Middle of the Night

This is my second Riley Sager book and while I preferred The Only One Left I still enjoyed this one. The multiple narratives and flashbacks worked well, the 90s was lovingly recreated and the neighbourhood setting felt very real. I found the main character likeable and the supporting characters were given quite a bit of development and fleshing out which I value but that did slow the pace, especially in the middle. The ending wasn't what I was expecting but I wasn't completely disappointed as it felt right for the characters

An Underwhelming Thriller

I recently finished “Middle of the Night” by Riley Sager, and I have to say, it left me feeling rather lukewarm. While it was a quick and easy read, it didn't quite deliver the thrilling experience I hoped for from a book in this genre.

### Pros:

- Fast-paced and easy to read
- Intriguing premise

### Cons:

- Lack of genuine suspense
- Underwhelming resolution
- Excessive exposition that didn't enhance the mystery

One of the main issues I had with “Middle of the Night” was its failure to create genuine tension. Moments that should have been nail-biting and suspenseful fell flat, leaving me more indifferent than on the edge of my seat.

The book also suffered from unnecessary bloat. It contained a considerable amount of extra information and backstory that seemed designed to throw readers off the scent. However, these elements were never fully developed, making them feel more like filler than clever misdirection.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect was the resolution. After investing time in the story, I found the ending anticlimactic and unsatisfying. It didn't provide the payoff I was expecting from a thriller.

This was my first experience with Riley Sager's work, and while I understand he has a significant following, “Middle of the Night” didn't compel me to explore his other books. The lack of genuine thrills and the mediocre experience don't motivate me to pick up another of his novels.

This might not be the best choice for readers seeking a truly gripping thriller. However, it might suffice for a lazy afternoon if you're looking for a quick, undemanding read.

Rating: ⭐⭐½ / 5

3.5
to say I'm dissapointed would be an understatement. this wasn't bad but also not as good as I hoped it would. started so fucking great and I thought it will be my second penpal but then it got kinda boring and dragged and went on a billion side plots that didn't even amount to anything and then it ended. im SOO sad this wasn't a 5 star. such a beautiful cover too what a shame

God this book was awful. 
It was so boring, and there wasn't a “twist” I didn't see coming. 
It took me forever to get through and it threw me into a few slumps. 
Had it not been a Riley Sager book I probably would have DNF'd it but I should have anyways. 
It felt like NOTHING happened in the 300+ pages. 
Anytime anything started to get interesting it was explained away almost as quickly as it'd come up. I feel like any of the other suspect's being the  culprit would have been more interesting than the actual culprit and their story was. 
Riley Sager has always been a hit or miss author for me ranging from 2 stars (Lock Every Door) to near 5 Stars (Survive the Night and The Only One Left) but this was the biggest swing and a miss I've ever seen from him and boy am I disappointed. Even prior works that I rated low feel like 5 stars in comparison to this one. 
My worst book of the year so far.