"From Catriona Ward, author of The Last House on Needless Street, comes a masterful story about friendship and betrayal, dark obsessions, and the impossibility of escaping your own story.

In a cottage overlooking the windswept Maine coast, Wilder Harlow has begun the last book he will ever write.

It is the story about the sun-drenched summer days of his youth in Whistler Bay, and the blood-stained path of the killer that stalked his small vacation town. About the terrible secret he and his companions, Nat and Harper, discovered entombed in the coves off the bay. And how the pact they swore that day echoed down the decades, forever shaping their lives.

But the more Wilder writes, the less he trusts himself and his memory. He starts to see things that can't be real - notes hidden in his cupboards, from an old friend now dead; a woman with dark hair drowning in the icy waters below, calling for help; entire chapters he doesn't recall typing, appearing overnight. Who, or what, is haunting Wilder?

No longer able to trust his own eyes, Wilder begins to fear that this will not only be his last book, but the last thing he ever does."

This right here has summer blockbuster thriller beach read written all over it!

Catriona Ward is the master of creepy and Looking Glass Sound is another tale that will keep a reader up at night. Wilder returns to the Maine shore, to the cabin he stayed in as a younger man, to write a book that has been haunting him since that long-ago summer. Missing women, murder, a best friend he isn't sure is innocent all come together to form who Wilder is as a man. As he starts to write, we all lose touch with what is real and what is fiction and whether magic can be used to bind people into place.

Catriona Ward strikes again with her newest psychological horror masterpiece, "Looking Glass Sound." This one was super eerie, very on brand for Ward.

Set against the backdrop of a desolate cottage in a coastal Maine town, the story unfolds through the eyes of Wilder Harlow, a tormented writer embarking on his final opus. As he delves into his childhood and the difficult to explain events that unfolded over the course of a couple summers, Ward masterfully weaves a tapestry of suspense, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

Wilder's recollection of his coming of age and the haunting specter of a serial killer takes an unexpected turn when his unfinished memoir is adapted into a bestselling novel by another writer, his closest friend Sky. What follows is a psychological descent into the darkest corners of Wilder's mind, as he questions the boundaries of his own sanity.

Looking Glass Sound really leans into the exploration of memory and its malleability. Wilder's struggle to distinguish between the fragments of his past and the fabrication of his friend's novel serves as a constant reminder that our recollections can be deceptive. The back-and-forth between truth and fiction creates a mind-bending experience- prepare to ask yourself what the hell is going on several times before it all comes together.... and even after that.

If I had one gripe about this book, it's that there were too many conflicting plot points. It did all mingle at the end, but by the time it all made sense I was kind of over hearing the same story several times from different points of view, with changes among each tale. I loved the book, but I feel the fat could have been trimmed a little for a cleaner effect. It was, at times, a lot going on.

I do appreciate Ward's ability to shift between characters as always, however, and I think it could be what she does best. In the end, I loved this book and I think it is her best since Sundial. Looking Glass Sound is definitely a great read if you're looking for something that will leave you wondering and haunted beyond the last page.

Prepare to be captivated by Catriona Ward's latest masterpiece, "Looking Glass Sound," a twisted psychological horror novel reminiscent of her acclaimed work, "The Last House on Needless Street." With jaw-dropping twists that continually pile upon one another, this book will keep you guessing until the very end.

In a secluded cottage overlooking the coast of Maine, we meet Wilder Harlow as he embarks on his final writing endeavor. His narrative unfolds, recounting the haunting memories of his childhood summer companions and the sinister presence that haunted their small New England town. As Wilder delves into the discovery of a body and the chilling aftermath, he is shocked to discover that his former best friend, Sky, has transformed his unfinished memoir into a bestselling novel called "Looking Glass Sound."

As Wilder delves deeper into his own story, the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur. Hidden notes, written in Sky's distinctive green ink, further unsettle him, raising questions about his grasp on reality and the encroaching terrors of his past.

"Looking Glass Sound" is an extraordinary testament to Catriona Ward's storytelling prowess. The book is an intricate tapestry of suspense and mystery, with twists that will leave you breathless. From the very first page, it becomes evident that this is not a story you can predict or easily put down. Ward's ability to craft a constantly shifting narrative landscape is truly exceptional, and fans of her previous work will relish the familiar sense of unease and audacious storytelling found within these pages.

