Thank you to the publisher for this copy - all opinions are my own.

HOLY HANNAH THIS BOOK. I have gotta say - I am not going to tell you a lot about this one, because far be it from me to ruin even one page of your fun. But what I will say is this: ⁣
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- I read this in one sitting, one night;⁣
- It has serious horror vibes;⁣
- Which led to me being exceptionally creeped out several times;⁣
- Which also led to me reconsidering my house ghost and how I should be nicer to him;⁣
- And gave me the best kind of throw back feels to my high school days of watching my fave slasher films on repeat (Scream anyone?!);⁣
- And also led to this getting 17/10 star’s on the Holy Shit Scale of Book Recommendation.⁣
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If this doesn’t make you immediately want to go get this book, then how about the glow in the dark cover?⁣
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And if after all of THAT you still don’t want to run and get your own copy then you are a heathen and we need to talk about your choices.⁣
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Just for the love of all things creepy, get this book. July reading list, made.

I don't read thrillers often because I am just so darn picky when it comes to books in that genre but I have read a couple of books by Riley Sagar before and yes I have liked the ones I have read so I decided to give this one a shot.

I have to say that I very much enjoyed this book. It is so well written and yes I was hooked. It left me second-guessing. Some people would find this book spooky but I didn't find it so spooky.

I do very much recommend it.

It there was ever was ever a twisty, edge of your seat thrill ride that even made me bite my nails a bit, this was it.

Baneberry Hall, a huge victorian estate with a dark past is located deep in the woods of Vermont. Twenty five years earlier when Maggie was just 5 years old, her parents Ewan and Jess purchased the house and after just spending three weeks living in it, they fled in the middle of the night never to return.

The parents separated and Ewan subsequently wrote a hugely successful tell all book about Baneberry Hall. The non fiction book was called, The House of Horrors. Maggie believed the book was largely fabricated as she didn't recall any of the unearthly happenings reported in the book, many of which had involved her. The house which she believed her father had sold years earlier remained vacant but, Maggie learns she has inherited the house as part of her deceased father's estate.

Maggie, now 30, renovates houses for a living, her plan is to return to Baneberry to renovate the Vermont "house of horrors" and list it for sale. As Maggie settles in, almost immediately, strange and frightening things begin to occur and, the more that happens, the more she begins to realize what her father wrote about the house is now true.

I really loved this book; it's so well crafted. The style alternates between chapters written by her father in "The House of Horrors" and the present day as Maggie works on restoring the house and tries to uncover its dark past. Home Before Dark is a creepy, page-turning delight. Read it!

Riley Sager keeps doing it!

This time it's about a haunted house. Maggie's life has been defined by her father's book about a couple of weeks they'd lived in a house of horrors. Even though she's one of the main characters, she can't remember a thing and knows her parents are telling lies about those days. However, she never knew how far the lies went until her father dies and she inherits that same house. What will going back to it reveal about her family?

I'm sure it was on purporse, but the beginning is almost a The Shining what-if. What if the main character had written a book but his son didn't remember at all the supernatural events in the Overlook? Doctor Sleep would have surely been different, as is Home Before Dark.

Maggie is alone in that house of horrors and as much as she doesn't believe in ghosts, the events since her arrival sure make her scared. It also made me. This isn't really a horror story like The Shining, it's actually a very well built thriller, bringing you to the edge with every discovery Maggie comes upon.

As for the storytelling, Sager opted to show us chapters of her father's book while we follow Maggie in the present. I'm not a big fan of the two-timeline trope, but it wasn't too bad for this book. It's also worth noting how easy it was to differentiate both of the character's voices. Their experiences in the house were also visibly different. Even not being a fan of this style, I enjoyed a lot the author's choice and manner of execution.

This was suspenseful and exciting. I do think the plot twist in the end was a little predictable and not so believable, but it was still a good ending—far better than how Sager's previous book explained everything. I'd even dare to say this was the best thriller I read this year so far.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

4 stars for the writing, 4.5 stars for how deeply this one engrossed me.

Now THIS is finally the Riley Sager book I've been waiting for! <i>Home Before Dark</i> sucked me in from the very first pages, and I probably would have finished this all in one sitting had I not been blurry-eyed at 3 am. I picked right back up the next morning, and I absolutely devoured this one.
<i>Home Before Dark</i> takes a slight departure from Sager's other three novels (all of which I rated 3 stars) as he ventures deeper into the paranormal world. Honestly, I hope he keeps on this path, because I enjoyed this one (particularly the ending) FAR more than the others!

In my review of Sager's last novel, <i> Lock Every Door</i>, I stated that "It's becoming apparent that Sager is likely just going to be a 3-star middle-of-the-road guy for me, and yet I am still rooting for him because I can see the potential buried in these tales. He does an excellent job of setting the scene in such a way that the location actually becomes a character in and of itself, and though his books tend to be a slow burn, I do always find myself wanting to know what happens next." This all holds true as <i> Home Before Dark</i> turns Baneberry Hall into a full-blown multilayered character that gripped my attention and had me wanting to learn ALL of its secrets. This one definitely fulfilled its potential, and I am looking forward to seeing what Sager writes next.

(Review can be found on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3420834226?)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing house for providing a review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Riley Sager novel is one of my favorite summer pastimes so I couldn’t wait to dig into this latest release.

This one is VERY different than the usual Sager thriller and, personally, it felt more like the horror genre than a thriller.

If you liked the Netflix series, The Haunting of Hill House, then this book is for you!!

It works off of a pretty similar premise. Maggie’s family owned an estate called Baneberry Hill that inspired her father to write a book detailing the horrors within the house.

When Maggie inherits the home, she isn’t worried because she was too young to remember the true stories and, frankly, she’s not a big believer in ghosts.

Too bad the ghosts don’t care what you believe in because her presence has secured her ride on another round of horrible hauntings and has reminded Maggie that maybe she *does* remember a few things.

This was as satisfying as any horror film although I did feel like the ending was a bit of a fizzle.

If you go into it knowing that though, I think you will really enjoy this one.

*4.5 rounded up! A great haunted house tale from thriller writer Riley Sager. When Maggie Holt's father dies, she learns she has inherited Baneberry Hall in Bartleby, Vermont, the vintage home she and her parents fled from when she was just five-years-old. Her father had written a best-selling book called 'House of Horrors' about their experiences that she has always felt ruined her life--she was the girl in that book! But she has no memory of the events described in the story and now twenty-five years later, she goes back to see if she can finally separate fact from fiction and learn the truth.

The story is told from Maggie's first person point of view but is interspersed with chapters from her father's book, which is a very effective way to build the horror. Are there still one or more malevolent spirits here who want to see Maggie dead? Creepy and fun read! Very atmospheric. Would you want to spend the night in Baneberry Hall?

I received an arc of this new novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager, a story within a story, is told by two narrators. In the present day, Maggie Holt inherits an old Victorian mansion in Bartleby, Vermont, called Baneberry Hall. A designer by trade, Maggie plans to fix up the house and sell it. The Holts lived there briefly when she was 5 years old about 25 years ago.

Her late father Ewan Holt immortalized the story of the house in his book, House of Horrors, which Maggie has always claimed was entirely from his imagination although it was billed as a true story. Chapters from his book are interlaced with chapters of Maggie’s story.

Convinced her father’s book is nothing but lies, she begins to doubt it when strange things start happening in the house as she sets out to rehabilitate it for sale. She immediately begins experiencing strange things at night, much like her father has claimed in his book. A morbid discovery in the kitchen ceiling changes everything for both Maggie and her father.

Riley Sager is a former journalist, editor, and graphic designer who previously published mysteries under his real name, Todd Ritter. A Pennsylvania native, Riley lives in Princeton, New Jersey, where he writes, reads, cooks, and attends movies.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting July 2, 2020.

I’d like to thank the Penguin Group-Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

If you are looking for a beach read--especially one during a pandemic--HOME BEFORE DARK fits the bill. Maggie Holt grew up in the shadow of Baneberry Hall -- a haunted house she lived in briefly as a five-year-old child and has defined her life so far. Now a house flipper and designer, Maggie inherits the place where she and her family lived the fateful summer that inspired her father's non-fiction memoir and overnight bestseller, HOUSE OF HORRORS. The "book within the book" detailed the time that Maggie and her parents, Ewan and Jess Holt, moved into a grand gothic home in Vermont and the tragedy that befell not only them, but all the former residents who contributed to the dark history of the house.

Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father's death and decides to get it ready to sell. However, she ignores her father's deathbed warning when he told her, "It's not safe there, Not for you." Her mother similarly pleads with Maggie to sell the house without setting foot in it. Maggie knew to never discuss "the Book" with her mother, even though neither one believed the stories contained within the bestseller--Jess even refused to take a dime from the book that she thought destroyed her family. But, Maggie needs to find out the real story, especially since she has no memories of the real-life HOUSE OF HORRORS and what happened within those walls.

Sager's book goes back and forth between "the Book" written by Ewan and Maggie's present day point of view. She is determined to figure out if the house was truly haunted and, if not, what actually happened to Maggie and her family that forced them to flee the house decades earlier. And why doesn't she have any recollection of the terrifying events that affected her entire life?

Home Before Dark is a thrilling read about the dark places that shape us, whether it is a house, a family, a town or a tragedy. Even if you read this book on a hot summer day, you won't be able to avoid the chills that are sure to run down your spine. Highly recommend!

I loved Home Before Dark. Is there a horror trope that Riley Sager can't handle? Loved the layers of the novel within the novel as well! It really added so much to the story. He's a can't-miss author now.

Another amazing story from this author! This book was a ghostly tale of a house that had a lot of murderous history and the families that lived there. I really love ghost stories and this one was awesome. I highly recommend it to everyone who loves a spooky tale with lots of twists and turns.

