Nine Lives

by Catherine Steadman

These are your neighbors. One is a killer.

When she begins to peer into the lives' of her glamorous neighbors, one woman discovers a terrifying secret in this riveting psychological thriller with nine lives worth of twists, from the New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water, a Reese's Book Club pick.

"Catherine Steadman more than delivers on the brilliant twists and thrills I’ve come to expect from her writing." —Lucy Foley

A riveting thriller about nine terrible secrets hidden behind the pastel-colored façade of one of London's most upscale enclaves, Nine Lives is catnip for suspense readers everywhere and perfect for fans of modern classics like The Girl on the Train and The Woman In the Window.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Suspense

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2026

About the author

Catherine Steadman is an actress, screenwriter and author. She lives in North London with her husband and two children. She is best known as an actress for her role as Mabel Lane Fox in Downton Abbey. Something in the Water was her first novel - NINE LIVES will be out Summer 2026

Reviews

[Caz (Underlined) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Catherine Steadman’s Nine Lives is a psychological thriller with a strong domestic suspense edge and one of the most original hooks I’ve come across in a while.



Frankie is recently divorced and trying to rebuild her life in a quiet London neighbourhood that very quickly turns out to be anything but. She’s easy to connect with—lonely, a bit unsure of herself, and just trying to find something to focus on, even if she doesn’t realise how far that will take her.



The main concept is what really makes Catherine Steadman’s Nine Lives stand out: a hidden camera attached to her cat’s collar. It sounds almost light-hearted at first, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. Once Frankie starts watching her neighbours through it, the whole thing becomes much more gripping and a bit unsettling in the best way. I found myself getting pulled into it far more than I expected.



Catherine Steadman’s writing is very easy to read and has a cinematic feel, like everything is unfolding almost in front of you. The pacing is more steady build than constant twists, but that actually works really well because the tension just keeps creeping up bit by bit.



The neighbours are deliberately hard to read, which keeps you guessing throughout. I kept changing my mind about who was trustworthy and whether Frankie was actually seeing things clearly or not.



What stood out most for me was how well the cat camera idea is handled. It could have easily felt gimmicky, but instead it really drives the whole story and adds this constant feeling of watching things you probably shouldn’t be seeing. It also makes you think about how quickly curiosity can turn into obsession.



The ending does pick up pace and takes a bit of a turn that made me rethink parts of the story. It doesn’t tie everything up too neatly, but it fits the tone of the book and actually leaves you sitting with it a bit afterwards.



Overall, Catherine Steadman’s Nine Lives is a clever, addictive thriller with a strong central idea and a really good sense of tension throughout. I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite as much as I did, but it completely pulled me in and didn’t let go.



Thank you NetGalley, Bantam Publishing, and author Catherine Steadman for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.



Publishing date: June 23rd 2026

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Loved the way this story was told. From the voyeur aspects through a cat camera, the protagonist unintentionally watches a crime happening. But she doesn't know where or how to do anything because the police aren't biting. She's a great lead, and as she befriends neighbors on a posh London street, it makes me glad I stick to my own business. Tho, if I knew a crime was being committed, I'd try to solve it, too. Strong motivation. Newly rebuilding life. A complex story with a few layers and interesting POV throughout the chapters. My primary niggles: (1) where was her family in all this? She had no one to talk to except the neighbors, and (2) the ending was just off. It was a 5-star read until the very end. I won't spoil it but I felt like it sputtered instead of blossomed. Plus someone we'd briefly learned about came back in the picture to take up the last few pages, and in a way that simply took the story's power away from the main character. Oh well... still a very exciting read all the way through!

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie and her cat, Blue, move into a new home after a terrible divorce. She is curious about her neighbors and spends her days peeping out of the window trying to figure them out.

One day, Blue returns and his collar has “help me” scratched on his collar. Frankie decides to put a spy camera on his collar in hopes of finding out what’s really going down.

This was such a refreshing take on an amateur sleuth, psychological thriller type story. The cat was a nice touch, and me being a cat lover, loved that. I kept trying to guess who the culprit was and I was so wrong.

Nine Lives is a slow burn suspenseful tale that focuses on how well you really know your neighbors. I loved it and recommend it to mystery and thriller fans! I can’t wait for what she has up her sleeve next!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Out 6/23/26

Thank you to Bantam books for the gifted copy.

