You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

Reviews tagging 'Dementia'

Mitt i natten by Riley Sager

74 reviews

dark emotional sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

I loved this but I was SO caught off guard by the ending and I can’t decide how I feel about it????

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Wow, I'm not sure what all to say about this one. I'm an avid Sager reader and lover, and this one was not at all what I was expecting.
On one hand, I'm really disappointed because there was so much build up around the Hawthorne Institute that went absolutely nowhere. But the fact that it was just her as a teen, underage drinking, and a complete accident, feels so real? Like, that is what would happen in real life. That would be devastating. But it also feels like a bit of a cop out with the mystery. I'm okay with the way the ghost kid was involved in this one and saving their lives at the end; I really enjoyed the twist of the other neighbor kid being the one who cut the tent and that the "haunting" was done by Andy, which I actually did call! But wow.
This one was a wild and twisty ride and is honestly unpredictable as a reader, I think. Not my favorite work he's written, but not my least favorite under this pen name either. The switching of the point of views for the past tense was also a bit distracting for me when it was Ethan, and I enjoyed it more when we saw other characters' POVs in the past tense that way. Also, nice to see some diverse characters, finally! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
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

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.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
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

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!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings