- Rachel Penate
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Swooping in with another buzzy, time-devouring, I-don't-care-what-my-responsibilities-are-I'm-finishing-the-dang-book is the king of contemporary twisty thrillers: RILEY SAGER.
UGH. OK. YES. FINE! You can add me to Riley Sager's fan club list... I'll allow it. His books have never failed to entertain me and I'll keep coming back for more!
HOME BEFORE DARK is no stranger to Sager's three other suspenseful stories. While I loved many aspects of this book - including its gothic setting, utterly satisfying ending, and easy-to-devour prose - there was quite a bit I struggled with. Out of all of his books, HOME BEFORE DARK was the slowest and most repetitive. While I love a slow build, I found myself fatigued in places the momentum should've built. In addition, I struggle at times with stereotypical main characters who are motivated and simultaneously haunted by their tortured past. While I'm all about strong characters who overcome adversity, this is a thriller trope I've come to abhor.
That all being said, this was a ★★★★ read for me and one I'd recommend if you're in the mood for a quick and easy twisty thriller with an unexpected ending.
SENSITIVITY WARNINGS: unexpected death of a parent and child, paranormal events, childhood trauma.
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