Reviews tagging 'Dementia'

Mitt i natten by Riley Sager

74 reviews

emotional mysterious reflective 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: Yes

I thought this was Riley Sager's best novel!

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A bit too predictable for my taste, especially considering it’s Riley Sager. I did appreciate that
the ending was more plain old tragedy than some far off supernatural thing like in house across the lake.
but at the same time far too many coincidental things happening at once for my liking.

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emotional mysterious 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

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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: Yes

Quick Synopsis:  Ethan is back at his childhood home 30 years after his best friend Billy disappeared from his backyard. Ethan, still having nightmares from that night, begins to think Billy is trying to communicate with him.

Quick Review:  I almost wish the book had supernatural elements, I think that would have made the ending more satisfying. I figured out part of what had happened to Billy, by about halfway through the book. I know Riley Sager's books tend to be ones I either love or I just feel meh about, but this one was a meh book. I think part of the problem was Ethan wasn't that likable.

Narrator Rating: 4.0 stars
  The narrator did an excellent job, though some of his tonal shifts for the flashbacks were irritating. 

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dark mysterious slow-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

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dark mysterious sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

This was a tearjerker for me. A lot of twists I didn’t predict (and one I did), although you may figure things out more quickly. It felt a bit long but overall very enjoyable. 

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot

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emotional mysterious slow-paced
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This picks up about 50% of the way through and gets better at 80%... But I wouldn't say it ever gets good. Too much kid focus in a vague, I-am-an-adult-but-an-unorepared-for-responsibility way that didn't add meaningfully to the character of the kids themselves. I found the flashback chapters much more interesting than the present day chapters. Some of the final reveals are things I expected, but a lot of them were surprises. The flashforward ending is saccharine and overly simplified.

If this is generally considered a "good" Riley Sager book, then I have no interest in reading another one.

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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: No

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

@riley.sager does it again!
The Middle of the Night tells the story of a ten year old boy in 1994 vanished in the middle of the night from his best friends backyard. The only clue is a huge slash cut into the side of the tent they were sleeping in. Thirty years later, Ethan is back in his childhood home and it’s time to find out what really happened to Billy. 

This book takes place just a few years off from when I was sleeping outside at my own friends houses which made it a little extra scary! I regularly slept with one friend in particular outside on her trampoline in the middle of nowhere during our summers off. Mix that with the return to a childhood home which always feels a little bittersweet to me. 
I love a good mystery and this one had a couple twists that actually made me gasp or “Oh!!” Out loud in surprise which is not often easy to do. 

The one thing that bothers me (if anyone wants to discuss!!) is that a few weeks ago, Riley posted a reel with a timeline of all his books. There was a blank space for 1954 insinuating something is supposed to happen in 1954. I assumed that was this book before there are 50s cars on the cover of this book but nothing happened in the 50’s! Riley, why are those cars there!? What does it mean? Is a 50’s book coming!? Will they be connected!? I need more answers! 😂

Great novel and I recommend to any mystery or thriller lover. It is about a missing child, but there is nothing graphic in it for anyone wondering about triggers. It’s more reflective and mysterious.

@duttonbooks #middleofthenight #mysterynovels #thrillernovels #missingchildren #whathappenedtobilly #paranormalornot #junereleases #junereads #bookreview #rileysager #autobuyauthor

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I absolutely loved this book! One of my favorites yet.  It was eerie and perfect for a warm, rainy summer night! The plot twists definitely left me shocked! 

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