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tense for sure.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of Catherine's books in the past 18 months and she is consistently one of my favorites in the Thriller space.
This one really missed the mark for me by the time the story ended, but I do love her writing and the worlds she drops us into that i was still compelled to read to the end.

We're following a recently divorced woman who has moved onto a new, wealthy, street and accidentally starts spying on her neighbors via her cats collar camera. When she begins to suspect one of her neighbors is hiding a deadly secret, shes left wondering what she can do to expose the secret while keeping herself safe.

Something this book did that I felt was interesting was trying to make the police act in a way that I feel was actually authentic. Frankie comes to them with her (illegally obtained) evidence and the cops tell her they will do what they can within the confines of the law and that her part of this is done. Now, obviously we have no story if Frankie doesnt involve herself but I appreciated that there was this acknowledgement that once you had something over to the police, as a civilian you are meant to then step back and not stay involved and you may not know how the situation ends. That felt realistic (and frustrating) and it was a refreshing inclusion. It also helped shape Frankies actions because she knew she was on thin ice with the police already.

However where this book falls apart is in the reveals. A thriller is always going to rest on the reveal feeling properly built up while not being too obvious. If you re-read it you should see the layers and misdirects surrounding the reveal. This reveal felt like I missed a chapter for why this was the reveal.
because what do you mean the first time we meet Simon ON PAGE is when he's telling us who he is. Because when Frankie goes to the doctor, we dont meet Simon. He was literally an off-screen character.

I also wasnt in love with the perspective choice for the Epilogue, though I do think it was meant to be kind of cheeky and showing "who won the break up" so to speak, it was also like "do i care about this perspective though" ? I think if the reveal hadnt let me down I would feel less critical about the epilogue but back to back it was a bit of a let down of an ending for me.
——
Tempted to give this 5 stars just to balance the idiot who rated 1 when it doesn’t even have a title or synopsis so you’re rating it on nothing at all….

But regardless after 2 wins from ms steadman I’m eagerly anticipating this release ☺️

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars for "Nine Lives" - I really enjoyed this thriller! I liked that a lot of it was told via CAT & it's cat camera 😻🐈‍⬛ - that's a new one!! (but as a cat mom, PLEASE, please don't let your kitties go wandering!!) Overall, I also liked the FMC Frankie too, but there were a few "girl, NO" moments too. The middle was also a bit slower than I liked but the last third or so was just impossible to put-down & the epilogue was awesome!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Well done & I will keep reading Steadman for sure!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a page turner whatsoever.

The beginning had me thinking this would be a strong thriller because the plot definitely kicked it off in a mysterious way, but every page after, had me bored. The thing with Catherine’s books is they seem to have a good idea about them, but momentum gets lots along the way, this one in particular had so many characters, and implausible pieces of the story. The ending was underwhelming. Unfortunately, this was a huge miss!

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that fact that every Catherine Steadman book has such a unique premise that pulls you in. This was such a clever idea, one I haven’t seen before and I have read a lot of thrillers. I powered through this book in 2 sittings, it was so addictive and so much fun to read.

Newly divorced Frankie has just bought a beautiful new house in London and is excited for her future, just her and her cat Blue. The neighbours seem a bit standoffish to begin with, and some are hiding some dark secrets. Blue is happy traipsing around the neighbourhood with his cat camera on his collar. When Frankie watches what happens on a day in the life of Blue, she makes a shocking discovery. The police are not interested so she takes things into her own hands.

Although it had some pretty dark moments, there was also moments where I laughed. Such a fun idea and really well done. I will read anything this author writes, knowing that it is going to be interesting and exciting.

Thanks so much to Ballantine Books on NetGalley for my early copy of this book to read. Out in the world on June 23rd.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up

I enjoyed her previous novel, Look In The Mirror, so when I saw that Catherine Steadman had written a new one, I wanted to read it.

After a recent divorce, Frankie uses her savings and what she got in the divorce to buy a home on a posh street in London.
One night, her Persian, Blue, returns with the words “Help Me” carved into his collar.
Curious as to what to do, Frankie puts a cat camera on his collar to see if she can find out who needs help.
(I had no idea that they made cameras that could be worn by a pet cat and actually had to Google “cat camera” because I’d never heard the term before).
Through Blue’s camera, Frankie learns a lot about all of her new neighbors and is also able to see who the person who needs help is.
She goes to the police and isn’t taken seriously, but she is determined to find a way to help the individual in need.

