Thank you, PRH Ballantine and Netgalley, for the ARC.

This is going to be a hit this summer! I'm calling it! I loved this story and could not put it down—it was addictive! It was one of those stories that played out like a movie in my head, and I *really* hope it gets adapted because it would be amazing.

I loved the multiple POVs; the character development was done well. And the ending?!!! FIVE STARS!

I will be posting my review on my page very soon.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Read this one in under 48 hours because I had to know the ending! Was thrilled with how fast pace it was but story was a little unoriginal to me. Fans of Disney’s smart house (lol) and Squid Games will like.

I was fortunate to have advanced access to Look in the Mirror through NetGalley and I was excited to read Catherine Steadman’s latest novel months before publication. The novel begins with two different perspectives as Maria and Nina are each facing unusual circumstances in their lives. Maria has been tasked with babysitting and house watching an incredible home, but the owner and the children have not shown up for days. Why is she there? Why is she forbidden from going into a certain room? Unfortunately, things take a very strange turn after Maria enters the forbidden room.

Meanwhile, Nina is struggling with the loss of her father and learns that she has now inherited an island property. When she goes to visit her father’s island estate, things are not quite what they seem. Nina befriends a local named Joe and the two of them decide to look into the unusual house. However, things take a dark and sinister turn as nothing in the estate is what it seems to be.

Steadman does a fantastic job of weaving the two separate storylines together and readers are left with a satisfying conclusion that answers all of the questions that arise throughout the novel. I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us next!

Nina's father dies and leaves her a fancy top of the line house that she has no idea how he even afforded. Maria is an ex med student now nanny for the wealthy. The book had a slow beginning but pick dup with lots of twits towards the end. I appreciated the multiple POV's as it helped to keep my attention in the slower chapters.

This book is well written with a unique plot. Books in this category can sometimes be similar, but this was very creative! I gave it four stars as opposed to 5 as I felt there could have been more detail given on the people running the game and their motives and felt I wanted a little more when it ended. Overall would recommend!

I know Catherine Steadman is a polarizing author for some readers but I always love her books. I always find them well paced and easy to read. Each chapter kept me entertained, there is barely any filler, mostly action. Some aspects are far fetched and not so believable but it’s a fun development for the story.

In a house of open doors, there is a single locked door. You are told not to enter. Ever..

What would you do if the door suddenly opened?

Catherine Steadman is a favorite author and Look In the Mirror was a twisty thrill unlike other books I’ve read. It was a similar to experience as reading Something in the Water, because it made me reflect on what I would do if I were presented with an open door and a forbidden room.

I recommending reading this novel without knowing any spoilers. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this novel for my review.

So this book was not what I was expecting… this was definitely different. I will say that this was a decent read, but not my favorite by Steadman.

After Nina’s father dies, she receives a letter stating that he owns a three- bedroom Beachfront Estate in the British Virgin Islands. Nina and her father were very close (or so she thought), and she never knew that he owned this property. Nina now has to go to the Islands and visit this beautiful house that she knew nothing about. When Nina arrives to the house, she learns that the house (mansion) is called Anderssen’s Opening - which is a chess move that her father taught her about many years ago. ♟️

We then have Maria, who is a nanny that works for the very wealthy. She gets to the house where the family never shows up. She only has one rule at the mansion that she is staying at- Do not go into the locked door in the basement. Well, enquiring minds do want to know…

This story is told in alternating POV’s between Nina, Maria, and Joon-gi (the electrician on the scene). I will say that I did enjoy Maria’s chapters the best. The rest of the story was a little too outlandish for me. I do enjoy thrillers and suspense, but this book had more of an escape room/survivor vibe. So if you like games with lots of rules, then you will enjoy this book.

I would also like to point out that this was a fairly short read with quick chapters. However, the ending was very abrupt and rushed. There were also some twists at the very end that were thrown in to try and redeem this story, but they didn’t quite work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 30, 2024.
Genre~ General/Women’s Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing me with this eARC! Catherine Steadman continues to impress with each new book she writes. “Look in the Mirror” is truly sinister! I found myself on edge at times while reading, but I was completely absorbed in the disturbing “game” and finished it in practically one sitting!

