3.5*
El and Cat are identical twins throughout their childhood and youth they are very close. Brought up by their mother and grandfather until one night when they go off to find their father.

Now, after many years of separation living in the U.S.A, Cat is told that El has disappeared after going out in her sailboat one morning. Although she vowed to stay away Cat returns to Scotland, to Edinburgh, to Westeryk Road, to Mirrorland.

Cat arrives to find El’s husband distraught over her disappearance, the police are keeping in touch both by the investigating officers and the family liaison officer whilst the coastguard searches for El and her boat.

Cat knows that El is still alive – why would she be getting messages otherwise? Texts, emails and hand delivered ones. As she follows the clues being sent to her Cat begins to recall memories of their childhood.

As I fell into this fantastical world I thought I’d picked a fantasy or sci-fi book but this quickly moves into a fascinating exploration of what has happened to El, why Cat is being sent messages and what they are being sent for.

This book is a mystery wrapped in a heart wrenching conundrum and keeps you engrossed wanting to understand what happened in the past, how it is linked to El’s disappearance and how everything will resolve. It shows the power that the close relationship of twins can have enabling Cat to understand after such a long separation what happened in El’s life and what that meant with regard to their past.

Not necessarily the easiest of reads but, after my initial uncertainty, I’m glad I continued reading this extraordinary tale.

Thanks: to Rachel Quin at HarperFiction for the invite to read via NetGalley.

“We only ever believe what we want – what we need – to believe”
I found this book quite tough going – not because of the writing (which was good) nor because of the story (which in part was quite exciting), but because I lost patience repeatedly with the narrator, and did not really care about her – nor her sister – much at all.
The two mirror sisters – Cat (narrator) and El – identical twins, existed in a weird childhood fantasy land of their own devising.
They were incredibly close as children, then something happened, and they were torn asunder – hated and distrusted each other. Cat escaped to USA, leaving El to marry their childhood friend, Ross, whom they both loved. El and Ross have moved back into the girls’ childhood home:
“The tall oak telephone table and grandfather clock are exactly where they used to be as well, flanking the drawing room door. And even if that seems too unlikely – too bizarre, almost twenty years later – there they stand sentinel nonetheless. The smell is exactly the same, utterly unchanged: old wood and old age and old memory.”
Then El goes missing, presumed dead, and Cat comes back from USA to … what? Find her? Bury her? Cat maintains that El is not dead – because she would KNOW. Much as my fantasy brain would like ESP to be true, my rational brain knows it is not. Parents don’t know everything about their kids, twins don’t know immediately if the other dies (unless they were there), just as Schrödinger didn’t know about his cat. This is when I started to lose patience with Cat.
There are seamless flashbacks to the sisters’ past – sometimes you are not sure if you are reading about the past or present – and I am not sure that Cat is either. Their childhood is really creepy, with so many red flags for your average thriller reader. Their mother is paranoid: everything, everyone is out to get them.
“Mum said we had to be able to protect ourselves from the bad men and outlaws that hid behind doors and inside shadows.”
There is no mention of school, nor of any other actual children, apart from Ross, their next-door neighbour, who sneaks into their house and fantasy mirror land, behind their mother’s back. And there is Grandpa. All the other characters are part of the fantasy: the Witch, the Tooth Fairy, Bluebeard, Blackbeard and the other pirates, Annie, Mouse, the clowns … It is all so real to the sisters, but to the reader it falls short of a real fantasy (no Narnia wardrobe) – it is a child’s world, not a real fantasy world. All the characters are too one-dimensional, as are the adventure plots.
Cat is convinced that El has been lying to Ross and to her friends:
“El can twist truth into the kind of knot that will never be undone.”
But we only have Cat’s version of ‘the truth’ as she is our narrator. Can we trust her? Or Ross? Can Cat even trust herself?
“It’s getting harder and harder, now that more memories are returning – the bad as well as the good – to prise apart what was real and what wasn’t. Perhaps everyone’s childhood memories are the same: part truth, part fantasy. But this house and our mother and her stories turned our imagination into a melting pot, a forge. A cauldron. And, I’m beginning to realise, I can trust nothing that came out of it. I’m suddenly furious.”
There are so many twists and turns – some I saw coming (or would like to think I did), some great chase scenes, but in the end I felt it went on too long.
It took me ages to get into this book, and I nearly gave up on many occasions. It did get a lot better, but then faded, and I really did not like the ending. Other readers have liked it much more than I did – so read their reviews too before passing on this book.

I chose to read a free eARC of Mirrorland but that has in no way influenced my review.

This book has so much appeal. I couldn't resist that gorgeous cover and the intriguing blurb. However, once I made a start on Mirrorland, I began to question whether I was the right reader for this book. It's incredibly rare that I DNF a book once I've started, and I really wanted to like Mirrorland, so I persevered. And oh my gosh, I'm so glad I did. Otherwise I would have missed out on one heck of a twisted story!