The first 25-30% of this was a little slow for me, but after that things got more interesting.

Steadman is known for writing thrillers, but the majority of this book felt more like a slow burn mystery to me.
Only the last 15% felt more like a thriller.
This book was good, but it was far from being one of the best mysteries/thrillers that I’ve ever read.
For me, a really good thriller needs to be one that I cannot put down because I’m dying to know what happens next, and I didn’t feel that way with this book.
I did really like the ending, so at least I finished it feeling positive.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for proving me with an ARC to review.

Pub Date: June 23, 2026

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Steadman’s latest thriller Nine Lives had me on the edge of my seat. A recently divorced Frankie moves into a new neighborhood and her cat, Blue, gets loose. The cat finally returns but she puts a tracker on his collar and can see inside all of the neighbor’s houses. At first I wasn’t sure where this was headed but I kept with it. It was a slow burn for me but once at the end, everything fell into place. Katherine hits this out of the park. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

I have a complicated history with Catherine Steadman’s books. I’ve absolutely loved some and strongly disliked others, but Nine Lives is easily my favorite of hers so far. The cat camera premise immediately hooked me because it’s unlike anything I’ve read before and I’ll admit it appealed directly to my nosy side. The idea of seeing glimpses into neighbors’ lives through the perspective of a wandering cat creates such a creepy, voyeuristic atmosphere, and Steadman makes the most of it. Every new piece of footage felt like another clue in a neighborhood full of secrets.

The story moves at a brisk pace with multiple characters, plenty of gossip, and enough suspicious behavior to keep everyone on the suspect list. I especially loved the suburban scandal element. Give me neighborhood drama, hidden resentments, and people pretending everything is perfect while chaos simmers underneath, and I’m all in.

The dual timeline works well, alternating between Frankie’s present day investigation and the story of a woman who was abducted years earlier. While I wasn’t completely surprised by how everything connected, watching the pieces come together was still incredibly entertaining.
My only real hesitation comes from a few plausibility issues and aspects of the ending that didn’t fully work for me. Even so, the originality of the premise, the suspenseful atmosphere, and the constant tension more than made up for those shortcomings.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

* Neighborhood secrets and suburban scandals
* Voyeuristic thrillers
* Dual timelines
* Unreliable appearances and hidden lives
* Fast paced psychological suspense
* Multiple suspects and plenty of twists
* Unique thriller premises

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first jaunt into the wild world of cat-cam thrillers, and I grabbed it because Catherine Steadman was the author. But the moment Blue the Persian cat sashayed onto the scene with “HELP ME” etched into his collar? I was a goner.

Thanks to the author and Ballantine/Bantam for the complimentary #ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and left voluntary.

Frankie’s fresh off a divorce and trying to piece her life back together in a swanky London neighborhood with her sidekick, Blue. We all know the glossier the street, the juicier the secrets. Frankie slaps a camera on Blue, and she’s knee-deep in her neighbors’ drama. Someone’s hiding some seriously creepy stuff.

I’m a sucker for that sneaky, peep-through-the-curtains vibe, especially when everyone’s busy faking perfection. The cat-cam angle is pure brilliance, and Blue nearly steals the spotlight from everyone else. Frankie, the lovable main character, is still a mess after her recent divorce. She’s trying to get to know her neighbors, but some are too standoffish, which raises some red flags. And Blue could teach detectives a thing or two. I’ve read several cat-thrillers this year. When do the dog detectives get their moment?

“Nine Lives” is twisty, fast, and pure binge-worthy fun. If you’re into domestic suspense, nosy neighbors, and a plot hook that actually feels fresh, toss this one on your TBR. You’ll thank me later.