Twenty-five years ago, Maggie and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism. Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father’s book. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. But her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself—a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds. As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction. review: Anytime Riley Sager publishes a new book, I know I’m going to read it! Once again, his newest book Home Before Dark doesn’t disappoint! This compulsive psychological thriller is a true page turner and I absolutely devoured it. The premise reminded me a little bit of The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix and I was immediately hooked. This book is executed so well – you really almost get two books in one. One perspective is from Maggie during present day and the other perspective is from Ewan’s book, House of Horrors. This book is filled with twists, secrets, and surprises. If you like thrillers, suspense books or anything to do with paranormal activity, be sure to pick this one up ASAP! rating: 4.5 out of 5 ⭐️

This is probably my favorite Riley Sager book so far. The plot was fast-paced and kept me reading until I couldn't put it down. I loved how the point of view switched between the current day main character and the book written by her father, which doled out plot information a little at a time in a believable way, but how we were kept guess about which parts of the book were unreliable. The ending was satisfying, and I never saw it coming.

2 1/2 stars rounding to 3, I love a good scary story but this was just too similar to The Haunting of Hill House to not be predictable to me and was distracting for the same reason.

How do you take your coffee? I like mine ssssssssteamy…🐍⁣
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MY NEW FAVORITE SAGER BOOK.
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That’s right. I am so sorry The Last Time I Lied. I still love you but holy heck was this everything my creepy, unsettling, and campy haunted house story dreams are made of!⁣
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When Maggie returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir, she is determined to prove the house is not haunted by evil forces and that her father made it all up for money and fame. But what she ends up finding are secrets that may be even more scary and dangerous that what was written on those pages. ⁣
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Best part? It’s also a book within a book! It’s like two horror stories in one - a plethora of ghoulish goodies!! ⁣
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I purposely read this at night, in the dark, by myself. For full creep effect - I highly recommend this strategy. There are ghosts, and snakes, spooky dolls, and The Sound of Music… yes, it’s THAT scary! I may never get that song out of my head, and I’m not even a tiny bit mad about it.⁣

Special thanks to Dutton Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager is the first book I have ever read written by him. The hype behind the author's work does not disappoint. I love how Sager's writing is smooth. Home Before Dark captivated my mind effortlessly with its creepy and haunting characteristics.

I love how the plot is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. There is such an eerie, spooky undertone to the entire book that I, a huge fan of Hill House, was delighted. Sager keeps the suspense alive by adding so many twists and turns. His ability to write in so many creepy and haunting characteristics/situations will keep readers thoroughly entertained like the lantern that glows for no reason, the record player plays the same song at the same spot over and over again, the random graveyard in the back of the house, the fact that every one will forever be checking their coffee mug before they sip.

However, the ending falls a bit flat. It feels as if there are too many questions left open. A few (possibly too many) details need to be hammered out a bit but instead certain conversations are glossed over.

Overall, I will definitely recommend this book to other readers. It will be perfect for the month of October. Now, excuse me as I go through Sager's back list.

I loved this creepy book revolving around a haunted house. The book within a book concept was fun and I was curious the whole time as to whether Maggie's father told the truth, and if not, what had actually happened.

A book within a book is a hit or miss for me sometimes and it was a definite HIT for me in Home Before Dark. Combine that with some unreliable narrators, dual timelines and riveting pages that keep you flipping them until the wee hours.... and you get another winning book from Sager.

How comfortable would you be about inheriting a house that was a part of your family, considered haunted and which your father's famous book is about.... that can't possibly be true? Old houses scare the begeezuz out of me but I also love that rush. I'm not entirely sure I could handle one by myself.... and Sager gives us some flesh crawling moments.

"You are sixteen... going on....." I cannot get this damn song out of my head now! Grrr

Sager is an autobuy author and I am always thrilled to see a new book come out. Run thriller vibes along with some horror tones, and I am one happy girl. While ghost stories are hit or miss for me, I am always attracted to these reads. And if Sager write it, I'm gonna read it.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager is a ghost story set in an old rambling farmhouse in Vermont. Twenty-five years ago Maggie's parents, Ewan and Jess, bought an old farmhouse. Ewan planned to write in his new study while his wife taught at a nearby school. Maggie was just five years old at the time and has very few memories of their twenty days stay in the house. Ewan wrote a book detailing the horror reigned upon them by the ghosts of the house and Maggie has had to live with being known for having lived in a haunted house. She's now come back to the house after the death of her father to figure out what really went down when she was a child. Lots of creepy adventures in the book. Read and enjoy!

My favorite book of the year! How can an author create two parallel time lines, an incredibly eerie setting and a mystery that keeps you up all night all rolled into such an exciting page turner? Riley Sager just leaped to the top of my favorite author lists! Been a fan since Final Girls, but get more excited each time I see a new book is on the horizon. I can't recommend Riley Sager, Home Before Dark & all his books enough! Our library staff & patrons all fall in love with his books!