The House Across the Lake: A Novel

⭐️⭐️⭐️Twisty, Suspenseful, and Just the Right Amount of Unhinged The House Across the Lake is the kind of thriller that keeps you second-guessing everything. Riley Sager takes a familiar setup—a grieving woman watching her neighbors a little too closely—and twists it into something so much wilder than I expected. The slow-burn suspense had me fully hooked, and just when I thought I had things figured out, the book flipped the script in a way that had me reeling. Reading this at the lake made it even creepier. Sitting by the water, watching the sun set while diving into a story about a woman spying on her neighbors across a dark lake? Perfectly eerie. Every ripple in the water had me glancing over my shoulder, and the isolated, voyeuristic feel of the book hit so much harder in that setting. Casey is an interesting protagonist—flawed, unreliable, and drowning in grief and alcohol, making her perspective feel messy but compelling. She’s watching Tom and Katherine, the seemingly perfect couple across the lake, and of course, she sees something suspicious. But the further she digs, the more everything starts to unravel, and that’s when things really kick into high gear. Sager knows how to keep readers on edge, layering in twists that feel both shocking and earned. The first half of the book leans heavily into psychological suspense, but the second half? Absolutely wild. Without spoiling anything, there’s a shift that completely changes the game, making this thriller feel unlike anything else he’s written. Some parts stretched believability, and a few twists felt almost too much, but honestly? I didn’t mind. The atmosphere, tension, and sheer unpredictability made this an addictive, gripping read. Reading it by the lake made it even better—if you want a thriller that messes with your head, The House Across the Lake delivers.

I really enjoyed this book! Loved the nod to Rear Window, kept leaving me wanting for more!

Tried not to expect anything, but it did NOT go where I thought I was gonna go! Would definitely recommend!

A friend said she didn’t enjoy this, which had me wondering at first what was so wrong with it as I read it. Sure the set ups seemed a little obvious. I figured whenever the big twist came that I’d probably see it coming, so its biggest flaw might have been being too obvious. But NOPE. Did not see the end coming from a mile. I want to love the book for daring to go where it went, but I could not handle the characters’ reactions and choices. Still, good setting, easy read, and I’m happy with any book that invokes a big reaction from me.

3.5