Hodder & Stoughton | 7 July 2022 | 368 pgs
Source: Library
Casey Fletcher is an actress but has since pause her career after her husband's passing. Despite her husband's accidental drowning at their family's lake house in Vermont, Casey returns to the place to escape from bad press and also to drown her sorrows with alcohol. Bored with nothing much to do, Casey spends most of her time drinking and watching with her binoculars and that's when she started to watch the couple who live in the house across the lake.
Casey soon learns that the couple is none other than Tom and Katherine; both whom have made their success and fame through their jobs as a tech innovator and a model respectively. Casey later become friends with Katherine after she's saved her from drowning, but her impression on the glamorous couple starts to change after she got to know Katherine more and her spying habits continue. Tom's and Katherine's marriage may not seem as perfect as what she's thought the more she watches them until one day, Katherine goes missing. Curious and bothered by her disappearance, Casey is adamant to find out the truth till she's unravel something darker and more sinister than she's thought.
At first glance the premise gave off the Rear Window and The Woman in the Window vibes. I didn't mind this trope as I think with the trend of the thriller genre goes, most of the tropes have been used in one way or another and it's up to the author's imaginations and writing skills to make the story different and captivating in their own way. This book is a fine example of it; and I've enjoyed most of Riley Sager's books but this story was a letdown despite the intriguing premise. Don't get me wrong, Sager's writing is good and I feel his story settings' descriptions is one of his strengths but this story veered off in another direction which was simply too far-fetched for me to fathom and to appreciate the conclusion as it comes to a closure (I couldn't say why due to spoilers). Another thing that bothered me was Casey's alcoholic obsession; she really did nothing but drank and spied on her neighbour most of the times. There's some twists and turns as expected in this genre, but alas I think the author was trying too hard and this ended flatly in my opinion. I hope his next book will be better and that it'd surpass Final Girls and Home Before Dark, which remain my favourite Sager books.
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I wouldn't love Casey's drinking and spying either. And it's too bad this one was such a letdown. I haven't read it, but now I don't think I want to.
Lark - Riley Sager is one of my favourite authors and I've enjoyed his earlier works. I feel that his recent releases were a disappointing read. That said, I'll still be reading his books, though.
Didn't seem right to have a snoop for a main character.
I've been wanting to try this author but just haven't yet. Sorry this one veered off track a bit. I love a good thriller but sometimes they do go askew when the plot ends up getting out there. I did like The Woman in the Window so yes that sounded a bit familiar.
Too bad the book was a let down.
I agree with you! The constant drinking was too much, and the far-fetched twist didn't work for me here. I thought Home Before Dark was awesome! I'll have to read Final Girls soon.
Harvee - It's mostly her drinking habits that got me.
Greg - If you want to give this author a try, start with Home Before Dark. That was great IMO.
Harvee - I wanted to like this book but couldn't. 😞
Diana - The twist was too much IMO. The book should've a warning about it, though. Just kidding. Hope you'll enjoy reading Final Girls. :)