Thanks Netgalley, author, Random House Ballentine Publications for the ARC.

Nina who's still recovering from the loss of her beloved father gets a shocking news that she's inherited a huge mansion in a remote British Virgin island that was supposedly owned by her father ! Unaware that her dad who lived a simple straight forward life she's surprised to know her dad had all that wealth to own such a property. But why did he never mention about this ? How did he have that extra cash to build it? Was he hiding something big from his daughter?
Maria once an ambitious medical student drops out to become nanny for rich people. Added perk is she gets to travel to remote beautiful locations as part of her job for her high profile clients. She's in one such job currently waiting for the client to arrive with kids in town in a huge glass mansion that she seems to have all for herself, at least that's what she's thinking until incidents occur that makes her think otherwise. She's supposed to avoid going into the basement, but eventually when she does she's shocked to see what's waiting for her

I've heard a lot about this author and her previous books, so I was thrilled to read this when approved especially with the plotline. Narrated mainly from perspective of Nina & Maria , us readers get to know about the Mansion, what's inside of it and what's happening to these women once they are inside it in different timelines. I was curious enough to keep flipping pages , short chapters and cliffhanger endings helped too. First 100-150 pages just sets up the two stories and I kept wondering where was this leading that's when they introduced the first twist which you can guess if you read/watch thriller a lot. The story makes you keep guessing how are the two women connected. But sadly there were many disjointed elements in the story for me and some plot holes that were hard to ignore. Although I do give the author credit for doing something totally different with the twists and plotline 2nd half of the book , the explanations felt rushed and did not feel satisfactory to me towards the end. The motive felt half baked and the romance angle bizarre . Going into further details with only end up spoiling the book.
If you like movies like Get Out or you like survival thrillers this can be your pick.

It's a 3/5 🌟 read for me. It's fast paced , short chapters action thriller , relatively short read.

Not my favorite by this author but still a decent thriller. Some parts seemed a little far-fetched but I was invested in what would happen. The first half to 3/4 is super fast paced and it fizzles somewhat at the end. Will still read everything Steadman puts out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! A true rollercoaster of a plot told from dual narratives, I literally had a hard time putting it down. Sleep is overrated right?

A stellar read, and my new favorite by a stellar author!

I've enjoyed Catherine Steadman's books in the past, but this one blew my mind. The slow-burn beginning, the characters, the delicious teasing of the twists were all expertly woven. I also got chills, literal chills, at a couple of parts, which almost never happens.

Truly an enthralling, chilling read, and one I'll be thinking about for a long time. Extremely thankful to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc--I rushed to order a hardcopy soon as I finished the book!

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

If you’re new to Catherine Steadman’s books, I have three pieces of advice… First, clear your schedule and be ready to settle in and luxuriate over her twist-y, cinematic thrillers. Second, if you’re an audiobook listener, do her audiobooks. She narrates them herself (she’s a classically-trained actor) and they are top notch. Third, go ahead an order or list yourself at your local library for the rest of her books because you won’t want to stop!

Her latest book, Look in the Mirror, is another foray into new territory. This time, using two storylines that the reader isn’t quite sure how they fit together with the exception of them seeming to take place in the same house but at different times.

Nina is a thirty-something English professor in England who recently lost her father. Not long after he passes, she is contacted by the executor of his will informing her that her father left her a sprawling vacation home in the British Virgin Islands—a house she had no idea her father even owned. The house is stunning and state-of-the-art. Glass, marble, and high-end technology. How could her civil engineer father afford this? How did she know nothing about it?

A medical student named Maria has taken a break from her studies to make enough money to pay for the exorbitantly-expensive program. She works as a nanny for the rich, preferring to work through an agency that sets her up on relatively short stints that pay well. She’s hoping the one she just accepted will be her last and she can go back to school. Not long after arriving at the stunning but cold property, she gets a weird vibe. The owner and his children never show, but the agency keeps reassuring her she’ll get paid for her full contract either way. After days of luxuriating by the pool, an electronic malfunction has Maria tempted to break the only rule of her stay: Don’t go in the basement. Maria knows she shouldn’t but she can’t help but see what may be down there, and that is when everything goes horribly awry…

This is a rare dual-storyline book where I was equally as invested in both narratives. Maria and Nina are quite different, though both intelligent and hard-working. Maria is confident and self-assured, whereas Nina suffers from lingering insecurities that come from a feeling of never being talented enough or accomplished enough. In part, these insecurities are wrapped up in memories of her father, who was brilliant but tough. Nina loved her father deeply, but it’s clear from the beginning that their relationship was complicated.

