Middle of the Night

This was probably the least spooky, creepy, or scary book that I have read by Riley Sager, yet it delivered, nonetheless. I found this book to be atmospheric, gripping and a great mystery thriller. Ethan’s childhood friend, Billy, goes missing during a sleepover in Ethan’s backyard. When Ethan discovers Billy is not in the tent the next morning an investigation ensues, but Billy is not found. Thirty years later, Ethan has come back to his parents’ home and baseballs begin appearing in his backyard just like when he was a kid and Billy wanted to play with him. Ethan wants to know what happened to Billy and along the way becomes reacquainted with old friends and neighbors.

I enjoyed the mystery and trying to figure out how and why Billy disappeared. I had my list of suspects but never saw that shocking reveal coming! There is a small supernatural element to the book but overall, for me this was a well thought out mystery about a boy’s disappearance, trauma, grief, the exploration of how not knowing affects those who lose someone, and loss.

I enjoyed the tension, dread, and sense of danger which crept up on my in the later part of the book.