inside of a book inside of a book. The last 25% moves the story into a territory that is hard to accept, hard to understand....at first. Then, slowly, the whole story unravels into a beautiful and terrifying resolution.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and Catriona Ward for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic story.

One of my favorite Ward novel's to date. The story was a winding and creepy mystery that had me guessing all the way up till the end.

I really enjoyed Catriona Ward's previous novel, Last House on Needless Street, but I think I enjoyed this one even more. Like Needless Street, this one took me a couple chapters to really get into, but once it hooked me I couldn't put it down. I look forward to reading more from Ward in the future!

Looking Glass Sound is one hell of a novel. I’m a Catriona Ward super fan, so I’m automatically going to buy anything she puts out. I was genuinely giddy when I got approved on NetGalley for this one. And honestly, this is an incredibly ambitious novel. Did it work for me? I still don’t entirely know. The story follows Wilder, a teen who visits a coastal Maine town with his family. There he meets two friends- Harper and Nate- and the events of that summer alter the course of all of their lives forever. The novel takes quite a few abrupt shifts in how the story is being told and the timeline of events, mostly centering Wilder. I absolutely adore the first half of this book- everything that happens when Wilder is a teenager. It’s a perfect, creepy, atmospheric coming of age story, but once the shifts start happening it kind of loses me for the middle portions and then gets me again at the end. Plus it’s so beautifully written that I don’t even care that I was confused. I enjoyed reading this so much, even if I didn’t love the plot. I think this was a really ambitious way to write a novel, and even if it’s not my favorite from this author, it’s certainly a unique reading experience.

My review will be posted on my Instagram closer to the publication date- @boozehoundbookclub

Catriona Ward is a beautiful writer, no doubt about it. The way her sentences flow together; it's true mastery.

It's less horror than her other books, and more mystery. It's the perfect summer read (especially the first half), but not necessarily for the beach or poolside - you need to be PAYING ATTENTION to understand what is going on.

Like I said - this one might require a re-read just to fully grasp the intricate details of what truly happened. A buddy-read might be required to hand-hold one another through this one!


I'm not gonna spoil it for you. Let's just say, Catriona Ward did it again.

(Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!)

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the Advanced Copy of Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward. This is definitely going to be a hot title!

As usual Ward writes a bizarre and creepy story with sufficient mystery and angst. An unreliable narrator, an old story, a serial stalker, and betrayal amongst friends. The story of Wilder and the turmoil of his summers spent on the beach with two friends, and the questions he has about the serial “Daggerman” of the Sound.

This story will frustrate you, give you anxiety, and creep you out as parts start to unravel and there become more questions than answers.

I really tried with this one but I ultimately came away very confused. There were so many characters and at times they morphed into other characters. The time periods also fluctuated and I couldn’t keep anything straight. There were some crazy twists near the end that I enjoyed. I appreciate Ward’s very elaborate writing style.

Looking Glass Sound starts off as a coming-of-age tale. Wilder, a bullied, friendless, teen is spending the summer in an inherited cottage near the sea with his parents before they sell it. There he meets a couple of kids his own age and although they are a bit on the weird side they soon become the best and only friends he has ever had. None of these kids has a great home life and Wilder's parents have no idea how awful his school life is. The complicated relationships between all the characters was already holding my interest enough to add this book to my "couldn't put it down" list even before the creepy mystery of The Dagger Man began, who sneaks into children's bedrooms at night. I would have been perfectly happy to continue down this path to a five-star rating for this book, right up to and a little beyond the halfway point.

Then it all changed. It became a book about everyone writing a book about everyone else's book. I may have lost count but I want to say there are four characters writing books in here. It became difficult to follow at times and I was not always sure what was supposed to be that character's point of view on what had happened or that character's fictionalized version of their book. Maybe I would have been able to follow it better if it didn't become such a chore to try to force myself to pay attention. This is my third time reading a book by this author. I had said this one would be the tie-breaker. I loved Needless Street. I did not care for Sundial and I was hoping to love this.
You may enjoy it more than I did but after such a spectacular beginning I feel disappointed with the last half.

My thanks to Tor Nightfire.

This one ended up being super confusing to me. At a point, it completely lost me and I couldn't follow what was going on. However, I really enjoyed the first part of the story and wish that was a book all on it's own.