Identical mirror twins, Ellice and Catriona, have lost touch with each other as the years pass. Catriona lives in the US and doesn't speak to Ellice, who lives in the family home on the outskirts of Edinburgh. But then Ellice goes missing. She sailed her boat from the harbour on the Firth of Forth and hasn't been seen since. Which prompts Catriona's immediate return to her home town. The search for Ellice is in vain. She's disappeared without trace. That is until Catriona starts to receive strange, anonymous messages. A treasure hunt no less! It's time for Catriona to confront her past, to recall memories which she long buried and find out what happened to her sister...

So what was it about Mirrorland that made me question whether I was the right reader? A lack of imagination on my part is the most honest answer I think. The book is written in the past - when the twins were young children - and the present. It was the 'past' sections I struggled with as the girls have created a magical world within 36 Westeryk Road which to a child's mind, makes perfect sense. These scenes are fantastical, abstract, full of the things that add to the wonderment of childhood (pirates, the tooth fairy, witches, clowns *shudder at the clowns*). But I couldn't understand their placement, to an extent, and why the author was spending so much time building a picture of the twins playing together, as children do. As you progress through the book it all makes perfect sense but at the time, I just wanted to get to the juicy stuff; the lies, betrayal and danger!

There is a good reason for these scenes and I can see that now with hindsight. It's all part of the author building her characters and their story. I wish I had appreciated it more at the time.

Catriona is a fascinating character who I can't claim to have liked - she does some pretty awful things - but I could empathise with her to a degree. Other characters in the book are well-written. My favourite character was DI Kate Rafiq who is tasked with discovering what happened to Ellice, alongside DS Logan. What a formidable team they made! I loved that Rafiq was there for Catriona when she was needed the most.

The plot has plenty of twists and turns, many of which I didn't see coming and was left reeling after their reveal. The more you dig, the darker things become and I adored that. It's a complex story which you need to dedicate time to - to savour what the author is sharing with the reader. It's a beautiful piece of fiction and it needs to be appreciated.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Mirrorland is a deliciously dark debut. Its gothic tones are done to perfection with the creepy old house on Westeryk Road. I became completely invested in finding out the truth and my heart went out to Catriona as she made shocking discovery after shocking discovery. It's a devilishly twisted tale and I'm so glad I read it. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Mirrorland. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

When El goes missing Cat returns to Edinburgh to help her brother in law, Cat knows El isn’t dead as she hasn’t felt it and she always knows when El is in pain, but when a body is found and DNA evidence proves it is El, Cat spirals into Mirror land to examine a past she had forgotten.

I'm a huge fan of a thriller, love a fantasy & if you chuck in a bit of psychology I'm on board. Mirrorland covered all these elements and kept me glued to the page. I didn't know what to expect or who to believe, there was a moment I was so in to the story that I jumped sky high when my husband spoke to me. The fantasy elements helped to relay the twins childhood but also brought a sense of unease, clowns, ringing bells, eerie forbidden corridors & hidden doors. This is dark, atmospheric & utterly addictive.

Mirrorland is one of those books where you can't love the main character because of her flaws (glaring in this case) but you can certainly feel for her, especially as more of the twins back story is revealed. I found myself questioning everyone, their motive & whether I could believe a word they said, I was totally engaged.

Having everything wrapped up by the end usually leaves me completely satisfied but I would have been equally happy if it had ended 50 pages sooner as the end although enjoyable could have been implied instead to keep the tension.

A fantastic debut, I hope there will be more from Carole Johnstone.

A well written book with a great setting and an intriguing cast of characters, however I found the unfolding of the story a little predictable.

I am really not sure which genre this tale belongs in. I found it quite hard to get into but was glad I persevered. I could not decide whether Mirrorland was just a false memory that Cat and El had of their childhood or a genuinely spooky area of their home. It was difficult to judge but as the story continued and more information was drip fed it became clearer.
Cat returns to Edinburgh when she hears that her mirror twin has disappeared and as she struggles to come to terms with the death of her twin she gives support to her grieving brother-in-law.
All is not as it seems and there are curveballs and twists galore.
Three and a half stars for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Carole Johnson/Harper Collins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm sure most people who read this book will absolutely love it. There is mystery, suspense, some magic, and a great story. For me, the characters felt a little bit flat and, while it is very well written, the book had trouble keeping my attention. I would like to read more of Carole Johnstone's work to see if I would enjoy it more.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

This could have been a great book, but it is overlong and somewhat messy. The continual descriptions of the childhood home were often boring. Many, many times I got tempted to throw in the towel, close the book and walk away. Actually, I'm glad I didn't because the plot is very good, but it's almost ruined by all the padding. I blame the editor, a red pen and a desire for racking up tension would have saved this; making it a crackingly exciting page turner. Great idea but not very well executed.

