This was such a fun book to read! I literally could not put it down! This particular thriller was spooky and had lots of mind-bending twists. I did call a few of the twists early on, but there were others that definitely surprised me. I really enjoyed the alternating chapters between our main character Maggie's perspective and the chapters from her father's book and how those chapters would play off of each other. If you were a fan of The Haunting of Hill House or just a fan of thrillers in general I highly recommend this book! 4.5/5 stars

I think this is my favorite Riley Sager book I've read (which I now realize is all of them). Something about old houses and family secrets make a perfect mystery book to me. Wonderfully crafted, with twists and turns to the very end. I thought I figured out and 2 pages later everything was flipped. Highly recommend!

In "preparation" for Home Before Dark, I went ahead and reread all the other Sager books. So I was definitely ready to get spooked or thrilled or whatever the case may be.

At first, I really felt like Home Before Dark had serious Haunting of Hill House vibes, and throughout at least half the book, I was reading at night, so I completely creeped myself out. It's absolutely a ghost story, about people stuck in the past, and maybe even trying to move on. I loved this one immensely, and it was so different from Sager's other books. The writing is great. There's a story within a story that's so good and eerie, I almost couldn't read while I was sitting in the dark. Long story short, I didn't want the book to end.

I know it'll be another year, at least, before Sager has another book, but I am ready. He's one of my favorite authors, and I have to be honest: I love being scared by him.

Home Before Dark comes out 6.30.2020.

5/5 Stars

After reading two Sager books and becoming an instant fan, I was absolutely thrilled when I found out he would be publishing a new book this year. As expected, he pulled through and created yet another can’t put down and giving me all the nightmares story! This book really gave me Hill House vibes and I kept picturing the man with the top hat the wholeee time. It took me me a little bit longer to read than his other books but that was only because I could only read it during the day ( should definitely come with a warning to only read during day time hours)!! I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending but I still really enjoyed the book.

This is easily one of my favorite books of the year so far. I'm a big Sager fan, and this might be his ballsy novel yet. It's so different from his other books, yet keeps to many of the same tropes, even reinventing them. I'm a scaredy cat with ghost stories, and I was definitely a bit more afraid of the dark while reading this one. I loved the exploration of family relationships in this one. The queer subtext around the main character felt a bit awkward, as if it should have been plainly text, and that's my only "complaint" here.

Riley Sager has been on my annual "watch list" since I read Final Girls the first week after it's release. Every year I am surprised at how one person can change tone, feel, subgenre the way he can with each subsequent book. It really is impressive.
Home Before Dark is no exception. Beautifully told, if a little slowly paced in the beginning, this book is a definite must read. I would recommend it to mystery/thriller and horror fans. I cannot wait to read more reactions after the books release!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for fair review.

Man, I can’t get enough of Riley Sager’s thrillers! This has a meta aspect, kind of like Final Girls.

A book within a book, the story switches back and forth between a “nonfiction” ghost story written by a man whose family apparently went through an Amityville-esque haunted house experience, and in a more current timeline, the perspective of a woman who was the child featured in the book and must return to the house when she inherits it.

Truly scary, action-packed, and a twist ending I didn’t see coming.

This book is unlike his other books – much more of a ghost story than a thriller to me. I loved that this was a book within a book as well as a then and now story telling. I find that books written like this offer a better perspective and I devoured all of the extra background information that was given because of it.

I originally rated this as a 4 star, but after having time to let it sink in and think about it, it’s been demoted to a 3 star. Let me explain why I removed two stars for this one (all of his others have been 5 stars for me). As my friend and I discussed, I don’t believe in ghosts so I think that’s where the book fell a little flat for me. I found myself laughing throughout the ghost parts because they were so absurd, and I’m pretty sure that was not the intent when he was writing the book. I hated the ending and it definitely did not come together the way I would have expected for a Sager. This could be a classic case of “expectations lead to disappointments” and I know I’m in the minority here – so I do recommend you still pick this one up and decide for yourself.

Holy crap, this was creepy AF.

Scary books don't usually actually scare me. Scary movies, definitely. But it takes a lot for a book to actually creep me out so much that I won't read it at night. Home Before Dark was one of those. I definitely couldn't read this before bed. There's nothing like hauntings and paranormal shit to thoroughly freak me the hell out. Because how do you fight a ghost?! I'd be screwed.

I loved the dual "timelines" and different perspectives from Maggie and her father, Ewan. It was uniquely portrayed in Maggie's current first-person perspective, and Ewan's past perspective in the form of the book he had written about their family life in their short time at Baneberry Hall.

