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jennramsdell's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was into this murder-mystery thriller until the last 1/4 of the book, when there was a supernatural plot twist that was just lame and unnecessary. The constant mention of the main character’s alcohol consumption was also so unnecessary and again, just felt very unnecessary and tired.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
acetheticallyy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Murder
seawarrior's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
2.0
I tragically feel this book is Sager's weakest work that I've read so far, even thought I was highly anticipating it. An enormous amount of pages are dedicated to reiterating how much Casey drinks, to the point it almost felt exploitive. Sager's protagonists typically have a unique hobby that their personality revolves around, and Casey's is alcoholism. She really doesn't have many skills or strengths, besides teetering on the edge of drunkenness and withholding the truth, that are explored within the events of the book. The twist was also a disappointment to me. At this point it's been long cliché to reveal the husband as the murderer, and I've liked how Sager's past work avoided using supernatural occurrences as the easy way to explain why something strange was happening. I did think it was interesting to make Casey an unreliable narrator, but I felt that was the only strength that was unique to this book. When the book was not overly repetitive I was engaged in it, yet too much of the text reiterated ideas that I as a reader already understood and did not need to have restated. Reading those lines was irritating and felt almost like an insecurity was being expressed. Either Sager felt his ability to imply ideas to us was inadequate, or that we as readers weren't very sharp. There are many improvements that could have been made to this book, but the ending was decently rewarding and it was entertaining enough that I continued it despite its flaws. I wouldn't recommend this book to other readers because I feel Sager has written stronger books previously, but I still look forward to reading what he creates in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Alcohol
kylieqrada's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I feel like thrillers are so hard to rate! But honestly who even knows what my ratings even mean anymore. This was good, I liked it about in the middle of the pack for a Riley Sager. I think he made the right move just leaning into the vibe that he's been flirting with for the past few books. I was shook, ngl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Confinement, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Domestic abuse and Infidelity
blackcatkai's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CW: death, violence, alcohol use, casual ableism, sex work shaming (from the established bad guy)
If you don't like a litter supernatural element with your domestic thrillers, do not read this one. otherwise, highly recommend, this is fun! I think it may be one of my fave Riley Sager books to date. he just keeps getting better for me, I had a lot of fun with this one.
a couple twists I saw coming, one I definitely didn't, this gave me the tense, I gotta know what's happening next, omg wtf, vibes I'd been hoping for.
also note: this IS heavily inspired by the movie The Rear Window so it's going to have quite a few elements you may have read/seen in other works also inspired by that Hitchcock film (like the woman in the window). so if that is ALSO something you're just not into or tired of, skip this one.
If you don't like a litter supernatural element with your domestic thrillers, do not read this one. otherwise, highly recommend, this is fun! I think it may be one of my fave Riley Sager books to date. he just keeps getting better for me, I had a lot of fun with this one.
a couple twists I saw coming, one I definitely didn't, this gave me the tense, I gotta know what's happening next, omg wtf, vibes I'd been hoping for.
also note: this IS heavily inspired by the movie The Rear Window so it's going to have quite a few elements you may have read/seen in other works also inspired by that Hitchcock film (like the woman in the window). so if that is ALSO something you're just not into or tired of, skip this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Domestic abuse
ohhthehorrors's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Kidnapping and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse and Infidelity
theliteraryhooker's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
That extra .25 stars is only because I hated this slightly less than Survive the Night, and I gave that 2 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Vomit
cossenbeck's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
librariangeorgia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am a big fan of Sager’s books that I was so honoured to receive an advanced copy of his latest book.
And wow what a book it was!
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had me enraptured from the opening chapter.
Though, I did think that Casey was an absolute weirdo - I mean, who sits watching inside peoples houses? Add to that the fact that she's an unreliable narrator, I would usually be put off by this. However, combine that with the atmospheric descriptions of the lake, it surprisingly went really well together.
It flickers between past and present day, all in Casey's perspective. The first half of the book has a more in depth past perspective, with a few pages for the present sandwiched inbetween at various points. As you find out more about what's happened in the past, it makes you think that you understand what's happening in the brief glimpses in the present. That's not actually the case. Being kept in the dark about the true present helps with the twists in the story. The twist that I did not see coming, it was completely unexpected, yet it fit in so well with the eeriness of the story.
Sager is well know for the horror elements in his books so keep that in mind when reading this one, expect the unexpected!
Though, I did think that Casey was an absolute weirdo - I mean, who sits watching inside peoples houses? Add to that the fact that she's an unreliable narrator, I would usually be put off by this. However, combine that with the atmospheric descriptions of the lake, it surprisingly went really well together.
It flickers between past and present day, all in Casey's perspective. The first half of the book has a more in depth past perspective, with a few pages for the present sandwiched inbetween at various points. As you find out more about what's happened in the past, it makes you think that you understand what's happening in the brief glimpses in the present. That's not actually the case. Being kept in the dark about the true present helps with the twists in the story. The twist that I did not see coming, it was completely unexpected, yet it fit in so well with the eeriness of the story.
Sager is well know for the horror elements in his books so keep that in mind when reading this one, expect the unexpected!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, and Alcohol