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Middle of the Night
Middle of the Night: A Novel | Riley Sager
In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friendand the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood. The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marshs backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul de sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again. Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul de sac at odd hours, and signs of Billys presence keep appearing in Ethans backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle? The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. Woods where Billy claimed ghosts roamed and where a mysterious institute does clandestine research on a crumbling estate. The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no placebe it quiet forest or suburban streetis completely safe. And that the past has a way of haunting the present.
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Read4life
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Audio Favorite Books

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MaleficentBookDragon
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And with that I‘ve completed my #GoodReadsChallenge for this year.
Though I did read about 5 short stories recently so I think I still have 5 more books to read to REALLY reach my goal.

Deblovestoread Well done! 🙌🏼 1mo
TheBookgeekFrau Congratulations!! 🎊 1mo
mrp27 🎉📚🎉📚 1mo
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Roary47 Yay! Great job! 💛 1mo
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Congratulations! 🎉🎊 1mo
DogMomIrene 😂 because I always think the same thing about children‘s books. I keep upping my book goal every year, but I‘m really paying attention to the pages read. Helps me be more okay with those short reads that I still really enjoy. 1mo
Meshell1313 Nice! 🙌🎉 1mo
Avanders 🥳🥳🥳 1mo
PaperbackPirate Congratulations! 📚📚📚📚📚 1mo
77 likes9 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
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This rainy day called for a mocha and some Sager.

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Read4life
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MaleficentBookDragon
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I just got back from visiting PA. Just in time too since I wanted to read this one next and it was at home.

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Read4life
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Pickpick

I always love returning to NJ (in person, in movies or in books). Another solid read by Sager. A quick, page-turning book.

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candc320
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Pickpick

If you want a quick and page turning read you can always rely on Riley Sager! Definitely not my favorite of his but still a solid mystery with that little bit of supernatural I love in his stories. This is one neighborhood where everyone is hiding something! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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GidgetsTreasures75
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10-28-24: My 38th finished book of 2024! Fabulous read. Riley Sager rarely disappoints. Ethan returns to Hemlock Circle after 30 years, to take over his parents house while they move to Florida. Problem is, 30 years ago Ethan‘s best friend Billy was stolen from their tent in the backyard and never seen again. Ethan hasn‘t slept right since. We learn what happened that night in various chapters and what Ethan is dealing with presently.

GidgetsTreasures75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣8️⃣ 2mo
14 likes1 comment
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JacqMac
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When I want a creepy bedtime story, Riley Sager never disappoints. This isn‘t my favourite of his, but it was still hard to put down. It landed on my face twice, because it kept me up past my bedtime, two nights in a row. Now I have to find something to keep me up tonight…. 4/5

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OriginalCyn620
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TheSpineView Excellent! 2mo
Catsandbooks 👏🏼👻💚 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! I just started a Sager book yesterday! 2mo
36 likes3 comments
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JacqMac
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I‘m having trouble putting this down. I started it last night and fell asleep with the kobo in my hand. So I took it down to my gym and read it during my rests between sets. Now if I can just find a way to keep my husband busy, I might get to read it all today. 🤞

DogMomIrene 🙌🏼Great to hear. I read The Last Time I Lied and immediately put all his other books on library hold. Crossing fingers they don‘t all come in at once. 2mo
JacqMac @DogMomIrene lol Here‘s hoping. 🤞 2mo
31 likes2 comments
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MonicaLoves2Read
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Pickpick

3.5⭐️
It started off slow and was a different writing style than what he usually writes. He usually does women, but this time, he wrote about boys/men and a tragic event.
I think the problem I had with it was that it wasn't his usual writing. It's still good. The suspense wasn't stacked like he usually does.

#bookspinbingo #readaway2024

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Areader2
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This was a slow paced atmospheric mystery with paranormal aspects , I like the story but i didn‘t like the audio
#ReadAway2024 book 40

DieAReader 🥳Excellent! 2mo
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MonicaLoves2Read
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Morning sunlight seeps into the tent like a water leak, dripping onto the boy in a muted glow.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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Tiffiney
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Riley Sager books have been hit or miss for me. This is one that I really enjoyed. A couple of great twists and it held my interest the whole time ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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CloakNQuill
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#CatsAndDogs @Bookwormjillk

Managed to finish We Used to Live Here & Seventh Bride yesterday. Also about halfway through tagged. Heading to the library now for Day 2

Books Read : 2
Pages Read : 565

Bookwormjillk 😻😻😻 2mo
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Bklover
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One of my favorite RS books. Haven‘t read them all, but this one makes me want to read the rest

BethM Sending hugs! Miss you! 1mo
Bklover Miss you too! ❤️❤️❤️ 1mo
76 likes1 stack add2 comments
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monkeygirlsmama
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Mehso-so

3.5 ⭐

Of all the Riley Sager books I've read (listened to the #audiobook of) so far this one was my least favorite. Don't get me wrong, it was a good story with mystery and suspense that kept you twisting and turning on who dunnit. I simply didn't find it as exciting or engaging as I have his other books.

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OwenB
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I‘ve read a few of the authors books and enjoyed this one too. A few twists I didn‘t see coming and a satisfying ending.

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LiteraryinPA
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This was sooo good! The more I read by Sager the more I want to read. This was spooky and a great mystery about a neighborhood where something terrible happened 30 years ago. Highly recommend!

robinb I‘ve never read Sager, but sounds like I should rectify that. 😊 3mo
LiteraryinPA @robinb Do it! 😋 I think this one would be a good one to start with. Another favorite of mine is 3mo
robinb @LiteraryinPA Thanks for the recs! Stacking both. 👍🏻 3mo
73 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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CloakNQuill
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@TheAromaofBooks #October #BookspinBingo board
Im sticking to physical books that have been on my shelves for too long or borrowed books.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3mo
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Rachiiebookdragon
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I enjoyed this one mostly.

Read for reading prompts.

4/5

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currentlyreadinginCO
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Although I didn't love The Only One Left, I bought this at the airport because I was hoping that it would be entertaining for a ten-hour flight. I crushed it ?. I like this one way better - the creepy vibes are impeccable and it got a few "oh damn I didn't see that coming" moments out of me.

5feet.of.fury I liked this one better too. I enjoyed Last One Left for what it was but the twist seemed… silly. 3mo
currentlyreadinginCO completely agree 😂😂 @5feet.of.fury 3mo
57 likes2 comments
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Maggie4483
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This book is giving me both the heebies AND the jeebies. Setting it aside for a couple of hours to watch a less creepy movie (Poltergeist). 👻

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bookish_wookish
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This is where I‘ll be for the rest of the night!

Aims42 Looks like an excellent Wednesday night 👏 4mo
31 likes1 comment
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MartinaLove
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4 ⭐️
Absolutely loved this book. Everyone is a suspect. Two friends camping in their parents yard. One of them wakes up in the morning realizing his friend is gone. There is a tear in the tent. Now all grown up and returning to his hometown, he‘s being haunted by his missing friend.

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janeycanuck
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What I love about Riley Sager is it looks like he‘s just phoning it in by just making shit up to suit his plot but then he just flips it around and pulls a very clever and plausible resolution out of a hat and I have to stop yelling at him to stop being so lazy.

LiteraryinPA Ooh, intriguing! 4mo
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alecia3dixie
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Pickpick

This is not a normal, just fun crazy times book that Sager normally produces. He got deep. This book is sad and emotional. It deals with grief, loss, and trauma. He did such a good job of keeping the mystery and suspense but also putting in deep emotions and thoughts. There were many twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I actually really liked the ending. I think Sager did an amazing job writing such a beautiful and sad story. 5/5

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Kappadeemom
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I just love his books. 🥰🥰🥰

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AmandaBlaze
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This may be my favorite Riley Sager book. A book about how a missing person affects a whole neighborhood, at its heart, it's about grief and the ways we are haunted by the past. 5 stars.
#ReadAway2024 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#LitsyLoveReads @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Read4life @TieDyeDude

DieAReader 🥳Great! 4mo
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Its_Amanda_Plz
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Pickpick

A spooky ghost may be haunting a guy who can‘t sleep or remember things after his life falls apart and he moves into his parents‘ house. His bestie was kidnapped from the same tent and has been a mystery ever since. While labeled as a thriller, more of a mystery of rumors in a small town around a missing boy. Another Riley Sager book that didn‘t disappoint.

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AnnRaz
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“Unfortunately, those who are the most sensitive are sometimes also the most troubled.”

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LeslieO
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Back to the mystery/thrillers. I was hoping the Riley Sager would be an add on. #BOTM

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Karkar
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. I went in ignoring all the other reviews and I had a great time reading it.

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BookwormAHN
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Pickpick

I loved this one 🖤
When Ethen was ten, his best friend disappeared during a sleepover in Ethen's backyard. Years later, Ethen comes back to help his parents sell their house, and weird things start happening, leading Ethen to start investigating what really happened that night.

50 likes2 stack adds
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Bec_lectic
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Pickpick

Ethan and his neighbor Billy have camped in the backyard numerous times over the summer but suddenly one morning Ethan awakes to an empty slashed tent and Billy missing. Years later Ethan returns to his childhood home and suddenly senses Billy‘s presence even though he was never found. This inspires him to solve what really happened to Billy that night with lots of red herrings thrown in. Decent read that could have wrapped up quicker.

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BeeMagical
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Pickpick

Book 56📚 4.4⭐️

I caaaaan‘t believe im saying this but I wanted just a TAD more from this book, spooky wise. But I still really enjoyed it obviously!