Just when I thought I guessed what was going on or thought I had it figured out, it turns out I was wrong, again. I love not being able to guess what's going on, and Sager succeeded. I only have one book left of Sager's to read, and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

*sip* turn page *gasp* chug a little drink, turn page *repeat*

This was my routine as I read Home Before Dark and it was so fun. Cheers to @rileysager delivering another book full of mystery and suspense. This book kept me turning the pages and provided the shocks that I crave from my thrillers.

The book alternates between current times and the past as told through excerpts of a book describing a family’s experience while living at the infamous Baneberry Hall. I really liked this format and thought it rounded out the story well. It was a bit of a slower start, but things pick up as the story unfolds.

There were some similarities to that of the Netflix version of Haunting of Hill House.
Sager gives the Amityville Horror story credit for inspiring this novel, but it seems that there were multiple points of inspiration that came together into a perfectly unique melting pot of a haunted house story, and it was executed so well.

I have read and loved all of Sager’s books, and this is now among my top favorites of his work. I also loved spotting the couple Stephen King references throughout the book. That tiny element made my Constant Reader heart happy.
4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5 for this review. LOVED it!

Each new Riley Sager book is better than the last! This one gave me CHILLS. There are some scenes that veer closer to horror than suspense (the story is set in a haunted house), but they fit perfectly with the narrative. I was on the edge of my seat after just a few chapters!

What a book! I absolutely LOVED Sager's latest story - Home Before Dark. It was freaking scary and fantastic!! I couldn't sleep at night after reading this book. I found myself hooked right from the start. The suspense and the thrills - wow! Talk about storytelling at its very best!!

Riley Sager is an exceptional writer and I will continue to read all of his books. This was yet another one of his books that made me scared to read at night by myself because I felt the creepiness seeping out of the book and into my room. I also was getting some SERIOUS Haunting of Hill House vibes and that series creeped me out too so it was only fitting.

Imagine growing up knowing your father is 'famous' for writing a book about a time in your life that isn't true. Not only are you in it and it's about a time when you were 5 and living in a haunted house, but you have no recollection whatsoever of this place. Must be fake right? Once your dad dies, you discover you inherit this home so you decide to go visit, fix up the house and sell it. But not before trying to find out what happened 25 years ago that made your family flee the house in the dead of night after only 21 days of living there.

This book takes you from Maggie's present day POV and her father, Ewan's, past POV from his book. As you shuffle between the time zones, you start to get the sense that Baneberry Hall was never meant for occupants. Sager gives us suspense, murder, snakes, ghouls, supernatural and heart palpitating murmurs from this read. You will reach the end and think you know what happened, but you don't. And then you will again think you know what happened, but then again you don't! Prepare for a whiplash thriller of a ride!

Maggie Holt has never believed the stories about Baneberry Hall. After all, she lived through the supposed story that is the focus of her father's book, House of Horrors, and she has no memory of any of the things he wrote. Maggie has held a long simmering resentment against her parents and House of Horrors. In fact, she's certain the book was a lie meant simply to drum up attention and money. Money she certainly benefited from but attention she never wanted.

The story is that after just about three weeks, her family abandoned the house out of desperation, having been plagued by ghosts from the day they took up residence in the old home. And certainly the history of the house lends itself to haunting! But Maggie is convinced her father's story is blatantly untrue. Unfortunately she was never able to get him to reveal the truth and now it's too late.

She was surprised, however, to learn that her father had never sold the house. And that, as his sole heir, the house now belongs to her. Maggie plans to fix up the place and put it on the market to be done with it. But not before she learns what really happened all those years ago.

Home Before Dark finds the adult Maggie Holt troubled and her relationship with her parents strained. Which is a shame because her father dies before she can even consider trying to mend that bond.

To his dying day, Maggie's father swore by the words he wrote in the book that made him famous. The book that purports to be the truth about why Maggie and her family fled a home they'd lived in for just under a month, leaving everything they owned behind and never to return. Or so Maggie thought. As it turns out, her father did return, once every year.

Chapters of her father's book are interspersed throughout the story, giving the reader something of a parallel view of the events at Baneberry Hall: Maggie's arrival somewhat coincides with her family's arrival in House of Horrors and Maggie's own experiences at the house are something of a mirror of her father's written experiences. It's intentional considering Maggie herself compares her experiences to those laid out in the book, which even causes her to begin doubting her steadfast conviction that the book isn't real.

