Book Review: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!
The haunted house. It is a place of legend in many cultures. But for Baneberry Hall, it is a place of treachery, betrayal, and hidden secrets. Riley Sager once again rewrites a classic genre, with surprising results.
Home Before Dark is the fourth thriller by Riley Sager. It is published by Dutton Books, a Penguin Random House imprint. In this latest offering we are introduced to Maggie Holt, an interior designer that has been given the project of a lifetime...renovate the infamous Baneberry Hall, one of America's most haunted houses. But Maggie has an edge over other designers. She once lived in Banberry Hall, fleeing into the night from dark forces when she was a little girl. She does not remember what transpired and only knows the details from her father's book, House of Horrors. For decades she has believed that her parents lied about their haunting. Now that she has been left the home in her father's will, she is determined to find out for herself once and for all what lies were told.
Beginning the renovation, she realizes that things are occurring that she cannot explain. The ornate chandelier in one room glows even when turned off. A mysterious figure paces outside in the shadows. And a great unease begins to befall Maggie. Was her father telling the truth about Baneberry Hall and the demonic force that sought to kill young Maggie? For now she must pull the pieces together and find the facts. But will her search awaken something that she is not prepared to face? She better be home before dark if she wishes to survive.
Home Before Dark does its best to be creepy and original. Many of the book's plot is derived from other famous stories, including The Amityville Horror, The Haunting of Hill House, and Stranger Things. I could not pull myself away from the feeling that I had read or seen this before. That being said, I did like the atmosphere that Sager was trying for. The story was told in two ways, the main narrative and excerpts from Ewan Holt's book, House of Horrors. This aspect I enjoyed, because it gave a fresh look at the haunting and gave the reader and Maggie clues at the same time. The characters were interesting and fleshed out nicely. Maggie was a strong character that fought all her life to stay out of House of Horror's shadow. Ewan and Jess Holt were desperate parents trying to protect their child. And the side characters added a great deal of meat to the story that drove it forward. When I finally reached the end I was pleasantly surprised by the finale. It was very fast-paced and thrilling. I had no idea what Sager had in store for me, and that made this book well worth the read in the end.
Beginning the renovation, she realizes that things are occurring that she cannot explain. The ornate chandelier in one room glows even when turned off. A mysterious figure paces outside in the shadows. And a great unease begins to befall Maggie. Was her father telling the truth about Baneberry Hall and the demonic force that sought to kill young Maggie? For now she must pull the pieces together and find the facts. But will her search awaken something that she is not prepared to face? She better be home before dark if she wishes to survive.
Home Before Dark does its best to be creepy and original. Many of the book's plot is derived from other famous stories, including The Amityville Horror, The Haunting of Hill House, and Stranger Things. I could not pull myself away from the feeling that I had read or seen this before. That being said, I did like the atmosphere that Sager was trying for. The story was told in two ways, the main narrative and excerpts from Ewan Holt's book, House of Horrors. This aspect I enjoyed, because it gave a fresh look at the haunting and gave the reader and Maggie clues at the same time. The characters were interesting and fleshed out nicely. Maggie was a strong character that fought all her life to stay out of House of Horror's shadow. Ewan and Jess Holt were desperate parents trying to protect their child. And the side characters added a great deal of meat to the story that drove it forward. When I finally reached the end I was pleasantly surprised by the finale. It was very fast-paced and thrilling. I had no idea what Sager had in store for me, and that made this book well worth the read in the end.
I read Home Before Dark in part with the audiobook, read by actors Cady McClain (All My Children) and Jon Lindstrom (General Hospital). The two soap stars did a nice job presenting the narrative. McClain took a bit to get to know her character of Maggie, but by the book's end, she had delivered a solid performance. Lindstrom did an excellent take on Ewan Holt, and I enjoyed his work, as well.
Home Before Dark was a four-star read for me. As a horror fan, I was not presented with anything new. However the story was woven together very well and the ending was excellent. Another fun read from Riley Sager.
Check out my other Riley Sager reviews for Final Girls, The Last Time I Lied, and Lock Every Door.
Check out my other Riley Sager reviews for Final Girls, The Last Time I Lied, and Lock Every Door.
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