Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman is a tensely plotted thriller that takes some big swings, which I respect. The pacing is quick, making it an easy book to fly through, and the tension is palpable from start to finish.

That said, the story can get a bit confusing at times, and much of the ground it covers feels familiar—like territory that’s already been well-explored in similar books and films. While the ambition is commendable, it ultimately didn’t deliver anything particularly new or groundbreaking.

This was a very different book from anything else I’ve read but I really enjoyed it. Loved the puzzle-aspect!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Book was fine, really good if you like the genre! I would read more from this author.

Four stars. I thought this was a clever read and unlike other thrillers. I loved the remote setting and the back and forth of timeline/characters. This one kept me in it until the very end.

Catherine does it again!! This book was insane. Like I couldn’t believe it. Highly recommend if you love any type of show or book about survival skills and trapped mazes. I literally felt like I was reading a screenplay. Can someone turn this into a movie? How does Catherine come up with this stuff? So many twists and turns and yet I was wrong on every single one of them. Overall a great twisted novel!

Nina’s father passes away and she finds out he left her a house in the BVI that she never knew about. Her father, a talented engineer loves games of all kinds. Nina thinks that this house, built with mysterious rooms underneath is another one of his games- but is it? Many twists and turns will have you rooting for Nina and a couple of other wonderful characters. A must read.

Catherine Steadman's Look in the Mirror is an unsettling story with high tension and stress from start to finish. It is the type of novel that an audience will want to devour in one sitting. When Nina Hepworth's father dies, he leaves her a mysterious property in the British Virgin Islands. Once Nina arrives she quickly realizes everything is not so cut and dry. Suddenly her father is a stranger who can no longer answer her questions, and Nina has plenty of them. Part "house of horrors", part mental games, Nina must power through the house in order to come out alive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for the opportunity to read this novel.

This was a fun thriller. It was so different! I love escape rooms but make it life or death so the rich can watch? No thank you… The story had me hooked right from the start because I truthfully had no clue what was going to happen. It was a quick read especially since I listened to it on audio. Very engaging storyline and I was rooting for Nina the whole time. I also enjoyed the multiple POV and the way the POVs were done. The ending also really made me want a sequel.

Thank you for the ARC !
Love all the authors book including this one ! It was hard to put down and I definitely couldn’t stop reading until the end. Enjoyed the characters and story !

Catherine Steadman has been a go to author of mine for some time now. I love that this story is told by two POV during 2 different time periods which make the book that more intense.

Nina is dealing with her father's death and learning all about his house that she had no idea he owned.
Maria is hired as a nanny but with no kids.

Again, both POVs and two different timelines. This was a wild roller coaster of a ride and honestly I didn't trust any of these characters!

This has to be on your reading list!

This was my first book from Steadman, and I had a hard time putting it down. That said, A LOT of this was pretty implausible, which I tried to overlook due to the quick pace and a good number of twists.

I truly enjoyed the writing, multiple narrators, and timelines. I will say.....as you say 'don't go up the stairs' or 'don't go back into the house' in the suspense movies, you also say 'don't push the button' in this one.

Definitely an escape.
Really stretched my imagination.
Sloooooow start but a WILD finish.
Not my favorite Steadman novel.
Not for my classroom.
I wasn't connected to the characters and kept reading because I wasn't sure I was believing what I was reading!
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #LookintheMirror by Catherine Steadman - I am looking forward to her next release!

I read this book a little while ago but somehow forgot reviewing and posting. While it is mostly set on an island in the Caribbean I think it still works for spooky October reading - there's definitely something sinister going on here ...
This was an intense read! Imagine inheriting a fortune from your father and to discover a mysterious house in the Caribbean included in the estate. When you visit, you're confronted with a locked door and malfunctioning high-end technology. Meanwhile, alternating chapters introduce another woman, seemingly visiting the same house-either in a different time or a parallel situation. Both women are trapped, and different people attempt to rescue them. But what's going on and who can be trusted?
The novel opens with a gripping mystery that borders on thriller and horror. As the story unfolds, its clues reveal more about the house and the women's fates.
While I loved the premise, the motivations behind certain actions-especially why characters lie or commit murders—aren't always fully explained.
But l'll definitely pick up more from Steadman!

Weird, complex, unbelievable, predictable….
Have you ever had one of those books that draws you in and you enjoy reading it, but after finishing it you realize you didn’t like it as much as you thought you did?
It was good, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Look In The Mirror was such a great locked room mystery. I really enjoyed the idea of a real life escape room and found myself wanting to know everything about what was happening in the world.

I do think there were some loose ends but I read this and did audio and overall really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend to my friends

This book was crazy and I really liked it. I had no idea where it was going, but when we got there, I was very thrown off. It’s very unique but also feels familiar. I am a huge fan of books and this is no different.

I just finished reading Look In the Mirror by Catherine Steadman, and I’m so excited to share my thoughts with you!

This book is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Steadman’s writing is both suspenseful and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

One of my favorite scenes is when the protagonist, Emma, discovers a hidden diary in the attic of her childhood home. The diary, filled with eerie entries that hint at long-buried secrets, adds a chilling layer of intrigue to the story. The way Steadman describes Emma’s mounting fear and curiosity as she unravels the diary’s mysteries is so vivid—you can almost feel the tension and the hairs rising on the back of your neck. This moment perfectly encapsulates the book’s blend of psychological suspense and deep emotional exploration.

What I love most about Look In the Mirror is its complex and multi-dimensional characters. Emma’s journey of confronting her past and uncovering the truth about her family is both compelling and emotionally resonant. The twists and turns in the plot keep you guessing, and the atmospheric writing immerses you completely in the story.

If you’re looking for a book that will captivate your mind and keep you turning pages late into the night, Look In the Mirror is a must-read. Trust me, you’ll be hooked from the very first page!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an eARC of Look in the Mirror in exchange for my honest review!

I had a solid time with this claustrophobic and sleek thriller, one that offers up some good old suspense as we find ourselves trapped inside this mansion. It isn't necessarily doing anything groundbreaking and the pacing can be janky at certain points, but it still gets me feeling tension, with a good dose of that coming from the small amounts of Saw vibes that this gives off. And when it all wraps up, it leaves me on an appropriately pessimistic and unsettling note.

Overall, I'm officially rating Look in the Mirror 3.5 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 3 stars. I'll look out for more of Catherine Steadman's books.

We followa woman, reflecting on her past, who begins to suspect that the people around her may not be who they seem. Steadman skillfully builds suspense and creates a sense of unease throughout, with a fast-paced plot and plenty of twists.

However, the character development feels somewhat shallow at times, making it difficult to fully connect with the protagonist or invest in her journey. The plot was a bit predictable and could predict early on. Despite this, Steadman’s writing is engaging, and the book is a solid choice for fans of twisty thrillers who enjoy a quick read with moments of suspense.

Two women, one luxurious home… and one locked basement.

I love Catherine Steadman books. Intense, twisty, edge-of-your-seat but always in a beautiful setting. I’m a huge thriller fan but Steadman always manages to avoid common tropes and predictable endings. Look in the Mirror was clever, fun and hard to put down.