As an English major and avid reader, it is safe to say that I have read A LOT of books across varying genres. I love a good dystopian novel (e.g., my beloved “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins), realistic fiction (“The Perks of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky) and of course, the classics (“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen). However, I have a soft spot for thrillers thanks to Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl.”

“The House Across the Lake” is  a 2022 thriller by Riley Sager, the nom de plume of Pennsylvania-native Todd Ritter. Sager is known for his other popular book, “Final Girls.”

I picked up the book at Target because of one reason: the epigraph quoted Taylor Swift’s song, ‘no body, no crime’. I am a simple girl. I see Taylor Swift and am immediately influenced.

I find that thrillers fall into three categories: mind-blowing, mediocre and the worst things you’ve ever read. The plot is reminiscent of many other thrillers. A widowed, alcoholic and lonely woman starts spying on her neighbors across the lake, a couple who keeps feuding. Then, the wife goes missing.

Of course, there is the added element of stardom as our main character, Casey Fletcher, is a nepo-baby actress with a Broadway-legend mother. Their relationship, obviously, is rocky at the very best. Everyone around the lake is famous in fact, the couple is Katherine, a former supermodel, and Tom Royce, an Elon Musk wannabe. Fletcher’s other neighbor is Eli, an author with big hits in the ‘80s that reminds me of Stephen King.

Nonetheless, I thought that this would fall into the three-star category, a good read but nothing life-changing. 

I cannot express to you how wrong I was. I ignored all of my other responsibilities to finish the novel. I genuinely debated skipping my class to finish the last thirty pages. (I didn’t skip, no matter how much it pained me.)

Much to my friends’ annoyance, I can guess plot twists incredibly well. Many of my friends refuse to watch horror movies with me because of that reason. After every few pages though, my theory changed. By the end of the book, I had about a couple dozen theories and all of them were wrong. 

I hesitate to give you more information about this novel because I don’t wish to spoil it. I jumped into the novel blind, not even reading the back cover (like I said, Taylor Swift is very powerful), and it was the best way to read this novel. You won’t be able to pick your jaw up off the floor.

In March 2023, Netflix announced that they will be turning “The House Across the Lake” into an original movie. Paul Feig is set to direct. Feig’s past directing experience include episodes of “The Office”, “Ghostbusters (2016)” and “A Simple Favor.” 

If you are a fan of Sager’s and/or interested in hearing him speak, Sager will be at Midtown Scholar in Harrisburg, Pa. on June 24. He will be discussing his new novel, “Middle of the Night”. Jason Rekulak, author of “Hidden Pictures”, will facilitate the discussion. Tickets are $34 which includes a general admission ticket and a signed novel. See you there!