July 20, 2021

Survive the Night


"Never go out alone at night. Always walk in pairs. Always tell someone where you're going. Never trust a stranger." ~ 7%

When I think Riley Sager, I think thriller! Twists, suspense, realistic characters, all of the above. But somehow new release, Survive the Night, missed the mark for me. It is a classic cat-and-mouse game with sketchy characters. Let me back up...

Charlie and Josh met through a campus ride board, looking to share a drive home to Ohio. Charlie wants to leave campus and go home to grieve her best friend, the third victim murdered by the Campus Killer. Josh needs to go take care of his sick father. But immediately, Charlie is skeptical of Josh. His stories don't add up and he's not letting Charlie see whatever is in the car's trunk. Oh, did I mention the year is 1991? There's no help or pay phone for miles on the dark road.

"She's the girl who sees movies in her mind, and Josh is the guy who fills his trunk in a weird way. End of story." ~ 7%

The main female character was dumber than dumb. If your best friend was recently murdered and there is a serial killer on the loose, why in heaven's name would you accept a 6-hour car ride from a stranger?! She was the perfect example of an unreliable narrator; I questioned her point of view and actions from the very beginning. Had her parents never taught her the basic rules of safety above? The only cool part of Charlie was her ability to replace reality with cinema in her mind.

I should have went into reading Survive the Night with low expectations but I usually love Riley Sager's novels. About halfway through, I checked Goodreads to see if I was the only one disappointed. At quick glance, I was indeed not. Many readers (especially fans of the author) share my opinion. So it's not just me. Bookhearts, pass on this one. 

Happy Belated Pub Day, Riley Sager! Survive the Night is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Survive the Night
Author: Riley Sager
Published: June 2021
Pages: 384
Edition: Galley
Rating: 🖤 🖤

   

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