Looking Glass Sound is Catriona Ward's newest novel. In a small isolated cottage in Maine, an author recounts the story of a killer who stalked his New England town during his childhood. He writes about how one of his best friends stole his unpublished memoir. As he writes this book, he becomes more and more unhinged, and reality becomes less clear.

This book was weird. I enjoyed the first part of it more than the second part, but there were a few crazy plot twists along the way. If you're a fan of Sundial or The Last House on Needless Street, this would be up your alley for sure.

An amazingly visceral read from a master of twists. Catriona Ward squeezes you into a story that you think you know about only to completely flip it inside out and upside down. The best part is the connection you feel to the characters and the want to be them, and care for them. But do you really know who you want to cheer for?

Wonderfully twisted and morally grey. This was an atmospheric, eerie read. It's rare to find a book so unpredictable and immersive.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ebook. I'm such a fan but sadly this book wasn't for me. I had to DNF after about 40%. Interesting concept but couldn't immerse myself as i expected. 2.5

This was a pretty crazy ride of a novel for sure! I honestly had my expectations quite blown out of the water here (pardon the phrasing..), though I'm not sure the unexpected twists and turns always worked in its favor.

The novel does start a bit slow and predictable, and at first I was rolling my eyes a bit at cliches in the plot and writing style itself. I was not particularly interested in the beginning plot, though from there, the novel does begin to take some unexpected and fascinating shifts in tone and story direction. I was compelled by certain narrative elements (the unorthodox structure, the surprising depth to the main character) and found myself invested despite some early hang-ups. The middle part of the novel was by far the most interesting to me, and I really enjoyed the plot twists and mystery involved. However, as the novel continued on, I found myself more confused than ever -- and while I suspect this was intended by the author, I still did not enjoy the feeling of unraveling this entailed. I had become invested in Wilder's story and arc, and did not find it interesting to learn he was (at least in part) a fabrication of another character's... and the fact that I am not even sure whether that statement is true, though the novel does tell you it is at a certain point, I do not think is a strength but rather a contrivance. I thought the writing style did become more nuanced and enjoyable in the latter half, and I really wanted to like the focus on the female characters in the last quarter. Unfortunately, it all felt too convoluted and pointless to be truly engaging for me anymore. I really did love the concepts and ideas at play, but by the end, the story felt dragged out and overdone, with no real cohesion in its themes or overall takeaways.

Still a very entertaining book that did surpass my expectations in many ways! I would recommend it to big fans of psychological thrillers that don't mind some out-there twists.

Looking Glass Sound was a really good, eerie and intriguing it kept me on the edge of my seat and I definitely couldn’t predict what was coming. I could not out this one down.

This book was really good, it was eerie and captivating. The author knows how to keep the reader confused yet engaged that makes you want to rush to the end. I couldn’t put it down! I love Ward!

Fantastic weird-lit/horror, but I wouldn't recommend to non-horror readers. A compelling but at times difficult read.

I was probably too dumb for this, but at least now I know what deglove means. The audiobook also didn't help with keeping my focus, especially for the chapters about the fragments. I did really enjoy when they talked about who the Dagger Man was though. I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters, and I was uninterested in the plot for most of the book.

I loved this one until about halfway through when I got very confused about who was writing what, who was real and who not, what was fiction and what was "true." It was certainly very compelling and I read it in less than a day, but I think if you're going to pick this one up you should be ready for some mind bending.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I LOVE Catriona Ward’s books. Little Eve, Sundial, and the absolutely amazing The Last House on Needless Street are all excellent books. It’s to the point that Ward is an auto-read for me. Any book of hers, I’ll be checking out. Because her books are so twisty in brilliant ways.

Wilder finally makes friends when he visits a vacation town, but their lives will be twisted together forever when tragedy strikes. Fast forward to college when Wilder is forced to revisit the trauma. And then again as a middle-aged man going back to this town to write his memoir. This plot sounds basic, but oh it’s not. Not even close. It’s a story within a story within a story, on and on. I can’t explain much due to spoilers, but you will never guess where the story goes next. Once again, Ward wrote a book that I could not put down and couldn’t wait to see the next twist.

