I read a digital ARC of Looking Glass Soung and IMMEDIATELY left my house to pick up a physical copy when I finished. I had to get it in the hands of friends so that we could discuss, because this one is WILD.

What I loved:
-The story/mystery in the first part of the book immediately grabbed me and I loved the way the plot unfolded.
-Ward is a very descriptive writer and there are scenes that will vividly live in my head forever.
-I loved the “ah ha” moments when I realized the tie ins between the big reveals and earlier events.

Other thoughts:
-Ward books are never what they seem to be on the surface. As the story deepened, the layers sometimes became confusing. But I think that the questioning of “what’s real, what just happened?” is the point 😃
-I feel like the official blurbs and synopsis don’t really give a true picture of the story, so it’s best to go in blind.

This book will bend your brain and make you question every chapter. If you’re looking for a dark story full of murder, betrayal and obsession, this might be one for you. I definitely recommend reading the physical copy, it makes it easier to go back and double check your memory every time you think “wait, what?!?”

Thank you @netgalley and @tornightfire for the advanced copy!

I really enjoyed the first half of this book but then it went down hill from there. It’s really confusing & the supposed twist wasn’t that surprising. I am a big fan of this author but this one wasn’t it. I Probably won’t recommend to others to read.

In typical Ward fashion, I was confused throughout most of this book. The storyline seemed to jump all over the place and I felt super lost. However, everything tied together at the end and a lot of my questions were answered. I thought the atmosphere was spot on and the storyline was very unique. I'm afraid some readers may not finish due to the confusion, but true Ward fans will have a great time with this one!

Catriona Ward has a unique writing style. Her speculative brand of chilling storytelling is cerebral in the best way. Looking Glass Sound is edgy, twisty, and suspenseful. The novel is engaging and memorable.

Catriona Ward might have to be a pass for me. I have tried to read all of her other books after loving the last house on needless street and I cannot seem to find that feeling again. I'm sure I will continue to try, but this just could not hold my attention at all.

After the death of Wilder's Uncle Vernon, his family decides to use Vernon's cabin on the shore of Maine's Whistler Bay for a much needed summer vacation. Wilder decides that he will make friends and maybe even find a girlfriend this summer. He quickly finds friends in local teens, Nat and summer resident, Harper. The group quickly becomes enamored with the local lore of drownings and the Dagger Man of Whistler Bay. However, the fantasy soon becomes too real as Wilder, Nat and Harper find the victims and figure out that the perpetrator is someone close to them. Still dealing with the impacts from that summer, Wilder sets off to college in Pennsylvania. Suffering from panic attacks, Wilder finds a friend in Sky, who comforts Wilder and has a special interest in his trauma. Years later, after Wilder attempts to put together his summer at Whistler Bay into a memoir, Sky publishes Looking Glass Sound, a bestseller based on Wilder's memories. Wilder makes his way back to Whistler Bay in order to confront his memories and set the record straight.

Looking Glass Sound is a story within a story within a story that bends, stretches and tests the limits of what you believe is reality. The three stories told in succession create an underlying current of unknowing, unease and suspense. With each of the characters warping slightly in each of the story retellings, I wasn't quite sure of who everyone truly was and it seemed like everyone was an unreliable narrator. Everyone's story seemed like an atonement piece to try to rewrite their past with small bits of their true selves coming through. While it seemed like the main character should have been Wilder, I think the real focus of the story was the first victim of the Dagger Man, Rebecca. I thought it was really interesting that Wilder interacted with the Dagger Man after he was caught, it was insightful to see the thought process of a murderer and how the meeting affected Wilder. With many secrets, twists and unknowns, Looking Glass Sound is a unique horror experience.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Honestly wow. Catriona Ward has things thing where she writes and I’m confused, but like a good confused and I wanna keep reading. As the book progressed I started not caring and disliking it but I felt like I spent enough time loving it to keep going.
I was drawn in with the spookiness and how the characters weaved around each other,
I don’t wanna say too much because the whole point of Ward’s books are being surprised at the twists and end,

Thank you to NetGalley, Catriona Ward and Tor Publishing Group for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I gotta say, this is my first novel from this author and I was not impressed how there wasn’t really any chapters. As a mom, I need short chapters that I can leave off easily. The plot was pretty interesting and it kept me reading, but not one I’d recommend. But I have tons of Ward’s books on the shelves that I’m still excited to get to.

