| Title | : | Look in the Mirror |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 059372576X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780593725764 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published July 30, 2024 |
Still grieving her father's death, Nina learns 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?
Once an ambitious medical student, Maria 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. But her curiosity just might get the better of her—and soon she’ll wish her only worry was not getting paid.
Look in the Mirror Reviews
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Well, “Look in the mirror” is riveting page turner with many action packed chapters that makes your heart stuck in your throat, biting your nails, jumping on your seat with perfectly designed locked room mystery concept even though some of the twists are foreseeable as some of them are little far fetched, it still promises a lot of excitement, thrill!
You find yourself imminently drawn into mystery, like a puzzler trying to gather pieces, guessing connections between incidents and characters, hooked in easily and going with the flow, crossing your fingers for your favorite characters to make it alive.
The main story centers on two woman with no particular connection. One of them is Nina, a British academic, introvert, lived in a secluded life built with father and her at the age 34. She recently loses her father, dealing with his belongings in England but when she gets a bizarre phone call informs her that her father also had a house in British Virgin Islands- Gorda and he left him to her, she barely believes what she’s told even after the realtor company compensates her flight, accommodation expenses to travel to the island urgently.
When she sees the house built on a rock, state of art, all glass and marble, she realizes that would be her father’s latest project. But how an ordinary civil anger can own this kind of property that only ultra rich people can afford? Could her father have secret life and identity that perfectly hidden from her? She’s determined to find out the past of her father and the secrets the house hold within.
The other character is Nina, a medical student works as nanny for super rich people to afford her school expenses. She gets her latest gig that may be her latest job as she’s planned. She’s sent to a secluded mansion with lots of amenities she is approved to use, with the instructions she is forbidden to go to the basement where is already locked, waiting for the family arrive but when the family she’s gonna work for never appears in the facilities, an electrical malfunction results the lock of the secret basement room’s open, she realizes she’s not in this house for her babysitting chores, there’s something more sinister awaiting her that she has to fight or flight.
What’s the connection of these two women? What’s going on at the houses they are residing? Are they part of a dangerous game, puppet masters or just the pawns of this game?
Overall: even though some explanations are too far fetched, I found the creative mind to design specifics in escape rooms is more original than Squid Game and I fully enjoyed wild ride that made me round up 3.5 stars to 4 adventurous, heart throbbing, twisty stars as a fan of the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing / Ballantine Books for sharing this thrilling book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. -
This book is a wild ride! It has two points of view and jumps between slightly different timelines. At the heart of it, there's this mysterious house with a hidden basement full of challenges to complete. That's all I can say without spoiling too much.
Now, let me tell you, this book is a good one. The plot is gripping, and you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, trying to figure out what's happening. It might not be Steadman's best work, but it's definitely entertaining and worth a read. -
Nina’s father just passed away. It was always just the two of them. Now alone in this world, she’s wrapping up the final stages of settling his estate. After opening a letter, Nina is stunned to learn her father owned a home in the British Virgin Islands. That home is now hers!
And she thought she knew everything about her father. But when did he buy this property? And why didn’t he ever tell her. Now Nina is south bound to lay eyes on this mystery property, hoping to find some answers.
Maria has a rather lucrative enterprise. She takes on short term contracts as a nanny for the ultra-wealthy around the world. Just a few more gigs and she can live comfortably in New City and begin medical school that was previously out of reach.
Her latest assignment is for a father of two small children. But upon arriving at the secluded estate the man and his kids are nowhere to be found.
All she has is a contact phone number and a large list of rules.
So how do these two storylines intersect? Never in a million years could I guess how this storyline was going to play out. And I’ll just bet most readers will also be as shocked as I was!
An extremely fast-paced thriller that I flew through in only a few sittings. I was all but obsessed with discovering how this was going to end.
If you enjoyed the previous book, The Family Game by this talented author then you are in for a treat!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine -
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 -
My thanks to Random House Publishing, Catherine Steadman and Netgalley.
