You know how when you're reading a thriller and you end up getting frustrated with the story because the main character avoids all of the obvious solutions like GO TO THE POLICE or LEAVE THEM A NOTE? Or maybe the author waves away some of the more tedious details of the story, assuming that no one will care and it is best to leave those things off-the-page?

I CARE ABOUT THE TEDIOUS DETAILS.

Or at least I do in this kind of a contemporary story. It’s going to drive me absolutely nuts if the main character isn’t doing the small-but-obvious things like checking the car’s registration to get the name of the person she is looking for when she has, 1) the car, and 2) the car keys. And this is something that I respect about this author (in this book and in Something in the Water): she’s not afraid to spend some time on the details to show how these crazy circumstances would play out in real life.

This was a fun book. The mystery kept me interested, and there is a lot of “behind the scenes”-type looks into the life of an actor, based on the author’s own experiences. I love books about rich people things—there’s a moment where the main character is randomly gifted a lavish vacation and it is somehow never mentioned again and this exactly the type of ridiculous over-the-top stuff I love to read about. I can’t explain it.

I enjoyed this book a ton, but there were a couple of tiny things that kept it from being a five-star. The ending was solid, but didn’t reach that top-tier level for mystery/thrillers. I also have some opinions about the romance, but I’ll keep those to myself to avoid spoilers.

Recommend to anyone looking for a fast-paced mystery/thriller that still has time for fun details about being a rich celebrity.

*eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman was every bit as engaging as her other two books. This read like a fast-paced mystery movie, thanks to the excellent character development, which includes the other-world of Hollywood itself.
It is in this strange place that British actress Mia lands while waiting for her big win back home and escaping the demise of her relationship with gorgeous and smarmy actor George.
One she begins to audition she steps right into a staged mystery and I flipped through this book dying to know what would happen and why Mia was in the middle of it all.
Five star read! Thank you to NetGalley and author Catherine Steadman’s publisher for the ARC copy.

To tell you the truth I tired to pick up Somebody in the Water multiple times and for some reason just couldn't connect. With that said, after reading The Disappearing Act I believe I will be giving her another change at making me finish that book! She is very clever and has her thumb on the pulse of the thriller genre. Hollywood almost seems like a snow globe and I feel like Steadman just picked it up and shook it and we are left wondering "What the heck is going on?!"

ARC Review ✨ The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

I was not expecting I would love this as much as I did- I’m most happy when I have a solid thriller with some twists in my hands, and The Disappearing Act did just that. Catherine Steadman is also the author of Something in the Water which I read in 2019- one of the first thrillers I read as I got back into reading. I really enjoyed that book as well- her settings & plots are creative and I am beginning to see a pattern; I can expect to cozy up and enjoy her writing whenever I pick it up.

The Disappearing Act is a Hollywood thriller with that is suspenseful, fast paced, & leaves you wondering what everyone’s true motives are! This is not an intense/serial-killer type thriller, but a puzzling story about Hollywood fame & how far some may go to push their careers. This fictitious story also brushed on the #metoo movement going on in real life- how terrifying & scary it can be for persons to come forward with abuse claims against industry giants.

I am not familiar with the world of acting & showbiz- but I ended up finding myself able to feel like I was somewhat immersed in the industry while reading- thanks to Steadman’s writing (who’s actually also an actress?!- fun fact, she plays Mabel in Downton Abbey).

I would certainly recommend you pick this up when it releases on June 8, 2021. Thank you to @netgalley & Ballantine Books for this advanced review copy.

I enjoyed the peek into the life of auditions and pilot season in Hollywood, the details and sense of place kept me picking this up. This was a fun one to use Instagram location tags to get a mental picture of what it might look like for the characters.

The mystery fell apart for me a little bit because I was confused by the main character's actions (I had a similar reaction to the actions of the characters in Steadman's first novel- just a lot of me going whooooo would do this??) but at a point, I had to let it go and just roll with it. I was okay with how it wrapped up, if not totally sold on the motivations and judgment calls that got us there.

