This mystery thriller involves two women with initially no obvious connection. I began thinking that I was reading two different novels that just happened to be within the pages of one book. Eventually little nuggets of clues are presented and you can begin to see a bit of connection between them.
Nina is an academic professor and is a loner. She admits that she is an introvert. Her life seems to consist of teaching and visiting her father. Her father raised her after his wife died. When she loses her father, she receives a strange phone call informing her that as part of her father’s estate, she is now the owner of a house in the British Virgin Islands. She believed that she knew everything about her loving father and doesn’t understand how she was kept in the dark of this property. Since all expenses have been covered by her father’s will, Nina decides to see this mystery house in hopes of finding out more about her father.
Maria takes on short-term employment as a nanny for wealthy people around the world. Due to financial difficulties, she is taking a break from medical school, while trying to earn enough money to live in New York City so she can return to her education. She arrives at her next assignment, awaiting a dad and his two small children, however the house is empty. Her only contact person is the company that hired her. When she does speak to them, they provide her with many rules that she must follow in the house. Day after day, she awaits for them to arrive. As she tires of the strict rules, she begins to relax and enjoy herself.
Most of the story line takes place in the houses that both Nina and Maria are in. It’s hard to describe what happens in these places without giving too much away.
The chapters were quick, alternating between Nina and Maria as well as an electrician. It was a fast read as the suspense built as quickly as you could turn the page.
Both of these main characters are strong, capable women, who when tested, become even stronger. The book gets a little dark at times but “Whatever you do, do not go in the basement.”
This book will definitely leave you on the edge of your seat.
Many thanks to Random House Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published on July 30, 2024.

This was a pretty decent thriller. I went into this completely blind and was glad i did. However, i just was not wowed by the twists and shocks. But i did enjoy the characters and the plot. and also the attempt. I would not say this has been my favorite read, but it kept me entertained enough to finish.

3.5/5
Definitely a different read.

The book is told in two different perspectives Nina and Maria.
Joon- Go the house electrician also has a couple chapters too. In the beginning, the Maria parts are more interesting to read. Nina’s parts get interesting towards the end.
The ending was very abrupt and the loose ends tied up felt very fast.

A quick and decent read.

This was my first book by Catherine Steadman. I had a difficult time getting involved in the story. I had trouble determining the timeline for Nina and Maria. Were these simultaneous or different timelines? You do find out the chronology of the events later in the book, but I would have liked that information upfront. The story didn’t grab me and I struggled to finish it. The ending seemed anticlimactic and is similar to many other books/movies out there. It just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books, and Catherine Steadman for the eARC.

Amazing and truly frightening! It pulled me right in. Curiouser and curiouser the timelines weaved and I tried to piece together who and why the entire time. SO glad that it wasn't really her father's doing and that the three characters I was rooting for are safe right now, but I'm still shocked by the epilogue! Will they stay safe?

This was a wild ride and I really enjoyed it. We are following a few different POVs, all of which are associated with a luxury villa in the tropics. To start, we follow a woman who believes she has been hired to be the nanny for a wealthy couple on vacation. When she arrives, she is discouraged to realize no one is there and there are some interesting rules for staying in this villa -- in particular the explicit rule not to enter a certain room in the basement. Like many of us, she falls for the trap and becomes curious. She soon realizes she has made a grave error.

We also follow another woman who is grieving the death of her beloved father. After being given information that her father left a vacation home for her, she travels there to see what the deal is. Similarly to our other main character, what you see on the surface is not always what you get. The story really takes off from here and brings you on a wild ride.

This really is the perfect book to read on vacation or on the plane. It is fast paced and keeps you interested throughout. The mysteries are not given away quickly and it keeps you wanting to read more to see what's going to happen. Overall I really enjoyed this. I think there was room for growth and I think it could have been even more successful if it went full horror, bordering on slasher flicks. I think I just wanted a little more of everything: the mystery, the gore, the backstory. I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a fun summer thriller.

A thrilling ride with a suspenseful atmosphere that kept me guessing. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, some of which are a bit predictable but still managed to keep me engaged. The pacing is excellent with just the right amount of tension.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The book is told in two alternating stories that ends in one unbelievable conclusion.

Nina’s father just passed away and while finishing up with his final wishes she opens a letter, Nina is shocked to learn her father owned a home in the British Virgin Islands. That home is now hers! It was always just the two of them so she’s confused he never told her about the home. Now Nina is headed to this mysterious property, and hoping to find some answers. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. She’s left with the question
Why did he keep it from her? And what else was he hiding?

Maria takes on short term contracts as a nanny for the ultra-wealthy and these jobs takes her around the world. She’s happy with just a few more jobs and she can finally live comfortably in New City and then begin medical school that was previously only a dream. Her latest assignment is for a father of two small children. But when she arrives at the secluded estate the man and his kids are not there.
All she has is a contact phone number and a large list of rules. Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days laying by the pool and in the sauna. The only catch There’s just one rule: Don’t go in the basement. That room is off-limits.

Never in a million years did I guess how these storylines were going to play out. Never in a million years could I guess how this storyline was going to play out I read this is one day!!

Look in the Mirror is an entertaining, if somewhat bumpy, read. The story revolves around Nina discovering her late father’s hidden mansion and the mysterious challenges within, with alternating viewpoints from Nina, a nanny named Maria, and an electrician named Joon-gi. The mansion’s secrets, tied to an old chess move, drive the plot, and while the puzzles and intrigue are engaging, the book occasionally feels over the top. I found Maria’s chapters the most compelling, though the overall narrative can be a bit outlandish. The quick pace and twists keep things interesting, but the ending felt a bit hasty. It’s a fun, escapist read if you’re into mysteries and puzzles, though it might not be Steadman’s best work.

🫣SPOILER ALERT‼️

⭐️⭐️⭐️ & that may be generous of me 🤷‍♀️

‼️Only continue reading if ok with SPOILERS ‼️

I very rarely (like almost never!) put spoilers in my reviews but for me to fully complain/vent & review this book I felt it was necessary. Sorry Steadman but what the heck?!

Can I be mad at a book? Because I am mad at this book. Mostly for wasting my time. The first 25%ish was hit or miss on if I was into it or if something big was going to happen soon. It had the buildup for a great story & had it had the follow through the first 1/4 of the book would have been for something & essentially been given a pass for being slow & uneventful (boring!). I thought at first it was to get to know the main characters Nina & Maria but no. I had a feeling that their storylines weren’t happening simultaneously but the book isn’t clear that they are actually happening in different time periods, which the author I’m assuming did purposely & normally I like that but instead of being twisty it was confusing & some missed opportunity. The more I think about it the more obvious the “twists” really were.

I’m also mad that Maria actually escapes & kind of turns into a badass & then just gets killed off. Dumb! Then finally around 75% the story gets exciting but the ending was odd/lacking & added to what I already felt was missing in the book, basically it didn’t save the book or make up for the boringness of most the book.

The plot had potential, although it’s kind of weird she did a game element storyline (with participants that can get injured or killed) in her last book The Family Game, just to turn around & do another book with the same basic concept.

I’ve read other books by Steadman & I feel like her writing in this wasn’t nearly as good as it normally is. Somewhat adolescent feeling at times & other times just plain bad writing. Super disappointed in this one unfortunately. Example on some writing I didn’t care for was when it was Joe’s POV, did the author or any editors actually read how it sounded out loud the way he was talking?! For an adult to talk like that it just read cringe.

I’m mad Maria was killed. Mad Joe was stabbed by Nina & there was zero conversation on that between him & Nina after the fact. Mad that Lucinda & James weren’t a part of the ending really. Been a long time that a book has left me hanging with its (lack of) storyline & felt so unfinished & incomplete.

Hopefully she turns it around with whatever she comes up with next.

Thank you to both NetGalley & the Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC, always appreciative of the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧
By Catherine Steadman

Thank you #ballantinebooks @randomhouse & @netgalley for my complimentary digital copy. My thoughts are my own.

There is no end to this author’s originality! I have loved every book she has written and this EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT THRILLER is no different!

NINA is grieving the recent death of her father when she learns she has inherited a beautiful and unique house (designed by her father) in the British Virgin Islands. Puzzled as to why her quiet, conservative father kept this house a secret from her, she decides to go check it out.

MARIA is a medical student-turned-nanny to children of the ultra-rich. She decides to take one last assignment before she returns to medical school. As she arrives at the stunning, state of the art mansion, she is surprised to learn her young charges aren’t there yet. She is instructed to enjoy the house while she waits; but she is given one rule, do not enter the locked room on the lower floor. At first, she ignores the mysterious room. However, as days pass without her employer’s arrival, her curiosity starts to get the better of her. When the door suddenly unlocks, she must decide whether she dares to enter the forbidden area!

Without divulging any spoilers, let me just say I was impressed with the ingenuity of the deadly traps invented by Catherine Steadman’s mind! The action in this thriller moves quickly; and it will definitely keep your adrenaline level rising as you read to find out what happens next. Don’t start this one late at night, because you won’t be able to put it down!

This book was so good!! Catherine Steadman’s last two novels have knocked it out of the park. (Check out my review of The Family Game here.) Look in the Mirror has a very similar feel to The Family Game, so if you liked that one I think you’ll like this one as well. I love books about puzzles, so this modern horror was right up my alley.

I went in blind and had NO idea what I was in for, and I highly recommend reading this book with no preconceptions. It was such a blast! I flew through it–this is certainly a fast-paced story–and loved where it took me. It’s quick and bingeable, so the perfect summer read.

I did want the characters to have a little more emotion about what was going on. I can’t say much without spoilers, but Nina didn’t seem to have much of a reaction once she figured out what was going on. Maria was freakishly calm as well!

Steadman deserves all the praise for another truly unique thriller.

BOOK REVIEW: LOOK IN THE MIRROR

I was hooked by the premise of this one and the first 1/3 or so had me totally on the edge of my seat! Nina is grieving the loss of her father when she finds out she’s inherited a state-of-the-art house on the British Virgin Islands. There’s just one rule there: don’t go into the basement.

LOOK IN THE MIRROR was mysterious and filled with action! It was a bit far fetched and while I enjoyed it, I don’t think this type of story resonates with me. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in but this one was definitely outside of the realm of what I typically read.

This one was filled with rich people doing crazy things so if that’s up your alley and you are willing to go for a wild ride, then pick this one up! I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next!

4 stars.. dark & twisty.

Look in the Mirror kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time!

An addictive thriller with an atmospheric setting.

Highly recommend!

Thank you @netgalley & the publisher for my opportunity!

Anything by Steadman is an auto buy for me! Great thrill ride. It kept me entertained all the way through. Will recommend to friends!

I really enjoyed this book. The story pace was perfect as it introduced the characters and wove them into the plot.
The only strange thing that I kept coming back to, is that it so often reminded me of the book “Fear the Silence” by Robert Bryndza.

I've enjoyed previous books by this author, but this one had too many similiarities to a book I dnf'd earlier this year. Despite that, I was still interested in the overall plot and the puzzles one of the main characters needed to solve throughout! I think Catherine Steadman does a good job writing eeriness into her novels in a way that few other authors can do. I do feel as though I would've enjoyed the book more if the mystery went in a different direction than it did, but I still had a good time overall!

This was an excellent thriller. As I sat reading this book I found myself completely absorbed in the story. I could not put this one down and it was extremely satisfying finish at the end. I have read previous books by Catherine Steadman but this might her best. Go read this book you will not be disappointed!

After her father's death, Nina is surprised to inherit a beautiful house in the Virgin Islands. Intrigued by the prospect of finding out more about her father's mysterious past, she visits the property, only to find strange and threatening notes hidden throughout warning her to leave immediately and not enter the locked off basement. Meanwhile, Maria, ex-med student turned nanny, takes a contract at the same house but her clients never show up. Curious and bored, she decides to enter the forbidden basement without realizing what she's getting herself into.

Look in the Mirror is a compelling mystery thriller that I would classify as attention-grabbing but ultimately forgettable. At no point did I want to put it down, but I don't think the plot was especially unique nor do I think it will stick with me for a long time. However, if you're looking for an entertaining read, I'd still recommend it.

I could not put this book down! I finished it in one day. I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. It was the first novel I've read by Catherine Steadman, but it certainly won't be the last.