I understood the beginning of this book fairly well. A coming of age story for a teen who doesn't look like others. A must have vacation to a deceased uncle's seaside home for the parents who aren't as close as they once were and are seeing their son quickly reaching the age when he no longer will be theirs. Then a barrel is found and a woman's body is found inside. The once idealic coming of age story becomes wrapped up in a mystery with some supernatural elements. At this point is where I got lost. Characters come and go all interconnected by the murders but hard to remember the connections and who was who. A part of the story is a novel being written by the older man who once was the young teen and I got lost at what was truth and fiction. Others write novels as well and I continued to find truth and fiction unclear. Twists were abundant and satisfying, however. I'm more a lover of mysteries that aren't so choppy and more linear so I struggled to get to the end of this one. For those who like the subtle supernatural effect on mystery novels this may be the one for you. It just wasn't for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.

I often have a nightmare in which I fall into a massive mound of snow or plunge into the ocean, it's so abysmal and I'm dropping deeper and deeper, farther down, away from the surface, and I'm losing my breath, but I'm convinced I'll make it back to the top. What I don't understand in my dream is that I don't know which way is up or which way is down; I'm lost and unsure of which way to swim, desperately wanting to find my way out. THIS is how I felt after reading this book. The perfect horror atmosphere was created by Looking Glass Sound, a hazy beach summer vacation where the dagger man lurks in the shadows.

I have only read one other book by Catriona Ward, The Last House on Needless Street, and I really enjoyed that one too. Looking Glass Sound featured the same style, suspense, and mystery as LHONS, and it kept you hooked till the end. I know I've said it before, but lately I’m not a fan of thrillers and mysteries, so when I saw the captivating cover and description for this one, I knew I had to give it a shot, and I'm so glad I did. Looking Glass Sound is a dreamy, hazy fever-nightmare that grabs you and doesn't let go (at least not without throwing you around a little). Thanks very much to the publisher for this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

welp, if this wasn't an ARC, I would have DNFd in the first 1/4.
If you want a book that is all over the place, time line jumping, and no likeable characters, then this is for you.
Nothing happened. Absolutely nothing happened. It had some promise when the polaroid was discovered, but that ended quickly. I was so disappointed by this book. I feel like I wasted my time.

I would not recommend this book.

Wow, I want to first say I thought the voice acting for this audiobook was excellent, it helped create a moody immersive mood while listening. Thank you MacMillan for the review copy and also to Tor publishing for so kindly giving me a ebook copy to review (both via NetGalley). I am torn which format was best, I listened to some and read other parts, particularly the later parts as I wanted to be reading Ward's work. I personally loved the story starting off in adolescence and using that time of awkward self discovery and change, and the theme of a summer that changes you, to move into a bigger story that involved really grasping what had happened and how magic and secrets and revenge and the messiness of adolescent friendships and hopes/dreams all became entangled in a search for The Dagger Man.

You likely have to be a literary horror fan to really like this one or a reader open to a meta horror, book within a book plot, that is I think what Chasing the Boogeyman wanted to be (side note, disliked that book a lot). This is perfect for Ward fans of course and readers who like Sarah Gailey (just like home), Chuck Wendig, Stephen Graham Jones, and other similar dark slow paced horror that unsettles the reader and unfolds slowly and eerily until a climax.

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward is a mind-bending and cleverly crafted psychological horror novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Ward weaves a complex and intricate tale that blurs the lines between memory and fiction, leaving you questioning what is real and what is hallucinatory.

The story begins with Wilder Harlow, a troubled writer, who sets out to pen his final book in a lonely cottage overlooking the windswept Maine coast. As he delves into the narrative of his childhood summer companions and the killer that haunted their small New England town, he becomes increasingly entangled in a web of mystery and horror. To his dismay, he discovers notes hidden around the cottage, written in the signature green ink of his former best friend, Sky, who had stolen his unfinished memoir and turned it into a bestselling novel.

Ward's storytelling is nothing short of exceptional. She skillfully crafts a tale that keeps you guessing, constantly challenging your perceptions and leading you down unexpected paths. The plot unfolds like an enigmatic puzzle, with twists and turns that leave you breathless. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Ward throws another curveball, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew.

