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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
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:
No
4.5 stars only because "The Only One Left" took my loyalty and will be used as a benchmark for all of Riley's books. As a horror fan, I love this one's concept, though.
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager is a top notch thriller wrapped in a ghost story. Home Before Dark reminded me of why I love Riley Sager so much, good writing that for the most part keeps me guessing while adding that level of believability, that it could happen that way. I felt like this book was a good return to form after I was let down by Lock Every Door which was released last year. Home After Dark offers two accounts one of a book written 25 years ago that is a nonfictional ghost story called House of Horrors that written by Ewan Holt that tells of the Baneberry House haunting of him and his family; the other is Maggie Holt that was five at the time of House of Horrors returning after 25 years to see what was real as her family won't speak of the book. This book is high suspense with more twist than a Tilt-A-Whirl. A note I did not get an ARC for this book but Dutton Publishing is the best about contact and getting back to you, I will definitely request again.
The Plot: Maggie Holt has just been called to her father's will reading. Maggie's dad is infamous because he wrote a book 25 years ago called House of Horrors about him and his family buying their first home the Baneberry house. The family only last 25 days as they were haunted by ghost. Maggie has asked her father and mother many times through her life what was real? What really went down? Even on her father's death bed when asked all he could say was he's sorry? Maggie is shocked when goes to the will reading and the Baneberry house is in the will to her. She still can't believe he had it in his name still for 25 years, and shocked further still when she finds out her father visited one day everyone of those 25 years. Maggie who is in real estate plans to fix up the house and sell it, while also investigating what is real or not. Maggie unearths secret after, secret, was every word written true? or a clever lie?
What I Liked: The twist were really good I had a couple of the theories, but all were proven false, I liked the end. The narrative of bouncing back from Maggie to her dad's voice was a little disjointed at first but I really enjoyed it as we would learn more about what was true. I liked the conspiracy theories that came out of the ending. I liked Maggie and the closure she got at the end. The snake scene is terrifying, both of them. I loved the ghost aspect.
What I Disliked: Petra and what was theorized especially in the beginning, and the justification being how much she is in the book, but she's barely in the book. I thought there was going to be more than one alone time with Ewan, but that's it. I liked everything else but I wanted more scenes of Ewan and Petra together.
Recommendations: I really enjoyed this one it's a good mix of horror and mystery. The twist are good and through out, which makes for an easy fast paced read. This was my second favorite out of four that Riley Sager has written, and already can not wait until next summer to read another one. He remains the king of summer. I rated Home Before Dark by Riley Sager 5 out of 5 stars. Since I have read all other books written by Riley Sager here's mr order of best to worst: The Last Time I Lied, Home Before Dark, Final Girls, and Lock Every Door.
The Plot: Maggie Holt has just been called to her father's will reading. Maggie's dad is infamous because he wrote a book 25 years ago called House of Horrors about him and his family buying their first home the Baneberry house. The family only last 25 days as they were haunted by ghost. Maggie has asked her father and mother many times through her life what was real? What really went down? Even on her father's death bed when asked all he could say was he's sorry? Maggie is shocked when goes to the will reading and the Baneberry house is in the will to her. She still can't believe he had it in his name still for 25 years, and shocked further still when she finds out her father visited one day everyone of those 25 years. Maggie who is in real estate plans to fix up the house and sell it, while also investigating what is real or not. Maggie unearths secret after, secret, was every word written true? or a clever lie?
What I Liked: The twist were really good I had a couple of the theories, but all were proven false, I liked the end. The narrative of bouncing back from Maggie to her dad's voice was a little disjointed at first but I really enjoyed it as we would learn more about what was true. I liked the conspiracy theories that came out of the ending. I liked Maggie and the closure she got at the end. The snake scene is terrifying, both of them. I loved the ghost aspect.
What I Disliked: Petra and what was theorized especially in the beginning, and the justification being how much she is in the book, but she's barely in the book. I thought there was going to be more than one alone time with Ewan, but that's it. I liked everything else but I wanted more scenes of Ewan and Petra together.
Recommendations: I really enjoyed this one it's a good mix of horror and mystery. The twist are good and through out, which makes for an easy fast paced read. This was my second favorite out of four that Riley Sager has written, and already can not wait until next summer to read another one. He remains the king of summer. I rated Home Before Dark by Riley Sager 5 out of 5 stars. Since I have read all other books written by Riley Sager here's mr order of best to worst: The Last Time I Lied, Home Before Dark, Final Girls, and Lock Every Door.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
tense
medium-paced
mysterious
reflective
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
mysterious
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:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced