I was just in the BVI so this book was perfect for lounging at the beach. a pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat thriller that blends grief, secrets, and suspense in an unforgettable way. Nina, still reeling from the loss of her father, unexpectedly inherits a luxurious property in the British Virgin Islands. The house is magnificent, but its mystery deepens as Nina uncovers unsettling questions about her father’s past—questions that may lead to a dark revelation.

Meanwhile, Maria, a nanny for the ultra-wealthy, finds herself at the same property, where she’s expected to look after her employers' children. But when the children never arrive, Maria is left to explore the house, and her curiosity gets the best of her. One rule remains: never go into the basement. Naturally, Maria can’t resist—and soon she realizes that some secrets are far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

The tension in The Vacation Home builds quickly, with every turn revealing new layers of suspense. The setting—gorgeous, isolated, and full of secrets—creates an atmosphere of claustrophobic unease, and the shifting perspectives of Nina and Maria keep the stakes high. The twists and dark revelations keep you hooked, and by the time the final secrets are exposed, the payoff is worth the slow, creeping dread.

Much better than the last Catherine Steadman book I read. Much more thrilling and enjoyable. A fun time all around.

An intense, pulse-pounding suspense thriller that I found impossible to put down.

Go into this book without any preconceived notions and avoid reviews that might spoil this well crafted story.

Nina Hepworth, a 34-year-old literary academic, is shocked to find that she has inherited a beachfront estate on Pond Bay, Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands. Her father recently died, and though he was financially secure and left her well off, she had no idea where and how he could have had this type of money, when he had gone to this house, and why he had built it. She does what anyone would do - she travels to the Caribbean to claim her new property.

A young nanny arrives at her next assignment. Maria has been hired for 2 weeks to care for a couple of children while their regular caregiver takes some time off. The house is modern, massive, and extremely well appointed. As Maria settles in, she’s invited to enjoy all the amenities while she waits. And she does. But days pass and the client doesn’t arrive. She gets bored, reads all the instructions in the manual, has the run of the place. She is drawn, however, to the last directive telling her not to enter the locked room on the ground floor. She does what anyone would do - she gets herself into that room.

Without spoilers, let me tell you that I couldn’t even begin to guess what was going on for the longest time. It was so packed with information and action as the narrative flipped between Nina and Maria. I really l liked and became fully invested in both of the women and definitely second guessed every decision they made. No idea where this was headed as I tore through the pages trying to make sense of what was happening. I really enjoyed how everything played out because for awhile I was really afraid I was going to find it cheesy and disappointing. It was fast and fun and I recommend it.

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator was the author and she, being a well-known actress, did a marvelous job of voicing the characters and enhancing all the dramatic aspects of the book. It was quite well-done.

This is my second Catherine Steadman book and I have enjoyed both of them. If you liked The Family Game I think you will like Look in the Mirror also. We have 2 storylines that you keep trying to figure out how they are connected. There were a few times I found myself confused as to which storyline we were in but overall I enjoyed both Nina and Maria's storys. There were lots of twists and turns and some parts were predictable but if you like puzzles and escape rooms, you will enjoy the ride this book takes you on. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

I really loved The Family Game by this author, so I was very excited to read another one of her books! This one started out so promising and fun and strange, but it started to really lose steam for me about 30% of the way in. The plot got more & more ridiculous, which can be really fun, but then it got really difficult to understand what was happening to who and the timelines of it all. This had SUCH an interesting premise but the execution just really did not work for me

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this E-ARC.

It took me a little to get into this book. It was pretty slow in the beginning and I soft DNF:ed it for a few months. It’s a mix between if I wish I kept it on the DNF list or if I’m glad I finished it. It was a good book. Just slow. A slow burn and a medium twist at the end.

You know sometimes when you read a book and immediately after finishing it, you can’t remember anything about it? This is one of those books for me. It was a decent book. I just don’t remember it.

Nina’s father has just died. She is still grieving when she receives a letter about a property he owns in the BVI. She goes there to sort out the matter of the house. But not everything ends up being what it seems.

Maria is a young woman working as a nanny for the rich. She flies to a remote island for two weeks to watch the children of a very wealthy man. When they never show up, Maria becomes suspicious. Not everything is as it seems for her either.

Read and find out what happens.

