Cover Image: The Disappearing Act

The Disappearing Act

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Member Reviews

I loved the author's previous book- Something in the Water- so was very excited to read this one. It's quite different than the previous book but I was drawn in by the premise. It was a good suspense story though I did not feel as heavily invested as I did in the previous book. There were some parts in the beginning that started to drag but I am glad I kept with it. Fast, fun read and worth adding to your TBR pile!
Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Steadman and Ballantine Books, for the opportunity to read this free digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

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What a page-turner! The plot of the Disappearing Act was so good (don't want to spoil it by saying more.)

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A bit of a slow start. A bit forgettable. Mia is a British actress who is coming to the US for some acting parts. While auditioning Mia meets another woman there also auditioning for a part. As the woman enters the audition, she hands Mia her things because she needs to feed her parking meter. The woman never returns. Days later a woman shows up but isn't the same person that Mia remembers meeting before. But how well do you really remember what exactly someone looks like after only meeting such a short time. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

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The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman was a wonderful, suspenseful and surprising novel. Set in the glam of Hollywood, this book was an excellent, unpredictable read as the plot unfolded. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy, all opinions are my own.

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I’ve read all of Catherine Steadman’s books thus far and always enjoy them. While I found the whole book engaging I wasn’t blown away.
Mia is an actress who has come to Hollywood in search or her big break after her boyfriend leaves her for his new costar.. She meets a woman at an audition but when she sees that woman again it isn’t the same person. The plot was entertaining and engrossing but I felt like I just wanted a little more.

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Courtesy of Netgalley I received the ARC of The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman. This fictional portrayal of cutthroat and competitive Hollywood is truly a psychological thriller. British actress Mia becomes involved in a missing person drama with a mysterious undercurrent. I wasn't sure who to believe and who to trust as I was drawn in to this suspenseful and well written story about the dark side of the film industry. .

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I read this in one day by the pool on vacation! I could not put it down! 5 stars!
I don't want to give to much away or repeat the book cover synopsis so I am going to say this book will pull you in and tease you and might even make you feel like you are losing your mind! Its so good!
Highly recommend!

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Engaging and thrilling. I enjoyed the premise and it was incredibly readable. I found myself wanting to turn the pages. Enjoyed!

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I enjoyed this twisty, fast-moving story from Catherine Steadman! The premise is different than many of the other thrillers I have read, and I was drawn into the Hollywood setting. I wouldn't usually find that too intriguing, but the mystery surrounding Mia's experiences there kept me riveted. The book was fast-paced and would be a great beach read!

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The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman is about a well-known British actress named Mia who is currently in LA auditioning for roles that will help her grow her audience and become more well-known around the world. At one audition she meets Emily. Little does Mia know that this meeting is going to disrupt her life in a way she could never have predicted. Many twists and turns keep this story moving right along. Read and enjoy!

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While I enjoy Catherine Steadman’s writing, THE DISAPPEARING ACT wasn’t for me. I do love thrillers, but I didn’t find myself overly intrigued by the mystery of this plot. I definitely think this will be a book that a lot of people will love and I will absolutely try more of her future writings.

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Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC. This novel kept me reading until the last book but 1) the first half of the novel was stronger than the second and 2) it grew way too convoluted as the novel went on. I had a really hard time keeping track.

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The Disappearing Act is Catherine Steadman's third novel (yes, you should read Mr. Nobody, a victim of a bad cover) and I think it's her best book yet! Obviously, the stuff about show business is incredibly well done but beyond that this is an outstanding thriller. Very highly recommended and expect very strong demand for this as well as her backlist.

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When you think Hollywood, you think about the glossy, perfect show the actors perform. This novel cracked that facade and shows the lies and ends actors can go to for a role. Mia Elliot comes to LA to get her mind off things and find the role of a lifetime. What she finds is not at all what she was expecting. She helps a stranger who changes her life completely.

This book kept me completely enthralled from start to finish. I would love to hear the audiobook version, if Catherine Steadman narrates it like she did for Something in Water. Being written by a actor made this book seem more real. Highly recommend this book and her other books.

Thank you #CatherineSteadman, #BallantineBooks, and #NetGalley for this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

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Mia travels from London to Los Angeles to audition during pilot season. While at an interview, she helps another woman, Emily, with a personal errand and then the woman vanishes. When another woman, claiming to be Emily, shows up to collect her belongings, Mia can't let it go and goes looking for the "real Emily". Although, Mia's determination and efforts to find answers seems a little unbelievable; it doesn't take a way from enjoying the story.

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This thriller lacked in a lot of departments in my opinion. However, it was a bit of a page turner and I was able to read it fairly quickly. However, I kept reading to get to the point where everything ties neatly together and it all makes sense... which never really came for me. Probably my biggest pet peeve in thrillers is when the character notices weird/concerning events and goes on as if they are completely normal.. its unbelievable and takes away from the credibility of the plot. This exact thing happens over and over here... Mia notices someone has been in the apartment she is staying in multiple times and does nothing about it?? What kind of psycho goes to another country and is so carefree?? I also felt the characters were very one dimensional. I felt the premise had potential but then it fell so flat for me. From beginning to end I was waiting for something that never came.


Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

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Well, lots of great reviews, lots of folks loved this one. I am definitely in the minority and that's ok!
It was really hard for me to finish this one. I never got sucked in, did not love any of the characters nor the writing style. It picked up some in the middle, but it dragged on for most of it and I did not find it thrilling in the least.
Thankful for the ARC though!

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Another great summer read from Catherine Steadman. I enjoyed Something in the Water and was excited to receive The Disappearing Act as an ARC. This book had a fun setting- Hollywood following aspiring and up-and-coming actors. But is it as glamorous as we think? Nope. I had no clue where this book was going when I started reading it and couldn't put it down until I figured out what happened.. Definitely recommend for fans of suspense with female lead.

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This was actually a fun beach read that is perfect for the summer! I couldn’t put it down! Definitely something everyone needs to get out of the real world

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How far will actors go to get that top part in Hollywood? Meet Mia, a London actress, who is trying to make it big in her career. She comes to Hollywood for a possible part in a show, At an audition, a woman hands Mia her car keys and wallet to hold while she tries out for a part. This is fine except the woman never returns. What should Mia do about this missing woman? Is the man that shows up to help her really a love interest or is he in on the scheme?

I gave this book three stars. I enjoyed the main character, but I had a difficult time believing that she could be so gullible throughout the book. She did make me laugh, though, many times throughout the book.

I was given this book for my honest review.

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