Sager delivers a psychological, creepy, and unputdownable thriller ... Likable characters, great writing, just enough twists, and a Rosemary’s Baby vibe will make this a summer hit. Purchase for Stephen King and Gillian Flynn fans.
The author, writing under a pen name, relates ominous events and spooky developments with skill, adding an element of social commentary and a surprise twist ending—elevating this exercise in terror above the ordinary shocker.
... deliciously frightening ... Tension accelerates with each day’s stay as Riley Sager keeps the suspense grounded in reality in his third novel. The appealing Jules has an inner strength but also an acute vulnerability that stems from being alone in the world since her sister disappeared four years before ... builds to a devastating finale that is more chilling_and believable_than Rosemary giving birth to the son of Satan. Sager uses the darkening atmosphere and the tiniest thing that goes bump in the night, for the utmost terror.
... definitely a page turner ... This book kept me guessing until the very end. With a full cast of the most interesting characters, Jules is put through the wringer as she conducts her own investigation into the disappearances and finds that her own life may be in jeopardy. The setting at the Bartholomew is unsettling yet intriguing, complete with hidden rooms, secret passageways, a dumbwaiter, and of course, a gargoyle named George. It is a must-read for fans of Sager and the thriller/suspense genre.
Believing there’s a monster behind the door can be scarier than seeing the actual monster, and Sager builds nail-biting suspense with subtle indications that all is not perfect in this apartment paradise ... not only pays homage to past horror novels that feature scary buildings, it also shines a light on something more immediate: the horror of millennial financial insecurity ... Sager fans and new readers alike will enjoy this heart-pounding thriller that cleverly weaves economic anxiety with something a whole lot darker. Jules must face the demons in the woodwork and in the world around her if she is to have any hope of a future. Because, ultimately, locking every door won’t keep the terror away if the terror is locked in there with you.
... a perfect setup for some psychological suspense, but the problem is that there is little in the way of narrative tension because Jules’ situation is so obviously not right from the very beginning ... It’s possible to read this as a parody of the absurdly intrepid horror heroine, but, even as that, it’s not a particularly entertaining parody. Jules’ best friend makes a reference to American Horror Story, which feels less like a postmodern nod than a reminder that there are other, better examples of the genre that one could be enjoying instead ... Lacking in both thrills and chills.
