"Looking in the Mirror" by Catherine Steadman captivates with its intricate plot and compelling characters. The narrative follows Nina, a Cambridge professor, and Maria, a medical student turned nanny, as they navigate a web of secrets and mysteries. Steadman's ability to craft relatively believable twists kept me engaged from start to finish, and I found myself unable to predict the outcomes. Some of the background story might be a little unbelievable. Overall, "Looking in the Mirror" is a gripping tale of secrets and illusions that will leave readers questioning reality long after turning the final page.

Catherine Steadman has cemented her place on my MUST READ list with this. It is so fast-paced, I read it in one day. I had no idea where she was going with this story and with these characters and that was a good thing. While the twist was nothing I expected, it still held up and kept me interested until the very last page. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC. I am always happy to get my hands on an early release of Steadman's books.

This story starts off about two women that do not seem related in any way. Yet we are getting both of their stories and perspectives. I knew they had to be connected somehow but the author did a GREAT job keeping you wanting to read to find out how and what the heck was going on.

Nina finds out that her father left her a huge mansion in the Virgin Islands and she has never heard of this house or the fact that her father traveled to the islands at anytime. She sets her path to go to the islands and find out what is going on. Maria is a nanny for the wealthy and she is trying to save her money to move to the States and finish her medical degree. This job at the mansion on the Virgin Islands will give her a huge boost in her savings.

But this house is NOT what you think at all and there is one rule for anyone that enters, do not go into the basement. But with all good intentions, what is the one thing that people will normally do? Go to the place there are not allowed to enter. This is where the story really takes off and has a plethora of twists and turns. My heart rate was elevated during some of the chapters and I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. Talk about gripping!!

Catherine Steadman is a brilliant author and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us readers next. If she is not one of your go to authors, you are missing out.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Catherine Steadman has been a consistent 4 star for me! Her latest gives me some “The Last One” vibes and has some elements of other books I’ve read in the last few years but definitely an overall unique premise that was fast paced and kept me hooked until the end!

I had not read anything by Catherine Steadman before I received this prepublication copy to read in exchange for an honest review. I am glad to have discovered this author. She is a skilled writer - in plotting and building suspense , creating believable characters, and in the use of precise and expressive language. The premise of this book stretched my willingness to suspend belief a little too far; I prefer more realistic stories. However, I think that lovers of science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural plots would find it highly enjoyable.

WOW! I flew through this book and honestly it was not at all what I imagined but in a good way. I think more or less going in blind to this one is worth it.

Nina is grieving her father’s death when she receives a letter notifying her of her inheritance of his property on an island she never even knew he visited. Maria, a nanny has lucked out with a two week job with all the sun and sand she can take. How do these two seemingly with nothing in common intersect? You’ll have to read it to find out.

The book kept me on my toes the entire time and I could picture the entire book in my head as I was reading. It’s fun, fast and definitely creative. Pick this up in July and read it on the beach and I promise you won’t be able to put it down. 4.5/5 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, this is a nail biter: scary, thrilling and difficult to put down. The writing is wonderful, the setting too (I've actually been there) and the 2 main female characters very strong. Ms. Steadman really knows how to write!
The beautiful house Nina inherited from her beloved father is a shock to her, she didn't know he owned it...
It turns into the inheritance from hell, which Nina has to fight with all her might to survive. What a nail biter! Don't miss this book, it's so good.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantyne for the eARC.

I liked this one! With a twist of horror Don't Look in the Mirror had me turning pages to find out what happens next.
Slightly resembling The Hostel movies, the insanely rich have no limits. Still, it was original enough for me to really get into it.
Follow 2 characters trying to survive the house of horrors that entrap them, on the beautiful island of Virgin Gorda in the BVI.
Thank you, Netgalley, Random House Publishing - Ballintine, and Catherine Steadman for the ARC.

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!