The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman

I was a senior in high school when Sue Grafton published the first book in her Alphabet mystery series, “A Is For Alibi” featuring Kinsey Millhone. My sister and I continued to read these books letter by letter, and it was the first mystery series I really fell in love with. Recently, I have started seeking out more mysteries featuring female main characters, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to Catherine Steadman’s new thriller, “The Disappearing Act.” Steadman is the author of the best seller “Something in the Water,” published in 2018. Her new book stars a British actress named Mia, who arrives in Hollywood from England to audition for several big movie and television roles. Shortly before Mia leaves London, her boyfriend abruptly dumps her for another actress. Ready for a fresh start, Mia is excited about her trip to California and the favorable attention she received in Britain and America after starring in a television version of “Jane Eyre.” However, Mia’s trip to Los Angeles takes a unusual turn when she goes on an audition. Another young actress named Emily goes into the audition room, asking Mia to hold her car keys and wallet. Mia kindly offers to feed Emily’s meter as well, so Emily won’t get a parking ticket. But when Mia returns, Emily has vanished, leaving Mia stuck with her keys, wallet and car. Hollywood is a strange place with complicated people and Mia is determined to not only further her career, but also find out what happened to Emily. Her search brings her closer to a handsome, older producer named Nick, who may or may not have been involved in Emily’s disappearance. I found “The Disappearing Act” a fascinating and twist-filled read from beginning to end. Author Steadman is also an actress herself, so I’m sure there are more than a few real-life casting couch tidbits thrown in here as well. To purchase this book on Amazon click here.