Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

There’s something inherently unsettling about idyllic suburban neighborhoods. The manicured lawns, cookie-cutter houses, and friendly neighbors can feel like a thin veneer concealing dark secrets. Riley Sager taps into this unease masterfully in his latest psychological thriller, Middle of the Night. Set in the picture-perfect cul-de-sac of Hemlock Circle, the novel peels back layers of suburban normalcy to reveal the rot festering beneath.

Sager, known for nail-biting suspense in novels like Final Girls and The House Across the Lake, delivers another page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Middle of the Night blends elements of ghost stories, cold case mysteries, and psychological suspense into a haunting exploration of guilt, grief, and the secrets we keep—even from ourselves.

A Decades-Old Mystery Resurfaces

The story centers on Ethan Marsh, who has reluctantly returned to his childhood home on Hemlock Circle 30 years after his best friend Billy vanished without a trace. That fateful summer night, 10-year-old Ethan and Billy were camping in a tent in Ethan’s backyard. In the morning, Billy was gone—the tent slashed open, no signs of struggle. The case went cold, leaving the neighborhood shaken and Ethan traumatized.

Now 40, Ethan is a bundle of neuroses – plagued by insomnia, anxiety, and a recurring nightmare about the night Billy disappeared. Moving back into his parents’ old house on Hemlock Circle is the last thing he wants. But circumstances have forced his hand, and Ethan finds himself confronting the ghosts of his past—perhaps literally.

Strange Occurrences Hint at Supernatural Forces

Soon after his return, odd things start happening around the neighborhood. Security lights flick on and off for no reason. Ethan thinks he senses a presence in his yard. Most eerily, baseballs begin appearing on his lawn – mimicking a secret signal Billy used to use to get Ethan’s attention.

Is someone playing a cruel prank? Has Billy’s spirit returned? Or is Ethan’s guilt-ridden mind conjuring up these strange occurrences? Sager keeps readers guessing, masterfully blurring the lines between the supernatural and psychological. The author’s flair for creating an unsettling atmosphere is on full display as the seemingly safe suburban setting takes on an increasingly sinister air.

Unearthing Long-Buried Secrets

As Ethan investigates the strange happenings, he’s forced to reconnect with his former neighbors and childhood acquaintances. We meet a cast of complex characters, each harboring their own secrets and regrets related to that long-ago summer. There’s Russ Chen, once the neighborhood weakling, now a buff sporting goods store owner. Ashley Wallace, Ethan’s former babysitter crush, back in town with a precocious son. And Ragesh Patel, the teenage bully turned local cop.

Sager excels at creating fully-realized characters with messy, complicated inner lives. As Ethan digs into the past, we see how Billy’s disappearance left lasting scars on everyone in the neighborhood. The author deftly explores how a single traumatic event can shape entire lives and communities.

The Woods Hold the Key

Ethan’s search for answers leads him into the woods surrounding Hemlock Circle – the same woods where Billy claimed “monsters” lived. At the heart of the forest lies the mysterious Hawthorne Institute, a crumbling mansion where secretive research was once conducted.

The sections in the woods are some of the novel’s most atmospheric and chilling. Sager builds palpable dread as Ethan ventures deeper into the dark forest, uncertain what lurks in the shadows. The Hawthorne Institute itself is deliciously creepy—a decaying Gothic edifice with a sinister history.

Unraveling the Truth

As Ethan inches closer to uncovering what really happened to Billy, the tension ratchets up to almost unbearable levels. Sager is a master of misdirection, and he keeps readers constantly off-balance with startling revelations and unexpected twists. Just when you think you have it figured out, the author pulls the rug out from under you.

The final act is a pulse-pounding thrill ride as decades of secrets come crashing down. Sager brings all the story threads together for a shocking yet satisfying conclusion. While some revelations stretch credulity, the author mostly sticks the landing, delivering emotional catharsis along with the answers to the central mystery.

Themes of Guilt, Grief and Growing Up

Beyond the propulsive plot, Middle of the Night is a poignant exploration of how childhood trauma shapes us. Ethan’s arrested development and inability to move on mirror the stagnation of Hemlock Circle itself. Most of the original families still live there 30 years later, as if frozen in time.

Sager delves into the guilt that has eaten away at Ethan for decades – not just survivor’s guilt, but shame over cruel words spoken to Billy on that final night. The author sensitively portrays how unresolved grief and trauma can leave lasting scars, even as life ostensibly moves forward.

There’s also a bittersweet nostalgia running through the novel. Sager captures both the innocence of childhood summers and the impossible desire to return to that simpler time. Ethan’s journey forces him to finally confront the past and grow up – even as he yearns for the carefree days before tragedy struck.

Sager’s Signature Style Shines

Fans of Sager’s previous works will find much to love here. The author brings his trademark blend of propulsive plotting, vividly drawn characters, and hair-raising suspense. His prose is lean and effective, with an uncanny ability to build dread through small details and an ominous atmosphere.

While Middle of the Night feels slightly less twisty than some of Sager’s other novels, it makes up for it with emotional depth and resonant themes. The author continues to evolve as a writer, delivering satisfying thrills while also probing deeper into human psychology and relationships.

Echoes of Stephen King

There are clear Stephen King vibes throughout Middle of the Night – from the idyllic small-town setting concealing dark secrets to the focus on childhood trauma. The Hawthorne Institute in particular feels reminiscent of King’s sinister institutions.

But Sager puts his own spin on these familiar tropes. His approach is leaner and more grounded than King’s sprawling supernaturalism. The result is a taut psychological thriller with just a tinge of otherworldly menace – leaving readers deliciously uncertain where reality ends and nightmare begins.

A Must-Read Summer Thriller

With its pitch-perfect blend of suspense, emotion, and subtle supernatural elements, Middle of the Night cements Riley Sager’s place as one of the premier thriller writers working today. The novel will appeal to fans of twisty mysteries, ghost stories, and character-driven suspense alike.

Sager keeps the pages turning with expert pacing and tantalizing clues. But it’s the rich character work and themes of guilt, grief, and redemption that elevate this above typical thriller fare. Middle of the Night will have readers frantically turning pages late into the night – and jumping at every rustle in the bushes outside.

The Bottom Line

Middle of the Night is another home run from Riley Sager—a haunting, emotionally resonant thriller that will linger in readers’ minds long after the final page. With its pitch-perfect blend of suspense and heart, it’s a worthy addition to the author’s impressive body of work.

Clear your schedule and prepare for some sleepless nights – this is one book you won’t be able to put down until you’ve uncovered all its secrets. Just maybe leave a light on while reading…you know, just in case there really are monsters in the woods.

If You Enjoyed This Book…

Readers who loved Middle of the Night should check out Riley Sager’s other psychological thrillers, including:

• Lock Every Door
• Final Girls
• The Last Time I Lied
• Home Before Dark
• Survive the Night
• The House Across the Lake

For more suburban suspense with a hint of the supernatural, try:

• The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
• The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
• The Whisper Man by Alex North

About the Author

Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including Final Girls, The Last Time I Lied, and The House Across the Lake. A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. Middle of the Night is his latest thriller.