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 🤍

Riley Sager never disappoints! This one definitely gave me vibes similar to THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, so if you're a fan of those thrillers, you should definitely check this one out!

Wasn't expecting the supernatural turn in the book, wouldn't have read it if I had known. I like realistic fiction, true crime, and romance so the surprise was not welcomed, Disappointed as I was waiting for the ah-ha moment of the author's cleverness. Now I'm wondering if I will read other titles, will have to read the reviews of already released titles. Two stars since I'm not a fan of things that can never happen, in my books.

Wow. What did I just read?! I've got to give it to Sager I was absolutely NOT expecting this twist, at all!! I don't even know what to think. If you like a thriller with a twist that you won't see coming then this book is for you! A huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC.

This book was a fun read, but a little much on the supernatural stuff. I could've done without it and just focused on real life. But I rated it highly because I couldn't put it down.

Let me save you some time, dear reader. If you have picked up this book expecting a psychological thriller, BEWARE that it resolves certain elements of the plot through the supernatural. As I am not a reader of the supernatural, had I not been reading this book for an honest review, I would have slammed it shut at the moment it became surreal.

Casey Fletcher is on the road to destruction as she copes with widowhood by drinking excessively and using high-power binoculars to watch The House Across the Lake, the latest psychological thriller from Riley Sager due out in June. Running away from lots of bad press as her acting career is drowning in alcohol, Casey saves her neighbor from drowning in Lake Greene, where Casey’s family has long owned a lake house in Vermont.

The near death of Katherine Royce, a retired supermodel, bonds the two women. Tom, Katherine’s tech titan husband, is extremely grateful to Casey, and the couple boat across the lake to Casey’s side where they share an expensive bottle of wine. With further spying on the couple, Casey decides the marriage is in trouble, and she believes Katherine has just vanished, although Tom assures Casey that Katherine has simply gone back to their apartment in New York City.

When Casey cannot raise Katherine by text or a phone call – and she clearly sees by using the app Tom invented – that Katherine is located in the house across the lake, she takes matters into her own hands. But this is a Riley Sager novel, so readers expect that nothing is as it seems, and the plot will follow lots of twists and turns before coming to a shock of an ending. However, when the plot makes a wrong turn into the surreal, the book just goes downhill, unless the reader is a fan of the supernatural resolution to a story. And the shocking ending? It is missing.

Sager is a former journalist, editor, and graphic designer who previously published mysteries under his real name, Todd Ritter. A Pennsylvania native, Riley lives in Princeton, New Jersey, where he writes, reads, cooks, and attends movies.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting April 18, 2022.

I would like to thank PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

The House Across the Lake is the 4th book I've read of Riley Sagers' so suffice to say I really enjoy Sager's writing style. These are the perfect books to read when you are in a slump or need a quick mystery or thriller - Sager keeps you on your toes and the stories are always paced well. Unfortunately, The House Across the Lake didn't do it for me. Sagers novels typically revolve around common mystery/thriller tropes but there's always a unique enough twist or character that reinvents that trope. The House Across the Lake is a trope that I and I think most of us are tired of and even Riley can't bring new life to it at this moment in time.

The House Across the Lake is the same storyline we've seen time and time again - a middle-aged woman, grieving some kind of loss, abusing alcohol spends time isolated at home and spying on her neighbors through binoculars where she sees something she shouldn't. Now there is a twist that we have never seen in this storyline before, however, the twist was leaning to absurd/fantastical for my liking.

If this intrigues you - go for it! It is a quick read, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I'm still looking forward to whatever Sager throws at us next!

After the drowning death of her husband, Casey Fletcher has been banished to her family’s lake house on Lake Greene in Vermont. Casey, an actress and in the public eye, develops a drinking problem after Len’s death. While at the lake house, she finds her husbands binoculars and starts spying on her neighbors across the lake, Katherine and Tom. One morning she sees Katherine struggling in the water and proceeds to save her from drowning. A few days later Katherine disappears. Casey then takes on the challenge of finding out what really happened to Katherine.

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager is a little bit mystery, a little bit fantasy, a little bit ghost story and just a bit too unbelievable for my tastes. But I must say I kept reading to find out what the heck was going on. Fans of Sager will be glad to know this one is a step up from Survive the Night. If you are looking for a spooky mystery one summer night you might want to give The House Across the Lake a try.

Once again, Sager does it. A perfect thrilling tale from start to finish from a legit modern master! Never a dull minute and never a less than stellar book!

Like most Sager novels, House Across the Lake has some unexpected twists and turns. The narrator is unreliable and most of the other characters are suspicious. I kept thinking I knew what was going on, but I was completely blindsided.

I loved every page of this book from start to finish. If you are a Sager or thriller fan, you've got to read this one. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for this ARC of The House Across the Lake. Release date September 21st.

This psychological suspense thriller comes in waves of twists and surprises. Touching on Rear Window, which is referenced in the book, and Woman in the Window, the main character is an alcoholic with an incredible set of binoculars. Casey is a widow and stares out at the dark and eerie Lake Greene where her husband drowned. She was once an active theater star until the loss of her husband. Now she finds herself in tabloids capturing her out of control behavior.

Casey's mom is a well known film star and is embarrassed by her daughter so she bans her to their family's secluded lake house without alcohol and away from the limelight. A lot of alcohol is delivered by a sweet little neighbor, so some of her stories may seem like the alcohol is talking and she is an unreliable source. With her new found freedom, she sits on her porch with binoculars and spies on the neighbors across the lake while she drinks. Tom, a tech guru and his wife, Katherine, a famous model live in the house. When Casey captures some sketchy movement in the house, she begins to suspect their marriage isn't right.

