Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - The House Across the Lake

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

11 reviews

nabzilla's review against another edition

⭐️⭐️

I was really enjoying the book for its mystery and thriller. I was loving guessing who is responsible for the disappearance of Catherine and curious to see how the author would reveal these to us. But the “twist” ruined any ounce of enjoyment I had in the book. It felt very lazy and not at all well thought out.

I think explaining away all of the issues that arose in the book as a spirit possessing the body just doesn’t sit right with this genre. It doesn’t make sense. For instance, this negates the suspense that was built earlier in the book where Catherine drowned to begin with. However, the other twists about Len being a serial killer and the FMC killing him was interesting. I just wish it was done differently.

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annieisawesome's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated

4.5

I loved this book. It started out kind of slow and typical mystery. But that twist was so surprising. I couldn’t see it coming. Very well done. There are some parts where it slowed down and felt lost. Along with some places with out of character moments.

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deni23's review against another edition

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dark 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

1.5

The book started really interesting. The pace was really fast, the story seemed interesting and promising. I was really excited to find out if Katherine was alive and if not who killed her. I started suspecting different people and trying to find out more from the "now" perspective. Then the part when Casey found Katherine in the basement possessed came and everything went downhill. First of all what the hell... second this story had so much potential and was ruined by this supernatural spirit (Len's spirit) who was possessing Kath only because he wanted to revenge Casey. It was such an unnatural twist that it just threw me off. After that the second plot twist where Tom was drugging his wife was so unnecessary and i felt like the author was just trying to drag the book by a few chapters. Overall the begging had sooooo much potential and it was just ruined. Absolutely disappointed.

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