Cat lives in Los Angeles, far away from 36, Westeryk Road, the imposing gothic house in Edinburgh where she and her estranged twin sister El grew up. As girls they invented Mirrorland, a dark, imaginary place under the pantry stairs full of pirates, witches and clowns.. These days Cat rarely thinks about her childhood home, or the fact that El now lives there with her husband Ross. But when El mysteriously disappears after going out on her sailboat, Cat is forced to return to 36, Westeryk Road, which has scarcely changed in twenty years.

When Cat learns that her sister had mysteriously disappeared, presumed dead, she knew she had to return to her family home in edinburgh. Cat doesn't believe that her sister, El is missing, she thinks she is attention seeking. I got a bit confused when the storyline switched to their made-up game, Mirrorland. Cat is an unreliable narrator. This is quite a deep and dark read but the pace is quite slow. There were also some issues that seemed a little far fetched.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #CaroleJohnstone for my ARC of #Mirrorland in exchange for an honest review.

Mirrorland is a masterclass in unreliable narrators and merging fantasy and a psychological thriller into one book. Being a fan of both genres this really was a brilliant combination for me! I have read a few books recently where memory issues and ‘fugue’ states are brought in as what feels like very convenient plot devices - a way to keep even the narrator from fully knowing what is going on. I usually complain that these become frustrating for a reader and feel unrealistic. Mirrorland treads that fine line with perfect balance and drip feeds us just enough information to keep us hooked without frustration.

Our narrator Cat and her twin sister El lived in a fantasy to escape the world around them – flashbacks to their childhood involve Pirates, Witches and Clowns. I enjoyed learning more about both of them as characters although I did think some of the decisions that modern-day Cat was making seemed very foolish! The mechanic of revealing memories through the treasure hunt notes from El was great and the pace of the book kept me hooked throughout. I ended up finishing it in just a few sittings as I was desperate to know what had happened.

There are elements of a crime thriller in the book as well as El is missing and Cat is determined to find out what happened to her. However, if you are looking for a straightforward whodunnit thriller then be warned that is not this book. Be prepared to be confused in places but it only makes the payoff when you realise what is happening so much more impactful.

Overall Mirrorland blends fantasy with a crime thriller to make a unique and intriguing story that kept me hooked to the end. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction & The Borough Press for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a journey this has been. I was a bit confused at the beginning but I have to admit that this story sucked me in and it has to be on of the best reads of this year
As soon as I finished it I was tempted to start it all over again
Masterfully crafted from beginning to end. The perfect storyline. Kept me guessing and I did not expect the ending

This book was so bizarre. I feel like it was a mixture of so many genres that it made my head spin, and I couldn't tell what identity or market it wanted to be or aim for. The mysterious disappearance of El was intrguing and I was excited to read on but then it just lost me. Fantasy is not a favorite genre for me but I will read books where it is used unusually, like Harry Potter or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, all of which I have loved.
This was just an odd one which I enjoyed parts of, but it will not be a favourite.

I am afraid I really struggled to connect with this book. I tried but couldn't really get in to I see that other readers mostly really enjoyed it, and I am glad, but it just wasn't grabbing me.

I'm afraid I had to DNF this one. The whole mystery element of the story is what drew me in and I did enjoy that, with the whole mysterious letters and emails supposedly coming from El.

However the whole fantasy side of Mirrorland, as hard as I tried I just could not get into it and keep myself engaged enough to carry on.

It was written so well and for a debut it's great. I'm just not the right audience for the story

I was totally drawn in by the blurb for this book and really looked forward to reading it but sadly I didn't gel with it.

It's not a bad book at all and there were aspects I really enjoyed (including the writing), but it's just not my genre. If fantasy and magical realism with a bit of thriller/mystery thrown in are your bag you're going to love it.

This is a hard one to review. Because it is not an easy read and it takes it’s time. It has some unusual elements of the imaginary world of children and that may not be for everyone. The book did not grip me from the start and it did not grip me after one third into it. But then somewhere along the way it gripped me hard. So give it some credit when you read it because it will reward you with an excellent psychological drama. The story is heart-wrenching, weird, over the top, gripping, unbelievable, way too long and intense. And remarkable.

It is also hart too give a review without telling too much about the story. I have read reviews from readers who struggle with the fantasy elements about the imaginary world of Mirrorland the twins created. I must say I was impressed. I would have loved to have that kind of imaginary to create such a detailed world.

