The Disappearing Act

The gripping new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Something in the Water

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Pub Date 1 Jul 2021 | Archive Date 4 Jun 2021
Simon and Schuster UK | Simon & Schuster UK

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Description

'Ingenious and intriguing' BA PARIS

'I devoured this Londoner in LA story in a day’ CAROLINE KEPNES

'I loved it' TM LOGAN

'Engaging and suspenseful' NEW YORK TIMES

‘Stylish, riveting, hugely atmospheric — I couldn’t put it down’ LUCY FOLEY

THE NEW GRIPPING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MR NOBODY AND SOMETHING IN THE WATER


A woman has gone missing
But did she ever really exist?
 
Mia Eliot has travelled from London to LA for pilot season. This is her big chance to make it as an actor in Hollywood, and she is ready to do whatever it takes. At an audition she meets Emily, and what starts as a simple favour takes a dark turn when Emily goes missing and Mia is the last person to see her.
 
Then a woman turns up, claiming to be Emily, but she is nothing like Mia remembers. Why would someone pretend to be Emily? Starting to question her own sanity, she goes on a desperate and dangerous search for answers, knowing something is very, very wrong.
 
In an industry where everything is about creating illusions, how do you know what is real? And how much would you risk to find out?
  
Praise for The Disappearing Act

'Captivating doesn't cover it. Brilliant doesn't do it justice. This is a dazzling, gasp-inducing plunge-pool of a novel that grips your heart and mind and refuses to let go. Absolutely stunning' BP Walter
‘Another screen-worthy thriller . . . Steadman's flair for storytelling makes this novel a welcome escape’ Washington Post
'Like Chekhov’s gun, the Hollywood sign is mentioned early, leading to a great, extended scene far above the city — and to a genuine Hollywood ending' NEW YORK TIMES
‘Engrossing and unputdownable . . . I devoured this Londoner in LA story in a day’ Caroline Kepnes
‘A fascinating glimpse of the darkness behind Hollywood’s glittering façade. I loved it’ TM Logan
'Another page-turning winner from Catherine Steadman. Ingenious and intriguing, with a fascinating insight into the acting world' BA Paris
'As tense as John Buchan and suspenseful as Patricia Highsmith' Emma Bamford
'Glamour, greed and gaslighting - the perfect summer read!' Harriet Walker

Praise for Catherine Steadman

‘A thriller for our times’ Louise Candlish
‘A proper page-turner’ New York Times
'Fans of The Silent Patient will love it' CJ Tudor
'Had me racing through the pages’ Sarah Vaughan
'An enjoyable, nail-biting ride' Observer
‘Original, ingenious and utterly gripping, with characters you’ll really care about as they race towards the brilliantly unexpected ending’ JP Delaney 
'From the intriguing opening to the shocking ending, I loved it…' CJ Tudor
'Very clever, brilliantly compelling, another amazing read from Catherine Steadman' BA Paris
 ‘A highly imaginative tale tinged with Hitchcockian tension and kinetic pacing… Deliciously provocative… Delightfully compelling’ Washington Post
'Perfectly paced with an exciting race to the end, this is one clever novel' Woman’s Weekly

'Ingenious and intriguing' BA PARIS

'I devoured this Londoner in LA story in a day’ CAROLINE KEPNES

'I loved it' TM LOGAN

'Engaging and suspenseful' NEW YORK TIMES
...


Advance Praise

Praise for Catherine Steadman

‘A thriller for our times’ Louise Candlish

‘A proper page-turner’ New York Times

'Fans of The Silent Patient will love it' CJ Tudor

'Had me racing through the pages’ Sarah Vaughan

'An enjoyable, nail-biting ride' Observer

‘Original, ingenious and utterly gripping, with characters you’ll really care about as they race towards the brilliantly unexpected ending’ JP Delaney

'From the intriguing opening to the shocking ending, I loved it…' CJ Tudor

'Very clever, brilliantly compelling, another amazing read from Catherine Steadman' BA Paris

 ‘A highly imaginative tale tinged with Hitchcockian tension and kinetic pacing… Deliciously provocative… Delightfully compelling’ Washington Post

'Perfectly paced with an exciting race to the end, this is one clever novel' Woman’s Weekly

Praise for Catherine Steadman

‘A thriller for our times’ Louise Candlish

‘A proper page-turner’ New York Times

'Fans of The Silent Patient will love it' CJ Tudor

'Had me racing through the pages’ ...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781471189784
PRICE US$20.00 (USD)
PAGES 384

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Featured Reviews

#TheDisappointingAct #NetGalley
Best novel of 2021.
Mia Eliot has travelled from London to LA for pilot season. This is her big chance to make it as an actor in Hollywood, and she is ready to do whatever it takes. At an audition she meets Emily, and what starts as a simple favour takes a dark turn when Emily goes missing and Mia is the last person to see her.
Then a woman turns up, claiming to be Emily, but she is nothing like Mia remembers. Why would someone pretend to be Emily?
I loved Emily. It's characters are engaging. I would highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for giving me an advanced copy.

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