quite gripping and definitely a page turner. However, I found it to be too long and a bit predictable. A fun read nonetheless

In the realm of suspenseful literature, Riley Sager emerges as a master craftsman, weaving intricate tales that ensnare readers in a web of thrilling twists and unexpected turns. His latest masterpiece, "Middle of the Night," scheduled for its grand release on June 18th, 2024, promises to captivate audiences with its gripping narrative. At the heart of this gripping tale lies the enigmatic disappearance of Billy, Ethan Marsh's closest confidant. As young boys, they embarked on a seemingly innocuous camping adventure in Ethan's backyard, only for Billy to vanish without a trace come morning. Three decades later, Ethan, now a man haunted by the unsolved mystery, returns to the scene of his childhood home. Driven by an unyielding determination, he embarks on a quest to unravel the truth behind Billy's disappearance. Sager deftly weaves a tapestry of characters, each residing within the confines of the suburban cul-de-sac where the events unfold. Beneath their ordinary facades lie hidden secrets, casting a shadow of suspicion over every individual. As Ethan delves deeper into his investigation, he encounters a labyrinth of conflicting accounts, cryptic clues, and long-buried resentments. With each tantalizing chapter, the boundaries between truth and deception blur, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Sager's masterful storytelling prowess keeps the suspense relentlessly high, as the mystery deepens and the stakes escalate. The relentless pursuit of the truth becomes an obsession for Ethan, consuming his every thought and action. "Middle of the Night" is a literary labyrinth that will keep readers enthralled from its gripping opening to its heart-stopping conclusion. Riley Sager once again proves his exceptional talent for crafting pulse-pounding thrillers that linger long after the final page is turned. Mark your calendars for June 18th, 2024, and prepare to lose yourself in the gripping world of Ethan Marsh as he navigates a treacherous path toward the truth.

Two boys go camping in a tent in a backyard. The next morning, one of them is missing. The other boy is haunted by this event for the next 30 years of his life. It's finally time to figure out what happened... If you're a fan of Riley Sager, you're prepared for a twist, but you never can guess what that twist might be. Also, be prepared to get "Stranger Things" vibes.

Overall this is a really solid book, and very intriguing. The storytelling is solid, characters are pretty flushed out, and contains just the right amount of creepiness. My only complaint is that this book did not a twist that I tend to expect from a Sager novel. I kept waiting and was surprised by the truth behind the story, but didn’t quite feel like the typical payoff.

This was middle-of-the-road Sager for me. I liked it loads better than 'Survive the Night,' but I guessed one of the central reveals fairly early on and ended up skimming a bit in the middle to get to the point. Sager's writing was fun and immersive as usual, though, so I can't say it was a total wash by any means. The final reveal/twist doesn't make entire sense, if you think about it, but when is that not the case for a contemporary thriller...

This was a really great book that went by so quickly! It combines supernatural elements with a mystery in such a great way that I was really invested in the story.

Riley Sager does it again! A young boy is tragically taken from a tent in a backyard alongside his friend and is never seen again. No remains have ever been found and no confirmed sighting has been seen. This book follows the young boy's friend who is still haunted by the events of that night, and is determined to figure out what went wrong.

This was a book full of twists and turns and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. My only critique is having supernatural elements in this book - I don't particularly enjoy supernatural in thrillers but rather only horrors.

Sincere thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for an ARC.

Riley Sager's latest book is a thrilling read! With intriguing supernatural elements and a haunting neighborhood setting, it keeps you hooked as you unravel the mystery. Delving into the intricacies of parapsychology through the Hawthorne Institute adds depth to the story, especially as Ethan returns to his childhood home thirty years after his best friend vanished during a camping trip. As secrets from the past resurface and tensions rise among the characters, the narrative grips you with every twist and turn. Sager's skillful storytelling makes you feel like you're right there with them. Highly recommend.

The first male protagonist from Riley Sager was a nice thing to see. This book is much more a suspense/mystery than it is a thriller. You get wrapped into Ethan's story, the mystery of his missing childhood friend Billy, and his difficulty handling the lack of closure about it, as well as, recent upheaval in his life. Told in duel timelines, this book slowly unfolds what happened that fateful day, and how it has impacted the lives of all those living in their small community. The last five chapters are what really make the book great. I was shocked, surprised, scared, and ultimately content in that period of time.

Another great mystery/thriller from Riley Sager! Middle of the Night has twists all the way through, and the twists towards the end were pretty shocking. The story follows two timelines - 1994 and present day. Ethan suffers from insomnia and the mysterious things that keep happening in Hemlock Circle only make him more frazzled. Throw in a little bit of the supernatural and the more Ethan tries to find answers, the more puzzled he gets, even beginning to question his sanity. Loved it!

The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul de sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul de sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe.

Riley Sager aka Todd Ritter has had some well written best sellers. This one (in my humble opinion) is far from it. The book is about a man named Ethan who lost his best friend 30 years ago. Ethan is trying to remember what happened when his friend Billy disappeared. You learn about all the people who live on the street and it is really just way too much character development for unneeded characters. Growing bored, I kept reading hoping that the ending would wrap up all the loose end and things would make sense. It did not. I was left with far too many details and unnecessary information. Don’t get me wrong, there were some highlights but I wouldn’t recommend this book.

