Riley Sager’s new book was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I was convinced it would become a new favorite…unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

When Ethan Marsh was ten years old, his best friend Billy went missing from their tent in his backyard. And he was never found. Thirty years later, Ethan finds himself back in his suburban childhood home. When mysterious things start happening in the middle of the night and they all point to Billy, Ethan starts investigating.

The first chapter was amazing but then things quickly went downhill. Nothing really happened and I was bored for a huge part of the story. I did enjoy Sager‘s writing but it wasn’t enough to get me hooked. I also loved the suburban setting, the 90‘s vibes and the queer rep. (And the cover) But all in all I wanted more. More thrill, more action, more impressing twists, more interesting secrets, more ghosts, more occult stuff.

This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything more than okay either.

July 15th 1994. In their sheltered cul-de-sac of Hemlock Circle, Ethan and his best friend Billy spend the night camping in Ethan’s backyard as they’ve done every Friday throughout the summer. Only when Ethan awakens the next morning, he realises this isn’t like any other time the pair have camped out. This time, the tent is damaged. This time, Ethan is alone. This time, Billy is gone, without a trace.

The story is told in dual timelines: Present day follows an older Ethan, who experiences strange occurrences after returning to his childhood home thirty years after that fateful night. The flashback chapters to 1994 offer new perspectives of various residents of the neighbourhood in the lead-up to Billy’s disappearance and reveal that the lives of those in Hemlock Circle are not as picture-perfect as they may seem…

Middle of the Night was my third Riley Sager book (the other two being Final Girls and Survive the Night) and I have to say this has been my favourite so far. This book was a page turner that had me racing to the end to uncover the mystery: WHO TOOK BILLY BARRINGER? Ultimately, I burned through this book and enjoyed every minute of it. The suspense made for a gripping atmosphere and the characters felt well-rounded and developed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Riley Sager and Hodder & Stoughton for the advanced copy. The opinions presented in this review are entirely my own.

Sagar really has this genre locked in, he gets it right everytime! Genuinely gave me chills, its so atmospheric and well described, the characters are complex, the plot is tightly woven (though some plot devices get reused a tad too much). And, as always, it has the trademark 'put you book down to process' plot twist

Firstly thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this Arc, and Penguin Publishing Group.
I'd say this book doesn't quite peak however the ending had me crying so it went from a 3* to a 4 for that reason.

I was intrigued by where this was going with the ghost talk and spookiness, certainly not like everything else out there.

Only downfall for me was the repetitiveness. How many times can Ethan say cul-de-sac and Hemlock Circle. That grated on me a little and felt like someone writing an essay and having to hit a certain word count.

That being said the signs were there for the ending but I still didn't see it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat throughout and it did give me the creeps at points as well. I like how it changed from present day to the past and the story flowed really well. It definitely had me gasping out loud in places as I just didn’t see any of it coming!! 5 stars!!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6435809937

A fun whoodunnit/thriller with added supernatural touches. A pacey, page turning read, interesting characters, lots of potential suspects, lots of twists, a satisfying ending. Nothing not to like. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I hate to only leave 3 stars as I appreciate the arc, but this was too slow for me. The story didn’t progress very quickly and I found myself skipping through to get to something happening. I enjoyed other books by this author, perhaps others would enjoy the pace of storyline development but it wasn’t for me sorry.

This tale of Ethan and his young friend Billy who goes missing while spending the night camped out in Ethan's back yard had me hooked from the start. Thirty years later Ethan is back living at his parent's house in Hemlock Grove, a small cul-de-sac where all the neighbours know each other. No one was found responsible for Billy's disappearance and for Ethan that weighs heavily as he's sure somewhere, deep down in the deeps of his memory, his ten-yr old self must have seen who took him.

When Billy's body resurfaces coinciding with Ethan's return, in the grounds of a mysterious institute it can't be a coincidence.

Ethan then tries to find out what really happened to Billy so he can stop carrying around the guilt of losing his best friend.

