The House Across The Lake I Book Review by Ashvita, 14, Pondicherry

The House Across The Lake I Book Review 

“The House Across The Lake” by Riley Sager is a perfectly crafted physiological thriller which keeps readers on their toes. It was the most viral thriller novel on reading forums leaving readers awestruck. Published in 2022, the book as well as the author still gets renowned recognition from the reader audience worldwide.

The story centers around an actress, Casey Fletcher who is forced by her mother (who is also a successful actress) to stay in her family’s lake house in Vermont. Grieving for her recently declined husband, Casey relies on alcohol to weep out all her sorrows. Her routine is off to a similar start everyday, wakes up, fills her glass with bourbon, and marches off to her porch.

On a somber day, Casey happens to find the new model who moved in with her husband to the house across the lake, drowning. Casey aids Katherine, who seemingly confesses that she felt tired while swimming.

To pass time, Casey watches every move of the new couple in their profoundly glass built house with the help of binoculars. As time passes, Casey is well aware by now that Katherine has disappeared and somehow feels responsible for it.

As the protagonist deciphers the bits and pieces she has failed to notice, unnerving secrets start to flood up the lake maintaining the level of suspense from start to finish.

The theme highlighted throughout the book is the illusion of a perfect life. It educates us to get facts right before creating assumptions. Other themes include sorrow, deception and alcoholism. Riley Sager also captures scenes in a gripping way where graphic violence and the setting provides chilling vibes.

The foreshadowing really hits the spot revealing plot twists that are unguessable and mind-bending. Riley Sager’s writing is depicted as twisty and you could not expect any less from the house across the lake. Each character in the book grows and thrives as the story is being plotted despite all the havoc taking place.

As I love a thriller book, set in an eccentric and isolated place, this book is a 4 ⁄ 5 stars for me and I would give this book’s age rating as 14+.

As Catherine Ryan Howard quotes ‘If you’re not reading Riley Sager, you’re missing out’.

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