Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The House across the Lake by Riley Sager

45 reviews

katbrookhart's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder

mari_books's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Hmmm…I think it can only be said that this book is entertaining. I didn’t find any of the characters likeable or really interesting. The “plot twists” seem to come out of no where and are unhinged, then have their backstory filled in by flashbacks. I dislike how much of the story we as readers learn from Casey’s phone calls or texts with other characters. I also think we could have done without 50% of the character backstory and a lot more detail on the actual plot twists

Way more attention is paid to how Casey has a damaged relationship with her mom than to the actual details of how her SERIAL KILLER HUSBAND hid the bodies, got away with murder and CAME BACK TO POSESS ANOTHER CHARACTER

This is the second book I’ve read from this author, some of the characters repeat quite a bit. I would only recommend this book if there were no other options and you were like in an airport or something.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

grayb14's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Blood

julied's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

madhmillz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The best Riley Sager book I’ve yet to read!

Personally, the twists gave me everything I wanted and then some! Still t keeping with Sager’s overall style while breaking the mold at the same time. I hope to see more like this one in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Death

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Blood and Vomit

brittneyw9's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Self harm, and Blood

shannananahey's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Riley Sager hits it out of the park again. I usually predict the “twist” or large event before I’m halfway through most books. This one came out of left field and I never saw it coming. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Kidnapping and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Blood, and Abandonment

arthur_ant18's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug use, Blood, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

mallory10100's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this was so insanely twisty i had absolutely no idea where it was going 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Infidelity, Blood, and Vomit

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The stars I give this book are for the following: the creepy atmosphere, the writing that at times made me feel like I myself was on Lake Greene, the reference to "Lock Every Door," the fact that there were some pieces of this story that sent a couple of chills down my spine, and the decent pacing.

Other than that, things get a little dicey...

I wrote down in my journal around page 100 that the star rating of this book was very much going to depend on the twist(s)...and friends, I just thought that all of these twists were weak at best and goofy at worst. There was one twist that made me actually LOL and I really don't think that was Sager's intent.

When I wasn't rolling my eyes out of confusion or snort laughing at how dumb that one twist was, I was just...bored. I dunno, Riley. We'll try again next time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, and Abandonment

Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Colonisation