Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

94 reviews

sarahmeshille's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder

sboelkens's review against another edition

2.75

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I was really enjoying this as a mystery book, but then the twist about 3/4 of the way through was so unnecessary that it ruined the entire book for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking

tmluke's review

4.25

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide

the_vegan_bookworm's review

2.5

mysterious 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

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This just felt really underwhelming! While I didn't see the twists coming and can offer the credit for originality on that front, they just felt random and poorly thought out. The exploration of alcoholism was surface-level at best and none of the characters felt like real people so much as caricatures in the plot.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide

taliatalksbooks's review

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Riley Sager’s The House Across The Lake was about as perfect as you can get with a book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a thriller that has kept me so enthralled I couldn’t put it down, but I easily could have devoured this book in one sitting (I, once again, started this book too late at night and on a busy weekend to boot). This book was twisty and spooky and bridged the gap between the real and mythological folklore with ease. I loved every aspect of this novel from cover to cover (and it doesn’t hurt that the dedication was one of my favorite Taylor songs). I loved the way the characters developed, and how that development played into the plot of the book. I thought the secondary characters were supportive and added helpfully to the plot (which in thrillers I feel like is hard to come by sometimes). My immediate instinct is to tell you that this is one of the best twists I’ve read in a while, because it is, but I don’t want to give away anything more than that. The plot is *chef’s kiss* and it’s so good I almost want to break my no spoilers rule just so I can tell you exactly what I loved about it. BUT, you’ll just have to trust me on this one. I cannot recommend this thriller highly enough. If you’re a fan of unreliable narrators, folklore/myths, or just in the mood for a whodunnit that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this book is for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol

kayjay2012's review against another edition

2.0

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

amlegomo's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Alcohol

charadelle's review

4.5

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I absolutely devoured this book. I even told my book club that it was the fastest I've ever read any of our books. I absolutely loved the twist and how spooky it was. I have had a problem recently where I can see what's going to happen before it does, and I can admit that this time I was truly shocked. I am genuinely excited for the next time I pick up a Riley Sager read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Alcohol

Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder

karynrl's review

2.25

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Honestly this one wasn't as good as his other works. The story felt a bit boring and kinda predictable. I am not quite a fan of paranormal/ghosts/hauntings etc. because it feels like a cop out in this case, but I see that he tried and I did at least want to know what happened. I didn't hate the characters, it just felt sort of bland and repetitive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Kidnapping, Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief

Paranormal (reincarnation)

jamiewin3's review

3.75

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Transphobia, Kidnapping