Cat and El are identical twins. They grew up with their mother and their grandfather in a big house in Edinburg which has a kind of alleyway attached to it. In this alleyway they created Mirrorland. A land full of pirates, clowns and witches. All the rooms in the house also have some kind of childish purpose and fit into this world. One day a boy, Ross, climbs into Mirrorland through a window in the roof and they become friends. Twenty years later Cat is living in the US and has not spoken to her twin sister for the same amount of years. Then she gets a call that El is missing while sailing. El got married to Ross and you get the feeling that there is something off about this whole situation. Throughout the book we are close to Cat and how she remembers their childhood. But something happened to their mother and grandfather when they were twelve. And something also happened between Cat and Ross.

The story processes slow but it gets more intense with every chapter. It took me a while to get really into it because the story about Mirrorland and what really happened twenty years ago is hidden deep into the book. But the further I got into the book the more I got invested. This is such a sad story but it is also over the top and highly unlikely but still it is so unique and intense. I loved Mirrorland although I myself have a poor visual imagination but I would have loved to be part of this world or would have been able to imagine something like that for myself as a child. But not for the reason Cat and El had to imagine this world.

This is a very unusual book and it may not be a book for everyone. It is an awkward story and it takes so long to reveal itself and gets you involved but it is worth waiting for. Even at the end when you think “oh common, another twist” it is still in a weird way still making sense.

I always enjoy and appreciate books that are unique and different and this book falls into that category. It is a difficult one and you have to give it some time but I was really involved at the end and felt for those poor girls. It was definitely worth my time and I am sure I will remember Mirroland.

Mirrorland was a book that I didn’t quite enjoy at times but had a great ending that almost made up for it.
Identical twins, El and Catriona haven’t had contact in years after a falling out. El staying in Edinburgh and Catriona moving to California. Cat has to come back though as El is missing and as a police investigation starts to delve into the why and how’s of the disappearance it becomes clear that everything is not as it first seems.
I had high hopes for this but found it very slow moving at the start and at times throughout the book. The investigation side was interesting and I enjoyed that part but there was too much fantasy for me to take in from El and Cats childhood. The ending was the best part and completely blindsided me.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, The Borough Press for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I've been intrigued by the blurb of Mirrorland ever since I first read it, and after reading positive reviews I've been looking forward to pick up my copy. I had really high hopes for this story, but sadly this ended up being one of those cases where the story simply wasn't the right fit for me. I didn't realize at all this was actually mainly a magical realism story instead of an 'ordinary' mystery as I gathered after reading the blurb... And I'm sure I'm not the only one who ended up stumbling across the magical realism and saying 'oh shoot'. Magical realism is a tricky genre for me, and I tend to end up struggling with most stories as a consequence. There have been exceptions, but the odds are never great... And sadly, in Mirrorland it simply didn't work for me.

I still like the premise of Mirrorland and the mystery around El's disappearance. I enjoyed reading about this part of the plot as well as slowly learning more about El and Cat's past and their special bond as a twin. BUT. As soon as the whole magical realism popped up and the story went into what seemed like an 'alternate world' with the whole Mirrorland setting and all the strange characters, the story lost me completely. I struggled considerably every time this happened, and I even considered DNFing multiple times as this element and me simply clashed horribly. Not the book's fault and I do think this element is very cleverly done, but I can't say I enjoyed reading it and even started skimreading the sections to be able to reach that final page and know what happened.

I think it didn't help that I didn't like the main characters at all. I know that they have a difficult past and I did like their twin connection, but a lot of development was lost in the magical realism part of the story and that is probably why I struggled to connect to them personally. Mirrorland isn't afraid to go dark and discusses themes such as abuse and suicide... And I did find it intriguing to see everything come together in the end. The plot itself is cleverly done and there were definitely a few twists and reveals that I didn't see coming at all. And as I said before, I really liked the mystery aspect of this story and the investigation into El's disappearance. Sadly the magical realism was such a big part of Mirrorland that I simply couldn't enjoy my time with this story... But this is definitely a case of 'not my cup of tea', and I'm sure the right person will be able to connect to it a lot better and actually enjoy it.

Wow is the first word that springs to mind after completing this remarkable book. Like some other readers, I found the first half of this book, a little confusing. I really wasn't sure which way the story was leading me. But persevere - it's setting the scene for the breathtaking second half.

El and Cat are identical mirror twins. Living their first life mired in make believe.

Their second life begins on Sept 5th 1998.

Years later when El goes missing, feared dead, Cat returns from America to her childhood home. Where she is haunted by the past, and where she receives mysterious and sinister cards and emails.

She is also dealing with the guilt of being in love with her twin sister's husband, Ross.

There is nothing predictable about how this story plays out. And trust me, even when you think you know - you don't. Tension, suspense, intrigue abound and I was hooked!

There is no way anyone should give away any spoilers, as this is a story that has to be unfurled and experienced with no hints or clues other than those the author gives us.

Mirrorland gets 5 stars from me.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title in return for an honest review.