The characters in Looking Glass Sound are beautifully portrayed and deeply flawed. They are broken individuals searching for truth and resolution, mirroring the readers' own journey through the narrative. Ward captures a wide range of human emotions, from obsessive love to grief, friendship to betrayal, and infuses them with a nightmarish horror vibe that heightens the complexity of the story. The vividness of these characters and their experiences is truly outstanding, pulling you into their world and leaving you as unmoored as the protagonist, Wilder.

While Looking Glass Sound is not an easy book to read, it is well worth the effort. Ward's writing is of the highest quality, and her ability to create a gothic and ghostly atmosphere is truly remarkable. The novel demands your full attention, and even then, it can be puzzling at times. However, the payoff is immense for fans of the genre, as Ward delivers a unique and original plot that will haunt your thoughts long after you turn the final page.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Serpent's Tail/Viper/Profile for providing me with an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review. The opportunity to read this captivating novel early is greatly appreciated, and I wholeheartedly recommend Looking Glass Sound to anyone seeking a twisted and immersive psychological horror experience.

I loved this book. I had never read anything by this author before and I found this story so compelling. I was so invested in the characters. I’m going to look at this authors previous books because I loved the writing so much.

I’ve heard so much great reviews about this author and her previous novel. The novel just grabbed me and I knew I had to read/listen to it. The plot sounded great but however I did not enjoy the book as much as I really wanted to. It started off real great and then it went stale (for me). it just went haywire from there and unfortunately not in a great way. Struggled to finish it and contemplated if I should DNF it. Not my type of novel.

This book was something else. A book within a book within another book? It was eerie and creepy at times. But I was just confused for the majority of it which took away from the creepy vibes. I still don’t know if I fully grasp the real truth of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for granting me an early opportunity to read this book. I was so excited to pick this up, as I loved The Last House on Needless Street.

Looking Glass Sound starts as a story about a teenage boy, Wilder, who meets two friends, Nat and Harper, while his family is spending the summer on a beach in New England. But a killer stalks the community, and the horror may be closer than Wilder had thought. The trauma that unfolds that summer follows Wilder as he goes to college, where he meets another friend, Sky. But Sky and his friendship are more complicated than anticipated. Years later, Wilder returns to the coast where he spent that tragic summer, and he seems to be losing touch with reality. He is seeing things, hearing things, and feeling things that cannot possibly be true.

It’s a little hard to describe this book because the plot is so chaotic. It is full of twists and turns. Just when you think you know what’s going on, the author spins the story again. There are so many layers and stories within stories that at times I found it frustrating. But by the end, I came to appreciate the ride Catriona Ward took me on.

I am giving this book 4 stars. I can very much so appreciate the author’s writing skills and her ability to spin a complicated plot that kept me guessing. And I loved the imagery and setting. I wouldn’t describe this as particularly scary, but at times it was unsettling. The characters are flawed and interesting. I certainly want to pick up more books by this author.

I read and loved Catriona Ward's previous book so I went into this one with high expectations. The beginning of the book was very strong and just the right amount of creepy. A mysterious sound where women disappear, and children are photographed in their sleep. So creepy! However, the last half of the book was a little too convoluted for my tastes. I do think that this book would make a fantastic book club book, because I am still thinking about it and wanting to discuss it with someone. It would be fun to pick apart the ending with other readers and hear about the different theories on the ending.

I was really hoping for more from Looking Glass Sound by Ward. It jumped around in time too much. I couldn't keep the characters completely straight. I still have no idea if Sky is a boy or a girl a made-up person.

This is my first book by this author and therefore I’m not sure if this is typical of her writing style or not but I found myself liking it at points and at others I was wishing it was over. It was strange and opaque and a book within a book within a book and it got super complicated at times. The same characters were represented by various names depending on which character’s book was being told so I found myself struggling at times but at the same time, the premise was quite intriguing. I think maybe if it had been a little bit shorter it may have helped some, but I’m not sure what could have been cut in order to do that.
Wilder and his family inherit his uncles house at the seashore of whistler bay and he strikes up an intense and awkward friendship with Harper and Nat while he’s there. Whistler Bay has a dark history of women going missing and a theory about the “Dagger Man” who creeps into kids bedrooms and takes pictures of them while they sleep holding a knife close to them. As the summer progresses, the teens use and betray each other and Wilder becomes increasingly unstable and the line between reality and fantasy start to blur. Wilder starts writing a book about his experiences at Whistler Bay, then Nat steals his idea and does the same. But then at some point I wondered if some of the characters were hallucinations of Wilders. There was just a lot to unpack.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.

