Middle of the Night by Riley Sager is a different speed from the popular mystery thriller author who created division among fans. After finishing this novel, I can agree that it’s a different pace for Mr. Sager, but is it a good read or something you shouldn’t waste your time on?
Middle of the Night Synopsis
During a summer overnight backyard camping adventure, two ten-year-olds climb into the tent, but only one comes out. Ethan Marsh wakes to discover a slash in his tent and his best friend, Billy, missing. Terror unfolds throughout the idyllic neighborhood of Hemlock Circle when it’s found that Billy has disappeared without a trace. Over thirty years later, after swearing never to return, Ethan is back. Recently divorced and trying to untangle his next steps, he returns to his childhood home to help his parents sell the house as they retire and relocate to Florida.
Struggling with insomnia and residual guilt and trauma from Billy’s disappearance, Ethan begins to notice strange occurrences happening throughout the neighborhood. Such as the security lights turning on mysteriously when no one’s there. And, the baseball in his backyard was similar to the one Billy used to send when he wanted to play. Ethan becomes convinced that Billy is back and wants him to investigate what happened to him that night. But the more Ethan works to uncover the truth, the more he realizes that it comes at a cost.
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery Suspense
Release Date: June 18, 2024
Publisher: Dutton
Author Background: Riley Sager is a New York Times bestseller of over nine books, including two of my personal favorites , The Only One Left and The House Across the Lake. He’s known for his twisty, propulsive thrillers. A Pennsylvania native, he now resides in Princeton, New Jersey.
Themes: Trauma & Grief, Facing the Past, Appearance versus Reality, Unreliable Memory, Friendship and Community.
Content Warnings/Triggers: Murder, Kidnapping, Death, Grief, Addiction, Bullying, Mental Illness, Dementia, and Drug Use
Middle of the Night Review
Craft & Style
This novel was different from Sager’s usual. First, we have a male protagonist for the first time in the history of Sager’s work. Next, this novel felt a bit darker and heavier than Sager’s other novels. Also, the pacing was slower than his previous works, especially coming after the fast-paced and twisty The Only One Left. However, despite Sager switching it up with his writing style, it still maintained his usual structure, where we have a present timeline showcasing the current mystery as it unfolds and a past timeline that provides context to how things came to be, allowing the reader to better understand the characters, increase tension, and filter in misdirection and red herrings to keep you guessing.
Emotional Impact
The tone of this story is an emotional and melancholic one. You spend so much time in Ethan’s head and get passing glimpses into other characters in the neighborhood as they all struggle with some type of trauma or grief in light of various events that have happened within the community. Sager really focuses on how grief and trauma impact people psychologically, altering their memory, decision-making, and perceptions of each other.
He also challenges the perception of safety in the suburbs. There are mentions of how safe Hemlock Circle is and how everyone is so tight-knit knit but the reality is there are cracks underneath the surface, exposing the dark underbelly hidden within, and how we delude ourselves into thinking we’re safe and excluded from the horrors that humans inflict on one another within these seemingly picturesque communities.
Representation
The cast is somewhat diverse, as we have Asian, the Chen family, and South Asian, the Patel family, representation. However, they can come across as fairly flat, devoid of culture. And, something about the way the Chen family was described felt off to me. It was described that the Chens were tough on their children, demanding excellence, and that they put pressure on their oldest, Johnny Chen led to his drug abuse and eventual overdose. Then there was the murkiness with Russ’s storyline towards the end.
I’m not sure if Sager was trying to turn the common Asian stereotype that all Asians are prodigies and are the “model minority” on its head or not. But their storyline was definitely interesting.
Notable Strengths
Middle of the Night shines in its palpable atmospheric energy, strong character-driven storytelling, and intentional exploration of key themes: grief, trauma, suburbia, and friendship.
Potential Hurdles
Sager is the king of misdirection and red herrings and excels at what I call the “Scooby Doo misdirection” where he flirts with the supernatural but we discover the monster is a bit closer to home then we anticipated However, in this novel he spent so much time perfecting these red herrings and building up suspense for such a powerfully sinister twist for it to be something so achingly simple. And, many fans of Sager’s twisty reveals may feel a bit let down by this conclusion.
Deeper Reflections
While I found this to be right up my alley, I can see many readers scratching their heads and feeling let down. The change in writing style, the more character-driven story, and a twist that relies more on emotion and vulnerability than on a shock or big revelation. For diehard fans of Sager’s prior work, it probably feels like he pulled the rug out from under you.
However, considering this book was released during a rise of longer, slow-burning, literary mystery novels like God of the Woods, and All the Colors of the Dark. Sager was likely inspired to participate in the trend and find a way to attract a new audience or perhaps experiment with a new writing style. And, interestingly, Goodreads reviews haven’t been any kinder towards his recent release, With A Vengeance. I’m planning on reading it this winter, and I’m fascinated to see if it’s similar to the writing style in Middle of the Night or if he’s returned to his former glory. Personally, I’m open to either.
Who I’d Recommend It To?
This is ideal for readers who enjoy slow, suspenseful, psychological thrillers that are highly character-driven. It’s also an ideal transitional mystery suspense that can bridge the gap between summer and autumn as it’s set in the summery months and currently matches the inconsistent weather. But it includes some supernatural vibes perfect for spooky season. Also, if you’re looking for more reviews about Riley Sager’s works, check out my earlier Book Review: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Join the Conversation
Have you read Middle of the Night? What are your thoughts on this book? How do you feel about Riley Sager’s newest release? Let me know in the comments below!
