Survive The Night - Riley Sager

Survive the Night - Riley Sager

7/10

    CHARLIE JORDAN IS BEING DRIVEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY A SERIAL KILLER. MAYBE.

Behind the wheel is Josh Baxter, a stranger Charlie med via the university ride-share scheme. On the road they share their stories, carefully avoiding the subject dominating the news - the Campus killer, responsible for three student murders, has just struck again.

The miles tick by and Charlie begins to notice discrepancies in Josh's story. And why won't he let her see inside the trunk?

As she begins to plan her escape from the man she is becoming certain is the killer, she starts to suspect that he knows exactly what she's thinking.

Meaning that she could very well end up as his next victim. 

A game of cat and mouse is about to play out.

In order to win, Charlie must do only one thing... survive the night. 

Survive the night begins by introducing us to the story's main protagonist, Charlie Jordan. After the death of her friend and roommate, Maddy, she decides to leave Campus behind and return home. For how long, she isn't yet sure. She leaves behind her boyfriend of a year, Robbie, and hitches a ride with a handsome stranger. 

A notorious serial killer is still on the loose, and Charlie knows she can't be too careful. Especially considering the Campus Killer murdered her roommate. 

As she departs with Josh, she becomes suspicious. His story doesn't add up and something starts to feel off. Charlie experiences movie-like hallucinations, where her brain amplifies what she is seeing and turns it into a movie, a response most likely brought on from the trauma of her parents dying. Her grandmother became her sole carer, and together they bonded over their love of movies, leading to Charlie studying them. The visions cause her to doubt her suspicions, unable to decipher between reality and the version created in her head. However, the longer she is in the car, the more sure she is that Josh is, in fact, the exact person she feared he was. 

This book is filled to the brim with twists, every page shocking you more than the last. It almost became hard to keep up with it, and the more Charlie felt like she was losing her mind, the more I did, too. It is exactly what you would call a page turner. It is very fast-paced and I must have powered through the entire book in a little more than 4 hours. The story itself only includes a few characters and follows one timeline which makes it easy to follow. 

The shifts in POV's are cleverly misleading, letting the reader think that they've finally worked it out, where in fact we were miles away from discovering the truth. 

About 3/4 of the way through the story, it takes a wild and unexpected turn. My head was spinning as I tried to keep up, my eyes darting from line to line, desperate to get to the end and make sense of it all. I found Charlie's character to be somewhat infuriating, and was inwardly screaming at some of her poor decision making. However, her strength was inspiring, as was her determination to find out the truth behind what happened to Maddy. Instead of making the easy and probably sensible decision, to run, she chooses to stay and fight, unwavering in the face of the man she thinks killed someone she loves. Her loyalty goes unnoticed and I lived for her character development from the beginning to the end. 

Her boyfriend, Robbie, goes after Charlie after she leaves a coded message indicating that something has gone wrong on the road. He doesn't hesitate to jump in the car, desperately wanting to protect his girlfriend, despite her leaving him only a few hours prior. I was in awe of his bravery and could only hope that one day someone loves me enough to put their own life on the line for mine. 

Everything you think you know about every character you meet in this book, is completely shattered. I was deceived in more ways that one, feeling betrayed by characters I loved, surprised by the one's I hated. Nothing adds up, until it does. 

I can assure you that when you pick up this book, you will not be able to put it down. Although I found the story slightly far fetched in some instances, it is absolutely worth a read. It is jaw-dropping, mind altering, earth shatteringly thrilling. I don't think it is Sager's best work by any means, but you will not regret reading it. I do suggest you go in to it open minded, not expecting it to remind fully realistic, and don't let other's opinions sway you.

I was doubtful after reading a few reviews of it, but as an avid 'thriller' reader, I loved it. It was so beautifully written and Sager's writing style makes you feel like you are in that car with them, feeling everything Charlie is feeling, desperate to escape. 

The ending was bittersweet but appropriate, totally in-keeping with the theme of the book. Thank you Riley Sager, you truly are a genius. 

 

Angel Maker - Morgan Green

 

EVERY ANGEL DESERVES THEIR WINGS

A teenage girl is found dead in the woods. The killing bears a chilling resemblance to those of the Angel Maker, a serial killer caught two decades ago. 

But with the old case files missing and doubts swirling about the original investigation, London Met Detective Jamie Johansson is drawn back to the icy streets of her home city to help. Her father, one of Stockholms most notorious detectives, closed the case when Jamie was just a girl. 