Well, I suppose that I could now be considered as a Steadman fan. This woman somehow manages to give me some fantastic book vibes.
I was thoroughly enjoying this book, until some neighbors pissed me off and I ended up having to kill them.
Oh no! Sorry. That was where this story took me. My neighbor's don't need to die, they just need to move to Texas or Florida. I keep sticking stamps and postage to their foreheads, but?
Listen man. In all truth? I've been having difficulties keeping track of books and reviews.
I've just been sick for I guess long enough that I've lost it. I'm trying to wind down this review stuff. I'm hoping that by the end of the year I'll have caught up on all my Netgalley reviews.
I've nearly recovered from my last surgery. Unfortunately, I've got the same issue to deal with at the end of summer. My thumb bones are sick and tired of living contained! They are now attempting escape! Bastard bones!
After kayaking this summer, they can work on me again. Until then? I'll deal with the pain, just to again get out on the water.
As for the book? 😍 -
Did Catherine Steadman enter into the world of...horror!?! I am a big Catherine Steadman fan after loving her last book, THE FAMILY GAME. If you enjoyed that book and especially the ending with the crazy chaos, you'll love her newest book, LOOK IN THE MIRROR. I can't go into the synopsis too much since there's MAJOR TWISTS that come out early on that I did not expect, so just trust me when I say, if you liked the last quarter of THE FAMILY GAME, this book is your jam!
Treading lightly, Nina Hepworth just found out that her father has left her an estate in the British Virgin Islands in his will. Her father has recently passed away and Nina has never heard of this property—super luxurious, state-of-the-art smart home, with all the highest quality design and aesthetics. Why did her father keep this house a secret from her? Our other notable character (but there's definitely a few others who you'll be introduced to) mentioned in the synopsis is Maria. Maria is a nanny for the wealthy elite and is currently assigned a new job with a family living on a beautiful coastal estate. However, when the family doesn't show, she quickly makes herself at home. There's only one rule, don't go in the basement.
It's so hard to talk about this book because of the way it develops, so just hear me out! This book definitely teeters into horror territory (not in the supernatural sense) than her other domestic suspense/thrillers. This book is definitely batshit crazy in all the best ways and I have the dark circles to prove it! This book won't be for everyone, especially if you did not like the ending of THE FAMILY GAME. Ugh, I wish I could say more. TRUST ME! LOOK IN THE MIRROR further proves that Catherine Steadman is an auto-read author for me and I can't wait to see what she has next for readers. -
📚Happy Publication Day📚
🔥Book Review🔥
- Look In The Mirror by Catherine Steadman
Nina is left a gorgeous smart home secluded in the British Virgin Islands when her father dies. She’s baffled as she had no idea the house even existed.
When she arrives, the home is immaculate. Strange thing is, it appears someone has been living there.
Maria is sent to care for a family and kids on a ten day assignment at the same house. Only no one has showed up. One instruction she was given was not to go into the basement.
Told in three POV. Crazy stuff happens and things get wild! Many times I asked myself What in the hell is going on here? Close to the end I realized this story reminded me exactly of another book but told in a different way. I can’t tell you which, you’ll just have to find out.
One thing that I didn’t like was that lots of things were overly detailed. Some stuff elaborated for two pages that could have been explained in a paragraph or maybe two. What I did like was the fact that I couldn’t put it down!
Out July 30th. Thank you Ballantine, Catherine Steadman and NetGalley for the opportunity!
3.5 ⭐️ raised to 4
#book #bookstagram #catherinesteadman #booknerd #readmorebooks #thrillerthursday #books -
“Whatever you do, do not go in the basement.”
Maria is a nanny hired to mind the children of a wealthy family at a smart house on a tropical island. She is given the instructions that the door with the blue light is off limits, but she should try to enjoy herself until they arrive. When the family doesn’t show, Maria’s curiosity gets the best of her and she opens the basement door.
