I really enjoyed this book and thought it brought a unique twist to a topic that has been captured before. It centers primarily on characters named Nina and Maria, with the former being asked to visit a mansion in the British Virgin Islands allegedly owned by her recently deceased father, and the latter visiting a mansion to nanny for a wealthy client. You do get other POVs as well, but these are the primary protagonists, and I found them both to be likable characters. The timeline related to both their stories is deliberately vague but comes together at the end.

While the focus of the story was primarily on an elaborate plan related to a set of mysterious basement rooms, the general creepiness and lack of understanding from the characters as to what was going on added to the tension of the story. The puzzles with which Nina was confronted were cleverly constructed, and the overall descriptions of the setting made it all easy to picture. I really enjoyed the storyline around Nina trying to figure out how her father was involved in the goings-on and questioning how much she really knew him- this added an interesting dynamic to the action in the story. I thought the end of the book was rather abrupt and ideally wished for answers to some of the questions I felt still lingered, but overall I was Ok with how it all ended, and I thought the epilogue contained a great surprise twist.

Overall, I really enjoyed this action packed book that was a mix of psychological thriller and mystery. I would definitely recommend to those who like those genres, even if you feel like you have read similar stories; this one stands out. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a book that kept me guessing, and I liked that! The story portrayed the main character as someone who was grieving the death of her father, a man she was close to, only to find he owned a home with it's very own secluded beach. The author does a nice job of showing through Nina's thoughts and actions how she deals with this surprising turn of events, that has some hair-raising consequences. The author really sets a fast pace for this story and I had trouble putting it down.

I previously read her book. Something in the Water and I wasn't sure I'd ever read another book by her. That particular book had a character that used the F word so often, I didn't want to finish it. I'm thrilled that she wrote this book without feeling a need to have caharcters curse like that!

This is a 4 star book!

This is a fast paced, locked room, popcorn thriller that I think a lot of readers will enjoy. If you enjoy Adrian McKinty novels, I think this will be right up your alley! For me, I wanted more character development and I felt like the multiple POVs sounded the same. The ending was very rushed and the “romance” came out of nowhere. That said, it’s exciting, quick, and action driven. The descriptions of the house are very cool.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Nina is shocked to find out she inherited property in the Caribbean. She decides to travel their to find out more information. This book was an enjoyable read.

This was a little more disturbing than I was expecting, and eventually the premise was really interesting but took a long time to be revealed.

loved this mystery about a game but not a game and those that willingly played and not played. loved the different point of views and the slight romance.

Honestly, the less that you know going into this one, the more fun it is to watch as it unfolds. That’s really all I’m going to say about the plot of this story. A fast, fun, and engaging read, I’ll be suggesting this one for sure.

I loved Catherine Steadman’s “The Family Game” and this book was a very worthy follow up.

Look in the Mirror was intriguing from the beginning. With Nina being so close to her father it seemed unimaginable that he would hide something as large as a whole vacation house in another country. That premise was all it took to hook me into the story. The Maria/Nina timeline was intentionally confusing but once you gain a grasp of it, I feel like the rest of the story falls into place. I really enjoyed the overall theme of this story, but I personally struggled with the ending. It wasn't all that bad but the fade to black/fast forward isn't something I typically enjoy in thrillers unless it is utilized well. The ending didn't ruin my enjoyment of this story by any means, but I wish it had been handled differently.

I have been a fan of Catherine Steadman since I first read Something in the Water and was thrilled to get an ARC of Look in the Mirror. Steadman has a way of creating these fantastical yet plausible plots that keep you hooked until the very end -- and Look in the Mirror was no exception! The perfect summer read for 2024!

This is a fun book with twists and turns I didn't see coming. I thought I had it figured out in the first half of the book, but then I discovered I was pretty far off. I enjoyed the introduction of more characters' points of view as the story went on because it helped keep up the fast pace. I was definitely rooting for most of the characters, which doesn't always happen. Overall, this is a fast-paced ride that keeps the readers' attention from the start. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC!