Another great book from Riley Sager who doesn't disappoint.

This is a slow burn whodunit about the night Billy was taken when camping with Ethan in the backyard. Thirty years later, Ethan moves back to Hemlock Circle and with help from old friends, he’s determined to find answers. Thank you to the publisher for a copy.

If you were left feeling meh after reading both The House Across The Lake and The Only One Left and lost the eagerness to look forward to Riley Sager’s books hear me out, this one is definitely for you!

I’ve been chasing the feeling Riley Sager gave me with Home Before Dark ever since I’ve read it and I kept expecting from his later books to match its energy but all they ever did was make me disappointed.
I’m really glad I got approved for this early copy cause otherwise it would have taken me some time to actively decide to pick it up and I would have missed out big time!

This had strong Home Before Dark vibes and everything else you’d expect from Riley Sager the genre bending claim was not a lie guys!
It had supernatural elements, decent mystery, thrilling turn of events, emotional rollercoasters, not knowing how reliable the MC really is.. I was constantly kept on edge and never knew what to expect l. But it never got really too much or too unbearable which what I love the most about it! I really couldn’t have asked for more.
So it goes without saying, I’m back on the hype train like I never left you can’t stop me now.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the digital ARC!

Keeping it simple - the ATMOSPHERE in this book is through the roof!!! Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for a fantastic read!

✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨

Middle Of The Night - Riley Sager
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to @hodderandstoughton for the ARC - Middle of the Night will be released on 2 July in the UK.

LIKES
☀️ Immediately ominous and creepy. I was genuinely freaked out reading this at night!
☀️ Really atmospheric with vivid descriptions in every chapter.
☀️ Russ being a relatable MC with strange sources of anxiety (similar to mine!).
☀️ A compelling story that kept me guessing throughout.
☀️ A lot of things I assumed would happen didn’t.
☀️ Brilliant PTSD rep. It makes me so happy to see that some authors still take mental health seriously, rather than using PTSD as a dumb adjective.
☀️ Unlike The House Across The Lake (which I wasn’t a big fan of) this had just the right amount of paranormal vibes without feeling too unrealistic.
☀️ A satisfying conclusion.

DISLIKES
🌙 The characters could’ve used a bit more development - for example I wasn’t sure what Russ did for a living as we never really heard about him working.
🌙 I wanted to hear more about the Hawthorne Institute.

I’d highly recommend picking this one up later this year as I’d say it’s some of Riley’s best work!

Riley Sager is one of my favorite authors so naturally, I was over the moon to receive this book as an ARC! Of course, I immediately started reading it.

The story is told in dual timelines, one in 2024 with flashbacks from 1994 (my birth year!!). In 1994, 10 year old Ethan and his best friend Billy camp in Ethan's backyard like every Friday that summer but this night is going to change their lives forever. When Ethan wakes up the next morning, Billy is nowhere to be seen and there's a huge slash on the tent. This begins a haunting mystery of Billy's disappearance which casts a shadow over Ethan's life for the next 30 years when he returns to Hemlock Circle and has to stay at his childhood home.

As he's back, strange and eerie occurrences begin to unfold and Ethan increasingly starts believing that Billy is back. But how could he when his bones are found near the lake in the forest? Is Billy back as a ghost? or is someone trying to mess with him? Ethan is trying to find answers to these questions while trying to uncover what really happened that night, 30 years ago.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how it was always toying with the idea of being supernatural or not, and this time it felt the most believable. I loved how eerie it was. I had goosebumps on my arms at a lot of places in the book and I think Riley Sager deserves kudos for that. I was actually getting scared at parts and I loved that about this book.

Ethan was a great character to follow within this story. He was always haunted by this one incident and I appreciated how Riley took time to show us how that one night affected Ethan's entire life. Other characters living in the neighborhood were also quite well fleshed out and I had my suspicion on everyone.

I just had 2 problems with this book. One is that I felt this book got repetitive at times. The same thing was happening over and over again and I felt it was a bit too much? The other thing was the ending. It felt too easy. Riley Sager was hinting at such great possibilities throughout the book that I though the ending would be really out there and outlandish. But unfortunately, it felt a bit underwhelming.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved the beginning of the book as it was atmospheric and I was literally reading it in the middle of the night!

Unfortunately, the story never gripped me. There were repetitive moments sprinkled around which is something I don’t enjoy.

I was banking on the twists at the end to make up for it but they didn’t.

16th July 1994, Hemlock Circle, New Jersey

Ten year old Ethan Marsh wakes in his tent feeling safe and snug, but it’s the last time he’ll feel that way for the next thirty years. Why so? The night before, his best friend Billy Barringer is in the tent with him but he’s now gone and is never seen again.
Thirty years on, Ethan is reluctantly back in Hemlock Circle, he’s plagued with insomnia and understandably, bad dreams. He begins to be aware of strange things happening, an invisible presence he’s certain links to Billy. He starts to investigate the strange case of the infamous Lost Boy which remains a mystery with no suspects, no answers and no Billy.

A new Riley Sager is always a cause for celebration and yet again I’m doing my happy reader dance as it’s so good. The author has me in its thrall from the first word as the suspense is off the charts on multiple occasions. The more Ethan digs, the bigger the shocks he gets and his mind, already in overdrive, spins in many directions. The setting has much to do with how good the book is. I mean, Hemlock Circle, what a great name which conjures all sorts of ideas. Add in the woods behind the houses which are shadowy and dark making you wonder what lurks there, which taps into every human fear.

As if that’s not enough atmosphere, the author ramps it up with the Hawthorne Institute owned by reclusive billionaire Ezra Hawthorne which is secretive and off-limits to all. Try telling that to curious 10-year-olds. What goes on there? Rumours abound and this intensifies the spooky weirdness and raises suspicions by more than one notch.
Throughout the novel there’s a creepy, ghostly sensation and at times a palpable sense of menace jumps off the pages, riveting me to the text.

You cast your eyes across all the residents of Hemlock Circle just as Ethan does, with each of them having a backstory that feeds into the mystery of present day. There’s everything from sadness to grief, to tragedy but the absolute light that shines through all is the character of Henry, son of Ethan‘s childhood friend Ashley. He is an utter joy and brightens every page.

It will be no surprise to say that the twists just keep on coming. There are cliffhanger chapter endings which either sends the jaw to the floor or causes a deep inhale of breath, making your mind scramble to try to catch up.

I love the unpredictable ending which is a great blend of the real and the supernatural, sure never see that one coming.

It’s an easy five stars from me. Well played Riley Sager and this has got best seller written all over it.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I Really really enjoyed this book

I was so excited to receive this off netgalley. I Love Riley Sager books. This was brilliant i was hooked and couldn't put it down. I loved how it switched between now and then. I was trying to piece it all together as I was reading and boy was I shocked when you find out what happened. I will definitely be recommending this book to the followers of The plot thickens book club.

5 Brilliant stars

"Middle of the Night" by Riley Sager is a gripping thriller that had me hooked from the first page. As a fan of Sager's work, this book stands out as my favorite so far. One thing that immediately struck me was how hard it was to put down; each chapter left me hungry for more, eager to uncover the next twist in the story.

One aspect that pleasantly surprised me was Sager's portrayal of women in this novel. While I've had reservations about his portrayal in previous works, "Middle of the Night" showcased a noticeable improvement. The female characters felt more nuanced and three-dimensional, which added depth to the overall narrative.

After a disappointing experience with Sager's last book, I was initially hesitant to give this one a chance. However, I'm glad I reconsidered because "Middle of the Night" reminded me why I enjoyed his earlier works. The pacing is relentless, the suspense is palpable, and the plot keeps you guessing until the very end.