Nina’s father just passed away and she is still grieving. When she is told by the solicitor that her father left her a house on an island in his will, she is shocked. She did not know of its existence. Curious, she flies to the British Virgin Islands to check it out. While she finds signs that her father did live there, something is not right about this smart house. Why is the door with the blue light locked?
How do these two women’s stories connect? What is in the basement?
Look in the Mirror is a fast-paced thriller filled with an intriguing game of cat and mouse. I read the first 75% in one sitting and couldn’t wait to get to the reveal. Unfortunately, the twists are ill-constructed and underwhelming. If chapter 50 is meant to be a twist, it just simply does not work. This book has so much potential, but it quickly loses steam due to several plot holes. The first 75% is an easy 5 stars, but the ending just receives a generous 2 stars.
The house is a creepy character and I immensely enjoyed this aspect of the book.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC of Look in the Mirror in exchange for an honest review. -
Intense! You're father dies of natural cause and leaves you his estate. You're wealthy, but there's a mystery house in the Caribbean. You visit it only to find it has a locked door and some malfunctioning, high-end technology. At the same time, chapters alternate and readers learn about another woman who's visited what appears to be the same house at either a different time period, or a similar house at the same time period. Both women are trapped by the house, and different people try to save them. Who should we trust? What an awesome kickoff to the book... Look in the Mirror borders on thriller and horror, and as the story begins to unfold with its clues revealing the truth, the book gets stronger in some areas but a little messy in others. Loved the premise, but figuring out why people are either lying or doing certain things is never quite explained. Murder for murder seems a little much if there's no backstory. Some comes, but ultimately, I felt this missed the mark on what could have been a 5-star read. Still worth reading and I will continue to pick up Steadman books!
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Oh. My. God. A delicious mix of Steadman’s last book, A Family Game and the crazy train feel of Everyone Is Watching, Look in the Mirror was the epitome of fast-paced. Well, aside from the slow burn start, that is. Even it, however, added to the plot as it built a depth to this novel with poignancy and breathtaking character development. Together with deft plotting, mind-boggling twists, and a wild, twisted premise, I fell in love with this novel hook, line, and sinker. But then, given that Catherine Steadman wrote it, was there ever any doubt?
Speaking of the plotting, with an ever ratcheting level of suspense and palpable tension, the chess-like vibe brought a definite smile to my face. With multiple POVs and two gripping timelines, their ordeals easily kept me firmly in the dark until the biggest of the big jaw-dropping reveals. But the characters easily matched the storyline step for step all things considered. After all, the two central narrators of Maria and Nina were smart, strong, ferocious women who grabbed my attention right from the start. And while the plot was hardly true-to-life (only in the best possible way) every persona in the cast felt utterly genuine—even the villains.
I do have to make one clarification. While I’ve noticed in quite a few reviews that this book has been characterized as horror, I firmly believe it was no such thing. Was it dark? Most definitely. At the same time, I felt it was instead the definition of a psychological thriller. Not overly graphic or even horror adjacent, if you loved either of the books that I named at the start of this review, you’ll surely love this one as well. Now that I’ve addressed that small annoyance, let me wrap up my glowing assessment.
All said and done, I’m still reveling in how this book managed to keep me off balance from beginning to end. With cliffhanger chapters, crystal clear identities, and a sinister feel, the level of unease was absolutely dialed up to ten as the plot unwound before me. All I know is the nerve-shredding dread was seriously no joke. Neither was the mind-blowing epilogue that shocked me when I thought I could no longer be shocked. So if it wasn’t already obvious, I wholly recommend this novel. Addictive, bingeable, and a masterclass in thrills and chills, you don’t want to miss out on this cracking good time. Rating of 5 stars.
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.
Thank you to Catherine Steadman, Random House, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 30, 2024
Trigger warning: death of a parent, forced captivity -
4.5 stars, rounded down for a couple loose threads (no spoilers). M'kay, I really, really enjoyed this one - it was beyond twisted, nothing was as it seemed & there was no way to tell what was going on 🤯🤯🤯 VERY fast paced, with shifting POV's, not too many characters in this way, way beyond "Locked room" thrill ride. Very impressed with Steadman here, who's really developing her writing chops - I've decided that she definitely deserves to stay in my "Auto=read" authors & will be looking for her next release, for sure!! Highly recommend to thriller readers!
