Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Disappearing Act  By  cover art

The Disappearing Act

By: Catherine Steadman
Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling 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.

©2021 Catherine Steadman (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

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

“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)

“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)

Love Books? You'll Love Audible.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Transform your day

Replace endless scrolling with endless listening. Chores can be fun.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Listen everywhere

Download titles to listen offline, wherever you are in the world.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Carry your entire Library

Your stories go where you go. Audiobooks don’t weigh a thing.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Listen and learn

Discover stories that can change your mind, your well-being, and your life.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Reach your reading goals

You can’t turn pages while you drive—but you can press play.

Placeholder Image Alt Text

Find your niche

WIth thousands of titles to explore, there’s something for everyone.

Try for $0.00 $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

What listeners say about The Disappearing Act

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,952
  • 4 Stars
    727
  • 3 Stars
    263
  • 2 Stars
    71
  • 1 Stars
    30
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,252
  • 4 Stars
    385
  • 3 Stars
    94
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    17
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,663
  • 4 Stars
    691
  • 3 Stars
    280
  • 2 Stars
    76
  • 1 Stars
    44

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Fun, but...

Loved the insider look at Hollywood and the fantastic performance by the author. The story is fun but there are so many "and suddenly I realized I'd hit it all wrong" and "what on Earth had I been thinking?" that you could turn them into a drinking fame. The character seems smart but is either stupid or naive or had never ever read a thriller in her life. But seriously, don't let that stop you from enjoying the story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Accents

I enjoyed the story line, but one thing stood out that I thought Catherine Steadman could have spent more time researching. The constant switching between a British and American accent was quick and week done; however, the American characters used British lingo. Americans don’t say “straight away” or “fancy” in informal conversation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A true thriller, up until the very end

Another great novel by Catherine Steadman. She's a phenomenal narrator and knows how to keep her audience engaged.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So much fun!!!

Excellent plot, well written and absorbing. Great performance by the author (only miss was her attempt at a Hispanic accent- otherwise nailed the characters). Definitely recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another fantastic listen!

Catherine Steadman is a fantastic writer and I can't wait for her next book! So far Something in the Water and The Disappearing Act have been outstanding. Most of all, her narration is top top top! Her voice is lovely, her pronunciation and articulation make listening a joy. This story kept me up nights listening. It has twists and turns and thrills. I really had no clue who was the protagonist throughout the whole book and where was Emily. One of the best audibles!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting

Love Catherine Steadman’s work- both her writing and her reading of her stories.
This book was one of those magical stories that keeps you spell-bound, unable to peel yourself away.
Brilliant!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant!

Listened to this novel in one day. I’m really enjoying Steadman’s novels. Please keep up your creative works! Thank you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent story, from start to finish

I literally couldn’t stop listening! Story, characters, narration, and ending were all really well done!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Finished in less than 24 hours!

I started this book while walking my dog yesterday evening and was so engrossed I have been listening any chance I can get all day so I could find out what happened(I was actually happy there was a traffic jam so I could spend more time listening!)I am super picky about narration but the author is perfect! I want her to narrate everything on here, I could listen to her read anything. This is a good quick, fun thriller that isn’t immediately predictable. The perfect summer listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

To highly recommend is an understatement!!!

I am a voracious reader. Rarely, do books knock me out in the park. This is one of them! A former Downton Abbey actress turned author, Ms. Steadman’s thrillers keep you aching for more. Happy reading!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!