In his highly anticipated book, The House Across the Lake, Riley Sager did not disappoint. This book was an instant New York Times Bestseller, and I see why.
What is The House Across the Lake about?
When Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress, is exiled to her family’s lake house amidst some pretty bad press. She sees a woman, Katherine Royce, drowning in the lake, the lake that her husband drown in the year before. Because she was unable to save him, it becomes utterly important for her to save this woman, not only from the lake, but from her husband, Tom who is suspect in Casey’s eyes. Armed with a pair of binoculars, the more she watches the house across the lake, the more she is convinced that Katherine is in trouble and that Tom is guilty. In an ending that you won’t suspect, things are definitely not as they seem.
What did I think?
I really can not sing this book’s praises enough. There is Suspense. There are twists. There are turns. I literally had to go back two separate times and re-read different parts of the book because I was absolutely, without-a-doubt-certain that the author had told me something completely different a few chapters back. I LOOOOOVE books like that! Riley Sager is such a master at deception that I would have sworn under oath that things were totally another way.
I think Riley Sager did a fantastic job of creating multi-layered characters, matched with a superb plot. There is however, a theme of alcoholism throughout this book. If that is a trigger for you, this book and you may not be a great fit. Other than that I would think this book would be suitable for just about anyone.
I mean, I probably wouldn’t read it as a bedtime story to your children, but if you are reading psychological thrillers to your youngin’s at bedtime or, really… any other time, you probably have bigger things to worry about.
Which Riley Sager book is the best?
I haven’t read them all… not yet anyway, But IMHO, from the ones that I have read, my favorite so far, is definitely The House Across the Lake! I really wish Netflix would adapt this novel into a movie or maybe even a mini-series. I’m not entirely sure who I would cast as the main characters. I think maybe someone like Jodie Foster could make a good Casey Fletcher. Possibly Anne Hathaway for Katherine, and Bradley Cooper (Seriously, who doesn’t love Bradley Cooper) or Jason Issacs for Tom. Who do you think you might Cast? I guess you probably ought to read the book and find out.
You can purchase the book here on Amazon, or get it for free when you sign up for a free trial from Audible.
Until next time, stay brash, stay bookish, and above all else, stay true to you!
