Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC!

I picked up Catriona Ward's NEEDLESS STREET a year or two ago and had to shelve it because I had trouble getting into it--I chalked it up to it being a me issue and figured I'd revisit eventually. I still haven't revisited, but I did request this hoping it might help me springboard back into the other title.

I'm hoping it worked, because I got SO sucked into this and couldn't stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. This was such a surreal fever dream of a book and I'm STILL not totally sure what parts of it were real and what parts of it weren't.

I was so invested in the coming of age mystery in the first half, and then the second half turned into something so much twistier and I kept thinking "what else could POSSIBLY happen here?" and it was such an interesting ride.

Also, I have not been able to shake one specific part that was truly only mentioned in passing but it got under my skin SO much. I'm a little uneasy writing about it right now.

I really enjoyed this, and I have to go back and try NEEDLESS STREET again, now.

"Looking Glass Sound" by Catriona Ward is a marvel. Twisty and turny with emotional gut punches on almost every page, it will keep you guessing right until the very end.

There is so much going on in this book - betrayal, revenge, rage, murder, passion - that you need to stay sharp to keep up. Luckily Ward's writing is beautiful and hypnotic, so you'll be thoroughly engrossed. It is one of those titles that takes me back to reading under the covers with a flashlight past bedtime. Impossible to put down.

Wilder Harlow is such a fascinating character. He is equal parts awkward and charming and as we learn more about him, we understand that he is more than just an unreliable narrator (elaboration would mean spoilers - go read to find out!). You can't trust anyone in this work, and you won't trust yourself by the end. What a wonderful ride!

This title will appeal to horror and thriller fans alike.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up because of the impeccable writing!

When I started Looking Glass Sound, I told everyone that I was reading what may be the best book of the year. I was immediately in love with the setting, the characters, but most specifically the writing. Not necessarily poetic in the wispy sense but definitely in the same way that no word is wasted. Every sentence is intentional and as the plot builds and we get closer to the characters, a darker, more sinister plot is slowly unveiled. The story starts with 3 teenagers spending the summer together on the coast of Maine. When the story of The Dagger Man, a suspected serial killer takes wind and polaroids of sleeping children are found the town grows closed off and suspicious. The looming sense of dread is felt on every page while looking through a lens of nostalgic summertime, carefree teen escapades. But when the horror hits too close to home, the characters attempt to move on. As the story unfolds we follow the main character as he goes off to college and beyond still trying to shake the events of that *memorable* summer.

Then things got confusing, and weird, and ultimately spun out of control. The ending felt forced and rushed after a beginning pace that felt menacing leading the reader to dead-end after dead-end. It truly felt like I was in a maze and I couldn't figure out how to get out, and when I did I was left wishing one of the dead-ends was the true ending. I think if I read it again, AND spoke with other readers about it to gain their perspectives I would like it more.

I wouldn't classify this as horror but more of a psychological suspense.

Great, entertaining read that ultimately left me disappointed.

I loved her previous books but this one just did not do it for me. I found it very confusing and mundane.

What the hell did I just read?!

And I mean that in the best way. This was my first book from the author and won't be my last.

The story had me hooked and interested the entire way through. As some reviewers have said, I was a bit confused towards the end, things and timelines got a little murky, but what a ride. It wasn't a high-paced thriller, but it was multi-faceted and definitely had me on the edge of my seat.

***Thanks to NetGalley, Catriona Ward and Tor Nightfire publishers for an advanced reader copy

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for providing me with an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Wilder and his family stay the summer at his uncle’s cottage in Whistler Bay. There he meets Nat and Harper who become his best friends. As they go on adventures and prank each other, they become closer and closer to unraveling the mystery behind The Dagger Man and years of missing women.

A lot of people seemed to have enjoyed this book- I did not. I found the pacing to be incredibly unbalanced. I don’t enjoy time jumps or perspective changes, but this was done in such a disorienting way that I feel like it took time away from the flow of the story. It’s difficult to explain, but it felt like the progression of the story was not something that was thought out but rather added to. Like the twists were something that came after conceptualization of the story. Catriona Ward is known for her twists, so it’s no surprise that there were a few in this story. Unfortunately, I felt like they were poorly executed and became convoluted. There was so much information to keep track of by the end that it got confusing when they tried to pull a “remember this?”.

This was not my favorite story by her, but if you like coming of age thrillers and don’t mind slow paving, then this book comes out August 8th!

NO spoilers here. The following is my opinion and thoughts on the book, not a synopsis.

Catriona Ward is clearly a gifted story teller. Her writing is sophisticated and her thoughts are deep. I WISH I could get in her head and experience how her wheels turn. I would say this book sucked me in. I felt as if I read an entire book before getting to the next section where scenery was changed. Then things changed again and this is where I got a little lost and confused. A story within a story within a story....felt like a maze and I had a lot of questions. This is not an easy read. You will need to focus and pay attention but the writing alone is worth it.

So far, for me The House on Needless Street is my favorite then followed by Sundial. Little Eve is next on my list so we'll see where that falls. If you are looking for unique stories that are deep, dark, and creepy as heck, this is the author for you.

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. I had never read this author before but I am always willing to read authors I am unaware of. That being said, I was looking forward to a coming-of-age book taking place along an ocean setting, throw in bonus points for an 80's era tale. The story however had me confused, reeling as the time and people jump around, twisting and turning. At the end of the book, most everything I remembered, and some stuff I had forgotten about, all seemed to come together. I had read this was the authors least "horror" book, so I may give her another shot with an earlier book. If you, or someone you buy gifts for enjoys a coming of age in the 80's book, that you must pay attention to, give this book a read.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

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.