Middle of the Night

Riley Sager

Mystery Thriller

In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend—and the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood.

The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul de sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul de sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle?

The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. Woods where Billy claimed monsters roamed and where a mysterious institute does clandestine research on a crumbling estate.

The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe. And that the past has a way of haunting the present.

-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.

Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.

My Opinion

(4 / 5) Thirty years ago, Ethan Marsh and his best friend were sleeping in his backyard. When Ethan woke up the next morning, there was a slash in the tent and Billy was gone. For years the police investigated but never found any evidence. Now, thirty years later, Ethan is back in his parents house, plagued by memories and determined to find answers.

Sager is great at creating a mystery that is effortless to get into. With hints of paranormal aspects and long-awaited answers, this mystery ended in a way I didn’t see coming. It was easy to get invested in the characters lives and to need that closure just as they did. It was atmospheric and created just enough mystery to keep the suspense high.

AUDIO REVIEW: Santino Fontana had a great voice as the narrator and main character. His many voices for the other characters felt inaccurate and forced, making it difficult to see the characters for their age, maturity or personality.

General content summary: F words= 20

Language 

Child is missing 

Overdose death (family member, previous)

Child body found (few details)

Alcohol (multiple)

M/M kiss (previous)

M/M marriage 

A ritual is seen (a recently removed heart and chanting around it)

Rumors of an occult 

Spouse death (few details)

Captivity (tied up)

Car accident (death, drunk driver)

Near drowning 

**Any quotes have been taken from the advance readers copy and may or may not be in the final, published copy.

Thank you to PRH Audio for the copy!

The book releases June 18, 2024.

**As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.