Without giving too much away, I have to mention the supernatural vibe that permeates the story. It adds an extra layer of intrigue and mystery, keeping readers on their toes and constantly questioning what's real and what's not.

In summary, "Middle of the Night" is a thrilling ride that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys fast-paced thrillers with a supernatural twist. It's a testament to Sager's skill as a storyteller and a welcome return to form after his previous misstep. If you're looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further than "Middle of the Night."

I just love reading anything by Sager. The writing style is always fast-paced, the characters are typically ones I find interesting and I know that I need to strap myself in for a wild ride with lots of twists and turns. I'm now so familiar with Sager stories that I was shocked to find that the narrator for once is a male character. I actually welcomed this change, as well as the opportunity to delve into the brief glimpses of childhood and boyhood - and having that cruelly ripped from you.

Ten-year old Billy goes missing one night. 30 years later, his best friend Ethan is still dealing with nightmares, insomnia and a sense of uncertainty about what actually happened in the middle of the night. One minute he was there, the next vanished into thin air. Returning to his childhood home of Hemlock Circle, a suburban neighbourhood that inexplicably still houses a lot of the same neighbours, Ethan finds himself haunted by the memory of his lost friend. Or perhaps he's actually being haunted? What's the deal with the mysterious Institute in the woods, what memories are hidden deep inside Ethan's mind and what actually happened that night? Secrets and more threaten to unravel upon his return to his childhood home.

This has been such a joy to read. I know that not everyone enjoys paranormal details, which is something Sager has had slipping into some of his previous books. But when it's done well, I don't actually find that it detracts from the story or "thriller" at all. I actually found myself crying at times, which speaks to the strength of this protagonist and the story itself. It's terribly sad, at times frightening, and quite a realistic story. Which, I suppose, is what makes it so frightening.

Riley Sager's stories are almost always the kind you tear through when you are reading, and this latest book was no exception.

After ten-year-old Billy goes missing from a backyard tent where he is having a sleepover with his best friend Ethan, nothing is everything again for the residence of Hemlock Circle, located deep in suburban New Jersey. But who took Billy that night, and why would they do it?

Decades later, Ethan remains haunted by those questions. Indeed, while reading this it occasionally feels like he is being haunted by something else as well - a seemingly supernatural presence that shows up when Ethan has to move to his parents' home due to his life circumstances, the plan being that he will sell it for them after their (already completed) move to Florida.

A missing boy, the discovery of human remains, and a creepy "research" institute in the woods does sound like a promising set of ingredients for storytelling, but this tale is unevenly paced and occasionally repetitive. Despite that, it is highly readable.

The one thing that put me off this story is the same problem I had with another of his recent books. Sager writes well and he can deliver a compelling mystery thriller. So I wish he would not veer off into these flirtations with the supernatural.

It's a little annoying when you buy a book that's billed as a thriller, and end up getting something with paranormal elements. Publishers can easily indicate this in the classification, so why not do so? Is it to lure in traditional mystery or thriller readers who don't enjoy supernatural stories? I have no idea, but there seems to be a wider trend towards this.

Anyway, the story is compelling in that the reader wants to discover what really happened to Billy. The entertainment is also boosted by the fact that there are more than a few red herrings tossed along the way as the novel progresses. Worth reading, especially if you don't mind paranormal aspects to a mystery thriller. It gets 3.5 stars but misses 4 because of the (unnecessary) supernatural aspects.

Riley Sager has done it again! What a brilliant thriller!

Middle of the Night is the first Riley Sager book with male protagonist, Ethan, which gives the book a slightly different feel. Even though I found this a bit odd at the start, I quickly got used to it and enjoyed the different perspective it has to offer. There are two intertwined timelines: past and present, following the lead-up-to and 30-years-after events of Billy Barringer's disappearance.

Filled with suspense, twists, dark discoveries and supernatural feel, this book is another triumph that must not be missed establishing Riley Sager as my all-time-favourite thriller writer. I cannot wait to see what Riley does next!