Attention, Psychological Thriller lovers, don't miss this one! When Nina inherits a mansion on a tropical island from her father - that she knew nothing about - Nina is convinced he must have been living a double life. Nina's stay at the mansion and subsequent investigation lead her down a dark and confusing path.

Alternating timelines also include the story of Maria, a nanny to the very wealthy, her time at the mansion, and the viewpoints of a handful of characters who appear in both timelines. I particularly loved Joon-gi and Joe's characters.

Though the wrap-up of the book felt a little rushed, the ending was heart-warming, and I liked how it came together. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat and rooting for the main characters!

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for the opportunity to read this advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

#netgalley #randomhousepublishing #LookInTheMirror

Wow, if you want a thriller that you can’t put down this is the book for you! This book centers around Nia who has recently lost her father. She is surprised when she is notified that she has inherited a beautiful island vacation home, but this is just the beginnings of the surprises that await her. I could not put this book down!

This was a good one! It gripped me from the beginning and did not let go. I finished it in two days because I couldn’t put it down. I thought it was creative and thrilling without the gore of some thrillers. It was intelligent and well written as well. I highly recommend!

This book is a page turner and Nina is the star! Nina's father passes away and she finds something in his will, a house located on a small island in the Caribbean. She decides to travel to this house, as she questions why her father kept it from her.

There is also another main character named Maria, a super rich nanny who is already on the island. It is hard to write about this book without giving secrets away. The house is state of the art, and high quality. This book is a bit of a domestic suspense thriller. Written in the POV's of Nina, Maria, Yang Joon-gi, Joe and Lucinda. The Epilogue is great!

Go in blind and leave happy! The book cover is amazing!

Riveting, Action Packed, and Mystery! 3.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 6/30/24.

Look in the Mirror is an awesome psychological thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I loved the book. It starts with Nina, who is grieving her father who recently passed away when she discovers that he's left her a luxury home that he had built in the British Virgin Islands. Nina's confused because her father has never told her about this property, and she flies to the Caribbean to learn more about it. In the meantime, Maria is a travel nanny for super rich clients. She's booked a job to meet a family in the Caribbean for a few weeks, but when she gets there, the family is nowhere to be found. Her agency rep assures her that the family will be there soon and to make herself at home. She's free to explore the home, but a room in the basement is off limits. I don't want to give anything away, but the way the author weaves the storylines is brilliant. Look in the Mirror is excellent. This was my first book from Catherine Steadman, and I look forward to reading more from her. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

This unfortunately feel a little flat for me. Though I did find it entertaining at times, I also fought myself to dnf.

When Nina’s father dies, she is left something in his will: a gleaming dream vacation home in a balmy tropical paradise. She’ll find out the hard way that what you inherit from those you love can end up costing your life.

Maria, once an ambitious medical student, is a nanny for the super-rich. But when her wards never show, Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days luxuriating by the pool and in the sauna. There’s just one rule: Don’t go in the basement. That room is off-limits.

Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman is told in alternating points of view between Nina, Maria, and Joon-gi (the electrician). The story was okay, I had a bit of trouble getting involved with the characters or feeling totally immersed in what was happening. The ending felt a bit rushed.

Overall, Look in the Mirror was just an okay read for me.

#LookIntheMirror #NetGalley @atrandom

Great book, really enjoyed the twists and turns that this took me on and I would definitely recommend to a friend.

I definitely can’t wait to read more from Ms. Steadman. I loved this puzzle mystery of a book. It was so fascinating piecing the pieces together—and me being wrong with how the story ends. Completely satisfying ending. I would love to just pick Catherine Steadman’s brain about how she crafted the story and how long it took to fully piece each piece where it needed to be. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman. Nina and her father are very close, and after he dies, she is shocked to learn that her staid and conservative professor father apparently has left her a mansion in the British Virgin Islands. She knew nothing about this part of his life. She goes there to see the place and to try to understand why and how. When she gets there, things go off the rails. I don’t want to say more, because there are so many surprises. It is a pretty exciting psychological thriller, definitely not what I was expecting. #lookinthemirror #catherinesteadman #advancedreadercopy #psychologicalthriller #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday