This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on October 18th, 2024. Links provided.

In the midst of her grief over her father’s death, Nina stumbles upon an unexpected inheritance: a breathtaking vacation home in the British Virgin Islands, a luxurious retreat of glass and marble that seems too extravagant for her modest upbringing. Questions swirl in her mind… how did her practical father acquire such wealth, and what secrets did he keep hidden from her? Meanwhile, Maria, a former medical student turned nanny for the elite, is just one job away from financial stability. When her charges mysteriously fail to appear, she indulges in the lavish amenities of the home, relishing the sun-soaked days by the pool and the soothing sauna. Yet, a forbidden basement beckons her curiosity, and as she delves deeper into both the house’s mysteries and her own choices, she realizes that some secrets may be more perilous than she ever anticipated.

While I did like the book in the end, it was a difficult one for me to wrap my head around for the first half of the storyline. Told from alternating perspectives between Nina and Maira (and sometimes a few other characters later in the book), I had difficulty understanding the timeline of the two women’s experiences (although I know this was ultimately supposed to add to the mysteriousness of the overall plot). While I found the second half of the book faster paced and I was more invested in the outcome, my experience during the first half of the book left me more confused than enticed with what would happen next. I thought the writing was good and the plot (without giving any spoilers away) fairly interesting, although not the most original. Sometimes there are suspense books that when I discover the plot twist, I immediately want to go back and read the book again as soon as I finish it because the twist was so well done. Unfortunately, I did not feel that way when the twist was revealed for Look in the Mirror. Also, I felt there were some plot holes and questions still left unanswered by the time I finished the story. While it wasn’t my favorite book, it was my first time reading anything by Catherine Steadman and I would definitely still be interested in reading one of her other books in the future.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Look in the Mirror in return for my honest review.

As usual, Catherine Steadman writes a great book! This one was pretty solid, not my favorite by her but def good enough to absorb yourself in!

This was a great read with plenty of twists and turns. Would you go in the room they said not to? I would stay far from it! Do you want to know what's behind the door? Read this book and find out.


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Well--it started out really cool. A luxurious house with a forbidden room -- but then it got a bit too far-fetched--though it was entertaining enough.

This, although straightforwardly written, was one of the most convoluted plots I’ve read in recent years. Maria, a nanny looking for wealthy clients, and Nina, a woman who had just lost her father and inherited a house in the Caribbean, are the protagonists. The house is the star. Each woman comes to the house at a different time and each is left there alone. Both “investigate” the house and find an electronically locked door in the basement and are warned never to enter it. Every thriller reader knows what this leads to, but the do they? Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an ARC for an honest review.

Was a little confused at times but otherwise loved this book! Will definitely be recommending to fans of mysteries and thrillers

This book took me a little bit to get into. I'm not sure if I would've had a different experience if I read a physical copy instead of a digital, but I did struggle to get into at first. I was mostly confused about who the different people were. It definitely was a good thriller in the sense that it kept me on the edge of my seat, but in the end I just wasn't wowed by it. I think there are other thrillers that are a bit better done, but this one was interesting. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC!

Nina's father passed away and left her a mysterious house she never heard of in the British Virgin Islands. However, having a house she didn't know about isn't the only mystery, but also what is in the basement and who is leaving threatening notes for her.

Look in the Mirror approaches the story from different points of view, Nina and Maria (mostly), who are staying in this house alone at different times. I'm not sure what it was, but it took some time to really catch my attention. When if finally did, I way dying to understand what was going on. There were some twists, but it wasn't my favorite.

Nina’s dad just died and she’s got no one else in her life now. The two of them were both guilty of being academic loners, finding more comfort in their books than in others. So how did Nina never know about her dad’s house in the British Virgin Islands? When it’s left to her after his death, Nina realizes there’s more to her dad and this house he left her and she’s going to find out all about it.

Read if you love games, escape rooms, and screaming “omg no don’t go in there dummy!!! This was definitely a fun vacation thriller that would be perfect for a medium flight!

When Nina inherits a house from her dad, she decides to visit since she had never heard of it. Meanwhile there's another story of Maria, who was hired as a nanny for a family that never arrives. Overall, a thriller with each woman trying to figure out what is happening and how they can survive, as they discover more secrets about the house. This one wasn't as gripping as her previous books and the twist was unpleasant. Fans of Ruth Ware might like this one.

This one is different for Steadman. I’m left with a lot of locked room vibes…. Sort of. Multiple points of view, but also a very disjointed and often times feels rushed. Decent read but also a few plot holes that could have been filled to be a better read. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

loved the secret island setting / premise at the beginning but then it took a turn that I didn’t love (kinda just gave me the ick) but overall was a quick, bingeable read — nothing to rave about in my opinion

This was a fast-paced thriller, but ultimately felt too similar to Steadman's other book The Family Game. While I really enjoyed The Family Game, Look in the Mirror didn't hit the same way.

Okay, okay. This book is WILD. I mean seriously this book will take you down one trippy read of your life! The whole time I was reading it I kept thinking what is going on?

Nina just lost her father and is in deep grief over his passing. To her compelte surprise, Nina's dad, has left her a luxurious vacation home in thr British Virginia Islands. But Nina can't quite understand how her father could afford such a luxury vacation home. Things start to get weird when mysterious notes keep popping up. As well as Nina discovering some pretty creepy things in the house.

Then we have Maria who is at a home to nanny for a family. But the family doesn't show up. She is told to make herself at home and enjoy all the amenities. But there is only one rule, do not go into the basement. Will Maria be able to resist temptation?


This was not what I expected at all! This was a pretty interesting premise. I normally would break down what I loved. But I don't want to spoil anything! 4 stars out of 5. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I read this quickly. It was a thrill ride and made me realize I do not want a house this. I did sometimes wonder why Nina made some of the decisions she did.

This book is a wild ride, and one that made me hold my breath multiple times as I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. This story is told from multiple perspectives, and from different timelines, which made it a little confusing at times, but I think in a good way, because it made me question again and again what could possibly be going on. The ending was really interesting and unpredictable. This is a fun thriller/mystery that I think everyone who is a fan of this genre will enjoy. Solid 4 stars!

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. the entire time i thought i had read this already but figured it out when i was almost finished-it's very similar to steadman's previous book the family game but set at a beach house. it was a quick read for me, it was engaging enough.

This was okay but I feel like I would enjoy it more as an audiobook. I just kept getting distracted. That is on me. I love a good weird book. Thank you for this!

I am a huge fan of The Family Game by Catherine Steadman so I was jumping at the chance to read her newest book Look in the Mirror. This one follows Nina who has recently inherited a house that she had no idea existed and a nanny who breaks all of the rules unaware of the cost. If you've liked her previous works you're sure to enjoy Look in the Mirror.

This is not my favorite by Catherine Steadman. This one kind of dragged a little to me. I look forward to see what she writes next!