Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 324 pages
Published: June 2021

Survive the Night by thriller author, Riley Sager, which is a pseudonym, was a highly anticipated novel by mystery/thriller readers and Book of the Month members alike. The book is set back in the early 90s on a small college campus where student Charlie is looking for a ride home and meets up with Josh, who is looking to ride-share. Charlie is in the midst of the grieving process as her close friend and roommate was recently the victim of a supposed serial killer near the college campus. As a result, she suffers from cinematic delusions. 

The premise of the book was definitely intriguing to me.  Because it is set in the early 90s where instant communication was not readily available, it created tension and suspense. However, it did seem a little far fetched. I was just a little younger than Charlie during this time frame, and I can not see myself basically hitchhiking with a total stranger when there had been criminal activity abound. The other plot element of Charlie being a bit off her rocker because of past trauma and the grief process was awkward. I understand it was added to create confusion for the reader as they attempt to figure out the antagonist of the book. But again, it seemed a little far fetched to me. My final criticism was the ending. I think we had no choice but to guess who the serial killer was because Sager had elemented literally very other character introduced, but it just didn't make sense to me.

I've only read one other Sager book, and I had a lukewarm response to it as well. Maybe I am just not a fan. But I did give it a college try and completed both books! 

Recommendation: If you're a fan, you probably already have a copy of this book. If you're into mystery/thrillers, this could be right up your alley. I'd say borrow a copy from a friend of the library before investing too much into it. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.