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_rachelreads_'s review against another edition
4.0
This was a divine thriller! Catherine Steadman knows how to keep readers in suspense. The Disappearing Act has a winsome protagonist in British actor Mia Eliot. She's charming but also supremely naive (although Mia's naivete is paramount to the plot). When Mia makes her way from her native London to Los Angeles for pilot season, she's quite the fish out of water. She's relieved to meet New Yorker Emily at an audition. But after Mia offers (again, naively) to do a quick favor for Emily, Emily disappears. Mia becomes consumed with finding out where Emily has gone...and off we go!
A few nitpicks: Mia was quite daft, even as she managed to somehow become quite the keen investigator rather quickly. I didn't buy that an actor would repeatedly leave her bag unattended at an audition; that seemed ridiculously dumb.
Steadman also has American characters using Britishisms in their communications. While it's endearing, Americans wouldn't sign their texts with an "x" to show affection as the Brits do.
But while Mia was naive, she's also sweet and you root for her. And Steadman's great at building that mysterious tension. I couldn't put this book down. It's a good summer read that will send a chill up your spine. I'm about it.
A few nitpicks: Mia was quite daft, even as she managed to somehow become quite the keen investigator rather quickly. I didn't buy that an actor would repeatedly leave her bag unattended at an audition; that seemed ridiculously dumb.
Steadman also has American characters using Britishisms in their communications. While it's endearing, Americans wouldn't sign their texts with an "x" to show affection as the Brits do.
But while Mia was naive, she's also sweet and you root for her. And Steadman's great at building that mysterious tension. I couldn't put this book down. It's a good summer read that will send a chill up your spine. I'm about it.
dremmavendetta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Appreciated that the main character was peripheral to the main plot until the end.
katjoyce's review against another edition
3.0
The LA setting was great- I loved how the author showed the dark side of the glitzy Hollywood glamor. The plot was entertaining, just too wild and unbelievable for me to buy into.
e_pp's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
blue_is_at_sea's review against another edition
I thought that this would be a fast paced thriller but I’m bored. Disappointing
kamillebee's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good book, I felt like the ending was rushed.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
minowski's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
ja3m3's review against another edition
4.0
This psychological thriller is all about location - location -location. It takes place in LA during pilot season when actors from all over the world swoop in on Hollywood to compete for new tv shows and movies. It's an interesting suspenseful read about how Hollywood works and the lengths that actors will go to get that coveted part.
I was hooked from the start when Mia, a British actress who is on her way to stardom, goes to LA to audition for a few parts and get tangled up in another actor's disappearance. Mia is a bit naïve and some of her choices left me scratching my head, but the storyline kept moving and there were enough twists and surprises to keep my head in the book and not move. Loved the ending.
I was hooked from the start when Mia, a British actress who is on her way to stardom, goes to LA to audition for a few parts and get tangled up in another actor's disappearance. Mia is a bit naïve and some of her choices left me scratching my head, but the storyline kept moving and there were enough twists and surprises to keep my head in the book and not move. Loved the ending.