I was thoroughly enthralled by "Looking Glass Sound." Catriona Ward's ability to create an eerie atmosphere and weave complex tales is unparalleled. This novel lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Whether you are a devoted fan of psychological horror or simply seeking an enthralling read, "Looking Glass Sound" delivers an unforgettable experience that pushes the boundaries of imagination.

In conclusion, "Looking Glass Sound" is a must-read for both fans of Catriona Ward and those who appreciate a gripping psychological thriller. Prepare to embark on a riveting journey through the depths of memory and the chilling horrors that lie within. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you Tor Nightfire for providing me with an advance copy of "Looking Glass Sound."

I enjoyed Ward’s Little Eve immensely and was excited for this title, unfortunately, this was not for me. I felt the beginning story to be compelling and when it seemingly resolved with 2/3 of the book remaining, I should have had an inkling then of just how chaotic this book’s plot would become. The meta fiction and last 100 pages of the book was a slog to get through. The dialogue also felt disjointed at points. I wish the entire book had felt more like the first story told.

Catriona Ward has become one of the author's I automatically read when I see a book is published. I am always left reeling after her books, and quite unsure how I feel about them until much later. There is always so much more going on beneath the surface of the story, and this one is definitely no exception, perhaps much more so than the others. Looking Glass Sound started small, then just consistently blew my mind every 50 or so pages until the end where you're left reeling and unsure how to feel. I will absolutely be recommending this book to the horror fans out there.

This book blew my mind. It’s one to closely pay attention to or you’ll be lost. To me, that’s not a bad thing. The details…intricately woven clues dispersed throughout this tale of a book within a book within a book. (Yes, three books. Not a typo. 😂). The details put me on the coast of Maine, inside the cottage by the waves, and even deeper into the thoughts and actions of the characters.

Even after reading this, I’m not going to try to summarize the plot because it’ll either be far too detailed or simply, “WTF”. (In the best way.)

I listened to the audio and was able to stay on track but I’ll probably also re-read it later. (Especially if there’s another buddy read after publication….ahem…😉) Christopher Ragland and Katherine Fenton were phenomenal narrators. Christopher has the perfect voice to portray the innocent teenager and broken man from the dual timelines. (Or are there more than two? 🫠)

If you’re a fan of Catriona Ward already, definitely pick this one up on pub day or preorder it now! This was my first read of hers, even though I own them all, and I quickly joined another buddy read for Sundial. If you’re a fan of spooky, quirky, and unnerving…this is your book!

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
4.75 stars, rounded up.
Catriona Ward is the absolute master at writing the most unreliable of unreliable narrators. Looking Glass Sound has plenty of that, as well as a beautiful and horrible coming-of-age story. It is a slow, slow burn with things not really popping off until the last 20% of the book. When things come together, they do so spectacularly. The journey to the end is worth the wait.

Looking Glass Sound is a story within a story, but it would have worked much better for me if it had stopped after Part 1. Part two felt quite repetitive and went on and on and on. The more pages read, the more questions popped up, leaving this reader wondering if anything was true by the end. Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I started out really enjoying this book. It's atmospheric with great tension building and then it goes entirely off the rails into a chaotic meta fiction mess that is so confusing I'm still not sure I can put it together...nor do I care to.

Cat Ward does it again with another phenomenal story. Her writing is so beautiful, I don’t know how she does it. This book captivated me from the very beginning.

In a cottage overlooking the Maine Coast, Wilder Harlow begins writing the last book he’ll have write. It’s the story of his childhood and the killer that stalked the island. Sky, one of Wilder’s best friends stole his unfinished memoir and turned into a bestseller. Wilder feels like he’s losing grip on reality when he starts finding little notes around the cottage written in Sky’s green ink.

This book was so freakin good! I didn’t love it as much as I’ve loved some of Cat’s other books but it’s still a fantastic read. I loved the setting of the story and the different timelines throughout. It made the book even more enjoyable. It did get a little confusing at times and I found myself having to fully concentrate on what I was reading.

If you love gothic, twisty feels with some murder mystery then I highly recommend picking this one up on August 8th!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the e-arc!

"Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain." (Carl Jung)

Not gonna lie.......

Don't enter into this one unless you're up for a sparkin' 10 on the Creep-O-Meter. Catriona Ward has a magnificent gift of getting into the dark things. She weaves her words into the dimly lit places in the mind that build long shadows top to bottom. True Horror fans wait with excitement. All others call an Uber and exit immediately.

