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jessread_s 's review for:

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
4.0
dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Review: “The House Across the Lake” is a wild ride from start to finish! 
 
Sager is the master of misdirection. Several times throughout the book I thought I had solved the mystery only for the rug to be pulled out right from under me. The breadcrumbs I followed that I thought led to the murderer’s true identity in reality led to nowhere, Sager cleverly throwing me off track. 
 
Additionally, I appreciated Sager’s organization of the novel’s timeline. The reader jumps back and forth between the “before” and the “now,” thrown off guard by the jaw-dropping revelations about Casey’s past and the cliffhangers that deepened the mystery. 
 
Though “The House Across the Lake” is primarily a mystery, its paranormal elements make it unique. At the same time, those elements made it a bit difficult for me to remain immersed in the storyline. In general, I have trouble embracing the absurd, but I appreciate “The House Across the Lake” for pushing me outside my comfort zone. It is for that reason that I look forward to reading more of Sager’s backlist to get my mystery-thriller fix!