Her memories hold the only key to unlocking the past, and the truth of whether he put the right man behind bars all those years ago. 

Jamie will have to confront her own dark childhood, as well as the evil stalking the city if she hopes to crack this case. But with so many secrets buried beneath the frozen earth, will she be able to find the killer before he claims his next victim? 

THE ANGEL MAKER IS BACK, AND A PLAN TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING IS ALREADY IN MOTION

The story begins by introducing us to DI Jamie Johansson, a detective working for the London Met. Still coping with the side effects from a traumatic and an unexpected shooting, she is on administrative leave with no real desire to return to work anytime soon. 

It is during this time that she receives a shocking phone call from Anders Wiik, a CI working for the Swedish Police Authority. During the call, Anders explains that they recently found a body that indicates a notorious serial named the 'Angel Maker' has returned. As well as this, he informs Jamie that the suspect arrested for murders recently died in prison, before this specific crime was committed. Even worse, it was Jamie's father that put him there. 

Jamie reluctantly flies out to Sweden, her home from which her mother dragged her away from 20 years ago, leaving her life, including her father, behind. Her reluctance stems from the complicated nature of her relationship with her father. Although a good man, and a good father, he had his demons. He had become obsessed with the Angel Maker Case, eventually leading to his wife and daughters departure, and a few years later, took his own life. 

Greeted with the sight of her childhood home, Jamie finds herself thrown back into a world she thought she had left behinds uncovering secrets on top of secrets along the way.

Despite her reluctance, she finds herself drawn into the case, and joins the investigation as a consultant, determined to understand what happened 20 years ago, and what was happening now. 

The relationship between Johansson and Wiik has a rocky start, to say the east. Wiik, a divorced father, recently had his partner resign, leaving him reeling. The betrayal made him cautious and hesitant to rely on anyone new, for fear of them repeating history. However, throughout the book, their friendship grows. The pair bond over their commitment to the case, independent natures, and their undeniable trust issues. It's refreshing to see another side of Wiik slowly but surely coming out, considering when we are first introduced to him, he appears to be a hard-shelled detective adverse to smiling and any form of niceties. 

His behaviour towards his colleague and temporary partner, Julia Hallberg, confirms this. Hallberg is a whizz when it comes to gathering information, but Wiik treats her like an irritating puppy. 

Johansson's character is a hardcore feminist icon. She is solid and unwavering, but is still polite to everyone she meets, granted that they deserve it. It's nice having a strong detective lead that isn't an asshole to everyone around her, just because she can be. There is nothing feminist about degrading everyone, but Jamie Johansson is the perfect balance of both strong and sweet. As the case unfolds, we are introduced to a multitude of different characters, all of whom could be as guilty as the next. 8 girls have been killed, and the more they investigate, the more they consider that they might not be the only victims. 

I love how this book is written. The writing itself is elegant, and despite a lot of the names being Swedish, I didn't struggle at all to keep up with the names of the characters. Which is something that has put me off before! I love a spine tingling twisty thriller, and this gave exactly what I wanted. The cover was what initially grabbed my attention, a white mist ascending over a dark forest. And after I read the description, I was sold. It was scary without being frightening, it had the perfect balance of dialogue and description, and in every scene I felt like I was there, feeling the damp snow beneath my feet, tendrils of moist fog caressing my arms. I felt the fear in Jamie's chest when she was being stalked by a mysterious figure, the anger when someone she thought she knew, turned out to be someone she never really knew at all. The plot twist at the end gave everything it needed to give. It was unexpected and was very much a "Holy Crap" moment. You think the author has run out of surprises, and then boom. I loved it. I loved the dynamic of the characters in the book, and I have a feeling I will be meeting them all again. I believe 'Rising Tide' is the next book in this series and it has immediately been added to my amazon Wishlist.

I truly devoured this book, taking less than 24 hours to get through it, absolutely purging myself on the pages. It was addictive, full of suspense, and I absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thriller.

9/10

The House Across The Lake - Riley Sager

 

WHAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE, WILL ALWAYS REMAIN HIDDEN...

Casey Fletcher has escaped to her family's lake house for peace and quiet to mourn her late husband. When the glamorous couple across the lake catch her attention, she's mesmerised. They're perfect - just like Casey and her husband used to be.

But is anyone what they seem?

Is Casey as perfect as she thinks? 

She has a detective sat at her kitchen table. 

She has a man bound and gagged upstairs. 

She is about to uncover a dark truth so life-changing that nothing will ever be the same again.

Whilst mourning the loss of her late husband, Casey Fletcher, a 35 year old actress, returns to her families lake house. As well as being the perfect off-bridge location to deal with such a loss, it also happens to the place that Casey's husband, Len, died. Or more specifically, drowned. Caseys' mother, also a famous actress, forces her to take some time away from the prying eyes of the press, gagging for a front page piece about the widowed actress who'd gone off the deep end.

The press are not entirely incorrect in their deductions, as Casey has began excessively drinking, drowning her sorrows in a daily diet of whiskey, wine and whatever else she has lying around. 

Whilst staying at the Lake House, she starts to watch her neighbours across the Lake from her through her late husbands binoculars. This begins after a chance encounter with Katherine Royce, one half of the rich Royce's, in which Casey winds up saving Katherine's life when she spots her drowning in the lake. Her obsession grows as she notices strange behaviour between the pair and feels the dynamic is off. As well as this, she distracted by her sexy, ex cop, next door neighbour, Boone.

Casey's obsession grows after witnessing what appeared to be a fight between the married couple. The next day, as Casey wakes up following a drinking binge, Katherine is nowhere to be found. Prompted by this, she launches her own investigation into Tom Royce, the husband, convinced he is not only guilty of murdering his wife, but also the 3 girls who had been reported missing nearby. 

Nothing could have prepared me for the last 1/4 of this book. Nothing. 

Honestly, I'm still trying to decide how to feel about it. I loved the first 3/4 of this book. Whilst I find Casey's character slightly frustrating, I felt for her. Publicly dealing with a loss like she did must have been an impossible situation to navigate. However, I did get irate at her sheer disregard for the feeling of her friends and family, although I can recognise that this behaviour is typical for an alcoholic.

When Casey reminisces on her life with her husband, you do understand her reluctance to sober up. They appear to be a happy couple with a charming meet-cute, and a relationship where they balanced each other out in all the right ways. We have nothing to believe otherwise. This also explains her desire to stay away from the handsome next door neighbour, as nothing will ever come close to the epic love story between her and her husband, so there is no point in trying.

As the story unfolded, my number one suspect must have shifted about 30 times. Numerous times I thought I was being smart, guessing the game before I even got there, but like I said, nothing could have prepared me for the real culprit. The story began to take on a slightly "Behind her Eyes'-esque vibe towards the last quarter, leaving me audibly gasping with both shock and confusion. I've never been one for fantasy or sci-fi, and personally, if my stories start realistic, I prefer that they stay that way. So I must admit, it did turn me off slightly when it started to change into something more supernatural, but I still had to know the outcome. Despite this shift, the end was a rapid whirlwind of events. Plot twist followed plot twist, and everything I thought I knew about the characters and their stories, was turned upside down. Guesses and assumptions are shattered page after page and justice was eventually served. 

The ending does leave the reader satisfied. The characters I liked got their happy ending, well, as happy as they can given the circumstances. And all is well that ends well. Overall, this was an extracting read, and I tore through it in just a couple days. It kept me up at night, urgently craving some answers, and it gave that. However, I would say the supernatural, ghost-like twist makes it more of an acquired taste, one that I just don't have. I love Riley Sager,  but this is certainly not one of his best. In conclusion, I'm going to give it a 6/10. Worth reading, but not worth reading again.

Home Before Dark - Riley Sager

 

What was it like? Living in that house.

 

Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into a rambling Victorian estate called Baneberry Hall. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a memoir called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon.

 

Now, Maggie has inherited Baneberry Hall after her father's death. She was too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father's book. But she doesn't believe a word of it. Ghosts, after all, don't exist.

 

But when she returns to Baneberry Hall to prepare it for sale, her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the pages of her father's book lurk in the shadows, and locals aren't thrilled that their small town has been made infamous. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself - a place that hints of dark deeds and unexplained happenings. 

 

As the days pass, Maggie begins to believe that what her father wrote was more fact than fiction. That, either way, someone - or something - doesn't.

 

 

Home Before Dark, by Riley Sager, follows Maggie Holt as she returns to the childhood home that has haunted her her entire life. Maggie's memories of the house are less than pleasant, and returning to the infamous Baneberry Hall brings them all swiftly flooding to the surface. As she begins renovating it with the intention of selling it, she finds herself looking into her past, trying to sort through her cache of memories and decipher what was real, and what wasn't. The book switches between the point of view of Maggie, and of the book Maggie's father wrote. The book tells in great detail what happened during their time at Baneberry Hall, and is written to suggest these were all genuine events. Maggie's relationship with her mother and father was frayed due to the book, which lead to years of taunts from people insinuating that her father was even insane or a liar. Maggie herself wasn't sure she could disagree. Maggie herself is a bit of a skeptic, and to begin with, isn't deterred by the ghosts that allegedly haunt the house. She is hugely headstrong and is a very likeable character.

