This psychological thriller kept my eyes glued to its pages through to the very end. The idea is very original, at least to me, and oh-so-well executed with excellent writing, varied and distinct characters, a wonderful setting, and mysteries galore that kept me reading well into the night.

Nina has just lost her father—a gifted and wealthy engineer—the widower who raised her—the man who knew her best and whom she knew best. Or, so she thought until learning that the staid, conservative Englishman had built and owned a home in the British West Indies, a home she never knew about and which now belongs to her.

Hoping to learn more about her beloved father, she travels to Virgin Gorda where she finds a beautifully built house high on a cliff overlooking the ocean and containing everything one could desire in a secluded get-away. Then she discovers that, along with the state-of-the-art architecture, engineering, and amenities, the house is also filled with secrets she’d prefer not to know—secrets that might just get someone killed, if they haven’t already.

I haven’t enjoyed a mystery quite this much in a very long time. I found it quite unique and very imaginative and look forward to exploring author Catherine Steadman’s other works.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Catherine Steadman, and publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for providing me with a complimentary ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

It took me until about the 20% mark to actually get into this book. Up until that point I considered giving up on it. It was extremely slow. BUT - it picked up and I’m glad I stuck with it. I found some of the timing and changing narrators confusing at times. A few times I had to go back to that character’s last chapter to remember where they had left off. (Partly my own fault because I went almost a week between reads.) Overall, I’m mostly neutral about it and give it 3 stars.

This was not what I expected!

I was hooked early on - picked it up to read a few chapters before bed, and before I knew it, it was 2:30am. As one character is unpacking the mystery of her father bequeathing her a beach house she's never heard about, another is quickly learning the nanny gig she started is not at all what she signed up for. It was easy to get caught up in the suspense of what was happening to Maria, why Nina ended up there, and how the two of them were connected at all.

Weirdly, though, the more I learned about what was going on, the less I liked this. Points for originality, I haven't read a thriller quite like this, but the whole scenario was just not my cup of tea. Still, 3.5 stars for an exciting reading experience.

It is truly hard to find a suspense book that hasn't already been done. Maybe there is a version of Look In The Mirror out there but if that's the case, I have not come by it. Steadman wrote one unique story and I had no idea where this was going. Every chapter, every page, every moment was filled with suspense and made me feel on edge. My one negative to say actually has nothing to do with the story itself but rather my own preference. I don't do well when I have to suspend belief and I felt you definitely had to do that here. If that doesn't bother you, then this book would be a FIVE star read for you. It would also make a fun film and I would definitely go watch it.

Catherine Steadman does it again! Imagine having a parent die and they leave you a dream vacation home. Honestly I would probably think it is too good to be true. This is what happens to Nina and this is just the beginning of an unfolding of the past and truths she knew nothing about. I found myself unexpectedly surprised and found many unexpected things as I read this story.

Nina's father dies and leaves her a house, she has no idea he could afford. Maria ia a nanny, but she is not allowed to go into a locked room in the house. very fast paced story. I really enjoyed it.

WOW! This book was amazing. It kept me interested right from the start and I was hardly able to put it down. The characters were likeable and relatable as well. The story was so suspenseful I stayed up all night reading it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you, PRH Ballantine and Netgalley, for the ARC.

This is going to be a hit this summer! I'm calling it! I loved this story and could not put it down—it was addictive! It was one of those stories that played out like a movie in my head, and I *really* hope it gets adapted because it would be amazing.

I loved the multiple POVs; the character development was done well. And the ending?!!! FIVE STARS!

I will be posting my review on my page very soon.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Read this one in under 48 hours because I had to know the ending! Was thrilled with how fast pace it was but story was a little unoriginal to me. Fans of Disney’s smart house (lol) and Squid Games will like.

I was fortunate to have advanced access to Look in the Mirror through NetGalley and I was excited to read Catherine Steadman’s latest novel months before publication. The novel begins with two different perspectives as Maria and Nina are each facing unusual circumstances in their lives. Maria has been tasked with babysitting and house watching an incredible home, but the owner and the children have not shown up for days. Why is she there? Why is she forbidden from going into a certain room? Unfortunately, things take a very strange turn after Maria enters the forbidden room.

Meanwhile, Nina is struggling with the loss of her father and learns that she has now inherited an island property. When she goes to visit her father’s island estate, things are not quite what they seem. Nina befriends a local named Joe and the two of them decide to look into the unusual house. However, things take a dark and sinister turn as nothing in the estate is what it seems to be.

Steadman does a fantastic job of weaving the two separate storylines together and readers are left with a satisfying conclusion that answers all of the questions that arise throughout the novel. I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us next!

Nina's father dies and leaves her a fancy top of the line house that she has no idea how he even afforded. Maria is an ex med student now nanny for the wealthy. The book had a slow beginning but pick dup with lots of twits towards the end. I appreciated the multiple POV's as it helped to keep my attention in the slower chapters.

This book is well written with a unique plot. Books in this category can sometimes be similar, but this was very creative! I gave it four stars as opposed to 5 as I felt there could have been more detail given on the people running the game and their motives and felt I wanted a little more when it ended. Overall would recommend!

I know Catherine Steadman is a polarizing author for some readers but I always love her books. I always find them well paced and easy to read. Each chapter kept me entertained, there is barely any filler, mostly action. Some aspects are far fetched and not so believable but it’s a fun development for the story.

In a house of open doors, there is a single locked door. You are told not to enter. Ever..

What would you do if the door suddenly opened?

Catherine Steadman is a favorite author and Look In the Mirror was a twisty thrill unlike other books I’ve read. It was a similar to experience as reading Something in the Water, because it made me reflect on what I would do if I were presented with an open door and a forbidden room.

I recommending reading this novel without knowing any spoilers. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this novel for my review.

So this book was not what I was expecting… this was definitely different. I will say that this was a decent read, but not my favorite by Steadman.

After Nina’s father dies, she receives a letter stating that he owns a three- bedroom Beachfront Estate in the British Virgin Islands. Nina and her father were very close (or so she thought), and she never knew that he owned this property. Nina now has to go to the Islands and visit this beautiful house that she knew nothing about. When Nina arrives to the house, she learns that the house (mansion) is called Anderssen’s Opening - which is a chess move that her father taught her about many years ago. ♟️

We then have Maria, who is a nanny that works for the very wealthy. She gets to the house where the family never shows up. She only has one rule at the mansion that she is staying at- Do not go into the locked door in the basement. Well, enquiring minds do want to know…

This story is told in alternating POV’s between Nina, Maria, and Joon-gi (the electrician on the scene). I will say that I did enjoy Maria’s chapters the best. The rest of the story was a little too outlandish for me. I do enjoy thrillers and suspense, but this book had more of an escape room/survivor vibe. So if you like games with lots of rules, then you will enjoy this book.

I would also like to point out that this was a fairly short read with quick chapters. However, the ending was very abrupt and rushed. There were also some twists at the very end that were thrown in to try and redeem this story, but they didn’t quite work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 30, 2024.
Genre~ General/Women’s Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for providing me with this eARC! Catherine Steadman continues to impress with each new book she writes. “Look in the Mirror” is truly sinister! I found myself on edge at times while reading, but I was completely absorbed in the disturbing “game” and finished it in practically one sitting!

Thank you to netgalley fot the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest I wasn’t really sure where this book was going for awhile, but I felt like the first 3/4 of the book were slow. It wasn’t until about 75% in where I felt like things started to come together and get interesting.

Once I hit that point I was excited to see where it was going, and what would happen to Nina but I felt like the book dragged on before that.
Was happy that her and Joe wound up staying together and that none of them went to jail. Crazy that the game still continued after the trials.


Over all I’d say this is a 3-3.5 star read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book. Man, this is going to fly off the shelves and be on everyone’s library holds list summer. Look in the Mirror is perfect for a summer afternoon when you just want to be totally absorbed in a thrilling book. Cambridge professor Nina is grieving the loss of her father when she discovers he has left her a mysterious villa in the British Virgin Islands. When she arrives, she finds the house contains far more secrets than she ever imagined.

Interspersed with narratives from a young nanny Maria, the pace is swift and brutal. Fans of pop culture will quickly realize what is going on, but Steadman’s writing is elevated enough to keep the readers engaged. A very fun and engaging read.

Nina inherits a luxurious glass and marble house in the British Virgin Islands from her father, prompting questions about his hidden wealth and secrets. Meanwhile, Maria, aiming for financial security through her nanny job for the wealthy, finds herself alone in a similar setting. Ignoring warnings, her curiosity about the forbidden basement leads to chilling revelations, far from her simple concern of getting paid.

"Look In the Mirror" by Catherine Steadman is a suspenseful mystery, making it a decent read. The writing is easy to follow, and the plot keeps you interested with a few twists along the way. The book explores self-reflection and reality versus perception interestingly enough.

However, it doesn't stand out from the many others in the thriller genre. I felt like the characters and their development are okay, but not deep, and some parts of the story feel rushed. It is a good book if you're looking for something straightforward and entertaining, but it might not leave a big impact.

Overall, I'd give it a solid 3.5 rating. It's enjoyable for a quick read, but it doesn't delve as deep into the characters or psychological aspects as it could have.

I love Catherine Steadman’s writing: her books are page turners but her language isn’t geared toward the lowest common denominator. The stories are beyond basic thriller themes (husband kills wife, wife kills mistress, etc). Complex enough that you have to give into the storyline, not guessing where it is going to take you. Something in the Water is one of my favorite thrillers and Look on the Mirror has all these same qualities. A worthy read, thoroughly enjoyed. I could not put it down! I am a go to bed early person, but i was up til midnight burning the pages. And thought about it the entire next day. Must read.