I like Catherine Steadman, but this fell flat for me. Maybe I"m "over" reading thrillers, but this one didn't hook me the way I feel like a thriller should.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. An interesting story. Good mystery/thriller. Recommend

Such an atmospheric read that kept me turning the pages. Really intrigued me throughout and the mystery was so fun to figure out. My only take away was i had suspected a huge red herring and it didn’t turn out the way i suspected. Which can be good tho

Review published on Goodreads, 25 June 2021:

An intriguing premise is what drew me to this book as well as the fact that I've enjoyed Steadman's previous two psychological thrillers. As an actress, Steadman is adept at bringing the glitz and glamour of the business to life, although her depiction of Hollywood in THE DISAPPEARING ACT is less than complimentary. It's an atmospheric setting, nonetheless. As far as the cast, Mia is likable although not very original or memorable. The rest of the characters are less likable and really sort of bland. I have the same problem with the plot of THE DISAPPEARING ACT that I have had with Steadman's other books—it's not as intricate or twisty as I wanted it to be. Also, (THIS MAY BE SPOILER-Y, so beware) a lot of the story relies on the fact that Mia leaves her purse unattended at an audition, which makes no sense. Why would she do that in a room full of strangers? Didn't make sense to me. In spite of all this, I did want to know what was going to happen to Mia and the story did keep me guessing (although I could see where the plot was leading). All in all, then, I'd call this one an average read. I liked it enough to keep reading, but I didn't love it.

This is my second book by this author. I absolutely loved the first book but I could not get into this one. There were too many moments that had me shaking my head in disbelief. The main character, Mia, was fairly likeable though all of her decisions were silly and unrealistic. The author also had a strange way of ending a chapter on a cliffhanger and then the next chapter would start farther in time so you didn't know what happened or how you got to where you were. I also found the ending to be confusing, there's still one part of the situation I just can't sort out.
I'll read other books by this author but unfortunately I cannot recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for granting my wish to review this title.

But, Sadly, This is a DNF for me. I don't know if it's that I am a HUGE mood reader, but this book just did not grab me at the start. It started to feel like a previous book I had read, and I started comparing the two.

The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman is heart pounding, action packed, mysterious, and intriguing Hollywood drama with #metoo vibes. Prepare yourself to finish this one in one sitting!

Thanks to Netgalley, Randall publishing and Catherine Steadman for this ARC. This is not my first by the author but probably my favorite. I like the interaction of all the characters, I like the mystery involved and the description of Hollywood and LA which I can envision in my mind, even though I’ve never been there. This book kept me reading, held my interest and I don’t think I read one like this before, and if I have it didn’t stay with me as well as this one has. I love this authors writing style and will continue to read more by her. I’m a bit late with my review, I thought I posted one earlier and I apologize, but this book was well worth the wait. Five stars
I recommended this book to my book club as i think it has potential for many discussions.
My reviews can be seen on Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter, and many on line Bookclubs.

Mia is a British actress who comes to Los Angeles for "pilot season," a series of high-stress auditions where actors and actresses hoping to make it in the industry try out for a slate of upcoming roles. While waiting for her turn at one audition, Mia meets Emily. Right before Emily's turn, she asks Mia to top up her parking meter, handing her her keys in the process. When Mia returns, Emily is gone. After a few days of silence, she receives a text from Emily's number asking if she can come by Mia's apartment and get her items. Relieved, Mia says yes. But when she opens the door it's not Emily standing there but someone impersonating her. What happened to Emily? Where did she go? And how far does the conspiracy go? As Mia works to answer these questions she finds herself falling down a dramatic rabbit hole bigger than herself, uncovering the tension between scandal and ambition ever present in a city of people trying to make a name for themselves regardless of the cost.

Catherine Steadman is an actress herself - I know her from Downton Abbey - and she writes with authority on the subject matter. I am disappointed in myself that I received this book as an ARC almost a year ago and did not pick it up until now. This is the best kind of mystery thriller, one that I could not put down as I neared the final third. There is no excessive gore or violence, but rather slow creeping suspense and tension that culminates in a dramatic and satisfying conclusion.

Truly loved the premise, but I could not get into this book-not for a lack of trying. I tried and failed to finish this at least 7 times. I loved Something in the Water and Mr. Nobody so I am in no way dismissing Catherine's writing or talent but this is a hard DNF for me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy.

The Disappearing Act is a novel about an actress whose life is at a bit of a crossroads. Successful in her professional life but just dumped by her boyfriend, she decides to go to LA to try out for some parts. That's where things get really messed up.