The house is a surprise to Nina, but the more time she spends in it the more she can see her father’s influence. I found Nina’s emotions and insecurities surrounding her father made her authentic and vulnerable. She loved her father, but he was a man who cast a long shadow and that has led to Nina feeling insecure about her own contributions and worth.

Maria, on the other hand, is already alone. She is a strong character, and we eventually learn some things from Maria’s past that led to her current state—alone but resilient. Maria is sharp, calculating, and clear-headed. I was fascinated by Maria, who seemed to avoid close relationships, including with her best friend and roommate back in New York.

At first it’s hazy how the two storylines are related. After Nina arrives at her father’s home, it’s clear that it’s the same house that Maria is at. Which storyline came first, though? Did Nina’s father purchase the home that Maria is in? Was Maria’s father the unseen (at first) client? Is Nina the client? I had so many thoughts here, and the possibilities seemed endless.

I’m going to take the rest of my thoughts about Nina, Maria, the house, and the novel over to my spoiler review so I can discuss how it all came together and that twist-ed ending. But without spoiling, I want to commend the cinematic quality to this book. It’s always apparent that Steadman has a background in theater and film—her books feel like you are watching a movie to me. The settings are vivid, the characters are complex, and the scenes are well-crafted where the reader can picture it all happening.

Another gripping psychological thriller from Catherine Steadman!

I haven't read anything from this author. I thought the story was very interesting. I really liked the writing of this story.

Let’s be real—the main character in this story is the mysterious house in the Virgin Islands with a deadly escape room in the basement. I’ve read all of Catherine Steadman’s books, and it’s been fun watching her grow. This one’s a creepy thriller with beautifully crafted backstories for most of the characters. I loved how their histories tied into their strength and resolve—except for Joe. Why didn’t Joe get a backstory? He deserved more, and so did some of the other characters. The book felt cut way too short, with an ending that came out of nowhere and wrapped up a little too neatly, complete with a bow on top. Also, why was the U.S. involved? Still unclear.

Great book! I had no idea where it was going most of the time, but I couldn't stop reading! I loved all the twists that came everytime I thought I knew what was coming next! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this quick-paced thriller! I loved how the story unfolded and the twists and turns. It went back-and-forth between different people and I also liked that.

I would definitely recommend!

3.5 stars!

I didn't like this as much as I liked The Family Game, but as always, a solid thriller from Catherine Steadman.

Nina's father dies and she is left a vacation home on the small island of Gorda, in the BVI. As Nina stays in the house and tries to come to terms with her father's death, she realizes that things in the house are not what they seem, and that she shouldn't go in the basement...

There were definitely parts of this book I thought were confusing. Sometimes the two timelines got mixed up in my brain, and I wasn't sure how they were intersecting.

I didn't love Nina as a character, but I did root for her at the end. She had a lot of fight in her that I didn't see coming.

What. Just. Happened. 🤯

This book was totally not what I expected and it kept just getting weirder and crazier…in a good way! 🤣

When Nina’s father dies, she learns he left her a beautiful vacation home in paradise in the British Virgin Islands. She has no idea he ever had this home and it’s a shock because he was totally not the kind of guy to be able to afford or want this extravagant place. Then we meet Maria, a medical student / nanny for the rich who is off to the final gig of her nanny days at a beautiful BVI home. The only catch? Don’t go in the basement. 🏖️ 🏠

The book alternates between these two ladies - and I won’t say more for fear of spoilers - but holy cow!! This book is a page turner, with action packed scenes that have you biting your nails and staying up way past bedtime. 👀

This was a way wilder ride than I thought I signed up for, but it was a good one! This is definitely a unique plot and I think will be a big hit - releases on July 30th! 💗

Thank you to @netgalley, @randomhouse, and @catsteadman for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. ✨

This one is a tough review to write without any spoilers. I will say that if you loved Catherine Steadman's last book, The Family Game, chances are you'll like this one. This book is cryptic, and I think it will appeal to people who like cryptic books. But, if you go into this expected the usual domestic thriller you might get more than you bargained for. It's genre-bending but that's tough to explain without spoilers, too. Sigh. I'm trying to write a review, I promise. I'll just say that this was exciting and interesting and I was left with the need to sit with my thoughts at the end and puzzle things out.

