This was a fun read with lots of twists I didn’t see coming! It had me on the edge of my seat at times trying to make sense of everything. While I did enjoy it, it wasn’t my favorite thriller and did have me confused at times- but that could just be a me thing! Overall, still an interesting read!

2.5* I really enjoyed Catherine Steadman's novel The Family Game when I read it, but unfortunately this one was a miss for me. My issue isn't the unnecessarily convoluted plot or the fact that we get way too many povs. That's pretty much expected in a commercial thriller. I just thought this novel was missing a lot of tension, and maybe more importantly, fun. The "games" or "trials" the main character goes through are solved pretty instantly with some form of background knowledge she conveniently already has. Which makes for a pretty boring reading experience when the reader doesn't even have the opportunity to try to solve things alongside the mc. There was also zero character building happening around this whole thing. I want to care for the characters and their relationships because I feel moved by them not just because the author tells me I should!!!!

Anyway thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This adrenaline-packed thriller delivers some serious Escape Room meets Hunger Games vibes. I was totally here for it! The ride started off strong, pulling me into the chaos, but I have to admit, the ending left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Still, if you're all about locked-room thrillers and wild twists, this one's worth checking out.

A woman inherits a lavish home in the Caribbean from her doting father in Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman. While this may appear to be a dream come true, Nina never knew that her academic and unassuming professor father owned this place that's enormous, minimalist, and made of all glass and marble. She's stunned but wants to see it before deciding whether or not to keep it, and also to find out what made her father keep this hideaway from her. What deep secrets has he been hiding?

Meanwhile, another woman Maria reaches her latest assignment as a nanny for an incredibly rich family. Before they arrive, she has the place to herself and wanders around this stunning marvel of a home with its private beaches and well-appointed interiors. Once she completes this assignment, she'll have enough money to fully fund her medical school training and never have to serve as a nanny again. It's the perfect opportunity, but only one rule exists: do not enter the basement. Sounds easy enough, no?

What a creepy book! From the start, you know that nothing is as it seems, but you can't figure out what is going on. Both stories put you on the edge of your seat with each page and confuse you even more. They intersect, but how do they? Will these women end up happy and fulfilled or lost and in danger? I couldn't wait to find out each time I picked up this book.

I can't say what types of books it reminded me of, but I felt the same utter glee that I did as a tween reaching for the latest Choose Your Own Adventure book. Those novels always put the characters in dire situations, and this book does not shy away from them at all. There were times I felt incredibly tense and concerned for these women--even claustrophobic and like I couldn't breathe (but in a good thriller way). Sometimes, I didn't have any idea why, but once I crept further and further into the book, the pieces of the puzzle start forming what's really going on.

Most of the plot twists I truly didn't see coming. It's fair to say that this book was pretty unique to me as far as plot goes. It's built for thriller and suspense fans, and it definitely grabbed a hold of me. My only complaint is that I didn't love the epilogue, but it doesn't detract from the story in it's entirety. I enjoyed the author's other book, The Family Game, too, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. Luckily, she has a few other books I would like to pick up before her next book comes out.

I loved The Family Game so I was really excited to start this. The beginning was kind of fun and exciting because you didn’t really know what was going to happen and the premise sounded so good. After awhile though things just took a ridiculous turn and it felt like a chore to get through the rest of the book. Three stars for the beginning- the rest was just a bit outlandish. I’ll still check out future books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this E-ARC.

This book was not what I was expecting based on Steadman’s previous books. With alternating POV’s, it helped me to get to know each character. This wasn’t my favorite Steadman book, but still a good read.

Great read! First read from this author. This book makes me want to read more from this author. Kept my attention and interest until the end.

This was a fun and fast read, but not my favorite. The story moved quickly, yet I never really connected with it, and the ending felt a bit unrealistic.

I was just in the BVI so this book was perfect for lounging at the beach. a pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat thriller that blends grief, secrets, and suspense in an unforgettable way. Nina, still reeling from the loss of her father, unexpectedly inherits a luxurious property in the British Virgin Islands. The house is magnificent, but its mystery deepens as Nina uncovers unsettling questions about her father’s past—questions that may lead to a dark revelation.

Meanwhile, Maria, a nanny for the ultra-wealthy, finds herself at the same property, where she’s expected to look after her employers' children. But when the children never arrive, Maria is left to explore the house, and her curiosity gets the best of her. One rule remains: never go into the basement. Naturally, Maria can’t resist—and soon she realizes that some secrets are far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

The tension in The Vacation Home builds quickly, with every turn revealing new layers of suspense. The setting—gorgeous, isolated, and full of secrets—creates an atmosphere of claustrophobic unease, and the shifting perspectives of Nina and Maria keep the stakes high. The twists and dark revelations keep you hooked, and by the time the final secrets are exposed, the payoff is worth the slow, creeping dread.

Much better than the last Catherine Steadman book I read. Much more thrilling and enjoyable. A fun time all around.

An intense, pulse-pounding suspense thriller that I found impossible to put down.

Go into this book without any preconceived notions and avoid reviews that might spoil this well crafted story.