[Corinne Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a messy divorce, Frankie moves into a new home with her cat, Blue. After a night of prowling around, Blue comes home with the words, “Help Me” etched into his collar. Needless to say, Frankie is freaked out! She must find who this person is. So she decides to put a Cat Cam on Blue and let him lead her back to this person. She feels like an absolute voyeur, as she learns all kinds of things about her new neighbors in the process. This was a fast-paced, entertaining read, and I was excited to read another Catherine Steadman twisty thriller.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Ballantine for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Caitlin Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately hooked on this one from the premise alone. I bloody loved our feline friend 😅 This one fell a little flat at one point but did pick up towards the end. Highly satisfied and worth the read.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie is a recent divorcee who moved to London with her cat. She starts getting suspicious when she discovers a mysterious cry for help written in her cat’s collar when he returns from a long day of adventuring outside (been there…anxiously waiting for the cat not discovering a cry for help). After being dismissed by the police she takes it upon herself to find the victim. Nine Lives was a well done quickly paced thriller, exactly what I expect from Catherine Stead man I’ll admit I did not expect the twist and the epilogue was a little over the top but I loved it. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. 4/5

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A publisher offers me a thriller book that has a cat as a main character, and I’m going to read it because, yes, I’m that girl. Bantam knows their audience! This character addition actually made the book what it was, though. Without the cat, this may have been a regular old mystery/thriller about a missing person.

Frankie is our main character, and she and her cat Blue have just moved to London after a messy divorce. This book is about the first week in her new home, which was QUITE eventful. Her cat is indoor/outdoor (grr…but if he hadn’t left the house we wouldn’t have this book!) and after him getting out on the day she moved in, he came home with something shocking scratched into his collar. Two words: “Help Me”.

When Frankie sees the collar, she immediately attaches an old “cat-cam” to it, and lets him out again the next day. Blue understood the assignment, and returned to the same place. Now Frankie has video proof that someone is being held against their will, but what does she do with it? It’s illegal to videotape someone inside of a private home, and Blue likes to enter windows (which also makes for some fun reading, as we get to know everyone on Frankie’s new street, and what their secrets are.) If she goes to the police, they may charge her with a crime, and she could be overreacting to nothing.

This book took a thriller, added a cat with a camera, and made it a unique and interesting story. There were even chapters from Blue, as well as a few other neighbors. The ending, especially the epilogue, were great. I really thought I had the ending pegged, but I was completely wrong! Three huge surprises at the end really impressed me, and made the book that much better. Four stars.

(Thank you to Random House - Bantam and Catherine Steadman for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is set to be released on June 23, 2026.)

[megs_bookrack]

Bantam! Thank you for the ARC. I think this sounds like so much fun! What a great concept and I cannot wait to dive into it. This immediately went to the top of my priority TBR.

[Lori Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francesca Green moves into a small neighborhood in London after a divorce from a cheating husband. The one good thing she took from the marriage was her cat, Blue. When someone knocks on her door after the movers have left, Frankie answers it. When she does, she is surprised to see a neighbor coming to welcome her.. She didn't think people actually did this anymore, and when she steps aside to invite her in, Blue gets out! She calls for Blue because it's a new neighborhood and she fears he won't be able to find his way home. Blue doesn't come back and Frankie is left to visit with her neighbor. Later that evening, Blue returns, and meows that he's hungry. When Frankie bends down to pet him she notices something is wrong with his collar. When she takes it off, someone has written Help Me on it. Is this some kind of joke? Where has Blue been that someone would take his collar off and write something on it? If only cats could talk.

Frankie decides to put a camera collar on Blue to try to see where he goes. She ordered one ages ago, but never put it on him. The cat camera brings back videos of things Frankie probably shouldn't see. It's a way to find out what your neighbors are really up to without anyone knowing. As Blue comes back each evening with more videos to watch, Frankie sees something, and she thinks this is the person who wrote the message! How can she help without giving away she's been spying on people? Should she go to the police? She doesn't know where this person lives as you can only see a garden and a basement window. Will Frankie be able to figure out where the person is who needs help? One of her neighbors keeps asking her out for coffee. Should she trust him? Who is keeping someone locked in their basement? This book is fantastic and I loved the cat camera angle to get information. Nine Lives kept me guessing until the pulse pounding ending! I rate Nine Lives 4 stars with a high recommendation and the book is out now! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bantam Books for an advanced copy of Nine Lives in exchange for a fair review.

[Sherry Rosen | Stories with Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

This is a review of the ebook. The ARC was provided to me by the publisher, Ballantine, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book! This is my third Catherine Steadman book and I think it is my favorite! After a nasty divorce, Frankie moves to a neighborhood full of eclectic, nosy, high maintenance professionals, Frankie isn't feeling very comfortable. But when Blue, her cat, comes home with a note reading "HELP ME" etched into his collar, her discomfort level soars. When she replaces his standard collar with a Cat Cam collar, after his first day on the prowl with the new collar, Frankie watches the video only to discover she is witnessing a crime in progress. She can't go to the police because recording someone in their home without their permission is illegal, so Frankie has to take matters into her own hands.

I loved the different POVs. The majority of the story is told in first person; however, when Blue is on the prowl, the narrative changes to first-person plural POV, i.e., "[t]he camera swings up to the window high above us...."

One of the things I love about Cat's writing is she thinks of everything, and she leaves out no details! Just when I think, "nah ... that's not possible", she explains how it is possible!

This is a fast-paced slow burn thriller that kept me up way past my bedtime!

[Jessa Layne • readwithjessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a recent divorce, Frankie moves into an upscale London neighborhood hoping for a fresh start with her beloved Persian cat, Blue. But when Blue comes home one night with the words "help me" scratched into his collar, Frankie can't ignore the feeling that something is terribly wrong. She attaches an old cat-cam to Blue's collar, and what begins as curiosity about her neighbors quickly turns into a dangerous search for the truth. As Blue wanders through the neighborhood, Frankie uncovers hidden secrets and realizes that one of the people living nearby may be far more dangerous than they appear.

Catherine Steadman is an auto-buy author for me, and this has easily become one of my favorite books she's written. I loved trying to figure out who wrote the message on Blue's collar along with Frankie and Blue. There is plenty of build up and the story never felt slow for a second. The neighborhood drama felt incredibly realistic, and the suspense surrounding Blue's cat-cam adventures was both creepy and so much fun to follow. The multiple POVs added even more tension and kept me constantly questioning who could be trusted. This was a twisty, fast paced thriller that I could not put down! Loved every minute of this read!

Thank you to net galley, Ballantine and Bantam for the gifted copy! I also listened to this on PRH Audio and the author narrates the book and it is so well done!!

[Auburn (gone to visit Mom-82) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this digital ARC.

Nine Lives by Catherine Steadman
Publisher: Bantam/ Release Date: June 23, 2026

Reeling from a bitter divorce, Frankie Green moves into a gorgeous, pastel-colored London neighborhood, looking for a fresh start with her beautiful Persian cat, Blue. But the picturesque façade shatters the night Blue slips back through the cat door with two terrifying words that have been scratched into his collar: HELP ME.

Unwilling to let it go, Frankie attaches an old Cat Cam to his collar. What starts as a voyeuristic peek into the lives of her glamorous neighbors quickly descends into something far more dangerous. Someone on her street is hiding a dark secret that they will do anything to keep buried.

Having read every single one of Steadman‘s novels, she never fails to deliver for me. If you love unpredictable, psychological, fast-paced thrillers told from multiple points of view, this is absolute catnip!

[meghin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Bantum for the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was my first of Catherine Steadman’s books. She created such an immersive setting experience pulling me straight into this Georgian terrace in London. The premises of everything being caught via cat cam and the title “Nine Lives,” I mean c’mon; so perfect! (Or should I say purrrfect 🐈🤭)

This was a slow burn read and really picks up around halfway. Frankie is a bit of a ball of anxiety to me - every situation was leaning into her nervous system in turn making me feel all panicky at times. But the honesty of how nosey we as a population can be of others around us was spot on. Overall I will give this 3.5 stars!

[Cassidy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars rounded up. I ended up enjoying this book, but it did take me until around the 50% mark to be fully interested. It gave me Woman in the Window vibes, but with the perspective of our heroine's cat being sent out into the world to spy on her new neighbors and solve a mystery while wearing a collar cam. I did find the video footage and the cat's wanderings to be a bit too convenient, but if you can suspend disbelief, this turned out to be a rather solid thriller with a good twist.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this novel and exchange for my honest review.

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

I think I have read all Catherine Steadman's books but loved Something in the Water the most.

Nine Lives was interesting but required some serious suspension of disbelief. I am ALL ABOUT the Rear Window premise and also LOVE a good Neighborhood Suspense Story - check out my full list here.

But Nine Lives had a wacky quality that left me a bit unsure. Much of the book revolved around a cat camera worn by Blue the cat. Being allergic to cats, I had no idea cat cameras were even a thing. (I didn't do a deep dive into the plausibility of being able to solve a case with a cat camera. If my dog wore a camera all I'd get would be picture of an empty food bowl and my face. Outdoor cats do wander around, but it's not like you can give them a filming assignment.)

This distracted me quite a bit, but once I just went with it, this was an enjoyable summer read with a good "sinister North London neighborhood" vibe. And some discussion of whether using a cat camera to spy on your neighbors is legal in the UK.

Okay, wait, I just got the joke in the title. Beach brain is real.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!

[Jennifer *Nottoomanybooks* · Rating 4 out of 5]

💭: What a clever book! Frankie, a recently divorced woman moves into an upscale neighborhood. She allows her cat to run around outside, and one day it comes back with the words “HELP ME” scratched into its collar. Frankie decides to put the cat cam on it and the footage she finds is scary. A woman who looks like she is being kept against her will in a basement. Frankie does everything she can think of to find the woman and save her. The police are no help. The neighbors are all suspicious. You truly don’t know whose basement she could be in. This is a slow burn that focuses on how you really can’t truly know who you live next to.

Definitely go grab this one!

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will have to set aside my personal feelings about letting one’s cat roam free to explore in order to review this one. Super irresponsible and not something I would ever encourage, but it is fiction, so let’s just hope no one takes this as a sign to let their cats out where they could be in danger. Anyways!

The mystery was very interesting and I was invested in the story. I loved the neighborhood vibes with all the different characters and could really visualize the setting. A fast read!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley, ballantine, and catherine steadman for the arc in exchange for review!

i have a fluctuating relationship with domestic thrillers, my main point of contention being that one can only reinvent the wheel so many times. "nine lives," however, offers a refreshing take on the trope...though i may be biased just because a cat serves as the linchpin for all of the action and drama. 🐈

i found this book to be evocative of "the woman in the window" by aj finn as well as "watching you" by lisa jewell (both of which i enjoyed) while remaining entirely its own piece of work. its certainly a thriller that actually keeps the reader guessing and second-guessing the whole way through without feeling like youre being forced to look one way or another--everyone in the neighborhood really is just that shady!

i also ended up picturing the queen maura higgins as aoife which made me love her character all the more 🙏🏼

tl:dr - this is an immersive, atmospheric page-turner that stands out from other titles in its genre!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently divorced and unemployed Frankie moves into a new house in London. Through a camera on her cats collar she catches something unnerving in a neighbors home. After meeting with the dumbest police force ever written in a book Frankie is on her own to figure it out.

This was much slower than Catherine Steadmans other books and lacked the unhinged twists we’ve come to expect from her previous novels. I was hoping the epilogue would tie it all together and leave my mouth on the floor but it didn’t.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nicole Auerbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up. Very quick read. Enjoyed getting to know most of the characters in the neighborhood. The main twist surprised me; there weren’t a ton of hints dropped in advance. Always love a story with an animal as a key character.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Alison Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the opportunity to read an advanced copy and share my honest thoughts.

Plot Synopsis: Fresh off a divorce, Frankie moves into an idyllic London neighborhood with her beloved Persian cat, Blue, determined to start over. But when Blue returns home one night with the words HELP ME scratched into his collar, Frankie's curiosity turns into obsession. Armed with a cat cam and a growing suspicion that her neighbors are hiding dangerous secrets, she begins digging into lives that were never meant to be uncovered—and discovers that someone on her street may be a killer

What I Liked:
- The lingering unsettled feeling the author really nailed the first half of the book on our descent into madness
- How fast I crushed the 2nd half of this book - all of those pieces come together in a very fun, twisty way
- Honestly, the characters! Frankie is relatable, the red herrings were fun, and I enjoyed the subtle found-family/neighbors-coming-together element that develops toward the end.
- That this feels like it was inspired by a crazy Reddit thread (I mean, a cat collar that can record video leading to the discovery and rescue of an abducted woman?! Only on Redd, right?!t)

My Hang-Ups
- How heavily the cat was involved??? Just didn’t work for me
- The epilogue - didn’t feel like a value add at the end of the book

Final Thoughts: Just OK!