Riley, you just don't know when to stop, do you?

I've got to hand it to him, he knows how to write a gripping novel. I constantly wanted to be reading this to figure out the big mystery at the end and let me tell you; I was terribly disappointed by what was revealed. This turned out to be 10% thriller and 90% a commentary on alcohol abuse. which doesn't make for a very exciting novel. Add in a supernatural element for your twist and you have yourself one of the worst thrillers I've ever read.

Hopefully Riley Sager can redeem himself in his next book.

This was my most anticipated read for the year, and what a disappointment. I found this to be sloppy compared to Sager's normal mastery of suspense. While we still get the usual unreliable narrator, it's in a completely different direction than previous books. I could not find myself caring about Casey and the character development was weak. The first half of this book mirrored The Woman in the Window so heavily that I found it difficult to get seriously invested. While I didn't hate it, I also didn't love it, which says a lot as Sager has consistently been all 5 star reads for me.

Okay, what the hell was that?
Seriously.

To say it bordered on ridiculous might be a bit intense because this is fiction after all, but toward the last quarter of the book, is where I lost it. That twist is almost laughable I had to read it again just to make sure I've understood it. This has been a huge disappointment because Sager is one of my "auto-buy/auto-request" authors.

To give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he's trying something different, but boy did it not pay off.

[Disclaimer: The next line has a little spoiler in it]

I'd still wait for the next book but I'm really hoping he foregoes this "supernatural element" experimenting.

Thanks, @Netgalley, and @PenguinGroup for the ARC of this book.
To be published on 21st June 2022.

Ahh, I am so disappointed to say that this one was very "meh" for me. After not loving Survive the Night I was hoping to love this one, but sadly, it fell flat for me.

The premise of this drew me right in - a secluded lake house, a main character with a troublesome past, and lots of secrets. But once I started reading, I could tell I wasn't going to love it.

Our main character is just another woman who is unreliable because she drinks too much, and I really think this trope is overdone. I feel like I've read so many books with a female MC who is an alcoholic. There were so many descriptions of her wanting a drink, making a drink, getting drunk and then feeling sick the next day.

I saw some reviews saying this story had a supernatural element to it, and I was excited for it because I loved Home Before Dark. But unfortunately I just don't think it was executed correctly. I wanted more background, more build up to what was happening and that didn't happen. It was explained away far too easily and quickly at the very end.

I also got MAJOR Layla by Colleen Hoover vibes from this. Anyone else?

I'll continue to read what Riley Sager releases just because I know he's popular for a reason, but this one wasn't my favorite compared to others.

After reading Final Girls and Lock Every Door, I was excited to read Riley Sager next book! The House Across the Lake was a great read. It was not my favorite book by Sager, but am happy I had the opportunity to read it and will continue reading books by him.

New releases from Riley Sager tend to be must-reads for me in the summer. I am sad to report that this wasn't my favorite Riley Sager novel. I found it uncomfortable to read about Casey's problematic drinking. I found the action lacking. Oddly, with that said, I think this story would make a great movie. I can imagine the binocular scenes to be particularly compelling, so well done to Sager on that count. All of that said, this was a quick read with a satisfactory ending, so while it's not top of my list, it was still enjoyable.

There wasn't a lot I liked about this story. I got tired of reading about Casey Fletcher's drinking on just about EVERY. SINGLE. PAGE. of this book. I also could not understand why she would let her mother talk her into staying at her lake place after her husband had died there. Why dredge up those memories and give Casey more reasons to drink every day and on every page? And then that weird twist with her husband towards the end? Meh. I enjoy reading thrillers/suspense novels but this one didn't do it for me.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Excellent writing and telling of a story reminiscent of Rear Window. It was a bit slow at first but really got going and I flew through the book. The twists were fantastic.

This would make an amazing film. I loved the setting and the set-up of the novel is pitch-perfect. Some odd creative choices in the middle but it ended strongly.

Riley Sager is one of the best authors when it comes to writing psychological thrillers with the most unexpected twists! That's no different with this one. I inhaled The House Across the Lake and didn't want to put it down! I know for sure that so many readers will feel the same and this one will be a hit this summer!

4.5 ⭐️
What a ride!!! I was feeling down as I needed a thriller to mess with my mind 😆 Well, so glad I got the chance to read this one early. Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was my second book by Riley Sager!! Loved this story. It kept my mind reeling and excited to see where this was going!! It was creepy and twisty, just the way I like my thrillers. I didn’t rate it a 5 ⭐️ as there was one thing I wasn’t a fan of, but only because of personal preference. Overall awesome read and hope you add this to your TBR asap! I know I will be adding more of his books to mine.

Hits stores June 21, 2022

Riley Sager’s latest novel The House Across the Lake may be one of his best novels yet. He continues to satisfy his readers with his plot twists, fascinating characters and spooky settings. The novel follows Casey Fletcher, a widowed actress who has escaped to her family’s Vermont lake house after enduring some horrible publicity and needing a break from the relentless paparazzi. She spends her days drinking plenty of bourbon, thinking about her dead husband, Len, and using her binoculars to spy on her famous neighbors, Tom and Katherine Royce, who live in the house across the lake. Casey is fascinated by the couple: Tom, a social media innovator and Katherine, a former supermodel and current philanthropist.

Casey saves Katherine from drowning in the lake one day and the two become friends. As Casey gets to know Katherine better and keeps watching the couple, she sees that their marriage is not as perfect as it seems. When Katherine mysteriously disappears and provides no further contact, Casey suspects Tom of possibly murdering his wife. The novel could have strictly followed the played-out story of the guilty husband, but there is so much more to this story than that. I was shocked when the novel took an unexpected turn, but the clues are there if you look hard enough for them.

The novel also presents many suspects, such as Casey’s other neighbors on the lake such as the attractive, former cop Boone and the writer, Eli. Lake Greene itself is something of a character, too, with its history and mysteries. The protagonist, Casey, is a deeply flawed character but you can’t help rooting for her and wanting to see her fix her train wreck of a life and solve the mystery of Katherine’s disappearance. You will not be disappointed by the novel’s ending; I felt satisfied by how Sager wrapped up everything. Do yourself a favor and read Sager’s The House Across the Lake. It is the perfect psychological thriller to read this summer.

I am a big fan of most of Riley Sager's work, and this one managed yet again to impress me! This one is probably the most unique compared to his other books and I loved it. As someone who spent most of her spare time growing up at the lake, sitting around bonfires and listening to ghost stories, The House Across the Lake had the perfect spooky atmosphere for me! The characters in this story are all very charismatic, and I can truly say I didn't see where he was going with the story! While I'm not really a fan of the trope of having an unreliable narrator due to alcohol, this one was really well done.

Another winner from Sager! And easily one of my top thrillers of the year thus far. You definitely want this one on your radar for a spooky summer read.

I am so disappointed. Riley Sager used to be an auto-buy author for me but now it seems he is just getting by on name recognition, because frankly, this book is the perfect example of lazy writing. Take one SUPER OVERUSED trope (an alcoholic woman as an unreliable narrator--wow, so fresh, so unique--so much sarcasm) and add to it a twist ending that was previously done in a much better fashion (Sarah Pinborough's Behind Her Eyes) and you have this book. The hallmarks of Sager are there--the writing is solid and the novel is definitely atmospheric, but I'm just so disappointed that he's now relying on this terrible, overused trope. A huge disappointment.

****Fast-paced, roller coaster ride of twists and turns***

Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of bourbon, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple living in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing - a tech innovator, Tom is rich, and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.

One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other - and the longer Casey watches - it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage isn’t as perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyeurism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession, and how looks can be very deceiving.

The newest book by Riley Sager. WOW!!!, This book completely changed direction when I least expected it to! I did not want to stop reading!
The Main character Casey does become a little annoying with the excessive amount of alcohol she consumes I tried very hard to like her but it was a struggle!
I really didn't see any of the plot twists coming they were a shock when they did!

I haven't always been a lover of Sagers books but the most recent 3 haven't disappointed and this one has slid into my second favorite after Home Before Dark. I Would 100% recommend this one if you are looking for a rollarcoaster ride thriller!

This book is, as is usual with Sager, compulsively readable, and it's much better than his offering last year, which I could not finish. That being said, the requisite twist(s) here were freaking hilarious--props of a sort (I guess?) to him for going there for this one, though I feel like now that he's done this, he can't really do it again? (Or at least he can't with such hilarious/out-of-left-field effect?) IDK, but I was almost crying laughing as I finished it, and that's not even mentioning the FINAL final twist...absolutely bonkers.

An interesting and engaging tale, compiled of several twists and a splash of supernatural!

Casey is drying out - she is recovering from the terrible loss of her husband and the resulting drunk escapades that followed and barred her from Broadway, for now. She is living day to day in her famous actress mother and aunt's cabin located in a secluded lake town. By chance, she meets a very famous and very retired model and her husband living across the lake. She slowly becomes fascinated with watching the couple via binoculars as she suspects there may be more than meets the eye.

There are thrills and chills and this domestic thriller + supernatural ghost tale is a hit! Sager is an excellent writer and you will feel like you too, are on a long needed vacation on the lake. If you like your thrillers with a bit of supernatural pizazz, love a domestic mystery, or just love a twisty twisty story, than The House Across The Lake is for you!
#penguin #dutton #netgalley #netgalleyreads #TheHouseAcrossTheLake

Wow. Okay.

Let me talk about Riley Sager’s new book.