When Ethan was 10, his best friend was taken in the middle of the night while they were backyard camping.⛺️
No one knows what happened, but 30 years later when Ethan finally returns, someone wants him to solve the mystery, dead or alive.

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marleed
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Pickpick

Too much of what I want to type is a spoiler - darn! This had a YA feel to it, but that didn‘t hinder my enjoyment. I liked the set up for this story. …I couldn‘t resist a background including the backyard tent set up last weekend as part of my grandson‘s #2 party - when your mom is a corporate event planner, bd parties are a memory-making day for one and all!

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Breanne1
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Pickpick

This was a great ghost story with heart. I read this slower than I expected but it wasn‘t the story‘s fault. I guessed one twist right away, and the big one I only had half right. I enjoyed the ride on this one. #botm
Book 38 of 2024

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InkedBookworm13
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#TuesdayTunes @TieDyeDude
Rain Paris is my fave cover artist. She has topped my spotify wrapped the last few years. She makes rock versions of pop songs.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/10TCOjSPs9ywBN1Q083BnB?si=MCi3TBkkRL2X8fOTOtxqVw

TieDyeDude That's fun! I had to scroll down a bit to find a song I recognized by title 😅 I loved her cover of “Don't Cha“ 5mo
26 likes2 comments
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Megabooks
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Sager can write twists as well as anyone out there, but I stand by my assertion that he doesn‘t write logical clues. Still, very enjoyable especially with Santino Fontana‘s narration!

Two boys are backyard camping. One goes missing, but a body is never found. When the other returns as an adult, he begins to unravel the mystery and uncovers more secrets his neighbors are hiding.

Prairiegirl_reading I‘m 125 pages in and I‘m not grabbed. Should I bail? I‘ve never wanted to read Riley Sager before but this one sounded like a page turner but I‘m not finding that yet. 5mo
Megabooks @Prairiegirl_reading it was a bit slow to start (which I find it easier to get past on audio), but I‘d say bail. I‘ve found with him either I invest quickly or not at all. But all his books are a bit different, so I‘d try another before you write him off. If you‘re into gothic stuff, I liked (edited) 5mo
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB I am hesitant about this one because I didn‘t like 5mo
MrT I'm on page 387. It's just ok. The twists and turns are a bit lacklustre. I think he writes better crime than when he does with the paranormal in the mix. THATL was my least favourite and I think this is gonna be my second least fav. Is he gonna pull out all the stops in the last 100 pages? Mmmmmmmmm? 5mo
Megabooks @MrT I liked THATL. Each of his books are different to me (more so than some other thriller writers), which is I think why people who would say they like or read him in general have such different reactions to his books. That's why I encouraged @prairiegirl_reading to try another of his. My least favorite was Lock Every Door, but a lot of other readers loved it. 5mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB I'd say that is the book he's written that is most similar to this one, so I'd say skip. Maybe others will chime in, but that's my thought. 5mo
BarbaraBB Thanks! I fully trust your thoughts ❤️❤️ 5mo
67 likes1 stack add8 comments
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heyitsMacall
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I liked this story! Very spooky all throughout. There were various twists at the end which I don‘t know if it‘s the author‘s style but I can see why some people might not rate it as highly. A happy ending but not too happy though!

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Itchyfeetreader
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Mehso-so


The story here is simple - a young boy disappears from his best friends garden where they had both been camping and the unsolved case echoes through the following 30 years impacting everyone in the small community where it happened. An interesting story but for me a bit flat - the flashbacks were cut into small pieces and the loosely drawn current time characters were only loosely painted so I wasn‘t ever that sure I cared who had done it.

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Nebklvr
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Panpan

The flashbacks slowed the plot unbearably. The atmosphere is diminished. If this hadn‘t been recommended by a reader whose taste normally aligns with mine, I would have dnf‘d with relish.

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MeJeMiller
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Pickpick

I get the mediocre reviews I‘ve heard of this book. And it‘s not my favorite Sager book but I love Riley Sager. I really appreciate the ending and the thing with Claudia.

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Kimberlone
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I liked this book. Sager is no literary genius, but he does deliver consistently entertaining mystery/thrillers. Considering this is a genre I read very little of, the fact that I keep coming back for his trope-bending books is notable. The crime trope being riffed on in this book is the missing/abducted child phenomena, especially prominent in the 1980s/90s (the book flips between dual 1994-present day timelines).

MrT Just starting Chapter 3 5mo
48 likes1 comment
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TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

I feel like I‘ve been waiting forever for Sager‘s latest! With ‘90s nostalgia, ghost story overtones and a cul-de-sac under the microscope, this one is right up my alley! I couldn‘t put it down! Main character, Ethan, slept in his backyard tent when his neighbor & best friend, Billy, went missing. 30 years later, Ethan is back in his parents‘ house & is more determined than ever to do anything to uncover the truth in this twisting, thrilling plot!

41 likes1 stack add