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It's like the family from
The Family Game bought a vacation house. YIKES.
After this book, Catherine Steadman has officially joined my Riley Sager/Frieda McFadden club — I go into reading each of their books already 90% knowing I’m going to end up annoyed, but can’t help myself because I’ve really enjoyed at least one other book by each of them, and I keep hoping for a repeat because they always have THE BEST premises (and I have FOMO, and I am a dumbass who never learns her lesson).
Anyway… I *do* think fans of The Family Game, will also really enjoy this one, so hopefully that is you, and you will love it!
* Thank you to Ballantine Books for the NetGalley review copy. Look in the Mirror publishes July 30.
If you want to read a halfassed recap of the book with one million spoilers and probably (definitely) some mistakes, scroll way down. If you don’t want to read spoilers, please do not scroll way down or look behind the spoiler tags, and probably also don’t read any comments because those tend to get spoiler-y too after a while.
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The story revolves around two seemingly unrelated women. Nina, a 34-year-old Cambridge professor who unexpectedly inherits a mysterious house in the British Virgin Islands following her father's passing. The house is a modern marvel, shrouded in mystery and secrets that kept me guessing with each turn of the page. And then there's Maria, a medical student working as a nanny with ambitions and a penchant for adventure, who finds herself embroiled in a web of enigma when her latest gig takes an unexpected turn.
Steadman weaves a complex tapestry of multiple narrators and timelines, leaving me utterly spellbound. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, she'd throw in another twist that left me gasping for breath. However, I couldn't help but feel that some of the plot points relied a bit too heavily on implausible backstories.
Characters, Nina and Maria leap off the page with their intelligence and flawed humanity. Sure, they may have made some questionable choices (cough pushing the button in the basement cough), but isn't that what makes them all the more relatable? It's like watching a horror movie and yelling at the characters not to go into the dark basement—except in this case, curiosity wins out, and the consequences are deliciously spine-tingling.
"Look In the Mirror" is a daring story of secrets, lies, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion. So if you're looking for a read that'll keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you questioning everything you thought you knew, do yourself a favor and dive into this book. You won't regret it. -
Nina Hepworth inherits the house from hell from her father.
Maria is a new nanny staying there waiting for the owner and kids to arrive and wondering why they are not. She has been warned to stay away from the basement but her curiosity eventually gets the best of her. They are in for the fight of their lives as they struggle to survive. This action packed story kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing.
Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC that will be released July 30, 2024! -
i liked this! Catherine Steadman is (in my opinion) an underrated thriller author and i’ve enjoyed all her books.
this reminded me a lot of her recent hit thriller, THE FAMILY GAME. if you liked that one, pick this up! a lot of similar elements and vibes.
this grabbed my attention immediately but overall is more of a slow burn thriller and felt like a reality show meets squid games meets an escape room… it got intense!!! 👀 i did notttt expect it to go the way it did or even end the way it did, so that got some points in my book! as someone who reads them 24/7, unique thrillers are always hard to come by.
my main complaint is there wasn’t a shocking “twist” here which i typically crave in my thrillers. that likely would have soared it up to 4.5, but i still recommend this. its under 300 pages and a perfect binge-by-the-pool-thriller!
thanks to Randomhouse for the gifted copy! can’t wait to rank her books! -
I’m sorry WHAT. This book was literally nothing like I thought it would be, in the very best way. Thank you so much to Catherine Steadman and Random House for my copy of this book. It was about Nina, a woman who has just lost her father. Still grieving, she finds out that she has inherited a house in the British Virgin Islands that she had no idea existed. Nina has so many questions about how her father had money for this property and what the purpose of it really was.
