Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

43 reviews

elthewallflower's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Torture, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Addiction, Violence, Toxic relationship, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, and Alcohol

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I liked the pacing of this book. It kept me entertained. And I like how the author handled the huge twist.

HOWEVER, my goodness! This book was messy and the big plot twists was outlandish and ludicrous. It was so out of left field and although I didn't mind it and it didn't make me angry I can completely understand why people would rate this low and/or dislike this book because of it.

I felt like the twist would've been awesome if the author actually forwarded/gave the reader hints throughout the book then maybe the twist would've been more effective. 

I didn't mind the female character, however, the withholding of information until the end made no sense considering we're already in her head anyways. And she was also picking another big secret from everyone else anyways so the author withholding said information from the reader made no sense.

The book just felt unorganized towards the middle-end because it felt like the author was jumbling multiple ideas at once and never wanted to just stick to one so he chose them all. Overall its not a bad book, but if you like thrillers that make sense and are symbolic through and through then you can skip this one. I did find it entertaining though so I'll give the author that.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Stalking, and Death

Moderate: Cursing, Kidnapping, Blood, Murder, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Gun violence, Gaslighting, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

sp34kn0ww's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Gore, Torture, Murder, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Vomit, and Suicide

kendrav's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Stalking, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Suicide, and Violence

maggiemouse's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Stalking, Death, and Alcoholism

honeybunchesofoats06's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Grief, Alcohol, Suicide, Mental illness, Addiction, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, and Blood

holly_rey's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Murder, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Self harm, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail

burdasnest's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 There were a few books, like Lock Every Door and Home Before Dark, that had me so impressed as Sager's ability to write young women. But this is definitely not one of them, and not just because the protagonist is in her thirties (not middle-aged, per many descriptions). I also prefer mysteries that have is-it-isn't-it supernatural elements to have more in-depth lore, like several of Sager's other books. If you enjoyed this book, however, I think you would really enjoy The Drowning Kind by McMahon. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Blood and Death

Minor: Suicide

katbrookhart's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Kidnapping, Death, Violence, Blood, Gore, and Murder

mari_books's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Hmmm…I think it can only be said that this book is entertaining. I didn’t find any of the characters likeable or really interesting. The “plot twists” seem to come out of no where and are unhinged, then have their backstory filled in by flashbacks. I dislike how much of the story we as readers learn from Casey’s phone calls or texts with other characters. I also think we could have done without 50% of the character backstory and a lot more detail on the actual plot twists

Way more attention is paid to how Casey has a damaged relationship with her mom than to the actual details of how her SERIAL KILLER HUSBAND hid the bodies, got away with murder and CAME BACK TO POSESS ANOTHER CHARACTER

This is the second book I’ve read from this author, some of the characters repeat quite a bit. I would only recommend this book if there were no other options and you were like in an airport or something.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, and Blood