Looking Glass sound by Catriona Ward begins in a quaint coastal town in Maine. Three teenagers spend 2 summers together and that's as far as I can take you with a summary of this book. Every time I try to put a coherent sentence together describing what happens next or even later my mind gets convoluted.
Catriona Ward's psychological mind games had me seeking out other readers to try and iron out my thoughts but all I came up with is its like the movie Inception. It's books with a book. It messes with reality. If you like that kind of thing give this book a try!! Take notes! Read a physical copy, don't just try to keep it straight with the audio like in did. I think I will like it the more I think about it.
3.5 stars
#netgalley #booklover #booksmakemehappy

Always impressed by Catriona Ward. Her mind! Dark and disturbing, I was rapt the whole time with this one. I’ll read anything she writes.

I love Catriona Ward's world. She's a master of suspense, psychological thriller, and cult. I enjoyed reading her writing as usual but perhaps not my favorite of her work. I would still recommend to those who enjoy eerie, creepy vibe she's so great at producing.

I love the way that Catriona Ward writes. I also love the setting and atmospheres of her books but this one fell a little flat. I honestly don't even remember most of what happened in this book after reading it.

I love Catriona Ward and her unique storylines. The setting and plot were really interesting, but man did I get confused. It's hard to explain without spoiling anything, but I felt like the confusing complexity of the plot took me out of the story. I didn't love this one but will continue to read Ward's work because she is an awesome writer.

"Looking Glass Sound" by Catriona Ward invites readers into a gripping tale of mystery, friendship, and dark secrets set against the backdrop of the windswept Maine coast.

In a cottage overlooking the rugged coastline of Whistler Bay, Wilder Harlow sets out to write his final book, delving into the sun-drenched memories of his youth and the chilling events that unfolded in his small vacation town. Alongside his childhood companions, Nat and Harper, Wilder uncovers a harrowing secret hidden in the coves of the bay, forever altering the course of their lives.

As Wilder delves deeper into his writing, he begins to question his own memories and perceptions. Strange occurrences plague his solitude in the cottage, from mysterious notes left behind by a deceased friend to unsettling visions of a woman in distress. With each passing day, Wilder's grip on reality loosens, and he becomes consumed by the fear that something malevolent is haunting him.

With the lines between fiction and reality blurring, Wilder grapples with the unsettling possibility that his final book may also be his last act. As he navigates the shadows of his past and the secrets buried in Whistler Bay, Wilder must confront the darkest corners of his mind to uncover the truth before it consumes him entirely.

"Looking Glass Sound" is a mesmerizing blend of psychological suspense and atmospheric storytelling, crafted with intricate detail and spine-tingling tension. Catriona Ward's masterful narrative unfolds like an origami puzzle, revealing layers of mystery and intrigue that will keep readers guessing until the final page.

I sincerely struggled to get through this story, but that struggle came from my experience with the authors other books (sometimes you’re just not meant to read a story).

However, if you love thriller or want to jump into the horror genre, then Caroline Ward is a fantastic starting point. Unlike her other books, this one has a lake element and follows a child/teen. You can’t tell if some characters are imaginary or real. You can’t tell if everything the main character says it’s reliable. Making this a good thriller that leaves you questioning everything until the end.

Catriona Ward has been one of my favorite authors of the past few years, and while I enjoyed the writing of Looking Glass Sound, I wasn't a big fan of the story. It felt too slow and I was a little confused. I will still recommend this book to others, because there's someone out there who will resonate with this story more than I will.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. Looking Glass Sound starts off as one book and ends as a completely different one, in such a way that makes such amazing sense. Catronia Ward's books take such twisty journeys that the reader is never quite sure where they will go when they start a book. To sum this one up as best as possible, a very dark 6 Characters in Search of an Author.