One day as Casey is sitting on the porch she sees a body floating in the water. She jumps in her boat to rescue this person. She realizes this person is Katherine and brings her back to life. Not long after that, Katherine disappears. This is when the story picks up pace and strange occurrences happen. Not to mention a gorgeous man staying in a few cabins away introduces himself heating up the pages.

I loved watching Casey make silly mistakes and all up in her neighbors' business. She takes the movie Rear Window to a whole new level. I could not wait to get this title and it did not disappoint.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this title in exchange for my honest review.

It's difficult to say anything about "The House Across the Lake" without giving away any of the plot. In short, this book was a disappointment. The characters were unlikeable and the supernatural twist was just too much. The whole thing feels cliche and lazy. Worth a read if you're a Riley Sager fan, but otherwise I'd recommend skipping this one.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review.
2.75/5

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager.
This is my favorite and in my opinion Sager’s best novel to date.
Written in the past and present, the reader gets a bird’s eye view of those living on a secluded lake in Vermont.
To a startling opening to the last page, this novel keeps you off balance. Interesting characters, great dialog, and atmospheric settings will not allow you to put this book down. Sager is back in form with this one!
5 stars!

I had only read one of Riley's books before The House Across the Lake which was Survive the Night which was a mind-twisting gaslighting type thriller and I had enjoyed it. Lately, being on a thriller kick as romance books seem a bit blasé, I decided to give Riley Sager's new one a go. I was in two minds about this book as it has taken me roughly over three days to read as work had been busy, but also I felt a bit sluggish reading The House Across the Lake as part of me felt I wanted to stop but the other part wanted to continue and persevere. Normally, if I can't get into a book, I DNF but there was still a slight hope that made me want to continue with the book and I have to say I am glad I did as it took the strangest twist that I didn't see coming. Think Ghost Whisperer season 4 and you have The House Across the Lake. The book starts with Casey Green - an actress with a massive drinking problem living in her house, hiding from the paparazzi as her husband drowned at Lake Greene. We then have the Royce’s - Katherine and Tom in The House Across the Lake from her and then next-door neighbours Boone and Eli. The Lake is a dangerous place and there have been several drownings and local girls have gone missing which ties into this crazy rollercoaster ride. At points as I said I wanted to give up, but overall, I am glad I didn't as otherwise I wouldn't have been able to be blown away by the crazy last chapters of this book which in the end made up for me having to slog my way through. I am now looking forward to checking out the other titles that Riley Sager has published and keeping an eye out for what he brings next to the bookish world.

Riley Sager is an auto buy author for me. If he writes it, I will read it. His thrillers are twisty and fun and really, his books should be making the rounds on booktok and booksta, too, they're so good.

The House Across the Lake is another solid book from Sager. I mean honestly, I don't think he can write a "weak" book. I think it lands decidedly in the middle of the pack in terms of where I'd rank it among Sager's books (again, a personal preference thing), but I'd probably put it near Home Before Dark.

That's to say, it was a good book, but there were some things that felt like they were missing.

Now onto the "meatier" parts of my review:

I really enjoyed the characters! Katherine was suuuuper interesting, and Boone and Tom were originally what I thought to be stock characters, but had so much more depth to them??? It was really fascinating. Then there's Casey, who I adore. Normally, I'm not one for books that star alcoholics--too many police procedurals with old, alcoholic male cops that made me actively avoid alcoholic storylines in thrillers--but I think Sager knocked it out of the park with how he represented alcoholism, addiction, and Casey in general. It doesn't feel just like a random character trait for flair; it feels like something she is actively dealing with and struggling with every day.

I also loved the route the story took. It was a weaving, winding road that did keep me on my toes. Honestly, I thought I'd guessed the ending about 30% in, then BOOM. Mind blown. I always love when that happens.

There were a couple things that bothered me and took the book down a few stars:

The reveal. I'm not saying anything because spoilers and this is an early review, but there was something about it that bothered me. It could be that it was taken in a different direction than I expected, and it was cool! But it just felt a little bit strange in the context of the story. I dunno. I think this is just a personal preference thing.

The only other thing that annoyed me, and I really didn't think it would, were the Rear Window vibes. I LOVE rear window. I LOVE stories inspired by it. But also, the voyeur who sees something happen then get suspicious for reasons is something that's been done a LOT. Especially in the past 5-10 years. So while it worked for the plot here, I think I'm just personally sick of the Rear Window inspiration in thrillers. Unfortunately for me.

Thank you so much to Dutton Books and Netgalley for the earc!

Casey is a widowed actress, trying to numb herself with alcohol. One day she comes across model and neighbor Katherine who was drowning in the lake. Casey saves her and they become friends. Casey watches Katherine and her husband suspiciously across the lake through her binoculars, it seems everything isn't as picture perfect as it seems...

As with all of Riley’s books, “The House Across the Lake” was such a binge read. I could not put it down and I needed to know what was going to happen next. It starts out as an ode to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”, and has “The Woman in the Window” vibes, but then morphs into something else entirely. To say more would be a major spoiler…. I am a huge Taylor Swift fan, so I loved the lyric that started the book and gave you a sense of what the theme is going to be. Casey makes for an a very interesting heroine. She is her own worst enemy and clearly is aware of it but is unwilling to change. On the other hand, she is a smart, funny and lovable character and the reader roots for her until the very end. I always love the way Riley’s able to twist the truth over and over to the point where I second and third guess myself. I was very impressed with how this story all turned out. I really loved the timeline of this novel, the Now and Before really helped confuse me and lead me to doubt myself again and again. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was blown away by the real conclusion. Overall, you’re not going to want to miss “The House Across the Lake”! Thank you to NetGalley, Dutton and Riley Sager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Neither the thriller I anticipated not wanted. I guess there is a twist on the unreliable, alcoholic female narrator, but I was rolling my eyes at the reveal.