Somehow Catriona Ward manages to blow me away every time. This one has so many twists and turns and reveals, while staying entertaining and engaging the whole time.

I’ve had a very up and down relationship with this author and haven’t loved some of their work, so I was worried about this one.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. This is definitely a weird one, which is pretty typical for this author, but I liked the direction it went in and I found it to be super unexpected and unique.
I did think the ending was a little much, I think it could’ve been dialed back a bit because it became a little too wild for me. In the end, I really liked it and it’s definitely my second favorite from this author!

Okay. Okayyy.
What?
This book was insane and I've come to expect no less from Catriona Ward. This is the third book of hers I've read and each has left my mind completely warped, a little confused, but totally satisfied.
She has this beautiful way of writing, each character and setting laid out perfectly for you. You become so engulfed in these stories that you forget THE BIG WEIRD is coming. Because it's coming.
The book takes place in Maine (which I love), it's a coming of age story (partially), there's heartbreak and betrayal and revenge, and more than one incredibly unreliable narrator. I don't want to go into the plot because it is a crazy trip and I recommend taking that journey and seeing for yourself 🤭 so good

Thank you NetGalley, Catriona Ward and Tor for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Looking Glass Sound
Catriona Ward
Aug 8;
Tor Nightfire
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Wards writing is solid and mostly captivating. I just had trouble following this one and understanding it. About 50 percent in I lost interest. Very haunting.
3 stars

Book Summary:

Wilder Harlow was never very good at making friends. But the summers at a cottage are all it takes to change his life. First, he makes two friends, perhaps the best (and really, only) friends he's had in his life. Second, this time threw him neck-deep in a mystery.

As an adult, Wilder is trying to look back and understand everything that happened. Everything he went through. In doing so, he hopes to get a book out of it. But only time will tell how much of that novel is fact or fiction.

My Review:

Woah. Looking Glass Sound was such a mind-bender! This book had me all sorts of twisted up. First, there's that creepy crawly feeling. That started pretty much right away. But soon after, that feeling was replaced with something more – something deeper.

As it turns out, Looking Glass Sound is a layered horror/murder mystery novel. Whenever I felt like I had a handle on what was happening, something else changed, warping my perspective.

In other words, Looking Glass Sound is perfectly on point with the rest of Catriona Ward's writing. It's part thriller/psychological horror and part mystery, and it will send you into the deep end (pun slightly intended).

This is one of those books that will linger with you, for good or ill. So be prepared before diving in.

Highlights:
Spooky/Creepy/You Name It!
Layered Storytelling
Dark Murder Mystery

Trigger Warnings:
Stalking/Break-ins
Pedophilia
Suicide

I always loved Ward's writing, and Looking Glass Sound did not disappoint. I liked the concept of a book within a book, as it kept me on my toes in figuring out which story I was reading. Like Ward, the tension was up all throughout and I didn't see the ending coming.

LOOKING GLASS SOUND by @catward66 is out today! And you guys, what can I say that hasn’t been said already by reviewers? This book is something else.

Its almost 🤏🏽 like Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN where it’s a story within a story within a story, and you’re trying to figure out who’s the monster. (Yes, I know I sound like I’m reaching lol.)

Despite having read two different kinds of synopsis for this book, I still felt like I had no idea what the story would be about. And as I read it, I still wasn’t sure what to expect in the next parts. No lie, I got a little confused at each section, but the more I read the more I got it and it made sense. Then the ending came and it was kind of like when you finally get that one loose bit in a ball of knotted up thread and everything untangles. That’s how great my mental relief was when I understood the final story😂.

Stories of childhood friends, especially those bound by a traumatic incident, will always be a favorite of mine and this one made me feel nostalgia for experiences I never had. You can feel the yearning of Wilder for acceptance and friendship and love. And I really feel like he got screwed in so many different ways in all the stories. Ward really knows how to get undesirable characters under your skin. 🥲

I would highly recommend this if you’re a fan of (or don’t mind) mental gymnastics when it comes to stories. You don’t get a straight story from this author and I love that about her writing.