Overall I was intrigued enough to keep going!

I was ready to give up on this author after not loving her previous 2 books but the synopsis had me so intrigued, and I’m so glad I gave Steadman another chance! I love anything involving actors/Hollywood so I had a great time with this book. I found it really interesting and fast paced (same as Mr. Nobody, but that one really dropped the ball with a terrible ending), and was so invested in Emily’s disappearance.
I will say that this is a mystery that involves a lot of coincidences and clues that just happen to fall perfectly into place, so you’ll have to suspend disbelief quite a bit for its over the top moments, but I still had a super fun time with it.

Nancy Drew meets La La Land... This thriller went into the audition process and life in LA and it was fascinating. The writing was superb and nothing felt off the cuff. It dragged a bit in the middle and towards the end, but overall I really enjoyed this story. I will definitely be reading Catherine Steadman's other books because she really does have a gift for writing.

Thank you Netgalley for granting my wish to read The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman. I like Steadman - wasn't crazy about Mr. Nobody, but Something in the Water was great.
This is just a great beach read - set in Hollywood, stunning characters, and a mystery to boot.
I enjoyed it - Got somewhat confused with so many characters - i think, that was my issue and i think some clarity is needed to keep the reader more engaged.
good book - 3.5 stars.

REVIEW - 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 🌟


Thrillers. What can you say? They are just so much fun, and the best keep you twisting and turning until the very end. The Disappearing Act did just that! Everytime I thought I had it figured out, there would be another twist and I was developing a brand new theory. And in the end? I was completely wrong. Exactly what you want, right?

Mia, a British actress up for a BAFTA award for her portrayal of Jane Eyre, suffers a public, humiliating breakup by text at the hand of her actor boyfriend, who hooks up with his co-star. Awful, right? To refocus, she travels to Hollywood for pilot season - which I knew NOTHING about and found fascinating! (Did I mention that the author is also an actress? She brings her experience to bear as she discusses awards, interviews and pilot season with great detail and description.) Mia’s agent sets her up for several auditions and she is in talks to star in the role of a lifetime, when she meets Emily. Auditioning for the same role, their friendly banter sets Mia at ease - until Emily mysteriously disappears.

Suspense abounds as Mia tries to uncover what happened to Emily. Who can she trust? Who is involved? A tie in to the me-too movement that rocked the industry gives this one some real grit. Honestly, I can see this making an amazing movie - I keep thinking of young British actresses who would bring naive Mia to life. Carey Mulligan? Lily Collins? I really hope we see this one on the big screen.

Loads of pros for this one - and only one con: As I progressed, I struggled to keep the characters straight, which rarely happens to me. There is a significant triangle as you move through the book, and I struggled to keep it straight in places. If this is made into a film, I think that problem would work itself out, as you could put faces to a name.

If you love thrillers, I highly recommend it! Great read.

Note: Thank you to Catherine Steadman, NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very different than I expected. Mia was a tough character for me to like but I thought the author did a great job developing her character. The book dragged for me at times but it ended well. Definitely not one of my favorite reads.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a solid three-star read for me. Not my favorite of Steadman’s work, but still enjoyable. I think for me, my main issues were lack of real caring about the TV/film industry, and also just a little bit of a slow burn on the mystery. All in all, solid, I never wanted to stop reading, but I never felt super amped up about it either.

I couldn’t put this down and I loved the first 70% of the book. However, I feel that the ending was rushed and a bit unbelievable. Overall a decent read. 3.5 starts rounded up

I adore books that start out like this one. They lull you into a sense of normalcy, just before pulling the rug out from under you, when you’re reminded that this isn’t just some run-of-the-mill fiction. There’s a mystery here, and a good one.
The main character, Mia, is an up-and-coming actress who relocates to LA for more opportunities after a breakup with her boyfriend of six years. She is multifaceted and feels so real, as you read through her Point of view as she auditions for a role and meets a woman, Emily, who goes missing. Mia finds herself doing a small favor for Emily, and winds up entangled in the mystery of who she is and what happened to her.
I really loved this story, and it was pretty much un-put-down-able for me from start to finish. The pacing was great, and it was interesting and engaging!