Then there's Maria, a nanny to the super rich. She takes a job that will have a huge payout, but the family never shows. Maria starts to enjoy herself, waiting for the family and enjoying their beautiful house. There is just one rule- don’t go into the basement. But why? And how long can she really stay away?
Thoughts: This book is nothing like I could have ever imagined. The story was so fast paced and I couldn’t put it down. Nina was a strong character, and I really liked Maria as well. The premise was a true mystery, and I had no idea where the story was going. I can’t honestly say much without spoiling it, but this book was WILD. It almost had an element of horror to it, besides being a unique thriller.
If you enjoyed her book The Family Game, you will love this book as well. The ending was a bit far fetched, and there were some things just happened to work out, but it was such a fun read. If you liked the movie The Game, this book is perfect for you. 4.5 stars! -
This thriller drops you right into the action as you follow two different women, Nina and Maria, as they encounter increasingly strange occurrences in a secluded tropical home. Short chapters packed with plot and often ending in cliffhangers make this almost impossible to put down. Very few answers or explanations are given until well after the halfway point, and I honestly enjoyed what a weird, strange ride this was.
Even though the final reveals were a bit convoluted, I felt like this was an author trying something completely new, and overall, this felt like a fresh take on the standard thriller. Also, this feels like a case where you should go ahead and judge this book by its excellent cover. Highly recommend this one when you want a quick and wild read.
Many thanks to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review. -
Look in the Mirror was an unexpectedly TWISTED thriller, and I loved every second of it. It takes a lot to surprise me these days because I’ve read A LOT of thrillers, but this one had me hanging by the edge of my seat and I couldn’t look away. I won’t say much about the plot because I feel like this is the kind of book that you need to go into blind, but I will say that her previous novel is going to the top of my TBR after reading this one!
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If you enjoyed The Family Game, you will like this one too!
It is a bit of a slow burn in the beginning. Nina’s father dies and she learns she has inherited a second home he has on an island that she had no clue about. Exciting right? When she gets there, things seem off. Especially the one room in the house that remains locked. What is in there you ask? You will have to read to find out, but let me tell you…. It is a crazy ride with something a WHOLE lot bigger going on than you could ever imagine! -
Liked it for the first 30% and then it burned out and flatlined to the end. I don’t mind an unhinged storyline, but the writing was too wordy, the pacing was off and on, and too many alternating pov. Shame on me for having high hopes after liking The Family Game. Bummer!
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I really don’t know what to say about Look in the Mirror. Did I like it.. yes I think so. Was I confused for much of the time… yes I was. Was it nuts…absolutely. It was nothing like the book that I thought I was reading, but in a good way. If you liked The Family Game, you will love this crazy ride.
We read about 2 women in the same house on a remote island in the British Virgin Islands. Maria, a worker and nanny, and Nina, whose father built the house and has left it to her in his will. But this is no ordinary house. Strange things start to happen and both women fear for their lives.
It is a faced paced and shocking story that will keep you hooked until the very end.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Ballantine for the advanced copy to read. Publishes on July 30th. -
This is a PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER among psychological thrillers! Wow! I tore through this from this morning to the early afternoon. There've been some books recently where my eyes kept straying to the bottom right of my iPad to see how far along I was—not so with “Look in the Mirror”. It’s brilliant.
The ever-changing viewpoints start slowly at first, between Nina and María (no Pinta? Lost opportunity there 😄). I have read enough fairytales to know not to go into *the one room off-limits*, especially if it’s located in the freaking BASEMENT, so María’s POV gave me a lot of anxiety. I’d like to think that I would be perfectly content to while away my days in paradise and never give in to that temptation. Would this be a good thriller if María were like me? Nope. You may make your inferences here.
On the other hand, Nina finds out about a Caribbean house she’s just inherited from her father, and it completely blindsides her. She, of course, jumps at the chance to solve the mystery of how he could have concealed this purchase from her, and she promptly flies to the British Virgin Islands. However, as Nina begins some digging, something’s not quite right about all of this.
Then the cryptic messages start appearing. Are they warnings…or threats?