Wilder spends his 16-year-old summer in a small New England town on the coast of Maine, where he makes two friends he believes will be his for life. When a horrific discovery is made, everything changes for the three friends.

Years later, Wilder is writing his memoir, and the lines between what really happened and what he remembers happening start to blur.

This was really a wild ride. At times I struggled to follow the story, but once you've finished it it is truly fascinating how many webs Ward managed to weave. I think this may be my favorite of Ward's yet, but part of me thinks that a little too much was crammed in here. Although Ward masterfully winds these stories together, sometimes less is more, and a few of the pieces could've been dropped without significant damage to the story.

Overall, I'd recommend - it's really a beautiful story.

I really struggled with this one, as it just felt too convoluted. I wasn't able to connect with the characters or stay engaged. The "twist" seemed like an afterthought, to try and make up for other parts that were lacking. The majority of the book felt rushed, and the pace was too slow for the genre. Overdetailing also created lulls. That could've been fixed with a tighter edit.

Talk about a psychological thriller that makes you work! One really needs to be on their game while reading or listening to this book! There were several times in this book where I questioned if I really knew what was happening. This is a book about a book within a book. Whew!

Wilder Harlow is in a cottage in Maine writing the last book he will ever write. He is writing about the summer when he was a teenager when he made two friends while a killer was stalking the small New England town. It is about their gruesome discovery of a body. It is also about his ex-best friend, Sky who stole Wilder's unfinished memoir and published it as Looking Glass Sound. Fact and fiction blurs as Wilder finds notes from Sky and wonders if he what is real.

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Yet, it is complicated, demands 100% attention, is twist filled, and turns the tables on readers many times during the book. Throughout the book, I kept wondering what was going on, thinking I had things figured out, to have the tables turned on me. Like Wilder, I began to wonder what was real, puzzled by what was happening and frustrated that I could not figure things out.

This is an intricately woven book that kept me on my toes. Catriona Ward does a good job keeping readers (at least this reader) in the dark, yet wanting more, and yearning for answers. Her writing is fabulous, and this book is very well thought out. I had no idea where she was going at any part of the book, yet I was invested in the story wanting to know how it would end.

Well written, well thought out, and unsettling.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, Tor Nightfire, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was given the privilege of reading Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward early in the form of an advanced reader copy, courtesy of NetGalley and Tor Nightfire. I’ve read a few horror books before, but it’s definitely not one of my more well read genres, so I was excited to try something new from Ward. The book is billed as good for fans of Shirley Jackson. Between that note, the description of the book, and its setting in Maine, I was intrigued.

The book is narratively separated into three main parts, though that isn’t evident from the beginning. The book follows the story of Wilder Harlow, a young man whose uncle recently passed away. With the intention of spending one summer at Uncle Vernon’s summer cottage in Maine before selling it, the whole family decides to go on a vacation in Whistler Bay, Maine. When they arrive Wilder meets Harper, a young British girl, and Nat, the son of a local fisherman. The usual teenage hijinks unfolds, but with a sinister twist. Wilder quickly learns of the Dagger Man, someone who breaks into local homes and takes polaroid photos of children with daggers at their neck and then mails the polaroids to the families. He also learns of the mysterious disappearance of several women.

As time goes on more of life unfolds for Wilder, Harper, and Nat, but the mysteries of the missing women and the Dagger Man are solved much quicker than you would imagine. When you start the book it seems that the secrets of Whistler Bay will take up the entire book, but they barely have anything to do with the plot as a whole. When those mysteries are wrapped up, we reconnect with Wilder in university. He meets a mysterious and kind young man named Sky. Wilder is exhibiting clear signs of PTSD and Sky, kindly, helps him through it. Wilder begins to confide in Sky, telling him more about his past in Whistler Bay. This second section comes to a conclusion that I didn't see coming, but one that introduces the reasoning for the name, Looking Glass Sound.

