Catherine Steadman is an accomplished actress (memorably played Mabel Lane Fox in Downton Abbey) and author. I loved 2018’s Something In The Water, but 2020’s Mr. Nobody didn’t do it for me, so I was curious about the latest from this talented woman, and was happy to receive a copy of The Disappearing Act from Ballantine Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The story is set in LA, which Steadman describes perfectly: “…how beautiful LA is from a distance, like a fading ingenue with just the right lighting once the harsh light of day has passed...” It’s the time of year known as “pilot season,” when actors from around the world gather to try to snag a role in one of the new TV shows being made. Mia Eliot, a British actress, has recently been a huge success in the Jane Austen “costume drama” in the UK, but when her fiance dumps her, she she leaves town and jumps into the scramble of auditions.

Mia doesn’t fit the stereotype of the grasping, ruthless actress on the make, which is part of her charm. At an audition, she meets Emily, who asks a favor, then disappears. The next day, a woman who sort of looks like Emily shows up, claiming to actually BE Emily, Mia starts to freak out. The police don’t quite believe her, and as things go on, Mia starts to question her own sanity. She investigates the whole Emily situation, doing some risky things to try to solve the puzzle: “…wants to meet me at eleven thirty tonight…” OMG, that is right up there with “DON’T GO INTO THE BASEMENT!!!”

The plot is strong, pacing is good, and the characters are interesting. Steadman captures LA beautifully (“Fever-dream architectural structure structures made a reality with old hard cash and pure bloody-mindedness”) and it’s a fun read. I’m willing to say maybe Mr. Nobody was just a hiccup or possibly it was just me. In any case, I’ll gladly read Ms. Steadman’s next book. Four stars.