It's 1989 near Whistling Rocks on the coast of Maine. Wilder Harlow, just sixteen, and his family have inherited a cottage facing the ocean and the jagged coastline. Often bullied at school, Wilder desperately needs an escape. His parents bring their disjointed marriage along with them.

Wilder takes to the water like one of the seals sunbathing near the shore. It's here that the inner core of this story will take hold. Wilder "Will" meets up with Harper and Nathaniel "Nat". Harper has bright red hair and a British accent. She confesses that she's transferred to more schools than Skittles in a bag because of her behavior. Nat lives with his fisherman father. His mother abandoned him when he was young. Keep your eye on this trio. It's about to get rough.

Catriona Ward will take us on a journey through the years following these individuals. Ward is known for takin' the back road through the forest and over the hills. Looking Glass Sound is lengthy, tightly wound, and often times confusing. There are twists within twists dropping no breadcrumbs along the way until the conclusion. But there is brilliance here in Ward's writing. The storyline is filleted and re-shaped again and again. As readers, we steady ourselves in trying to get our sea legs. The waves keep comin'......and the result is mind-blowing. Periscopes up.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Tor Publishing Group and to the talented Catriona Ward for the opportunity.

This is the first book by Catriona Ward I've read... and I breezed through it in 24 hours! I was completely absorbed in the narrative and appreciated the multiple viewpoints throughout. I honestly didn't see where this book was going, which is the best kind of reading experience for a mystery. This is a disorienting book at some points, but it feeds the reader's confusion, which is a big part of the build-up of tension during some of the key plot twists. Some parts of this book read like a fever dream, and as things get resolved, you come to look at the entire story in a completely different light, which I LOVED. This book is moody and atmospheric - - - and its resolution was completely unexpected.

I see that one of the genres listed to describe "Looking Glass Sound" is "horror", but I think a better description might be "psychological mystery" (maybe?). If you come into this book looking for "horror," this definitely is not traditional horror in the ways you might expect.

I really enjoyed "Looking Glass Sound", and now I feel like I need to read more books by Catriona Ward! Thank you, Netgalley, for providing a review copy!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc! I am currently in the midst of working on a post and/or review in regards to this book that will be posted on my IG account! Thats where I do my reviews at as well as on GR & Tiktok! Thank you so much again!

This book was very strange. I wasn’t the biggest fan unfortunately. Half the time I was confused and it was hard to follow along.

Looking Glass Sound Review!

Thank you so much Tor Publishing Group and Macmillan Audio for this gifted e-read and Audio book, in exchange for an honest review! Looking Glass Sound is out August 8, 2023.

I read The Last House on Needless Street and loved it. It was very twisty and dark and I had no clue what was going on until about 1/2 way through. I felt a little different about Looking Glass Sound. I read about 1/4 of it on my kindle, but I was so lost I decided to try the rest on audio. That was a mistake. I was so completely confused and lost this whole book. I still don’t really understand it now that I finished it and looked up spoilers. This one wasn’t for me, it went way over my head. I did like the atmosphere in this one, it was creepy and involved a serial killer. Just wasn’t for me. 2/5 ⭐️s.

Reading a Catriona Ward book is like opening a Russian nesting doll set . Looking Glass Sound is a book within a book etc. Just when you think you have it all figured out - bam no you haven’t right up until the last pages. On the surface this is the story of Harper, Nat and Wilder at a summer cottage in Maine where a serial killer is hidden in plain sight. But it’s also the story of other characters-Pearl, Sky, Skander who may or may not be the real main character.I do not want to give any hints to this brilliant novel - the twists are part of the fun.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC- my opinions are my own.

I had never read any of Catriona Ward's books, but they've been on my radar. The cover of this one is what drew me into it. and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was maybe a little more 'literary' than I lean toward. but I thought the descriptions were great and the setting was creepy. Good characters and an enjoyable time was had. Will be seeking out more of Ward's work in the future.

Not my favorite from Catriona. The first part was heading towards 4 stars for me but then the stories within stories came in, things got repetitive and confusing, and I checked out.

Another fantastic book from Catriona Ward! This was everything I thought it would be and then some, and I can safely say that Catriona Ward is one of my all-time favorite authors and an auto-buy author. Looking Glass Sound had me on the edge of my seat, confused, stressed, and heartbroken all at once. It was thrilling and perfectly paced, with writing that really made me feel like I was in the cave with the three kids or on the cliff edge looking at a ghost in the water. Catriona Ward is a writer unlike any other and I know this is a book that, when it finds its audience, will be talked about long after its release.