In the last part of the book we meet Wilder as a man in his fifties, thirty three years after we leave him in university. It is here we learn of Wilder’s present day struggles, but by this point it is hard to feel any warm affection for him. Throughout the entire book, there hasn’t been, to this point, anyone to root for or to want to succeed. Even Wilder, though he hasn’t necessarily done anything wrong, doesn’t give you much to root for. Having returned to Whistler Bay, we follow his interactions with characters old and new and eventually come to the end of Wilder’s story. Just when you think the story is over, as unsatisfying of an ending as it would have been, we are introduced to another two characters and find out that everything we have read so far isn’t as it seemed.

I have no problem with a book that isn’t what it seems and I have no problem with stories that make you question what you have read before, but in Looking Glass Sound it just felt unnecessary and convoluted. The twist and explanation felt as if Ward was looking for something to make the book interesting as it had not been for the vast majority of the story. I might be desensitised, but there wasn’t anything in the book that I found horrifying or scary and there wasn’t anything that left me on the edge of my seat.

The writing of the book is fine, but that’s all I could say about it; it’s fine. There wasn’t any part of the book before the explanation of what’s really been going on to make the “twist” seem worth it or necessary. I would have much preferred a book that was all about the first portion of the story, when Wilder first goes to Whistler Bay. That storyline was the most interesting to me and would have served as a better book if it had been expanded and given the time it deserved. Each part of the book felt rushed and cheap. The “twist” in the end didn’t achieve what I think Ward was trying to achieve. Rather than being left saying, “Wait, what, that’s so cool,” I was left thinking, “oh okay.” The “twist” didn’t pay off.

My sincere hope is that if you choose to read Looking Glass Sound you have a completely different reaction than me and absolutely adore the book. As for me, it’s not a book I will be rereading anytime soon. I sadly rate Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward two stars out of five.

This was a DNF for me. It may be a slow burn and I missed out on a great story but it moved too slowly for me and just didn't hook me. I got about 30% of the way through before putting aside unfinished.

Parts of this book were wonderful. Parts of this made no sense. I don’t quite know how to reconcile the differences in this. I guess I’m going to rate it halfway since they seem like vastly different stories, just similar names.

Thank you Netgalley & Tor Publishing Group for an eARC Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward!

This was my first book by this author, and I switched back and forth between the audiobook and ebook. For me, the audiobook was easier to follow. I think the narrator did a fantastic job with the story. It was tougher for me to follow in the ebook format.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book - And to be honest, I can’t tell you what happened at the end. The plot went off the rails and it was really hard for me to follow - Not sure if it’s just me or what. The writing was great, which makes this book really hard to rate for me. The fact that I don’t know exactly what was going on in the book has me giving this a rating of 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3 for NG and Goodreads.

Friendship, betrayal, obsession, and murder. It all started when Wilder Harlow spent the summer in Whistler Bay and met his two friends, Nat and Harper... and how they became intertwined with the blood stained path of the killer that stalked the vacation town known as the Dagger Man. Wilder writes about his time there, about his friendship and about the dark secrets he discovered.... but the more he writes the less he can trust his memory. The story jumps between many different things and people, from Wilder’s POV, to Pearl’s POV, to the book that Wilder is writing to Skye and Skye’s book, honestly it was a lot of turns and twist and it got muddled, so muddled and it felt like it kept dragging on and on. I do love a mystery and I enjoyed Catriona Ward’s writing style, it’s gorgeous and really creates and eerie and atmospheric read, however I would have to say this was my least favorite book written by Ward as I just felt like the overall mystery and twists were not that great. The story deals with an unreliable narrator and you are trying to figure out the exact events of Wilder’s summer involved with the killer as well as the consequences of the summer that followed him after as well as it’s impact on Nat and Harper. Overall, if you like unreliable narrator mysteries with childhood secrets and complicated relationships as well as different “stories” being part of the structure then definitely give this one a go.

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Nightfire for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*