The Disappearing Act

A Novel

By: Catherine Steadman

Narrated by: Catherine Steadman

From the New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water and Mr. Nobody comes “an unputdownable mystery about the nightmares that abound in the pursuit of Hollywood dreams” (Caroline Kepnes, author of the You series).

“Stylish, riveting, hugely atmospheric—I couldn’t put it down.”—Lucy Foley, author of The Guest List

A woman has gone missing. But did she ever really exist?

A leading British actress hoping to make a splash in America flies to Los Angeles for the grueling gauntlet known as pilot season, a time when every network and film studio looking to fill the rosters of their new shows entice a fresh batch of young hopefuls—anxious, desperate, and willing to do whatever it takes to make it.

Instead, Mia Eliot, a fish out of water in the ruthlessly competitive and faceless world of back-to-back auditioning, discovers the sinister side of Hollywood when she becomes the last person to see Emily, a newfound friend. Standing out in a conveyor-belt world of fellow aspiring stars, Emily mysteriously disappears following an audition, after asking Mia to do a simple favor. But nothing is simple. Nothing is as is seems. And nothing prepares Mia for a startling truth: In a city where dreams really do come true, nightmares can follow.

Critic reviews

“Page-turning . . . tackles the dark side of Hollywood.”—Entertainment Weekly (The Best Thrillers)

“Stylish, riveting, hugely atmospheric—I couldn’t put it down.”—Lucy Foley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List

“Auditions, screen tests, cutthroat competition: Catherine Steadman is familiar with the challenges of the acting biz. . . . Her perspective as an actress and a writer bring realism to this novel, as she dips into Hollywood’s murky waters. . . . In any good noir novel, an atmospheric locale is vital, and Steadman richly evokes Los Angeles ‘in all its monstrous glory.’ . . . Reading The Disappearing Act is much like watching a suspenseful film.”—The Washington Post

“The cutthroat world of Hollywood proves to be downright deadly in The Disappearing Act.”—PopSugar

“Catherine Steadman’s The Disappearing Act is pure catnip for the soul. It’s my favorite Steadman book yet.”—Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of the You series

“Another page-turning winner from Catherine Steadman . . . ingenious and intriguing, with a fascinating insight into the acting world.”—B. A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors

“From gifting suites to the casting couch, Catherine Steadman delves beneath L.A.’s superficial gloss to present the darker side of Hollywood with all the brutal authenticity of someone who has lived it. Immersive prose and an obsessive drive to discover the truth make for an angsty, compelling read in this pacey tale of shifting identities, ambitious starlets and cynical execs. Glamour, greed and gaslighting—the perfect summer read!”—Harriet Walker, author of The New Girl

“Entertaining . . . authentic movie business details and nicely developed characters . . . This tale of Hollywood glamour, cruelty, and myth is sure to win Steadman new fans.”—Publishers Weekly

“Ethel Barrymore described Hollywood as ‘a glaring, gaudy, nightmarish set erected in the desert.’ That hasn’t changed much, as we see in this engrossing thriller. . . . Steadman, both an author and an actress, deftly brings her talent for characterization to her writing, combining an engaging mystery with a meaty look at the question of what is real in a land of make-believe. This glittering narrative with a totally beguiling protagonist makes for an absolutely perfect beach read.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Engaging.”—Kirkus Reviews

Absolutely Addictive

This author NEVER disappoints. This was an amazing story from start to finish. I also love that the author is also an actress and did the audio version.

another awesome experience

Catherine Steadman is just the best, I wish I could actually speak directly to her about this , but I can only do my best job right here. The thing about a great book is of course the story, but when you switch to an Audio book, there are more factors involved.
The audio book brings the story to life, very different that just reading it yourself where you can only use your own mind as the character voices.. My point is this...First , this is another very strong story, and since Catherine actually IS a professional actress a lot of the acting scenes in this book are from her actual experience , things she has actually done in real life. So it's very interesting on how things are done. But to me the amazing part of this experience is her performance, the reading of the story.

Catherine Steadman is the very best at bringing this story to life. What I just LOVE about her reading is her ability to change from her natural British accent , to American voices, even Regional dialect American voices, she is simply brilliant at this , and it just really brings the story and characters to life. I have listened to and enjoyed many audio books, but in my opinion this book AND "Something in the Water " are just at the top of the list , if you want a great experience with an Audio book!! Catherine Steadman is the one to go to!!

Great story and reader!

Loved this one! Elk written and not trite. And thank heavens the reader performed so well!

Great twists

I really like the story because it was unpredictable. The reader was great! Very captivating.

Spot on.

Loved it. It punched me in the gut. But sums up a Nutshell Hollywood at its worst. And best.