Okay, there are barely words to describe how much I loved The Disappearing Act. I loved it so much I didn’t work today. Loved it so much I hardly moved from my bed until I finished it. I just really really loved it!

Mia is an up and coming British actress. After a devastating blow, she takes a work trip to LA. During a casting call Mia meets fellow actress Emily and the two hit it off. But things get a little weird for Mia when she is unexpectedly left with Emily’s belongings. After tracking down Emily’s whereabouts, Mia comes to the startling discovery that the Emily she met at the casting call is not the same person standing in front of her, and the real Emily has gone missing.

The whole time reading The Disappearing Act I was left wondering what the hell was going on, and had to rush to figure out how it was all going to end. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year.

I love this author and I was so excited when I received this book! It didn't disappoint. I loved this one even more than the others previous work! It was unputdownable

Catherine Steadman delivers a stunner with The Disappearing Act. This one goes in the unputdownable category for me as I read it in less than 24 hours.

I almost never post any sort of plot description in my reviews, and I will go a step further here and highly recommend going into this one as blindly as possible. I promise fans of Steadman’s previous works won’t be disappointed!

I was constantly kept guessing who was trustworthy and what was going to happen next. Steadman’s personal experience as an actress added a level of authenticity to her writing, and I feel it added an extra appealing element to the book.

Thank you so much to Catherine Steadman, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Don’t miss this one on sale 6/8/2021!

Suspenseful and fascinating, this is a great thriller that will take you on a wild ride. Recently light has been shone on the dysfunction endemic in Hollywood and this novel examines the lengths people will go to in order to succeed. While the last act of the novel starts stretching credulity, I did enjoy the ending it produced.

Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is another perfect beach read to pack away in your beach bag this summer (will be published 6/8!) This book takes place in Hollywood and gives readers an inside look at what it’s like to be an actor and the lengths they will go to to get to the top.

The protagonist, Mia, is really likeable (and British 😍 loooooveeee a British character). She seemed like a genuinely good person, albeit a little naive, and I was rooting for her the whole time.

The ending was a little far fetched for me and there was one relationship (won’t spoil it for you!) in the story I wish would’ve had a bit more to it. But, I think the author did a great job building suspense and creating a page turning thriller/mystery.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend everyone add it to their summer TBR! Overall 4⭐️

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

The Disappearing Act is one of the best thrillers I've read lately. I was really drawn to both the insights into Mia's career and the creepy mystery she gets wrapped up in. Between the two, there was constant action and suspense. My only criticisms were that the ending did feel drawn out, and I think the reveal(s) could have been explained in a clearer way and with a bigger impact. While there was definite drama, it felt like there were also some missed opportunities to really add some layers to the mystery.

"The Disappearing Act," by the British writer and actor Catherine Steadman, takes place in Hollywood, California where dreams are purported to come true. As a fan of her two previous novels, this third entry sizzles from the start and very cleverly takes a chance meeting and turns it into a dizzying vortex centered on lies and betrayal.

British actress, Mia Eliot, flies to Hollywood at the bequest of her agent to audition during pilot season. After coming off a bad breakup, Mia is feeling very lonely and vulnerable. At an audition she makes a connection with Emily, a fellow kindred spirit, who stands out in a sea of wannabes. Unfortunately, a simple favor asked by Emily will wreck havoc on Mia's life.

During the audition, Emily disappears and Mia suddenly finds herself immersed in trying to find her. Since Emily's car still remains in the car park the next day, Mia is concerned for her well-being. Additionally, a woman claiming to be Emily shows up at Mia's apartment and has her questioning her own judgment and sanity. Mia's only confidant is a handsome stranger named Nick, who coincidentally was in the car park on the day Emily went missing.

This psychological thriller moves at a breathless pace shimmering with menace amid the backdrop of sunny California. Mia is trapped by her own insecurities just as she feels trapped 31 stories up in her rental apartment as she questions everything and everyone around her.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.