Nina Hepworth, a 34-year-old literary academic, is shocked to find that she has inherited a beachfront estate on Pond Bay, Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands. Her father recently died, and though he was financially secure and left her well off, she had no idea where and how he could have had this type of money, when he had gone to this house, and why he had built it. She does what anyone would do - she travels to the Caribbean to claim her new property.

A young nanny arrives at her next assignment. Maria has been hired for 2 weeks to care for a couple of children while their regular caregiver takes some time off. The house is modern, massive, and extremely well appointed. As Maria settles in, she’s invited to enjoy all the amenities while she waits. And she does. But days pass and the client doesn’t arrive. She gets bored, reads all the instructions in the manual, has the run of the place. She is drawn, however, to the last directive telling her not to enter the locked room on the ground floor. She does what anyone would do - she gets herself into that room.

Without spoilers, let me tell you that I couldn’t even begin to guess what was going on for the longest time. It was so packed with information and action as the narrative flipped between Nina and Maria. I really l liked and became fully invested in both of the women and definitely second guessed every decision they made. No idea where this was headed as I tore through the pages trying to make sense of what was happening. I really enjoyed how everything played out because for awhile I was really afraid I was going to find it cheesy and disappointing. It was fast and fun and I recommend it.

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was the author and she, being a well-known actress, did a marvelous job of voicing the characters and enhancing all the dramatic aspects of the book. It was quite well-done.

This is my second Catherine Steadman book and I have enjoyed both of them. If you liked The Family Game I think you will like Look in the Mirror also. We have 2 storylines that you keep trying to figure out how they are connected. There were a few times I found myself confused as to which storyline we were in but overall I enjoyed both Nina and Maria's storys. There were lots of twists and turns and some parts were predictable but if you like puzzles and escape rooms, you will enjoy the ride this book takes you on. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I really loved The Family Game by this author, so I was very excited to read another one of her books! This one started out so promising and fun and strange, but it started to really lose steam for me about 30% of the way in. The plot got more & more ridiculous, which can be really fun, but then it got really difficult to understand what was happening to who and the timelines of it all. This had SUCH an interesting premise but the execution just really did not work for me

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this E-ARC.

It took me a little to get into this book. It was pretty slow in the beginning and I soft DNF:ed it for a few months. It’s a mix between if I wish I kept it on the DNF list or if I’m glad I finished it. It was a good book. Just slow. A slow burn and a medium twist at the end.

You know sometimes when you read a book and immediately after finishing it, you can’t remember anything about it? This is one of those books for me. It was a decent book. I just don’t remember it.

Nina’s father has just died. She is still grieving when she receives a letter about a property he owns in the BVI. She goes there to sort out the matter of the house. But not everything ends up being what it seems.

Maria is a young woman working as a nanny for the rich. She flies to a remote island for two weeks to watch the children of a very wealthy man. When they never show up, Maria becomes suspicious. Not everything is as it seems for her either.

Read and find out what happens.

This book by Catherine Steadman did not disappoint! This book is oozing with twists and turns and the cat and mouse game steaks could not be higher! Nina, the protagonist, must solve a series of riddles that are seemingly left like bread crumbs by her deceased father who was a genius and well-respected professor in England. I had a hard time putting this down. Steadman is becoming one of my favorite authors for her twisty and heart-pounding stories.

If I had left a review when I was 50% done with this book, it would've said "wtf am I reading!?" (In a good way!) Having finished, my review shifted a little. Basically the first half of this book is absolute what-the-f*ckery in the best way possible. Every chapter ended in a bomb that kept me glued to the pages. But as the mystery began to reveal itself, it lost some of that wild energy and became a bit more cliche. Like to the point where the ending/reveal was no longer a surprise because I'd already sussed out what was going on and it was less mind blowing then my beginning expectations. I won't spoil anything but the first half of this was a wild ride. The later half was still engagin but less compelling bc the reveals were too....boring compared to what had been built up. Overall, a solid read that could've been mind bending but wasn't and ended a bit too conveniently (but still mostly satisfyingly).

This one was not for me. I had a difficult time keeping track of the two storylines as well as the characters. The characters in both story lines were too similar for me and I struggled to keep them all straight. I still do not fully understand what happened, and not in a good way. The "game" was disturbing and I am not sure how the house devolved into the location for this sadistic game. Was the dad responsible? Was it the mom? Who was the character in the final pages? This was a miss for me.

Look In the Mirror by Catherine Steadman is a cleverly plotted psychological thriller that hooks you from the start and keeps the tension high throughout. With her signature blend of sharp writing and layered characters, Steadman crafts a suspenseful narrative filled with secrets, deception, and the unsettling feeling that nothing is quite as it seems.

The pacing is brisk, the twists are well-executed, and the exploration of identity and self-perception adds a deeper layer to the mystery. While a few plot points stretch believability, the engaging storyline and unexpected turns make it a highly entertaining read.

4 stars — a twisty, thought-provoking thriller that keeps you on edge until the final reveal. Perfect for fans of smart psychological suspense.

This was an okay book and I liked reading it. There was a lot of parts I enjoyed but it felt like every other book I read.

I am a big fan of Steadman’s books, so I was excited to read this one. It has good character development, a good storyline that will keep you engaged, but it is not her best book. With that being said I would still suggest it as a TBR.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for my thoughts.