Book Review Wednesday: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

 There hasn't been a Riley Sager book yet that I didn't like and this was not the exception. I was waiting with bated breath for the release of "The House Across the Lake" and since I got denied for an ARC from Netgalley, I had to wait until June 21st to read it. 

Well, I ate it up in a few days and while the book has been met with controversial, mixed opinions, I enjoyed it... even if it was a little out there. The thing that people didn't like about this book was that they felt it was too similar to another book and that it kind of jumped the shark a bit in terms of a twisty ending.

I was fine with both aspects so let's get right into the review.

Publisher's Summary

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 powerful; 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 as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey immediately suspects Tom of foul play. What she doesn’t realize is that there’s more to the story than meets the eye—and that shocking secrets can lurk beneath the most placid of surfaces.
 
Packed with sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy plot twists, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake is the ultimate escapist read . . . no lake house required.

My Thoughts

Readers are comparing this book to The Woman in the Window and aside from the spying aspect, it's not really that similar. We've seen a ton of books, especially in the thriller genre, follow the same tropes so it's not that outrageous.

Casey, our main character, is an alcoholic actress who is recently widowed and not over the death of her husband at all. She befriends Katherine, a wealthy model who  is married to Tom, a man who Katherine is not worthy of. After seeing their marriage troubles through binoculars, Casey is very suspicious when Katherine disappears. Everything that happens from there is a spiral of conspiracy and bad decisions. 

I really enjoyed this book; it kept me entertained, enthralled and on the edge of my seat. There are two different crimes going on here: the disappearance of Katherine and the disappearance of multiple missing girls in the area where the lake house is. We're not too sure if the two are linked and as things move along, they don't seem to be.

This book is not what you expect; you have to suspend reality and expect the unexpected. It was very twisty and had my jaw dropping multiple times. The hits just keep on coming and it really was a fantastic read. 

If you've liked other Riley Sager books, are a fan of thrillers, and aren't too critical, I think you would really like The House Across the Lake.

Did you read this book? What did you think?
xoxo
B