It’s no secret if you look at my reviews chronologically that I’ve been struggling with thrillers lately. It seems to be the same regurgitated plots and tropes with minor changes thrown in there. While Look in the Mirror lost me a bit with the plausibility aspect, it was a well written page turner of a thriller for me.

I went into this book blind and kind of rolled my eyes at the plot unfolding in the beginning. But once certain elements are revealed and connected this book becomes an entirely new beast. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are well written and don’t fall into typical stereotypes. I did have a hard time visualizing the house and its extensions, but it didn’t affect my opinion of the book.

I’d definitely recommend this to those looking for a fast paced, well written thriller that deviates away from the usual domestic drama.

A terrifically intriguing set up with a less than compelling resolution.

Nina’s warm and loving father has just died and she discovers he owned a house in the British Virgin Islands; not only did she know nothing about but it seems extremely out of character as he was a respected and well-liked academic, comfortably off but not BVI coastal home rich. Out of a deep longing to find out more about this unknown side of her father, Nina flies out to the islands and decides to spend some time in the house. But then she finds a note saying “You need to leave. Now.”

In a second (maybe temporally shifted - I love that!) strand, Maria has been employed on a short term contract as a nanny for a rich client. She goes to the luxurious beach house but the client never shows up. Meanwhile, down in the basement is a locked room which she is told she must not enter - will curiosity get the better of her?

As you would expect from an author with the skills Ms Steadman clearly has, it’s all very atmospheric and sinister as these two narratives develop and we get pulled into the fast-paced mystery. Sentient houses are not unique in this genre, but this one definitely gives off an disturbing vibe. There are unsettling thrills along the way, once we find out what’s behind the mysterious door, and Nina gets to find out more than she wants to know about her father.

But the resolution [spoiler} is of the rich people can do anything/know everything variety which I just don’t find particularly compelling. It’s basically using magic to solve an otherwise insoluble mystery and I don’t find that particularly satisfying [end of spoiler]. There’s a great build-up but, as is so often the way, the ending doesn’t quite live up to it.

Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

So thankful to netgalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced e-copy!!

I’ve enjoyed all of the Catherine Steadman books i’ve read and this is no exception. Although this one had moments of predictability, the overall plot had me stumped as to what would happen next. It was different than any other book I’ve read. The ending seemed a little rushed, but still a solid 4 stars.

Eh. I was hoping for more from Steadman. It is an interesting premise, and had some great moments within the story. But overall, it was just an okay read for me. While the differing POVs kept the story moving along nicely, the storyline felt forced. And at some point the end was looking and came abrubtly and rushed. It was entertaining and a quick read, but not one that will stay with me or anything.

I do appreciate Netgalley and Ballantine Books giving me the opportunity to read this book!

Nina inherits a house she knew nothing about from her father. Maria takes a nanny job where the parents never show up. The only rule? Don’t go in the locked room.

What is the connection between these two women? You’ll have to read this thrilling mystery to find out!

Oh goodness gracious! What a roller coaster ride! This book was high octane tension that just never let go. Characters were really great and kept me totally invested in the story. What a nail biter. And I had no clue who to trust. Well done, high energy and somewhat frantic.
Thank you NetGalley, Catherine Steadman and Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy!
I usually really enjoy Catherine Steadman’s books - they’re always good thrillers with interesting characters. This was a real let down though - sort of Squid Game meets escape rooms, which is an interesting concept, but sadly not well executed. I enjoyed the description of the house, but overall the writing felt repetitive and didn’t seem to move the plot along. I’ve finished the book and I’m still confused as to who was behind everything and why.

Didn't like it. Didn't finish.

Imagine your father, your only relative, dies and leaves you a house on a Caribbean island that you never heard about from him. He never visited there that you are aware of and never mentioned it. Now it is your surprise to hear the estate people want you to go visit it, like now, to decide what you will do with it.

It wasn't bad while first visiting the house/island, but then it got weird. ****************** spoiler alert************* would you stay in a vacant house on an island in the middle of nowhere alone? To wake up and find a note saying danger, leave? How about when you come back to the house and find a message on the bathroom mirror? How long would you stay?

Still spoiler alert for the rest of this review. Who is Maria and why was she being tortured? Who was the woman who pretended to be the daughter for months and what did she do to the house?

I read just about 50% and said nope, not for me. Torture is not what I want to read. I skipped to the last couple of chapters and even then had no temptation to go back and finish.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy. Honest opinions expressed here are my own and are freely given

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Catherine Steadman and Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

I was excited to read this novel as I love psychological suspense. Nina, a thirty-something Cambridge college professor, grieving the recent loss of her brilliant father, learns that he left her a property in the British Virgin Islands. Intrigued, she flys out to find out more and discovers a futuristic cold house, which is the total opposite of her fathers cozy cluttered house in London. Did her father have a secret life? It would appear so..

In another chapter we read about Maria, also staying in the same house. A medical school drop-out, she works for an agency taking care of the ultra rich's children. Day after day, Maria finds herself on her own waiting for the family that will never materialize. Slowly she starts to unwind and relax, pondering about the basement door's glowing buzzer and the admonishment to not go in there. Will curiosity win out?

On the whole, I thought this was a fine novel, although I must admit I found the first half of the novel more intriguing than the latter half, even though the latter half was more fast paced. I felt that Luncinda's, Maria's and Nina's characters were well fleshed out but that the other characters Joe and Joon-Gi with the way they thought were a little cardboard. The concept of this novel was original and this is what kept me turning the pages. Overall, I recommend this novel.

My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Note to Netgalley: I will leave a review on Amazon once the novel publishes on July 30 2024.

"Look in the Mirror" was such a fun read. I tried to read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. Although this is a thriller, it had alot of action as well and I could see this book being turned into a movie since it was so fast paced and interesting. I loved the two points in time being reflected as I was trying to see how they related to each other and I have to say the twist caught me off guard. Great, fun, read overall!

This story gave me so much anxiety! What an unexpected roller coaster ride full of twists, turns, and adrenaline fueled suspense! Readers who loved the author's last book, The Family Game, will find a lot to enjoy with Look In The Mirror.

When settling her deceased father's estate, Nina discovers the man she believed she knew had a secret life of which she was totally unaware. She has inherited a mystery property in the British Virgin Islands and immediately heads there to search for answers about who her father actually was and why he kept parts of his life from her. Shortly after arrival, it becomes clear that the seaside home is keeping sinister secrets.

I won't comment on the actual plot beyond the initial setup because almost everything I could say would be spoiler territory, and the story is so good that it'd be criminal to spoil it for others. This book is best approached blind and with no expectation of where the story may go. There were so many twists and whats-happening-here moments that caught me by surprise and had me pausing just to appreciate the pure fun excitement of this clever thriller. It was the very best kind of crazy.

Grab your snacks, get comfortable, and prepare to lose a few hours within these pages. This tense, gripping thriller offers up a puzzling plot and sustained suspense and is a perfect summer beach read.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I did enjoy this atmospheric thrillerand had a hard time figuring out how everything connected. Unfortunately, when the explanation was revealed, it was less than satisfying. While I won’t spoil it here, it reminded me of several books I have read of late. It was a stretch, but so was The Family Game and I enjoyed that. The suspense and horror of this thriller does make it quite a page turner, which I'd what what bumped my 3 1/2 star rating to a 4. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I have always found Catherine Steadman's books to be extraordinary. I read MANY thrillers, so after some time they do become predictable. This book took such a sharp turn that I think it will be impossible for anyone to foreshadow anything! I felt so much suspense the last 60% of the book, it was impossible to stop reading. The overall premise is excellent, I enjoyed the characters, and the conclusion left me reeling for a couple days. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of Look in the Mirror in exchange for my review.

Ooh, this was such a fun and chilling read! So creepy!

I don’t want to give away any surprises, but Nina is grieving her dear father’s death when she is contacted by a law firm in the Caribbean who tells her that she has inherited a home there. When she goes to visit the property, she realizes that her father has left her one more riddle to solve. But this one has life or death consequences.

This is the perfect summer read. The characters are relatable and the plot unfolds at a satisfying pace. I read the book in a couple of days and found the ending left me feeling relieved and it lived up to the rest of the story. Check it out!

I have enjoyed previous books by Catherine Steadman so I was excited to get my hands on this one. Her style of short chapters and slightly unhinged plots are right up my alley. The first part of the book had me confused and curious which is my sweet spot for thrillers.

Then it just got nutty. The final reveal left me terribly unsatisfied. I like crazy but this passed that and landed straight on silly.

On one hand you have Nina who lost her father and inherited property in the British Virgin Islands. On the other hand Maria, taking a break from medical studies to earn money by house sitting. At first I thought the timeline was the same for each and they were in comparable homes as the author takes you back and forth between their experiences. Soon I figured out that Nina’s visit came second. The description of the book made this an automatic read, but if I’d known it was an escape room thriller I’d likely not have selected it. It’s not in my wheelhouse of thriller/suspense reading. Yet, I couldn’t stop reading for fear of the character’s lives, yet often confused by the storyline. If you like escape room fiction, love thrillers, and like to be on the edge of your seat with the suspense, this book is for you. Just remember when there is advice to not go into a room, take it, as both women find out. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I read this book on a cross country flight all in one sitting. I am a huge fan of Stedman and I was very excited for her next release. This stays true to her themes of thriller mystery and a bunch of puzzle pieces you have to put together.

Nina‘s father just passed away and left her a mysterious house in Gorda a British Virgin Islands, where she’s never been. This timeline mirrors a story about a woman named Maria who is a housesitter on this island and the family never shows up and she begins to question and feel trapped within this gorgeous house. There are some deep secrets hidden and puzzles to be solved. Nina feels excited and curious all in once she always felt her single father had everything he wanted but there was so much deeper quite literally within this house.

The pacing was so fast and easy to follow, there’s so many questions you have throughout and it just makes you want to keep turning the pages. I really like this author style and the title is very fitting!

If you want a book that grabs you from the first page to the very end, this is it! If you are alone in a house and you have been warned not to go into a locked room down in the basement, what are you going to do?? Of course you are going to figure out a way to get into it! This book is full of surprises, twists, turns, scary parts and everything else that makes for a great read that will keep you reading way past your bedtime.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the ARC of this super suspenseful book that I could not put down.

This is a fast paced locked room thriller that had me flipping the pages wanting to know what the hell was going on. I went into this book pretty blind and it’s definitely the best way to go into it to maximize the tension. I had no idea where this story was going. Character development is lacking but in a fast paced thriller, I don’t think it’s always needed. The plot drives the story.
I’m knocking a star off is because the ending was very abrupt.
If you read Something in the Water and wasn’t a fan (like me), I think this book is worthy of giving the author a second chance. I’m glad I did.

I was excited to read this one since this is an author I really enjoy. This one fell flat for me. I was really invested until about a third of the way into the book and then the lack of character development, weird pacing, and rapid character changes made me feel more and more disconnected. I think the escape room premise was unique and intriguing. After reading it, I still don't understand completely what was going on in that house. This one fell flat for me. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.