Review: The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

Author: Riley Sager
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Date:  June 2022

Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.

One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyeurism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession and how looks can be very deceiving.

I wish I could say that I liked House Across the Lake.  But, I have to be honest.  It was merely OK.  I mean not awful, but not what I was expecting.  The story was a bit slow and dull in the first two-thirds. It definitely took a weird turn in the last third of the book.  Like out into left field.  There were some twists that I didn't see coming. I'll give it that.  I just didn't love the storyline. 

 I also didn't love the characters.  Casey was a drunk.  I'm just not a fan of excessive drinking, especially in main characters.  She wasn't a very likable person either.  I listened to the audiobook and I didn't like the narrator choice.  She made Casey sound much older than she was supposed to be in the book.  Lastly, I wasn't a fan of the pop culture references.  Casey is an actress and hearing she was in certain real-life movies pulled me out of the story.  I am usually a fan of this author, but this one didn't do it for me.  I say skip it.  He has better books.