Riley Sager's latest is a great twist on the classic haunted house tale. In fact, if each new release so far has been a play on classic horror films, Home Before Dark is definitely inspired by The Amityville Horror (which is mentioned in the book). As a huge fan of horror, I appreciate all of the nods towards the classics but also enjoy the fact that Sager puts his own stamp on the classic tropes.

My initial thoughts are OMG because this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading and I loved it so much.

What I loved: It takes a lot to scare me in a book and I was thoroughly creeped out the whole time I was reading in the best way. Definitely not for the faint of heart and probably don’t read this in bed at night with the lights off. Or do because it makes it a great reading experience. True to Riley Sager’s form, it’s filled with twists and turns you won’t see coming. I was hooked from the start and loved that this was a ghosty mystery with suspense that builds and builds. My heart was racing. I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed Maggie as a character and I was right along with her wanting to know the truth.

What didn’t work for me: Honestly I loved this so much. I wish the ending was maybe a bit less abrupt, since the end scene is very quick. But I thought the epilogue tied things up nicely. With so many characters you don’t get much exploration into relationships or super developed detail about many, but that wasn’t necessary for me to understand everyone and their motives, so not as needed in a thriller type book.

Overall, this is definitely my top mystery of the year and this will be difficult to beat by any others I read. I would most definitely recommend it to thriller/mystery fans that love suspense and don’t mind being thoroughly creeped out.

This is my 3rd Riley Sager book, and it definitely won't be my last. I started with The Last Time I Lied (which I gave 3 stars), then Lock Every Door (which I loved and have 5 stars), and now Home Before Dark (which I'm giving 4 stars to). The beginning 2/3 of the book feels a little repetitive (going back and forth between the novel and the plot), but the end was worth it!

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager: A Review

Where do I even begin with this one? While I’ve only read one of Riley Sager’s previous works, this book had all of the components I have come to expect from him. The creep factor was exceptionally high, so much so that I couldn’t read it past 9pm for fear that I wouldn’t sleep.

All Maggie wants is the truth. Even on his deathbed, her father refused to give it to her. Her mother, still among the living, was no better.

Upon her father’s death and subsequent reading of his will, Maggie discovers she is now in possession of the one thing that has haunted her all these years: Baneberry Hall.

Under the guise of fixing it up to sell and be done with it once and for all, Maggie returns to the remote Vermont town and, in her quest for the truth, faces down the demons that have been plaguing her for twenty-five years.

Full of drama, secrets, and things that go bump in the night, Home Before Dark is the perfect addition to Riley Sager’s already impressive list of thrillers. Highly recommend to fans of things that are unbelievable and unexplainable.

So good! I have loved every single Riley Sager book I've read, and this is no different. I spent most of the last few pages with my mouth hanging open in shock. I didn't see it coming at all, and that's the best kind of creepy book! Highly recommend this and all of Sager's books for anyone who likes thrillers, horror, and twisty endings.

Let me preface by saying, I do not like ghost stories. Also, I will read anything by Riley Sager.

I absolutely loved this story and how it was written. A book within a book.. I love this literary mechanism so very much.

Maggie Holt is heir to a legacy. One she has tried to avoid since she was 5. He’d rather wrote a bestselling book about Baneberry Hall and the ghosts and paranormal activity her family witnessed whilst living there.
Only Maggie doesn’t remember any of it. So she assumes her father made it all up for monetary reasons.
In the opening chapter we find out that her father had passed away and also that he never sold Baneberry Hall, so she inherits it,
She sets off to settle the score and find out what really went on in that house all those years ago.

I love how different this was for Sager, I think I love when extremely talented writers show their skills by veering from formula.
Thank you so much to Dutton books , Netgalley and Riley sager for my review copy

After her father's death, Maggie has become the owner of Banebury Hall - a very large and old mansion where her family once resided for 20 days. She returns there with the main goal of restoring the old home in order to sell it. Her secondary goal is to find out the truth about what truly happened there and why her family left in a rush so soon after moving in without any of their possessions. The only reference Maggie has is a book her father wrote about the home, which she regards as lies. Once there, she starts to notice some strange things occurring - almost like the house has a mind of its own! Will she be able to unveil the secrets of the house and her past before more destruction occurs?

I have read all of Sager's books and this one is BY FAR my favorite that he has written! There is a solid base and good character development. Super creepy scenes with plot twists galore - my mouth dropped open multiple times in shock. Read it around Halloween, read it now, read it whenever, just read it!! You will not regret it.