I read Family Game & The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman so I was looking forward to reading her latest. From the synopsis, I was intrigued. It's a bit different than what I normally read, but I read the first half quickly because it was building up my curiosity. Having lost my own parents, I understood "the business of losing a father is a full-time, short-term contract with limited perks and a clear cutoff point ..there is a chaos left behind . I did not have that extra spark that seemed embedded in him."

I was searching for the meaning, as well as wondering if there was a connection between Nina Hepworth and Maria Yossarian.

There was some wonderful lines to reflect upon in the first half of the book:

"Parents hide a lot of the world from their children, especially if they live them "

"Sometimes the only way out is through "

"The richer people get, the stranger their lives. Fears becomes visible when super rich try to combat them. These people seem to fear being stolen from, and aging. More than anything else."

"It's hard to look at yourself objectively, just as it's hard to look at anyone you are close to in the cold hard light of day."

"Love can blind us."

But as I read the second half of the book, I became tired of Nina thinking "this is a game ". IL a realist and it just didn't seem like the technology in the house could do all that. The plot got too far-fetched. I was let down by the ending. (Promise, no spoilers) It did keep my interest to the end but I kept hoping it would cheer in a different direction.

You may enjoy the book more if you're a fan of Y.S. Elliott's poem, The wasteland" and/or if you enjoy technological advances.

I'm eating up to a 3 from a solid 2.5 stars.

Nina receives an unexpected inheritance when her father dies - a gorgeous vacation home in the British Virgin Isles. Nina is floored to learn that her quiet, scholarly homebody of a father, had an amazing home in the Caribbean. Intrigued, Nina travels to the home to see what she can uncover about her father and the home. Soon, she starts receiving threatening notes and she realizes that things may not be what they seem.

This book was so good, a rare 5 star for me. I love Catherine Steadman books and this was no exception. I loved the puzzles, the characters, and the craziness of this book! Yes, the ending was a tad far-fetched, however, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. I actually can totally see this happening in today's wacko world. I do find myself giving the more benefit of the doubt for crazy storylines when I am actually enjoying the book, and I was in this case. It was a page-turning book that I finished far quicker than I have been reading books recently. Get this one for your summer vacation!!

Special thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 I do enjoy the insanity featured in this author's books. While highly improbable and at times illogical, this book had me turning pages very quickly. Half a star deduction because it didn't quite stick the landing, but I'm already looking forward to reading whatever she comes up with next.

Catherine Steadman does it again! If you are a fan of her books, you will not be disappointed in this new one. The book sucks you in from the get-go and you will find yourself thinking about the characters long after you finish it. Do yourself a favor and get this book!!

Five stars aren’t enough for this book. Your blood pressure and heart rate will elevate and you’ll feel like your a part of the story. Steadman puts a new meaning to escape rooms!!

Wow, just wow!! I dove into this one and didn't come up for air until I was done. Imagine that your father, who you have lovingly shared a life with and thought you knew completely, passes away and you find out he has a home on a Caribbean island you knew nothing about. You then have to go to the island and try to sort out what this all of that means. However, when you get there things are beyond strange or straightforward. There is a section of the home that seems to be closed off, but because you are trying to wrap your mind around all of this and process with your grief, dealing with that is not in the forefront of your brain. Add in a second character, who is in this same Caribbean island in what seems to be the same home She was hired as a temporary nanny and given instructions to stay out of a certain section of the home while waiting for the family to show up. Ahh, but the family never shows up, so she is left with nothing to do and a locked area of the home just calling out to her. What would you do? Personally, I've read too many thrillers, so I know if you are told to stay away from something, you stay away. But, curiousity and all that!! I think I hurt my brain trying to figure out what was actually going on, and I truly loved the premise and what it all turned out to be. Let's just say there is no limit to where those with too much money and too much time on their hands will go and the depths of their depravity.

3.5 stars. Two main characters, Maria and Nina, both find themselves drawn to the same mysterious cliffside beach house with a locked room downstairs. Maria, a med student turned nanny, takes a job caring for two children on the island, while Nina inherits the house from her late father. Both are intrigued by the locked room, which holds the key to unanswered questions about the house's secrets.

This book was different from others I’ve read. I can’t say why because it will give it away. The story is told from multiple POVs and each chapter ends on a cliffhanger, although sometimes I felt like they dragged a little. The mystery kept me hooked until the final reveal!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Wow! I read this amazing book in one sitting, literally. You will not be able to put this book down. Smart characters, psychological games, and danger fill the pages of this book. 5 stars!

Thank you Net Galley for an opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
I have always loved books by Catherine Steadman, but unfortunately this one did not quite meet my expectations going in. This took me 3 days to read, which usually it takes me a day or less, just because I had a hard time with it grabbing my attention. It was an odd setup/storyline for the book in my opinion, but I guess something different is the goal. While I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had hoped, I’m sure others will love it!

This book had me hooked! I thought about it all day and would try to stay up until my eyes closed until I finished it.

Two main characters, one complicated house, no way out!

Maria is a med student turned nanny to the rich after realizing that she can make just as much if not more money doing nanny jobs for only a few weeks at a time. She gets a job that will fly her into an island for two weeks to take care of two kids. All expenses paid, she hops on the flight and arrives to a beautiful cliffside beach house. It's immaculate, glass walls, sauna, pool, everything you could wish for. Her charges are delayed and she is told to enjoy the house and everything in it, except the one rule is not to go into a locked room downstairs.

Nina's father has recently passed away and a law firm has contacted her letting her know that her father left her a sizable home in the British Virgin Islands. While Nina has no way to explain how her father had the money to build this house, let alone never tell her - she takes the flight to meet the lawyer and see the house. When she gets there she sees a beautiful house and inside little clues of her father left behind, right down to the name of the property. The one thing she can't figure out is how to get into the locked room downstairs.

Similar to Hotel California, you can check-in but you can never leave vibe is the one I got from this book. I don't want to give any spoilers, but this book I am telling you had all the suspense for me. All the questions and answers are behind the locked door.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing & Ballantine Books for the ARC!

I could not read this book fast enough! Catherine Steadman once again weaves a tail of mystery, intrigue, and thrills. Do not miss this one!

Nina inherits a house deom.her recently deceased father on a tropical island. The problem.ia Nona is sure her father has never been there. The house seems to be like an escape.room.gone bad. Told in alternately biewpoints. To be honest, I struggled finishing this one
There wasn't a real plot twist tjat grabbed my attention but I'm sure others will love it.

As I embarked on the thrilling journey of this book, I found myself strapped in for a wild ride reminiscent of the intensity of Squid Game and the mind-bending challenges of an escape room. The narrative deftly navigates the intricate dynamics of parent-child relationships, shining a spotlight on the profound influence they can wield over our lives, even years down the line.

At the heart of it all is Nina, a character both complex and compelling in equal measure. Her backstory is steeped in extraordinary circumstances, yet her own achievements seem to pale in comparison. However, what sets Nina apart is her resilience and resourcefulness, particularly when faced with the ultimate test of survival. As she taps into the depths of her childhood experiences, she emerges as a formidable force, defying expectations and embracing her inner strength.

But it's the unexpected twists and turns that truly set this story apart. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the author pulled the rug out from under me with a jaw-dropping finale that left me reeling. Intriguing, suspenseful, and utterly unputdownable, this book is a must-read for anyone craving a heart-pounding thriller that defies expectations at every turn.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Random House Publishing, Catherine Steadman and Netgalley.
Well, I suppose that I could now be considered as a Steadman fan. This woman somehow manages to give me some fantastic book vibes.
I was thoroughly enjoying this book, until some neighbors pissed me off and I ended up having to kill them.
Oh no! Sorry. That was where this story took me. My neighbor's don't need to die, they just need to move to Texas or Florida. I keep sticking stamps and postage to their foreheads, but?
Listen man. In all truth? I've been having difficulties keeping track of books and reviews.
I've just been sick for I guess long enough that I've lost it. I'm trying to wind down this review stuff. I'm hoping that by the end of the year I'll have caught up on all my Netgalley reviews.
I've nearly recovered from my last surgery. Unfortunately, I've got the same issue to deal with at the end of summer. My thumb bones are sick and tired of living contained! They are now attempting escape! Bastard bones!
After kayaking this summer, they can work on me again. Until then? I'll deal with the pain, just to again get out on the water.
As for the book? 😍

🌟🌟🌟💫
Thank you to Net Galley, Random House Publishing, and Catherine Steadman for an arc of Look in the Mirror! This novel debuts on July 30, 2024 so be on the look out for this new thriller!

I noticed right away that each chapter was alternating point of views from the characters… and that made me quite nervous. If it’s done well, I love a multi point of view thriller. If it’s too confusing, I end up well… not enjoying it. This one worked for me.

We start off meeting Nina, an academic who is grieving the loss of her father. As the days go on, she is working through his will and his possessions. You can feel the sadness through the pages, and it’s hard to even fathom myself, how difficult this process could/would be. As she opens a letter she had been ignoring, she gets the jolt of her life. Her father, the neat and orderly man he was, is in possession of a generously large home in the British Virgin Islands. This is all brand new information for Nina, and she’s sent spiraling with her thoughts.

What secrets has her dad been hiding? What does this house have to do with her family? Herself? She couldn’t recall a time that he was visiting or discussing the purchase of a grand vacation home, so her thoughts get the best of her and she decides to visit the lawyers in charge of this estate. I couldn’t imagine having to deal with such a bomb of information about your father, your closest family member.

Our other main character is Maria, a nanny for the ultra rich. Her assignments change a lot, and sometimes she’s only needed a few weeks at a time. She’s starting a new job, in a beautiful new home, and allowed access to the entire security ridden home, except the basement. But after the children and family don’t show up, she’s starting to wonder what is really going on. As she called the coordinator, she questioned where the family was, what she was supposed to do. The coordinator instructed her to enjoy the house and facilities, to which Maria gladly will! She keeps to herself until she realizes… no one may be coming.
I would be kinda scared if I was Maria… in a huge mansion, unable to leave the locked grounds. I’m not sure how she slept after the first night, because I don’t think I would sleep at all!

As the two stories unravel, you are naturally trying to piece together their stories, make connections. My anxiety was at an all time high with Maria. I do not watch scary movies ever ( which, I know, is weird considering I enjoy thriller novels ) but if this were a scary movie, I would be yelling at her the entire time!

Then you get back to Nina’s story, and I just kept yelling run! That’s the baby in me, because she sure was stronger than I am!

This novel was not at all what I thought it would be… It mixed in secrets and lies, and escape rooms gone wrong! Not my cup of tea, but I am sure someone who enjoys being on the edge of their seat, will enjoy this thriller!!

This is a complex and intricate psychological thriller, and another great read from Catherine Steadman. The story made me uncomfortable, which—in a thriller like this one—is a sign that the writing is evocative and the plot is consuming. Protagonists Nina and Maria are seemingly living in different worlds—but are they? Both women are lured into unusual situations and faced with decisions that may change their lives. I loved how they dealt with the games that they were drawn into, and I loved the descriptions of the house/rooms. So much of this book is creative and clever, but I never quite felt that all the loose ends were tied up. The ending was rather abrupt and I was left with lingering questions. However, it is a fabulous book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Intense action! Really liked this one, definitely had a Surviving The Game/Hostel type of vibe, without giving away the entire spoiler. Some of the house games gave me some serious heebie jeebies, these kind of escape room situations make me nervous enough without adding in the threat of drowning, etc! I was really rooting for Maria, she kicked some ass and unfortunately those same instincts failed her in the end.

Thanks so much to Catherine Steadman, Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for the chance to give this one an early read!

I loved this book!!! I was totally in for all the twists and turns. The ending definitely seemed a little rushed and wasn’t totally satisfying, but this is a summer thriller to pick up FOR SURE.

I used to be a big fan of Catherine Steadman, but unfortunately her more recent books have fallen flat to me. While this one was fast-paced with short chapters, there were too many unbelievable parts that did not make sense to me. The epilogue needed a bit more to it for me to see it as an essential part of the story. I did like that there were alternating points-of-view.

Overall, I do not think I will be reading books by Catherine Steadman in the future.

I was excited to read this book as I love thrillers, but I just wasn't thrilled. The premise is great- hidden house, secret(ish) island, surprising inheritance, but by the halfway point, I was losing interest. The Nina and Maria storyline running together was a bit confusing, and although there was a lot that could have been developed and super suspenseful, it never got to that point for me.

I appreciate the opportunity to read the novel, and will definitely pick up another book by Ms. Steadman- this one just didn't work for me.