The setting is perfect. There’s something about lakes and big houses that make the perfect setting for a creepy story.

The first 70 % were SO slow that I was confused. I couldn't believe Riley Sager was writing a mediocre domestic thriller that was barely creepy. It’s just not his style.

And then I got to 71%.

And things got wild.
Like, really wild.

It took a turn that I didn't see coming and I was mind blown. And then I read the remaining 30% in 20 minutes because it’s impossible to put down.

On one hand, I liked what he did there. Create this slow and redundant story and then out of sudden he throws the reader to another direction - and let me say, not everyone will like this turn! I predict people will be disappointed by it.

On the other hand, I wish it had picked up a little sooner. Like at 50 % ish.

**4.5-stars rounded up**

Casey Fletcher is a NYC-based actress, who having grown up in the industry, is used to a lot of drama. Unfortunately for Casey, after suffering a personal tragedy, she makes a mistake many people have made before her. She turns to the bottle to numb her pain.

Initially, she's still able to function somewhat, but she's spiraling fast, head-first into the NYC pavement. Luckily, the paparazzi is there to capture her descent for the whole world to see. ((read with heavy sarcasm))
Casey's mother, in an ill-advised effort to help her daughter, ships her off to their Vermont lake house, because we all know being secluded in the middle of nowhere on a lake will make you quit drinking.

Frankly, Casey could use a break from the city anyway, so she doesn't put up much of a fight. Her mother thinks since Casey doesn't have a car there, she won't be able to get alcohol, but the friendly neighbor who is making her grocery runs keeps her fully stocked. At the lake house, Casey struggles just as much as in the city. It is the last place she was with her husband and the root of her misery.

Drinking her days away, Casey is obviously not in a good head space. She struggles to concentrate on anything, or remain focused, that is until she begins to utilize the family binoculars. Across the lake is a massive modern home recently purchased by an uber-wealthy couple, Tom and Katherine Royce. Tom, a successful businessman and Katherine, a stunning former model, give Casey plenty to focus on.

After a shocking encounter on the lake brings Casey and Katherine together, the two women begin a tentative friendship. The more the women chat and get to know one another, the more clear it becomes to Casey that all is not well in the Royce household.

Not long after, Katherine suddenly vanishes. Casey, having witnessed some very suspicious behaviors from the couple before, thinks violence may have been involved. She doesn't believe Katherine just up and left of her own volition. Casey becomes obsessed with revealing the truth, but at what cost?

Y'all know, I have been itching to get my hands on this release and it did not disappoint. With his signature-style, Riley Sager has spun another web of intrigue so delicious even Alfred Hitchcock would be giving it two thumbs up!

I loved the modern-Rear Window vibes and the setting was fantastic. Having Casey being on her own, in the house that literally haunted her just by being there, it felt so claustrophobic and unsettling. It can be tough sometimes being on your own, but Casey being alone at that house was taking it to a whole new level of isolation. Sager paced out the reveals of the 'before' perfectly, in my opinion. It kept me so interested.

I also really enjoyed, not just Casey as a main character, but all her interactions and musings involving the Royces. They certainly kept her mind occupied, at least for a little while. There were additional side characters, two men in particular, that added a lot to the story as well. They were also residing on the lake at the time that Casey was there and I felt they both added in their own way to the drama unfolding. One was a solid presence, who it felt good to have around, the other, I wasn't so sure about.

The ending of this is completely over-the-top and caught me by surprise. It's definitely one of his more memorable conclusions. Trust me when I say, it's a wild ride. We started in one direction and ended in another. It was jolting and enjoyable as heck!!

I really had a phenomenal time reading this. I know that not every Reader is going to love Casey as a protagonist as much as I did, but I found her relatable and even charming in her own clunky way. This was my most anticipated release of the year and I'm so happy that I was given the opportunity to get to it a little early. Thank you so much to the publisher, Dutton, for providing me with a copy to read and review!!

WOWOWOWOWOW!! What a wild ride that book was from about 50% to the end. Think WOMAN IN THE WINDOW meets BEHIND HER EYES. The first part of the book was a little underwhelming for me - the only reason it’s getting 4 instead of 5 stars. I felt like I was re-reading THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW up until about half way through and that made it feel a little boring at the start. Once we get past that, it really has the feel of a Riley Sager novel, creepiness and all 😂 I audibly screamed 7 times in a span of 20 minutes during the last bit of the book. So many plot twists and turns but I didn’t feel like they were randomly thrown it, I felt like they were perfectly placed. Riley Sager constantly pulls me in one direction just to slap me and send me in another. I love the way I always feel like I can guess what’s going to happen, only for him to show me his was expecting that assumption and then show me why it was wrong! God, I loved this book so much. I can’t wait until I can actually talk about it with people. Great job Riley Sager! You’re truly a horror genius in my book 🤍