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kelisabeth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kelseyr713's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
Riley Sager has never disappointed me yet! Middle of the Night had me flipping pages as fast as I could. It's a taught, well-crafted thriller that I was able to somewhat piece together, but still had quite a few surprises in store.
Content warnings contain spoilers!
Content warnings contain spoilers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Grief, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
tarynlannister's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I liked this book a lot more than I expected to going in. It really picks up in the second half. Plenty tense at times but surprisingly heartwarming, with unexpectedly lovable characters. I didn't expect the culprit, but felt the author dropped enough subtle hints that it didn't feel like she tricked the reader.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug use, Violence, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Alcohol
srullo's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Drug abuse and Alcohol
deannamartin113's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Dementia, Grief, and Alcohol
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
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Riley Sager did it again! This was the summer thriller I needed. The 90s nostalgia was strong and reminded me of those summer camp horror stories. I loved how realistic the ending seemed and how all the pieces connected together. Although I guessed some of the twists,I didn’t even mind because I was so engaged by the atmosphere of Hemlock Circle, my curiosity constantly piqued by the goings-on of the suburbanites.
I’d recommend this book to fans of:
- R.L. Stine
- True crime
- Vintage ephemera
- Slow burn mysteries
- Suburban settings
- Everyone is a suspect-type books
- Reads that have you questioning what’s real and what’s fantasy
Thank you to Tandem Collective, Penguin Random House Canada, and the author for a gifted copy of this book. I loved joining in on this readalong and theorizing with the other participants about how the story would unravel and whodunnit.
Riley Sager did it again! This was the summer thriller I needed. The 90s nostalgia was strong and reminded me of those summer camp horror stories. I loved how realistic the ending seemed and how all the pieces connected together. Although I guessed some of the twists,I didn’t even mind because I was so engaged by the atmosphere of Hemlock Circle, my curiosity constantly piqued by the goings-on of the suburbanites.
I’d recommend this book to fans of:
- R.L. Stine
- True crime
- Vintage ephemera
- Slow burn mysteries
- Suburban settings
- Everyone is a suspect-type books
- Reads that have you questioning what’s real and what’s fantasy
Thank you to Tandem Collective, Penguin Random House Canada, and the author for a gifted copy of this book. I loved joining in on this readalong and theorizing with the other participants about how the story would unravel and whodunnit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, Grief, and Stalking
Moderate: Car accident and Alcohol
courtofbooksanddogs's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is my second book by Sager and while I liked this one better than The Only One Left, I was disappointed at the “thrill” aspect of this thriller. I found the twists to be predictable and I saw all of them coming a mile away. I did find several of the plot lines in to be very sad and I even teared up once which I didn’t expect to feel out of a thriller novel. If you enjoy Sager, I imagine you’d enjoy this too!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
chapters_and_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? Yes
5.0
Riley Sager is one of my favourite authors, and that hasn’t changed with the release of this book!
When Ethan was ten years old, his best friend went missing while they were camped out in Ethan’s backyard. Thirty years later and Billy’s disappearance is still a mystery that Ethan can’t forget. Moving back to his childhood home where it all happened, Ethan can’t help but notice strange happenings. Baseballs planted in his garden, lights flickering in the night. Ethan feels haunted, and he knows it has something to do with Billy.
I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t really know too much going into it but given my track record with Riley Sager, I figured I was pretty safe, and I was right!
I won’t go into too much detail because I think it would spoil the story, but I quite liked the ending, especially as it is something a bit different to Sager’s previous books.
I really liked Henry and the relationship between him and Ethan, especially the ending!
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for Riley Sager’s next one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Car accident, and Alcohol
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I’ve read five other books by Riley Sager and this is by far my favorite. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded through two different timeframes via one primary narrator, Ethan Marsh, and other characters also involved in or impacted by the 30-year-old loss of a child that went missing from the Hemlock Circle neighborhood.
Because the child who went missing was Ethan’s best friend, Billy, the event has haunted Ethan’s life persistently because Billy disappeared on the night he and Ethan were having a backyard camp out. Even though the reader will not get to know all the characters well, I found everyone interesting, and most quite likable. And they all played a role in the day-to-day lives of Ethan and Billy, with more details revealed throughout the story as Ethan does his best to remember what happened on the night he slept while Billy vanished from their shared tent. I loved how all the building blocks fit together as Ethan learned more and more about the people he lived alongside while growing up.
The mystery was good and there are spooky elements, but it’s not necessarily a “read with the lights on” type of story. And that’s okay because it’s a good story that’s well-paced and has a lot of heart.
I listened to the audiobook and really liked the narrator’s interpretation of Ethan. He also did a fine job with most all the other characters of different sexes and ages, especially young Henry.
Because the child who went missing was Ethan’s best friend, Billy, the event has haunted Ethan’s life persistently because Billy disappeared on the night he and Ethan were having a backyard camp out. Even though the reader will not get to know all the characters well, I found everyone interesting, and most quite likable. And they all played a role in the day-to-day lives of Ethan and Billy, with more details revealed throughout the story as Ethan does his best to remember what happened on the night he slept while Billy vanished from their shared tent. I loved how all the building blocks fit together as Ethan learned more and more about the people he lived alongside while growing up.
The mystery was good and there are spooky elements, but it’s not necessarily a “read with the lights on” type of story. And that’s okay because it’s a good story that’s well-paced and has a lot of heart.
I listened to the audiobook and really liked the narrator’s interpretation of Ethan. He also did a fine job with most all the other characters of different sexes and ages, especially young Henry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Dementia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
dblue236's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
This might be my favorite Sager yet, though since I've loved nearly all of them, I may change my mind next time you ask. I loved the Goonies-meets-Stranger Things feel of this book, and while the tropes were not unique, they were fun as hell and I feel sorry for anyone who didn't allow themselves to roll with that and just enjoy it for what it was. This was easily one of my favorite reads so far this year and I already can't wait for his next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol