I really tried getting into this book but the problem is that I cared for neither of the characters and the plot with Maria seemed more interesting than the MC Nina and then the fact that it turned into a spinoff version of Saw, just got me annoyed. Or maybe like that movie Old where at the end, there were rich companies just overseeing who had lived and died and then continued with the experiment. I gave up on it and skimmed through the rest

A psychological thriller with an unusual story I have not seen before. I like that you spend the 1st half wondering what the heck is going on here and after you realize its a thrill ride to the very end. I can't give away too much without ruining it so I'll say if you love a good, twisty different kind of thriller, "Look in the Mirror" is for you!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book for my honest review.

Nina has just lost her father, the main person she had in her life. Her mother passed when she was born, no other family to speak of, and no real close friends. When she receives news that her father owned a home on an island she didn’t know about that now belongs to her, she is blown away, did her father have a complete separate life from her? If so, how? When? She decides she must got see the house and see if there is a connection to him she so desperately wants to keep alive.
In a dual story line, we meet Maria, a nanny that ends up in a crazy game of survival locked inside a basement with different rooms she must escape. How is this connected to Nina? And most importantly, who is behind this real life haunted house?
Steadman is the Queen of crazy scenarios. I love an escape room and I’ve often wondered what would happen if someone changed it to real life play….this is exactly what Steadman looks at with a twist! I really enjoyed this twisty ride!

Catherine Steadman can do no wrong for me. Her books are always inventive, thrilling, and full of unexpected turns. Her characters are smart and sharply written and this was no exception. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Ever since Something in the Water I have made this author an automatic read. I was looking forward to this book, but really struggled to get into this one. I enjoy the authors writing and would still try another one of their books, this one was just difficult to get into. I did not feel any attachment to the characters and it did not grab me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Catherine Steadman for allowing me to review this suspenseful thriller. This was a quick and intense read that I enjoyed quite a bit. The direction the story went was not what I expected and was a bit hard to believe at the end. The game elements were disturbing and interesting at the same time. I think I would have enjoyed reading more about the family dynamics and getting to understand the father on a deeper level. Overall, this is a quick thrilling and very twisty ride and i recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed this author’s writing in the past and for anyone who likes very suspenseful reads. Thank you again for allowing me to review this book. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved Steadman's Something in the Water, so was excited to read this one. The premise for this book is sooo promising and the story is a great one. However, there is a little dullness getting to the end. 3.5 stars.

Such a good suspense novel!! "Look in the Mirror" by Catherine Steadman was hard to put down. Full of twist in the plot, incredible "evil genius" maneuvers, and highly unexpected events. A great read. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Ugh... I hate when one of my most anticipated books of the year disappoints me this much. The first third of this book absolutely had me in its thrall, the middle third had me slowly losing interest, and by the last third I just wanted it to be over. Ah, well, maybe next year for Steadman. 2.5 rounded up.

This is a true page turner. I enjoyed the setting and the locked room environment. I did not mind following both characters point of views. At times this book borders on a horror which I loved! It is creepy in all the best ways.
I will be sure to read more of Steadman's books.
Random House Publishing, Catherine Steadman and Netgalley.
4/5 star

I've heard a lot about this author and her previous books, and I was thrilled to read this one. The story is narrated mainly from the perspectives of Nina & Maria. The first half was intriguing, with short chapters and cliffhanger endings, but there were disjointed elements and plot holes. The explanations felt rushed in the second half, and the motive and romance angle were unsatisfactory. Overall, it's a fast-paced, action-packed read that might appeal to fans of thrillers. I'd give it 3 stars. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this!

Unfortunately this book was not my cup of tea. It had lots of plot holes. It was certainly exciting but the story didn't make sense to me in the end.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Pretty fantastical. Suspend all reason when you read this. I finished it but it was not a "gone girl" book

If you are a fan of isolation thrillers, you need to run to pick this one up!

"Don't go in the basement," the book says. So you know, someone is going in that basement. What they find is a wild ride. I really can't say much because you all need to read this one yourself. It is a different concept from your average thriller in the best way. I truly enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for gifting me this ARC. I have enjoyed Catherine Steadman's books thus far and will anxiously await the next one!

This was pretty twisted and had a lot of suspense in almost every chapter, so if you want an edge of your seat this one is in the game!! When you first start reading you get dual plots and you know even though it all doesn't make much sense yet how they go together that there will come a point they intersect then all the pieces will fall into place! After they intersect it is like a roller coaster, it happens fast and gets your heartbeat racing with anticipation to what will happen next! You will find that eventually the timeline is told at past and present times for each woman but the whole locked escape room thing gives me the creeps so I enjoyed this one for sure just with that factor!
You have Nina who's father passed away and she has no other family, and then she gets a huge shock that her father has left her a property in the British Virgin Islands but she has never heard anything about it or known of it's existence. She goes to claim said property with a whole lot of confusion, questions, and wondering if she knew her father at all. Nina ends up for quite a wild ride!
Maria is a nanny for super rich clientele, and she arrives at her hopefully last job before she's set and there is no one there. She keeps being put off and to just enjoy her time until her wards arrive with one stipulation..... Don't go to the basement! She ends up going to the basement by a fluke and enters a room with a button and her curiosity gets the best of her and sends her for the ride of her life!! No spoilers will be given.
This high suspense mystery thrill ride pulls out the stops once it gets going, and it gets going pretty fast so buckle up! Thank you to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for a review with my own thoughts.

Catherine Steadman is always going to provide readers with a good time! This book was also another one of those situations where things were fun and I found myself turning the pages just to know what was going to happen.

However, it ended up like most of her books, being around a 3.5 star rating. The overall book was forgettable, but it is a fun time.

This book is gripping. It is in alternating POV and it’s a wild ride. This book is a touch of a horror book. This book is about two women and an interesting house.

Catherine Steadman wastes no time grabbing the reader’s attention, telling two unrelated stories about two women with nothing in common. Maria just signed a contract to be a nanny for a wealthy family at their island paradise. Nina, by virtue of her father’s passing, learned she is the owner of a huge island estate. While the timelines are not clear, both women arrive at different times, on the same island and move in to the same house. Look in the Mirror makes you feel like you are in the house with Maria and Nina as they wind through the hallways and rooms learning about its history, amenities, and secrets. Admittedly, parts of the story are difficult to follow, but the writing and the plot are captivating.

3 stars

I first want to say I really enjoyed this one but there were a few factors that played into this that prevented me from rating this book higher. If I were to split this book in half, the first half is very, very slow. Almost to the point where I thought I wouldn't want to continue. The second half goes full speed and it was a little too fast for my liking. I also thought the story was very "outlandish" that it prevented me from liking it because I knew this would/could never happen. I would also classify this book to be an "action" thriller which is not my favorite but I think this would be a great movie if it were to be adapted to the big screen. I do plan to pick up this author's future work.

It's hard to rate this book because while it was a fast-paced and action-packed read, I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. If anything, I went from intrigued to disappointed once the secret of the house was revealed.

I loved the setting and its vivid descriptions, the characters, the writing and what an easy read this was. I also enjoyed the social commentary: It hit hard when Maria spoke of "misplaced male confidence" and how "the world was as he expected and not as she feared".

However, the premise of a Hostel-like escape room just feels very unoriginal and basic, especially with so many similar movies already out there. What this novel does have going for it are the strong and memorable characters who had me emotionally invested.

The last few chapters were great and really messed with me!

Interesting how polarising the author's books are for me. I was meh about Something In The Water, disliked The Disappearing Act, but loved The Family Game. Eagerly awaiting what she will deliver next!

3.5⭐