This is fairly solid Riley Sager crime fiction. And the more I thought about it, the more I thought, I liked this. It wasn’t super twisty and attorney, yes there were some surprises, but nothing like we’ve seen in his last few books. But the reality was I was interested the whole time and I was cruising toward the ending and you couldn’t have ripped the books from my hands. I really really wanted to know what was gonna happen. I wanted to know who done it. And he delivered a very satisfying ending.

So I think that’s the key. If you go into this thinking that this is domestic crime fiction and not a crazy popcorn thriller that I think there’s a lot that you will be satisfied here. I certainly was.

Riley Sager rarely disappoints and this book is a glaring example of being a go-to mystery author. The twist and turns come fast and keep you on your toes wondering what is real and what isn’t. You may think you end up figuring out what the end game is but then another masterful twist comes and it’s all shaken up. Thankfully it is wrapped up beautifully and leaves you with a sense of relief to know we weren’t going crazy with the protagonist Ethan. Riley Sager is always a must read and thankfully Middle of the Night is an addition to that must read list.

I really enjoyed this book by one of my favorite authors. 10 year old Billy disappears during an overnight backyard sleepover at his friend/neighbor Ethan's house located in a cul de sac. For 30 years nobody knows what happened to Billy. When adult Ethan moves back into the house he grew up in where the crime happened, weird things start to happen. This book really had me guessing. And when I thought I figured it out, it turns out I didn't.. Thank you Netgally for a great read.

What a wild emotional ride, I usually don’t cry while reading thrillers but this one just tugs at your heart strings in a way unlike any thriller I’ve ever read has. Sager is a master of his craft and in his newest book, he shows his understanding of the thriller genre through mind bending imagery and heart pounding scenes that will have you up until 3 am to finish this book.

I decided to go into this book blind, knowing absolutely nothing about it, and am so glad I did because it was incredible.

Ethan was 10 years old when his best friend Billy disappeared without a trace, while they were camping in the backyard. Now, 30 years later, Ethan is still haunted by the unanswered questions of that night. He can’t remember anything and had no idea what actually happened to Billy. Many sleepless nights and odd occurrences cause Ethan to try to remember something about that night, even if someone wants to keep it buried in the past.

A rollercoaster ride of epic proportions, Sager will have you reading this 400 paged book in 1 sitting. If I didn’t have to work I know I would’ve not put this book down at all! This will definitely be the summer thriller of the year!

This may be one of my favorite Riley Sager books yet. I'm not sure what struck me so intensely with this one. It may be the blend of the nostalgia and supernatural - which is a superb combo.

Ethan has moved back home to the house that he grew up in and is facing the trauma that happened in the neighborhood when he was 10 years old. Ethan and his best friend Billy were camping out in the backyard when Billy was snatched and disappeared - in the middle of the night.

Ethan relives that night in his nightmares and begins to believe he is haunted by Billy. Especially the more he finds out about the creepy Hawthorn Institute nearby and their ties to the supernatural.

This book was hard to put down - there were a few things that were obvious from the start, but I would still recommend it to fans of popular mysteries, shows like Stranger Things, or any of us 40 year old's who like the flashbacks to our childhoods in the stories.

A true mystery with a small touch of paranormal. I would certainly not consider this a horror story.
Riley throws in many suspects and pulls you by the nose in one direction while simultaneously pulling you by the tail in the opposing direction.
Riley does such a good job of creating an atmosphere of heaviness, doubt and anticipation.
The final twist, which wraps up the mystery, was well played. It is doubtful that anyone could anticipate that outcome!

Another great read for those who enjoy Riley Sager and his style of writing mysteries.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

RIley Sager is the reigning champ of sending chills down a reader's spine! Like most of Sager's novels, Middle of the Night takes a believable concept, mixes in some nostalgia and creates a real page turner! The innocence of a Friday night sleep over turns into a decades long nightmare for the main character Ethan & sends the reader on a quest to find out what really happened when his 10 year old friend vanished! Another great novel by Riley Sager!!!!

Description
In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend—and the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood.

The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul-de-sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul-de-sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle?

The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. Woods where Billy claimed ghosts roamed and where a mysterious institute does clandestine research on a crumbling estate.

The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe. And that the past has a way of haunting the present.

Another compelling read from one of my top authors! I liked the pacing and got swept into the story right away. I felt that the ending was a little predictable (I knew who one of the perps was very quickly). I wish the supernatural aspects of the story had more depth, but there was a lot of heart in the story that left me feeling very happy when it was all over. I grew up in a small, close-knit community (minus the creepy, hulking mansion with accompanying eccentric millionaire) and could relate to the relationships between the kids. We've all acted out and said things we regret as adults. The upside of growing up is being able to put things in perspective and forgive ourselves for who we were when we didn't know better. Definite recommend!

I want to give Riley Sager a hug! I've read four other books by Riley Sager (Survive the Night, Lock Every Door, The House Across The Lake, The Only One Left) and this is felt like the saddest books I've read by him. Ethan is haunted by the mysteries left after one tragic night in Hemlock Circle. I'm happy to say that there is a satisfying ending, but not without a thrilling and stressful journey to this stories conclusion. It gives off a different vibe from Riley's others books, but I would highly recommend to readers who love scary mystery and the works of Riley Sager.