I really enjoyed the first half of the book. It is packed full of suspense.
It is quick well written easy read. I enjoyed parts of this

Wow. This really was a fantastic novel that gripped me from the start. There was only one section where I felt the main character could have more awareness of what was going on around her, but for the most part I was mesmerised and hooked on the story

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Brilliantly plotted thriller that really taps into the dark heart of Hollywood. This was a really topical read that felt very relevant in the wake of the Me Too campaign. The social critique blended really well with the overarching mystery of the plot and Steadman has created a novel that packs a punch. On the surface, I was reminded of novels like The Lady Vanishes or The Woman in Cabin 10 and was equally invested in discovering the truth whilst reading The Disappearing Act. I throughly enjoyed reading this one!

Well this had me guessing right until the last pages, as I had absolutely no idea what on earth happened to Emily.

For the just seemingly disappears and Mia seems to be the only one who cares, or even remembers seeing her.

It;s a wonderful look at the seedy underbelly of Hollywood, amidst a backdrop of pilot season.

I adored all the behind the scenes info and was able to create a good picture of what L.A. and the industry is like from this book.

And the mystery kept me hooked, especially once it becomes apparently you can't quite be sure who to trust.

A highly enjoyable psychological thriller that that had me hooked.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

An enjoyable read with an interesting storyline. Highlighting the cut throat business of Hollywood it had me gripped from the start.

This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.

Enigmatic, Intriguing…
Twisting, turning suspense with an enigmatic and intriguing premise surrounding the darker side of the Hollywood glitz and glamour. Characters are deftly drawn and credible and the tale moves at a pace. Both atmospheric and compelling. A solid, suspenseful read.

I loved this author’s previous books, although I also liked this one I didn’t like it as much as the previous ones. I thought it was very well written with a great storyline but not as much mystery or twists as I am used to from this author. There was however plenty of intrigue and drama and I would recommend it.

This book was so fun to read! I was at the edge of my seat the whole time and I found the mystery so compelling. I really enjoyed the writing style and felt it was really well put together.

When Mia, an up and coming actress , gets invited to LA to audition she is thrilled. There she meets Emily and the two actresses strike up a conversation but then Emily strangely disappears. The story is about the lengths Mia goes to try and discover the truth about what exactly happened to Emily and lands herself in a confusing web of dark truths. An enjoyable read with a few twists along the way.

This kept me reading until the end. Slow in places, but better paced towards the end. I didn’t really like the main character and found parts of the story not very believable. That said, I enjoyed it and liked the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

The Disappearing Act is a fast-paced thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Set in Hollywood, Mia goes to auditions and meets Emma. The next day she meets someone else who claims to be Emma. Did she ever really meet Emma? Why would someone pretend to be her? The story is filled with twists and a great deal of suspense. Steadman's writing is outstanding. Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Disappearing Act today.

Hoping to capitalise on her recent success in a TV remake of Jane Eyre and at the same time hoping that a change of scene will help her get over a difficult breakup, young British actress Mia Eliot has come to LA to do a round of auditions arranged by her agent. While waiting at one such audition she falls into conversation with Emily, another actress there for the same audition. Emily is called in just as her car is about to go over its time in the parking lot and Mia agrees to go feed the meter for her, so Emily hands over her car key and wallet. But when Mia gets back to the audition waiting room there’s no sign of Emily and she can’t find her anywhere. Mia is not one to give up easily though and she begins to ask questions about Emily, unaware that she’s straying into danger…

This was a book of two halves for me. The first half, where we get to know Mia and learn a lot about what it’s like to be a screen actress just at the beginning of what looks set to be a glittering, award-strewn career, I found both interesting and hugely enjoyable. The second half, when we get deep into the mystery of what has happened to Emily, becomes increasingly less credible as it goes along, with Mia taking extreme risks with both her safety and the career she has worked so hard to build, all for a woman she met for only a few minutes. Given the Hollywood setting, it’s unsurprising but disappointing that the #MeToo trend soon gets mixed into a plot which seems at the beginning as if it’s going to be intriguing and original.

It was only after I finished reading and did my usual googling that I discovered Catherine Steadman is indeed a successful screen actress in her own right – I’m so out of touch! That explains why all the stuff about auditions and screen tests and awards and so on feels so authentic. I found Mia very likeable, still with stars in her eyes and not yet ruined by fame. I liked that Steadman allowed her to be good at her chosen career, and not too angst-ridden over it. Mia approaches each audition professionally, and Steadman shows how an actress prepares – learning the scenes, choosing appropriate clothes for the role, deciding what accent to use, etc. She gives us a good idea of how soul-destroying it must be for the less successful actors, turning up for audition after audition without much hope of ever landing the big part. Mia is not in that position – her role as Jane Eyre has attracted public and critical praise, so she’s one of the lucky ones. She’s not yet in a position to pick and choose which roles she will play, but it’s clear she soon will be. And I particularly liked that Steadman didn’t force false modesty onto her – Mia knows she’s talented, works hard at her job and can tell when she’s turned in a good performance, but she’s still young and inexperienced enough to be thrilled by the starry company she’s now keeping.