Wooooo, you will be utterly shocked! Steadman had me doing a double take more than a few times in this story. I’ve been waiting for an exciting, original thriller for a little while, and this DELIVERS. Be sure to grab a copy on July 30!
I received an e-copy from NetGalley and Ballantine Books (thank you so much!), and I am leaving this review voluntarily. -
ARC received!! Thank you so much, Ballantine!
This sounds incredible and I'm loving the vibes of this cover. I'm definitely looking forward to this one! -
a bit of a slow start but once it picks up around 1/3 of the way through I could NOT put it down! I had NO idea what was happening here and definitely did not expect that reveal! It almost borders on horror territory, and expands on the direction of Steadman’s last book (Family Game). I really enjoyed this, and the author has become a consistent auto-read for me!
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Steadman's last book, The Family Game, was really enjoyable. This, however, feels incredibly phoned in. There was a while there about 1/3 of the way in where I thought "I have absolutely no idea what's happening, everything is bananas, this is fun," but then suddenly poof! All gone. Once we get oriented to what is actually happening this is no longer fun, it's just ridiculous. As I like to say about this kind of book, the problem isn't being silly, you can be really over the top and silly, but it has to be fun. If it isn't fun, then what's the point?
If you are not going to read it and just want to know why it is so ridiculous I will happily tell you after a spoiler tag. -
If you like high-stakes action then this is for you. I prefer my thrillers more on the psychological side with more character development then we get in this story. That said, the premise of the book is a good one and it did keep me engaged and turning the pages. I enjoy this author's previous books better but will continue to read what she puts out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballatine for an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. -
What in the wild and crazy breath holding ride did I just read!?! Completely binged this book in less than 24 hours.
Went into the book completely blind and so glad I did!
Full review coming soon
Thank you Ballantine Books for this gift to copy and exchange for my honest opinions -
This is a story about Nina and Maria, two women unrelated to each other who find themselves trapped in a mansion in the British Virgin Islands, but at different times, and for different reasons. This book is told from multiple points of view in differing timelines, which was a little confusing.
It’s unclear what’s happening or why until about 75% into the book, although I had a vague idea of what was going on. By the time you find out what’s actually happening, you’re beyond caring about how it’s going to end. This entire story was far-fetched and poorly executed. The ending is unsatisfying, much like the entire book. This was a huge flop for me.
*Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for this advanced copy. Pub date: 7/30/24. -
I loved The Family Game so I was very excited to get my hands on this. The book did not disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat biting my nails wondering what will happen next.
Nina’s father passed away and she inherited a vacation house from her father. She has to fly to the island to take a look at the house and get it ready to sell. Meanwhile Maria is on the island waiting for her new nanny job to start. I am wondering how these two storylines intersect. Let’s just say it was NOT what I thought. This was original and hard to put down. I suggest you get your hands on this thriller asap.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this advanced readers book. -
Genre: Escape Room/Mystery and Thriller
Publisher: Random House
Pub. Date: July 30, 2024
“Look In the Mirror” is a dark, escape room horror thriller. The story revolves around two seemingly unrelated women: Nina, a 34-year-old Cambridge professor who unexpectedly inherits a mysterious, luxurious house in the British Virgin Islands. In alternating chapters, we meet Maria. She’s taking time off medical school to save money by working as a nanny for the ultra-wealthy. When she arrives at their home, which is more like an upscale vacation hotel, she waits for the two kids she will be babysitting to arrive. But as days pass and they’re still not here, she lets down her guard, begins to enjoy herself, and hangs out at the pool, overlooking the magnificent ocean views. There is a blurring between illusion and reality. The reader understands that both of them share a similar terrifying experience, but the reader does not know whether they are taking place in the same house or an alternate reality. The premise is interesting enough; however, the far-fetched twists bothered me. Yet, not enough so that I didn’t want to keep reading to figure out what was happening to Nina and Maria. This is a good beach read if you don’t mind the creepiness.
I received this Advance Review Copy (ARC) novel from the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.
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