It’s been a long time since a thriller surprised me this much. I went into the book knowing that it would be a generic read; it was simply meant to round out the list of books I had kept for the RIP Reading challenge, but it ended up being much more than I expected.
About The House Across the Lake
Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she watches Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple living in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.
One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage isn’t as perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with discovering what happened to her. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyeurism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession, and how looks can be very deceiving.
~ Synopsis from GoodReads
My Review
This is my first Riley Sager book, but based on how good this was, it definitely won’t be the last. It started out clichĂ©d (very similar to The Woman in the Window – a book I didn’t particularly care for). But just when I had resigned myself to the story, very sure of the outcome, Riley Sager changed it all up.
There were multiple twists in the book – one I had guessed, but there were several others that just made me sit up in bed and rub my eyes in shock, all in a good way.
I don’t even want to hint at any of the twists – just go into this book blind without reading any of the many very spoilery book reviews on the web. I think you will end up liking this book.
One of the better mysteries I have read this year.
