Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

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.

This is my second Riley Sager book and while I preferred The Only One Left I still enjoyed this one. The multiple narratives and flashbacks worked well, the 90s was lovingly recreated and the neighbourhood setting felt very real. I found the main character likeable and the supporting characters were given quite a bit of development and fleshing out which I value but that did slow the pace, especially in the middle. The ending wasn't what I was expecting but I wasn't completely disappointed as it felt right for the characters

read for summerween 2024: vlog coming soon

this was honestly a pretty tame thriller for sager but i liked where it went, i was engaged the whole time, and it had that same addicting writing.

An Underwhelming Thriller

I recently finished “Middle of the Night” by Riley Sager, and I have to say, it left me feeling rather lukewarm. While it was a quick and easy read, it didn't quite deliver the thrilling experience I hoped for from a book in this genre.

### Pros:

- Fast-paced and easy to read
- Intriguing premise

### Cons:

- Lack of genuine suspense
- Underwhelming resolution
- Excessive exposition that didn't enhance the mystery

One of the main issues I had with “Middle of the Night” was its failure to create genuine tension. Moments that should have been nail-biting and suspenseful fell flat, leaving me more indifferent than on the edge of my seat.

The book also suffered from unnecessary bloat. It contained a considerable amount of extra information and backstory that seemed designed to throw readers off the scent. However, these elements were never fully developed, making them feel more like filler than clever misdirection.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect was the resolution. After investing time in the story, I found the ending anticlimactic and unsatisfying. It didn't provide the payoff I was expecting from a thriller.

This was my first experience with Riley Sager's work, and while I understand he has a significant following, “Middle of the Night” didn't compel me to explore his other books. The lack of genuine thrills and the mediocre experience don't motivate me to pick up another of his novels.

This might not be the best choice for readers seeking a truly gripping thriller. However, it might suffice for a lazy afternoon if you're looking for a quick, undemanding read.

Rating: ⭐⭐½ / 5