As she stayed at the Haunted Mansion, strange affairs occurred that led her to believe that her fathers version of events was maybe not as fictional as she initially thought they were. As secrets unfold, things start to make even less and less sense, until a confrontational conversation with her parents put's everything to rest. Almost. 

 

I am so genuinely excited to review this book. To say it was a thriller would be an understatement, this book was a whole movie. This book makes the room you're sitting in too quiet, the creaks and moans in your house suddenly too loud. It was perfectly haunting and superbly spooky. I wanted to hide from the book and dive right into it all at once. The POV changes were flawless executed, and I was utterly entranced until the very end. 

 

I don't enjoy sci-fi and I'm not a huge believer in ghosts, so what I especially liked about this book was how everything still remained realistic and physically possible, without diving too far into the ghost/fantasy realm. I love the challenge of guessing the plot twist in a book, but what I love even more is when it's so unexpected that I am completely unable to even attempt to anticipate the outcome, and that's exactly what happened here. The ending was satisfying and left me nodding in appreciation as I closed the book. Riley Sager hasn't disappointed me yet, but this is by far my favourite of his novels and I can give it a safe 9/10. 

The Cutting Place - Jane Casey (Maeve Kerrigan Book 9)

Everyone’s heard the rumours about elite gentlemen’s clubs, where the champagne flows freely, the parties are the height of decadence . . . and the secrets are darker than you could possibly imagine.

DS Maeve Kerrigan finds herself in an unfamiliar world of wealth, luxury and ruthless behaviour when she investigates the murder of a young journalist, Paige Hargreaves. Paige was working on a story about the Chiron Club, a private society for the richest and most privileged men in London. Then she disappeared. 

It’s clear to Maeve that the members have many secrets. But Maeve is hiding secrets of her own – even from her partner DI Josh Derwent. Will she uncover the truth about Paige’s death? Or will time run out for Maeve first?

The Cutting Place is the 9th instalment in the Maeve Kerrigan series. When I started reading this book, I had no idea it was part of a series. I wouldn't say its a requirement to have read the 8 books that lead up to this particular story, and can be read as a stand alone.

Maeve Kerrigan is a Detective Sergeant who finds herself thrust into an unfamiliar world of private clubs, rich men, and a dangerous society who use secrets as power. Maeve is partnered with Detective Inspector Josh Derwent, who she has been withholding important information from that puts not just their partnership, but their friendship, at risk. 

Jane Casey, the author, does not hold back when it comes to darker scenes. Barely a couple pages into the book, Maeve is investigating numerous body parts that have been washed up on the shore of the thames. As she gathers information, she eventually comes to the conclusion that the dismembered body parts belong to a young journalist named Paige Hargreaves. 

She delves into the journalists life, asking her friends and acquaintances what she might have been investigating and more importantly, whether it got her killed. She discovers that Paige was looking into a private mens club called The Chiron Club. The club were particularly selective in who they choose to let in, specifically allowing the rich and privileged to be part of their elite club. Rumours surround the misogynistic group about what goes on during their private parties, and even worse, outside of them.

Maeve doesn't hold back when it comes to throwing herself into this dangerous world, with barely no regard for her own safety. She is fearless and unwavering when it comes to doing what she needs to do to try and solve the case. It's this mindset that lands her in all kinds of precarious situations, which eventually leads to her solving the case in a thrilling and unexpected plot twist. 

Meave and DI Josh Derwent have what appears to be a rather flirtatious partnership that often risks crossing the line, but they are both in relationships and are adamant that there is no romantic feelings. However, us as the readers, know better. I automatically find myself rooting for them, praying that the slow burn will come to a head and give us an epic friends to lovers trope, but this is already the 9th book in the series so I'm not sure how hopeful I am. 

The Cutting Place is an intense thriller and is most definitely a page turner. The characters are likeable, the story was riveting and unfolded in a way that left me as a reader, satisfied and gagging for more. As much as I want to dive straight into the next book in the Maeve Kerrigan series, I am intrigued by the back story and build up between Maeve and Josh, and so have decided to go right back to the start.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a murder mystery or a thriller and would rate it an 8/10.