Thank you to netgalley fot the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest I wasn’t really sure where this book was going for awhile, but I felt like the first 3/4 of the book were slow. It wasn’t until about 75% in where I felt like things started to come together and get interesting.

Once I hit that point I was excited to see where it was going, and what would happen to Nina but I felt like the book dragged on before that.
Was happy that her and Joe wound up staying together and that none of them went to jail. Crazy that the game still continued after the trials.


Over all I’d say this is a 3-3.5 star read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book. Man, this is going to fly off the shelves and be on everyone’s library holds list summer. Look in the Mirror is perfect for a summer afternoon when you just want to be totally absorbed in a thrilling book. Cambridge professor Nina is grieving the loss of her father when she discovers he has left her a mysterious villa in the British Virgin Islands. When she arrives, she finds the house contains far more secrets than she ever imagined.

Interspersed with narratives from a young nanny Maria, the pace is swift and brutal. Fans of pop culture will quickly realize what is going on, but Steadman’s writing is elevated enough to keep the readers engaged. A very fun and engaging read.

Nina inherits a luxurious glass and marble house in the British Virgin Islands from her father, prompting questions about his hidden wealth and secrets. Meanwhile, Maria, aiming for financial security through her nanny job for the wealthy, finds herself alone in a similar setting. Ignoring warnings, her curiosity about the forbidden basement leads to chilling revelations, far from her simple concern of getting paid.

"Look In the Mirror" by Catherine Steadman is a suspenseful mystery, making it a decent read. The writing is easy to follow, and the plot keeps you interested with a few twists along the way. The book explores self-reflection and reality versus perception interestingly enough.

However, it doesn't stand out from the many others in the thriller genre. I felt like the characters and their development are okay, but not deep, and some parts of the story feel rushed. It is a good book if you're looking for something straightforward and entertaining, but it might not leave a big impact.

Overall, I'd give it a solid 3.5 rating. It's enjoyable for a quick read, but it doesn't delve as deep into the characters or psychological aspects as it could have.

I love Catherine Steadman’s writing: her books are page turners but her language isn’t geared toward the lowest common denominator. The stories are beyond basic thriller themes (husband kills wife, wife kills mistress, etc). Complex enough that you have to give into the storyline, not guessing where it is going to take you. Something in the Water is one of my favorite thrillers and Look on the Mirror has all these same qualities. A worthy read, thoroughly enjoyed. I could not put it down! I am a go to bed early person, but i was up til midnight burning the pages. And thought about it the entire next day. Must read.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a mind trip. Nina receives a letter that she had inherited a house she never knew her father had. But is it a house or a game? Twist and turns galore. Very enjoyable!

Look in the Mirror is one of those twisted thrillers that makes me wonder where authors come up with the inspiration for their work. It’s told mostly from the perspective of Nina, a newly orphaned adult who has just learned of a private, exclusive beach home her father left behind as part of her inheritance. Nina visits Tortola to see the estate and determine next steps, but is literally and figuratively sidelined by what seems to be the house, or house operators, trying to kill her.

We also meet Maria, also a victim of the home, although it’s unclear till much later on how their timelines align or don’t. There are a few other perspectives, but none that receive significant airtime.

I had no idea how this book would conclude. Up until the epilogue, there were surprises for me, which is a great quality for a thriller. I’ve read many of Catherine Steadman’s books and liked them all. This is a quick, engaging, albeit disturbing read. Recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ll be eager for Steadman’s next book!

Nina Hepworth is reeling from the loss of her father. The legal proceedings from his will and his services have left her exhausted. Then she receives a call from another firm stating she has inherited a home in the British Virgin Islands left by her father. Nina doesn't understand. She's never heard of him traveling there or building a home. Once she lays eyes on the house, she's left with more questions then she started with.

Meet Maria, a young woman just trying to nanny her way to medical school. She arrives in a beautiful home to nanny, only to be told they're not coming but please enjoy the house. Here's a list of rules, please follow to the letter Maria.