This book centers around our main character, Wilder. I can't fully describe what it was about, but for me it felt like it was in three parts. Wilder as a teenager, Wilder in college, and Wilder as a grown adult.

It begins with Wilder and his family going to stay in a cottage at Whistler Bay for the summer. Wilder is bullied back home in school, and is cautious when two teens befriend him. He quickly becomes best friends with Nat (short for Nathanial), and the girl they both love, Harper. The first part of the book centers around these teens getting into trouble all summer. In the background is the story of "the dagger man" who was a serial killer that haunted the Bay years before. This chapter closes with Nat being severely injured and the dagger man being caught and imprisoned.

The next part of the book is about Wilder in college. He befriends a boy named Sky, who encourages Wilder to visit the dagger man in prison to get closure from his childhood and to help with the book Wilder is writing. In the end, Sky steals Wilder's book and publishes his own.

The last section is where it lost me. Wilder returns to Whistler Bay as a grown adult, still bitter about Sky who found great success with the stolen book. Wilder seems to be losing his mind. He is writing a new book where Sky is a woman. The book flips back and forth between segments of real life and segments of Wilder's book. Then it talks about Wilder being trapped in a book written by the real female Sky, and it keeps going on and on as a book within a book maybe, and I was completely lost on what was actually happening.

Overall, I was incredibly disappointed because the book started out so strong, but then got too confusing to comprehend.

"From Catriona Ward, author of The Last House on Needless Street, comes a masterful story about friendship and betrayal, dark obsessions, and the impossibility of escaping your own story.

In a cottage overlooking the windswept Maine coast, Wilder Harlow has begun the last book he will ever write.

It is the story about the sun-drenched summer days of his youth in Whistler Bay, and the blood-stained path of the killer that stalked his small vacation town. About the terrible secret he and his companions, Nat and Harper, discovered entombed in the coves off the bay. And how the pact they swore that day echoed down the decades, forever shaping their lives.

But the more Wilder writes, the less he trusts himself and his memory. He starts to see things that can't be real - notes hidden in his cupboards, from an old friend now dead; a woman with dark hair drowning in the icy waters below, calling for help; entire chapters he doesn't recall typing, appearing overnight. Who, or what, is haunting Wilder?

No longer able to trust his own eyes, Wilder begins to fear that this will not only be his last book, but the last thing he ever does."

This right here has summer blockbuster thriller beach read written all over it!

Catriona Ward is the master of creepy and Looking Glass Sound is another tale that will keep a reader up at night. Wilder returns to the Maine shore, to the cabin he stayed in as a younger man, to write a book that has been haunting him since that long-ago summer. Missing women, murder, a best friend he isn't sure is innocent all come together to form who Wilder is as a man. As he starts to write, we all lose touch with what is real and what is fiction and whether magic can be used to bind people into place.

Catriona Ward strikes again with her newest psychological horror masterpiece, "Looking Glass Sound." This one was super eerie, very on brand for Ward.

Set against the backdrop of a desolate cottage in a coastal Maine town, the story unfolds through the eyes of Wilder Harlow, a tormented writer embarking on his final opus. As he delves into his childhood and the difficult to explain events that unfolded over the course of a couple summers, Ward masterfully weaves a tapestry of suspense, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

Wilder's recollection of his coming of age and the haunting specter of a serial killer takes an unexpected turn when his unfinished memoir is adapted into a bestselling novel by another writer, his closest friend Sky. What follows is a psychological descent into the darkest corners of Wilder's mind, as he questions the boundaries of his own sanity.

Looking Glass Sound really leans into the exploration of memory and its malleability. Wilder's struggle to distinguish between the fragments of his past and the fabrication of his friend's novel serves as a constant reminder that our recollections can be deceptive. The back-and-forth between truth and fiction creates a mind-bending experience- prepare to ask yourself what the hell is going on several times before it all comes together.... and even after that.

If I had one gripe about this book, it's that there were too many conflicting plot points. It did all mingle at the end, but by the time it all made sense I was kind of over hearing the same story several times from different points of view, with changes among each tale. I loved the book, but I feel the fat could have been trimmed a little for a cleaner effect. It was, at times, a lot going on.