Look in the Mirror follows a few different POVs, but the main two being Nina and Maria. Maria is a medical student who nannys for wealthy families to make ends meet. Nina just inherited a house from her late father, one she knew nothing about. This book had me on edge at times and I was entertained. However, I have read others by this author and it wasn't the same wow factor to me. I thought the story was good, you will have to suspend a lot of belief while reading this though. All in all I gave it 3 stars!

I enjoyed this but wasn’t blown away like I thought I was going to be when I first started it.
It started out strong and continued that way until about three quarters of the way, then it just lost steam and sputtered to the end. I thought the ending lacked the punch I was looking for. I enjoyed the locked room aspect but felt a little confused overall.
The characters were a little lackluster except for Maria. The story kept me reading but just disappointed me at the end.
3⭐️

Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman

Thank you to @randomhouse and @catsteadman for the opportunity to read this thriller in exchange for my #honestbookreview! Thoughts and review are all my own. This is available now.

Whewww, this one made my hands clammy and a little bead of perspiration spring up! While I am a glutton for any and all puzzle and mystery books, I have never read anything quite like this. It has the code cracking, the hidden message games reminiscent of The Inheritance Games, it also has the messy hidden agenda and family secrets of The Family Games (see my review for both of these on my boosta and GR!)! This also had just a splash of spy thriller and romance to round it out nicely. I highly recommend this for those looking for a fast-paced game-packed thriller!

TWs: entr*pment, loss of a loved one, g*lighting, st*lking, k*dnapping, more

🪞🪞🪞🪞🕳️ - 4.5/5

♟️♟️♟️♟️ / 5

LOOK IN THE MIRROR by Catherine Steadman

thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

quick thoughts:
🏝️ woman inherits her father’s vacation home with a basement full of secrets
👀 suspense thriller, dark and a little creepy
✍🏼 multiple POVs, short chapters
🧩 features puzzles, riddles, and games
👍🏼 would recommend to thriller lovers!

ahhh, i love this cover so much! the collage and the colors are too good! i’ve been super excited to read this one because i enjoyed THE FAMILY GAME, and i was even more excited when i realized that this one also featured a kind of game 😎

this one hooked me from the beginning! this one was kinda creepy at times, and you can’t trust anyone throughout the story. i had no idea where it was going, which kept me turning the pages. this was a super interesting concept, and i was thoroughly entertained!

3.5 stars

If it seems too good to be true it usually is.

Look in the Mirror had me hooked from the very beginning. When Nina inherits an island estate from her father, she doesn’t know what to expect. The house is on an isolated island and she’s soon questioning what kind of double life her father may have led.

I would recommend going into it as blind as possible as that will make for a more engaging experience. While I was able to guess what was going on pretty quickly, this book still had me trying to figure out what would happen next the whole way through. I loved all of the different characters and how the storylines moved - definitely added to the ambiguous nature of what was happening

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for a review copy. This is my second thriller by Catherine Steadman and I’ll definitely read more.

DNF @ 25%

I was really intrigued by this book, but I really did not vibe with the main plot twist.

This book was marketed as a thriller, but it feels more like horror, which is not my genre at all. I'm sure this book would be perfect for people who love a little bit of closed-door horror, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this earc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Another great thriller from Catherine Steadman! She has rightfully earned herself as an auto buy author, especially after The Family Game.

This is a locked room fast paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire read wondering what is going to happen next. I will say, a couple of the twists were rather predictable, but others definitely caught me by surprise. It was super twisty and honestly I haven't read anything like it before, which I found very refreshing.

The only reason this wasn't a 5 star book, or hell, even a 4 star book for me was the ending. It was rather far fetched and just overall underwhelming. The first probably 80% of the book was easily 5 stars, but once it started wrapping up, Steadman tried to wrap it up with a pretty bow which lead to some far fetched plot points, and some plot holes. With that said though, I still thoroughly enjoyed this action packed thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.