I also enjoyed the plot until it spiralled over the credibility line in the latter stages. Emily’s disappearance is done very well, with definite vibes of The Lady Vanishes. When Emily apparently shows up again Mia knows she’s not the same person, but can’t find any way to prove that. Being alone in LA where she knows hardly anyone, there’s a real feeling of almost spooky danger when odd things begin to happen around her. Or do they? Like most of the people she tells her story to, the reader has to wonder if Mia is strictly reliable – could the whole thing be an invention born out of the stress she’s feeling over her breakup?

Overall the strengths of this one well outweighed the weaknesses for me, but I did wish the resolution had maintained the level of credibility and authenticity that I loved so much in the first half. However, although in the end the plot may have turned out to be rather forgettable, Mia’s character and her very believable life as an actress on the cusp of international success will, I’m sure, stick in my mind for much longer. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley.

I whizzed through this eager to know the truth.It draws you in and is captivating.

Twists and turns aplenty with big revelations at play.

The world of showbiz is a different world but even more so in la and this story showcases that more than anything.

This gets under your skin, compelling and thought provoking.

Fantastic plot and pacing and a brilliant book to escape with.

Published 24th June

Another great read from Catherine Steadman! Based in Hollywood around the pilot season it involves Mia who, during auditions, meets Emily but then Emily disappears. Or does she? This story is full of tension and also brings in an old Hollywood story of an actress who jumped from the Hollywood sign. You really feel for Mia as she cannot locate Emily and is far from home in the strange environment that is Tinseltown.
I really enjoyed this book and couldnt put it down. Mia is a great character, you really feel her confusion and tension.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

This book has all the glitz and glam of Hollywood, but also with the underlying ugliness that Tinseltown is known for. I enjoyed the book, and will read more by Catherine in future again. Recommended.

A psychological mystery thriller. Successful British actress Mia flies out to Tinseltown for pilot season. At a casting audition she befriends fellow actress Emily, who then mysteriously vanishes. An edgy and twisty tale that will keep you second guessing.

Thank you for the permission to read this book. It was the BEST thing I have read all year and I will be recommending it to everyone I know as well as leaving a glowing Amazon review. The writing is excellent and the characters captured my heart instantly.

Catherine Steadman’s third novel takes a look at the dark side of Hollywood through the eyes of an up-and-coming British actress upon her arrival in LA. Riding high from making the BAFTA shortlist for her starring role as Jane Eyre and simultaneously discovering that she has been dumped by her long-term boyfriend sees Mia Eliot decide to move on with her life. Encouraged by her agent, Cynthia, who has lined up a string of auditions and opportunities, Mia travels to LA for pilot season. When she falls into conversation with fellow actress Emily who is about to audition for the same role and is fretting about her overrunning her parking stay, Mia offers to feed the meter only to discover upon her return that Emily has disappeared. Left with Emily’s wallet and car keys, and perturbed as to what can have caused her to vanish so abruptly, Mia goes to extraordinary lengths to track her down and return her belongings. Eventually making contact with Emily and genuinely bemused at her lack of concern about being reunited with her possessions, Mia is disturbed when a complete stranger turns up at her apartment and claims to be Emily. Concerned that something may have happened to the real Emily and becoming more anxious with each day that passes, Mia goes to remarkable lengths to investigate, only to end up unravelling a web of corruption in an attempt to reveal the truth.

As likeable and spirited a narrator as Mia is, it is tough to believe that the same single-mindedness that saw her mould a career as a successful actress would allow her to become derailed by the mystery of Emily to the point where she loses sight of her own reason for being in LA and grabbing the opportunity of a lifetime. As a narrator she presents as intelligent and clear-eyed but in reality her behaviour is anything but and her focus on Emily to the exclusion of pretty much everything else in her life leaves Mia feeling a little underdeveloped. Given the reader only meets Emily for the briefest of moments I must admit to having little interest in where she had gone and despite Mia’s investigation and best intentions I was unable to get a sense of the missing young woman. After being very impressed with Steadman’s first two novels I was disappointed by The Disappearing Act despite the book undoubtedly being well-written and the prose compelling enough to keep the reader involved. I did find my interest and patience with Mia’s investigation wearing thin as things became increasingly convoluted and seriously unlikely and the plotting started to feel a little muddled into the close. Whilst the novel is certainly engaging and there are some tidbits of information about the world of acting that add authenticity I did feel it lacked originality with the revelations on the seedier side of Hollywood offering nothing particularly new.

A disappointment considering the calibre of the authors previous books but the quality of Steadman’s storytelling makes her a writer that I remain keen to read.