I do appreciate Ward's ability to shift between characters as always, however, and I think it could be what she does best. In the end, I loved this book and I think it is her best since Sundial. Looking Glass Sound is definitely a great read if you're looking for something that will leave you wondering and haunted beyond the last page.

Prepare to be captivated by Catriona Ward's latest masterpiece, "Looking Glass Sound," a twisted psychological horror novel reminiscent of her acclaimed work, "The Last House on Needless Street." With jaw-dropping twists that continually pile upon one another, this book will keep you guessing until the very end.

In a secluded cottage overlooking the coast of Maine, we meet Wilder Harlow as he embarks on his final writing endeavor. His narrative unfolds, recounting the haunting memories of his childhood summer companions and the sinister presence that haunted their small New England town. As Wilder delves into the discovery of a body and the chilling aftermath, he is shocked to discover that his former best friend, Sky, has transformed his unfinished memoir into a bestselling novel called "Looking Glass Sound."

As Wilder delves deeper into his own story, the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur. Hidden notes, written in Sky's distinctive green ink, further unsettle him, raising questions about his grasp on reality and the encroaching terrors of his past.

"Looking Glass Sound" is an extraordinary testament to Catriona Ward's storytelling prowess. The book is an intricate tapestry of suspense and mystery, with twists that will leave you breathless. From the very first page, it becomes evident that this is not a story you can predict or easily put down. Ward's ability to craft a constantly shifting narrative landscape is truly exceptional, and fans of her previous work will relish the familiar sense of unease and audacious storytelling found within these pages.

I was thoroughly enthralled by "Looking Glass Sound." Catriona Ward's ability to create an eerie atmosphere and weave complex tales is unparalleled. This novel lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Whether you are a devoted fan of psychological horror or simply seeking an enthralling read, "Looking Glass Sound" delivers an unforgettable experience that pushes the boundaries of imagination.

In conclusion, "Looking Glass Sound" is a must-read for both fans of Catriona Ward and those who appreciate a gripping psychological thriller. Prepare to embark on a riveting journey through the depths of memory and the chilling horrors that lie within. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you Tor Nightfire for providing me with an advance copy of "Looking Glass Sound."

I enjoyed Ward’s Little Eve immensely and was excited for this title, unfortunately, this was not for me. I felt the beginning story to be compelling and when it seemingly resolved with 2/3 of the book remaining, I should have had an inkling then of just how chaotic this book’s plot would become. The meta fiction and last 100 pages of the book was a slog to get through. The dialogue also felt disjointed at points. I wish the entire book had felt more like the first story told.

Catriona Ward has become one of the author's I automatically read when I see a book is published. I am always left reeling after her books, and quite unsure how I feel about them until much later. There is always so much more going on beneath the surface of the story, and this one is definitely no exception, perhaps much more so than the others. Looking Glass Sound started small, then just consistently blew my mind every 50 or so pages until the end where you're left reeling and unsure how to feel. I will absolutely be recommending this book to the horror fans out there.

This book blew my mind. It’s one to closely pay attention to or you’ll be lost. To me, that’s not a bad thing. The details…intricately woven clues dispersed throughout this tale of a book within a book within a book. (Yes, three books. Not a typo. 😂). The details put me on the coast of Maine, inside the cottage by the waves, and even deeper into the thoughts and actions of the characters.

Even after reading this, I’m not going to try to summarize the plot because it’ll either be far too detailed or simply, “WTF”. (In the best way.)

I listened to the audio and was able to stay on track but I’ll probably also re-read it later. (Especially if there’s another buddy read after publication….ahem…😉) Christopher Ragland and Katherine Fenton were phenomenal narrators. Christopher has the perfect voice to portray the innocent teenager and broken man from the dual timelines. (Or are there more than two? 🫠)

If you’re a fan of Catriona Ward already, definitely pick this one up on pub day or preorder it now! This was my first read of hers, even though I own them all, and I quickly joined another buddy read for Sundial. If you’re a fan of spooky, quirky, and unnerving…this is your book!

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
4.75 stars, rounded up.
Catriona Ward is the absolute master at writing the most unreliable of unreliable narrators. Looking Glass Sound has plenty of that, as well as a beautiful and horrible coming-of-age story. It is a slow, slow burn with things not really popping off until the last 20% of the book. When things come together, they do so spectacularly. The journey to the end is worth the wait.