Looking Glass Sound

I finished this audiobook about a month ago and I am still trying to wrap my head around what “actually” happened. At times Looking Glass Sound is incredibly confusing, but it is also engaging, creepy, nostalgic, and so sad. The narration was absolutely excellent. I couldn’t put it down.

It is hard to review books like this that don’t have a neat and tidy ending. There isn’t a clear cut conclusion. The first half of the book takes readers to Whistler Bay, an idyllic beach town. Which is also the place where women have continued to go missing.

Wilder spends the summer with his constantly fighting parents and finds refuge with his two new friends, Nat and Harper. Together they uncover a dark secret which will change the rest of their lives.

My biggest critique of this book was that it read as two separate stories. Which I can’t help but wonder if it was done purposely as the author uses the “book within a book” trope.

Overall, Looking Glass Sound is a very good book. Any mixed feelings I may have are subdued by the fact that this is excellent writing with layered, authentic characters. For a gothic, summer tale which will continually break your heart- check out Looking Glass Sound.

This novel has it all - murder, love, betrayal, and friendship. I really enjoyed the first half of this book and then it got a little too creepy for me. I stuck with it, but I am sorry I did because I believe the author jumped the shark at the end.

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.

I was so hyped for this book and for the first 3/4 of it, that hype was fully justified.
The last act started to slump and feel incredibly repetitive in an almost jarring way.
By the finale, I was completely over it.
It's disappointing how a "big twist" can rip you from the story and shatter everything you had built up while you were there.
Maybe that's what the author intended? Maybe it just wasn't for me.
Regardless, the story-crafting and writing style is top-notch. Looking forward to trying something new from this author sometime.

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.

I listened to the audiobook of "Looking Glass Sound" and the voice acting was spectacular. You were really able to grasp the eerie ambiance of the atmosphere. The narration also aided in the descriptions of the characters because with the voice acting, you could truly imagine our main character to the full extent. Definitely worth picking up on audio!

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

Special thanks to MacMillan and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Catriona Ward is one of my favorite authors. I love all of her books previous. Not this one. Or not in audio. I can't make head or tails of what was going on. It's easy enough to follow. The narrator almost killed me with his voice, but I went on. Half the book Wilder who vacations with his parents near darn it I forget where they were but it had the ocean, beautiful water and caves. He meets Nathaniel and Harper who seem to be friends but are kind of a couple. All are afraid of a myth of someone named The Dagger man who kills women but their is no evidence of him. Wilder is a pimple faced teenager who is so excited to make friends, he 4gives them for silly stories they tell about Ghosts, mermaids and a woman named Rebecca who disappeared long ago and the legend is she lives in the water and pulls people under.

Anyway, I'm not gonna give away what happens, but a crisis parts them and Wilder goes off to college and makes a male friend named Sky who always wants to know about where Wilder lived and what happened, etc. Then halfway through, the story is told in reverse as if Sky was a woman and you hear the sa.me exact things from the viewpoint of Sky as a woman.
Idk if I'd like this book more if I read it rather than listened to Wilder who narrates it in his whiny, scratchy voice! 2 stars!

Well, in true Catriona Ward fashion, she had me confused the majority of this book with everything coming together in the end.... I think? I received this ARC on audio and I must say, I would recommend 100% to NOT listen to the audio and read the physical book instead. With different timelines and switching narratives between characters, it feel like it would be a much better experience to read the physical book. For the story itself, it definitely kept me on my toes and I DID NOT expect, or predict, any of the twists and turns. I may find myself checking this one out at the library, once it's available, just to skim through so I can make sure I actually understood what was happening hahah. I think I would've rated this much higher if didn't listen to it. But overall, I would still definitely recommend this one for my thriller readers.

Thank you Netgalley for the audio ARC!

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 I listening, the more questions popped up, leaving me wondering if anything was true by the end. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this book.

I received the audio for review from NetGalley and I’m glad I gave it a listen.

This novel started out as one of the more unique ones I’ve ever read, when at around 20-30% there is a HUGE reveal. The kind of reveal that tends to happen at the end of novels, not the first quarter. I was impressed, and definitely intrigued to continue, but it did make me nervous about where the book could to next.

For me, the next section worked really well, as the story becomes more about trauma from the reveal, and trying to learn general acceptance and continuing life as Wilder moves on to college. But as the story progressed to further sections, I felt as if the book became disjointed. Introducing more supernatural and strange things into what seemed more like just a murder mystery beforehand, it just kind of stopped working for me.

The ending itself has a lot going on, and I’ll be honest, it became confusing. Still though, I did enjoy it and it’s not overly long or displeasing. Personally a 3/5* for me.

I'll start off by saying that I adored 'The Last House on Needless Street' by Catriona Ward. BUT the first read was a 3.5 star rating for me. It wasn't until the reread that I fully understand the intricacies of the story. So, perhaps I am similarly not realizing the depth of this particular novel because I've only read it the one time. But I struggle to believe that's true. There are things I enjoyed. But the things I didn't can't be overshadowed or explained away.

