The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
⭐⭐

Emma Davis seems to have her life together. She has a promising career as a painter, and she's considered an up-and-coming artist in the NYC art scene. No one but Emma knows that beneath each of her paintings are hidden three missing teenage girls. Having been the last person to see them alive, Emma is haunted by her past and these three girls, with whom she spent a summer vacation at Camp Nightingale. On the 15th anniversary of the incident, the camp is reopening, and Emma gets the opportunity to return as a camp counselor. Determined to solve the mystery of her missing friends, Emma must face the guilt and the ghosts that have followed her all these years. 

I really enjoy Riley Sager's books, but this one just didn't work for me! I felt like it was a hodgepodge of different thriller elements thrown together, and unfortunately, that approach didn't put a cohesive story together. Every bit of angst and tension was put onto the page, even when it didn't fit the narrative or mesh with the characterization/logic of the story.

I would've enjoyed more of an investigation on Emma's part, more history, and more realistic relationships and characters. The flashbacks were the most interesting parts of the book, so I wish they had been lengthier with more depth. I feel like 300-400 pages is just too short for a fully realized, immersive thriller with decent characterization and a well thought out ending (although those are thoughts for another time lol). 

The ending also left me wanting more as well! The first twist was very predictable for me, though the second twist definitely surprised me. Even so, I didn't really enjoy the ending. I felt like it was a little forced. 

Overall, this book was a bunch of pointless chaos and the ending felt like it was supposed to be a tidy lil' bow, but I just really wanted more. The Last Time I Lied just wasn't a book for me! And that's okay! Not all books can be winners. Lots of people loved this one, though, so if you're interested in the synopsis, check it out and give it a chance! It just didn't leave much of an impression on me!

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

 *TRIGGER WARNINGS* alcoholism, addiction, domestic violence, themes of death

The House Across the Lake
by Riley Sager
⭐⭐⭐

Casey is a recently widowed actress with a heavy reliance on alcohol. When her alcoholism becomes front page news, Casey's mother sends her to the family lake house to break her habit, which also happens to be the very lake her husband drowned in. One day, Casey rescues her new neighbor - gorgeous supermodel Katherine - from drowning. Casey and Katherine become fast friends, and as Casey's alcoholism and loneliness worsens, she takes to watching the house across the lake, in which Katherine lives with her husband, Tom. One night, Casey witnesses the couple have a fight and the next day, Katherine is missing. Thus begins Casey's twisted journey to finding her missing friend.

The House Across the Lake was a really fun thriller! I enjoyed it for what it was, and Casey's sense of humor was killer! I loved the idea of women protecting one another and Casey's devotion to finding out the truth behind Katherine's disappearance. The setting of the lake was really fun and eerie, and I was a big fan of the twist and the ending!

I rated this book 3 stars because, despite really enjoying it, the portrayal of Casey's alcoholism was kind of lighthearted and unserious. Riley Sager isn't the most character driven of authors, which is fine, but I would've appreciated a darker, more realistic approach to addiction. I also am never a fan of male authors having their female leads give a feminist monologue - it just doesn't sit very well with me. 

Overall, The House Across the Lake was a fun thriller perfect for this time of year! The twist and ending really worked for me as well. If you're looking for a twisted thriller, I definitely recommend this one!

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
⭐⭐⭐

Maggie Holt doesn't remember what caused her family to run away from their newly purchased manor when she was a little kid, but the book her father wrote about their paranormal experiences there has certainly haunted her for the last 25 years. Home Before Dark introduces us to Maggie right after her father dies and she inherits the very house that has practically ruined her life. As she enters Baneberry Hall to renovate and resell it, Maggie attempts to uncover the truth behind her family's departure all those years ago - because she's pretty sure her dad was lying about the ghosts... right?

So many people enjoyed this book, and I can totally see why! Baneberry Hall is practically a time capsule (or tomb) and the spooky/ghosty vibes are strong in this one! I loved the atmosphere of the story and the house itself was beautifully built by Riley Sager. I also really enjoyed following Maggie as she retraces her past and tries to connect the dots and dredge up memories that are better left forgotten.

There were a few things that detracted from the story, however. Firstly, the story takes a while to begin. Nothing really starts popping off until the halfway point, which isn't necessarily a negative thing, but the ending is so suspenseful, and I wish the beginning had been that way as well. The twist(s) at the end was great, though a tiny bit predictable. Riley Sager is a pro at the "double twist" endings though! Maggie's character development was very well done, though the one dimensionality of the supporting characters left a lot to be desired. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a lot! Riley Sager puts together amazing thrillers and this book is perfect for Fall/Halloween season! I definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a fun, creepy story to jump into!

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Survive the Night by Riley Sager
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Surviving the Night was a rollercoaster ride worth taking! Charlie’s best friend Maddy was murdered by the so-called “Campus Killer.” Charlie, lost in grief and guilt, chooses to leave university and return home. Feeling like she needs to flee as quickly as possible, Charlie enlists a stranger’s help to make the long drive home. However, the strange man that took Charlie’s offer so eagerly could be a dangerous psycho or a knight in shining armor. 

Thrillers these days, whether novels, film, or television, struggle to create a story that has depth, emotion, and real suspense - it’s a difficult genre to find success in. Oftentimes, we rely on cheap thrills, random twists, and frequent plot holes in order to create and maintain suspense. I was so relieved while reading Survive the Night that this book did not fall victim to this trend! 

I must be honest and say that in the beginning, as we meet Charlie, I was very skeptical. Immediately we learn about her past, which is riddled with trauma. Without spoiling anything, I will say that Charlie has a very interesting coping mechanism for when her brain is overloaded by stress. It is a coping mechanism that causes her to float in and out of reality. For the first 100 pages, I felt very neutral about the story. My feelings were that the characterization and portrayal of mental illness and trauma responses was rather dramatized. By 150 pages in, my feelings changed and I was hooked. 

Every decision, twist, and plot device in this story is intentional. The suspenseful energy is maintained until the very end and the character development gives this story the emotional depth that thrillers often lack. The ending was exactly what this story needed. It was well thought out and planned - every twist made sense and aided in enhancing the narrative as well as the experience for the reader. 

Survive the Night is a highly recommended book! It was absolutely superb! Great characters, great twists, great story, and great writing. I am definitely looking forward to further exploring the rest of Riley Sager’s catalogue!