Nina has lost her father, and misses him madly. She discovers that he left her property in the British Virgin Islands, so she goes to see it. What she discovers is a posh house, showing that her father just might have been affluent, and tries to decide what she will do with the house. Quite naturally, she explores the house, but one point is made clear to her. Do not go in the basement.

In a secondary timeline, there is Maria. In medical school currently, she takes a nannying job sight unseen. She settles herself in the fancy house, awaiting the arrival of the parents and her new charges. She also gets a single mandate. Do not go in the basement.

Will these two timelines converge? There is plenty of intrigue to be sure, creating much curiosity. For chess lovers, there is mention of Andersson’s Opening, a famous, but not one considered wise. As I was reading this book, I wondered how this reference would play into the intrigue of the story.

So, for both Nina and Maria - curiosity killed the cat for sure. Question is: would that very curiosity take their lives? Keeping track of each of them was easy, while the drama and danger grew with each page.

Many thanks to and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I loved THE FAMILY GAME and I heard if you loved that one, then you would eat up LOOK IN THE MIRROR. Apparently I am the exception because this went from wild to BONKERS and not in a way I enjoyed. Was it entertaining? Sure, I guess. But I could do without the whole plot of what the house was actually used for... and well, that's like the whole book. The beginning really had me though so I'll call this an average read.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and Netgalley for my ARC i exchange for a review.

This is my second read from Catherine Steadman. I felt the same about both. I believe the concept is quite interesting, but the story itself just doesn't go far enough for me. I saw another reviewer call this horror. I disagree, however, I wish it WAS horror. If she would've taken this a little further the book would have been right for me.

I loved the cover of this book! Definitely makes you want to read this just off of the cover.

This had multiple POV which is one of my favorite things to read in a book. As i read through the book it has a very unique writing style and plot. As you read, you have no idea what to expect which keeps you engaged.

Character build was great and i loved the entire book. Will read more from this author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

This was a great read with a unique premise! I liked the multiple POVs, and after a couple of chapters, I had NO idea what to expect. There were so many unexpected twists, right up to the very end. Definitely a suspenseful book with a lot of creative twists and characters.

The Squid Game but centralized in one beautiful British Virgin Island home, hidden away in the vast basement where only the twisted elite have access. Nina finds this gorgeous island home has been left to her in her father’s will. At first, she’s shocked that her father owns a mansion on an island, but as she stays there, it’s just a matter of time before she’s caught in its web. The games are reminiscent of mind games she and her father played when she was a child, but losing a round at this game will cost her a life.
The stakes are high, and the confusion is mind-boggling, but Nina knows the only way she’ll ever live through this cruel and horrible trap is to keep her wits, stay calm, and above all, think.
This is a fun cat-and-mouse game where the mouse is at a huge disadvantage, so you’re pulling for the mouse to win. Fast-paced and full of well-plotted surprises, it kept me enthralled to the end. Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is July 30, 2024.

*3.5 stars, rounded up*
Majority of the book is told from a dual POV, Nina and Maria. As the story develops, additional POVs are added in, in the form of different chapters (as in, each chapter is a POV). Still mourning her father's death, Nina is stunned to discover she’s inherited a luxurious, modern vacation home in the British Virgin Islands—an extravagant property she never knew existed. Puzzled by how her practical father could afford such a place and why he kept it a secret, Nina begins to question what else he may have been hiding. Meanwhile, Maria, once a driven medical student, now works as a nanny for the wealthy, enjoying the better pay and glamorous locations. On what she hopes will be her final assignment, Maria finds herself alone in the mansion when her wards fail to arrive, spending her days lounging by the pool and in the sauna—until she’s warned to stay out of the basement. But curiosity gets the better of her, and soon, she’ll realize the house holds far darker secrets than she ever imagined.
---
I felt like this book dragged on for the first quarter, but then it TOOK TF OFF. Like... Hey, this plot is actually insane??? I was floored and creeped out. And I LOVE it when a book is able to do that. However, I feel like I was left with questions by the end - that, and the slowness at the beginning, added to the star rating.

I loved the escape room aspect of this book! i felt it naturally connected how technology can be so extremely dangerous when its matched with money. The way the points of views changed actually contributed to the story more because of the mystery behind the rooms in the house. I gave it 3 stars because there was no surprising factors of the book for me. I wish there was a wow moment but I could pretty much guess what was coming next.

I loved The Family Game by Catherine Steadman and had hoped for an equally crazy and twisty story with her latest publication. However, I was a bit disappointed. The beginning was a bit slow with a LOT of Nina's inner monologue about her relationship with her dad. I mean, I got it after one full chapter of "Did I really know him?" Maria's chapters were more interesting to me. I knew right away that we were dealing with an altered time line (which usually annoys me when it isn't labeled on the chapter pages, but since this was obvious, I didn't mind it as much - but seriously, can we put this trend/trope/plot device to bed already??). Then, once we figure out what is actually happening, the plot just got a bit crazy--too crazy. And not that compelling. I honestly didn't care that much about these characters. The pacing was really odd - especially at the end. The end was REALLY rushed. We never really got the motivation for the entire thing from the players involved. I didn't believe the "love story" element at the end. The whole thing just took a little too much suspended disbelief for me to really fathom. Where the Family Game was crazy but could have actually happened, this one was just a bit too bizarre and asked me to overlook too many plot holes and questions to really enjoy fully. It was a quick, fun-ish read, though if you don't mind some super far-fetched moments.
2.5 rounded up to 3

The thing about thrillers is that soo much is reliant upon the ending, a book can keep you at the edge of your seat for the entire book but if the ending is ridiculous and mucked up, it ruins the whole reading experience and unfortunately this was the case for me here.

The first half of the book was great and compelling, it had an early hook which for me is essential when it comes to thrillers, and it kept me reading till about 75% at which point things started to fall apart. The way the storylines played out was unbelievable and there were too many plotholes. 4 stars for the first half, 2 stars for the 2nd, which leaves me to settle on a 3 star rating. The writing at least was not awful, which is likely another thing that kept me reading.

I loved this one! Catherine Steadman does such a great job of pulling you into the story and I couldn’t put this one down but I also didn’t want it to end. I loved all the twists and turns this one took! It was such a wild ride and I loved every second! 5 stars!

Look in the Mirror
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Catherine Steadman

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Nina, still grieving from the loss of her father, discovers that she has inherited property in the British Virgin Islands—a vacation home she had no idea existed, until now. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. How did her sensible father come into enough money for this? Why did he keep it from her? And what else was he hiding?

Maria, once an ambitious medical student, is a nanny for the super-rich. The money’s better, and so are the destinations where her work takes her. Just one more gig, and she’ll be set. Finally, she’ll be secure. But when her wards never show, Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days luxuriating by the pool and in the sauna.

There’s just one rule: Don’t go in the basement. That room is off-limits. But her curiosity might just get the better of her.

And soon, she’ll wish her only worry was not getting paid.

My Thoughts: This was a compelling thriller that had me on the edge of my seat, literally. It multiple hidden facets in the locked room mystery. While some of the twists I guessed, others are just a little stretched, then there were some that were absolutely unpredictable with promises of a thrilling rollercoaster ride. Steadman draws in the reader with little red herrings that come together like puzzle pieces, you will make connections between certain incidents and characters, and you will root for your favorite character as if you own life was on the hook. The story centers around two women, Nina and Maria, who do not appear to have any direct connection. Nina recently loss her father and is stuck in grief when she learns he left a summer vacation home in the British Virgin Islands. She cannot believe it when the realtor comps her flight and accommodation expenses. When she sees the home for the first time, she is stunned and is quickly worried her father had a secret life that she knew nothing about and maybe even a secret identity. She is determined to find out why. Then enters Maria, a medical student who is a nanny to the super wealthy. She arrives at her last assignment and the family is not there. While she waits for the family, she has complete access to the entire house except she cannot go into the basement. When an electrical malfunction causes the basement to become unlocked, she soon discovers that things are not what they seem. The deeper she investigates, the more her fight or flight senses will spring into action.

The story is narrated by the two female leads, Nina and Maria from their own POV, with slightly varying timelines. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, twisty, suspenseful, and very creative. Steadman set up this escape room meets hunger games scenario that keeps you on your toes, turning chapters to find out how these two woman weed through the horrors that await them. The characters were built up with their backstories established, the plot is delivered into twisty layers, just like an onion. Then the conclusion rocked. Now, some of the premises were a little far fetched and you will need to suspend belief some. However, I feel that it is worth it. When these two women’s lives intersect, it is like boom and wow.

Overall, this was an enjoyable locked door mystery. The creative genius mind of Steadman really shines through in this twisty rollercoaster ride. This thriller was fast paced, unpredictable in parts, twisty, and kept me on the edge of my seat. I found the audiobook the more enjoyable than the physical book. I was definitely obsessed with getting to the end, as the chapters tend to end as cliffhangers. I highly recommend picking up this story.

Catherine Steadman is always a "must-read" for me!

In Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman, Nina inherits a luxurious, hidden vacation home in the British Virgin Islands after her father's unexpected death. This surprising inheritance —a sleek, modern property she knew nothing about—leads her to question what other secrets her father may have hidden.
Meanwhile, Maria, a former medical student now working as a high-end nanny, finds herself at the same property, indulging in its luxuries while awaiting her employer's children, who never arrive. Drawn by the mystery and tempted to explore, Maria ignores one strict instruction: avoid the basement. This one act of curiosity sets off a suspenseful chain of events as both women uncover dark truths that tie their fates together.

This was thrilling, engaging, and suspenseful - all the ingredients for the perfect book!

Nina, still grieving from the loss of her father, discovers that she has inherited property in the British Virgin Islands—a vacation home she had no idea existed, until now. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. How did her sensible father come into enough money for this? Why did he keep it from her? And what else was he hiding?

Maria, once an ambitious medical student, is a nanny for the super-rich. The money’s better, and so are the destinations where her work takes her. Just one more gig, and she’ll be set. Finally, she’ll be secure. But when her wards never show, Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days luxuriating by the pool and in the sauna. There’s just one rule: Don’t go in the basement. That room is off-limits. But her curiosity might just get the better of her. And soon, she’ll wish her only worry was not getting paid. - from Amazon


Not what I expected, but I liked it! It is a quick read and I could not stop and needed to find out what was going to happen next.

A thrilling page turner that kept me wanting to know what happens! Told between two shifting point of views in a locked room thriller that kept me guessing until the epilogue!

This one was really unique and creative, but didn’t wow me like her last book. I think if I hadn’t gone in with such high expectations I would have loved it more.

Nina mourns the death of her father and is told that she has inherited a property on an island. She never knew that her father had this property, and she is intrigued to find out more. However, when she arrives, she finds a secret room with terrible consequences.
Maria had been working as a caregiver, but when the family doesn't show, she becomes curious about the house where she is staying. She enters a forbidden room, and is in danger.
These two stories are related, and the tale is a strange tale of voyeurism and frightening scenarios.
I didn't find it believable.

Wow, what an addicting read! Catherine Steadman and The Family Game have been on my tbr for a long time, so I was excited to finally read this author. I love a duel POV/multiple timelines thriller and both of the characters' chapters kept me on the edge of my seat. Our first character, Nina, is grieving the loss of her father and learns that she inherits a home from him in the British Virgin Islands. She had no idea about this home or how he had the money to purchase it, and wonders what other secrets he could be hiding. Our other POV is from Maria, a short-term contract nanny for wealthy families. She accepts a job for a single father and his two young children, but upon arrival to the massive estate, the family is nowhere to be found. While a bit far-fetched, I definitely did not see the twist coming in this one. It was fast-paced and keep me intrigued, with me excited to pick it up each time. I'd definitely read another book by the author.

What in the squid game did I just read? Boy was this a wild ride. While an interesting concept, I have to admit that I found myself getting a bit lost in the alternating narrators (Nina/Maria) and I did t really care about either of them. I found myself more interested in the builder of the house than anyone else.

Look In The Mirror
By Catherine Steadman
Review and Rating 3 ⭐️

Do you ever think back to yourself “what did I just read? “ Look in the Mirror was one of those books for me. There is a whole lot going on here and I can’t begin to go in to all of it for fear of spoilers. The main character Nina’s father has passed and she has unexpectedly inherited a vacation home in the British Virgin Islands. Maria , a former medical student, now a nanny for the rich, makes herself at home when the family she is supposed to be working for on her very last nanny job doesn’t show up. She was given just one rule, don’t go in the basement.
The story is told in alternating POVs and in two different timelines. This made the story simultaneously move right along and confusing at times. Despite the plot being a bit unhinged, I ended up enjoying it and will look forward to seeing what Ms. Steadman comes up with next. 3⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and #NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.