This book by Catherine Steadman did not disappoint! This book is oozing with twists and turns and the cat and mouse game steaks could not be higher! Nina, the protagonist, must solve a series of riddles that are seemingly left like bread crumbs by her deceased father who was a genius and well-respected professor in England. I had a hard time putting this down. Steadman is becoming one of my favorite authors for her twisty and heart-pounding stories.

If I had left a review when I was 50% done with this book, it would've said "wtf am I reading!?" (In a good way!) Having finished, my review shifted a little. Basically the first half of this book is absolute what-the-f*ckery in the best way possible. Every chapter ended in a bomb that kept me glued to the pages. But as the mystery began to reveal itself, it lost some of that wild energy and became a bit more cliche. Like to the point where the ending/reveal was no longer a surprise because I'd already sussed out what was going on and it was less mind blowing then my beginning expectations. I won't spoil anything but the first half of this was a wild ride. The later half was still engagin but less compelling bc the reveals were too....boring compared to what had been built up. Overall, a solid read that could've been mind bending but wasn't and ended a bit too conveniently (but still mostly satisfyingly).

This one was not for me. I had a difficult time keeping track of the two storylines as well as the characters. The characters in both story lines were too similar for me and I struggled to keep them all straight. I still do not fully understand what happened, and not in a good way. The "game" was disturbing and I am not sure how the house devolved into the location for this sadistic game. Was the dad responsible? Was it the mom? Who was the character in the final pages? This was a miss for me.

Look In the Mirror by Catherine Steadman is a cleverly plotted psychological thriller that hooks you from the start and keeps the tension high throughout. With her signature blend of sharp writing and layered characters, Steadman crafts a suspenseful narrative filled with secrets, deception, and the unsettling feeling that nothing is quite as it seems.

The pacing is brisk, the twists are well-executed, and the exploration of identity and self-perception adds a deeper layer to the mystery. While a few plot points stretch believability, the engaging storyline and unexpected turns make it a highly entertaining read.

4 stars — a twisty, thought-provoking thriller that keeps you on edge until the final reveal. Perfect for fans of smart psychological suspense.

This was an okay book and I liked reading it. There was a lot of parts I enjoyed but it felt like every other book I read.

I am a big fan of Steadman’s books, so I was excited to read this one. It has good character development, a good storyline that will keep you engaged, but it is not her best book. With that being said I would still suggest it as a TBR.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

This was a quick, entertaining read, but of Steadman‘s Books, it is probably my least favorite. It is very fast paced, and yet I never really connected to the story and found the ending a bit absurd. Nonetheless, she is an author whose work I almost always enjoy and I’ll certainly keep an eye out for her next one.

This was a riveting and wild ride. Definitely a page turner. In my opinion this is a horror leaning thriller, because a lot of it was a bit disturbing. Wouldn’t recommend reading before going to bed because your heart will be racing while reading this.

I had a lot of questions at the end that remained unanswered. Most of the plot however had a confusion, albeit a tragic one. There was no chance for a happy ending when the book is about an escape room from hell.

I read this in under 5 hours because i couldn't put it down. In true Catherine fashion....she leaves you wanting more and more. this was a fast paced thriller with so many twists. The creepy aspect of it left me frantically biting my nails. I just love the way this author writes. another successful win!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Look In the Mirror by Catherine Steadman!

3.75 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this E-ARC. This book is a total mind fuck and I was here every step of the way. Nina inherits a house from her father and when she goes and takes possession of it she is thrust into something weird going on with the house. There is not much to say without giving anything away but this will for sure keep you on your toes and looking over you shoulder

I love this author, so when I seen this on Net Galley I had to request it. This book is a twisted thriller set in a dual timeline. I liked Nina's timeline the best. She inherited the strange vacation home. And she did not have any clue what her father had left her.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Steadman knocks it out of the park every time and this book is no different. Having been a fan of hers since seeing her in Downton Abbey, and following her writing journey since the beginning, her writing has only gotten better as the years have gone on. This is another psychological thriller that you won't want to put down, and if you do, you'll be thinking of it until you get to pick it back up again.

Catherine Steadman’s Look In the Mirror is a cleverly written psychological thriller that explores the dark side of identity and self-perception. The author’s writing is taut and suspenseful, with every chapter revealing new layers of mystery. The central character’s journey is both unsettling and fascinating, keeping you guessing until the very end. This is a gripping read that will captivate fans of twisty, introspective thrillers.