She meets a woman that does a small favor for, but who ends up disappearing. Strange things start happening that Mia can't explain, leading to an unexpected conclusion.

Overall I enjoyed The Disappearing Act. It was somewhat suspenseful, though I think the ending could have had more of an oomph. There were a few unexpected twists and turns that I didn't see. I would recommend it.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Mia has travelled from London to LA to try to make it big as an actress in Hollywood. Things start to unravel when she is the last person to see a young women named Emily alive. But then Emily shows back up, but she's nothing like Mia remembers. Is Mia losing her mind? Is there something more sinister at play?

AHH! I LOVE books like this. Books that keep you on your toes until the very end. Especially since Mia can be a little annoying. But I tried to give the girl a break. She just moved to America. She just found out her boyfriend is cheating on her. And she is linked to the disappearance of some girl she met. Sort of.

It's a tangled web that will keep you guessing. I wanted to threw my kindle a few times. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery with some Hollywood drama thrown in.

Thanks for the arc, Netgalley!

I didn't quite understand this book in its entirety. I was very interested in the premise, but I didn't think it was executed as well as I would have hoped. I felt like the book had all this anticipation, but then fell flat when it came to a reveal. I didn't care for the characters very much either. However, I did enjoy the writing style and would pick up another one of this author's books.

Catherine Steadman's The Disappearing Act features Mia, a British actress on the verge of her big break who has traveled to Los Angeles to find the role of a lifetime. While waiting for an audition, she meets a woman named Emily who asks a small favor of her. When Emily doesn't show up for their agreed meeting time, Mia starts to worry something bad may have happened to her. Mia should be focused on making her career dreams come true, but she can't get Emily out of her head.

Steadman is also the author of Something in the Water, which I thought was a fantastic thriller. This newest book of Steadman's didn't quite meet it, but it was very close. There were times I felt like the writing took a little too long to get where we were going, as if she was trying a little too hard to build tension, but I really enjoyed reading it. The ending was especially satisfying. When I started this book, I was in dire need of a distraction from real life and a missing person mystery set in LA was perfect. This would make a fun addition to your summer reading list.

This is a well written, enjoyable page turner that kept me entertained from start to finish. I love the author’s writing style and can’t wait to read more of her books.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this ebook.

The Disappearing Act was an ok read for me. It didn't catch me right away and seemed to drag in places. I kept at it because the mystery was a good one and enjoyed the main character, Mia. I enjoyed the book's unpredictability and the ending was also a bright spot for me. Overall I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a slower, more drawn out pace for a mystery.

📚BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Disappearing Act
By Catherine Steadman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was approved for an ARC of this book last year, and honestly I’m kind of annoyed with myself for letting it sit on the shelf so long! This story had me hooked right away, and I found myself wondering what I would do in Mia’s situation.

Mia is a British actress who heads to LA after a bad break up. She meets Emily at an audition, and when Emily is called to read for the part just as her meter is expiring, Mia takes her wallet and keys and goes to feed the meter so Emily doesn’t get towed. Afterwards, Mia is unable to reconnect with Emily, and she begins to suspect that something isn’t right. Mia finds herself pulled into a web of deceit, blackmail, and murder that she’s not sure she will be able to escape from.

I found this story to be well written and engaging throughout. I gave this 4 stars because there were a few plot points that felt a little implausible to me, however I highly recommend this novel! And the best part of me taking so long to review it means that it’s out now!

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.

4 stars

Another great read from Catherine Steadman!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

Mia is still reeling from a breakup when she decides to leave London for LA to land a big break. While going through auditions she mets Emily but much her dismay, Emily up and disappears. Mia takes it upon herself to figure out what happened.

This book seemed predictable to me. It was a typical thriller/mystery but did have some really good moments. I enjoyed the characters as well.

Mia is a successful British actress who is coming to LA for some film jobs. While at an audition, Mia meets another woman, Emily auditioning for a part. As the woman enters the audition, she hands Mia her wallet and keys to feed her parking meter. When Mia returns the woman isn't there. She tries to leave Emily's belongings with the receptionist at the place but it doesn't work out. Several days later, a woman appears but isn't the same person that Mia remembers meeting before. But how well do you really remember someone that you met for only a few minutes?
Mia lets her leave with Emily’s belongings. which was a little unbelievable in my opinion. But later she calls the police and she starts conducting her own investigation, getting embroiled into a dangerous mess.

The book started a little slow but gets better as the story progresses. I had trouble connecting with Mia and her gullibility and naivety.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.