I was extremely happy when I got approved for this ARC since I love Catriona Ward's writing. However, when I read this book, I was so lost. Since I don't like giving away any plot/info on the story, I will not be able to explain why it was confusing. I gave the story a 3.5 stars as my rating.

Looking Glass Sound
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Catonia Ward

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: In a lonely cottage overlooking the windswept Maine coast, Wilder Harlow begins the last book he will ever write. It is the story of his childhood summer companions and the killer that stalked the small New England town. Of the body they found, and the horror of that discovery echoing down the decades. And of Sky, Wilder’s one-time best friend, who stole his unfinished memoir and turned it into a lurid bestselling novel, Looking Glass Sound.

But as Wilder writes, the lines between memory and fiction blur. He fears he’s losing his grip on reality when he finds notes hidden around the cottage written in Sky’s signature green ink.

My Thoughts: Ward is known for mind bending fiction, as well as fiction within fiction and this latest novel does not disappoint. Wilder Harlow and his two close friends have the summer of their lives before Wilder’s parents divorced. Wilder is also working on a novel, which we get pieces of. This small town in Maine, also has a known serial killer, the Dagger Man of Whistler Bay. There are also a vast amount of women missing from this sleepy small town. Fast forward to Wilder’s college years when he is befriended by Skylar, does this friendship come at a cost? The cost of his novel that he has been working on for years? This coming of age story with ghastly horrors will have you second guessing your thought process.

This is a book within a book. Those are the hardest novels to write but Ward does it so well. There are two presenting mysteries here of the serial killer and the missing women. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, very twisty, mind bending, thought provoking, and suspenseful. You think the story is going in one direction, then boom it switches gears and throws your brain for a loop. Your brain 🧠 cells will get a workout in this novel. The terrors this novel outlines goes deeper than a slasher flick, the tragedies are more than a mire surface level, and the who, what and when will throw you for a loop over and over.

I had the pleasure of having both the digital book and audiobook. I think the audiobook was better, easier to follow along. The narrator chose for the audiobook was perfect, had amazing voice affliction, voice variation between characters, and really brought the characters and plot horror to life from the pages into your brain. This is a compelling, unique, unpredictable, tragic horror suspense novel that will keep you guessing until the very end. There are a vast amount of books that are one and done, you read once and it would not benefit you to read again. However, with this novel, I think it could be read over and over and each time, you would gain new insight into the mind of Ward. I would highly recommend picking up this book.

I have read and loved all of Catriona Ward's books by now and while this one has been my least favorite of hers, I still really enjoyed my time and would give it a solid four star rating. I can see how her writing has developed across her work as this was her first book, but I still got her signature vibe and atmosphere and although I'm not 100% sure I understood what was happening... overall .I enjoyed my experience.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Tor Nighfire for my review copy!

Thanks to the Publishers and Netgalley for the Arc! I've had a hard time thinking of how to review this book. The writing is AMAZING. It's clear that Ms. Ward has some serious writing skill & talent. The concept of the book was great. The thing I didn't like was how confused I was, but that was really the point of it! The spiral into madness, not knowing what's real, questioning if I missed something or if I read this part already. I did really enjoy this and would HIGHLY recommend others to read this one. I don't think there's been a book of hers that I didn't love yet!

Absolutely enchanting. I couldn't put it down. Catriona Ward knows how to spin a tale in a way that makes you know that something isn't quite right and yet, I never expect where her books will go. I enjoyed "Last House on Needless Street" and thought it was a studied and kind portrayal of an often mischaracterized illness.

Here, I knew something was off, but I really did not expect where this went at all. It felt like a cozy read that was speaking more deeply about narrative and stories within stories and who really controls the narrative. I loved the ending, but also felt confused and disoriented. Ward's writing style is perfectly plotted. She is playing with several storylines and expertly constructs in a way that I have never seen done so well.

I don't think I enjoyed reading the ending as much as I will enjoy seeing it made into an A24 movie. It is pure bait for some director looking to twist us up into a ball of mirrors. It's a really hard book to talk about, but it was enjoyable to read and get swept away inside.