I also read Sundial and was left wanting. The first half was fire. 5 stars. But then it went off the rails in a way I didn't enjoy. I say that to note that I will continue to pick up anything Catriona Ward writes. Because she writes weird books. Those are hit or miss type stories. Yes, I've had 2 misses with her but I had one resounding HIT and that will carry me on through her career. It's like Mona Awad. Yeah, I don't know if I'm going to like her next book. But I'll damn sure be picking it up because it could very well be my best book of the year.

The things that troubled me about this book was mainly the immaturity. These characters are meant to be 16 years old? I spent the first 20% believing them to be 11 or 12. Not until the Jim Beam was introduced did I start to suspect an older age group. The main character, Wilder, especially exudes Pick Me/Nice Guy/Puppy love tropes.

Also, there seemed to be 3 stories being told intermittently that didn't feel at all relative to each other. I enjoyed them somewhat separately but struggle to see why they're in the same book. The Daggerman, the throuple between friends, and the book being stolen were all wildly different tones and didn't seem to mesh well together at all.

I'm sorry. I really do think Catriona Ward is capable of great things. I've seen it. This might very well be a 5 star, favorite of the year, for someone else. It just sadly wasn't for me. But I will definitely be picking up her next book.

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.

What an absolute TREAT! This is the third book by Catriona Ward I have read (The House on Needless Street and Sundial), and I think my very favorite so far. Once I started listening to this book, I could not stop and stayed up all night to finish it. I could not go to sleep without knowing what would happen.

This book, deep down, is about secrets, questionable realities, and whether or not we can trust what we think and see to be true. One of the things I found so compelling and that made this book so addicting was the complexity of the plot and the profound emotional struggle each character goes through. At one point, I felt like I had hit the climax and I was only 1/3 of my way through the book!

I really loved everything about this story and I do plan to buy the actual book once it comes out so I can read it and take a bit more time with it. So good. Thank you, Ms. Ward!

Another fantastic mindbender from Catriona Ward! Wilder, Nat & Harper become the best of summer friends and at a sleepy New England coastal town. everything seems so straight forward, until it's not. Throw in some murder, witchcraft & imagination, and you've got one heck of story!

Wilder Harlow has not had an easy childhood. He has been bullied and has struggled to make friends. His family has a summer home where he finally meets two friends he won’t ever forget. He has started writing a memoir as an adult about the traumatic events of that summer. Wilder begins to unravel as he can’t distinguish between the past and present.

I listened to this on audio and thanks to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley. I found the book within a book within a book very confusing. It was also extremely long for what it was in my opinion. I think I would have been better off with a physical copy. Some of the imagery was really disturbing, but it just didn’t hit home for me as I couldn’t get a grip on all of the subplots and the characters being represented by different names throughout the novel.

If you are a fan of Ward's you will enjoy this book!
Read if you like story in story, mysteries

I just reviewed Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward. #NetGalley

As with any novel by Ward, you have to get in, buckle up, and hold on. This is my third by her and I am still learning to be patient and let the novel grow and build to a nicely created thrill. This one has a great multi layered composition. As with her others it feels like an immediate reread to help your brain have all the pieces slot together. Enjoy this one if you find books that slightly confuse you while trying to understand pleasurable. I enjoyed the narrators throughout. #NetGalley #arc

Thank you Netgalley and Tor publishing group for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

I did not get all of the way through this book. I couldn't finish around 60%

I think I would have liked this one if I had read it instead of listening to it. The narrarators voices did not add anything to this book. It made it hard to get into since he did almost every character. His acting when the characters got angry wasnt believable. The woman's voice was horrible too. Too slow even with my speed turned up.

Intricately plotted and relentlessly eerie, Ward delivers another winner. Wilder Harlowe is writing a book. As he revisits his adolescent summers with his friends Nat and Harper in Whistler Bay, the distinction between reality and fiction grows fuzzy. If you like a book within a book with themes of coming of age, friendship, and murder this is an excellent read.

What appears to be an idyllic summer filled with new friends and an opportunity to grow through his teenage awkwardness turns into a dark and tragic tale that Wilder will try the rest of his life to capture in the pages of a book.

The first third of this book was incredibly atmospheric and creepy. I could hardly stop listening. However, it takes a plunge off a cliff after that. The rest becomes a bit repetitive, making the characters seem tedious. There were a few clever tidbits scattered throughout, and the tale will certainly stick with a person. Overall, however, I felt more releived than anything else when I finished.

The narrator does a solid job, but speaks incredibly slowly. A comfortable listening speed for this book for me was at x1.5.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

A meta-horror-mystery... that was maybe TOO meta?

Ward's story revolves around three teens that escape a harsh world by finding eachother over a summer vacation. But in typical Catriona style, there is a hidden danger... a dark edge to the trip... that ultimately leads to tragedy.

But... it gets odder as the story goes along, and you find that compone ts are made up, replaced or left out.

Overall. This was a decent stab at a COMPLEX book that talks about human interaction, the power of outsiders banding together, and the love language that is storytelling and books.

As I listened to the AudioARC, the narrators did a fantastic job of drawing you in and keeping you breathless. Even with a complex plot and wild cast of characters, I was never confused about the players or their emotions. Hence the round-up.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.