Look in the Mirror is Escape Room Meets Horror House! You know I love an out-there book from time to time and this one qualified. A woman inherits a house with a very creepy history. I’m not sure where I come out on this one, but let’s discuss and you can decide if Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman is for you!
Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman
- Published on July 30 by Ballantine Books
- 320 pages
- More by this author: Something in the Water (2018), Mr. Nobody (2020), Disappearing Act (2021), The Family Game (2022)
- Fun fact: the author was on Downton Abbey. She played Mabel Lane Fox, an heiress pursuing one of Lady Mary’s suitors.
Look in the Mirror: Jen’s Quick Take
- If you’re looking for something different and unexpected, give Look in the Mirror a look
- One part Creepy House Story, one part puzzle or escape room story
- I found it a little confusing at times, with three narrators, different timelines and a lot of information at the end
Look in The Mirror is Escape Room Meets Horror House
As the book begins, Nina learns that her father owned (and has left her in his will) a house in the British Virgin Islands.
She goes to check the property out and realizes the house is called Anderssen’s Opening named after a nineteenth-century chess move that Nina’s father taught her years ago.
Then we shift to the perspective of a young nanny, Maria, who has been hired to care for children in the house. The children aren’t there, though, and she’s told NEVER to go into a locked room in the basement.
At that point, I thought Look in the Mirror might be going modern Gothic, kind of like this somewhat similar book by a favorite author.
But no. Look in the Mirror does border on horror.
It’s also short and fast paced with minimal character development. The locked room concept made me think of Freida McFadden. But Look in the Mirror is less straightforward than McFadden’s trademark quick and fast suspense reads.
If there is enough interest, I’d be happy to add spoilers, answer questions, and get help figuring this all out. Just let me know in the comments!
I really disliked this book!
But I’d love to hear your opinions about Nina’s father.
Same! This was not a “Jen” book hahaha. I almost didn’t finish it but made it through. So I didn’t think about it any more than I had to!
Not sure about her father. At first it seems like we are meant to think he is an evil genius/serial killer. But by the end seems like he was just an odd genius lonely after his wife’s death and that someone else (Oksana?) bought his house and used it to murder people and let paying clients watch. And then Oksana needed to sort of money-launder the house so she left it his will to Nina. And then Oksana is continuing her locked room murder game elsewhere? Honestly, it all got too weird for me but would love to hear your thoughts.