The House Across the Lake
By Riley Sager
Dutton, 2022. 368 pages. Mystery
Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake House in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake.
One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as Perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyeurism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession and how looks can be very deceiving.
In true Riley Sager fashion, he takes a popular concept, in this case the mystery genre staple of voyeurism, and turns it on its head. However, if you think this is another retelling of Rear Window, you’re in for a wild ride. I particularly enjoyed the supporting characters of the former cop neighbor, Boone Conrad, and the trusty uncle-type, Eli; both of whom provided balance to Casey’s unreliable narration and helped to ground the story. Overall, Riley Sager’s classic blend of horror tropes with more traditional mystery elements surprised me at every twist and turn.
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