2024 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for thrillers. After loving Steadman's The Family Game, I was excited to receive this upcoming release. Everything you think you know about this story, you don't. It will leave you shocked. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Wow what a trip. This thriller took me back and forth of is it what I think it is or is it something else entirely. The fast paced twists and turns made it hard to put down.

EASY 5 Stars!!!
Expected Publish Date: 7/30/2024
Look in the Mirror

Catherine Steadman has moved into the top two on my list of favorites because every single book she writes is the perfect escape, in my humble opinion! I did not know the premise of Look in the Mirror when I began reading, so it was a wonderful surprise. In a nutshell, upon her father's death, Nina discovers that she has inherited a mansion in the British Virgin Islands. It's quite a shock as she and her father were both professors on modest salaries. Still grieving, she flies to the island to see what she has inherited and the rest of the story is a roller coaster ride! This author often infuses riddles into her storyline and it's always fun to see how the main character deduces the outcome. I really loved this book, it was exactly what I needed and I read it so slowly, trying to savor it and make it last! Highly recommend, it's so fun.
Huge thank you to Catherine Steadman, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for the much coveted opportunity to read and review this digital ARC!

Look In The Mirror by Catherine Steadman is a fast paced thriller. This was my first read by Catherine Steadman and it definitely won’t be my last. I started reading not having a clue what the book was about, other than a thriller. The Cover and title caught my attention and I’m extremely glad that it did.

The book begins with Nina dealing with the death of her father. When she is contacted about her father’s will, she receives a major surprise. She inherits a house on a beautiful secluded island worth a ton of money, a property she never knew existed, with an interesting name. The house is called Anderssen’s Opening named after a chess move. The surprises don’t stop after discovering that her father helped design the house. The house is gorgeous, and entirely state of the art, and fully stocked with all of her favorite items. As she explores, she finds different things that were her father’s treasured possessions. When she begins to get eerie warnings, she starts to wonder if this is really a paradise.

The book is told from two points of view for the most part, the main two being Nina and a woman named Maria.
Maria was hired by a company to be a temporary live in nanny, she is told she can get comfortable, but not to go into the locked basement. When the clients are delayed, she takes advantage of the beautiful pools, until the power begins to flicker and curiosity gets the best of her. Her foray into the basement, takes her down a dangerous and dark path where getting out may be the only way to survive.

Other characters and points of view are interwoven into this heart pounding story.

This fast paced suspenseful thriller keeps you engaged from beginning to end with surprises coming from all directions. What connection do the women have? And who is leaving the cryptic messages? And most of all, what is in the basement?


Look In The Mirror. It’s creepy, edging on horror in this puzzling book, where only the strong and extremely clever will survive. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Look In The Mirror exceeded my expectations. If you are looking for something that’s a fast paced surprise waiting to happen, than this book is definitely it and you won’t be disappointed. Freida McFadden fans will love the dark twisted surprises and secrets that keep you glued until the very end.

This book starts out strong. Nina is a British academic in her mid-30s who is grieving the loss of her father. He was a brilliant man, but not wealthy. Imagine her surprise when she is contacted by a lawyer from the British Virgin Islands telling her that she has inherited a swanky house on the island. She decides to investigate for herself, which sets off the action and all the questions about her father’s secret life.

The other main character is Maria, a medical student who is earning money for school by nannying for the super-rich. She gets a job on BVI with strict instructions to not go in a certain room. Of course, you have to go in, right?

Their stories are told in tandem, but they do not cross paths. It packs a pretty solid mystery about what is going on in this house. This is a unique book, and both Maria and Nina are characters to root for. For me, it kind of fell off the deep end about ¾ of the way in. There is a rather abrupt ending that isn’t fully wrapped up. It didn’t spoil the book, but I thought it could have ended better.

I have enjoyed all of her books and will keep reading them. Her writing is very strong, and she has a great imagination. As I said, this book is incredibly unique. I read a lot of mystery/suspense, and I can’t think of anything like it – so I appreciate that.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing / Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.